Written Answers of 25 June 1996

SCOTLAND

  Licensing Authority
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he last attended a meeting in his role as a member of the Licensing Authority. [33846]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Licensing Authority does not meet to consider its functions under the Medicines Act 1968. There is no statutory requirement for such meetings to be held.

  Asthma
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the net ingredient cost for preparations used in the treatment of asthma, in total and per health board, for each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [33847]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information by health board and Scotland for the financial years 1992–93 to 1995–96 is set out in the table. The costs shown are based on the value of ingredients before the addition of dispensing fees or deduction of any discount or patient charges.

  The costs relate to inhaled and oral adrenoceptor stimulants, inhaled steroids, inhaled antimuscarinic bronchodilators and theophylline preparations.

  £ million

  Health Board

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Argyll and Clyde

  2.755

  3.206

  3.575

  3.867

  Ayrshire and Arran

  3.024

  3.470

  3.972

  4.373

  Borders

  0.772

  0.880

  0.949

  0.999

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0.965

  1.078

  1.195

  1.293

  Fife

  2.109

  2.377

  2.627

  2.892

  Forth Valley

  1.726

  2.004

  2.275

  2.490

  Grampian

  3.104

  3.546

  3.960

  4.337

  Greater Glasgow

  6.147

  7.198

  8.099

  8.841

  Highland

  1.068

  1.248

  1.401

  1.557

  Lanarkshire

  3.782

  4.448

  5.074

  5.706

  Lothian

  4.628

  5.237

  5.652

  6.091

  Orkney

  0.097

  0.109

  0.130

  0.144

  Shetland

  0.077

  0.100

  0.111

  0.128

  Tayside

  2.948

  3.435

  3.936

  4.388

  Western Isles

  0.117

  0.142

  0.172

  0.201

  Scotland

  33.319

  38.478

  43.128

  47.307

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of prescriptions for the treatment of asthma, in total and per health board, for the last four years. [33848]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The information by health board and Scotland for the financial years 1992–93 to 1995–96 is set out in the table.
  52
  The numbers relate only to inhaled and oral adrenoceptor stimulants, inhaled steroids, inhaled antimuscarinic bronchodilators and theophylline preparations.

  Number of prescription items

  Thousands

  Health board

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Argyll and Clyde

  271

  292

  307

  319

  Ayrshire and Arran

  279

  294

  312

  321

  Borders

  74

  79

  83

  85

  Dumfries and Galloway

  98

  107

  116

  119

  Fife

  209

  220

  231

  239

  Forth Valley

  175

  190

  199

  205

  Grampian

  293

  314

  331

  343

  Greater Glasgow

  621

  675

  709

  736

  Highland

  111

  123

  130

  136

  Lanarkshire

  378

  413

  434

  459

  Lothian

  421

  449

  465

  481

  Orkney

  10

  10

  11

  12

  Shetland

  11

  13

  13

  14

  Tayside

  263

  274

  286

  293

  Western Isles

  14

  16

  17

  18

  Scotland

  3,228

  3,469

  3,644

  3,780

  Cancer Research
  Mrs. Lidded
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total amount of funds made available by the Government for research into the causes and eradication of cancer in Scotland for each of the last 20 years. [34251]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research throughout the UK is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the Department of Trade and Industry. I understand that MRC expenditure on research into cancer was £13.2 million in 1994–95, the latest full year for which figures are available. It is not possible to extract the spend in Scotland from these figures without incurring disproportionate cost.

  In addition to the MRC, the chief scientist office of the Scottish Office also supports research within Scotland, and has identified the causes and eradication of cancer as one of its priority areas. The information showing its spend on cancer research, for the years in which figures are available, is set out in the table:

  Year

  Amount £

  1989–90

  112,862

  1990–91

  82,561

  1991–92

  181,113

  1992–93

  454,391

  1993–94

  963,910

  1994–95

  762,720

  1995–96

  521,210

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of(a) breast cancer, (b) lung cancer, (c) bowel cancer and (d) stomach cancer there have been in each of the last 20 years in Scotland. [34250]
  53
  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The information is set out in the table which shows the numbers of registrations for specific cancers in Scotland for the years 1975 to 1994. These have been extracted from the database of the Scottish cancer registration scheme.

  Numbers of cancer registrations in Scotland for specific tumour sites for the years 1975–1994

  Breast

  Large

  Year of registration

  Female

  Male

  Total

  Lung

  Bowel

  Stomach

  1975

  2,335

  31

  2,366

  4,116

  2,603

  1,319

  1976

  2,242

  25

  2,267

  4,035

  2,549

  1,342

  1977

  2,359

  13

  2,372

  4,105

  2,643

  1,299

  1978

  2,411

  22

  2,433

  4,396

  2,730

  1,289

  1979

  2,283

  26

  2,309

  4,557

  2,622

  1,273

  1980

  2,504

  7

  2,511

  4,468

  2,696

  1,293

  1981

  2,478

  19

  2,497

  4,572

  2,747

  1,365

  1982

  2,593

  18

  2,611

  4,616

  2,780

  1,309

  1983

  2,590

  17

  2,607

  4,669

  2,711

  1,287

  1984

  2,625

  23

  2,648

  4,839

  2,807

  1,258

  1985

  2,543

  17

  2,560

  4,830

  2,818

  1,337

  1986

  2,634

  16

  2,650

  4,636

  2,926

  1,240

  1987

  2,691

  10

  2,701

  4,749

  2,896

  1,226

  1988

  2,693

  13

  2,706

  4,625

  2,829

  1,228

  1989

  2,782

  8

  2,790

  4,599

  3,022

  1,166

  1990

  2,987

  20

  3,007

  4,713

  3,146

  1,104

  1991

  3,180

  20

  3,200

  4,794

  3,088

  1,097

  1992

  3,216

  13

  3,229

  4,952

  3,073

  1,127

  1993

  3,102

  22

  3,124

  4,803

  3,273

  970

  1994

  3,043

  15

  3,058

  4.636

  3,249

  1,035

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms of solicitors in Scotland have resigned from participation in the criminal legal aid scheme in each year since 1 January 1990. [34119]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available.

  Stalking
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary for State for Scotland how many cases of breaches of the peace reported to the procurators fiscal in the last full year for which figures are available have involved stalking; how many of those were prosecuted; and how many of these resulted in a sentence of imprisonment. [34380]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I understand from my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate that the records kept by the procurator fiscal do not separately identify whether a case of breach of the peace includes stalking.

  Wind Power
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by(a) location and (b) date submitted the number of applications for subsidy for wind power development he has received under the Scottish renewable order since October 1993, indicating which applications he has approved, which applications he has refused and which applications remain under consideration. [34564]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Only one order within the Scottish renewables obligation has so far been made. In terms of that, 12 wind projects were awarded contracts in 54
  December 1994, to supply electricity to ScottishPower and Hydro-Electric. Their names and locations are listed in the table.

  Name

  Location

  Gallow Rig Wind Farm

  Carsphairn, Kirkcudbrightshire

  West Garty Wind Farm

  Helmsdale, Sutherland

  Beinn Ghlas Wind Farm

  Taynuilt, Argyll

  Bendealt Wind Farm

  Evanton, Ross-shire

  Meall an Turic Wind Farm

  Evanton, Ross-shire

  Craigenlee Wind Farm

  Port Patrick, Wigtownshire

  Polwhat Rig Wind Farm

  Carsphairn, Kirkcudbrightshire

  Helmsdale Wind Farm

  Helmsdale, Sutherland

  Largie Wind Project

  Kintyre, Argyll

  Hagshaw Hill (S10) Wind Farm

  Hagshaw Hill, Lanark

  Hagshaw Hill (S15) Wind Farm

  Hagshaw Hill, Lanark

  Laggan Windcluster

  Islay, Argyll

  Obtaining the necessary planning permission to construct and operate wind developments is a matter for the potential developer and the relevant planning authority.

  Copyright
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department plans to conclude its discussions with the Copyright Licensing Agency with a view to ensuring compliance with copyright law. [33762]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 June 1996]: The timing of conclusion of discussions is dependent on the outcome of the analysis of a survey of photocopying that the Copyright Licensing Agency plans to undertake at certain departmental offices in Aberdeen and Edinburgh in the autumn of this year.

  Homelessness
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of homeless people in(a) the Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber parliamentary constituency, (b) the Highlands and (c) Scotland. [34012]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: Figures are not available by parliamentary constituency, but in 1994–95—the latest year for which figures are available—370 households applying to local authorities were assessed as homeless in the highlands. The corresponding figure for Scotland was 25,100.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been allocated specifically for HIV/AIDS projects and programmes for each year since 1993; and what is the projected level of funding for 1996–97. [33603]

  Mr. Hanley
  The figures reflect bilateral, and attributable multilateral, funding on activities of which the primary focus is to improve sexual health, addressing sexually transmitted infection, HIV and AIDS. It
  55
  underestimates the UK's overall contribution to HIV/AIDS projects and programmes. Figures for 1995–96 are not yet available. In 1996–97, the Overseas Development Administration expects to spend around £10 million on activities that help to reduce the risk of people of developing countries being infected with HIV, and contribute to a better quality of life for those people who are affected by HIV and AIDS.

  ODA expenditure on STD/HIV/AIDS

  1990–91:£7.3 million

  1991–92:£7.7 million

  1992–93:£8.3 million

  1993–94:£9.3 million

  1994–95:£9.4 million

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [33504]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Northern Ireland Departments operate a policy of continuous monitoring of health and safety issues both by line management and by appointed safety advisory officers. Most issues are of a minor nature and dealt with at operational level on a day-to-day basis. No formal record is maintained.

  The Health and Safety Commission's remit does not extend to Northern Ireland. The equivalent local body is the Health and Safety division of the Department of Economic Development, which has received the following complaints from Northern Ireland Departments:

  1991–92: 5

  1992–93: 5

  1993–94: 13

  1994–95: 12

  1995–96: 5

  The Northern Ireland Office also operates a policy of continuous monitoring of health and safety issues. The Health and Safety Commission has not been involved in any cases.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Receivers' Fees
  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases in the last three years receivers' fees have been challenged; and in how many of these instances the challenge has resulted in a reduction of the receivers' fees. [33125]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  This information is not maintained by my Department.
  56
  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are taken to monitor receivers' fees to ensure value for money and fair treatment of a company's creditors and shareholders. [33122]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Receivers' fees are a contractual matter between the receiver and the charge holder who appoints them.

  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases the official receiver has sought to have receivers' fees taxed in accordance with chapter 6 of the insolvency rules 1986. [33123]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information regarding the taxing of receivers' fees could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Oil and Gas Exploration
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the meetings held since 1991 between Ministers in his Department and environmental non-governmental organisations to discuss oil and gas exploration in United Kingdom waters; [33116]

  (2) if he will list the meetings held since 1991 between Ministers in his Department and environmental non-governmental organisations from Wales to discuss oil and gas exploration off the coast of Wales. [33117]

  Mr. Page
  Since 1991, DTI Ministers, and their Department of Energy predecessors, have met non-governmental environmental organisations on three formal occasions to discuss all aspects of the UK's oil and gas industry. Details of the meetings are as follows:

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: 1991

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: January 1993

  World Wide Fund for Nature: May 1993

  While no Welsh NGOs have been met in their own right, Welsh issues were discussed during at least one of the meetings.

  In addition to these meetings, there have been a large number of meetings at official level and considerable correspondence with NGOs.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the meetings concerning oil and gas exploration in United Kingdom waters between Ministers in his Department and representatives of relevant oil and gas companies since 1991. [33115]

  Mr. Page
  DTI Ministers regularly meet oil company representatives, as did their Department of Energy predecessors, to discuss of the UK's oil and gas regime. Records of such meetings are not kept in a way which would identify those at which exploration in United Kingdom waters was discussed.
  57

  Caribbean Outward Missions
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many outward missions to the Caribbean his Department has sponsored in each year from 1990; and, on each mission, how many of the participants were(a) male, (b) female and (c) from an ethnic minority.[33563]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The number of DTI-supported trade missions to the Caribbean since 1990 was:

  1990–91: 2

  1991–92: 3

  1992–93: 3

  1993–94: 3

  1994–95: 3

  1995–96: 4

  1996–97: 5 (proposed)

  There is no information available on the male/female/ethnic composition of DTI-supported missions.

  The mission scheme is administered on DTI's behalf by approved chambers of commerce or trade associations, which accept applications from eligible companies on a first come, first served basis. The company's choice of individual to send on the mission is not questioned.

  Insurance Services
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the number of insurance and reinsurance companies approved by his Department which have failed since 1979 leaving some policy holders with claims not paid in full; and how many such companies accepted reinsurance through Lloyd's of London. [34024]

  Mr. Nelson
  Since 1979, approximately 40 insurance companies authorised by my Department have become insolvent. Whether such companies had placed some or all of their reinsurance through Lloyd's of London was and is a commercial matter for the insurance companies concerned and Lloyd's. Valid claims on such reinsurance policies placed at Lloyd's will have been paid in the normal way.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to improve the regulation and operation of the Lloyd's of London insurance business. [34023]

  Mr. Nelson
  The regulatory regime at Lloyd's has developed significantly since the passing of the Lloyd's Act 1982, and following recommendations of the Neill committee and the Walker committee. Lloyd's has in hand further important changes, set out in its regulatory plan published on 17 January 1996, which will improve regulatory standards in the market, with the aim of delivering a standard of regulation which is at least on a par with best practice in the regulation of other sectors of the financial services industry. Last summer I announced my intention to set up a review of the future statutory basis of the regulatory arrangements at Lloyd's. In view of the rapid changes that are in train at Lloyd's, this review will not start until next year, after Lloyd's58
  reconstruction and renewal proposals have reached their conclusion and the future characteristics of the market have become clearer.

  Airlines (Receivership)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for how long(a) Sultan Air, (b) Time Air, (c) Omega Air, (d) Air Operations Europe and (e) Air Operations International have been registered with Companies House; and what action has been taken by (i) his Department and (ii) the official receiver in respect of these companies. [34025]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  There is no record of companies with the names Sultan Air, Time Air, Omega Air or Air Operations International being incorporated by the registrar of companies for England and Wales or the registrar of companies for Scotland. There is a company by the name of Air Operations of Europe Ltd., which was incorporated on 30 June 1994, but it does not appear that this company is subject to any form of insolvency proceedings. If the hon. Member is able to let me have any further information about these companies, I will consider whether any action by my Department is appropriate.

  Business Links
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many businesses in the north-west have received advice from business links since they were introduced. [34104]

  Mr. Page
  The latest returns from business links show that the number of businesses using business links in the north-west more than quadrupled between April 1995 and March 1996 from 3,103 different businesses using business links at least once in the first quarter, April to July 1995, to 12, 820 doing so in the final quarter, January to March 1996. This means that more than 980 different businesses are now using business links in the north-west each week. The figures for the final quarter are based on returns from business link partnerships in the north-west that were open before February 1996.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what distance he has defined as being within easy reach of a local business link outlet. [34064]

  Mr. Page
  No distance has been defined as most day-to-day contact with customers is likely to be over the telephone, by fax or on the premises of the business concerned. The number and location of business link outlets in each area has been determined by the local partners—TECs, chambers of commerce, local authorities, enterprise agencies and others—on the basis of their view of local needs.

