Written Answers of 4 June 1996

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the objectives and policies which form part of the information society initiative and which rely on the use of personal data; and if he has discussed these objectives and policies with the Data Protection Registrar. [29694]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information society initiative brings together a range of existing and new support programmes into a coherent and accessible whole, with the overall objective of helping UK business take maximum advantage of information and communication technologies. It includes in particular programmes to raise awareness of the potential business benefits of using new technologies, and highlights some of the implications of doing so, including data protection and security issues.

  No ISI programme relies on the use of personal data. Where personal data and received as part of the dissemination of ISI in areformation to interested parties, they are handled according to the relevant data protection regulations.

  Crown Post Offices (Ayrshire)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people are employed at each of the Crown post offices in Ayrshire. [28964]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand from the Post Office that the number of staff employed at each Crown post office in Ayrshire as at May 1996 is as follows:

  Number

  Ayr

  15

  Kilmarnock

  18

  Irvine

  16

  Kilwinning

  8

  Saltcoats

  9

  EU Countries (Trade Deficit)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the countries in the European Community with which the United Kingdom currently has a trade deficit, indicating the amounts in each case. [30307]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information on visible trade between the United Kingdom and other European Community countries is published by the Office for National Statistics in tables B13 (exports) and C13 (imports) of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
  304

  Carpet Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many square metres of carpet were imported in each year since 1979; and from which countries these imports originated. [30360]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Total UK imports of carpets are given in the table. A breakdown by country of origin or dispatch can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Furthermore, since the introduction of the single market at the start of 1993, comprehensive information on the country of origin for imports is not available. Due to a revision in the system of classification, figures prior to 1988 are not strictly comparable with more recent ones.

  UK Imports of carpets

  Year

  Million sq. m.

  1979

  30.7

  1980

  40.5

  1981

  50.2

  1982

  55.5

  1983

  66.2

  1984

  76.4

  1985

  86.2

  1986

  92.1

  1987

  101.4

  1988

  114.3

  1989

  125.7

  1990

  131.5

  1991

  121.6

  1992

  132.4

  1993

  94.3

  1994

  106.9

  1995

  108.3

  Carpets are classified to Group 659, "Floor coverings, etc" of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revisions 2 and 3).

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the output of the British carpet industry in each year since 1979; and what percentage was exported. [30362]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is given in the table.

  Output and exports of the British carpet industry

  Year

  Gross output £ million

  Exports £ million

  Exports as a percentage of gross output

  1979

  736

  162

  22.0

  1980

  659

  145

  22.0

  1981

  636

  121

  19.0

  1982

  629

  121

  19.2

  1983

  719

  132

  18.4

  1984

  782

  152

  19.4

  1985

  856

  176

  20.6

  1986

  943

  178

  18.9

  1987

  1,043

  191

  18.3

  1988

  1,226

  189

  15.4

  1989

  1,256

  206

  16.4

  1990

  1,266

  221

  17.5

  1991

  1,156

  206

  17.8

  1992

  1,103

  211

  19.1

  1993

  1,087

  217

  19.9

  1994

  n/a

  247

  n/a

  1995

  n/a

  259

  n/a

  Source

  Office for National Statistics Annual Census of Production and Business Monitors MQ10.
  305

  Devon and Cornwall (Funding Applications)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated which indicate the comparative success of Devon and Cornwall in securing funding by making funding applications (i) together and (ii) individually. [30402]

  Mr. Nelson
  Published statistics on regional selective assistance provide a basis for some inter-regional comparison. This and other funding programmes are monitored and evaluated continuously.

  British Business (Prospects)
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next plans to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the prospects for British business. [30352]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My right hon. Friend and other DTI Ministers regularly meet the Confederation of British Industry to discuss a range of issues.

  Lingerie
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of(a) domestically manufactured and (b) imported lingerie for the most recent year for which figures are available. [30359]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information requested can be obtained from the Quarterly Market Report QR12 on womenswear, in the UK market series, which is available in the Library of the House. This report is published by Taylor Nelson based on data collected by the Office for National Statistics.

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; which agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30572]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  From time to time the Department of Trade and Industry makes use of private detective agencies or investigators for such matters as process serving, but no central record is kept of the use of such people.

  Lougborough Gas Research Centre
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed job losses at the gas research centre Loughborough on current research programmes with his Department's funding. [31046]

  Mr. Page
  Current research and development programmes being funded by Government Departments will be completed within agreed contract terms and conditions and proposed manpower rationalisations will not affect this.
  306
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has sought assurances from British Gas that job losses at the gas research centre at Loughborough will not prejudice current research and development programmes to improve gas safety. [31048]

  Mr. Page
  The Government expect British Gas to maintain sufficient research and development to meet its obligations for ensuring gas safety. British Gas has made it clear that the new research arrangements will not affect safety standards and that no key areas of research have been affected.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the level of research and development funding by the Department of Trade and Industry to programmes at Loughborough gas research centre for each year since 1993. [31047]

  Mr. Page
  The total DTI funding paid for research and development projects conducted at British Gas's Loughborough research centre since 1993 is £1,236,034.

  Ultra-sonic Gas Meter
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the value to date of export sales of the ultra-sonic domestic meter developed by British Gas. [31083]

  Mr. Page
  The information requested is not separately identified in the UK trade classification. This is a matter for British Gas.

  British Energy
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 593, if he will publish the independent actuarial advice upon which his decision was made to set the level of British Energy's contributions to a segregated fund before (a) the date upon which advertising the sale of British Energy commences and (b) the date upon which the pathfinder prospectus is launched. [31190]

  Mr. Lang
  The advice, as stated in my answer of 17 May 1996,Official Report, column 593, will be placed in the Library of the House when available. Appropriate details on the segregated fund will also be provided in the British Energy prospectus.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 593, on what basis his Department made a decision on the correct level of contribution by British Energy to its segregated fund. [31191]

  Mr. Lang
  The Government based their decision on a number of factors, including British Energy's expected costs of decommissioning, the investment policy for the fund and the expected returns on the funds assets, and the tax rules that will apply.

  Wind Turbines
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much electricity was produced from wind turbines in the United Kingdom in(a) 1992, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [30801]
  307
  Mr. Page
  Electricity generated by wind schemes in the UK in each of the years 1990 to 1995 was approximately as follows:

  Year

  GWh

  1990

  1

  1991

  2

  1992

  26

  1993

  213

  1994

  337

  1995

  379

  Total

  958

  I expect the numbers to continue to rise year by year as more wind farms come into operation.

  Electricity Consumption
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the gross consumption of electricity in the United Kingdom in(a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [30761]

  Mr. Page
  Consumption of electricity in the United Kingdom was 291.45 TWh in 1992, 295.75 TWh in 1993 and, provisionally, 303.22 TWh in 1995. Electricity consumption grew by 3.9 per cent. in 1995, and by 1.3 per cent. per year on average over the last five years.

  Anglia Television
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations are currently being undertaken into possible insider dealing in Anglia Television shares; and when these investigations are expected to be completed. [30835]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is not the practice of the Department to comment on individual cases.

  Offshore Installations (Pollution)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each of the last five years(a) the number of releases of oil or chemicals from offshore installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf, (b) the substance released and the amount of oil or waste for each escape and (c) the name of the installation and the operator in each case. [31102]

  Mr. Page
  It is an offence under the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 to discharge oil or any mixture containing oil into the sea from a pipeline or in the course of petroleum exploration and production in the United Kingdom continental shelf if that discharge is not the subject of an exemption granted in accordance with section 23 of that Act. In practice the operators of installations on the UKCS obtain exemptions to permit operational discharges. These exemptions are limited in accordance with international standards and require the operator of the installation to report any discharge made in accordance with the exemption. The amount of oil discharged in accordance with these exemptions is published in summary form in volume 2 of the annual energy report, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House. The number of notifications make it impracticable to give this information otherwise than in summary form.
  308
  Companies licensed to carry out petroleum exploration and production on the UKCS are required by the terms of their licence to report to the Secretary of State any escapes of petroleum from the licensed area. A summary of oil spills reported to the Department of Trade and Industry is also published in volume 2 of the annual energy report. Again, the number of spills make it impractical to give details of each discharge.

  The use of chemicals offshore is regulated by a notification scheme whereby licensees seek prior approval of the use of chemicals in exploration and production. Licensees are not required to report releases of chemicals from installations.

  South-West Industrial Development Board
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 1 May,Official Report, column 545, what was the potential conflict of interest of Mr. Roger Harris that caused him to absent himself from the south-west industrial development board meeting; and on how many occasions potential conflicts of interest have prompted similar action by Mr. Harris. [28754]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The potential conflict of interest arose because KPMG, of which Mr. Roger Harris is a senior partner in the Plymouth office, was acting as auditors and grant consultants to Pendennis Shipyard Ltd. Mr. Harris has absented himself for similar reasons from discussions by the board on other occasions.

  South-West Regional Office
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what remuneration was granted to Mr. Kenneth Holmes for his external services between the dates of appointment and termination of contact; what were the terms of this contact; for what reason the contract ended; who has since assumed responsibility for this role; and what checks have been made into their financial background and interests. [28736]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: A total of £238,868 was paid to Dellcourts Limited, a company owned and controlled by Mr. Holmes, in respect of his services between 5 February 1991 and 15 April 1995. By the end of this period, the relevant contract had run its full term and was being renewed on a monthly basis.

  The external advisers currently assisting the Government office for the south-west on applications from companies for financial assistance are:

  Mr. Rodney Pool of Riverdale Ltd.

  Mr. Terry Scarrott

  Mr. William R. Mountford

  Checks on all three have been undertaken on the Insolvency Service and other departmental databases; they have also been asked to supply—for inclusion on a register—details of their financial and other interests in companies.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial interests in companies are held by the officials in his Department's south-west regional office. [28737]
  309
  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The work of the Department's former south-west regional office is now performed by the Government office for the south-west which employs 230 officials. Like all public servants, they must not use information gained in their work to advance their financial interests or the financial interests of others, nor must they participate in the taking of any decision which could affect the value of those interests.

  Competition Policy
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's competition policy of the judgment of Mr. Justice Knox in the chancery division of the High Court in the case of Mid Kent Holdings plc. delivered on 30 April; and if he will make a statement. [29614]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 16 May 1996]: I have carefully studied the judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Knox on 30 April. In relation to the specific case before the court, he concluded that Mid Kent Holdings did not have a sufficient private right to obtain declarations that General Utilities was in breach of undertakings given to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 21 March 1991, and that in those circumstances he considered that it would be wrong for him to give a view as to whether there had been such a breach. Mr. Justice Knox also reaffirmed my discretion under section 93(A)2 to bring civil proceedings in respect of any failure, or apprehended failure, to fulfil an undertaking. I will ensure that future decisions take full account of Mr. Justice Knox's judgment in so far as it may be relevant.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if applications to his Department for financial assistance under the loan guarantee scheme are(a) considered and (b) offered by Department of Trade and Industry regional offices; if the value of the loan guarantee determines whether central or regional offices are responsible for the offering of this financial support; what other reasons require responsibilities to change between offices; and if he will make a statement. [30030]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: All applications for assistance under the small firms loan guarantee scheme, whatever their size, are considered centrally through the Department's loan guarantee section in Sheffield.

  The scheme is a joint venture between the DTI and the lenders involved. It is the lender's responsibility to undertake the commercial assessment of a business proposal, and decide whether it is prepared to lend. Only if all normal bank lending criteria are met, other than the lack of security, should the scheme be considered. It is the lender who applies for, and receives, the guarantee.

  It is the DTI's responsibility to consider whether the application meets scheme criteria. If so, the guarantee is issued.
  310
  Simplified arrangements allow certain lenders and their borrowers quicker access to the scheme where the loan amount does not exceed £30,000.

  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the newly recognised Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will enjoy the same agreements on trade that were in place for the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; what are the present arrangements for the duties on trade with Yugoslavia; if EURI certificates are applicable; whether former trading and duty arrangements between the European Union and Yugoslavia are being recognised by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [30256]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 22 May 1996]: The 1982 trade and co-operation agreement between the EC and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was abrogated in 1991 following the break-up of the country. In February 1992 the trade benefits of the TCA were re-introduced for Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina only. Trade sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were lifted in November 1995, but the preferences of the 1982 TCA were not extended to it. In accordance with the regional approach agreed by EU Foreign Ministers in October 1995, the EU will conclude new individual agreements covering trade with all of the successor states of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including FRY, as and when the political conditions have been met.

  Many industrial products and a range of agricultural products can be imported duty free from Croatia, Solvenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia, using EURI certificates, some within ceilings and quotas. Council regulations 3355, 3356 and 3357/94, as amended by Council regulation 3032/95, set out the arrangements applicable. These countries are also beneficiaries of the EU's agricultural generalised system of preference scheme, which grants preferential access to developing countries for many agricultural products. These trading arrangements are non-reciprocal. Duties on imports from FRY are levied at the most favoured nation rate. As FRY does not have preferential trading arrangements, EUR 1 certificates are not applicable.

  British Energy (Research Paper)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the BZW research paper, "The Cash Generator". [30454]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 May 1996]: The BZW research paper on British Energy, "The Cash Generator" was produced by BZW Research, an affiliate of Barclays de Zoete Wedd Securities Ltd., as part of its internal research activity and was not produced on behalf of the Government. The Financial Services Act 1986 restricts the widespread distribution of this type of analysts' research. It is available to clients of BZW Research and other persons falling within FSA exemptions. Consequently, it is for BZW and its legal advisers to determine whether it would be appropriate for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.
  311

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Procedure Committee
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to bring forward proposals to implement the recommendations of the first report of the Procedure Committee of Session 1995–96, HC 386, regarding the taking of the oath and other related matters after an election; and if he will make a statement. [30983]

  Mr. Newton
  I am considering the Committee's report, to which I hope to respond shortly.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women, in her Department on 1 April. [30558]

  Mr. Sproat
  As at 1 April 1996 there were 181 men and 168 women employed by the Department of National Heritage. The following table lists the number of officials in the principal grades—grades 1 to 7—and the number of staff in administrative grades—SEO and below—showing the percentage of women in each case.

  Grade

  Total number of staff

  Total number of women

  Percentage of staff that are women

  G1A

  1

  0

  0

  G3

  4

  1

  25

  G4

  1

  0

  0

  G5

  16

  4

  25

  G6

  8

  2

  25

  G7

  48

  15

  31

  SEO1

  26

  11

  42

  HEO(D)

  4

  2

  50

  HEO1

  69

  29

  42

  EO1

  61

  32

  52

  AO1

  81

  49

  60

  AA1

  31

  23

  74

  1 Includes equivalent grades.

  Listed Buildings (Exports)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the number of listed(a) non-conformist chapels, (b) other ecclesiastical buildings and (c) other structures which have been taken down exported and re-built in (i) Japan and (ii) other countries, since 1986. [30686]

  Mr. Sproat
  This information is not available.

  Chipperfield Report
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which of the proposals made by the 312
  Chipperfield report on the Royal Fine Art Commission have been accepted; and when she intends to implement them. [31023]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government's response has been placed in the Library with the Chipperfield report. Recommendations concerning the post of secretary have been implemented and the post of deputy secretary, finance, has been dropped as suggested in the report. My right. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment expects to give advice to local planning authorities later in the year about consulting the RFAC on major developments. The standard term of appointment for commissioners has been reduced from seven years to five and new appointments made in 1994, 1995 and 1996 reflect the diversity recommended in the report. Various less specific recommendations have been taken into account in the working practices of the commission.

  Millennium Commission
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the representation of each part of the United Kingdom in the membership of the Millennium Commission. [31244]

  Mr. Sproat
  Members of the Millennium Commission are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen. They are not appointed to represent specific areas of the United Kingdom. The commissioners have a broad range of experience and travel widely before making any decisions concerning the allocation of national lottery funds.

  Telifis na Gaeilge
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what measures are proposed in order that people in Northern Ireland will have access to Telifis na Gaeilge when it commences broadcasting; and if she will make a statement. [29974]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: Telifis na Gaelige will be received by many residents in Northern Ireland who are already able to receive Radio Telifis Eireann broadcasts.

  Deregulation Unit
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the annual budget for his departmental deregulation unit; how many staff it employs; and of these how many(a) are career civil servants and of what grades, (b) have been seconded from business, and (c) have experience of the private sector. [30062]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The Department of National Heritage is responsible for very few regulations and does not have a stand-alone deregulation unit as such. Three civil servants in the strategy and systems division at grades 5, 7 and EO deal with deregulation matters as part of their remit to cover inter-departmental issues. Members of other divisions with specific areas of responsibility, particularly tourism, also handle deregulation as it affects their areas, liaising with the central staff as necessary. Thus it is not possible to identify a budgetary allocation as being dedicated to this activity.

  None of the staff in the central unit has private sector experience, or has been seconded from business.
  313

PRIME MINISTER

  Kyle of Lochalsh
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to pay an official visit to the Kyle of Lochalsh. [29808]

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 June. [30041]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 June. [30043]

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 June. [29801]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will consult other Heads of Government about extending the implementation force involvement in former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement. [31154]

  The Prime Minister
  Under the terms of the Bosnia peace agreement, and the United Nations Security Council resolution 1031, IFOR's mandate expires in December. We expect implementation force IFOR to have successfully completed its military mission by that time. When IFOR leaves, we expect the leaders elected in the forthcoming Bosnian elections to take on responsibility for Bosnia's future. We remain in constant contact with other Governments on this and other Bosnia-related subjects.

  Hong Kong (Beef Ban)
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Prime Minister what consultations took place between Her Majesty's Government and the Governor of Hong Kong before the decision was taken by the Hong Kong authorities to ban the entry of British beef into the colony. [31118]

  The Prime Minister
  Hong Kong has autonomy in all trade matters. The Hong Kong Government's suspension of the import of British beef was imposed after the European Union's decision to prohibit the export of British beef. In announcing the suspension, the Hong Kong Government made clear that they had taken this decision to restore confidence in the beef market in Hong Kong, and that they did not consider it necessary to restrict the import of British beef on health grounds.

  Conservative Party (Donations)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations to the chairman of the Conservative 314
  party about the conclusions of the Touche Ross report to the Conservative party of July 1993 in respect of donations to that party of fraudulently obtained money. [31262]

  The Prime Minister
  This does not fall within my responsibilities as Prime Minister.

  Dr. Trifkovic and Mr. Zametica
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what meetings his Ministers have had with(a) Dr. Svdja Trifkovic and (b) Jovan Zametica; and what was discussed. [31144]

  The Prime Minister
  None. Mr. Zametica was present when Rajko Kasagic, former Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska, called on my right hon. and learned Friend, the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development during a visit to London on 29 April.

  Northern Ireland (Talks)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the advantages for the success of the all-party talks of Sinn Fein taking part in them. [31153]

  The Prime Minister
  The talks will hold out the best prospects for a settlement if they are as inclusive as possible, but only on condition that all those participating are committed to exclusively peaceful methods. We and the Irish Government have expressed the hope that all parties with an electoral mandate will take part in the talks, including Sinn Fein; but we have agreed that they must be limited to parties establishing their commitment to peaceful methods, and that participation by Sinn Fein requires unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire of August 1994.

  Pay Review Bodies
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names and occupations of the current members of and the terms of reference of(a) the Review Body on Senior Salaries, (b) the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, (c) the Review on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, (d) the Review Body on Armed Forces Pay and (e) the School Teachers' Review Body. [30316]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 15 May, Official Report, column 457, and to the terms of reference contained in the 1996 reports of the review bodies, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Personal details such as occupations, when published, may be obtained from the standard works of reference.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Crown Court Trials
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many Crown court trials there were in the west midlands in each year since 1990. [30652]
  315
  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of Crown Court trials held in the West Midlands since 1990.

  The figures are as follows:

  Year

  Birmingham

  Coventry

  Wolverhampton

  1990

  569

  142

  309

  1991

  618

  100

  336

  1992

  509

  137

  333

  1993

  534

  174

  279

  1994

  495

  246

  327

  1995

  600

  149

  407

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average cost of a Crown court trial in 1995. [30653]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Lord Chancellor's Department incurs three main costs during Crown court trials; staff and accommodation costs to the Court Service, judicial salaries and the cost to the legal aid fund. No average cost per trial is available as cost data for the Crown court are collected on the basis of the cost per day. For the year 1995–96 these amounted to approximately £5,245 per day. This figure does not cover the cost of any of the other agencies involved in the trial process.

  Mortgage Possession Actions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many mortgage possession actions were entered and orders made for the possession of property in each county court in England and Wales in each year since 1991. [30706]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated May 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about mortgage possession actions and orders.
  I enclose a table which details the number of mortgage possession actions entered and orders for possession made in each county court in England and Wales since 1991. As the table is too long to be printed in the Official Report, arrangements will be made for a copy to be deposited in the Library of the House.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total. [30764]

  Mr. Streeter
  For the Lord Chancellor's Department headquarters and associated offices, the Court Service and the Public Trust Office, the information is as follows.
  316

  Number

  Percentage

  Able-bodied

  9,796

  82.82

  Registered disabled

  185

  1.57

  Self-classified disabled

  227

  1.92

  Not known

  1,620

  13.69

  Company Debts
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases legal aid has been allowed for company debts because these debts have subsequently been ascribed to an individual. [30809]

  Mr. Streeter
  Cases where legal aid is granted following an assignment from a company are not separately recorded. The Civil Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1996, which came into force on 1 June, permit an application to be refused where a cause of action is transferred to another party with a view to allowing the action to be commenced or continued with the benefit of a legal aid certificate.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance he gives to the Legal Aid Board to help it to distinguish between genuine and bogus applicants; and what action is taken against those assessed to be abusing the legal aid system. [31025]

  Mr. Streeter
  Section 5(6) of the Legal Aid Act 1988 precludes the Lord Chancellor from giving guidance to the Legal Aid Board in relation to the consideration or disposal of applications for legal aid in particular cases. Applicants suspected of intentionally failing to comply with the regulations or of knowingly making any false statement or false representation are liable to prosecution under section 39 of the Legal Aid Act 1988.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the current number of children aged over 16 and under 19 years for whom child benefit(a) is and (b) is not payable who are taking (i) non-advanced courses and (ii) advanced courses, broken down as far as possible by the type of course. [30241]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Data are not available on the nature of the education being undertaken by children for whom child benefit is in payment. However, child benefit is payable beyond age 16 only where the child is undergoing full-time non-advanced education. Benefit is not payable for children undergoing advanced education, defined as courses above A-level or equivalent.
  317

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the annual administrative cost of the compensation recovery unit in each year since it was established. [30390]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, asking what was the administrative cost of the Compensation Recovery Unit in each year since it was established.

  The information is provided in the table below.

  Period

  Operating costs (£ million)

  1 August 1989–31 March 1990

  0.13

  1 April 1990–31 March 1991

  1.7

  1 April 1991–31 March 1992

  1.9

  1 April 1992–31 March 1993

  2.1

  1 April 1993–31 March 1994

  2.7

  1 April 1994–31 March 1995

  2.8

  1 April 1995–31 March 1996

  3.1

  Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  University of Loughborough
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations his Department has(a) made to and (b) received from the university of Loughborough in the last year on matters relating to potential research into child support issues. [30684]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The centre for research in social policy at the university of Loughborough has been commissioned to evaluate a Benefits Agency/Employment Service scheme for lone parents which touches on child support matters.

  CRSP was also invited to tender for research into the departures pilot scheme but was unsuccessful.

  A possible survey of absent parents was under negotiation with CRSP, but further commissioning work has been postponed until after the departures scheme has been introduced and has had time to deal with a significant number of cases.

  Motability Finance Ltd.
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will maintain his policy that the banks currently involved in Motability Finance Ltd. are not granted sole lessor status. [29926]
  318
  Mr. Burt
  The Department regards competition as a healthy measure in ensuring value for money. Competition must, however, bring long-term benefits to Motability's disabled customers.

  End-of-year Returns
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 370–71, when he expects to publish the end-of-year returns for 1995–96. [30730]

  Mr. Heald
  Information will be available from May 1997.

  Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to implement the recommendations contained in the report on the review of the prescription for chronic bronchitis and emphysema in underground coal workers, prescribed disease D12, by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. [31029]

  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to respond to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council report, "Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema," Cm. 3240. [31242]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 21 May,Official Report, column 185.

  Goods and Services
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 27, on expenditure on goods and services, when the figures for 1995–96 will be available. [31237]

  Mr. Burt
  The figures for the Department's expenditure on goods and services in 1995–96 will be available in July 1996.

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 28, how many (a) unconditional on-demand bonds, (b) performance bonds, (c) parent company guarantees, (d) advance payment bonds and (e) retention bonds were required by his Department in the last five years. [31232]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure that the guidance sent to Benefits Agency staff members formerly published by HMSO will be available to organisations and members of the public. [31074]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Guidance sent to Benefits Agency staff members formerly published by HMSO can still be obtained from that source.

  Discussions are in progress between the Benefits Agency and HMSO to determine appropriate arrangements for the future.
  319

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people(a) had social security benefits withdrawn and (b) were ruled ineligible for such benefits due to the changes in social security regulations for asylum seekers, in March and April. [31182]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the format requested. In March, the Benefits Agency was notified by the Home Office of 702 negative decisions on asylum status involving social security benefit claims. In April, 810 notifications were received.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Data Protection Registrar concerning registration of personal data held by the Security Service which are not subject to section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984. [29699]

  Mr. Howard
  I have had no such discussions with the Data Protection Registrar. The Security Service has confirmed to the Data Protection Registrar, however, that exemption of personal data held by the service from the registration provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984 is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security as provided for by section 27 of the Act.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of people who were electronically tagged in England and Wales in 1995; and what was the total cost involved. [29998]

  Mr. Sackville
  Eighteen offenders were sentenced to electronically monitored curfew orders in 1995 as part of the trials being conducted in Manchester, Reading and Norfolk. A further 47 offenders have been similarly sentenced so far in 1996. As explained to the hon. Member on 26 October 1995,Official Report, column 761, the total cost of the first nine months of the trials to April 1996, including non-recurring start-up costs such as research and development, training, capital and equipment, was £1.6 million. The results of the trials are being evaluated by the Home Office research and statistics directorate.

  Maidstone Prison
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parole applications were turned down on the basis that rehabilitation courses had not been completed at Her Majesty's prison Maidstone per month since April 1993. [30211]

  Miss Widdecombe
  This information is not available.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many secure centres for juvenile offenders have been built since 1986; and if he will list their locations in England and Wales. [30203]
  320
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about secure centres for juveniles which have been built since 1986.
  Four local authority secure units have been built since 1986. They are Sutton Place Safe Centre in Hull; St. John's Community Home School, Erdington, Birmingham; St. John's Centre, Tiffield, Northampton; and Vinney Green Secure Unit, Mangotsfield, Bristol.

  Temporary Releases
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many temporary release failures there have been in each month since 1 December 1995. [30680]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about how many temporary release failures there have been in each month since 1 December 1995.

  The requested information is as follows:

  December 1995: 48

  January 1996: 45

  February 1996: 43

  March 1996: 40

  April 1996: 29

  To 18 May 1996: 17

  Prison Population
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of prisoners likely to be held in United Kingdom prisons in October. [30473]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking what is his estimate of the number of prisoners likely to be held in United Kingdom prisons in October.
  The latest projection produced in April is that the prison population in England and Wales could be around 56,700 on 31 October 1996. The population was projected from current trends but past experience has shown the likelihood of departures from the trend. Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is available from the Secretaries of State for those Departments.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of people seeking
  321
  political asylum and being held in custody as of 14 May, the length of time each person has been held in detention and their nationality. [30512]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The available information is for those held in detention as at 30 April and is given in the tables.

  Table 1: Number of people recorded as detained on 30 April 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by length of detention

  Length

  Total number detained

  0–1 Month1

  181

  1–2 Months

  143

  2–6 Months

  280

  6–12 Months

  106

  12 Months+

  15

  Total

  725

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 30 April 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality

  Nationality

  Total number detained

  Nigeria

  114

  India

  93

  Algeria

  67

  Gambia

  44

  Ghana

  38

  Sri Lanka

  37

  Turkey

  33

  Zaire

  32

  Pakistan

  23

  Bangladesh

  22

  China Peoples Republic of

  22

  Romania

  21

  Czechoslovakia

  12

  Angola

  11

  Lithuania

  8

  Afghanistan

  7

  Albania

  7

  Iran

  7

  Kenya

  7

  Ivory Coast

  6

  Niger

  6

  Poland

  6

  Russia

  6

  Somalia

  6

  Tanzania

  6

  Ecuador

  5

  Sierra Leone

  5

  Colombia

  4

  Cyprus

  4

  Jamaica

  4

  Yugoslavia

  4

  Bulgaria

  3

  Ethiopia

  3

  Lebanon

  3

  Liberia

  3

  Peru

  3

  Uganda

  3

  South Africa

  3

  Cameroon

  2

  Georgia

  2

  Iraq

  2

  Montenegro

  2

  Palestine

  2

  322

  Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 30 April 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality

  Nationality

  Total number detained

  Sudan

  2

  Togo

  2

  Zimbabwe

  2

  Nationality doubtful

  6

  Others

  15

  Total

  725

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the protest by asylum seekers in Rochester prison on 17 May. [31197]

  Miss Widdecombe
  At approximately 20:30 hours on 16 May, 69 overseas nationals detained at Rochester refused to return to their cells at the end of the normal association period. The reason for the protest is not known at this time and is currently subject to an internal Prison Service investigation. However, it is thought that it may be linked to possible reductions in association time.

  The protest was passive, but the detainees refused to participate in negotiations with staff. At 01:00 hours on 17 May, a direct order was given to the detainees to return to their cells, but they refused to comply. Prison Service control and restraint teams were deployed to clear the wing. Some detainees offered passive resistance by rolling themselves into a ball. The wing was cleared by 01:30 hours with no serious injuries to staff or detainees.

  Following clearance of the wing, 10 detainees barricaded themselves into a cell, but this was quickly overcome with no resistance.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in his Department on 1 April. [30545]

  Mr. Howard
  Figures for the number of male and female permanent non-industrial staff and the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and percentages of women employed at those grades in the main Home Office on 1 April were as follows. A breakdown by administrative grades is not available for that date; figures shown refer to the staffing position on 24 May. Figures for the Prison Service are as from 1 April.
  323

  (a) Male

  (b) Female

  Area

  (i) Full-time

  (ii) Part-time

  Total

  (i) Full-time

  (ii) Part-time

  Total

  Home Office main (includes immigration and nationality directorate)

  4,515

  37

  4,552

  3,627

  668

  4,295

  United Kingdom passport agency

  539

  36

  575

  815

  217

  1,032

  Forensic science service

  362

  3

  365

  311

  121

  432

  Fire service college

  65

  0

  65

  60

  7

  67

  Prison service

  29,369

  307

  29,676

  6,582

  1,083

  7,665

  Total

  34,850

  383

  35,233

  11,395

  2,096

  13,491

  Home Office staff by grade equivalents

  Grade level equivalents

  (a) Male

  (b) Female

  Total

  Percentage female

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  1

  00

  Grade 2

  6

  0

  6

  00

  Grade 3

  20

  5

  25

  20

  Grade 4

  8

  0

  8

  00

  Grade 5

  57

  12

  69

  17.39

  Grade 6

  75

  8

  83

  09.64

  Grade 7

  337

  123

  460

  26.74

  Senior executive officer

  458

  157

  615

  25.53

  Higher executive officer

  980

  555

  1,535

  36.16

  Executive officer

  2,094

  1,743

  3,837

  45.43

  Administrative officer

  824

  1,830

  2,654

  68.95

  Administrative assistant

  685

  1,393

  2,078

  67.03

  Total1

  5,556

  5,826

  11,382

  51.19

  1Includes 11 full-time male employees with obsolete grades or non-mandate grades.

