Written Answers of 11 June 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Probation Officers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many probation officers were on secondment working in prisons on 1 April in each year since 1989; and if he will make a statement; [30348]

  (2) how many probation officers he estimates will be working on secondment in prisons on 1 April in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, and (c) 1999. [30347]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters 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. Alex Carlile, dated 11 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the numbers of probation officers working in prisons on secondment.

  The requested information is given in the following table. Figures for 1989–1995 are for 31 March. The figures (rounded to the nearest whole number) are for whole-time equivalent seconded probation staff.

  Number

  31 March 1989

  530

  31 March 1990

  543

  31 March 1991

  550

  31 March 1992

  594

  31 March 1993

  625

  31 March 1994

  621

  31 March 1995

  646

  1 April 1996

  596

  1 April 1997 (Estimated)

  541

  1 April 1998 (Estimated)

  528

  1 April 1999 (Estimated)

  509

  The Prison Service remains committed to its partnership with the Probation Service to deliver the custodial and non-custodial parts of a prisoner's sentence effectively. Governors are responsible for ensuring that prisons deliver the right services to the right levels; they are in the best position to judge whether staff in the prison are providing value for money.

  Understandably, governors have difficulty forecasting their requirements for seconded probation staff for 1998 and beyond, because it is too early to tell what their budgets will be, and because staffing levels need to be flexible, to meet changing requirements. They have been asked to adhere to the principles of the National Throughcare Framework—signed by the Prison and Probation Services—in determining the number of seconded probation staff needed to deliver ex-offenders adequately prepared for post-release supervision.
  62

  Prison Escapes
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from escorts in each of the last three years; and what steps he is taking to reduce this number. [31063]

  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 Ms Janet Anderson, dated 11 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about escapes from escort in the last 3 years and about steps being taken to reduce this number.

  The table below shows the requested information.

  Escapes from escort (financial years)

  Year

  Escapes from escort

  1993–94

  1125

  1994–95

  166

  1995–96

  170

  1 These figures include escapes from contractor's escorts which were previously the responsibility of the police. There were 23 such escapes in 1993–94; 15 in 1994–95; and 34 in 1995–96.

  The prevention of escapes from escort is one of nine key performance indicators which are set out in the recently published Prison Service Corporate Plan, a copy of which is in the Library.

  The Corporate Plan outlines a reduction in escapes from escort as one of six strategic aims for 1996–1999.

  Steps being taken to reduce the number of escapes from escort include: the publishing of figures for all escapes, including escapes from escort, in the Service's monthly security briefing - this highlights any recurring problems; investigating escapes and passing, where appropriate, the findings to prisons and escort contractors; poster and other campaigns to prioritise security to staff; and the issuing of pocket handbooks on security in prisons and in escorting.

  A revised security manual is being compiled and will be trialled this year for issue early in 1997.

  Civil Defence Grant
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each local authority in Wales the total expenditure in 1996–97 approved as eligible for civil defence grant aid. [31086]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information available is as follows:

  Authority

  Grant approval £

  Flintshire

  70,000

  Wrexham

  70,000

  Denbighshire

  70,000

  Powys

  179,655

  Newport

  224,000

  Blaneau Gwent

  1—

  Caerphilly

  1—

  Monmouth

  1—

  Torfaen

  1—

  Isle of Anglesey

  100,000

  Conwy

  62,000

  County of Gwynedd

  62,000

  1 Newport acting as host authority.

  63
  I will write to the hon. Member about the other 10 authorities when the figures become available at the end of June.

  Rehabilitation of Offenders Legislation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list those offences which people are not required to declare under rehabilitation of offenders legislation; [31605]

  (2) what plans he has to review the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. [31604]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 provides that convictions are deemed to be "spent" after varying periods of time. Spent convictions do not have to be declared other than in certain specified circumstances. The key determinant of when an offence becomes spent is the length of the sentence passed in each case, not the offence itself. Sentences of more than two and a half years imprisonment never become spent.

  We have no plans to review the Act itself. However, we are reviewing the scope and scale of the exceptions to the Act as part of a wider review of employment vetting arrangements. A revised list will be published shortly as part of a White Paper setting out our proposals.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the number of items that have been(a) smuggled into and (b) thrown over the fence of Doncaster prison since it was opened; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of total smuggling caused by items being (i) brought in and (ii) thrown over the prison fence; [31496]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the training given to prison officers at Doncaster prison in suicide awareness; and if he will list the dates when this training has been reviewed; [31440]

  (3) how many hours of education and training were available to prisoners and those on remand at Doncaster prison during the last 12 months; how many hours were used by inmates; and if he will make a statement. [31485]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters 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. Martin Redmond, dated 11 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about education and training; training in suicide awareness; and estimates of smuggling at Doncaster prison.

  Over the last 12 months, 179,419 hours of education and training were made available to prisoners at Doncaster prison, including those on remand, of which 127,623 hours were used by prisoners.

  Every prison custody officer at Doncaster prison receives a minimum of four hours suicide awareness training before they take up post. This is supplemented with a minimum of four further training sessions as part of the annual training plan in the prison. The suicide awareness training is reviewed monthly by the establishment's suicide awareness management group.
  64
  It is not possible to estimate the number of items that have either been smuggled into or thrown over the wall at Doncaster prison. A total of 87 visitors have been arrested for attempting to smuggle either money or drugs into the prison and nearly 500 prisoners have been charged for possession of drugs.

  Any contraband found in Doncaster will have been smuggled in as it is not possible to throw items over the wall. This is because the prison operates a system of enclosed secure walkways and prisoners do not have access to areas next to the wall. The wall is also continually monitored internally and externally by closed circuit television.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rehabilitation courses are currently held at Doncaster prison; how many applications have been made to attend these classes; what has been the number of places available in each month since the opening of the prison; and if he will make a statement. [31564]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter have 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. Martin Redmond, dated 11 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about rehabilitation courses at Doncaster prison.

  Doncaster prison runs a selection of rehabilitation courses which are available to all prisoners there. They are provided over a two to three month period to meet the changing needs of prisoners. There is a major emphasis on cognitive thinking skills as a generic programme which is appropriate for all prisoners.

  Doncaster prison runs courses on alcohol misuse, drug rehabilitation, anger management, relationships, lifer groups, social skills, life skills (personal development) and parenting. There are also pre-release/employment courses, presentation workshops and gamblers anonymous and alcoholics anonymous courses. Probation staff also advise prisoners about employment, housing, training and unemployment benefits.

  In May 1996 there were 267 applications for rehabilitation courses at Doncaster prison. Between January 1995 and May 1996, 1910 prisoners applied for and have received individual guidance interviews concerning employment, education, training, housing and state benefits.

  The numbers of places available for rehabilitation courses since the prison has opened are shown in the attached table.

  Numbers of places available on rehabilitation courses at Doncaster prison since the prison opened

  1994

  1995

  1996

  January

  —

  81

  228

  February

  —

  69

  284

  March

  —

  89

  314

  April

  —

  115

  326

  May

  —

  185

  324

  June

  37

  132

  —

  July

  57

  147

  —

  August

  49

  156

  —

  September

  85

  225

  —

  October

  37

  165

  —

  November

  37

  305

  —

  December

  49

  230

  —

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is being given to making Doncaster prison a mixed prison; and if he will make a statement. [31563]
  65
  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. Martin Redmond, dated 11 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about consideration being given to making Doncaster a mixed prison.

  Although Doncaster holds both adult and young offenders, there are no plans to change it to a mixed-sex prison.

  Ethnic Minority Employees
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those serving in(a) the police forces and (b) the Prison Service, are from ethnic minority groups. [32188]

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest figures available show that the percentage of members from ethnic minority groups serving in police forces in England and Wales was 1.75 per cent. as at September 1995, and 2.96 per cent. in the Prison Service as at December 1995.

  Euro 96
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the extra cost of policing the Euro 96 competition in respect of visitors(a) during transit and (b) during their stay in the United Kingdom. [32257]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not available in the form requested. The Association of Chief Police Officers has estimated that the cost of policing for the European football championships could be around £5.5 million.

  Buckley Hall Prison
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prison officers were required to work a double shift at Buckley Hall prison on 29 April; and what were the reasons for the requirement; [31921]

  (2) how many prison officers were transferred from Wolds prison to Buckley Hall prison in April; what was the total number of shifts carried out by the transferred staff; and if Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons was

  Re-conviction rates within one and two years of discharge from prison or of commencement of probation or community service orders in 1992. Figures in brackets give the range above and below the estimate that rates are likely to vary according to change1

  Discharged from custody

  Commencing probation or community service

  Police authority

  Number sampled

  1 year percentage re-convicted

  2 year percentage re-convicted

  Number sampled

  1 year percentage re-convicted

  2 year percentage re-convicted

  Avon and Somerset

  338

  47(7)

  65(7)

  360

  44(6)

  56(6)

  Bedfordshire

  197

  31(9)

  44(9)

  111

  37(11)

  52(11)

  Cambridgeshire

  191

  40(9)

  52(9)

  129

  50(11)

  61(11)

  Cheshire

  351

  43(7)

  55(7)

  206

  49(7)

  57(7)

  Cleveland

  253

  41(8)

  62(8)

  236

  46(8)

  61(8)

  Cumbria

  172

  48(10)

  64(9)

  178

  51(9)

  64(9)

  Derbyshire

  325

  34(7)

  49(7)

  189

  44(8)

  53(8)

  Devon and Cornwall

  354

  40(7)

  54(6)

  335

  41(7)

  57(7)

  Dorset

  136

  34(11)

  46(11)

  150

  40(10)

  49(10)

  Durham

  205

  44(9)

  55(9)

  185

  39(9)

  53(9)

  Essex

  427

  27(6)

  47(6)

  253

  46(7)

  59(7)

  Gloucestershire

  106

  46(12)

  59(13)

  190

  44(9)

  58(9)

  66
  informed of temporary prison officers working at Buckley Hall prison when it visited the prison following the escape of four prisoners on 23 April. [31922]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters have 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 Ms Liz Lynne, dated 11 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the doubling of prison custody officer shifts at Buckley Hall prison on 29 April 1996 and about the use of detached duty staff at Buckley Hall prison.

  On 29 April one member of staff was asked to work a double shift and one member of staff was asked to extend his shift, both for operational reasons.

  Four members of staff from the Wolds prison performed detached duty at Buckley Hall prison in April. They were deployed to support their colleagues at Buckley Hall prison and to gain experience in a different work environment. Each member of staff worked a total of five shifts each; these shifts were worked on a supernumerary basis.

  Although an inquiry was commissioned into the escape of four prisoners on 23 April 1996, there was a no visit by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons at this time.

  Re-convictions
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest re-conviction rates in the(a) one year and (b) two years following (i) release from custody and (ii) completion of community supervision for each police authority in England and Wales; if he will indicate the methodology used and the associated research; and if he will make a statement. [31387]

  Miss Widdecombe
  With respect to (i), the most recent available information relates to a sample of sentenced prisoners discharged from custody during 1992. The table additionally contains re-conviction rates within one and two years of commencement of probation or community service based on a sample of offenders commencing orders in 1992.

  Differences between re-conviction rates cannot simply be taken to show that one disposal is better than another. For example, the type of offenders will vary between disposals and there are other important factors discussed later in my answer.
  67

  Re-conviction rates within one and two years of discharge from prison or of commencement of probation or community service orders in 1992. Figures in brackets give the range above and below the estimate that rates are likely to vary according to change1

  Discharged from custody

  Commencing probation or community service

  Police authority

  Number sampled

  1 year percentage re-convicted

  2 year percentage re-convicted

  Number sampled

  1 year percentage re-convicted

  2 year percentage re-convicted

  Greater Manchester

  1,313

  45(4)

  59(4)

  928

  49(4)

  65(4)

  Hampshire

  425

  39(6)

  52(6)

  369

  45(6)

  56(6)

  Hertfordshire

  236

  34(8)

  44(8)

  158

  40(9)

  52(9)

  Humberside

  383

  33(6)

  52(6)

  268

  41(7)

  61(7)

  Kent

  420

  33(6)

  49(6)

  296

  39(7)

  55(7)

  Lancashire

  555

  42(5)

  60(5)

  403

  42(6)

  59(6)

  Leicestershire

  348

  37(7)

  54(7)

  174

  41(8)

  57(9)

  Lincolnshire

  125

  40(11)

  52(11)

  157

  47(9)

  59(9)

  London City of2

  51

  16(15)

  20(15)

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  641

  44(5)

  60(5)

  427

  54(5)

  68(5)

  Metropolitan

  4,256

  25(2)

  39(2)

  1,310

  33(3)

  47(3)

  Norfolk

  220

  42(9)

  51(9)

  146

  42(10)

  55(10)

  Northamptonshire

  210

  42(9)

  65(9)

  124

  47(10)

  54(10)

  Northumbria

  597

  42(5)

  59(5)

  382

  42(6)

  57(6)

  North Yorkshire

  182

  42(10)

  63(9)

  169

  50(9)

  63(9)

  Nottinghamshire

  516

  34(6)

  48(6)

  197

  42(7)

  54(7)

  South Yorkshire

  469

  34(6)

  55(6)

  358

  44(6)

  59(6)

  Staffordshire

  341

  38(7)

  58(7)

  286

  36(7)

  53(7)

  Suffolk

  190

  31(9)

  49(9)

  130

  40(10)

  54(10)

  Surrey

  148

  30(10)

  39(10)

  157

  39(9)

  58(9)

  Sussex

  473

  31(6)

  43(6)

  268

  48(7)

  61(7)

  Thames Valley

  434

  31(6)

  45(6)

  385

  43(6)

  57(6)

  Warwickshire

  154

  40(10)

  53(10)

  84

  40(11)

  53(12)

  West Mercia

  282

  34(7)

  51(8)

  225

  40(8)

  53(8)

  West Midlands

  1,466

  36(3)

  51(3)

  829

  43(4)

  56(4)

  West Yorkshire

  903

  38(4)

  55(4)

  740

  44(4)

  56(4)

  Wiltshire

  108

  40(13)

  48(12)

  167

  43(10)

  61(9)

  Dyfed Powys

  95

  33(11)

  45(13)

  114

  47(11)

  57(11)

  Gwent

  165

  33(9)

  56(10)

  151

  43(10)

  56(10)

  North Wales

  209

  37(8)

  56(9)

  114

  41(10)

  55(11)

  South Wales

  535

  43(5)

  61(5)

  536

  50(6)

  62(5)

  England and Wales

  19,509

  36(1)

  51(1)

  12,591

  43(1)

  57(1)

  1 This range for chance variation is based on a 95 per cent. confidence interval, ie. the interval in which the true value is likely to lie for 19 out of 20 occasions. For example, the two-year rate for custody in Avon and Somerset is 60 per cent. and the 95 per cent. confidence interval has upper and lower bounds of 72 and 58 per cent. respectively.

  2 Figures are not provided for the City of London police for the probation and community service sample because rates would be based on only 13 offenders.

  The methodology used to produce the rates for custody is described in the "Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1994", Cm. 3087; a similar methodology was used to produce the rates for community supervision, described in "Probation Statistics, England and Wales, 1994". Some categories of offender were sampled more intensively than others to obtain better estimates for sub-groups.

  The Police Authority was identified by reference to records relating to the last conviction for a standard list offence prior to release from prison or commencement of an order; usually this is the conviction that gives rise to the custodial sentence or the community supervision.

  The samples for analysis were drawn with the purpose of producing results at the England and Wales level. Reconviction rates at the local level need to be interpreted with some caution as the size of the samples can be relatively small. For this reason, information on the numbers of offenders on which rates are based is included in the table, as well as information on the likely range of chance variation for estimates.
  68
  It should also be noted that comparisons between reconviction rates are affected by differences in the age, sex, previous convictions and other characteristics of offenders receiving the sentences, as described in detail in Home Office research study No. 136, "Explaining reconviction rates; a critical analysis".

  This study mainly discusses reconviction rates within two years of release from prison or commencement of an order. A two year follow-up period is more usual than a one year follow-up as a significant number of offenders are usually reconvicted in the period between the one and two year points.

  It should be noted that an ex-prisoner discharged from prison is less likely to be convicted of offences committed before the release date—such offences could be dealt with while an offender is in prison—than an offender commencing community supervision would be in respect of offences committed before the commencement date for his or her order. Results in the study indicate that removing such offences from consideration is likely to decrease reconviction rates within two years of commencement of an order relative to those for immediate custody by about 4 percentage points.
  69
  Factors such as police clear-up rates are likely to be related to regional variations in reconviction rates. It is also known that the recording of convictions by the Metropolitan police between 1987 and 1992 was not complete and this will have had some effect on the results. This is discussed in appendix 2 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1994", Cm 3010.

  With respect to (ii) the most recently available information relates to a sample of offenders commencing probation or community service during 1987.

  Re-conviction rates within one and two years of completion of probation or community service based on a sample of offenders commencing orders in 1987. Figures in brackets give the range above and below the estimate that rates are likely vary according to chance1

  Excluding reconvictions on termination date

  Including re-convictions on termination date

  Police authority

  Number sampled

  1 year percentage reconvicted

  2 year percentage reconvicted

  1 year percentage reconvicted

  2 year percentage reconvicted

  Avon and Somerset

  469

  32(6)

  48(6)

  43(6)

  54(6)

  Bedfordshire

  115

  25(10)

  44(12)

  33(11)

  50(12)

  Cambridgeshire

  228

  20(8)

  41(10)

  39(10)

  49(10)

  Cheshire

  173

  30(8)

  45(8)

  40(8)

  50(9)

  Cleveland

  155

  34(9)

  55(9)

  51(9)

  62(9)

  Cumbria

  182

  48(10)

  61(10)

  53(10)

  64(10)

  Derbyshire

  128

  32(8)

  45(9)

  43(9)

  51(9)

  Devon and Cornwall

  266

  33(7)

  51(8)

  46(8)

  58(7)

  Dorset

  155

  29(10)

  48(10)

  39(10)

  53(10)

  Durham

  153

  27(9)

  42(10)

  36(9)

  47(10)

  Essex

  253

  34(8)

  43(8)

  36(8)

  44(8)

  Gloucestershire

  172

  28(9)

  54(11)

  43(11)

  60(11)

  Greater Manchester

  980

  35(4)

  50(4)

  43(4)

  54(4)

  Hampshire

  398

  24(5)

  40(6)

  33(6)

  47(6)

  Hertfordshire

  203

  23(8)

  35(9)

  31(9)

  40(9)

  Humberside

  183

  33(8)

  45(9)

  45(9)

  53(9)

  Kent

  253

  26(6)

  40(7)

  35(7)

  45(7)

  Lancashire

  514

  33(6)

  51(6)

  44(6)

  57(6)

  Leicestershire

  96

  29(10)

  46(11)

  38(11)

  51(11)

  Lincolnshire

  92

  47(11)

  60(11)

  56(11)

  65(10)

  London City of2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  447

  35(6)

  50(6)

  45(6)

  54(6)

  Metropolitan

  1,069

  25(3)

  36(3)

  30(3)

  40(3)

  Norfolk

  117

  45(11)

  64(11)

  55(11)

  70(10)

  Northamptonshire

  140

  38(11)

  52(11)

  52(11)

  60(11)

  Northumbria

  305

  31(6)

  44(6)

  37(6)

  48(7)

  North Yorkshire

  129

  35(10)

  45(10)

  43(10)

  50(10)

  Nottinghamshire

  153

  29(7)

  45(8)

  40(8)

  53(8)

  South Yorkshire

  397

  32(5)

  48(6)

  43(6)

  54(6)

  Staffordshire

  190

  28(7)

  48(8)

  38(8)

  53(8)

  Suffolk

  95

  35(11)

  52(11)

  48(12)

  60(11)

  Surrey

  169

  28(10)

  39(11)

  29(10)

  40(11)

  Sussex

  336

  22(6)

  37(7)

  31(7)

  42(7)

  Thames Valley

  323

  24(5)

  36(6)

  34(6)

  43(6)

  Warwickshire

  70

  32(12)

  47(13)

  37(12)

  51(12)

  West Mercia

  165

  37(8)

  50(8)

  45(8)

  56(8)

  West Midlands

  497

  25(5)

  42(5)

  39(5)

  49(5)

  West Yorkshire

  544

  26(4)

  41(5)

  36(5)

  47(5)

  Wiltshire

  108

  26(10)

  47(11)

  33(11)

  52(12)

  Dyfed Powys

  98

  28(13)

  42(14

  32(13)

  45(14)

  Gwent

  69

  40(12)

  58(12)

  45(12)

  61(12)

  North Wales

  93

  37(10)

  60(10)

  43(11)

  62(10)

  South Wales

  383

  35(6)

  54(7)

  45(7)

  59(7)

  England and Wales

  11,083

  30(1)

  45(1)

  39(1)

  50(1)

  1 This range for chance variation is based on a 95 per cent. confidence interval, ie., the interval in which the true value is likely to lie for 19 out of 20 occasions.