  Inward Investment
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for 1979 and for each year since 1990 the value of inward investment as a proportion of regional gross domestic product for(a) Merseyside and (b) each region of the United Kingdom. [34505]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Data on the value of inward investment are not collected on a regional basis.
  59

  EU Postal Services
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Minister will attend the meeting of European Ministers on 27 June to discuss the EC draft directive and notice on postal services. [34349]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Under-Secretary of State for Science and Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor).

  Post Office
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the external financing limit for the Post Office for 1996–97. [34665]

  Mr. Lang
  The negative external financing limit for the Post Office for 1996–97 has been reduced from £298 million to £268 million. This reflects the fact that the Post Office over-achieved its EFL for 1996–96 by £32 million; in accordance with the arrangements previously announced, an over-achievement of up to £30 million of one year's EFL is matched by a corresponding reduction in the following year's figure.

  Manchester Bombing
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what(a) guidance and (b) financial assistance his Department proposes to offer to small businesses affected by the bombing of the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester on 15 June; and if he will make a statement. [33923]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Small businesses affected by the bombing of Manchester's city centre are being given guidance by Manchester business link, which is working with the chamber of commerce to provide a one-stop shop. This will enable problems to be identified and tackled so as to get businesses back to work with the minimum of delay.

  The Government-backed terrorism insurance scheme will ensure that participating insurers can meet the claims made on them by those who have purchased full terrorism cover. Businesses that have not done so are likely to have a limit on the reimbursement that they can receive and have been advised to contact their insurance companies to clarify the situation. Those who have decided not to purchase full cover will have to bear any loss above the limit.

  My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Social Security, the sponsor Minister for Manchester, has already held discussions with representatives from the local community to consider the task of recovery and I understand that he will continue to do so.

  Late Payments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish(a) the percentage of bills paid on time by each Government Department in 1995–96 and (b) the amount of money represented by the percentage of bills paid late by each Government Department in 1995–96. [34061]
  60
  Mr. Page
  (a) I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave on 15 May, Official Report, column 459 and on 22 May, Official Report, column 273 on this matter.

  (b) The information requested is not available centrally.

  Business Surveys
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 June,Official Report, column 270, if he will list the business surveys to which he referred regarding business (a) demand, (b) optimism and (c) output among small and medium manufacturing companies. [34059]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The business surveys referred to in my answer of 13 June were the Confederation of British Industry "Small and Medium Enterprise Trends Report" of April 1996, the British chambers of commerce quarterly economic survey of April 1996 and the Institute of Directors business opinion survey of March 1996.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how long the victims of BCCI have been waiting for compensation from the liquidators. [34512]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The provisional liquidation of BCCI SA in England commenced on 5 July 1991. The liquidation of BCCI SA in England commenced on 14 January 1992.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the expected percentage payment on the first dividend to the creditors of BCCI. [34562]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The liquidators hope that the first dividend will be at least 20 per cent., but ultimately the dividend is a matter for the Luxembourg liquidators and the liquidators of BCCI overseas. Both the timing and the value of the dividend are subject to matters which are before the courts in England, Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the payment of a first dividend to the victims of BCCI. [34560]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The joint liquidators hope that payment of a first dividend will be made in the autumn of 1996.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the reasons for the time taken to resolve the conflicting laws of set-off between the jurisdictions of Luxembourg and English law. [34513]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None. These are matters for the joint liquidators.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make the solicitors currently in receipt of fees as a result of the liquidation of BCCI and the amounts that each has received. [34558]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  This is a matter for the joint liquidators and the information is not held by my Department.
  61
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last(a) met the liquidators of BCCI and (b) received a statement from the liquidators of BCCI. [34515]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  (a) My officials last met the joint liquidators on 31 March 1995.

  (b) Three reports have been made available to the Secretary of State under regulation 12—latterly regulation 14—arising from the Insolvency Act. The last report, made up to 14 January 1995, was published on 31 July 1995.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) creditors and (b) former employees are currently awaiting compensation from the liquidators of BCCI. [34561]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My officials are advised that a total of 35,689 claims have been made in the English liquidation of BCCI SA. Included in this total are claims from 1,077 former employees; some of these former employees are net debtors of BCCI.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of funds held by the liquidators of BCCI. [34559]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My officials are advised that the total amount of funds held by the English liquidators at 15 May 1996 was US$668 million. In addition, the English liquidators have a share in funds held jointly by the liquidators of the principal BCCI estates totalling US$ 2.2 billion at 15 May 1996.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the current total fees paid to(a) the liquidators of BCCI, Touche Ross and (b) the solicitors of BCCI, Lovell White Durrant. [34557]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My officials are advised that:

  (a) The total fees drawn by the English liquidators for the period 5 July 1991 to 15 January 1996 amount to US$203.6 million.

  (b) The total legal fees paid by the English liquidators to all legal advisers, including Messrs Lovell White Durrant, for the period 5 July 1991 to 15 January 1996 amount to US$82 million.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the liquidators indicated to him the difficulties in the conflict of laws of set-off. [34514]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  These are matters for the joint liquidators. The pooling agreement authorised by the English court in June 1992 expressly reserved the right of the English court to make provisions before transmitting funds to Luxembourg. My officials are advised, however, that the issues affecting these provisions could not be addressed until the claims admission process was sufficiently advanced.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to assist the liquidators of BCCI to reach an agreement with the Luxembourg liquidators.[34563]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Any such agreement is a matter for the joint liquidators.
  62

  Post Office, Tiverton
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from hon. Members with regard to the proposed closure of the Crown post office in Tiverton, Devon. [32936]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: This is an operational matter for the Post Office. I understand that the hon. Member for Tiverton has had extensive contact with the Post Office on this issue.

  Trade Mission (Burma and Thailand)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when it was decided to withdraw financial support for the trade mission to Burma and Thailand scheduled to leave on 24 June; what factors underlay the withdrawal of support; if he will list the preparation and cancellation costs to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [33382]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: I announced the decision to withhold DTI financial support for trade missions to Burma, including the British Electro-technical and Allied Manufacturers Association mission on 18 March 1996.1 refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to him of that date, Official Report, column 50, This was so that we could evaluate the results of the DTI-supported mission to Burma in February this year. There were no costs incurred by my Department resulting from the withholding of financial support for the BEAMA visit to Burma.

  Oil Installations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the international conventions currently in place covering residual liability for defunct sea-based oil installations, indicating where the United Kingdom is a party. [33886]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: I am not aware of any international conventions covering residual liability for redundant offshore installations.

  However, the International Maritime Organisation guidelines and standards for the removal of offshore installations and structures on the continental shelf of 1989, made bearing in mind article 60(3) of the UN law of the sea convention of 1982, which the UK has not yet ratified, provide that the coastal state should ensure that legal title to installations and structures which have not been entirely removed from the sea-bed is unambiguous and that responsibility for maintenance and the financial ability to assume liability for future damages are clearly established.

  Innovation and Technology Start-up Schemes
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total allocation of funds from his Department's budget for the innovation and technology start-up schemes administered by his Department in the last year for which figures are available. [34112]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: Details of my Department's innovation and technology budget are published in the DTI expenditure plans report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
  63
  High technology start-up companies are specifically supported under the small firms merit award for research and technology scheme, on which £10.9 million was spent in 1995–96. Technology-based start-ups may also benefit from the help and advice offered by innovation and technology counsellors in business links, on which DTI spent £1.3 million in 1995–96. This includes sign posting to business innovation centres, incubators, entrepreneurship programmes and other specialist local provision.

  High technology start-ups will, also be offered support under the "Biotechnology Means Business" programme and may benefit from elements of the information society initiative.

  More generally, business links provide basic advice to start-up business and access to locally available services, typically involving counselling, training and other services.

DEFENCE

  Listed Buildings
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many listed buildings are included in the married quarters housing stock owned by his Department which is proposed for privatisation. [33754]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  There are no listed buildings included in the portion of the estate which it is intended to transfer freehold with vacant possession on completion. The position on the stock which the Department intends initially to underlease from the purchaser is currently being established.

  Mr. Gordon Foxley
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department is taking to recover moneys from Mr. Gordon Foxley. [33648]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department has obtained a summary judgment from a Queen's Bench high court master and a ruling on the sum of money to be paid by Gordon Foxley. A statutory demand has been served on Foxley seeking payment. A decision on necessary further action will be taken in the event of non-payment within the time required by the statutory demand. We continue to investigate the Foxley case to ensure that the greatest possible recovery is made.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to his Department of the British military forces based in the Falkland Islands in 1995. [33870]

  Mr. Soames
  The estimated outturn cost to my Department of the Falkland Islands garrison over the financial year 1995–96 was approximately £70 million.

  Bett Review
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 June,Official Report, column 46, when he expects to make a definitive announcement about Sir Michael Bett's independent
  64
  review of armed forces' career and manpower structures and terms and conditions of service, to which the Minister of State referred in his answer to the right hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) of 20 February, Official Report, column 96. [33894]

  Mr. Soames
  I have nothing to add to my answer of 10 June,Official Report, column 46.

  Ms Lindis Percy
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken in respect of the action of US military personnel against Ms Lindis Percy; and if he will make a statement. [34309]

  Mr. Soames
  None. As the US security personnel who detained Ms Percy at RAF Mildenhall on 21 August 1995 were acting in performance of their official duties, this matter falls within the jurisdiction of the US authorities in accordance with the Visiting Forces Act 1952.

  Visiting Forces Act
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to amend or repeal the Visiting Forces Act 1951; and if he will make a statement. [34311]

  Mr. Soames
  The 1996 Armed Forces Bill includes a clause which amends the Visiting Forces Act 1952 to enable that Act's provisions to be extended to a wider range of countries than at present.

  United Kingdom-Israel Defence Agreement
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the recent United Kingdom-Israel defence agreement. [34213]

  Mr. Soames
  No such agreement exists.

  Police
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department had responsibility for the Ministry of Defence police for the period 1990 to 1994. [34436]

  Mr. Soames
  The Ministry of Defence police is an independent police force with full constabulary powers operating under the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987. The responsibility of the Secretary of State is limited to his general superintendence of MDP, under the Act and through the mechanisms of the MOD Police Committee, delegated to the Minister responsible for defence procurement from 1990 to April 1992, and since then to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

  Judicial Review
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [33568]
  65
  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: This information is not held centrally, but it is known that no legislation introduced by my Department resulted from a judicial review decision.

  Porton Down
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of service personnel in radiation tests at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down since 1966; over what period the tests were carried out; how many service personnel were used in the tests and if they were volunteers; what notice service personnel were given of the nature of the experiments and the risks involved; and what types of tests were carried out. [34010]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: No radiation tests have been conducted on service personnel at Porton Down. In the 1950s and early 1960s two types of studies were conducted which involved labelling materials with low-level radioactive tracers so that the behaviour of the material could be readily observed. Radio-labelling is a standard medical procedure.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the conclusions of the report prepared by British high commission officials from Delhi on elections held in Kashmir during May; if the officials judged those elections to be properly conducted and free and fair; if they agreed with the official estimates of turnouts; and if he will make a statement. [33997]

  Mr. Hanley
  The report of the British high commission representative who visited Kashmir during the elections is an internal document which will not be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Government of India to declare the Kashmir elections invalid; if he will urge that state assembly elections in Kashmir be not held; and if he will make a statement. [34029]

  Mr. Hanley
  We continue to believe that state elections in Kashmir could contribute to the development of a genuine political process, which is a long-standing element of our policy on Kashmir.

  Bahrain
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to Bahrain by the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Harnley), with particular reference to his assessment of the human rights situation. [34263]

  Mr. Hanley
  I visited Bahrain from 16 to 18 June. I was received by His Highness the Amir and met a number of Ministers and senior officials, as well as the President of the Shura Council.
  66
  The warm welcome I received in Bahrain reflects the strong ties and excellent relations Bahrain has with Britain. We are fortunate to have such good friends, not only in Bahrain but in the region as a whole. We must ensure that the close co-operation we enjoy is maintained.

  I discussed a wide range of issues during my visit, including human rights. I used the opportunity to set out a number of human rights concerns which have been raised in the United Kingdom. As a result of my discussions, I am clear that the Bahraini authorities will in the near future conclude an agreement to allow a visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross to take place.

  We support the efforts by the Government of Bahrain to address the difficulties there, and I welcome the Amir's recent decision to expand the powers of the Shura Council.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in England and Wales have a conviction for illegal possession of firearms. [32876]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the data in the table show the number of persons convicted at all courts in 1994 for offences of illegal possession of firearms.

  Number of persons found guilty at all courts of illegal possession of firearms by type of offence

  England and Wales 1994

  Offence description

  Convictions

  Indictable offences

  Possessing etc. firearm or ammunition without certificate [Firearms Act, 1968, section 1(1)] Group I

  400

  Possessing etc. shot gun without certificate [Firearms Act, 1968 section 2(1) as amended by CJA 1988 section 44] Group II

  305

  Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition [Firearms Act, 1968 section 5(1)] Group I

  1465

  Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime [Firearms Act, 1968 section 21(4)] Group II

  42

  Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime [Firearms Act, 1968 section 21(4)] Group II

  25

  Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime [Firearms Act, 1968 section 21 (4)] Group III

  43

  Summary offences

  Person under 14 having firearm or ammunition in his possession [Firearms Act, 1968 section 22(2)] Group I

  —

  Person under 15 having with him a shot gun without adult supervision [Firearms Act, 1968 section 23(3)] Group II

  ߞ

  Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or ammunition [Firearms Act, 1968 section 22(4) Group III

  7

  1 Includes CS gas canisters Group I—Firearms etc., other than as described in Group II or III.

  Group II—Shotguns as described in the section 1(3)(a) of the Firearms

  Group III—Air weapons as described in section 1(3)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968.
  67

  Guns Amnesty
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the weapons handed in during the last guns amnesty following the Hungerford tragedy in 1988 were disposed of. [33992]

  Mr. Maclean
  Firearms selected as being of significant scientific or national heritage value were allocated to suitably authorised, publicly funded museums or other public bodies. The remainder—the vast majority—were destroyed in line with the usual practice of local police forces.

  Juvenile Crime
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of reported crime in England and Wales in 1995 was committed by juveniles. [33869]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Criminal Injuries (Compensation)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is(a) the shortest and (b) the longest time in the last three years for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to deal with an application for compensation from victims of crime. [34424]

  Mr. Maclean
  The shortest time is six weeks and two days. Information about the longest time is not available. Some cases can take several years to settle because of the need to obtain conclusive medical evidence and to deal with any subsequent appeal. The board makes interim awards where possible.

  Alternative Burials
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy with regard to the use of(a) alternative coffins and (b) woodland burial sites; and if he will make a statement. [34345]

  Mr. Sackville
  The type of coffin to be used, and the place of burial, are generally matters for the person responsible for making the funeral arrangements and for the owner of the burial ground. Woodland burial sites are subject to the Local Authorities' Cemeteries Order 1977 if provided by a local authority. Otherwise, their administration is a matter for their owners.

