Written Answers of 24 June 1996

TREASURY

  Marriage Certificates
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure and whose is the responsibility for deciding the terms and the content of the marriage certificate. [33916]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  A marriage certificate is a copy of an entry in a marriage register. The form and content of a marriage entry is prescribed by the Registration of Marriages Regulations 1986. These were made by the Registrar General with the approval of the responsible Minister. With the creation on 1 April of the Office for National Statistics, Treasury Ministers approve all regulations made under the Marriage Acts.

  Dewsbury Tax Office
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual cost of keeping the Dewsbury tax office open. [33628]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 20 June 1996]: The current annual running costs of Dewsbury tax office are £1,412,092.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts, Kidsgrove
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the need to retain magistrates courts in Kidsgrove; what implications there are for north Staffordshire residents

  Accident statistics

  Severity of injury

  Year

  DfEE HO and ES including outstations

  Minor

  Major

  Fatal

  Total

  IT related

  1991–92

  DfEE HO

  1126

  4

  Nil

  130

  1

  1991

  ES

  Not available

  n/a

  1992–93

  DfEE HO

  1184

  1

  Nil

  185

  7

  1992

  ES

  2,102

  23

  Nil

  2,125

  n/a

  1993–94

  DfEE HO

  1232

  2

  Nil

  234

  8

  1993

  ES

  2,021

  13

  Nil

  2,034

  n/a

  1994–95

  DfEE HO

  1223

  0

  Nil

  223

  6

  1994

  ES

  1,486

  5

  Nil

  1,491

  n/a

  1995–96

  DfEE HO

  1179

  0

  Nil

  179

  6

  1995

  ES

  1,624

  8

  Nil

  1,632

  n/a

  Total

  18,177

  64

  Nil

  8,241

  28

  1Includes IT related accidents.

  2
  arising from reorganisation of Kidsgrove and other magistrates courts; what arrangements have been made for consultation; and if he will make a statement. [33251]

  Mr. Streeter
  Magistrates courts are provided by the local paying authority for the use of the magistrates courts committee. It is for the MCC to determine the need to retain a courthouse. If an MCC to decides to close a courthouse the paying authority may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against the proposed closure. That is the only time my Department is informed of, or involved in, a magistrates courts closure.

  No decision has been made by the Staffordshire MCC to close or merge any magistrates courts at this time.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost in each of the past five years of rectifying working conditions that were the responsibility of her Department and its agencies, to bring them up to acceptable health and safety standards, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33463]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Remedial work is carried out continually as part of an on-going maintenance programme. It is not possible to extract the cost of health and safety-related work from general maintenance and refurbishment costs.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in her Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities. [33461]

  Mr. Squire
  The following table details DfEE headquarters, outstations and the Employment Service accident report statistics for the last five years. Separate information technology-related accident statistics are not available for the Employment Service.
  3
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost in each of the past five years of(a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of her Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33462]

  Mr. Squire
  Information is not available in the form requested. Compensation payments to former Employment Department staff, including Employment Service staff and to members of the public by the former Employment Department were as follows:

  1991–92: £15,815

  1992–93: £11,464

  1993–94: £51,385

  1994–95: £2,824

  1995–96: 14,053

  None of the payments stemmed from incidents involving information technology. Five of the cases involved compensation payments of over £5,000. Information relating to the former Department for Education was not recorded in a form which would enable compensation payments for personal injury to be identified.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on who many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in her Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved. [33460]

  Mr. Squire
  Health and safety problems are addressed through our internal monitoring procedures as they arise, but no central records of improvements or upgrades are maintained. The procedures involve health and safety inspections, audits and risk assessments.

  There was one incident during the past five years; a health and safety inspector visited the site to investigate and concluded that no blame should be attributed to the Department.

  School Funding
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is provided by her Department to assist(a) local education authority-maintained and (b) grant-maintained schools which have been recently inspected by the Office for Standards in Education; and, in each case, what requirements govern how this may be spent. [33743]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer to the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 10 June 1996,Official Report, column 51.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy to increase the grants available to students undertaking medical and dental degrees at universities in the United Kingdom to take account of the greater length of their degree courses. [34001]
  4
  Mr. Forth
  Students whose academic year is longer than usual are already eligible for an extra week's attendance allowance as part of their means-tested mandatory award.

  The awards regulations for 1996–97 academic year are made and there are no plans to change the grant rates.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average cost of the administration of each student grant. [34254]

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people are at present pursuing traditional apprenticeships. [33912]

  Mr. Paice
  In winter 1995–96 150,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in Great Britain were doing a recognised trade apprenticeship.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the annual cost of the new apprenticeship programme since its inception. [33865]

  Mr. Paice
  Modern apprenticeships were launched on a pilot basis in England in 1994–95. The Department's spend for that year was £0.897 million. Provisional outturn for 1995–96, the first year of the national initiative, is £14.777 million.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people are currently pursuing the new apprenticeships. [33911]

  Mr. Paice
  As at March 1996, there were 26,100 people on modern apprenticeships in Great Britain.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many traditional apprenticeships were completed in each year since 1985. [33913]

  Mr. Paice
  The information is not available. Data on the number of people doing a recognised trade apprenticeship each year are published in table F4 of "Training Statistics 1995".

  Forum on Values
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the names and organisations of the members of the Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority's national forum on values. [33262]

  Mr. Paice
  The members of the forum are listed as follows, together with the organisation or interest that they represent:

  Organisation/interest

  Joyce Mackley

  Christian Education Movement

  Rosemary Peacocke

  Culham Institute

  Jonathan Gorsky

  Council of Christians and Jews

  Anne Holt

  Christian Action Research and Education

  Janet Ward

  National Family Mediation

  Gregory Cameron

  The Bloxham Project

  Jan Laithwaite

  RELATE

  Andrew Simpson

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  5

  Organisation/interest

  Dilip Kadodwala

  National Association of SACREs

  Anthony Thomas

  Council for Environmental Education

  David Bothwell

  British Humanist Association

  Gill Lenderyou

  Sex Education Forum

  Liz Cowley

  National Children's Bureau

  Snehlata Shah

  Council for Education in World Citizenship

  Vivienne Cato

  REEP

  Gwen Palmer

  Religious Education Council

  Bob Tutton

  British Humanist Association

  David Hay

  Nottingham University

  John Hull

  Birmingham University

  Lynne Scholefield

  St. Mary's Strawberry Hill

  Mark Halstead

  Plymouth University

  Madeleine Arnot

  Cambridge University

  Jack Hogbin

  Manchester Metropolitan University

  Mark Chater

  Bishop Grosseteste College

  Brenda Harding

  Lancaster University

  Mike Bottery

  Hull University

  James Arthur

  Canterbury Christ Church College

  Marion Carter

  SS Mark and John College Plymouth

  Jack Priestly

  Westhill College

  Robert Fisher

  Brunei University

  Rosemary Laidlaw

  Scarborough University

  Marianne Talbot

  Oxford University

  Clive Ericker

  Chichester Institute of Higher Education

  Paul Wotton

  Metropolitan Police

  Norman Lloyd

  Crime Concern

  Anne Fuller

  Magistrates Association

  Kamaljit Rana

  Magistrates Association

  Don Rowe

  Citizenship Foundation

  Alan Dyer

  Former Chief Constable

  Rachel Hodgkin

  Gulbenkian Commission on Children and Violence

  Gerison Landsdowne

  Childrens' Rights Office

  Ralph Jackman

  Lawyer

  Jessica Newton

  Lawyer

  Steve Ball

  BBC Education

  Margaret Holness

  Church Times

  Geoff Marshall Taylor

  BBC Schools

  Annabel Miller

  The Tablet

  Robin Moss

  ITV Education

  John O'Leary

  The Times

  Nicholas Pyke

  Times Educational Supplement

  Ahmed Versi

  Muslim News

  Hadrian Southorn

  National Association of Governors and Managers

  John Lewis

  National Association of Governors and Managers

  Karin Pappenheim

  National Council for One Parent Families

  Belinda Yaxley

  National Confederation of Parent/Teacher Associations

  Francis Gee

  Campaign for State Education

  Mary Blake

  Campaign for State Education

  Parvez Butt

  National Governors Council

  Jack Morrish

  National Governors Council

  Valerie Bennet

  Parent

  Kathryn Kukiewiez

  Parent

  Mike Tyler

  Parent

  Carol Dadswell

  Parent

  Gwen Sheppard

  Parent

  Giuliana Orme

  London Marriage Guidance Council

  Geoffrey Duncan

  Church of England

  Musharaf Hussain

  Islam

  Emmanuel Levy

  Judaism

  Vincent Nichols

  Catholic

  Abdul Aziz

  Islam

  Alan Brown

  Church of England

  Joy Leitch

  Free Church Federal Council

  John Shortt

  Association of Christian Teachers

  Gillian Crowe

  Russian Orthodox

  Deepak Naik

  Hindu

  Margaret Smart

  Catholic

  Monica Taylor

  National Foundation for Educational Research

  Leslie Francis

  Trinity College Carmarthen

  Peter Lang

  Warwick University

  Andrew Marfleet

  Cambridge Institute of Education

  6

  Organisation/interest

  Graham Haydon

  London Institute of Education

  David Rowse

  University of Central England

  Jo Cairns

  London Institute of Education

  Brian Crissel

  Researcher

  Glenys Woods

  Open University

  Rosalie Osmond

  Researcher

  Jasper Ungoed-Thomas

  Researcher

  David Wood

  Independent Schools Association Incorporated

  Ros Bailey

  Association of Teachers and Lecturers

  Eber Kington

  Association of Teachers and Lecturers

  Harry Matthews

  Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools

  Peter Jackson

  Headmasters Conference

  Pat Brown

  National Union of Teachers

  Avril Buckley

  National Union of Teachers

  Carole Whitty

  National Association of Head Teachers

  Maggie Angele

  National Association of Head Teachers

  Janet Martin

  Professional Association of Teachers

  Amanda Haenber

  National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers

  Clare Taylor

  National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers

  Kate Manning

  Girls' School Association

  Jeremy Taylor

  Professional Council for Religious Education

  Barbara Turner

  Teacher

  Michael Marland

  Head Teacher

  Ian Pearce

  Business in the Community

  Keith Ajegbo

  Business in the Community

  Ann Bailey

  Engineering Employers Federation

  Sarah Permann

  Trades Union Congress

  Lorraine Spector

  Jewish Association for Business Ethics

  Paul Rosenstein

  Jewish Association for Business Ethics

  Kenneth Adams

  Camino Foundation

  Stanley Kiaer

  Institute of Business Ethics

  Hilary Metcalf

  Policy Studies Institute

  Desmond Boyle

  Institute of Directors

  Adrain Platt

  The Sedgwick Group

  Max Taylor

  Consultant

  David Matthews

  Consultant

  Ron Davies

  National Youth Agency

  Eli Anderson

  National Youth Agency

  Clare Sanders

  National Youth Agency

  Jane Boyce

  National Youth Agency

  Sarah Venables

  Top Yard Afro Caribbean Youth Association

  Fiona Marsden

  The Kite Club

  Jane Lewis

  Guides Association

  Chris Curtis

  Luton Churches Education Trust

  Nick Pollard

  Solent Christian Trust

  John Buckeridge

  Youth Work Magazine

  Phil Wall

  Salvation Army

  Bob Mayo

  Lambeth Palace Youth Work

  Graham Mungeam

  Oasis Trust

  There are also observers from the Department for Education and Employment, the Office for Standards in Education and the Teacher Training Agency.