  2 Figures are not provided for the City of London police because rates would be based on only 15 offenders.

  70
  Reconviction rates that are usually quoted relate to reconviction within a set period following commencement of an order. Completion of an order does not necessarily imply completion without reoffending and a proportion of those completing orders will be reconvicted on the date of termination. For this reason, the following table quotes rates that both include and exclude reconvictions on the termination date. The overall reconviction rate within two years of completion is 45 per cent. if one excludes reconvictions on the termination date, but rises to 40 per cent. when they are included.
  71

TREASURY

  Smuggling
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise anti-drug smuggling officers there were in(a) the west midlands and (b) the United Kingdom in each year since 1990; and what plans he has to decrease the number during (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [31096]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Anti-smuggling officers are not confined to the detection of drugs. It would not be in the public interest to reveal the number of officers deployed in the west midlands.

  As some anti-smuggling activity is performed on overtime and some is performed by multi-functional staff, resources are recorded in staff years rather than numbers of posts.

  The number of staff years allocated each year since 1990–91 was as follows:

  1990–91: 3,630

  1991–92: 3,558

  1992–93: 3,420

  1993–94: 3,100

  1994–95: 3,347

  1995–96: 3,170.

  There are no plans to decrease the number of officers in 1996–97.

  The 1994 Customs fundamental expenditure review of prohibitions and restrictions recommended that staff reductions could be made, subject to enhanced targeting, and 292 posts were withdrawn in 1995–96, including 50 diverted into additional intelligence activity. The effects of this reduction are being carefully monitored in 1996–97 before a decision is taken as to whether further reduction of 300 or some lesser amount should take place in 1997–98.

  Departmental Software
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's involvement in the development of a software package to allow PAYE/NICS/VAT/CSO requirements to be integrated; and when he expects this to be possible. [31902]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: The Inland Revenue, Contributions Agency and Customs and Excise have a number of projects under way as part of their joint working programmes, as indicated in the reply of 21 May, Official Report, column 358. The programmes are focused in particular on ways to ease business burdens in meeting their obligations, but there are no plans to integrate information technology systems.

  Value Added Tax
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total revenue from VAT in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what it would have been if the level and scope of VAT remained unchanged since(a) May 1979, (b) March 1991 and (c) April 1992. [31600]
  72
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Net receipts of VAT for financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 are as follows:

  1993–94: 38.9 billion

  1994–95: 41.8 billion

  1995–96: 43.1 billion (provisional).

  Estimated net VAT receipts if the level and scope of VAT had remained unchanged since (a) May 1979, (b) March 1991 and (c) April 1992 are as follows:

  (£ billion)

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a)

  18

  19

  20

  (b)

  33

  35

  36

  (c)

  39

  41

  42

  These estimates take account only of the main changes in the scope and level of VAT. They make no allowance for the behavioural changes which would result from changes to the tax regime.

  Income Tax
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from one penny of the basic rate of income tax in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [31601]

  Mr. Jack
  Information is available in table 6 of the tax ready reckoner, copies of which are available in the Library.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Child Abduction
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will state for the latest year for which figures are available the number of abducted children returned to the United Kingdom from other EU countries and the number of abducted children returned by the United Kingdom to other EU countries. [32292]

  Mr. Streeter
  Figures are available only for the number of cases or requests for the return of children dealt with by the child abduction unit with respect to England and Wales. The number of cases dealt with in respect of children(a) brought to England and Wales from other EU states; and (b) taken to other EU states from England and Wales, in 1995, the latest year for which figures are available, is given in the table. The table distinguishes between those cases in which children were returned under judicial direction and those where they were returned voluntarily, and also shows the number of cases in which an application to a court for the return of children was unsuccessful.

  1995—The Hague and European convention cases European Union contracting states

  Judicial return

  Voluntary return

  Judicial refusal

  Children brought to England and Wales

  42

  11

  7

  73

  1995—The Hague and European convention cases European Union contracting states

  Judicial return

  Voluntary return

  Judicial refusal

  Children taken from England and Wales

  16

  27

  2

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will state the number of requests for return to the United Kingdom of abducted children made to each country under The Hague convention by his Department in the latest year for which figures are available [32303]

  Mr. Streeter
  Applications made by the Central Authority for England and Wales for the return to the United Kingdom of abducted children under The Hague convention are not separately recorded. The number of applications made under both The Hague and European conventions for the return of children and the enforcement of access orders in 1995, the latest year for which figures are available, is given in the table:

  Country application made to

  Number of applications made

  Australia

  9

  Belgium

  2

  Canada

  7

  Cyprus

  3

  Denmark

  8

  Finland

  1

  France

  15

  Germany

  17

  Greece

  4

  Ireland

  35

  Israel

  2

  Italy

  5

  Netherlands

  9

  New Zealand

  6

  Norway

  3

  Portugal

  2

  Spain

  17

  Sweden

  2

  Switzerland

  1

  USA

  38

  Total

  186

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will state the expenditure on legal aid in child abduction cases in the latest year for which figures are available and the estimated amount of that expenditure that was paid to legal aid claimants from overseas who were seeking the return of their children from the United Kingdom to a country overseas. [32293]

  Mr. Streeter
  The net cost to the legal aid fund of child abduction cases closed in the year 1995–96—that is, cases where the final bills were received—was £1.6 million. This does not include payments made on account in respect of cases that were not closed in 1995–96. Of the expenditure on child abduction cases in 1995–96, £905,000 was applied to overseas residents.
  74
  Information on cases involving legal aid claimants resident overseas is not collected centrally. Many claimants from abroad will be United Kingdom citizens. Nationality is not a factor in determining qualification for legal aid; legal aid is available to anyone having a justiciable cause falling within the jurisdiction of England and Wales, provided they satisfy the statutory requirements governing financial means and legal merit.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the number of children known to his Department to have been abducted out of the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [32302]

  Mr. Streeter
  This information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what assessment he has made in relation to his Department's responsibilities of whether The Hague convention of the civil aspects of international child abduction requires either amendment or clarification of the working practices under the convention; and what steps he will take to try to secure improvement; [32301]

  (2) what assessment he has made in relation to his Department's responsibilities of whether The Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction requires either amendment or clarification of the working practices under the convention; and what steps he will take to try to secure improvements. [32299]

  Mr. Streeter
  Assessments were made in advance of meetings of the convention states at The Hague in October 1989 and January 1993 to review the operation of the convention. In general, the convention has operated satisfactorily from this country's point of view. A new area of difficulty has arisen, however, and this is being pursued with the country concerned. There is to be another review meeting at The Hague early next year.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many new cases his Department's child abduction unit carried out work relating to The Hague convention on child abduction and the European custody convention in each year since 1990. [32300]

  Mr. Streeter
  The number of new cases in which the chid abduction unit for England and Wales(a) received applications for the return of children or applications for the enforcement of an access order from other states, and (b) made applications to other states for the return of children or for the enforcement of an access order, in each year since 1990, is given in the table:

  Year

  Applications received

  Applications made

  1990

  62

  109

  1991

  83

  106

  1992

  118

  117

  1993

  128

  145

  1994

  161

  163

  1995

  188

  186

  Total

  740

  826

  75

PRIME MINISTER

  European Union (Non-co-operation)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy not to relax the policy of non-co-operation with the EU and its institutions until the EU world-wide ban on exports of British beef has been lifted. [32181]

  The Prime Minister
  I made it clear in my statement of 21 May,Official Report, columns 99–101, that progress would not be possible in the intergovernmental conference or elsewhere until we had agreement on the lifting of the ban on beef derivatives—which we have now achieved— and a clear framework for the lifting of the wider ban.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the membership of the group set up to oversee the policy of non-co-operation with the EU; how often it is planned that it should meet; and if he will make a statement. [31221]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 June 1996]: A committee meets regularly under my chairmanship to oversee the policy of non-co-operation. Members of the Committee include the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for Agriculture. Other Ministers are invited as appropriate.

  I welcome the decision taken by the Commission on 5 June to lift the ban on beef derivatives with effect from 10 June. We now need early progress on agreement on a framework to lift the wider ban.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions on which the United Kingdom has not co-operated with the European Union nations since he made his oral statement on 21 May,Official Report, columns 99–101; and if he will make a statement. [31222]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 June 1996]: I made it clear in my statement of 21 May, Official Report, columns 99–101, that we would not be able to agree decisions requiring unanimity until the ban on beef derivatives was lifted and we have an agreement on a framework for the lifting of the wider ban.

  I welcome the decision taken by the Commission on 5 June to lift the ban on beef derivatives with effect from 10 June. We now need early progress on agreement on a framework to lift the wider ban.

  Since my statement on 21 May we have withheld agreement on over 60 measures at various EC meetings.

  Health Risks (Tobacco and Beef)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with Chancellor Kohl the health risk to Germans from(a) smoking tobacco and (b) eating British beef; and if he will instruct the United Kingdom representative to raise that issue at the European Court of Justice as evidence of discrimination against the United Kingdom. [32083]

  The Prime Minister
  No. I have no plans to do so.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 June. [31176]
  76
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 June. [31177]

  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.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) of 17 May,Official Report, column 720, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of co-ordination between Government Departments in respect of the issuing of public interest immunity certificates in relation to the Lockerbie case; and what factors underlay their issue. [32291]

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that the interested Government Departments consulted with each other in connection with the signing of public interest immunity certificates by their respective Ministers. Public interest immunity was claimed in these certificates where the relevant Minister considered that it would be injurious to the public interest for particular matters to be the subject of evidence.

  Mr. T. T. Tsui
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister on what dates in August 1991 he met in his official capacity Mr. T. T. Tsui at 10 Downing street; how many civil servants were present at the meeting; and what subjects were discussed. [32159]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: So far as I am aware, none.

  Uniformed Services (Compensation)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will review the circumstances in which damages or compensation are payable to(a) the police and (b) other uniformed services. [31827]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 June 1996]: No. Where someone claims negligence, it is for the courts to decide whether damages are payable, taking into account all relevant circumstances, which will sometimes include the applicant's occupation.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Research Councils
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the total number of applications claiming post-transfer staff costs on behalf of research councils; and what was the total number of these that were awarded for each of the financial years 1990–91 to 1995–96; [31587]

  (2) what was the total of staff costs awarded for pre-transfer and post-transfer staff groups involving research councils for each of the financial years 1990–91 to 1995–96; what was the breakdown of staff numbers by staff group; and if he will list those groups, supported as direct costs involving research councils for each of the financial years 1990–91 to 1995–96. [31586]
  77
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 March 1996,Official Report, columns 47–50, which contains schedules covering allocations to the research councils, the number of awards and a breakdown of the main components of these awards under various categories of cost. Information on the further breakdown of staff costs and numbers now sought could be obtained only through an analysis of paper records at a disproportionate cost to each of the six research councils.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances his Department or its executive agencies uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preference to using personnel staff within his own Department or its executive agencies. [31529]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This Department uses executive search agencies under the supervision of its personnel staff to help recruit staff to the senior civil service to improve the effectiveness of the DTI in meeting its objectives and to broaden the skills base at senior management levels. Such agencies work strictly in accordance with the code of practice drawn up by the civil service commissioners. Recruitment at other levels has been negligible.

  Child Labour
  Mr Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will write to FIFA and UEFA to urge them to investigate whether their officially licensed merchandise is produced by child labour. [32251]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is not my intention to do so.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will support the adoption of a code of conduct, using internationally recognised standards, for all manufacturers and sub-contractors of licensed products to ensure that products are not made by child labour. [31790]
  78
  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: The Government deplore any exploitation of children and we press all countries which have signed labour conventions to meet their obligations. It is for firms themselves to consider whether to operate according to a code of good practice. Some already do.

  Motor Bikes
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of after-market components for motor bikes(a) sold in the United Kingdom and (b) exported; and how many people are employed in the after-market component industry in the UK. [32197]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: There are no official figures available for this sector.

  Cars (Trade Balance)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the deficit in the United Kingdom trade in cars in real terms in each of the last four years; and what estimate he has made of future trends in the balance of trade. [32089]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: The information requested is given in the table. The depressed level of consumer demand for cars in Europe has slowed improvements in the United Kingdom's balance of trade in cars. However, in the longer term, the decision by major manufacturers to expand production in the UK should boost exports.

  Year

  Deficit in trade in cars, at 1990 prices (£ billion)

  1992

  -1.9

  1993

  -2.7

  1994

  -2.4

  1995

  -1.4

  79

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what safeguards are applied by his Department to ensure diversity of ethnic origin in the appointments to lay membership of industrial tribunals. [32026]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In making appointments, the Secretary of State is required to consult organisations representative of employers and employees. In the 1995 appointments exercise, as previously, such organisations were notified of the criteria for appointment and asked to encourage applications from the ethnic minorities. The Commission for Racial Equality was also asked to propose names for the organisations consulted to consider. The percentage of ethnic minority lay members rose to 4.6 per cent. after the 1995 appointments round, from 4.1 per cent. previously.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a breakdown of those people who applied for, but were not appointed to, lay membership of industrial tribunals in the 1995 round of appointments, by nominating body. [32023]

  Mr. Taylor
  The breakdown is as follows:

  Bodies

  Numbers

  Association of British Chambers of Commerce

  78

  Confederation of British Industry

  236

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  4

  NHS Management Executive

  85

  Engineering Employers Federation

  56

  Federation of Small Businesses

  20

  Forum of Private Business

  21

  Association of Independent Businesses

  0

  Institute of Directors

  18

  Local Government Management Board

  52

  British Retail Consortium

  30

  Employers Forum on Disability

  4

  Union of Independent Companies

  5

  Institute of Personnel and Development

  32

  Council of Managerial and Professional Staffs

  26

  Association of Teachers and Lecturers

  33

  Federation of Managerial, Professional and General Associations

  37

  Royal College of Midwives

  1

  Royal College of Nursing

  3

  Trades Union Congress

  609

  National League of the Blind and Disabled

  15

  Union of Democratic Mineworkers

  5

  Total

  1,370

  In addition, there were 59 unsuccessful applications by temporary London, North members who had been nominated in 1992 by the following bodies:

  Bodies

  Numbers

  Association of British Chambers of Commerce

  6

  Confederation of British Industry

  10

  NHS Management Executive

  2

  Institute of Directors

  1

  Local Government Management Board

  3

  British Retail Consortium

  1

  Council of Managerial and Professional Staffs

  1

  Federation of Managerial, Professional and General Associations

  1

  Trades Union Congress

  34

  Total

  59

  80
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people who were nominated by the local government management board and who served as temporary lay members of the London, North industrial tribunal between 14 November 1994 and 24 October 1995 have been subsequently re-appointed. [32019]

  Mr. Taylor
  One.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people applied to become lay members of industrial tribunals in the 1995 round of appointments. [32021]

  Mr. Taylor
  In the 1995 round of appointments, 2,087 people applied to become lay members of industrial tribunals.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people were appointed to lay membership of industrial tribunals in the 1995 round of appointments. [32022]

  Mr. Taylor
  In the 1995 round of appointments, 658 people were appointed to lay membership of industrial tribunals.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a breakdown of those people who applied for, but were not appointed to, lay membership of industrial tribunals in the 1995 round of appointments, by ethnic origin. [32025]

  Mr. Taylor
  The information is not readily available at the moment, but I will write to the hon. Member when it is.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a breakdown of those people who were appointed to lay membership of industrial tribunals in the 1995 round of appointments, by ethnic origin. [32024]

  Mr. Taylor
  The information is as follows:

  Ethnic group (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Classification) of industrial tribunals lay membership—October 1995

  Ethnic group

  Number

  Per cent. of total membership

  White

  2,362

  94.6

  West Indian

  33

  1.32

  Indian

  43

  1.72

  Pakistani

  10

  0.4

  Bangladeshi

  4

  0.16

  Chinese

  2

  0.08

  African

  4

  0.16

  Arab

  0

  0

  Mixed

  6

  0.24

  Other

  12

  0.48

  Not Known

  21

  0.84

  Total

  2,497

  100.00

  "Tackling Cartels and the Abuse of Market Power"
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the companies, organisations and individuals that have been sent a copy of his Department's consultation paper "Tackling Cartels and the Abuse of Market Power". [31369]
  81
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 June 1996]: My officials have sent the consultation paper to a wide range of interested parties. The document has also been available for collection from DTI headquarters. A list of those who have been sent the document has been complied. A copy of that list is being placed in the Library of the House.

WALES

  Local Government Archives
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to monitor conformity with his "Guidance on the Care, Preservation and Management of Records," June 1995. [31100]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 4 June,Official Report, column 372.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. [31394]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is as follows:

  Amount spent

  Staff recruited1

  1994–95

  £162,478.22

  23

  1995–96

  £166,453.88

  27

  1 Does not include staff engaged for a year or less.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what use his Department and its executive agencies have made of executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies within his Department or executive agencies administered by his Department during the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96; what agencies were employed; what was the cost in each case; how many staff were recruited in each case; and what was the total cost in each financial year of these contracts. [31409]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office and Cadw, the Welsh Historic Monuments agency, did not use executive search agencies or employment companies to fill vacancies in the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years. They would consider doing so if this offered a cost-effective means of recruitment consistent with the principles of fair and open competition and selection on merit.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) women and (b) men have been appointed to public bodies in the past year; and to which public bodies (i) women and (ii) men have been appointed. [32495]

  Mr. Hague
  This information is contained in "Appointments by the Secretary of State for Wales, 1 June 1996", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
  82
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many women(a) applied to be on the public appointments register and (b) were placed on the public appointments register, in each year since 1993–94; [32491]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the success of his Department's campaign, Diary 1995–96, to persuade more women to apply for inclusion on the public appointments register; [32493]

  (3) what measures he intends to take to increase the participation of women on public bodies; and if he will make a statement; [32494]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the success of the 1995–96 campaign of the NHS Opportunity 2000 unit to persuade more women to apply for inclusion on the public appointments register. [32492]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office has taken a number of steps, including involvement in the NHS Opportunity 2000 campaign, to encourage more women to volunteer for public appointment.

  The number of women on the register has increased from 470 in April 1993–749 in April 1994 and 983 in April 1995—to 1,068 in April 1996. The percentage of appointments made by the Secretary of State held by women has risen from 18 per cent. in 1990 to 24 per cent. as at 1 June 1996.

  The Welsh Office is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all candidates; all candidates are considered on their merits and suitability for a particular post. We will continue to encourage women to volunteer for public appointment.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representation he has received on the lack of provision of indoor/outdoor wheelchairs for severely disabled people by the NHS in Wales; and what plans he has on this matter. [32503]

  Mr. Hague
  In addition to representations from hon. Members, I have received representations from five voluntary organisations representing the disabled. My officials, in discussion with NHS representatives are identifying possible means of improving the provision of wheelchair services in Wales.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 4 June,Official Report, column 373, what representations he has received from 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. [32504]

  Mr. Hague
  None. The Welsh Office discusses these issues, and others, with ambulance NHS trusts as part of the regular monitoring process.
  83

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Street Children
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the amount of grants to the Consortium for Street Children from the Overseas Development Administration in (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96 and (b) the projected grant for the financial year 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [32189]

  Mr. Hanley
  During the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96, the ODA provided a total of £30,000 to the Consortium for Street Children in support of the production of a resource directory. In addition, in 1995–96, £16,100 was provided for the development of a pilot project on girl street children. A further project proposal is currently under consideration.

