Written Answers of 13 March 1996

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that(a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies in each of the past five years, listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information technology material separately. [19034]

  Mr. Hanley
  The following items of equipment have been reported stolen or unaccounted for in the past five years:

  Stolen

  £

  1991

  7 general items

  865

  1992

  4 general items

  380

  1993

  3 general items

  3 items of IT equipment

  9,350

  1994

  no general items

  22 items of IT equipment

  45,177

  These included:

  9 computers, 1 printer and miscellaneous hardware and software

  [23,835]

  4 Applemac computers

  [5,180]

  1 portable computer

  [5,000]

  4 IT items (laptop PCs, desktop PCs, printer)

  [5,065]

  1995

  no general items

  9 items of IT equipment

  21,106

  These included:

  8 IT items (Desktop PCs, laptop PC, monitor, printer)

  [9,106]

  computer chips

  [10,000]

  Unaccounted for: 1994

  1 general item and 4 items of IT equipment

  6,090

  These included:

  4 laptop computers

  [6,000]

  Total

  82,968

  We are currently considering various devices available on the market to protect IT equipment.

  Indonesia (Human Rights)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to raise the violation of human 602
  rights faced by independent human rights organisations in Indonesia at (a) the forthcoming 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and (b) other inter-governmental conferences. [18849]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have no plans to raise specific concerns of independent human rights organisations in Indonesia at the 52nd session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Together with our EU partners we will continue to raise with the Indonesian Government, bilaterally and at other appropriate international fora, our concerns about the human rights situation in Indonesia.

  Commonwealth Scholarships
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the expenditure by the Government in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 upon Commonwealth scholarships; and what estimate he has made of expenditure in 1996–97. [20046]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government provided £63.5 million for awards for commonwealth students in 1994–95. Figures for 1995–96 are not yet available but are likely to be broadly similar.

  The expenditure on awards for commonwealth students is likely to fall in 1996–97 due to reductions in the various budgets from which awards are funded, and policy changes affecting the pattern of training within the United Kingdom's bilateral country aid projects.

  Zimbabwe (Press Freedom)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make statement on press freedom in Zimbabwe. [20457]

  Mr. Hanley
  The constitution of Zimbabwe provides for freedom of expression subject to certain defined exceptions. Most of the media in Zimbabwe are effectively state-controlled but there are privately owned press titles which take an independent stance and can be critical of Government.

SCOTLAND

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to review the capping limits on the environmentally sensitive areas provision; and if he will make a statement; [19949]

  (2) when he expects the review of the environmentally sensitive areas provision to be complete; and if he will make a statement. [19950]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Biennial reviews of payments ceilings and rates have now been completed for all 10 environmentally sensitive area schemes. Increased ceilings and rates were introduced for the Breadalbane and Loch Lomond schemes with effect from 21 December 1995. Substantial increases in ceilings of up to 175 per cent. for the remaining eight schemes were announced on 8 March, subject to approval by the European Commission and Parliament. These increases demonstrate
  603
  our commitment to the schemes and should ensure that farmers and crofters who opt to join can manage their land to achieve maximum conservation benefit.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to correct the underspend on the environmentally sensitive areas provision; and if he will make a statement. [19948]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The environmentally sensitive areas scheme is voluntary and while uptake to date has been lower than anticipated, it is steadily increasing. My noble Friend the Minister for Agriculture and the Environment expects that it will continue to do so as farmers and crofters recognise the benefits of participation and take advantage of substantially increased payment ceilings which we have recently announced.

  Stalking
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a criminal offence of stalking. [19691]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have recently completed an examination of the anti-stalking laws passed in the United States, Australia and Canada and are currently considering whether specific legislation to address the problems of stalking could with benefit be introduced in the United Kingdom. In Scotland, the breadth of the common law charge of breach of the peace is such that virtually any conduct which might constitute stalking can already be prosecuted as breach of the peace.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with further education colleges on(a) provision of places in the colleges and (b) amalgamation of existing colleges; and if he will make a statement on the negotiations he has had with each college. [20079]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  None.

  Electric Shock Equipment
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Lord Advocate to make a decision on whether to bring charges in respect of allegations made in the "Dispatches" programme on the export of electric shock equipment. [20357

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I understand from my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate that Strathclyde police are currently investigating allegations concerning the export of electro-shock equipment. At the conclusion of the investigation, a report will be submitted to Crown Office for the consideration of Crown counsel.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Computers
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all cases since 1987 where his Department has bought computer 604
  capacity from (a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19452]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  My Department has not directly bought computer capacity from other Departments or the private sector since 1987 and has no current plans to do so.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what provisions were made to protect the interests of Strathclyde passenger transport executive in rolling stock funded by them which was transferred to the ownership of Angel Train Company and Eversholt Leasing Company; and if he will make a statement. [19600]

  (2) what provisions were made when the rolling stock companies were established to safeguard the interests of passenger transport executives in rolling stock which they had funded. [19599]

  Mr. Watts
  Constraints on the use of the passenger rolling stock, which had previously been put in place by the British Railways Board to protect the interests of the PTEs were transferred, as appropriate, to the three passenger rolling stock leasing companies—Roscos. The arrangements for Strathcylde funded passenger rolling stock was recently confirmed to Strathclyde regional council by officials in my Department.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it continues to be his policy that passenger transport executives are entitled to direct the use of rolling stock which they have funded. [19601]

  Mr. Watts
  I have no current plans to change the present arrangements.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps were taken to inform the European Commission of the state subsidy provided to the privatised rolling stock companies from the British Railway's Board's retention of the obligation to meet outstanding loan charges in respect of PTE-funded assets transferred to rosco ownership; and if he will make a statement. [19602]

  Mr. Watts
  A decision by the Government and the British Railways Board to repay a proportion of PTE capital grants, as a means of compensating the PTEs for the loss of the lower costs charged to them by British Rail prior to April 1994, does not confer any benefit on the three recently privatised passenger rolling stock leasing companies.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the British Railways Board in 1996–97 of meeting outstanding loan charges in respect of PTE-funded assets which were transferred to private ownership. [19598]

  Mr. Watts
  The current estimated cost to the British Railways Board of payments to be made to the PTEs under deeds of assumption for 1996–97, in respect of rolling stock acquired by BR as a result of PTE capital grants and subsequently transferred to private ownership, is £10.6 million.
  605

  Marine Accidents (Borga)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what(a) interim report and (b) special bulletins he has received from the marine accident investigation branch on the grounding of the Borga; when they were received; and if he will place copies of them in the Library. [20556]

  Mr. Norris
  Neither an interim report nor a special bulletin was produced in the case of the Borga investigation.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 6 March 1996,Official Report, column 216–17, when he expects the marine accident investigation branch to report on the grounding of the Borga. [20572]

  Mr. Norris
  The marine accident investigation branch report of the investigation into the grounding of the Borga on 28 October 1995 will be published as soon as the investigation is complete. Work is continuing in co-operation with the authorities in Norway, the flag state of the vessel.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the royal train and what value was attached to the asset. [20452]

  Mr. Watts
  I understand that in 1995 Railtrack valued the royal train at approximately £11 million for insurance purposes.

  Aircraft Insurance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulatory mechanism is in place in the United Kingdom for checking that aircraft flying into and out of the United Kingdom are insured. [20468]

  Mr. Norris
  Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2407/92 on licensing of air carriers requires an air carrier with an operating licence granted by the competent licensing authority to be insured to cover liability in case of accidents. The regulation applies to all states of the European economic area and is implemented in the United Kingdom by Statutory Instrument No. 2992 "The Licensing of Air Carriers Regulations 1992". The competent licensing authority in the United Kingdom is the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Article 102 of the Air Navigation (No. 2) Order 1995 provides that aircraft registered in a state other than the United Kingdom or another European economic area state shall not operate into the United Kingdom without the permission of the Secretary of State. Permits are not issued to non-European economic area air carriers unless they have provided evidence of insurance.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases there have been in the last five years of airlines flying to or from the United Kingdom that are not insured. [20469]

  Mr. Norris
  None that the Department or the Civil Aviation Authority is aware of.
  606

  London Underground
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total Government grant to London Underground Ltd. in each year since 1991; and what was the total annual amount of Government grant spent on(a) the Northern line, City branch, (b) the Bakerloo line and (c) the east London line. [20328]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department gives grant to London Transport. The distribution of grant by LT between London Underground Ltd. and its other businesses is an operational matter for LT. LT's allocation of grant to London Underground from 1991–92 is shown in the table. Grant is not allocated on a line-by-line basis. These figures exclude grant for the construction of the Jubilee line extension.

  Year

  Grant (£m outturn prices)1

  1991–92

  296

  1992–93

  598

  1993–94

  511

  1994–1995

  413

  1995–96

  377 (estimate)

  1 Figures supplied by London Transport.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the European Passenger Services fleet of trains; and what value was attached to the asset. [20298]

  Mr. Watts
  Seven of EPS's 11 Eurostar train sets and the night service stock are leased. The breakdown from EPS's latest annual report and accounts show that on 31 March 1995 the rolling stock had a written down value on a historical cost basis after taking into account leasing obligations of £318 million. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the maintenance depot in Manchester for regional Eurostar trains; and what value was attached to the asset. [20302]

  Mr. Watts
  EPS's latest annual report and accounts show that on 31 March 1995 the Manchester Longsight depot had a written down value on a historical cost basis of £5.9 million. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the Eurostar maintenance depot at North Pole; and what value was attached to the asset. [20300]

  Mr. Watts
  The breakdown from EPS' s latest annual report and accounts show that on 31 March 1995 the North Pole depot has a written down value on a historical cost basis of £77.5 million. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of Waterloo international station; and what value was attached to the asset. [20299]
  607
  Mr. Watts
  The breakdown from EPS's latest annual report and accounts show that on 31 March 1995 the Waterloo international terminal had a written down value on a historical cost basis of £136 million. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the new Ashford international station; and what value was attached to the asset. [20301]

  Mr. Watts
  Ashford international station is carried in EPS's 1994–95 annual report and accounts as having a value of £41 million on 31 March 1995. This figure is based on the net present value of future leasing payments. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has carried out to check the safety aspects of transporting orimulsion. [19251]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about what studies have been carried out to check the transporting safety aspects of orimulsion.

  The Marine Safety Agency (MSA) has not conducted research into this matter. I am aware, however, that the Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU), which is part of the Coastguard Agency, is conversant with studies carried out by other organisations and continues to monitor all orimulsion related research.

  Milford Haven
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what occasions oil companies operating in Milford Haven or the harbour authority have suggested to his Department that aspects of the Sullom Voe system should be introduced at Milford Haven; and what was his response; [18578]

  (2) if the Milford Haven port control staff are under standing instructions to monitor the harbour radar displays at all times during arrival and departure of tankers; [18583]

  (3) if the port of Milford Haven has (a) permanent boom anchoring sites, (b) boom storage buildings and(c) boom layering boats; [18579]

  (4) if the Milford Haven harbour radar is fitted with computer-tracking software and audible-visible alarms to warn port controllers when a ship deviates from the intended course; [18582]

  (5) what is the reliability record of the Milford Haven harbour radar; and when it was last (a) overhauled, (b) upgraded and (c) replaced; [18586]

  (6) if the Milford Haven harbour radar was working at the time of the grounding of the Sea Empress; [18599]

  (7) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Milford Haven port safety requirements relative to those published in the Sullom Voe port handbook; [18600]
  608
  (8) if the Milford Haven harbour authority requires masters of incoming vessels to complete and sign a check-list of safety precautions certifying that their vessel meets all the port safety requirements; [18589]

  (9) what is the specified maximum time allowed for tugs to reach a tanker in difficulties in (a) the approaches and (b) the entrance to Milford Haven harbour. [18577]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Milford Haven.

  PQ 1311/95/96

  I am not aware that any such suggestions have ever been received.

  PQ 1310/95/96

  No. The purpose of the radar system is to provide information rather than to enable direct control of vessels.

  PQ 1293/95/96

  The Port of Milford Haven has a number of permanent boom anchoring sites and two boon storage buildings. There are a number of boom laying boats within the Haven.

  PQ 1292/95/96

  Yes.

  PQ 1289/95/96

  The provision, operation and maintenance of the radar system is a matter for the Milford Haven Port Authority. They inform me that detailed reliability records are not readily available.

  The radar is in effect continuously overhauled under a maintenance regime carried out by an electronics engineer permanently employed by the port authority, supported by the manufacturers.

  In 1991 the whole system was fully examined and some of the data processing and display equipment was upgraded.

  The system accepted by the authority from the manufacturers in 1986 is still in place.

  PQ 1308/95/96

  The radar at the signal station was working, but the St. Ann's Head radar station was not.

  PQ 1300/95/96

  Milford Haven Port Authority requires the masters of vessels carrying dangerous or polluting goods to complete the check list set out in Schedule 2 to Merchant Shipping Notice No. M1630 in accordance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Reporting Requirements for Ships Carrying Dangerous or Polluting Goods) Regulations 1995 and provide that checklist to the pilot and the Port Authority.

  PQ 1299/95/96

  None, so far as I am aware. Our assessment of port oil pollution plans is made in relation to the National Contingency Plan.

  PQ 1297/95/96

  There is no specified maximum time. Three tugs are available on immediate notice at all times within the harbour. The estimated time for them to reach the entrance to the harbour is 30 minutes. The time taken to reach a vessel beyond the entrance would be greater. depending on its position. When a tanker is approaching the harbour three tugs (four for a large tanker) are ready to meet her at the bend in the channel, where they are within 15 minutes of the entrance.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how regularly liaison takes place between the Milford Haven harbour authority and oil terminal operators. [18590]
  609
  Mr. Norris
  I understand that the Milford Haven Harbour Authority has daily contact with oil terminal operators.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many harbour tugs and of what specification were waiting at the entrance of Milford Haven to render immediate assistance in the event of vessels being in difficulties at the time of the Sea Empress disaster. [18580]

  Mr. Norris
  On the night of 15 February, four harbour tugs, each with a 45 tonne bollard pull, were on station within the Haven.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Milford Haven harbour authority(a) keeps records and (b) publishes details of all pollution incidents. [18588]

  Mr. Norris
  I understand that the Milford Haven Harbour Authority does keep records of pollution incidents, which are made available to the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea on an annual basis for publication, as part of its report to the marine pollution control unit. The authority must also report individual pollution incidents to the marine pollution control unit.

  Waste Oil Reception Facilities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the locations of United Kingdom waste reception facilities for waste oil from ships; [19631]

  (2) if he will list the locations of United Kingdom waste reception facilities for waste oil from ships introduced since the Donaldson report; and if he will make a statement. [19629]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your questions about the locations of UK waste reception facilities for waste oil from ships, and those introduced since the Donaldson Report.

  A list of the port waste reception facilities in the United Kingdom was placed in the House library in June 1995, based on a regular questionnaire survey of UK ports conducted by the Marine Safety Agency.

  Information is not held in sufficient detail to enable port waste reception facilities which were introduced since the publication of Lord Donaldson's report "Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas" to be readily identified. However a questionnaire survey is to be carried out this year, the data collected will provide information on changes since 1995.

  Railtrack (Asset Maintenance)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, column 145, what was the total sum estimated by W. S. Atkins as required for maintenance of Railtrack's assets in steady state over 10 years; and what maintenance works are included in this estimate. [18548]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack's asset maintenance plan in respect of track and route structures, developed with the assistance of W. S. Atkins, is based on a central estimate for the 10 years from 1 April 1994 of £3,250 million. The forecast covers maintenance and renewals work on 610
  track embankments, cuttings, retaining walls, culverts and sea defences. It excludes day-to-day maintenance carried out under contract by the infrastructure maintenance companies.

  Single-hulled Tankers
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proposals he has to amend regulations governing admission of single-hulled oil tankers to harbours in the United Kingdom; [17894]

  (2) what action he is taking to ensure that single-hull tankers are banned from using United Kingdom coastal waters; and if he will make a statement. [17913]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government participated fully in international agreements that single-hulled oil tankers would be phased out by 2024, as approximately 93 per cent. of the world's oil tanker fleet are single-hulled, a faster phasing out could restrict if not halt the essential movement of oil cargoes to and from our ports.

  Sea Empress
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hours the pilot on the Sea Empress had worked before the grounding. [18585]

  Mr. Norris
  The special bulletin issued by the marine accident investigation branch indicates that the pilot was adequately rested before starting duty.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Computers
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all cases since 1987 where his Department has bought computer capacity from(a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19455]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service has one contract with a private sector company, Comshare Ltd., for the purchase of computer capacity. The value of the contract is commercially confidential.

  The Law Officers' departments do not have any such contract with any other Department.

TREASURY

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Treasury's policy in respect of the statutory compliance duties of industry practitioners and regulators(a) to ensure that all breaches of section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 are identified, (b) to ensure that all identified breaches of section 47 are investigated and (c) to ensure that, following investigation, breaches of section 47 are prosecuted in the criminal courts. [19965]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury is responsible for the general policy expressed in the legislation, but not for prosecution of matters under section 47. The Financial
  611
  Services Act places no duties on industry practitioners and regulators of the kinds listed. In England and Wales, only the Secretary of State and the Director of Public Prosecutions have the power to prosecute or to consent to others prosecuting. In Northern Ireland, those powers are exercised by the Secretary of State and the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. In Scotland, prosecutions would be brought by procurators fiscal.