  West Midlands Police
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Midlands police into the results of the inquiry by Leicestershire police into 116 allegations made about eight officers. [34437]

  Mr. Maclean
  No. This is a matter for the chief constable of West Midlands and the Police Complaints Authority.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to review the funding of, and the funding formula for, the Metropolitan police; and if he will make a statement. [34485]
  68
  Mr. Maclean
  Funding is allocated to the Metropolitan police under the formula which divides available resources between all forces in England and Wales. In addition, the Metropolitan police receive a special payment, £130 million in 1996–97, in recognition of their national and capital city functions. We are currently considering what, if any, changes need to be made to the formula, and to the level of the special payment, for 1997–98.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the original estimated commencement date for the case records administration and management system for the probation service in England and Wales; what are the revised arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [31388]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 11 June 1996]: The case records administration and management system was introduced in two area probation services on a pilot basis in November 1995 as planned. This piloting identified both some programming faults and changes needed to ensure that the system fully reflects current practice. These are now being undertaken; we expect the system to be ready for operational use within three to four months, about six months later than originally planned.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was originally allocated to CRAMS for the probation service in England and Wales; what is the most recent estimate of the actual cost; and if he will make a statement. [31389]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 11 June 1996]: The business case for the national probation service information systems strategy, of which the case records administration and management system is a part, was based on an estimate three years ago that the total capital and revenue costs over 10 years of implementing the strategy would be £97 million. That estimate remains valid. The costs of developing CRAMS itself, which is one of 15 prospective software applications within the strategy, are commercially confidential but represent less than 1 per cent. of the total cost of the strategy and remain within budget.

  Crime Clear-up Rate
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the clear-up rate for all crimes in(a) England and (b) Wales in (i) 1980, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1995. [33891]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Clear-up rate (per cent.) for notifiable offences recorded by the police

  Year

  England

  Wales

  1980

  39

  50

  1986

  31

  40

  1995

  26

  34

  69

TREASURY

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances his Department or its executive agencies uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preference to using personnel staff within his own Department or its executive agencies. [31547]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury and the Chancellor's other Departments and agencies use executive search or employment agencies to recruit staff when it is judged more efficient to do so—for example, to fill a post requiring very specialist skills.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will complete his review of vehicle excise duty; what account he is taking of the consequences of changes for(a) the implementation of technologies to reduce toxic emissions and (b) fuel efficiency and the reduction of carbon dioxide; and if he will list the organisations he has consulted. [34240]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In presenting his last Budget, my right hon. and learned Friend said that he intended to look into ways of using vehicle excise duty to encourage the use of low-emission vehicles. In doing so, he will take account of a wide range of factors, and draw on a variety of sources, before reaching a judgment on those issues for his forthcoming Budget.

  Late Payments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he set Government Departments a target of paying 90 per cent. of their bills on time; and when this target will be raised. [34062]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury believes that it is important to pay as many bills on time as possible, while recognising that there will always be a proportion of bills that are wrong or goods that are faulty.

  From 1 June, all Government Departments and their agencies are required to:

  —pay all invoices not in dispute in 30 days or the agreed contractual terms if otherwise specified; and

  —aim to pay 100 per cent. of invoices, including disputed invoices once the dispute has been settled, on time in these terms. No Department should fall below 95 per cent. for undisputed bills.

  Co-proxamol
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of deaths in each of the past four years in which co-proxamol was identified as(a) the only drug involved and (b) one of the drugs involved.[33890]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: The numbers of deaths registered in 1992 in England and Wales in which co-proxamol was identified as (a) the only drug involved and (b) one of the drugs involved are published in table 10 of the publication, "Mortality statistics: injury and poisoning, England and Wales",
  70
  series DH4, no. 18, a copy of which may be accessed by the House of Commons Library. This table also shows how many of the deaths mentioned alcohol.

  The number of deaths that occurred between 1993 and 1995 in England and Wales in which co-proxamol was identified as (a) the only drug involved and (b) one of the drugs involved are shown in the table.

  Deaths from Co-proxamol in England and Wales, 1993–95

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Deaths by poisoning— accident

  15

  (7)

  33

  (10)

  21

  (8)

  —co-proxamol only

  14

  (7)

  27

  (8)

  17

  (8)

  —co-proxamol + other drugs

  1

  (—)

  6

  (2)

  4

  (—)

  Deaths by poisoning— suicide

  82

  (17)

  78

  (10)

  84

  (11)

  —co-proxamol only

  68

  (13)

  62

  (9)

  69

  (8)

  —co-proxamol + other drugs

  14

  (4)

  16

  (1)

  15

  (3)

  Deaths by poisoning— undetermined

  34

  (9)

  61

  (15)

  75

  (23)

  —co-proxamol only

  31

  (8)

  47

  (8)

  60

  (17)

  —co-proxamol + otherdrugs

  3

  (1)

  14

  (7)

  15

  (6)

  The figures in brackets indicate the number of co-proxamol deaths with a mention of alcohol. These figures are already included in the unbracketed totals and should not be added to them.

  Paymaster Scheme
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if deposits placed with the Exchequer by NHS trusts through the Paymaster scheme are recorded as reducing the public sector borrowing requirement; and if he will make a statement. [34252]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: NHS trusts are public corporations. As such, any transactions solely between the trusts and central Government do not affect the public sector as a whole.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects(a) to lay before Parliament and (b) to publish an annual report of the Crown Prosecution Service for the year 1995–96. [33392]

  The Attorney-General
  The annual report for the Crown Prosecution Service was laid before Parliament this morning and then published.

  Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Attorney-General 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. [33503]
  71
  The Attorney-General
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: This information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Attorney-General 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. [33502]

  The Attorney-General
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: There have been no fatal injuries in the last five years in the departments and agencies for which I am responsible. Information on major injuries—those required to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985— is as follows:

  Crown Prosecution Service1

  Sick pay

  Compensation

  1994–95

  825

  1,000

  1995–96

  235

  5,500

  1 The Crown Prosecution Service keeps central records of sick pay paid as a result of major injuries only where compensation is also paid, and sick pay records may be deleted after three years.

  Serious Fraud Office/Treasury Solicitor's Department/Government Property Lawyers/Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  Nil.

  Information with respect to minor injuries1 is as follows:

  Sick pay

  Compensation

  Serious Fraud Office

  1992–93

  1,257

  Nil

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  1992–93

  238

  150

  1993–94

  120

  893

  1 Information as to minor injuries in the Crown Prosecution Service is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Government Property Lawyers/Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  Nil.

  None of the amounts in the table relates to incidents involving information technology. One incident involved expenditure exceeding £5,000. Compensation of £5,500 was paid by the Crown Prosecution Service in 1995–96 in respect of an employee's broken arm.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Attorney-General 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. [33500]

  The Attorney-General
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: Health and safety problems in the departments and agencies for which I am responsible have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years as follows: once in 1991, twice in 1992, once in 1993,
  72
  three times in 1994 and four times in 1995. The Health and Safety Executive became involved on one occasion in 1994.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Attorney-General 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. [33501]

  The Attorney-General
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]There have been no fatal injuries in the last five years in the departments and agencies for which I am responsible. The number of major injuries—defined as those required to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985—is as follows:

  Crown Prosecution Service

  1991: 1

  1992: 2

  1993: 1

  1994: 2

  1995: 4

  Serious Fraud Office

  1991: 3

  1992: 1

  1993: 0

  1994: 0

  1995: 1

  Treasury Solicitor's Department/Government Property Lawyers/Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  Nil.

  The number of minor injuries1 is as follows:

  Serious Fraud Office

  1991: 2

  1992: 8

  1993: 19

  1 Information as to minor injuries in the Crown Prosecution Service is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  1994: 8

  1995: 8

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  1991: 12

  1992: 13

  1993: 8

  1994: 3

  1995: 7

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  1991: 0

  1992: 3

  1993: 0

  1994: 0

  1995: 1

  Government Property Lawyers

  Nil.

  None of the injuries was related to information technology.
  73

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Divorce (Pensions)
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Government intend to commence section 166 of the Pensions Act 1995 concerning the courts' treatment of pensions on divorce. [34664]

  Mr. Streeter
  It remains the Government's intention that applications for orders under section 166 of the Pensions Act 1995 will be able to be made where the petition for divorce is presented to the court on or after 1 July 1996.

  The regulations and accompanying rules of court will come into force on 1 August 1996 to allow the judiciary, the legal profession and the pensions industry sufficient time to become familiar with the requirements before being asked to consider such applications.

  The policy on the content of the regulations under section 166 of the Pensions Act 1995 has been agreed and a summary of the proposals is available in the Library. The regulations will be laid shortly. Separate legislative vehicles will be provided for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Mental Health
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement setting out his conclusions on those aspects of the Law Commission report on mentally incapacitated adults about which decisions have already been taken on which further consultation is not deemed necessary. [34118]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Government have indicated that they do not intend to legislate on the basis of the Law Commission's proposals in their current form. Given the importance and sensitivity of this subject, the Government do not believe it is appropriate to make final decisions in this area until full public consultation has been completed.

ENVIRONMENT

  Global Warming
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of the report published by the intergovernmental panel on climate change on global warming; and if he will make a statement. [33558]

  Mr. Clappison
  The intergovernmental panel on climate change second assessment report is the most comprehensive and authoritative review of climate change ever undertaken and provides an excellent basis for developing policy further under the framework convention on climate change.

  The key conclusions—that the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate, that there will be far-reaching effects on natural systems and human society for many generations to come and that major reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases will
  74
  be necessary eventually to limit future global temperature rise—show that action by the international community is now urgent.

  In fulfilment of its commitments made under the climate change convention, the United Kingdom is well on target to return its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000. The United Kingdom is pressing developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 5 to 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010 at the forthcoming negotiations to strengthen commitments under the convention.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute a total ban on the use of all asbestos in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [33634]

  Mr. Clappison
  The United Kingdom takes the view that prohibitions on the marketing and use of asbestos should be based on agreements within the European Union. The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 and the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 implement directive 91/659/EEC and prohibit the use of many forms of asbestos. Efforts will continue within the United Kingdom to find suitable alternatives to the remaining uses of asbestos, and to encourage the use of substitute products, but a total ban will not be instituted without EU agreement.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what campaigns the Health and Safety Executive plans to instigate to warn of the dangers of asbestos dust. [33636]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In autumn this year, the Health and Safety Executive is planning to launch a campaign on managing asbestos in workplace buildings under the umbrella of the wider "Good Health is Good Business" campaign. This builds on HSE's asbestos awareness campaign which was launched in February 1995.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has brought forward for converted European Union action on asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [33629]

  Mr. Clappison
  The United Kingdom has not brought forward any proposals for "concerted European Union action on asbestos", but our officials continue to play an active part in EU negotiations, and to promote awareness and understanding in EU discussion of asbestos issues.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many licences for asbestos removal have been granted in each of the last 10 years; how many inspections relating to those with such licences have taken place in each year; and how many licences have been revoked each year. [33632]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The number of asbestos removal licences granted under the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 in each of the last 10 years and the number of licences that have been revoked each year is given in the table.

  The information in the table also shows the number of visits each year to companies or contractors licensed at that time under these regulations.

  75

  Licences granted1

  Licences revoked

  Visits

  Year

  Number

  Year

  Number

  Year

  Number

  1985

  1,588

  1985

  1

  1985

  2,709

  1986

  936

  1986

  2

  1986

  1,654

  1987

  487

  1987

  2

  1987

  941

  1988

  1,082

  1988

  1

  1988

  533

  1989

  483

  1989

  4

  1989

  677

  1990

  430

  1990

  0

  1990

  401

  1991

  483

  1991

  0

  1991

  385

  1992

  306

  1992

  0

  1992

  373

  1993

  288

  1993

  0

  1993

  399

  1994

  346

  1994

  3

  1994

  805

  1995

  276

  1995

  0

  1995

  735

  1 Includes both new licences and renewals of existing licences.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of asbestos used in the United Kingdom(a) last year and (b) over the past decade. [33633]

  Mr. Clappison
  This information is not available in the required form. The use of asbestos may be estimated from import figures, although imported unmanufactured asbestos may be made into products which are subsequently exported. Therefore, an accurate figure for asbestos usage in the United Kingdom cannot be given. The figures for imports of unmanufactured asbestos which are available from 1987 to 1994 are listed in the table. No figures are yet available for imports last year.

  Imports of unmanufactured asbestos into the United Kingdom from 1987

  Year

  Import(thousand tonnes)

  1987

  23.7

  1988

  24.3

  1989

  19.7

  1990

  16.0

  1991

  11.2

  1992

  10.3

  1993

  9.7

  1994

  11.5

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many reports he has received relating to leaks in masks used in association with the removal of asbestos in the last three years; what research he has commissioned into achieving better standards for such masks; and if he will make a statement. [33635]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have received no such reports. However, the Health and Safety Executive has kept this matter under review and will shortly publish the results of research into the field performance of respirators used for asbestos removal work.

  It is the responsibility of manufacturers of respiratory protective equipment to carry out research to improve the standards of their products.

  Coal Authority Property
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what staff resources are currently being deployed by English Partnerships in preparing for the 76
  acquisition of the Coal Authority's property portfolio; and what is English Partnerships' estimate of remaining staff time to complete these preparations; [33643]

  (2) what timetable has been agreed by English Partnerships for the acquisition of the Coal Authority portfolio. [33642]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  English Partnerships is seeking to complete the transfer of a large portfolio of coalfield sites from British Coal at the earliest possible date, subject to the completion of a full due diligence study and an investigation of the title for each of the sites. The portfolio will combine sites that have little or no development potential with more marketable assets, to achieve a balanced package. British Coal is currently considering English Partnerships' proposals. By 31 May, English Partnerships had deployed some 700 staff days in preparing for the transfer of the portfolio. It is not possible to estimate the remaining staff time that will be required to complete the preparations.

  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial resources English Partnerships has earmarked for the development of the site at Green lane, Featherstone. [33644]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The former colliery site at Green lane, Featherstone is currently owned by British Coal. It is intended that British Coal will transfer the land to English Partnerships as part of the proposed transfer of a large portfolio of coalfield sites. English Partnerships has conducted a feasibility study for the redevelopment of the site and has devised a strategy for the reclamation and servicing work. English Partnerships is currently undertaking a full scheme appraisal which must be satisfactorily completed before it commits any resources.

  Home Help Service
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce legislation to compel local authorities to privatise the home help service. [33792]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There are no current plans to do so. Local authorities are required, however, to spend 85 per cent. of their 1996–97 special transitional grant for all community care services in the independent sector.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken during the past 12 months to encourage sustainable growth in the construction sector; by what criteria he measures the success of his policy; and how he assesses the performance of the construction sector over the past 12 months measured against his own objectives. [33775]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government's overall economic objective is to promote sustained economic growth and rising prosperity by continuing to pursue economic polices based on low inflation and sound public finances. The construction industry will benefit from these policies as the wider economy continues to grow.