  Agency

  Country

  Project name:

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Childhope

  Brazil

  Casa De Passagem

  26.287

  53.738

  —

  —

  —

  Childhope

  Philippines

  Development of Education in the Street—an Appropriate Response

  15,645

  34,920

  19,275

  —

  —

  Childhope

  Brazil

  Projeto Ibeji for the Street Children

  —

  54,642

  50,684

  50,077

  47,182

  Cleveland Council for Voluntary Service

  Peru

  Care, Education, etc. for Street Children

  —

  32,683

  32,683

  —

  —

  Homeless International

  India

  Support for Street Children

  —

  22.562

  22,619

  23,101

  —

  International Childcare Trust

  Kenya

  Street Children's Project

  31,512

  36,250

  30,227

  35,352

  —

  International Children's Trust

  Ecuador

  Street Children of Guayaquil

  58,986

  85,500

  88,200

  99,000

  —

  Toybox Charity

  Guatemala

  The Tower—Rehabilitation Centre for Street Childen

  15,428

  16,750

  18,500

  —

  —

  Total

  147,858

  337,045

  262,188

  207,530

  47,182

  Funding has also been provided to those agencies which receive block grants through the JFS in support of a variety of small-scale street children projects in Brazil, Angola, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. The level of funding in 1995–96 was:

  Catholic Fund for Overseas Development: £17,347

  Christian Aid: £18,535

  OXFAM: £2,444

  Save the Children Fund: £359,779

  The year 1995–96 is the latest for which information is available in respect of the block grant agencies.

  Prisoners of Conscience (Ghana)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on prisoners of conscience in Ghana; and what recent representations he has received on this subject. [31981]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are not aware of any prisoners of conscience in Ghana and have received no representations on this subject recently.
  84
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will be represented at the European conference on street children worldwide in Amsterdam on 20 to 23 June. [32186]

  Mr. Hanley
  The ODA will not be represented at the European conference on street children worldwide. We understand that this is a conference for non-governmental organisations to exchange information on the problems facing street children.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and which non-governmental organisations are being funded by the Overseas Development Administration for street children rehabilitation projects; in which countries they are based; what are these projects; what is the amount of funding granted; and for what length of time. [32185]

  Mr. Hanley
  Details of the joint funding scheme— JFS—grants provided to non-governmental organisations for current street children projects are shown in the table:

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Emissions (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many owners or operators of cars and lorries have been prosecuted for emitting noxious fumes, in each of the past five years for which records are available; how many of such prosecutions have led to convictions; and what penalties were imposed. [32170]

  Mr. Norris
  Very few emission offences are taken to court because most offenders rectify defects quickly when faced with the prospect of prohibition or prosecution.

  The precise information requested is not available because the records kept by the Home Office do not separately identify any emissions offences prosecuted by the police.

  Oceanic Air Traffic Control System
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change the terms of the competition for the new oceanic air traffic control system from those set out in the invitation to tender; and what is the timetable for the final decision. [32469]
  85
  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority, which will let the tender, has no plans to change the terms of competition for the new oceanic air traffic control centre from those set out in the invitation to participate which was issued in July 1995. The timetable for the final decision—January 1997—remains unchanged.

  Fatal Accidents (Foreign Licensees)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names of drivers of motor vehicles not holding driving licences in the United Kingdom but holding licences of nations whose licences are recognised, who have been found guilty of driving offences where fatalities were involved since 1990; and if he will inform the relevant Governments of the name and licence number of the persons convicted, together with the circumstances of the accident. [32349]

  Mr. Norris
  Information from the national driver licensing register is treated in strict confidence under the provision of the Data Protection Acts. Except for law enforcement purposes, information is not disclosed without the consent of the individual.

  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency informs other driver licensing authorities of the details whenever driving licences are revoked.

  Ramsgate Harbour Approach Road
  Mr. Aitken
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the report of his inspector on the compulsory purchase orders for the Ramsgate harbour approach road; when he expects to reach his decision on the inspector's report; and if he will make a statement. [32424]

  Mr. Norris
  We still await the report. I am not able to say when the decision on the orders will be issued. My officials are fully aware of the need for an early decision and I can assure my right hon. Friend that matters will be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible.

  Vehicle Testing Station (Purfleet)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions his Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive in relation to the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Driving Standards Agency at the heavy goods vehicle testing station at Purfleet; and what action is planned by his Department; [32403]

  (2) what action his Department has taken to replace the boundary fence surrounding the heavy goods vehicle testing station at Purfleet; and what warning signs and traffic management barriers have been erected to separate the Driving Standards Agency and Vehicle Inspectorate traffic routes. [32402]

  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 11 June 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about replacement of the boundary fence at Purfleet Goods Vehicle Testing Station and discussions with the Health and Safety Executive.
  86
  A replacement fence was erected on three of the boundaries in March. There have been no further complaints of children using the site as a short cut, since this action has been taken. The fence on the final front boundary requires planning permission and is affected by highway alternations needed by the Channel Tunnel Link. A planning application has been submitted and it is anticipated that it will take 6 weeks to process.

  A traffic management barrier has also been erected on the site to assist segregation of the Vehicle Inspectorate and Driving Standards Agency's work.

  Further works to be undertaken this summer include additional tarmacking to ease traffic movement and parking within the site, and renewing directional signs. Discussions on the latter will involve the Driving Standards Agency to establish their particular requirements. Discussions have been held with the Health and Safety Executive regarding the proposed improvements and we are advising them of progress as it occurs.

  British Rail (Objectives)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives he has set for the chairman of British Rail for 1996–97. [32644]

  Sir George Young
  I have written to the chairman formally recording the objectives that had been agreed for the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.

  Light Dues
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change the light dues system when the Decca navigation system comes to an end. [32499]

  Mr. Norris
  No decisions have yet been made regarding the future of the Decca navigator system. We have no plans to change the light dues system.

  Northolt Airport
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to increase permitted aircraft movements from Northolt airport; and if he will make a statement. [30992]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 4 June 1996]: The station continues to operate on the basis of 7,000 civil movements a year.

  In its recent report on UK airport capacity, the House of Commons Transport Committee included a number of conclusions and recommendations relating to increased civil use of RAF Northolt. The Government will respond in due course to these and to the other recommendations of the Committee.

DEFENCE

  Colchester Military Training Centre
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence implications of the Colchester military corrective and training centre becoming a young offenders' institution; and if he will make a statement. [30895]

  Mr. Soames
  The creation of a young offenders institution within the military corrective training centre will have no implications for Britain's defence.
  87

  Joint Rapid Deployment Force
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the role of the joint rapid deployment force; and if he will make a statement. [30896]

  Mr. Portillo
  The joint rapid deployment force will strengthen the UK's capability effectively and rapidly to deploy military forces worldwide in support of our interests. It will be capable of fulfilling a wide range of combat or non-combat missions.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the improvement to Britain's defence capability from the introduction of the joint rapid deployment force. [30907]

  Mr. Soames
  The military response to future challenges will almost certainly be on a joint service basis. The joint rapid deployment force will enhance the UK's ability to respond very rapidly to future crises, drawing from all three services. The core of the JRDF will be three Commando Brigade and five Airborne Brigade, but it will also draw on other elements across the services.

  Tomahawk Cruise Missiles
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to procure Tomahawk cruise missiles. [30897]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced in the House on 13 July 1995,Official Report, column 1092, that we were proceeding with the procurement of Tomahawk. On 16 October 1995 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced during the defence debate Official Report, column 51, that an order had been placed that day for 65 conventionally armed Tomahawk cruise missiles with the US Department of Defence. There are currently no plans to purchase further missiles.

  Polaris
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to decommission Polaris submarines. [30898]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The process of decommissioning the Polaris submarines involves de-fuelling, de-equipping and laying up the vessels for storage afloat before their final disposal. This process has been completed for HMS Revenge, but not yet for the other Polaris submarines.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on NATO's peace implementation force in the former Yugoslavia. [30899]

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick).

  Land Mines
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to replace his Department's stocks of anti-personnel land mines. [30900]
  88
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We plan to destroy nearly half our current stocks of anti-personnel mines without replacement. We have reached no decisions on our future requirements.

  Procurement Projects
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total expenditure his Department has identified in the last year which is due to cost overruns on procurement projects. [30901]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Information on Defence equipment cost control performance was published in December 1995 in the MoD's performance report, Cm 3055, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  RAF Aircraft Crashes
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft crashed in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [30903]

  Mr. Soames
  A total of nine RAF aircraft have crashed in eight accidents. Separate RAF boards of inquiry are carrying out thorough investigations to determine the causes of seven of the accidents and to consider what action may be necessary to minimise the risk of recurrence. In line with normal policy, a summary of the findings of each of these inquiries will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses in due course. An investigation into the most recent accident, which occurred on 26 May in Portugal, is being carried out by the Portuguese authorities in line with the NATO standard agreement on such matters.

  Surface Ships
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about present procurement plans for new surface ships for the Royal Navy. [30904]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A number of new surface ships are planned. These include the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean; five type 23 frigates, seven Sandown class mine-hunters, and the survey vessel HMS Scott, all currently on order. In addition, we are in negotiations with VSEL over a contract for up to two assault ships; we continue to make good progress on the common new generation frigate; and we have issued an invitation to tender for up to two auxiliary oilers.

  Married Housing Stock
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he had with members of the armed forces before he announced his plans for the married housing stock. [30905]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The proposal to transfer ownership of the married quarters estate in England and Wales to the private sector has been developed over many months in full consultation with the services. We have also had regular contract with the service wives' organisations and have taken their views fully into account.
  89

  Joint and Combined Exercises
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what priority he attaches to joint and combined exercises; and if he will make a statement. [30906]

  Mr. Soames
  I attach the very highest priority to both joint and combined exercises. We have recently completed the highly successful exercise, Purple Star, with the Americans, which saw a major amphibious landing and the largest parachute drop since the second world war. Key elements of the joint rapid deployment force, which becomes operational on 1 August this year, were involved including three Commando Brigade and five Airborne Brigade, an aircraft carrier and amphibious group as well as RAF front line and supporting aircraft. Responsibility for planning and conducting joint and combined exercises now rests with the new permanent joint headquarters at Northwood, which has been formed as a centre of excellence in preparing for and executing joint operations.

  Propeller Factories
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next proposes to visit a propeller factory. [30909]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence visited Dowty Aerospace recently. The company is involved in supplying propellers for the RAF's C-130J programme, and is also a member of the Lockheed Martin team offering the Orion 2000 in response to the invitation to tender for RMPA. All three tenders for RMPA are currently being assessed and we are working towards letting a contract with the selected prime contractor later this year. I cannot comment on the bid at this stage, but I can assure my hon. Friend that all the bids are receiving full and equal consideration.

  School Cadet Forces
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) boys and (b) girls are currently enrolled in school cadet forces; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [30911]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently(a) 33,300 boys and (b) 6,100 girls enrolled in the combined cadet force in schools. My Department's contribution to the cost of the combined cadet forces in 1994–95 was £7.4 million.

  In addition, more than 200 units of the sea cadet corps, Army cadet force, and the air training corps meet in local education authority school property.

  My colleagues and I are very much aware of the immense benefit that the cadet forces can bring to the education and well-being of the young people of this country. Parents and teachers alike recognise the value that cadet membership can bring to the broad education of young people.

  Small Arms
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many small-arms weapons declared surplus to requirements by each of the armed services have been sold on the open market; and if he will make a statement. [31428]
  90
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Disposal Sales Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Keith Ellender, to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 7 June 1996:

  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the sale of surplus small-arms weapons on the open market, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.

  A total of 40,700 surplus small-arms weapons were sold in the 3 years since June 1992. 40,000 of these were to Section 5 Licenced firearms dealers for export, and 700 were directly to overseas governments. These figures were given to your parliamentary colleague Dr David Clark, MP by Mr Arbuthnot in a written answer on 10 July 1995, Official Report, column 468. There have been no further sales since then. We are unable to give a breakdown between armed services, because the weapons are declared by a single service source on behalf of the other services, but they would be predominantly of Army origin.

  Great Care is exercised in the sales of surplus small arms to ensure that they do not fall into the wrong hands. To this end the long standing policy of the MOD is not to sell weapons to UK traders for stock. Mr Arbuthnot explained the full current policy in another written answer on 10 July 1995. This appeared in the same column as the answer referred to earlier.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of the last four years, for each of the armed services, the number of small-arms weapons declared surplus to requirements that have been(a) destroyed and (b) sold; and if he will make a statement. [31427]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Our records are not maintained in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in the last four years a total of 150,200 small arms have been destroyed and 40,700 sold.

  SHL Software
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts his Department and his agencies have with SHL software computer system; what is the current cost; when each contract ends; and what are the penalties involved should he seek early termination of the contract. [31435]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I assume that the company referred to is SHL Systemhouse UK Ltd., a member of the Canadian SHL Systemhouse Inc. group. While the MOD procurement executive has direct dealings with this company, there are only a few contracts and to divulge the cost and termination date details would be a breach of commercial confidence.

  Ministry of Defence contracts generally contain a standard "break" condition which enables the Ministry to terminate a contract after a given period without penalty. There may also be other termination provisions, but these would be tailored to the circumstances of the particular contract.

  Where chief executives of my Department's agencies exercise their responsibilities for this matter under the terms of their framework documents, I have asked them to write to the hon. Member direct.
  91
  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 June 1996:

  You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence for details of contracts his Department and Agencies have with SHL software computer system. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).

  I can confirm that DERA has no current contracts with SHL. We have, in the past, had a number of small value contracts with the company but these are all now completed.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 June 1996:

  I am replying to your question to the Defence Secretary concerning SHL computer systems, as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.

  We currently have no contracts with the company.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from S. Parnell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 June 1996:

  1. You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence a Parliamentary Question about contracts the Ministry of Defence or its agencies have with SHL software computer system. As the issues raised fall within the responsibility of the Chief Executive your question has been referred to the Hydrographic Office for the provision of a response.

  2. In the normal course of events my Chief Executive, Rear Admiral Clarke, would reply to you personally but unfortunately he is at present on official business overseas. In light of this I have been asked to respond.

  3. In answer to your question the Hydrographic Office does not have any form of contract with SHL software computer system.

  4. I hope this has been helpful.

  Women (Promotion)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department has implemented during the last 12 months to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions with his Department and its executive agencies; and what progress his Department has made in encouraging the promotion of women over the last five years. [31539]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department and its agencies continue to strive to improve the opportunities for women at all levels in the organisation, and though we recognise that we still have far too few women in senior positions, there are clear signs that the position is improving. For example, in each of the last three years almost a quarter of those promoted to grade 5 level in the administration group were women, compared with 9 per cent. in 1991 an nil in 1992.

  Initiatives aimed at improving opportunities for women in my Department and its agencies include: the provision of nursery facilities; career breaks and flexible working; equal opportunities training for promotion board members; positive action training for women staff; and— newly established this year—a working group chaired by the chief scientist to advise on the recruitment, retention and promotion of women engineers.

  BMARC
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of his investigation into the BMARC affair; and if he will publish the findings of the investigation. [32198]
  92
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Work undertaken by my Department to examine allegations that BMARC supplied naval guns to Iran via Singapore in the mid to late 1980s, including the work involved to assist the Trade and Industry Committee with its current BMARC inquiry, necessarily involved a number of officials in different parts of the MOD to varying degrees over the past 15 months. Records have not been routinely kept on time spent on this activity by officials and it is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.

  My Department has submitted a written memorandum to the Committee and officials have appeared to provide oral evidence relevant to the inquiry. We stand ready to provide any further assistance that the Committee may require.

  Explosives (Lunan Bay)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many explosive devices have been found at Lunan bay; what is their origin; and how they came to be at Lunan bay. [32536]

  Mr. Soames
  Some 600 world war two practice bombs have been discovered at Lunan bay. Their presence is consistent with the beach being used as a practice bombing range. Complete records of wartime activity are not available, but a surviving 1940 RAF air navigation chart indicates a bombing range at Lunan bay.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the numbers of explosive devices still to be uncovered at Lunan bay; and if he will make a statement. [32539]

  Mr. Soames
  A reconnaissance is to be conducted at Lunan bay by 33 Engineer Regiment to assess the situation.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of explosive devices have been found at Lunan bay; and if he will list the number and purpose of each type of explosive device. [32537]

  Mr. Soames
  Remnants of some 600 101b, 11.51b and 251b world war two practice bombs have been uncovered at Lunan bay. The practice bombs were used to test aircraft and crews for all aspects of bombing operations.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the explosive devices found at Lunan bay have been live; and how they were disposed of. [32538]

  Mr. Soames
  Explosive ordnance disposal teams have treated all remnants of world war two practice bombs as if they may have some residual active component, and disposed of them by controlled detonation using standard procedures.

  Radiation, Menwith
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department took in respect of the report to the senior police officer at Menwith on radiation around radome 4—No. 512–91—dated 29 September 1991. [32354]

  Mr. Soames
  There was no need for action by my Department. The comments regarding radiation around radome 4 were written in error. There is a zone around
  93
  the radomes which is fenced off for security reasons to deter protesters and activists, who have regularly targeted the site, from damaging the equipment. There is no reason for any personnel employed at RAF Menwith Hill to avoid any particular radome for health and safety reasons.

  Trident D5 Missiles
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the unit cost of purchasing Trident D5 missiles from the United States of America. [32053]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: For commercial and other reasons, it is not our practice to speculate about future prices. For estimates of the cost of the total Trident missile buy, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 14 March 1996, Official Report, column 678.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery Funds
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the projects within the London boroughs of(a) Camden, (b) Islington, (c) Hackney, (d) Kensington and Chelsea, (e) Lambeth, (f) Southwark, (g) Tower Hamlets and (h) Westminster, that have received funding from each of the national lottery funds. [31491]

  Mr. Sproat
  There have been 120 awards to date, totalling £196.4 million, made to projects in the London boroughs listed. The information is as follows:

  Distributing body

  Recipient

  Award amount £

  Camden

  Arts Council

  Calthorpe Project

  13,500.00

  Arts Council

  The Place

  19,000.00

  Arts Council

  Interchange Studios (The Hamden Trust)

  22,500.00

  Arts Council

  Survivors Poetry

  61,802.00

  Arts Council

  Artsline

  85,947.00

  Arts Council

  W.A.V.E.S.

  97,200.00

  MC

  British Museum

  30,000,000.00

  NLCB

  Bengali Women's Association

  3,000.00

  NLCB

  Camden Volunteer Bureau

  58,020.00

  NLCB

  Camden Family Service Unit

  117,179.00

  NLCB

  Cancer Research Campaign

  201,800,00

  NLCB

  Scope

  314,867.00

  Sports Council

  Castlehaven community Association

  60,700.00

  Hackney

  Arts Council

  London Fields School

  5,830.00

  Arts Council

  Hackney Festivals Support Group Ltd.

  31,030.00

  Arts Council

  Quicksilver Theatre for Children

  48,379.00

  NHMF

  Stoke Newington Boundary Scheme

  34,500.00

  NHMF

  Geffrye Museum

  3,750,000.00

  NLCB

  City and Hackney Alcohol Counselling Services

  94,150,000

  NLCB

  Stamford Hill Playgroup

  5,000.00

  NLCB

  Hackney Law Centre

  28,500.00

  94

  Distributing body

  Recipient

  Award amount £

  NLCB

  Disability, Education, Play, Resource Project

  35,927.00

  NLCB

  Hackney Coalition of Disabled People

  59,870.00

  NLCB

  African Welfare and Education Centre

  60,200.00

  NLCB

  Lower Clapton Community Nursery

  4,905.00

  Sports Council

  London Borough of Hackney

  4,895,000.00

  Islington

  Arts Council

  The Sam Collins Theatre

  27,000.00

  Arts Council

  Out of Joint

  87,449.00

  Arts Council

  Raw Material Music and Media

  97,423.00

  Arts Council

  The Pleasance Theatre Trust

  97,741.00

  Arts Council

  Sadler's Wells Foundation

  30,000,000.00

  NHMF

  St. Luke's Churchyard

  112,791.00

  NHMF

  New River Walk, Cannonbury Grove

  175,000.00

  NLCB

  Islington Women's Advice Group

  3,600.00

  NLCB

  Mitford Under 5s

  6,397.00

  NLCB

  King Square Playgroup

  15,000.00

  NLCB

  Islington Victim Support

  36,448.00

  NLCB

  Chance

  115,000.00

  NLCB

  St. Mary's Church and Community Centre

  166,191.00

  NLCB

  North Islington Law Centre

  9,000.00

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Arts Council

  The Tabernacle

  150,000.00

  Arts Council

  The European Theatre Company Ltd.