  Employment Service
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if it is her policy that the Employment Service should not become a member of the Opportunity 2000 initiative. [34013]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  7
  Letter from Mike Fogden to Ms Ann Coffey, dated 24 June 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the Employment Service's membership of Opportunity 2000 initiative. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  The Department for Education and Employment's membership of Opportunity 2000 includes the Employment Service.

  Lifetime Learning
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has for encouraging lifetime learning; and if she will make a statement. [34567]

  Mr. Paice
  All the respondents to the consultation confirmed the importance of lifetime learning to the economic success and competitiveness of business and individuals. They recognised that a great deal of progress has been made, but that there is still more to be done by all those involved. My right hon. Friend is publishing today a policy framework for the development of lifetime learning and placing a copy in the Library. The key elements of the framework are:

  employers investing in the training and development of employees;

  gaining the commitment of individuals to learning;

  improving access to learning;

  giving people of all ages the opportunity to acquire the basic skills on which to build further learning;

  developing effective partnerships nationally and locally to give practical effect to shared responsibility and to make the best use of resources.

  I believe that the document sets out a framework of policy within which action by Government, in conjunction with other parties, will help towards achieving the long-term goal of a culture of lifetime learning for all.

  Judicial Review
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many decisions by her Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Session since 1991–92; and if she will list in how many cases(a) the Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [33567]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: The following cases are those in which the decisions by the Department for Education and Employment, and former Departments in the exercise of the functions of the current Deaprtment for Education and Employment, were challenged by way of judicial review since April 1992.
  8

  (a) The decision of the relevant Department was upheld by the Court in the following 11 cases:

  1. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte London Borough of Lewisham

  4 December 1992

  2. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte London Borough of Southwark

  24 January 1993

  3. R v. Secretary of State for Education and the Governing Body of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Ex parte Cumbria County Council

  2 July 1993

  4. R v. Northampton Education Department and Secretary of State for Education Ex parte Kingsbury

  1st instance (decision upheld) 14 July 1993

  Court of Appeal (appeal dismissed) 23 July 1993

  5. R v. Secretary of State for Eduation Ex parte G—6 July 1994.

  6. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte C—8 February 1995

  7. R v. Secretary of State for Employment and another Ex parte Wong

  29 June 1995

  8. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte Morris and others—21 December 1995.

  9. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte Norfolk—1996

  10. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte N—1996

  11. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte Connon and Davis

  26 April 1996

  (b) The court found for the applicant in the following 9 cases, two of which were reversed on appeal:

  1. Secretary of State for Education and Science Ex parte Yusuf Islam

  15 May 1992

  2. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte Prior 21 December 1993

  3. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte S—21 December 1993 but overturned in Court of Appeal 15 July 1994

  4. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte C—quashed by consent 1994

  5. R v. Secretary of State for Employment Ex parte EOC House of Lords 3 March 1994

  6. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte W—27 May 1994

  7. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte Skitt— 12 April 1995

  8. R v. Secretary of State for Employment Ex parte Seymour-Smith and another

  Decision upheld at 1st instance but overturned in Court of Appeal 20 May 1994

  9. R v. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte E—21 June 1995

  (c) The Deaprtment is aware of one case, R v Secretary of State for Education Ex parte C, in which it submitted to judgment.

  (d) The Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision in two of the cases listed:

  1. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte Seymour-Smith and Another

  2. Secretary of State for Education Ex parte S.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are her plans for the development of policy on the distribution of lottery proceeds. [34571]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am writing today to the chairmen of the United Kingdom and English lottery distributing bodies to consult them on a change to the policy directions issued to the Arts Council of England under section 26(1) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The proposed stabilisation programme would allow an amount of revenue funding to help arts organisations gain long-term financial viability in a way which would not substitute for existing grant in aid.

  The stabilisation programme will aim to help arts organisations consider and in some cases change their objectives and the markets within which they operate; inject new creative, technical and managerial skills into the organisation to help them achieve their objectives; provide balance sheet stability; and deliver better value for money.

  This is likely to be a technically complex programme. The Arts Council of England therefore proposes first to run a pilot to determine the best way in which a full stabilisation programme should work. The pilot will involve a sufficient number and range of arts organisations to enable the principle of the programme to be tested. The pilot will seek to identify whether the stabilisation programme could apply to the whole of arts provision across a single local authority area, and whether it could apply to a whole sector within the arts in addition to individual organisations. The pilot will also seek to identify the most appropriate administrative structure for managing the full stabilisation programme.

  Financial instability is not unique to arts organisations. Heritage and sports organisations might also benefit from some form of mechanism to address financial and managerial problems. The Government will consider whether to introduce changes for the English Sports Council, once established, and the National Heritage Memorial Fund if such changes would meet the particular needs of those sectors. My colleagues will be consulting the chairmen of the Arts and Sports Councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about the proposed direction and will consider in due course whether changes to the policy directions for those bodies should also be made.

  The consultation which I have launched will last until 25 July. I will then consider the responses to the consultation process, with a view to announcing any change to the directions during August.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many grants and how much money have been awarded by the National Lottery Charities Board to organisations(a) the title of which and (b) one of the main objectives of which makes reference to sexual orientation; and if she will list those organisations and the amount of grant awarded to each. [33047]

  Mr. Sproat
  The National Lottery Charities Board is responsible for decisions on grants awarded and information about them. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the board to write to my hon. Friend, placing copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Coal Authority (Assets)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which assets remain in public ownership at the Coal Authority; and what is their value. [33713]

  Mr. Page
  The assets of the Coal Authority are described in its annual report and accounts 1994–95, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Notes 11 and 12 to the accounts give a breakdown of the value of the authority's investment properties and other tangible fixed assets. The authority's annual report and accounts 1995–96 will be published in July.

  Uranium
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions have been held, or are planned to be held, with German officials, regarding the supply of highly enriched uranium from Britain to Germany. [33778]

  Mr. Page
  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority staff and DTI officials have participated in a number of discussions with German officials about the possible supply of HEU from existing UKAEA resources under EURATOM auspices. These discussions are continuing.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what requirements are placed on members of industrial tribunal panels to declare(a) religious and political affiliations, (b) membership of masonic or similar orders and (c) membership of other organisations which could appear to influence their decisions. [33850]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. However, under the terms of their instrument of appointment lay members must not sit to hear a case if there is any reasons known to them that might give rise to doubt as to their impartiality, or to the appearance of their impartiality, and must resign if they are adopted as prospective candidates for election to the United Kingdom or European Parliaments.

  Offshore Oil Installations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what continuing responsibility owners of offshore oil installations have for their maintenance and safety after closure; and over what period of time. [33914]

  Mr. Eggar
  If an abandonment programme under the Petroleum Act 1987 proposes that an offshore oil installation be left in position or not wholly removed, it must include provision as to any continuing maintenance that may be necessary.

  Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 there may also be a continuing responsibility in relation to the health and safety of personnel who may have occasion to carry out work at the site.

  Film Distribution
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he expects to reach a decision on the Office of Fair Trading recommendations on the distribution of films within the United Kingdom; [34109]
  11
  (2) what representations he has received (a)from the Cinema Exhibitors Association, (b)from hon. Members and (c)from the public, regarding minimum booking time as a condition of supply by distributors to cinema exhibition, with particular reference to smaller-scale cinema operations; and if he will make a statement. [34110]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department has received several representations from the Cinema Exhibitors Association regarding minimum exhibition periods. My Department is. currently considering the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading on the distribution of films within the United Kingdom. A decision will be announced in due course.

  Science and Research Expenditure
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what his estimate is of the total amounts spent on science and research(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the Yorkshire region; and if he will make a statement. [32605]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The total gross expenditure on research and development in the UK in 1994—the latest year available—was £14,613 million, of which £552 million was spent in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. The comparable figures for 1993 were £13,829 million and £418 million respectively.

  Head Office Transfers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the impact on British competitiveness of British companies transferring their head offices overseas. [32623]

  Mr. Nelson
  None.

  Civil Space Programme
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about progress in the review of Government policy on civil space. [34426]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I will be hosting the second space policy forum on 25 June at Queen Mary and Westfield College London. At the forum, the UK space community will consider a draft forward plan on space, which I have prepared, and copies of which I have today placed in the Library of the House.

  I am also pleased to announce that additional UK Government funding is being provided for three European Space Agency programmes, namely £3.6 million for satellite navigation and £1.5 million for applications, both of these within the advanced research in telecommunications systems programme, and £2 million for the general support technology programme.

  Traders (Serbia)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates(a) Ministers and (b) representatives of his Department met representatives of Metta Trading Ltd. to discuss matters relating to imports and exports. [32317]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: There has not been any such meeting between Ministers of my Department and representatives of Metalchem
  12
  International Ltd. On 12 and 19 March 1993 and on 10 August 1993, as part of a programme of routine company visits, officials of my Department discussed the consequences of UK sanctions legislation with personnel of the company and its subsidiaries.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates prior to July 1993(a) Ministers and (b) departmental officials (i) corresponded with and (ii) discussed with Mr. Jovan Zebic or his representatives' compliance with United Kingdom legislation in respect of membership of the boards of Serbian-related companies or companies trading with Serbia. [32314]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: There has not been any such correspondence between Ministers or officials of my Department and Mr. Jovan Zebic or his representatives, nor have any such discussions taken place. Between 29 April and 29 July 1993, officials of my Department corresponded with representatives of Tsvetmetexport, a Russian company, which at that time owned 49 per cent. of the shares of Metta Trading Ltd., of which Mr. Zebic was a director until his resignation on 29 July 1993.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date Ministers were first informed that Messrs Metalchem International and Metta Trading Ltd. were(a) owned by, (b) controlled by and (c) acting on behalf of Serbian interests. [32315]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: A list of companies operating in the UK that constituted "persons connected with Serbia or Montenegro", as defined in the Serbia and Montenegro (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1992, formed the annexe to a submission to Ministers, dated 8 January 1993. Metalchem International Ltd. and Metta Trading Ltd. were among the 36 companies listed.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date his Department was first notified that(a) Metta Trading Ltd. and (b) companies acting as its agents or representatives had breached trade sanctions legislation. [32318]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: My Department has not been notified of any alleged breach of sanctions by Metta Trading Ltd. or companies acting as their agents or representatives.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the compliance of Messrs P. J. Forbes with regulations governing restrictions on trade with Serbian-related interests. [32313]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: None. The investigation and prosecution of alleged breaches of the sanctions on trade with Serbia and Montenegro is a matter for HM Customs and Excise, to whom any relevant information should be provided.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what dates(a) Ministers and (b) representatives of his Department met representatives of Metalchem International Ltd. to discuss matters relating to imports and exports. [32316]
  13
  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: There has not been any such meeting between Ministers of my Department and representatives of Metalchem International Ltd. On 12 and 19 March 1993 and on 10 August 1993, as part of a programme of routine company visits, officials of my Department discussed the consequences of UK sanctions legislation with personnel of the company and its subsidiaries.

