Written Answers of 26 June 1996

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0–£999, (2) £1,000–£9,999, (3) £10,000–£49,999, (4) £50,000£99,999, (5) £100,000–£499,999, (6) £500,000–£999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34153]

  Mr. Willetts
  The information is not held centrally in the form requested and is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Compliance Cost Assessment
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34152]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government require a compliance cost assessment to be prepared for all legislative proposals which affect business or charities. Departments must consult small businesses about the impact of the proposal on them, and the results must be shown in the CCA. Full details of the arrangements for carrying out a CCA are set out in "Checking the Cost of Regulation: A Guide to Compliance Cost Assessment", a copy of which is in the House Library.

  Occupational Health and Safety Agency
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make an announcement on the progress of the sale of the Occupational Health and Safety Agency. [34972]

  Mr. Freeman
  The House was informed on 23 November last year that it was the Government's intention to sell the Occupational Health and Safety Agency as a single viable business in a way which would ensure that it retained its reputation for the provision of high-quality occupational health services to Government Departments and the wider public sector while allowing it to benefit from the freedom and opportunities for attracting new customers to be gained outside the constraints of operating within Government.
  120
  A large number of expressions of interest were received following the advertisement of the sale in May this year. These have subsequently been reduced through an indicative bid procedure. A final shortlist of four has now been selected. Those being invited to submit final bids are:

  Occupational Health Care (OHC)

  Healthcall Group PLC

  Facilities Services Group

  BMI Healthcare.

  I believe that this shortlist will lead to final bids which maximise the prospects of securing good long-term value for money for the Government and taxpayer while meeting the objectives set for the sale of the business.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose an amendment to the immigration rules in order to continue leave to take employment for a migrant who, having had leave to remain and work in the United Kingdom, applies in good time for a renewal of that leave and make interim provision for the period between the expiry of the old leave and any grant or refusal of new leave. [33319]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No amendment is necessary. The Variation of Leave Order 1976 provides that, when a person applies for an extension of stay before the expiry of his leave, the conditions attached to that leave continue until the application is resolved.

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce who will be deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England. [35047]

  Mr. Howard
  The Lord Chancellor has appointed Mr. Justice Michael Harrison to serve as the deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England. This appointment is effective until 31 December 1999.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34127]

  Mr. Howard
  The information required to answer this question is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessments(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34130]

  Mr. Streeter
  I refer to the written answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster setting out the Government's requirements for the preparation of compliance cost assessments.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34131]

  Mr. Streeter
  Details of every contract let by the Department are not held in central registers and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, analysis of the 617 contracts awarded in 1995–96 which are held in central registers is as follows:

  (a) £100,611

  (b) (i) £42

  (b) (ii) £24 million

  (c) (1) 55

  (c) (2) 219

  (c) (3) 219

  (c) (4) 51

  (c) (5) 58

  (c) (6) 8

  (c) (7) 7

  (d) 617.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the new Government of Sierra Leone concerning the restoration of human rights in that country and the bringing to justice of those guilty of the violation of human rights in that country. [24055]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are encouraging the civilian Government to carry forward the process of political reform and are giving support for good governance projects in areas such as the police and judiciary.
  122

  Orphans (HIV)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources have been allocated to programmes addressing the care and support of orphaned children in countries affected by the HIV epidemic. [34443]

  Mr. Hanley
  The ODA does not provide funds specifically for the development of institutional care for children orphaned by HIV-AIDS, but prefers to support work which enables communities themselves to care for people affected by HIV-AIDS. Examples of this approach include ODA funding for a home-based care training programme in Chingola, Zambia and for an AIDS education, prevention and community care programme in Kenya. Through its grants to UNICEF, the ODA contributes to similar projects being implemented throughout the developing world. The percentage of ODA bilateral and multilateral resources applied exclusively to the care of orphans is not calculable.

PRIME MINISTER

  Prime Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list(a) the visits he has made to Wales to carry out official duties and (b) the dates of those visits. [34417]

  The Prime Minister
  I have visited Wales on official business on the following occasions since I became Prime Minister:

  14 June 1991

  20 September 1991

  3–4 September 1992

  11 June 1993

  28 October 1994

  13–14 June 1996

  In addition to these, I have visited Wales on a number of other occasions.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Serjeant at Arms Office
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when he expects that the recommendations arising from the survey into the Serjeant at Arms Office will be implemented. [34669]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  The Administration Committee has not been directly involved in the Serjeant at Arms' survey, but any matters that fall within its areas of responsibility are being considered as soon as they are brought to the attention of the Committee.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by her Department (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded (c) the

  123
  number of contracts with a value of (1) £0–£999, (2) £1,000–£9,999, (3) £10,000–£49,999, (4) £50,000£99,999, (5) £100,000–£499,999, (6) £500,000–£999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34157]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information on contracts is not readily available in the detail and format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals she has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by her Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34156]

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Antartica
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what controls are in place to protect the Antarctic environment from contamination; and what are the penalties for breaches of those controls. [34429]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Provisions to protect the Antarctic environment are to be found in various treaties, including the environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty (1991), the convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter (1972), the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships (1973/1978) and the Basel convention on the control of transboudnary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal (1989). The Antarctic Act 1994 implements the environmental protocol. The maximum penalty for offences under the Act is an unlimited fine and/or two years imprisonment.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce measures to insulate the BBC World Service from the effects of the proposed reorganisation of the BBC. [33451]

  Mr. Hanley
  This Department has received assurances from the BBC that the quality of World Service programmes will be unaffected by the proposed new arrangements, that clear separation between the grant in aid funded World Service and the BBC's other activities will be maintained, and that we will be fully consulted on the implications of the proposals for the World Service.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34122]
  124
  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34123]

  Mr. Hanley
  This Department does not have the information available in the form requested and could provide it only at disproportionate cost.

  European Union
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact of the Government's policy of non-co-operation with European Union partners. [32618]

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: The Government have ended its policy of non-co-operation, having secured their two objectives of an end to the ban on beef derivatives and agreement on a clear framework for lifting the wider ban. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his statement to the House on 24 June, non-co-operation was the decisive factor in ensuring this result in such a short space of time.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  European Single Electricity Market
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the United Kingdom Government supports the Italian presidency text of the Commission directive on the European single electricity market. [34350]

  Mr. Eggar
  At the Energy Council of 20 June, which I attended, political agreement was reached on a proposal for a Council directive to liberalise electricity markets based on the Italian presidency text. Although the agreement falls short of what the United Kingdom was seeking, it represents an important first step in the opening of the electricity market in the European Union. The United Kingdom, Netherlands and Finland entered a minutes statement regretting that the agreed text did not provide a greater degree of initial market opening and a shorter timetable. That statement also emphasised the importance of ensuring that the directive led to equivalent economic effects in the member states.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000

  125
  to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34139]

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34138]

  Mr. Page
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if every application for his Department's regional selective assistance is(a) considered and (b) offered by DTI regional offices; if the value of the grant determines whether central or regional offices are responsible for the granting of this financial assistance; what other reasons require responsibilities to change between offices; and if he will make a statement. [30029]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: Government offices in the regions normally appraise applications for regional selective assistance up to the value of £2 million with the advice of regional boards. Applications above this level are appraised in headquarters. All offers of £1 million or more are subject to ministerial approval.

  Applications for RSA may be considered by another regional board in certain circumstances, for example, where there is a potential conflict of interest.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34128]

  The Attorney-General
  I refer to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In practice, my Department is responsible for few, if any, legislative measures of relevance to small firms.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to
  126
  £499,999 (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34129]

  The Attorney-General
  Information for the Departments and agencies for which I am responsible is provided on the basis of such information as is readily available and is as follows1

  Question

  Crown Prosecution Services

  (a)

  £122,227

  (b) (i)

  £10,312

  (b) (ii)

  £2,862,589

  (c) (3)

  77

  (c) (4)

  20

  (c) (5)

  10

  (c) (6)

  4

  (c) (7)

  4

  (d)

  115

  Treasury Solicitor's Department2

  (a)

  £41,122

  (b) (i)

  £230

  (b) (ii)

  £560,000

  (c) (1)

  2

  (c) (2)

  14

  (c) (3)

  13

  (c) (4)

  2

  (c) (5)

  2

  (c) (6)

  1

  (c) (7)

  0

  (d)

  34

  Serious Fraud Office: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  1Estimated values are given where the total value of a contract was not known at the time the contract was awarded.

  2Does not include service level agreements with other Crown bodies.

TREASURY

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. [31390]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Details of the costs and numbers of staff recruited by the Chancellor's Departments and executive agencies are given in the following table:

  Recruitment expenses by Chancellor's Departments and their Executive Agencies

  Department

  Number of staff recruited

  Recruitment costs (£)

  1994–95 financial year

  HM Treasury

  13

  64,625

  HM Customs and Excise

  455+34 fixed term appointments

  283,000

  HM Inland Revenue

  1,310

  444,037

  Office for National

  Statistics

  68

  202,388

  127

  Recruitment expenses by Chancellor's Departments and their Executive Agencies

  Department

  Number of staff recruited

  Recruitment costs (£)

  Department for National Savings

  35 including 8 short term appointments

  39,961 including 2,931 short term appointments

  Royal Mint

  55

  14,750

  PAYMASTER

  6

  58,648

  1995–96 financial year

  HM Treasury

  19

  263,978

  HM Customs and Excise

  625+154 fixed term appointments

  199,000

  HM Inland Revenue

  2,428

  420,367

  Office for National Statistics

  79

  82,274

  Department for National

  Savings

  16

  12,481

  Royal Mint

  57

  18,892

  PAYMASTER

  7

  10,420

  1. The figures for HM Inland Revenue include the Valuation Office Agency.

  2. The large difference in the recruitment costs between one year and the next for HM Treasury is a result of payments for staff recruited in 1994–95 being paid in 1995–96.

  3. Recruitment costs include direct payments for services, recruitment advertising and administrative costs.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use his Department and its executive agencies have made of executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies within his Department or executive agencies administered by his Department during the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96; what agencies were employed; what was the cost in each case; how many staff were recruited in each case; and what was the total cost in each financial year of these contracts. [31405]

  Mrs. Knight
  The information requested for the Chancellor's departments and agencies is given in the table:

  Use of Executive Search agencies and employment companies by Chancellor's Departments and their Executive Agencies

  Department

  Agency

  Number of recruits

  Costs (£)

  1994–95

  HM Treasury

  RAS

  13

  64,625

  HM Customs and Excise

  Paul

  Goodman

  6

  23,000

  RAS

  scheme 1

  3

  9,282

  RAS

  scheme 2

  1

  13,159

  HM Inland Revenue

  MSL International Ltd.

  2

  30,000

  Office for National Statistics

  RAS

  12

  100,503

  Department for National

  Savings

  BNA

  1

  1,550

  Royal Mint

  nil

  nil

  nil

  PAYMASTER

  RAS

  scheme 1

  1

  26,293

  RAS

  scheme 2

  2

  28,697

  1995–96

  HM Treasury

  RAS

  19

  263,978

  128

  Use of Executive Search agencies and employment companies by Chancellor's Departments and their Executive Agencies

  Department

  Agency

  Number of recruits

  Costs (£)

  HM Customs and Excise

  Paul

  Goodman

  7

  24,000

  RAS

  scheme 1

  2

  4,844

  RAS

  24+1 fixed term

  scheme 2

  appointment

  2,468

  HM Inland Revenue

  nil

  nil

  nil

  Office for National Statistics

  RAS. GSS Korn Ferry

  International

  23

  53,484

  Department for National

  Savings

  BNA

  nil

  436

  Royal Mint

  nil

  nil

  nil

  PAYMASTER

  nil

  nil

  nil

  Inland Revenue includes the Valuation Office Agency. The £436 for the Department for National Savings is for a six week extension to a 1994–95 contract.

  RAS: Recruitment and Assessment Services.

  GSS: the Government Statistical Service.

  BNA: British Nurses Association.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [33454]

  Mrs. Knight
  Costs incurred by the Treasury over each of the past five years for compensation paid to employees or their families, or members of the public as a result of minor injuries related to the work of the Department are as follows:

  1991: £3,270

  1992: Nil

  1993: £1,500

  1994: Nil

  1995: Nil

  No major or fatal injuries occurred during this period. Sick pay costs are deducted from the compensation awarded; therefore, no sick pay costs were incurred.