  Home Office administrative staff (excluding grade equivalents)

  Grade

  (a) Male

  (b) Female

  Total

  Percentage female

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  1

  00

  Grade 2

  6

  0

  6

  00

  Grade 3

  12

  6

  18

  33.33

  Grade 4

  2

  0

  2

  00

  Grade 5

  57

  13

  70

  18.57

  Grade 6

  62

  7

  69

  10.14

  Grade 7

  267

  131

  398

  32.91

  Senior executive officer

  194

  102

  296

  34.46

  Higher executive officer

  482

  391

  873

  44.78

  Executive officer

  662

  836

  1,498

  55.81

  Administrative officer

  779

  1,594

  2,373

  67.17

  Administrative assistant

  786

  1,567

  2,353

  66.59

  Total

  3,310

  4,647

  7,957

  58.40

  Prison service staff: administrative staff shown by grade equivalent.

  Prison officer grades shown separately

  Grade level equivalents

  (a) male

  (b) female

  Total

  Percentage female

  Grade 1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Grade 3

  8

  0

  8

  0

  Grade 4

  9

  2

  11

  18.18

  Grade 5

  52

  10

  62

  16.12

  Grade 6

  117

  16

  133

  12.03

  Grade 7

  243

  24

  267

  8.98

  Senior executive officer

  448

  111

  559

  19.85

  Higher executive officer

  366

  231

  597

  38.69

  Executive officer

  1,471

  1,051

  2,522

  41.67

  Administrative officer

  560

  1,932

  2,492

  77.52

  Administrative assistant

  1,681

  1,350

  3,031

  44.53

  Total

  4,956

  4,727

  9,683

  48.81

  Prison grades

  Governor 11

  48

  2

  50

  4.00

  Governor 21

  69

  7

  76

  9.21

  Governor 31

  119

  16

  135

  11.85

  Governor 41

  297

  42

  339

  12.39

  Governor 51

  411

  28

  439

  6.37

  324

  Prison service staff: administrative staff shown by grade equivalent.

  Prison officer grades shown separately

  Grade level equivalents

  (a) male

  (b) female

  Total

  Percentage female

  Governor 5 (accelerated promotion scheme)1

  35

  23

  58

  39.65

  Principal officer1

  1,261

  41

  1,302

  3.14

  Principal officer (accelerated promotion scheme)1

  11

  8

  19

  42.10

  Senior officer1

  3,365

  183

  3,548

  5.16

  Prison officer1

  17,564

  2,165

  19,729

  10.97

  Prison auxiliary1

  1,540

  423

  1,963

  21.55

  Total1

  24,720

  2,938

  27,658

  10.62

  Grand total

  29,676

  7,665

  37,341

  20.52

  1 Specific prison service grades. Grades 1–5 were abolished on 1 April 1996 on the establishment of the senior civil service. The relevant figures in the above tables refer to the grades to which the staff concerned previously belonged.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary for the Home Department (1) how many people were detained in Birmingham prison, under Immigration Act powers in(a) March and (b) April; and what were the nationalities of those detained; [31183]

  (2) how many of those people detained in Birmingham prison under Immigration Act powers were deported during the months of March and April. [31184]

  Miss Widdecombe
  At the end of March, 63 prisoners in Birmingham prison were recorded as being held under Immigration Act powers. At the end of April, 48 Prisoners were held; a breakdown by nationality is given in the table. Provisional information shows that 37 persons were discharged and deported from Birmingham prison during March and April.

  Population of Immigration Act detainees1 in HM prison Birmingham on 30 April 1996; by nationality

  Nationality

  Number

  Algeria

  8

  Bangladesh

  2

  India

  27

  Nigeria

  2

  Pakistan

  2

  South Africa

  2

  Others

  5

  Total

  48

  1 Provisional figures.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were deported from Birmingham prison in January, February, March and April. [31186]
  325
  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Number of asylum detainees at Her Majesty's prison Birmingham who were deported, by month.

  Month

  1Number deported

  January

  4

  February

  2

  March

  1

  April

  1

  1Left by means of a deportation order, enforced or supervised departure.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were detained in Birmingham prison during April; and what were the nationalities of those detained. [31293]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Population of asylum detainees at HM Prison Birmingham on 30 April by nationality.

  Nationality

  Number

  Algerian

  7

  Indian

  15

  Pakistani

  2

  Others

  4

  Total

  28

  Prison Building Programme
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons are currently being built in England and Wales; and where each prison will be sited. [30533]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A.J. Pearson to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 4 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of new prisons being built in England and Wales and where each will be sited.
  The Home Secretary announced in September 1993 that six new prisons would be built, using private sector finance. Lowdham Grange was added to the programme in March 1996.
  The first three privately-funded prisons will open in 1997–98 at Bridgend in south Wales; Fazakerley in Merseyside; and Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire. Planning permission for further prisons is currently being pursued in Manchester.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the date for which the Criminal Cases Review Commission will receive applications. [30586]
  326
  Mr. Kirkhope
  Members are currently being recruited for the commission and we expect them to be appointed during September. The commission will begin taking cases after a short transition period; the precise date will be announced nearer the time.

  Metropolitan Police (Civil Damages Awards)
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil damages awards have been made against, and what was the total cost of such awards to, the Metropolitan police in each of the past five years; and if he will list the details by police division. [30672]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on court awards is not held on a divisional basis. The following is the other information requested:

  Court awards

  Year

  Number

  Total cost £000s

  1991

  9

  21

  1992

  11

  203

  1993

  6

  53

  1994

  11

  84

  1995

  22

  267

  Private Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the privately run prisons in England and Wales. [30536]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 4 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about privately-run prisons in England and Wales.
  There are at present four contractually-managed prisons. They are: the Wolds prison, which is managed by Group 4; Blakenhurst prison, which is managed by United Kingdom Detention Services; Doncaster prison, which is managed by Premier Prison Services; and Buckley Hall prison which is managed by Group 4.

  Ex-prisoners (Rehabilitation)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services he operates to enable prisoners, when released, to be rehabilitated into society, with special reference to arrangements for both long-term and short-term prisoners to find accommodation once their prison sentence has ended. [30663]

  Mr. Sackville
  Depending on their circumstances, accommodation is available to ex-prisoners in approved probation/bail hostels or in housing supported by area probation services. There are 2,349 places in approved probation/bail hostels and over 5,500 housing places supported by probation services.

  The general arrangements for the post-release supervision of offenders are set out in chapter 7 of "National Standards for the Supervision of Offenders in the Community 1995" and the "National Framework for

  327
  the Throughcare of Offenders in Custody to the Completion of Supervision in the Community", copies of which are in the Library.

  Prison Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners received education and for how much time each week in(a) 1979 and (b) 1995 in (i) Wales and (ii) the regions of England. [30708]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Win Griffiths, dated 4 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the percentage of prisoners who received education and for how much time each week in (a) 1979 and (b) 1995 in (i) Wales and (ii) the regions of England.
  This information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Prisoners receiving education and training may attend for only a short time, it is therefore difficult to provide information on numbers of students and easier to provide information on student hours.
  In 1979, when the average daily prison population was 42,220, 4.6 million student hours were spent on education and training classes by inmates. In 1995, when the average daily population (excluding those held in police cells) was 50,962, 9.4 million student hours were spent on education and training classes.
  All prisoners are appraised for education and their attendance is decided as part of local sentence planning. The governor will then order the appropriate amount of education to cover the planned needs of the population within the constraints of his budget.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total figures. [30767]

  Mr. Howard
  The total number of registered disabled staff in the Home Office and its agencies, and the percentage this represents of the total number of staff, are as shown. Figures refer to the staffing position on 23 May.

  Number of registered disabled staff: 229

  Percentage of registered disabled staff: 0.4

  The nature of many of the posts within the Prison Service limits the scope for employing people with disabilities. Excluding Prison Service staff, the total number of registered disabled staff in the Home Office and its agencies, and the percentage this represented of the total number of staff on 23 May were as follows:

  Number of registered disabled staff: 174

  Percentage of registered disabled staff: 1.5

  Note: The total number of staff in the Home Office and its agencies, including the Prison Service, was 51,782 on 23 May. Excluding the Prison Service the total was 11,322.

  Homeless People (Electoral Registration)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue new guidelines to electoral registration officers as to the inclusion of 328
  homeless people on the electoral register following the decision in the case of Kevin Lippiatt v. the Electoral Registration Officer, Penrith district council. [31212]

  Mr. Sackville
  We aim to issue guidance in time for this year's electoral registration canvass.

  Prison Service (Private Sector Involvement)
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage greater private sector involvement in the Prison Service. [31062]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 4 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about private sector involvement in the Prison Service.
  Over the past five years the Prison Service has successfully involved the private sector in initiatives to improve the services it provides and to achieve greater value for money. Currently, four prisons (Wolds, Blakenhurst, Doncaster and Buckley Hall) are managed by the private sector, and seven out of the eight prison escort areas have now been contracted-out. There has been substantial private-sector involvement to provide purposeful work and training for prisoners. Functions such as prison education have been contracted-out where it has been determined that this leads to greater efficiency and economy.
  The Home Secretary announced in September 1993 that six new prisons would be built, using private sector finance, and Lowdham Grange was added to the programme in March 1995. The first three privately-funded prisons will open in 1997–8 at Bridgend in south Wales, Fazakerley in Merseyside, and Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire. Planning permission for further prisons is currently being sought in Manchester and Telford.

  Prison Sanitation
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners had 24 hour access to sanitation on(a) 12 April, (b) 12 May and (c) currently. [31064]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 4 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the percentage of prisoners who had 24 hour access to sanitation on (a) 12 April, (b) 12 May and (c) currently.
  The Prison Service achieved its performance target of ensuring that all prisoners had access to sanitation at all times on 12 April 1996 and full access has been maintained since then. This has been achieved despite a record rise in the prison population and despite the Service's need to reduce costs.

  Deportations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people deported under Immigration Act powers from the United Kingdom for March and April. [31185]
  329
  Mr. Kirkhope
  The number of persons removed under the deportation process, including voluntary departures after deportation action had been initiated, was 146 in March 1996. In addition, 231 illegal entrants were removed or departed voluntarily. Complete data for April are not yet available.

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many dogs have been destroyed as a result of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; [31078]

  (2) how many dogs are currently in police kennels awaiting the implementation of destruction orders; what is the average period of detention; and what is the longest current period of detention for a dog. [31077]

  Mr. Sackville
  Some 770 destruction orders were made between 1992 and 1994, although some of these orders will have been the subject of appeals. Figures for 1995 are likely to be available in the autumn.

  There are currently 13 dogs held in police kennels in England and Wales awaiting the implementation of a destruction order under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The average period of detention for these dogs is two years and four months, and the longest period of detention for a dog is currently four years and five months.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in respect of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; and what proposals he has to amend the legislation. [31076]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has received representations from various individuals and organisations which also submitted views to the recent House of Lords Select Committee on the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill [Lords]. Details are contained in its report, published on 26 February, HL paper No.48. The Government were unable to accept the recommendation contained in the report that the Act should be amended.

  Representations have also been made to the Home Affairs Committee which is currently inquiring into the operation of the Act. While the Government will, of
  330
  course, consider carefully any recommendations which the Committee may make, there are currently no plans to amend the Act.

  Wild Animals and Birds
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support he gives to organisations which provide sanctuary, treatment and rehabilitation in the wild for wild animals and birds; and if he will make a statement. [30793]

  Mr. Sackville
  I am not aware of any grant aid to any such organisations in recent years.

  Tinsley House Immigration Detention Centre
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the capital cost of Tinsley house immigration detention centre; and what are the terms of repayment under the private finance initiative; [31210]

  (2) what are the terms of the contract concluded by Wackenhut for the operation of Tinsley house immigration detention centre. [31213]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Tinsley house was not fully funded through the private finance initiative; the cost of the building works was borne by the private sector but the running of the facility is the subject of a separate contract. It would not be right to divulge the capital cost of the building, or the terms of the operating contract, as this information is commercially sensitive.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the annual savings from the operation of the contract by Wackenhut at Tinsley house immigration detention centre. [31211]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Tinsley house is a new facility providing 150 additional detention places. The extra places will enable us to reduce the use of more expensive, less suitable, alternative accommodation and to effect the removal of more people with no entitlement to remain in this country. It is not possible to quantify the overall resultant savings to the public purse but I am satisfied that the contract with Wackenhut to run Tinsley house provides very good value for money.
  331

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service Trade Unions
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of the civil service trade unions; and what subjects were discussed. [29928]

  Mr. Freeman
  I last met representatives of the civil service unions on 29 January where many issues relating to the civil service were discussed.

  Council of Europe (Meetings)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995 have been attended by Ministers or officials of the Office of Public Service; and if he will make a statement. [29366]

  Mr. Freeman
  There have been 212 meetings of or organised by the Council of Europe since January 1995 attended by members of staff of the United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. No Ministers or officials in the Office of Public Service have attended these meetings.

  Government Car Service
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the make, age and purchase price of each vehicle in the Government car service ministerial fleet; [30387]

  (2) what was the total cost of maintaining and operating the Government car service ministerial fleet, for the years 1992–93 to 1995–96. [30386]

  Mr. Freeman
  As these are purely operational matters I have asked the chief executive of the Security Facilities Executive to write directly to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. C. King to Ms Glenda Jackson, dated 30 May 1996:

  I have been asked by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to reply direct to your two Parliamentary Questions relating to the Government Car Service (GCS). As Chief Executive of the Security Facilities Executive Agency, I have operational responsibility for the GCS.
  The Government Car Service currently purchases motor vehicles from the Ford, Jaguar, Rover and Vauxhall motor companies. I regret that, for security and commercial reasons, details of individual vehicles cannot be made public.
  The estimated costs of maintaining and operating the Government Car Service for the years 1992–93 to 1995–96 are as follows:

  1992/93: £7.0 million

  1993/94: £7.3 million

  1994/95: £7.6 million

  1995/96: £7.4 million

  These costs cover the whole of the Government Car Service, including the Ministerial vehicles.

  Civil Service College (Devolution Course)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the 332
  now withdrawn Civil Service College leaflet advertising courses on devolution this summer; and if he will make a statement. [30693]

  Mr. Freeman
  The promotion and scheduling of courses and seminars at the Civil Service College is an operational matter. I have asked the chief executive of the Civil Service College to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from S. H. F. Hickey to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 28 May 1996:

  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply to your Question on the Civil Service College's proposed seminar on devolution.
  I am arranging for a copy of the full information pack on College seminars and programmes for the Senior Civil Service to be made available for the Library. It includes a proposed single half-day briefing seminar on the work of the non-party Constitution Unit. In order to avoid any risk of misinterpretation, this seminar has been postponed.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) for what reasons HMSO has ceased publication of the social fund guide; [31061]

  (2) if he will list the publications which HMSO has ceased to publish in the last year; for what reasons HMSO has ceased publishing these documents; and what steps will be taken to ensure that copies of these remain available to the public. [31060]

  Mr. Freeman
  As these questions concern purely operational matters, I have asked the chief executive of HMSO to write direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Mike Lynn to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 29 May 1996:

  I have been asked to reply to your two Parliamentary Questions (numbers 183 and 185) to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
  The Social Fund Guide is a loose-leaf publication in two volumes, which was last published in May 1995. Amendments are published from time to time, and there have been five so far for the current edition. Both the main volumes and the amendments are prepared and printed by Benefits Agency Publishing Ltd, who provide copies for internal use within the Benefits Agency, and sell copies to HMSO for resale to customers. Amendments numbers 4 and 5 were printed some months ago, but there was a delay in taking copies for resale because of on-going discussions about alternative publishing methods, such as on-demand printing. I have now asked my people to take these amendments into stock immediately so that continuity of service can be provided to purchasers.
  You also ask what publications HMSO has ceased to publish in the last year. The Government departments who commission the vast majority of our non-parliamentary publishing output are free to use other publishers (or to publish in-house) if they choose. The only regular publication that we are aware of ceasing to publish during the last year is The Commonwealth Yearbook, which is now published by Hanson Cooke.

  Performance Bands
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official

  333
  Report, column 16, how many (a) unconditional on-demand bonds, (b) performance bonds, (c) parent company guarantees, (d) advance payment bonds and (e) retention bonds were required by his Department in the last five years. [31233]

  Mr. Willetts
  The Office of Public Service and its agencies, HMSO and the Central Office of Information have obtained six performance bonds and six parent company guarantees in the last five years. No unconditional on-demand bonds, advance payment bonds and retention bonds were required by the Department in the last five years.

  China
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he had on human rights issues with those Chinese leaders whom he met during his recent visit to China; which political opponents of the Government he met; and if he will make a statement. [31156]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The two main objectives for my visit to China were to develop commercial opportunities for British business in China and to take forward co-operation over Hong Kong. During my visit, I focused on these two objectives, which were achieved. I did not raise human rights issues. The Chinese are in no doubt about our long-held and serious concerns in that area.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to meet(a) Mr. Li Ka Shing, (b) Mr. David Choy, (c) Mr. Rong Yiren, (d) Mr. Stanley Ho, (e) Mr. T. T. Tsui and (f) Mr. C. H. Tung during his forthcoming visit to Hong Kong. [30598]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  During my visit to Hong Kong on 24 to 25 May, I met a broad range of businessmen, politicians and general opinion-formers.

  Ministry of Defence permanent UK based civilian staff at 1 April 1996

  Grades within the Open Structure and Occupational Groups—1April 1996

  Male

  Per cent.

  Female

  Per cent.

  Total

  Former Grade 1 (including 1A)

  3

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  3

  Former Grade 2 (including UIPP (Higher))

  8

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  8

  Former Grade 3 (including UIPP (Lower))

  43

  95.6

  2

  4.4

  45

  Former Grade 4

  24

  96.0

  1

  4.0

  25

  Former Grade 5

  240

  93.4

  17

  6.6

  257

  Former Grade 6

  708

  97.4

  19

  2.6

  727

  Former Grade 7

  2,598

  94.5

  151

  5.5

  2,749

  Senior Executive Officer

  1,119

  82.2

  242

  17.8

  1,361

  Administration Fast Stream (HEO(D))

  10

  55.6

  8

  44.4

  18

  Administration Fast Stream (AT/HEO(D))

  5

  83.3

  1

  16.7

  6

  Higher Executive Officer

  2,046

  66.1

  1,047

  33.9

  3,093

  Administration Fast Stream (AT)

  8

  88.9

  1

  11.1

  9

  Executive Officer

  2,888

  48.9

  3,019

  51.1

  5,907

  Administrative Officer

  3,846

  27.7

  10,017

  72.3

  13,863

  Administrative Assistant

  1,363

  21.6

  4,954

  78.4

  6,317

  Senior Economic Assistant

  1

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  1

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  0

  0.0

  1

  100.0

  1

  Assistant Statistician

  5

  71.4

  2

  28.6

  7

  Senior Information Officer

  30

  75.0

  10

  25.0

  40

  Information Officer

  39

  69.6

  17

  30.4

  56

  Assistant Information Officer

  2

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  2

  Senior Librarian

  9

  50.0

  9

  50.0

  18

  334

DEFENCE

  Service Personnel, Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the payment per week currently made to the three British service personnel who have been convicted and sentenced for the manslaughter of a Danish tour guide in Cyprus. [30199]

  Mr. Soames
  No payments have been made by my Department to the three men since they were discharged from the Army on 22 April. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has now assumed welfare responsibility for these individuals.

  Wessex Helicopter (Royal Family)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the replacement of the Wessex helicopter used by the royal family. [30242]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Wessex HCC4s used to provide the VVIP helicopter service for the royal family and senior Government Ministers have been in service since 1969 and are becoming more difficult and costly to maintain. We are examining options for a replacement service but no decisions have yet been taken.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in his Department on 1 April. [30552]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The number and percentages of male and female staff employed by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies are detailed in the following table.
  335

  Ministry of Defence permanent UK based civilian staff at 1 April 1996

  Grades within the Open Structure and Occupational Groups—1April 1996

  Male

  Per cent.

  Female

  Per cent.

  Total

  Librarian

  19

  40.4

  28

  59.6

  47

  Assistant Librarian

  11

  22.4

  38

  77.6

  49

  Museum Curatorial Group Grade D

  5

  83.3

  1

  16.7

  6

  Museum Curatorial Group Grade E

  5

  83.3

  1

  16.7

  6

  Museum Curatorial Group Grade F

  5

  62.5

  3

  37.5

  8

  Museum Curatorial Group Grade G

  1

  16.7

  5

  83.3

  6

  Museum Conservation Group Grade F

  2

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  2

  Senior Mapping and Charting Officer

  88

  77.9

  25

  22.1

  113

  Higher Mapping and Charting Officer

  200

  82.6

  42

  17.4

  242

  Mapping and Charting Officer

  364

  70.8

  150

  29.2

  514

  Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 1

  98

  59.0

  68

  41.0

  166

  Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 2

  23

  41.8

  32

  58.2

  55

  Senior Professional and Technology Officer

  2,270

  99.0

  23

  1.0

  2,293

  Higher Professional and Technology Officer

  3,641

  98.5

  54

  1.5

  3,695

  Professional and Technology Officer

  4,213

  98.0

  88

  2.0

  4,301

  Professional and Technology Officer IV (obs)

  2

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  2

  Technical Grade 1

  277

  73.9

  98

  26.1

  375

  Technical Grade 2

  11

  42.3

  15

  57.7

  26

  Graduate Trainee

  104

  91.2

  10

  8.8

  114

  Trainee Incorporated Engineer

  12

  85.7

  2

  14.3

  14

  Senior Graphics Officer

  10

  90.9

  1

  9.1

  11

  Higher Graphics Officer

  45

  95.7

  2

  4.3

  47

  Graphics Technical Grade

  1

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  1

  Graphics Officer

  161

  83.0

  33

  17.0

  194

  Senior Research Officer (R)

  44

  86.3

  7

  13.7

  51

  Research Officer (R)

  10

  83.3

  2

  16.7

  12

  Chief Typing Manager

  0

  0.0

  10

  100.0

  10

  Typing Manager

  0

  0.0

  117

  100.0

  117

  Senior Personal Secretary

  0

  0.0

  88

  100.0

  88

  Personal Secretary

  3

  0.4

  784

  99.6

  787

  Typist

  6

  0.2

  2,895

  99.8

  2,901

  Trainee Typist

  0

  0.0

  1

  100.0

  1

  Senior Scientific Officer

  1,373

  89.3

  164

  10.7

  1,537

  Higher Scientific Officer

  1,177

  84.0

  224

  16.0

  1,401

  Scientific Officer

  829

  78.7

  224

  21.3

  1,053

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  162

  69.8

  70

  30.2

  232

  Senior Instructional Officer

  65

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  65

  Higher Instructional Officer

  351

  98.6

  5

  1.4

  356

  Instructional Officer I

  1,132

  99.0

  11

  1.0

  1,143

  Instructional Officer II

  134

  96.4

  5

  3.6

  139

  Catering Manager 3

  2

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  2

  Chef 1/Chief Cook 1

  16

  94.1

  1

  5.9

  17

  Chef 2/Chief Cook 2

  18

  85.7

  3

  14.3

  21

  Museum Technical Grade 2

  3

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  3

  Museum Technician Grade 3

  1

  50.0

  1

  50.0

  2

  Museum Support Grade 1

  1

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  1

  Museum Support Grade 2

  2

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  2

  Museum Support Grade 3

  21

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  21

  Museum Support Grade 4

  3

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  3

  Museum Support Grade 5

  6

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  6

  Senior Photographic Officer

  6

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  6

  Higher photographic Officer

  34

  97.1

  1

  2.9

  35

  Photographic Officer

  124

  92.5

  10

  7.5

  134

  Process & General Supervisory Group Grade A

  10

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  10

  Process & General Supervisory Group Grade B

  33

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  33

  Process & General Supervisory Group Grade C

  115

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  115

  Process & General Supervisory Group Grade D

  301

  94.7

  17

  5.3

  318

  Process & General Supervisory Group Grade E

  127

  94.1

  8

  5.9

  135

  Senior Psychologist

  9

  40.9

  13

  59.1

  22

  Higher Psychologist

  2

  25.0

  6

  75.0

  8

  Psychologist (Graduate Trainee)

  1

  33.3

  2

  66.7

  3

  Stores Officer Grade A

  13

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  13

  Stores Officer Grade B

  124

  99.2

  1

  0.8

  125

  Stores Officer Grade C

  309

  96.9

  10

  3.1

  319

  Stores Officer Grade D

  590

  91.9

  52

  8.1

  642

  Support Manager 1

  3

  60.0

  2

  40.0

  5

  Support Manager 2

  16

  47.1

  18

  52.9

  34

  Support Manager 3

  60

  38.5

  96

  61.5

  156

  336 337

  Ministry of Defence permanent UK based civilian staff at 1 April 1996

  Grades within the Open Structure and Occupational Groups—1 April 1996

  Male

  Per cent.

  Female

  Per cent.

  Total

  Support Grade Band 1

  259

  27.8

  674

  72.2

  933

  Support Grade Band 2

  407

  48.9

  426

  51.1

  833

  Senior Telecommunications Technical Officer

  41

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  41

  Higher Telecommunications Technical Officer

  105

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  105

  Telecommunications Technical Officer

  271

  99.3

  2

  0.7

  273

  Assistant Telecommunications Technical Officer

  356

  95.7

  16

  4.3

  372

  Trainee Telecommunications Technical Officer

  27

  93.1

  2

  6.9

  29

  Communications Officer I

  18

  94.7

  1

  5.3

  19

  Communications Officer II

  37

  80.4

  9

  19.6

  46

  Communications Officer III

  75

  74.3

  26

  25.7

  101

  Communications Officer IV

  217

  69.8

  94

  30.2

  311

  Total staff in Open Structure and Occupational Groups

  35,612

  57.5

  26,335

  42.5

  61,947

  Total staff in Departmental non-industrial grades (1)

  14,553

  88.5

  1,897

  11.5

  16,450

  Industrial staff

  27,355

  82.3

  5,877

  17.7

  32,232

  Total non-industrial and industrial staff

  77,520

  69.4

  34,109

  30.6

  111,629

  Source:

  DASA (Civilian and tri-service).

  Notes

  (1) Departmental grades refer to those grades which are specific to the MoD.

  British Forces Overseas
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which British military forces are based; and what is the number of service personnel at each such base. [30513]

  Mr. Soames
  The deployment of United Kingdom forces at April 1996 is shown in figure 3 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1996", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  The number of UK service personnel at permanent overseas stations is as follows:

  Number

  Ascension Islands

  156

  Brunei

  948

  Cyprus

  3,874

  Diego Garcia

  40

  Falkland Islands1

  Germany

  23,500

  Gibraltar

  587

  Hong Kong

  1,920

  1 It is not our practice to publish the size of the Falklands garrison.

  In addition some 10,500 service personnel are serving in the former Yugoslavia.

  Defence Sales Office
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the net Government funding given to the Defence sales office for each of the last five years. [30591]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The net cost of the Defence Export Services Organisation for the last five years was as follows:

  1991–92: £11.05 million

  1992–93: £11.89 million

  1993–94: £16.02 million

  1994–95: £10.94 million

  1995–96: £17.08 million

  338

  Army Technical Support Agency
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned collocation of the Army Technical Support Agency. [31476]

  Mr. Soames
  I am very grateful to those hon. Members, local authorities, other organisations and individuals who have responded to the consultative document issued on 8 December 1995.

  Our objective remains to bring together more of the staff of the agency, currently dispersed over six principal sites. This will enable them to make better use of new logistic systems and processes in support of customers in the Army and the other two services.

  Our analysis of the options for the site of a collocated ATSA takes into account a number of considerations. The site must provide best value for money in terms of the balance between transition costs and longer-terms savings; it must provide good business benefits, including ease of communication with ATSA's principal customers, located at Andover; it must be a reasonable location for the staff of the agency, taking into account the fact that a large number will have to relocate whatever the choice of site; and it must also take account of regional and other economic factors.

  These complex and potentially conflicting issues have been fully reflected in the responses to the consultative document. The additional information which has been provided has been taken into account in an independent analysis of the investment appraisal by my Department's senior economic adviser. Reassessment of some of the factors has shown that formal consideration needs to be given to Andover and Ludgershall as potential sites for ATSA. In addition, it now appears that there would be room for ATSA at Chilwell even when taking account of the requirements of the engineer resources organisation which is planned to move from Long Marston by 1998. This is a material change from the circumstances set out in the consultative document.
  339
  As a result, I have concluded that more work is required to take account of the points that have emerged during consultation and to consider formally Andover, Ludgershall and Chilwell. Although I am anxious to resolve the uncertainty felt by ATSA staff at all the current locations, our priority is to reach a conclusion in the best long-term interests of the agency, its customers and its staff. The results of this work will be subject to a further consultative process when it has been completed, and I hope to make a final decision of the location of a collocated ATSA by the end of the year.

  Sandhurst Cadets
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of schools sponsoring cadets at Sandhurst, indicating the figures for each regiment. [30988]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Chris Elliott to Mr. Paul Murphy, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about schools sponsoring cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation.
  Cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst are not sponsored by their schools.
  A small proportion of the Cadets have come direct from school through the Entry Selection Process. However, the vast majority pass through university before going to Sandhurst.
  Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

  Sea King Helicopters
  Mr Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 54, if he will list the number of Sea King helicopters currently in service with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force by year of entry into service; how many Sea Kings have suffered cracks in the lift frame, by year of entry into service; how many have suffered cracking to the lift frame more than once; and if he will make a statement. [30812]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is provided in the table:

  Aircraft delivered currently in service

  Aircraft delivered 1 or more cracks

  Aircraft with repeat cracks

  Year

  RN

  RAF

  Total1

  1969

  8

  —

  8

  1

  1970

  15

  —

  16

  3

  1971

  13

  —

  11

  5

  1972

  5

  —

  5

  2

  1973

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1974

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1975

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1976

  5

  —

  4

  —

  1977

  4

  3

  8

  1

  1978

  —

  11

  11

  8

  1979

  5

  1

  6

  1

  1980

  9

  1

  10

  3

  1981

  10

  —

  9

  4

  340

  Aircraft delivered currently in service

  Aircraft delivered 1 or more cracks

  Aircraft with repeat cracks

  Year

  RN

  RAF

  Total1

  1982

  8

  —

  6

  1

  1983

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  10

  —

  7

  1

  1985

  6

  3

  6

  —

  1986

  9

  —

  5

  —

  1987

  3

  —

  2

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  2

  —

  1

  —

  1990

  6

  —

  1

  1

  1991

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1992

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1993

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1994

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1995

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1996

  —

  6

  —

  —

  Total

  119

  25

  116

  31

  1 Includes aircraft no longer in service.

  Although the problem of lift frame cracking has a transitory effect on aircraft availability, the repair load is manageable, and there is no question of its affecting the ability of the Sea King to continue in service until its planned out-of-service date. Furthermore, the aircraft design is tolerant of failures and this, combined with rigorous periodic in-service inspections, maintains the good airworthiness record of the Sea King structure. No aircraft accidents have been caused by Sea King lift frame or associated component failure.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning market testing. [30822]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 6 February,Official Report, column 120. The policy has not changed.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the projected annual savings as a result of the market testing of health provision for British forces services; and if he will make a statement. [30985]

  Mr. Soames
  Market testing of health provision for British forces in Germany is expected to realise annual savings of £2 million in financial year 1998–99, £3.4 million in 1999–2000, and £4 million in 2000–01. Initial set-up costs, and some dual running to facilitate a seamless transition to the new service will result in increased costs of £2.3 million in 1996–97 and £2.9 million in 1997–98. Therefore, over the five-year period of the service level agreement with "The Health Alliance", net savings of some £4.2 million are expected to accrue to the Defence budget.

  These changes have been achieved with no detriment to the overall level of service which is provided to our forces and their families. Indeed, in many aspects an improved level of service has already been achieved.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) all of his Department's activities which have been contractorised or market tested, (b) the date of contractorisation and market testing and (c) the overall costs. [30986]
  341
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am writing to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Environmental Assessments
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Environmental assessment his Department carries out of RAF stations or bases before they are sold or disposed of; when such assessments started; which officials within his Department carry out such assessments; if such assessments measure nuclear contamination; and to whom the results of such assessments are made available. [31266]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department is introducing a procedure for land quality assessment, the outcome of which is a land quality statement, which is to be applied to all sites earmarked for disposal. A prioritised programme is also being drawn up for other sites on the defence estate where such work is considered appropriate. Although the procedure has only recently been formally introduced, investigation of land quality using the present methodology commenced in 1993.