  Judicial Review
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of(a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions. [33594]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: No legislation has been introduced by the Department since 1991–92 with the purpose of removing the effects of judicial review decisions. The Employment Rights (Part-time Employees) Regulations 1995, SI 1995/31, is the only legislation which the Department introduced in order to implement a judicial review decision.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many decisions by his Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Session since 1991–92; and if he will list in how many cases(a) the Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [33577]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: Comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested. However, the Department has identified from readily available sources 27 decisions which were challenged by way of judicial review, as follows

  1991–92: 3

  1992–93: 5

  1993–94; 3

  1994–95: 5

  1995–96: 11

  The Department's decisions were upheld in 12 of the cases.

  In the four cases in which the court found for the applicant, the Department submitted to the judgment in two of them, and successfully appealed against two.

  Eleven cases either have been withdrawn or are not yet completed.

PRIME MINISTER

  Berlin Bombing 1986
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 381, if he will ask the west German authorities what progress they have made in their investigations of the Berlin bombing on 6 April 1986, and in particular, on what grounds they have now extradited a citizen of Lebanon to face charges relating to the bombing. [34014]
  14
  The Prime Minister
  Investigation of the "La Belle" discotheque bombing is a matter for the German authorities. However, I understand that the Lebanese authorities extradited a Palestinian, Yassar Al-Shuraidi—alias Yousef Salam—to Germany on 23 May 1996 in connection with the bombing. He was working for the Libyan Peoples' Bureau in East Berlin at the time of the bombing.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 381, if he will ask the US authorities for what reasons they refused to provide the west German authorities with the alleged evidence of Libyan responsibility for the Berlin bombing. [34015]

  The Prime Minister
  The United States authorities do not normally comment on evidence in a current investigation, especially if doing so might reveal sources and methods of collection, and risk compromising that investigation.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 381, if it remains the position of Her Majesty's Government that the responsibility for the Berlin bombing rests with Libya. [34016]

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  Transsexuals
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Prime Minister which Department and which Minister has been assigned overall responsibility for matters concerning the reform of the law as it affects transsexuals; and if he will make a statement. [34082]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have not made any decisions to reform the law as it affects transsexuals, and no such responsibility has been assigned.

ENVIRONMENT

  Lighting (Environmental Impact)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the environmental impact of lighting associated with a proposed development is a material planning consideration; and what guidance the forthcoming revisions of planning policy guidance note 7 will give on this matter. [33996]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The environmental impact of lighting associated with a proposed development can be a material planning consideration. The advice, in paragraph 31 of planning policy guidance note 17, "Sport and Recreation", on the use of conditions governing the operation of floodlights for sporting purposes, applies also to lighting for development for other purposes. We do not propose to give further guidance in PPG7.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost in each of the past five years of(a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major

  15
  and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33478]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The total cost of compensation paid by the Department of Environment, excluding its agencies, to employees, their families, or members of the public, as a result of injury was:

  £

  1991–92

  19,800

  1992–93

  11,412

  1993–94

  5,342

  1994–95

  21,940

  1995–96

  8,695

  Total

  67,189

  The average annual cost was less than £13,500.

  During this period there were no fatal injuries and none of the compensation payments related to incidents involving information technology. Two individual claims were settled at over £5,000: one in 1992, for £8,400, involving someone who had tripped over a loose piece of paving outside a Government building; the other, in 1993, for £5,360, to someone who had sustained injuries in an accident involving a lift in a Government building.

  The amount of sick pay for injuries in the same period is not available.

  Civil Servants (Company Directors)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those companies which have civil servants from his Department as directors and all the occasions on which those companies have been found guilty of a civil or criminal offence in the last eight years. [33915]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Four serving civil servants in my Department currently hold non-executive company directorships:

  Dr. Alan Apling: H. R. Wallingford Group (ex officio)

  Mr. Roger Courtney: Woods of Colchester

  Mr. William Rickett: Redland Roof Tiles

  Mr. John Stoker: Mersey Partnership (ex officio) Hanson Brick

  The Department has no record of whether or not any of these companies have been found guilty of either civil or criminal offences in the last eight years.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Postage Costs
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on postage in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96; and how many items were posted during these periods. [32853]

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested for my Department, including its agencies, is as follows:

  1994–95: £4,747,723

  1995–96: £4,879,819

  16
  Information on the numbers of items posted is not recorded.

  Statistics
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which statistics his Department has discontinued(a) collection and (b) publication of since 1989. [32855]

  Mr. Howard
  Changes are made in the collection and publication of statistical series from time to time in response to the Government's requirements for statistical information, and to changes in legislation and administrative systems on which the statistics are based. The main series which have been discontinued since 1989 by the Department are:

  1990:

  discontinued publishing Home Office statistical bulletin "Local Government Elections, England and Wales" to eliminate duplication of published data by the local government chronicle elections centre at the University of Plymouth.

  1992:

  ceased publishing figures on the number of residence permits issued to European Community nationals in Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom".

  reduced the collection and publication of statistics on breath tests given to motorists.

  1993:

  statistics on offences of drunkenness published in reduced detail in Command Paper "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", rather than in a Home Office bulletin, with detailed tables being made available on request.

  returns on drug seizures and offenders from police in England and Wales replaced by returns on seizures alone, due to more reliable information on court appearances and cautions available from the court appearances returns.

  1994:

  responsibility for the collection and publication of statistics on time intervals for criminal proceedings in magistrates courts and on domestic proceedings in magistrates courts passed to the Lord Chancellor's Department.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost in each of the past five years of(a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33494]

  Mr. Howard
  The available information for the past financial years is as follows:

  Compensation

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Prison Service1

  £717,000

  £675,000

  £628,000

  £1,448,000

  £810,000

  Home Office (including its other agencies)2

  n/a

  n/a

  3£12,323

  £9,695

  £7,217

  1 Payments relate to staff only and do not distinguish awards of more than £5,000.

  2 Information for 1991–92 and 1992–93 was not collected.

  3 Includes one payment of more than £5,000.

  None of these payments was for incidents resulting in fatalities or involving information technology.
  17
  Information on sick pay and on the further breakdown of compensation payments could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in his Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved. [33492]

  Mr. Howard
  This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost in each of the past five years of rectifying working conditions that were the responsibility of his Department and its agencies, to bring them up to acceptable health and safety standards, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33495]

  Mr. Howard
  Expenditure to meet health and safety standards is not recorded separately.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in his Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities [33493]

  Mr. Howard
  The available information requested is as follows:

  Minor injuries

  1Major injuries

  Fatal

  1991

  4,303

  279

  nil

  1992

  4,809

  378

  nil

  1993

  25,150

  434

  nil

  1994

  35,077

  498

  41

  1995

  4,741

  270

  nil

  1 Major injuries are those defined as reportable under the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985, which includes injuries resulting in more than three days absence from work.

  2 Includes two injuries reported to have involved information technology.

  3 Includes three injuries reported to have involved information technology.

  4 The fatal injury was sustained by a member of the works staff at HM prison Haverigg on 24 August 1994.

  Parole Board
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the Parole Board, indicating the salary paid to each. [33708]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Parole Board's annual report published in June 1995 contained a list of its members. The chairman receives a salary in the band £50,000 to £55,000 and the four full-time members receive a salary in the band £30,000 to £35,000. Other members, except serving judges, are paid a daily fee in respect of work undertaken. New appointments are currently being considered. I will write to you with an up-to-date list in due course.

  Vehicle Insurance (Prosecutions)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions for the evasion of vehicle insurance have been made in each of the last five years. [33555]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the number of prosecutions which led to a conviction for the offence of "using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks" is given in the following table. Figures for 1995 are not yet available.

  Convictions at all courts for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, England and Wales

  Year

  Number of convictions

  1990

  209,463

  1991

  225,910

  1992

  246,054

  1993

  281,136

  1994

  286,252

  Metropolitan Police (Vans)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Volkswagen vans the Metropolitan police have purchased in the current financial year and in each of the last two years. [33646]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is as follows:

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Number

  Nil

  90 station vans

  Not yet decided

  20 red route traffic warden minibuses

  3 dog vans

  Buckley Hall Prison
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 June,Official Report, column 153, on Buckley Hall prison, how many of the 15 recapture/surrenders were carried out by (a)the police and (b)prison officers from Buckley Hall prison. [33771]

  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 Liz Lynne, dated 24 June 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question, on how many of the 15 recapture and surrenders at Buckley Hall prison were carried out by (a) the police and by (b) prison officers.

  Of the 15 recapture and surrenders at Buckley Hall, all were carried out by the police.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 June,Official Report, column 153, on incidents reported to the Prison Service from Buckley Hall prison, if he will define recapture/surrender in respect of (a) Buckley Hall prison and (b) prisons run by the Prison Service. [33773]
  19
  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 Liz Lynne, dated 24 June 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question, about the definition of incidents of recapture and surrender reported to the Prison Service from (a) Buckley Hall prison and (b) prisons run by the Prison Service All prisons in England and Wales record recapture/surrender as the return to lawful custody either voluntarily or on recapture of any prisoner who has previously escaped from a prison establishment or escort, absconded, or failed to return to prison after a period of release on temporary licence.

