Written Answers of 18 March 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Children (Non-British Citizens)
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of children, aged 13 years and under, who were born in the United Kingdom but do not hold British citizenship. [20512]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Such estimates are not made.

  Burglaries
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, columns 106–107, how many of the burglaries listed were domestic burglaries; what percentage of those who committed domestic burglary were sentenced to immediate custody; and what was the average sentence imposed. [20513]

  Mr. Maclean
  Of the 1,135 offenders in the sample convicted of burglary on a third or greater occasion in 1993, 525 were convicted of domestic burglary and 357 were convicted of a third or greater domestic burglary.

  Around 55 per cent. of those convicted of a third or greater domestic burglary were sentenced to immediate custody, with an average custodial sentence of about 14 months.

  Fire Service (Wales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents the fire brigades in(a) Glamorgan, (b) Gwynedd and (c) Wales attended in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1995; and if he will make a statement.[20650]

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information is given in the following table. Data for 1995 are not available. The answer gives provisional data for 1994.

  Incidents attended by local authority fire brigades in (a) Mid Glamorgan, (b) Gwynedd and (c) Wales in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1994

  Year

  (a) Mid Glamorgan

  (b) Gwynedd

  (c) Wales

  19801

  6,630

  2,382

  31,329

  1990

  10,857

  4,080

  52,180

  19942

  11,199

  3,887

  55,644

  1 Includes estimates for periods of industrial action when data were not recorded.

  2 Provisional data which include special services attended between April 1994 and March 1995.

  Suicides
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicide verdicts have been recorded for(a) men and (b) women aged under 25 years in each of the last 20 years. [20803]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the age of persons whose deaths are the subject of an inquest is not collected centrally. The number of verdicts of suicide for males and females respectively returned at inquests held by coroners in England and Wales for the 20 years up to 1994, the last year for which figures are available, are given in the table. The information has been extracted from the annual series of Home Office Statistical Bulletins, "Statistics of deaths reported to Coroners, England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library.

  Males

  Females

  1975

  2,178

  1,539

  1976

  2,290

  1,479

  1977

  2,340

  1,569

  1978

  2,279

  1,585

  1979

  2,539

  1,606

  1980

  2,613

  1,669

  1981

  2,807

  1,664

  1982

  2,831

  1,525

  1983

  2,778

  1,464

  1984

  2,857

  1,483

  1985

  2,944

  1,452

  1986

  2,892

  1,253

  1987

  2,840

  1,147

  1988

  3,087

  1,155

  1989

  2,773

  984

  1990

  3,007

  970

  1991

  2,968

  870

  1992

  3,070

  921

  1993

  2,875

  865

  1994

  2,750

  787

  Departmental Staff (Lunar House)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed in each of the last five years at Lunar house in Croydon; what were the changes in the volume of work at Lunar house over the same period; and if he will make a statement. [21531]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The number of staff in the non-immigration service directorates of the immigration and nationality department who are based in Croydon, including Lunar house, are as follows:

  1.03.92: 1,691

  13.12.92: 1,869

  31.12.93: 2,102

  31.12.94: 2,132

  31.12.95: 2,105

  Details of the volume of work considered by the Croydon offices over the same period are published in "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1994", Cm 2935.

  Prosecution Procedures
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average elapses between the date of an offence and the date of(a) arraignments and (b) conclusion of case at High Court for the main categories of serious crime in each area for which statistics are collated. [20347]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I have been asked to reply. The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer. I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mrs. EdWina Currie, dated 18 March 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the duration of criminal proceedings. In preparing the reply I have liaised with colleagues at the Lord Chancellor's Department who are responsible for proceedings in the magistrates courts.
  The average period between the date on which more serious (indictable) offences takes place and the committal of the defendant to the Crown Court is 23.9 weeks. Arraignment usually takes place at a 'Plea and Directions' hearing normally held within four weeks after committal for defendants who are in custody and six weeks in bail cases. The average period between the case being committed from the magistrates and the start of the trial is 12.4 weeks for defendants in custody and 17.0 weeks for defendants on bail. The average length of a criminal hearing is 8.6 hours for those defendants who plead not guilty and 1.0 hour for whose plead guilty.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Ex-service Personnel (Pension Appeal Tribunals)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 March,Official Report, column 233, what estimate he has made of the cost of the action that is being taken to reduce waiting times for pensions appeal tribunals in the case of ex-service people with attributable hearing loss. [20770]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In 1995–96 the expenditure of the pensions appeal tribunals is expected to be approximately £1.4 million, which represents a 45 per cent. increase over the financial provision for 1994–95. This increase is a result of the action being taken to reduce waiting times in all cases, with priority being given to the specific groups set out in my answer of 6 March 1996. However, it is not possible to quantify the resources allocated to hearing loss cases as the pensions appeal tribunals do not record appeals by reference to the nature of disability or injury.

  European Court
  Mr. French
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the implications of the ruling by the European Court of Justice that the British Government can be sued for 4
  damages by an individual if an Act of Parliament is found to contravene European Law. [20828]

  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  The European Court of Justice's ruling in the Factortame case defines the conditions under which a Government can be liable in damages for breaching an individual's rights under Community law. The court ruled that such damages should be payable only where the breach of Community law has been serious and manifest. It will be for our national courts to determine in the light of the ruling whether in fact the UK Government committed a serious and manifest breach of Community law and whether any damages are payable to individuals as a result.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many persons found not guilty at trial in crown courts have been refused repayment of their legal aid contributions in the last 12 months for which he has figures. [20922]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Family Law Bill
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member's letter of 1 February concerning the Family Law Bill. [21230]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  A reply was sent on 14 March.

  Departmental Printing Contracts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the printing contracts for his Department carried out by Wilprint Ltd. [21059]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  This Department has not directly entered into any printing contracts with Wilprint Ltd. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, on behalf of the Department, has one contract with Wilprint Ltd.

  Divorce
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion and number of divorces were granted in(a) 1973, (b) 1983 and (c) 1993 on the grounds of (i) adultery, (ii) behaviour, (iii) desertion, (iv) two years separation, (v) five years separation and (vi) other reasons. [20391]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The proportion and number of divorces granted in England and Wales in 1973, 1983 and 1993 where the facts relied upon were adultery, behaviour, desertion, two years' separation, five years' separation and other reasons are shown in the table:
  5

  Adultery

  Behaviour

  Desertion

  Two years' separation

  5 years' separation

  Other reasons

  1973

  32,177

  22,692

  7,847

  23,109

  17,347

  2,831

  30.3 per cent.

  21.4 per cent.

  7.4 per cent.

  21.8 per cent.

  16.4 per cent.

  2.7 per cent.

  1983

  43,722

  54,092

  2,481

  35,114

  10,219

  1,851

  29.6 per cent.

  36.7 per cent.

  1.7 per cent.

  23.8 per cent.

  6.9 per cent.

  1.3 per cent.

  1993

  44,466

  74,583

  1,118

  34,196

  9,564

  1,091

  26.9 per cent.

  45.2 per cent.

  0.7 per cent.

  20.7 per cent.

  5.8 per cent.

  0.7 per cent.

  All the figures are taken from Office of Population Censuses and Surveys statistics. "Other reasons" include annulments; any mixture of adultery, behaviour and desertion; unsound mind and presumed dead.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Executive Action
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those areas of executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20544]

  Mr. Freeman
  Comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested, but no such discretions have been identified from readily available sources.

  Local Government Enforcement
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will publish the response of the Government to the recommendations contained in the report of the interdepartmental review team into local government enforcement. [20824]

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) on 20 December 1995,Official Report, column 1217.

  In that reply I referred to a guide to good practice to be produced by the local authority associations. This was launched on 31 January 1996, entitled "Regulation: A Guide to Good Practice in Local Government". Copies of the guide will be placed in the Library of the House shortly. The guide takes forward a number of the recommendations of the review.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Deva) on 11 March 1996, Official Report, columns 464–65, which demonstrates the progress that we have made on enforcement more generally. In particular we published a draft statutory instrument containing a model appeal. The draft instrument will also require enforcers to give reasons for taking action, to explain how an appeal can be made and to give business a chance to make representations unless immediate action is necessary. These latter rights have already been applied to health and safety regulations and will shortly be applied to environmental standards, food safety and building regulations, with a range of consumer affairs legislation to follow.

ENVIRONMENT

  Westminster City Council
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with Mr. Magill in respect of his role as the investigating auditor of Westminster city council. [20451]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No such discussions have taken place. An auditor's inquiries are not a matter for the Government, but for the local authority and the appointed auditor.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans Mr. Magill has to make extracts of his report available prior to publication to those he is minded to criticise in respect of his report on Westminsters city council's policy on home sales. [20461]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is entirely for Mr. Magill, as the appointed external auditor, to determine the procedure for his investigation at Westminster, in accordance with the Audit Commission's code of audit practice for local authorities and the national health service in England and Wales.

  Water Quality
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the past 12 months towards the development of statutory water quality objectives for rivers in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [20730]

  Mr. Gummer
  The National Rivers Authority has drawn up proposals for statutory water quality objectives in seven catchments in England and one in Wales which have been chosen to test the use of these powers on a pilot basis. Consultation on these proposals will begin shortly.

  Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds his Department has provided to the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and what amount is planned for 1996–97. [20724]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department provided £3,390,134 in 1994–95, £1,780,939 in 1995–96, and plans to provide £73,576 in 1996–97 for programmes previously funded by the former Department of Employment which are now part of the single regeneration budget.