  Within the RAF, the majority of such assessments are undertaken by independent specialist consultants which are managed by the defence estate organisation. Specialist in-house resources such as the RAF's explosive ordnance disposal team and the defence radiological protection service are employed where a civilian contractor might not have the relevant expertise. Reports of their findings are made available to the specialist consultant appointed to carry out the land quality assessment work.

  The land quality assessment procedure is intended to cover all categories of contaminants, and where appropriate will include recommendations for and implementation of remedial action. The resulting land quality statement is made available, amongst others, to prospective purchasers. My Department complies fully with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations, 1992.

  HMS Sheffield
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the implication for the environment of the Falkland islands of the grave of HMS Sheffield. [29925]

  Mr. Soames
  HMS Sheffield sank in deep water, some 350 miles to the east of the Falkland islands. We are confident that there is no risk to the environment of the Falklands.

  Buses and Coaches
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of buses and coaches owned by, or used by, the services are now fitted with engine governors, restricting their top speed to 65 mph. [30665]

  Mr. Soames
  The joint service fleet of buses and coaches currently consists of 929 vehicles of mixed types, all of which have speed limiters fitted. Approximately 41 per cent. of the total fleet, which was acquired before 1988, has limiters set at 65mph. The remaining 59 per cent. is restricted to 60mph. Buses and coaches hired for 342
  service use have to comply with the speed limiter regulations in force in the country in which the vehicle is hired.

  RAF Sealand
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons he has extended the deadline for bids under the market testing programme at RAF Sealand; and if he will make a statement. [30823]

  Mr. Soames
  The time taken to answer bidders' formal questions, to provide up to date detailed Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981–TUPE—data and to amend the invitation to tender have all contributed to the extension. In order to allow bidders sufficient time to respond to ITT changes, the tender submission date has been delayed from 8 May 1996 to 12 June 1996.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many uniformed personnel are currently stationed at RAF Sealand, Deeside. [30821]

  Mr. Soames
  On 23 May 1996 there were 338 uniformed personnel stationed at RAF Sealand.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians are employed at RAF Sealand. [30820]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  On 1 April 1996 there were 1,305 MOD civilian staff employed at RAF Sealand.

  Nimrod
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the current servicing contract for the RAF Nimrod fleet. [30963]

  Mr. Soames
  As a result of the "Competing for Quality" initiative a five-year contract was awarded to FR Aviation in March 1995. This contract provides those engineering services previously performed by the Nimrod major servicing unit at RAF Kinloss, including the maintenance of the Nimrod maritime and Nimrod reconnaissance fleets.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Nimrod aircraft are grounded and for what reasons; and if he will make a statement. [30825]

  Mr. Soames
  As at 20 May 1996 no Nimrod aircraft were grounded.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Nimrod aircraft are currently in service; what are their principal purposes; and if he will make a statement. [30824]

  Mr. Soames
  There are 27 Nimrod aircraft currently in service. In addition three aircraft are in long-term storage and a fourth aircraft is undergoing major repair. The principal purpose of the Nimrod MR2 is maritime patrol; and that of the Nimrod R 1 reconnaissance.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Nimrod aircraft are serviced by companies engaged under market testing; and if he will make a statement. [30826]
  343
  Mr. Soames
  As a result of the "Competing for Quality" initiative a contract was awarded to FR Aviation in March 1995 for the provision of engineering service including the maintenance of the 31 aircraft in the Nimrod fleet.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of individuals from ethnic minorities serving in each regiment and corps in the Army giving the figures for each rank. [30987]

  Mr. Soames
  This information is not currently available. However, in accordance with the joint action plan between the Army and the Commission for Racial Equality announced on 28 March 1996, the Army is currently undertaking a detailed survey of the ethnic composition of the Army. Classification will be in accordance with the CRE guidelines. It is intended that the results of this survey will be available by the end of the year and that the data will provide the means by which the Army will monitor the success of its equal opportunities policies. It should, at that time, be possible to derive figures about the distribution of ethnic minorities by both rank and capbadge through the Army.

  Consultants
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the private consultants employed by his Department in each of the last five years; what projects they were involved with; and what was the total cost in each year. [31024]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Individual budget holders in my Department have delegated powers to employ external consultants as they think fit within the limit of their resources and consistent with all requirements for propriety and value for money. The information required has not been held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The hon. Member will however wish to note that my officials are currently collecting data from all areas of the Department to establish the total expenditure on external consultancy. The exercise covering financial year 1995–96 is nearing completion. Once the information is to hand I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Army Commissions
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) state and (b) private school applications were made for Army commissions in the last available year. [30984]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Retained Files
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons files with the classmark ES1/542–547 recorded at the Public Record Office concerning nuclear weapon hazards from an aircraft crash between 1951 and 1959 are currently retained by his Department; and if he will consider opening them under the open government initiative; [31264]
  344
  (2) for what reasons the file with the classmark ES1/548 recorded at the Public Record Office concerning the appointment of a weapon accident investigation team between 1958 and 1964 is currently retained by his Department; and if he will consider opening it under the open government initiative. [31265]

  Mr. Soames
  Arrangements are being made to review ES1/542–547 and ES1/548 to establish whether release into the public domain is now possible. I will write to the hon. Member on completion of the review process.

  Married Quarters Estate
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the basis for the sale of the married quarters estate is monthly based rent with five-yearly reviews; [31292]

  (2) if bids based on index-linked rents are being considered for the sale of the married quarters estate. [31274]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We set out in the preliminary information memorandum, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, proposals for setting the rent MOD will pay for those married quarters it leases from the purchaser of the married quarters estate. The final arrangements will be settled in discussion with potential purchasers of the estate. The proposed sale of the estate will have no impact upon the arrangements whereby the charges which service personnel pay for their accommodation are independently recommended by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

  Nuclear Accident Response Organisation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the duties of the Nuclear Accident Response Organisation; when this organisation was established; how many are employed within the organisation; and how many civilians are employed by the organisation. [31268]

  Mr. Soames
  The aim of the Nuclear Accident Response Organisation is to ensure that in conjunction with the appropriate civil agencies, there would be an effective response to safeguard the general public and MOD personnel in the unlikely event of an emergency involving defence nuclear materials.

  The eight full-time staff in MOD headquarters, five of whom are civilians, give policy direction for the development and exercising of appropriate plans and procedures, but overall the NARO could draw on the skills of many hundreds of personnel across the armed forces and the MOD. Their precise number and specialisation would be dependent on the particular circumstances of an accident but it might include medical experts, health physicists, technical/design specialists, radiation monitoring experts, engineering teams, and associated logistic and other support staff. Contingency arrangements to deal with a range of accidents have existed for as long as the MOD has used nuclear material.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the procedures for informing foreign Governments if an accident involving British-controlled nuclear weapons had occurred on their soil or within their
  345
  borders; when these procedures were adopted; and under what circumstances foreign Governments have had to be warned of such accidents. [31263]

  Mr. Soames
  In ratifying the International Atomic Energy Agency convention of 26 September 1986 on early notification of a nuclear accident, the United Kingdom Government undertook to notify the IAEA and affected states in the event of an accident to military facilities or equipment which had or might have consequences that could be of radiological safety significance for another state. Separate bilateral arrangements have also been concluded as appropriate: the terms of these are classified. There has never been an accident involving a UK nuclear weapon which has required a foreign Government to be informed under these arrangements.

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 52, how many (a) unconditional on-demand bonds, (b) performance bonds, (c) parent company guarantees, (d) advance payment bonds and (e) retention bonds were required by his Department in the last five years. [31228]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In line with central Treasury advice, this Department does not seek unconditional on-demand bonds. With regard to categories(b) to (e), our centrally held records show there to be almost 200 current guarantees and indemnities in place dated since 1 January 1991. Our records do not differentiate between the categories as requested. An indemnity or guarantee provided under category (c) could cover (b), (d) and/or (e). More specific information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Military Training
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 March,Official Report, column 637, if he will make a statement on the (a) defence and (b) wider foreign policy aims underlying the decisions to provide military training assistance to (i) Indonesia, (ii) Guatemala and (iii) Sudan between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 1995; and what assistance is being provided to (i), (ii) and (iii) currently. [30319]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 22 May 1996]: The defence and wider foreign policy aims which underlie the provision of military training assistance include the promotion of peace and stability, the spread of democratic values and the strengthening of standards in the armed forces. Details of the assistance provided is confidential between Governments; however, no military training assistance is currently being provided to Sudan.

  Defence Radiological Protection Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the duties of the defence radiological protection service; how many people are employed in the service; when the service was set up; and if the service publishes an annual report. [31267]
  346
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 4 June 1996:

  I have been asked to reply to your question about the Defence Radiological Protection Service (DRPS) which is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
  DRPS employs 75 people and provides the Ministry of Defence with technical and advisory services on all aspects of ionising and non-ionising radiation protection. DRPS also provides advice on the transport and disposal of radioactive material, carries out environmental monitoring surveys and advises on the remediation of land or buildings contaminated with radioactive substances.
  DRPS was formed in 1982 from the Naval Radiological Protection Service which had been set up in 1965. It remained part of the Royal Naval Medical Service until 1 April 1996 when it became part of DERA.
  DRPS has published its own Annual Report since its formation and will produce its last independent report later this summer for the financial year 1995/96. In the future information on DRPS will be included in the DERA Annual Report.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of his Department's agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30115]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  These matters fall to the chief executives of my Department's agencies and I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing in Defence Agencies. As Chief Executive of one such agency (the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO), I am replying with respect to the market testing we have been conducting.
  Since the launch of ABRO on 1 April 1993 the Agency has completed one market test. This competition covered the complete range of services provided by one its major business units—ABRO Bovington (covering re-manufacture of armoured fighting vehicles, including the Challenger Main Battle Tank, and also equipment repair support to the Royal Armoured Corps Centre and other local affiliated military units). The market test was won by the in-house team and a Service Level Agreement has been in place since July 1994.
  The Agency is currently engaged on the market test of the equipment repair support service that it provides to Army Land Command. Recommendations on the results of this competition are due to be made to Ministers by 31 January 1997. ABRO will then have market tested activities amounting to 65% of its running costs.
  The final phase of the Agency's current Competing for Quality programme will be to evaluate and implement the strategy for ABRO Donnington. This can only begin once we have the full set of experiences from the market test currently in train. I have enclosed a copy of our Corporate Plan which will give you a fuller picture of our activities.
  347
  Letter from K. J. W. Goad to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I reply to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding Market Testing activity by this Agency.
  As Chief Executive I submit a nil return on behalf of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA).

  Letter from C. L. Elliott to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing in Agencies as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation (AITO).
  No market tests have been completed to date. However, the AITO is in the early stages of carrying out market testing at 6 of our training establishments.
  The outcome of this programme of tests will not be known for at least 18 months, and therefore I am unable to report any results at this stage.
  Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

  Letter from J. R. Prince to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing into services provided by this agency, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA).
  ATSA launched in October 1995 and, to date, no market testing has been carried out.

  Letter from A. H. Roache to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding what Market Testing has been carried out into the services provided by the DAC, and what were the results.
  An independent study into Competing for Quality by Shreeveport Limited concluded that Market Testing was not viable for the DAC and therefore the matter was taken no further.

  Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA).
  A market testing review of the Agency was carried out shortly after its launch in July 1992. The study team concluded that the Agency as a whole should remain in the public sector. A reappraisal in February 1995 also considered that the bulk of the work of the Agency should be retained in-house though there was some opportunity for contracting out.
  Competing for Quality figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for the Agency's Efficiency Plan. It is anticipated that this information will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.

  Letter from T. R. Thurgate to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing of the Defence Bills Agency as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive.
  There are no plans to market test the work of the DBA. The task of the DBA was formerly carried out by the now disbanded Defence Accounts Agency. Under market testing rules, an in-house bid which represented substantial savings was submitted. Ministers accepted the bid and the DBA was formed.
  348
  Letter from R. N. Dixon to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing in the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  As part of the procedure which resulted in the formation of the DCTA on 22 November 1994, full consideration was given to the "prior options". This included an exhaustive examination of whether the services of the Agency could be better provided through contractorisation or privatisation, in whole or in part. The conclusion then was that they could not. There has been no market testing of the services provided by the Agency in the period since it formation.
  It should be noted, however, that a very substantial proportion of DCTA expenditure is already being placed externally through the normal competitive process. Cash expenditure by DCTA in 1995/96 totalled £137M of which £124M (90%) represented money spent on the purchase of clothing, textiles and general stores, as well as externally-sourced R&D effort and support services. Contracts for these goods and services were placed in full compliance with government requirements for open competition between suppliers.

  Letter from C. Roberts to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  Your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Market Testing falls within the responsibilities of the Chief Executive of the Defence Dental Agency. I am responding on the Chief Executive's behalf during his absence on duty.
  The Defence Dental Agency was formed on 1 March 1996. This was in line with the recommendation of Defence Cost Study 15 that the three single Service dental branches should be brought together into a single tri-Service Directorate and considered for Agency status. Prior to the launch of the Agency a Competing for Quality feasibility study was completed by outside consultants. The Study concluded that neither market testing, privatisation nor contractorization of Defence primary dental services were feasible options, but made a number of recommendations on efficiency which are now being implemented.
  I hope that this is of help.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  Your recent question to Secretary of State for Defence asked for details on market testing carried out in his Department's agencies. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
  I should begin by explaining that DERA was only formed on 1 April 1995 when the Defence Research Agency (DRA) joined with other Ministry of Defence research and evaluation organisations to form a single science and technology Agency. The figures for Market Testing initiatives, which I set out below, however refer mainly to the period from April 1991 when the DRA was a separate Agency. They are:

  Area

  Financial year

  Value of service reviewed

  Outcomes

  (£ million)

  a. DRA Experimental Flying

  1992–93

  26.2

  Contract award to in-house MOD team based at Boscombe Down.

  b. DRA

  1993–94

  45.0

  Market Test suspended in

  Site Services

  1994–95

  90.0

  May 1994 when competition at early sites in programme revealed that equivalent savings could be obtained organisationally by restructuring requirements.

  349

  Area

  Financial year

  Value of service reviewed (£ million)

  Outcomes

  c. DRA

  1994–95

  47.0

  Market Test suspended.

  Engineering Services

  Savings achieved by combination of prior options review of requirement and rationalisation.

  d. DRA

  1994–95

  3.1

  Financial Accounting

  Award made to in-house team after competition.

  e. IS Data Telecoms

  1994–95

  1.0

  Overtaken by rationalisation measures.

  Market Testing is only one part of a wider Competing for Quality Programme pursued by this Agency. For the period between April 1995 and March 1996 this programme has been incorporated into the DERA's Corporate Planning process. This has resulted in the proposal, currently under consideration, for the privatisation of the support services elements of DERA as announced by the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 27 March 1996. It is anticipated that information on this efficiency programme will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from T. McG Brown to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency.
  Three Agency functions have been market tested so far. The Mill Hill catering and stewardship functions where the contract was awarded to Gardner Merchant Ltd. The mall sorting functions at St Giles Court and Mill Hill together with the MOD Van Service were subsumed into our Mail 2000 Initiative, part of the Defence Cost Studies programme, and hence remained in house.
  I hope this is helpful, please let me know if you require any further information.

  Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing of services provided as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.
  Contractorisation of Meteorological Office work has historically run at a high level. The attached table gives the details, in terms of staff costs, of what further gains we have so far achieved as a consequence of the Government's market testing initiative.
  Work continues to examine the scope for market testing in a number of other areas of the Office.
  I hope you find this information useful.

  Activity

  Number of staff (before efficiencies)

  Annual value (£000) (staff costs)

  Efficiencies made (Percentage)

  Library and Archives

  17

  230

  25

  Corporate Communications

  25

  510

  11

  Personnel Administration Services

  19

  240

  22

  It Operations Centre

  22

  598

  32

  Supply and Services

  61

  851

  22

  350
  Letter from R. G. Smith to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing by Agencies as this matter, in respect of my Agency, falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA).
  The DSCA was only launched on 30 April 1996; I have not yet implemented any market testing programmes. However, we are undertaking scoping work in order to identify areas suitable for market testing in the future. In this respect, I regard support services as being particularly suitable for this sort of exercise. I therefore intend, if the possibility exists, to subject all support services to some form of competition including market testing where appropriate.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Letter from M. G. R. Hodson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, about market testing, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive Agency.
  The only market test taking place in this agency is that of the MOD Freight Distribution Service. The Feasibility Study commenced in October 1994 and, following Trades Unions consultation, an Invitation to Tender was issued on 26 January 1996 to 4 commercial tenderers and a tri-Service in-house bid team. Tenders were due in by 30 May 1996. Results are currently planned to be announced in November 1996. Once this particular market test is completed, over 90% of DTMX business will have been market tested.

  Letter from Keith Ellender to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing in my agency as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
  No market testing was carried out within the Disposal Sales Agency between October 1994, when we achieved agency status, and March 1995.
  CFQ figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for my agency's Efficiency Plan. It is anticipated that this information will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.

  Letter from G. H. Wilson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing as this matter falls within my area of responsibility of Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School.
  No market testing was carried out prior to March 1995 into the services we provide.
  CFQ figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for our Agency's Efficiency Plan. It is anticipated that the information will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.

  Letter from J. P. Clarke to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence a Parliamentary Question concerning the extent to which market testing had been carried out within Agencies of the Ministry of Defence. As the Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office Defence Agency, the issue raised falls within my area of responsibility and I have been asked to reply to you.
  The simple answer to your question is that no market testing has been carried out into the services provided by the Hydrographic Office. Given the paucity of this response it might be of some benefit if I were to expand a little on this statement.

  351
  The Hydrographic Office, during 1993 and 1994 conducted a number of internal studies into various activities to ascertain if market testing represented a feasible and realistic method of achieving value for money. In the event, the Hydrographic Office Board concluded that a formal Market Testing programme would not be conducted as it was not, for various reasons, considered to be an appropriate option. However, the various feasibility studies highlighted a number of areas and activities where it was felt further efficiency savings could be made. In light of this a formal Efficiency Programme was instigated with the aim of realising savings, commensurate with those which could have been expected from market testing. This programme was successful with savings targets being met in both financial years 1994/95 and 1995/96.
  I hope the above information has been helpful.

  Letter from N. J. Pearson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Defence Agency. The Agency, which is only 2 months old, has not carried a market test of any of the services which it provides.

  Letter from A. W. Pollard to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what market testing has been carried out into the services that Agencies provide. As Chief Executive, this falls within my area of responsibility for the Logistic Information Systems Agency (LISA).
  Although LISA was included in the Market Testing programme prior to its launch as an Agency in November 1994, the activity to be tested was subsumed by the Agency's CFQ Partnership initiative. This culminated in the award of a contract in December 1995 to EDS. Under the terms of this contract, all LISA non-core activity is being transferred to the Private Sector partner who will continue to provide these services on site under GOCO arrangements. The bulk of the transfer took place on 1 March 1996 with the remainder to follow by April 1997. It is anticipated that final CFQ figures for the year ending March 1996 will be published in this year's Next Steps Review.
  If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Letter from B. E. Nimick to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Market testing, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency.
  The Medical Supplies Agency was established "to ensure the cost effective and timely provision of medical, dental and veterinary material, blood and blood products, technical and logistic support and trained personnel to the UK Armed Forces worldwide". It was initially proposed that the provision of these services be subject to a market test. However, Defence Cost Study 15 recommended that this should be cancelled and that the wider system covering medical supply, provisioning points and other medical stores should undergo agency review.
  As a consequence of this review, this Agency came into being on 1 March 1996 and copies of the Framework Document and Corporate Plan have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
  Our efficiency programme is estimated to achieve savings of £27m over the 10 year Long Term Costing period. Clearly it is too early in the life of the Agency to have completed market testing exercises for the services we provide, but our corporate plan identifies the strategies designed to deliver value for money and cost effective services. In brief these strategies are to:

  (a) Utilize the Private Sector for direct deliveries of medical material of end users and the setting up of dormant contracts, where appropriate, to enable a percentage of War Maintenance Reserve (WMR) to be held by trade. This
  352
  would drive down the need to hold stocks and limit the storage facilities to the minimum required for operational purposes.

  (b) Factor out the non-core functions to the most cost effective provider, whether Public or Private sector. This in turn will enable a further rationalisation of sites within the medical supply organisation. There are a number of areas where Service Level Agreements with other MOD authorities, who are also pursuing efficiency programmes, would be appropriate, for example, Anny Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA) and Director of Transport and Movement Executive (DTM(X)). Emphasis will be placed on customer satisfaction through both control of supply and distribution. With the resultant rise in customer confidence, it is expected that there will be a corresponding reduction in local stock holdings.

  (c) Develop partnership arrangements with authorities beyond MOD either in Industry or other elements of the Public Sector such as the Buying Agency and the National Health Service Supplies Authority (NHSSA). Discussions with a variety of existing and potential suppliers are being carried out.

  (d) Commission a review of policy concerning range and standardisation of material. Proposals for rationalising range and prescribing policy will be submitted to the Surgeon General for approval. This will achieve a reduction in programme costs.

  As these measures are carried out, the Medical Supply Organisation will reduce in size and will eventually have a core of service medical personnel, with the necessary clinical skills, working closely with a civilian team to provide a compact multi-disciplined team. This will be the source of purchasing, provisioning, clinical and technical support to advise the Surgeon General and provide him with advice with regard to the acquisition of material and related services and to support Operations more effectively through integrated Operational Supply Chains.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from P. R. Wildman to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing carried out by government agencies. This matter falls within my area of responsibility, as Chief Executive, as far as the Military Survey Defence Agency is concerned.
  No market testing has been completed by Military Survey to date. The three initiatives started in 1993 ceased to be candidates when they fell below revised financial thresholds. However, these initiatives have now been reviewed under Competing For Quality (CFQ) guidelines and a new CFQ programme is being developed. It is anticipated that further information will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review and the 1996/7 Agency Annual Report.

  Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing, as this falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
  The non-core activities of Ministry of Defence Police business were market tested as part of our prior options exercise, which resulted in the placement of contracts, at MDP Wethersfield, covering catering, estate management, grounds maintenance, accommodation services, cleaning and administration, effective from April 1993. The resultant savings are in excess of £300K per annum.
  353
  Letter from W. S. Graham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:

  1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, that asked what market testing has been carried out into the services provided by the 'Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO)' and what were the results, as the matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the NARO.

  2.No market testing has been carried out in respect of services provided by the NARO.

  Letter from J. H. S. McAnally to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, about agency Market Testing (MT) initiatives, in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA).
  The NRTA came into being on 1 April 1995. During the 1980s and prior to the formation of the Ministry of Defence Market Testing Organisation, the Royal Navy contracted out a number of shore establishment support activities, such as catering, cleaning and grounds maintenance.
  In March 1995, one small Market Test was successfully concluded at the Britannia Royal Naval College boat maintenance facility at Sandquay, Dartmouth. In addition, MT feasibility studies were conducted in late 1994, at two NRTA shore training establishments. Both of these studies concluded independently that further scope for possible savings from MT were likely to be limited and would involve multiple, management intensive, tests of small identifiable units, with the accompanying need for, and expense of, consultancy support for in-house team bidders. As a consequence, the NRTA is developing a Partnering Initiative as an alternative to the traditional MT approach, whilst still complying with Governmental Competing for Quality (CFQ) policy. The Partnering Initiative will, in addition to providing "standard" CFQ savings in services delivery, provide a third party income stream to help offset the overhead costs of the NRTA infrastructure.

  Letter from M. A. Rowe to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing where it relates to my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Pay & Personnel Agency.
  My Agency was launched on 1 February 1996 and no market testing of the services we provide has been carried out.

  Letter from S. B. Burdess to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996
  I am replying, on behalf of Air Vice-Marshal R. H. Kyle, who is currently on leave, to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing within his Department's Agencies as this matter falls within his responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group Defence Agency (RAF MGDA).
  Competing for Quality figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for our Agency's Efficiency Plan. It is anticipated that this information will be published in the 1996 Nest Steps Review.

  Letter from P. C. Ayee to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he would list for each of his Department's Agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide, and what the results were. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment.
  My Agency is currently market testing a multi-activity package of its supporting activities, covering motor transport, provisioning, catering, information technology, communications and selected administrative services, and valued at £8m per annum in pay costs. Five external bids and one in-house bid have been received and are currently being evaluated. The successful bidder is expected to be announced in time for implementation of the results in January 1997.
  354
  Letter from J. A. G. May to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about market testing of services insofar as this bears on my responsibilities for the Royal Air Force Training Group Defence Agency.
  Up to 31 March 1995, the following activities contributed to the Agency's response to the Defence Market Testing Initiative and the targets set by Departmental Plan 92:

  (a) Support Services at Royal Air Force Scampton. The Support Services at Royal Air Force Scampton were contractorized. The Station has since been closed.

  (b) The Joint Elementary Flying Training Squadron at Royal Air Force Topcliffe. The Joint Elementary Flying Training Squadron at Royal Air Force Topcliffe was contractorized. The Squadron, together with the Contractor, has since moved to Royal Air Force Barkston Heath.

  (c) Supply Services at Royal Air Force Locking. The market test of the Supply Services at Royal Air Force Locking was put into abeyance pending decisions on the future of the Station. It has since been decided to close the Station.

  Except for the outcome of the recent competition in respect of Support Services at Royal Air Force Valley, which we hope will be announced shortly, the Agency's Competing for Quality forward programme for the period from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 has yet to be finalized. It is expected that the outstanding conclusions will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.
  I am sending a copy of this letter to my Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

  Letter from I. S. Mitchelson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence relating to market testing within each of his Department's Agencies, insofar as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Service Children's Education.
  For the period up until March 1996 this Agency had not yet completed the market testing of any of its services. This Agency is, however, currently involved in a wider market test concerning Army Catering and Mess Services in Germany. The project is being led by the United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) and the market test includes catering and cleaning in Service Schools in Germany; contractual arrangements are planned to be effective from 1 October 1997.

  Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what market testing has been carried out into the services we provide and the results thereof as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Queen Victoria School.
  Since Queen Victoria School became an Agency on 1st April 1992 no market testing has been carried out into the services we provide. We currently have no plans to carry out market testing in the future.
  If you have any further questions about this please do not hesitate to contact me.

TREASURY

  Tax Complaints
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many cases investigated by the revenue adjudicator in each year since 1993 have been settled; and if he will make a statement; [29601]
  355
  (2) how many complaints in each year since May 1993, have been fully investigated by the revenue adjudicator; and if he will make a statement. [29605]

  Mr. Jack
  The following table shows the number of full investigations of complaints about the Inland Revenue which the adjudicator completed in the three years to 31 March 1996:

  Year

  Complaints taken up Complaints settled

  Complaints settled in the year

  1993–94

  308

  105

  1994–95

  504

  381

  1995–96

  470

  495

  On 31 March 1996, the adjudicator had 301 complaints under full investigation.

  European Monetary Union
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the levels of unemployment that would be optimal for successful economic convergence prior to entering the European monetary union. [30468]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The criteria against which member states will be assessed when determining whether they have successfully converged prior to entering the European monetary union are set out in article 109j of the treaty establishing the European Community. Levels of unemployment are not included among these criteria. But having an efficient and flexible labour market increases competitiveness and generates growth and employment.

  The United Kingdom labour market is one of the least regulated in the European Union with an impressive record on job creation, and we have more people in jobs and fewer out of work than any other major European country.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 26 March,Official Report, column 567, what was the average cost of answering an (a) oral and (b) written parliamentary question for April of the current year; and if he will put the information and statistics on which this calculation is based in the Library. [30470]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information required to calculate the average cost of answering parliamentary questions for April 1996 is not yet available. The calculation is dependent upon the availability of data on movements in earnings, published annually in October. I am arranging for details of the basis of the April 1995 calculation to be placed in the Library.

  Debt Servicing Bill
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the annual reduction in the Government's debt servicing bill in the years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01 resulting from a fall in United Kingdom interest rates of 1.5 per cent. across all maturities of the yield curve. [30594]
  356
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The forecast reductions in net central Government interest payments resulting from a half of 1 per cent. fall in interest rates across the yield curve are as follows:(a) 1996–97 £0.3 billion, (b) 1997–98 £0.5 billion, (c) 1998–99 £0.6 billion, (d) 1999–2000 £0.7 billion, (e) 2000–2001 to £0.7 billion.

  These reductions are calculated using the 1995 Budget forecast for borrowing and assume that the half point fall is sustained throughout the forecast.

  Road Traffic Offences
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will earmark a major proportion of revenue raised from road traffic penalties to be used for increased preventive measures. [30676]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Revenue raised through either fines or taxes is paid into the Consolidated Fund. Priorities for public expenditure are settled through the public expenditure survey process.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in his Department on 1 April. [30544]

  Mr. Jack
  The information for HM Treasury is given in the table. On 1 April 1996, all Treasury staff transferred from their old grades, into new, broad pay ranges. Staff who were in the old grades of administrative assistant and administrative officer are now in pay ranges A and B respectively.

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Female (per cent.)

  Pay range A

  26

  52

  78

  67

  Pay range B

  71

  174

  245

  71

  Pay range C

  75

  75

  150

  50

  Pay range D

  178

  93

  271

  34

  Pay range E

  187

  67

  254

  26

  Pay range F

  68

  13

  81

  16

  Pay range G

  15

  4

  19

  21

  Pay range H

  11

  0

  11

  —

  Total

  631

  478

  1,109

  43

  Housing Stock Sales (VAT)
  Mr. Donohoe
  Top ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of value added tax pertains to the sale of housing stock owned by a development corporation to a housing association. [30542]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Value added tax is not levied on the sale of housing, irrespective of who supplies it to whom. Generally, new housing is zero rated and other housing is exempt from VAT.

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use his Department has made of private detective
  357
  agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; what agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30560]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury has not used any private detective agencies or investigators during the years in question.

  Vehicles (Disabled Use)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what guidance is given to local VAT offices to enable them to decide which types of vehicles are eligible for class three zero rating for disabled use; [30967]

  (2) if he will list the rules of eligibility for class three vehicles to qualify for zero rating for disabled road use; and if he will make a statement; [30965]

  (3) what plans he has to classify all-terrain vehicles as being eligible for class three zero rating for the purposes of VAT when used on public roads by people with disabilities; [30964]

  (4) what measures would be required to classify all-terrain vehicles as eligible for class three zero rating; [30968]

  (5) if he will list those types of vehicle which currently qualify for zero rating for disabled purposes on public roads. [30966]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The legal definition of an invalid carriage, under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Person's Act 1970, is a vehicle constructed or adapted for the use of a disabled person. For VAT purposes class three invalid carriages, like classes one and two qualify for zero rating when supplied to a disabled person or to a charity which makes them available for use by a disabled person. The construction requirements for class three invalid carriages are set out in The Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988 which are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  For VAT purposes all-terrain vehicles will qualify for zero rating if they are designed solely for use by disabled people when supplied to a disabled person or to a charity for making available to disabled people. Local VAT offices are issued with general guidance on what equipment is designed solely for use by a disabled person. The only types of vehicles for use on public roads qualifying for the zero rate are those class three invalid carriages which are permitted to use the roads.

  Investment Income Surcharge
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the probable yield of an investment income surcharge in the year 1997–98 at the equivalent rates to those abolished in 1984. [30995]

  Mr. Jack
  The estimated full-year yield if introducing a 15 per cent. surcharge to investment income above £13,000, which is the 1983–84 level of revalorisation to 1996–97, would be about £1.1 billion at 1996–97 income levels. The yield for 1997–98 would depend on levels of incomes in that year.
  358

  Assets
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of(a) United Kingdom assets based overseas and (b) foreign-owned assets based in the United Kingdom. [30797]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The total value of identified United Kingdom overseas assets recorded at the end of 1995 was £1,613 billion. The total value of identified UK liabilities recorded at the end of 1995 was £1,597 billion.