  Women Police Officers
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the numbers of women police officers in each of the senior ranks; and what were the corresponding numbers in 1992 and 1986. [34078]

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

  Female senior police officers in England and Wales

  1986

  1992

  1996

  Chief Constable

  0

  0

  1

  Deputy Chief Constable1

  0

  0

  —

  Assistant Chief Constable

  2

  4

  5

  1 The rank of deputy chief constable was abolished on 1 April 1995

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women police officers have referred employment grievances to industrial tribunals in each of the past five years; and how many of these cases have been dismissed. [34081]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Judicial Review
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of(a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions. [33588]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: We do not hold central records of the occasions on which legislation has been introduced to remove the effect of a judicial review decision. The only legislation which appears to have been enacted for that purpose is section 158(3) and (4) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which removed the effect of R v. stipendiary magistrates ex parte Vesna Doklega (1994), unreported, and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995, which removed the effect of the decision in the House of Lords in R v. Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Fire Brigades Union and other [1995], 2WLR464. There have been no occasions on which legislation has implemented a judicial review decision because the decision itself is implemented by order of the court.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people employed by each of the next steps agencies under his Department's control; how many of those employees are women; and at what civil service or equivalent grades they are employed. [32725]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 20 June 1996]: The Directors General of Her Majesty's Prison Service and of the Forensic Science Service and the chief executives of the United Kingdom Passport Agency and the Fire Service College have advised me that the information requested is as follows:

  HM Prison Service

  Grade

  Number of staff

  Number of female staff

  Director general

  1

  —

  Director (formerly grade 3)1

  7

  —

  (formerly) grade 4

  1

  —

  Principal medical officer2

  10

  2

  (formerly) grade 5

  7

  1

  Senior medical officer3

  44

  6

  Assistant director

  21

  —

  Grade 6

  25

  6

  Grade 7

  166

  21

  Governor 1

  29

  3

  Governor 2

  73

  6

  Governor 3

  134

  16

  Governor 44

  339

  44

  Governor 54

  496

  48

  Principal Officer4

  1,317

  49

  Senior Officer4

  3,570

  186

  Officer4

  19,760

  2,190

  Temporary Officer

  3

  3

  Auxiliary Officer

  2,011

  441

  Night Patrol

  987

  92

  Chaplains

  267

  39

  Nursing grades

  670

  508

  Psychological grades

  212

  144

  Farm management grades

  90

  1

  Full time medical officer grades

  107

  11

  Part time medical officer grades

  95

  4

  Senior professional and technical officer

  89

  3

  Higher professional and technical officer

  120

  4

  Professional and technical officer

  66

  7

  Senior instructional officer

  2

  —

  Higher instructional officer

  25

  2

  Instructional officer

  1,138

  177

  Senior executive officer

  110

  27

  Higher executive officer

  303

  123

  Executive officer

  657

  410

  Administrative officer

  2,146

  1,640

  Administrative assistant

  800

  610

  Storeperson

  610

  34

  Typing grades (inc personal secretaries)

  635

  632

  Pharmacy grades

  70

  49

  Support bands 1 and 2

  272

  238

  Librarian

  1

  1

  Regional catering management

  9

  2

  Industrials

  2,977

  216

  Information officers

  9

  3

  Total

  40,481

  7,963

  1 With effect from 1 April 1996, former civil service grades 1 to 5 were subsumed into the senior civil service.

  2 Formerly grade 4 equivalent.

  3 Formerly grade 5 equivalent.

  4 Includes specialist grades: works, hospital, physical education, etcetera.

  21

  Forensic science service

  Grades

  Number of staff

  Number of female staff

  Senior civil service

  13

  1

  Grade 6

  9

  —

  Grade 7

  25

  3

  A3 senior forensic scientist

  15

  2

  A2 senior forensic scientist

  50

  3

  A1 senior forensic scientist

  121

  31

  H2 forensic scientist

  100

  50

  B1 forensic scientist

  55

  26

  C2 assistant forensic scientist

  142

  103

  C1 assistant forensic scientist

  136

  93

  Senior scientific officer

  79

  13

  Higher scientific officer

  99

  53

  Scientific officer

  36

  26

  Assistant scientific officer

  20

  12

  Senior executive officer

  3

  —-

  Higher executive officer

  5

  3

  Executive officer

  18

  10

  Administrative officer

  55

  44

  Administrative assistant

  64

  51

  Personal secretary

  13

  13

  Typist

  37

  37

  Support grade band 2

  48

  33

  Support grade band 1

  6

  2

  Senior photographic officer

  1

  —

  Higher photographic officer

  3

  1

  Photographic officer

  5

  3

  Laboratory attendant

  12

  6

  Graphics officer

  1

  —

  Stores officer

  1

  —

  Total

  1,162

  619

  1Formerly one grade 3 post (female) and two grade 5 posts.

  United Kingdom passport agency

  Grades

  Number of staff

  Number of female staff

  Senior civil service

  11

  —

  Grade 6

  2

  —

  Grade 7

  10

  —

  Senior executive officer

  13

  4

  Higher executive officer

  56

  26

  Executive officer

  176

  119

  Administrative officer

  646

  437

  Administrative assistant

  444

  292

  Senior personal secretary

  1

  1

  Personal secretary

  7

  7

  Typing manager

  2

  2

  Typist

  22

  22

  Support grade band 1

  13

  4

  Support grade band 2

  64

  25

  Total

  1,457

  939

  1Formerly a grade 5 post.

  Fire service college

  Grades

  Number of staff

  Number of female staff

  Senior civil service

  11.0

  —

  Grade 6

  1.0

  —

  Grade 7

  2.0

  —

  Senor executive officer

  4.0

  1.0

  Higher executive officer

  5.0

  3.0

  Executive officer

  16.0

  13.0

  Administrative officer

  24.5

  19.5

  Administrative assistant

  11.0

  9.0

  Commandant

  1.0

  —

  Assistant chief officer

  1.0

  —

  22

  Fire service college

  Grades

  Number of staff

  Number of female staff

  Divisional officer I

  3.0

  —

  Divisional officer II

  4.0

  —

  Assistant divisional officer

  2.0

  —

  Station officer

  3.0

  —

  Lecturer

  18.0

  4.0

  Senior lecturer

  1.0

  —

  Principal lecturer

  3.0

  —

  Librarian

  1.0

  —

  Assistant librarian

  4.0

  —

  Senior personal secretary

  1.0

  1.0

  Personal secretary

  3.0

  3.0

  Higher professional and technical officer

  1.0

  —

  Professional and technical officer

  2.0

  —

  Technical grade I

  1.0

  —

  Technical grade II

  5.0

  2.0

  Graphics officer

  2.0

  1.0

  Support grade II

  3.0

  2.0

  Typist

  4.0

  4.0

  Senior information officer

  1.0

  1.0

  Higher information officer

  1.0

  —

  Information officer

  2.0

  —

  Nurse grade G

  1.0

  1.0

  Nursery manager

  1.0

  1.0

  Deputy nursery manager

  1.0

  1.0

  Nursery assistant

  1.0

  1.0

  Head of department 6

  1.0

  —

  Head of department 5

  1.0

  —

  Head of department 3.0

  1.0

  —

  Industrial staff

  39.5

  —

  Fireground supervisor

  1.0

  —

  Stores officer grade D

  1.0

  —

  Total

  180.0

  67.5

HEALTH

  Health Service Contracts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 529, if he will update the information on health service contracts agreed by health authorities for 1996. [33810]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on health service contracts agreed by health authorities will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Executive (Cars)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what make and model of car is currently made available by the NHS to each of the chairmen of the NHS Executive's regional offices; and what is the cost to the NHS of providing each of the vehicles. [33834]

  Mr. Malone
  Regional chairmen may be provided with a car if it is cost-effective to do so when compared with other means of funding business travel. Only the regional chairman for the Northern and Yorkshire region is provided with a lease car, a Land Rover Discovery. From 1 April 1996, following the abolition of the regional health authorities, the cost of the lease has been met by the Department of Health. Other regional chairmen use their cars for business travel and are paid a mileage allowance.

  Solvent Misuse
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when solvent misuse mortality figures for 1994 will be available. [34079]

  Mr. Bowis
  "Trends in Deaths Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances—Report No. 9" has been published today by St. George's medical school. Copies will be placed in the Library. This gives solvent misuse mortality figures for 1994 and shows an encouraging further fall of 20 per cent., from 71 deaths in 1993 to 57 deaths in 1994. It is a further sign that the Government's initiative in this area is bearing fruit.

  Care of the Elderly
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in response to the Government's consultation document, "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age", with particular reference to the cost of the scheme to his Department. [34114]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health has received over 500 responses to the proposals in the consultation paper "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age". These are currently being studied.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Buses (Seat Belts)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to amend the law on the rules for the wearing of seat belts by children in buses and minibuses with particular reference to church buses. [33309]

  Mr. Moss
  It is my intention to introduce new regulations at the earliest opportunity to require the fitment of seat belts on all minibuses and coaches where the purpose of the journey is central to the transport of children, including journeys to and from school. These regulations will replicate proposals announced in February 1996 in Great Britain and will also apply only to minibuses and coaches. There are no plans to extend the requirements to buses.

  Health Trusts and Boards
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many health trusts and health boards he estimates will be in place by the end of 1996; and if he will list them. [33541]

  Mr. Moss
  I do not anticipate any change in the existing 20 health and social service trusts and four health and social services boards in Northern Ireland by the end of 1996. They are listed as follows:

  Health and Social Services Trusts

  Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital Health and Social Services Trusts

  Belfast City Hospital Health and Social Services Trust

  Craigavon Area Hospital Group Health and Social Services Trust

  Green Park Health and Social Services Trust

  Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust

  Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust

  24

  North Down and Ards Community Health and Social Services Trust

  North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust

  South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust

  Craigavon and Banbridge Community Health and Social Services Trust

  Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital Health and Social Services Trust

  Causeway Health and Social Services Trust

  Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Services Trust

  Armagh and Dungannon Health and Social Services Trust

  United Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust

  Altnagelvin Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust

  Foyle Health and Social Services Trust

  Homefirst Community Health and Social Services Trust

  Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Services Trust

  Health and Social Services Boards

  The Eastern Health and Social Services Board

  The Northern Health and Social Services Board

  The Southern Health and Social Services Board

  The Western Health and Social Services Board

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants and public sector employees are currently working(a) health trusts, (b) health boards, (c)Government agencies,(d) non-departmental public bodies, (e) local government and (f) other public bodies; and how many civil servants in total are employed in Northern Ireland. [33543]

  Sir John Wheeler
  For the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, the information requested is as follows:

  Body

  Civil servants and public sector employees

  (a) Health Trusts

  66,545

  (b) Health Boards

  1,298

  (c) Government Agencies

  16,734

  (d) Non-Departmental Public Bodies

  37,647

  (e) Local Government

  7,025

  (f) Other Public Bodies

  1,193

  A total of 28,137 civil servants are employed in Northern Ireland.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Land Mines
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts in respect of formulating a joint policy on banning the sale of land mines; and if he will make a statement. [333906]
  25
  Mr. David Davis
  The EU has had a common moratorium on the export of certain kinds of anti-personnel mines and to certain destinations since May 1995, when it adopted a joint action on anti-personnel mines. That joint action is currently under review.

  Since 22 April 1996, the UK's national export moratorium prohibits the export of all anti-personnel mines to all countries. We hope that all EU member states will adopt an equally wide-ranging moratorium.

  United Arab Emirates
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects payment to be made to Mr. Brearley from Wallasey of the full amount in respect of money owed to him by the United Arab Emirates armed forces for employment between January 1993 and June 1994; and what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to facilitate payment of this debt and the debts to those foreign workers who undertook similar employment. [32743]

  Mr. Hanley
  The British embassy in Abu Dhabi has been in constant touch with Mr. Brearley and the British teachers concerned and with their lawyers throughout this protracted dispute. The British ambassador has recently written to the chief of staff, UAE armed forces, expressing his concern and the embassy has also written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urging them to do whatever they can to expedite payment of the moneys due. The embassy will continue to do its utmost to bring an end to this unfortunate matter and enable Mr. Brearley and his fellow teachers to be recompensed in full.