  Taxation
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if in he will list all rates of income tax in each year since1996–97. [19812]

  Mr. Jack
  Table 1.10 of the 1995–96 "Tax Benefit Reference Manual" gives income tax rates for years 1976–77 to 1995–96, a copy of which can be found in the Library.

  Proposed rates for 1996–97 are set as follows:

  Taxable income £pa

  Tax rate for band (percentage)

  Up to 3,900

  20

  3,900–25,500

  24

  Over 25,500

  40

  Armaments Employees
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of people employed in the United Kingdom(a) armaments and (b) armaments-related industries for each of the last 10 years. [19773]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Information available from the census of employment for 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993 is provided in the following table. Some industrial activities previously classified to standard industrial classification 1980—SIC80—group "Aerospace equipment manufacture and repair" were re-classified to standard industrial classification 1992—SIC92— "Manufacture of weapons and ammunition". The dual figures for 1991 reflect this discontinuity.

  Employees in Great Britain at September

  Thousands1

  Manufacture of ordnance, small arms; ammunition (SIC80 group 329)

  Manufacture of weapons; ammunition (SIC 92 group 29.6)

  1984

  19.4

  —

  —

  1987

  16.9

  —

  —

  1989

  16.7

  1991

  19.9

  1991

  13.5

  1993

  14.7

  Source: CSO.

  1Unadjusted.

  Investment Income
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made, in the latest years for which information is available, of the number of taxpayers with taxable investment incomes of a(a) zero,
  612
  (b) less than £100, (c) £101 to £499 and (d) over £500; and in each case what is the number of such taxpayers over the age of 65 years. [19495]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 7 March 1996]: Estimated numbers for 1996–97 based on projections from a mixture of statistical sources are given in the table. The estimates of the numbers with small amounts of investment income are very uncertain.

  Range of taxable investment income in 1996–97 £

  Number of taxpayers Millions

  of which taxpayers aged 65 or over Millions

  0

  3.1

  0.2

  1–100

  12.3

  0.6

  101–499

  4.0

  0.5

  Over 500

  6.4

  1.7

  Total

  25.8

  3.0

  Pensioners' Income Bonds
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors led to the non-availability of application forms for pensioners' guaranteed income bonds (series 3) in post offices in Dewsbury during February. [20234]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 11 March 1996]: National savings sales booklets, which include application forms, for pensioners guaranteed income bonds are not related to any particular series, so could be used to purchase series 3 bonds as soon as they went on sale. I understand that Dewsbury post office had run out of stock and were awaiting new supplies. Stocks were available at the Post Office supplies depot and should have been delivered to Dewsbury post office within three weeks of being ordered.

  I have written to the hon. lady in reply to her letter of 22 February with full details.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, in current prices, the amount of debt written off by Her Majesty's Government in respect of each privatisation since 1979. [19603]

  Mr. Jack
  It is common practice for capital reconstruction to be undertaken where necessary before privatisation. For some privatisations debt is written off, for others debt is injected. Debts written off in respect of privatisations total some £22.5 billion, in current 1995–96 prices. Details are set out in the table. New debt totalling £13.94 billion at current prices was injected into privatised companies at the time of sale.

  Debt Written off Prior to Privatisation

  £ million

  Year

  Company

  Amount (cash)

  Amount (1995–96 prices)

  1980–81

  British Steel

  509.3

  1,105.2

  1980–81

  British Aerospace National Freight

  60.0

  130.2

  1980–81

  Corporation

  100.0

  217.0

  613

  Debt Written off Prior to Privatisation

  £ million

  Year

  Company

  Amount (cash)

  Amount (1995–96 prices)

  1980–81

  British Airways British Transport Docks

  160.0

  347.2

  1982–83

  Board

  81.3

  150.2

  1984–85

  BT

  2,789.9

  4,689.9

  1986–87

  BAA

  43.5

  67.3

  1988–89

  British Steel

  3,980.0

  5,478.5

  1989–90

  Harland & Wolff

  422.5

  543.6

  1989–90

  Short Brothers

  390.0

  501.8

  1989–90

  Water companies

  5,028.3

  6,469.6

  1991–92

  Scottish Electricity Companies

  1,043.6

  1,170.0

  1994–95

  British Coal

  1,633.4

  1,678.3

  Total

  16,241.8

  22,548.8

  Departmental Reports
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the 1996 departmental reports to be published. [20891]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Proposed publication dates for the 1996 departmental reports are as follows:

  Date

  Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses

  Friday 15 March

  HM Treasury; Chancellor of the Exchequer's smaller departments; Net Payments to EC Institutions

  Monday 18 March

  Lord Chancellor's and Law Officers' Departments

  Tuesday 19 March

  Ministry of Defence

  Wednesday 20 March

  Department of the Environment

  Wednesday 20 March

  Home Office (including Charity Commission)

  Wednesday 20 March

  Department of Health

  Wednesday 20 March

  Department of Social Security

  Wednesday 20 March

  Cabinet Office; Privy Council; Parliament

  Wednesday 20 March

  Customs and Excise

  Wednesday 20 March

  Department for Education and Employment

  Thursday 21 March

  Scottish Office (including Forestry Commission)

  Friday 22 March

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office (including the Overseas Development Administration)

  Monday 25 March

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (including Intervention Board)

  Monday 25 March

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Monday 25 March

  Department of Transport

  Monday 25 March

  Department of National Heritage

  Monday 25 March

  Welsh Office

  Monday 25 March

  Northern Ireland Office

  Monday 25 March

  Inland Revenue

  Monday 25 March

  Copies will be made available at the Vote Office.

ENVIRONMENT

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his Department has carried out on the possible environmental impact of a major orimulsion spillage on land or sea. [19250]
  614
  Mr. Clappison
  In 1992 a research study was carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment which reviewed the impacts of orimulsion and the pollution abatements technologies which may be applied to orimulsion-fired boilers.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has not commissioned any research on the polluting effects of orimulsion.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports(a) his Department and (b) the Environmental Agency have evaluated regarding the environmental consequences of (i) the leak or spillage of orimulsion into seas or rivers and (ii) the operation of wind and rain on the gas generated by orimulsion. [19647]

  Mr. Clappison
  In 1992 a research study was carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment which reviewed the impacts of orimulsion and the pollution abatements technologies which may be applied to orimulsion-fired boilers.

  The Environment Agency does not come into being until 1 April. However, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution which will form part of the agency has evaluated reports from National Power regarding the possible effects of the gases released after abatement from the proposed burning of orimulsion at Pembroke power station. These reports are available on the public registers. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is also carrying out its own modelling into the dispersion of the potential releases from the plant. In addition Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is evaluating reports from Milford Haven Port Authority, which outlines the likely effects of a spillage of orimulsion into the Haven of up to 1,000 tonnes.

  Recreation Grounds
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he plans to take to ensure that recreation grounds meet basic standards of health and safety. [19951]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies to recreation grounds where there is employment. Risks at recreation grounds are generally low, and inspection levels reflect this. Health and safety inspectors respond to any serious incident and follow up complaints. Sports grounds are regulated under the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 on which there is guidance from the Department of National Heritage. DNH has also published guidance on playground safety.

  Air Quality
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase the use of mobile units in measuring air quality. [20257]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department has no plans to increase the use of mobile units. Mobile laboratories are generally used to monitor air quality for relatively short periods of time in a number of locations. Hence, data from mobile laboratories do not fit well into the national monitoring programmes operated by the Department, which requires long term monitoring to check for compliance with air quality standards and guidelines and to evaluate trends over a number of years.
  615
  Mobile laboratories are more appropriate for research, campaign or local investigation studies. For instance, in previous years, mobile laboratories were used by the Department to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of chemically active pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide and, to investigate the distribution of nitrogen dioxide concentrations in local city areas, to assist in the selection of suitable long term monitoring sites.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97 for each company and for England as a whole the price charged to domestic users for 1,000 gallons of water. [20219]

  Mr. Clappison
  This information is not available in the form requested. However, information about the price of water per cubic metre, for each company and for England and Wales as a whole, is given in Ofwat's "1994–95 Report on the cost of Water Delivered and Sewage Collected", published in November 1995. A copy of this report is in the Library. Information for 1995–96 and 1996–97 is not yet available.

  Marine Nature Reserves
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy changes he proposes to the granting of marine nature reserve status as a result of the Sea Empress disaster. [20015]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are no current plans to change the Government's policy on marine nature reserves.

  Cement Kilns
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to give the Government's formal response to the Environment Committee's report into the burning of secondary liquid fuels in cement kilns (HC497 of Session 1994–95). [20463]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government expect to publish this response in the next few weeks.

  Education Authority Funding
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each education authority in England(a) the finalised education standard spending assessment figures and (b) the total standard spending assessment figures (i) by class and (ii) in total. [20498]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: The information is given in the tables.

  £ million

  Local authority

  1996–97 Education SSA

  1996–97 Total SSA

  Total all Education Authorities

  17,764.242

  33,966.153

  Total Shire counties

  9,624.824

  16,599.170

  Total Shire unitary authorities

  966.241

  1,966.881

  Total Metropolitan districts

  4,304.322

  8,835.415

  Total inner London boroughs including City

  1,043.096

  2,825.578

  Total outer London boroughs

  1,824.526

  3,736.365

  Total London boroughs

  2,867.622

  6,561.943

  Isles of Scilly

  1.233

  2.744

  616

  £ million

  Local authority

  1996–97 Education SSA

  1996–97 Total SSA

  Greater London

  City of London

  0.759

  62.114

  Camden

  78.312

  219.711

  Greenwich

  114.263

  228.134

  Hackney

  92.084

  249.171

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  56.047

  165.298

  Islington

  81.095

  214.883

  Kensington and Chelsea

  34.193

  141.522

  Lambeth

  100.826

  284.821

  Lewisham

  108.942

  249.244

  Southwark

  109.297

  268.959

  Tower Hamlets

  122.839

  260.410

  Wandsworth

  86.304

  240.000

  Westminster

  58.134

  241.313

  Barking and Dagenham

  69.879

  135.466

  Barnet

  117.029

  234.575

  Bexley

  88.646

  162.105

  Brent

  109.692

  244.986

  Bromley

  103.845

  203.516

  Croydon

  118.396

  248.829

  Ealing

  112.151

  248.079

  Enfield

  117.827

  225.025

  Haringey

  93.427

  224.371

  Harrow

  72.990

  152.088

  Havering

  87.183

  159.751

  Hillingdon

  93.797

  185.587

  Hounslow

  94.807

  185.688

  Kingston upon Thames

  47.066

  98.179

  Merton

  58.096

  128.897

  Newham

  130.381

  270.332

  Redbridge

  98.258

  185.768

  Richmond upon Thames

  45.854

  106.011

  Sutton

  67.782

  130.026

  Waltham Forest

  97.421

  207.087

  £ million

  Local authority

  1996–97 Education SSA

  1996–97 Total SSA

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  100.891

  197.677

  Bury

  61.635

  120.120

  Manchester

  188.261

  427.719

  Oldham

  94.759

  180.485

  Rochdale

  82.736

  160.877

  Salford

  82.496

  184.742

  Stockport

  89.804

  178.032

  Tameside

  80.591

  159.497

  Trafford

  76.735

  153.236

  Wigan

  110.133

  211.009

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  73.138

  144.836

  Liverpool

  209.232

  447.684

  Sefton

  106.847

  218.085

  St. Helens

  66.604

  138.007

  Wirral

  132.298

  262.606

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  76.867

  159.161

  Doncaster

  119.680

  228.558

  Rotherham

  102.425

  195.977

  Sheffield

  170.970

  396.245

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  70.844

  158.062

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  99.652

  230.302

  North Tyneside

  68.757

  145.445

  South Tyneside

  59.030

  125.454

  617

  £ million

  Local authority

  1996–97 Education SSA

  1996–97 Total SSA

  Sunderland

  114.863

  235.793

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  448.721

  920.128

  Coventry

  119.872

  238.329

  Dudley

  104.158

  209.519

  Sandwell

  118.096

  242.208

  Solihull

  73.069

  136.269

  Walsall

  108.588

  214.808

  Wolverhampton

  99.898

  203.641

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  209.868

  412.548

  Calderdale

  77.167

  148.459

  Kirklees

  141.523

  280.286

  Leeds

  252.509

  541.007

  Wakefield

  111.605

  228.608

  £ million

  Local authority

  1996–97 Education SSA

  1996–97 Total SSA

  Shire counties

  Bedfordshire

  220.156

  350.19

  Berkshire

  282.308

  469.732

  Buckinghamshire

  252.855

  408.22

  Cambridgeshire

  237.278

  402.590

  Cheshire

  348.970

  581.837

  Cornwall

  164.930

  294.764

  Cumbria

  170.602

  300.896

  Derbyshire

  319.922

  554.985

  Devon

  345.862

  627.857

  Dorset

  207.427

  377.871

  Durham

  216.644

  377.355

  East Sussex

  219.761

  433.887

  Essex

  566.981

  967.944

  Gloucestershire

  183.797

  315.547

  Hampshire

  525.153

  917.913

  Hereford and Worcester

  229.005

  384.187

  Hertfordshire

  387.245

  638.578

  Kent

  581.733

  995.199

  Lancashire

  510.448

  889.483

  Leicestershire

  333.840

  559.174

  Lincolnshire

  213.026

  367.724

  Norfolk

  243.384

  439.546

  North Yorkshire

  185.854

  328.377

  Northamptonshire

  222.270

  365.121

  Northumberland

  113.513

  200.600

  Nottinghamshire

  365.135

  623.669

  Oxfordshire

  192.571

  326.334

  Shropshire

  145.332

  251.040

  Somerset

  150.908

  273,578

  Staffordshire

  366.019

  612.012

  Suffolk

  217.47

  378.804

  Surrey

  307.474

  564.958

  Warwickshire

  164.025

  275.22

  West Sussex

  235.41

  415.96

  Wiltshire

  197.517

  327.959

  £ million

  Local authority

  1996–97 education SSA

  1996–97 total SSA

  All purpose authorities

  Isles of Scilly

  1.233

  2.744

  Isle of Wight Council

  45.138

  95.041

  Bath and North East Somerset

  54.404

  109.142

  Bristol

  119.870

  279.421

  618

  £ million

  Local authority

  1996–97 education SSA

  1996–97 total SSA

  South Gloucestershire

  78.677

  144.734

  North Somerset

  58.642

  118.274

  Hartlepool

  37.013

  75.199

  Middlesbrough

  61.491

  126.785

  Redcar and Cleveland

  59.590

  114.987

  Stockton on Tees

  71.747

  137.543

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  102.954

  204.246

  Kingston upon Hull

  102.701

  219.055

  North East Lincolnshire

  64.840

  122.663

  North Lincolnshire

  56.381

  110.035

  York

  52.793

  109.756

  Safety Signs
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to implement EC directive 92/58 on safety signs for United Kingdom products. [18699]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 4 March 1996,Official Report, column 7, about the EC safety signs directive 92/95/EEC.

  Coal Mining Accidents
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of(a) fatal and (b) serious reportable accidents per 100,000 manshifts in the deep coal mining industry between privatisation and 31 December 1995. [20199]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The figures are not available for the period in question. However, provisional figures for the period from 1 April 1995 to 30 September 1995 give rates of 0.08 fatal accidents and 3.17 major injury accidents per 100,000 manshifts in coal mines.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the accident rates recorded in the first year of the privatised deep coal industry. [20200]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None. Full information for the year is not yet available.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the mines inspectorate is taking to ensure that the accident reporting regime in the privatised deep coal mining industry adequately records the nature and cause of accidents so that preventative measures can be taken. [20201]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 apply to coal mining companies as they do to all other employers. Their effect is to require the coal mining companies to notify the mines inspectorate of fatal accidents; major injuries; and injuries that incapacitate people from undertaking work which they might otherwise reasonably be expected to undertake for a period of more than three consecutive days; and certain specified dangerous occurrences. As part of its normal programme of inspection the mines inspectorate seeks to ensure that the companies are complying with the 1985 regulations. The 1985 regulations will be replaced with effect from 1 April 1996 by the new revised and updated
  619
  Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. The new regulations will continue the core injury and dangerous occurrence reporting requirements.

  Coal Mining (Safety Regime)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of the procedures set out in the Health and Safety Commission publication "Your Rights When Health and Safety Inspectors Take Action" on the safety regime in the deep coal mining industry; and if he will make a statement. [20202]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8 March,Official Report, column 364.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of the publication "Your Rights When Health and Safety Inspectors Take Action"(a) on the issuing of improvement notices and (b) on the issuing of prohibition notices; and if he will make a statement. [20203]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is too early to say what effect, if any, the procedures in the leaflet will have on the issuing of improvement notices. The commission is monitoring how the procedures are working in practice and will report to me. The leaflet has no effect on the procedure for issuing prohibition notices: It spells out practice that has always been followed.