  Smuggling
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many flexible anti-smuggling teams have been established; and what plans he has to establish more in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [31098]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The composition of flexible anti-smuggling teams varies from place to place and time to time according to Customs assessment of the resources needed to carry out controls. Consequently the number of teams is not meaningful.

  Approximately 2,250 officers are currently deployed on anti-smuggling duties. There are no plans to increase this number in 1996–97 or 1997–98.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many brigades have been established to tackle drug smuggling; and what plans he has to establish more in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [31097]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In anti-smuggling terms, brigades are not forces additional to normal anti-smuggling complement. They are forces assembled temporarily on a local basis, and deployed outside their normal operational area to address specific targets or to test risk. Consequently they are not formally established and the question of numbers of brigades does not arise.

  Small Business Compliance
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed pilot scheme to aid small business compliance. [29954]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: There is a wide range of work underway in the Chancellor's Departments, including a number of pilots, to reduce the compliance burdens of business in complying with their various tax obligations. For example, there are a number of pilots within the joint working programme between the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise and the Contributions Agency—announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on 19 September—including plans for joint seminars for small businesses, a national helpline for employers and a review of forms and leaflets. All are well on course.

  Deregulation Unit
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual budget for his departmental deregulation unit; how many staff it employs; and of these how many(a) are career civil servants and of what grades, (b) have been seconded from business, and (c) have experience of the private sector. [30056]
  359
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: Within the Chancellor's Departments much of the work on particular deregulation issues is carried out by the policy teams with overall responsibility for those particular issues. Separate units do exist within the Treasury, Customs and Excise, Inland Revenue and the Office for National Statistics which have the responsibility of co-ordinating the deregulation effort of these departments, but in each case, deregulation represents only part of the workload of these units.

  Treasury
  In the Treasury, deregulation work is co-ordinated by the competition, deregulation and energy team, which has total annual budget of £231,048. The team has seven staff, comprising one grade 5, one (part time) grade 7, one HEO(D), one HEO, one assistant economist (half time equivalent, also has duties in another team), one AO and one personal secretary. Of these the grade 5, HEO, AO and personal secretary spend part of their time dealing with deregulation. All of these staff are career civil servants; none have been seconded from business.

  HM Customs and Excise
  In Customs and Excise, deregulation is co-ordinated by the business unit, which allocates £80,000 of its annual budget to work on this issue. Within the unit, one grade 7 and one HEO work full time, and one EO works half time on deregulation. All of these staff are career civil servants; none have been seconded from business.

  Office for National Statistics
  The survey control and deregulation unit of the Office for National Statistics has a total annual budget of £162,500. This unit has six staff, comprising one grade 7, two HEOs. one EO, and two AOs, all of whom spend part of their time dealing with deregulation. All of these staff are career civil servants; none have been seconded from business.

  Inland Revenue
  Inland Revenue's departmental deregulation unit has six staff, comprising one grade 5, a grade 6, two grade 7s, one SEO one personal secretary. This unit is a subdivision of a larger team, which has various other responsibilities, and there are no separate figures available covering the costs of deregulation work. All of these staff are career civil servants; none have been seconded from business.
  Many of the officials listed, in each of the four departmental deregulation units, will have experience of contacts with the private sector, whether in the course of their present duties, or gained in previous posts. Each of these departments have separate internal accounting systems, so the figures for expenditure by the various deregulation units are not available on the same basis.

  Tax Fraud
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the savings accruing to public funds from campaigns against tax fraud in each year since 1979; [30415]

  (2) how many staff have been employed full time by the Treasury in tackling tax fraud for each year since 1979; [30418]

  (3) how much was spent by his Department on publicity campaigns against tax fraud for each year since 1979. [30420]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: It is not possible to isolate resources relating to fraud cases from other tax investigation work, but I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 3 November 1995, Official Report,
  360
  column 503 about the resources used for tax investigations generally back to 1988–89. Accurate figures are not available as far back as 1979.

  The Inland Revenue seeks all appropriate opportunities to publicise its compliance activities. Publicity is sought for every successful Revenue prosecution and significant levels of press coverage have been achieved for its compliance work. In addition, contributions have been given to radio and television programmes, with occasional full-length feature programmes about the Revenue's work including its anti-evasion operations.

  Given the varied nature of all this publicity, it is not possible to estimate its actual impact on tax revenues.

  Premium Bonds
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will lower the limit on the minimum purchase of premium bonds to £10. [30249]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: No. The increase in the minimum purchase to £100 was made in July 1989. At the time of the change the average purchase of premium bonds was £150. It is now much higher, at £1,730.

  Employment Growth
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was for each year since 1991 the percentage change in employment growth on the previous year for(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the European Union, (c) the United States of America and (d) Japan. [30161]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 22 May 1996]: The information requested is held in the 1995 edition of "Labour Force Statistics 1973–1993" in table 6.0—"Civilian Employment". More recent data are available for countries that compile labour force statistics on a monthly or quarterly basis in the "Quarterly Labour Force Statistics Number 1 1996". These books are published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and copies are available in the Library.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury in 1997–98 of moving to payments on account of one twenty-fourth of companies' VAT liabilities in accordance with the requirements of the Value Added Tax (Payment on Account) (Amendment) Order 1996; [30223]

  (2) what is the estimated income to the Treasury in 1997–98 of removing the seven-day extension to the time for companies making VAT payments on account in accordance with the requirements of the Value Added Tax (Payment on Account) (Amendment) Order 1996. [30224]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 22 May 1996]: The effect on total VAT collected of the package of changes to the payments on account scheme is nil in 1997–98. There is however a cash flow gain to the Treasury of approximately £30 million from removing the seven-day extension to the time for companies making VAT payments on account. This is offset by a cash flow loss to the Treasury of approximately £65 million from

  361
  moving to payments on account of one twenty-fourth of companies' VAT liabilities. There is therefore a net cash flow loss of £35 million.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kashmir
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning the situation of the British hostages held in Kashmir. [30685]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  As the House is aware there have been reports that the hostages may be dead. We continue to work with the Indian Government to assess whether these reports are true, and to keep the families and constituency MPs fully informed. Until we have reason to do otherwise we shall continue to work for the hostages' safe release.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in his Department on 1 April. [30546]

  Mr. David Davis
  The details requested are given in the tables. The figures are from the annual staff in post return as at 1 April 1996, including part-time staff.

  The corresponding figures as at 1 April 1995 for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing are given in table 6 on page 16 of the FCO departmental report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  FCO (Diplomatic wing)

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Percentage female

  1/DS1

  10

  0

  10

  0

  2/DS2

  30

  2

  32

  6

  3/DS3

  108

  3

  111

  3

  4

  1

  0

  1

  0

  5/DS4

  283

  19

  302

  6

  6/DS5S

  82

  18

  100

  18

  7/DS5

  472

  99

  571

  17

  SEO/DS6

  320

  56

  376

  15

  HEO(D)/DS7D/8

  110

  51

  161

  32

  HEO/DS7M

  780

  169

  949

  18

  EO/DS9

  926

  624

  1,550

  40

  AO/DS10/EA

  537

  893

  1,430

  62

  AA/SGB2

  151

  109

  260

  42

  Total

  3,810

  2,043

  5,853

  35

  Overseas aid administration

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Percentage female

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  3

  8

  0

  8

  0

  362

  Overseas aid administration

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Percentage female

  4

  0

  0

  0

  —

  5

  28

  7

  35

  20

  6

  39

  11

  50

  22

  7

  69

  22

  91

  24

  SEO

  33

  14

  47

  30

  HEO

  106

  52

  158

  3a3

  EO

  120

  81

  201

  40

  AO

  124

  214

  338

  63

  AA

  29

  51

  80

  64

  Total

  558

  452

  1,010

  45

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; what agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30562]

  Mr. David Davis
  Neither the FCO diplomatic wing nor the Overseas Development Administration has made any use of private detective agencies or investigators.

  Peru
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards securing agreement on options to deal with Peruvian indebtedness to the United Kingdom. [30534]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We are ready to take part with other Paris Club creditors in a further rescheduling of Peru's official bilateral debts once agreement has been reached with the International Monetary Fund on a new economic reform programme. This is expected in the next month or so.

  It has recently been suggested that the British Government should use aid funds to cancel some of Peru's debts in return for the Peruvian Government using the local currency equivalent to fund development projects. We believe, however, that is more effective to fund these activities directly: our aid programme to Peru amounts to some £2.5 million a year. The Overseas Development Administration wrote off Peru's aid debts of some £5 million in 1994.

  CFE Conference
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the conventional forces in Europe review conference. [30509]

  Mr. David Davis
  The CFE review conference which ended in Vienna on 31 May was the first operational review of the CFE treaty. During the conference, agreements were reached which resolved the outstanding implementation problems of Russia's non-compliance with the treaty's flank limits and with its commitments to destroy equipment east of the Urals. States parties also agreed to begin immediately a process of discussion
  363
  aimed at promoting the objectives of the treaty and enhancing its viability and effectiveness in Europe's changing security environment.

  Overseas Visits (Royal Family)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 362, if he will give a breakdown of the costs incurred by his Department in respect of royal visits abroad in each year since 1990–91. [30034]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: It is not possible to provide a breakdown of expenditure for financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 without incurring disproportionate cost.

  For 1992–93, I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 16 June 1993, Official Report, column 64 and 24 June 1993, Official Report, column 239 to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams). Those replies reflected total costs to the Department at that time amounting to £423,500. The full outturn figure for that year amounted to £455,695.

  For 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 the breakdown is as follows:

  Financial year 1993–94

  £

  The Duke of Edinburgh to the Caribbean, 9–26 March 1993

  20,900

  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Hungary, 4–7 May 1993

  64,000

  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Cyprus (CHOGM), 18–24 October 1993

  39,100

  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to the Caribbean 18 February-10 March 1994

  115,500

  The Prince of Wales to France, 3–7 December 1992

  400

  The Prince of Wales to Germany, 14 April 1993

  300

  The Prince of Wales to Poland, 17–20 May 1993

  12,200

  The Prince of Wales to Turkey, 6–8 October 1993

  5,300

  The Prince of Wales to The Gulf, 7–12 November 1993

  27,000

  The Princess of Wales to Nepal, 2–6 March 1993

  16,400

  The Princess of Wales to Luxembourg, 17 September 1993

  2,700

  The Duke of York to Gibraltar, 1–3 October 1993

  4,400

  The Prince Edward to Madrid, 13–14 May 1993

  600

  The Prince Edward to Swaziland, 4–7 September 1993

  17,600

  The Prince Edward to West Africa, 26 October-4 November 1993

  6,800

  The Princess Royal to Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, 9–20 July 1993

  19,900

  The Princess Royal to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Vietnam, 22 February–6 March 1994

  29,400

  The Duke of Kent to Tanzania, 29 March–2 April 1993

  300

  The Duchess of Kent to Seychelles, 3–6 December 1993

  26,100

  The Duchess of Kent to Cote D'Ivoire, 6–8 February 1994

  400

  Princess Alexandra to Austria, 24–27 October 1993

  4,100

  Princess Alexandra to USA, 31 October-3 November 1993

  24,800

  Princess Alexandra to Copenhagen, 15–18 November 1994

  6,300

  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Canada, June/July 1992

  11,500

  The Queen to Germany, 1992

  15,800

  The Princess of Wales to Harare, 9–13 July 1993

  900

  364

  Financial year 1993–94

  £

  The Queen and Prince Philip to Brussels, 7 August 1993

  1,500

  The Prince and Princess of Wales to Brussels, 26 October 1993

  Visit of The Prince of Wales to USA, 12–14 February 1993

  300

  Airfares for the visit of Princess Alexandra to the Caribbean, 27 October-7 November 1992

  1,100

  Visit of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Canada, 13–24 August 1994

  13,400

  Visit of The Prince and Princess of Wales to Nigeria, 15–19 March 1990

  5,900

  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Zimbabwe, 10–15 October 1991

  3,100

  Miscellaneous (including a throwback payment from the previous financial year and minor sums of less than £100 for other visits, and general costs)

  -6,200

  Financial year 1994–95

  £

  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Russia, 17–21 October 1994

  116,300

  The Duke of Edinburgh to South Africa, 10–11 May 1994

  12,300

  The Duke of Gloucester to Belgium, 4 May 1994

  300

  Princess Alexandra to Copenhagen, 15–18 November 1994

  6,500

  The Prince of Wales to St. Petersburg, 16–19 May 1994

  24,100

  The Princess Royal to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Vietnam, 22–28 February 1994

  6,100

  The Duke of Edinburgh to the Caribbean, 18 February-10 March 1994

  1,300

  The Prince of Wales to France, 16 March 1994

  1,700

  The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, 4–16 October 1994

  35,700

  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to the Caribbean, 18 February-10 March 1994

  2,800

  The Prince of Wales to Budapest, 27–28 June 1994

  2,900

  The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Canada, 13–23 August, 1994

  14,500

  Princess Alexandra to Hong Kong and India, 14–17 October 1994

  27,300

  The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Crimea, 13–15 September 1994

  2,000

  The Prince of Wales to Berlin, 27 May 1994

  1,700

  The Prince of Wales to Prague, 3–5 June 1994

  2,200

  The Princess Royal to South Africa, 21 November-1 December 1994

  58,900

  The Princess of Wales to Brussels, 25 October 1993

  800

  The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Lisbon, 21–24 November 1994

  5,000

  The Duke and Duchess of Kent to Hong Kong, 25 November-December

  25,700

  The Duke of Edinburgh to The Caribbean, 10–25 March 1993

  6,500

  The Prince of Wales to Australia and New Zealand, 23 January–11 February 1994

  5,700

  The Prince of Wales to Los Angles and Hong Kong, 31 October–10 November 1994

  53,300

  The Duke of York to France, 13–15 August 1994

  1,200

  The Duke of York to Belgium, 1–6 September 1994

  3,500

  The Duchess of Kent to the Ivory Coast, 6–8 February 1994

  4,000

  The Duchess of Kent to Germany, 4–5 May 1994

  1,500

  The Duke of Kent to Italy, 14–16 May 1994

  1,100

  The Duke of York to Argentina, 14–18 November 1994

  31,300

  The Duke of Edinburgh to Israel, 30–31 October 1994

  2,000

  State Visit to South Africa, 18–26 March 1995

  56,3000

  365

  Financial year 1994–95

  £

  The Princess Royal to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh 5–13 March 1995

  22,400

  The Princess Margaret to San Francisco, Los Angles 29–30 June 1995

  11,000

  The Prince of Wales to Egypt, Morocco, 11–18 March 1995

  4,100

  Duke of Kent to Dresden, 12–14 February 1995

  100

  Miscellaneous (including minor sums for other visits, official gifts on inward State Visits).

  6,200

  Financial Year 1995–96

  £

  Duke of Kent to Dresden, 12–14 February 1995

  800

  State Visit to South Africa, 18–26 March 1995

  29,600

  The Duke of Gloucester to Dunkirk, 28 May 1995

  600

  The Duchess of Kent to Hong Kong, 25–11 December 1994

  3,400

  The Princess Royal to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, 5–13 March 1995

  6,900

  State Visit to Russia, 17–21 October 1994

  800

  The Duchess of Kent to Brussels, 16 June 1995

  1,100

  The Prince of Wales to Egypt, 11–18 March 1995

  18,200

  Princess Margaret to San Francisco, 23–29 June 1995

  11,300

  Prince of Wales to Dublin, 31 May to 1 June 1995

  3,900

  Prince of Wales to Hamburg, 2–3 May 1995

  1,900

  The Duke and Duchess of Kent to Kiel, 19–21 June

  7,800

  The Queen to the Caribbean, February 1994

  22,900

  The Princess of Wales to Moscow (recce costs), 15–16 June 1995

  2,500

  The Princess of Wales to Japan (recce costs), 5–9 February 1995

  3,800

  The Prince Edward to Zimbabwe, 30 August to 2 September 1995

  13,100

  The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Mexico, 20–23 November 1995

  25,100

  The Prince Edward to Luxembourg, 15–16 September 1995

  400

  The Prince of Wales to Paris, 31 August 1995

  400

  The Duke of Edinburgh to France, 8 May 1995

  1,200

  The Duke and Duchess of Kent to Oslo, 7–8 May 1995

  2,200

  The Duchess of Kent to The Hague, 1 June 1995

  1,000

  The Duke of Kent to Singapore, 10–12 September 1995

  11,500

  The Prince of Wales to Germany, 13–17 November 1995

  17,000

  The Princess Royal to New Zealand, 29 September to 5 October 1995

  500

  The Duke of York to Gibraltar, 13–14 July 1995

  700

  The Queen to New Zealand for CHOGM, 30 October to 11 November 1995

  68,500

  The Prince of Wales to Oman, 1–3 October 1995

  9,100

  The Princess of Wales to Argentina (recce costs), 23–26 November 1995

  7,400

  Princess Alexandra to Africa, 14–23 October 1995

  10,600

  The Princess Royal to Ireland, 19–20 January 1996

  700

  State Visit to The Czech Republic and Poland, 25–29 March 1996

  114,600

  The Princess Royal to The Gulf, November 1995

  11,500

  The Princess Royal to The Falklands, January 1996

  900

  The Prince of Wales, 6 November 1995

  400

  Miscellaneous (including minor sums for other visits, and general costs)

  2,800

  Russian Citizens (Visas)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for 366
  the issue of visas to Russian citizens to visit the United Kingdom did not proceed to the issue of a visa or a formal refusal, in each of the last five years. [30804]

  Mr. David Davis
  The following are the figures for visit visa applications by Russian nationals, withdrawn or lapsed, in the last five years:

  Moscow

  St. Petersburg

  Total

  1995

  2.307

  278

  2,585

  1994

  2,273

  245

  2,518

  1993

  890

  17

  907

  1992

  230

  0

  230

  1991

  154

  0

  154

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many decisions have been taken by the Council of Ministers since 1 January which were reached by(a) qualified majority and (b) unanimity. [31181]

  Mr. David Davis
  This information is not yet available. I shall write to the hon. Member when we have it.

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, columns 56–57, how many (a) unconditional on-demand bonds, (b) performance bonds, (c) parent company guarantees, (d) advance payment bonds and (e) retention bonds were required by his Department in the last five years. [31226]

  Mr. David Davis
  The information requested is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the UN implementation force's—IFOR—current policy towards those held responsible for crimes against humanity in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [31152]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  IFOR will detain and transfer to the international criminal tribunal for former Yugoslavia any persons indicated by the tribunal with whom it comes into contact in the performance of its mission.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Barristers
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reference to a declaration is contained in his warrant in respect of banisters taking silk. [27568]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  We warrant signifying the appointment of Queen's counsel will continue to make no reference to the declaration which will continue to be made when the appointee has tendered the warrant to the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.
  367

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he has shown the Government of the Republic of Ireland the text of his draft legislation for decommissioning arms and explosives; [31091]

  (2) if the Government of the Republic of Ireland has been asked to show him or his officials the text of their draft legislation for decommissioning arms and explosives; and if he will make a statement. [31103]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Both Governments are co-operating closely in drawing up legislation designed to underpin any decommissioning scheme.

  Fisheries
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answers of 31 January,Official Report, column 794, and 12 February, Official Report, column 436, for what reasons the fishery division of the Department of Agriculture did not oppose the application under its remit under the Fishery Act 1986 in respect of its responsibility for fisheries. [31275]

  Mr. Ancram
  The previous answers referred to do not make mention of an application. The question cannot be answered in its present form.

  "The Nemesis File"
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 14 December,Official Report, column 801, what conclusion was reached by the inquiry conducted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary serious crime squad. [30705]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend on 14 December 1995,Official Report column 801, and to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Rev. Martin Smyth) on 24 April 1996, Official Report, columns 182–83. The RUC investigations into the allegations contained in this book continue.

  Public Bodies (Employees)
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the number of women employed in each non-departmental public body in Northern Ireland and (b) the number of non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland which have a female chair. [30494]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Name of body

  Number of women employed

  Agricultural Research Institute of NI

  14

  Fisheries Conservancy Board for NI

  8

  Foyle Fisheries Commission

  4

  Livestock and Meat Commission for NI

  8

  NI Fishery Harbour Authority

  1.5

  Construction Industry Training Board

  49

  Enterprise Ulster

  23

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  28

  Fair Employment Commission

  57

  General Consumer Council for NI

  8

  Labour Relations Agency

  25

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  138

  368

  (a) Name of body

  Number of women employed

  Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members1

  1

  Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action1

  1

  Northern Ireland Tourist Board

  104

  Ulster Sheltered Employment Ltd.

  158

  Industrial Tribunals

  NI Industrial Tribunals2

  7

  NI Fair Employment Tribunal2

  4

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  26

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

  26

  Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment

  97

  Northern Ireland Higher Education Council3

  n/a

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  29

  Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  47

  Ulster Museum

  82

  Youth Council for Northern Ireland

  11

  Northern Ireland Museums Council

  2

  Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards

  4

  Education and library boards (Non-teaching staff)

  Number of women employed

  Belfast

  3,357

  North-Eastern

  5,682

  South-Eastern

  3,964

  Southern

  5,164

  Western

  5,693

  NI Economic Council

  4

  NI Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee

  20

  Local Government Staff Commission

  7

  NI Housing Executive

  1,396

  Laganside Corporation

  7

  NI Transport Holding Company (including bus and rail companies)

  330

  Fire Authority NI

  179

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  250

  Council for Post-Graduate Medical Education1

  22

  Mental Health Commission1

  5

  Health and Social Services Boards

  728

  Health and Social Services Trusts1

  25,114

  Health and Social Services Directly Managed Units (DMUS)2

  12,143

  Health and Social Services Councils1

  15

  Central Services Agency

  339

  Health Promotion Agency1

  17

  Regional Medical Physics Agency

  27

  Blood Transfusion Services Agency

  120

  Police Authority for NI

  2,317

  Independent Commission for Police Complaints for NI

  12

  Probation Board for NI

  213

  Rathgael Training School

  82

  SACHR Secretariat

  6

  1 These are part-time posts filled by the same person.

  2 Of the seven listed under the NI Industrial Tribunals, four are also involved in the Fair Employment Tribunal.

  3 The Council's Secretariat is employed by the Department and not the Council itself.

  1. Includes NI Ambulance Trust.

  2. DMUS as at 31 December 1995.
  369
  (b) The NDPB's in NI which have a female chairman are as follows:

  HM Prison Magilligan

  HM Prison Maghaberry

  Agricultural Wages Board

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  General Consumer Council

  NI Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  Health and Safety Agency

  Fair Employment Tribunal

  Industrial Tribunals—two full-time/five part-time

  Western Education and Library Board

  Historic Buildings Council

  Housing Benefit Review Board Panels

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Advisory Committee of the Therapeutic Professions Allied to
  Medicine

  Central Nursing Advisory Committee

  Central Personal Social Services Advisory Committee

  Central Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee

  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board

  Eastern Health and Social Services Council

  southern Health and Social Services Council

  Health and Social Services Trusts

  NI Blood Transfusion Service Agency

  Child Support Appeal Tribunal 12 part-time Chairmen

  Social Security Tribunal 14 part-time Chairmen

  Disability Tribunal eight part-time Chairmen

  Medical Tribunal four part-time Chairmen

  NI Consumer Committee for Electricity

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; what agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and what cost to his Department. [30565]

  Sir John Wheeler
  During 1995–95 and 1994–95, the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments have used detective agencies or investigators on the following occasions:

  (1) serving six debt enforcement orders;

  (2) gathering evidence in relation to an enforcement action against the unauthorised change of use of a property;

  (3) investigating seven public or employers liability claims;

  (4) investigating two industrial injury claims;

  (5) work in relation to an appraisal of a project for which grant assistance had been sought;

  at a total cost of £17,861.

  Names of the detective agencies have not been disclosed on grounds of confidentiality and security.

  Hydroelectricity
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make available to the Lough Neagh and Maine System Game Anglers Association the contents of letters exchanged between a member of the 370
  fishery division of the Department of Agriculture and hydro-electric consultant of Dougal Billie Associates. [31224]

  Mr. Ancram
  No. Release of this information would adversely affect the Department's ability to secure the best possible fishery protection measures in water abstraction situations related to hydroelectric projects.

WALES

  Forest Enterprise
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many parcels of forestry are currently being offered for sale by Forest Enterprise Wales; and if he will make a statement. [29633]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I have asked its acting chief executive, Mr. Gordon M. Cowie, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Gordon M. Cowie to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 31 May 1996:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Wales the following question:
  "how many parcels of forestry are currently being offered for sale by Forest Enterprise Wales: and if he will make a statement."
  The question relates to an issue that is my responsibility, as Acting Chief Executive of Forest Enterprise, so I have been asked to respond. The information you require is as follows:-
  There are currently 34 woodlands totalling 1,242 hectares being offered for sale, by Forest Enterprise Wales. As set out in the Government's Expenditure Plans 1996–97 to 1998–99 Forest Enterprise plans to sell 40,000 hectares of forest land in the next three years and expects to receive about £60 million from the sale of forest land and surplus properties during that period. Some 15 per cent of these sales will be in Wales.

  Local Government Re-organisation
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local authorities which will cover all or part of each of the parliamentary constituencies which will come into existence at the end of the present Parliament. [30353]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is set out as follows:

  Constituency

  Unitary Authority

  Aberavon

  Neath Port Talbot

  Alyn and Deeside

  Flintshire

  Blaenau Gwent

  Blaenau Gwent

  Brecon and Radnorshire

  Powys

  Bridgend

  Bridgend (part); Vale of Glamorgan (part)

  Caernarfon

  Gwynedd

  Caerphilly

  Caerphilly

  Cardiff Central

  Cardiff

  Cardiff North

  Cardiff

  Cardiff South and Penarth

  Cardiff (part); Vale of Glamorgan (part)

  Cardiff West

  Cardiff

  Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

  Carmarthenshire

  Carmarthen West and South

  Carmarthenshire (part);

  Pembrokeshire

  Pembrokeshire (part)

  Ceredigion

  Ceredigion

  371

  Constituency

  Unitary Authority

  Clwyd South

  Wrexham (part); Powys (part); Denbighshire (part)

  Clwyd West

  Denbighsire (part); Conwy (part)

  Conwy

  Conwy (part); Gwynedd (part)

  Cynon Valley

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  Delyn

  Flintshire

  Gower

  Swansea

  Islwyn

  Caerphilly

  Llanelli

  Carmarthenshire

  Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

  Gwynedd (part); Conwy (part)

  Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

  Merthyr Tydfil; Caerphilly (part)

  Monmouth

  Monmouthshire; Torfaen (part)

  Montgomeryshire

  Powys

  Neath

  Neath Port Talbot

  Newport East

  Monmouthshire (part); Newport (part)

  Newport West

  Newport

  Ogmore

  Bridgend (part); Rhondda Cynon Taff (part)

  Pontypridd

  Rhondda Cynon Taff (part); Cardiff (part)

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  Pembrokeshire

  Rhondda

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  Swansea East

  Swansea

  Swansea West

  Swansea

  Torfaen

  Torfaen

  Vale of Clwyd

  Denbighshire

  Vale of Glamorgan

  Vale of Glamorgan

  Wrexham

  Wrexham

  Ynys MÔn

  Isle of Anglesey

  Organochlorines
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has evaluated concerning production and discharge as waste of chlorinated organic compounds from industrial establishments in south Wales since 1966; and if he will make a statement. [30484]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A number of sources of information and reviews are available relating to the emission of certain chlorinated organic compounds from industrial sources. These include "The Chemical Release Inventory", first published by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in 1994, which includes detailed analyses of emissions both by local authority area and by industrial sector.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has evaluated on the level of organochlorines in the aerial environment of Cardiff as compared with other urban centres in the United Kingdom. [30485]

  Mr Jones
  Organochlorines in air, including dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls and pesticides, are currently monitored at three urban and four rural sites throughout the United Kingdom as part of the Department of the Environment's national air quality monitoring network. It should be noted that not all the pollutants are monitored at every site. Between January 1991 and September 1993 one site was located in Cardiff. A summary of data from these sites is presented each year in the "Digest of Environmental Statistics", copies of which have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
  372

  Local Government Archives
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that arrangements entered into between two or more authorities on archive services offer an adequate and stable framework for the delivery of services. [30690]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The details of joint arrangements are a matter for the councils concerned. In considering the draft schemes on which councils consulted him under section 60 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, my hon. Friend looked for evidence that joint arrangements would exist for a reasonable period beyond April 1996 and that adequate staffing and other resources would be provided.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of whether archive services are being provided at the same standards as the previous local authorities by the new unitary authorities under section 60 of the Local Government Act (Wales) 1994. [30689]

  Mr. Jones
  It is too early to make any such assessment. Eighteen county and county borough councils have still to send to my right hon. Friend the final versions of the schemes which they are required to prepare under section 60 of the 1994 Act.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of whether existing collections of archive records are being maintained intact by the new unitary authorities; and what arrangements are in place to monitor the operation of the archive schemes by the new authorities. [30691]

  Mr. Jones
  My right hon. Friend has made no such assessment. Section 60 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 imposes duties on county and county borough councils to prepare and maintain archive schemes; and, before making or modifying a scheme, to consult my right hon. Friend and to have regard to his advice.

  Pharmacy Contractors
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pharmacy contractors there are in each of the local authority areas of Wales. [30590]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested. The number of pharmacy contractors in each health authority area is as follows:

  Area

  Number

  Bro Taf

  190

  Dyfed Powys

  122

  Gwent

  121

  Morgannwg

  129

  North Wales

  152

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received from pharmacy contractors concerning the late payment of remuneration; how many payments of remuneration have been delayed more than 120 days; and if he will make a statement. [30588]
  373
  Mr. Hague
  There are no identified cases of agreed payments of salary, overtime or allowances to Welsh Office staff being delayed for more than 120 days.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will adopt to assist the cash flow problems of pharmacy contractors with regard to their need to pay their suppliers. [30589]

  Mr. Hague
  The present system of reimbursement is being considered as part of the 1996–97 pay negotiations for pharmacists' fees and allowances. As the negotiations are not completed, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received from pharmacy contractors concerning the late payment of remuneration. [30587]

  Mr. Hague
  One from a pharmacy contractor, and eight from hon. Members writing on behalf of a constituent.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to retain retail price maintenance for medicines; and if he will make a statement. [30601]

  Mr. Hague
  The decision to review retail price maintenance for pharmacy products was made by the Office of Fair Trading. I understand that the review is looking closely at the possible effects which abolition may have on the viability of the independent pharmacy sector.

  Pharmacists Review Panel
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contacts he maintains with the independent pharmacists' review panel; and if he will make a statement. [30600]

  Mr. Hague
  Welsh Office officials maintain regular contacts with the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee on matters concerning the provision of pharmaceutical services in Wales.

  Ambulance NHS Trusts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with chief ambulance officers and the chairmen of the Welsh ambulance trusts concerning(a) financial viability, (b) revisions of boundaries (c) mergers and (d) potential efficiency savings; and if he will make a statement. [30696]

  Mr. Hague
  I have had no consultations with ambulance NHS trusts on border changes or mergers. All NHS trusts, including ambulance trusts, are monitored regularly by my Department to ensure financial viability. For 1996–97, I have asked health authorities to make 3 per cent. efficiency savings across Wales which will be reflected in the contracts which they strike with all trusts.

  Dispensing Doctors
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the level of profit made by dispensing doctors in dispensing on the NHS free 374
  samples from pharmaceutical companies; what plans he has for an abatement scheme to recover these costs; and if he will make a statement. [30694]

  Mr. Hague
  It is for the independent Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration to make recommendations on the level and distribution of net incomes for doctors taking part in the NHS. Among the evidence available to it each year is a comparison of the earnings and expenses of dispensing and non-dispensing doctors.

  Payments to doctors in respect of practice dispensing have been subject to an abatement, known as the discount scale, since 1983. The discount scale represents the difference between the list price of all drugs dispensed in general practice and the net acquisition cost of the same drugs.