  No compensation claims involved information technology or expenditure of more than £5,000.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [33455]

  Mrs. Knight
  The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, significant sums have been spent maintaining buildings, furniture and equipment to acceptable standards, including measures to meet health and safety requirements. Expenditure in the Treasury has included the removal of asbestos; the provision of new furniture and replacement lighting to comply with the
  129
  Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992; and the installation of fire detection equipment to meet current fire standards.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [33453]

  Mrs. Knight
  The table gives the number of injuries suffered by staff in the Treasury, HM Customs and Excise, the Office for National Statistics, Paymaster, the Valuation Office and the Royal Mint in each of the past five years.

  19911

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Minor injuries

  697

  1,376

  1,293

  21460

  579

  3

  6

  5

  2

  4

  Fatal injuries

  31

  —

  41

  —

  51

  Of the minor injuries the following were IT related:

  3

  5

  2

  1

  nil

  1 Data for Customs and Excise for 1991 and 1995 are unavailable.

  2 Two injuries involved electric shocks from computer equipment in Customs and Excise.

  3 A maintenance fitter working for the Royal Mint suffered head injuries whilst carrying out work on factory Customs plant.

  4 Customs Officer fell into the hold of a ship whilst undertaking a search of the vessel

  5 A transport operator working for the Royal Mint was killed when his fork-lift truck overturned.

  The Inland Revenue does not maintain comparable information. However, records of claims for compensation for upper limb disorder (RSI) injuries directly related to information technology are as follows:

  1991: 20

  1992: 24

  1993: 41

  1994: 43

  1995: 47

  The Inland Revenue also had one fatality over this five-year period; a member of staff working in the Saphire Plaza building in Reading contracted Legionnaires' disease. The Health and Safety Executive was involved in an investigation.

  Price Competitiveness (Manufacturers)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the effect of the present level of real interest rates on the price competitiveness of British manufacturers on overseas markets. [34481]

  Mrs. Knight
  Real interest rates are one of many factors which may have an effect on the price competitiveness of British exports of manufactures.

  Trade Deficit
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the change in the deficit in balance of trade with Germany between 1993 and the first quarter of 1996; what assessment he has made of the reasons; and what was the change in United Kingdom manufacturing output and jobs as a result. [34480]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The change in the deficit on trade in goods with Germany from the first quarter of 1996, compared to an average per quarter in 1993 was £0.7 billion. This is not surprising as, since 1993, the UK economy has grown faster than the German economy, and import prices have risen more than export prices. There is no simple relationship between manufacturing output and employment and the balance of trade with Germany.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on output and the number of jobs lost in United Kingdom manufacturing of the deficit in trade in manufactures. [34479]

  Mrs. Knight
  There is no simple relationship between manufacturing output and employment and the balance of trade in manufactures.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contracts awarded (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0–£999, (2) £1,000£9,999, (3) £10,000–£49,999, (4) £50,000–£99,999, (5) £100,000–£499,999, (6) £500,000–£999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34147]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information is given in the table:

  (a) Average value of contracts

  £8,777

  (b) (i) smallest contract

  £6.38

  (ii) largest contract

  £2.6 million

  (c)(l)£0–£999

  785 contracts

  (2) £l,000–£9,999

  323

  (3) £10,000–£49,999

  67

  (4) £50,000–£99,999

  25

  (5) £100,000–£499,999

  10

  (6) £500,00–£999,999

  0

  (7) above £1,000,000

  2

  (d) Total contracts

  1,212

  Mrs. A. McHale
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Treasury Solicitors will be able to provide the legal advice requested by the Ministry of Defence in February in the case of Mrs. A. McHale of Catford SE6. [34084]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: The Department for National Savings, not the Ministry of Defence, sought the advice of the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Advice has now been given.

ENVIRONMENT

  Habitat II Conference
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the UN Habitat II conference in Istanbul. [33450]

  Mr. Gummer
  The United Kingdom played an active and positive role at the United Nations conference on human settlements. I led the UK delegation and also played an active part as a member of the UN Secretary-General's international advisory group for the conference. A new basis for policy was established, in which urban areas are seen not as a threat to the environment but as the environment for an increasing majority of people.

  The United Kingdom report prepared for the conference was very well received. It served as a sound basis for our contribution to the negotiation of the habitat agenda, which is the main output of the conference. This sets out a comprehensive framework which can be used by all those who are responsible for achieving the two objectives considered by the conference—adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development. It also reaffirms the right to housing. We also contributed to the drafting of the "Istanbul declaration", the statement of

  Applicant

  File ref.

  Project title

  Decision

  Date

  Grant Approved

  Cumbria Tourist Board

  EUR/611/503/1/NW

  Tourist Market Forecast

  F

  13 May 1996

  20,000.00

  North Pennine Heritage Trust

  EUR/557/501/1/NW

  Rampgill Visitor Centre

  F

  13 February1996

  78,745,00

  Carlisle College

  EUR/606/501/1/NW

  Rural Flexitech

  F

  1 May 1996

  8,098,00

  Voluntary Action Cumbria

  EUR/586/501/1/NW

  Rural Resource Centre

  F

  25 October 1995

  32,809,00

  Alston Town Hall Trustees

  NW3878EUR

  Alston Town Hall Multi Purpose Centre, Project Co-ordinator

  F

  21 May 1996

  4,545.50

  Voluntary Action Cumbria

  NW39125EUR

  Rural Comm Support Obj 5B Area Cumbria

  F

  29 January 1996

  104,604.00

  Kendal College

  EUR/631/501/2/NW

  Encouragement of Enterprise to Develop Existing SME's

  F

  11,594.00

  Carlisle College

  EUR/606/501/2/NW

  Vocational Training & Upskilling in Key Skills req. by SME's

  F

  35,028.00

  Newton Rigg College

  EUR/556/510/2/NW

  Upskilling Supervisors in the Food Business

  F

  6,242.00

  Newton Rigg College

  EUR/556/511/2/NW

  Training and Assessment Skills for Small Businesses

  F

  1,530.00

  Cumbria TEC

  EUR/518/507/2/NW

  Appleby Training Centre

  F

  12,626.00

  Cumbria TEC

  EUR/518/506/2/NW

  Graduate/Redundant Manager Placement Scheme

  F

  16,830.00

  Cumbria TEC

  EUR/518/503/2/NW

  Rural Business Skills Training

  F

  11,857.00

  Cumbria TEC

  EUR/518/502/2/NW

  Improving Competitiveness of SME's through Training

  F

  17,046.00

  Cumbria TEC

  EUR/518/501/2/NW

  Rural Self-Employment Start-Up/scheme

  F

  14,994.00

  TEED

  EUR/73/506/2/NW

  Cumbria TEC—Business Start-up

  F

  14,647.00

  TEED

  EUR/73/505/2/NW

  Cumbria TEC—Construction Training

  F

  52,008.00

  TEED

  EUR/73/503/2/NW

  Cumbria TEC—Business Administration Training

  F

  6,174.00

  132
  political will to implement the habitat agenda, that underlines the need for a partnership approach and support for local action.

  This was the first major UN conference where local authorities, UK representatives prominent among them, played a key role. In the UK, the conference consolidated a constituency of Government, local authorities and nongovernmental organisations interested in formulating sustainable human settlements policies. The local agenda 21 process, will be the primary vehicle for Habitat II follow-up. The Government's round table and panel on sustainable development will also have an important robe.

  I have placed a copy of my speech in the Library of the House.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of applications for objective 5b grants in Cumbria; and if he will provide a list of approvals and the sums involved. [34241]

  Mr. Curry
  To date, there have been 25 formal offers for objective 5b grants in Cumbria, totalling £2,678,500. A full schedule of these approvals and sums involved is given.
  133

  Applicant

  File ref.

  Project title

  Decision

  Date

  Grant Approved

  TEED

  EUR/73/502/2/NW

  Cumbria TEC—Modern Apprenticeship Programme

  F

  11,587.00

  East Cumbria Countryside Project

  NW40208EUR

  East Cumbria Environmental Action Programme

  F

  29 February 1996

  95,550.00

  Cumbria CC

  NW40216EUR

  Made in Cumbria (Revenue)

  F

  26 March 1996

  32,000.00

  Cumbria CC

  NW40219EUR

  Birdsoswald Roman Fort— Feasibility Study (Rev)

  F

  22 February 1996

  5,000.00

  The National Trust

  NW40206EUR

  Upland Access: Langdale Valley

  F

  15 March 1996

  28,558.00

  Alston Town Hall Trustees

  NW40222EUR

  Alston Town Hall Multi-Purpose Community Centre

  F

  21 May 1996

  56,462.76

  Sum

  678,535.26

  Cumbria County Council

  NW39818EUR

  "Hills of the North"

  F

  31 May 1996

  2,000,000

  Total

  £2,678,535.26

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of outputs claimed for the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 by region. [34506]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The annual report of the Department, Cm 3207, gives the latest information about outputs from the Department's programmes, broken down where appropriate by region. Final figures for 1995–96 are not yet available.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what leverage was achieved by region against expenditure broken down into contributions by(a) the private sector, (b) the public sector, (c) European Union funding and (d) other, in the financial year in 1995–96. [34394]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The latest information about financial expenditure on the Department's programmes is set out in the Department'sAnnual Report Cm 3207. Where possible, this is broken down by region. Final figures for 1995–96 are not yet available.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will(a) undertake a survey of all public buildings and (b) maintain a database to indicate the presence and location of asbestos in the United Kingdom and if he will make a statement. [33650]

  Mr. Clappison
  A survey of asbestos in public buildings will not be undertaken. Instead, Government Departments are working together to raise public awareness of the risks of exposure to asbestos and the need for sound management of asbestos materials in all buildings. The Department of the Environment gives advice on surveying buildings for asbestos and its subsequent management within the guidance document "Asbestos Materials in Buildings", which was first published in 1983 and has been regularly updated. This guidance is aimed at building owners, managers and local authorities. The Health and Safety Executive also issues guidance to owners and employers on the management of asbestos in buildings. It advises that employers should locate, identify and keep a record of all asbestos in their premises and ensure that all workers/contractors who are likely to work on it are aware of its presence.
  134
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if asbestos may still be used for gutters; and if he will make a statement. [33651]

  Mr. Clappison
  White asbestos incorporated into asbestos cement may still be used to make gutters. In practice, other materials are now more commonly used.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current permitted uses for asbestos in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [33652]

  Mr. Clappison
  The use of asbestos in the United Kingdom is controlled by the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 and the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993. These regulations prohibit the marketing and use of all forms of amphibole asbestos, which includes blue and brown asbestos, and many uses of white, chrysotile, asbestos. Further limitations on the use of white asbestos are contained within the Asbestos Products (Safety) Regulations 1985. Uses of white asbestos which are not specified in any of these regulations are permitted, although in practice the most common use is in asbestos cement and heavy bearing materials such as gaskets.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the use of asbestos for gutters. [33653]

  Mr. Clappison
  No assessment has been made specifically of the use of asbestos in gutters. However, a more general assessment of the uses of, and exposure to, asbestos in the non-workplace environment is currently being performed on behalf of this Department. The results of this work will be published early next year.

  Albert Dock, Merseyside
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times the Albert Dock Management Co. has carried out repairs to the apartments overlooking the River Mersey since December 1988; and if he will make a statement. [33895]
  135
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Albert Dock Management Co. is not responsible for carrying out repairs to apartments. That responsibility falls on the occupiers. The Albert Dock Management Co. is responsible for the common parts and the structure.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current service charges levied by the Albert Dock management; what assessment he has made of the value for money provided; and if he will make a statement. [33896]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The service charge at the Albert dock for the Colonnades residential units covers a range of services including 24-hour security, insurance—including terrorism insurance—all repairs to common parts, the cleaning and decoration of common parts, refuse collection, all structural repairs and a contribution to the overall management of the external areas around Albert dock. The service charge account is audited on an annual basis and certified in accordance with the leasehold interest of each resident and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. The level of the service charge is a private and confidential matter between the Albert Dock Management Co. and each individual tenant and it would be inappropriate for the information to be divulged.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who owned the land in the area of the Albert dock prior to the take over of the development corporation. [33897]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Mersey Docks and Harbour Co. owned Albert dock prior to its purchase by Merseyside development corporation in 1982.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations have been received by the(a) chief executive and (b) chairman of the Merseyside development corporation from (i) the Albert dock residents association and (ii) right hon. and hon. Members concerning the Albert Dock Management Co.; and if he will make a statement. [33898]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The chief executive of MDC has received eight letters from the Albert Dock residents association over the last two years and the chairman of the MDC has received five letters from the residents association. The hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside has written to the chairman on one occasion, 11 October 1995, and my right hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, West (Mr. Hunt) wrote to the chairman on 21 February 1996 forwarding a letter from the Albert Dock residents association.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from residents of Albert dock concerning their future lease after the Merseyside development corporation ceases to exist; and if he will make a statement. [33925]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State for the Environment has received nine letters from residents of the Albert dock concerning both their future lease and other issues.
  136

  Development Corporations
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many development corporations are currently in existence; and how many have residential blocks within their grounds. [33899]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There are nine development corporations in existence, of which six have residential blocks in their respective areas.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34149]

  Sir Paul beresford
  The information requested is riot held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Navigation
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the Government's conclusions on the review of the navigation functions of British Waterways and the Environment Agency; and what proposals the Government have to improve co-operation between navigation authorities and planning authorities. [34855]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My Department issued a consultation paper on 15 February 1995 reviewing the navigation functions of British Waterways and the Environment Agency—the latter were then the functions of the National Rivers Authority. The Government have considered the responses received to that consultation paper.