  The position of the construction sector is assessed in regular "state of the industry" reports. I would also refer the hon. Member to the DOE information bulletins held in the House of Commons Library, which contain

  77
  information on the construction industry. The latest bulletins of interest are No. 238, covering industry output and employment in the first quarter of 1996, and No. 244, covering new construction orders in April 1996.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the relative level of activity in the construction sector over the past 10 years, taking 1985 as a base. [33744]

  Mr. Clappison
  The level of the total volume of output in the construction industry relative to 1985 was as follows:

  1985: 100.0

  1986: 103.5

  1987: 115.3

  1988: 126.4

  1989: 133.2

  1990: 134.5

  1991: 125.4

  1992: 120.4

  1993: 118.1

  1994: 121.9

  1995: 120.8

  Bricks
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total stock of new bricks standing available for use at the latest available date; and what was the corresponding figure 12 months earlier. [33748]

  Mr. Clappison
  At the end of April 1996, brick manufacturers reported 1.1 billion bricks in stock, equivalent to 16½ weeks supply at the current rate of deliveries. In April 1995, the total stock was 0.8 billion, equivalent to 12 weeks delivery at the lower rate of delivery applying then.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate for the annual volume and value of bricks(a) imported into and (b) exported from the United Kingdom. [33752]

  Mr. Clappison
  The information on overseas trade is as follows:

  1995

  Number (million)

  Value (£ million)

  Exports

  25.9

  9.5

  Imports

  43.6

  7.9

  Further information is published by HMSO in the business monitor MM20 for trade with non-EC countries and in Business monitor MQ20 for trade with EC countries, copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library. The relevant tariff code for clay bricks is 690410000, which is part of SITC 662.41.

  Local Authority Joint Tenancies
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to(a) withdraw and (b) amend circular 7/96—"Local Authority Joint Tenancies"—published by his Department on 14 May; and if he will make a statement. [33902]
  78
  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to either amend or withdraw the circular.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the wording and effect of circular 7/96— "Local Authority Joint Tenancies"—issued by his Department on 14 May. [33905]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department has received three letters and several telephone calls about circular 7/96— "Local Authority Joint Tenancies".

  Planning Policy
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the revised edition of planning policy guidance paper 6. [33904]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The revised version of PPG6 was published and announced on 20 June.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to bring about a policy to encourage the internalising of external costs in assessing planning applications; and if he will make a statement. [33974]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires the local planning authority to determine planning applications in accordance with the development plan. Guidance on the contents of development plans is contained in planning policy guidance note 12, published in 1992. The guidance covers transport and other infrastructure; economic, social and environmental considerations; energy conservation; and other aspects of development control. This guidance, combined with other PPGs, is designed to ensure that local planning authorities take into account all external costs or impacts of development in assessing development proposals.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the aggregate bids for supplementary credit approvals submitted by the local authorities in(a) Berkshire, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Cheshire, (d) Devon, (e) Essex, (f) Hereford and Worcester, (g) Kent, (h) Lancashire, (i) Nottinghamshire and (j) Shropshire to meet the prospective transitional costs of proposed changes to local government structure for 1996–97. [34041]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  For the 1996–97 reorganisation costs scheme, authorities in Berkshire, Devon, Essex, Hereford and Worcester, and Nottinghamshire were invited in October 1995 to submit the bids on the basis that structural change orders for these reorganisations may be made with a reorganisation date of 1 April 1997 and in time to allow their bids to be considered. In the event, this was not the case. The aggregate bids submitted at that stage were:
  79

  £ million

  Berkshire

  116.341

  Devon

  19.699

  Essex

  4.671

  Hereford and Worcester

  21.465

  Nottinghamshire

  12.251

  1 Two authorities did not submit bids.2 Three authorities did not submit bids.

  Bids were not invited from authorities in Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Kent, Lancashire and Shropshire because at that stage the final recommendations on the future of local government in those areas had not been received from the Local Government Commission for England.

  Ordnance Survey Maps
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons Ordnance Survey does not publish maps showing the new parliamentary boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [34089]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Ordnance Survey plans to publish two maps covering the whole of Great Britain and showing the proposed new parliamentary boundaries together with the European parliamentary constituency boundaries. Publication is expected in September.

  Government Regional Policy
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to appoint further Ministers to act as central co-ordinators of Government policy towards regions. [34360]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None.

  Housing Starts
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out a regional breakdown of housing starts in(a) the first quarter of 1995 and (b) the first quarter of 1996. [34440]

  Mr. Curry
  The table shows the Department's estimates for total housebuilding starts by Government office regions within England:

  New dwellings started

  1995

  1996

  Government office regions

  March quarter

  March quarter

  North East

  1,605

  1,727

  North West and Merseyside

  5,739

  4,331

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3,592

  3,374

  East Midlands

  3,326

  3,413

  West Midlands

  3,748

  3,186

  Eastern

  5,095

  4,393

  London

  3,113

  2,403

  South East

  5,774

  5,458

  South West

  4,148

  3,544

  England

  36,140

  31,829

  Contaminated Land
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken since 1966 to monitor(a) the land in Smarden, Kent, contaminated by
  80
  the chemical fluoroacetamide in 1963 and (b) the Atlantic waters where topsoil from the contaminated land was deposited. [33544]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 18 June 1996]: The central veterinary laboratory at Weybridge, now part of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, assisted with the investigation into the Smarden poisoning incident. The outcome of the investigation was published in the veterinary record on 19 April, 1969, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House. Given the amount of time that has elapsed, the files on the incident no longer exist. The only other work of which the CVL is aware was carried out on soil samples to decide when the land could be returned to normal agricultural use. It should be noted that fluoroacetamide biodegrades within a few months when in contact with soil.

  The Atlantic waters where the contaminated topsoil was deposited have not been monitored in relation to this action. The deep-water disposal of the contaminated soil, set in concrete and sealed in steel drums, posed no threat to fish or their food safety. Fluoroacetamide is not toxic to fish and it will not bioaccumulate in them. The chemical is highly soluble in water, so any leakage from the drums would be rapidly diluted and dispersed by the currents. It is therefore probable that the chemical would have degraded soon after being dumped at sea.

  Overhead Power Lines
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the Swedish policy of not building houses close to overhead power lines. [34052]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: I understand that the National Board for Industrial and Technical Development in Sweden has advocated a moratorium on erecting power lines near housing, pending the production of further technical guidance. In the UK, the National Radiological Protection Board has already issued guidance on the known health effects of electromagnetic fields and has recommended criteria with which the electricity industry complies.

TRANSPORT

  Aircraft Leasing
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to his answer of 29 April,Official Report, columns 355–56, if he will list the companies involved in each of the wet and dry lease applications in 1995, indicating the name of company from which the aircraft was leased, its country of registration and the date and route on which it was used; [33289]

  (2) if he will list by company the number of (a) wet lease and (b) dry lease applications made in each of the last two years. [33535]

  Mr. Norris
  The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  81

  Honduran-registered Aircraft
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times Honduran-registered aircraft have flown into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [33607]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department does not keep records of every flight into the UK. Not all categories of flight require Government permission, and flights may sometimes occur without authority. However, no scheduled services are operated by Honduran carriers to the UK.

  Between 1 November 1993 and 15 January 1994, permission was granted to the Honduran airline, Omega Air, to operate one round-trip a week between Banjul and London, on behalf of Air Gambia. From 16 January to 25 March, this permission was extended to twice a week. No airline currently has permission to operate Honduran-registered aircraft into the UK.

  Illegal Licence Plates
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he has taken to review the implications for(a) accident reporting, (b) speed camera recognitions and (c) other similar matters of the use of illegal vehicle registration plates; [33841]

  (2) what steps he is taking to curb the abuse of illegal vehicle registration plates. [33840]

  Mr. Norris
  We are planning later this year to bring forward legislation to strengthen the requirements governing the dimensions, spacing and character style of registration numbers to improve legibility and to reduce the scope for misrepresentation. This should facilitate accident reporting and improve the effectiveness of speed cameras.

  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of illegal vehicle registration plates. [33858]

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers are available to Ministry inspectors and police officers to prevent the use of illegal vehicle registration plates. [33839]

  Mr. Norris
  Sections 42, 43 and 44 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 make it an offence to use registration plates other than in accordance with statutory requirements. Such offences are prosecuted by the police.

  Motor Caravans
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how the fixtures and fittings in a motor caravan are categorised for road fund licence purposes; [33909]

  (2) under what statutory authority vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight and registered as motor caravans are categorised by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority as private heavy goods vehicles for the purposes of charging road fund licence fees. [33910]
  82
  Mr. Norris
  Fixtures and fittings in a motor caravan are treated as goods or burden for vehicle excise duty classification purposes. Privately used motor caravans are classed as private and light goods if weighing up to 3.5 tonnes and those weighing over 3.5 tonnes fall within the special vehicles class, as heavy goods vehicles used privately. VED of £140 and £150 respectively is payable. Those weighing over 3.5 tonnes and used commercially are subject to HGV rates of duty. Schedule 1 to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 as amended by the Finance Act 1996 is the main relevant provision under which VED for motor caravans weighing over 3.5 tonnes and used privately is prescribed.

  Excalibur Airlines
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which country the Excalibur Airlines aircraft on which passengers recently refused to travel from Orlando is registered. [33851]

  Mr. Norris
  Antigua

  Car Insurance
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take measures to have proof of insurance displayed on the windscreens of cars; and if he will make a statement. [34264]

  Mr. Norris
  A number of possible measures to reduce evasion of the compulsory motor insurance requirements are being considered, including the introduction of a requirement to display proof of insurance on vehicles.

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish his review on the provision of search and rescue helicopters around the United Kingdom coastline. [34439]

  Mr. Norris
  The report of the search and rescue helicopter review group was published on Monday 20 May, copies of which were placed in the Library.

  Tamar Crossing
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to provide financial assistance towards the costs of strengthening the Tamar bridge. [34379]

  Mr. Norris
  Officials from the Government office for the south-west have discussed funding for strengthening the Tamar bridge with officers from the county council. The county council has been advised that if it thinks that it has an exceptional case for Government funding, it should submit a bid, which will be considered.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the viability of the scheme proposed by Plymouth city council and Cornwall county council for a second Tamar crossing on the A38. [34378]

  Mr. Watts
  These authorities have not made such a proposal. However, the Secretary of State's proposal for a second Tamar crossing, and Plymouth city council and
  83
  Cornwall county council's proposal for strengthening the existing bridge, are being assessed at present and I hope to make an announcement in due course.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Custody Service
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government have for the future of the custody service. [34726]

  Mr. Freeman
  The custody service is part of the Security Facilities Executive. I have been considering its future in the light of a report from consultants, and the views of customers, and have concluded that the custody service should be privatised. I believe that privatisation will secure the long-term interests of the taxpayer, as well as the staff and customers of the business.

  The custody service is primarily involved in the provision of manned guarding services to Whitehall Departments. The majority of its customers have said that they would be content for the private sector to provide these services. Once the business has been sold, it will be free from Government operating constraints and will be able to offer services to new customers in wider markets.

  Competitiveness
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the gold plating checklist referred to in this year's competitiveness White Paper. [34063]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The "Implementing European Law Checklist" was published by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 16 May. Copies have been placed in the Library.

HEALTH

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the differences in the estimates of venous thromboembolism risk associated with gestodene and desogestrel made by the Medicines Control Agency(a) prior to June 1995 and (b) in November 1995. [31896]

  Mr. Malone
  Information providing estimates of the risk of venous thromboembolism with oral contraceptives containing desogestrel and gestodene was not available to the Medicines Control Agency before June 1995. By November 1995, the results of three epidemiological studies were available which indicated that oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene were associated with about a twofold increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism compared with those containing levonorgestrel.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what written procedures the post-licensing business of the Medicines Control Agency have in place to ensure reliable decisions in respect of situations where several risks and benefits have to be balanced. [31865]
  84
  Mr. Malone
  The post-licensing division of the Medicines Control Agency employs staff with extensive expertise in risk-benefit evaluation, who undergo regular training to maintain and supplement their expertise. A variety of written procedures relating to the handling and evaluation of information provides guidance to staff. For drug safety issues with important public health implications, it is normal practice for the MCA to seek independent expert advice on the issue, from the Committee on Safety of Medicines and/or its sub-committee on pharmacovigilance. Working parties with supplementary specialist expertise are also set up to evaluate certain issues.

  Unique Patient Numbers
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of duplicate numbers which have been issued since the launch of the NHS unique patient number project; how many were issued in the last six months; what assessment he has made of the rate of issue of duplicate numbers; and if he will make a statement. [33986]

  Mr. Horam
  Non-unique numbers have been issued to some 7,500 newly registered babies in the six months since the launch of the new national health service number on 4 December 1995. This represents 1 to 2 per cent. of birth registrations.

  The rate of issue of non-unique numbers peaked at 500 in one week, but has now reduced to around 50 per week.

  Non-unique numbers are being identified by existing monitoring procedures, and all of the babies concerned have been given new NHS numbers to replace the non-unique numbers.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of rectifying the deficiencies in the NHS unique patient number project which lead to the production of duplicate numbers. [33987]

  Mr. Horam
  The costs to the national health service executive of correcting the processes which led to the issue of non-unique numbers to some new babies, and then amending their entry in NHS systems, are estimated to be £130,000.

  Asthma
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the net ingredient cost for preparations used in the treatment of asthma, in total and per family health services authority, for each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement; [33983]

  (2) what was the total number of prescriptions for the treatment of asthma, in total and per family health services authority, for the last four years. [33984]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the number of prescriptions and net ingredient cost in England for preparations in British national formulary sections 3.1 (bronchodilators), 3.2 (corticosteroids) and 3.3 (cromoglycate and related therapy) for the years 1992 to 1995 is shown in the table. The corresponding information for individual family health services
  85
  authorities for the years 1994 and 1995 will be placed in the Library. Information for earlier years is not available centrally.

  Prescription items and net ingredient cost for preparations used in the treatment of asthma, England 1992–1995

  Prescription items (thousands)

  Net ingredient cost (£ million)

  1992

  29,264

  303.3

  1993

  31,247

  346.5

  1994

  32,667

  378.9

  1995

  33,936

  410.9

  1. The data cover all national health service prescriptions dispensed in England by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors in England for items personally administered, in the BNF sections 3.1 (bronchodilators), 3.2 (corticosteroids), and BNF 3.3 (cromoglycate and relate therapy). Some of the drugs can be used for other conditions.

  2. Excludes peak flow meters.

  3. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.

  NHS Dental Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many towns of 10,000 population and over do not have an NHS dental practice. [33991]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  NHS Trusts (Wakefield)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the savings which each of the Wakefield district NHS trusts will need to realise in the current financial year, relative to the previous financial year, in order to deliver the same level of service. [33856]

  Mr. Horam
  National health service trusts in the Wakefield locality have prepared plans for 1996–97 which result from negotiations for contracts with their purchasers. These negotiations, including details of service provision, are a local matter.

  Consultants
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on contracts with outside consultants in 1995–96. [33982]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health spent £18,373,129 from running cost expenditure on external consultants in the financial year 1995–96.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the financial benefit achieved by the use of external consultants with which his Department has had contracts in the last three years. [34332]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 28 November at column 613.

  Frozen Embryos
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many frozen human embryos will be destroyed on 31 July. [33978]
  86
  Mr. Horam
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 requires that embryos created on or before 31 July 1991 should be allowed to perish unless, by virtue of regulations which came into force on 1 May 1996, consent has been given by the couple concerned to extend storage. Licensed clinics are taking active steps to contact couples. The number of embryos that will be allowed to perish is not known at present.

  I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of a letter about these matters that I sent to my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton) on 14 May.