  Cattle Slaughter Scheme
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 66, what plans he has to set up rendering capacity in Wales in conjunction with the 30-month and cull cow slaughter scheme. [30698]

  Mr Hague
  We are continually monitoring all aspects of the operation of the over 30-month slaughter scheme; we are actively considering a variety of options for increasing throughput of cattle under the scheme.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of(a) beef cattle and (b) dairy cattle slaughtered so far in Wales under the 30-month compensation scheme. [31115]

  Mr. Hague
  The total number of cattle from Wales slaughtered under this scheme at 30 May 1996 is 7,383.

  No breakdown between beef cattle and dairy cattle is available.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in his Department on 1 April. [30548]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Staff in the Welsh office by grade as at 1 April 1996

  Administrative Grades

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Percentage

  Senior Civil Servants

  68

  53

  15

  22

  G6

  23

  18

  5

  22

  G7

  146

  107

  39

  27

  SEO

  118

  95

  23

  19

  HEO

  293

  173

  120

  41

  EO

  460

  202

  258

  56

  AO

  522

  142

  380

  73

  AA

  526

  211

  315

  60

  Total

  2,156

  1,001

  1,155

  54

  375

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; what agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30564]

  Mr. Hague
  In 1994–95 private investigation services were used by my Department on eight occasions at a cost of approximately £670. In 1995–96 such agencies were used on three occasions at a cost of approximately £310.

  Private investigation agencies have been used in cases of damage to trunk road furniture and recovery of rent. The companies are not named for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

  Refereeing (Insurance)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of providing all-Wales insurance cover for school staff supervising or refereeing sporting activities and how this would compare with(a) each local education authority providing cover for their schools and (b) each school taking out its own insurance policy; [30707]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to insure all staff in schools when they are supervising or refereeing sporting activities. [30710]

  Mr. Hague
  No such estimate has been made. It is for local education authorities in respect of county and controlled schools, and the governing body in the case of voluntary-aided and grant-maintained schools, to ensure that insurance is adequate to cover staff involved with school sporting activities.

  Specialist Beef Cattle
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to announce exemptions from the 30-month ban in respect of specialist beef cattle. [31080]

  Mr. Hague
  Comments from interested organisations were invited on 3 May on a proposal to establish a voluntary mature beef assurance scheme, which would allow cattle aged over 30 months from specialist beef herds which met the scheme's conditions to be sold for human consumption. Comments are being considered, and the next steps will be announced as soon as possible.

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 65, how many (a) unconditional on-demand bonds, (b) performance bonds, (c) parent company guarantees, (d) advance payment bonds and (e) retention bonds were required by his Department in the last five years. [31227]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the concern 376
  caused by the BSE crisis to Welsh agriculture; and what has been the cost to public funds to date of measures taken to deal with BSE. [31099]

  Mr. Hague
  My hon. Friend and I have met the farming unions, farming delegations and others, and are well aware of their concerns. As regards the cost of Government measures introduced to deal with this crisis I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Northampton, North, (Mr. Allen)Official Report, columns 321–22.

  Cattle Trading
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action his Department is taking to ensure that cattle trading in Welsh markets is not subject to(a) cartels and (b) other unfair trading practices. [31079]

  Mr. Hague
  The Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce is working to enable the carcases of clean beef animals over 30 months old and cull cows to be put into cold storage until rendering capacity is available to deal with them. This should help maintain a competitive market for these animals.

HEALTH

  GP Fundholding
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the statutory regulation will be in place requiring former general practitioner fundholding practices to apply accumulated savings to discharge outstanding liabilities; and what have been(a) the number of fundholders and (b) the financial amounts involved prior to the introduction of this statutory regulation over the last five years. [26725]

  Mr. Malone
  This regulation has been in effect since 1 April 1996. One fundholding practice left the scheme with both undischarged liabilities and savings before that date. In 1995–96 the practice overspent by £148,000. By agreement with the health authority, it returned £45,000 of its £92,000 savings from earlier years, towards the overspend, with the balance being met from contingency funds.

  Free Prescriptions
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of providing free prescriptions and optical and dental treatment to students on the ground of low income; and what proportion of those students were in full-time higher education for each year since 1990. [29040]

  Mr. Malone
  The information is not available.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proposals he has to modify the exemption list in relation to prescription charges and the criteria for the eligibility for the list; and if he will make a statement; [30186]

  (2) what proposals he has (a) to extend the range of medicines which are issued free of charge and (b) to widen the list of conditions entitling the sufferer to free prescriptions; and if he will make a statement. [30185]
  377
  Mr. Malone
  We do not plan to extend the arrangements to include other groups of people, medical conditions or medicines. Our prescription charge exemption and remission arrangements are among the most generous in Europe.

  Doncaster Health Authorities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the running costs of(a) Doncaster health authority and (b) Doncaster family health services authority in each year since 1988. [29735]

  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Headquarter revenue expenditure

  £ thousand

  Year

  Doncaster family health services authority

  Doncaster district health authority

  1988–89

  338

  1,843

  1989–90

  427

  1,883

  1990–91

  719

  2,082

  1991–92

  1,169

  1,226

  1992–93

  1,153

  1,476

  1993–94

  1,289

  1,827

  1994–95

  1,376

  1,996

  Source:

  Annual accounts of the district health authority and the family health services authority.

  Notes:

  1. Changes over the years in the roles and responsibilities of family practitioner committees, family health services authorities and district health authorities mean that the figures are not strictly comparable.

  2. The health authority costs are those reported in the accounts as "Authority administration and purchasing expenses". This includes capital charges after 1991–92. The family practitioner committee/family health services authority administration costs are those reported in the annual accounts as revenue administration costs and represent that part of total expenditure which is not medical, dental, ophthalmic or pharmaceutical.

  AIDS and HIV
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) men and (b) women were registered suffering from (i) AIDS and (ii) HIV, in each London borough council in December 1995. [29994]

  Mr Horam
  The number of men and women with AIDS reported voluntarily by clinicians to the communicable disease surveillance centre as resident in London boroughs to December 1995 is shown in the table. Similar information for diagnosed HIV infection is not available.

  For reasons of confidentiality the figures are not shown separately by sex.

  AIDS cases reported to PHLS AIDS centre by 31 December 1995 by local authority of residence at time of report

  Authority

  Total cases

  Known to have died

  Barnet

  142

  63

  Hillingdon

  53

  36

  Brent

  175

  99

  Harrow

  41

  24

  Ealing

  232

  160

  378

  AIDS cases reported to PHLS AIDS centre by 31 December 1995 by local authority of residence at time of report

  Authority

  Total cases

  Known to have died

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  523

  351

  Hounslow

  149

  109

  Kensington and Chelsea

  600

  394

  Westminster

  498

  316

  Barking and Dagenham

  14

  10

  Havering

  17

  10

  Redbridge

  53

  36

  Waltham Forest

  96

  58

  City of London

  8

  7

  Hackney

  209

  121

  Newham

  170

  100

  Tower Hamlets

  197

  114

  Enfield

  66

  45

  Haringey

  228

  137

  Camden

  403

  220

  Richmond

  103

  77

  Islington

  284

  176

  Bromley

  47

  37

  Bexley

  27

  14

  Greenwich

  85

  63

  Lambeth

  636

  440

  Lewisham

  180

  120

  Southwark

  311

  212

  Croydon

  125

  89

  Merton

  105

  72

  Sutton

  19

  18

  Wandsworth

  445

  317

  Kingston

  41

  26

  Crohn's Disease
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current level of public funding into research for Crohn's disease; if he will increase this figure over the planning period; and if he will make it his policy to amend the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 to allow Crohn's sufferers to make claims for compensation. [3065]

  Mr. Horam
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. The council is an independent body, deciding what research to support on its own expert judgment. Although it supports a significant portfolio of research related to intestinal diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases, it does not currently fund any research specifically on Crohn's disease.

  Responsibility for the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates Yorkshire regional health authority bought its premises at Park parade, Harrogate; how much was paid for the premises; and from whom they were bought. [30687]

  Mr. Malone
  The Yorkshire regional health authority bought its premises at Park parade, Harrogate from County Hotels (Harrogate) Limited on 31 March 1981 for a sum of £300,000.
  379

  Administration Costs
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the proportion of the budget spent on administration for(a) health authorities, (b) NHS trusts, (c) directly managed units, (d) fundholding general practitioner practices, (e) non-fundholding general practitioner practices and (f) the NHS as a whole. [30735]

  Mr. Malone
  The latest available information is for 1994–95 when spending on administration by regional health authorities, district health authorities, family health services authorities and special health authorities accounted for 3.5 per cent. of the national health service total gross spending. This figure includes the total revenue expenditure on pay and accommodation costs of staff at headquarter level in RHAs, DHAs and SHAs as identified in their annual accounts and the administration expenditure identified in the FHSAs' accounts.

  The costs of administrative support in trusts are not separately identifiable from the 1994–95 accounts, as these were regarded as part of operational expenditure.

  The costs of administrative support in directly managed units are included in the costs of the parent health authority.

  All general practitioners are independent contractors supported through the general medical services system of payments and allowances. There is no facility within this system to separate out administrative costs. Fundholding practices receive a management allowance to meet the additional costs incurred in managing a fund. In 1994–95 these allowances accounted for 0.2 per cent. of NHS total gross spending.

  Across the health service as a whole, 4.4 per cent. of total gross spending was committed to administration. This total includes the elements identified above as well as the gross running costs of the NHS executive and NHS-related functions of the Department of Health and the costs of the Prescription Pricing Authority and the Dental Practice Board.

  Charities (NHS Budget)
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total NHS budget came from charities in each of the past five years. [30736]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Prostate Cancer
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve prostate cancer screening; and if he will make a statement. [30800]

  Mr. Horam
  We have no plans to introduce a national NHS screening programme for prostate cancer. The key aim of any screening programme must be to secure a demonstrable improvement in health by increasing length of life and enhancing quality of life. There is, as yet, no evidence that this would be achieved in relation to prostate cancer. The Department is aware of the need to 380
  assess the value of available techniques for the early detection of prostate cancer. Several research projects are currently being undertaken.

  Although there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer, individual patients can be tested on request. This may be necessary where there is a family history of the disease. Some general practitioners offer patients testing as part of a general health check.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of prostate cancer have been identified in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years; what analysis he has made of these figures; and if he will make a statement. [31146]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of cases of prostate cancer registered in England and Wales were published in "Cancer Statistics Registrations", series MBI Nos. 19–1986, 20–1987, 21–1988 and 22–1989, and in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys "Monitor" MBI 95/1–1990. Copies of all five publications are available in the Library.

  Questions relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of NHS patients suffering from prostate cancer who have been treated with brachytherapy combined with external beam radiation; and if he will make a statement. [31147]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy with regard to making a prostate specific antigen test generally available at an early date to people suspected of suffering from prostate problems; and what plans he has to introduce a regular screening test for all men of vulnerable age groups. [31149]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department is aware of the need to assess the value of available techniques for the early detection of prostate cancer, including the prostatic specific antigen test. The Department of Health's standing group on health technology assessment has identified prostate cancer as one of the priority areas for health technology assessment and has commissioned work to assess the cost-effectiveness, clinical benefit and comparative value of measurement of PSA in serum and transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of prostatic cancer. The results of this work should be available shortly.

  Although there is no national screening programme for prostate cancer available to national health service patients, individual patients can be tested on request. This may be necessary where there is a family history of the disease. Where appropriate, general practitioners can offer some patients testing as part of a general health check.

  We have no plans currently to introduce a national NHS screening programme for prostate cancer. The key aim of any screening programme must be to secure a demonstrable improvement in health by increasing length of life and enhancing quality of life. There is, as yet, no evidence that this would be achieved in relation to prostate cancer.
  381

  Patient Costs
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is(a) the average patient care cost and (b) the number of in-patient beds in each NHS hospital trust, broken down by region. [30827]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on in-patient and day case costs will be placed in the Library.

  Information on the number of in-patient beds is contained in the Department of Health publication "Bed Availability for England, Financial Year 1994–95", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total figures. [30774]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of registered disabled people employed by the Department, including the executive agencies, is 57. This represents 1.09 per cent. of the total number of staff.

  Depressive Illness
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the Depression Alliance organisation; and if he will make a statement. [30782]

  Mr. Bowis
  I met representatives of Depression Alliance on 20 March. Departmental officials are in regular contact with the organisation and enjoy a constructive relationship with it.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of depressive illness in the United Kingdom; and what studies are being undertaken by his Department to investigate the effectiveness of treatment. [30781]

  Mr. Bowis
  The national survey of psychiatric morbidity carried out in 1993, and funded by the Department of Health, includes data on the incidence of depressive illness in the United Kingdom. Copies of the documents relating to the survey are available in the Library.

  Although the Department is not undertaking any studies into the effectiveness of treatment for depressive illness, the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President

  Prescribing data for general practitioners: non-fundholders and fundholders by fundholding wave Financial year 1990–91

  Net ingredient Cost per prescribing unit (£)

  1990–91 data for practices becoming fundholders in waves as indicated

  Year

  All non-FH

  Continuing non-FH

  1st wave

  2nd wave

  3rd wave

  4th wave

  5th wave

  1990–91

  33.85

  33.80

  33.25

  34.39

  34.06

  34.07

  33.82

  Source:

  PACT data, Prescription Pricing Authority. Figures are for items prescribed by GPs in England and dispensed during the months April-March.

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure is quoted in net ingredient cost terms for comparison purposes. Fundholder spending is actually monitored against actual cost, after allowing for discounts and container costs.

  2. The population denominator is the prescribing unit. Persons 65 and over count as three PUs, those under 65 as one. PUs are calculated using Office of Population Censuses and Surveys mid-year estimates of the resident England population.
  382
  of the Board of Trade, is funding a number of trials which examine different types of treatment and therapies in this field.

  Nurses' Wages
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been allocated to Doncaster health authority in 1996–97 for the purpose of increasing nurses' wages; and what percentage change this represents over the figure for 1995–96. [30811]

  Mr. Malone
  There is no specific funding within health authority allocations for pay.

  Children's Homes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department has taken to implement the recommendations contained in its internal inquiry into the selection, development and management of staff in children's homes. [30994]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have conducted no internal inquiry into such matters.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places there were in residential care homes for children in(a) local authorities, (b) the voluntary sector and (c) the private sector for each year since 1979. [30993]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information currently available centrally on places in children's homes was published in "Children's Homes at 31 March 1995, England, A/F 95/22", copies of which are available in the Library.

  GP Prescribing Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his letter of 1 April, (1) what is the estimated timetable for having available information on the prescribing costs for 1995–96 of each of the relevant categories of general practitioner; [31200]

  (2) what was the average prescribing cost expressed as net ingredient cost per patient unit in 1989–90 and 1990–91 for those categories of general practitioners who had become by 1994–95 (i) non-fundholders, (ii) first wave fundholders, (iii) second wave fundholders, (iv) third wave fundholders, (v) fourth wave fundholders and (vi) fifth wave fundholders. [31203]

  Mr. Malone
  Data for 1990–91 are shown in the table. Comparable data for 1989–90 are not in a format suitable for analysis. Data for 1995–96 are not yet available.
  383
  3. For technical reasons, a proportion of items and their associated net ingredient cost values have been excluded from the data. The figures are comparable with those for later years quoted in the letter of 1 April, but are not directly comparable with national drugs bill data.

  4. "All non-fundholders" refers to non-fundholders in 1991, i.e. all doctors.

  5. The "Continuing non-fundholders" data represent those practices which have not become fundholders in the first five waves.

  Read Codes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the arrangements for fair remuneration to the NHS centre for coding and classification for licence income arising from overseas sales of Read codes material, if he will list the accrued income from each such overseas country; and if he will make a statement. [31198]

  Mr. Horam
  The national health service centre for coding and classification has no responsibilities for overseas use of Read codes. As a result of the negotiations to purchase the copyright of the Read codes in 1990, Computer Aided Medical Systems Ltd. currently has total rights to market Read codes overseas.

  Overseas income during the period from March 1990 to 30 September 1995 was £220,000, against which direct expenses and company costs of £270,000 have been expended over the same period. Details of individual arrangements are commercially confidential.

  In 1994, CAMS proposed, free of charge, to surrender to the Department of Health its total rights to generate income overseas and to bring overseas income within the controlled cost plus arrangements which apply to the income from NHS sources. Negotiations to amend the original contract are in hand.

  NHS Accounting
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the arrangements for the joint accounting and book-keeping of the NHS centre for coding and classification and Computer Aided Medical Systems Ltd. [31199]

  Mr. Horam
  The accounting and book-keeping arrangements for the national health service centre for coding and classification are the responsibility of the NHS executive, of which the centre is a part; the arrangements for Computer Aided Medical Systems Ltd. are the responsibility of that private company. There are no joint accounting or book-keeping arrangements, but the same financial consultant overseas the accounting and book-keeping at both CAMS and NHS CCC. This arrangement is being reviewed.

  Drug Addicts (West Midlands)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of registered drug addicts in(a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands in each year since 1990. [31093]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is shown in the table.

  All drug addicts notified to the Home Office in Coventry district health authority and West Midlands regional health authority, 1990–1994

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Coventry

  95

  73

  76

  91

  101

  West Midlands

  670

  947

  1,143

  1,221

  1,506

  384

  Silicone Breast Implants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ban the use of silicone breast implants. [30667]

  Mr. Horam
  No.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tests are available in the United Kingdom to measure the extent of silicone migration in the body. [30664]

  Mr. Horam
  There are no validated test methods available, either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, suitable for determining the extent of silicone migration in body fluids and tissues.

  Pesticide Poisoning
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to ensure that the publication "Pesticide Poisoning, Notes for the Guidance of Medical Practitioners" is made publicly available through bookshops. [31019]

  Mr. Horam
  "Pesticides Poisoning, Notes for the Guidance of Medical Practitioners", will be available in Her Majesty's Stationery Office bookshops from the end of June.

  Resource Management Initiative
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total cost to date of the resource management initiative. [31049]

  Mr. Malone
  The total cost is not possible to ascertain since boundaries between the programme and normal local developments in information technology and clinical management would be impossible to define precisely and therefore to cost.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation is being undertaken of the resource management initiative. [31050]

  Mr. Malone
  An independent evaluation of the resource management programme in England was commissioned by the national health service executive from a consortium led by the health services management unit.

  NHS Pension Scheme
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to allow general practitioners' staff to join the NHS pension scheme. [31022]

  Mr. Malone
  The matter is under consideration. A number of complex issues have to be resolved before a decision is reached.

  Psychiatry (Children)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of(a) whole-time equivalent child and adolescent psychiatry consultants, (b) clinical

  385
  psychologists working with children and (c) psychotherapists working with children for each year since 1979. [30991]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information is shown in the table. Information on the number of clinical psychologists working with children is not available centrally.

  National health service hospital and community health services child and adolescent psychiatry consultants and child psychotherapists, excluding assistants and trainees, in England at 30 September each year 1979 to 1994

  Whole-time equivalents

  Year

  Child and adolescent psychiatry consultants

  Child psychotherapists

  1979

  240

  60

  1980

  260

  70

  1981

  280

  50

  1982

  300

  70

  1983

  300

  60

  1984

  310

  50

  1985

  320

  60

  1986

  330

  70

  1987

  320

  80

  1988

  340

  110

  1989

  330

  110

  1990

  350

  140

  1991

  340

  160

  1992

  320

  1250

  1993

  340

  220

  1994

  330

  220

  Note:

  1 A new pay and grade system for child psychotherapists was introduced in October 1991. One of the new pay scales was identified by a code formerly used for clinical psychologists. Figures for 1992 include some clinical psychologists who cannot be identified separately.

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental and non-medical work force censuses.

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to is answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 78, how many (a) unconditional on-demand bonds, (b) performance bonds, (c) parent company guarantees, (d) advance payment bonds and (e) retention bonds were required by his Department in the last five years. [31236]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

  "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age"
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of(a) the number and (b) the proportion of elderly people in long-term residential and nursing care homes in (a) 2000, (b) 2005 and (c) 2010 who will have a partnership long-term care policy if the proposals in "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age" are implemented. [31296]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have no targets for the take-up of partnership products to meet long-term care costs. This will depend on the nature of the scheme and consumer choice.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost in terms of income forgone by local authorities or the Government in(a) 2000,
  386
  (b) 2005 and (c) 2010 of a partnership long-term care insurance scheme, as proposed in the White Paper, "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age", assuming £1.50 protection for every £1 of insurance benefit was taken out by (i) 10 per cent., (ii) 25 per cent., (iii) 50 per cent., and (iv) 100 per cent., of elderly people with capital assets greater than £10,000. [31294]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 14 May,Official Report, column 419. In reaching conclusions about the partnership proposals, the Government will take careful account of the cost implications, including costs falling on local authorities.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will supplement the examples given on pages 35–36 of "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age", to exemplify the cost of long-term care insurance, within and without a partnership scheme, in terms of a monthly premium and a lump sum payment for benefits worth £1,600 a month for(a) a single male, (b) a single female and (c) a couple aged (i) 60 and (ii) 65 years. [31295]

  Mr. Bowis
  We expect that premiums for long-term care insurance generally, and particularly under a partnership scheme, will fall relative to current products as the market develops. However, premiums are still likely to vary considerably according to individual circumstances.

  Safety of Medicines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the calendar years(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995 the total number of fatal suspected adverse drug reactions reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines; and for each of the years if he will list the 10 drugs associated with the largest number of reported suspected fatal adverse reactions. [26291]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 24 April 1996]: The information is shown in the tables.

  Year

  Total number of fatal1reports

  1993

  471

  1994

  408

  1995

  476

  1 Reports where the fatality was associated directly or indirectly with the adverse reaction.

  The table provides information on the number of reports of suspected adverse drug reactions for fatal cases associated directly or indirectly with reactions reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines by health professionals from 1993 to 1995. As the scheme is voluntary, not all adverse reactions are reported. A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug cited; other factors may have contributed. Comparisons between different drugs may be misleading because many factors influence

  387
  reporting, including the level of usage of a medicine, the length of time it has been on the market and whether there has been significant media coverage relating to its use.

  Drug substances most frequently associated with fatal reactions in 1993

  Drug substances most frequently associated with fatal reactions in 1994

  Drug substances most frequently associated with fatal reactions in 1995

  Drug substance

  Number of reports

  Drug substance

  Number of reports

  Drug substance

  Number of reports

  1 = Clozapine

  32

  1 = Clozapine

  28

  1. Clozapine

  34

  1 = Flosequinan2

  32

  1 = Diclofenac

  28

  2. Diclofenac

  22

  3. Virus Influenza

  17

  3. Fluoxetine

  12

  3. Ethinyloestradiol

  21

  4. Fluoxetine

  16

  4 = Cyproterone

  9

  4. Fluoxetine

  15

  5. Streptokinase

  15

  4 = Strepokinase

  9

  5 = Sertraline

  12

  6 = Ethinlyoestradiol

  14

  4 = Finasteride

  9

  5 = Paroxetine

  12

  6 = Diclofenac

  14

  7 = Paroxetine

  7

  7 = Amiodarone

  10

  8. Moclobemide

  12

  7 = Ethinyloestradiol

  7

  8 = Nicorandil

  9

  9. Cyproterone

  9

  9 = Virus influenza

  6

  8 = Ibuprofen

  9

  10. Methotrexate

  8

  9 = Amiodarone

  6

  10 = Thioridazine

  8

  9 = Misoprostol

  6

  10 = Gestodene

  8

  9 = Ciprofloxacin

  6

  10 = Levonorgestrel

  8

  9 = Lithium

  6

  10 = Methotrexate

  8

  1 Reports where the fatality was associated directly or indirectly with the adverse reaction.

  2 This product was withdrawn from the market in 1993 because of concerns regarding increased mortality associated with its use. Some of the reports associated with the drug substances presented concern products containing multiple active ingredients. The figures provided are for the number of suspected adverse drug reactions where the reaction began in the year specified.

  Residential Care Provision
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers he has to ensure that local authority care managers offer the required level of choice to elderly people and their relatives seeking residential care. [31189]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have issued a statutory direction to local authorities which requires them to place a resident in a care home of his or her choice subject only to availability of a bed, appropriateness of the home to the level and type of assessed need and reasonableness of cost in relation to the range of price normally paid by the authority for the level and type of need.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy in respect of an independent inspectorate supported by private residential sector residential homes. [31269]

  Mr. Bowis
  A number of organisational models, including an independent inspectorate, have been put forward for consultation in our review of the regulation and inspection of social services. We shall consider possible changes to the current regulatory structure in the light of the independent assessor's report.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cut-off point of beds per home for private sector residential homes in Devon laid down by Devon social services; what is the equivalent figure for local authority homes; and what guidance he has issued on this matter. [31188]

  Mr. Bowis
  These are matters for the registering authority. No guidance has been issued by the Government on the maximum number of beds in residential homes.

  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority residential homes in Devon are neither registered nor accredited; and what action he plans to take to bring about their registration or accreditation. [31239]
  388
  The 10 drugs most frequently associated with fatal1 suspected adverse reactions in 1993, 1994 and 1995 are listed in the table.

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authority residential care homes are not currently required to register under the Registered Homes Act 1984. Authorities are however required to inspect their directly managed homes and apply the same standards as they do to independent sector homes. The possible need for local authority homes to be regulated is being considered as part of our review of the regulation and inspection of social services.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he plans to take in respect of staffing levels in local authority residential homes in Devon which fail to meet Devon council's recommendations for the private sector. [31238]

  Mr. Bowis
  This is a matter for the local authority. We require local authorities to apply the same standards, including standards on staffing levels, to directly managed homes as they do to independent sector homes.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the provision of health care of the relative costs of caring for the elderly, mentally ill patients in(a) a local authority-run home in Plymouth and (b) private sector establishments in Devon. [31240]

  Mr. Bowis
  No assessment has been made centrally of these relative costs.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers he has to ensure that in residential homes in Devon the purchaser/provider split takes place in accordance with the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. [31195]

  Mr. Bowis
  There are no such powers in the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. We encourage authorities to obtain maximum value for money from their purchasing arrangements for community care services and we agree with the Audit Commission that this includes making better use of the independent sector.
  389
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the differences in the provision of respite care to(a) private sector homes in Devon and (b) the local authority's own residential homes. [31187]

  Short-stay residents in and short-stay admissions to residential homes in Devon1

  Number of residents at 31 March 1995

  Percentage of all residents

  Number of admissions in year to 31 March 1995

  Percentage of all admissions

  Local authority homes

  225

  61

  5,860

  76

  Independent sector homes2

  145

  39

  1,890

  24

  All homes

  370

  100

  7,750

  100

  1"Short stay" includes short placement for assessment and other reasons as well as respite care.

  2Private and voluntary sector residential care homes registered under the terms of the Registered Homes Act 1984.

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each year since 1990 the total number of suspected adverse reactions to combined oral contraceptives reported via the yellow card system and the number which were fatal. [26437]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 24 April 1996]: The information is shown in the table.

  Suspected adverse reactions reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines from 1990–1995 for oral contraceptives in the United Kingdom

  Year

  Total number of suspected adverse drug reaction reports where oral contraceptives are indicated as a suspect drug

  Total number of suspected fatal1 adverse drug reaction reports where oral contraceptives are indicated as a suspect drug

  1990

  285

  12

  1991

  215

  10

  1992

  199

  6

  1993

  137

  14

  1994

  121

  6

  1995

  232

  21

  1 Reports where the fatality was associated directly or indirectly with the adverse reaction.

  A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug cited.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Polly Peck
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General what action is currently being taken by the Serious Fraud Office to investigate moneys stolen from Polly Peck plc for the purposes of political donations in the United Kingdom. [30666]

  The Attorney-General
  The role of the Serious Fraud Office is to investigate alleged serious or complex fraud.

  Asil Nadir, formerly chairman of Polly Peck International plc, stands indicted before the central criminal court on 13 counts of theft involving over £33 million alleged to have been stolen from Polly Peck International plc. In May 1993 he absconded and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
  390
  Mr. Bowis
  Centrally available information on adult short stay residents in residential care homes in Devon at 31 March 1995 and on short stay admissions during the year to 31 March 1995 is shown in the table.

  The purposes for which moneys allegedly stolen are alleged to have been used are not directly relevant to the charges and are not the subject of current investigation by the SFO.

  Amusement Machines
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent representations he has received on the operation of section 34 of the Gaming Act 1968. [30805]

  The Attorney-General
  I have received letters from 27 Members of Parliament, including the hon. Gentleman, requesting clarification of the Crown Prosecution Service's decision to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords for a definitive ruling about the interpretation of section 34 of the Gaming Act 1968 in the case of Rv. Burt and Adams Ltd. the HB Leisure case.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, columns 56–57, what was the size of the performance bond called in by the ODA; and what size of company it related to. [31225]

  Mr. Hanley
  The company had a contract partly funded by ODA, it went into receivership and the performance bond of £54,608 was called in by the overseas client.

  The company no longer exists and no record of the company's size is available in ODA.

  Bosnia
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received from the World Health Organisation about the use the World Health Organisation made of the £300,000 which it received from the British Government for the physical rehabilitation programme in Bosnia; how much was used for prosthetics; and in which Bosnian medical institutions. [31120]

  Mr. Hanley
  The World Health Organisation has provided an interim report to my Department, dated 31 May 1996. As Finland had tied its contribution to the
  391
  provision of prosthetics, WHO has chosen to use the ODA grant—originally expected to cover this area—elsewhere within its programme of co-ordinated physical rehabilitation activities. The grant will be used in 1996 to expand the programme within Bosnia (Banja Luka and Bihac), Serbia-Montenegro (western Baka), and Croatia (eastern Slavonia). The activities include training for professionals, rehabilitation, and the provision of equipment and supplies.

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the British Government to work with the Bosnian Government to co-ordinate the work of voluntary and non-government organisations in Bosnia. [31121]

  Mr. Hanley
  We work with the Bosnian and other former Yugoslav Governments, non-government organisations and international agencies such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to identify needs and determine priorities. Because non-government organisations are independent, neither we nor the Bosnian Government are in a position to direct them, but co-ordination between and with them is achieved through practical liaison. Since 1992, the Government have provided more than £18 million for the work of voluntary, non-government organisations in former Yugoslavia.

  Greenwich University
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what transfer of funds took place from the ODA to the university of Greenwich arising from the transfer of the scientific arm of the ODA to the university. [31193]

  Mr. Hanley
  There was no transfer of funds from ODA to Greenwich on completion of the sale agreement. There will be an adjustment to the nominal consideration paid by Greenwich based on the agreed level of net current assets at completion; this could result in a payment from the ODA to Greenwich or vice versa.

  HIV-AIDS
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the United Kingdom's contribution to UN organisations has been used specifically for HIV-AIDS programmes for each year since 1991. [30227]

  Mr. Hanley
  Several UN systems agencies—including the World Health Organisation, UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund, UN Childrens' Fund, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, and, now, the UN AIDS programme—have, since 1991, implemented programmes that will benefit people at risk of, or affected by, HIV infection. The UK is an important contributor to all, except UNESCO. The data needed to calculate the proportion of these contributions used "specifically for HIV-AIDS programmes" are not currently available.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Commission has been used for HIV-AIDS specific activities for each year since 1991. [30226]
  392
  Mr. Hanley
  Several directorates-general within the EC—including I, V, VIII and XII—have, since 1991, used funds with the specific intention of benefiting people at risk of, or affected by, HIV infection. The data needed to calculate the proportion of the UK's contribution used for these activities are not currently available.

  Myanmar
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for each of the past five years, the(a) grant loans and (b) loans made available by his Department to Myanmar. [31279]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 20 December 1995,Official Report, column 1177. In 1990–91 and 1991–92—the years not covered by my earlier reply—UK bilateral aid to Burma amounted to £68,000 and £53,000 respectively. All UK bilateral assistance over the past five years has been on grant terms, largely for humanitarian aid.

  Contraception Research
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what research projects to develop new methods of contraception were funded by the aid budget in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995; and for what period of time. [30459]

  Mr. Hanley
  None in 1994. In 1995, ODA and the Medical Research Council agreed support over a five-year period for a contraceptive development network focusing on the contraceptive effects of antigestogens for women and steriodal hormones for male contraception with the aim of developing promising new methods of contraception.