  Kashmir
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of India over threats to the lives of Kashmiri leaders with particular reference to(a)Syed Ali Gilani and (b)Abdul Gani Lone, and if he will make a statement. [33717]

  Mr. Hanley
  Although we often discuss the security situation in Kashmir with the Indian authorities, and raise our concerns about human rights there, we have made no representations on the specific cases of Syed Ali Gilani and Abdul Gani Lone. We look forward to discussion on Kashmir, and other issues, with the new Indian Government.

  Israel
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Israeli Government(a) to discuss with the Palestinians the final status of Jerusalem and (b)to effect an early withdrawal of Israeli troops from Hebron. [34253]

  Mr. Hanley
  Both of these are among Israel's commitments under the Oslo accords. We have made clear and will continue to make clear that all such commitments must be fulfilled.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the United Kingdom to re-enter UNESCO. [32640]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have not set a date for the UK's return to UNESCO. The question of membership is being kept under review in the light of progress with reform in the organisation and other financial priorities.

  Overseas Visits (Royal Family)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise the costs to public funds in respect of the visit by the Duke of Kent to Singapore between 10 and 12 September 1995. [32213]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer of 12 June 1996]: Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the official visit by the Duke of Kent to Singapore between 10 and 12 September 1995 was:

  £

  (a) travel

  10,700

  (b) hotel expenses

  nil

  (c) official presents and donations

  300

  (d) salaries-additional staff

  15

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  60

  (f) miscellaneous

  400

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise the costs to public funds in respect of the visit by ihe Duke and Duchess of Kent to Hong Kong on 25 November 1994. [32214]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 12 June 1996]:Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the official visit by the Duke and Duchess of Kent to Hong Kong from 25 November to 2 December 1994 was:

  £

  (a) travel

  12,000

  (b) hotel expenses

  4,300

  (c) official presents and donations

  3,000

  (d) salaries—additional staff

  2,200

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  100

  (f) miscellaneous

  7,500

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise (a) the purpose, (b) the method of travel and (c) the costs to public funds in respect of the visits by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to the Caribbean in March 1993 and March 1994. [32215]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 12 June 1996]:The Duke of Edinburgh's visit to the Caribbean in March 1993 was official and was designed to include those realms and dependent territories not likely to be visited by the Queen

  27
  the following year. His Royal Highness travelled by the royal flight and the royal yacht. Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of this visit was:

  £

  (a) travel

  5,300

  (b) hotel expenses

  12,400

  (c) official presents and donations

  600

  (d) salaries—additional staff

  1,700

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  30

  (f) miscellaneous

  7,400

  The Duke of Edinburgh accompanied the Queen on a state visit to the Caribbean in March 1994. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh travelled by the royal flight and the royal yacht. Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the Duke of Edinburgh on this visit was:

  £

  (a) travel

  Nil

  (b) hotel expenses

  Nil

  (c) official presents and donations

  Nil

  (d) salaries—additional staff

  500

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  Nil

  (f) miscellaneous

  800

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise the costs to public funds in respect of the visit by the Princess of Wales to Nepal on 2 to 6 March 1993. [32216]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 12 June 1996]:Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the official visit by the Princess of Wales to Nepal on 2 to 6 March 1993 was:

  £

  (a) travel

  Nil

  (b) hotel expenses

  Nil

  (c) official presents and donations

  2,900

  (d) salaries—additional staff

  100

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  Nil

  (f) miscellaneous

  13,400

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise the costs to public funds in respect of the visit by Prince Edward to Swaziland between 4 and 7 September 1993. [32217]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 12 June 1996]: Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the official visit by the by Prince of Edward to Swaziland between 4 and 7 September 1993 was:

  £

  (a) travel

  11,600

  (b) hotel expenses

  Nil

  (c) official presents and donations

  1,000

  28

  £

  (d) salaries—additional staff

  100

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  Nil

  (f) miscellaneous

  4,900

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise the costs to public funds in respect of the visit by the Duchess of Kent to Seychelles on 3 to 6 December 1993. [32218]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 12 June 1996]: Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the official visit by the Duchess of Kent to the Seychelles on 3 to 6 December 1993 was:

  £

  (a) travel

  15,500

  (b) hotel expenses

  4,400

  (c) official presents and donations

  1,000

  (d) salaries—additional staff

  500

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  100

  (f) miscellaneous

  4,600

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise the costs to public funds of the visit by Princess Alexandra to Hong Kong and India on 14 to 27 October 1994. [32219]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 12 June 1996]: Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the official visit by Princess Alexandra to Hong Kong and India 14 to 27 October:

  £

  (a) travel

  8,100

  (b) hotel expenses

  5,800

  (c) official presents and donations

  1,300

  (d) salaries-additional staff

  4,000

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  Nil

  (f) miscellaneous

  8,100

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise the costs to public funds in respect of the visits made by Princess Margaret to San Francisco and Los Angeles in 1995. [32220]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 12 June 1996]: Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the official visit by the Princess Margaret to San Francisco in 1995-the Los Angeles leg fell away—was:

  £

  (a) travel

  10,800

  (b) hotel expenses

  Nil

  (c) official presents and donations

  900

  (d) salaries—additional staff

  Nil

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  300

  (f) miscellaneous

  10,300

  29
  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 59, if he will itemise the costs to public funds in respect of the visit by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Maxico on 20 to 23 November 1995. [32221]

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 12 June 1996]:Expenditure authorised by my Department in support of the official visit by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to Mexico on 20 to 23 November 1995 was:

  £

  (a) travel

  16,800

  (b) hotel expenses

  500

  (c) official presents and donations

  1,500

  (d) salaries—additional staff

  Nil

  (e) bank, postal, telephone and telegraph charges

  Nil

  (f) miscellaneous

  6,300

TRANSPORT

  Air Traffic Control Centre
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of risk associated with the remedial measures proposed by the contractors on the new en-route centre; what contingency plans his Department has made in the event of the project failing; and what compensation will be payable to the Civil Aviation Authority by the NERC contractors as a result of the delays to the project. [32782]

  Mr. Norris
  Lockheed Martin has implemented a revised project plan that has reduced substantially the level of financial risk associated with the proposed remedial measures. National Air Traffic Services is monitoring the situation closely and is examining a range of options, in the event of further delay, to ensure services to customers are unaffected. In the remote eventuality that the project company fails to deliver the system, 125 per cent. of the total contract value could be claimed from the supplier.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the costs of upgrading and keeping in service the London air traffic control centre, including its military cell, until the new en-route centre becomes operational; and to what extent these costs will be borne by the NERC contractors. [32783]

  Mr. Norris
  The additional cost to NATS of operating upgraded facilities at West Drayton during the run up to the introduction of the new en-route centre into operational service will be in the order of £15 million. The additional costs required to complete the new en-route centre will be borne entirely by the project contractor.

  Foreign-registered Aircraft
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the measures employed by his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority for approving the operation of foreign-registered aircraft by United Kingdom airlines. [33019]
  30
  Mr. Norris
  In my answer of 26 April I said that I had placed in the Library a copy of the procedures covering the dry leasing and wet-leasing of aircraft. In addition, I have now placed in the Library a copy of the Air Navigation (No. 2) Order 1995 covering procedures for aircraft leasing across national boundaries.

  Trunk Roads (Noise Barriers)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of the provision of noise barriers or other mitigation measures for the trunk road network. [33266]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Andrew Hunter, dated 24 June 1996:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts MP, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State about his policy in respect of the provision of noise barriers or other mitigation measures for the trunk road network.
  The Noise Insulation Regulations 1975 prescribe that residential properties which will be exposed to a level of traffic noise in excess of 68 dB(A) as the result of the construction of a new road or carriageway, and of which an increase of at least 1 dB(A) is attributable to the traffic on the new road, should be provided with noise insulation. Discretionary powers to provide insulation are given by the Noise Insulation Regulations in the case of the improvement of an existing road which significantly changes its line or level. The Highways Act 1980 gives powers for highway authorities to provide various features within a highway, ancillary to its main purpose, to mitigate impacts on the environment.
  In accordance with EC Directive 337/85, the environmental effects of public works such as new roads, which include increased noise, are assessed and published as an environmental statement together with the legal orders for the scheme, in order to allow public comment.
  Noise barriers or other measures to mitigate the impact of traffic noise are included in the design of trunk road improvement proposals where it is demonstrated that without them a significant number of properties would need to be insulated. The extent of any barriers may be increased in consideration of other environmental benefits such as visual screening which they may confer. In considering the merits of barriers, their cost effectiveness in comparison with other forms of mitigation, including the insulation of property, is taken into account.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in his Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities. [33521]

  Mr. Norris
  The figures are as follows:

  Injuries

  Fatal

  1991–92

  1,035

  1

  1992–93

  959

  0

  1993–94

  1,068

  2

  1994–95

  1,579

  0

  1995–96

  1589

  10

  1 Not yet fully available.

  31
  The fatality in 1991–92 was due to natural causes. The fatalities in 1993–94 were two Vehicle Inspectorate enforcement officers who were murdered while on duty.

  The data held by the Department do not separately record accidents involving IT.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost in each of the past five years of(a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33522]

  Mr. Norris
  The figures for compensation paid to employees of the Department of Transport and its agencies, or their families, as a result of work-related injuries, are as follows:

  Injuries£

  Fatal£

  1991–92

  17,490

  0

  1992–93

  22,996

  26,298

  1993–94

  23,766

  0

  1994–95

  19,500

  0

  1995–96

  173,194

  0

  There were 14 compensation cases of over £5,000.

  The figures available do not distinguish between minor and major injuries, or those involving IT. Information relating to sick pay as a result of work-related injuries and compensation paid to members of the public is not readily available.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional payments have been made to passenger transport executives under(a) the metropolitan railway grant and (b) the section 20 payments in respect of rail privatisation including the latest estimates for the current financial year. [33799]

  Mr. Watts
  Government support to PTEs through metropolitan railway grant and its Scottish equivalent has been as follows:

  1994–95: £225.4 million

  1995–96: £132.1 million

  1996–97: —

  Sums allocated under the section 20 "bolt-on" element of revenue support grant—and its Scottish equivalent—for rail support in metropolitan areas for the corresponding period are:

  1994–95: £148.1 million

  1995–96: £147.2 million

  1996–97: £281.2 million

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to date of all bought-in services in connection with railway privatisation, with particular reference to costs and commissions in connection with the flotation of Railtrack. [33794]
  32
  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 4 June,Official Report, column 429, in respect of costs of the Railtrack share offer.