  19,347.00

  Arts Council

  Ebony Steelband Trust

  60,519.00

  NHMF

  Chelsea Physic Garden

  100,000.00

  NHMF

  National History Museum

  6,058,000.00

  NLCB

  Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust

  3,000.00

  NLCB

  Women's Education in Building

  9,500.00

  NLCB

  Many Hands

  15,000.00

  NLCB

  Chelsea Social Council

  87,783.00

  NLCB

  Action DisabilityKensington and Chelsea

  89,520.00

  NLCB

  Crossroads Care—Kensington and Chelsea

  95,447.00

  NLCB

  Maxilla Nursery Centre

  126,495.00

  NLCB

  The Pepper Pot Club

  525,000.00

  Sports Council

  North Kensington Amenity Trust

  329,689.00

  Lambeth

  Arts Council

  The Young Vic Theatre

  13,500.00

  Arts Council

  The Institute for Performing Arts

  99,000.00

  Arts Council

  Musicworks Music Resource Centre Ltd.

  1,155,885.00

  Arts Council

  Royal National Theatre Board

  31,590,000.00

  NHMF

  Anti-Slavery International

  88,000.00

  NLCB

  Colombo Street Playgroup

  6,000.00

  NLCB

  Waterloo Breakaway

  10,000.00

  NLCB

  Incognito Theatre Company

  34,000.00

  NLCB

  Streatham Youth Centre

  50,400.00

  NLCB

  The Brix at St. Matthew's

  85,246.00

  NLCB

  Lambeth Accord

  103,700.00

  NLCB

  Oasis Children's Venture

  31,956.00

  Southwark

  Arts Council

  Bankside Gallery Ltd.

  17,000.00

  Arts Council

  William Penn Steel Band

  29,357.00

  95

  Distributing body

  Recipient

  Award amount £

  Arts Council

  Opera Factory

  41,470.00

  Arts Council

  Strathcona Theatre Company

  44,059.00

  Arts Council

  Method and Madness

  411,375.00

  Arts Council

  Shakespeare's Globe Trust

  12,400,000.00

  MC

  Tate Gallery of Modern Art

  50,000,000.00

  NLCB

  Amott Road Pre-School Nursery

  800.00

  NLCB

  Edward Henry Housing Co-op

  4,500.00

  NLCB

  Pelican Estate Tenants and Residents Association

  5,000.00

  NLCB

  Dachwyng Supplementary School

  12,000.00

  NLCB

  Bird in the Bush Community Centre

  21,414.00

  NLCB

  Phoenix House Glasgow Project

  25,000.00

  NLCB

  12th Camberwell Scouts

  27,406.00

  NLCB

  Downtown Community Project

  30,000.00

  NLCB

  Elephant Jobs Charity

  57,850.00

  NLCB

  The Lorrimore

  172,000.00

  NLCB

  The Southwark Branch of Arthritis Care

  3,000.00

  NLCB

  Southwark Victim Support scheme

  25,500.00

  Sports Council

  London Borough Southwark

  350,000.00

  Tower Hamlets

  Arts Council

  City of London Sinfonia

  98,990.00

  Arts Council

  Spitalfields Arts Projects

  235,000.00

  MC

  Mile End Park

  12,322,010.00

  NLCB

  Bangladeshi Sports Association

  9,000.00

  NLCB

  Island Neighbourhood Project

  35,518.00

  NLCB

  Youth Action Scheme

  53,000.00

  NLCB

  Globe Town Community Association

  56,500.00

  NLCB

  Island House Community Centre

  75,000.00

  NLCB

  St. Hilda's East Community Centre

  75,145,00

  NLCB

  Training and Development Consortium

  220,000.00

  NLCB

  Stepney Settlement

  357,500.00

  NLCB

  5th Tower Hamlets Cub Scouts

  997.00

  Sports Council

  London Borough of Tower Hamlets

  962,470.00

  Sports Council

  London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Bethnal Green High School)

  801,520.00

  Westminster

  Arts Council

  The Other Cinema/Metro Cinema

  22,288.00

  Arts Council

  Yaa Asantewaa Arts and Community Centre

  52,855.00

  Arts Council

  Institute of Contemporary Arts Limited

  344,540.00

  Arts Council

  Flamboyan Community Association

  100,000.00

  Arts Council

  City Screen (Exeter) Limited

  577,173.00

  Arts Council

  City Screen (Exeter) Limited

  692,250.00

  Arts Council

  Union Pictures Limited

  795,846.00

  MC

  The Zoological Society of London

  2,200,000.00

  96

  Distributing body

  Recipient

  Award amount £

  NLCB

  The Westminster Society for people with learning disabilities

  5.000.00

  NLCB

  North Westminster Victims Support Scheme

  21,000.00

  NLCB

  St. John's Housing Association

  30,000.00

  NLCB

  Westminster Childrens Society

  42,000.00

  NLCB

  The Bayswater Hotels Homelessness Project

  50,000.00

  NLCB

  Catholic Children's Society (Westminster)

  58,190.00

  NLCB

  Westminster Volunteer Bureau

  61,367.00

  NLCB

  Soho Family Centre Trust

  89,559.00

  NLCB

  Age Concern Westminster

  108,000.00

  NLCB

  Westminster Advocacy Service For Senior Residents

  131,893.00

  NLCB

  Westminster Cathedral—St. Vincent de Paul

  35,000.00

  NLCB

  Westminster Women's Aid

  73,133.00

  European Union Flag
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what instructions were issued to her Department's offices and agencies in respect of flying the European Union flag on 8 May; and if he will make a statement. [31508]

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 6 June 1996 Official Report, column 518.

  National Lottery
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the figures for the distribution of national lottery grants will be made available on a constituency or local authority basis. [32046]

  Mr. Sproat
  We estimate that constituency and local authority based information will be available by early July.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list each of the grants made by each of the lottery boards for projects in Northamptonshire. [32239]

  Mr. Sproat
  There have been 32 awards to date, totalling £4.4 million, made to projects in Northamptonshire. The full list is as follows:

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Location

  Amount £

  Arts

  21 September 1995

  Moulton Players

  Northampton

  60.000.00

  Arts

  24 May 1995

  Northamptonshire County Council

  Northamptonshire

  7,500.00

  MC

  11 September 1995

  Countryside Access for All

  Northamptonshire

  736,000.00

  NHMF

  14 February 1996

  English Heritage: Pool Farm

  Malvern Hills

  300,000.00

  NHMF

  20 December 1995

  St. Andrews and All Saints Church

  Northampton

  19,000.00

  97

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Location

  Amount £

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Hartville Playgroup

  Ashton

  500.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Teamwork Woodbridge

  Corby

  230,000.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Rural Support Group

  Harksome Hill

  2,195.00

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  Northampton Active Group

  Northampton

  5,000.00

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  Northampton Unwaged Training Resource and Advice Centre

  Northampton

  57,591.00

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  Northampton Womens Aid

  Northampton

  52,488.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Be Positive, Northampton

  Northampton

  90,000.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Northampton and District CAB

  Northampton

  24,354.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Northampton Physically Handicapped and Abie-Bodied

  Northampton

  28,600.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Northampton YouthCounselling and Information Service

  Northampton

  56,300.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Council On Addiction For Northamptonshire

  Northamptonshire

  242,000.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Northamptonshire Victims Support Scheme

  Northamptonshire

  28,820.00

  Sports

  11 March 1996

  Bringtons and Nobottle Cricket Club

  Northampton

  2,500.00

  Sports

  3 April 1996

  Harpole Bowls Club

  Northampton

  27,650.00

  Sports

  13 May 1996

  Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs

  Northampton

  714,825.00

  Sports

  4 May 1995

  Kislingbury Bowls Club

  Northamptonshire

  42,500.00

  Sports

  4 May 1995

  Moulton Football Club

  Northamptonshire

  35,067.00

  Sports

  4 May 1995

  Western Favell Upper School

  Northamptonshire

  505,000.00

  Sports

  4 May 1995

  Potterspury Sports and Social Club

  Northamptonshire

  23,300.00

  Sports

  5 July 1995

  Bugbrook Playing Fields Association

  Northamptonshire

  205,000.00

  Sports

  5 July 1995

  Daventry District Council

  Northamptonshire

  614,000.00

  Sports

  9 August 1995

  Long Buckley Community Centre

  Northamptonshire

  7,200.00

  Sports

  8 November 1995

  Scaldwell Sports Club

  Northamptonshire

  9,871.00

  Sports

  6 December 1995

  Brackley Tennis Club

  Northamptonshire

  91,000.00

  Sports

  1995 10 January 1996

  Nether Heyford PC

  Northamptonshire

  52,000.00

  Sports

  10 January 1996

  Northampton Sailing Club

  Northamptonshire

  35,000.00

  Sports

  10 January 1996

  Wellingborough Rugby Football Club

  Northamptonshire

  131,690.00

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask Secretary of State for National Heritage in what circumstances she would reconsider the national exhibition centre in Birmingham for the millennium exhibition. [32501]

  Mrs. Viginia Bottomley
  The Selection of the site for the millennium exhibition is a matter for Millennium Commission.I have no independent role in this matter as Secretary of State.
  98
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will meet officials of the NEC in Birmingham to discuss their proposed plans to hold the millennium exhibition there. [32500]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The selection of site for the millennium exhibition is a matter for the Millennium Commission. As chairman of the commission, I met representatives of the NEC together with other commissioners on 3 April.

SCOTLAND

  Cairngorm Funicular Railway
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the (i) economic viability and (ii) likely passenger numbers in respect of the proposed funicular railway on Cairngorm; if he will list the costs to his Department of the research and indicate if it is in the public domain. [31300]

  Mr. Kynoch
  None. Questions regarding the economic viability of the proposed funicular railway on Cairngorm, including the related issue of the likely passenger numbers, are essentially matters for the applicant to address in consultation with those organisations from whom it is seeking funding.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive from the Cairngorms Partnership Board its proposed management strategy for the area; if he has requested proposals to conserve the montane zone; and what assessment he has made of the main threats to the successful conservation of this zone. [31304]

  Mr. Kynoch
  When my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Scotland established the Cairngorms Partnership last year he asked it to produce within 12 months a draft management strategy for the area including, as a priority, proposals for the conservation of the montane zone. I understand that the Cairngorms Partnership Board will shortly issue for consultation a draft management strategy which will include a section dealing specifically with the montane zone.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Cairngorms Partnership Board concerning the proposed construction of a funicular railway on Cairngorm; and if he will make a statement. [31302]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has received two letters from the Cairngorm Partnership Board. The chief executive wrote on 4 July 1995 asking that he issue a direction requiring the planning authority to notify the application to him if they were minded to grant consent.

  A further letter, dated 13 February 1996 was received from the board's chairman, Mr. David Laird, in which he advised my right hon. Friend of how the partnership viewed the way matters were developing.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 April,Official Report, column 375, what is the predicted cost per job (a) created and (b) retained in the application by

  99
  Highlands and Islands Enterprise to incur expenditure on the proposed funicular railway on Cairngorm, currently being considered; and how these costs per job compare with the average in the highlands and islands area. [31340]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The overall cost per job of the proposed Highlands and Islands Enterprise assistance as recorded in the request for the approval of my right hon. Friend is £7,616. Such a figure is comparable with that for similar large capital-intensive projects to which Highlands and Islands Enterprise has contributed.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 April,Official Report, column 375, if the application by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to incur expenditure on the proposed funicular railway on Cairngorm takes account of the redundancies recently announced by the chairlift company. [31339]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The request for the approval of my right hon. Friend of the proposed financial contribution by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to the funicular railway project takes account of a range of factors, including the employment consequences, which in its view justify its proposed assistance to the project. No decision has yet been taken on the request.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been commissioned by(a) his office and (b) the Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to compare the value for money of grant aid to the proposed Cairngorm funicular railway with grants to other options for modernising the skiing facilities. [31303]

  Mr. Kynoch
  No research into such matters has been commissioned by the Scottish Office. The research commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise is an operational matter for that organisation and I have asked the chairman of its board to write to the hon. Member.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what circumstances he requires notification of planning applications where a planning authority is minded to grant permission that would constitute a departure from an approved structure plan. [31301]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Under the current planning legislation, it is entirely a matter for the authority to determine what constitutes a significant departure from the structure plan thus requiring an application to be notified to my right hon. Friend.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. [31396]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My Department and its executive agencies, excluding the Scottish Prison Service, spent approximately £429,000 in the 1994–95 financial year to recruit 144 staff and £436,000 in 1995–96 to recruit 201 staff.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what use his Department and its executive agencies have 100
  made of executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies within his Department or executive agencies administered by his Department during the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96; what agencies were employed; what was the cost in each case; how many staff were recruited in each case; and what was the total cost in each financial year of these contracts. [31411]

  Mr. Forsyth
  My Department used executive search agencies on three occasions in 1994–95. The agencies employed were Goddard Kay Rogers and Associates Ltd., Korn Ferry International and Thompson Partners Ltd. The total cost was £82,884.35. The value of individual contracts is a matter for the companies themselves and is regarded as commercial in confidence. Neither my Department nor its executive agencies used executive search agencies during 1995–96.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer in the Scottish Grand Committee in Dunfermline on 20 May, if the Crown Office will ask Professor Brian Caddy to include in his report, an assessment of the work of Dr. Fereday and Dr. Hayes at Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment in relation to Lockerbie. [31882]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. The review being conducted by Professor Brian Caddy is directed towards determining in which cases contamination might have occurred and to make recommendations for further action in order that a recurrence might be avoided. The terms of Professor Caddy's review did not invite him to undertake a general scrutiny of the work of any employees, or former employees, engaged in work at the forensic explosives laboratory in relation to any particular case or cases.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 71, about the implications for the Lockerbie inquiry of developments in respect of the forensic science laboratory in Kent, on what evidence the charges against the two Libyans depend. [31944]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 June 1996]: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate cannot discuss details of evidence while criminal proceedings are pending.

  Legal Service (Tayside and Fife)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions the interim procurator fiscal has appeared in the sheriff court at Arbroath since his appointment. [32527]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The interim procurator fiscal at Arbroath has not appeared personally in the sheriff court there since his appointment.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many trials were fixed and how many and what percentage of trials proceeded with evidence led in respect of (i) the sheriff courts of Arbroath and Forfar and district
  101
  courts of Arbroath, Brechin and Forfar and (ii) the remainder of the sheriff courts and district courts within the sheriffdom of Tayside Central and Fife between (a) January and December 1994, (b) January and December 1995 and (c) December 1995 and April 1996. [32508]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Figures for the district courts are not held centrally. Figures for the sheriff courts are as follows.

  Trial fixed

  Trials evidence led

  Percentage of trials evidence led to trials fixed

  January to December 1994

  Arbroath

  578

  147

  25

  Forfar

  438

  100

  23

  Remaining courts

  9,314

  2,390

  26

  January to December 1995

  Arbroath

  486

  90

  19

  Forfar

  398

  68

  17

  Remaining courts

  8,768

  1,916

  22

  December 1995 to April 1996

  Arbroath

  175

  18

  10

  Forfar

  75

  25

  33

  Remaining courts

  3,379

  733

  22

  NHS Trusts (Staff Compensation)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the costs to each NHS trust from(a) damages, (b) legal fees and (c) administration and management time arising from compensation claims by members of staff in each of the last three financial years. [32505]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Health Service (Lifting and Handling Regulations)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish hospitals have not had appropriate lifting equipment for use by nursing staff in continuous use since the introduction of EU lifting and handling regulations; and what action has been taken in each case. [32507]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  New Car Assessment Programme
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department expects to make a statement on the reliability of the information collated as part of the research on the feasibility of a new car assessment programme; and when this information will be published. [32426]

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply. The work is not yet finished. An announcement will be made as soon as possible after the report on this work is completed.
  102

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Claimants (Personal Details)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to pass on the personal details of benefit claimants to advertisers and direct mail companies. [30397]

  Mr. Heald
  None. There is a standard clause in contracts awarded by this Department that information obtained for the administration of social security benefits remains the property of the Department. All information is held in confidence and used only for the purpose for which it is collected.

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [30569]

  Mr. Burt
  None.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unitary authorities are failing to make the first payment of housing benefit within 14 days of the completed forms. [30971]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not yet available.

  Apart from the Isle of Wight, which commenced unitary status in April 1995, no other new unitary authorities commenced operations before April 1996. The most recent information available centrally is for 1994–95.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total sum paid out in any readily available period of housing benefit on account. [30973]

  Mr. Evans
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many visits his officials have made to unitary authorities to monitor the payment of housing benefit. [30969]

  Mr. Evans
  None.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local authorities are making payments on account of housing benefit. [30972]

  Mr. Evans
  This information is not collected centrally. Regulations provide that all local authorities shall make payments on account when appropriate.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the sums paid on account of housing benefit for each authority and the average delay in completing the formal claims and estimate for each authority at the latest available date. [30974]

  Mr. Evans
  This information is not available.
  103
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to instruct his officials to visit unitary authorities to monitor the payments of housing benefit. [30970]

  Mr. Evans
  None. However, the need to visit new unitary authorities will be taken into account when planning future visits.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated annual saving from reducing the reduced earnings allowance for people with disabilities over retirement age. [30834]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) on 28 February 1996,Official Report, column 625.

  Family Credit
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each of the last five years the amount claimed in respect of family credit; and if he will make a statement on the effect of the abolition of the wages council on the amount claimed. [31352]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table.

  £ million

  1991–92

  626

  1992–93

  929

  1993–94

  1,208

  1994–95

  1,441

  1995–96

  1,682 (estimated outturn)

  Source: 1996 Departmental Report

  We have no evidence to suggest that the abolition of wages councils has had a direct impact on the amount of family credit claimed.

  Christmas Bonus
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost to public funds of increasing the Christmas bonus to regain the purchasing value which obtained when it was first introduced. [31306]

  Mr. Heald
  The estimated additional gross cost would be £790 million in 1996–97.

  Women (Promotion)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department has implemented during the last 12 months to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions with his Department and its executive agencies; and what progress his Department has made in encouraging the promotion of women over the last five years. [31537]

  Mr. Burt
  All business units have action plans covering a range of personnel procedures to encourage the recruitment, retention, development and promotion of women, such as the setting of numerical goals across the 104
  Department for improving the representation of women at middle management levels and above and self development programmes aimed specifically at women.

  Women make up 68 per cent. of the Department's work force, a proportion which has not changed since 1992. The percentage of women in management positions has, however, continued to grow. The proportion of women in junior and middle management positions has increased from 51 per cent. to 58 per cent. in the past five years, and 28 per cent. of senior management positions are now held by women, an increase of 5 per cent. in the past 12 months.

  National Insurance
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the total revenue raised from national insurance in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what the figures would be if the rate had remained unchanged since April 1992. [31602]

  Mr. Heald
  The information requested is in the table.

  Total class 1 contribution revenue for employers and employees

  (£ billion)

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Actual revenue1

  38.70

  41.55

  43.10

  April 1992 rates2

  37.65

  39.50

  41.20

  1 Figures show the amount due for each tax year and will differ slightly from the amount actually paid by employers and employees during the tax year due to the normal delays inherent in the collection system.

  2 Assumes that the contribution rates and level of contracted-out rebates in force in April 1992 remained in force from 1993–94 to 1995–96, but the lower and upper earnings limits and earnings bands for those years still apply.

  Note:

  Estimates of rates other class 1 have not been provided as the effect will be negligible.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the rehabilitation of ex-offenders seeking accommodation for the first time after leaving a prison institution of the change to housing benefit being paid in arrears under the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1996; and what consultation his Department has had with(a) the Home Office and (b) organisations representing ex-offenders on the impact of these regulations. [31884]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Ex-offenders seeking accommodation in the private rented sector will be treated in exactly the same way for housing benefit purposes as any other claimant. Housing benefit will be paid in arrears in respect of all new claims made on or after 7 October 1996, rather than wholly or partly in advance as at present.