  Sexual and Reproductive Health
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what research projects in the field of sexual and reproductive health were being funded by the aid budget in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995; and for what period of time. [30460]

  Mr. Hanley
  Twenty-three research projects were funded in 1994 and 24 in 1995. Details are as follows:

  Methodologies for measuring maternal health in developing countries. April 1992—April 1995.

  Hypertension and Eclampsia in Pregnancy. April 1994—March 1996.

  Pelvic Inflammatory disease in slum women in Bombay. January 1993—December 1995.

  Sexual awareness, life styles and related health needs of young, single female factory workers. April 1992—April 1995.

  Socio-cultural determinants of induced abortion in developing countries. April 1992—April 1994.

  The management of eclampsia-control trial of magnesium sulphate and diazepam to reduce maternal morbidity. June 1992—June 1995.

  Reproductive Morbidity. April 1992—April 1995.

  Study of induced abortion among urban poor. October 1992—October 1995.

  Reproductive health beliefs among young women. June 1994—December 1994.

  393

  Impact and cost-effectiveness of focused perinatal health education for mothers on infant care, neonatal mortality and postnatal family planning practices. January 1994—January 1996.

  Pilot study to explore and compare health seeking behaviour and socio-economic context in commercial sex workers and other women. May 1994—December 1994.

  Menstrual health of adolescent girls. July 1994—July 1996.

  Malaria and maternal anaemia—an intervention study in pregnancy. September 1994—September 1997.

  The development of an appropriate approach to community based education in family planning. April 1994–1995.

  Cervical cancer in developing countries. March 1993—March 1996.

  Assessment of reproductive health needs of out of school adolescents. April 1992—April 1994.

  HIV-AIDS study of selected economic aspects of adult illness. August 1990—March 1995.

  Prevention of HIV-related tuberculosis. October 1992—October 1996.

  Risk factors for mother-to-infant transmission of HIV-1. October 1993—December 1995.

  Investigation of early diagnosis of HIV in children. April I 994—March 1996.

  The Informal Economy of Health: Management of STDs and Paediatric Crisis by Women. November 1992 March 1996.

  Collaborative study on effectiveness of HIV-AIDS work in developing countries by non-governmental organisation. November 1993—March 1996.

  New tools for prioritising and evaluating safe motherhood programmes. December 1994—October 1996.

  The social factors influencing the high rates of Caesarian section births. October 1995—February 1997.

  Acceptability of barrier methods as a means to prevent reproductive tract infection. October 1995—October 1998.

  A rational package of antenatal care: economic evaluation alongside a multi-centre randomised controlled trial. November 1995—November 1996.

  Delivering cost-effective antenatal care in low and middle income countries. November 1995—February 1996.

  Increasing the efficiency of antenatal care in identifying and referring women needing institutional deliveries. December 1995—December 1996.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Special Needs
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will list by local education authority the ratio of staff employed in a special educational needs capacity to pupils receiving special needs education; [30403]

  (2) if she will list by local education authority the ratio of teaching assistants to qualified teaching staff employed in a special educational needs capacity. [30401]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to 394
  introduce further incentives in the near future to encourage firms to employ an increased percentage of disabled workers. [30351]

  Mr Paice
  The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will provide an effective legal framework for improving access to jobs, and participation in all aspects of work, for disabled people. The Secretary of State for Education and Employment intends to commence the employment provisions of the Act around the end of the year. Together with the practical schemes and services that the Government provide through the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils both for disabled people and for their employers, this will help to ensure that disabled people can make increased use of the available opportunities.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many registered disabled people are employed by her Department; and what percentage this is of the total figures. [30776]

  Mr Paice
  The number of registered disabled staff employed by the Department, including its agencies, was 1,597 at 1 April 1996. This was 3.69 per cent. of the total number of staff employed by the Department.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent research she has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated regarding the educational attainments of ethnic minorities. [30448]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Secretary of State has commissioned research studies which provide data on educational qualifications and labour market experiences of ethnic minority groups. These are:

  (i) The youth cohort study.

  The fourth national survey of ethnic minorities.

  This and other relevant research brought to the Department's attention is reviewed as results become available.

  Consultants
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the contracts for consultancy work between(a) her Department and (b) training and enterprise councils and (i) Millbank Consultants Ltd., (ii) Paddington Consultancy Partnership Ltd., (iii) Mr. Neale Coleman, (iv) Mr. Stephen Hilditch and (v) Mr. Peter Bradley; and if she will indicate the total fees paid to (i) to (v). [30660]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  According to existing databases, the Department has not entered into any contracts with the consultants as named, either in its own right or in conjunction with any training and enterprise council. TECs are private companies and are not required to inform the Department of contracts that they enter into in their own right.
  395

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in her Department on 1 April. [30559]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows the number of full-time equivalent staff at 1 April 1996, including the Employment Service and the Teachers' Pensions Agency.

  Grade, including equivalents

  Men

  Women

  Total number of staff

  Women as a percentage of total staff

  Permanent Secretary

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Director-General

  5

  0

  5

  0

  Director

  20

  0

  20

  0

  Divisional Manager

  96

  30

  126

  23.8

  Grade 6

  46

  14

  60

  23.3

  Grade 7

  493

  175

  668

  26.2

  SEO

  570

  323

  893

  36.2

  HEO

  1,538

  1,319

  2,857

  46.2

  EO

  4,176

  8,188

  12,364

  66.2

  AO

  5,817

  16,047

  21,860

  73.4

  AA

  494

  979

  1470

  66.5

  Total

  13,256

  27,071

  40,324

  67.1

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what use her Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; which agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to her Department. [30574]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department for Education and Employment made no use of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 600, what arrangements are in place for ensuring that the objectivity and impartiality of the careers service will be delivered; and what will be the involvement of (a) schools, (b) employers, (c) pupils and (d) parents. [31041]

  Mr. Paice
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave on 17 May 1996,Official Report, columns 599 and 600. The arrangements described there for quality assuring and inspecting careers services involve seeking the views of schools, employers, pupils and parents as appropriate. The arrangements are set out in the "Requirements and Guidance for Providers", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer 17 May,Official Report, column 599, what steps were
  396
  taken to replace the input of the inspector with the possible conflict of interest; and what terms and conditions of service apply to his successor. [31045]

  Mr. Paice
  There is no longer a specific careers inspector post; therefore, the inspector has not been replaced.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the funding provided to the careers service will be protected and enhanced in areas where there is increased population; and how the targets set for the service reflect the needs of individuals. [31043]

  Mr. Paice
  Funding for careers service work is allocated to Government offices based on the number of young people in each region. Government offices then have the flexibility to negotiate funding with individual careers services, taking into account the number of young people in the area and other relevant local circumstances.

  The targets agreed with each careers service include group advice sessions, individual interviews and action plans for young people. These targets reflect the key purpose of the careers service which is to provide objective advice that enables young people to make appropriate choices.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 7 May,Official Report, column 600, what plans her Department has to ensure that the careers service will cater for the needs of adults not in full—time education or part-time vocational education; and what is the timetable for the integration of adult guidance services with the careers service. [31042]

  Mr. Paice
  There are no plans to expand the existing statutory careers service client group. However, the consultation document on lifetime learning published in December 1995 highlights the importance of guidance. The Government will be responding to the consultation shortly.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 599, if local education authorities' partners in the new careers service are companies; and what is their strategic operational role in the delivery of careers services. [31044]

  Mr. Paice
  The majority of new careers service companies have training and enterprise councils and local education authorities as major partners. A minority of careers service providers are other types of company with a major interest in guidance training and education. Additionally, the prospectus inviting bids to provide a careers service seeks clear proposals from bidders for achieving and maintaining the confidence, trust and support of key customers and stakeholders, including LEAs. The Secretary of State's "Requirements and Guidance for Providers" states that careers services must be able to demonstrate responsiveness to local community needs, including clients, local employers, local authorities, and education and training providers.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many foreign nationals have been given awards under the assisted places scheme. [30989]
  397
  Mrs. Gillan
  Information about the nationality of children holding assisted places is not collected centrally. The number of foreign nationals is likely to be small. To be eligible for an assisted place, a child must have been ordinarily resident in the British Islands or, if a national of a country in the European Economic Area and a child of a migrant worker, in an EEA country, for two calendar years before taking up the place, unless of a refugee granted exceptional leave to enter or remain in the British Islands.

  Benefits
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statistics the Employment Service is required to keep on decisions relating to persons suspended from benefit for not actively seeking work. [31254]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Clive Soley, dated 4 June 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what statistics the Employment Service Agency is required to keep on decisions relating to persons suspended from benefit for not actively seeking work.
  The actively seeking employment condition was introduced in the 1989 Social Security Act. Information on the number of decisions and disallowances issued to Unemployment Benefit claimants, including those in respect of the definition of actively seeking work, is contained in the quarterly summary entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions", copies of which are held in the Library of the House. This information is available from 1 October 1989, when the actively seeking work condition was introduced, to the quarter ending March 1996.
  Decisions to disallow Income Support claims because of failure to satisfy the actively seeking work condition are given by Adjudication Officers in the Benefits Agency of the Department of Social Security. Therefore, we do not hold information about the number of these disallowances.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ethnic Minority Pupils
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps her Department is taking to ensure that additional resources allocated to reducing disruptive behaviour in schools will address the problems of excluded children from ethnic minorities; [31082]

  (2) what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of ethnic minority children among those excluded from school; [31071]

  (3) what plans her Department has to discuss with the Commission for Racial Equality the proportion of children from ethnic minorities among those excluded from school; [31072]

  (4) what action her Department plans to take based on the data available to it regarding the number of ethnic minority children among those excluded from school. [31073]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department's guidance on exclusions, which was issued to all schools in May 1994, emphasises that disciplinary procedures should be applied 398
  objectively and consistently across all cultural groups and reminds head teachers that failure to do so could constitute unlawful racial discrimination under the Race Relations Act 1976.

  The aim of reducing the number of ethnic minority pupils who are excluded is an important element in a number of the projects the Department is supporting under our 18 million programme of grants over the next three years to help schools tackle behaviour and discipline problems.

  This Department is currently analysing data collected from schools on permanent exclusions in the 1994–95 school year, including, for the first time, information on the ethnic origin of permanently excluded pupils. Aggregate data will be available in the early autumn. My right hon. Friend will consider whether action needs to be taken in the light of that information and consultations with interested bodies.

  Vandalism
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the annual cost of vandalism in the Bolton area, in each of the last 10 years; of that what amount can be attributed to arson; how many incidents of arson there have been in each year; and if he will make a statement. [31160]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not held centrally.

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 11, how many (a) unconditional on-demand bonds, (b) performance bonds. (c) parent company guarantees, (d) advance payment bonds and (e) retention bonds were required by her Department in the last five years. [31234]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  According to existing databases the Department has required one performance bond(b) and one parent company guarantee (c).

  Computers in Schools
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to promote an increase in the availability of computers in schools before the next general election. [31057]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department is continuing to promote the availability of computers in schools through its programme of grants for education support and training and by other means.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what schemes have been put in place since 1992 to ensure that each child(a) has had access to a computer and (b) is computer literate by the time he or she leaves school. [31059]

  Mr. Squire
  The Department has continued to support the development of pupils' information technology skills in a number of ways. These include the establishment of IT as a separate subject within the national curriculum; the programme of grants for education support and training which supports the purchase of computer
  399
  hardware, software and teacher training in IT; and support for the work of the National Council for Educational Technology.

  Internet
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what schemes she has established to promote access to the Internet in schools. [31058]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government published in November 1995 their statement of policy on the development of networked communications in education. "Superhighways for Education: The Way Forward", a copy of which is in the Library, identifies the national priorities and sets out the action to which the Government are committed. This includes support and encouragement for the piloting of new communications technologies in education, and ensuring that advice on the use of these technologies is made available through appropriate bodies. The paper announced an innovative programme of pilot projects, including several piloting the use of the Internet, which the Department is evaluating. The Department is also supporting two parallel projects. One will evaluate the benefit of educational Internet services; the other will assess the development of a virtual languages centre on the Internet. Advice and guidance for schools on networking and the use of the Internet is available from the National Council for Educational Technology.

SCOTLAND

  Ministerial Visits
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to public funds of the visit by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to Innerleithen, Tweeddale, on 26 April; what was the purpose of the visit; and what is the policy of Scottish Office Ministers in respect of notifying right hon. and hon. Members of visits to their constituencies. [28063]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for industry and local government visited Peebles and Innerleithen in the right hon. Member's constituency on 25 April, not 26 April. He visited Clough Mill Ltd., Waverley Mills, Innerleithen with the chairman of Scottish Borders Enterprise as one of a number of engagements in the area. The cost of this element of the day's programme cannot be separately identified. My hon. Friend wrote to the right hon. Member on 26 March, as is the normal practice, to inform him that he would be carrying out ministerial engagements in his constituency; this particular engagement was added to the original programme at a late stage.

  Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings outside trust premises have been held between private companies tendering for the support services at the Victoria infirmary in Glasgow and staff who work for the Victoria infirmary trust; if the trust board was informed of such meetings; and what action the board has taken about them. [30132]
  400
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The question concerns specific operational matters on which the chief executive of the trust is best placed to provide answers. Accordingly the hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Small for details.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what opportunity was available to staff at the Victoria infirmary in Glasgow to make an in-house bid for the support services recently put out to competitive tender; if he will list those in attendance at the meeting where staff were informed of that opportunity; and if he will place in the Library(a) a copy of the minutes of the meeting and (b) all correspondence between the trust board and those private companies which indicated an interest in tendering for the services. [30131]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  I understand from the Victoria Infirmary NHS trust that, in addition to placing an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Communities, a number of open meetings were held with staff to announce the trust's intention to invite tenders for specific contracts and to confirm that there was a potential for making an in-house bid. No record of staff who attended these open meetings was made, nor were minutes or notes taken. Correspondence between the trust and the private organisations expressing interest in this tender exercise is a matter of commercial confidence.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30121]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  For the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1996, the activities listed below have been reviewed under my competing for quality programme. Market testing is one of three main outcomes from competing for quality reviews. The others—strategic contracting out and internal restructuring—are also listed.

  Activity

  Outcome

  Scottish Prison Service

  Capital building

  Strategic Contracting Out: on a project basis

  Central store

  Market Test: won in-house

  Maintenance and minor works (phase 1) at four establishments

  Market Test: three won in-house and one to an external contractor

  Maintenance and minor works (phase 2) at six establishments

  Market Test: all won in-house

  Maintenance and minor works (phase 3) at remaining nine establishments

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Education services

  Market Test: won by various contractors

  Historic Scotland

  Monument conservation unit

  Internal restructuring

  Gardeners at Holyrood palace and park

  Market Test: won in-house

  HQ office support staff

  Internal restructuring

  Patrolmen at Edinburgh castle

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Scottish Agricultural and Science Agency

  Animal house

  Market Test: won by external contractor

  Security

  Market Test: won by external contractor

  401

  Activity

  Outcome

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  Marine surveillance

  Internal restructuring

  Internal audit

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  Information technology

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Messengers

  Market Test: won in-house

  Registers of Scotland

  Messengers/telephonist services

  Market Test: won in-house

  Reprographic services

  Market Test: won in-house

  Typing/proof reading

  Market Test: won in-house

  Workflow functions

  Market Test: won in-house

  Scottish Court Service

  Capital works programme

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Estate management services

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Managing agents services: north, west and east regions

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Security

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Cleaning

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Catering

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Payroll services

  Strategic Contracting Out

  IT hardware and software support

  Strategic Contracting Out

  Scottish Record Office

  Cleaning

  Market Test: won in-house

  Reprographics

  Market Test: won in-house

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 158, what were the electorates of each of the existing parliamentary constituencies in Scotland, as at 16 February. [30238]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Electorate

  Aberdeen, North

  48,667

  Aberdeen, South

  60,829

  Angus, East

  64,826

  Argyll and Bute

  49,869

  Ayr

  67,485

  Banff and Buchan

  67,105

  Caithness and Sutherland

  31,346

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  55,404

  Central Fife

  57,674

  Clackmannan

  50,405

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  48,581

  Clydesdale

  63,338

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  48,112

  Cunninghame, North

  56,137

  Cunninghame, South

  49,961

  Dumbarton

  56,858

  Dumfries

  61,697

  Dundee, East

  57,550

  Dundee, West

  56,629

  Dunfermline, East

  52,147

  Dunfermline, West

  52,764

  East Kilbride

  66,796

  East Lothian

  69,171

  Eastwood

  65,508

  Edinburgh, Central

  59,826

  Edinburgh, East

  46,137

  Edinburgh, Leith

  57,679

  Edinburgh, Pentlands

  56,476

  Edinburgh, South

  63,286

  Edinburgh, West

  59,394

  Falkirk, East

  52,364

  Falkirk. West

  49,628

  402

  Electorate

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  54,942

  Glasgow, Cathcart

  43,418

  Glasgow, Central

  48,975

  Glasgow, Garscadden

  40,726

  Glasgow, Govan

  43,873

  Glasgow, Hillhead

  59,784

  Glasgow, Maryhill

  48,491

  Glasgow, Pollok

  44,433

  Glasgow, Provan

  34,501

  Glasgow, Rutherglen

  51,764

  Glasgow, Shettleston

  51,680

  Glasgow, Springburn

  45,098

  Gordon

  85,435

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  50,377

  Hamilton

  62,846

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber

  72,918

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  62,359

  Kincardine and Deeside

  70,308

  Kirkcaldy

  53,507

  Linlithgow

  63,299

  Livingston

  64,204

  Midlothian

  60,978

  Monklands, East

  48,849

  Monklands, West

  49,881

  Moray

  65,216

  Motherwell, North

  58,129

  Motherwell, South

  49,904

  North-East Fife

  58,495

  North Tayside

  58,447

  Orkney and Shetland

  32,635

  Paisley, North

  47,105

  Paisley, South

  48,402

  Perth and Kinross

  68,317

  Renfrew, West and Inverclyde

  60,995

  Ross, Cromarty and Skye

  58,626

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  44,371

  Stirling

  59,979

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  62,038

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  40,910

  Western Isles

  23,208

  Retex
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to make dependency on textiles a deciding factor when calculating levels of additional resources under the EU RETEX initiative; and if he will make special provision for the borders region. [30673]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Textile dependency as set out in article 6 of the Commission's guidelines as decided on 13 May 1992 (Official Journal number C 142, 4 June 1992), already determines eligibility for funding under RETEX, and additional resources will be allocated between UK eligible areas, including border region, on the same basis as the original allocation.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the number of (i) males and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in his Department on 1 April. [30550]
  403
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of male and female staff in each of the principal and administrative grades,

  Staff in post in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies at 1 April 1996 selected groups of staff—full-time equivalents A. Unified grades

  Scottish office

  Historic Scotland

  Scottish fisheries protection agency

  Grade1

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  SCS

  119.8

  19.6

  14.1

  2.7

  —

  —

  1.0

  —

  —

  G6

  57.0

  11.0

  16.2

  5.0

  —

  —

  2.0

  —

  —

  G7

  239.6

  64.7

  21.3

  17.0

  5.4

  24.0

  2.0

  —

  —

  Sub total

  416.4

  95.3

  18.6

  24.7

  5.4

  17.9

  5.0

  —

  —

  Scottish Agriculture Science Agency

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  Student's Awards Agency for Scotland

  Grade1

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  SCS

  1.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1.0

  —

  —

  G6

  2.0

  —

  —

  1.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  G7

  10.0

  1.6

  14.2

  3.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sub total

  13.0

  1.6

  11.0

  4.0

  —

  —

  1.0

  —

  —

  1 Professional and administrative staff at Scottish Civil Service grades and grades 6 and 7 are not identified separately on returns to Treasury.

  B. Main grades within administration group

  Scottish Office Core

  Historic Scotland

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  Grade1

  Male

  Female

  Percentage female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage female

  SEO

  100.4

  26.2

  20.7

  4.0

  —

  —

  3.0

  —

  —

  HEO

  285.8

  156.2

  35.3

  14.0

  2.0

  12.5

  4.0

  —

  —

  EO

  194.6

  236.2

  54.8

  8.0

  17.0

  68.0

  5.0

  1.0

  16.7

  AO

  210.9

  371.2

  63.8

  13.5

  27.3

  66.9

  7.0

  1.0

  12.5

  AA

  159.0

  285.2

  64.2

  12.0

  16.5

  57.9

  3.0

  18.3

  85.9

  Sub total

  950.7

  1075.0

  53.1

  51.5

  62.8

  54.9

  22.0

  20.3

  48.0

  Scottish Agriculture Science Agency

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  Student's Awards Agency for Scotland

  Grade1

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  Male

  Female

  Percentage Female

  SEO

  1.0

  2.0

  2.0

  1.0

  33.3

  HEO

  0.6

  100.0

  11.0

  3.0

  21.4

  5.0

  1.6

  24.3

  EO

  1.0

  100.0

  17.0

  15.1

  47.1

  9.0

  10.6

  54.1

  AO

  4.1

  100.0

  32.0

  36.5

  53.3

  30.0

  40.6

  57.5

  AA

  5.0

  2.0

  28.6

  25.0

  13.0

  34.2

  7.0

  8.0

  53.3

  Sub total

  6.0

  7.7

  56.2

  87.0

  67.6

  43.7

  53.0

  61.8

  53.8

  1 This is for main administration grades and as such excludes professional staff below grade 7, industrial grades and other administrative grades such as typing, secretarial and support grades.

  Inverclyde Enterprise Zone
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been created as a result of the establishment of the Inverclyde enterprise zone; in which industries such employment has been found; what is the sex ratio of the employed; and if he will make a statement. [30175]

  Mr. Kynoch
  As at 31 March 1995, 2,245 jobs had been created within the Inverclyde enterprise zone. Of these, 1,669 were in manufacturing industry and the remaining 576 in other activities ranging from construction work to catering. Information is not available to distinguish between male and female employment.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many designated sites of the Inverclyde enterprise zone are still awaiting industrial development; and if he will make a statement. [30176]
  404
  and the percentage of these are women are shown in the table.

  Mr. Kynoch
  Four of the 13 designated sites within the Inverclyde enterprise zone do not, at present, have any enterprise zone activity.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the companies which have established industrial and commercial units in the designated sites of the Inverclyde enterprise zone; how many full-time employees they have recruited since commencing business in the zone; and if he will make a statement. [30177]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The table contains the names of companies and details of the sites in which they were located within the enterprise zone as at September 1994, the most recent date for which this information is available. Monitoring information compiled for the Department of Environment indicates that, by March 1995, 33 industrial and commercial establishments,
  405
  employing a total of 2,245 people, were located on designated enterprise zone sites. No information is available on the number of full-time employees recruited since these companies commenced business in the zone.

  Companies and organisations located in Inverclyde enterprise zone, September 1994

  Name

  Site

  East End Bakery

  Kingston

  Ian's Grill

  Kingston

  Anaplast

  Kingston

  Madison Cable

  Kingston

  Viking Life Saving Equipment

  Kingston

  Accurate Armour

  Kingston

  S and A Seafoods

  Kingston

  Fairway Leisure

  Kingston

  The Sign Factory

  Kingston

  T R Shellfish

  Kingston

  W H M Maintenance Supplies

  Kingston

  Xtraz

  Kingston

  Brands Electronics

  Kingston

  Minebea

  Kelburn

  Blair Joinery

  Ingleton

  Cigna Employee Benefits

  Cartsburn

  HCS Global

  Cartsburn

  Bathroom Elegance

  Cartsburn

  JCS Training

  Cartsburn

  Royal Mail

  Cartsburn

  Drummond Packaging

  Larkfield

  Mimtec

  Faulds Park

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to modify the regulations governing the designation of sites in the Inverclyde enterprise zone; and if he will make a statement. [30178]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to modify the regulations governing the designation of sites in the Inverclyde enterprise zone.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Inverclyde enterprise zone is due to cease to exist; what proposals he has to extend its existence; and if he will make a statement. [30179]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Inverclyde enterprise zone will cease to exist on 2 March 1999 after 10 years of enterprise zone designation. My right hon. Friend has no plans to extend its existence.

  Gourock Ropeworks
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning the demolition or retention of the Gourock ropeworks of Port Glasgow; and if he will make a statement. [30180]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations regarding the Gourock ropeworks. An application for listed building consent to demolish the building has been received by Historic Scotland and is under consideration. A decision on whether my right hon. Friend will call the application in for his own determination will be taken soon.
  406

  Greenock Sheriff Court
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total cost of the renovation of the Greenock sheriff court; and if he will make a statement; [30182]

  (2) on how many occasions proceedings at the Greenock sheriff court have been postponed in the past two years; what were the reasons for such postponements; and if he will make a statement; [30183]

  (3) what has been the total cost of remedial work carried out to the structure, heating system, water supply and other facilities and services at the Greenock sheriff court following its re-opening on the completion of the renovation programme; and if he will make a statement. [30184]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The total cost of the renovation of Greenock sheriff court, including the temporary outhousing of the court while work was proceeding, was £4,032,000, inclusive of professional fees and VAT. The work involved rot eradication, stonework repairs and extensive internal refurbishment. Subsequent to the renovation, parts of the external drainage system were replaced at an inclusive cost of £56,500.

  The courthouse was reopened on 8 August 1994. On two occasions during the winter of 1995, business was adjourned at 10am following difficulties with the heating system. On 3 and 9 May 1996, business was adjourned at loam and on 13 May 1996 business was adjourned at noon; each of these adjournments was a result of problems with the incoming water main. On each occasion, the courthouse was open for business the next working day.

  The causes of the problems experienced at the court and the allocation of costs for remedial action are still the subject of discussion between the Scottish Court Service and its contractors and consultants.

  Fixed Penalties
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many charges of breach of the peace have been dealt with by way of fixed penalty by the procurator fiscal at Kilmarnock in the past 12 months; and how many of these have involved criminal injuries. [31068]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am advised by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate that, during the period from 1 May 1995 to 23 May 1996, the procurator fiscal at Kilmarnock issued 198 fixed penalty notices in respect of charges of breach of the peace. The procurator fiscal does not have information available to him to indicate how many, if any, of such cases resulted in awards by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Agency. As to whether personal injury was involved in any of the cases, this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In general, it is unusual for a breach of the peace charge to involve personal injury to any party.

  Computerised Tomography Scanners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the hospitals that have CT scanners; and if he will make a statement. [31157]
  407
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are 28 CT scanners in the following NHS hospitals in Scotland:

  Hospitals

  CT Scanner

  Aberdeen royal infirmary

  2

  Western infirmary, Glasgow

  1

  Glasgow royal infirmary

  1

  Royal infirmary, Edinburgh

  2

  Ninewells

  1

  Western general, Edinburgh

  1

  Southern general

  2

  Stobhill, Glasgow

  1

  Raigmore, Inverness

  1

  Crosshouse hospital

  1

  St. John's at Howden

  1

  Royal Alexandra hospital

  1

  Victoria infirmary, Glasgow

  1

  Queen Margaret hospital

  1

  Royal hospital for sick children, Yorkhill

  1

  Law, Carluke

  1

  Dundee royal infirmary

  1

  Stirling royal infirmary

  1

  Perth royal infirmary

  1

  Falkirk royal infirmary

  1

  Hairmyres, East Kilbride

  1

  Monklands hospital

  1

  Dumfries and Galloway royal infirmary

  1

  The Ayr hospital

  1

  Inverclyde royal hospital

  1

  Information on CT scanners in independent sector hospitals is not available centrally.

  Sheriffs
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost saving achieved per day through the use of a temporary instead of a full-time permanent sheriff in Scotland. [25470]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 April 1996]: Temporary sheriffs provide cover for the absences of permanent sheriffs and more generally offer a useful element of flexibility in the handling of court business.

  Temporary sheriffs are paid a daily rate of £282 plus travel and subsistence expenses. The daily rate for a permanent sheriff, based on working 220 days per annum is £345.

  Information Directorate
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost to date of media monitoring carried out on behalf of the information directorate; and if he will make a statement. [25489]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 April 1996]: The contract for media monitoring was awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering exercise. The actual cost of the contract is a matter of commercial confidence.
  408

  Animal Foodstuffs
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current means of ensuring prohibited foodstuffs are kept out of the foodchain; what assessment he has made of their effectiveness; and what criteria he adopts to assess their effectiveness. [29914]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 17 May 1996]: It is a statutory requirement that cattle organs prohibited from human consumption—those which could potentially contain the BSE agent (the head including the brain but not the tongue, the spinal chord, spleen, thymus, tonsils and intestine)—are removed from carcases in the abattoir and stained with a distinctive dye. Such material is then rendered and disposed of at licensed landfill sites. Compliance with this requirement is supervised by the Meat Hygiene Service, an executive agency of the Great Britain agriculture Departments. The State Veterinary Service monitors the effectiveness of those operations on a regular basis to ensure that the statutory controls are being complied with.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the test for mammalian feed in animal foodstuff will be made available for public analyst services and protective services departments of local authorities. [29916]

  Mr. Robertson
  [holding answer 17 May 1996]: The ELISA test used for the detection of mammalian protein in animal feed is currently not available for use in other laboratories. The purification process for the preparation of samples prior to test has been patented and is available. For the immunological test, however, because of the difficulties experienced with validation and the limited stocks of antisera currently available, it is not possible to make the test more widely available. Nevertheless, materials can be submitted to MAFF for testing at the one veterinary investigation centre that is currently equipped to carry out the test, subject to available capacity.

  Commercially available ELISA kits were tested with a view to assisting other laboratories to introduce testing, but these proved not to be sufficiently consistent in sensitivity, specifically for use for statutory purposes.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what trials have been conducted by his Department regarding the test for mammalian feed in animal foodstuff; and when these trials began. [29915]

  Mr. Robertson
  [holding answer 17 May 1996]: During validation of the test on samples collected on farms in Great Britain by the State Veterinary Service, a total of 1,577 samples were analysed between June 1994 and January 1996.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes and additions to the list of chairpersons and non-executive directors of NHS trusts in Scotland have occurred since 25 January 1993 and what are the current levels of annual remuneration. [27049]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 2 May 1996]: The information requested by the hon. Member has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
  409

ENVIRONMENT

  Landlords
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage small landlords. [29780]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Housing Bill includes provisions to encourage landlords into the private lettings market.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about the current year's standard spending assessments; and if he will make a statement. [29786]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have received a number of representations from local authorities and their associations. Proposals for change are examined with the local authority associations.

  Packaging Waste
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the Government's proposals under the European directive on packaging waste. [29787]

  Mr. Clappison
  Shortly.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the provision of a conscience clause in the draft regulations, now being prepared by his Department, under the Environment Act 1995, concerning the shared legal obligations and recovery in recycling of packaging waste; and if he will make a statement. [30646]

  Mr. Clappison
  I and colleagues are fully aware of concerns that the regulations which we are presently preparing on producer responsibility for packaging waste should not compel businesses to join a scheme if, for whatever reason, they do not wish to do so. I can offer a full reassurance on this matter. There will be two routes for businesses obliged under the regulations to discharge their obligation. They will be free to discharge it alone, or by joining a collective scheme. One of the central provisions of the enabling legislation was that the individual route should be a valid option for an individual business and this will be fully reflected in the regulations. This should become clear when the draft regulations are issued for consultation.

  Water (London)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State of the Environment if he will make a statement about water supplies in London. [29789]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Most of London receives its public water supplies from Thames Water, although some of the outer London boroughs are supplied by Three Valleys Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water or North Surrey Water. The quality of the public water supply is very high. The Environment Agency's recent report to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, published on 1 May, states that water resource problems are not expected in the Thames Water and North Surrey Water areas this summer, whatever the 410
  weather. In the other companies' areas, no restrictions are anticipated given a normal summer although hosepipe and inessential use bans may possibly become necessary in parts of these areas if the summer is very hot and dry.

  "This Common Inheritance"
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he proposes to introduce over the next year by way of advancing the objectives set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance". [29790]

  Mr. Clappison
  We published the latest "This Common Inheritance" annual report on 26 March. This sets out what we propose to do over the next year to meet our objectives for sustainable development and the environment. Copies of the report were placed in the Library.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding water pollution. [29791]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We have received representations on various aspects of water pollution, including in respect of the very considerable improvements in the quality of our rivers that have been achieved in recent years.