  Consultant Anaesthetists
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of NHS trusts which are currently advertising or are planning to advertise outside the United Kingdom to recruit consultant anaesthetists. [34414]

  Mr. Malone
  No such assessment has been made.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce measures to penalise those county authorities who do not achieve maximum value for money with regard to residential care for the elderly. [32989]

  Mr. Bowis
  Electors have the right to examine the accounts of local authorities, and district auditors have responsibilities to ensure that local authorities are achieving value for money.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the range of ages of the current 20 cases of the new strain of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease referred to by Dr. James Ironside of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance unit, Edinburgh, on 14 June. [33835]

  Mr. Horam
  Eleven cases of the new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease have been confirmed by the CJD surveillance unit. The ages at death—current age in the case of the patient who is still alive—of these patients ranged between 18 and 42 years.

  Smoking
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further action he will take to request the tobacco industry, in its voluntary code of practice, to discourage young people from taking up smoking. [34116]

  Mr. Horam
  The voluntary agreements on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship were comprehensively renegotiated at the end of 1994 and strengthened substantially in a number of areas, particularly in relation to the protection of vulnerable groups such as children. The voluntary agreements are due to be reviewed again in 1999.

  Abortion
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the procedures involved in performing a partial birth abortion; [34255]
  87
  (2) what information he has concerning the number of partial birth abortions performed in each region in the last year for which figures are available, the gestation of the pregnancy in each of those cases and the reason for the abortion. [34256]

  Mr. Horam
  We are not aware of this procedure being used in the United Kingdom. Methods of abortion are a matter of clinical judgment.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring forward(a) legislation or (b) guidelines to prohibit the use of the technique of partial birth abortion. [34257]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has recently made and what guidance he has recently given of the steps which should be taken by medical practitioners to reduce the likelihood of a foetus feeling pain during the course of an abortion performed(a) as a partial birth abortion and (b) by other techniques. [34258]

  Mr. Horam
  These are matters for the medical profession. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has issued recent guidance which addresses the issue, "Termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality in England, Wales and Scotland", copies of which will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the statistically most likely candidate for an abortion in the latest year for which figures are available in terms of(a) the marital status of the woman, (b) the age of the woman, (c) the gestation of the pregnancy, (d) the number of previous abortions undergone by the woman and (f) the legal grounds under which the abortion was performed. [34260]

  Mr. Horam
  The statistically most likely candidate for an abortion for each of the variables listed is defined as the category with the highest recorded frequency of legal terminations. The percentages are based on all legal terminations performed in 1993, in England and Wales, on residents and non-residents.

  The categories with the highest frequencies found in each of the variables are as follows:
  marital status: single women comprised 66 per cent. (112,036) of all terminations;
  age of the woman: 20–24 age group comprised 30 per cent. (50,591) of all terminations;
  gestation: nine to 12 weeks of gestation comprised 49 per cent. (81,949) of all terminations;
  number of previous children borne by the woman: woman with no previous (live and still born) children born to them, comprised 54 per cent. (90,891) of all terminations;
  Number of previous abortions undergone by the woman: women who have had no previous legal terminations comprised 75 per cent. (126,006) of all terminations;
  legal ground under which the abortion was performed: statutory ground C alone comprised 87 per cent. (147,058) of all terminations. The definition of ground C is "that the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the woman".
  Ref: 1993 ARV abortion statistics.
  88

  Consultancy Index
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department's review of the role, function, operation and management of the Department of Health's consultancy index will report. [34372]

  Mr. Bowis
  Officials carrying out the review will report to me shortly.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if each individual who appears on the Department for Education and Employment's list 99 is included on his Department's consultancy index. [34373]

  Mr. Bowis
  Yes.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the arrangements for the information held on the Department's consultancy index to be passed to the Department for Education and Employment. [34374]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department for Education and Employment has access to each of the three elements of the index—list 99, notifications from the police about convictions, and adverse reports from employers.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of the health ombudsman's ruling on the openness of health authority inspection reports into private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement. [34375]

  Mr. Bowis
  We are considering the question of open reporting on independent nursing homes in the light of the consultation exercise completed last year and against the background of the current review of regulation and inspection in the social services.

  Child Welfare
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects Sir William Utting to report on his review of existing safeguards for children living away from home; [34376]

  (2) how many members of staff he has assigned to assist Sir William Utting's review of existing safeguards for children living away from home. [34377]

  Mr. Bowis
  This will be a thorough review within the terms of reference, and recommendations will be made to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and for Wales as speedily as possible. Sir William will be provided with a secretariat and will have access to whatever other departmental facilities he requires.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much capital spending has so far been committed in his Department for the current financial year under the private finance initiative. [34484]

  Mr. Horam
  The private finance initiative gives the national health service access to private capital in cases where it offers better value for money to the taxpayer than public funding. Therefore, under the PFI, capital is
  89
  committed by the private sector, not by the NHS. The NHS is committed to the revenue payments for the service provided by the private sector.

  Special Transitional Grant
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those local authorities that failed to spend 85 per cent. of the special transitional grant for 1994 to 1995 in the independent sector. [34396]

  Mr. Bowis
  The audited returns have not yet been received from all local authorities.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Golders Green Road Properties
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many properties the Church Commissioners own in Golders Green road; how many are let; and what is the rent roll. [33736]

  Mr. Alison
  The Church Commissioners own two commercial properties in Golders Green road. Both properties are let on long leases at ground rents. It is not the Commissioners' policy to disclose details of the rents paid by tenants.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on how 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. [33464]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Health and Safety Commission has not become involved in any incident relating to my Department but has visited the Historic Royal Palaces agency six times since 1993 in connection with injuries or investigation of work-related ill health incidents.

  The HSE was also called in on one occasion to the Royal Parks agency to investigate the death of a cyclist in Hyde Park in 1995. Liability for this incident fell on others and not the Royal Parks Agency.

  My Department and its agencies have structures for identifying and reporting potential health and safety problems as part of more general building and maintenance monitoring. It is not possible to identify separately which maintained requirements were health and safety related.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [33466]
  90
  Mr. Sproat
  Although my Department has paid no amounts of sick pay or compensation to employees, their families, or members of the public as a result of injuries, my two agencies have made the following payments:

  Those involving expenditure of over £5,000:

  Historic Royal Palaces agency

  1. An employee slipped and suffered minor back injury leading to a pain disorder syndrome. Costs from 1992 to 1996 were

  £18,000 sick pay

  £23,633 compensation to DSS for benefits paid

  £12,500 out of court settlement

  2. An employee suffered from repetitive strain injury allegedly related to typing duties. Sick pay costs were:

  £7,434(1992)

  £14,288 (1993)

  £11,713(1994)

  3. A member of the public broke a leg on stairs in 1994. Costs were:

  £4,000 compensation

  £6,609 costs

  The Royal Parks agency;

  1. In 1993–94 £12,500 was paid to a gardener in respect of head injuries suffered in 1991 when the gardener was employed by the Department of the Environment. The injuries were caused by a mechanical drill.

  2. In 1996–97 £51,492 was paid in respect of a back injury suffered by a police constable while on duty in St. James's Park police station in November 1992.

  Costs relating to other major incidents each costing less than £5,000 were:>

  Historic Royal Palaces agency;

  Sick pay

  £3,389 (1993)

  £812 (1994)

  £3,412 (1995)

  £550 (1996 to date)

  Compensation payments

  £2,000(1992)

  £27 (1993)

  £3,067(1994)

  £3,744 (1995)

  Royal Parks agency;

  The amounts of compensation paid since 1993 are:

  £18,989 (1993–94)

  £3,900 (1994–95)

  £5,161 (1995–96)

  £51,492 (1996–97 to 31 May)

  The Royal Parks agency cannot identify the amounts of sick pay which result from work-related injuries and it has not been feasible for the Historic Royal Palaces agency to determine the costs of all sick pay incurred for minor injuries.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [33467]
  91
  Mr. Sproat
  Neither my Department nor the Historic Royal Palaces agency can identify such costs. In the majority of cases the works are carried out under other maintenance, project or refurbishment works and are not costed separately.

  The Royal Parks agency has expended the following amounts on health and safety related works. These figures relate to both the agency's working premises and the public areas and cannot be separated further:

  £95,051 (1993–94)

  £311,113 (1994–95)

  £381,915 (1995–96)

  £64,108 (1996–97 to 31 May)

  The Royal Parks agency has spent £200 per annum on information technology related works.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [33465]

  Mr. Sproat
  The statistics for my Department and its two agencies are as follows:

  Category

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Minor

  117

  187

  122

  15

  Major

  5

  5

  3

  0

  Fatality

  0

  0

  0

  0

  One of the above minor injuries relates to information technology and was the temporary recurrence of a previous repetitive strain injury.

  There are no reliable records prior to 1993 but one injury relating to information technology within the Historic Royal Palaces agency is known to have occurred in 1992 resulting in the loss of 815 days' work.

  National Lottery Funding (Sandwell)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the projects within the Metropolitan borough of Sandwell that have received funding from each of the national lottery funds. [33645]

  Mr. Sproat
  There have been seven awards to date, totalling £4.6 million, made to projects in Sandwell. The information is as follows:

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Location

  Amount

  NLCB

  11 June 1996

  Sandwell Muslims Organisation

  Sandwell

  103,122.00

  NLCB

  20 November 1995

  Carers Advice and Resource Establishment, Sandwell

  Sandwell

  96,200.00

  NLCB

  11 June 1996

  Sandwell Rape Crisis Centre

  Sandwell

  75,406.14

  NLCB

  11 June 1996

  Sandwell Asian Family Support Service

  Sandwell

  65,063.00

  92

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Location

  Amount

  NLCB

  11 June 1996

  Great Bridge Parents support network

  sandwell

  15.000.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Sandwell voluntary organisations

  Sandwell

  1.850.00

  MC

  30 October 1995

  Black Country urban forest

  Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton

  4,247,540.00

  Total

  4,604.181.14

  Royal Parks Constabulary
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many officers of the royal parks constabulary were deployed in Trafalgar square during the weekend 15 and 16 June; and what factors underlay their deployment. [33924]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: In all, nine officers on foot and three mounted officers of the royal parks constabulary were deployed on 15 June to assist the Metropolitan police keep order between rival groups of football fans in Trafalgar square. No royal parks constabulary officers were deployed in Trafalagar square on Sunday 16 June.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those parliamentary constituencies he has visited in the last three months on official business and those constituencies he intends to visit in the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [33861]

  The Prime Minister
  During the last three months I have made official visits to the following constituencies:

  Glasgow, Kelvin,

  Stirling

  Edinburgh Central,

  Gordon

  Aberdeen North

  North Warwickshire

  Nuneaton

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  Warwick and Leamington

  Stratford on Avon

  Derbyshire South

  Cardiff South and Penarth

  Details of future visits are not given for security reasons.

  Prime Minister's Question Time
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister how much time he devotes to preparing for Prime Minister's questions. [34416]

  The Prime Minister: As much as is necessary.
  93

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 June. [31444]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 June. [33145]

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

  Animal Feedstuffs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library copies of correspondence and minutes of meetings between Mr. John Whitfield, the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) from 1983 to 1987, Prosper De Mulder Ltd. and Government Departments relating to the use of meat and bone products in animal feeds; and if he will make a statement. [34028]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: No. It is not normal policy to publish such correspondence. The Government's response to bovine spongiform encephalopathy has from the outset been informed by, and based on, our scientific knowledge of the disease. The Government encourage the publication of research relating to BSE, in particular where it has been funded and commissioned by MAFF. The BSE eradication plan, published by the Government on 31 May and available in the Library of the House, lists all the MAFF commissioned research on BSE to date. I also refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House on 24 June, Official Report, columns 21–24.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  GCSE Results
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each local education authority with more than 10 per cent. of secondary pupils in grant-maintained schools the percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more general certificate of secondary education passes at grades A to C in(a) grant-maintained comprehensive and (b) local education authority comprehensives banded by the proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals being (i) less than 5 per cent., (ii) 5 to 9 per cent., (iii) 10 to 19 per cent., (iv) 20 to 29 per cent., (v) 30 to 39 per cent. and (vi) more than 40 per cent., stating in each case how many schools contribute to the figure given. [33742]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A national breakdown of GCSE performance by grant-maintained and LEA schools analysed by free school meal bands was given in my right hon. Friend's answer of 21 February to the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson),Official Report, column 217. When the data requested are disaggregated to individual LEA level, many of the resulting figures are very small. This means that they do not provide a reliable
  94
  basis for drawing comparisons, and in a number of cases individual schools' levels of free school meals could be identified, contrary to established practice on the release of information.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which grant-maintained schools have been identified in Office for Standards in Education inspection reports as(a) having serious weaknesses and (b) being in need of special measures; and in each case what action has been taken. [33746]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following nine grant-maintained schools in England have been identified by Her Majesty's chief inspector as being in need of special measures:

  Ashton St. Peter's school, Bedfordshire

  Kelsey Park school, Bromley

  Our Lady of Fatima high school, Liverpool

  St. Ann's Roman Catholic primary school, Sheffield

  St. Hugh's school, Lincolnshire

  St. Margaret's special school, Bedfordshire

  Southfields school, Kent

  Stratford school, Newham

  Upbury Manor school, Kent

  All of these schools have submitted satisfactory action plans to address the weaknesses identified by HMCI, except St. Margaret's, whose plan is not due to be submitted to the Secretary of State until July. All GM schools are now offered help from the Funding Agency for Schools school improvement unit.

  In addition, the Secretary of State has appointed an additional governor at Kelsey Park school and one at St. Hugh's school, and at Stratford school she restructured the governing body by the appointment of five governors.

  Stratford school was declared by HMCI in December 1995 to be no longer in need of special measures. Four of the other GM schools have now also received a visit from Ofsted to monitor their progress, and all of these have shown signs of improvement.

  Schools having serious weaknesses are not specifically identified as such by registered inspectors.