  Clinical Waste
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure the prompt and effective disposal of clinical waste. [20660]

  Mr. Clappison
  The disposal of clinical waste is already strictly controlled by existing legislation.

  Responsibility for the safe disposal of clinical waste rests with the waste producer. The producer is under a duty of care to ensure that waste is prevented from escaping and to transfer it only to someone who is legally authorised to accept it. Authorised persons includes waste carries registered under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and persons who hold a waste management licence issued under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  High-risk health-care waste should usually be disposed of by incineration-in a dedicated health-care incinerator. Where waste is made safe-for instance, by heat treatment-it can be landfilled.

  New guidance on the handling and disposal of clinical waste will be issued by the Department of the Environment in a new edition of waste management paper No. 25.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the(a) contractors and (b) NHS hospital trusts involved in the disposal of medical waste which are currently being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive. [20766]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 14 March 1997]: The Health and Safety Executive is not currently investigating any contractors or NHS trusts in connection with the disposal of clinical waste.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what review the Health and Safety Executive is undertaking of medical waste management procedures. [20767]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 14 March 1996]: None. This is primarily a matter for other enforcing authorities.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites currently under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive where unauthorised medical waste has been tipped. [20765]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 14 March 1996]: The Health and Safety Executive has no enforcement responsibility in respect of the unauthorised tipping of medical waste.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of gallons of water(a) supplied by pipeline from Wales and (b) extracted from waterways controlled by regulating reservoirs in Wales and used by companies supplying water in England. [20012]

  Mr. Clappison
  In 1995 an average of 550 megalitres or 121 million gallons per day were supplied by pipeline and aqueduct from Wales to England. The corresponding figures for abstractions from regulated rivers was 942 8
  megalitres or 207 million gallons per day. However, the data for regulated rivers includes some water taken from the river Severn which was not derived from Wales.

  Health and Safety Inspections Leaflet
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report, column 364, if he will publish the commission's report when the survey of how the procedures are working in practice is complete. [20850]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Yes.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member's letter of 8 February, ref. G/66P50 3515/96. [21228]

  Mr. Clappison
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 14 March 1996.

  Environment Council
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 4 March. [21695]

  Mr. Gummer
  Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, I represented the UK at the Environment Council in Brussels on 4 March.

  The Council discussed the Commission's proposed amendment to the leghold traps regulation. In response to UK representations, the Commission was invited to produce a fixed timetable as soon as possible for concluding negotiations that they are conducting with the fur producer countries. The Council also accepted my proposal that the import ban on furs obtained from leghold traps should come into force on 1 January 1997 unless the Community's final attempts at a negotiated agreement with the producer states on the introduction of alternative humane traps succeeds.

  Council conclusions were agreed on the Commission's communication on the wise use and conservation of wetlands. During the open debate, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales welcomed the conclusions and advised the Council of the extensive action already taken by the United Kingdom to conserve wetlands which are well protected by national and European legislation. My right hon. Friend also provided the Council with a comprehensive report on the latest state of play in respect of the Sea Empress incident, paying particular tribute to all those who had been involved in the clean-up, and expressing the hope that the Commission would respond favourably to his request for financial assistance.

  Council conclusions were agreed on the forthcoming 1996 session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and on the Community strategy for the protection of the ozone layer. I supported common positions which were agreed on the amendments to the waste shipments regulation and on the labelling of dangerous substances directive-67/548. The Council also agreed a Community negotiating mandate for a protocol to the Barcelona convention on the shipment of

  9
  hazardous waste and on the Community negotiating mandate for an amendment to the Paris Commission to allow the use of hexachloroethane in certain limited circumstances.

  The Council discussed the annexes to the proposed biocides directive and, for the first time, considered the Commission proposal to control emissions from off-road vehicles and the Commission communication on CO2 emissions from cars. These will all be discussed further at the June Environment Council. There were brief presentations from the Commission on the recently published communication on EC water policy and on the review of the fifth action programme.

  I also attended a joint meeting with Environment Ministers of central and eastern Europe as part of the structured dialogue process. This showed continued enthusiasm for the environment for Europe process and indicated that most of the central and eastern countries were making good progress on the approximation of EC environmental legislation.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to implement the recommendation of the Select Committee on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill that an interdepartmental working party be convened to consider the problem of perceived blight. [21694]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  An interdepartmental working group has been established under the chairmanship of an official from my Department. The terms of reference of the group are as follows:To review the scope, cause and effects of blight arising during the various stage of major infrastructure projects and to consider whether any practical changes can be made to the existing arrangements for property purchase and compensation, bearing in mind the concerns of the House of Commons Select Committee on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill about those whose properties decline in value because of the perception of potential purchasers rather than because of any physical effects. In meeting this remit the working party will consider in particular:
  —whether it is possible to define "generalised blight" in a way which would meet the concerns of the Select Committee without increasing or extending the blighting effects of major proposals;
  —the extent and duration of the effects of blight on property values both in the shorter and longer term and the interaction with other local and national valuation effects;
  —the scope for minimising blight by adopting a different approach to the provision of infrastructure and the selection of sites and the effect of such an approach on the existing arrangements for public consultation and participation in planning decisions;
  —any relevant overseas experience;
  —the likely costs of any new arrangements and their effect on the provision of infrastructure;
  —any wider effects of any new arrangements on property values generally, including a comparison with the values of properties affected by other development proposals;
  —if any remedy for those affected by "generalised blight" is considered appropriate, the practical application of such a remedy including the basis on which it might be determined, the eligibility of property owners, the geographical coverage in relation to the development proposals and the point at which it would be offered; and
  —any implications for the existing principles of the land compensation code or for the current arrangements for discretionary purchase.
  10
  In carrying though this work, the working party will also have regard to the principles of good administration.

  Environmental Protection Advisory Committees
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the appointees to date to each of the new regional environmental protection advisory committees indicating the criteria by which they were selected. [21091]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friend has appointed the chairmen of six of the seven regional committees in England, as follows:

  Brian Alexander: North West

  Penny Perry: Midlands

  Betty Goble: Anglian

  John Ferguson: Thames

  Robert Crossett: Southern

  Dennis Mitchell: South West

  Many nominations for these posts were received in response to our public invitation and candidates were assessed according to their experience and knowledge in relation to the committees' functions and regions and their ability to lead these high profile committees.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has appointed Graham Court as chairman of the committee in Wales.

  Further appointments, of individual members to each committee, are matters for the agency itself in accordance with the membership schemes recently approved by my right hon. Friend.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Bosnia (Orsac Training Camp)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken in respect of the training camp set up at Orsac, Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [20744]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  It is our understanding that the training camp at Orsac is no longer in operation.

  Iran (Baha'i Community)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian Government in respect of Mr. Dhabihu'llah Mahrami, a member of the Baha'i community in Yazad, charged with apostasy from Islam; and if he will make a statement.[20798]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Iranian Government are aware of our concern about Mr. Mahrami's situation. We understand that the death sentence imposed by the Islamic revolutionary court in Yazd has been overruled by the supreme court and that legal proceedings are continuing. We and our European partners will continue to monitor developments closely.

  Intergovernmental Conference (Disabled People)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support proposals at the forthcoming intergovernmental conference to safeguard the needs of disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [20799]

  Mr. David Davis
  We are committed to safeguarding the needs of disabled people and have taken positive action in this area with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. We believe that the best way of effectively dealing with the problem of discrimination against disabled people is through strong national legislation of this kind.

  Hong Kong (Reserves and Bullion)
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the ownership of the foreign reserves and bullion held by the Government of Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China; and if he will make a statement. [20826]

  Mr. Hanley
  Hong Kong's financial reserves will in their entirety become those of the Hong Kong special administrative region.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of(a) the current value of the bullion and foreign reserves held by the Government of Hong Kong and (b) its value when the sovereignty of Hong Kong will be transferred to the People's Republic of China; and if he will make a statement. [20894]

  Mr. Hanley
  As at the end of December 1995, the value of the bullion and foreign exchange reserves of the Hong Kong exchange fund was US$57.1 billion. It is not possible to forecast the precise value of the reserves on the transfer of sovereignty, but we have every confidence that Hong Kong will maintain one of the highest levels of reserves in the world, especially in relation to the size of its population.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the agency for intelligence and documentation set up by the Republic of Bosnia's Interior Ministry and of its compliance with the terms of the Dayton agreement. [20743]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  None.

  European Parliament
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what buildings are currently rented by the European Parliament; and what buildings are being built for it. [20987]

  Mr. David Davis
  The European Parliament currently rents the following buildings:

  in Luxembourg:

  BAK building

  NHE building

  Schuman building

  12

  Senningerberg building

  Tower building

  in Strasbourg:

  palais de l'Europe

  IPE O, IPE I, IPE II, IPE III

  in Brussels:

  Belliard I, Belliard II, Belliard III and Belliard IV

  Eastman building

  Remorqueur building

  Remard building

  Van Maerlant building

  D 1, D 2 and D 3 buildings

  A new building complex is under construction in Brussels. It should be completed by May 1997.

  A second building is under construction in Strasbourg, and is due for completion by the end of 1997.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the allowances payable to Members of the European Parliament in 1996. [20986]

  Mr. Davis
  The following allowances are available to MEPs in 1996:

  >Travel-within the EU, 0.76 ecu or £0.64 for every km up to 400km, and 0.38 ecu or 0.32 for every km thereafter. Outside the EU, the cost of the return fare by the most direct route.