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to give councils the powers to set their own spending limits. [29792]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We will soon begin to consider the details of the next year's local government finance settlement, including capping. Once we have reached decisions on the local government settlement for next year, they will be announced in the normal way.

  Elderly Person's Accommodation
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the support he makes available for local authorities to upgrade facilities for elderly persons' accommodation. [29794]

  Mr. Clappison
  Local authority housing investment programme allocations total over £1.2 billion for 1996–97. Local authorities also use resources from revenue and useable capital receipts for capital expenditure on housing. In 1995–96, this totalled £1.1 billion. It is up to local authorities to use these resources efficiently and effectively to address their local housing needs, including those of the elderly.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of local authority expenditure is met by the council tax in(a) Hyndburn borough council and (b) Westminster city council. [29796]
  411
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The proportion of local authority expenditure funded by council tax depends largely on where an authority sets it budget in relation to its standard spending assessment.

  Hyndburn borough council has set a budget in 1996–97 which is 28.4 per cent. above its SSA, so the proportion of expenditure funded by council tax is 41.5 per cent. while Westminster city council has set a budget which is 12.7 per cent. below its SSA, so its proportion is 14.2 per cent.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of local authority expenditure council tax constitutes in(a) Nottingham and (b) Westminster. [30535]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The proportion of local authority expenditure funded by council tax depends largely on where an authority sets its budget in relation to its standard spending assessment.

  Nottingham city council has set a budget in 1996–97 which is 10.9 per cent. above its SSA, so the proportion of expenditure funded by council tax is 28.7 per cent., while Westminster city council has set a budget which is 12.7 per cent. below its SSA, so its proportion is 14.2 per cent.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has received from planning authorities to his new proposals for planning appeals; and if he will make a statement. [29798]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Responses to the Department's recent draft circular on planning appeal procedures have been received from the main local authority associations in England and from nine local planning authorities. Responses have also been received from around 80 other organisations.

  Noisy Neighbour Prosecutions
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how may(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful noisy neighbour prosecutions have been brought in (i) the London borough of Ealing and (ii) other London boroughs in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [30662]

  Mr. Clappison
  Comprehensive details are not available. The tables set out the readily available information:

  (1) 1991–92 to 1993–94 (based on responses to surveys by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and information from the London borough of Ealing)

  Year

  Number of London boroughs

  Number of prosecutions1,4 (of which are Ealing)

  Number of convictions1,4 (of which are Ealing)

  1991–92

  18

  113(11)

  93(11)

  1992–93

  20

  106(13)

  101(12)

  1993–94

  18

  154(24)

  131(22)

  412

  (2) 1994–95 to 1995–96 (based on information from the London Borough of Ealing)

  Year

  Number of prosecutions1 4

  Number of convictions1 4

  1994–95

  132

  102

  1995–96

  253

  243

  1 Prosecutions and convictions under section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 relating to noise from domestic premises.

  2 A further three successful prosecutions were brought under section 23 of the London Local Authorities Act 1991 relating to domestic intruder alarms.

  3 A further six successful prosecutions were brought under section 23 of the London Local Authorities Act 1991 relating to domestic intruder alarms.

  4 Some prosecutions and convictions may relate to complaints in previous years.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has to reduce air pollution. [29795]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government will be publishing a consultation draft of a national air quality strategy this summer, as required by the Environment Act 1995. It will include air quality standards and objectives, and set out the measures required to meet those objectives.

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; what agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30563]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None.

  Tree Planting
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to continue and expand initiatives to encourage tree planting in towns and the countryside. [29797]

  Mr. Clappison
  In the recent White Paper, "Rural England", we said that the Government would like to see a doubling of the woodland in England over the next half century. To this end we support directly the national forest in the east midlands and the 12 community forests. In addition to the £35 million the Forestry Commission will provide in forestry grants this year, Government-funded regeneration grants and agri-environment schemes can also support tree planting. My Department has spent over £1 million since 1992 on research into more cost effective tree planting and management methods.

  In 1995 my Department established the national urban forestry unit to promote good practice in the planting and management of trees and woodlands in urban areas. The unit will work in partnership with local authorities, groundwork trusts, English Partnerships and other public, private and voluntary sector interests. Urban forestry will be an important element of the greening the city initiative which I launched last October. This initiative is drawing together information, experience and expertise on the greening of our towns and cities and we will make this available as a good practice guide, to be launched at a

  413
  national conference in the autumn. We are also assisting local authorities to develop tree strategies for their areas and to encourage the planting of trees when land is developed.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and

  All disciplines

  Grade

  Female

  Per cent.

  Male

  Per cent.

  Total

  Questions (a) i, (a) ii and (b)

  Grade 1

  0

  0

  1

  100

  1

  Grade 2

  3

  60

  2

  40

  5

  Grade 3

  3

  12

  23

  88

  26

  Grade 4

  0

  0

  5

  100

  5

  Grade 5

  22

  19

  94

  81

  116

  Grade 6

  28

  10

  253

  90

  281

  Grade 7

  135

  24

  434

  76

  569

  SEO and equivalents

  113

  23

  383

  77

  496

  HEO and equivalents

  270

  35

  503

  65

  773

  EO and equivalents

  409

  45

  495

  55

  904

  AO and equivalents

  689

  63

  404

  37

  1,093

  AA and equivalents

  318

  65

  174

  35

  492

  Total

  1,990

  42

  2,771

  58

  4,761

  Question (c) administrative staff only

  Grade 1

  0

  0

  1

  100

  1

  Grade 2

  2

  50

  2

  50

  4

  Grade 3

  2

  10

  18

  90

  20

  Grade 4

  0

  0

  1

  100

  1

  Grade 5

  13

  16

  68

  84

  81

  Grade 6

  3

  13

  20

  87

  23

  Grade 7

  85

  28

  215

  72

  300

  SEO

  44

  20

  174

  80

  218

  HEO

  216

  36

  389

  64

  605

  EO

  341

  45

  414

  55

  755

  AO

  486

  56

  380

  44

  866

  AA

  139

  55

  112

  45

  251

  Total

  1,331

  43

  1,794

  57

  3,125

  Consultants
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the(a) contracts with and (b) work carried out for (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies, (iii) development corporations and (iv) housing action trusts by (1) Paddington Consultancy Partnership Ltd. or its directors, (2) Millbank Consultants, (3) Mr. Neale Coleman, (4) Mr. Stephen Hilditch and (5) Mr. Peter Bradley; and if he will indicate the total fees paid to (1) to (5). [30661]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Stonebridge housing action trust currently has a contract with Paddington Consultancy Partnership Ltd. to advise on the market test of its housing management function and to assist with the tender process. The contract was tendered competitively and is worth £42,350 including VAT.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings have been bought under(a) the right-to-buy and (b) the rent-to-mortgage schemes; and if he will make a statement. [30042]
  414
  (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in his Department on 1 April. [30547]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following information covers non-industrial staff in my Department as at 1 April 1996:

  Mr. Clappison
  Between the introduction of right-to-buy legislation in October 1980 and the end of December 1995, local authorities and new towns in England reported total sales under RTB of 1.25 million homes. In the same period, housing associations reported right-to-buy sales of 28,000.

  Between the introduction of the rent-to-mortgage scheme in October 1993, and the end of December 1995, there have been 16 completed sales.

  Water Leakages
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the domestic water supply was lost in leakage and what was the shortfall in supply last year; and what estimate he has made of the shortages in summer 1996. [29777]

  Mr. Clappison
  Leakage figures for the year 1995–96 are not yet available. For 1994–95 about 30 per cent. of the water put into the domestic supply system was lost due to leakage, including leakages from customers' supply pipes.
  415
  There were no supply cuts last year despite one of the hottest and driest summers for over 200 years. The Environment Agency has confirmed in its recent report to my right hon. Friend on the water resource and supply situation for this summer, that, although there is no room for complacency, the measures water companies are taking should be sufficient to enable essential supplies to be maintained in all areas even through a hot, dry summer.

  Highways Maintenance, Lincolnshire
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consultations he had with those delivering services and those involved in taking the decision to award the contract before ordering Lincolnshire county council to re-tender its highways maintenance contract; [30581]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the recommendations by Touche Ross in respect of the tendering of the highways maintenance contract by Lincolnshire county council. [30582]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Following a complaint from the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, officials of the Department undertook an investigation of the way in which Lincolnshire county council decided to carry out highways maintenance work. In considering the authority's response to a notice served on it, my right hon. Friend took account of the authority's possible externalisation of the work, but decided to give a direction as it appeared to him that the authority had acted anti-competitively. Since then, officials have met officers of the authority, and discussed externalisation plans, including the Touche Ross report. The authority has been

  Average house price

  Mix adjusted house price index

  Average price £

  Annual percentage change

  Percentage change on 1990

  Annual percentage change

  Percentage change on 1990

  1990

  54,700

  10

  n/a

  2

  n/a

  1991

  58,500

  7

  7

  0

  0

  1992

  57,900

  -1

  6

  -3

  -3

  1993

  58,300

  1

  7

  -1

  -4

  1994

  59,100

  1

  8

  1

  -4

  1995

  60,500

  2

  11

  -1

  -4

  Source:

  Department of the Environment, Survey of Mortgage Lenders (5 per cent. sample of mortgage completions).

  The figures in the first three columns of the table show changes in the prices of a sample of properties sold in each year without adjustment for changes in the mix of properties sold. The Department's mix adjusted house price index included in the fourth and fifth columns overcomes this limitation.

  Reliable figures of average house prices for Coventry are unavailable.

  House Building, Lancaster
  Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what body is responsible for determining the Lancaster target of 8,300 new homes in the period 1991 to 1996 as set out in the Lancashire structure plan. [30794]
  416
  told that when its externalisation plans are firm, the Secretary of State will consider any request it might make to carry the direction so that it does not cut across those plans. Ministers and officials have regular meetings with the FCEC to discuss the ability of the private sector to undertake highway work.

  Repossessions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to collate figures on repossession by region. [30757]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government do not collect figures on repossessions. These figures are collected by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and are not available by region.

  Fisheries Service
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responsibility his Department has for the funding of the fisheries service. [31007]

  Mr. Clappison
  None.

  House Prices
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average house price in(a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands in each year since 1990; and if he will express the figures (i) as a percentage change on the previous year and (ii) as a percentage change on 1990. [30754]

  Mr. Clappison
  Figures for the west midlands region are as follows:

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Lancashire county council is responsible for preparing the Lancashire structure plan. Lancaster city council was involved in the wide consultation process which took place.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are homeless in(a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands. [30755]

  Mr. Clappison
  Local authorities in England report to my Department, on their quarterly P1E return, the number of households for whom they accept responsibility to secure accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985.

  The latest estimate for the west midlands appears in table 2 of "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act 1985: England. Statistics for the fourth quarter of 1995".
  417
  The latest reported figure for Coventry appears in the associated supplementary table.

  House Sales
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many house sales there were in(a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands in each year since 1990; and if he will express the figures (i) as a percentage change on the previous year and (ii) as a percentage change on 1990. [30756]

  Mr. Clappison
  Information for the west midlands region is as follows:

  Number of residential transactions

  Annual percentage charge

  Percentage change on 1990

  1990

  125,000

  -13

  n/a

  1991

  119,000

  -5

  -5

  1992

  91,000

  -24

  -27

  1993

  97,000

  7

  -22

  1994

  109,000

  12

  -13

  19951

  98,000

  -10

  -22

  1 Provisional.

  Source:

  Inland Revenue Survey of Property Transactions.

  Reliable information on the number of house sales in Coventry is not available centrally.

  Educational Needs Funding
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the decision was made to ignore the change in income support claimants since 1994–95 in respect of the additional educational needs index weighting within the education standard spending assessment for 1996–97; and if he will list for each local education authority the effect on the funding for additional educational needs if the change in income support claimants since 1994–95 had been taken into account. [30810]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Final decisions on the distribution of standard spending assessments for 1996–97 were taken during January this year, following consultation with the local authority associations and the consideration of representations from local authorities.

  The table shows the effect on the education block of SSAs of using numbers of income support claimants since 1994–95 in place of the numbers actually used in SSAs for 1996–97.

  1996–97 Education SSA

  Change

  £ million

  £ million

  Percentage

  City of London

  0.759

  0.000

  0.0

  Camden

  78.312

  1.147

  1.5

  Greenwich

  114.263

  1.357

  1.2

  Hackney

  92.084

  1.624

  1.8

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  56.047

  0.733

  1.3

  Islington

  81.095

  1.281

  1.6

  Kensington and Chelsea

  34.193

  0.299

  0.9

  Lambeth

  100.826

  1.687

  1.7

  Lewisham

  108.942

  1.410

  1.3

  418

  1996–97 Education SSA

  Change

  £ million

  £ million

  Percentage

  Southwark

  109.297

  1.83

  1.7

  Tower Hamlets

  122.839

  2.599

  2.1

  Wandsworth

  86.304

  0.808

  0.9

  Westminster

  58.134

  0.630

  1.1

  Barking and Dagenham

  69.879

  0.413

  0.6

  Barnet

  117.029

  0.268

  0.2

  Bexley

  88.646

  -0.157

  -0.2

  Brent

  109.692

  1.492

  1.4

  Bromley

  103.845

  -0.389

  -0.4

  Croydon

  118.396

  0.493

  0.4

  Ealing

  112.151

  0.912

  0.8

  Enfield

  117.827

  0.664

  0.6

  Haringey

  93.427

  1.567

  1.7

  Harrow

  72.99

  -0.007

  0.0

  Havering

  87.183

  -0.314

  -0.4

  Hillingdon

  93.797

  0.133

  0.1

  Hounslow

  94.807

  0.689

  0.7

  Kingston upon Thames

  47.066

  -0.099

  -0.2

  Merton

  58.096

  0.089

  0.2

  Newham

  130.381

  2.118

  1.6

  Redbridge

  98.258

  0.351

  0.4

  Richmond upon Thames

  45.854

  -0.316

  -0.7

  Sutton

  67.782

  -0.016

  0.0

  Waltham Forest

  97.421

  1.129

  1.2

  Birmingham

  448.721

  4.720

  1.1

  Coventry

  119.872

  0.663

  0.6

  Dudley

  104.158

  -0.292

  -0.3

  Sandwell

  118.096

  0.643

  0.5

  Solihull

  73.069

  -0.348

  -0.5

  Walsall

  108.588

  0.331

  0.3

  Wolverhampton

  99.898

  0.721

  0.7

  Knowsley

  73.138

  0.897

  1.2

  Liverpool

  209.232

  2.527

  1.2

  St. Helens

  66.604

  0.005

  0.0

  Sefton

  106.847

  0.128

  0.1

  Wirral

  132.298

  0.645

  0.5

  Bolton

  100.891

  0.078

  0.1

  Bury

  61.635

  -0.184

  -0.3

  Manchester

  188.261

  2.938

  1.6

  Oldham

  94.759

  0.241

  0.3

  Rochdale

  82.736

  0.265

  0.3

  Salford

  82.496

  0.413

  0.5

  Stockport

  89.804

  -0.478

  -0.5

  Tameside

  80.591

  -0.217

  -0.3

  Trafford

  76.735

  -0.155

  -0.2

  Wigan

  110.133

  -0.292

  -0.3

  Barnsley

  76.867

  -0.059

  -0.1

  Doncaster

  119.680

  0.205

  0.2

  Rotherham

  102.425

  0.123

  0.1

  Sheffield

  170.970

  0.397

  0.2

  Bradford

  209.868

  1.217

  0.6

  Calderdale

  77.167

  0.106

  0.1

  Kirklees

  141.523

  -0.095

  -0.1

  Leeds

  252.509

  -0.036

  0.0

  Wakefield

  111.605

  -0.262

  -0.2

  Gateshead

  70.844

  0.246

  0.3

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  99.652

  0.764

  0.8

  North Tyneside

  68.757

  0.057

  0.1

  South Tyneside

  59.03

  0.191

  0.3

  Sunderland

  114.863

  0.296

  0.3

  Isles of Scilly

  1.233

  -0.012

  -0.9

  Bedfordshire

  220.156

  -0.207

  -0.1

  Berkshire

  282.308

  -1.009

  -0.4

  Buckinghamshire

  252.855

  -1.155

  -0.5

  Cambridgeshire

  237.278

  -1.042

  -0.4

  Cheshire

  348.970

  -1.392

  -0.4

  Cornwall

  164.930

  -0.704

  -0.4

  Cumbria

  170.602

  -0.919

  -0.5

  419

  1996–97 Education SSA

  Change

  £ million

  £ million

  Percentage

  Derbyshire

  319.922

  -1.328

  -0.4

  Devon

  345.862

  -1.070

  -0.3

  Dorset

  207.427

  -0.850

  -0.4

  Durham

  216.644

  -0.219

  -0.1

  East Sussex

  219.761

  -0.378

  -0.2

  Essex

  566.981

  -1.994

  -0.4

  Gloucestershire

  183.797

  -1.014

  -0.6

  Hampshire

  525.153

  -2.700

  -0.5

  Hereford and Worcester

  229.005

  -1.404

  -0.6

  Hertfordshire

  387.245

  -1.663

  -0.4

  Isle of Wight Council

  45.138

  -0.099

  -0.2

  Kent

  581.733

  -1.431

  -0.2

  Lancashire

  510.448

  -0.766

  -0.1

  Leicestershire

  333.840

  -0.588

  -0.2

  Lincolnshire

  213.026

  -1.197

  -0.6

  Norfolk

  243.384

  -1.242

  -0.5

  Northamptonshire

  222.270

  -0.815

  -0.4

  Northumberland

  113.513

  -0.571

  -0.5

  Nottinghamshire

  365.135

  0.017

  0.0

  Oxfordshire

  192.571

  -1.340

  -0.7

  Shropshire

  145.332

  -0.830

  -0.6

  Somerset

  150.908

  -1.093

  -0.7

  Staffordshire

  366.019

  -1.826

  -0.5

  Suffolk

  217.470

  -1.476

  -0.7

  Surrey

  307.474

  -2.515

  -0.8

  Warwickshire

  164.025

  -0.951

  -0.6

  West Sussex

  235.410

  -1.285

  -0.5

  Wiltshire

  197.517

  -1.304

  -0.7

  Bath and North East Somerset

  54.404

  -0.23

  -0.4

  City of Bristol

  119.87

  0.386

  0.3

  North Somerset

  58.642

  -0.416

  -0.7

  South Gloucestershire

  78.677

  -0.547

  -0.7

  Hartlepool

  37.013

  0.102

  0.3

  Middlesbrough

  61.491

  0.452

  0.7

  Redcar and Cleveland

  59.590

  0.174

  0.3

  Stockton on Tees

  71.747

  0.008

  0.0

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  102.701

  0.659

  0.6

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  102.954

  -0.928

  -0.9

  North East Lincolnshire

  64.840

  0.045

  0.1

  North Lincolnshire

  56.381

  -0.301

  -0.5

  North Yorkshire

  185.854

  -1.603

  -0.9

  York

  52.793

  -0.25

  -0.5

  Inner London

  1043.096

  15.404

  1.5

  Outer London

  1824.526

  9.019

  0.5

  Mets

  4304.322

  16.400

  0.4

  Shires

  9484.108

  -38.362

  -0.4

  New LEAs

  1106.956

  -2.449

  -0.2

  Isles of Scilly

  1.233

  -0.012

  -0.9

  England

  17.764.242

  0.000

  0.0

  Copies of both are in the Library.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total figures. [30771]
  420
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department currently employs a total of 91 disabled people of whom 60 are registered and 31 are non-registered. This constitutes 2 per cent. of the total number of staff employed in the Department and its agencies.

  Gloucestershire County Council
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the debt figure for Gloucestershire county council for each of the last 10 years. [30799]

  Mr. Paul Beresford
  The information for Gloucestershire county council is as follows:

  Outstanding debt at end of financial year1

  £ million

  1985–86

  45.9

  1986–87

  53.4

  1987–88

  66.8

  1988–89

  92.4

  1989–90

  104.4

  1990–91

  121.1

  1991–92

  124.5

  1992–93

  129.9

  1993–94

  136.3

  1994–95

  150.8

  Sources:

  11983–90 CIPFA Capital Expenditure and Debt Financing Statistics, 1990–95 Total external debt, borrowing and lending surveys and PWLB.

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, columns 44–45, how many (a) unconditional on-demand bonds, (b) performance bonds, (c) parent company guarantees, (d) advance payment bonds and (e) retention bonds were required by his Department in the last five years. [31230]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Alport Dale
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding Forest Enterprise's proposals for Alport dale in the Peak District national park. [31158]

  Mr. Clappison
  We have received 11 representations concerning Forest Enterprise's harvesting and replanting proposals for Alport dale, including one petition.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will intervene to prevent the extension of forestry plantation in Alport dale in the Peak District national park. [31159]

  Mr. Clappison
  I understand there are no plans to extend the woodlands at Alport dale.

  Water Additives
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has received from the
  421
  drinking water inspectorate on the addition of aluminium sulphate to remove discolouration from drinking water supplies. [31137]

  Mr. Clappison
  The drinking water inspectorate has made no reports about the use of aluminium sulphate in drinking water treatment.

  Aluminium compounds have long been established in most parts of the world as coagulants in water treatment and their use is considered unobjectional on health grounds.

  Smoke Control
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many fuels are now authorised to be burnt in smoke-controlled areas. [31107]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are currently 47 fuels authorised for use in smoke control areas by the Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations 1991 and by subsequent amendments.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to deregulate smoke control legislation. [31104]

  Mr. Clappison
  As announced in "Cutting Red Tape" in January 1994, the Government intend to repeal certain sections of the Clean Air Act 1993, including section 4 which enables local authorities to approve the design and installation of industrial furnaces in order to ensure smokeless operation. These are no longer necessary in light of changes in fuel use and the provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many fuels currently on the market cannot be burnt in smoke controlled areas. [31105]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department does not maintain a list of all such fuels. The use of a fuel, other than one authorised by the Secretary of State in the Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations 1991 and subsequent amendments, may constitute an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993. Some unauthorised fuel, such as coal and wood, may be used in smoke control areas when burnt in fireplaces exempted by order of the Secretary of State.

  Waste Management, Plymouth
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authority will be responsible for all aspects of waste management after unitary status is granted to Plymouth. [31101]

  Mr. Clappison
  Once a shire district has become a unitary authority, it is both waste collection authority and waste disposal authority for its area. Waste regulation, however, is not a local authority function; instead it is exercised by the Environment Agency.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about local government auditors in Lancashire. [29773]
  422
  Mr. Curry
  I have had no such representations, although we receive representations about a range of audit issues in Lancashire, as in other parts of the country.

  Song Birds
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he is carrying out into song bird conservation and sparrowhawk predation; and if he will make a statement. [31194]

  Mr. Clappison
  The nature conservation agencies are participating in a number of studies and action plans related to the conservation of a variety of song bird, and other, species. Contracts with the British Trust for Ornithology support the breeding bird survey, common bird census, nest record card system, and the constant effort ringing scheme—which assesses annual productivity and survival. No specific work is presently being funded into predation by sparrowhawks. Earlier studies have indicated that this is not a significant factor causing decline in national song bird populations.

  Fluoroaceteamid
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further research has been undertaken since 24 October 1995 into the use of the pesticide fluoroaceteamid on farming land in Kent in 1963 and the subsequent removal of contaminated soil from the farm. [29484]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 14 May 1996]: None.

  Concessionary Travel
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost of complying with the Atkins v. Wrekin district council and Department of Transport decision by the advocate general of the European Court of Justice (a) in the current financial year, (b) in future years and (c) for each year between 1984 and 1995. [30134]

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer to the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 16 May, Official Report, columns 571–72.

TRANSPORT

  Concessionary Travel
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to amend the London Regional Transport Act 1984 and Transport Act 1985 to include men aged 60 years or over as a further eligible class of person for transport concessions following the Atkins v. Wrekin district council and Department of Transport case considered by the European Court. [30026]

  Mr. Norris
  I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 10 May,Official Report, column 275.
  423
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) in what circumstances men aged 60 to 65 years since December 1984 will be able to claim compensation from their local authority as a result of the Atkins?. Wrekin district council and Department of Transport case considered by the European Court; [30025]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost of complying with the Atkins v. Wrekin district council and Department of Transport case decision by the advocate general of the European Court of Justice (a) in the current financial year, (b) in future years and (c) for each year between 1984 and 1995. [30134]

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer to the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 16 May, Official Report columns 571–72.

  Oil Pollution
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost to public funds in 1995 of treating oil pollution at coastal resorts. [30205]

  Mr. Norris
  No costs were incurred by central Government in 1995 on the treatment of oil pollution at coastal resorts. Information on local authority expenditure on oil pollution response activities is not collected centrally.

  Airworthiness
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice in relation to airworthiness safety is provided by the Civil Aviation Authority to the Jamaican Government. [30492]

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority contract with the Government of Jamaica lists the general airworthiness matters on which it shall advise in a two-page technical appendix. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Heavy Vehicle Licensing
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those vehicles exempt from goods vehicle operator licensing regulations and the reasons for exemption. [30471]

  Mr. Norris
  The classes of vehicle for which a heavy goods vehicle operator licence is not required are listed in schedule 3 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Regulations 1995.

  There is a variety of reasons for the exemptions but, generally, it is either because the vehicles are not widely used on public roads and are not therefore a significant road safety hazard, or because they do not carry goods commercially. We are currently carrying out a review of these exemptions.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last five years the total income generated by(a) the heavy goods vehicle operator licensing fee, (b) the public service vehicle operator licensing fee and (c) bus registration fees. [30461]
  424
  Mr. Norris
  The figures are:

  Year

  HGV operator licencing

  PSV operator licensing

  Bus registration

  1991–92

  14,588,537

  2,819,169

  673,826

  1992–93

  15,424,930

  2,561,242

  633,550

  1993–94

  19,093,817

  5,487,195

  668,594

  1994–95

  21,442,222

  3,855,768

  779,667

  1995–96

  26,751,672

  4,834,615

  720,712

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce legislation relating to the impounding of illegally operated vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [30489]

  Mr. Norris
  We are currently considering possible schemes for the impounding of illegally operated heavy goods vehicles.

  Traffic Area Offices
  Mrs Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last five years the total running cost budgets for(a) the Vehicle Inspectorate's enforcement activities and (b) the traffic area office network. [30462]

  Mr. Norris
  (a) The budgets agreed with the Vehicle Inspectorate for its enforcement activity in respect of heavy goods and public service vehicle were as follows:

  Total HGV and PSV traffic and roadworthiness enforcement budgets including operator licence support work

  Year

  £ million

  1991–92

  13,492

  1992–93

  13,651

  1993–94

  13,230

  1994–95

  13,109

  1995–96

  13,344

  (b) The traffic area network running costs budgets were:

  £ million

  1991–92

  11.36

  1992–93

  12.385

  1993–94

  13.045

  1994–95

  11.754

  1995–96

  11.125

  Roadside Checks
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by police force area the number of roadside checks undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate which have had to be cancelled over the last 12 months due to lack of police resources. [30490]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on the number of roadside checks cancelled due to lack of police resources.

  425
  The information requested was not collected prior to 1 October 1995.
  However, out of a total of 2113 roadchecks carried out, the number cancelled by police during the period I October 1995 to 31 March 1996—by police force area—was as follows:

  Number of roadchecks

  Staffordshire

  3

  Kent

  14

  Lincolnshire

  5

  West Yorkshire

  3

  South Yorkshire

  1

  North Yorkshire

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  3

  Dorset

  1

  Thames Valley

  7

  Sussex

  3

  Surrey

  4

  Metropolitan

  2

  Essex

  1

  Cumbria

  3

  Cheshire

  2

  Northumbria

  1

  Merseyside

  1

  Dyfed Powys

  1

  West Mercia

  2

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  Transport

  1

  Other forces

  nil

  Large Goods Vehicle Licences (Exemptions)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for the prohibition of people with diabetes subject to insulin treatment from holding a large goods vehicle driver's licence. [30538]

  Mr. Norris
  The prohibition is based on authoritative medical advice about the risk of a hypoglycaemic attack, which may occur suddenly and unpredictably and can cause loss of consciousness. A significant proportion of collapses at the wheel have been found to be associated with insulin treatment.

  M1
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when was the last time the central reservation and verges of the M1 in Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire were cleaned; and what is the programme for cleaning and collecting rubbish from motorways. [30682]

  Mr. Watts
  The central reservation and verges of the M1 in Northamptonshire were last cleaned at the junctions and service areas, these being the areas suffering most from litter, in the first week of April 1996. In Hertfordshire, the grassed sections of the central reservation were last cleaned during the winter programme which started in November 1995 and finished in March 1996; the hardened central reservation between junctions 8 and 10 was last cleaned in March; and the verges were cleaned approximately two months ago.

  Cleaning and collecting rubbish on motorways is undertaken as part of the Highways Agency's routine maintenance programme which, in respect of grassed central reservations, includes gully and drain clearing, grass cutting, safety inspection, litter picking and other detailed inspections. In respect of hardened central
  426
  reservation, it involves sweeping, cleaning, channel and gully clearing and detailed inspections. For verges, it involves sweeping the hard shoulder and litter picking.

  The level of funding available for routine maintenance this year has been reduced and all activities have been carefully reviewed to maintain downward pressure on costs. Activities such as cleaning and collecting rubbish are being limited to the minimum necessary for safety.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to widen the M1 from junction 1 to the Luton-Dunstable exit. [30681]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary question about plans to widen the M1 from Junction 1 to the Luton/Dunstable exit.
  Proposals to widen the motorway between Junctions 6A and 10 were the subject of a public inquiry towards the end of last year. The Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport are currently considering their decision and will make an announcement in due course.
  The junction serving Luton and Dunstable forms part of the widening scheme between Junctions 10 and 15. This scheme was identified in the recent programme review as having potential for smaller scale improvement. We are currently reviewing the scheme, for which statutory proposals were published in November 1994, with a view to meeting the overall objective of the scheme at a reduced cost. In the meantime the published proposals remain on the table but the proposed public inquiry has been suspended. We expect an announcement later this financial year on the outcome of the scheme review and the way forward.
  There are no plans to widen the M1 from Junction 1 to where it joins the M25 (Junction 6A).

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; which agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30570]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department of Transport and its agencies have used detective agencies: Appointed through the Treasury Solicitor's Department, in connection with seeking evidence for possible legal proceedings against trespassers on road construction sites and for processing legal documents.

  1994–95: 344,217

  1995–96: 477,774

  To establish the whereabouts of people believed to have caused damage to the Highways Agency's roads and structures for the purpose of making claims against them. Approximately 300 to 400 cases are pursed each year at an average cost of £50 to £.100 each.

  To assist in the recovery of overpayments of salary to Department of Transport staff.

  1994–96: four cases, total cost £190

  1995–96: nil cases

  427
  To hand serve summonses for unlicensed vehicle use and to carry out a debt collection trial, in unlicensed vehicle use cases, to recover outstanding out of court settlements.

  1994–95: £373,206

  1995–96: £133,953

  To obtain evidence in a personal injury case.

  1994–95: £5,000

  1995—–96: nil

  The names of some of the agencies involved are not available because they are not employed direct, however the following are some of the agencies that have been used:

  Brays Detective Agency

  Abro Watson Ltd.

  Deputron

  Subscription Services Ltd.

  Swift Credit Services

  Disc Services

  Drakes Group

  R. D. Denman Ltd.

  L and C Group Services

  Debt Managers (Scotland Ltd.)

  Financial Collection Agencies (UK) Ltd.

  East of England Trade Protection Society

  Legal and Trade Collection Ltd.