  Anti-competitive Behaviour, Lincolnshire
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet considered the response by Lincolnshire county council to the notices served upon the authority on 11 April 1995 under section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and if he will make a statement. [20732]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend has considered carefully the responses which Lincolnshire county council has made to the two notices served on the authority for financial failure of the direct labour organisation in 1993–94 and for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. In relation to the notice for financial failure, he is satisfied that appropriate steps have been taken, and will not be taking any further action. He has however today given the authority a direction under section 19B of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 for anti-competitive behaviour.

  After careful consideration, the Secretary of State remains of the opinion that the authority acted in an anti-competitive manner in awarding a contract for highways maintenance work worth £20,635,000 to its in-house direct labour organisation when it was not the lowest tenderer. He considers that the authority's concerns about the contractor's ability to do the work and financial status were not backed up by sufficient evidence, and therefore were not reasonable grounds for rejection of the lower bid which offered a saving of £2,240,000.
  620
  The direction given to Lincolnshire county council requires the authority to retender the work so that new arrangements are in place by 1 January 1997. The authority will need to obtain the Secretary of State's permission if it is intended to award the work in-house, to consult the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors and the Association of Consulting Engineers on matters contained in the specifications and the methods of tender evaluation to be used; and to seek the comments of the Association of Consulting Engineers regularly throughout the tendering process.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has made concerning the membership schemes proposed by the Environment Agency for its regional environment protection advisory committees. [20893]

  Mr. Clappison
  The consultation period on the membership schemes has now closed. After careful consideration of the responses received my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has approved the schemes in the form in which they were submitted by the agency. The agency will now be consulting on nominations for each committee.

  Development Plans
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the system of development plans prepared under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. [21092]

  Mr. Gummer
  The plan-led system requires each district planning authority to have an area-wide local plan or unitary development plan. We set a target, agreed with local authorities, of getting a substantial majority of those plans prepared, debated and formally adopted by the end of 1996. The result of the most recent monitoring survey shows that 62 per cent. of authorities expect to have adopted their plan by the target date. This shortfall is disappointing.

  I have been concerned at the length of time it is taking some authorities to adopt their plan. We consulted earlier about possible changes to speed up this process. The response was lukewarm about radical change, but supported change that could be achieved within the scope of existing legislation. Already the planning inspectorate has introduced more concise reports on local plan inquiries and a system of service agreements with local authorities on their likely length and cost.

  I am proposing further changes that can be brought into effect quickly, with the publication of proposals to amend both the code of practice on development plans and the development plan regulations. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  In addition, I am not ruling out further changes, including measures that will require legislation, if these are wanted by the users of the development plan system. My Department will shortly be writing to interested organisations about this wider review.
  621

HEALTH

  Relocation
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many, and which, health authorities and trusts operated negative equity buyout or similar relocation schemes prior to executive guidance being issued in October 1994; and how much was paid by each health service body under such schemes in each year. [19030]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Consultant Ophthalmology
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant ophthalmology sessions are available on average each week at present; and how many were available on average each week in each of the past five years. [19611]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  supermarket (Sale of Drugs)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on community pharmacies of large supermarket chains selling(a) non-prescription and (b) prescription drugs below the recommended retail price. [19810]

  Mr. Malone
  (a) None. (b) prescription drugs are not available for sale.

  Schizophrenia
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis the relative effectiveness of admission of patients with schizophrenia to(a) a district general hospital and (b) an area mental hospital is assessed; and over what period after discharge. [19824]

  Mr. Bowis
  We are working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to develop outcome scales to assess the health and social functioning of mentally ill people.

  Human Embryos
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is taken in respect of human embryos stored for more than five years, but less than the 39 years specified by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (Statutory Storage Period for Human Embryos) Regulations in the event that the woman for the relief of whose infertility they had been stored ceases to receive treatment. [19657]

  Mr. Horam
  Embryos will normally remain in store until used for treatment purposes or until the storage period agreed with the couple expires. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is preparing guidance for licensed centres on the steps that should be taken to review the situation with the couple concerned before the storage period ends.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of all forms of consent authorised by his Department for use by infertility and research clinics in connection with the creation, storage and use of human embryos. [19656]
  622
  Mr. Horam
  Copies of consent forms issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will be placed in the Library. These forms are not subject to authorisation by the Department of Health.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of all codes of practice issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in connection with the consent which is sought by the donors of gametes and human embryos, with specific reference to(a) maximum storage periods, (b) the individuals for the relief of whose infertility those embryos may be used and (c) the research or other non-therapeutic purposes for which those embryos may be used. [19655]

  Mr. Horam
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's code of practice provides guidance to licensed centres about consent to storage of gametes and embryos, consent to use of gametes and embryos in treatment and consent for use of gametes and embryos in research. Copies of the code of practice are available in the Library.

  HIV (Anti-viral Medicines)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 184, what assessment he has made of the funding requirements of health authorities necessary to ensure that where combination therapies of antiviral medicines are determined by clinicians as being the best response to HIV for a particular patient, there will be no financial obstacle to their prescription. [19937]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department allocates specific funding in relation to treating people with HIV and AIDS. The AIDS treatment and care budget is no longer ringfenced, and health authorities have the flexibility to move funds into HIV/AIDS from their main allocations if they so wish. The AIDS treatment budget already allows for significant costs for drug therapies and we will be monitoring the uptake and impact of combination therapies.

  Blind and Partially Sighted People
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evaluation he has made of the benefit of specialised computer equipment for blind and partially sighted people; [20236]

  (2) what proposals he has to encourage the use of specialised computer equipment by blind and partially sighted people. [20239]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department has not carried out such an evaluation. We have, however, made a grant of £25,000 per year for three years to the computability centre in Warwick. The centre is a national charity which provides information and advice on computers to disabled people, carers, employers and professionals.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of blind and partially sighted people in the United Kingdom are under the age of 18 years. [20238]

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authority registers show that at 31 March 1994 in England, around 2 per cent. of people registered as blind and 2.5 per cent. of those registered as partially sighted were aged under 18.
  623
  Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many blind and partially sighted people live in(a) Coventry, (b) the west midlands and (c) the United Kingdom. [20237]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on the numbers of people registered with local authorities as blind or partially sighted is shown in the table. As registration of blindness with local authorities is voluntary the figures may not provide a wholly reliable indicator of the prevalence of blindness or partial sight in the population.

  Blind and partially sighted people registered with local authorities—at 31 March 1994

  Numbers

  Blind and partially sighted people

  Blind people

  Partially sighted people

  Coventry

  1,440

  730

  720

  West Midlands

  22,210

  13,700

  9,510

  England

  265,370

  149,670

  115,710

  Source: DH triennial return SSDA902.

  Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many blind and partially sighted people in the United Kingdom use specialised computer equipment for individual use otherwise than as students or as employees. [20235]
  624
  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mentally Ill People
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the qualification of staff of residential accommodation for mentally ill people in(a) the community and (b) psychiatric hospitals. [19825]

  Mr. Bowis
  Registering authorities decide the level of qualification and suitability of staff in residential homes. Each trust determines the staff and skills that they need to deliver the service which they provide through their contracts.

  GP Fundholding, North Essex
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population in the North Essex health authority area are now served by fundholding general practitioners. [18598]

  Mr. Malone
  A total of 47 per cent. of the population in North Essex health authority are currently registered with a fundholding practice. We expect this to rise to 60 per cent. this April.

  Trust Directors (Insurance)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with the chairmen of NHS trusts concerning insuring trust directors against liabilities other than in cases of malfeasance. [20555]

  Mr. Malone
  None. Guidance to the national health service on the personal liability of non-executive directors is in course of preparation. The decision as to whether insurance is appropriate will remain one for individual trust boards.
  625

WALES

  Housing Rents
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current average gross weekly rent(a) for council rented accommodation and (b) housing association rented accommodation in Wales; and what were the corresponding figures five years earlier. [17882]

  Mr. Hague
  The available information on average actual rents is as follows:

  1990–91£

  1995–96£

  Rented from:

  Local authority

  24.26

  36.11

  Housing Association1

  n/a

  42.31

  1 Comparable information is available only from 1994–95 and even then such overall average rents do not reflect the different sizes, ages and locations of dwellings in the local authority and housing association stocks.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions in each of the past five years Ministers in his Department have passed(a) hon. Members' letters and (b) hon. Members' questions to agencies for response; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of letters and questions received. [19418]

  Mr. Hague
  Letters passed to my Department's next steps agency—CADW—are as follows:

  Year

  Letters

  Percentage of total

  1991

  84

  3

  1992

  21

  1

  1993

  61

  2

  1994

  90

  3

  1995

  111

  4

  Questions passed to my Department's next steps agency—CADW—is as follows:

  Year

  Number of questions

  Percentage of total

  1991

  3

  less than 1

  1992

  4

  less than 1

  1993

  1

  less than 1

  1994

  1

  less than 1

  1995

  3

  less than 1

  Computers
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales f he will list all cases since 1987 in which his Department has bought computer capacity from(a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19463]

  Mr. Hague
  The following is the information:

  (a) Chessington Computer Centre

  626

  (b) SIAS Ltd (since November 1990)

  De Montfort University (since March 1992)

  The total value of the contracts listed above is £1,610,442.00

  The precise amounts paid under each of these contracts are commercially confidential.

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the way in which the Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 48(6) and (7) prevents local authorities from recycling the domestic and commercial waste they collect; and if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to recycle as much of the waste they collect as is feasible. [19941]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about section 48(7). This subsection has not yet been brought into operation but its effects would be to prevent waste collection authorities in Wales from providing plant and equipment for the sorting and baling of waste themselves and would require them to engage independent contractors for this purpose. In making arrangements for recycling, district councils in Wales will be aware of the additional powers available to them under sections 51 and 55 of the 1990 Act.

  In the recent White Paper "Making Waste Work", the Government made clear their intention to review the role of local authorities in recycling. We also reaffirmed our commitment to the target of recycling or composting 25 per cent. of all household waste by 2000.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has received from each of the counties and boroughs due to take responsibility for local government on 1 April of the amount of waste they will recycle in the first year of their existence. [19938]

  Mr. Jones
  None.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the numbers of his departmental staff in the(a) economic development, (b) industrial and training, (c) agriculture, (d) local government, (e) health, (f) health professional, (g) nursing, (h) social services inspectorate, (i) CADW, (j) education, (k) translation unit, (l) establishment, (m) finance, (n) legal and (o) private office division (i) in 1995–96 and (ii) under management proposals in 1996–97. [19662]

  Mr. Hague
  Details of staff numbers are to be published on 25 March in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1996–97 to 1998–99", Cmnd 3215.

  Farmers Union
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations his Department has recently received from the Farmers Union of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [20076]
  627
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Representations on a variety of issues have recently been received.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held concerning the implementation of the pre-school vouchers scheme in Wales; and if he will make a statement.[20231]

  Mr. Hague
  Discussions about the voucher scheme have been held by Ministers or officials with representatives of local authorities, school governors, parents and teachers, the voluntary sector, the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales and the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales.

  Sand Extraction
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the report by Hydraulics Research of Wallingford on sand extraction off the south Wales coast at and around the Nash bank. [20262]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The report was commissioned by the Crown estate to assist the consideration of the current applications for dredging. The report is available for inspection at the Welsh Office. Full copies have been sent to the National Rivers Authority, the Countryside Council for Wales, Ogwr borough council, Mid Glamorgan county council and the Swansea Bay coastal cell group.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many forms the Agriculture Department has processed for the integrated administration and control system in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [20082]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office received 20,898 forms in 1994, and 20,005 in 1995.

  General Medical Practitioners
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general medical practitioners there were in Wales in each of the last five years; and how many of these were unrestricted principals. [20253]

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

  General Medical practitioners

  Total1

  Unrestricted Principals

  1 October 1991

  1,808

  1,647

  1 October 1992

  1,835

  1,676

  1 October 1993

  1,850

  1,702

  1 October 1994

  1,850

  1,710

  1 April 19952

  1,833

  1,710

  1Unrestricted principals, restricted principals, assistants and trainees.

  2The latest date for which information is available.

  Arable Aid
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many claims for arable aid his Department's628
  Agriculture Departments divisional offices have processed in (a) 1994 and (b) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [20169]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office paid out 2,243 claims in 1994, which included 85 claims from the 1993 scheme; and 2,719 in 1995, which included 408 from the 1994 scheme.

  Welsh Tourist Board
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the maximum number of board members of the Welsh tourist board; what is his policy for filling vacancies which arise from time to time; for what periods during the past three years the Welsh tourist board has operated with less than a full complement of board members; and what plans he has for making further board appointments. [20232]

  Mr. Hague
  The maximum membership of the Wales tourist board is a chairman and not more than six other members. When filling vacancies I consider the best interests for Wales and select people on the basis of merit who through their abilities, experience and qualities match the needs of the public body in question. The board has operated effectively below its complement over the past two years; but I shall be bringing it up to full membership as soon as possible.

  Agriculture Department
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total value of payments made by the Welsh Office agriculture department's divisional offices in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [20080]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A total of £198.4 million in 1994–95 and an estimated £231.5 million in 1995–96.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many divisional offices the agriculture department had in Wales in(a) 1991, (b) 1993 and (c) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [20081]

  Mr. Hague
  Three in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

  A470, Gwynedd
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's future plans concerning the improvement of the A470 in Gwynedd. [20173]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Plans for major improvements on the A470 in Gwynedd in 1996–97 and future years will be included in the 1996 Welsh Office departmental report to be published on 25 March. In addition there are three schemes in the medium—under £3 million—programme for construction in the next three years. Further schemes are planned.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated budget for the Welsh development agency for 1996–97; how much funding was generated by
  629
  the sale of Welsh Development Agency capital assets in 1994–95; and how much is forecast to be so generated in (a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [20249]

  Mr. Hague
  The agency's budget for its 1996–97 base programme has been set at £120 million. This will be increased by £6.8 million following my decision to transfer responsibility for urban investment grant to the agency. The agency also expects to attract £10 million of European regional development fund receipts to support projects additional to its base programme. The sale of capital assets generated £72.4 million in 1994–95 and is forecast to yield £75.0 million in 1995–96 and £68.0 million in 1996–97 for re-investment in the Welsh economy.

  NHS Trust Directors (Insurance)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of NHS trusts in Wales concerning insuring trust directors against liabilities other than in cases of malfeasance. [20558]

  Mr. Hague
  I have not formally consulted the NHS trust chairmen about this issue. Guidance on non-executive liability will be published in the near future.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to notify the economic development non-departmental public bodies in Wales of his strategic guidance for 1996–97. [20977]

  Mr. Hague
  I have today written to the chairmen of the Welsh development agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales, Cardiff Bay development corporation, the Land Authority for Wales and the Wales tourist board to inform them of my strategic targets for 1996–97 and to set out my policy and operational priorities which should be taken into account in the preparation of corporate and operational plans. Copies of the letters have been placed in the Library of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Eastwood Park Prison
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the size of the prison cells at Eastwood Park prison. [19332]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 7 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the size of prison cells at Eastwood Park Prison.

  The sleeping accommodation at Eastwood Park prison is divided into 4 areas:

  1. Health Care Centre which has cellular sleeping accommodation. The 10 medical cells are each 4.20m by 2.95m (12.39m2).

  630

  2. Segregation Unit which has 2 cells which are each 2.425m by 3.01m (7.32).

  3. East Block which has 37 redecorated sleeping accommodation single cubicles measuring 2.200m by 3.050m (6.7m2).

  4. "Mid and West" Blocks which each have 43 redecorated single cubicles with a room size measuring 1.593m by 2.630m (5.076m2.

  Prisoners (Non-Payment of Fines)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women served terms of imprisonment in the last three years for which records are available for non-payment of fines; how many sentences were for non-payment of television licence fines; what is the average term served for such non-payment; and what measures alternative to prison he is considering. [19877]

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

  Letter Richard Tilt to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many (a) men and (b) women served terms of imprisonment in the last three years for which records are available for non-payment of fines; how many sentences were for non-payment for television licences; what is the average term served for such non-payment; and what measures alternative to prison he is considering.

  Information on the number of fine defaulters received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for the years 1993 and 1994, analysed by offence group is published in "Prison statistics, England and Wales" (Tables 7.1 and 7.3 of the 1994 edition. Cm 3087), a copy of which is available in the Library. Estimates are given of time served in custody.

  Provisional information for 1995 shows that 19,341 male and 1,401 female fine defaulters were received in to Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. Of these, 508 males and 241 females were received for defaulting on a fine after conviction for using a television without a licence. The average time served by fine defaulters is about one week.

  Courts may not imprison a fine defaulter unless they have used or considered all other methods of enforcing the fine. These include deductions from benefit or attachment of earnings, or a money payments supervision order. They must also be satisfied that the failure to pay the fine is the result of wilful refusal or culpable neglect.

  The Government has set up a Working Group including representatives from the Magistrates' Association and the Justices' Clerks' Society, to examine urgently what improvements can be made to the enforcement of fines and other financial penalties. The Working Group will issue best practice guidance to courts within the next few months which will detail improvements which can be implemented immediately by the courts. The Government will also consider whether more wide-ranging changes are needed, which may require legislation.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if hands of visitors visiting prisoners
  631
  in Doncaster prison since it opened have been dye-stamped; and if he will make a statement. [19743]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the dye-stamping of hands of visitors at Doncaster prison.