  Our proposals for the change, which is expected to reduce the number of overpayments of benefit, were subject to consideration by other Departments, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department was also involved. Our proposals were, in addition, referred to the local authority associations and to the Social Security Advisory

  105
  Committee, SSAC, which consulted widely with interested organisations. The SSAC report drew attention to the position of ex-offenders, but none of the several organisations concerned with the rehabilitation of ex-offenders which responded to the SSAC consultation exercise reported fears that their prospects of rehabilitation would be damaged or unduly affected by the change.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he will take to ensure that Mr. S. Sadler of 57 Central road, Rudheath, North received the regular maintenance payments due from his wife as the Child Support Agency. [32204]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The Child Support Agency has been successful in securing maintenance for Mr. Sadler. As it does in all such cases, the agency will make every effort to ensure this continues.

  The chief executive, Miss Ann Chant, will write to the hon. Member separately with a further update on the details of this case.

HEALTH

  Prescribing Research Unit, Leeds
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his letter of 1 April, when he expects the publication of the report of the prescribing research unit at Leeds university based on a large cohort study of general practitioners both fundholding and non-fundholding. [31201]

  Mr. Malone
  The report is currently in preparation. No date has been set for publication.

  Nutrition
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost to the national health service of dietary related diseases stemming from insufficient and inappropriate nutritional intake, for each year since 1990, and give this figure as a percentage of the overall annual health care budget; and if he will make a statement. [31851]

  Mr. Horam
  Diseases and conditions to which nutrition is a contributory factor include coronary heart disease and stroke, obesity, osteoporosis, bowel disorders, diabetes, dental caries, and a number of cancers. The contribution of diet to these conditions is variable and information on which to base an estimate of costs is not available.

  Women (Promotion)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has implemented during the last 12 months to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions with his Department and its executive agencies; and what progress his Department has made in encouraging the promotion of women over the last five years. [31538]
  106
  Mr. Horam
  The Department has a plan to improve under representation of women in certain grades. Measures include the development of stock targets for women by grade, development and implementation of a comprehensive policy on flexible working patterns and development and implementation of a programme of positive action training for women. The numbers of women in management grades overall has increased since 1992 as shown in the table.

  Women in the Department of Health

  1992

  1996

  Grade

  Percentage

  Grade

  Percentage

  3

  22

  3

  25

  4

  30

  4

  37

  5

  33

  5

  30

  6

  33

  6

  37

  7

  30

  7

  35

  SEO

  25

  SEO

  27

  HEO

  46

  HEO

  46

  EO

  54

  EO

  53

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances his Department or its executive agencies uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preference to using personnel staff within his own Department or its executive agencies. [31526]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health and its agencies use executive search or employment agencies to fill appointments requiring specialist skills which may not be available internally.

  Skin Cancer
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost to the national health service of treating(a) skin cancer and (b) any other conditions resulting from over-exposure to ultra-violet light, for each year since 1990, and give this figure as a percentage of the overall annual health care budget; and if he will make a statement. [31852]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is not available centrally on which to base such an estimate.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to tackle the specific problems of health care provision for the homeless; and if he will make a statement. [31850]

  Mr. Bowis
  Homeless people are entitled to the full range of health service provision and the weighted capitation formula used to calculate health authorities' allocations takes into account the number of officially homeless. From 1996–97, a new adjustment to the formula takes account of rough sleepers.

  Homeless people can experience difficulty in accessing services to which they are entitled. The Department is therefore funding 26 projects in England to address this problem by providing general practitioner sessions in hostels and other places where homeless people gather. In addition, the homeless mentally ill initiative is providing

  107
  a high level of care and support for rough sleepers with mental health problems in London. In February the Government announced that a further £2 million a year was being made available to expand the initiative in London and a number of other centres.

  Private Patients
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private patients in NHS pay beds underwent

  Ordinary admissions and day cases: number of first order episodes indicating that an operation has been performed on private patients, Category code 20–22, for each chapter heading of the OPCS Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures NHS Hospitals, England,1990–91 to 1994–95

  OPCS-4 Chapter

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  A Nervous system

  1,851

  2,479

  2,232

  2,619

  2,452

  B Endocrine system and breast

  1,185

  1,197

  994

  1,101

  1,146

  C Eye

  6,790

  7,487

  7,198

  7,915

  8,309

  D Ear

  1,523

  1,534

  1,341

  1,230

  1,044

  E Respiratory tract

  2,893

  3,035

  3,012

  3,347

  2,780

  F Mouth

  2,948

  2,554

  2,109

  2,151

  2,094

  G Upper digestive tract

  3,722

  4,299

  3,980

  4,262

  4,570

  H Lower digestive tract

  3,297

  3,760

  3,668

  4,055

  3,945

  J Other abdominal organs

  1,239

  1,910

  1,851

  1,925

  1,920

  K Heart

  3,093

  4,010

  4,464

  4,923

  4,873

  L Arteries and veins

  2,228

  2,370

  2,336

  2,740

  2,703

  M Urinary

  3,106

  3,459

  3,937

  4,350

  4,828

  N Male genital organs

  1,938

  1,829

  1,312

  1,173

  1,065

  P Lower female genital tract

  675

  586

  597

  620

  675

  Q Upper female genital tract

  6,010

  5,575

  5,510

  5,302

  5,250

  R Female genital associated with pregnancy and childbirth

  1,572

  1,783

  1,918

  1,545

  1,711

  S Skin

  2,529

  2,412

  2,162

  1,884

  2,022

  T Soft tissue

  2,888

  3,231

  3,070

  3,367

  3,302

  V Bones and joints of skull and spine

  1,572

  1,693

  1,592

  1,899

  1,898

  W Other bones and joints

  5,379

  5,931

  5,666

  6,798

  6,081

  X Miscellaneous

  1,448

  1,989

  2,822

  3,308

  3,709

  Operation not known

  572

  413

  454

  799

  1,041

  Total

  58,458

  63,536

  62,225

  67,313

  67,418

  Source: Hospital episode system.

  Data in this table is grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

  Mental Illness
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the Royal College of Psychiatrists publishes a consensus statement agreed with other professional groups on discharge and aftercare procedures for mentally ill patients, as recommended in 1988 by the inquiry into the care and aftercare of Miss Sharon Campbell (Cm 440). [31943]

  Mr. Bowis
  The agreement and publication of such a statement is a matter for the royal college and the other professional organisations.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of hospital beds which will continue to be needed for some patients for periods of over one year; and, of those, how many will be in(a) ordinary psychiatric hospitals and (b) medium secure units. [31941]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is the responsibility of health authorities to assess the needs of their population and to ensure that sufficient beds are available to meet those needs.

  Asthma
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new cases of asthma have been 108
  surgery in (a) total and (b) each chapter of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys operation short list in 1990–91 and each year since then. [31935]

  Mr. Horam
  The information available centrally relates to finished consultant episodes. The table shows the number of episodes where a private patient had an operation in their first episode of care within a spell in hospital, for each chapter heading of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys operation short list.

  recorded so far in 1996; what were the annual figures for newly reported asthma cases for the previous five years; and if he will make a statement. [31853]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, according to data collected by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the mean weekly incidence of new episodes of asthma per 100,000 population was as follows:

  1991: 46.3

  1992: 48.3

  1993: 50.3

  1994: 49.2

  1995: 40.3

  1996: 38.5 (first 21 weeks)

  The encouraging recent reduction in general practitioner episodes is mirrored by a fall in the number of hospital admissions and day cases.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that health authorities should routinely screen all babies at birth for cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement. [31549]
  109
  Mr. Horam
  A systematic review of screening for cystic fibrosis has been commissioned. The findings, which are expected in 1997, will guide decisions on the introduction of a national screening programme.

  Poverty
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to incorporate ill health due to poverty in future statistics; and if he will make a statement. [31849]

  Mr. Horam
  Through its public health information strategy, the Department of Health has agreed a common information framework to ensure that information about the health status of the population is collected and analysed in a consistent way. That framework includes a number of socio-economic variables, to enable analysis of the association between health and socio-economic status.

  Water Tower Mental Hospitals
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 April,Official Report, column 501, which water tower mental hospitals are currently open; and when he expects to receive information on (a) their planned closure dates and (b) the number of patients at each hospital on 31 March 1995 and 31 March 1996. [32463]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 1 April at columns 48–50. The National Health Service Executive will shortly be undertaking a further national survey of the closure of the water tower mental hospitals in England.

  Breast Screening
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors explain the(a) fall in the total amount and (b) fall in the percentage of the total budget of the money spent by his Department under the national health service breast screening programme on screening women aged 65 years and over between 1993–94 and 1994–95. [31883]

  Mr. Horam
  Under the national health service breast screening programme, women aged 65 and over are not invited routinely for screening. However, some women who should be screened at 64 may not in fact be invited for screening until they have reached the age of 65. There was a fall in the number of these women invited for screening between 1993–94 and 1994–95, provisional figures. A factor which may explain the fall in 1994–95 is that more women of 64 were screened on schedule before they reached their 65th birthday.

  Women aged 65 and over may continue to be screened every three years on request. The number of women requesting screening remained constant between 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of people in long-term residential care who are self-funding. [32200]

  Mr. Bowis
  We estimate that around 25 per cent. of people in residential care currently meet their own costs in full.
  110
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total annual cost to public funds of raising the capital disregards for long-term residential care from 1 April. [32201]

  Mr. Bowis
  With regard to the cost to English local authority social services departments, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Luff) on 5 March at column 189.

  The cost to the Department of Social Security of raising the capital disregards in relation to income support for residential accommodation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total annual cost to public funds of raising the lower and upper capital disregards for long-term residential care from £10,000 to £15,000 and from £16,000 to £21,000. [32202]

  Mr. Bowis
  No such estimate has been made.

  AIDS Conference
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if representatives from his Department will be attending the 11th international conference on AIDS in Vancouver in July. [32203]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 29 April at column 342. In addition, the Medical Devices Agency may also be represented.

  Safety of Medicines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996 the United Kingdom has made written requests that the Committee on Proprietory Medicinal Products consider matters relating to the safety of medicines. [27358]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 30 April 1996]: On one occasion in 1995; there have been no such occasions in 1996.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Northern Ireland Forum
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where the Northern Ireland forum will meet. [30837]

  Mr. Ancram
  The forum will meet in the Interpoint Centre, York street, Belfast.

  Cattle Exports
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the cattle exported for slaughter from Northern Ireland in 1995 were(a) under six months and (b) certified as destined for EU abattoirs. [31116]

  Sir John Wheeler
  In 1995, no cattle under six months of age were exported for slaughter from Northern Ireland.
  111

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) pursuant to his answer of 1 April,Official Report, column 68, how much his Department estimated it would have cost to provide the information requested; [31443]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 27 March, Official Report, column 613, how much his Department estimated it would have cost to provide the information requested. [31456]

  Sir John Wheeler
  More than £450, the current threshold above which answers are deemed to incur disproportionate cost.

  Paramilitary Arsenals
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate has been made of the scale of the IRA and loyalist paramilitary arsenals. [30884]

  Sir John Wheeler
  There is continuing public speculation about the nature and extent of illegal weapons holdings and supplies. However, it is not in the public interest to comment on or record information based on intelligence reporting.

  School Meals
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schoolchildren in Northern Ireland currently receive(a) free and (b) subsidised school meals; and what were the figures (i) five and (ii) 10 years ago. [32174]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is provided in the following table:

  Year

  Pupils receiving free school meals

  Pupils receiving subsidised school meals

  19951

  83,073

  99,549

  1991

  77,005

  87,189

  1986

  98,233

  66,600

  1 Latest year available.

ENVIRONMENT

  European Union Flag
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what instructions were issued to his Department's offices and agencies in respect of flying the European Union Flag on 8 May; and if he will make a statement. [31506]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Thursday 6 June Official Report, column 518.

  Landfill Tax
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the respective roles of his Department and the new Environment Agency in implementing the landfill tax, with special reference to what new steps will be taken to 112
  prevent illegal dumping and fly tipping in the countryside, and to relieve landowners on whose property such waste is deposited from liability to pay the tax when they transport it to designated landfill sites. [31616]

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department is responsible for the overall regulatory framework for waste management in England and Wales. Regulations implemented on 1 May 1994 introduced a new waste management licensing system. The associated duty of care for waste came into force on 1 April 1992. The penalties that can be imposed for offences relating to waste are already severe, and these controls provide a strong regulatory framework to support the introduction of the landfill tax. My Department will also write to the courts before the start of the tax on 1 October 1996, to draw their attention to the financial gains that can be made by those who dispose of waste illegally.

  The Environment Agency is the competent authority for the purposes of waste management licensing. The agency has the resources and the expertise to advise on the legal and sound management of waste, to investigate offences and to carry out enforcement action. The Government's guidance to the agency on its objectives and contribution to sustainable development, which will be laid before Parliament very shortly, will clarify its role in this area. Ministers will expect the agency to act upon its powers and to review procedures for preventing and handling cases of fly tipping.

  The Government have no plans to relieve the occupiers of land on which waste is deposited illegally from liability to pay landfill tax where they dispose of the waste to licensed landfill sites.

  Disabled People (Water Supplies)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department gives to water companies in(a) identifying in advance and (b) providing alternative water supplies for customers with mobility problems, when due to exception circumstances, water is available only from standpipes or bowsers. [31874]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department has issued two formal directions under the Water Industry Act 1991 to all water and sewerage companies whereby they are required to formulate plans to provide an essential water supply at all times and notify the relevant local authority and district health authority during water supply emergencies. The arrangements made by water companies under these provisions cover supplies to all the affected householders, with particular emphasis on providing for vulnerable members of the community, including those with mobility problems.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to issue guidance to local authorities and housing associations on the maintenance of a list of their accessible properties for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [31875]

  Mr. Clappison
  Paragraph 13(f) of the annex to Department of the Environment circular 10/92 "Housing and Community Care" advises local authorities to consider maintaining a record of special needs or adapted
  113
  housing in their areas to help match those available against an assessment of individuals' needs. I understand that the Housing Corporation has recently commissioned research into the use of databases of adapted properties with a view to issuing advice to housing associations on good practice in this area.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce legislation to provide for the compulsory inclusion of tenants on the boards of housing associations. [31983]

  Mr. Clappison
  The appointment of board members to housing associations is for individual associations to determine in accordance with their rules. The Government encourage associations to involve tenants in all aspects of the management of their associations, but they do not consider it appropriate to legislate for the inclusion on the board members from any single interest group.

  Water Consumption
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the estimated average domestic household water consumption in each water company area(a) in the last year, (b) two years ago and (c) five years ago; [32496]

  (2) what was the estimated average water consumption per household in (a) England, Wales and (b) Scotland in each year since 1986; [32497]

  (3) what was the overall water consumption by water company for each of the past 10 years. [32498]

  Mr. Clappison
  The water delivered to each household in England and Wales over the past three years, and the number of households in each water company area, are given in the Office of Water Services' reports on the "Cost of Water Delivered and Sewage Collected". Figures prior to 1992–93 are not available on a comparable basis. Estimates and projections of household water consumption for Scotland are contained in the Scottish Office research report "Domestic Water Consumption in Scotland in 1991".

  Copies of these reports are in the House Library.

  Estimates of the total water put into public supply in England and Wales between 1983–84 and 1994–95 are given in the table. Individual water company estimates are available from their respective associations.

  Public water supplied 1983–84 to 1994–95 (million litres/day)

  England and Wales1

  Unmetered

  Metered

  Non-potable

  Total

  1983–84

  11,842

  3,996

  516

  16,354

  1984–85

  11,956

  3,990

  558

  16,504

  1985–86

  12,036

  3,965

  575

  16,576

  1986–87

  12,195

  4,088

  571

  16,854

  1987–88

  12,216

  4,059

  604

  16,879

  1988–89

  12,177

  4,114

  605

  16,896

  1989–90

  12,424

  4,135

  714

  17,273

  1990–91

  12,549

  4,256

  576

  17,381

  1991–92

  12,399

  4,258

  552

  17,209

  1992–93

  11,669

  4,457

  503

  16,629

  1993–94

  11,999

  4,034

  521

  16,554

  1994–95

  12,350

  4,139

  526

  17,015

  1 Includes water supply companies.

  114

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he is taking to monitor the take-up of grants under the home energy efficiency scheme, following changes to eligibility criteria on 1 April; and if he will make a statement; [32042]

  (2) how many claimants over the age of 60 years registered for a 100 per cent. grant under the home energy efficiency scheme before the change in eligibility criteria on 1 April. [32043]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We receive regular reports on the operation of this successful scheme, which has helped almost 2 million vulnerable householders to keep their homes warmer with less fuel, from the company which manages it for us.

  By 1 April, 372,000 applicants had registered their claims under the special arrangements we set up following the Budget statement. Between 1 April and 31 May, 112,000 grants were paid.

  Opencast Coal, Sharlston
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report on the public inquiry on the proposals for opencast coal operations in the village of Sharlston. [32261]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The report of the inspector who conducted the public inquiry into the proposed opencast coal mining operations at Sharlston, West Yorkshire has been received in the Department. A decision by the Secretary of State on the case will be announced as soon as possible.

  Menwith Hill Station
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to ensure that the stormwater system at Menwith hill station meets environmental protection standards; when the last inspection was carried out, and by whom; if the previous high quantities of oil have been removed from the oil/water separators; what action has been taken to ensure that these levels will not be repeated; what centralised listing of above and underground tank locations, history, and records now exists; and what action has been taken to ensure that the management of underground petroleum oil and lubrication tanks meet necessary standards and requirements. [31951]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: I understand that the stormwater system has been refurbished and that the Environment Agency has consented to the associated discharge. An inspection of the site by the agency earlier this month indicated that the oil interceptors in the system are removing oil from stormwater and that the quantity of oil evident in the separator was not substantial. The station now keeps records of underground tanks, which are regularly maintained and inspected.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission an analysis of the soil, air and water at RAF Menwith Hill. [31955]
  115
  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: I have no plans to do so.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what use her Department and its executive agencies have made of executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies within her Department or executive agencies administered by her Department during the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96; what agencies were employed; what was the cost in each case; how many staff were recruited in each case; and what was the total cost in each financial year of these contracts. [31419]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department and its executive agencies have used the following executive search agencies or employment companies to fill the following posts:

  (i) St. James's Management Recruitment was used to fill the post of head of financial services branch and head of the accountancy profession for the former Department of Education group in 1994–95.

  (ii) Price Waterhouse was used to fill the post of permanent secretary to the former Department of Employment group in the same year.

  (iii) Korn/Ferry Carre/Orban International is currently being used to fill the post of chief executive of the Employment Service.

  Details of the individual contracts concerned are commercially confidential.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department spent in recruiting staff to her Department and its executive agencies during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. [31404]

  Mr. Squire
  The Department and its executive agencies spent a total of £119,366 on staff recruitment during 1994–95, and £85, 484 on staff recruitment during 1995–96. In 1994–95, 734 permanent staff, 59 fixed-term appointees and 1,482 casual staff were recruited by the Department and its executive agencies. In 1995–96, 212 permanent staff, 284 fixed-term appointees and 4,227 casual staff were recruited.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what circumstances her Department or its executive agencies uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preference to using personnel staff within her own Department or its executive agencies. [31532]

  Mr. Squire
  The Department uses executive search agencies primarily to fill senior vacancies. Once a decision has been made to fill such a vacancy by open competition, the decision whether to use an executive search agency is taken on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the post, the type of person being sought and whether advertisement alone would produce a satisfactory field of candidates. For members of the senior civil service, the Department follows advice in "Guidance 116
  on Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment to Senior Posts", a procedural guide to Departments produced by the civil service commissioners.

  Apart from occasional use of employment agencies to provide agency staff, other recruitment is handled by internal personnel staff and line managers involving the civil service recruitment and assessment services where appropriate.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1), pursuant to her answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 433, how much her Department estimated it would have cost to provide the information requested; [31464]

  (2), pursuant to her answer of 26 March, Official Report, column 484, how much her Department estimated it would have cost to provide the information requested. [31462]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  More than £450, which is the current threshold above which answers are deemed to incur disproportionate cost.