  School Budgets
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each local education authority in England the cash amount and percentage of the schools' budget spent on administration in 1995–96 and estimated to be so spent in 1996–97.[33976]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information set out in the
  following table is derived, for both years, from the local management of schools budget statements produced by LEAs. Outturn figures for 1995–96 are not yet available. The cash figures relate to the budget head "management and administration" and have been expressed as percentages of the potential schools budget.
  95

  1996–97

  1995–96

  Management and administration (£,000)

  Percentage of PSB

  Management and administration (£,000)

  Percentage of PSB

  Avon

  1—

  1—

  8,510

  3.00

  Barking/Dagenham

  1,237

  2.02

  1,969

  3.35

  Barnet

  1,487

  1.96

  1,568

  2.21

  Barnsley

  591

  0.96

  491

  0.83

  Bath and North East Somerset

  1,539

  3.17

  1—

  1—

  Bedfordshire

  2,913

  1.91

  3,026

  2.03

  Berkshire

  3,627

  1.85

  3,655

  1.95

  Bexley

  1,852

  3.07

  1,719

  2.98

  Birmingham

  5,741

  1.66

  7,999

  2.39

  Bolton

  1,252

  1.55

  1,158

  1.47

  Bradford

  2,636

  1.75

  2,672

  1.77

  Brent

  1,361

  2.84

  1,719

  3.74

  Bristol

  3,445

  3.08

  1—

  1—

  Bromley

  1,822

  4.14

  1,547

  3.18

  Buckinghamshire

  6,488

  3.73

  6,900

  4.07

  Bury

  1,173

  2.16

  1,281

  2.46

  Calderdale

  981

  2.29

  1,010

  2.28

  Cambridgeshire

  2,713

  1.70

  2,844

  1.82

  Camden

  1,541

  2.70

  2,223

  4.12

  Cheshire

  4,763

  1.58

  4,514

  1.57

  City of London

  56

  7.36

  77

  10.38

  Cleveland

  1—

  1—

  5,320

  2.83

  Cornwall

  2,043

  1.49

  2,036

  1.56

  Coventry

  2,045

  1.93

  1,952

  1.89

  Croydon

  724

  0.95

  1,228

  1.66

  Cumbria

  1,495

  1.32

  1,591

  1.46

  Derbyshire

  2,663

  1.20

  3,113

  1.42

  Devon

  3,473

  1.28

  4,563

  1.78

  Doncaster

  2,188

  2.13

  2,174

  2.19

  Dorset

  3,650

  2.52

  3,842

  2.77

  Dudley

  775

  0.99

  1,064

  1.43

  Durham

  3,583

  1.98

  3.647

  2.09

  Ealing

  2,166

  3.03

  2,049

  2.98

  East Riding

  3,496

  3.63

  1—

  1—

  East Sussex

  2,198

  1.16

  2,326

  1.26

  Enfield

  2,084

  2.57

  2,122

  2.77

  Essex

  5,105

  1.85

  5,677

  2.10

  Gateshead

  1,368

  2.16

  1,414

  2.29

  Gloucestershire

  1,776

  1.92

  2,482

  2.83

  Greenwich

  3,422

  3.81

  3,306

  3.74

  Hackney

  2,119

  3.20

  2,187

  3.40

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  705

  1.79

  744

  1.94

  Hampshire

  8,769

  2.07

  9,703

  2.37

  Haringey

  1,497

  1.94

  1,492

  2.05

  Harrow

  1,374

  2.13

  1,773

  2.87

  Hartlepool

  919

  3.00

  1—

  1—

  Havering

  1,144

  1.75

  1,200

  1.89

  Hereford/Worcester

  3,057

  1.68

  2,828

  1.63

  Hertfordshire

  1,660

  0.61

  2,215

  0.85

  Hillingdon

  1,874

  4.30

  1,908

  4.59

  Hounslow

  1,545

  2.07

  1,530

  2.15

  Humberside

  1—

  1—

  8,058

  2.88

  Hull

  1,793

  2.18

  1—

  1—

  Isle of Wight

  601

  1.62

  590

  1.67

  Isles of Scilly

  13

  1.44

  26

  2.66

  Islington

  2,518

  4.24

  1,873

  3.11

  Kensington/Chelsea

  1,052

  3.92

  1,138

  4.31

  Kent

  14,763

  4.28

  14,437

  4.23

  Kingston

  762

  2.31

  929

  2.95

  Kirklees

  2,308

  1.98

  2,806

  2.42

  Knowsley

  1,066

  1,88

  644

  1.19

  Lambeth

  1,803

  3.38

  3,241

  5.56

  Lancashire

  5,182

  1.25

  7,350

  1.87

  Leeds

  2,966

  1.34

  3,095

  1.46

  Leicestershire

  3,179

  1.13

  5,925

  2.21

  Lewisham

  1,983

  2.41

  2,142

  2.69

  Lincolnshire

  2,693

  2.05

  2,538

  1.99

  Liverpool

  4,602

  3.03

  4,045

  2.67

  Manchester

  3,944

  2.76

  3,521

  2.50

  Merton

  735

  1.52

  922

  1.97

  96 97

  1996–97

  1995–96

  Management and administration (£,000)

  Percentage of PSB

  Management and administration (£,000)

  Percentage of PSB

  Middlesbrough

  1,842

  3.66

  1—

  1—

  North East Lincolnshire

  1,672

  2.98

  1—

  1—

  Newcastle

  2,259

  2.70

  2,358

  2.89

  Newham

  2,383

  2.60

  2,082

  2.40

  Norfolk

  2,288

  1.22

  1,672

  0.94

  North Lincolnshire

  1,684

  3.29

  1—

  1—

  North Somerset

  1,684

  3.00

  1—

  1—

  North Tyneside

  1,000

  1.70

  1,095

  1.92

  North Yorkshire

  2,958

  1.75

  3,942

  1.90

  Northamptonshire

  2,472

  1.51

  2,333

  1.49

  Northumberland

  2,149

  2.25

  2,065

  2.21

  Nottinghamshire

  4,498

  1.52

  7,132

  2.40

  Oldham

  2,007

  2.39

  1,863

  2.30

  Oxfordshire

  2,052

  1.33

  2,175

  1.44

  Redbridge

  2,210

  2.81

  2,094

  2.82

  Redcar and Cleveland

  1,438

  2.86

  1—

  1—

  Richmond

  735

  1.73

  618

  1.49

  Rochdale

  1,228

  2.13

  1,206

  2.16

  Rotheram

  2,925

  3.39

  2,821

  3.39

  Salford

  2,100

  2.94

  2,146

  3.10

  Sandwell

  972

  0.98

  1,825

  1.89

  Sefton

  3,451

  3.61

  3,456

  3.75

  Sheffield

  2,722

  2.03

  2,857

  2.23

  Shropshire

  2,112

  1.91

  2,174

  2.04

  Solihull

  399

  0.59

  388

  0.60

  Somerset

  735

  0.57

  1,216

  0.98

  South Gloucestershire

  2,369

  3.07

  1—

  1—

  South Tyneside

  918

  1.90

  883

  1.90

  Southwark

  2,157

  3.06

  2,312

  3.36

  St. Helens

  1,205

  2.03

  1,431

  2.46

  Staffordshire

  3,024

  1.03

  3,257

  1.17

  Stockport

  1,189

  1.45

  1,306

  1.62

  Stockton on Tees

  1,926

  3.05

  1—

  1—

  Suffolk

  2,402

  1.24

  2,542

  1.37

  Sunderland

  815

  0.85

  1,985

  2.11

  Surrey

  4,536

  2.10

  5,293

  2.53

  Sutton

  1,171

  3.10

  1,313

  3.64

  Tameside

  1,137

  1.87

  1,129

  1.88

  Tower Hamlets

  1,861

  2.18

  1,731

  2.03

  Trafford

  1,215

  2.26

  1,168

  2.21

  Wakefield

  1,986

  2.07

  1,830

  1.93

  Walsall

  1,646

  2.11

  1,611

  2.17

  Waltham Forest

  1,705

  2.45

  1.618

  2.44

  Wandsworth

  1,738

  3.23

  2,566

  2.68

  Warwickshire

  2,085

  1.61

  2,924

  2.28

  West Sussex

  4,092

  1.99

  4,251

  2.15

  Westminster

  2,191

  4.74

  1,875

  4.18

  Wigan

  1,510

  1.48

  1,445

  1.45

  Wiltshire

  2,152

  1.69

  2,107

  1.70

  Wirral

  1,758

  1.73

  1,539

  1.55

  Wolverhampton

  1,137

  1.49

  1,210

  1.63

  York

  1,610

  3.46

  1—

  1—

  1 "—"is shown in columns for the year that the relevant LEA did not exist.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions she has had with university vice-chancellors regarding the private finance initiative. [34355]

  Mr. Forth
  In February my right hon. Friend set up a joint DEE-higher education sector working group to consider the private finance initiative in the higher education sector. The group is due to report in the next few weeks.
  98

  Teachers
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers qualified in 1995; and how many entrants into teaching in summer 1995 were categorised as(a) undergraduate primary, higher education institute based, (b) undergraduate secondary, HEI based, (c) licensed teacher, primary non-graduate, (d) licensed teacher, secondary non-graduate, (e) licensed teacher, primary already graduate, (f) licensed teacher, secondary already graduate, (g) articled teacher, primary, (h) articled teacher,

  99
  secondary, (i) post-graduate certificate of education, HEI based, (j) PGCE secondary, HEI based, (k) Open university, PGCE primary, (l) Open university, PGCE secondary, (m) school centred initial teacher training, primary and (n) SCITT, secondary. [34262]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The latest information available for new entrants to teaching with qualified teacher status in England and Wales is for the year April 1993 to March 1994. The data have been obtained from the database of teacher records. There were no entrants qualified through the Open university or school centred initial teacher training in 1993. Comparable figures are quoted for newly qualified teachers.

  Teachers gaining qualified teacher status

  Calendar year

  Number

  1993

  24,200

  1994

  26,300

  New entrants with qualified teacher status, 1993, by age range of training

  Primary

  Secondary

  Not known

  Postgraduate

  4,250

  7,010

  1—

  Undergraduate

  5,180

  1,510

  1—

  Articled

  110

  80

  0

  Qualified through the licensed teachers scheme

  Graduate

  1—

  10

  1—

  Other

  3-

  50

  1—

  Other

  Qualified

  0

  0

  610

  1 Numbers less than 5.

  Barred Teachers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 13 June,Official Report, column 287–88, if her Department has access to the Department of Health's consultancy index; and in what circumstances it cross-checks its inquiries with the Department of Health's list. [34395]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department holds a copy of that part of the Department of Health's consultancy index that is compiled on the basis of reports from employers— the adverse reports index. That index, and list 99, is checked when the Department arranges a police check on the criminal background of a prospective employee on behalf of a school that cannot arrange such checks through a local education authority.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef Exports
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the non-Commonwealth countries that do not ban British beef exports, indicating the value of beef exports to each of these countries in the last year for which figures are available; [31606]
  100
  (2) if he will list the Commonwealth countries that do not ban British beef exports, indicating the value of beef imports to each of these countries in the last year for which figures are available; [31608]

  (3) if he will list the Commonwealth countries that ban British beef exports and the value of beef exports to each of those countries in the most recent year for which figures are available; [31822]

  (4) if he will list the non-Commonwealth countries that ban British beef exports, indicating the value of beef exports to each of these countries in the last year for which figures are available. [31754]

  Mrs. Browning
  I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of British beef exports, by tonnage and value, went to European countries from which they are currently banned in the 12 months before the implementation of the ban. [33333]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 18 June 1996]: The Commission ban on the export of beef from the UK was introduced on 27 March 1996. Provisional data on exports of beef from the United Kingdom between March 1995 and February 1996—the latest information available—as recorded in the overseas trade statistics, are shown in the table. Beef exported from, but not originating in, the UK is not separately identifiable.

  Tonnes

  £000s

  Percentage of total UK exports by weight

  Percentage of total UK exports by value

  European Community

  231,962

  554,424

  81.2

  90.2

  Other European countries

  5,531

  9,616

  1.9

  1.6

  Total Europe

  237,293

  564,040

  83.1

  91.8

  The figures for beef cover carcass meat of bovine origin and all other bovine products fit for human consumption, including offals and cooked products.

  Cattle Carcases (Storage)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations his Department is(a) using and (b) considering using for the storage of the remains of cattle aged 30 months or over following processing of carcases at rendering plants prior to final disposal; what is the estimated (i) maximum and (ii) minimum periods these remains will be at these storage sites; and if he will make a statement. [31559]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Intervention Board executive agency is currently storing the resultant material from animals rendered under the 30-month scheme at stores in Exeter, Belfast, Liverpool and Gloucestershire. Other locations will be considered in due course as it becomes apparent that more storage facilities are required.

  As announced by the Minister on the 16 April, a number of options for the disposal of meat and bone meal produced at plants are under active consideration and in all cases full weight will be given to protecting the

  101
  environment. The options include incineration and energy recovery. The period of storage will vary between stores and will depend on the final disposal route chosen.

  Meat Hygiene Services
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present number of staff employed in his Department's meat hygiene services. [32874]

  Mrs. Browning
  The figures show the number of staff employed in the Ministry's meat hygiene services as at 1 June 1996:

  Meat hygiene division: 51

  Meat hygiene veterinary section: 21

  Meat hygiene service agency: 1,295, including 241 staff employed on a casual basis and used according to demand

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [33470]

  Mr. Boswell
  Information relating to the number of work-related injuries in this Department is given in another reply today, but the cost of those injuries in terms of sick pay and compensation is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [33468]

  Mr. Boswell
  Centralised monitoring of records of health and safety problems—injuries and dangerous occurrences—have been maintained only since 1992. It is not possible to obtain data before that date without incurring disproportionate cost.1992–1993–850, of which 27 were reported, as required by statute, to the Health and Safety Executive which is the enforcement arm of the Health and Safety Commission.
  1993–1994–871, of which 37 were reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
  1994–95–771, of which 44 were reported to the Health and Safety Executive—a Crown notice was subsequently served by HSE after investigation of one of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's laboratories.
  1995–96 (to date)—654, of which 24 were reported to the Health and Safety Executive.

  The 1995–96 figures are not strictly comparable with previous years because of recent changes in statutory reporting procedures and classification of injuries.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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 102
  them up to acceptable health and safety standards, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33471]

  Mr. Boswell
  Expenditure is not categorised in a way which distinguishes that spent on health and safety improvements alone and disproportionate cost would be involved in trying to do this. The Ministry and its agencies do, however, take action to anticipate new health and safety legislation and to react to new legislation when it is introduced. In addition, the Ministry's on-going programme of building maintenance is aimed in part at improving working conditions which helps to ensure that health and safety standards are maintained.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [33469]

  Mr. Boswell
  Centralised monitoring of records of injuries to staff have been maintained only since 1992. It is not possible to obtain data before that date without incurring disproportionate cost.1992–93: 823 (minor) 27 (major) nil (fatalities) (one related to information technology)
  1993–94: 834 (minor) 37 (major) nil (fatalities) (nil related to information technology)
  1994–95: 727 (minor) 44 (major) nil (fatalities) (one related to information technology)
  1995–96 (to date): 630 (minor 24 (major) nil (fatalities) (10 related to information technology)

  The 1995–96 figures are not strictly comparable with previous years because of recent changes in statutory reporting procedures and classification of injuries.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken in the United Kingdom to research into and eradicate the disease of bovine tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement. [33348]

  Mrs. Browning
  Our extensive research programme includes work on improved diagnostic testing of cattle, disease transmission studies, development of badger vaccines, computer modelling of the effect of badger control strategies, badger disruption studies, strain typing of mycobacterium bovis and antigen research.

  All cattle herds are regularly tested using the tuberculin skin test. Reactors and dangerous contacts are compulsorily slaughtered and compensation paid. Movement restrictions are applied to affected herds and contact animals are traced. Post mortem examination of the carcases and laboratory examination of samples are carried out. The carcases of all cattle slaughtered for human consumption are routinely inspected for lesions of tuberculosis.

  In Great Britain, where badgers are considered to be the cause of disease in cattle, a badger removal operation is undertaken by MAFF's wildlife unit unless the owner of the cattle declines.
  103
  We have been considering the views of interested parties about the future of our bovine tuberculosis control policy for Great Britain and expect to be able to take a decision shortly.

  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current incidence of bovine tuberculosis; and what research is being done into the relationship of the bacterium mycobacterium bovis and its human counterpart. [33374]

  Mrs. Browning
  In 1995, the number of new confirmed herd breakdowns in Great Britain was 449 and positive reactors were confirmed in 713 herds in Northern Ireland.

  The Veterinary Laboratories Agency is developing typing techniques for distinguishing M. bovis and M. tuberculosis strains. It is sharing research with other groups, including the Medical Research Council tuberculosis unit, to look at common components of the two organisms which could be useful as vaccine candidates and diagnostic reagents. The agency is also monitoring the considerable research work worldwide on mycobacteria in general.