  The Government recognise that there is room for improvement in the way in which navigation authority arrangements operate but consider that there is no single, obvious, right answer everywhere regardless of local circumstances. The Government therefore support the initiative taken by British Waterways and the Environment Agency to pursue jointly a programme of studies examining individual navigations in consultation with users and others. The studies will examine the present arrangements and the options for change in administering navigation. The Government have asked them to make preliminary reports to Ministers by October 1996. The results of the studies will provide a solid basis for Government decisions on individual transfers of responsibility from one navigation authority to another.

  Meanwhile, the Government welcome and will encourage co-operation between British Waterways, the Environment Agency and other navigation authorities to draw better value from the waterway system and develop a more commercial approach and coherent strategy for development of inland waterways. Improvements will include streamlining licensing and charging and providing a better focus for marketing and customer representation.
  137
  The Government have published a paper setting out the results of the consultation exercise and the Government's conclusions and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The Government believe that planning authorities and navigation authorities should work together in the development of the waterways' potential benefits. The Government will shortly be issuing a consultation paper proposing that planning authorities should be under the statutory obligation to consult British Waterways where their navigations are affected by planning applications. This would give British Waterways the same status in the planning process as other statutory consultees such as the highway authority or the Environment Agency.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34148]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

TRANSPORT

  Domestic Air Services
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanism his Department uses to ensure that the public interest is protected against the dominance of one airline in the UK, with special reference to domestic services. [32794]

  Mr. Norris
  Under EC regulation 2409/92, the Secretary of State, having taken advice from the CAA, has powers to:(a) require a fare on an intra-EC route to be withdrawn where he considers that the fare is excessively high to the disadvantage of users in relation to costs; and
  (b) stop further reductions in air fares on an intra-EC route, if he considers that there has been sustained down movement in fares unrelated to costs, resulted in widespread losses among the air carriers operating on that route.

  The Director General of Fair Trading has powers to apply UK competition legislation in relation to domestic air services and does so with the assistance of the CAA.

  Where trade between member states is affected, EC competition law applies. Decisions on these cases are for the European Commission.

  UK Seafaring Skills
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proposed publication date for his Department's study to assess the shore-based demand for United Kingdom seafaring skills; and if he will make a statement. [33337]

  Mr. Norris
  We will publish the document shortly.

  Traffic (Car Journeys)
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of(a) all traffic and (b) traffic on motorways and trunk roads is represented by car journeys of under (i) two miles and (ii) five miles in length as shown in chart la of the document, "Transport: the Way Forward". [33303]

  Mr. Watts
  Data concerning journey length, as shown in the chart in 'Transport: the Way Forward', are derived from the national travel survey. This is a survey of personal travel only and does not, therefore, cover all road traffic. Neither does it identify the class of road used for personal journeys.

  The national traffic census gives estimates of total traffic by vehicle type and class of road. In 1995, cars and taxis accounted for 82 per cent. of traffic on all roads and 78 per cent. of traffic on motorways and trunk roads.

  Driving Tests
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the pass and fail rate for (i) the car test, (ii) the light goods vehicle test and (iii) the passenger carrying vehicle test for the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [34006]

  Mr. Norris
  The pass rates requested are:

  Percentage

  Test category

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Car

  46.9

  45.7

  LGV

  47.5

  47.0

  PCV

  50.0

  49.3

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the pass and fail rate for delegated examiners in(a) the private sector and (b) the Post Office for (i) the car test, (ii) the LGV test and (iii) the PCV test for the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [34005]

  Mr. Norris
  The pass rates requested are:

  Percentage

  Test category

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a) Private sector

  Car

  80.5

  93.2

  PCV

  64.2

  62.2

  No LGV driving examiners have been appointed to private-sector companies. The car driving examiners that were appointed to private-sector companies have now retired, and there are no plans at present to appoint further ones.

  Percentage

  Test category

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (b)Post office

  Car

  52.7

  47.5

  The Post Office examiners have authority to conduct only care L-tests.
  139
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by LGV and PCV driving test centre the pass and fail rate for the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [34007]

  Mr. Norris
  The pass and fail rates for LGV and for PCV tests by each test centre for 1994–95 and 1995–96 are given in the attached table.

  Driving test pass rates (as percentages)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Name of centre

  PCV tests

  LGV tests

  PCV tests

  LGV tests

  Aberdeen LGV

  63

  59

  67

  60

  Alvaston LGV

  39

  49

  49

  43

  Beverley LGV

  30

  35

  50

  24

  Bishopbriggs LGV

  61

  59

  54

  57

  Botley LGV

  56

  50

  59

  49

  Bredbury LGV

  46

  42

  39

  43

  Bristol LGV

  58

  51

  50

  51

  Caernarfon LGV

  68

  58

  59

  65

  Camborne LGV

  59

  54

  65

  57

  Cambridge LGV

  56

  59

  50

  50

  Canterbury LGV

  46

  41

  49

  41

  Carlisle LGV

  62

  60

  66

  59

  Chelmsford LGV

  39

  36

  46

  38

  Croydon LGV

  44

  45

  45

  43

  Culham LGV

  56

  68

  57

  69

  Darlington LGV

  42

  41

  42

  40

  Elgin LGV

  93

  70

  91

  66

  Enfield LGV

  39

  40

  46

  41

  Exeter LGV

  56

  51

  54

  49

  Featherstone LGV

  37

  42

  38

  39

  Galashiels LGV

  75

  76

  64

  72

  Garretts Green LGV

  38

  43

  42

  44

  Gillingham LGV

  44

  42

  37

  41

  Gloucester LGV

  43

  53

  46

  50

  Gosforth LGV

  47

  47

  49

  43

  Grimsby LGV

  40

  38

  27

  45

  Guildford LGV

  43

  55

  43

  50

  Harlescott LGV

  63

  64

  58

  61

  Hastings LGV

  48

  54

  60

  51

  Heywood LGV

  46

  41

  38

  34

  Inverness LGV

  53

  53

  57

  56

  Ipswich LGV

  60

  50

  52

  49

  Kilmarnock LGV

  48

  59

  58

  58

  Kirkham LGV

  62

  52

  63

  47

  Lancing LGV

  52

  48

  55

  47

  Leicester

  44

  45

  43

  46

  Leighton Buzzard LGV

  54

  54

  55

  54

  Livingston LGV

  62

  53

  57

  56

  Llantrisant LGV

  54

  49

  46

  48

  Neath LGV

  52

  53

  54

  53

  Norwich LGV

  50

  44

  51

  52

  Patrick Green LGV

  30

  33

  33

  31

  Perth LGV

  64

  66

  68

  69

  Peterborough LGV

  43

  50

  32

  43

  Plymouth LGV

  62

  58

  56

  57

  Pontypool LGV

  59

  53

  57

  50

  Poole LGV/PCV

  61

  60

  60

  60

  Purfleet LGV

  47

  39

  38

  43

  Reading LGV

  53

  51

  61

  54

  Rookley LGV

  74

  66

  62

  67

  Sheffield LGV

  45

  40

  57

  45

  Simmonswood LGV

  52

  47

  42

  42

  Steeton LGV

  44

  43

  30

  37

  Swynnerton LGV

  52

  59

  57

  58

  Taunton LGV

  53

  50

  49

  53

  Upton LGV

  41

  25

  34

  28

  Walton LGV

  32

  40

  36

  36

  Watnall LGV

  42

  37

  36

  37

  140

  Driving test pass rates (as percentages)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Name of centre

  PCV tests

  LGV tests

  PCV tests

  LGV tests

  Weedon LGV

  37

  43

  37

  43

  Wrexham LGV

  46

  47

  35

  43

  Yeading LGV

  43

  41

  40

  42

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the implementation of the theory test for LCVs, PCVs and motorcycles has been deferred; and if he will make a statement. [34008]

  Mr. Norris
  Theory testing for learning motorcyclists is being implemented 1 July 1996 as originally planned. Implementation of the theory tests for LGVs and PCVs has been deferred until 1 January 1997, giving more time to finalise outstanding issues and put in place the necessary legislation, and allow the road haulage, passenger transport and related training industries more opportunity to prepare for the changes.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the exemptions from the theory element of the driving test, the reasons for the exemptions and at what level the decision to exempt particular categories of vehicle was taken. [34009]

  Mr. Norris
  The following are the arrangements which we have agreed. There will be an exemption between tests to drive different categories of vehicle where this is justified by the content of the relevant theory tests.In view of the overlap of topics for theory test for cars and two-wheelers, a person holding a full licence for car driving will not have to take a theory test as a learner motorcyclist, or vice versa. A person holding a full moped licence obtained after 1 July will not have to take a theory test as a learner car driver or motorcycle rider.
  If a person obtains a full licence to drive a medium-sized lorry, he will not have to pass a further LGV theory test as pan of seeking a full licence to drive a large lorry. Similarly, if a person obtains a full licence to drive a minibus, he will not have to take a further PCV theory test as part of seeking a full licence to drive a bus or coach.
  A person will not have a take a separate theory test as part of the test to drive an articulated lorry or vehicle combinations.

  There will be an exemption where a further driving test has to be taken to lift a restriction to drive a vehicle within the same category. For example, a person holding a full car licence limited to automatic transmission in order to obtain in unrestricted car driving licence.

  There will be no separate theory test for the minor domestic licence categories where drivers will generally also be car drivers and can therefore demonstrate their knowledge within the car driving theory test. These categories are F (tractor), G (road roller), H (tracked vehicle) and K (pedestrian controlled vehicle), L (electrically powered vehicle) and N (vehicle excise duty exempt vehicle). Categories L and N are being dropped as test categories from 1 January 1997, and, from that date, candidates for tests for categories G and H must already hold a full car licence.

  A66 (Longnewton)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to issue compulsory purchase orders for land at Longnewton to construct the proposed A66 grade separated junction. [34318]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Tim Devlin, dated 25 June 1996:
  As you know the Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when he intends to issue the Compulsory Purchase Orders for land at Long Newton to construct the proposed A66 grade separated junction.
  As you are aware, a Public Inquiry into the draft Orders for this scheme was held in September 1995. The Inspector's report is now being considered by Ministers and a decision is expected shortly.

  DoA Ltd. (Liabilities)
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 124, whether he intends to proceed with the guarantee to Strathclyde Passenger Transport in respect of the liabilities to it of DoA Ltd. [34991]

  Mr. Watts
  The guarantee was entered into by my Department on 17 May, and will have effect for so long as sums are payable under the terms of the deeds of assumption.

  European Passenger Services Ltd.
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations led him to enter into the guarantee, laid before the House on 20 May, covering the obligations of European Passenger Services Ltd. at Ashford International station. [34992]

  Mr. Watts
  When EPS was a subsidiary of the British Railways Board, BRB guaranteed to the developers of the new station at Ashford that EPS would pay rent for occupation of part of the station and a toll based on passenger numbers. After ownership of EPS passed from BRB to the Secretary of State, it made sense for the guarantee also to be transferred. The guarantee includes provision for its replacement in due course by the new owners of EPS.

  Mr. Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations led him to enter into the guarantee, laid before the House on 20 May, in respect of leases of night stock by European Passenger Services Ltd. [34993]

  Mr. Watts
  When EPS was a subsidiary of the British Railways Board, BRB guaranteed leasing obligations for rolling stock to be used on overnight passenger services through the Channel Tunnel. After ownership of EPS passed from BRB to the Secretary of State, it made sense for the guarantee also to be transferred. The guarantee includes provision for its replacement in due course by the new owners of EPS.