  Subsistence on official travel-within the EU 219 ecu or £184.05 per day. Half this amount, plus hotel costs, outside the EU.

  General office expenses-3,099 ecu or £2,604.40 per month.

  Secretarial assistance-8,937 ecu or £7,510.65 per month.

  Morocco
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs that representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Moroccan Government over the sentence imposed on Kelthoum Ahmed Labid El-Ouanat from Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [21006]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Guardian article of 9 March drew our attention to this case. We have now raised it with the Ministry of Human Rights in Morocco.

  Competitive Tendering (Contracts)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded in each of the last three financial years by his Department and its executive agencies after competitive tendering; and what was the total combined value of these contracts. [21029]

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of contracts competitively tendered and their value for each of the last three years is not centrally available.

  Council of Minsters (Decisions)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out each article of the consolidated "Treaties of the European Communities and Union"-cm 3151-which provide for decisions of its
  13
  Council of Ministers to be determined by unanimity or common accord, stating the purpose of each and the category of the power so bestowed relating to (a) appointment of persons, (b) the execution of principal duties or obligations laid down in the treaties, (c) decisions concerning future use of qualified majority or other forms of voting for specific purposes, (d) requirements for unanimity to prevent action by others, (e) approval of conventions under treaty powers and (f) other. [21157]

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Member to the European Commission report to the intergovernmental conference study group on the operation of the treaty on European union which was deposited in the House on 12 June. 1995. Annex 7 of the report contains a list of treaty articles subject to unanimity. Unanimity is generally reserved to areas of particular sensitivity. It is not objectively possible to classify articles subject to unanimity on the basis requested by the hon. Member.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates and at what locations the Council of Ministers of the European Communities decided under the terms of article 236 of its treaty to convene intergovernmental conferences on(a) economic and monetary union and (b) political union. [21158]

  Mr. Davis
  The European Council meeting in Strasbourg in December 1989 convened an intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union. The June 1990 European Council in Dublin convened a second intergovernmental conference on political union.

  European Court of Justice
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years the judgment of the full European Court of Justice has been contrary in principle to that of the advocate general. [21024]

  Mr. David Davis
  The EC treaty lays on advocates general the duty to assist the European Court of Justice by making reasoned submissions on cases brought before the court, acting with complete impartiality and independence. The ECJ is not bound to follow an opinion. In any given case, it may agree or disagree with any of the legal arguments in the opinion. Notable examples of cases where the court has disagreed strongly with the Advocate General include the recent Graham ruling on invalidity benefit and the Faccini Dori, case, where the court ruled out the possibility of horizontal direct effect for directives. An attempt to make a comparison of the kind requested by the hon. Member would inevitable oversimplify reality. Judgments can of course be contrary to elements of an opinion without overturning it entirely.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has(a) requested and (b) received about Indian security forces erecting a fence on land within the United Nations line of control in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [21518]
  14
  Mr. Hanley
  We are aware of recent press reports that the Government of India are erecting fending in the vicinity of the line of control. We have not requested information about this. We remain concerned about the situation in Kashmir and continue to urge restraint by all concerned.

  CSV Media
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the sources from within the European Commission from which CSV Media receives financial support, indicating in each case the level of funding. [20510]

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: CSV Media received the following funding from the European Commission for 1995–96:

  £752,247: European social fund

  £63,690: European regional development fund

  £50,000: European Commission campaign on race

  £145,000: Play Safe in Europe campaign

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministerial Responsibility (Bristol)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the duties of the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. Evans) in respect of the city of Bristol. [20601]

  The Prime Minister
  My hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth is helping to promote local regeneration in his role as sponsor Minister for Bristol.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what has been the total cost of answering questions to the Prime Minister in each Session since 1989–90; [21175]

  (2) what was the cost of answering (a) an oral and (b) a written parliamentary question to the Prime Minister from (i) Opposition and (ii) Conservative hon. Members in each parliamentary Session since 1989–90. [21455]

  The Prime Minister
  The information as requested is not available.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a list of Ministers who have requested prior assent from the Prime Minister under "Questions of Procedure for Ministers", paragraph 74, for payment from public funds to meet the expenses of spouses accompanying Ministers on overseas visits; and if he will indicate which requests were granted and which were refused for each year since 1990. [17494]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 March 1996]: Complete records of such requests prior to 1995 have not been retained. The following Ministers were accompanied by their spouses on overseas visits at public expense in accordance with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" from 1995 onwards.
  15

  Country

  Minister

  1995

  2–10 January

  Bangladesh/India/ Pakistan

  Mr. and Mrs. Hurd

  25–26 January

  Paris

  Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth

  30 January–5 February

  Japan

  Mr. and Mrs. Heseltine

  3–6 February

  France

  Mr. and Mrs. Gummer

  2–5 March

  USA

  Mr. and Mrs. Rifkind

  18–19 March

  Carcassone

  Mr. and Mrs. Hurd

  19–26 March

  South Africa

  Mr. and Mrs. Hurd

  7–9 April

  France

  Mr. and Mrs. Clarke

  7–12 April

  Zimbabwe/South Africa/Namibia

  Mr. and Mrs. Rifkind

  28–30 April

  Germany

  Mr. and Mrs. Rifkind

  21–31 May

  USA

  Sir Patrick and Lady Mayhew

  27 May–6 June

  Latin America

  Mr. and Mrs. Hunt

  17–27 August

  Caribbean

  Mr. and Mrs. Newton

  12–19 September

  Russia

  Mr. and Mrs. Eggar

  16–22 September

  Cuba/Jamaica

  Mr. and Mrs. Taylor

  18–29 September

  Australia/New Zealand

  Sir Patrick and Lady Mayhew

  29 September–1 October

  Spain

  Mr. and Mrs. Clarke

  30 August–15 September

  Asia

  Mr. and Mrs. Hanley

  10–12 October

  Slovenia

  Lord and Lady Cranborne

  20–22 October

  Spain

  Mr. and Mrs. Gummer

  1–8 December

  Australia

  Lord and Lady Fraser

  29 December–10 January

  UAE/Far East

  Mr. and Mrs. Portillo

  29 December–9 January

  Indian sub-continent

  Mr. and Mrs. Howard

  1996

  2–5 January

  India

  Mr. and Mrs. Arbuthnot

  15–25 January

  Hong Kong/China

  Mr. and Mrs. Nelson

  8–15 April

  Asia

  Mr. and Mrs. Hanley

  12–16 April

  Bulgaria/Italy

  Mr. and Mrs. Clarke

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Employee Fraud
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social security what data-matching exercises the Benefits Agency has carried out on its own employees; and how many employees have subsequently been discovered to be involved in(a) breaches of confidence and (b) illegal benefit claims. [19488]

  Mr. Heald
  In 1994, a limited clerical exercise involving three offices was undertaken to check staff national insurance numbers against records held in the departmental central index. The aim was to protect the interests of staff by checking that their national insurance number was not being used by other persons for fraudulent purposes. The exercise complied fully with 16
  Data Protection Act 1984 requirements, including appropriate authorisation, registration and the handling of data. The appropriate trade union side was kept informed.

  No cases of benefit fraud nor any breaches of confidence were found.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who have been examined for the all-work test of incapacity have been found capable of work(a) in total and (b) during each month since April 1995, for each of the 11 medical services centres. [20180]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. National figures for the number of claimants disallowed following examination are in the table.

  Number

  April 1995

  10

  May 1995

  28

  June 1995

  1,087

  July 1995

  3,680

  August 1995

  5,015

  September 1995

  5,987

  October 1995

  7,281

  November 1995

  8,540

  December 1995

  5,716

  January 1996

  9,966

  Total

  47,310

  These figures do not include clerically processed cases, credits-only cases or severe disablement allowance cases.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many IB50 all-work questionnaires have been issued by his Department in each of the months since April 1995; how many have been returned in the time allowed; and how many people failed to return the questionnaire without good cause in each of the 11 medical services centres. [20174]

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

  IB50 Questionnaires issued

  Number

  April 1995

  59,382

  May 1995

  140,929

  June 1995

  114,244

  July 1995

  87,020

  August 1995

  77,729

  September 1995

  93,976

  October 1995

  115,600

  November 1995

  124,295

  December 1995

  96,639

  January 1996

  156,319

  Total

  1,066,133

  17

  Claims disallowed because of failure to return questionnaire.

  Number

  April 1995

  0

  May 1995

  9

  June 1995

  724

  July 1995

  855

  August 1995

  630

  September 1995

  442

  October 1995

  608

  November 1995

  717

  December 1995

  655

  January 1996

  1,269

  Total

  5,909

  Figures do not include clerically processed cases, credits-only cases or severe disablement allowance cases.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals(a) have been lodged to date against a decision that the claimant is capable of work and (b) have been heard; how many and what percentage were found in the claimant's favour; and how many claimant were represented. [20176]

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available as at the end of January 1996, is in the table:

  Vote number

  Vote title

  Original revised

  Summer

  Winter

  Spring

  1995–96

  Class XIII, Vote 1

  Central Government Administered Social Security Benefits and Other Payments

  33,232,636

  -

  -

  1,151,000

  Class XIII, Vote 21

  Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Payments into the NI Fund and Payment into the Social Fund, IRO Regulated Expenditure

  12,236,830

  -

  -

  Token IK

  Class XIII, Vote 32

  Housing Benefit Administration and Council Tax Benefit Administration, Payments into the Social Fund IRO Discretionary Expenditure and other Grants

  403,139

  -

  14,566

  1,550

  Class XIII, Vote 42

  DSS Administration and Miscellaneous Services

  2,676,396

  -

  -

  19,355

  1Vote title changed to housing benefit subsidies, council tax benefit subsidies, payments into the national insurance fund and payments into the social fund in respect of regulated expenditure, in Spring supplementary estimate.