  The prison opened on 20 June 1994 and the practice of dye-stamping visitors' hands with an ultra-violet reactive liquid began on 23 September 1994. This is one of a number of security procedures in place to ensure that people leaving the prison are genuine visitors rather than prisoners posing as such.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there is a one year break in the contract for Doncaster prison; and if he will make a statement. [19632]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about a one-year break in the contract for Doncaster prison.

  There is no one-year break clause in the Doncaster contract, but the Authority has the option to terminate the contract by giving six months' notice to the contractor.

  Table 1: 1991–1993 Fatal or serious injuries arising in the course of Police immediate responses or pursuits

  Force name

  Police fatal injury

  Police serious injury

  Civilian fatal injury

  Civilian serious injury

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Avon and Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  3

  11

  1

  1

  4

  2

  5

  11

  5

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  4

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  4

  0

  0

  0

  5

  3

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  5

  6

  3

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  2

  0

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Dorset

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  4

  2

  3

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  Gloucestershire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6

  2

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  Greater Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  4

  3

  3

  1

  15

  4

  41

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  7

  0

  2

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  5

  0

  0

  1

  5

  4

  2

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  6

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  4

  1

  0

  7

  2

  4

  Leicestershire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  2

  Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  7

  4

  0

  1

  26

  21

  4

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  2

  2

  2

  Northumbria

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  0

  3

  1

  2

  4

  1

  10

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  1

  3

  5

  2

  0

  0

  0

  4

  5

  7

  632
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since it opened he has had to make a decision on trans-sexuals in Doncaster prison; and if he will make a statement. [19642]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 13 March 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about transsexuals in Doncaster prison.
  Since Doncaster prison opened on 20 June 1994, it has never knowingly received any transsexual prisoners into custody. No decisions have therefore had to be made about their treatment.

  Police Car Chases
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police car chases have resulted in(a) death and (b) injury in each of the last five years; [20192]

  (2) how many deaths as a result of police car chases have involved (a) bystanders, (b) police officers and (c) those being pursued in each of the last five years; [20191]

  (3) how many deaths there have been involving police car chases in each police authority area in each of the last five years. [20186]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information in the precise form requested is not available centrally, but the available information is given for the years 1991–93 in the first table. The figures from 1994 to 31 March 1995 are given in the second table. In both cases, the information relates to incidents where death or serious injury has arisen in the course of either police pursuits or responses to emergency calls in England and Wales.
  633

  Table 1: 1991–1993 Fatal or serious injuries arising in the course of Police immediate responses or pursuits

  Force name

  Police fatal injury

  Police serious injury

  Civilian fatal injury

  Civilian serious injury

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  3

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  0

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  6

  1

  1

  0

  9

  10

  4

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  Surrey

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  0

  Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  3

  0

  0

  1

  5

  5

  6

  Thames Valley

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  2

  1

  1

  1

  6

  5

  11

  Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  West Mercia

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  West Midlands

  0

  0

  1

  9

  5

  0

  1

  3

  2

  0

  1

  1

  West Yorkshire

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Wiltshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Dyfed-Powys

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  Gwent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  North Wales

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  South Wales

  0

  0

  0

  5

  7

  3

  0

  1

  1

  0

  12

  2

  Metropolitan Police

  0

  1

  2

  41

  56

  51

  3

  7

  10

  40

  59

  45

  Total

  2

  2

  5

  101

  112

  113

  30

  28

  29

  170

  188

  187

  Table 2: 1994 and up to 31 March 1995

  Force name

  Police fatal injury

  Police serious injury

  Civilian fatal injury

  Civilian serious injury

  Avon and Somerset

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  1

  0

  0

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon and Cornwall

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Dorset

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Dyfed Powys

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gloucestershire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greater Manchester

  0

  2

  0

  4

  Gwent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Leicestershire

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Lincolnshire

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Merseyside

  0

  6

  1

  4

  Metropolitan Police

  2

  22

  11

  22

  Norfolk

  0

  1

  1

  1

  North Wales

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northumbria

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  1

  2

  3

  South Wales

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Surrey

  0

  2

  0

  1

  Sussex

  0

  4

  0

  0

  Thames Valley

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Warwickshire

  0

  1

  0

  1

  West Mercia

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Midlands

  0

  1

  1

  1

  West Yorkshire

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Wiltshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  2

  53

  19

  56

  634

  Mr. Mohammed Al Fayed
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from Mr. Mohammed Al Fayed concerning the Immigration and Asylum Bill; when he intends to respond; and if he will place the correspondence in the Library. [19805]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: Mr. Al Fayed wrote to me on 14 February suggesting that the Bill would restrict the rights and freedoms of immigrants irrespective of how long they had lived and worked here. I shall send a reply shortly explaining that such concerns are groundless. I will place a copy of the correspondence in the Library.

  Immigration
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has(a) to review immigration rules and (b) to ensure that tabled amendments are moved to the Immigration and Asylum Bill to meet the criticisms made by Mr. Justice Judge; and if he will make a statement. [19806]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to recent observations made by Mr. Justice Judge when dismissing an application for judicial review of decisions made under the British Nationality Act 1981. We will consider the observations when the transcript is available. Nationality matters fall outside the scope of the immigration rules and of the Bill.

  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued in respect of the consideration by his officials of cases of persons who are liable to be removed as illegal entrants or deported but who have married a person settled in the United Kingdom. [21110]

  Mr. Howard
  New guidance has been issued setting out the factors to be considered in cases involving the removal or deportation of people married to a person settled here. The guidance, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, will take immediate effect.
  635

  Prisons (Drugs Tests)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 184, on mandatory drugs testing, if he will list how many added days were restored to prisoners appealing for restoration of remission lost during sentences. [20185]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 13 March 1996.

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question, further to his answer of 7 February, Official Report, column 184, asking for the number of added days restored for offences of unauthorised use of a controlled drug and refusing to provide a sample for drug testing.

  Information on the number of added days remitted to prisoners on their application is not collected centrally. However, an investigation of a sample of prisoners who received added days in 1994 for any offence against prison discipline showed that an estimated 1 in 6 added days were remitted.

  Numbers of samples confirmed positive for cannabis and class A drugs in seven male establishments, February to December 1995

  Bristol

  Feltham

  Lindholme

  Pentonville

  C1

  A2

  C1

  A2

  C1

  A2

  C1

  A2

  February

  14

  4

  26

  0

  3—

  3—

  8

  0

  March

  12

  0

  20

  0

  19

  0

  25

  4

  April

  16

  1

  11

  0

  3

  0

  24

  9

  May

  14

  2

  16

  0

  7

  1

  14

  2

  June

  15

  1

  14

  0

  4

  4

  23

  1

  July

  13

  1

  21

  0

  3

  0

  23

  5

  August

  14

  0

  11

  0

  3—

  3—

  1

  0

  September

  8

  0

  12

  0

  13

  l

  14

  6

  October

  13

  2

  12

  0

  9

  2

  19

  13

  November

  19

  6

  17

  1

  19

  8

  47

  7

  December

  4

  1

  14

  0

  24

  7

  29

  11

  Stoke Heath

  Wakefield

  Wayland

  C1

  A2

  C1

  A2

  C 1

  A2

  February

  5

  0

  0

  0

  17

  1

  March

  7

  0

  13

  0

  15

  2

  April

  5

  0

  19

  0

  23

  1

  May

  2

  0

  16

  0

  5

  1

  June

  4

  0

  9

  0

  23

  2

  July

  5

  0

  19

  3

  31

  4

  August

  6

  0

  6

  0

  15

  2

  September

  4

  0

  7

  0

  10

  2

  October

  0

  0

  12

  1

  22

  6

  November

  0

  0

  11

  1

  2

  5

  December

  8

  1

  11

  1

  20

  3

  1Cannabis.

  2class A drugs

  3No tests performed that month.

  636
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many random drugs tests were carried out in the male prisons in the random mandatory drugs testing pilot study; and of these tests for each of the months from February to December 1995, how many proved positive for(a) cannabis only and (b) class A drugs only. [20448]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 13 March 1996.

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of random drug tests and the numbers of prisoners testing positive for cannabis and class A drugs.

  During the four month initial programme of mandatory drug testing, drug tests were carried out on 1,029 male prisoners. From June until December last year a further 2,010 tests were carried out on prisoners in the initial seven male establishments.

  The attached table shows the number of confirmed positive tests for cannabis and for class A drugs in each of the seven male establishments. Because of the way in which the statistics are collected, it is not possible to subtract from these figures samples which were positive for both cannabis and class A drugs.
  637

  Buckley Hall Prison
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer on 6 March,Official Report, column 245–46, on Buckley Hall prison what were the offences committed by the 10 prisoners who failed to return from authorised leave and are still unlawfully at large and what measures have been taken to recapture these prisoners. [20400]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question, pursuant to his Answer on 6 March, Official Report, column 245–6, asking for details of the offences committed by the ten prisoners unlawfully at large from Buckley Hall prison on 26 February 1996.

  The prisoners unlawfully at large had been charged with the following offences:

  One: Conspiracy to Rob

  One: Wounding

  Four: Burglary

  One: Escape from Lawful Custody

  One: Affray

  Two: Robbery

  All prisoners who fail to return from authorised leave are reported to the local police.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of prison officers to prisoners at Buckley Hall prison; and what is the national average ratio of prison officers to prisoners for male category C training prisons. [20371]

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

  Letter from Alastair Papps to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the ratio of prison officers to inmates at Buckley Hall, and the national average ratio of prison officers to inmates for male category C training prisons.

  The information requested, as at 11 March 1996, is shown in the table below. The staffing ratio for publicly managed prisons includes prison officers, senior officers, principal officers and officers working in specialist areas such as healthcare.

  Prison establishment staffing: Officer: Inmate ratio

  Officer: Inmate ratio

  Buckley Hall

  1:3.7

  Male category C training prisons

  1:2.7

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have failed to return from authorised leave from Buckley Hall prison and have been subsequently caught and brought back since it opened. [20372]
  638
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Miss Liz Lynne, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many prisoners have failed to return from authorised leave from Buckley Hall prison and have been subsequently caught and brought back since it opened.

  The number of prisoners who failed to return from authorised leave from Buckley Hall prison from the date of its opening on 14 December 1994 to 26 February 1996 and were subsequently caught and brought back is 20. This includes those who returned voluntarily.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prison officers that have(a) been dismissed and (b) faced other disciplinary action at Buckley Hall prison since it opened. [20373]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prison officers at Buckley Hall prison, who have either been dismissed or who have faced other disciplinary action since the prison opened.

  Since the opening of Buckley Hall prison, no prison officer has been dismissed. Three prison officers have had disciplinary action taken against them.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Truancy, London
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the level of truancy in each London education authority. [20392]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Rates of unauthorised absence for maintained primary and secondary schools in each London education authority for the 1994–95 school year up to and including 26 May 1995 are given in the following table:

  Unauthorised absence in maintained primary schools in the 1994–95 school year

  LEA

  Percentage of half days missed

  Average number of half days missed per absent pupil

  Inner London

  Corporation of London

  0.6

  6

  Camden

  1.5

  15

  Greenwich

  1.7

  16

  Hackney

  1.6

  15

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1.5

  15

  Islington

  0.9

  11

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1.1

  11

  Lambeth

  1.9

  14

  Lewisham

  1.2

  12

  Southwark

  1.8

  15

  Tower Hamlets

  2.1

  14

  Wandsworth

  0.7

  10

  639

  Unauthorised absence in maintained primary schools in the 1994–95 school year

  LEA

  Percentage of half days missed

  Average number of half days missed per absent pupil

  Westminster

  1.5

  14

  Outer London

  Barking and Dagenham

  1.6

  13

  Barnet

  0.4

  10

  Bexley

  0.3

  7

  Brent

  0.8

  9

  Bromley

  0.3

  9

  Croydon

  0.5

  9

  Ealing

  0.5

  10

  Enfield

  0.5

  12

  Haringey

  1.8

  15

  Harrow

  0.4

  8

  Havering

  0.2

  6

  Hillingdon

  1.1

  9

  Hounslow

  0.7

  10

  Kingston upon Thames

  0.4

  9

  Merton

  0.7

  11

  Newham

  2.8

  17

  Redbridge

  0.7

  10

  Richmond upon Thames

  0.2

  7

  Sutton

  0.2

  9

  Waltham Forest

  1.1

  11

  England average

  0.5

  10

  Source:

  The National Pupil Absence Tables 1995, DfEE, November 1995.

  Unauthorised absence in maintained secondary schools in the 1994–95 school year

  LEA

  Percentage of half days missed

  Average number of half days missed per absent pupil

  Inner London

  Corporation of London

  n/a

  n/a

  Camden

  2.2

  26

  Greenwich

  1.8

  31

  Hackney

  3.3

  28

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2.9

  33

  Islington

  3.1

  37

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2.4

  19

  Lambeth

  2.1

  20

  Lewisham

  2.1

  26

  Southwark

  3.3

  28

  Tower Hamlets

  3.6

  25

  Wandsworth

  2.1

  33

  Westminster

  2.6

  20

  Greater London

  Barking and Dagenham

  2.8

  48

  Barnet

  0.3

  12

  Bexley

  0.9

  34

  Brent

  1.2

  21

  Bromley

  0.5

  16

  Croydon

  0.5

  16

  Ealing

  1.3

  29

  Enfield

  0.4

  19

  Haringey

  1.9

  38

  Harrow

  0.5

  27

  Havering

  0.7

  14

  Hillingdon

  1.5

  24

  Hounslow

  1.0

  28

  Kingston upon Thames

  0.4

  17

  Merton

  1.8

  27

  Newham

  3.6

  43

  Redbridge

  0.4

  15

  640

  Unauthorised absence in maintained secondary schools in the 1994–95 school year

  LEA

  Percentage of half days missed

  Average number of half days missed per absent pupil

  Richmond upon Thames

  0.8

  17

  Sutton

  0.3

  12

  Waltham Forest

  1.9

  22

  England average

  1.0

  22

  Source:

  The National Pupil Absence Tables 1995, DfEE, November 1995.

  School Buildings (Conditions Survey)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the last national survey of the condition of school buildings was undertaken by her Department; and when further such surveys are planned. [20567]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The last national survey by the Department that included information on the condition of school buildings was undertaken in 1986 and published in 1987 as the "Survey of School Buildings".

  There are no plans for another exercise of this type in the immediate future.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme, Manchester
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has had from St. Wilfrid's school in Northenden, Manchester, in regard to the nursery school voucher scheme; what reply she is sending; what action she is taking; and if she will make a statement. [19074]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received one letter from St. Wilfrid's school, Northenden about the nursery voucher scheme. A reply will be sent shortly.

  Purcell School Development Appeal
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will assist the Purcell school development appeal. [20876]

  Mrs. Gillan
  We have decided to make a capital grant of £250,000 towards the Purcell school development appeal. This will encourage private donors also to contribute, and will enable the school to secure the larger premises needed to enhance the specialist education it provides for children with exceptional musical talents. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary grant regulations, the payment will be made within the existing cash limit for class x vote 1 for 1995–96.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Prison Service
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed within the Northern Ireland Prison Service; and if he will provide a breakdown(a) for (i) uniformed and (ii) civilian employees and (b) for each institution in each of the last five years.
  641
  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. D. Shannon to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 13 March 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of staff within the Northern Ireland Prison Service. The figures are based on staff in post at 1st March in each of the last 5 years.