  British Railways Board (Contingent Liabilities)
  Mr. Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to give the British Railways Board the assurance proposed in the minute on the board's contingent liabilities laid before the House on 7 June. [34973]

  Mr. Watts
  Yes. The British Railways Board's annual report and accounts 1995–96 are due to be published shortly. Before British Rail's auditors can approve them on a going concern basis, they must be satisfied that adequate funds will continue to be made available to meet any financial obligations arising from the Board's present or future liabilities or liabilities arising out of past transactions, events and circumstances. The provision of funds and expenditure by the British Railways Board will be subject to the procedures and controls indicated in the minute.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34141]

  Mr. Norris
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34140]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Central Railway Group
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 17 June,Official Report, column 342, if statutory blight purchase notices served on Central Railway plc before the parliamentary debate to approve the company's scheme will be enforceable against the company after the debate is held and regardless of whether the House approves or rejects the motion. [33998]

  Mr. Watts
  A blight notice properly served in accordance with section 150 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 will continue to be enforceable against Central Railway plc if the House passes a resolution approving the Central Railways proposals. If the House rejects the motion, the order applied for could not be made. The land would cease to be blighted from the date the application was withdrawn or I determined to reject the application.
  143
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [33578]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: The information is not available for the period 1991–92 except at disproportionate cost. For the calendar years 1993 to 1996, the numbers of cases are as follows:

  Year

  Total

  1(a)

  2(b)

  3(c)

  4(d)

  Withdrawn

  Pending

  1993

  6

  3

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1994

  14

  4

  1

  7

  0

  1

  1

  1995

  9

  5

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  1996

  7

  3

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  1 (a) = Department's decision upheld by the court.

  2 (b) = Court found for the applicant.

  3 (c) = Department submitted to the judgement.

  4 (d) = Department appealed against the decision.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of(a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions. [33595]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: The information is not available for the period 1991–92 because information on judicial review cases in that period could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. No legislation has been introduced into Parliament by the Department of Transport from 1993 with the purposes mentioned in the question.

HEALTH

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the advice referred to from the Committee on Safety of Medicines was given under the requirement of the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc) Regulations 1994. [31912]

  Mr. Malone
  The Committee o
  n Safety of Medicines provides advice in accordance with its functions under the Medicines (Committee on Safety of Medicines) Order 1970 (No. 1257).

  Health Services, London
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss health services for Greater London. [33108]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Edgware and Barnet Hospitals
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proposed private finance initiative contract at Barnet hospital. [33618]

  Mr. Horam
  The first stage of the Barnet hospital redevelopment is already under way, and is being publicly funded. The proposed private finance initiative contract would be for the second stage. The trust has identified a preferred bidder, with whom it is discussing its requirements.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the planned land use at(a) Edgware hospital and (b) Barnet hospital under the proposed PFI contract at Barnet hospital. [33619]

  Mr. Horam
  Major redevelopments are planned at both Barnet and Edgware hospitals. All the land at Barnet hospital will continue to be required by the national health service. Plans for the future of Edgware hospital will allow some of the land at Edgware to be released. Any proceeds from land sales will be used to benefit the NHS.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of areas in England where people experience problems of gaining access to an NHS dentist. [33882]

  Mr. Malone
  There is no national problem of availability in national health service dentistry. There were 15,942 dentists on family health services authorities lists in December 1995, the highest December figure ever and 3,500 more than in 1979.

  Health authorities are generally able to put patients who contact them in touch with dentists who will treat them. Where necessary, the health authority can make use of the community dental service or apply to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to appoint a salaried dentist. In April 1996, 140 salaried dentists were employed in England. In addition, health authorities will shortly be able to bid for funds from a new access fund for local schemes to improve accessibility to services.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have contacted each family health services authority or their equivalent asking for help in finding a dentist in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [34329]

  Mr. Malone
  This information was collected from July 1992 to March 1996. Information will be placed in the Library showing figures for the three full years available.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practitioners treating NHS patients were registered in each family health services authority or their equivalent for each of the last eight years. [34330]

  Mr. Malone
  Information will be placed in the library setting out the number of general dental practitioners on family health service authority lists in England.

  Unique Patient Numbers
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission an inquiry into the production of duplicate numbers under the NHS unique number project; and if he will make a statement. [33988]
  145
  Mr. Horam
  A study has already been carried out to establish the cause of the non-unique numbers, and to assess the best way of preventing their occurrence in future.

  Organ Transplants
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to amend paragraph 2(1)(b) of the Human Organ Transplantation (Establishment of Relationship) Regulations 1989 (SI, 1989 No. 2107) to reflect current technology. [34324]

  Mr. Horam
  Consideration is being given to amending the Human Organ Transplants (Establishment of Relationship) Regulations 1989 to reflect developments in medical science and technology.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 June,Official Report, column 352, concerning performance standards of emergency ambulance services set by contracts made by the district health authorities with providers, if he will take steps to collect information on the extent to which they comply with the national Orcon standards and the patients charter. [34086]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is collected to check the performance of each national health service ambulance service against Orcon and patient's charter standards. This information for 1995–96 is due to be published in a statistical bulletin on 2 July, and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Children's Homes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the responsibilities for(a) the registration and (b) the inspection of children's homes which have fewer than four children, and which take in children entirely from outside the area of the social services authority in which they are located. [34090]

  Mr. Bowis
  Children's homes run by voluntary organisations are required to register with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and are inspected by the social services inspectorate irrespective of the numbers of children accommodated.

  The registration and inspection of small children's homes run by private organisations that provide accommodation for fewer than four children is being considered within the current review of the inspection and regulation of social services.

  Authorities placing children in those homes, as in any other homes, have a statutory duty under the Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations 1991 to ensure that the homes are suitable and that they promote and safeguard the child's welfare. The Department of Health issued guidance to local authorities about the application of these regulations in LAC(93)16, copies of which are available in the Library.

  The local authority in which the home is situated has the duty to investigate, with a court order if necessary, any concerns that a child in such a home is at risk.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the financial implications of the closure of mental handicap hospitals in the north-west; and what resources are available to support those people who need residential care. [34106]

  Mr. Bowis
  The financial implications are in both revenue and capital requirements. The revenue budgets are identified for the hospitals and are made available for providing the support required for care within the community. Capital costs are funded from the capital resources allocated to health authorities.

  Care of Children
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State of Health when Sir William Utting's report will be published. [34495]

  Mr. Bowis
  His recommendations will be made to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and for Wales as speedily as possible.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions are being taken by his Department to ensure that children are not working in breach of the current employment law. [33203]

  Mr. Bowis
  Enforcement of the law in this area is a matter for local authorities.

  Gynaecology
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of gynaecological beds in hospitals in(a) Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham and (b) England in each of the last 10 years. [34065]

  Mr. Malone
  Information is not collected centrally on hospital beds by clinical specialty. The available information, by broad ward classification, is contained in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of(a) gynaecological out-patient clinics at hospitals, (b) women seen at each clinic and (c) women who went on to require day surgery or treatment as an in-patient in each of the last 10 years. [34066]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the number of out-patients clinics is not available centrally. Information on the number of out-patients attendances by clinical specialty is contained in "Outpatients and ward attenders for England". Information on the number of day case and ordinary admissions by clinical speciality is contained in "Ordinary and day case admissions for England". Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time for an out-patient appointment and length of wait between initial appointment and surgery at each gynaecological clinic in England in the last 10 years. [34069]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available in the form requested.
  147
  Copies of "Waiting Times for First Out-patient appointments in England" are available in the Library. Information on the numbers waiting for in-patient admission for gynaecology is contained in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", copies of which are also available in the Library.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of doctors and consultants specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years. [34070]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information requested is shown in the table.

  Hospital medical staff and consultants, obstetrics and gynaecology.

  All staff

  Consultants

  1985

  3,330

  770

  1986

  3,350

  790

  1987

  3,340

  790

  1988

  3,510

  800

  1989

  3,630

  840

  1990

  3,670

  860

  1991

  3,800

  860

  1992

  3,790

  880

  1993

  3,820

  910

  1994

  3,940

  950

  England and Wales. Figures for 30 September in each year, rounded to the nearest ten.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women attended accident and emergency departments with gynaecological problems and how many were admitted to hospital with acute gynaecological problems in each of the last 10 years. [34071]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is not available centrally on accident and emergency attendances by clinical speciality. The available information on accident and emergency attendances is contained in "Outpatients and ward attenders for England", copies of which are available in the Library. Information is collected centrally in the hospital episode system both for operations and diagnosis using specific codes. These include a large number of codes that might be described as "gynaecological". The available information is contained in "Hospital episodes statistics (Volume 1)", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Waiting Lists (Women)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women are currently waiting to be admitted to any waiting list for treatment as an in-patient or day case. [34068]

  Mr. Horam
  Waiting list information which is held centrally does not differentiate between genders.

  NHS Pension Scheme
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 June,Official Report, column 384, if he will set out the complex issues delaying the entry of general practitioner practice staff into the NHS pension scheme. [34265]
  148
  Mr. Malone
  Before the scheme could be extended to general practitioner practice staff, we need to consider the potential effect in actuarial terms of the increase in the scheme's overall liabilities; the appropriate scope of the scheme if made available to the employees of independent contractors rather than national health service staff; the appropriate employer's contribution rate for a new category of staff not employed by the NHS; as well as resourcing and streams of funding.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contain; a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34124]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave her today.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34125]

  Mr. Horam
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and/or toxic epidermal necrolysis have occurred in each of the last five years; and in respect of how many of these cases (a) paracetamol or codeine and (b) other drugs were assessed to be the cause. [33892]

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

  The estimated numbers of finished consultant episodes—ordinary admissions and day cases combined—in national health service hospitals in England with a principal diagnosis of erythema multiforme—which includes Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis—in each of the five years is as follows:

  1990–91: 821

  1991–92: 823

  1992–93: 843

  1993–94: 859

  1994–95: 1,148.

  Source:

  Hospitals Episode Statistics
  149
  An individual patient may be included more than once in the figures. The number of cases from these episodes which were assessed as being due to drugs is unknown. Various non-drug causes for erythema multiforme are well recognised.

  The Medicines Control Agency holds the following information relating to suspected adverse drug reactions reported through the voluntary yellow card scheme. These data have been mapped to two relevant preferred terms; erythema multiforme (EM)—which includes Stevens-Johnson syndrome—and epidermal necrolysis (EN). The numbers of reported cases for each of the last five years are shown.

  Suspected adverse reaction reports of erythema multiforme (EM) and epidermal necrolysis (EN) to the Committee on Safety of Medicines 1991 to 1995

  All reports where paracetamol and/or codeine were a suspect drug

  All reports involving drugs other than paracetamol and/or codeine

  Year

  EM

  EN

  EM

  EN

  1991

  2

  0

  112

  13

  1992

  4

  0

  145

  19

  1993

  0

  0

  139

  28

  1994

  0

  0

  138

  18

  1995

  1

  0

  174

  20

  Totals

  7

  0

  708

  98

  Some of the reports associated with paracetamol and/or codeine concerned products containing multiple active ingredients. The figures provided are for the number of suspected adverse drug reactions where the reaction began in the year specified. A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug cited; other factors may have contributed.

  There are fewer cases of erythema multiforme reported to be associated with medicines than the number of cases from hospital statistics. Several factors account for this difference—one patient may account for more than one consultant episode, not all cases of erythema multiforme are drug-induced and not all adverse drug reactions are reported through the yellow card scheme. Therefore, direct comparisons between these two data sources cannot be made.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [33506]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Within the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments the information is not available in the format requested. However the following information is available.
  150

  Year

  Compensation paid (£000s)

  1991–921

  4,959

  1992–93

  5,654

  1993–94

  6,483

  1994–95

  6,641

  1995–96

  4,742

  1 Excludes DOE employees liability claims.

  In the same five years, 538 payments of over £5,000 were paid and one case in 1993–94 related to information technology.

  The information on sick pay could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [33505]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Within the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments, the information is not fully available in the format requested and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost. However all the available information follows.

  The figures relating to the Department of Finance and Personnel, of Environment, of Health and Social Services and to the Northern Ireland Prison Service are:

  Year

  Member of injuries

  Fatalities

  I.T. related injuries

  1991–921

  854

  —

  —

  1992–931

  878

  —

  —

  1993–94

  911

  —

  1

  1994–95

  696

  —

  —

  1995–96

  739

  1

  1

  1 Excludes DHSS. The fatality was a result of a hit and run accident during a road inspection.

  Those relating to the Departments of Economic Development, of Agriculture and of Education and the remainder of the Northern Ireland Office are:

  Year

  Number of injuries

  Fatalities

  I.T. related injuries

  19911

  300

  1

  —

  1992

  291

  —

  —

  1993

  299

  —

  —

  1994

  240

  —

  —

  1995

  200

  —

  —

  1 Excludes the Northern Ireland Office. The fatality was a result of a tree felling incident.

  School Staff
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances schools with similar enrolments may be unable to employ similar numbers of teaching staff under current financial arrangements; and what proposals he has to deal with this issue. [33875]
  151
  Mr. Ancram
  It is for the board of governors of each school with a delegated budget, irrespective of the size of the school's enrolment, to decide on the number of teaching staff it employs in order to ensure the effective delivery of the curriculum to its pupils. I do not propose to change this situation.