  School Meals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities have awarded their school meals contracts to Rentokil. [32074]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department does not collect this information centrally.

  Student Loans Company
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy that answers to parliamentary questions that are referred to the chief executive of the Student Loans Company to answer are published in the Official Report; and if she will make a statement. [31492]

  Mr. Forth
  Arrangements for publishing chief executive letters responding to parliamentary questions in the Official Report apply only to the next steps agencies and Defence agencies. The Student Loans Company is a non-departmental public body—NDPB. There is no approval by the House authorities for broadening the scope of the Official Report to include letters from chief executives of NDPBs. Copies of replies from NDPB chief executives are, however, placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools voted to become grant maintained during each financial year since 1993–94; and, in each case, what proportion of parental ballots ended in a yes vote. [31844]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is given in the table:
  117

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Number of ballots

  Number (proportion) of yes votes

  Number of ballots

  Number (proportion) of yes votes

  Number of ballots

  Number (proportion) of yes votes

  Primary

  274

  201 (73 per cent.)

  94

  55 (59 per cent.)

  61

  37 (61 per cent.)

  Secondary

  171

  107 (63 per cent.)

  43

  13 (30 per cent.)

  31

  13 (42 per cent.)

  Mr Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools voted to become grant maintained during the academic years 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1995–96, and in each case, what proportion of parental ballots ended in a "yes" vote. [31843]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is given in the tables:

  1992–93

  Number of ballots

  Number (proportion) of yes votes

  Primary

  310

  252 (81 per cent.)

  Secondary

  392

  291 (74 per cent.)

  1993–94

  Number of ballots

  Number (proportion) of yes votes

  Primary

  165

  105 (64 per cent.)

  Secondary

  104

  52 (50 per cent.)

  1994–95

  Number of ballots

  Number (proportion) of yes votes

  Primary

  59

  37 (63 per cent.)

  Secondary

  26

  13 (50 per cent.)

  1993–94

  Number of ballots

  Number (proportion) of yes votes

  Primary

  56

  34 (61 per cent.)

  Secondary

  35

  13 (37 per cent.)

  Local Education Authorities (Delegation)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what(a) mechanism and (b) requirement exists for schools to be consulted by their local education authorities over the level of delegation within the local management of schools scheme. [31838]

  Mr. Squire
  The precise level of delegation to schools in any local education authority—(LEA)—is not a matter upon which consultation is required, although an LEA

  1996–97

  1995–96

  1994–95

  Rank Local Education Authority

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Rank

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Rank

  1. Dudley

  96.1

  95.8

  (1)

  92.5

  (1)

  2. Brent

  94.6

  93.5

  (7)

  90.0

  (6)

  3. Solihull

  94.4

  94.0

  (3)

  90.4

  (4)

  4. Waltham Forest

  93.9

  93.9

  (4)

  89.8

  (9)

  5. Sunderland

  93.8

  92.3

  (15)

  88.0

  (28)

  118
  would be required to consult upon a proposal to amend any scheme provision which sets a minimum delegation requirement. The method by which an LEA consults schools on changes to local management of schools schemes is for the authority itself to determine.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the items of local education authority expenditure on schools that her Department considers impracticable or undesirable for delegation as stated in the 1996 departmental report; on what criteria each is considered impracticable or undesirable for delegation; and if she will make a statement. [31834]

  Mr. Squire
  Items excluded from the potential schools budget—PSB—are conveniently listed in schedule 1 to the Education (School Financial Statements) (Prescribed Particulars etc.) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995 No 208). Reasons for their exclusion were set out in part 4 of the Department's circular 2/94, except in the case of three items, the removal of which from the PSB was the subject of subsequent decisions. These items are: expenditure on inspections carried out by local education authorities for the Office for Standards in Education, which self-evidently cannot be delegated to schools; expenditure on the insurance of LEAs against liability in negligence, which it seemed reasonable to place on the same footing as governors' liability insurance; and expenditure on provision for ethnic minority pupils, much of which was previously excluded from the PSB by virtue of being supported by section 11 grant. The Government have been reviewing policy on delegation, and their conclusions will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper on self-government for schools.

  School Funding
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each local education authority in England the percentage of the potential schools budget which has been delegated in the aggregated schools budget in each year since 1990, ranked according to the highest levels of delegation. [31837]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested for the financial years 1994–95 to 1996–97 is shown in the table. Information on earlier years is contained in the answer given on 5 July 1993 to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman),Official Report, columns 16–20.
  119

  1996–97

  1995–96

  1994–95

  Rank Local Education Authority

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Rank

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Rank

  6. Leeds

  93.7

  93.4

  (8)

  89.9

  (8)

  7. Hertfordshire

  93.6

  94.1

  (2)

  91.3

  (3)

  8. Berkshire

  93.5

  93.1

  (9)

  90.0

  (7)

  9. Rochdale

  93.3

  92.9

  (11)

  88.7

  (21)

  10. Greenwich

  93.1

  92.6

  (14)

  89.3

  (12)

  11. Knowsley

  93.1

  93.9

  (6)

  89.1

  (13)

  12. Staffordshire

  93.0

  92.8

  (12)

  87.9

  (30)

  13. Northamptonshire

  92.9

  92.9

  (10)

  89.3

  (11)

  14. Wigan

  92.9

  92.7

  (13)

  86.9

  (44)

  15. Liverpool

  92.7

  92.2

  (16)

  86.5

  (60)

  16. Islington

  92.6

  93.9

  (5)

  92.5

  (2)

  17. Suffolk

  92.6

  90.6

  (38)

  87.6

  (37)

  18. Bury

  92.5

  91.8

  (20)

  88.3

  (27)

  19. Bedfordshire

  92.4

  91.2

  (27)

  88.7

  (18)

  20. Wolverhampton

  92.2

  91.9

  (19)

  88.7

  (19)

  21. Havering

  92.1

  91.7

  (23)

  88.3

  (26)

  22. North Tyneside

  92.0

  91.8

  (21)

  85.9

  (81)

  23. Isles of Scilly

  91.9

  85.1

  (109)

  86.3

  (68)

  24. Bexley

  91.9

  91.2

  (28)

  87.6

  (36)

  25. Oxfordshire

  91.8

  91.6

  (24)

  88.7

  (20)

  26. Shropshire

  91.8

  88.2

  (91)

  85.4

  (91)

  27. Manchester

  91.8

  92.0

  (17)

  89.1

  (14)

  28. Redbridge

  91.4

  90.6

  (40)

  87.0

  (41)

  29. Sutton

  91.4

  90.2

  (47)

  86.0

  (79)

  30. Croydon

  91.3

  90.0

  (51)

  90.1

  (5)

  31. Birmingham

  91.3

  90.3

  (44)

  86.8

  (49)

  32. Cumbria

  91.3

  91.8

  (22)

  86.5

  (59)

  33. Richmond

  91.3

  90.4

  (41)

  88.9

  (15)

  34. Cheshire

  91.3

  90.9

  (31)

  88.7

  (22)

  35. Gloucestershire

  91.2

  91.1

  (29)

  86.4

  (64)

  36. Hammersmith/Fulham

  91.2

  90.8

  (35)

  86.6

  (57)

  37. Devon

  91.2

  91.9

  (18)

  87.8

  (31)

  38. Norfolk

  91.2

  91.4

  (25)

  87.8

  (33)

  39. Somerset

  91.2

  91.1

  (30)

  86.2

  (72)

  40. Stockport

  91.2

  90.9

  (32)

  89.3

  (10)

  41. Hampshire

  91.1

  88.6

  (84)

  86.6

  (56)

  42. Northumberland

  91.1

  90.8

  (36)

  88.9

  (16)

  43. Essex

  90.9

  89.0

  (73)

  85.9

  (82)

  44. Coventry

  90.9

  91.3

  (26)

  87.1

  (40)

  45. Bristol

  90.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  46. Kingston

  90.8

  89.2

  (67)

  85.5

  (89)

  47. Oldham

  90.7

  90.6

  (39)

  86.8

  (50)

  48. Wirral

  90.7

  90.3

  (42)

  86.3

  (67)

  49. Kensington/Chelsea

  90.7

  90.0

  (50)

  85.6

  (85)

  50. Salford

  90.6

  90.7

  (37)

  87.8

  (32)

  51. North Yorkshire

  90.5

  89.8

  (54)

  86.9

  (45)

  52. Barking/Dagenham

  90.5

  89.1

  (72)

  85.3

  (93)

  53. Surrey

  90.5

  89.8

  (55)

  86.9

  (46)

  54. Ealing

  90.5

  89.9

  (53)

  86.1

  (75)

  55. Stockton on Tees

  90.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  56. Hereford/Worcester

  90.3

  90.8

  (34)

  88.3

  (25)

  57. Enfield

  90.2

  89.4

  (62)

  87.9

  (29)

  58. Hillingdon

  90.2

  89.9

  (52)

  86.6

  (52)

  59. Harrow

  90.1

  90.1

  (49)

  88.8

  (17)

  60. Hounslow

  90.0

  88.8

  (80)

  86.4

  (65)

  61. Wiltshire

  90.0

  89.6

  (58)

  86.0

  (77)

  62. St. Helens

  89.9

  89.5

  (59)

  85.5

  (88)

  63. East Sussex

  89.9

  88.9

  (77)

  86.2

  (69)

  64. Walsall

  89.9

  90.3

  (43)

  87.7

  (35)

  65. Tameside

  89.9

  89.3

  (64)

  86.0

  (80)

  66. Corporation of London

  89.9

  88.9

  (75)

  87.0

  (43)

  67. North East Lincolnshire

  89.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  68. Isle of Wight

  89.8

  90.2

  (45)

  86.9

  (47)

  69. Hull

  89.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  70. Warwickshire

  89.8

  88.4

  (89)

  85.7

  (84)

  71. Lewisham

  89.8

  87.6

  (99)

  84.6

  (104)

  72. South Gloucestershire

  89.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  73. Bath and North East Somerset

  89.7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  74. Bradford

  89.7

  88.5

  (86)

  86.5

  (58)

  75. Dorset

  89.7

  89.7

  (56)

  86.6

  (54)

  120 121

  1996–97

  1995–96

  1994–95

  Rank Local Education Authority

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Rank

  Percentage Potential schools budget delegated

  Rank

  76. Merton

  89.7

  89.2

  (69)

  88.3

  (24)

  77. East Riding

  89.6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  78. North Somerset

  89.6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  79. Rotherham

  89.6

  89.4

  (63)

  86.2

  (71)

  80. Cambridgeshire

  89.5

  89.3

  (66)

  86.2

  (70)

  81. Wandsworth

  89.5

  85.4

  (108)

  82.4

  (109)

  82. Barnet

  89.4

  90.2

  (48)

  86.6

  (55)

  83. Westminster

  89.4

  90.2

  (46)

  88.5

  (23)

  84. Hackney

  89.4

  86.9

  (104)

  83.5

  (107)

  85. Sefton

  89.4

  88.7

  (82)

  87.0

  (42)

  86. Southwark

  89.3

  88.0

  (94)

  86.1

  (74)

  87. Lincolnshire

  89.3

  89.5

  (60)

  86.9

  (48)

  88. Derbyshire

  89.2

  89.3

  (65)

  85.0

  (99)

  89. West Sussex

  89.2

  88.9

  (78)

  87.2

  (38)

  90. Sandwell

  89.2

  88.1

  (92)

  86.5

  (62)

  91. Calderdale

  89.1

  89.1

  (71)

  87.7

  (34)

  92. Buckinghamshire

  89.1

  88.4

  (87)

  85.1

  (96)

  93. Hartlepool

  89.1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94. Tower Hamlets

  89.0

  90.9

  (33)

  86.2

  (73)

  95. Newcastle

  89.0

  88.2

  (90)

  85.4

  (90)

  96. Kirklees

  89.0

  87.1

  (103)

  84.2

  (106)

  97. Kent

  89.0

  87.5

  (100)

  85.2

  (95)

  98. Nottinghamshire

  88.9

  88.8

  (79)

  86.7

  (51)

  99. South Tyneside

  88.9

  89.2

  (68)

  86.5

  (61)

  100. Lancashire

  88.9

  87.7

  (98)

  85.3

  (94)

  101. North Lincolnshire

  88.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  102. Barnsley

  88.7

  89.1

  (70)

  85.0

  (103)

  103. Bolton

  88.5

  88.9

  (76)

  85.0

  (101)

  104. Trafford

  88.5

  88.6

  (83)

  86.6

  (53)

  105. Durham

  88.3

  88.5

  (85)

  86.0

  (78)

  106. Cornwall

  88.3

  89.0

  (74)

  87.1

  (39)

  107. Camden

  88.2

  87.4

  (101)

  83.0

  (108)

  108. Middlesbrough

  88.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  109. Leicestershire

  88.0

  88.4

  (88)

  86.4

  (66)

  110. Doncaster

  87.9

  89.7

  (57)

  85.0

  (100)

  111. Lambeth

  87.4

  86.4

  (107)

  84.2

  (105)

  112. Sheffield

  87.4

  87.8

  (96)

  85.0

  (98)

  113. Wakefield

  87.2

  87.9

  (95)

  85.4

  (92)

  114. Bromley

  86.9

  87.8

  (97)

  86.4

  (63)

  115. Gateshead

  86.8

  86.6

  (105)

  86.1

  (76)

  116. Haringey

  86.4

  87.2

  (102)

  85.1

  (97)

  117. Newham

  85.1

  86.5

  (106)

  85.0

  (102)

  Redcar and Cleveland

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  —

  York

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the representations her Department has received(a) for and (b) against increasing the minimum proportion of the potential schools budget which must be delegated to school governing bodies by local education authorities; and if she will make a statement. [31833]

  Mr. Squire
  We discuss all aspects of local management of schools—LMS—with a range of interests from time to time. In particular, the Department has held meetings in recent weeks with representatives from local authority associations, chief education officers, teacher

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Number of ballots

  Number(proportion) of yes votes

  Number of ballots

  Number(proportion) of yes votes

  Number of ballots

  Number (proportion) of yes votes

  Primary

  308

  239 (78 per cent.)

  130

  83 (64 per cent)

  56

  35 (63 per cent.)

  Secondary

  237

  169(71 per cent.)

  70

  26 (37 per cent.)

  30

  14 (47 per cent.)

  122
  associations, GM organisations and other national bodies, about LMS delegation levels, among other things. The Government will set out their policy on LMS delegation in the forthcoming White Paper on self-government for schools.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools voted to become grant maintained during each calendar year since 1993; and, in each case, what proportion of parental ballots ended in a yes vote. [31845]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is given in the table:
  123

  National Curriculum
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many appeals, by local education authority areas, have been made by parents to date about failures to deliver the national curriculum in schools. [32045]

  Mr. Paice
  To date, the Department has collected information on formal complaints about failure to comply with the national curriculum for the school years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 in the case of local education authority-maintained schools, and 1993–94 in the case of both LEA-maintained and grant-maintained schools. The numbers, where supplied, are as follows. There were nil returns for 75 LEAs across all years. The data do not distinguish parents from other complainants.

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1993–94

  Avon

  —

  —

  —

  6

  Bedfordshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Berkshire

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Birmingham

  1—

  —

  1—

  1

  Bradford

  —

  —

  —

  10

  Bromley

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Buckinghamshire

  1—

  —

  —

  1

  Camden

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Cheshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Derbyshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Devon

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Dudley

  —

  —

  —

  1

  East Sussex

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Essex

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Greenwich

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Hereford and Worcester

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1—

  —

  —

  1

  Kent

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Lancashire

  —

  1—

  1

  —

  Leicestershire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Northamptonshire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  North Tyneside

  —

  —

  —

  1

  North Yorkshire

  2

  —

  —

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  St. Helens

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Shropshire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Staffordshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Surrey

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Walsall

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Warwickshire

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  —

  2

  —

  —

  1 No response received from the LEA that year.

  Correspondence
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will respond to the letters on training of 6 March and 10 May from the hon. Member for Normanton. [32263]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We do not appear to have received the letters on training of 6 March or of 10 May. However, if the hon. Member will send me copies of the letters, I shall ensure that they are answered.
  124

  Civil Servants (Duties Abroad)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department spent during the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 on sending civil servants accompanying Ministers from her Department on official duties abroad. [32414]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  School Places
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many appeals were made by parents on the ground of non-admission of their child to the school of their choice in the latest year for which figures are available(a) in each local education authority and (b) nationally. [31960]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Appeals lodged by parents against non-admission of their children to maintained, including grant-maintained, primary and secondary schools in each local education authority area in England

  Academic Year 1993–95

  Local education authority area

  Total appeals lodged

  Corporation of London

  1

  Camden

  394

  Greenwich

  507

  Hackney

  261

  Hammersmith and Fulham1

  56

  Islington

  182

  Kensington and Chelsea

  63

  Lambeth

  395

  Lewisham

  685

  Southwark

  256

  Tower Hamlets1

  525

  Wandsworth

  207

  Westminster

  223

  Barking and Dagenham

  259

  Barnet

  694

  Bexley

  443

  Brent

  90

  Bromley1

  806

  Croydon

  883

  Ealing

  413

  Enfield

  631

  Haringey

  389

  Harrow

  632

  Havering

  518

  Hillingdon

  381

  Hounslow

  412

  Kingston upon Thames

  299

  Merton

  236

  Newham

  176

  Redbridge

  494

  Richmond upon Thames

  171

  Sutton

  625

  Waltham Forest

  782

  Birmingham

  2,261

  Coventry

  468

  Dudley

  185

  Sandwell

  178

  Solihull

  388

  Walsall

  62

  Wolverhampton

  160

  Knowsley

  21

  Liverpool

  858

  St. Helens

  98

  125

  Appeals lodged by parents against non-admission of their children to maintained, including grant-maintained, primary and secondary schools in each local education authority area in England

  Academic Year 1993–95

  Local education authority area

  Total appeals lodged

  Sefton

  185

  Wirral

  445

  Bolton

  225

  Bury

  674

  Manchester

  872

  Oldham

  268

  Rochdale

  158

  Salford

  101

  Stockport

  123

  Tameside

  245

  Trafford

  414

  Wigan

  173

  Barnsley

  114

  Doncaster

  44

  Rotherham

  80

  Sheffield

  295

  Bradford

  1,739

  Calderdale

  152

  Kirklees1

  122

  Leeds

  2,925

  Wakefield

  93

  Gateshead

  77

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  207

  North Tyneside1

  12

  South Tyneside

  62

  Sunderland

  154

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  Avon

  1,365

  Bedfordshire

  184

  Berkshire

  792

  Buckinghamshire

  601

  Cambridge

  278

  Cheshire

  136

  Cleveland

  103

  Cornwall

  98

  Cumbria

  128

  Derbyshire

  280

  Devon

  460

  Dorset

  398

  Durham1

  310

  East Sussex

  274

  Essex

  434

  Gloucestershire

  338

  Hampshire1

  188

  Hereford and Worcester

  260

  Hertfordshire

  1,156

  Humberside

  575

  Isle of Wight

  36

  Kent1

  1,879

  Lancashire

  2,610

  Leicestershire

  295

  Lincolnshire

  326

  Norfolk

  322

  North Yorkshire

  509

  Northamptonshire

  344

  Northumberland

  12

  Nottinghamshire1

  297

  Oxfordshire

  343

  Shropshire

  447

  Somerset

  323

  Staffordshire

  185

  Suffolk

  81

  Surrey

  1,182

  Warwickshire

  339

  West Sussex

  231

  Wiltshire

  84

  England

  45,876

  1 LEAs which did not submit a complete return.

  126
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many letters she has received in the past year from parents failing to obtain a place for their child in the school of their choice; what were the figures in each of the last five years; and what advice she offers such parents. [31916]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department receives many inquiries from parents about school admissions, both in writing and by telephone. No central register of such inquiries is kept. Parents who have failed to secure a place for their child in the school of their choice are advised of their statutory right to an independent appeal.