  2This vote is subject to a cash limit, the figures quoted above represent the NET provision.

  Age Allowance
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost of converting the 25p per week age allowance to pensioners on their 80th birthday into an annual £13 lump sum payment; and if he will make a statement. [21020]

  Mr. Heald
  The cost to the national insurance fund of converting the 25p per week age allowance to pensioners on their 80th birthday into an annual £13 lump sum payment is estimated to be £2 million per annum.

  If the lump sum payment is not treated as weekly income for the purposes of calculating entitlement to income-related benefits, it is estimated that there could be income-related benefit costs of £9 million per annum.

  Source: Government Actuary.
  18

  Number

  Appeals lodged against AWT decision

  26,506

  Appeals heard

  3,275

  Appeals found in favour of claimant.

  1,494

  Percentage of appeals heard found in claimant's favour

  45.6

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department from the introduction of incapacity benefit. [20181]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 26 January 1996,Official Report, column 274.

  Supply Estimates
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 1996,Official Report, columns 808–82, if he will set out as much of the information on Supply estimates and supplementary estimates for the DSS votes as is available for 1995–96. [20769]

  Mr. Burt
  The table sets out the original 1995–96 estimate provision and the changes secured in the summer and spring supplementary estimates for each of the votes accounted for by the Department of Social Security. Outturns for each of the votes will be published in due course in the Department's annual appropriation accounts.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance he plans to issue in respect of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and what monitoring will be undertaken of its provisions. [21539]

  Mr. Burt
  A brief guide to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was issued in November 1995 and further information material on the provisions of the Act will follow. There will be statutory guidance related to the definition of disability. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment will be issuing a code of practice relating to the employment provisions in the Act. The National Disability Council is currently consulting on its proposals for a code of practice relating to the rights of access to goods, facilities, services and property, which will be published by the Secretary of State in due course. All these items will be published in
  19
  time to allow employers and service providers to prepare themselves for the introduction of the new rights and duties.

  The Government will monitor the effectiveness of the Act by a range of measures, including research. The National Disability Council is also under a specific duty to advise the Government on the operation of the Act, and can recommend changes if necessary.

  Social Fund
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what gross budget will be set for the discretionary social fund in 1996–97. [21641]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I am pleased to announce that the social fund gross discretionary budget for 1996–97 will be £419.5 million-£97 million will be allocated to grants, £321.5 million to loans and the remaining £1 million will be set aside as a contingency reserve. The new allocations represent an increase of £13.5 million, or 3.3 per cent. over the total gross budget for 1995–96.

  This represents a prudent increase, especially at a time when it is essential that every aspect of public expenditure is looked at very carefully. I am pleased that we have once again sustained our record in increasing the social fund budget each year since it began.

  The recycling of loans means that we are able to give more help to more people and the loans system is being widely used. For example, between 1 April 1995 and 29 February 1996, over 1.8 million non-repayable grants and interest-free loans were made.

  The increase from April 1996 will allow even more people to be helped.

  Details of individual district budget allocations have been placed in the Library.

  Funeral Expenses
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average size of loans from the discretionary social fund for additional funeral expenses since June 1995. [19881]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [holding answer 12 March 1996]: The information is set out in the table:

  Average size of applications (excluding Northern Ireland)

  (£)

  Application type

  Average application for flowers/wreath

  Average application for funeral expenses

  Average application for other expenses

  Average size of all applications

  Community care grant

  32.20

  499.42

  50.00

  136.95

  Budgeting loan

  38.83

  383.87

  80.94

  188.05

  Dual application

  34.69

  434.85

  113.64

  150.69

  Crisis loan

  40.49

  250.17

  50.00

  98.23

  20

  Average size of applications (excluding Northern Ireland)

  (£)

  Application type

  Average application for flowers/wreath

  Average application for funeral expenses

  Average application for other expenses

  Average size of all applications

  Sub-total loans + DAs

  36.42

  395.59

  93.31

  153.84

  Total

  34.96

  420.10

  86.47

  148.66

  1. Applications may result in an award of a different payment type. Dual applications are applications for both a community care grant and a budgeting loan.

  2. The information covers applications in the period between 5 June and 1 August 1995. It includes help with flowers, wreaths, funeral directors fees and other expenses.

  3. Funeral expenses covered by the regulated scheme were specifically excluded from the discretionary fund from 2 August 1995.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioners receive an income equal to or above the median income of all pensioners; what has been the change in this figure since 1979; and if he will give a regional breakdown. [20021]

  Mr. Heald
  The definition of median is the income value which divides a population, when ranked by income, into two equal-sized groups. Thus it is always the case that 50 per cent. of pensioners receive an income equal to or above the median income of all pensioners.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent representations he has received on the operation of public interest immunity certificates. [19409]

  The Attorney-General
  As I have told the House, representations have been invited on the use of public interest immunity certificates and the consultation remains open until 1 May.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which it would be correct for a judge to allow a disclosure contrary to a PII claim. [17793]

  The Attorney-General
  A judge may order disclosure of any documents covered by a PII claim where he judges this to be in the overall public interest. Since Conway v. Rimmer, 1968, it has been for Ministers to advance a PII claim for documents falling with a PII class, and for the court to weigh the public interest in non-disclosure against the public interest in disclosure for the purpose of doing justice.

  Following the decision of the House of Lords in ex parte Wiley, 1994, it is now open to a Minister to make voluntary disclosure of documents falling within a PII class if he concludes that this is the overall public interest. Where a Minister is not satisfied that disclosure should be made the court remains the ultimate decision-maker and must balance the competing public interests and rule on disclosure.

  Departmental Accountability
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General what new proposals he has to improve the accountability of his Department to Parliament. [19410]

  The Attorney-General
  I am accountable to Parliament for the work of each of my four Departments, namely the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and my own secretariat. The nature and extent of my future supervision of export control prosecutions by Customs and Excise is under careful consideration.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to improve the resources available to the Serious Fraud Office. [19411]

  The Solicitor-General
  In accordance with the recommendations of the Davie report, the division of resources between the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Prosecution Service is kept under review following the issue of new criteria for the allocation of cases between them.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received urging improvements in liaison between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. [19412]

  The Attorney-General
  No formal representations have been received. The CPS and the police are working closely together on a number of initiatives, including co-ordinated training, greater use of information technology and a scheme involving CPS lawyers giving on-the-spot legal advice in busy police stations.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make it his policy to impose a ceiling on fees paid to lawyers working for the Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement.[19686]

  The Attorney-General
  Fees paid to barristers and solicitors in private practice who are instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service to advise or prosecute are negotiated, for the most part, on an individual case basis and have regard to the work actually and reasonably performed.

  Mr. Shiji Lapite
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Director of Public Prosecutions to make a decision on whether to bring charges in the case of Mr. Shiji Lapite. [17743]

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service has requested transcripts of the evidence given at the inquest into the death of Mr. Lapite together with copies of any documents produced to the jury. It is expected that that material will be delivered to the service within the next few days. That material, together with the evidence available prior to the inquest, will then be carefully considered and, subject to any further inquiries that may prove necessary, the Crown Prosecution Service will then decide whether or not to institute criminal proceedings.

  Electro-shock Batons
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) if he will seek to prosecute companies, a list of which has been sent to him, as being involved in the production and export of electro-shock batons; [21564]

  (2) if the inquires by the Ministry of Defence police and Strathclyde police into allegations made by two "Despatches" programmes about electro-shock batons are now complete; and if he will make a statement. [21565]

  The Attorney-General
  I have not received any such list. With regard to any prosecution in relation to the "Despatches" programme, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 13 March 1996,Official Report, column 603, and also to my answer to her of 31 January 1996, Official Report, column 771.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each of the past five years Ministers in his Deaprtmetn 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. [19421]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of hon. Members' letters to Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments which were passed to agencies for response in each of the last five years are as follows:

  1991: 36

  1992: 44

  1993: 188

  1994: 215

  1995: 223

  It is not possible to give a percentage figure as all the necessary information is not held centrally.

  Responses to individual questions is a matter of public record, but composite information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Hotel Accommodation (Grants)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many grant applications there were to the Northern Ireland tourist board for the provision of a new hotel accommodation in the borough of Ards in each of the last three years; and how many of these applications were refused. [20465]

  Mr. Ancram
  Since the beginning of 1993 the number of applications received by NITB for financial assistance to develop the provision of hotel accommodation in the borough of Ards is as follows:

  1993: Nil

  1994: 1

  1995: 1

  23
  Both applications were refused on the grounds that they failed to meet the qualifying criteria of the tourism development scheme.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many buildings in each constituency in Northern Ireland are listed(a) grade I and (b) grade II; and what was the corresponding number in 1990. [20217]

  Mr. Moss
  Listed buildings in Northern Ireland are graded as grade A, B+ and B2 rather than grade I, II etc. The attached table gives the number of buildings currently listed as grade A and grade B+ in each constituency in Northern Ireland.