  Costs to my Department of other bought-in services in connection with rail privatisation from 1991–92 to date are some £44 million.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to date in departmental staff time of work on railway privatisation. [33793]

  Mr. Watts
  The Department does not have detailed information in the form requested. However, from 1991–92 to date, the costs of staff working on rail privatisation are approximately £10 million.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to date to Railtrack of privatisation, with particular reference to associated redundancy and compensation payments made before flotation; and what is the estimated annual future cost to public funds. [33796]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack's accounts show that it accrued £46 million for the whole of its privatisation costs. All redundancy or compensation payments made by the company while it was being privatised were made to increase the company's efficiency. Any future costs arising from such payments will fall to Railtrack.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the total costs incurred so far by the British Railways Board in the privatisation process broken down by(a) external advice, (b) consultancies, (c) commission payments, (d) redundancy pension and (e) other expenses including the estimated costs for the current year. [33798]

  Mr. Watts
  Details of the costs incurred by the British Railways Board in the privatisation process are a matter for the board itself. However, the board's annual reports and accounts for 1993–94 and 1994–95 show that its total privatisation costs to the end of 1994–95 were £177 million. I understand from the board that it estimates that it incurred further costs of £101 million in 1995–96; it also estimates that it will incur further costs of £53 million in 1996–97. Any breakdown of those figures would be for the board to provide.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what repair work has had to be undertaken on the Severn bridge as a result of defective steel; what is the estimated cost of repair; and what has been the effect on traffic flows over the bridge. [33647]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. John Spellar, dated 24 June 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Second Severn Crossing.
  The Second Severn Crossing is a private finance project operated by the Concessionaires, Severn River Crossing plc. The bridge was opened on 5th June 1996. We are not aware of any defective steel on the Second Servem Crossing.

  Green Lane Industrial Estate, Featherstone
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sums from public funds have been spent on the access road into the Green Lane industrial estate in Featherstone. [33630]

  Mr. Norris
  The Green Lane industrial estate access road is a scheme promoted by Wakefield metropolitan district council. The Department of Transport has approved a grant of £113,765 under the Industrial Development Act 1982, and has authorised supplementary credit approvals in the sum of £590,931, in respect of the scheme.

  Office of Passenger Rail Franchising
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total value of (i) payments made so far by the franchising director and (ii) all commitments so far made to(a) British Rail or (b) franchise companies and the latest estimate for the current financial year, including all consultancy payments and commissions payable by the franchising director. [33795]

  Mr. Watts
  Payments made by the franchising director are as follows:

  £million cash

  1993–94 Outturn

  1994–95 Outturn

  1995–96 Outturn

  1996–97 Outturn Estimate

  Consultancy costs1

  1.5

  13.1

  27.0

  16.8

  Support to BR2

  —

  1,783.0

  1,650.1

  1,626.0

  Support to franchisees3

  —

  —

  18.8

  4—

  1All amounts are net of recovered VAT.

  2Opraf took over responsibility for making support payments to BR from DOT on 1 April 1994.

  3Payments have only been made to franchisees since 4 February 1996.

  4The split of support for passenger rail services between BR and franchisees in 1996–97 will depend on the progress of franchising. The total is that included in the Supply estimates for class V, vote 7, passenger rail services.

  Charter Aircraft
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what debts were owed to the Civil Aviation Authority by Sultan Air at the time of its receivership; and if these debts have now been recovered; [33534]

  (2) what action was taken by the Civil Aviation Authority as a result of the ruling by the High Court on 10 October 1994 in relation to flights operated by Air Operations of Europe; [33530]

  (3) if he will list the occasions when aircraft operated by (a) Omega Air, (b) Sultan Air and (c) Air Operations of Europe have been detained by the Civil Aviation Authority at the request of Eurocontrol for non-payment of fees. [33532]

  Mr. Norris
  Sultan Air left no outstanding debts to the authority at the time of its receivership.

  On 10 October 1994, the High Court ruled that Air Operations of Europe had been the operator of aircraft HR-AMC at the time of its detention. The CAA obtained an order of sale against the aircraft, and at a further hearing on 14 November 1994, the High Court ruled that unless payment of outstanding route charges and the
  34
  CAA's costs was made by 21 November 1994, the CAA would be at liberty to proceed with the sale of the aircraft. The route charges were paid and the aircraft was released from detention on 16 November, but remains grounded for safety reasons.

  The CAA has no record of detention action against Omega Air at the request of Eurocontrol.

  An aircraft operated by Sultan Air was detained for unpaid route charges on 16 October 1991, and released on 21 February 1992.

  As I have explained, the aircraft detained on 22 October 1993 and released on 16 November 1994 was operated by Air Operations of Europe.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Customer Charters
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the customer charters which are currently in use within his Department and its executive agencies and (b) the charters which have been withdrawn. [32831]

  Mr. Burt
  The Department's Benefits, Contributions, Child Support and War Pensions Agencies have published customer charters, all of which are currently in use.

DEFENCE

  Vehicle Depots
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what grades of civilian staff are employed at the vehicle depots at Ashchurch and Ludgershall. [333115]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to ray hon. Friend.

  Letter from Kevin Goad to Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, dated 24 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding how many and what grades of civilian staff are employed at the vehicle depots at Ashchurch and Ludgershall as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency. The figures, as at 17 June 1996, are as follows:

  Ashchurch

  Ludgershall

  58 non-industrial staff

  24 non-industrial staff

  147 industrial staff

  56 industrial stiff

  The annex to this letter details the grades of the staff concerned.

  I hope this fully answers your questions.

  Continued strength BVDL/GL VDW as at 17 June 1996 Industrial

  Grade

  Total

  Craft aux

  3

  Driver

  5

  Fitters

  2

  General hand (kennels)

  1

  35

  Continued strength BVDL/GL VDW as at 17 June 1996 Industrial

  Grade

  Total

  FLTO

  1

  Spray painter

  1

  S/Storekeeper

  6

  Storekeeper

  6

  Labourer C/H

  1

  Labourers

  7

  SA1

  2

  L/H loco driver

  1

  Loco driver

  1

  Brakeman

  2

  LCH Sen Gen

  3

  Sen Gen

  8

  Gen

  3

  Gen hand

  3

  Total

  56

  Continued strength BVDL/GL VDW as at 17 June 1996 non industrial

  Grade

  Total

  HPTO

  1

  PTO

  1

  EO

  1

  AO

  6

  AA

  3

  TYPIST

  2

  AO (ADP)

  1

  P and GS 'C'

  1

  P and GS 'D'

  2

  P and GS 'E'

  2

  SOG 'C'

  3

  SOG 'D'

  1

  EGN 'F'

  1

  Total

  25

  MMGS

  2 X CSO IV

  20 X CSO V

  BVDA civilian manpower—non industrial

  MPC

  Strength

  Grade

  1995–96

  Male

  Female

  Total

  HEO

  —

  —

  0

  0

  EO

  3

  2

  0

  2

  RO2

  1

  1

  0

  1

  SOG C

  1

  0

  0

  0

  SOG D

  4

  3

  0

  3

  P and GS C

  0

  1

  0

  1

  P and GS D

  3

  2

  0

  2

  P and GS E

  1

  0

  0

  0

  SPTO

  1

  1

  0

  1

  HPTO

  2

  2

  0

  2

  PTO

  6

  8

  0

  8

  Typist

  3

  0

  3

  3

  AO (IT)

  2

  1

  1

  2

  AO)

  25

  5

  17

  22

  AA

  1

  0

  —

  0

  AA (IT)

  9

  3

  6

  9

  RGN(F)

  1

  0

  5

  5

  Nurse D

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Totals

  64.00

  29.00

  28.50

  57.50

  36

  BVDA Civilian Manpower—Industrial

  MPC

  Strength

  Grade

  1995–96

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Head cook

  1

  1

  0

  1

  Cook

  3

  1

  2

  3

  CH STW I

  1

  0

  1

  1

  CH STW II

  1

  0

  1

  1

  STW I

  1

  0

  1

  1

  STW II

  2.5

  0

  2.5

  2.5

  Mess hand

  4.5

  0

  4.5

  4.5

  Fitter MT

  1

  0

  0

  0

  CH driver

  1

  1

  0

  1

  LH driver

  3

  3

  0

  3

  Driver

  18

  16

  0

  16

  FLTO

  2

  2

  0

  2

  Crane OP

  1

  1

  0

  1

  LM Pt

  sprayer

  1

  1

  0

  1

  Paint sprayer

  2

  2

  0

  2

  Snr Stkpr

  7

  6

  0

  6

  STKPR

  16.5

  15.5

  2

  17.5

  Craft Aux

  5

  10

  0

  10

  SA I

  9

  9

  0

  9

  Messenger

  1

  0

  0

  0

  LH Gen Hand

  1

  1

  0

  1

  Gen Hand

  8

  4

  0

  4

  LCH Sen

  Craftsman

  3

  3

  0

  3

  CH Sen

  Craftsman

  2

  3

  0

  3

  Total

  —

  —

  —

  93.5

  BVDA civilian manpower—industrial

  MPC

  Strength

  Grade

  1995–96

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Progressor

  2

  2

  0

  2

  LH Sen craftsman

  2

  1

  0

  1

  Sen craftsman

  15

  15

  0

  15

  CH craftsman

  1

  —

  0

  0

  LH craftsman

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Craftsman basic

  26

  24

  0

  24

  Apprentices

  12

  10

  0

  10

  Total

  —

  —

  —

  53

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the terms of reference and time scale of the review of the investment appraisals for the Army's base vehicle depots at Ludgershall and Ashchurch.[33328]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Kevin Goad to Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, dated 24 June 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the terms of reference and timescale of the review of the investment appraisals for the Army's base vehicle depots at Ludgershall and Ashchurch as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency.
  The exercise being undertaken is a revalidation of the original Investment Appraisal which decided to concentrate all vehicles at Ashchurch and is re-examining all the aspects of this case to make sure it represents the best value for money to the taxpayer. The outcome of this work should be known by the end of July.
  I hope this fully answers your question.
  37
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the investment over the last five years in the vehicle depots at Ashchurch and Ludgershall. [33314]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Kevin Goad to Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, dated 24 June 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the investment over the last five years in the vehicle depots at Ashchurch and Ludgershall as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency. The figures are as follows:-

  Ashchurch

  1991–92 Financial Year: £826,754

  1992–93 Financial Year: £1,950,542

  1993–94 Financial Year: £351,608

  1994–95 Financial Year: £3,252,578

  1995–96 Financial Year: £1,770,214

  Ludgershall

  1991–92 Financial Year: £1,080,520

  1992–93 Financial Year: –2,383,098

  1993–94 Financial Year: £1,061,232

  1994–95 Financial Year: £3,588,618

  1995–96 Financial Year: £2,160,047

  I hope this fully answers your question.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost in each of the past five years of(a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33474]

  Mr. Soames
  Information on sick pay is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Compensation payments are not categorised as minor, major or fatal. However, the table shows the total value of payments in respect of injury-related compensation in each of the financial years shown, and the number of payments made where compensation was more than £5,000, including interim payments. The table also shows total payments made for repetitive strain injury compensation due to the use of information technology equipment, together with the number of cases where such payments exceeded £5,000.