  Education and Library Boards
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of teacher and lecturer redundancies made by education and library boards during each year since 1990 at(a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) further education level. [33874]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  School Funding
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount in(a) cash and (b) constant price terms excluding funding for special projects was spent per primary and secondary pupil in Northern Ireland in each financial year since 1989. [33876]

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 June,Official Report, column 662.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34132]

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster earlier today.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £5000,00 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34133]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Codes of Practice)
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish revised codes of practice for the detention, questioning and identification of those detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provision) Act 1989. [34937]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have today laid before Parliament the draft codes of practice for the detention, treatment, questioning and identification of terrorist suspects in Northern Ireland, as I am required to do by 152
  section 61(3) of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. The codes have been amended to take into account comments received during the consultation exercise undertaken last year. I intend to make an order which will bring the codes into operation from midnight on 28 July 1996.

WALES

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those 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. [32334]

  Mr. Hague
  In the past three months I have visited the following constituencies while on official business:

  Aberavon

  Alyn and Deeside

  Brecon and Radnor

  Bridgend

  Cardiff, Central

  Cardiff, North

  Cardiff, South and Penarth

  Cardiff, West

  Carmarthen

  Ceredigion and Pembroke, North

  Clwyd, North-West

  Clwyd, South-West

  Conwy

  Delyn

  Montgomery

  Neath

  Newport, East

  Newport, West

  Pembroke

  Pontypridd

  Rhondda

  Torfaen

  Vale of Glamorgan

  Wrexham

  Ynys Môn

  My plans for the next three months have not been finalised.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the capital investment in the existing wind farms in Wales. [32889]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The estimated capital outlay for existing wind farms in Wales is around £60,000,000. This is based on an average cost of £800 per kilowatt installed capacity.

  Infant and Perinatal Mortality Rates
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on trends in infant mortality and perinatal mortality rates; and if he will make a statement. [33167]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Infant and perinatal mortality rates for years from 1970 to 1995, provided by the Office for National Statistics, are shown in the following table:

  Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)

  Perinatal mortality rate (per 1,000 total births)

  1970

  18.7

  25.5

  1975

  14.5

  19.7

  1980

  11.4

  12.8

  1985

  9.8

  10.2

  1990

  6.9

  7.4

  1991

  6.6

  7.9

  1992

  6.0

  7.0

  1993

  5.6

  17.1{*B)

  28.4{*B}

  1994

  6.3

  9.3

  1995 provisional

  5.8

  7.9

  1 Old definition.

  2 New definition.

  The legal definition of a still birth was altered on 1 October 1992 to include babies born dead between 24 and 27 completed weeks' gestation. Perinatal mortality rates up to 1993 are shown in the table on the old definition—28 or more weeks' completed gestation—and from 1993 on the new definition—24 or more weeks' completed gestation.

  Smoking-related Illness
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people died from smoking-related illness in 1993 and 1995; and if he will make a statement. [33166]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows.

  The specific category of smoking-related illness is not defined explicitly. Three diseases commonly caused by smoking are: lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

  The total number of deaths in Wales from lung cancer was 2,017 in 1993 and 1,852 in 1995. It is likely that smoking would have been a major factor in between 90 and 95 per cent. of these deaths.

  The total number of deaths in Wales from coronary heart disease was 9,676 in 1993 and 8,647 in 1995; and from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was 1,802 in 1993 and 1,961 in 1995. It is likely that smoking would have been a major factor in a significant proportion of these deaths.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that responsibility for inward investment to Wales will not be transferred from Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [33741]
  154
  Mr. Hague
  Yes. I have no plans for a further statement.

  Industrial Assistance (Gwynedd)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much expenditure was incurred in the county of Gwynedd during the financial year 1995–96 under the Industry Acts; how many new jobs have been facilitated by such expenditure; and if she will break down the expenditure by type of scheme. [34002]

  Mr. Hague
  Comprehensive information is not readily available. However, under the four main schemes—regional selective assistance, regional enterprise grants, small firms merit award for research and technology, and support for projects under research, the information is as follows:

  Scheme

  Value of offers accepted (£)

  Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)

  506,000

  Regional Enterprise Grants (REG)

  65,930

  Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology (SMART)

  301,581

  Support for Projects Under Research (SPUR)

  —

  Total

  873,481

  Of these, only RSA is directly job-related and 142 jobs were forecast to be created or safeguarded by the relevant projects.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, columns 978–79, if he will analyse the financial assistance which came to the county of Gwynedd during the financial year 1994–95 according to (a) regional selective assistance, (b) regional enterprise grants, (c) small firms merit award for research and technology and (d) support for products under research. [34032]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is as follows:

  Scheme

  Value of offers accepted (£)

  Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)

  4,173,500

  Regional Enterprise Grants (REG)

  110,948

  Small Firms Merit Awards for Research and Technology (SMART)

  153,577

  Support for Projects Under Research (SPUR)

  —

  Total

  4.438,025

  Higher Education Expenditure
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the public expenditure on higher education in Wales, including public expenditure on student maintenance, both in cash terms and in real terms, and expressed as a percentage of(a) estimated Welsh GDP and (b) estimated United Kingdom GDP for each financial year since 1989–90; and what is planned for (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99. [33811]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information is not available for the years before 1993–94. Welsh gross domestic product is calculated only for calendar years. The figure for 1993 and 1994 at current prices and factor cost are estimated at £22,264 million and £23,808 million respectively.

  Information for the years after is set out as follows:
  155

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Total HE public funding including student maintenance (cash terms)1 2

  367.263

  408.444

  415.328

  422.934

  424.119

  423.299

  Real terms 1994–95 prices

  374.014

  408.444

  404.212

  400.598

  391.923

  382.557

  As a percentage of UK gross domestic product3

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  0.05

  0.05

  Total HE public funding excluding student maintenance (cash terms)1

  282.563

  313.744

  311.328

  314.934

  313.119

  311.299

  Real terms 1994–95 prices

  287.762

  313.744

  302.996

  298.302

  289.349

  281.337

  As a percentage of UK gross domestic product3

  0.04

  0.05

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  1 Includes tuition fee income and adjustments relating to dual support for research.

  2 Includes student maintenance awards for Welsh domiciled student studying in the UK and the gross value of student loans for HE students in Wales.

  3 At market prices.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Dans
  To ask the Secretary of. State for Wales if local authorities in Wales will be eligible during 1996–97 for grants under the Home Energy Conservation Bill action scheme. [33449]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  All local authorities in Wales are in principle eligible for grant aid under the Home Energy Conservation Bill action programme but applications linked to reports under the Bill must be submitted by September 1996. Welsh councils are not required to produce the report until November 1997.

  Education and Training Funding (EU)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the applications made by organisations or individuals for funding for education and training purposes from the European Union in each of the last three years which(a) were submitted through the Welsh Office and (b) of which the Welsh Office received notification. [33393]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34144]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Family Health Service Authority

  Prescription items dispensed (thousands)

  Net Ingredient Cost (£ thousands)

  1992–931

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1992–931

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Clwyd

  281.1

  306.2

  318.3

  327.5

  2,854.40

  3,395.10

  3,823.80

  4,247.0

  Dyfed

  259.3

  271.8

  288.7

  297.3

  2,957.2

  3,374.8

  3,783.6

  4,097.5

  Gwent

  328.3

  356.8

  375.3

  387.6

  3,150.5

  3,692.8

  4,096.4

  4,447.6

  Gwynedd

  176.7

  190.8

  198

  205.8

  1,763.7

  2,114.1

  2,372.3

  2,635.9

  Mid Glamorgan

  497.3

  532.8

  562.5

  582.8

  4,832.7

  5,582.1

  6,415.9

  7,108.8

  Powys

  81.3

  87.9

  91.3

  95.0

  863.1

  981.9

  1,067.8

  1.177.6

  South Glamorgan

  297

  320.9

  337.0

  347.5

  3,215.2

  3,659.7

  4,006.5

  4,336.6

  West Glamorgan

  278.1

  305.2

  319.8

  331.3

  3,132.6

  3,671.1

  3,984.5

  4,291.8

  Wales

  2,200.2

  2,372.3

  2,490.9

  2,574.9

  22,770.1

  26,471.6

  29,550.7

  32,342.8

  1 The figure for Wales includes items and net ingredient cost where the Family Health Service authority was unidentified.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999.999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34145]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Asthma
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the net ingredient cost for preparations used in the treatment of asthma, in total and per health authority, for each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement; [34444]

  (2) what was the number of prescriptions for the treatment of asthma, in total and per health authority, for each of the last four years. [34445]

  Mr. Hague
  Information on the number of prescription items and their net ingredient cost dispensed specifically for asthma could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, most prescription items dispensed for the treatment of asthma fall into one of three therapeutic classes—bronchodilators, corticosteroids and cromoglycate and related therapy—and figures for these are given in the following table. It should be noted, however, that some items dispensed in those classes were not for the treatment of asthma.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Teaching Methods
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the teaching skills and methods employed in schools. [33215]

  Mr. Paice
  All teachers need to be equipped with a range of effective teaching methods, and to know when to use them. My right hon. Friend will publish details in September of her plans to ensure all training courses cover teaching methods of proven worth and give priority to primary literacy and numeracy.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the 10 worst performing local education authorities on the basis of national examination results. [33216]

  Mr. Paice
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Arundel (Sir M. Marshall).

  Teacher Training
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are her priorities for improving teacher training. [33217]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government have been seeking to enhance teacher training over many years. Our current priority is to ensure that all primary schools provide effective teaching in literacy and numeracy. Our plans to develop a new curriculum for initial training—beginning with English and mathematics—will ensure that teachers know how and when to use a range of effective teaching methods.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures she is taking to improve teacher training. [33229]

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on her plans to reform teacher training. [33231]

  Mr. Squire
  Earlier this month, my right hon. Friend announced her intention to build on earlier reforms by setting tighter rules for initial teacher training. This will ensure that all teachers are equipped with the most effective teaching skills and know when to use them. The first step will be to set out the essential content of training in English and mathematics.

  Over time, we shall construct a full professional framework for teachers, covering the content of both initial and in-service training, together with teaching qualifications. This will ensure that all teachers have professional goals for which to aim.

  Pupils (Rochdale)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current number of 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education within the Metropolitan borough of Rochdale. [33218]
  158
  Mr. Paice
  The numbers aged 16 to 18 in full-time education in Rochdale were 2,499 in 1994–95.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on measures for reducing youth unemployment. [33219]

  Mr. Paice
  We will continue with the policies that have reduced unemployment among young people and given the UK an unemployment rate for this age group well below the European Union average.

  Schools (Redesignation)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to redesignate those schools not classified as grammar schools. [33220]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  High School Places
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received from parents concerning allocation of high school places in relation to the parents charter. [33221]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Wednesday 24 April,Official Report, column 419.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been spent on publicity on phase 1 of the nursery voucher scheme. [33222]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  To date, some £1.2 million has been spent on providing information to parents and providers nationwide, much of this in the phase 2 areas. It is not possible to break down expenditure between the phase one areas or between phase 1 areas and the rest of the country.

  Higher Education Funding
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations she has received regarding the planned funding of higher education in the period 1996–97 to 1998–99. [33223]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received a substantial number of representations in recent months about the planned funding of higher education over the next three years.

  Schools (Selection)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on her plans to extend selection in education. [33225]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend's proposals for extending selection in education were published yesterday in the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools".

  Schools (Streaming)
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she last met with representatives of the Office for Standards in Education to discuss streaming and setting in schools. [33226]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Secretary of State frequently discusses educational issues with Her Majesty's chief inspector. Officials from Ofsted and the Department also hold regular discussion meetings.

  Youth Training
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has to extend training opportunities for unemployed 18 to 25-year-olds. [33227]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department will continue to offer and support a wide range of opportunities for unemployed 18 to 25-year-olds, including specialist provision for those requiring basic skills training.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will take further measures to ensure that local education authorities take prompt action to remove school places which are surplus to requirement. [33228]

  Mrs. Gillan
  We look to local education authorities to take action to remove surplus places in the first instance. My right hon. Friend has powers under the Education Act 1993 to direct an authority to bring forward rationalisation proposals where numbers of surplus places appear excessive.