  On 31 December 1990 the total number of buildings listed as grade A was 153 and the total number listed as grade B+ was 263. It is not however possible to provide a breakdown of these figures by constituency in the time available. I will therefore write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy in the Library when the information becomes available.

  Constituency

  Number of Grade A buildings

  Number of Grade B+ buildings

  Foyle

  6

  15

  East Londonderry

  7

  27

  North Antrim

  7

  19

  East Antrim

  9

  6

  Mid Ulster

  14

  38

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  21

  69

  Upper Bann

  3

  14

  Newry and Armagh

  37

  56

  South Down

  13

  36

  Strangford

  6

  11

  Lagan Valley

  9

  14

  Year

  (a) items1 stolen

  (b) items unaccounted for

  Number

  Cost £

  Number

  Cost £

  Items value at £5,000 or more

  IT items2 (included in previous figures)

  1990–91

  38

  20,597

  -

  -

  Lorry

  -

  1991–92

  83

  16,454

  336

  6,557

  -

  -

  1992–93

  71

  20,579

  216

  6,398

  -

  10 items totalling £5,260

  1993–94

  203

  27,802

  247

  4,435

  Van

  3 items totalling £860

  1994–95

  282

  24,861

  107

  3,970

  -

  10 items totalling £8,099

  1Figures do not include DOE items valued at less than £500 as their inclusion would incur disproportionate costs.

  2 An IT Notebook valued at £2,500 was also stolen, but the year cannot be identified.

  Intensive Care Facilities
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hospitals in Northern Ireland have intensive care units; how many beds there are in each of the units; and what is the annual cost per intensive care bed in each hospital. [20216]

  Mr. Moss
  The information in the table shows the number of intensive care beds by hospital which were available during the year 1994–95.

  Number

  Royal Victoria hospital

  11

  Antrim hospital

  8

  24

  Constituency

  Number of Grade A buildings

  Number of Grade B+ buildings

  North Down

  11

  13

  South Antrim

  15

  18

  Belfast North

  2

  13

  Belfast West

  24

  21

  Belfast South

  8

  18

  Belfast East

  1

  9

  Totals

  193

  397

  Anglo-Irish Secretariat
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by date and department the presentations made in 1995 by civil servants of the Northern Ireland civil service to the Anglo-Irish secretariat in Maryfield and the subjects so covered. [11683]

  Mr. Ancram
  To ensure that the Government's policies in relation to Northern Ireland are effectively communicated to the Irish side of the secretariat, Irish officials are frequently briefed on a wide range of subjects which come within the scope of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Details of such briefings and presentations are not, however, available in the form requested.

  Departmental Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [19038]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested in respect of the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland Departments and their agencies is as follows:

  Number

  Belfast city hospital

  6

  Craigavon area hospital

  6

  Royal Belfast hospital for sick children

  6

  Altnagelvin hospital

  5

  Ulster hospital

  4

  Erne hospital

  3

  Mater Infirmorum hospital

  3

  Coleraine hospital

  2

  Tyrone county hospital

  2

  The information requested about the annual costs of intensive care beds is not held centrally.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a list of all overseas visits made by all Ministers of his Department since 1990, including(a) details of the places visited and brief reasons for the visit, (b) details of the size, composition and cost

  Overseas visits made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and other NIO Ministers in 1995

  Date

  Place

  Visit Reason

  Delegation

  Cost (£)

  5–6 February

  Brussels

  Trade mission

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  1,053

  12–18 March

  Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco

  Trade mission

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  9,023

  26–29 March

  Tokyo

  Trade mission

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  11,476

  11–12 April

  France

  To promote Her Majesty's Government policy on Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State, private secretary and one official

  8,563

  30 April–2 May

  Boston

  Trade promotion event

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  5,988

  21–31 May

  Boston, Washington, New York and Chicago

  White House Investment Conference, Supporting IDB's Inward Investment Chicago Team and to provide Her Majesty's Government policy on Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State, Baroness Denton, Malcolm Moss, three Private Secretaries, four Officials and two Police Officers

  36,633

  11–12 June

  Milan

  Trade mission

  Baroness Denton, private secretary and press officer

  1,500

  14 June

  Paris

  Paris air show/meeting Bombardier

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  1,053

  3–6 September

  Chicago

  Support IDB's inward investment team

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  7,803

  7–8 September

  Washington

  To brief national security adviser, senators and press on Her Majesty's Government policy on Northern Ireland

  Michael Ancram and private secretary

  8,024

  17–24 September

  Atlanta, Denver and Phoenix

  Support IDB's inward investment drive in USA

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  10,285

  18–28 September

  Australia and New Zealand

  To provide Her Majesty's Government policy on Northern Ireland

  Secretary of State, private secretary, Lady Mayhew, two officials and two police officers

  33,152

  27–29 September

  Vienna

  Keynote speech, International New Towns Association conference

  Malcolm Moss, private secretary and two officials

  1,230

  2–4 October

  Rome

  Meeting with Italian Government on criminal justice and security matters

  Sir John Wheeler, private secretary and one official

  1,644

  3–6 October

  Boston and New York

  Trade mission and ICC USA annual dinner

  Baroness Denton, private secretary and press officer

  8,500

  17–21 October

  Dallas

  Trade mission

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  6,057

  12–14 November

  Singapore

  Trade mission

  Baroness Denton and private secretary

  4,313

  20–21 December

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council of Ministers meeting

  Baroness Denton, private secretary and two officials

  676

  Non-ministerial members of the delegations have not been named as it is not normal policy to do so. They were in attendance to provide support for Ministers.
  26
  to public funds of the delegation and (c) the names of non-ministerial members of each delegation and the capacity in which each was present. [17487]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 1 March 1996]: The requested information for 1990 to 1994 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a list of visits made during 1995 is available and is as follows:

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food Production
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the world to be unable to feed its population, given present trends in population growth and food production. [21003]

  Mrs. Browning
  Given sensible free market policies, I see no reason why the world should not be able to continue to feed is population.

  Arable Farming
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list at current and constant prices in respect of arable farming for each of the last 15 years for (i) wheat and (ii) barley the(a) cost of input with special reference to seeds, chemicals and fertiliser, (b) cost of contracting and machinery, (c) total variable costs ((a) + (b)), (d) average yield per acre, (e) average sale price per ton, ex farm at standard moisture, (f) average income per acre and (g) average margin before rent and overheads, interest and capital ((f) - (a) + (b)). [20912]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. However current price estimates of the gross margin of wheat and barley production in England and Wales between 1986 and 1993 are contained in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1993–94" which was published last March. Copies are available in the Library of the House. Updated information, including some revisions to previous years will be contained in the 1994–95 edition which will be published on 19 March 1996. The estimates are compiled from occasional farm surveys together with information from a range of sources on prices and quantities of inputs and outputs for the intervening years. The yield per hectare, price per tonne and costs are based on the results from the sample of farmers included in the survey; prices are not converted to a standard moisture basis. Estimates in constant prices are not available.

  Oil Dispersants (Toxicity)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what tests and certification procedures have been carried out by his Department into the toxicity of those dispersants used on oil from the Sea Empress and their effect on the marine environment; [20808]

  (2) what tests and certification procedures have been carried out by his Department into the toxicity of those dispersants used on oil spilt from the Sea Empress and their effect on human health. [20809]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 14 March 1996]: The Department is responsible for the testing and approval of all products used to disperse oil at sea. Following a recent review, it has been confirmed that dispersants should continue to be tested for their efficacy and toxicity using agreed scientific protocols. These tests ensure that the products work and are no more toxic to marine life than the oil itself. Use of dispersant products in Great Britain is also subject to legislation enforced by
  28
  the Health and Safety Executive. A copy of the review was placed in the Library of both Houses on completion earlier this year.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which dispersants sprayed on oil from the Sea Empress have been banned by which(a) European and (b) North American countries. [20760]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 14 March 1996]: All dispersants are tested for efficacy and toxicity before they can be approved for use in UK waters by the Department. The Ministry holds no information on which dispersants have been approved or banned by European and North American countries. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the proportion of each chemical which constitutes the dispersants known as(a) Finasol OSR 51, (b) Slickgone LTSW, (c) Slickgone NS, (d) Dispolene 345, (e) Correctsit 9500, (f) Annersperse 9538 and (g) Super 25. [20764]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 14 March 1996]: The chemical constituents of dispersants and the proportion in which individual chemicals occur in products are confidential to the manufacturer. I listed all active ingredients of dispersants sprayed on oil from the Sea Empress in a recent answer. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ceredigian and Pembroke, North (Mr. Dafis) on 4 March 1996, Official Report, column 83. The Department does not recognise Dispolene 345, Correctsit 9500 and Annersperse 9538 as dispersant products and has not approved products with these names.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when(a) Finasol OSR 51, (b) Slickgone LTSW, (c) Slickgone NS, (d) Dispolene 345, (e) Correctsit 9500, (f) Annersperse 9538 and (g) Super 25 were tested and approved for use on oil spills; and which department approved them. [20761]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 14 March 1996]: Dispolene 345, Correctsit 9500 and Annersperse 9538 are not approved dispersant products. All the remaining dispersants listed have been approved by the Department following successful completion of efficacy and toxicity tests.

  The approval dates are as follows:

  Finasol OSR 51: 1987

  Slickgone LTSW: 1984

  Slickgone NS: 1988

  Super 25: 1990

  Riding Stables
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations have been made to him on behalf of small-scale riding stables about problems arising from the cost of implementing regulations. [20215]
  29
  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply, in view of the Home Office's responsibilities for the Riding Establishments Acts.