  Slaughtered Cattle
  Mr. Biffen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of cattle slaughtered and incinerated in respect of the BSE scheme in the latest available four weeks have been grass-fed. [33601]

  Mr. Baldry
  Statistics on cattle slaughtered and incinerated under the over 30-month slaughter scheme are not collected on the basis of the rearing method of the animals.

  Dietary Supplements
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the European Commission to publish the consultation document on dietary supplements; and if he will make a statement on the steps which he has taken to date to promote to other European Governments his policy on access to dietary supplements. [34003]

  Mrs. Browning
  The timetable for the production of the proposed discussion document on vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements is in the hands of the European Commission. We do not yet know when it will be issued.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has made to the Shrimpton report on essential nutrients in supplements; and what plans he has to consult interested consumer and practitioner organisations about using the recommendations of that report as the basis for negotiations within the European Union in connection with the forthcoming consultation document on dietary supplements. [34004]

  Mrs. Browning
  We have noted this report commissioned by the European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers and will take its conclusions into account in considering issues relating to the safety of dietary supplements. We have no 104
  plans to consult interested parties on the recommendations of the Shrimpton report, which was commissioned by industry and not by Government.

  Beef Consignments (Greece)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department has taken with regard to consignments of beef not originating from the United Kingdom, but owned by United Kingdom companies, which have been impounded by the authorities in Greece since March; and if he will make a statement. [33878]

  Mrs. Browning
  My officials have been in regular contact with the Greek authorities, both directly and through the British embassy in Athens, with the aim of releasing such consignments at the earliest opportunity. The latest contact was on 14 June when we wrote to the Greek Ministry of Agriculture. The exporters concerned have been kept informed of developments.

  Central Science Laboratory
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets have been set for the Central Science Laboratory in 1996–97. [34663]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Central Science Laboratory is relocating to a new purpose-built laboratory in York during 1996–97 with the subsequent closure of a number of existing sites. This will result in exceptional one-off costs and disruption which I have taken into account in setting the following demanding but realistic strategic targets for 1996–97:

  Financial

  94 per cent. recovery of full costs after allowing for relocation costs;

  to comply with budgetary controls resulting from the public expenditure survey and the supply estimates.

  Efficiency

  1 per cent. improvement in utilisation of productive time;

  to achieve a ratio of 54 per cent. overheads to total costs by 31 March 1997.

  Service deliver

  At least 90 per cent. of work completed to time and within budget;

  achieve a mean score of 3 on a scale of 0 to 5 for the assessment of customer satisfaction using the established methodology.

  Animal Feedstuffs
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received that feed infected with meat and bonemeal has been fed to cattle in England and Wales over the past 30 months. [31382]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 June 1996]: Epidemiological investigations carried out following the occurrence of BSE in animals born after the feed ban suggested that exposure was likely to be from a feed-borne source due to accidental cross-contamination of feeding stuffs with meat and bonemeal. No animal currently infected with BSE has been born within the last 30 months and the occurrence of current BSE cases does not therefore provide any evidence to date of exposure of animals to infected feed over this period. Cases arising in older animals could well be due to exposure in earlier periods.
  105
  Following recommendations from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee in March of this year, we took steps to reinforce existing legislation so as to prevent cross-contamination of cattle rations with meat and bonemeal, which until then could legitimately be used in pig and poultry feed. From 29 March, the sale of any mammalian meat and bonemeal or any feeding stuff containing meat and bonemeal for feeding to farmed animals was prohibited and from 4 April it has been an offence to use any mammalian meat and bonemeal or feed containing it for feeding to farmed animals.

  As announced on 10 June, we now intend also to make it an offence from 1 August for any mammalian meat and bonemeal or feed containing it to be present on farms, at feed mills or at feed merchants.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [32728]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 20 June 1996]: Responsibility for this matter is delegated to agency chief executives, and I have asked them to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 25 June 1996:

  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning staffing levels has been passed to me for reply in respect of this Executive Agency. (32728)

  The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) was established as an Executive Agency of MAFF on 1 April 1995 and took over from local authorities responsibility for enforcing meat hygiene, inspection and animal welfare legislation in licensed fresh meat premises. The majority of MHS staff are meat hygiene inspectors and Official Veterinary Surgeons.

  The MHS currently employs 677 meat inspectors (520 red meat; 157 poultry meat) and 5 meat technicians on a full time basis. In addition it utilises 114 inspectors (106 red meat; 8 white) and 47 technicians on fixed term contracts of 100 weeks duration. There is also a pool of 236 inspectors (217 red; 19 white) and 10 technicians used on a casual basis. As you will appreciate, these last two sets of figures in particular fluctuate according to demand. These inspection staff are supervised by Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs). The MHS directly employs 37 OVSs and in addition contracts out work to 110 full time equivalent vets to supplement them. 7 vets are also utilised on a casual basis.

  In addition the MHS employs 75 managerial and administrative staff on a permanent basis and 21 on fixed term contracts of 100 weeks.

  150 of the above staff are women. 109 are employed as either meat technicians, inspectors or official veterinary surgeons and 41 as managerial and administrative staff. Of the Civil Service grades, the MHS employs 1 female Grade 6, 4 HEOs and 8 EOs.
  106
  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 25 June 1996:

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Pesticides Safety Directorate, to your Question about the employment of women in the agency as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible. (32728)

  As at 13 June 1996 there were a total of 212 people employed within the Pesticides Safety Directorate. Of these, 102 are women. The female staff are employed in the following Civil Service or equivalent grades:

  Number

  Grade 7 (PSO)

  3

  SSO

  9

  HEO/HSO

  31

  EO/SO

  17

  ASO

  8

  AO

  11

  PS

  4

  AA

  16

  Typist

  3

  Total

  102

  Letter from Dr. J. M. Rutter to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 25 June 1996:

  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about staff numbers as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible. (32728)

  On 1 June 1996 the Veterinary Medicines Directorate employed 100 full time and 15 part time staff. Women were employed in 58 full time and 8 part time posts in the following grades:

  Full time

  Part time

  G6

  —

  1

  G7

  5

  —

  SRO II

  1

  —

  RO

  4

  —

  SSO

  3

  1

  SEO

  1

  —

  HSO

  1

  —

  HEO

  4

  —

  EO

  9

  1

  AT

  1

  —

  AO

  13

  2

  AA

  8

  2

  Typing Manager

  1

  —

  PS

  3

  —

  Typists

  3

  1

  SGB II

  1

  —

  Total

  58

  8

  Letter from P. I. Stanley to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 25 June 1996:

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about the number of women employed in his Department's executive agencies and their grades in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible. (32728)

  The total number of staff employed at CSL is 711, of which 326 are women. These figures include staff employed on a permanent, fixed-term or casual basis. The following chart shows details of numbers employed by Civil Service grade (or its equivalent).
  107

  Grade

  Total staff

  Female staff

  AA

  91

  70

  AO

  180

  103

  EO

  187

  90

  HEO

  124

  46

  SEO

  69

  14

  G7

  38

  2

  G6

  18

  1

  G5

  3

  0

  G3

  1

  0

  Total

  711

  326

  Letter from Phillip Needham to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 25 June 1996:

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply direct to your Parliamentary Question in which you ask what is the total number of 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. (32728)

  The information for ADAS is as follows:

  Total number of staff employed: 1,852

  Total number of women employed: 667

  Women employed at Civil Service or equivalent grades:-

  AA

  AO

  ASO

  ASTLIB

  CONS

  CRAFT

  EO

  G6

  G7

  GFW

  GO

  HEO

  HMCO

  HSO

  LIB

  MCO

  MCTG1

  PS

  PTO

  SCS(M)

  SCS(W)

  SCS(WD)

  SEC

  SGBII

  SGBII(C)

  SO

  ST

  TL

  TM

  SCS(MD)

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 25 June 1996:

  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on employees in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. (32728)

  The information you ask for, as at 13 June 1996, is set out below. This relates only to permanent staff.
  108

  Grade1

  Total staff

  Female staff

  3

  1

  —

  5

  3

  —

  6

  14

  1

  7

  41

  3

  SEO

  125

  38

  HEO

  78

  26

  EO

  153

  69

  AO

  356

  230

  AA

  278

  190

  Total

  1,049

  557

  1Including equivalent scientific grades.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support
  13. Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents with care and in receipt of income support are also receiving child support. [32984]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The latest available information shows that 267,500 cases involve parents with care assessed to receive child support who are in receipt of income support.

  24. Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the number of absent parents who should be paying child support who are currently paying nothing; and what proportion of the total this represents. [329971]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Some 203,000 absent parents should be paying full child support maintenance assessments and 55,400–27 per cent.—are not currently paying. A further 73,000 absent parents should be paying interim maintenance assessments and 85 per cent. of them are not paying anything.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many former liable relative cases are currently under the responsibility of the Child Support Agency; and how many of these cases do not have a full maintenance assessment. [33774]

  Mr. Mitchell
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he intends to make to the legislation governing reduced benefit directions for those who fail, without good cause, to co-operate with child support provisions. [34662]

  Mr. Mitchell
  We propose that reduced benefit directions should be increased to 40 per cent. of the adult income support personal allowance for three years, the penalty to be repeated at the end of each three-year period should the parent still be on benefit and unwilling to co-operate. We also propose to remove the six week cooling off period before the imposition of a reduced benefit direction from those parents with care who do not make written representations about their failure to comply. Amending legislation will be brought forward as part of a package of child support regulations which we intend to lay before the House on 26 June.

  I believe that these changes will act as a disincentive to parents with care who are minded to collude with the absent parent to avoid child support maintenance and

  109
  encourage more parents with care to make contact with the Child Support Agency. The changes will be introduced alongside a range of operational improvements which are intended to make the processes involved and the advantages of co-operation clearer to parents with care.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions the Child Support agency has provided inaccurate assessments of liability. [32990]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information requested is not available. However, significant improvements have been made by the agency and, as at the end of March this year, the accuracy level stood at 79 per cent.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he plans to the regulations governing the Child Support Agency. [33001]

  Mr. Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer that I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold).

  Fraud
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of Operation Spotlight in Edinburgh on social security fraud; and if he will make a statement. [32985]

  Mr. Heald
  The campaign in Edinburgh received strong public support. Savings of £2.6 million have so far been recorded for the four-week period which compares with £5.6 million for the whole of last year. The hotline received over 900 calls, which will result in further savings. National insurance arrears of more than £400,000 were found.

  Mr. Cartiss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce Operation Spotlight in Great Yarmouth to tackle fraud by social security claimants; and if he will make a statement. [32971]

  Mr. Heald
  I announced on Wednesday 19 June that the "Spotlight on Benefit Cheats" campaign would operate in Great Yarmouth from 1 July to 26 July.

  The campaign, which began in April this year, has been very successful. By 21 June, 11 separate areas of the country had been targeted, seven of them having completed their operational phase and an estimated £16.5 million of benefit fraud having been stopped.

  Student Loans
  Mr. IIlsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding the inclusion of student loan income in the calculation of income with respect to benefit claims. [32986]

  Mr. Burt
  We have received a number of representations on this issue.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in 1979 were living on(a) half or (b) less than half of the average income in that year. [32991]
  110
  Mr. Burt
  The number of people with incomes below half the mean has risen from 4.4 million in 1979 to 11.4 million in 1992–93, before housing costs, and from 5 million to 14.1 million, after housing costs. Much of this rise was due to the 36 per cent. increase in average income.

  Social Security Reforms
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of how much his social security reforms will save by the end of the century; and if he will make a statement. [32992]

  Mr. Burt
  The major reforms announced to date are expected to reduce public spending by around £5 billion a year in today's prices by the turn of the century and by £15 billion in the longer term.

  Asylum Seekers (Child Benefit)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of children in families seeking asylum who will not receive child benefit this year under the regulations. [32993]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to my oral answer earlier today, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mr. Purchase).

  Income Support (Diet)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the ability of families and individuals living on income support to afford a healthy diet. [32994]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  A wide range of foodstuffs is available at affordable prices and a healthy diet is obtainable within the means of anyone receiving income support.

  Housing Benefit Regulations
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions took place on the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1996 between his officials and the Scottish Office. [32995]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  From the time that the housing benefit proposals were announced, officials of this Department were in touch with those in the Scottish Office. The hon. Gentleman raised the issue of an exemption for care leavers in Scotland when these regulations were debated in the House on 5 June. In my response to his concern, I assured him that parallel legislation to cover Scottish care leavers will be put in place to come into force on 7 October 1996.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to local authorities for the adaptations needed to their computer systems as a result of changes in housing benefit regulations. [32999]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated cost to local authorities for adaptations to their computer systems arising from changes in the housing benefit regulations to be implemented during 1996 is £5.5 million, which has been met by central Government funds in full.
  111

  Private Pensions
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on private pension provision. [32996]

  Mr. Heald
  Pensions funds are of huge importance for the country and its people. UK funds amount to nearly £600 billion—more than in all the other countries in the European Union put together. By providing security and enhancing choice, the measures in the Pensions Act 1995 will create the environment necessary for funded occupational and personal pensions to continue to thrive.

  Benefit Overpayments
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for recovering overpayments by benefit recipients. [32998]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It remains the Department's policy that when a recoverable overpayment occurs, the Department will obtain recovery of the amount quickly and by the most cost-effective method, without causing hardship.

  Rowntree Report
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what policy changes he proposes consequent upon the Rowntree trust's report on poverty. [33000]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The report supports the Government's view that the most effective way of raising the living standards and prospects of unemployed people is by helping them return to work. Unemployment has fallen by nearly 800,000 since December 1992, and we are building upon this achievement with innovative policies on in-work and back-to-work benefits.

  Mobile Information Unit
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the mobile information unit; what is the current financial value of this unit; what has been the expenditure on the unit

  Percentage withdrawal of benefit following all work test referrals to Benefits Agency medical services

  April 1995 to May 1996

  Local office

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  Greenock

  0

  1.3

  13.3

  11.4

  20

  11.8

  22.3

  15.1

  12.9

  10.4

  8.7

  14.4

  11.6

  Port Glasgow

  0

  4

  14.1

  23.1

  13.8

  9.6

  20.3

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Motherwell

  0

  5.2

  23

  25.6

  18.2

  10.9

  11.2

  18.4

  29.7

  29.3

  18.7

  6.5

  16

  Hamilton

  0

  9

  19.7

  19.9

  16.6

  33.3

  16.8

  6.2

  24.9

  28.3

  21.4

  12.3

  23.9

  Coatbridge

  0

  3.9

  24.2

  16.1

  15.9

  17.5

  15.2

  22.5

  25.7

  9.2

  23.7

  12

  17.4

  Airdrie

  0

  2.8

  19.2

  17.2

  15.6

  13.3

  9.4

  23.6

  24.1

  8.5

  20.8

  6.9

  —

  Edinburgh South

  0

  2.6

  3.9

  3.1

  3.6

  4.4

  4.9

  10

  5.9

  2.7

  2.4

  2.9

  3.8

  Edinburgh East

  0

  1.3

  6

  16.9

  9.9

  3.1

  26.8

  28.1

  9

  9.8

  11.3

  17.3

  25.1

  Galashiels

  0

  7

  11.6

  6.7

  11.9

  9.4

  11.3

  14

  13.9

  16.1

  11

  15.7

  17.9

  Kirkcaldy

  0

  2

  11

  9.3

  9.7

  18.2

  30.6

  25

  18.2

  22.6

  30

  23

  19.5

  Cowdenbeath

  2.7

  13

  0

  24.6

  21.2

  22.8

  30

  10.2

  25.8

  18.6

  20.1

  12.5

  8.3

  Leven

  3.3

  9.2

  10.8

  9.8

  18.3

  21.2

  17.6

  25

  11.9

  14.1

  14.2

  12.9

  19.5

  Dunfermiline

  0

  7.4

  7.3

  25.7

  12.9

  20

  11.4

  19.6

  9.3

  11.9

  15.3

  15.7

  15

  Stirling

  0

  2.6

  9

  8.1

  8.2

  8.4

  18.1

  16.6

  15.6

  15.2

  12

  8.1

  15.3

  Falkirk

  0

  2.7

  3.5

  12.9

  12

  24.6

  17.6

  12.7

  11.3

  15.9

  10.5

  10.4

  10.7

  112
  over the last five years; and how many residents the mobile information unit has been in contact with over the last five years. [33026]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 24 June 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what plans he has for the Mobile Information Unit (MIU); what is the current financial value of this unit; what has been the expenditure on the unit over the last five years; and with how many residents the MIU has been in contact with over the last five years.