  Youth Education Vouchers
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received regarding the introduction of vouchers for 16 to 19-year-olds in education and training. [33230]

  Mr. Paice
  None. The Government have no plans to introduce vouchers for 16 to 19-year-olds in education and training. We have announced our intention to consult on the introduction from 1997 of a system of learning credits. These will set out for all 16 to 19-year-olds their entitlement to the education and training they choose.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statistics her Department collects in respect of the provision of nursery education nationally. [33232]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department collects information on pupils under five being taught in maintained nursery schools; nursery classes in maintained primary schools; other classes in maintained primary schools, including reception classes; special schools; and independent schools.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she next plans to visit West Yorkshire to discuss employment prospects for young people. [33233]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit West Yorkshire in the near future. However, my hon. Friend the Member for South-East, Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) plans to visit Leeds on 11 July and will be discussing employment and training options for young people with Leeds training and enterprise council.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to expand the role of the Office for Standards in Education with regard to school inspections. [33234]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Ofsted is responsible for the regular inspection of all maintained schools. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced that she plans to introduce legislation in the autumn to give Ofsted powers to inspect LEA monitoring and support services for schools.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list(a) the schools which will be offering assisted places from September 1996, (b) the number of places which have been taken up and (c) the average spending per place in each Department of Environment region. [34492]

  Mrs. Gillan
  A list of the 355 schools in England which will be offering assisted places from September 1996 has been placed in the Library. Information on take-up and average cost of places for the academic year 1996–97 is not yet available. Preliminary indications are that take-up of places will remain high.

  Examination Results
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the maintained secondary schools and their respective local education authorities in which the number of pupils who gained five GCSEs was 10 per cent. or less in each year since 1990; if she will list the totals in each case and as a percentage of secondary schools in the maintained sector; how many of these schools have been designated failing schools through Ofsted inspection; and if she will make a statement. [34493]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There are no maintained secondary schools, apart from special maintained schools, in which the number of pupils who gained five GCSEs was 10 per cent. or less in each year since 1992.

  Compliance Cost Assessment
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by her Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34154]
  161
  Mr. Paice
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by her Department (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0–£999, (2) £1,000–£9,999, (3) £10,000–£49,999, (4) £50,000–£99,999, (5) £l00,000–£4499,999, (6) £500,000–£999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34155]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of the budget of each TEC in England and Wales last year(a) was spent and (b) could be used to support management training for small firms. [34121]

  Mr. Paice
  Of the main training and enterprise council budgets administered by the Department, those for employer investment in people—EIP—and skills for small businesses—SSB—may be used to support management training for small firms.

  Table 1 shows the percentage of each TEC's expenditure on DFEE programmes in 1995–96 which was used for EIP and SSB. Information is not available on how much was spent within these budgets on management training.

  In addition, TECs have had the opportunity to put forward proposals for funding under the Department for Trade and Industry's skills challenge—a fund for small businesses and business enterprise support budget.

  Funding for TECs in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Table 1: Percentage of TEC spend on employer investment in people (EIP) and skills for small businesses (SSB)

  TEC spend 1995–96

  EIP SSB percentage

  South East

  Hampshire

  4.53

  Heart of England

  4.66

  Isle of Wight

  11.79

  Kent

  2.78

  Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire

  5.18

  Surrey

  9.39

  Sussex

  6.45

  Thames Valley enterprise

  4.71

  London

  Aztec

  7.68

  Centec1

  11.72

  Cilntec

  9.40

  London East

  5.75

  North London

  9.59

  Northwest London

  6.15

  Solotec1

  4.79

  South Thames

  3.90

  West London

  6.95

  162

  Table 1: Percentage of TEC spend on employer investment in people (EIP) and skills for small businesses (SSB)

  TEC spend 1995–96

  EIP SSB percentage

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  5.39

  Cambstec

  10.64

  Essex

  3.01

  Greater Peterborough

  6.66

  Hertfordshire

  5.43

  Norfolk and Waveney

  5.47

  Suffolk

  6.05

  South West

  Devon and Cornwall

  4.04

  Dorset

  7.17

  Gloucestershire

  3.95

  Somerset

  7.58

  Westec

  4.17

  Wiltshire

  2.33

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  5.05

  Central England

  8.97

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  5.04

  Dudley

  4.94

  Hawtec

  5.32

  Sandwell

  4.18

  Shropshire

  4.71

  Staffordshire

  4.9

  Walsall

  5.65

  Wolverhampton

  4.14

  East Midlands

  Greater Nottingham

  5.94

  Leicester

  5.81

  Lincolnshire

  3.75

  North Derbyshire

  6.08

  North Nottinghamshire

  4.57

  Northamptonshire

  7.60

  Southern Derbyshire

  6.52

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  2.45

  Bradford and District

  4.09

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  3.05

  Humberside

  4.50

  Leeds

  4.50

  North Yorkshire

  4.96

  Rotherham

  6.09

  Sheffield

  4.75

  Wakefield

  4.14

  Merseyside

  Cewtec

  4.92

  Merseyside

  4.04

  Qualitec

  2.17

  North West

  Bolton and Bury

  5.02

  Cumbria

  3.35

  Eltec (East Lanes)

  5.62

  Lawtec (Lanes West)

  6.41

  Manchester

  6.03

  Metrotec Ltd. (Wigan)

  4.99

  Normidtec

  3.99

  Oldham

  3.83

  Rochdale

  4.26

  South and East Cheshire

  7.28

  Stockport/High Peak

  6.65

  North East

  County Durham

  3.44

  Northumberland

  4.94

  163

  Table 1: Percentage of TEC spend on employer investment in people (EIP) and skills for small businesses (SSB)

  TEC spend 1995–96

  EIP SSB percentage

  Sunderland City

  2.35

  Teesside

  3.17

  Tyneside

  4.95

  1 include payments made to these TECs who took over responsibility for programmes previously run by South Thames TEC.

  Home-school Contracts
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the views she expressed on 18 June in her meeting with the Campaign for State Education, on the undesirability of home-school contracts, represents Government policy; and if she will state her policy in respect of home-school contracts. [34497]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has made very clear her belief that home-school contracts can be extremely effective in strengthening partnerships between schools and parents. My noble Friend the Minister of State emphasised this point when he met the Campaign for State Education on 18 June.

DEFENCE

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34143]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Although information for MOD headquarters contracts is held on a central database, those records do not include details of low-value "local purchase" contracts placed by a number of outstations or contracts placed by the defence agencies. That information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the details for the categories in the question for MOD HQ contracts are as follows:

  (a) £214,390

  (b) (i) £1

  (ii) approximately £2,000 million (to provide a more precise figure may infringe commercial confidentiality)

  (c) (1) £9,295

  (2) £15,181

  (3) £7,227

  (4) £1,731

  (5) £2,237

  (6) £522

  (7) £665

  (d) £36,858.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests the United States Government have made in respect of the transfer of nuclear weapons 164
  information obtained from the United Kingdom to France under the US-France nuclear co-operation agreement signed on 4 June. [34100]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  No requests have been made by the United States.

  Bosnia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January,Official Report, columns 468–69, on charges for British bases, if his Department has now received figures for the renting of sites in (a) Lipa, (b) Sipovo, (c) Bugojno, (d) Sanski Most, (e) Mrkonjic Grad,(f) Banja Luka and (g) Vitez where rental prices were previously unavailable. [34049]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 21 June 1996]: The latest information on the sites in question is as follows:
  Lipa

  No lease has been negotiated for the site at this location. Therefore no costs have been incurred.

  Sipovo

  Three factories, a sawmill and a hotel are occupied. As yet no owners have been identified, so no costs have been incurred.

  Bugojno

  The factory site is due to be vacated at the end of this month. An owner has now been identified and discussion is under way about retrospective rental payments.

  Sanski Most

  Two sites are occupied. The costs of one, £8,000 per month, were given in my answer of 21 May, Official Report, column 108. The cost of the second site has yet to be established.

  Mrkonjic Grad

  Two factories, a sawmill and dam are occupied. The owner of one factory has been identified and rental negotiations are under way. Other site owners remain to be identified.

  Banjo Luka

  A factory site and two officers are occupied. The cost of the factory, £38,000 per month, was given in my answer of 21 May. The lease of the other two sites has been agreed at a cost of £17,650 per month.

  Vitez

  Negotiations for the use of the school building in Vitez are continuing, but this is state-owned and we aim to secure its use at no cost to the Department. There are a significant number of minor sites around the school which are occupied by British forces. Taken together, their rental amounts to some £11,100 per month. (Not all the costs of these sites were available for inclusion in my reply of 21 May). Costs to the BFI site were given in my answer of 26 January.

  Where no lease exists at present, my Department will
  aim to negotiate one when the owners of the site are identified and proof of ownership is established.

SCOTLAND

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [33510]
  165
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [33511]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Until this year, large parts of the Scottish Office estate were looked after by Property Holdings. Its maintenance costs did not separately identify the costs of meeting health and safety standards. I am sorry that I cannot therefore supply the information requested.

  £ million

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–961

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Expenditure excluding student maintenance1

  Cash

  183

  228

  296

  345

  632

  669

  674

  663

  657

  651

  Real terms (1994–95)2

  229

  264

  323

  361

  644

  669

  656

  628

  607

  588

  GDP (Cash)

  0.04 per cent.

  0.05 per cent.

  0.06 per cent.

  0.06 per cent.

  0.10 per cent.

  0.10 per cent.

  0.09 per cent.

  0.08 per cent.

  0.08 per cent.

  0.07 per cent.

  GDP (Real terms 1994–95)2

  0.04 per cent.

  0.04 per cent.

  0.05 per cent.

  0.06 per cent.

  0.10 per cent.

  0.10 per cent.

  0.09 per cent.

  0.09 per cent.

  0.08 per cent.

  0.08 per cent.

  Expenditure including student maintenance3

  Cash

  263

  324

  428

  505

  831

  897

  921

  946

  937

  919

  Real terms (1994–95)2

  329

  405

  536

  632

  846

  897

  896

  921

  912

  894

  GDP (Cash)

  0.05 per cent.

  0.06 per cent.

  0.07 per cent.

  0.08 per cent.

  0.13 per cent.

  0.13 per cent.

  0.13 per cent.

  0.13 per cent.

  0.12 per cent.

  0.11 per cent.

  GDP (Real terms 1994–95)2

  0.5 per cent.

  0.6 per cent.

  0.8 per cent.

  0.10 per cent.

  0.13 per cent.

  0.13 per cent.

  0.13 per cent.

  0.13 per cent.

  0.12 per cent.

  0.12 per cent.

  GDP Cash (£ million)4

  516,994

  556,781

  580,518

  605,156

  639,681

  676,179

  712,000

  754,000

  795,000

  836,000

  GDP Real terms (1994–95 prices)4

  646,968

  645,046

  633,031

  634,096

  651,437

  676,179

  692,944

  714,180

  734,649

  755,536

  1 The figures provided relate to grants to SOEID-funded institutions prior to 1993 and to SHEFC after 1993.

  2 Description of real terms is based on 1994–95 prices.

  3 The figures provided relate to grants to SOEID-funded institutions prior to 1993 and to SHEFC after 1993, and to student awards, loans, access fund and tuition fees paid by the Student Award Agency for Scotland but not including SAAS DRCs.

  4 GDP figures are take from the Treasury 'GDP and GDP Deflators at Market prices' table dated 9 April 1996.

  5 Figures for 1995–96 are provisional.

  Source:

  1989–90 'Serving Scotland's Needs' March 1995, CMD 2814.

  1990–91 to 1998–99 'Serving Scotland's Needs' March 1996, CMD 3214.

  Figures for 1992–93 and later years are not directly comparable because funding for teaching and research at the eight universities in Scotland previously funded by the Universities Funding Council was the responsibility until 31 March 1993 of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education.

  Human Ecology Department (Edinburgh University)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received relating to the closure of the department of human ecology at the university of Edinburgh. [33224]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  None.

  Inverclyde Enterprise Zone
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer, of 7 June,Official
  166

  Higher Education
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was public expenditure in higher education in Scotland excluding public expenditure on student maintenance in(a) cash terms, (b) real terms and (c) expressed as a percentage of United Kingdom gross domestic product for the financial years 1989–90 to 1995–96; and what is planned for 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99; [34249]

  (2) what was public expenditure in higher education in Scotland including public expenditure on student maintenance (a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms and (c) expressed as a percentage of United Kingdom gross domestic product for the financial years 1989–90 to 1995–96; and what is planned for 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99. [34248]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested on expenditure in higher education in Scotland, both including and excluding expenditure on student maintenance, is as follows:

  Report, column 592, if he will name the four companies and the number of persons employed by each in the Inverclyde enterprise zone. [33812]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The four companies which operate from sites within the Inverclyde enterprise zone and which have been attracted to those sites by Locate in Scotland are:

  Chicony Electronic (UK) Ltd.