  Total staff in post

  Year

  Discipline staff

  Governors

  Specialists

  Civilians

  1992

  2,463

  105

  582

  345

  1993

  2,494

  100

  582

  331

  1994

  2,507

  94

  589

  325

  1995

  2,552

  91

  519

  396

  1996

  2,532

  86

  445

  430

  Year

  Discipline staff

  Governors

  Specialists

  Civilian

  HM prison, Belfast

  1992

  556

  20

  119

  17

  1993

  609

  22

  120

  20

  1994

  611

  20

  120

  20

  1995

  335

  16

  111

  32

  1996

  315

  13

  85

  32

  HM prison, Maze

  1992

  849

  24

  178

  57

  1993

  823

  24

  174

  47

  1994

  843

  23

  174

  47

  1995

  1,153

  23

  131

  68

  1996

  1,117

  25

  126

  67

  HM prison, Maghaberry

  1992

  478

  16

  128

  38

  1993

  478

  16

  129

  36

  Numbers and percentages of classes by class size in Northern Ireland primary schools

  Up to 20

  21–25

  26–30

  31–35

  36–40

  Over 40

  Year

  Number

  Per-centage

  Number

  Per-centage

  Number

  Per-centage

  Number

  Per-centage

  Number

  Per-centage

  Number

  Per-centage

  1986–87

  1,039

  15.1

  1,831

  26.6

  2,453

  35.6

  1,346

  19.6

  204

  3.0

  8

  0.1

  1987–88

  1,036

  15.0

  1,881

  27.2

  2,520

  36.4

  1,312

  19.0

  168

  2.4

  5

  0.1

  1988–89

  1,048

  15.0

  1,857

  26.6

  2,521

  36.2

  1,348

  19.3

  175

  2.5

  20

  0.3

  1989–90

  1,060

  15.0

  1,892

  26.8

  2,602

  36.9

  1,345

  10.1

  143

  2.0

  7

  0.1

  1990–91

  1,136

  16.0

  1,979

  27.9

  2,565

  36.1

  1,266

  17.8

  152

  2.1

  7

  0.1

  1991–92

  1,221

  16.9

  2,122

  29.4

  2,614

  36.2

  1,157

  16.0

  90

  1.2

  15

  0.2

  1992–93

  1,404

  19.2

  2,193

  30.0

  2,710

  37.1

  954

  13.0

  51

  0.7

  1

  0

  1993–94

  1,755

  22.8

  2,473

  32.2

  2,628

  34.2

  793

  10.3

  36

  0.5

  1

  0

  1994–95

  1,828

  23.6

  2,601

  33.7

  2,552

  33.0

  716

  9.3

  32

  0.4

  0

  0

  1995–96

  1,810

  23.9

  2,472

  32.6

  2,634

  34.7

  647

  8.5

  18

  0.2

  0

  0

  General National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make available the latest statistics on those taking GNVQs in what fields of study and at which type of educational institution they were studied. [20285]
  642

  Year

  Discipline staff

  Governors

  Specialists

  Civilian

  1994

  481

  15

  133

  34

  1995

  497

  14

  126

  42

  1996

  515

  15

  103

  46

  HM prison, Magilligan

  1992

  397

  12

  85

  19

  1993

  395

  12

  87

  18

  1994

  395

  11

  88

  19

  1995

  377

  11

  82

  31

  1996

  377

  10

  71

  37

  HM Young offenders centre, Hydebank

  1992

  168

  8

  54

  12

  1993

  174

  9

  54

  11

  1994

  162

  8

  58

  11

  1995

  174

  8

  52

  20

  1996

  186

  8

  43

  23

  HM prison service college

  1992

  15

  11

  14

  18

  1993

  15

  4

  13

  18

  1994

  15

  4

  13

  18

  1995

  16

  4

  8

  13

  1996

  17

  4

  7.5

  16

  Prison service headquarters

  1992

  0

  14

  0

  184

  1993

  0

  13

  0

  184

  1994

  0

  13

  0

  181

  1995

  0

  15

  0

  190

  1996

  5

  11

  4

  209

  School Class Sizes
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish class sizes in Northern Ireland primary schools over the past 10 years; and list how many and what percentage were up to 20, 21 to 25, 26 to 30, 31 to 35, 36 to 40 and over 40. [20286]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Ancram
  The information for 1994–95 is as follows. The table showing the number of students following full general national vocational qualification courses was compiled from a survey carried out by the education and training inspectorate. The information about part 1 GNVQ was compiled by the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
  643

  Intermediate

  Advanced

  Full GNVQ courses Vocational area

  Schools

  1GNVQ FE

  Total

  2 GNVQ Schools

  FE

  Total

  Art and Design

  42

  88

  130

  37

  299

  336

  Business

  539

  288

  827

  472

  1,649

  2,121

  Health and Social Care

  304

  248

  552

  107

  845

  952

  Leisure and Tourism

  104

  204

  308

  62

  895

  957

  Manufacturing

  94

  —

  94

  —

  —

  —

  Built Environment

  18

  47

  65

  —

  173

  173

  Hospitality and Catering

  8

  44

  52

  —

  142

  142

  Science

  32

  21

  53

  37

  75

  112

  Information Technology

  7

  26

  33

  —

  46

  46

  Media: Communications and Production

  —

  9

  9

  —

  75

  75

  Engineering

  —

  17

  17

  —

  43

  43

  Total

  1,148

  922

  2,140

  715

  4,242

  4,957

  1 Students enrolled on 1 November 1994.

  2 Year 1 students enrolled on 1 November 1993 (now year 2) and year 1 students enrolled on 1 November 1994.

  At foundation level 42 pupils were enrolled in health and social care courses in schools in 1994–95; there were no students at foundation level in institutions of further education.

  Part I GNVQ

  Nine schools are involved in piloting part 1 GNVQ—key stage 4–1995–96 at foundation and intermediate levels. The numbers of pupils involved are:

  Vocational area

  Foundation

  Intermediate

  Business

  14

  82

  Health and Social Care

  28

  83

  Manufacturing

  29

  61

  Total

  71

  226

  School Building Programme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment and by what criteria he has made of the adequacy of the capital building programme for schools. [20287]

  Mr. Ancram
  My Department regularly reviews the capital needs of schools in consultation with the education and library boards and other school authorities. Each year, potential capital projects are reassessed and a priority rating of 1 to 6 is assigned to each project to ensure that available resources are directed to the highest priorities in terms of educational need.

  Artistically Gifted Children
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is made for the education of artistically gifted children; and at what annual cost. [20279]

  Mr. Ancram
  The statutory programmes of study are sufficiently broadly couched to enable schools to teach each child, including the most gifted, at his or her own pace. Boards will continue to offer help through their curriculum support services to meet the needs of these pupils, as all others. In addition, children who are especially talented in music or dance may receive assistance to attend certain specialist schools in Great Britain. In 1994–95, my Department supported seven children through this scheme at a cost of £47,000; in 1995–96 four children were supported at a cost of £21,000.
  644

  supported Study Initiatives
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what supported study initiatives his Department has taken; and what assessment he has made of their success. [20280]

  Mr. Ancram
  Twelve homework centres have been supported under special initiatives. These have been inspected by the Department's inspectorate and myDepartment is presently considering how the lessonsVocational areaFoundation Intermediate learnt might be applied in future projects.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many surplus places there are within the school system in Northern Ireland. [20281]

  Mr. Ancram
  Based on the latest estimate in 1994–95 there are 32,000 surplus school places—15,000 in primary schools and 17,000 in secondary schools.

  Integrated Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current provision for integrated education in Northern Ireland in terms of(a) schools, (b) cost, (c) pupil numbers and (d) percentage of children in such schools. [20282]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are currently 28 integrated schools in Northern Ireland catering for 5,748 pupils which represents 1.7 per cent. of the total primary and secondary school pupil population. Their total 1995–96 recurrent budget is £13.5 million.

  General Teaching Council
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to establish a general teaching council in Northern Ireland. [20283]

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Dearing Inquiry
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contribution he has made to the review by Sir Ron Dearing of qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds; and if he will place it in the Library. [20284]
  645
  Mr. Ancram
  Apart from setting his remit, the Government have made no input to Sir Ron Dearing's consideration of the issues: that is a matter for him as he considers appropriate. Schools, colleges, training organisations and employers in Northern Ireland were, however, consulted on the same basis as other regions of England and Wales as part of Sir Ron's national consultation exercise, and in that context my officials offered some informal comments. The Government will respond formally when Sir Ron presents his report later this month.

  Civil Service
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what discussions he held with and what notice he gave to(a) Commonwealth members and (b) the Republic of Ireland of his intention to introduce amendments to the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 1986; and if the ban on employment will apply to the children of Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland citizens who are currently in posts but without British nationality; [20401]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Commonwealth citizens and (b) Republic of Ireland citizens currently employed in the civil service. [20402]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The amendments announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 1 March,Official Report, column 771, and which take effect from 1 June 1996, concern civil service nationality rules, which, for the Northern Ireland civil service, are made under the Civil Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. The amendments are not to the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 1991.

  On the question of discussions with or notice given to Commonwealth members or the Republic of Ireland, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  The eligibility for employment in the Northern Ireland civil service of the children of Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland citizens currently in service will depend, as now, on the nature of the civil service post concerned and the nationality of the individual at the time of application.

  No estimate was made of the number of Commonwealth citizens or of Republic of Ireland citizens currently serving in the Northern Ireland civil service. This information is not recorded.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child support
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what factors underlay his decision to omit the absent parent's right to a review in the new drafting of the Child support Agency regulations on clean-break settlements; [17738]
  646
  (2) what action he is taking to reinstate absent parents' rights to review when they have applied for clean-break settlements to be taken into account in Child support Agency maintenance calculations. [17737]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  There is nothing in the regulations introduced in April 1995 relating to property and capital settlements which affects an absent parent's normal review rights.

  Pensioners (Benefits)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of pensioners claiming (i) council tax benefit and (ii) housing benefit and entitled to, but not receiving, income support. [19765]

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

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people claimed cold weather payments in the area covered by his benefits offices in(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough from mid-December 1995 to the end of February 1996; on which dates they qualified; and what was the total amount paid to those whose claims were met; [19742]

  (2) how many times since 1 November 1995 have the (a) Leeds and (b) Warrington monitoring stations triggered the system of cold weather payments; and if he will make a statement. [19766]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency on 6 March,Official Report, column 349.

  Income support (Administration Costs)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the total spending on income support is spent on administration costs for(a) pensioner recipients, (b) non-pensioner recipients and (c) all recipients of income support. [20264]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The total expenditure on income support that is spent on administration is about 10 per cent. Administrative expenditure is not broken down into costs arising from pensioner and non-pensioner claims.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the impact of the cost of meeting 80 per cent. of local authority expenditure incurred in assisting asylum seekers following benefit withdrawal from Exchequer funds, on the savings he has projected for the benefit changes. [20276]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Grants will be paid on unavoidable additional expenditure above a certain threshold and will be assessed in arrears on the basis of claims. Threshold levels are still to be determined. The level of grant will depend on the actual claims made by local authorities.
  647

  State Retirement Pension
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will uprate the state pension to one-third of average earnings for each pensioner; and if he will make a statement. [20657]

  Mr. Heald
  I have no such plans. Retirement pension will rise by 3.9 per cent. next month, in line with the annual increase in the retail prices index to September 1995.

  SERPS Rebate
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he proposes to announce the new levels of contracted-out rebate to apply from April 1997. [20976]

  Mr. Heald
  The relevant reports by the Government Actuary and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Security, have been laid today together with draft amending orders to establish the level of the rebates for the period beginning in April 1997 in accordance with the Pension Schemes Act of 1993 as amended by the Pensions Act of 1995.

  Contracted-out occupational pension schemes and appropriate personal pension schemes provide an alternative to SERPS and thereby relieve the state of part of the liability to provide income in retirement; this is recognised by a rebate on class 1 national insurance contributions. Since April 1993 this has been set at 4.8 per cent. of earnings between the lower and upper earnings limits.

  Since the rebate was last set the Pensions Act 1995 has been passed. Amongst other measures designed to restore confidence in the security of pension funds following Maxwell and implement the main recommendations of the subsequent Pension Law Review Committee report, the Act simplified the future arrangements for contracting out of SERPS and introduced a new system of age-related rebates for those contracting out of SERFS into money purchase contracted-out schemes and appropriate personal pensions.

  In his report to Parliament, the Government Actuary indicated his view that the contracted-out rebate for salary-related schemes should be set at 4.6 per cent. This figure reflects the fact that, under the new arrangements, individuals will forgo entitlement to the benefits which would otherwise accrue under SERPS; the Government Actuary as required by the new legislation has therefore provided an assessment on the basis of the actuarial value of the SERPS forgone rather than, as at present, the cost of providing guaranteed minimum pensions. We agree with his report and with the figures set out therein, which we propose to split between a 1.6 per cent. rebate for employees and a 3 per cent. rebate for employers.

  The Government Actuary's report also discusses the levels of age-related rebate needed in the case of both money purchase and appropriate personal pensions which are required to provide equivalent levels of funded pensions as a replacement for SERPS. His figures include estimates of the expenses of both typical and the more efficient commercial pension providers. We have decided to set the rebates which include an allowance for the reasonable costs and charges of the more efficient
  648
  providers of appropriate personal pensions and contracted-out money purchase pensions. The new rebates will therefore vary by age from 3.1 per cent. for the youngest member of a money purchase scheme and from 3.4 per cent. for those with personal pensions to a maximum of 9 per cent. We have set the maximum age-related rebates at 9 per cent. to restraint the costs to public finances.

  These proposals underline our firm and continuing commitment to the partnership between private and public sector in the provision of pensions. Coupled with our policy of maintaining the value of the basic state retirement pension in line with prices, we believe they will help build on our success in creating a strong pensions structure for the 21st century.

  Compensation Recovery
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the value of benefit recovered from persons receiving compensation for personal injury and disability in the last year for which figures are available; how many individual compensation cases were involved; and, as a global figure, what was the proportion of the amount recovered by his Department compared with the total awarded to those seeking compensation and in receipt of reclaimable benefits. [19371]

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

  Letter from Mr. Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 12 March 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what was the value of benefit recovered from persons receiving compensation for personal injury and disability in the last year for which figures are available; how many individual compensation cases were involved; and, as a global figure, what was the proportion of the amount recovered by his Department compared to the total awarded to those seeking compensation and in receipt of reclaimable benefits.

  There is no legal requirement for the compensator to notify the Compensation Recovery Unit about the size of settlements. Therefore, the information about the proportion of the award recouped is not available. The rest of the information you requested is given below:

  Period

  Numers of cases

  Total amount recovered

  11/4/94—31/3/95

  39,915

  £110.1M1

  Figures are provisional and subject to charge.

  1 This figure includes monies recovered form both final and interim payments.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

DEFENCE

  Ministerial Meetings (France and Germany)
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions have been held between Ministers in his Department and their French and German counterparts; and if he will make a statement. [21081]
  649
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I met State Secretary Simon and Délégue Général pour l'Armement Conze on Monday 11 March. I told them that the Government have decided that, subject to amendment of the tender documents to reflect UK requirements, we will join the current competition which is planned to lead to a collaborative programme for an armoured utility vehicle. This decision was welcomed by France and Germany, who have agreed that the industries of all three nations should take part in the project on an equal basis.

  I also confirmed that the UK wished to join the armaments agency, which France and Germany announced last year that they would be establishing. We agreed that, once work has been completed on amendments to the tender documents for the armoured utility vehicle, the UK will participate with France and Germany in their current work on the setting up of this agency.

  Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for replacing the anti-oil pollution functions currently carried out from the RMAS depot at Fairlie; [19597]

  (2) if he will list the dates on which the RMAS in-house team had discussions with his officials on the strategic implications of concentrating the buoys task at Pembroke and closing Fairlie; [19585]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the implications of the RMAS market-testing exercise for the British underwater test and evaluation centre and associated civilian employment at Kyle at Lochalsh; [19586]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the time which would be taken for personnel and equipment from Pembroke to arrive at the Clyde nuclear base in the event of an incident; [19587]

  (5) on what grounds the lowest tender for the RMAS ports contract was rejected; and if he will make a statement; [19588]

  (6) if the privatised parts of the RMAS functions will continue to be subject to royal charter; [19589]

  (7) what estimate he has made of (a) the number of (b) the location of job losses resulting from the RMAS market-testing exercise; [19590]

  (8) what was the value of investment by RMAS at (a) Pembroke and (b) Fairlie in each of the past five years; [19591]

  (9) if he will postpone a final decision on the future of RMAS Fairlie pending an examination of the strategic implications of transferring the buoys task from it to Pembroke; [19592]

  (10) if the will list the locations of moorings and navigation buoys currently serviced from the RMAS depot at Fairlie; [19593]

  (11) if the bids from Denholm-Serco and Ocean Group in respect of the moorings and navigation buoys functions of the RMAS were predicted on the retention of north and south bases; and if he will make a statement; [19594]
  650
  (12) what consultations he has had with NATO concerning the proposed closure of the RMAS depot at Fairlie; [19595]

  (13) when his Department was first informed of the proposal to close the RMAS depot at Fairlie, as part of the in-house bid for the moorings and navigation buoys functions of the RMAS. [19596]

  Mr. Soames
  The results of the market test of marine services announced on 28 February 1996,Official Report, columns 553–54, will involve the transfer of the upkeep and maintenance of moorings and navigation buoys from the NATO mooring and support depot—NMSD—Fairlie to the depot at Pembroke. There are no strategic grounds for postponing implementation of this decision and no discussions have been held with the in-house bid team on any such strategic implications.

  The invitation to tender—ITT—did not oblige any bidders to use any of the existing MOD mooring maintenance facilities. The commercial bidders and the in-house bid team all elected to operate from one prime depot. The in-house bid team did not select to use NMSD Fairlie as a centre for its moorings and buoys bid. The Department was first made aware of this formally when bids were submitted in May 1995.

  The relevant NATO authorities were informed of the market test's potential to affect the MOD's future involvement in NMSD Fairlie. Their long-term intentions in the light of the decision not to use the depot for moorings and navigation buoys work will now be sought. The provision of marine service support to the British underwater test and evaluation centre—BUTEC—at the Kyle of Lochalsh was not included in the ITT and the impact of the market test on this service is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, which operates the establishment.

  The following 15 general locations of moorings and buoys are currently serviced from NMSD Fairlie:

  Firth of Clyde

  Isle of Skye

  Hebrides

  Kyle of Lochalsh

  Rona and Raasay

  Loch Ewe

  Loch Eriboll

  Cape Wrath

  Carlingford loch

  Luce bay

  Firth of Forth

  Ocean met buoys

  Moray Firth and Aberdeen

  Humber and the Wash

  North sea met buoys.

  No oil pollution control—OPC—equipment is held at NMSD Fairlie, but the depot has a contingency role in the Clyde port authority emergency plan as a mobilisation point and as a waterfront loading facility. This role will not be directly affected by the market test decision.