  Schools (Selection)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those(a) grant-maintained, (b) voluntary-aided and (c) other schools, which have had a significant change of character approved since 1989 to become (i) wholly or (ii) partially selective, stating in each case the extent of selection approved. [31914]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The following list shows the schools that have had statutory proposals approved since 1989 to become wholly or partially selective, stating the extent of selection approved.

  Schools approved to become wholly selective

  LEA area

  School name

  Selection

  Grant maintained

  Cumbria

  Queen Elizabeth grammar school

  100 per cent.

  Barnet

  Queen Elizabeth boys' school

  100 per cent. including 10 per cent. by aptitude for music

  Kent

  Chaucer technology school

  100 per cent. by aptitude for technology

  Voluntary aided

  Liverpool

  The Blue Coat school

  100 per cent.

  County

  Wandsworth

  Battersea technology college

  100 per cent. by ability in technology

  Schools approved to become partially selective

  LEA area

  School name

  Selection

  Grant maintained

  Barnet

  Mill Hill County high school

  30 per cent. by aptitude for technology

  Berkshire

  Southlands school

  One selective form of entry (18 per cent.)

  Dorset

  Budmouth GM school

  10 per cent. selection by ability

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  London Oratory school

  20 boys at age seven on musical and general ability

  Hertfordshire

  Watford grammar school for girls

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Hertfordshire

  Watford grammar school for boys

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Hertfordshire

  Parmiters school

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  127

  Schools approved to become partially selective

  LEA area

  School name

  Selection

  Hertfordshire

  Rickmansworth school

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Kent

  Homewood school

  20 per cent. selection by ability

  Kingston

  Holy Cross school

  15 per cent. selection by ability

  Lambeth

  Archbishop Tenison's GM schoolSt. Martin in the Fields high school

  banding including 40 per cent. above average ability

  Lambeth

  St. Martin in the Fields high school

  Wandsworth

  Graveney GM school

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Wandsworth

  Burntwood school

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  County

  Wandsworth

  The Ernest Bevin school

  50 per cent selection by ability

  Wandsworth

  Chestnut Grove school

  30 pupils by ability in languages and30 by ability in arts (38 per cent)

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, by local education authority, those schools which select more than 10 per cent. of their pupils, stating in each case(a) the percentage of intake selected, (b) the selection criteria and (c) whether the school is a county, voluntary-aided, voluntary-controlled, special agreement or grant-maintained school. [31913]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information provided in the table covers only those schools which classified themselves as selective in the 1995 performance tables. The Department does not hold comprehensive information on partially selective schools. Most selective schools allocate places on the basis of performance in tests.

  LEA

  School

  Status

  Barnet

  Queen Elizabeth's boys' school

  GM

  Barnet

  St. Michael's Catholic grammar school

  GM

  Berkshire

  Herschel grammar school

  GM

  Berkshire

  Kendrick Girl's grammar school

  County

  Berkshire

  Langley grammar school

  GM

  Berkshire

  Reading school

  GM

  Berkshire

  Slough grammar school

  GM

  Bexley

  Bexley grammar school

  County

  Bexley

  Bexley-Erith technical high school for boys

  GM

  Bexley

  Chislehurst and Sidcup grammar school

  County

  Bexley

  Townley road grammar school for girls

  County

  Birmingham

  Bishop Vesey's grammar school

  VA

  Birmingham

  Handsworth grammar school

  County

  Birmingham

  King Edward VI Aston school

  GM

  Birmingham

  King Edward VI Camp Hill girls' school

  GM

  Birmingham

  King Edeward VI Camp Hill school boys

  GM

  Birmingham

  King Edward VI Five Ways school

  GM

  Birmingham

  King Edward VI Handsworth school

  GM

  Birmingham

  Sutton Coldfield girl's school

  County

  Bristol

  Cotham grammar school

  County

  Bristol

  Fairfield grammar school

  County

  Bromley

  Newstead Wood school for girls

  GM

  128

  LEA

  School

  Status

  Bromley

  St. Olave's and St. Saviour's grammar school

  GM

  Buckinghamshire

  Aylesbury grammar school

  VC

  Buckinghamshire

  Aylesbury high school

  County

  Buckinghamshire

  Beaconsfield high school

  GM

  Buckinghamshire

  Burnham grammar school

  County

  Buckinghamshire

  Chesham high school

  County

  Buckinghamshire

  Dr. Challoner's grammar school

  VC

  Buckinghamshire

  Dr. Challoner's high school

  County

  Buckinghamshire

  John Hampden grammar school

  County

  Buckinghamshire

  Sir Henry Floyd grammar school

  County

  Buckinghamshire

  Sir William Borlase's grammar school

  VC

  Buckinghamshire

  The Royal Latin school

  VC

  Buckinghamshire

  Wycombe high school

  VC

  Calderdale

  Crossley Heath school

  GM

  Calderdale

  The North Halifax grammar school

  GM

  Cambridgeshire

  The King's school

  GM

  Cumbria

  St. Bernard's convent school

  COUNTY

  Devon

  Churston grammar school

  COUNTY

  Devon

  Colyton grammar school

  GM

  Devon

  Devonport high school for boys

  COUNTY

  Devon

  Devonport high school for girls

  COUNTY

  Devon

  Plymouth high school for girls

  COUNTY

  Devon

  Torquay boys' grammar school

  GM

  Devon

  Torquay grammar school for girls

  COUNTY

  Dorset

  Bournemouth school

  GM

  Dorset

  Bournemouth school for girls (GM)

  GM

  Dorset

  Budmouth technology college

  GM

  Dorset

  Parkstone grammar schools (girls)

  GM

  Dorset

  Poole grammar school

  GM

  Enfield

  The Latymer school

  GM

  Essex

  Chelmsford county high school for girls

  GM

  Essex

  Colchester county high school for girls

  GM

  Essex

  Colchester royal grammar school

  GM

  Essex

  King Edward VI grammar school

  GM

  Essex

  Royal grammar school

  GM

  Essex

  Southend high school for boys

  GM

  Essex

  Southend high school for girls

  GM

  Essex

  Westcliff high school for boys

  GM

  Essex

  Westcliff high school for girls

  GM

  Gloucestershire

  Denmark road high school for girls

  COUNTY

  Gloucestershire

  Marling school

  GM

  Gloucestershire

  Pate's grammar school

  GM

  Gloucestershire

  Ribston Hall high school

  GM

  Gloucestershire

  Sir Thomas Rich's school

  County

  Gloucestershire

  Stroud high school

  GM

  Gloucestershire

  The Crypt school

  GM

  Hertfordshire

  The Henrietta Barnett school

  County

  Kent

  Barton Court grammar school

  GM

  Kent

  Bordon grammar school

  VC

  Kent

  Chatham boy's grammar school

  County

  Kent

  Chatham girls' grammar school

  GM

  Kent

  Chatham House grammar school for boys

  GM

  Kent

  Claredon House girls' grammar school

  County

  Kent

  Cranbrook school

  GM

  Kent

  Dane Court grammar school

  GM

  Kent

  Dartford grammar school

  GM

  Kent

  Dartford grammar school for girls

  GM

  Kent

  Dover grammar school for boys

  GM

  Kent

  Dover grammar school for girls

  County

  Kent

  Fort Pitt grammar school

  County

  Kent

  Gravesend grammar school for boys

  GM

  Kent

  Gravesend grammar school for girls

  GM

  Kent

  Highsted school

  County

  129

  LEA

  School

  Status

  Kent

  Highworth grammar school for girls

  County

  Kent

  Invicta grammar school for girls

  County

  Kent

  Maidstone grammar school

  VC

  Kent

  Maidstone grammar school forgirls

  VC

  Kent

  Oakwood Park grammar school

  GM

  Kent

  Rainham Mark grammar school

  GM

  Kent

  Simon Langton girls' school

  VC

  Kent

  Simon Langton grammar school for boys

  GM

  Kent

  Sir Joseph Williamson's mathematical school

  VC

  Kent

  The Folkestone school for girls

  GM

  Kent

  The grammar school for girls, Wilmington

  GM

  Kent

  The Harvey grammar school

  County

  Kent

  The Judd school

  VA

  Kent

  The Norton Knatchbull school

  County

  Kent

  The Rochester girls' grammar school

  GM

  Kent

  The Skinners' school

  GM

  Kent

  Tonbridge grammar school for girls

  GM

  Kent

  Tunbridge Wells girls' grammar school

  County

  Kent

  Tunbridge Wells grammar school for boys

  County

  Kent

  Weald of Kent grammar school

  County

  Kent

  Wilmington grammar school for boys

  GM

  Kingston

  The Tiffin girls' school

  County

  Kingston

  Tiffin school

  GM

  Kirldees

  Heckmondwike grammar school

  GM

  Lancashire

  Bacup and Rawtenstall grammar school

  GM

  Lancashire

  Clitheroe Royal grammar school

  GM

  Lancashire

  Lancaster Girls' grammar school

  GM

  Lancashire

  Lancaster Royal grammar school

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Boston grammar school (boys)

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Boston high school for girls

  County

  Lincolnshire

  Bourne grammar school

  County

  Lincolnshire

  Caistor grammar school

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Carre's grammar school

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Kesteven and Grantham girls' school

  County

  Lincolnshire

  Kesteven and Sleaford high school

  County

  Lincolnshire

  King Edward VI school

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Queen Elizabeth's GM grammar school (Gainsborough)

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Queen Elizabeth's GM grammar school (Alford)

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Queen Elizabeth's grammar school (Horncastle)

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Queen Elizabeth's high school

  County

  Lincolnshire

  Skegness grammar school

  GM

  Lincolnshire

  Spalding grammar school

  County

  Lincolnshire

  Spalding high school

  County

  North Yorkshire

  Ermysted's grammar school

  County

  North Yorkshire

  Ripon grammar school

  County

  North Yorkshire

  Skipton girls' high school

  VC

  Redbridge

  Ilford county high school

  County

  Redbridge

  Woodford county high school

  County

  Shropshire

  Adams' grammar school

  GM

  Shropshire

  Newport girls' high school

  County

  Shropshire

  Sir Roger Manwood's school

  GM

  Somerset

  Brymore school

  GM

  Sutton

  Nonsuch high school for girls

  GM

  Sutton

  Sutton grammar school for boys

  GM

  Sutton

  Wallington boys county grammar school

  GM

  Sutton

  Wallington high school for girls

  GM

  Sutton

  Wilson's school

  GM

  Trafford

  Altrincham boys' GM school

  GM

  130

  LEA

  School

  Status

  Trafford

  Altrincham grammar school for girls

  County

  Trafford

  Sale grammar school

  County

  Trafford

  Stretford grammar school

  County

  Trafford

  Urmston grammar school

  County

  Walsall

  Queen Mary's grammar school

  GM

  Walsall

  Queen Mary's high school

  GM

  Warwickshire

  Alcester grammar school

  GM

  Warwickshire

  King Edward VI grammar school

  VA

  Warwickshire

  Lawrence Sheriff school

  VA

  Warwickshire

  Rugby High school for girls

  GM

  Warwickshire

  Stratford grammar school for girls

  County

  Wiltshire

  Bishop Wordsworth's grammar school

  GM

  Wiltshire

  South Wiltshire grammar school for girls

  GM

  Wirral

  Calday Grange grammar school

  GM

  Wirral

  St. Anselm's college

  GM

  Wirral

  Upton Hall convent school

  GM

  Wirral

  West Kirby grammar school for girls

  County

  Wirral

  Wirral county grammar school (girls)

  County

  Wirral

  Wirral grammar school for boys

  GM

  Wolverhampton

  Wolverhampton girls' high school

  GM

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those grant-maintained schools which have received approval since 1989 for a change in their admissions arrangements to allow a level of partial selection which does not constitute a change of character stating, in each case, the nature of the change. [32002]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The table lists those grant-maintained schools that currently select up to 10 per cent. of their pupils on the basis of aptitude or ability in a particular subject or combination of subjects, following approval by the Secretary of State.

  School

  LEA area

  Nature of change

  Date approved

  Abbs Cross school

  Havering

  10 per cent. music

  June 1993

  Beaverwood girls school

  Bromley

  10 per cent. performing arts (music and dance)

  August 1994

  Beverley school

  Kingston upon Thames

  10 per cent. art or music

  October 1994

  Bishop's Stortford school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music, sport or drama

  October 1993

  Canterbury high school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music

  April 1993

  Cardinal Vaughan memorial school

  Kensington and Chelsea

  10 per cent. music

  August 1994

  Chancellors school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music, drama or sport

  December 1993

  Charles Dickens high school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music

  February 1993

  Chatham grammar school for girls

  Kent

  10 per cent. music, sport or drama

  August 1995

  Cliff Park high school

  Norfolk

  10 per cent. music

  October 1994

  Cooper's school

  Bromley

  10 per cent. music, drama, dance or sport

  June 1993

  Crofton school

  Hampshire

  Five places music

  October 1994

  131

  School

  LEA area

  Nature of change

  Date approved

  Dame Alice Owen school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music or sport

  April 1993

  Dane Court grammar school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music, sport, drama or any unusual talent

  March 1994

  Deacons school

  Cambridgeshire

  10 per cent. technology

  August 1994

  Dunraven school

  Lambeth

  10 per cent. music

  October 1993

  Enfield grammar school

  Enfield

  10 per cent. music or sport

  December 1993

  Goffs school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music, drama, sport of languages

  October 1995

  Heathside school

  Surrey

  10 per cent. Music or Sport

  July 1993

  Hendon school

  Barnet

  10 per cent. Music

  November 1995

  Hertfordshire and Essex high school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. Music, Sport or Drama

  March 1994

  Hinchley Wood school

  Surrey

  10 per cent. Music

  July 1995

  Kemnal Manor school

  Bromley

  10 per cent. Technology

  February 1994

  King Edward VI grammar school

  Essex

  Three places for Choristers

  June 1993

  Kings' school

  Cambridgeshire

  10 per cent. Music and Choristers

  October 1993

  La Retraite school

  Lambeth

  10 per cent. Music

  September 1993

  La Sainte Union convent school

  Camden

  10 per cent. Music

  September 1995

  Langley Park school for boys

  Kent

  10 per cent. Music or Sport

  September 1993

  Leventhorpe school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. Music

  October 1995

  Lincoln Christ's hospital school

  Lincolnshire

  10 per cent. Music

  October 1994

  Mill Hill county school

  Barnet

  10 per cent. Music

  October 1993

  Queen's school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. Music, Art or Sport

  March 1993

  Rainham Mark grammar school

  Kent

  10 per cent. Music, Sport, Drama or any unusual talent

  February 1992

  Rainsford high school

  Essex

  10 per cent. Music or Drama

  March 1994

  Robert Naipier school

  Kent

  10 per cent. Music, Sport, Drama or any unusual talent

  February 1992

  St. George's CE school

  Kent

  10 per cent. Music

  July 1995

  Thamesmead school

  Surrey

  10 per cent. Music

  October 1994

  Ursuline convent

  Essex

  10 per cent.

  December 1993

  school Westland high school

  Kent

  Music 10 per cent. Music

  January 1993

  Winston Churchill school

  Surrey

  6 per cent. Music

  October 1995

  Wymondham college

  Norfolk

  10 per cent. Music

  March 1995

  Live Wire Project
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of state for Education and Employment what discussions she has had with British Rail regarding its involvement in the live wire project. [31907]
  132
  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: There have been no discussions with British Rail about its involvement in the live wire project.

  Wakefield Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is to be made available to the Wakefield training and enterprise council for(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97; and what specific funding was allotted to particular services or activities. [32260]

  Mr. Paice
  The funds made available to Wakefield training and enterprise council—TEC—by the Department were: 1994–95, £13,125,523; 1995–96, £11,144,458 (subject to audit); and in 1996–97 funding available is expected to be £9,173,455. TEC budgets can, and often do, change in the year. The funding was allotted to particular services and activities as set out in the following tables:

  Standard

  Coal

  Total

  1994–95 cash year

  Training for young people

  4,356,066

  —

  4,356,066

  Training for unemployed adults1

  3,053,605

  860,151

  3,913,756

  Other

  3,701,417

  1,154,284

  4,855,701

  Total

  11,111,088

  2,014,435

  13,125,523

  1995–96 cash year

  Training for young people

  4,670,326

  —

  4,670,326

  Training for unemployed adults1

  2,288,551

  559,755

  2,848,306

  Other

  2,402,709

  1,223,117

  3,625,826

  Total

  9,361,586

  1,782,872

  11,144,458

  1996–97 cash year

  Training for young people

  5,398,443

  —

  5,398,443

  Training for unemployed adults1

  1,632,858

  39,971

  1,672,829

  Other

  2,026,503

  75,680

  2,102,183

  Total

  9,057,804

  115,651

  9,173,455

  1 The figure quoted is for training for work fees. Additional funding was made available for allowances paid to those in training.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the visit of a Minister from her Department to the area covered by the Wakefield TEC to discuss advice and promises of help to reduce the unemployed in the travel to work areas of Castleford and Pontefract, Wakefield and Dewsbury. [32262]

  Mr. Paice
  I visited the area covered by Wakefield training and enterprise council on the morning of 2 November 1995. Part of the morning included a visit to Pontefract prospect corner, one of Wakefield TEC's advice centres. I met members of staff of prospect corner and Wakefield TEC, toured the site and met some of those who have used the prospect corner facilities. Other sources of advice and help for unemployed people in the area covered by Wakefield TEC include the training for work programme run by the TEC and the range of services provided by the Employment Service, although I was not able to visit these on this occasion.
  133

  Schools (Skills Audit)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she determined that the skills audit being conducted under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Office would be able to consider the performance of schools in providing individuals with basic qualifications for employment. [32158]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: A report on the work of the skills audit will be published later this week. Schools' performance and the skills levels being attained by young people are always under scrutiny.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for education and Employment on how many occasions(a) she and (b) her ministerial colleagues have met the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss the skills audit. [32154]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the Deputy Prime Minister have worked closely on the audit since it was announced in the last competitiveness White Paper.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken to screen beef imports from the Irish Republic against BSE. [22818]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 26 March 1996]: Under European law, imports of beef from third countries and other member states are subject to harmonised EC animal and public health rules designed to protect against a wide range of potential health hazards.

  In addition, the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996, as amended, prohibits the sale for human consumption of all meat derived from bovines which, at the time of slaughter, were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered after the commencement of the order, whether in the United Kingdom or overseas, other than those slaughtered in third countries listed in the schedule to the No. 2 amendment order, where the Government are satisfied we can import beef. The Irish Republic is not included in this schedule.

  As regards bovines less than 30 months of age, there are currently no EC rules in place regarding BSE which apply to beef produced in member states from such animals. We are keeping this the position under review.

  Scottish Beef
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if imported beef is subject to the same level of tests and controls as Scottish produced beef. [24243]

  Mrs. Browning
  Under European law, imports of beef from third countries and other member states are subject to harmonised animal and public health rules designed to protect against a wide range of potential health hazards.

  So far as BSE controls are concerned, the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996, as amended, prohibits the sale for human consumption of all meat derived from
  134
  bovines which, at the time of slaughter, were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered after the commencement of the order, whether in the United Kingdom or overseas, other than those slaughtered in third countries listed in the schedule to the No. 2 amendment order where the Government are satisfied we can import beef. This exemption does not include any countries where there have been cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  The controls applying to Scottish produced beef under the Specified Bovine Material Order 1996 do not however, apply to imported beef from third countries or other member states, although a number of countries with BSE have introduced controls requiring the removal of specified bovine offals. We are keeping the position under review.

  Farm Employees (Compensation)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received in respect of the percentage of the compensation to farmers for culling cattle which will be paid in wages to the employees of farmers. [30753]

  Mr. Baldry
  I have received no such representations.