  The Home Office has received no recent representations from this sector.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  "Employers Guide to Stress"
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what costs her Department incurred in the production of the document "Employers Guide to Stress". [20548]

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funds her Department provided to Barnsley and Doncaster TEC in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and what amount is planned for 1996–97. [20721]

  Mr. Paice
  Information on Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council's budget for 1994–95 and 1995–96 was published in a written answer of 1 November 1995,Official Report, column 364, to the hon. Member. The budget for 1996–97 is at present being negotiated by officials from the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside and representatives from the TEC.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the budget for the Equal Opportunities Commission in each year since its inception(a) in cash, (b) in real terms and (c) as a percentage change on the previous year. [20739]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information is set out in the following table:

  Year

  Grant in aid cash terms

  Percentage change on previous year

  Grant in aid 1994–95 prices

  Percentage change on previous year

  1976–77

  850,430

  0

  3,220,000

  0

  1977–78

  1,460,699

  71.8

  4,869,000

  51.2

  1978–79

  1,644,650

  12.6

  4,924,000

  1.1

  1979–80

  2,146,109

  30.5

  5,517,000

  12

  1980–81

  2,520,270

  17.4

  5,478,000

  -0.7

  1981–82

  2,911,000

  15.5

  5,764,000

  5.2

  1982–83

  3,046,000

  4.6

  5,630,000

  -2.3

  1983–84

  3,168,000

  4

  5,597,000

  -0.6

  1984–85

  3,387,000

  6.9

  5,702,000

  1.9

  1985–86

  3,434,000

  1.4

  5,477,000

  -4

  1986–87

  3,538,000

  3

  5,477,000

  0

  1987–88

  3,716,000

  5

  5,457,000

  -0.4

  1988–89

  3,810,000

  2.5

  5,248,000

  -3.8

  1989–90

  3,894,000

  2.2

  5,012,000

  -4.5

  1990–91

  4,579,000

  17.6

  5,458,000

  8.9

  1991–92

  4,864,000

  6.2

  5,459,000

  0.02

  1992–93

  5,282,000

  8.6

  5,692,000

  4.3

  1993–94

  5,794,000

  9.7

  6,067,000

  6.6

  30

  Year

  Grant in aid cash terms

  Percentage change on previous year

  Grant in aid 1994–95 prices

  Percentage change on previous year

  1994–95

  5,949,000

  2.7

  6,114,000

  0.8

  1995–96

  6,429,533

  8.1

  6,429,533

  5.2

  1. Between 29 December 1975 and 31 March 1976, while the commission was in the process of being established, its expenditure was met directly by the Home Office and other Government Departments.

  2. The amount of grant in aid for 1995–96 includes the supplementary grant of £273,533 recently agreed by the Department to cover expenditure on information technology equipment.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the budget for the Equal Opportunities Commission for 1996–97; and what are the planned budgets for future years. [20740]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The grant in aid for the Equal Opportunities Commission for 1996–97 is £5,820,650. Grant in aid for each of the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 is £5,792,150.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the future of the Equal Opportunities Commission. [20741]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Government are fully committed to the work of the Equal Opportunities Commission. Many thousands of people have cause to thank the commission for its work over the last 20 years and its success in changing attitudes. I have recently paid tribute to that work.

  The Government have no plans to seek changes to the legislation which defines the EOC's responsibilities and duties.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people are currently employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission. [20738]

  Mrs. Gillan
  There are currently 187 people employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme (Bedfordshire)
  Sir Graham Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of four-year-olds not at present receiving nursery education in Bedfordshire who would do so with the introduction of nursery vouchers. [20747]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The annual school census for January 1996 will give detailed information in the existing provision in maintained schools. The number of additional places created through the nursery voucher scheme in any local authority area will depend on the response of providers to parental demand. We are currently collecting data from every local education authority on its number of four-year-olds, including those in nursery education. I am confident that providers of all types, either alone or in partnership will satisfy parental demand over time.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what signing-on arrangements she plans to place on(a) existing postal claimants and (b) new claimants who reside more than six miles from an Employment Service office when they sign on for jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement. [20785]

  Mr. Forth
  Most jobseekers will be required to attend a jobcentre every fortnight to sign a declaration that they have been available for employment, have been actively seeking employment and that their circumstances have not changed. Jobseekers will be allowed to provide such a signed declaration by post where:

  their journey between their home and the jobcentre in either direction would take over one hour using appropriate means of transport; or

  attendance would involve an absence from home over four hours; or

  they have a disability which reduces their mobility

  They will be required to attend a jobcentre every 13 weeks for an interview with an Employment Service adviser.

  Existing postal claimants who do not meet these new criteria will be required to attend the jobcentre fortnightly after their first quarterly review following the introduction of jobseeker's allowance. This conversion process should be completed within three months from 7 October.

  Competitive Tendering (Contracts)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded in each of the last three financial years by her Department and its executive agencies after competitive tendering; and what was the total combined value of these contracts. [21038]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Detailed information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost, although it is a fundamental principle of DFEE purchasing policy that contracts should generally be let through competitive tender.

  Degree Level Examination (Cheating)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many person taking

  GM Ballot Investigations

  LEA

  School

  Ballot (vote)

  Complainant

  Outcome

  Ballot irregularity cases-since implementation of the Education Reform Act 1988

  Norfolk

  Acle High School

  Yes

  LEA School

  Ballot result upheld

  Walsall

  Aldridge Comprehensive School

  No

  Local Councillor

  Ballot result upheld

  Northumberland

  Astley County High School

  Yes

  Registered electors School

  Ballot result upheld

  Kirklees

  Boothroyd Junior and Infants

  No

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Wirral

  Calday Grange Grammar School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result declared void

  Bedfordshire

  Cardinal Newman School

  No

  Other organisation

  Ballot result declared void

  Bolton

  Crompton Fold County Primary

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Surrey

  de Stafford County Secondary

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  32
  degree level qualifications in United Kingdom institutions have been found guilty of cheating in examinations in each year since 1979. [20899]

  Mr. Forth
  Degree-awarding institutions are autonomous bodies responsible for their own examination and assessment procedures. The information requested is not collected by the Department.

  State Schools (Self-government)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to extend self-governing status to all state schools; and when she expects to make an announcement on her proposals. [21084]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government are committed to extending the benefits of self-government to all state schools. We are currently looking at the options for achieving this. We will announce our conclusions as soon as we are ready.

  Zero-hours Contracts
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the current prevalence of zero-hours contracts; how many employees are estimated to be employed under such contracts; how many companies operate them; and what action she proposes to take in respect of such contracts. [20868]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department monitors developments in the labour market, including current working practices. Although there is no nationally representative information, the limited evidence available suggests the use of zero-hours contracts is not widespread. The Department believes it is for employers and employees to decide for themselves the form of work that best suits their particular circumstances.

  Grant-maintained Status (Ballots)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in respect of which cases of schools holding ballots on grant-maintained status her Department has investigated complaints about the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the ballot; and if she will indicate for each(a) how many complaints were received, (b) the nature of the complaints, (c) the outcome of the investigation and (d) what action has been taken. [21083]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The following table shows such information as is readily available about the 60 investigations of ballots for grant-maintained status which have been completed to date.
  33

  GM Ballot Investigations

  LEA

  School

  Ballot (vote)

  Complainant

  Outcome

  Kirklees

  Deighton School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result declared void

  Derbyshire

  Derby Moor School

  No

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Kent

  Edenbridge Middle School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result declared void

  Oldham

  Failsworth School

  No

  Parents

  Ballot result upheld

  Birmingham

  George Dixon School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Greenwich

  Hawksmoor School

  Yes

  LEA Another Local School

  Ballot result upheld

  Kent

  Hextable School

  No

  LEA

  Ballot result declared void

  Waltham Forest

  Highams Park School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Cambridgeshire

  Jack Hunt, Peterborough School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Wiltshire

  Kingsdown County Secondary

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Bromley

  Langley Park School for Boys

  Yes

  Parents

  Ballot result upheld

  Leicestershire

  Manor High School

  No

  Parent MP

  Ballot result upheld

  Calderdale

  Moorside Junior School, 2nd ballot

  No

  LEA

  Ballot result declared void

  Birmingham

  Ninestiles

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Hillingdon

  Oak Farm Junior and Infant Schools

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Bury

  Peel Brow County Primary

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Gloucestershire

  Picklenash School

  Yes

  Parents

  Ballot result upheld

  Calderdale

  Ryburn Valley High School

  No

  Other organisation

  Ballot result upheld

  Hampshire

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  Yes

  Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Kirklees

  St. Patrick's Catholic Primary

  No

  Parent

  School told to hold ballot

  Lancashire

  The Baines School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Humberside

  Waltham Toll Bar

  No

  MP

  Ballot result upheld

  Rochdale

  Wardle High School

  Yes

  Parent LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Dudley

  Windsor High School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Misinformation cases-since implementation of the Education Act 1993

  Staffordshire

  Anglesey

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result declared void

  Staffordshire

  Anglesey (2nd Ballot)

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Lancashire

  Ashleigh Primary School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Lancashire

  Belthorn Primary School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Liverpool