  No special mooring equipment or personnel are retained at NMSD Fairlie to respond to incidents at HM naval base Clyde. Should mooring materials be required

  651
  to support an incident at the base after the task has been transferred to Pembroke dock, the timing would very much depend on the size and amount of equipment involved and whether it could be shipped by road, rail or sea.

  Investment at Pembroke and Fairlie over the past five years is as follows:

  Pembroke

  Financial Year 1993–94: £1.165 million

  Financial Year 1994–95: £0.106 million

  Financial Year 1995–96: £0.339 million

  Of this sum £1.370 million was attributable to the closure of the central salvage depot, Swanmore.

  Fairlie

  Financial Year 1991–92: £0.031 million.

  No part of the marine services is being privatised. The ports element will be Government owned and contractor operated—GOCO. The vessels required by the contractor will continue to be MOD-owned assets and will be operated under bareboat charter conditions, one of which requires the contractor to retain the same livery for the vessels and to fly the RMAS ensign.

  The relatively minor cost advantage of the in-house team's bid for the ports contract was outweighed by the much greater potential cost to the MOD associated with the high risk nature of its non-complaint management proposals. The bid failed to achieve a single point of responsibility and accountability at each naval base. Furthermore, no acceptable system for tasking and prioritising marine services resources at each base had been developed.

  It is estimated that approximately 500 posts will be surplus to requirements as a result of the market test. The precise details of the reductions have yet to be worked out, but their regional implications are expected to be in the order of 160 at Devonport, 120 at Portsmouth, 200 at Clyde plus 45 at the Bath HQ. Trade Union consultation has now commenced.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he was first informed of the proposal to transfer functions and activities at present performed by vessels, their crews and other personnel located at RMAS Greenock; and if he will make a statement; [19844]

  (2) how many (a) men and (b) women were employed at RMAS Greenock in each of the past 10 years; [19845]

  (3) if he will postpone a final decision on the future of RMAS Greenock until the completion of an analysis of the strategic and financial consequences of the transfer of functions and employment away from RMAS Greenock; [19846]

  (4) which (a) marine services and (b) other activities will continue to be performed by vessels and personnel based at RMAS Greenock, following his decision concerning the marine services market test; and if he will make a statement; [19847]
  652
  (5) what guarantees he has sought concerning the continuity of employment and utilisation of (a) vessels, (b) personnel and (c) physical facilities at RMAS Greenock; [19848]

  (6) what estimates he has made of the number of jobs which will be lost at RMAS Greenock as a result of his decision concerning the marine services market test; and if he will make a statement; [19849]

  (7) if he will list the functions undertaken by RMAS vessels operating out of Greenock in relation to the operations of nuclear submarines in and close to the firth of Clyde; and if he will make a statement; [19850]

  (8) on how many occasions RMAS vessels operating out of Greenock have been called to the collisions, near-collisions and other incidents involving (a) nuclear submarines and fishing vessels, (b) conventional submarines and fishing vessels and (c) nuclear and conventional submarines and other vessels in and close to the firth of Clyde in each of the past 10 years. [19851]

  Mr. Soames
  Ministers gave careful consideration to the results of the marine services market test in the weeks leading up to the announcement on 28 February 1996,Official Report, columns 553–54, that the contract for the provision of ports services have been awarded to the private sector consortium, Denholm-SERCO, and the remaining moorings/buoys and armament freighting contracts had been awarded to the in-house team.

  The impact of this decision on RMAS Greenock will involve the transfer of moorings/buoys and associated diving activities currently performed there to Pembroke dock, which the in-house team proposes to use as the centre of this task in future. Two vessels, Salmoor and Salmaster, currently based at RMAS Greenock will be affected by this transfer.

  Under the management of Denholm-SERCO, RMAS Greenock will continue to provide the full range of marine services under the ports contract to the Clyde area. This will include support to the operations of nuclear submarines in and close to the firth of Clyde, full details of which are classified. No strategic or financial reason is seem to postpone the implementation of the market test at RMAS Greenock, which is expected to lead to significant savings.

  Not all of the vessels and personnel currently employed on ports-related tasks will be required under the terms of the new contract. It is too early to estimate how many posts and vessels at RMAS Greenock would be surplus to requirements. This will be the subject of detailed discussions between the Department, Denholm-SERCO and the work force over the coming weeks. Continuity of employment would be provided under the terms of TUPE regulations. It will be subject to full consultation with the work force and its trade union representatives. The utilisation of vessels and facilities would be subject to Denholm-SERCO's requirements. MOD vessels required would be transferred under commercial leasing arrangements and the company intends to operate from the existing great harbour support base making use of most of the buildings.

  The number of employees at RMAS Greenock is currently estimated to be some 252.2, of whom some 12.5 are women. It is not possible to provide the information

  653
  on employment levels in each of the preceding 10 years and the ratio of men and women employed since data are not held centrally in this format and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Similarly, the details of RMAS vessels called out to collisions or other incidents in the Clyde area in each of the past 10 years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, it would be standard practice in an emergency involving a collision between an MOD and a commercial vessel for any marine service vessel able to assist to be directed to do so. This would continue to be the case following the market test.

  Service Quarters
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from hon. Members regarding empty Ministry of Defence service quarters in Chester. [20377]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has not received any representations in the past 12 months from an hon. Member concerning empty dwellings owned by my Department in Chester. One has been received, however, from the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Hall) relating to Cheshire,Official Report, 22 May 1995, column 393.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he has received from hon. Members regarding empty Ministry of Defence service quarters in Gravesham; [20375]

  (2) what representations he has received from hon. Members regarding empty Ministry of Defence service quarters in Dover. [20376]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has not received any representations in the past 12 months from hon. Members concerning empty dwellings owned by my Department in the Gravesham and Dover areas.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service married quarters are owned by his Department in each parliamentary constituency in Staffordshire; and how many are currently empty. [20374]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department owns 280 properties in the Stafford constituency at RAF Stafford. Of these, there are 30 vacant service families quarters, of which nine have been allocated to new families in April/May 1996.

  My Department owns 205 properties in the Staffordshire, South-East constituency, at Whittington barracks. Of these, 90 are vacant service families quarters, of which 57 have been identified for alienation. Of the remaining 33 empty homes, seven have been allocated for incoming families during April 1996.

  Air Accidents
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, locations, aircraft types and circumstances of all incidents since June 1993 in which military aircraft have made unintentional contact with the ground or with ground features with special reference to trees and power lines; and which of these incidents involved breaches of low flying regulations. [19744]
  654
  Mr. Soames
  The information requested for the Army Air Corps and RAF is as follows:

  Date

  Location

  Type

  Circumstances

  14 October 1993

  Lyneham

  RAF Hercules

  Struck obstruction on approach to land in turbulent conditions

  15 November 1993

  Kafjord, Norway

  RAF Harrier

  Wirestrike

  2 January 1994

  Northern Ireland

  RAF Wessex

  Wirestrike

  19 March 1994

  Salisbury plain

  RAF Puma

  Struck a tree whilst positioning to land

  18 May 1994

  20 nautical miles north-west of Oban

  RAF Puma

  Wirestrike

  25 May 1994

  Salisbury plain

  AAC Lynx

  Main rotors hit trees whilst the aircraft was hovering

  10 October 1994

  BATUS, Canada

  AAC Gazelle

  Strong gust of wind caused the nose to pitch up and tail to hit the ground shortly after take-off

  17 October 1994

  Germany

  RAF Puma

  Wirestrike

  24 January 1995

  Northern Ireland

  RAF Puma

  Main rotors severed power cable on landing

  1 February 1995

  Salisbury plain

  AAC Gazelle

  Main rotors hit some branches whilst the aircraft was hovering

  19 October 1995

  Sennybridge

  RAF Puma

  Rotor blades struck a tree following uncommanded yaw on landing

  28 February 1996

  Northern Ireland

  AAC Lynx

  Tail of the aircraft struck the ground during landing

  The Royal Navy does not hold this information centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  None of the incidents was formally classified as a breach of United Kingdom military low flying regulations.

  Scott Inquiry
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he will take as a result of the finding of the Scott inquiry that the letter written to the hon. Member referred to in D.4.33 concerning changes in the Government's policy on the supply of arms to Iraq was misleading. [16953]

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he will take as a result of the finding of the Scott inquiry that the letter written to the hon. Member referred to in D.4.33 concerning changes in the
  655
  Government's policy on the supply of arms to Iraq was misleading. [16957]

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he will take as a result of the finding of the Scott inquiry that the letter written to the hon. Member in D.4.33 concerning changes in the Government's policy on the supply of arms to Iraq was misleading. [16955]

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he will take as a result of the finding of the Scott inquiry that the letter written to the hon. Member referred to in D.4.33 concerning changes in the Government's policy on the supply of arms to Iraq was misleading. [16954]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Government continue to take the view that the Howe guidelines were not changed and do not consider that further action is necessary.

  Remote Piloting
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights in United Kingdom airspace by military remotely piloted vehicles were authorised on 6 January 1995. [19750]

  Mr. Soames
  One such flight was authorised within the Llanbedr danger area—EGD202.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, locations and aircraft types involved in all incidents since 1990 of breaches of low flying regulations which were witnessed by RAF police deployed on covert monitoring duties. [19641]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of apparent breaches of low flying regulations detected by the RAF police during covert monitoring of the United Kingdom low flying system, including deployments with Skyguard, are as follows:

  Date

  Location

  Numbers and types of aircraft

  2 October 1990

  East Leyton, Richmond North Yorkshire

  1x RAF Tornado

  16 July 1991

  Eshottt airfield, Northumberland

  3x German Air Force F4

  23 September 1991

  Keswick, Cumbria

  1x AAC Gazelle

  24 September 1991

  1x RAF Harrier

  26 September 1991

  Keswick, Cumbria

  GR5 2x French Air Force

  Keswick, Cumbria

  Mirage

  2 July 1992

  Beverly/Linley Hill aerodrome, North Humberside

  lx RAF Tornado

  22 September 1994

  Ambleside, Cumbria

  lx USAF F15

  5 May 1995

  Bude, Cornwall

  lx RAF Hawk

  9 May 1995

  Bude, Cornwall

  lx RAF Tornado

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis the Ministry of Defence police are responsible 656
  for security at (a) Royal Ordnance premises and (b) other private company premises; what payment is made for the service; and if he will make a statement. [20356]

  Mr. Soames
  Ministry of Defence police are responsible for security at some Royal Ordnance plc premises under the terms of an agreement made in 1985. Ministry of Defence police are not responsible for security at other private company premises. My Department recovers the greater part of the cost of the services of the MOD police from Royal Ordnance plc.

  Extended Range Ordnance
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning extended range ordnance under development for the AS 90 SP Howitzer. [20198]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 11 March 1996]: Proposals for the extended range ordnance and modular charge system for the AS90 SP Howitzer have recently been submitted to my Department by the prime contractor, Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. These proposals are currently being assessed.

  M107 Shells
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which companies his Department purchases M107 shells. [20460]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  M107 ammunition is currently supplied by Simmel Difesa of Italy.

  Simmel
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions the Italian company Simmel has been investigated in relation to United Kingdom procurement fraud; and what action was taken. [20459]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Following an investigation by the Ministry of Defence police fraud squad which commenced in early 1991, James Taylor—a MOD civil servant—was convicted of corruptly agreeing with an agent for Simmel SPA to accept payment by Simmel for hotel accommodation in Venice for himself and his wife to the value of £880. On 22 December 1993 Taylor was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and ordered to pay £13,500 prosecution costs. A confiscation order for £32,710 was also made. He received concurrent sentences on five other counts of corruptly receiving £24,000 from Gordon Foxley. On the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service no action was taken against Simmel or its agent.

  F16 Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of his Department's examination of the option to lease American F16 aircraft. [20458]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In order to ensure the achievement of value for money, the cost-effectiveness of our procurement decisions is routinely tested in a combined operational effectiveness and investment appraisal—COEIA. In the case of the decision to upgrade the Tornado F3' s weapons systems, this proposal was tested against alternative options including the lease of F-16 aircraft from the
  657
  United States. The estimated total cost of the COEIA was approximately £295,000. The specific costs attributable to evaluating the F-16 option are not separately identifiable.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vehicles containing more than one consignment of live animals for export were inspected by his officials at the port of Dover, prior to loading on to the MV Sea Road to sail from Dover to Boulogne in the period 1 January to 9 February; and what assessment he has made of whether welfare requirements as to feeding and watering for the purposes of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994 were observed for each consignment. [19891]

  Mrs. Browning
  During the period 1 January to 9 February 1996, 112 vehicles, carrying more than one consignment, were seen by officials prior to loading on to the MV Sea Road at the port. It is not part of the Ministry's responsibilities to assess whether the statutory welfare requirements are in the event met in respect of each consignment, although checks are carried out.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the country of destination declared on(a) the journey plan and (b) the health certificate for the purposes of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994 of the vehicle which left Dover on 8 February 1995 loaded with two consignments of calves. [19890]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 11 March 1996,Official Report, column 465.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the MV Caroline conforms with the requirements of the Animals (Sea Transport) Order 1930, as amended, when used for the carriage of livestock from a United Kingdom port. [19889]

  Mrs. Browning
  No information available to the Ministry suggests that the MV Caroline failed to comply with the appropriate conditions specified in the Animals (Sea Transport) Order of 1930.

  Badgers
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the Irish Republic in respect of the interaction between badgers and tuberculosis in cattle; and if he will make a statement. [19826]

  Mrs. Browning
  On 7 February, I visited Dublin for discussions with Mr. Deenihan, Minister of State at the Irish Department of Agriculture, to discuss Irish policy in relation to badgers and bovine tuberculosis and in particular to learn of the project which had been undertaken in East Offaly. I found those discussions extremely helpful and will be reflecting on them in the 658
  context of the consultations I am currently undertaking on our policy for the control of tuberculosis in cattle.

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the re-introduction of a statutory compulsory treatment period to control sheep scab; and if he will make a statement; [20048]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the notifiable status of sheep scab; and what plans he has to change that status; [20051]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the control of sheep scab; [20047]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the control of sheep scab in areas of concentrated common and unfenced grazing land. [20050]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: A public consultation paper was issued by the agriculture departments on 21 December 1995 setting out possible measures to help control sheep scab in Great Britain without detracting from farmers' responsibilities in this area. A copy was placed in the Library of the House.

  The paper reflects the Government's latest assessment of the issues. It proposes, among other things, the creation of a criminal offence not to have treated infested sheep with an authorised treatment within a reasonable time of its having become detectable or upon service of a notice by an inspector authorised under the Animal Health Act 1981. The re-introduction of a compulsory treatment period across Great Britain is not, however, proposed.

  The paper reiterates the Government's commitment to remove all references to sheep scab in the Animal Health Act 1981, including the requirement to notify the disease. A separate consultation paper will be issued on this specific issue in the spring.

  The paper also includes a proposal for a measure to help deal with the particular problem caused by sheep scab in areas of common and unfenced grazing land.

  The deadline for comments closed on 1 March 1996. A further round of consultation show follow once the comments received have been evaluated.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Electricity
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of the nuclear electricity industry following privatisation. [18710]

  Mr. Eggar
  The external financing requirement of the nuclear electricity industry is shown in table 6A.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97".

  Information Society Initiative
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the information society initiative will be
  659
  available through business link offices in the south of England. [18712]

  Mr. Page
  All business links have information on the information society initiative and I hope that as many as possible will want to be actively involved. A number of business links in the south of England have already expressed an interest and we will be pursuing this with them.

  Investment
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in which investment per head is currently less than in the United Kingdom. [18713]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In 1994 investment per head was lower than in the United Kingdom in Finland, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Sweden and Turkey. Since 1979 business sector investment has been a larger proportion of GDP in the UK than in France, Germany, Italy and the US.

  Electrical Sockets
  26. Mr. Amess
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the proposed EU directive on electrical sockets. [18716]

  Mr. Eggar
  There is no proposal for an EU directive on electrical sockets. We understand that the European electrotechnical standards body, CENELEC, which is industry-led, will shortly put a new proposal for a harmonised European standard for plugs and sockets to national standards committees for consultation and voting. The Government continues to keep a watch on developments in CENELEC.

  Derelict Coal Mining Areas
  28. Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new initiatives his Department is introducing to bring industry into derelict coal mining areas; and if he will make a statement.[18718]

  Mr. Page
  A substantial package of measures was put in place to help regenerate coal areas, set out in a parliamentary answer by the Minister for Industry and Energy on 19 July 1994. As he points out, the 1993 assisted areas map included assisted area status for a number of these areas. They continue to benefit from eligibility for regional selective assistance.

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss the future of British Coal Enterprise. [18719]

  Mr. Page
  My ministerial colleagues and I meet the chairman of British Coal as necessary to discuss a range of issues. Officials in my Department remain in close touch with British Coal about the future of British Coal Enterprise.
  660

  Information super-highway
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to encourage small businesses to use the information super-highway. [18720]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My right hon. friend, the President of the Board of Trade launched the information society initiative on 13 February; a four-year programme in which up to £35 million of new money will be invested. It will help United Kingdom businesses to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by new information and communication technologies to boost their competitiveness.

  This new framework of support and awareness programmes is a partnership between industry and Government, addressed at all who work in manufacturing, service and creative sectors—particularly small and medium sized companies.