  Cigna Services UK Ltd.

  KARE Ltd.

  Minebea Electronics UK Ltd.

  Information on the number of persons currently employed by these companies is not held centrally.
  167

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34135]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not recorded centrally within the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34134]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Princess Victoria (Memorial)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland
  if he will take steps to ensure the rebuilding of the memorial in Stranraer to the 133 persons who lost their lives on 31 January 1953 in the Princess Victoria disaster. [34353]

  Mr. Kynoch
  This is a matter for Dumfries and Galloway council in view of its statutory responsibility under section 96 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for statutes and monuments in public places.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Quarantine
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has evaluated in support of the policy of quarantine over vaccination with respect to the importation of pets from European Union member states; and if he will make a statement. [33918]

  Mrs. Browning
  The current policy on quarantine stems from a committee of inquiry—the Waterhouse committee—which was set up in 1970 to review the policy after the outbreaks of 1969 and 1970. This was carefully reviewed in the light of the recommendations in the Agriculture Select Committee report on health controls on the importation of live animals, published on 23 November 1994. Officials are also continually updated on the rabies situation in the European Union through the quarterly reports of the World Health Organisation collaborating centre for rabies surveillance and research and its frequent contacts with a number of other interested bodies, such as the Organisation International de Epizooties and the European Commission.
  168
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the quarantining of pets imported from member states of the European Union. [33917]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend for Weston Super Mare (Sir J. Wiggin) on 25 January 1995,Official Report, columns 216–17.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the officially recorded incidences of rabies in pets imported(a) between member states of the European Union and (b) into the United Kingdom from European Union member states since 1996; and if he will make a statement. [33901]

  Mrs. Browning
  There have been two cases of rabies in pets imported into Great Britain from other European member states since 1966. Both of these were in dogs imported from the German Federal Republic between April and May 1969. The Waterhouse inquiry was set up to review the policy and precautions against rabies following these outbreaks of rabies outside quarantine. It concluded that it was not possible to determine whether these animals were infected when imported or whether they contracted the disease indirectly while in quarantine.

  It is not possible without incurring disproportionate costs to list the officially recorded incidences of rabies in pets moved between European Union member states since 1966. We have received comprehensive information on rabies cases within Europe only since 1977. This is compiled by the WHO collaborating centre for rabies surveillance and research, whose data on outbreaks are broken down by country but do not usually include the country of origin of imported animals.

  Bovine Offals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what exemptions have been made to the prohibition of bovine offals from cattle aged more than six months entering the human food chain since November 1989 with particular reference to the use of bovine material containing spinal cords for the preparation of gelatine. [34091]

  Mrs. Browning
  The regulations in force since November 1989 contain an absolute prohibition on spinal cord being used for any material intended for human consumption including the production of gelatine. No exemptions have been granted to allow this material to be used for human food.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34150]

  Mr. Boswell
  I refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.

  Judicial Review
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in each
  169
  Session since 1991–92, legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of (a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions. [33581]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: There have been no instances in the period since the 1991–92 Session of this Department introducing legislation with the purpose of removing the effects of a judicial review decision.

  There has been no instance of the introduction of legislation in order to implement a judicial review decision. This stemmed from the judgment of the High Court of 22 June 1995 in proceedings brought by the National Farmers Union which declared unlawful the criteria used to determine eligibility for quota for producers who, at the time of the introduction of livestock quotas, had an investment programme to expand livestock numbers. The criteria in question appeared in the Sheep Annual Premium and Suckler Cow Premium Quotas Regulations 1993, S.I. 1626, amended by S.I. 1993/3036 and 1994/2894, regulation 13A(15) and schedule 2, part V. The Sheep Annual Premium and Suckler Cow Premium Quotas (Re-assessment of Eligibility) Regulations 1996, S.I. No. 48, implement the judgment by providing for revised criteria and for the re-assessment of the eligibility of these producers.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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

  Expenditure under the farm and conservation grant scheme

  £ million

  RSC

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Carlisle

  930,712.42

  3,416,402.65

  5,153,773.52

  5,808,194.55

  5,225,671.53

  3,584,591.38

  1,117,503.12

  Northallerton

  729,074.65

  2,436,188.82

  3,089,841.60

  3,472,513.95

  3,441,871.56

  2,420,960.29

  707,016.71

  Nottingham

  309,858.18

  1,252,212.67

  2,312,156.01

  2,623,115.86

  2,245,973.29

  2,028,193.54

  362,502.62

  Crewe

  1,381,944.28

  4,724,433.39

  4,485,964.49

  3,539,527.75

  3,490,007.55

  2,355,242.39

  539,425.15

  Worcester

  294,446.63

  1,132,565.32

  1,595,510.41

  1,790,880.27

  1,870,610.96

  1,599,068.10

  567,512.07

  Cambridge

  111,553.45

  1,169,139.03

  1,773,753.49

  1,114,898.57

  2,122,048.08

  1,473,366.89

  248,465.90

  Exeter

  1,171,665.66

  3,450,144.86

  4,688,883.51

  4,707,142.13

  4,415,658.10

  2,915,124.83

  1,059,472.23

  Bristol

  735,502.15

  3,604,221.61

  4,030,773.69

  2,773,918.95

  3,244,641.75

  2,581,489.12

  504,487.32

  Reading

  1,098,557.10

  5,546,704.59

  8,682,085.83

  7,872,902.63

  8,457,562.66

  2,099,720.70

  518,573.88

  Total

  6,763,314.52

  26,732,012.94

  35,812,742.55

  33,703,094.66

  29,288,373.95

  21,057,757.24

  5,624,959.36

  1 Records for this financial year have yet to be compeleted.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the animal welfare issues for which his Department has responsibility. [34293]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 25 June 1996]: The Department is responsible for the welfare of livestock on farm, at market, at slaughter, and for the welfare of all animals during transport.

  Meat Staining Regulations
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to monitor 170
  Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [33571]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 19 June 1996]: There have been 11 concluded applications for judicial review commenced since the 1991–92 Session of decisions by the Ministry. The Ministry's decision was upheld by the court in all but three cases. The first involved a challenge to a decision of the dairy produce quota tribunal and resulted in the case being remitted to a differently constituted tribunal; the second involved imports of potatoes and citrus fruit from northern Cyprus. That case is currently subject to appeal to the Court of Appeal and involves cross actions by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish companies. The third case is that involving sheep annual premium and suckler cow premium quotas referred to in the answer to the earlier question.

  Agricultural Schemes
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, for each of his Department's regions, the annual expenditure figures and forecasts for(a) countryside access schemes, (b) countryside stewardships, (c) environmentally sensitive areas, (d) farm and conservations grant schemes, (e) farm woodland premium schemes, (f) habitat schemes, (g) nitrate sensitive areas, (h) moorland schemes and (i) organic aid schemes for each year between 1990–91 and 1998–99. [33995]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 24 June 1996]: The following table provides the information. For the farm and conservation grant scheme, I am able to provide the expenditure by region for the years 1989–90 to 1995–96. The information for the other schemes is not available on a regional basis.

  the enforcement of meat staining regulations; and if he will seek to amend them to require the transportation of condemned meat to be carried out in sealed containers. [33728]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 25 June 1996]The control and supervision of the slaughter and processing of cattle aged over 30 months is undertaken by the Meat Hygiene Service in Great Britain and the Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland veterinary service in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Intervention Board executive agency, to which they regularly report. This includes responsibility for enforcement of meat staining requirements. It is already a requirement under
  171
  Commission regulation 716/96 that stained material must be transported in sealed containers to specially authorised incineration or rendering plants for processing and destruction to prevent its entry into the human or animal food chains.

  Animal Feedstuffs
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what arrangements he is making for the disposal of surplus stocks of animal feed containing mammalian meat and bonemeal, MBM, following the recent ban on feeding MBM to farm livestock. [32479]

  Mrs. Browning
  [pursuant to her reply 10 June 1996, Official Report, column 2.]: The Government have today sent a letter to all livestock farmers, feed merchants and feed compounders in the United Kingdom offering to fund the collection and disposal of any residual stocks of MBM or feed containing MBM. Thereafter, after consultation with the appropriate organisations, an order will be laid to make it illegal to have MBM, or feed containing MBM, on farms or in the premises of feed merchants or at feed mills.

  Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for class III vote 1 (Intervention Board Executive Agency: CAP market support and administration) and for class III vote 2 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: operational expenditure, agencies and departmental administration). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £6 million in these votes will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security who initially evaluates the matches produced by the housing benefit data matching exercise; and if he will make a statement. [33780]

  Mr. Heald
  During the current development phase of the project, the initial evaluation of the matches produced by the housing benefit matching service is being undertaken by the local authorities involved.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which local authorities have had housing benefit data matched by the housing benefit matching system; and if he will make a statement. [33779]

  Mr. Heald
  The London boroughs of Westminster, Hounslow and Richmond have had housing benefit data matched as part of the development phase of the housing benefit matching service project.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local authorities' data it is planned will be matched by(a) 1 October, (b) 1 January 1997, (c) 1 April 1997 and (d) 1 June 1997. [33781]

  Mr. Heald
  The housing benefit matching service project is being taken forward in two phases. Phase 1 will involve eight London boroughs and will be complete by October 1996. Phase 2 will commence in October 1996 and is national implementation. The detailed schedule 2 is in preparation.
  172
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what data matching exercises have been carried out between Benefits Agency staff and those claiming benefit; and if he will place the results in the Library. [33784]

  Mr. Heald
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Rochdale (Ms Lynne) on 18 March,Official Report, columns 15–16.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department for 1995–96 from(a) the introduction of incapacity benefit and (b) the new all work test of incapacity; [32487]

  (2) what are the current estimates of the savings to his Department arising from the introduction of incapacity benefit in each of the years 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [32488]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  The original estimates for savings in 1995–96 and 1996–97 have been revised. The new estimates for these years reflect the decision to control the number of pre-April 1995 cases being put through the all work test to ensure that the total number of cases being processed does not outstrip operational capacity. Long-term savings from the policy changes are unaffected by these changes.

  Incapacity benefit

  Year

  Estimated savings £ million

  1995–96

  340 of which 125 is attributable to the all work test

  1996–97

  1,060

  1997–98

  1,860

  1998–99

  2,200

  1999–00

  Not available

  2000–01

  2,500

  1. Estimates for expenditure on incapacity benefit are contained in the 1996 Departmental Report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  2. All estimates except that for 2000–01 are in cash terms rounded to nearest £10m.

  3. Figures for 2000–01 are at 1995–96 prices rounded to nearest £100m.

  4. The equivalent cash figure in 2000–01 assuming an uprating factor of 2.25 per cent. in each year after 1998–99 is £2,800m.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the proactive elements in the Benefits Agency's approach to the detection of internal fraud; and if he will make a statement. [33785]

  Mr. Heald
  The Benefits Agency security strategy addresses the problem of internal and external fraud. The initiatives of the security strategy, such as new claims visiting and targeted reviews, are effective against both internal and external fraud, and provide a significant deterrent measure. Work has also been undertaken to improve the awareness of staff, and to encourage the reporting of suspicions of fraud.

  The Benefits Agency also takes a proactive approach to the detecting of internal fraud. There are several strands to this approach including:
  173
  Security checking—there are a large number of checks in place within the benefit payment and administration processes, which are aimed at providing assurance that processes are as secure as possible, and deterring staff from attempting fraud and detecting quickly frauds which are attempted.

  The audit trail analysis system (ATAS)—all of the Department's main computer systems have an audit trail—a record of the activity of users of the systems. ATAS provides a powerful tool for the detection and investigation of internal fraud, enabling suspicious patterns of user activity on computer systems to be automatically selected for investigation, and also providing a means of interrogating audit trail data.

  Security specialists have put in place in each district (and some central units) within the agency. Trained in risk analysis, the security specialists are conducting an ongoing analysis to identify areas of potential local vulnerability to internal fraud.

  Reports of completed investigations are analysed, and wherever possible the ATAS system used to ensure that no other frauds using a similar method exist. Where investigations highlight weaknesses in procedures or computer systems, the information is used in an on-going processor risk analysis, to inform the programme of system improvements.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff are employed to investigate internal fraud within the Benefits Agency; and if he will state their grades. [33789]

  Mr. Heald
  At present, there are 35 staff employed on a full-time basis as internal fraud investigators, the large majority of whom are in pay band C3—formerly HEO grade.