  Blue Coat School

  No

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Kent

  Brockhill Park

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Surrey

  Burpham County Primary

  Yes

  LEA and Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Shropshire

  Castlefields

  No

  Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Derbyshire

  Chinley Primary

  Yes

  LEA, parents and electors

  Ballot result upheld

  Staffordshire

  Christ Church Middle

  No

  Other organisation Parent

  Ballot result declared void

  Staffordshire

  Christ Church Middle-2nd Ballot

  No

  Parent and LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Liverpool

  Croxteth Community Comp

  No

  School Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Devon

  Devonport High School

  Yes

  Other organisation Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Somerset

  Enmore Primary School

  Yes

  Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Kent

  Gravesend Grammar

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Holy Cross

  No

  School and Councillors

  Ballot result upheld

  Liverpool

  King David

  Yes

  LEA and Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Lancashire

  Longridge School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Avon

  Merrywood Girls School

  No

  Other organisation MP Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Leicestershire

  New Parks Comm. College

  No

  Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Berkshire

  Prospect School

  Yes

  LEA Councillors

  Ballot result upheld

  Derbyshire

  Ripley Mill Hill School

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Essex

  Rochford Primary

  Yes

  Parents

  Ballot result upheld

  Manchester

  St. Kentigerns

  Yes

  LEA

  Ballot result upheld

  Essex

  The Manningtree School

  Yes

  LEA Parents Electors

  Ballot result upheld

  Buckinghamshire

  Two Mile Ash

  Yes

  Other organisation

  Ballot result upheld

  Tameside

  Two Trees High School

  No

  School Parent

  Ballot result upheld

  Waltham Forest

  Whitefields School and Centre

  Yes

  LEA Parent Other LEAs

  Ballot result upheld

  School Inspections
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 602, what statistics her Department collates on the number of lay inspectors who have undertaken inspections in the last five years. [21134]
  34
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and employment how many independent schools have had a full Office for Standards in Eduction inspection in each year since 1993–94; and how many she expects to take place in 1996–97 and 1997–98. [21156]
  35
  Mr. Robin Squire
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the Office of Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Members.

  Delegated Schools Budget
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will instigate a further consultation exercise on extending the delegated schools budgets beyond 85 per cent. of the potential schools budget. [21085]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have no immediate plans to do so.

  Head teachers in the LEA maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector by school group number and spine point England and Wales-provisional March 1994 data

  School group number

  Spine point

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  3

  113

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  4

  1,109

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  5

  182

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  6

  1,990

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  7

  239

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  8

  1,638

  131

  -

  -

  -

  -

  9

  308

  79

  -

  -

  -

  -

  10

  652

  3,120

  -

  -

  -

  -

  11

  177

  394

  -

  -

  -

  -

  12

  141

  572

  -

  -

  -

  -

  13

  169

  2,901

  -

  -

  -

  -

  14

  85

  598

  -

  -

  -

  -

  15

  110

  716

  50

  -

  -

  -

  16

  25

  516

  17

  -

  -

  -

  17

  10

  417

  33

  -

  -

  -

  18

  8

  555

  1,234

  -

  -

  -

  19

  5

  260

  106

  -

  -

  -

  20

  4

  261

  231

  -

  -

  -

  21

  3

  139

  178

  -

  -

  -

  22

  2

  369

  550

  -

  -

  -

  23

  0

  29

  172

  9

  -

  -

  24

  0

  25

  176

  9

  -

  -

  25

  1

  15

  123

  9

  -

  -

  26

  0

  11

  126

  151

  -

  27

  0

  8

  90

  30

  -

  -

  28

  0

  4

  42

  30

  -

  -

  29

  0

  7

  138

  26

  -

  -

  30

  0

  0

  15

  272

  -

  -

  31

  0

  1

  9

  40

  14

  -

  32

  0

  1

  7

  68

  8

  -

  33

  0

  0

  2

  42

  12

  -

  34

  0

  1

  6

  82

  374

  -

  35

  0

  0

  1

  34

  55

  -

  36

  0

  0

  1

  17

  86

  -

  37

  0

  0

  2

  41

  58

  -

  38

  0

  2

  1

  15

  536

  19

  39

  0

  0

  1

  5

  95

  4

  40

  0

  0

  0

  1

  88

  7

  41

  0

  0

  1

  0

  99

  161

  42

  0

  0

  0

  1

  62

  28

  43

  1

  0

  0

  0

  35

  91

  44

  0

  0

  0

  1

  55

  34

  45

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6

  28

  46

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  25

  47

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  21

  48

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  11

  49

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  9

  50

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  51

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  Total

  6,972

  11,132

  3,312

  884

  1,591

  452

  36

  Teachers' Pay and Conditions
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authority maintained schools fall into each of the schoolteachers' pay and conditions groups 1 to 6; and in each case how many of the head teachers' salaries fall into each pay spine point in the scale in the last year for which figures are available. [21057]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows the head teachers, in the local education authority maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector in England and Wales, identified in the Teachers Pensions Agency database of teachers, records on a spine point of at least the minimum for the appropriate school group.
  37

  Youth Training
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is(a) the number and (b) the percentage of youth training trainees who currently have employed status. [21090]

  Mr. Paice
  As at December 1995, there were 284,500 on youth training in Great Britain. An estimated 54 per cent. had employed status.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people were on(a) youth training and youth credits and (b) modern apprenticeship schemes (i) on average for 1994–95 and (ii) at the last date for which figures are available. [21089]

  Mr. Paice
  On average in 1994–95, there were 278,000 people on youth training in Great Britain. In December 1995, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 284,500 people on YT in Great Britain.

  As modern apprenticeship prototypes did not begin until September 1994, it is not possible to give an average figure for the full financial year 1994–95. However, on 7 April 1995 according to training and enterprise council estimates 1,393 people had started modern apprenticeships in the 17 prototype TECs in England.

  In December 1995, the latest date for which figures are available, there were over 16,000 people on modern apprenticeships in Great Britain. However, the number is growing rapidly and there are currently estimated to be over 20,000 on modern apprenticeships.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what sums from public funds are currently controlled by(a) TECs and (b) local enterprise companies. [21088]

  Mr. Paice
  Training and enterprise council budgets on DFEE programmes for 1995–96 are £1,246 million for England. TECs also contract separately with other Government Departments such as the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment. Funds controlled by TECs in Wales and LECs in Scotland are a matter for the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland.

  Football Players (Transfer System)
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for 38
  Education and Employment if she will make a statement on (i) the new criteria for work permits for foreign football players (a) when they first enter the country, (b) after the first full 12 months and set number of appearances and (c) on moving to another United Kingdom football club and (ii) the likely effect on extra work permits of the EC ruling on foreign players; and if she will meet the Football Association and the Professional Footballers Association in the near future to discuss the new situation and the outcome of the Bosman decision. [21260]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The work permit criteria remain unchanged for foreign footballers when they first enter the country and where they are retained by their club after the first or successive season. Permits are normally issued only for current internationals. To qualify for extension of their work permits, footballers must normally play in approximately 75 per cent. of their club's first team games. The work permit criteria governing transfer to another club have been revised to allow players who are current internationals one work permit transfer to a new club regardless of the number of first team appearances they have made for their existing club. Thereafter, to qualify for a further permit they will again normally be expected to play in approximately 75 per cent. of first team games.

  The Department consulted the football bodies about the revised criteria. The decision of the European Court of Justice in the Bosman case concerns transfer fees and rules operated by the sporting bodies. It does not affect the issue of work permits.

  Field System Computer Package
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent by(a) her Department and (b) training and enterprise councils to develop the field system computer package; and how many TECs are presently using the system. [20524]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 14 March 1996]: The Department for Education and Employment spent £12.414 million in developing the field system-TFS. A further £30.222 million was spent on computer equipment, installation and training. Training and enterprise councils did not contribute toward the cost of developing the system. In April 1993, the Department withdrew from supporting TFS, and TECs became fully responsible for meeting their own information technology needs. Up-to-date information on TECs' usage of the system is not available.

TRANSPORT

  Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is in a position to announce the establishment of a UK A1 area under the provisions of the global maritime distress and safety system. [16340]

  Mr. Norris
  I am pleased to announce that the seas around the UK coastline will become an Al area-that is, an area within automated very high frequency radiotelephone coverage of coast stations.

  Between now and 1999, VHF digital selective calling-DSC-equipment will be installed in HM Coastguard's radio sites. Implementation will begin this year with stations in the English channel. The GMDSS system is being implemented in line with requirements in the safety of life at sea convention-SOLAS-and applies to passenger and merchant vessels of 300 gross tonnage and upwards, for both national and international voyages.

  This decision means that, as implementation progresses, ship operators in the sea area around the UK coast will be able to press a simple distress button automatically to alert shore-based DSC stations as well as other ships. The system does not need voice activation or telegraphy and so will speed up the transmission of distress messages. In order to maintain services for smaller vessels not covered by the new system, HM Coastguard will maintain a listening watch on the present calling and safety channel, channel 16, for as long as necessary after 1 February 1999.

  Oil Tankers
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many spillages from oil tankers have occurred(a) worldwide and (b) in European waters in the last 10 years; and how many spillages involved vessels flying flags of convenience. [17593]

  Mr. Norris
  Estimates from the International Tanker Owners Federation are that there were 366 oil spills from oil tankers, of 7 tonnes or more, worldwide between 1986 and 1995. Of these, 91 were in European waters. Complete information on the flag of the vessels involved is not available.