  C. Sharp Investigations and Security Consultants

  M25 (Noise Data Errors)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the reasons for the errors in the noise data presented in the non-technical summary of the environmental statement for the proposed widening of the M25 motorway between junctions 12 and 15; how many(a) of the original leaflets were issued, (b) letters were issued explaining the mistake and (c) of the corrected, environmental effect leaflets issued; what was the cost in each case; and if every objector to the scheme will receive a copy of the corrected leaflet. [30539]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads has asked me to reply to your recent question about the errors in the noise data recently published in the Environmental Statement for our proposals to widen the M25 between Junctions 12 and 15.
  The non-technical summary (NTS) of the Environmental Statement containing the incorrect noise information was issued to approximately 17,000 people and we sent them all a letter explaining and correcting the error. Our consultants delivered 4,500 of these letters on 9 and 10 May to people living close to the motorway. The remaining 12,500 were sent by post. The reason for the errors was an inputting mistake by our consultants into the computerised noise model for the scheme.
  We also made copies of the amended NTS available to everyone who attended the exhibitions held between 10 and 22 May. We have placed copies at 13 deposit points and will send a copy to anyone who requests one. The final costs for correcting the errors have yet to be determined but they will all be met by our consultants. I am sorry if this mistake caused any confusion or inconvenience to anyone with an interest in the proposals, but we took the earliest opportunity to ensure the correct information was available.
  428

  Light Dues
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which types of vessel are obliged to pay light dues and which are not in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Spain, (d) Greece and (e) Germany. [30576]

  Mr. Norris
  Some other European countries charge light dues, but details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In the UK, commercial vessels and pleasure craft over 20 tons and tugs and fishing vessels over 10m in length pay light dues. Full details of all liabilities and exemptions are contained in the light dues regulations.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his policy in respect of light dues on fishing vessels; and what changes he is evaluating; [30575]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the rationale for the light dues system; [30577]

  (3) for what reason fishing vessels are obliged to pay light dues. [30578]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government support the user pays principle and have concluded that the costs of navigation aids to shipping are a proper charge on those who use the services. It would not be acceptable to transfer the costs to the general taxpayer. Fishing vessels make use of all types of navigation aids, so they should contribute to the operating costs. Light dues are reviewed on a regular basis, but we are not currently considering any changes to the charges levied on fishing vessels.

  Ramsgate Harbour Access Road
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he had received the inspectors' report on the public inquiry held into the compulsory purchase orders and side road orders related to the Ramsgate harbour access road. [31037]

  Mr. Norris
  We still await the report.

  Rail Freight Terminal (Central Lancashire)
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to bring forward the development of an international rail freight terminal in central Lancashire. [31021]

  Mr. Watts
  None. This is a matter for the private sector.

  Decca Navigator System
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Decca Navigator radio-navigational system. [30597]

  Mr. Norris
  We are currently awaiting formal recommendations from the general lighthouse authorities regarding the future of the Decca Navigator system.

  No decisions have yet been made.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 134, relating to plastic photocard driving licences, who carried out the preliminary and subsequent

  429
  public consultations; how many members of the public were consulted on each occasion; and how many (a) supported and (b) opposed plastic photocard driving licences. [31135]

  Mr. Norris
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency conducted both consultation exercises.

  In the preliminary exercise, 150 consultation documents were issued to organisation representing motorists and interested organisations. Forty-four written responses were received, of which 38 were in favour of proposals to include photographs on driving licences.

  In the subsequent exercise, some 1,500 consultation document were issued. There were 49 written responses, of which 46 support photocard licences.

  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now allow the grandfather rights of current public service vehicle and heavy goods vehicle licence holders to continue until retirement. [30798]

  Mr. Norris
  Following my right hon. Friend's announcement on 25 April,Official Report, column 248, that implementation of certain provisions of the second EC directive on driving licences is to be deferred until 1 January 1997, we are giving consideration to the precise arrangements to be introduced in respect of eyesight requirements for driving lorries and buses.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total figures. [30769]

  Mr. Norris
  The number of registered disabled people in my Department is 143, which is 1.2 per cent. of the total number of staff.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 April,Official Report, column 150, if he will make an announcement on the total costs of the Railtrack flotation including the amounts paid to consultants. [31260]

  Mr. Watts
  The costs to the Government of the Railtrack share offer are estimated to be as follows:

  £ million

  Advisers fees and expenses

  9.4

  Marketing (including prospectus production and distribution)

  4.9

  Receiving bank and share shops

  1.3

  Overseas costs

  2.1

  Commissions

  24.8

  Total (UK and overseas offer)

  42.5

  These costs represent some 2.2 per cent. of the estimated total proceeds due from the sale of shares. The costs exclude stamp duty and VAT on services provided to the Government, which are not net costs to the Exchequer. There will be some further expenditure in respect of the instalment collection and the issue of bonus shares.
  430

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 1996,Official Report, column 675, by what date his Department has requested that the costs awarded to it should be paid. [19836]

  Mrs. Browning
  The matter is being pursued by the usual legal means.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been brought, or are pending, in respect of animals rejected as unfit to travel prior to export in(a) 1992, (b) 1993, (c) 1994, (d) 1995 and (e) the four months of 1996. [30722]

  Mrs. Browning
  This information could be collected centrally from the local authorities only at a disproportionate cost.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 29 April,Official Report, column 412, when the temporary derogations expire for the 160 slaughterhouses yet to meet the requirements of the Fresh Meat (Hygiene Inspection) Regulations 1992. [27875]

  Mrs. Browning
  Under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995, which replaced the 1992 Regulations, the temporary derogations expired on 31 December 1995 for 136 slaughterhouses. The remaining 24 premises were granted extensions to their temporary derogations of between one and 12 months.

  Surplus Calves
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what methods are used to slaughter surplus calves seven to 10 days old; and what checks are made to ensure that these methods are humane. [30245]

  Mrs. Browning
  The welfare of calves at slaughter is protected by the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995 No. 731). The permitted methods of slaughter are stunning, by use of a captive bolt, concussion stunner or by electronarcosis—electrical stunning—which must be followed, without delay, by bleeding or pithing. The regulations lay down specific requirements for these operations. Slaughter of surplus calves under the calf processing aid scheme must take place in a licensed slaughterhouse registered under the scheme and under the supervision of the Meat Hygiene Service. An official veterinary surgeon must be at the premises when calves are handled.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the latest statistics available to him of the number of steers infected by BSE in England and Wales. [25576]

  Mrs. Browning
  Since 1986 and up to 2 May 1996, the number of steers confirmed as suffering from BSE in England and Wales is 21.
  431
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the incidence of BSE in other member states of the European Union. [27876]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) and for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 29 April 1996,Official Report, column 408.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of BSE there have been in the United Kingdom and in each other European

  Summary of BSE cases in UK and other European countries as at 10 May 1996

  Country

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Denmark1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  France

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  0

  1

  3

  3

  8

  Germany1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Ireland

  0

  0

  0

  15

  14

  17

  18

  16

  19

  16

  9

  Italy1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Portugal

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  3

  12

  14

  5

  Switzerland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  9

  15

  28

  64

  69

  28

  United Kingdom

  7

  439

  2,228

  7,230

  14,394

  25,358

  37,238

  35,119

  24,455

  14,323

  1,832

  1 Cases recorded all in cattle imported from UK. With the exception of the UK and Swiss figures, all figures are based on figures reported to the OIE which may not always be accurate. Statistics given for European countries other than UK should be used as guide only.

  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure prompt payment of claims for compensation from cattle head deboners who had stocks of meat in store at the time when the ban on cattle head products for human consumption was announced. [31136]

  Mr. Baldry
  Cattle head deboners whose businesses are licensed under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 can apply for financial assistance under the beef stocks transfer scheme which is operated by the Intervention Board executive agency on behalf of the agriculture Departments. The IBEA aims to make payments under this scheme as soon as possible, and in any case within 28 days of the receipt of the necessary verification documentation.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30114]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Meat Hygiene Service will reply to the hon. Member through agency chief executive letters. The information for the Department's other agencies is as follows:

  Agricultural Development and Advisory, Service (ADAS)
  ADAS has market tested document creation services, banking services, welfare services and debt recovery services. Contracts have been awarded to private sector firms. ADAS is currently market testing insurance services and has short-listed four brokers. In the normal course of its business ADAS procures a wide range of local and central services from the private sector including, for example, office cleaning, maintenance, security and legal services.
  432
  Union country in each year since the disease was first recognised; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the differences in incidence. [29246]

  Mrs. Browning
  The following number of BSE cases have been recorded in the United Kingdom and other European countries in each year since the disease was first recognised.

  The reason for the difference in incidence is the exposure of cattle in the United Kingdom to infected animal feed which in exported form may have been a factor in some of the countries reporting cases in indigenous animals.

  Central Science Laboratory (CSL)
  Whilst the scientific services provided by CSL have been subject to market testing by the core-Department, CSL has not market tested any of its scientific work with a view to contracting out. In terms of non-scientific work, CSL has not carried out any strategic market testing as such. However, the agency is relocating to a new purpose-built laboratory near York in the late summer and services such as catering, operation of the day nursery and facilities management for the site will all be contracted out and bids are currently being evaluated.

  Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD)
  The directorate market tested a part of its residue monitoring work and awarded a three year contract to a private contractor starting in 1995–96. This was a pilot exercise which if successful would lead to further work being market tested. The successful contractor decided after the first year to withdraw from the contract for commercial reasons. This work and the further work will be market tested in 1996–97.

  Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)
  The services of the VLA have been subject to one market test. This was in the area of analysis of samples collected under the national surveillance scheme for the presence of veterinary residues in meat. The work is conducted for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. This market test was won by the in-house team at the VLA following competition with the private section.

  Letter from John FitzGerald to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996.
  In the absence of the Chief Executive on business, the Minister has asked me to reply on behalf of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to your question about the market testing of services provided by his Department's Agencies.(30114)
  The VMD is responsible for the issue of marketing authorisations for veterinary medicines, for controls on their manufacture and distribution, for post authorisation surveillance of suspected adverse reactions to veterinary medicines and for the provision and implementation of policy advice to Ministers. The Agency is also responsible for the statutory and non-statutory surveillance for residues in meat and other animal products.

  433
  The analytical work undertaken as part of the statutory National Surveillance Scheme for residues in meat has been market tested and a contract was awarded to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, with an annual cost saving of almost 12 per cent.

  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 June 1996.
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning the market testing of services has been passed to me for reply with regard to this Executive Agency.(30114)
  The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) was launched on 1 April 1995 as an Executive Agency of MAFF. It took over from local authorities responsibility for the enforcement of the hygiene and welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed fresh meat premises in England, Scotland and Wales. The Government decision to set up the MHS was taken to meet the long-standing requests of a majority of representative organisations in the meat industry, who has criticised the uneven standards and varying costs of the service operated by local authorities.
  In the first year of its operation the MHS created the Hygiene Advice Team (HAT) project to visit and assess animal welfare conditions in all licensed slaughterhouses and hygiene in all fresh meat premises. Each visit was undertaken so as to assess the operation of the plant under normal working conditions. The purposes of the HAT project were to assess the overall character of hygiene and welfare and provide a common criteria of assessment and scoring against which improvements can be judged, but also to plan the optimum use of MHS resources and achieve maximum cost effectiveness in the delivery of its services, and to provide a uniform and equitable service for all customers.
  A considerable proportion of the Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) of the MHS are veterinary practises engaged by contractual arrangements. As a full cost recovery service and in line with government policy towards the extension of competition to public services in the form of tendering and Market Testing, the MHS seeks to ensure that the work of OVSs is conducted at optimum proficiency and price. Furthermore, the MHS undertakes a statutory consultation exercise with all plant operators about its proposed charges for meat inspection. Plant operators have the opportunity under the Meat (Hygiene, Inspection and Examination for Residues) (Charges) Regulations 1995 to make representations about the proposed charges.
  In setting up the MHS great care was taken to avoid imposing additional costs on the industry and the agency's organisation, structure and overheads are the minimum consistent with providing an effective service. The MHS is also subject to challenging annual financial and performance targets to ensure that it delivers its services in the most cost effective way.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the hon. Member for Nuneaton will receive a reply to his letter dated 17 April regarding issues raised by his constituent, Mr. M. Hewitt. [30355]

  Mrs. Browning
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 16 May.

  "Rural England" White Paper
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the Government's review of rural training provision referred to on page 54 of the Government's "Rural England" White Paper. [30674]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible for reviewing the support for training provided through ATB-Landbase referred to in the "Rural England" White Paper.
  434
  The Ministry has placed a further contract with ATB-Landbase. The contract, worth nearly £2 million, runs to 31 March 1997 and covers strategic industry training organisation, ITO, and lead body activities for the agricultural and commercial horticulture industries, together with funding to maintain a quality-assured training instructor register. The contract also includes funding for projects embracing training promotion and the development of local initiatives. In the longer term, we believe that our funding should be channelled through a competition process to ensure that support meets the industry's training support requirements at a reasonable cost. In deciding how to take matters forward, we shall be taking into consideration the Department for Education and Employment's recent proposals for the ITO network.

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95, which agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30571]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made no use of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff who are women in his Department on 1 April. [30554]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested for permanent non-industrial staff in my Department including executive agencies on 1 April 1996 is as follows:
  (a) Total male staff 5,776; total female staff 4,460.

  (b)

  Grade

  Total officials

  Women employed

  Percentage women

  1

  1

  0

  0

  2

  4

  1

  25

  3

  20

  1

  5

  4

  13

  0

  0

  5

  102

  12

  12

  6

  185

  22

  12

  7

  831

  168

  20

  SEO

  1,083

  267

  25

  HEO

  1,589

  462

  29

  EO

  2,360

  896

  38

  (c)

  Grade

  Total officials

  Women employed

  Percentage women

  AO

  2,472

  1,607

  65

  AA

  1,550

  998

  64

  435
  These figures are provisional and more precise information will be published later this year in "Civil Service Statistics" copies of which are available in the Library. Information is not separately available for executive agencies. Casual and seasonal staff are excluded. Figures for total numbers at some grades are not directly comparable with 1995 figures because of reorganizations within MAFF.

  Animal Feed
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effects of the routine use of antibiotics in farm animal feed; and if he will make a statement. [30725]

  Mrs. Browning
  The use of additives in animal feedingstuffs is subject to directive 70/524/EEC, as amended. No feed additive is permitted unless, at the level permitted in feedingstuffs, it does not adversely affect human or animal health or the environment. The EC Commission is advised on these matters by the independent Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition—SCAN—and each approval is subject to agreement by the Standing Committee for Feedingstuffs.

  In the UK, the possible development of antibiotic resistance in humans and animals from the use of antibiotics in animals is kept under review by the independent, scientific Veterinary Products Committee. The VPC has consistently followed the principles established in 1969 by the report of the joint committee on the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine—the Swann report. The VPC's policy has been that new antimicrobials should not necessarily be precluded from therapeutic use in animals but that their prophylactic use should be discouraged.

  Against this background, the committee continues to consider each case on its merits. The committee reviewed its policy last year and confirmed that it did not require amendment. In doing so, it recognised that many antibiotics are effective against both human and animal disease and a number licensed in human medicine are also authorised for therapeutic use in animals. Their use in human medicine, however, far outweighs any animal use.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the animal feed products into which his Department has conducted research in respect of the spread of BSE; what measures have been undertaken as a result of this research; and what measures he has undertaken to monitor their effectiveness. [29578]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: Epidemiological investigations identified meat and bone meal of ruminant origin as the vehicle of transmission of BSE. Evidence from transmission experiments suggests that meal derived from central nervous tissue presented the greatest risk, although other tissues defined as specified bovine material—SBM—could not be excluded. Experiments recently published tested the effectiveness of the rendering processes within the EU in inactivating the BSE agent. These showed that some rendering systems in use in the 1980s did not inactivate the BSE agent fully.

  As a result of our understanding of BSE, largely resulting from various research programmes, a number of control measures were introduced:
  436
  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1988 prohibited the feeding of ruminant protein to ruminant animals on 18 July 1988.
  The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No2) Order 1990 extended the ban on the use of specified bovine offals to any animal feed.
  The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1991 consolidated existing BSE legislation and introduced new provisions to prevent the use of meat and bone meal produced from SBOs as a fertiliser.
  In June 1994 a procedure of on farm sampling of animal feed from premises visited as a result of reported BSE suspect cases was introduced.
  The Spongiform Miscellaneous Encephalopathy (Amendments) Order 1994 extended the ruminant protein feed ban to include all mammalian protein in ruminant feedingstuffs.
  Validation of all rendering plants handling animal waste by the end of 1994, in accordance with Commission decision 94/382 on the approval of alternative heat treatment systems for processing animal waste of ruminant origin. The requirements of the decision were included in the Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995.
  The Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995 strengthened the controls in rendering plants handling SBOs by requiring them to operate dedicated rendering lines for the processing of SBO.
  The random sampling of animal feed in feed mills commenced in February 1996 in accordance with Commission Decision 95/287.
  The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Amendment) Order 1996 extended the mammalian protein feed ban to the feeding of mammalian protein to all farm animals, including horses and farmed fish.
  The Fertilisers (Mammalian Meat and Bone Meal) Regulations 1996 prohibit the use of meat and bonemeal as, or in, fertiliser used on agricultural land. It is only permitted for use in private gardens, and within greenhouses and glass or plastic structures.

  An enzyme linked immunoassay—ELISA—test has been developed to identify the presence of mammalian protein in animal feed. This has been used to monitor compliance with the ruminant feed ban.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many fishing vessels that were ejected from the register in 1988 are eligible to reapply and how many are not; what gross registered tonnage these vessels represent; and what kilowatts of power they have; [30579]

  (2) under what circumstances fishing vessels ejected from the register in 1988 may be reinstated; and if, following reinstatement, they are eligible for licences to fish for United Kingdom quotas. [30580]

  Mr. Baldry
  Fishing vessels refused registration under the nationality provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 can be admitted to the British register only if they meet the current registration eligibility requirements. In order to be eligible owners must be:

  (a) British citizens or persons who are nationals of a member state other than the United Kingdom and are established, within the meaning of article 52 of the EEC treaty, in the United Kingdom;

  (b) bodies corporate incorporated in a member state with a place of business in the United Kingdom;

  (c) European economic interest groupings, which are groupings formed in pursuance of article 1 of Council regulation (EEC) No. 2137/85 and registered in the United Kingdom;

  437

  (d) a local authority in the United Kingdom.

  Reinstated vessels are granted licences only if they held one prior to deregistration and it has not been used to licence another vessel in the meantime. If the licence has been used in this way, owners of reinstated vessels can obtain licences to fish only by transfer from other licensed vessels. Tonnage and engine power figures for vessels refused registration in 1989 are not readily available.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many notices were issued in respect of animals destined for export under articles 15 and 16 of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994(a) between 23 January 1995 and 31 December 1995 and (b) in the first four months of 1996; [30720]

  (2) how many notices were issued in respect of animals destined for export under articles 11 and 12 of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1992 in (a) 1993,(b) 1994 and (c) since 1 January 1995. [30719]

  Mrs. Browning
  Animals may begin journeys to other member states from many locations. Notices may be served for a variety of different circumstances, and there is no collection of information on a central basis. The figures requested could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) cattle, (b) sheep and (c) pigs were rejected as unfit to travel prior to export in each of the first four months of 1996. [30721]

  (b) Mrs. Browning
  The reported number of farm animals inspected prior to export during 1996 and rejected as unfit for transport have been as follows:

  Bovine

  Ovine

  Porcine

  January

  103

  471

  128

  February

  251

  204

  60

  March

  28

  131

  69

  April

  n/a

  n/a = not yet available.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he has issued to(a) his staff of local veterinary inspectors and (b) local authorities as to the bringing of prosecutions in respect of animals rejected as unfit to travel prior to export; and if he will make a statement. [30723]

  Mrs. Browning
  Officials of the Department maintain regular contact with local authorities on enforcement issues. Local authorities are familiar with the considerations pertaining to offences under the order, and will prosecute if they consider the evidence to be strong enough to warrant this. The position relating to LVIs is as set out in my reply to the hon. Member on 13 May 1996,Official Report, columns 379–80.

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the Government's policy towards regulation COM (95) 55; [30763]
  438
  (2) what proposals he has for additional payments supplementary to decommissioning awards for shore fishermen who lost their jobs when their vessels were laid up. [30791]

  Mr. Baldry
  Document COM (95) 55 concerned a proposal which has now been adopted as Council Regulation 2719/95. It amends Council Regulation 3699/93 to allow member states to use funds allocated to them from the financial instrument for fisheries guidance to part-fund an early retirement scheme for fishermen and a compensation scheme for fishermen from decommissioned boats. The Government have always made it clear that they consider that such measures should be covered by national social security policies and are not an appropriate use of FIFG funds. The measures have not been included in those introduced in the UK under FIFG. The Government's view is that the needs of the industry are best served by using limited FIFG funds for decommissioning, vessel safety improvements, and improving marketing and processing and port facilities.

  Unlike other self-employed persons, share fishermen have access to contributory unemployment benefits. This gives them special access to unemployment benefit and, from October 1996, to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance.

  Cattle Cull
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to ensure that meat and livestock commissioners, Meat Hygiene Service and Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce officials observe his Department's rules on documentation, teeth and ear tags for cattle proposed for the 30-month culling scheme. [30803]

  Mrs. Browning
  Instructions are circulated to all officials involved in the operation of the scheme. Officials are required to observe the rules as they are for any other scheme.

  Fisheries Service
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department last undertook a detailed review of the funding of the fisheries service; and what plans he has for a further review. [31010]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department recently completed a fundamental expenditure review which included expenditure on fisheries. We also regularly examine our requirements for fisheries as part of the Department's financial planning arrangements.

  Cattle Birth Registration
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the British Veterinary Association about vets' signatures on cattle birth registration documents. [28869]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 May 1996]: The British Veterinary Association has made representations to the Chief Veterinary Officer about the role of local veterinary inspectors in facilitating cattle birth record documents which were introduced at the request of the industry after consultation with the British Veterinary Association and the British Cattle Veterinary Association.
  439
  We shall be making some minor changes to the present arrangements following further discussion with the relevant veterinary associations.

  Council of Europe Meetings
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995 have been attended by Ministers or officials of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [29357]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 17 May 1996]: No Minister from my Department has attended any meeting of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995, but officials have attended 17 meetings over this period.

  Scientists and Engineers
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 12 March,Official Report, column 578, how many professional scientists and engineers of each category were employed at each grade in each of his Department's agencies in each year since 1991. [29834]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]Responsibility for this matter is delegated to agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 4 June 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning the number of professional scientists and engineers employed at each grade in each of the Department's agencies has been passed to me for reply with regard to this Executive Agency. (29834)
  The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) was launched on 1 April 1995 as an Executive Agency of MAFF. It took over from some 300 local authorities responsibility for enforcement of the hygiene and welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed meat premises in England, Scotland and Wales. Consequently the MHS employed no scientists or engineers before that date.
  The MHS headquarters are based in York where Chief Executive and the supporting functions of Operations, Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology are based. MHS services are managed by six regional offices. The Head of Operations as well as two of the regional Managers are qualified Veterinary Surgeons. The MHS also employs Official Veterinary Surgeons to supervise meat inspection staff working in plants. The MHS directly employs 22 Principal Official Veterinary Surgeons and 16 Official Veterinary Surgeons. In addition it contracts out work to 110 full time equivalent vets to supplement them. 5 vets are also utilised on a casual basis.

  Letter from John FitzGerald to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 4 June 1996:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive on business, I have been asked by the Minister to reply on behalf of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to your question about the numbers of professional scientists and engineers employed at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in each year since 1991 as this is an operational matter for which the Chief Executive is responsible. (29834)
  The number of full time equivalent staff employed as professional software engineers within the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in each year since 1991 is as follows:
  440

  At 1 April

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Senior Executive Officer

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Grade 7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  The number of full time equivalent staff employed in scientific grades within the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in each year since 1991 is as follows:

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Higher Scientific Officer

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Senior Scientific Officer

  3

  5

  5

  5

  5

  66

  Pharmaceutical Officer I

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Research Officer

  4

  8

  7

  7.5

  6.5

  9.4

  Senior Research Officer II

  6

  6

  5

  4

  4

  3

  For open structure grades of grade 7 and above, the following numbers of staff hold scientific degrees or equivalent qualifications and are engaged in the assessment of applications for marketing authorisations for veterinary medicines:

  At 1 April

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Grade 7

  5

  5

  5

  5

  6

  1

  Grade 6

  3

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  The Director of Licensing (Grade 5) and the Chief Executive also hold scientific qualifications.

  Letter from Phillip Needham to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary question in which you asked how many professional scientists and engineers of each category were employed at each grade in each of his Department's agencies in each year since 1991.[29834]
  ADAS was formed as an Executive Agency of MAFF and the Welsh Office in 1992.
  Most of the following posts are held by staff with scientific or engineering qualifications. We are unable to supply figures on a comparable basis before 1994.

  April 1994

  April 1995

  April 1996

  ASO

  145

  145

  148

  Consultant

  587

  449

  409

  Principal Consultant

  —

  —

  1

  Senior consultant

  296

  302

  294

  Grade 5

  15

  11

  11

  Grade 6

  32

  34

  32

  Grade 7

  90

  82

  68

  HSO

  45

  35

  28

  Scientific officer

  102

  84

  71

  Team manager

  93

  88

  83

  441
  Letter from Mr. T. W. A. Little to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on the number of professional scientists employed in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA).
  The VLA was established on 1 October 1995, from the merger of the existing Central Veterinary Laboratory with the Veterinary Investigation Service which was part of the State Veterinary Service. The following information therefore includes figures for the former Veterinary Investigation Service from October 1995.

  No engineers are employed at the VLA. Professional scientists, by grade, employed since 1991 are as follows:

  Number

  1 April 1991

  Grade 6

  7

  Grade 7

  6

  SROII

  23

  VRO

  27

  SSO

  38

  HSO

  56

  SO

  66

  ASO

  110

  333

  1 April 1992

  Grade 6

  6

  Grade 7

  7

  SRO II

  19

  VRO

  24

  SSO

  32

  HSO

  57

  SO

  63

  ASO

  126

  334

  1 April 1993

  Grade 6

  7

  Grade 7

  7

  SROII

  21

  VRO

  25

  SSO

  34

  HSO

  56

  SO

  65

  ASO

  135

  350

  1 April 1994

  Grade 6

  6

  Grade 7

  8

  SROII

  20

  VRO

  24

  SSO

  33

  HSO

  56

  SO

  64

  ASO

  140

  351

  1 April 1995

  Grade 6

  7

  Grade 7

  6

  SROII

  15

  VRO

  21

  SSO

  32

  HSO

  52

  SO

  68

  ASO

  141

  342

  442

  Number

  1 April 1996

  Grade 6

  7

  Grade 7

  6

  SROII

  15

  VRO

  24

  SSO

  32

  HSO

  49

  SO

  74

  ASO

  144

  351

  Ex VIS 1 April 1996

  Gd 6 Supt VIOs

  2

  Grade 7

  1

  SROII

  0

  VIO

  45

  SSO

  12

  HSO

  14

  SO

  35

  ASO

  99

  SVIO

  12

  220

  Casuals have been excluded and part-time counted as "whole posts". Staff on temporary promotion have been counted in their substantive grades.

  Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about the number of professional scientists and engineers employed in his Department's Agencies since 1991 in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  CSL was first launched as an executive agency of MAFF on 1 April 1992. Prior to that date staffing numbers were included as part of the departmental total. CSL does not employ engineers. The number of professional scientists employed during the Agency's first year of operation, 1992–93, was not recorded by grade, however the overall average figure for the year was some 312 out of a total of 443 staff. CSL was relaunched as an enlarged agency on 1 April 1994 following its merger with the MAFF Food Science Laboratories at Norwich and Aberdeen. The number of professional scientists employed at the start of each subsequent financial year was:

  Grade

  1 April 1994

  1 April 1995

  1 April 1996

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  103

  115

  122

  Scientific Officer

  136

  137

  145

  Higher Scientific Officer

  101

  115

  113

  Senior Scientific Officer

  69

  74

  62

  Principal Scientific Officer

  41

  38

  30

  Grade 6

  10

  11

  13

  Grade 5

  2

  2

  2

  Grade 3

  1

  1

  1

  These figures include those employed on a fixed-term and casual basis.

  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 4 June 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about how many professional scientists and engineers have been employed in the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) since 1991, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  PSD has only been in existence as an Agency since April 1993. Since 1993 the following number of scientific staff have been employed:
  443

  Grade

  Number in post

  1993

  5

  1

  6

  1

  7

  15

  SSO

  25

  HSO

  49

  SO

  15

  ASO

  1

  1994

  5

  1

  6

  1

  7

  15

  SSO

  27

  HSO

  50

  SO

  20

  ASO

  6

  1995

  5

  1

  6

  1

  7

  15

  SSO

  28

  HSO

  52

  SO

  27

  ASO

  6

  1996

  5

  1

  6

  1

  7

  15

  SSO

  28

  HSO

  52

  SO

  29

  ASO

  8

  All scientific staff within the Agency from Scientific Officer and above hold a bioscience degree or equivalent.

  There are not qualified engineers within the Agency.

  Goosanders
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the published scientific studies evaluated by his Department into damage to fisheries in England caused by Goosanders. [29841]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: We are not aware of any scientific studies on the damage to fisheries by Goosanders in England. Investigations into such damage for selected sites in England are part of the current three-year research and development programme commissioned in 1995 by this Ministry, the Department of the Environment and the Environment Agency. The results of the research will be published as they become available.

  Food Retail Outlets (Lighting)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures control the use of 444
  artificial light in the display of (a) meat and (b) other foodstuffs in retail outlets; what plans he has for further regulations in this area; and if he will make a statement. [29630]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/1763) require "adequate natural and/or artificial lighting" in all food premises covered by these regulations, to help ensure hygienic handling.

  This Department has no plans to introduce further controls.

  Horticultural Research
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the extent of funding for horticultural research from his Department(a) in each year of the last five years and (b) planned for each of the next two years. [30017]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 22 May 1996]: The Department's expenditure on horticultural research in each of the last five years and planned expenditure for the present year are:

  Year

  £ million

  1991–92

  110.5

  1992–93

  111.1

  1993–94

  111.4

  1994–95

  13.4

  1995–96

  13.6

  1996–97

  13.6

  1 Excludes some work on pesticides for horticultural crops.

  Subject to the usual constraints of public expenditure planning, present expectations are that in 1997–98 expenditure will be at a similar level to 1996–97.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which(a) the Government are required to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) the Government are required to publish their response to advice supplied. [21852]

  Mr. Boswell
  [pursuant to his reply 22 April 1996, Official Report, column 51]: Agriculture Ministers are required, under section 62 (3) of the Medicines Act 1968, to consult the Veterinary Products Committee before making an order and, under section 16(9)(a) of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, to consult the Advisory Committee on Pesticides before making an order. There is no requirement to consult our other advisory non-departmental public bodies prior to legislative proposals or to publish our response to advice supplied by them, or the Veterinary Products Committee.

  Mr. Brent Stirling
  Mr. Brent Stirling
  Brazil: Demarcation of Indian Lands
  Brazil: Demarcation of Indian Lands
  Conscientious Objection
  Conscientious Objection
  Crown Agents
  Crown Agents
  Restaurant Service and Cover Charges
  Restaurant Service and Cover Charges
  DSS: Male/Female Staff Ratio
  DSS: Male/Female Staff Ratio
  Habitual Residence Test
  Habitual Residence Test
  Wheelclamping on Private Land
  Wheelclamping on Private Land
  NHS Patient's Charter Standards: Report
  NHS Patient's Charter Standards: Report
  Drug Rehabilitation Projects: Residential Care Costs
  Drug Rehabilitation Projects: Residential Care Costs
  Prisons: Funding for HIV Prevention
  Prisons: Funding for HIV Prevention
  Downer Cow Syndrome
  Downer Cow Syndrome
  Warble Fly Prophylaxis: Research
  Warble Fly Prophylaxis: Research
  Safer Cities Programme: Costs
  Safer Cities Programme: Costs
  RAF Bentwaters: Sale
  RAF Bentwaters: Sale
  Armed Forces Married Quarters: Sale
  Armed Forces Married Quarters: Sale
  US Fighter Planes: "Times" Report
  US Fighter Planes: "Times" Report
  The Gulf War and Chemical Weapons
  The Gulf War and Chemical Weapons
  Armed Forces: Sudden Deaths
  Armed Forces: Sudden Deaths