  I have assumed that the MIU you refer to in your question is the MIU in Wakefield. The information is not available in the format requested. This is because the MIU for Wakefield was registered in December 1994, prior to this a unit was run by Kirklees District and covered a wider geographical area, serving several Districts.

  A review of the customer services provided within the Yorkshire Area is ongoing. However, the MIU service in Wakefield has been suspended with effect from 3 June although a final decision on its future has not been made.

  The current value of the MIU is estimated at £13,000.

  The attached Annex gives details of expenditure and the number of customers seen.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mobile information unit—Wakefield

  Period

  Staff costs(£)

  Operating costs 1(£)

  Number of customers seen

  1994–95 (from December 1994)

  10,631

  1,580.78

  1,992

  1995–96

  31,988

  9,745.60

  10.814

  1996–97 (to June 1996)

  5,315

  4,657.37

  1,503

  Data is provisional and subject to amendment.

  1 Operating costs including maintenance, garaging, diesel and valeting.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of state for social security if he will list the percentage withdrawal of benefit following all-work test examinations at each Benefits Agency office in Scotland for each month in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996 up to the month recent available month. [33608]

  Mr Burt
  The information is not available in the formate requested. Such information as is in the tables:
  113

  Percentage withdrawal of benefit following all work test referrals to Benefits Agency medical services

  April 1995 to May 1996

  Local office

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  Glasgow City

  0

  0

  0

  8.2

  14

  11.1

  5.8

  18.5

  33.6

  11.3

  7.7

  6.8

  12.6

  Glasgow Maryhill

  0

  0

  0

  8.4

  8.9

  12.4

  7.1

  19.8

  33

  15.7

  10.2

  4

  15.4

  Irwine

  0

  1.5

  1.1

  6.5

  15.2

  10

  14.2

  14

  16.4

  28.2

  20.8

  27.6

  7.2

  Kilmarnock

  1.9

  6.1

  10.3

  16.5

  19.7

  12.2

  11.7

  15.5

  19.5

  24.4

  12.4

  31.7

  20.6

  Clydebank

  0

  5.3

  10.4

  9

  6.1

  12.5

  11

  15.3

  10.3

  9.6

  8.9

  12

  10.7

  Cambeltown

  0

  0

  17.9

  3.9

  7.7

  20.5

  17.1

  20

  10

  16.7

  0

  16.2

  13.2

  Oban

  0

  0

  18.7

  0

  0

  13

  29.8

  14.3

  7.1

  28.2

  23.8

  25

  12.5

  Edinburgh City

  0

  1.7

  5.6

  20.5

  22.1

  23.9

  12.6

  15.1

  15.5

  17.2

  14.2

  19.8

  12.9

  Leith

  0

  0

  15

  1.8

  8.1

  5.3

  4.6

  2

  6.7

  7.4

  8.6

  5

  1.6

  Lothian West

  1.9

  5.5

  10.2

  14.5

  12.8

  15.1

  12.4

  11.2

  13.6

  11.1

  11.2

  7.5

  10.6

  Renfrew

  0

  4.9

  9.2

  10.9

  16

  10.4

  7.8

  10.5

  4

  14.4

  14.8

  13.7

  7.8

  Ayr

  0

  7.5

  23.3

  24.1

  16.3

  21.3

  26.2

  27.4

  24.5

  19.7

  25.5

  31.8

  19.7

  Dumfries

  0

  1.1

  20.2

  10.7

  21.4

  25.8

  22.3

  16.7

  26.1

  16.9

  9.6

  14.4

  6.9

  Stranraer

  0

  0

  0

  46.8

  0

  13.1

  38.1

  25.9

  15.2

  1.9

  14.3

  5.2

  5.1

  Dundee

  0

  6

  11.7

  18.4

  19.8

  22.9

  24.9

  17.7

  15.9

  16.1

  17.9

  15.3

  16

  Arbroath

  0

  5.2

  15.2

  9.6

  26.9

  15.3

  11.4

  5.2

  18

  14.2

  18.8

  12.4

  15.6

  Perth

  0

  0.9

  6.5

  8.7

  13.6

  8.9

  16.1

  9.3

  11.5

  9.6

  11.9

  10.2

  6.3

  Glasgow Shettleston

  0

  3.2

  12.5

  10.4

  22.4

  8.8

  9.4

  9.8

  11.7

  12.4

  13.7

  21.2

  16.8

  Glasgow Bridgeton

  0

  4.6

  24.2

  15.1

  20.5

  7.5

  13.1

  3.7

  7.2

  21.2

  42

  31.8

  25.2

  Glasgow Provan

  0

  3.4

  10.9

  12.3

  23.2

  9.7

  13.3

  3.9

  6.6

  14.9

  10

  64.2

  18.1

  Glasgow Laurieston

  0

  1.5

  0.5

  6.3

  7

  9.2

  17.2

  14.5

  12.7

  24.2

  24.3

  23.6

  16

  East Kilbride

  0

  0

  0

  9.1

  15

  16.9

  15.5

  12.1

  14.5

  19.4

  30.7

  24.4

  10.5

  Glasgow South West

  1.4

  4.8

  10.8

  15.8

  16.5

  16

  19.1

  20.5

  22.9

  18.7

  20.9

  28.5

  26.7

  Glasgow Springburn

  0

  4.2

  5.7

  5.1

  6.9

  14

  19.4

  5.1

  12.1

  15.9

  15.2

  13.6

  10.7

  Glasgow Cumbernauld

  0

  8.2

  9.5

  15.6

  17.4

  13

  19.2

  10.3

  18.4

  14.1

  18.3

  29.8

  18.4

  Glasgow Anniesland

  0

  0.9

  13.4

  11.2

  13

  4.6

  25.3

  19.3

  14.1

  20.6

  10.2

  15.4

  10.5

  Glasgow Patrick

  0

  0

  12.1

  10.2

  18.1

  6.8

  17.5

  22.8

  11.5

  18.6

  12.9

  12.7

  15.3

  Aberdeen

  0.8

  6.2

  2.1

  13.3

  8.5

  6.1

  8.2

  5.6

  5.7

  6.7

  10.2

  8.5

  16.9

  Lerwick

  0

  0

  0

  12.5

  8.7

  0

  30.8

  50

  24

  0

  23.1

  20

  23

  Peterhead

  0

  2.3

  1.5

  3.9

  8.4

  7.5

  4.5

  0.8

  0

  0.9

  2.3

  4.4

  4.8

  Inverness

  0

  5.5

  12.6

  8.7

  13.3

  9.8

  11.8

  17.5

  12.2

  13.9

  18.7

  10.4

  6.3

  Elgin

  0

  1.7

  12.2

  15.8

  4.3

  13.2

  13.4

  16.5

  9.6

  10.2

  15.2

  14

  12

  Fort William

  0

  5.9

  4.2

  0

  7.1

  8.6

  8.6

  0

  11.6

  5.3

  13.7

  25

  6.6

  Kirkwall

  0

  0

  0

  11.1

  5.9

  16.1

  0

  5.9

  0

  12.5

  0

  40

  6.7

  Stornoway

  0

  0

  0

  2.2

  0

  0

  0

  15.6

  0

  8.2

  5.3

  7.7

  7.4

  Wick

  0

  2.2

  4.2

  5.9

  2.6

  3.1

  3.2

  20.7

  4.5

  4.9

  7.7

  7.1

  4.8

  Notes:

  1. Data for April 1995:—two cases were withdrawn benefit for the whole of Scotland, one in Leith and one in Clydebank.

  2. Percentage withdrawal includes a small number of credits only cases withdrawn as they failed to return their questionnaire without good cause or failed to attend a medical.

  3. From January 1996 data for Port Glasgow are included with the figures for Greenock.

  4. From May 1996 data for Airdrie are included with the figure for Coatbridge.

  5. The decision to withdraw benefit is made by the independent adjudication officer.

  Source:

  100 per cent. count of cases on the incapacity benefit system. Excludes a small number of clerically processed cases.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of people in receipt of disability working allowance were in work at the time of their claim. [33831]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  In order to qualify for disability working allowance, a person must work for 16 hours or more a week. Therefore, all recipients of disability working allowance were in work at the time of their claim.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the benefits of providing child benefit to 16 to 18-year-olds. [32988]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Child benefit is paid in respect of some 72 per cent. of 16-year-olds, 59 per cent. of 17-year-olds and 38 per cent. of 18-year-olds who are continuing their education beyond the school leaving age.
  114
  It is a significant contribution of £560 a year to their families. Without it, a family on average earnings would suffer a loss in income equivalent to a rise of 5p in the basic rate of income tax.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households had a(a) fridge, (b) car, (c) freezer, (d) telephone and (e) television in 1981; and how many have these items currently. [33143]

  Mr. Heald
  The latest available information is for 1992–93. The proportion of pensioners with access to these consumer durables for 1981 and 1992–93 respectively are as follows: a fridge 92 per cent. and 99 per cent.; a car or van 37 per cent. and 50 per cent.; a freezer 34 per cent. and 78 per cent.; a telephone 67 per cent. and 93 per cent. The 1992–93 figures did not record televisions, but 96 per cent. of pensioners had access to a television in 1981.

  Source:

  Households below average income, 1981 and 1992–93.
  115

WALES

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [33525]

  Mr. Hague
  The number of recorded accident reports under the three categories is as follows:

  (a) Minor

  (b) Major1

  (c) Fatal Nil

  Computer related

  1995

  112

  3

  Nil

  3

  1994

  119

  7

  Nil

  24

  1993

  85

  7

  Nil

  4

  1 Cases which are required to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.

  Before 1 January 1993, accident records were not maintained centrally.

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of(a) the demand for, and (b) the supply of rented accommodation in Wales at the most recent available date. [33802]

  Mr. Hague
  Estimates are not produced in the form requested.

  Unemployment (Construction Workers)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the total number of people in Wales who are currently unemployed whose preference for employment has been indicated as the construction industry. [33750]

  Mr. Hague
  In April 1996, the Employment Service recorded some 5,900 unemployed claimants in Wales who sought skilled construction work.

  House Building
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses have been built in Wales during the past 12 months in the(a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) public sector. [33753]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on 19 June,Official Report, column 507, by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary.

  Employment (Construction Industry)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of people currently employed in the construction industry in Wales; and what was the corresponding figure(a) five and (b) 10 years previously.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is shown in the following table:116

  Employment1 in the construction industry in Wales, not seasonally adjusted

  Number

  Spring 1985

  83,000

  Spring 1990

  113,000

  Spring 1995

  85,000

  Winter 1995–96

  80,000

  Source:

  Labour force survey.

  1Includes employees, self-employed, Government-supported training and employment programmes and, since 1992, unpaid family workers.

  Firearms
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Government premises in Wales store guns or ammunition; what precautions are in place to prevent theft; how many instances of theft have occurred since 1990; if he will make it his policy to review security precautions; and if he will make a statement. [33977]

  Mr. Hague
  For security reasons I cannot disclose how many of my Department's premises in Wales store guns or ammunition, or provide details of the precautions which are in place to prevent theft. There has been one incident of theft of guns or ammunition since 1990. A review of security precautions is already under way in the light of that incident.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what considerations underlay his direction to the Welsh Development Agency to sell by auction 25 lots of land on 18 June. [33868]

  Mr. Hague
  I have made no such direction. The agency will continue to provide quality sites and premises to new and expanding businesses in Wales and to inward investors. It is not the agency's role to be a long-term landlord; nor should it intervene where the market is capable of operating unaided. The current disposal programme is transferring ownership to the private sector and providing funds for the agency to re-invest in the Welsh economy, but the operational management of the programme is a matter for the agency.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on measures taken since 1979 by the Welsh Development Agency to improve the physical environment in Wales. [33867]

  Mr. Hague
  This is an operational matter for the Welsh Development Agency. I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Higher Education Funding Council
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the business expertise of the current membership of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [34725]
  117
  Mr. Hague
  The current membership includes three people with direct business expertise. I wish, nevertheless, to strengthen the council and have today appointed Dr. Kenneth Gray CBE, technical director of Thorn EMI, as a member of the council. I have also appointed Professor Brian Clarkson to the council.

  They have been appointed for three years.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date his Department was informed of the proposal to set up the Welsh ambulance policy and advisory group; what undertakings he gave of departmental co-operation with it; and if he will make a statement. [34283]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department was informed of proposals by trusts to establish a Welsh ambulance policy advisory group in October 1994. The group is independent 118
  of my Department but my officials were invited to attend meetings. The group's first formal meeting was held on 16 January 1995.

  GP Trainees
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of general practitioner trainees on three-year rotational schemes for each year from 1990 to 1995 and the number so far enrolled in 1996; how many of those are currently in the hospital practice part of the scheme; how many started the scheme and how many completed it in each year; and how many of those starting the scheme were United Kingdom graduates. [33922]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 10 June, Official Report, column 56.

  Pensions on Divorce: Implementation of Section 166
  Pensions on Divorce: Implementation of Section 166
  Macedonia and the United States: Bilateral Agreement
  Macedonia and the United States: Bilateral Agreement
  Turkey: Alleged Human Rights Violations
  Turkey: Alleged Human Rights Violations
  Abkhazia: Shipment of Humanitarian Supplies
  Abkhazia: Shipment of Humanitarian Supplies
  UN Observer Mission in Georgia
  UN Observer Mission in Georgia
  Telecommunications and Gas: Objectives and Duties of Directors General
  Telecommunications and Gas: Objectives and Duties of Directors General
  Redundancies: Trade Union and Labour Relations Act
  Redundancies: Trade Union and Labour Relations Act
  Parking Permit Allocations on the Mall
  Parking Permit Allocations on the Mall
  Beef Ban: Lost Revenue to Meat Exporters
  Beef Ban: Lost Revenue to Meat Exporters
  Sentencing of Persons Twice Convicted of Rape: Parole Board Views
  Sentencing of Persons Twice Convicted of Rape: Parole Board Views