  Manufacturing Output
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the change in the level of manufacturing output in the last 12 months. [18721]

  Mr. Eggar
  Over the last 12 months manufacturing output was at a record level, almost 2 per cent. higher than a year earlier.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the growth in manufacturing output since 1990. [18709]

  Mr. Eggar
  Since the end of 1990 manufacturing output has grown by 3.5 per cent.

  Gas Consumer Council (Complaints)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the level of complaints to the east midlands office of the Gas Consumer Council in 1995. [18722]

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the level of complaints to the west midlands office of the Gas Consumer Council in 1995. [13723]

  Mr. Eggar
  It will be for British Gas Trading Ltd. to take the steps it judges necessary to retain customer loyalty as competition approaches. Similarly, the service business, which is already operating in a competitive market, will need to neet that competition.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the level of manufacturing investment per head in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. [18724]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In 1993 manufacturing investment per employee was £2,800 in the United Kingdom, £4,900 in the US, £3,700 in Canada and Finland, £3,500 in Denmark, £3,400 in Germany and £2,900 in Sweden. UK manufacturing industry invested a similar proportion of its output to Germany and the US over the last economic cycle.
  661

  Manufactured Exports
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on manufactured exports. [18725]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The volume of manufactured exports grew by almost 7 per cent. last year and has nearly doubled since 1979. Since the mid 1980's our share of the volume of world trade in manufactures has stabilised after years of decline.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, columns 140–41, if he will list in each case (a) the value of the offer and (b) the name of the firm and the constituency in which it is located. [15626]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [pursuant to his reply 20 February, Official Report, column 91]: Information by constituency is as follows. For reasons of commercial confidentiality we do not publish information on individual offers accepted until the first payment of grant has been made.

  Offer value (£000)

  Firm

  Constituency

  1,500

  Kostal UK Ltd.

  Barnsley East

  3,000

  Mion Electronics Ltd.

  Barnsley East

  250

  Shafton Eng. Services Ltd.

  Barnsley East

  320

  WGF Colcoton Garn Hasenack and Co.

  Barnsley East

  700

  David Brown Transaxles Ltd.

  Barnsley West and Penistone

  450

  William Cook Cast Products Ltd.

  Barnsley West and Penistone

  270

  Colony Gift Corporation Ltd.

  Barrow and Furness

  960

  Orbitel Mobile Communications Ltd.

  Bassetlaw

  250

  Parkam Foods Ltd.

  Batley and Spen

  250

  Windcrown Ltd.

  Beverley

  750

  Mackie Automotive Systems (UK) Ltd.

  Birkenhead

  350

  Britton's Plastics Ltd.

  Birmingham Erdington

  700

  Hozelock Ltd.

  Birmingham Erdington

  400

  Siemens Lighting Ltd.

  Birmingham Erdington

  250

  Stampings Alliance Ltd.

  Birmingham Erdington

  5,000

  LDV Ltd.

  Birmingham Hodge Hill

  480

  Motion Finance Ltd.

  Birmingham Hodge Hill

  950

  EIP Metals Ltd.

  Birmingham Ladywood

  500

  Lucas Industries plc

  Birmingham Ladywood

  2,000

  Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe LT

  Birmingham Small Heath

  600

  Durham Plastic Ltd.

  Bishop Auckland

  500

  EBAC Ltd.

  Bishop Auckland

  350

  Presswork (Metals) Ltd.

  Bishop Auckland

  700

  Tallent Eng. Ltd.

  Bishop Auckland

  250

  WM Allison and Sons Ltd.

  Bishop Auckland

  200

  B. Robinson and Co Ltd.

  Blackburn

  200

  East Lancashire Coachbuilders Ltd.

  Blackburn

  200

  Eurobind (UK) Ltd.

  Blackburn

  475

  Express Eng. (Thompson) Ltd.

  Blaydon

  662

  Offer value (£000)

  Firm

  Constituency

  400

  Quality Software Products Ltd.

  Blaydon

  980

  Romag Security Laminators Ltd.

  Blaydon

  200

  Audus Noble Ltd.

  Blyth Valley

  8,250

  Europa Magnetics Corporation Ltd.

  Blyth Valley

  900

  Merck Sharp and Dohme Ltd.

  Blyth Valley

  830

  Beloit Walmsley Ltd.

  Bolton North East

  250

  Fiesta Fine Foods Ltd.

  Bolton South East

  240

  Star Vale Ltd.

  Bolton West

  600

  British Leather Co. Ltd.

  Bootle

  300

  Seton Healtcare Group Ltd.

  Bootle

  250

  Hunters Armley Ltd.

  Bradford North

  250

  Drummond Group plc

  Bradford West

  210

  Kashmir Crown Bakeries and Sweets

  Bradford West

  525

  Katsouris Foods Ltd.

  Brent South

  700

  Kolak Enterprises Ltd.

  Brent South

  250

  Maison Blanc Ltd.

  Brent South

  500

  Geest Foods Ltd.

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  950

  Geest Plc.

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  12,000

  Kimberly-Clark Ltd.

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  950

  Paramount Packaging Corporation

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  355

  Printpack Europe Ltd.

  Bury North

  325

  Ryalux Carpets Ltd.

  Bury North

  260

  Warburton Holgate Ltd.

  Burh South

  250

  Albion Pressed Metal Ltd.

  Cannock and Burntwood

  7,000

  MBNA International Bank Ltd.

  City of Chester

  4,500

  Philips Electronics UK Ltd.

  City of Durham

  270

  C Fresh Products Ltd.

  Copeland

  250

  Sekers Fabrics Ltd.

  Copeland

  270

  Ashbury Confectionery Ltd.

  Corby

  600

  Peavey Electronics (UK) Ltd.

  Corby

  9,400

  Jaguar Cars Ltd.

  Coventry North West

  1,700

  Motor Panels (Coventry) plc

  Coventry North West

  200

  Marvic-Empe Ltd.

  Coventry South East

  570

  Surface Technology pic

  Coventry South East

  365

  Cunnington and Cooper Ltd.

  Denton and Reddish

  950

  FHT Holdings Ltd.

  Doncaster Central

  900

  Kaye Aluminium plc

  Doncaster Central

  300

  MS International plc

  Doncaster Central

  240

  Noel Village (Steel Founder)

  Doncaster Central

  600

  RFS (E) Ltd.

  Doncaster Central

  550

  Omega plc

  Doncaster North

  960

  Polycarb Ltd.

  Doncaster North

  250

  G Clancey Ltd.

  Dudley East

  200

  Zeus Aluminium Products Ltd.

  Dudley West

  220

  Aldona Seals Ltd.

  Easington

  250

  BHK (UK) Ltd.

  Easington

  300

  Claremont Garments Ltd.

  Easington

  850

  Dewhirst Ltd.

  Easington

  400

  Pride Valley Foods Ltd.

  Easington

  310

  Pride Valley Foods Ltd.

  Easington

  200

  Seaward Electronic Ltd.

  Easington

  250

  TRW Occupant Restraint Systems Ltd.

  Easington

  275

  Vaux Group plc

  Easington

  850

  Merlin Flexible Packaging Ltd.

  East Lindsey

  1,400

  Geo L Scott and Co. Ltd.

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  500

  SHS Handling Systems

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  400

  Vauxhall Motors Ltd.

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  300

  1 W Ltd.

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  663

  Offer value (£000)

  Firm

  Constituency

  350

  Allen and Heath Brenell Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  950

  Contico International Inc.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  1,400

  Contico International Inc.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  275

  European Springs Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  250

  Falfab LLC

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  850

  Falmouth Oil Services (1994) Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  220

  Fibre Data Group Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  400

  Magrathea (Pendennis) Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  400

  Market Reach Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  350

  Pendennis Shipyard Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  700

  Redruth Brewery (1792) Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  480

  Redruth Brewery Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  200

  Redruth Brewery Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  1,250

  Roach Foods Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  848.5

  ROM Data Corporation Ltd.

  Falmouth and Cambourne

  225

  Flexadus Plastics Ltd.

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  300

  Bonas Machine Co Ltd.

  Gateshead East

  300

  Express Eng. (Thompson) Ltd.

  Gateshead East

  950

  NEI Clarke Chapman Ltd.

  Gateshead East

  975

  KSR Automotive Ltd.

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  650

  Rexene Corporation

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  200

  Roxburgh Electronics Ltd.

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  350

  Sauce Company Ltd.

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  1,200

  Skippingdale Paper Products Ltd.

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  1,800

  Bluecrest Foods Ltd.

  Great Grimsby

  10,000

  Courtaulds Fibres (Holdings) Ltd.

  Great Grimsby

  240

  Rice Fields

  Great Grimsby

  500

  Anglo Blackwells Ltd.

  Halton

  950

  ELF Atochem UK Ltd.

  Halton

  700

  European Technological Composites LT

  Halton

  200

  Lion Foods Ltd.

  Halton

  388

  North West Corrugated Products Ltd.

  Halton

  214

  Paxar Europe Ltd.

  Halton

  275

  Plastech Extrusions Ltd.

  Halton

  212

  Spectrum Packaging Ltd.

  Halton

  600

  TAC Metal Forming Ltd.

  Halton

  400

  Oxford Chemicals International plc.

  Hartlepool

  300

  Stadium Ltd.

  Hartlepool

  250

  Stadium Ltd.

  Hartlepool

  350

  Sweet "N" Savoury Frozen Foods Ltd.

  Hartlepool

  450

  THC Fabricators (UK) Ltd.

  Hartlepool

  500

  Dalau Ltd.

  Harwich

  225

  Surya Rice Ltd.

  Harwich

  250

  National Carriers T A Exel Logistics

  Hexham

  664

  Offer value (£000)

  Firm

  Constituency

  500

  Appliance Control Tech. Europe

  Houghton and Washington

  350

  Brian Reed (Northern) Ltd.

  Houghton and Washington

  4,000

  LG Electronics North of England Ltd.

  Houghton and Washington

  980

  Lucas SEI Wiring Systems Ltd.

  Houghton and Washington

  350

  Perlos Ltd.

  Houghton and Washington

  250

  Perlos Ltd.

  Houghton and Washington

  300

  Reydel Ltd.

  Houghton and Washington

  450

  TRW Transportation Electronics Ltd.

  Houghton and Washington

  1,500

  TRW Transportation Electronics Ltd.

  Houghton and Washington

  650

  Caligen Foam Ltd.

  Hyndburn

  600

  Cooper Dauphin Pic.

  Hyndburn

  510

  Lucas Automotive Ltd.

  Hyndburn

  425

  NIPA Laboratories Ltd.

  Hyndburn

  500

  Vikoma International Ltd.

  Isle of Wight

  200

  Compass Seafood Processors Ltd.

  Kingston upon Hull West

  2,650

  T J Smith and Nephew Ltd.

  Kingston upon Hull West

  1,800

  Delco Electronics Overseas Corp.

  Knowsley North

  799

  Kodak Ltd.

  Knowsley North

  240

  Petrolite Ltd.

  Knowsley North

  250

  Torvincrete Ltd.

  Knowsley North

  400

  Beauvale Contracts Ltd.

  Knowsley South

  650

  Halewood Vintners Ltd.

  Knowsley South

  500

  Lucas Aerospace Ltd.

  Knowsley South

  200

  Savoury Kitchen Ltd.

  Langbaurgh

  342

  C L Marsden Wafers Ltd.

  Leigh

  210

  Indmar Sheetmetal Ltd.

  Leigh

  900

  Townsend Cycles Ltd.

  Leigh

  300

  Plysu Plc.

  Littleborough and Saddleworth

  275

  Renold Power Transmission Ltd.

  Littleborough and Saddleworth

  500

  Sonoco Ltd.

  Littleborough and Saddleworth

  800

  Scientific Hospital supplies Ltd.

  Liverpool Broadgreen

  500

  Bonar Carton Systems Ltd.

  Liverpool Garston

  1,800

  Evans Medical Ltd.

  Liverpool Garston

  625

  Johnson Controls Automotive (UK) Ltd.

  Liverpool Garston

  600

  Newforge Foods Ltd.

  Liverpool Garston

  450

  Raybestos UK Ltd.

  Liverpool Garston

  1,826

  J F Renshaw Ltd.

  Liverpool Mossley Hill

  1,200

  BEOCO Ltd.

  Liverpool Riverside

  1,000

  Norham Multi Leisure Ltd.

  Liverpool Riverside

  500

  Plastic Omnium Ltd.

  Ludlow

  925

  A T Group Ltd.

  Makerfield

  450

  B R and M Holmes

  Makerfield

  450

  W.T. Mather Ltd.

  Makerfield

  220

  CBA Enterprise Ltd.

  Manchester Gorton

  260

  Cowie Technology Group Ltd.

  Middlesborough

  640

  Lionweld Kennedy Ltd.

  Middlesborough

  400

  Peter Vassallo Ltd.

  Newcastle upon Tyne Central

  2,800

  Scottish and Newcastle Beer Product Ltd.

  Newcastle upon Tyne Central

  300

  Dunlop Coflexip Umbilicals Ltd.

  Newcastle upon Tyne East

  500

  European Airways Ltd.

  Newcastle upon Tyne North

  665

  Offer value (£000)

  Firm

  Constituency

  600

  Gill Aviation Ltd.

  Newcastle upon Tyne North

  310

  Print Design and Graphics Ltd.

  Newcastle upon Tyne North

  215

  Lobbs Clotted Cream Ltd.

  North Cornwall

  675

  T J Press (Padstow) Ltd.

  North Cornwall

  500

  Parker Hannifin Plc.

  North Devon

  325

  Selkirk Manufacturing Ltd.

  North Devon

  500

  Thomson IBL Ltd.

  North Devon

  450

  Wrafton Laboratories Ltd.

  North Devon

  900

  Aerospace Systems and Technologies Ltd.

  North Durham

  250

  Autotreads and Accessories Ltd.

  North Durham

  300

  Montan Group Ltd.

  North Durham

  250

  Nippon Silica Glass Europe Ltd.

  North Durham

  600

  Schmitz Cargobull (UK) Ltd.

  North Durham

  400

  Burall Plastec Ltd.

  North East Cambridgeshire

  600

  G W Padley (Poultry) Ltd.

  North East Cambridgeshire

  225

  Florada Garden Buildings Ltd.

  North Thanet

  650

  Navico Ltd.

  North Thanet

  200

  Sandwich Factory Ltd.

  North Warwickshire

  200

  David's Smith Packaging Ltd.

  North West Durham

  325

  George Blair Ltd.

  North West Durham

  285

  Kenmore Refrigeration Equipment (UK) Ltd.

  North West Durham

  350

  Brink (UK) Ltd.

  Nuneaton

  950

  Delco Chassis Ltd.

  Nuneaton

  200

  Exact Precision Ltd.

  Nuneaton

  950

  Lear Seating (UK) Ltd.

  Nuneaton

  350

  Sterling International Technology Ltd.

  Nuneaton

  500

  Ferranti Technologies Ltd.

  Oldham Central and Royton

  649

  Siemens Measurements Ltd.

  Oldham West

  320

  Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd.

  Plymouth Devonport

  300

  Environment Europe Ltd.

  Plymouth Devonport

  400

  Tecalemit Systems Ltd.

  Plymouth Devonport

  220

  The Wrigley Co Ltd.

  Plymouth Devonport

  600

  Hazlewood Foods Pic.

  Plymouth Sutton

  210

  Philidas

  Pontefract and Castleford

  900

  Stolzle Flaconnage Ltd.

  Pontefract and Castleford

  300

  LUK (UK) Ltd.

  Rother Valley

  500

  NCSI Ltd.

  Rother Valley

  500

  Safety-Kleen UK Ltd.

  Rother Valley

  400

  Extec Screens and Crushers

  Rotherham

  750

  London and Scandinavian Metallurgical

  Rotherham

  400

  Colgate-Palmolive Ltd.

  Salford East

  1,000

  Black and Decker International

  Sedgefield

  950

  Black and Decker Ltd.

  Sedgefield

  250

  Oshino Manuf. (UK) Ltd.

  Sedgefield

  250

  Tornado Ltd.

  Sedgefield

  449

  Neill Tools Ltd.

  Sheffield Attercliffe

  400

  The Stanley Works Ltd.

  Sheffield Attercliffe

  250

  Thomas Food Partnership Ltd.

  Sheffield Attercliffe

  550

  Aurora Group Ltd.

  Sheffield Central

  230

  Fisher Karpark Holdings Ltd.

  Sheffield Central

  370

  G.T. Tubes Ltd.

  Sheffield Central

  220

  Jacobs Manuf. Co. Ltd.

  Sheffield Hallam

  1,700

  Johnson Controls Automotive (UK) Ltd.

  Sherwood

  666

  Offer value (£000)

  Firm

  Constituency

  325

  Niche Plastics Ltd.

  Sherwood

  300

  Chase Advanced Technologies

  Shipley

  225

  Filtronic Ltd.

  Shipley

  900

  Pace Micro Technology Ltd.

  Shipley

  850

  Ginsters Ltd.

  South East Cornwall

  250

  Topfoto Services Ltd.

  South East Cornwall

  222

  Omitec Electro-Optics (OEC) Ltd.