  There are also approximately 100 further trained investigators within benefit areas and central directorates, who are normally employed on other duties, but who can be called upon to assist with the investigations if required.

  In addition to this, there are a number of staff involved in providing support services for internal investigators at a local and national level.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Benefits Agency organised fraud teams are used to investigate internal fraud; and if he will make a statement. [33786]

  Mr. Heald
  The Benefits Agency uses its organised fraud investigation teams to assist in investigations into internal fraud in cases where the teams' specialist skills can be of benefit to the investigation. The large majority of investigations do not require the involvement of organised fraud, but regular and effective liaison exists between internal investigators and organised fraud to ensure that cases with an organised fraud dimension are identified from internal fraud investigations and vice versa, and that the skills of each section are used when appropriate.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of state for Social Security what are the formal liaison arrangements between individuals investigating internal fraud by staff administering benefits within the Benefits Agency and those investigating internal fraud by staff administering benefits within local authorities. [33790]

  Mr. Heald
  Liaison between internal fraud investigators in the Benefits Agency and those investigating internal fraud by staff administering benefits in local authorities is on a case-by-case basis. Should Benefits Agency internal investigators identify a fraud involving local authority staff, then a framework exists 174
  which enables the sharing of information and co-operation in any investigation. Likewise, should those responsible for investigating local authority staff identify a fraud involving a Benefits Agency employee, a reciprocal arrangement exists.

  In the London area, the London team against fraud, which has a particular interest in local authority internal fraud, is represented at the regular liaison meeting held by the Benefits Agency internal fraud investigators.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many compensation payments for administrative errors made by the Child Support Agency have taken longer than(a) six months, (b) one year and (c) 18 months to process. [34021]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the compliance of the CSA computer system with the Data Protection Act 1984; and what was the cost of the system. [33826]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Mildred Gordon, dated 25 June 1996:

  In the absence of Miss Chant, the Chief Executive, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency Computer System.

  The Child Support Agency and its computer system are registered with the Office of the Data Protection Registrar, in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984. A close liaison exists with the Agency and the Registrar's Office, with regular meetings both at Chief Executive and working level. The Agency has responded positively to a number of recommendations made by the Data Protection Registrar in the past, following complaints made to the Registrar.

  Any software procurement programmes or system enhancements take full account of the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

  The cost of the CSA computer system is commercial in confidence.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average length of time taken by the Child Support Agency to award compensation payments for administrative errors; [34018]

  (2) how many applications the Child Support Agency has received for compensation following administrative errors by the agency in each year since the agency came into operation; [34019]

  (3) what amount was awarded in compensation for administrative errors by the Child Support Agency in each year since it came into operation; [34020]

  (4) what proposals his Department has to ensure prompt compensation in respect of administrative errors by the Child Support Agency. [34022]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
  175
  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Kevin Hughes, dated 25 June 1996:

  In the absence of Miss Chant, the Chief Executive, I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about compensation procedures within the Child Support Agency.

  The Child Support agency has a discrete unit to deal with all claims for special payments. This ensures that each case receives individual attention and helps achieve fairness and an appropriate standard of consistency in an essentially discretionary scheme. All cases are treated with priority and are normally dealt with in order of the date of receipt at the unit.

  A special payment is considered where a clear and unambiguous error by the Agency has resulted in an actual financial loss to the client. Each case is carefully considered on its individual merits and depending on the complexity of the case, the length of time required to award a special payment can vary considerably. It is not possible therefore to calculate a meaningful average for the time taken to award such payments.

  The numbers of special payment applications received and the amounts paid for the years in question are shown in the table attached.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Year

  Number received

  Amount £

  1993–94

  11

  410.00

  1994–95

  551

  4,469.10

  1995–961

  1,507

  174,100.10

  1996–97

  378

  161,708.43

  1 Figures include 494 cases amounting to £58,400 paid as part of an exercise to rectify incorrectly assessed minimum maintenance payments attributed to absent parents.

  Benefits Statistics
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents who are(a) single and (b) part of a couple are currently claiming (i) income support, (ii) family credit, (iii) disability working allowance, (iv) housing benefit and (v) council tax benefit. [34270]

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

  Benefit

  Single

  Couples

  Income Support

  1,149,000

  484,000

  Housing Benefit

  908,000

  469,000

  Council Tax Benefit

  953,000

  581,000

  Family Credit

  287,000

  355,000

  Disability Working

  1,024

  2,226

  Allowance

  Sources:

  1. Income support quarterly inquiry August 1995.

  2. Disability working allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

  3. Family credit statistics quarterly inquiries October 1995.

  4. Housing benefit management information system, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries, with and without income support taken at the end of May 1994.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently earning below the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions; and how many and what proportion of these are part-time workers. [34276]

  Mr. Heald
  An estimated 2.6 million people, 95 per cent. of whom work part time, have one or more jobs with earnings below the lower earnings limits.

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the amount paid in national insurance contributions by employers; and what proportion this represents of the national insurance fund in each of the last three years. [34245]

  Mr. Heald
  The information requested is in the table:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Employers' contributions1 (£ billion)

  20.2

  21.1

  21.3

  Employers' contributions as a percentage of National Insurance Fund receipts2

  56.7

  47.5

  47.2

  1 Total of employers' class 1 and class 1A contributions paid into the national insurance fund.

  2 National insurance fund receipts include contributions paid by employers, employees and the self—employed, the Treasury grant (from April 1993) and other income. Further information is available in the national insurance fund accounts for each year, copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of removing employer national insurance contributions on earnings below the lower earnings limit. [34234]

  Mr. Heald
  If employers were not required to pay national insurance contributions on the portion of their employees earnings below the lower earnings limit, contribution revenue for 1997–98 would be reduced by about £5 billion.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Benefits Agency (Advice Line)
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 223, when a review of the freeline telephone advice service will be completed; and where the results will be published. [34320]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Milton Keynes, North-East (Mr. Butler) on 21 June,Official Report, column 629.

  Benefits Agency Medical Service
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 1995,Official Report, column 673, when he expects to place details of successful bidders for the Benefits Agency medical service in the Library. [34271]
  177
  Mr. Burt
  Details of successful bidders for the Benefits Agency medical service will be placed in the Library following the award of a contract or contracts, which is expected to be by April 1997.

  Benefits Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claims have been made against the Benefits Agency owing to claimants being wrongly advised by the Benefits Agency in the last year for which figures are available; [33926]

  (2) how many extra-statutory payments have been paid out in compensation to claimants found to have been given wrong advice by the Benefits Agency in the last year for which figures are available; [33927]

  (3) how many claims made against the Benefits Agency for wrongly advising claimants in the last year for which figures are available have been upheld by the social security appeal tribunal. [33929]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy on extra-statutory compensation to claimants found to have been given wrong advice by the Benefits Agency. [33928]

  Mr. Evans
  Where it its determined that official advice was clearly wrong and that, as a result, a claimant has lost underlying statutory entitlement to benefit, an extra-statutory payment is considered. It is determined as though the correct advice had been given and in accordance with the benefit legislation appropriate to the period in question. The Department's policy in such cases is that a compensation payment will be considered.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the

  Legislation

  Effect

  Approximate numbers affected at point of change

  Housing Benefits Regulations 1982

  Claimants in receipt of supplementary benefit including rent costs were transferred to housing benefits: rent rebate, rate rebate and/or rent allowance

  Not available

  Social Security (Severe Disablement Allowance) Regulations 1984

  Claimants in receipt of non-contributory invalidity pension and housewives non-contributory invalidity pension were transferred to severe disablement allowance

  250,000

  s.20 of the Social Security Act 1986

  Claimants in receipt of supplementary benefit were transferred to income support

  24.4 million

  paras. 5 and 6 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Act 1986

  Claimants in receipt of special hardship allowance were transferred to reduced earnings allowance

  150,000

  Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987

  Claimants in receipt of family income supplement were transferred to family credit

  200,000

  Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987

  Claimants in receipt of pre-1988 housing benefits were transferred to housing benefit

  24 million

  Income Support (General) Amendment Regulations 1987, Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987

  Claimants in receipt of supplementary benefit who were working for between 24 and 30 hours per week became eligible to claim family credit

  Not available

  s.2 of the Social Security Act 1988, para. 8 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security Act 1989, Social Security (Industrial Injuries and Diseases) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996

  Claimants in receipt of reduced earnings allowance over pensionable age were transferred to retirement allowance

  32,000 to date, 2,000 to be reviewed

  Social Security (Introduction of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991

  Claimants in receipt of attendance allowance under the age of 65 were transferred to disability living allowance (care component)

  1340,000

  178
  smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995–96. [34137]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available.

  Income Support
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claim income support; and what proportion of them are over state retirement age. [34158]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  As at August 1995, there were 5,751,000 income support claimants, of whom 27.6 per cent. were over state retirement age.

  Compliance Cost Assessments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment(a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34136]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Benefit Claimants (Transfers)
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those provisions of social security legislation which have transferred claimant groups from one benefit to another since 1979; and if he will give approximate numbers of affected claimants. [34486]

  Mr. Burt
  The main legislative provisions which have resulted in the transfer of recipients from one benefit to another are listed in the table, together with such information as is available regarding the numbers affected.
  179

  Legislation

  Effect

  Approximate numbers affected at point of change

  Social Security (Introduction to Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991

  Claimants in receipt of mobility allowance were transferred to disability living allowance (mobility component)

  1700,000

  Income Support (General) Amendment Regulations 1991, Family Credit (General) Amendment Regulations 1991

  Claimants in receipt of income support who were working for between 16 and 24 hours per week became eligible to claim family credit

  Not available

  Council Tax (General) Regulations 1992

  Council tax benefit introduced to replace community charge benefit

  25.5 million

  Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995

  Claimants in receipt of sickness and invalidity benefits were transferred to incapacity benefit

  1.9 million

  s.40(2) of the Jobseekers Act 1995

  Claimants in receipt of unemployment benefit and/or income support for the unemployed will be transferred to jobseeker's allowance from 7 October 1996

  Numbers will depend on actual numbers claiming

  1 Claimants who received both attendance allowance and mobility allowance are included in both figures; the total number of people affected is not available.

  2 Figures based on numbers claiming before and after change; actual number of transfers may be lower.

  Male Earnings Mobility
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish the paper on male earnings mobility to which he referred in his recent speech on welfare reform and Christian values at Southwark cathedral. [34938]

  Mr. Lilley
  The paper on male earnings mobility in the lifetime labour market database will be published today, and copies of the paper will be placed in the Library. The study follows a sample of men aged between 25 and 44 in 1978, over a 15-year period. It provides a valuable addition to our understanding of how people's work status and earnings change over time and confirms that an interpretation of statistics on the distribution of income and earnings that suggest those at the bottom have become worse off, is too simplistic.

  The men in this study have not, in general, stayed in the same position for 15 years. Many have moved both into and out of work and the great majority of earners saw real increases in their earnings over the period.

  Child Support (Benefits)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many reduced benefit directions have been imposed in each year since the introduction of the Child Support Agency; and how many reduced benefit directions have been issued in the current year to date. [34463]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 25 June 1996:

  In the absence of Miss Chant, the Chief Executive, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency.
  180
  During 1995–96 27,478 reduced benefit directions were imposed. No information is available prior to this. In the current year 1,091 reduced benefit directions have been imposed during April 1996.

  Figures on the number of reduced benefit directions imposed are included in the CSA Statistical Information placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  I hope this is helpful.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Lord President of the Council 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. [33459]

  Mr. Newton
  Working conditions within the Privy Council office over the past five years have not at any time fallen below acceptable health and safety standards, although the maintenance of such standards is an important management priority and resources are directed to that end as necessary. I am not responsible for any agencies.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Lord President of the Council 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. [33457]

  Mr. Newton
  None. I am not responsible for any agencies.

  South Tripura Camps: Refugees' Conditions
  South Tripura Camps: Refugees' Conditions
  EC Documents: Availability for Parliamentary Scrutiny
  EC Documents: Availability for Parliamentary Scrutiny
  Human Rights Conventions
  Human Rights Conventions
  Oftel: Complement
  Oftel: Complement
  Police Search Warrant: National Sporting Club
  Police Search Warrant: National Sporting Club
  Erlestoke Prison: CNA and Population
  Erlestoke Prison: CNA and Population
  Turkish Nationals: Asylum Applications
  Turkish Nationals: Asylum Applications
  CJD: New Variant
  CJD: New Variant
  CJD and BSE
  CJD and BSE
  Central Science Laboratory: Targets
  Central Science Laboratory: Targets
  Sports Council Grants
  Sports Council Grants