  Year

  Total payments in respect of injury compensation £5,000

  Number of such payments of more than £5,000

  Compensation paid— information technology £5,000

  Number of such payments of more than £5,000

  1995–96

  21,279,000

  446

  11,037

  —

  1994–95

  24,288,000

  522

  44,250

  2

  1993–94

  16,225,000

  329

  25,109

  2

  1992–93

  15,618,000

  354

  6,614

  —

  1991–92

  9,058,000

  259

  2,812

  —

  Deployment (Germany)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are stationed in Germany and what was the cost of this deployment in 1995. [33704]

  Mr. Soames
  At 31 March 1996 the personnel establishment for Army and Royal Air Force posts in Germany stood at some 29,500. At any time a number of these may be deployed on operations outside Germany, for example in former Yugoslavia. The running costs for these forces in financial year 1995–96 was some £1,340 million.

  Military Aid (Colombia)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much military aid and assistance has been granted to Colombia in the last year. [33815]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of military assistance are confidential between Governments.

  First World War (Pardons)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give further consideration to requests for pardons for soldiers convicted during the first world war for the offences of(a) cowardice, (b) desertion, (c) disobedience and (d) hitting a superior officer; if he will reassess the case for a pardon for Private Bert McCubbin of the Enniskillen Fusiliers; and if he will make a statement. [33740]

  Mr. Soames
  Nothing has emerged since my comments during the Committee Stage of the Armed Forces Bill to suggest that the Government's decision not to recommend pardons for those soldiers executed during the first world war was inappropriate. Consequently, there are no plans to consider the issue of pardons further.

  Armed Forces (Dismissals)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were discharged from the British military forces for the use of illegal drugs during each of the last five years. [33710]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 13 June,Official Report, columns 252–53.

  Deployment (Cyprus)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are based in Cyprus; and how many have their families with them. [33711]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently 3,854 service personnel serving in British Forces Cyprus, of whom 2,192 are accompanied. These figures exclude British service personnel serving with the UN force in Cyprus.

  Military Bases (Land Contamination)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the surveys undertaken by the Army and Royal Air Force into the contamination of land surrounding military bases. [33879]
  39
  Mr. Soames
  My Department does not normally undertake surveys of land beyond the perimeter of sites which it occupies. If, exceptionally, such work proves to be necessary, the question of publication of the resulting documentation would be a matter for the owner of the land and, where necessary, the appropriate regulatory body.

  Abbey Wood
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his written answer of 11 March,Official Report, column 451, what has been the outcome of the dialogue between his Department and the shell and core contractors for the new MOD building at Abbey Wood, Bristol, following their claim for additional payments. [34111]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Discussions between the Department and the Abbey Wood shell and core contractor are continuing. In order to preserve the confidentiality of the discussions, I am currently not in a position to elaborate further on this issue.

  Public Rights of Way
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many public rights of way cross MOD property. [34433]

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

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Sudan
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about bilateral aid to the Sudan. [32633]

  Mr. Hanley
  More than £90 million has been provided in bilateral assistance to Sudan since April 1990, including £3.4 million since January 1996. Incidentally, our share of multilateral aid has been over £62 million since January 1990.

  Montserrat
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure(a) that the people of Montserrat are provided with assisted passage to, and refuge in the United Kingdom, and (b) that those who remain on the island have adequate access to shelter and emergency supplies; and if he will make a statement. [33617]

  Mr. Hanley
  Her Majesty's Government are already providing refuge to those Montserratians resident on the island as at 1 April 1996 who travel to the United Kingdom at their own expense. They can enter the UK for up to two years under relaxed immigration conditions, which allow them to take employment, enrol in schools, claim financial support for their living and housing costs, and become eligible for health care. The question of providing assisted passage to the United Kingdom for those who remain is under consideration. Since last 40
  August we have provided a wide range of supplies, services and shelter on the island. We are actively continuing a programme of provision and improvement.

  HIV
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent funding for HIV programmes will be affected by the ODA expenditure review. [33264]

  Mr. Hanley
  ODA's fundamental expenditure review will not affect ODA's spend on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. ODA expenditure on these has increased from £7.316 million in 1990–91 to £9.43 million in 1994–95. In 1996–97, ODA expects to spend around £10 million on preventing HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current estimate of the number of orphaned children in countries affected by the HIV epidemic. [33263]

  Mr. Hanley
  Reliable figures on the present number of children orphaned worldwide as a result of HIV/AIDS are not available, but estimates from the joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS—UNAIDS—suggest that there have been 8.5 million maternal orphans under the age of 15 due to HIV/AIDS since the start of the pandemic, more than 8 million of these in sub-Saharan Africa. Other sources estimate that 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa have lost both parents to the HIV/AIDS disease.

SCOTLAND

  Goods and Services
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department paid to the private sector for goods and services in 1995–96. [29451]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office spent £152 million in 1995–96 on goods and services from external suppliers, including a number of public sector bodies such as HMSO.

  Health Boards
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the spending on pay and administrative costs for each health board in Scotland in each year since 1991–92. [33246]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is set out in the table. The figures have been calculated using audited annual accounts of health boards. The figures for 1995–96 are currently not available.

  Pay and administrative costs

  £000

  Health boards

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Argyll and Clyde

  130,319

  141,432

  114,907

  53,434

  Ayrshire and Arran

  102,042

  84,441

  6,413

  5,815

  Borders

  30,901

  34,130

  37,348

  40,194

  Dumfries and Galloway

  49,564

  54,847

  52,491

  33,851

  Fife

  94,579

  101,986

  110,575

  9,068

  Forth Valley

  90,280

  98,962

  64,110

  25,908

  Grampian

  167,220

  117,390

  14,587

  12,482

  41

  Pay and administrative costs

  £000

  Health boards

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Greater Glasgow

  424,383

  456,135

  330,505

  53,625

  Highland

  74,503

  80,911

  40,108

  6,939

  Lanarkshire

  146,091

  155,864

  154,993

  68,820

  Lothian

  273,619

  300,841

  244,028

  34,722

  Orkney

  5,870

  6,610

  7,436

  8,420

  Shetland

  7,271

  6,877

  7,533

  8,224

  Tayside

  169,442

  178,331

  118,151

  12,952

  Western Isles

  10,271

  11,848

  13,109

  13,413

  Scottish Totals

  1,776,356

  1,830,603

  1,316,294

  387,866

  Cullen Inquiry
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place copies of all documents submitted to the Cullen inquiry in the Library; [33371]

  (2) if he will place in the Library all productions lodged with the Cullen inquiry relating to the grant, variation, renewal, revocation of the firearms certificates issues to Thomas Hamilton, and all memoranda, guidance, circulars from whatever source and all associated papers. [33370]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As indicated in the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr. Ross) on Wednesday 19 June, column 503, transcripts of the evidence prepared for the tribunal are being placed in the Library. It would be inappropriate to release the further papers requested.

  Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of Scottish Office financial support to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. in 1996–97; and what estimate he has made of the level in 1997–98. [33776]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Financial support of up to £8.2 million is available to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. for the financial year 1996–97. Planned provision for 1997–98 is set out in "Serving Scotland's Needs", the Government's expenditure plans for 1996–97 to 1998–99 for the Departments of my right hon. Friend and for the Forestry Commission. It is £8 million, rounded to the nearest £ million.

  Sand-eels (Wee Bankie)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will assess the advantages of restricting the fishing of sand-eels in the Wee Bankie areas of International Council for the Exploration of the Seas IVb. [34280]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  At the April Fisheries Council we requested that the Commission propose precautionary total allowable catches for sand-eels in the North sea, including ICES area IVb. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has been asked to offer advice on these TACs, and whether there would be any advantages in introducing local restrictions for individual sand-eel fisheries such as the Wee Bankie.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent assessing the costs incurred by his Department in answering parliamentary questions tabled by the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South before the meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee on 20 May. [31468]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 7 June 1996]The figures quoted were an estimate and the costs were de minimis.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the names of those organisations or individuals who have made representations to his Department about small businesses. [32614]

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department receives many representations from small businesses. To list all the representations received in this and other contexts would involve disproportionate cost.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to monitor deregulation of small businesses. [32620]

  Mr. Freeman
  I keep in regular touch with small businesses and their representative bodies about deregulation. In addition, all Government Departments now carry out a small business litmus test on every new regulatory proposal. This involves consulting small business in advance and publishing any costs which the proposal will impose on such businesses.

  Economic Policy
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent initiatives he has taken in respect of presentation of Government policy on economic matters. [32622]

  Mr. Willetts
  The third Competitiveness White Paper, was published on 13 June. It makes clear that the Government have created the best set of economic conditions for a generation and sets out a comprehensive agenda for taking this country into the next millennium as the enterprise centre of Europe.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings he has recently held with businessmen in China and Hong Kong to discuss inward investment into the United Kingdom. [32625]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  While in China and Hong Kong last month, I held discussions on a wide range of commercial matters, including inward investment.

  Charters
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many charters there are currently; and what proposals there are to increase that number. [32627]
  43
  Mr. Willetts
  There are currently 42 national charters, which now cover all the key national public services. Our focus now is to revise and improve the national charters and to encourage local service providers to produce their own. There are now more than 8,000 local charters, and the number is growing.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he intends to take to improve Britain's competitiveness relative to other major economies. [32628]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The steps the Government are taking are set out in the 1996 Competitiveness White Paper—"Creating the enterprise centre of Europe", published on 13 June. One of its key themes is the continuous improvement of the UK's performance against its main competitors in world markets.

  Europe (Government Policy)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role he plays in presenting Government policy towards Europe. [32629]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I chair the ministerial committee on the co-ordination and presentation of Government policy, including presentation of the Government's policy towards Europe.

  Maryport Council
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he next intends to meet representatives of Maryport town council to discuss his proposals for further deregulation of industry. [32630]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to meet representatives of Maryport town council at present.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many deregulation measures are at present undergoing consultation by Government Departments. [32631]

  Mr. Freeman
  Departments are currently consulting on four proposals for deregulation orders amending the Trustee Investment Act, the Licensing Act, the Late Night Refreshment Houses Act and the Civil Aviation Act. No central record is kept of consultations on deregulatory proposals that fall outside the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act, but a number of these are currently in progress.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he last met the head of the home civil service to discuss the implementation of the code of practice for appointments to public bodies. [32632]

  Mr. Freeman
  The code of practice for public appointments procedures has been drawn up by the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments. Its implementation is a matter for discussion between the Commissioner himself and those Government Departments sponsoring public bodies within his remit.

  Economic Policy
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what aspects of the Government's economic policy he will make it his priority to present in(a) the autumn and (b) spring 1997. [32626]

  Mr. Willetts
  We shall continue to draw attention to the economic benefits flowing from the full range of the Government's policies.

  Judicial Review
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department with the purpose of(a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions; [33582]

  (2) how many decisions by his Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Session since 1991–92; and if he will list in how many cases (a) the Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [33569]

  Mr. Willetts
  Since the Department was formed in May 1992, there has been no legislation introduced into Parliament by the Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service which either reverses the outcome of a judicial review or seeks to give effect by legislation to the outcome of a judicial review.

  Also, since May 1992, no decisions made by the Department have been challenged by way of judicial review.