  South Hams

  450

  Standard Products Ltd.

  South Hams

  750

  Vidamed International Ltd.

  South Hams

  3,000

  Interconnection Systems Ltd.

  South Shields

  400

  McNulty Offshore Services Ltd.

  South Shields

  300

  Tyne Dock Eng. Ltd.

  South Shields

  450

  Blowspeed Industrial Mouldings Ltd.

  South Thanet

  245

  Cohnen GBR

  South Thanet

  650

  Concorde Manuf. Ltd.

  Southport

  625

  Leaf UK Ltd.

  Southport

  227

  Philips Components Ltd.

  Southport

  330

  Hoogovens Aluminium Europe Ltd.

  St. Helens North

  200

  Nichols Foods Ltd.

  St. Helens North

  700

  Sasib Bakery UK Ltd.

  St. Helens North

  200

  Senator Plastics Ltd.

  St. Helens North

  200

  Bob Allan Ltd. T A Allanprint

  St. Helens South

  250

  ENA Shaw Ltd.

  St. Helens South

  950

  Pilkington (Glass Technologies) Ltd.

  St. Helens South

  400

  Printpack Europe Ltd.

  St. Helens South

  1,500

  Ravenhead Co. Ltd.

  St. Helens South

  850

  Triplex Safety Glass Co. Ltd.

  St. Helens South

  200

  Vastflex Ltd.

  St. Helens South

  250

  Grower Marketing Services

  St. Ives

  400

  St. Ivel Ltd.

  St. Ives

  325.6

  United Vegetables Ltd.

  St. Ives

  500

  Cambrex Inc. (USA)

  Stockton North

  200

  Cleveland Chemicals Ltd.

  Stockton North

  300

  CPL Aromas plc

  Stockton North

  2,000

  Samsung Electronics Manuf. (UK) Ltd.

  Stockton North

  8,500

  Samsung Electronics Manuf. (UK) Ltd.

  Stockton North

  3,000

  Samsung Electronics Manuf. (UK) Ltd.

  Stockton North

  300

  Stockton Casting Co Ltd.

  Stockton North

  310

  Whaley Welding Co Ltd.

  Stockton North

  800

  British Polythene Ltd.

  Stockton South

  480

  Elta Plastics Ltd.

  Stockton South

  550

  Fairclough Eng. Ltd.

  Stockton South

  650

  Hygena Ltd.

  Stockton South

  450

  LNP Eng. Plastics UK Ltd.

  Stockton South

  380

  Combined Power Systems Ltd.

  Stretford

  1,000

  Fermec Manuf. Ltd.

  Stretford

  475

  Cavendish Insurance plc

  Sunderland North

  1,100

  Homeworthy Furniture Ltd.

  Sunderland North

  450

  Hygieia Healthcare Ltd.

  Sunderland North

  350

  Immunogen International Ltd.

  Sunderland North

  200

  Integrated Automation Systems Ltd.

  Sunderland North

  950

  Liebherr-Great Britain Ltd.

  Sunderland North

  495

  Liebherr-Great Britain Ltd.

  Sunderland North

  220

  Food for Thought (UK) Ltd.

  Sunderland South

  750

  Preferred Technical Group Cha. Ltd.

  Sutton Coldfield

  330

  ENTA Technologies Ltd.

  The Wrekin

  400

  MITAC Europe Ltd.

  The Wrekin

  225

  SIFAM Ltd.

  Torbay

  667

  Offer value (£000)

  Firm

  Constituency

  200

  AMP of GB Ltd.

  Torridge and West Devon

  750

  B and S Screw Machine Services Ltd.

  Torridge and West Devon

  600

  Heathcote and Ivory Ltd.

  Torridge and West Devon

  750

  Roach Foods Ltd.

  Truro

  200

  HFW Plastics Ltd.

  Tyne Bridge

  3,250

  ONWA Electronics (UK) Ltd.

  Tyne Bridge

  900

  Formica Ltd.

  Tynemouth

  1,225

  Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceut Ltd.

  Wallasey

  572

  Chemdal Ltd.

  Wallasey

  400

  Manor Bakeries Ltd.

  Wallasey

  750

  A and P Appledore Holdings Ltd.

  Wallsend

  950

  Cookson Entek Ltd.

  Wallsend

  900

  Freudenberg Angus LP

  Wallsend

  350

  Sterling Tubes Ltd.

  Walsall North

  850

  Special Products Lemforder

  Walsall South

  200

  Walsall Lithographic Co Ltd.

  Walsall South

  285

  Bals Industrial Accessories Ltd.

  Wansbeck

  250

  Synpac Chemicals Ltd.

  Wansbeck

  425

  Vald Birn (UK) Ltd.

  Wansbeck

  480

  European Industrial Services Ltd.

  Warley East

  1,200

  Albright and Wilson Ltd.

  Warley West

  375

  Caradon Stelrad

  Wentworth

  360

  Pyronix Ltd.

  Wentworth

  250

  Waterstone Glassware Ltd.

  Wentworth

  500

  Hilti Industries (GB) Ltd.

  West Bromwich East

  500

  Barretts and Baird (Wholesale) Ltd.

  West Bromwich West

  300

  Brockhouse Forgings Ltd.

  West Bromwich West

  400

  Garton Eng. Plc

  West Bromwich West

  350

  Robinson Bros. Ltd.

  West Bromwich West

  250

  VIR Poultry Products Ltd.

  West Bromwich West

  270

  BHC Aerovox Ltd.

  West Dorset

  450

  DEK Printing Machines Ltd.

  West Dorset

  230

  Watts Industrial Tyers Ltd.

  West Gloucestershire

  325

  BAGIR (UK) Ltd.

  West Lancashire

  1,400

  Gas Control Equipment Ltd.

  West Lancashire

  330

  Kammac 1988 Ltd.

  West Lancashire

  600

  LEM HEME Ltd.

  West Lancashire

  200

  Rowan Products Ltd.

  West Lancashire

  400

  Sanko Gosei UK Ltd.

  West Lancashire

  760

  Snack Factory Ltd.

  West Lancashire

  305

  Tomkins Plc

  West Lancashire

  200

  Volex Group plc

  West Lancashire

  450

  Westbrook Packaging Ltd.

  West Lancashire

  350

  Hitchen Foods Ltd.

  Wigan

  925

  Longwall Roof supports Ltd.

  Wigan

  695

  Motor Panels Plc

  Wigan

  600

  Northern Counties Ltd.

  Wigan

  285

  Delta Label Systems Ltd.

  Wirral South

  560

  KELCO Ltd.

  Wirral South

  400

  Sun Valley Ltd.

  Wirral South

  1,600

  Cooper (GB) Ltd.

  Wirral West

  650

  Ajax Electrical Ltd.

  Wolverhampton North East

  800

  Cowal Leisure Ltd.

  Workington

  700

  Dalgety Spillers Foods Ltd.

  Workington

  250

  Lakeside Lanes Ltd.

  Workington

  Others

  Bangers

  R Candles etc.

  Rockets

  Sparklers

  Total accidents

  1967

  803

  638

  568

  317

  —

  2,326

  1968

  897

  798

  586

  385

  —

  2,666

  1969

  624

  533

  363

  206

  —

  1.726

  668

  Offer value(£000)

  Firm

  Constituency

  500

  Sammi sound Technology (UK) Ltd.

  Workington

  2,290

  Eaton Ltd.

  Worsley

  Telecommunications (Key Escrow)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 March,Official Report, column 229, if he will make an assessment of the impact on Britain's civil liberties of the adoption of a telecommunications key escrow. [20467]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The rights of the individual, and those of civil liberties, will be fully taken into account, as will the responsibility of the Government to protect the interests of the state and its citizens against serious crime, in any decisions the Government may make concerning the provision of confidentiality services on public networks.

  Nuclear Industry (Privatisation)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the current state of negotiations to sell the United Kingdom nuclear industry to Duke Power. [18692]

  Mr. Eggar
  There are no negotiations with Duke Power.

  Local Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many local enterprise councils are currently supported out of public funds; how much money is involved; and if he will make a statement. [18981]

  Mr. Page
  Local enterprise agencies are private sector companies and are not directly supported from public funds. Many, however, will have contracts with their local training and enterprise council or business link to deliver a range of services to the local business community.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people were killed or injured as a result of accidents involving fireworks in each year since 1966 by region and firework type. [20206]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The numbers of firework injuries since 1966, in total and by firework type, are given in the figures.

  Analyses of firework accidents by region have been published and are available for 1990 and succeeding years until 1994. Copies of these analyses have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  For years earlier than 1990, obtaining regional data would incur disproportionate cost.
  669

  Others

  Bangers

  R Candles etc.

  Rockets

  Sparklers

  Total accidents

  1970

  410

  379

  257

  167

  —

  1,213

  1971

  414

  334

  232

  134

  —

  1,114

  1972

  531

  391

  270

  132

  —

  1,324

  1973

  447

  379

  294

  129

  —

  1,249

  1974

  452

  237

  159

  79

  —

  927

  1975

  350

  208

  119

  89

  —

  766

  1976

  274

  159

  89

  91

  72

  685

  1977

  291

  178

  112

  87

  65

  733

  1978

  388

  212

  160

  122

  71

  953

  1979

  310

  190

  124

  73

  48

  745

  1980

  240

  135

  81

  66

  33

  555

  1981

  257

  167

  107

  102

  48

  681

  1982

  284

  147

  84

  71

  40

  626

  1983

  333

  184

  114

  107

  95

  833

  1984

  320

  175

  103

  115

  65

  778

  1985

  373

  241

  90

  197

  67

  968

  1986

  358

  161

  88

  159

  80

  846

  1987

  432

  163

  96

  174

  95

  960

  1988

  366

  162

  83

  164

  102

  877

  1989

  361

  136

  89

  131

  83

  800

  1990

  344

  158

  66

  144

  93

  805

  1991

  316

  146

  68

  92

  101

  723

  1992

  355

  170

  71

  169

  177

  942

  1993

  504

  169

  40

  156

  189

  1,058

  1994

  743

  268

  95

  215

  253

  1,574

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the volume of firework sales in each of the last five years. [20208]

  Mr. Taylor
  The number of individual fireworks sold to consumers throughout Great Britain in the years 1991 to 1995 is estimated by my Department as follows:

  Year

  Million

  1991

  134

  1992

  138

  1993

  141

  1994

  154

  1995

  1172

  1 Provisional.

  These figures have been drawn from discussions with all parts of the industry.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the latest firework injury statistics; and what evidence he has as to how they relate to the changing volume of fireworks on the market. [20207]

  Mr. Taylor
  The firework injuries statistics from the 1995 census in Great Britain are not yet available but should be so by the end of this month. Analysis of the relation of accident numbers to sales volume will be possible when the statistics are available.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many firework injuries occurred on new year's eve 1995. [20205]

  Mr. Taylor
  An estimate of the number of firework accidents occurring on 31 December 1995 would have to be based on data collected in a sample of hospital accident and emergency units by the home accident surveillance system. These data are not yet available.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the latest firework injury statistics for 1995 by region and by firework type. [20204]
  670
  Mr. Taylor
  Statistics from the 1995 census of fireworks injuries are not yet available but my Department hopes to publish them before the end of this month.

  Mergers
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the proposals by the European Commission to reduce the thresholds according to which mergers are brought under European Commission jurisdiction. [20335]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Commission has issued a Green Paper outlining various proposals for reform of the EC merger regulation, including possible threshold reductions. Once the United Kingdom and other member states have made their views known it will be for the Commission to decide whether it wishes to proceed with formal proposals to the Council.

  "Employers Guide to Stress"
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what costs his Department incurred in the production of the employers guide to stress. [20547]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department of Trade and Industry incurred no costs in connection with the production of the Health and Safety Executive's document `Stress at Work: A Guide for Employers'.

  Employment Rights
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Green Paper, "Resolving Employment Rights Disputes: Options for Reform." [21080]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government intend to publish, for consultation, a draft Bill on industrial tribunals. The draft Bill will contain important reforms to streamline the industrial tribunals system. It will also aim to increase the proportion of employment rights disputes
  671
  resolved by employees and employers themselves, or through conciliation by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service or by other third party means. These proposals were widely welcomed in our consultation on the Green Paper, "Resolving Employment Rights Disputes: Options for Reform".

  We intend to publish and consult on the Bill in the summer. Consultation on an advance draft of the Bill will help give tribunal users a better opportunity to comment on legislation of direct interest to them; identify any remaining areas of contention so that they can be considered before the Bill is introduced and so aid implementation of changes to the tribunal system. This will help us to produce better legislation and ensure that the changes we are proposing to make are of benefit and are workable.

  Robotics (Nuclear Plant Decommissioning)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on robotic technology used in the decommissioning of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [18706]

  Mr. Page
  None. Operations at licensed nuclear sites must be carried out to the satisfaction of the nuclear installations inspectorate. The procurement and evaluation of research into the decommissioning of nuclear power stations is the responsibility of the operators of those stations.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had since 15 February alleging orimulsion to be toxic and advocating a ban on its importation into the United Kingdom; and what studies his Department has undertaken of the arguments adduced in those Organisations for Economic Co-operation and Development countries which have (i) considered and (ii) implemented such a ban. [19648]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Since 15 February my Department has received no such representations; nor has my Department undertaken any studies of OECD countries' decisions concerning orimulsion. However, in 1992 a research study was carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment which reviewed the impacts of orimulsion and the pollution abatement technologies which may be applied to orimulsion-fired boilers.

  I understand that Milford Haven port authority has produced a report about the likely effects of spillages of up to one thousand tonnes of orimulsion into the Haven. This report is on the planning public register.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base, and which(a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20091]
  672
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: None of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department has a statutory base except the Industrial Development Advisory Board. The answers to the other questions are as follows:-

  (a) none except the Council for Science and Technology and the Advisory Committee on Arbitration Law who may sometimes publish their advice to Government;

  (b) none except the British Overseas Trade Board, the Industrial Development Advisory Board, the Regional Development Advisory Boards and the Advisory Committee on Coal Research;

  (c) none except the British Overseas Trade Board, the Industrial Development Advisory Board and the Regional Development Advisory Boards.

  In each of the exceptions listed in (a) to (c) above it is voluntary rather than under a statutory requirement.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20108]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 December 1994,Official Report, columns 912–13.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Scott Inquiry
  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total cost to public funds of the Scott inquiry for arms for Iraq. [18653]

  Mr. Freeman
  The total cost to date of Sir Richard Scott's inquiry is assessed as £6,344,000.

  This figure includes the direct salary, legal and other estimated costs of the inquiry itself; the direct salary cost of officials wholly employed on matters relating to the inquiry—but not the cost of officials who have worked on inquiry-related matters from time to time as part of their normal duties, which is unquantifiable; the cost of providing external legal services for witnesses to the inquiry, and the value of legal services charged by the Treasury Solicitor's Department—some legal advice has been provided by Government lawyers as part of their normal duties, which is also unquantifiable and therefore not included.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what have been the costs incurred for each draft deregulation order in respect of(a) printing, (b) consultation and (c) drafting and amending orders. [18652]

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not held centrally. Such costs as there are will be primarily incurred by the lead Department, which is responsible for consulting on the proposed changes and then for drafting, amending and printing the order.
  673
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what discussions he held with and what notice he gave to(a) Commonwealth members and (b) the Republic of Ireland of his intention to introduce amendments to the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order; and if the ban on employment will apply to the children of Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland citizens who are currently in posts but without British nationality; [20403]

  (2) what estimate he has made of (a) the number of Commonwealth citizens and (b) Republic of Ireland citizens currently employed in the civil service. [20404]

  Mr. Freeman
  The amendments which I announced on 1 March,Official Report column 771, and which take effect from 1 June are made, for the home civil service under the Minister's powers in the Civil Service Order in Council 1995, and, in Northern Ireland, under the Civil Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. The amendment
  674
  sare not to the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order.

  No discussions about the changes were held with Commonwealth Governments or with the Republic of Ireland. They were notified of the changes by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the day before the announcement was made.

  No estimate has been made of the number of Commonwealth and of Republic of Ireland citizens currently employed in the Civil Service. This information is not recorded.

  Whether the children of Commonwealth and of Republic of Ireland citizens who are currently employed in the civil service will be eligible for employment in the civil service, will depend, as now, on the nature of the post concerned and the nationality of the individual at the time of the application.

  Married Illegal Entrants: Deportation Policy
  Married Illegal Entrants: Deportation Policy
  Local Authority Development Plans
  Local Authority Development Plans
  Environment Agency: Advisory Committee Membership Schemes
  Environment Agency: Advisory Committee Membership Schemes
  National Insurance: Inactive Accounts
  National Insurance: Inactive Accounts
  Armed Forces: Homosexuality Policy
  Armed Forces: Homosexuality Policy
  Retired Officers and Civil Servants Employed by Foreign Companies
  Retired Officers and Civil Servants Employed by Foreign Companies
  Crown Copyright: Quasi-legislative Material
  Crown Copyright: Quasi-legislative Material
  Crown Copyright: Acts of Parliament
  Crown Copyright: Acts of Parliament
  Acts of Parliament: Internet Publication
  Acts of Parliament: Internet Publication
  RAF and RN: Flying Accidents
  RAF and RN: Flying Accidents