  Cattle Culling
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the operation of the 30-month cattle slaughter scheme as it effects farmers in Buckinghamshire. [31150]

  Mr. Baldry
  The scheme is running at full throughput at present, given the limited rendering capacity to deal with carcases of animals slaughtered. I am aware that the geographic coverage of abattoirs operating under the scheme is not ideal in every area, including Buckinghamshire. Farmers in Buckinghamshire should use their nearest available approved collection centres to present animals under the scheme.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the cost of the proposed slaughter of the additional cattle proposed for slaughter in the week ended 18 May [31250]

  Mr. Baldry
  A total of 15,932 animals were slaughtered under the over 30 months scheme in the week ended 19 May. The cost of slaughtering them amounts to £1.4 million. It is not possible to calculate the cost of purchase of the animals since we do not yet have details of the weight and type of all the individual animals.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will add Baniells Meats, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Much Meat at Witney, Oxfordshire, to the list of approved abattoirs for the 30-month cattle slaughter scheme; and if he will make a statement. [31151]

  Mr. Baldry
  I have no plans at present to add to the existing list of abattoirs operating under the scheme. Those already operating are taking the maximum throughput possible that can be absorbed by the rendering facilities and cold storage facilities currently available.
  135

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers the EU has cited in imposing a worldwide ban on exports of British beef. [31812]

  Mrs. Browning
  Commission decision 96/239/EEC on emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which imposed a ban on the export of cattle, beef and other bovine material and products, cites article 10(4) of Council directive 90/425/EEC, concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market, and article 9(4) of Council directive 89/6672/EEC, concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market, as the powers under which the decision is made.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 10 June; and if he will make a statement. [32746]

  Mr. Baldry
  I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 10 June.

  The Council had an initial exchange of views about the principles and objectives for the next series of measures designed to bring all member states' fishing fleets into better balance with available fish stocks. I made it clear that the UK could not agree to the possibility of further reductions in the UK fleet until there is satisfactory progress towards sorting out the problem of quota hoppers. I also drew attention to the inconsistencies in the scientific advice underlying the Commission's thinking, for example in their assessment of Irish sea stocks and the lack of any proposed reduction in industrial fishing. I stressed that the approach had to be credible and command the confidence of the industry whose livelihoods are at stake. Significant further technical work will be needed before decisions can be taken. Other member states also had difficulty with the Commission's ideas and supported our view that any measures must be seen to be necessary, fair and workable. Discussion will be resumed at the next meeting of the Council in October.

  The Council agreed unanimously that the Community should at the earliest opportunity sign the United Nations agreement on straddling stocks and highly migratory fish species. It is designed to ensure international co-operation in the long term conservation and sustainable use of these fish stocks. I indicated the UK's strong support for such international measures.

  The Council agreed by qualified majority, with the United Kingdom and Ireland voting against, the allocation between members states of the 1996 quotas for redfish under the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission NEAFC, and North-West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation, NAFO. Despite its lack of track record in the newly regulated NEAFC fishery, the UK was allocated a quota of 44 tonnes.
  136
  The Council unanimously agreed a short term arrangement so that no more than 3,000 tonnes of the 43,000 tone sprat total allowable catch for the Skaggerak and Kattegat could be fished using 16mm meshes for the remainder of 1996. This restriction is designed to limit the by-catch of juvenile herring.

  The Commission reported the latest scientific advice on North sea herring. This indicates that catch reductions of 50 per cent. are necessary during the current year in order to avoid closing the fishery next year. I outlined the UK's view that early action is essential to prevent a stock collapse and to avoid a complete closure. I supported quota cuts for North sea herring this year subject to the juvenile herring by-catch in other fisheries, including industrial fisheries, being reduced in parallel; the same proportionate cut applying to both the northern and southern North sea herring stocks; and the cut in herring quotas being applied equitably to all members states. This approach secured support from a number of other members states and the Commission will be having urgent discussions with Norway before making specific proposals for action to protect the herring stocks.

  The UK expressed its continuing concern about the market for farmed salmon and asked the Commission to continue to monitor the position very carefully over the summer.

  Bats
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has been able to confirm rabies in the bat in East Sussex which died on 3 June; and if he will make a statement. [32745]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Tests carried out by the central veterinary laboratory have now confirmed that a bat which died in East Sussex on 3 June had rabies. The type is European Bat Lyssa Virus type II. Two people who handled and were bitten by the bat have received post-exposure treatment. A third possible contact is being followed up. No confirmed cases have previously been found in bats in Great Britain. MAFF has carried out a survey of the area where the bat was found and believe it to be an isolated individual from across the English channel. As a precaution we are arranging to monitor the local bat population for a period.

  In addition a notice under the Rabies (Control) Order 1974 has been served on a premises restricting movement of other bats there and requiring cleansing and disinfection.

  Collection Centres
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, columns 211–13, if all the listed markets and assembly points now approved as collection centres, as defined in Council directive 64/432, have been observed by his Department operating in accordance with the directive; and if he will list the designated veterinarians appointed to supervise such collection centres and the collection centres for which each is responsible. [31784]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 7 June 1996]: The majority of collection centres referred to in the answer of 22 May have not yet been observed operating in

  137
  accordance with Council directive 64/432/EEC. This is because many of them were approved following the European Commission decision banning exports of bovine animals from the United Kingdom. All of the approved collection centres were inspected by Ministry staff prior to approval to ensure they met the standards for approval.

  It is our policy not to provide the names of the official veterinarians responsible for supervising approved collection centres. The withholding of such information is provided for under category 4, paragraph (g) of the exemptions in the code of practice on access to Government information.

  Fishery Projects
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much Pesca funding is available to fishery projects in England in 1996–97; how much was paid in 1995–96; and if he will list those projects funded and the amount each project received. [32162]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: Under the Pesca community initiative, funds of 18.5 mecu— £15.5 million—have been allocated to fishing dependent areas in England for the period 1995–99. Pesca aid is available under the financial instrument for fisheries guidance, for specific fisheries measures to assist the fisheries industry to restructure. Aid is also available under the European regional development fund for measures to develop businesses and under the European social fund for employment training. An indicative breakdown of the funds for the period 1995–99 is shown in the table. The table also shows the national back-up funding which will be required.

  mecu/£ million1

  Year

  FIFG

  ERDF

  ESF

  National

  Total

  1995

  0.500

  1.500

  0.500

  2.196

  4.696

  (0.407)

  (1.221)

  (0.407)

  (1.787)

  (3.822)

  1996

  0.757

  2.270

  0.757

  3.322

  7.106

  (0.616)

  (1.848)

  (0.616)

  (2.704)

  (5.784)

  1997

  0.856

  2.569

  0.856

  3.759

  8.040

  (0.697)

  (2.091)

  (0.697)

  (3.060)

  (6.545)

  1998

  0.739

  2.217

  0.739

  3.244

  6.939

  (0.601)

  (1.804)

  (0.601)

  (2.640)

  (5,646)

  1999

  0.839

  2.518

  0.839

  3.685

  7.881

  (0.683)

  (2.049)

  (0.683)

  (2.999)

  (6.414)

  Total

  3.691

  11.074

  3.691

  16.206

  34.662

  (3.004)

  (9.013)

  (3.004)

  (13.190)

  (28.211)

  1 The exchange rate used is £1 = ecu 1.228626.

  In addition to this, a further 5.88 mecu— £4.79 million—has been awarded to the United Kingdom from the European Commission's community initiative reserve, but details of its allocation are awaited from the Commission.

  Pesca was launched in England on 14 February and the scheme is now open to applications. Local working groups, including regional partners and local fisheries organisations, have been set up to determine local
  138
  strategies and priorities for the use of funds. No grants have yet been awarded but decisions on the first round of applications are expected soon.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 1 May,Official Report, columns 564–65, what were the EU destinations of the cattle exported for (a) breeding or further fattening and (b) slaughter from Northern Ireland in 1995. [31205]

  Mr. Ancram
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Destination

  Breeding/further fattening

  Slaughter

  Republic of Ireland

  192

  1,150

  Belgium

  539

  —

  France

  1,359

  —

  Italy

  1,611

  —

  Netherlands

  1,644

  —

  Spain

  2,535

  —

  Total

  7,880

  1,150

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Exports Ban
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what legislative provision the EU has power to ban United Kingdom exports to third countries; and when that provision came into force. [31762]

  Mr. David Davis
  Export of goods from the UK to third countries is principally governed by the EC's common commercial policy. That policy is based on article 113 of the EC treaty, and is given effect in a range of measures, including the common rules for exports. However, certain export prohibitions might, depending on the goods in question or the aim of the prohibition, be based on other articles of the treaty, or on powers in subordinate legislation adopted under those articles. Exercise of these powers is subject to the principle of proportionality.

  Visitor Visas
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the number of visitor applications made, (b) the number of visas granted and (c) the number of illegal overstays from the visas issued in respect of each British embassy in the last available year. [32210]

  Mr. Hanley
  In view of the amount of detail needed to answer this question, I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visitor visas have been rejected by the entry clearance
  139
  officers in Pakistan in the last year; and how many were rejected in the year before the removal of the right of appeal. [32182]

  Mr. Hanley
  Entry clearance officers in Pakistan refused 12,218 visit visa applications in 1995. In 1992, the year prior to the removal of appeals against visit visa refusals, the number was 11,012.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the applications for visitor visas rejected by the high commission in Pakistan in the past year were(a) fathers and (b) mothers of people resident in the United Kingdom. [32184]

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is not readily available at post and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people intending to apply for visitor visas in the past year were informed by the high commission in Pakistan that they should not make a formal application because they would have no chance of success. [32191]

  Mr. Hanley
  An entry clearance officer may advise an applicant to withdraw his/her visa application only if it is unlikely to succeed. In 1995, 13,717 applicants were so advised at the high commission in Islamabad.

  Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft text of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty agreed by the United Nations conference on disarmament on 28 May. [32049]

  Mr. David Davis
  A copy of the draft comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty, tabled by the chairman of the negotiations on 28 May, has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's timetable for the elimination of the use of land mines worldwide. [30908]

  Mr. David Davis
  We will press for the earliest possible international agreement on a total world-wide ban on anti-personnel land mines.

  EU Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those EU decisions requiring unanimity which are on the agenda of EU Council meetings over the next three months. [31959]

  Mr. David Davis
  The following decisions requiring unanimity are expected to appear on the Council agenda between now and the end of June. There is no reliable information on the agenda after that date.

  Date

  Forum for agreement

  Measures

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Council conclusions in advance of 12 EU/US summit on implementation of action plan

  140

  Date

  Forum for agreement

  Measures

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  EU/Canadian action plan

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Financial services protocol to the GATS

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Maritime transport

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Conclusions of market access strategy

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  TACIS regulation

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  MEDA regulation

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Signature of EU/Korea trade and co-operations agreement and political declaration

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Financial regulation on aid for former Yugoslavia

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  EU/Turkey financial regulation

  Date

  Forum for agreement

  Measures

  Brief description

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  EU/Slovenia association agreement

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Common position for EU/Turkey association council

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Signature of EU/Chile agreement

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Possible council conclusions on commission communication on Trade and Environment

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Declaration of principles on Middle East

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Common position for EU/Syria co-operation council 10 June

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Common position for 10 EEA council

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Signature of PCA with Uzbekistan

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Adaptation protocols for PCAs with Russia, Ukraine and Moldavia

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Procedure for appointing EU envoys in CFSP

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Common position/joint action on biological and chemical weapons

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Political decision on resumption of aid to Niger

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Common position for ACP/EU ministerial 26–28 June

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Report on Latin American and Caribbean drugs

  141

  Date

  Forum for agreement

  Measures

  Brief description

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Decision in principle on observatory on racism and xenophobia

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Political decision to holdEurope-Africa summit

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Joint action: stability and good neighbourliness in former Yugoslavia

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Council conclusions on political dialogue arrangements

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  Declaration for Florence summit on MEPP

  10 June 1996

  General affairs council

  EU relations with the Council of Europe

  10 June 1996

  Fisheries council

  UN agreement on straddling stocks and highly migratory species

  10 June 1996

  Fisheries council

  Draft European councilconclusions on European fisheries research

  11 June 1996

  Culture council

  Council decision on ARIANNE programme

  11 June 1996

  Culture council

  Council decision on RAPHAEL programme

  11 June 1996

  Culture council

  Resolution on access to culture

  11 June 1996

  Culture council

  Resolution on electronic publishing and libraries

  17 June 1996

  Transport council

  None

  19 June 1996

  Research council

  Decision adopting the 4th R and D framework programme

  19 June 1996

  Research council

  Supplementary researchprogramme on high flux reactor

  19 June 1996

  Energy council

  None

  24 June 1996

  Agriculture council

  None

  25 June 1996

  Environment council

  Conclusion on carbon dioxide from cars

  25 June 1996

  Environment council

  Conclusions on biodiversity (biosecurity protocol)

  25 June 1996

  Environment council

  Conclusions on climate change

  25 June 1996

  Environment council

  Procedural conclusions on water

  27 June 1996

  Telecoms council

  Resolution on universal service

  27 June 1996

  Telecoms council

  Programme for multi-lingual information society

  142

  Date

  Forum for agreement

  Measures

  Brief description

  Item not tied to particular forum

  Ratification of energy charter treaty

  Item not tied to particular forum

  Revised ECJ rules of procedure

  Item not tied to particular forum

  2nd protocol of W10 services agreement

  Item not tied to particular forum

  Duty derogation for unleaded petrol in Ireland (from ECOFIN)

  Item not tied to particular forum

  VAT derogation for Neisse Bridge (from ECOFIN)

  Item not tied to particular forum

  Final report on 1996 Europol budget (from JHA council)

  Item not tied to particular forum

  Accession of new member states to Brussels and Rome conventions (from JHA council)

  Item not tied to particular forum

  Joint action on racism and xenophobia (from JHA council)

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion, expressed as a percentage and in numbers of EU Council measures requiring unanimity have been opposed by the Government because of their non-co-operation strategy when they would otherwise have supported them; and if he will list these measures. [32290]

  Mr Davis
  The decisions blocked between the Prime Minister's statement on 21 May and 7 June are set out in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) today. The majority of those decisions have been blocked as a consequence of the non-co-operation policy, and the UK stands ready to agree them as soon as a framework is in place for lifting the beef export ban.

  Burma
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Burma about forced labour. [32355]

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Kingdom has had no ministerial contact with the ruling military regime in Burma, the State Law and Order Restoration Council.

  Officials have consistently expressed our concern about the use of forced labour in Burma, both in international forums and directly to the SLORC. We shall continue to do so.

  Child Abduction
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries that have ratified(a) The Hague convention

  143
  on the civil aspects of international child abduction and (b) the European convention on recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning custody of children. [32294]

  Mr. Hanley
  The following countries have ratified The Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction:

  Argentina

  Australia

  Austria

  Bahamas

  Belize

  Bosnia-Hercegovina

  Burkina Faso

  Canada

  Chile

  Colombia

  Croatia

  Cyprus

  Denmark

  Ecuador

  Finland

  France

  Germany

  Greece

  Honduras

  Hungary

  Ireland

  Israel

  Italy

  Luxembourg

  Macedonia

  Mauritius

  Mexico

  Monaco

  Netherlands

  New Zealand

  Norway

  Panama

  Poland

  Portugal

  Romania

  St. Kitts and Nevis

  Slovenia

  Spain

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  United Kingdom

  USA

  Yugoslavia

  Zimbabwe

  (b) The following countries have ratified the European convention on recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning custody of children and on restoration of custody of children:

  Austria

  Belgium

  Cyprus

  144

  Denmark

  Finland

  France

  Germany

  Greece

  Ireland

  Italy

  Luxembourg

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Poland

  Portugal

  Spain

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  United Kingdom

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those members of the United Nations that have not ratified The Hague convention of the civil aspects of international child abduction. [32295]

  Mr. Hanley
  The following members of the United Nations have not ratified The Hague conventions on the civil aspects of international child abduction:

  Afghanistan

  Albania

  Algeria

  Andorra

  Angola

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Armenia

  Azerbaijan

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Barbados

  Belarus

  Belgium

  Benin

  Bhutan

  Bolivia

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Brunei Darussalam

  Bulgaria

  Burundi

  Cambodia

  Cameroon

  Cape Verde

  Central African Republic

  Chad

  China

  Comoros

  Congo

  Costa Rica

  Cote d'Ivoire

  Cuba

  Czech Republic

  Democratic People's Republic of Korea

  145

  Djibouti

  Dominica

  Dominican Republic

  Egypt

  El Salvador

  Equatorial Guinea

  Eritrea

  Estonia

  Ethiopia

  Federated States of Micronesia

  Fiji

  Gabon

  Gambia

  Georgia

  Ghana

  Grenada

  Guatemala

  Guinea

  Guinea-Bissau

  Guyana

  Haiti

  Iceland

  India

  Indonesia

  Iran (Islamic Republic of)

  Iraq

  Jamaica

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kazakstan

  Kenya

  Kuwait

  Kyrgystan

  Lao People's Democratic Republic

  Latvia

  Lebanon

  Lesotho

  Liberia

  Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

  Liechtenstein

  Lithuania

  Madagascar

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Maldives

  Mali

  Malta

  Marshall Islands

  Mauritania

  Mongola

  Morocco

  Mozambique

  Myanmar

  Namibia

  Nepal

  Nicaragua

  Niger

  Nigeria

  146

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Palu

  Papua New Guinea

  Paraquay

  Peru

  Philippines

  Qatar

  Republic of Korea

  Republic of Moldova

  Russian Federation

  Rwanda

  Saint Lucia

  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  Samoa

  San Marino

  Sao Tome and Principe

  Saudi Arabia

  Senegal

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  Slovak Republic

  Solomon Islands

  Somalia

  South Africa

  Sri Lanka

  Sudan

  Suriname

  Swaziland

  Syrian Arab Republic

  Tajikstan

  Thailand

  The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

  Togo

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  Turkmenistan

  Uganda

  United Arab Emirates

  United Republic of Tanzania

  Uruguay

  Uzbekistan

  Vanuatu

  Venezeula

  Vietnam

  Yemen

  Zaire

  Zambia.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that have not ratified The Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction. [32296]
  147
  Mr. Hanley
  The following members of the OECD have not ratified The Hague convention on the civil aspects of child abduction:

  Belgium

  Czech Republic

  Iceland

  Japan

  Turkey.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those members of the Commonwealth that have not ratified The Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction. [32297]

  Mr. Hanley
  The following Commonwealth countries have not ratified The Hague Convention on the civil aspects of child abduction:

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Barbados

  Belize

  Grenada

  Jamaica

  Papua New Guinea

  Saint Lucia

  Saint Vincent and the Granadines

  Solomon Islands

  Tuvalu (Special member for CHOGM purposes)

  Brunei

  Lesotho

  Malaysia

  Swaziland

  Tonga

  Bangladesh

  148

  Botswana

  Cameroon

  India

  Kenya

  Kiribati

  Malawi

  Maldives

  Malta

  Mozambique

  Namibia

  Nigeria

  Pakistan

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  South Africa

  Sri Lanka

  Tanzania

  Trinidad

  Uganda

  Vanuatu

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those members of the European Union that have not ratified both The Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction and the European convention on recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning the custody of children. [32298]

  Mr. Hanley
  Belgium is the only member of the European Union which has not ratified both The Hague convention on the civil aspects of child abduction and the European convention on recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning the custody of children.

  Hospitals: Building and Running Costs
  Hospitals: Building and Running Costs
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: Investigation
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: Investigation
  BSE: Confirmed Cases
  BSE: Confirmed Cases
  BSE and Warble Fly Treatment: Investigation
  BSE and Warble Fly Treatment: Investigation
  Agriculture Council, 3rd-4th June
  Agriculture Council, 3rd-4th June
  Smarden Incident: Groundwater Testing
  Smarden Incident: Groundwater Testing
  Europe: Human Rights
  Europe: Human Rights
  EC Human Rights Commission Report: Greece v UK
  EC Human Rights Commission Report: Greece v UK
  Turkey: Trial of 98 Intellectuals
  Turkey: Trial of 98 Intellectuals
  Baring Sea: Radioactive Waste
  Baring Sea: Radioactive Waste
  Chechnya: Detainees
  Chechnya: Detainees
  Council of Europe: Local Government Charter
  Council of Europe: Local Government Charter
  Water Reservoirs: Storage Capacity
  Water Reservoirs: Storage Capacity
  Heathrow Airport: Tunnels
  Heathrow Airport: Tunnels
  Heathrow Express Project
  Heathrow Express Project
  Class 92 Locomotives: Track Work Funding
  Class 92 Locomotives: Track Work Funding
  Freight Facilities Grants: NAO Review
  Freight Facilities Grants: NAO Review