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will meet representatives of(a) church, (b) charity and (c) other non-commercial organisations to discuss their contributions to the millennium exhibition. [32777]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The millennium exhibition is a matter for the Millennium Commission, of which I am a member. I understand that meetings between members and staff of the commission with representatives from the church and groups representing other faiths have been taking place and the chairman has met the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss the Christian element of the millennium celebrations. Representatives of charities and other non-commercial organisations should contact the Millennium Commission direct, should they wish to discuss the potential for involvement in the millennium exhibition.

  Public Sector Research Establishments
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the contribution of the public sector research establishments to the competitiveness of the United Kingdom. [32624]

  Mr. Freeman
  Public sector research establishments represent an important part of the United Kingdom's science and engineering base. The contribution of the
  45
  science and engineering base to competitiveness has been set out in the third Competitiveness White Paper, published on 13 June 1996.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Milk Quotas
  Sir Roger Moate
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to discuss with his European counterparts the future of milk quotas; and what is his policy with regard to the principle of milk quotas after the year 2000. [33250]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Commission has indicated in this year's CAP price-fixing proposals that discussions will need to begin next year on longer-term price and quota policy in the dairy sector. It remains the Government's objective to phase out quotas and price support in the dairy sector. As a first step, we have been pressing in this year's price fixing for a 5 per cent. cut in support prices combined with a 1 per cent. increase in milk quotas.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total acreage of land in England and Wales now in set-aside; and what was the total cost of payments made to farmers owning such land during 1995. [33104]

  Mr. Baldry
  The total acreage of land in England and Wales is set aside under the arable area payments scheme in 1994–95 was 1,294,834 acres and payments to claimants, who may or may not be the owners of the land, for that year totaled £176,818,295 up to the end of May 1996. The total acreage of land currently in set-aside will not be known until the arable area applications for the 1995–96 scheme year have been checked and collated.

  CAP Fraud
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated total financial loss caused by fraud within the member states of the European Union in respect of the working of the common agricultural policy. [33975]

  Mr. Baldry
  Neither the Commission nor the European Court of Auditors has ever placed a figure on the level of fraud within the common agricultural policy since, by definition, undetected fraud cannot be measured. Member states are, however, required to report detected CAP irregularities to the Commission. In 1995, member states reported 1,754 cases of irregularity valued at £173 million—0.6 per cent. of the CAP budget of £27.9 billion. In this context, the definition of irregularity includes all over-claims, whether simple error on the part of the claimant, negligence or fraud.

  Sand-eel Fishing
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what consultation he has had with other European states about the suspension of industrial fishing for sand-eels under the precautionary principle under EU regulation 309/86, article 13; [34282]
  46
  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that sand-eel fishing in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas area IVb is sustainable. [34281]

  Mr. Baldry
  Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3094/86 applies only to exceptional cases where immediate action is necessary.

  At the Fisheries Council in April I called for the introduction of total allowable catches for sand-eels in the North sea, including ICES area IVb, and elsewhere. Following this up, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has been asked by the UK to provide advice on appropriate levels for the TACs as well as considering seasonal and localised catch regulations taking account of the need to protect local aggregations of sand-eels in sensitive areas.

  Dairy Herds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the age profile of British dairy herds. [34115]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is set out in the following table.

  Age (years)

  Estimated number of adult animals in the Great Britain dairy herd1 in 1994

  2

  271,908

  3

  505,257

  4

  448,658

  5

  379,883

  6

  300,005

  7

  221,176

  8

  152,473

  9

  98,073

  10

  57,472

  11

  30,943

  12

  25,317

  Total

  2,491,165

  1 Animals which have calved.

  Source:

  Central Veterinary Laboratory Database.

WALES

  Unitary Authorities
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the working of the new unitary authorities in Wales to date. [32894]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The 22 new unitary authorities were successfully established on 1 April 1996.

  Private Security Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed in the private security industry. [32896]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is estimated from the 1993 census of employment that there were around 2,500 employees employed in investigation and security activities, excluding public security, law and order activities, in Wales in September 1993.

  Diesel Engines (Health Risks)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has commissioned into the impact of diesel motor engines upon public health, with particular reference to the health of children. [32885]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In November 1995 the Department of Health published the report of the expert advisory Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution, "Non Biological Particles and Health". In addition, the Department of Health, the Department of the Environment and the Medical Research Council are currently undertaking a programme of research into air pollution and respiratory disease, include the effects of vehicle emissions.

  Horticulture (Accidents)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been disabled as a result of accidents in horticulture over the last five years. [32897]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to monitor the take-up of grants under the home energy efficiency scheme; and if he will make a statement. [33161]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Grants are monitored on a UK basis by the Department of the Environment through a managing agent.

  Community Care
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what monitoring he has undertaken of the provision of care to elderly people living in the community. [33165]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Welsh Office monitors provision of care to older people living in the community on a regular basis. This includes work by the social services inspectorate Wales, the regular collection and publication of statistics and longer-term research to evaluate progress.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to prepare and publish a document evaluating the performance and results of the assisted places scheme in Wales. [33528]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The assisted places scheme is kept under continuous review. Since 1981, some 1,850 pupils in Wales have benefited from an education at an independent school which their parents would not otherwise have been able to afford. Almost half of parents pay no fees, suggesting that the scheme is helping those who most need it, and the examination results of APS pupils are consistently high. From September, many more children will benefit from the doubling of available places and the inclusion of more participating schools.

  Dentists (Overpayments)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of payments overpaid to dentists on which he has resolved to make a waiver; and if he will make a statement. [33326]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  General dental practitioners' net income for the years 1988–89 to 1993–94 exceeded target income for those years. On average, the amount outstanding totalled some £16,500 for each principal in general practice, of whom there are approximately1798 in Wales. The Government have now waived these overpayment in the light of agreement with the profession on reform of the dental remuneration system

  1December 1995.

  Cattle Slaughter Scheme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cattle were slaughtered in Wales under the 30-months scheme in the weeks beginning 6 May and 13 May. [33321]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The figures are given in the following table:

  Week beginning

  Slaughtered in Welsh abattoirs

  Welsh cattle slaughtered in English abattoirs

  6 May

  0

  0

  13 May

  413

  1,586

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policies for primary school age children who require speech therapy. [33323]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The general provision of speech therapy services is the responsibility of health authorities under the National Health Service Act 1977. The level of provision is a matter for health authorities to determine in the light of local need, competing demands and resources available.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of his Departments is responsible for animal welfare; and if he will make a statement. [33324]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Farm animal welfare is dealt with by the Welsh Office Agriculture Department, while welfare issues relating to wild and domesticated animals falls to the Welsh Office local government group.

  Dementia
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people suffering from dementia; and if he will make a statement. [33325]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Demographic trends suggest that on average one in 20 people over 65 years have dementia. This proportion increases to one in 10 for those over 75 years. When applied to the Registrar General's latest
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  mid-year estimates of population for June 1994, it is estimated that in Wales just over 25,000 people aged 65 and over may be suffering from dementia.

  Dual Carriageway Contracts
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the last contract completed for the construction of a major dual carriageway in the open countryside; and what was the total cost of the contract, and the cost per mile, giving the figures at the time of completion and in current values. [33385]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The A55 Rhuallt Hill scheme, completed in May 1992, cost some £11,400,000, which equates to some £4,100,000 per mile. Current price costs would be broadly similar.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the last contract completed for the on-line upgrading of a single carriageway to a dual carriageway; and what was the total cost of the contract, and the cost per mile, giving the figures at the time of completion and in current values. [33387]

  Mr. Jones
  The A55 Aber improvement, completed in September 1994, cost some £6,800,000, which equates to some £4,500,000 per mile. Current price costs would be broadly similar.

  Road Works (M4)
  Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the original estimate, (b) the cost in the tender accepted and (c) the total and final outturn costs of the main works M4 contract 3, Earlswood to Lonlas. [33386]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The pre-tender estimate of the M4 Earlswood to Lonlas scheme was £32,500,000; the tender sum accepted, £30,971,000; and the final contract cost, £39,564,000.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what study he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated concerning (i) the estimated loss of investment in the Swansea area because of traffic delays and congestion during the construction of the M4 from Earlswood to Lonlas and (ii) investment which could come to the Swansea area on the completion of this link in the M4. [33389]

  Mr. Jones
  No studies into the effects of investment in the Swansea area relating to the effects of the M4 have been commissioned or evaluated.
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  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the information he holds concerning traffic time delays during peak periods throughout the construction of the Earlswood to Lonlas section of the M4, with particular reference to information on the average of maximum time delays. [33390]

  Mr. Jones
  Times of traffic movement through the M4 Earlswood to Lonlas works during peak periods were not recorded. Delays were minimised by keeping two lanes in each direction open during construction—the same number as the existing A48 that was being upgraded.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of traffic management and associated engineering works necessary to maintain traffic flows throughout the contract period for the M4 contract 3, Earlswood to Lonlas new motorway section. [33391]

  Mr. Jones
  Total traffic management costs for the M4 Earlswood to Lonlas contract were £2,199,000.

  Highway Improvement Schemes
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the cost evaluation techniques for major highway on-line improvement schemes, the extent to which costs relating to traffic management flow are included and his estimate of the accuracy of cost evaluation techniques. [33388]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The costs and benefits of major highway on-line improvement schemes are evaluated over a period of 30 years from the opening of the scheme using the cost benefit analysis programme, COBA. The traffic delays which can occur during construction are evaluated using the queuing and delays at roadworks analysis programme, QUADRO, and these results are input to COBA as a cost. Both these techniques have been used over many years and the parameters and techniques are continuously updated. The analyses are subject to scrutiny at public inquiries and the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment regularly examines and reports on the techniques used.

  Ambulance Services Reorganisation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to assess sponsorship of trust applications for reorganising the ambulance services in Wales, other than those proposals emanating from the Welsh ambulance policy and advisory group. [34326]

  Mr. Hague
  All applications to reorganise NHS trusts are subject to statutory public consultation and appraisal by the Department.

  Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration
  Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration
  Kazakhstan: Dismantling of Nuclear Test Site
  Kazakhstan: Dismantling of Nuclear Test Site
  AEA: Detection of Clandestine Nuclear Activities
  AEA: Detection of Clandestine Nuclear Activities
  Lebanon: Withdrawal of Foreign Forces
  Lebanon: Withdrawal of Foreign Forces
  Lebanon: Reconstruction Assistance
  Lebanon: Reconstruction Assistance
  Culture Council, 11th June
  Culture Council, 11th June
  Sports Council: Services to Angling
  Sports Council: Services to Angling
  Sports Council: Resource Allocations
  Sports Council: Resource Allocations
  DSS: Male/Female Staff Ratio
  DSS: Male/Female Staff Ratio
  Class 92 Locomotives: Track Work Funding
  Class 92 Locomotives: Track Work Funding
  BSE: Cost of Eradication Measures
  BSE: Cost of Eradication Measures
  Animal Feed: Monitoring and Enforcement of Controls
  Animal Feed: Monitoring and Enforcement of Controls