  Milford Haven
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which circumstances tankers operate in and out of Milford Haven without tugs. [17893]

  Mr. Norris
  It is normal practice for tankers to use the navigable channels at the entrance of Milford Haven without tugs.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he will take to ensure that a salvage tug is located at Milford Haven. [20909]

  Mr. Norris
  The Coastguard agency continues to keep the supply of emergency tugs under review. In deciding future deployment, we will take into account experience 40
  of the Government-funded provision of dedicated emergency tugs at Dover and Stornoway this winter, of liaison arrangements with tug operators, and of any relevant findings of the investigations into the Sea Empress incident.

  Transport Policies and Programmes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what monitoring is undertaken by his Department of the total value of all the bids for(a) packages, (b) major road schemes and (c) bridge strengthening, as submitted by local highway authorities in their transport policies and programmes documents; and in what form this information is publicly available. [18161]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department keeps records under all headings of bids that local authorities make in their annual TPP submissions. All information kept on the local transport database is publicly available on request. Under the code of practice on access to Government information, a charge may be made where a significant amount of staff time is needed to process the data requested.

  Airports
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each recommendation set out in the airports policy White Paper 1985 the actions his Department has taken to date. [18290]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department has submitted a note to the inspector of the current public inquiry into BAA plc's plans for a fifth terminal at Heathrow which addresses the developments in airports policy since the 1985 White Paper. I have placed a copy of this note in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the major initiatives taken by his Department relating to aviation since the publication of the 1985 airports policy White Paper. [18442]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department has taken forward a wide range of aviation initiatives in respect of air traffic control, noise and emissions, provision of airport capacity, privatisation of Government and local authority-owned airports, and the liberalisation of air services between the UK and other countries. Key achievements are summarised in the annual departmental reports since 1991, and prior to that in the transport section of the Government's expenditure plans. In respect of airports policy, I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I am giving today to her Question 18290.

  Railway Property (Scotland)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the(a) area and (b) asset value of (i) operational and (ii) non-operational land owned by the British Rail Property Board and other British Railways Board subsidiaries in Scotland. [19303]

  Mr. Watts
  This is a matter for the British Railways Board but it informs me that the total area owned by British Rail in Scotland is approximately 1,670 acres, the
  41
  great majority being non-operational land. British Rail cannot differentiate accurately between operational and non-operational land. British Rail's assets are not analysed geographically in the board's annual accounts.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the area of(a) operational land and (b) non-operational land owned by Railtrack plc in Scotland. [19304]

  Mr. Watts
  This is a matter for Railtrack but it informs me that the total area owned by Railtrack in Scotland is approximately 14,850 acres, of which the vast majority is operational land. Railtrack cannot differentiate accurately between operational and non-operational land.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated asset value of the railway network owned by Railtrack plc in Scotland; and what is the division in value of these assets between(a) lines in use by train services, (b) stations, (c) other operational property and (d) non-operational land and property. [19299]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack's assets are not analysed geographically in its balance sheet.

  HGV Licences (Eyesight Tests)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue clear guidance to lorry drivers on EU policy in respect of lorry drivers' eye tests without the use of spectacles; and if he will place a copy of such guidance in the Library. [19664]

  Mr. Norris
  The regulations including provisions on new eyesight standards for drivers of group 2 vehicles-lorries and buses-will be laid shortly. Full guidance on interpretation and introduction will be issued before the regulations become effective and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to inform those who passed their car driving test before 1 December 1990 that they will need to take a compulsory basic training course to ride motor cycles of 50 cc and over from 1 July onwards. [20784]

  Mr. Norris
  A press notice was issued last August 1995 when the proposal was first announced, and a further press notice was issued in December when the plans were confirmed. Guidance on the amended position regarding CBT has been included in a revised factsheet on motorcycles that is made generally available, and will also be included in the advice leaflet planned to accompany vehicle excise duty reminders. Further, the Department is working with the motor cycle retailing and training industries on a media campaign involving press articles, interviews and public information announcements in national and local media.

  Northern Line Trains
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation GEC will be required to pay for the late delivery of trains for the Northern line. [20612]
  42
  Mr. Norris
  I understand that GEC Alsthom's contract with London Underground for the supply of new trains for the Northern line provides for full compensation in the event of late delivery of trains. The terms for payment of such compensation are commercially confidential.

  Traffic Congestion
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken by his Department to discourage the use of private cars in town and city centres; and if he will make a statement. [20652]

  Mr. Norris
  It is for local authorities to determine the traffic management strategy most appropriate to their area, having regard to local circumstances. Some measure of restraint, for instance parking controls or restrictions on vehicular access, is likely to feature in an effective strategy. The Government encourage people to travel by means other than the private car-cycling, walking and public transport-where that option is open to them.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps are being taken by his Department to promote public transport in and around traffic congested towns and cities; and if he will make a statement; [20737]

  (2) what provisions are being made by his Department to improve the quality of public transport; and if he will make a statement. [20728]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department's spending plans for 1996–97 provide extensive support for public transport. These plans include £1.6 billion for passenger rail services, nearly £1 billion for London Transport, some £79 million for local transport packages which focus on promotion of alternatives to the car and many of which include ambitious programmes of public transport priorities, and some £55 million for larger public transport schemes. Under my chairmanship, the bus working group, comprising representatives of bus operators, local authorities and bus users, has been considering ways to improve bus services. I announced on 8 January a number of practical steps to promote the use of the bus and a programme of further work, which is being actively pursued in co-operation with operators and local authorities. Finally, the Government are actively promoting the role of the private sector in the funding and operation of public transport, notably through rail privatisation, the aim of which is to improve the quality of rail services by giving the private sector the opportunity to bring about the further improvements to services that customers want.

  Stretch Limousines
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures are in force to ensure that stretch limousines imported from the United States of America conform with all safety standards for use in the United Kingdom; [20573]

  (2) when the construction specifications for stretch limousines were established; and what advice was sought in their preparation; [20580]
  43
  (3) what construction and use regulations apply to stretch limousines imported from the United States of America and operated in the United Kingdom. [20720]

  Mr. Norris
  There are no special regulations relating to stretch limousines imported from the United States of America: they have to comply, like other motor vehicles, with all applicable requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended, and of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended, which are subject to wide consultation with interested parties. All such vehicles have to be type approved unless they come into the UK as personal imports. Compliance with key safety and environmental standards is checked annually at MOT tests and also at the roadside by police.

  Car Number Plates
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers on the visibility and legibility of the different print types used on car number plates. [20575]

  Mr. Norris
  The Association of Chief Police Officers was consulted by this Department recently on possible refinements in the character font for vehicle number plates to improve legibility. ACPO was also represented, along with this Department, on the British standards committee reviewing the standard for the physical characteristics-for example, visibility, strength, reflectivity-of the number plate.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the specifications of car number plates. [20574]

  Mr. Norris
  The relevant legislation is the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of car occupants who he estimates currently wear seat belts in(a) front seats and (b) rear seats; and if he will make a statement. [20864]

  Mr. Norris
  The latest survey by the Transport Research Laboratory, in October 1995, showed that 91 per cent. of drivers, 92 per cent. of front seat passengers and 64 per cent. of rear seat passengers in cars were wearing seat belts.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes in the legislation regarding use of seat belts in respect of(a) those at present excluded and (b) enforcement of existing regulations; and if he will make a statement. [20865]

  Mr. Norris
  No changes are currently planned to the exemptions from seat belt wearing. Enforcement of the existing regulations is a matter for the police.

  Charter Flights (Safety)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to check the airworthiness of 44
  all aircraft used in the holiday charter market; and if he will make a statement. [21116]

  Mr. Norris
  All international public transport aircraft are required to have a certificate of airworthiness issued by the aviation authority of their state of registration. Before permission is granted for a non-European Economic Area aircraft to fly to the United Kingdom, the Department of Transport seeks confirmation that such a certificate has been issued in respect of the aircraft. If there is any doubt about the safe operation of the aircraft, no permit will be issued until the Department is satisfied as to its safety. This may involve the Department asking the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a physical check of the aircraft.

  Buses (Safety)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restrictions apply to passenger carrying buses operating on motorways in respect of(a) standing passengers and (b) type of entry and exit; and if he will make a statement. [20863]

  Mr. Norris
  The measures controlling standing passengers set out in my answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 844, apply to all bus and coach operations. There are no additional restrictions for motorways. Regulations governing the number, position and size of the entrance and exits are contained in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended, and the Public Service Vehicles (Condition of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981.

  Traffic and Economic Growth
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the relationship between economic growth and traffic growth; and what assessment he has made of changes in that relationship in the future. [21135]

  Mr. Norris
  Road traffic levels have in the past been driven largely by economic growth. Any significant change in that relationship would have to flow from major changes in present policies, lifestyles and industrial practices.

  Competitive Tendering (Contracts)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded in each of the last three financial years by his Department and its executive agencies after competitive tendering; and what was the total combined value of these contracts. [21030]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department's normal practice is to secure the goods and services it requires through competitive tendering. Departmental expenditure on goods and services in each of the last three years is set out in the table.

  Year

  Expenditure £ million

  1992–93

  500.9

  1993–94

  490.1

  1994–95

  473.0

  45
  Details of the number of contracts awarded in the above years are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) deaths and (b) injuries resulting

  Severity

  Age

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Casualties by age and severity: Greater Manchester: 1985–94

  Fatal

  0–15

  23

  26

  24

  23

  20

  17

  28

  22

  17

  18

  16+

  146

  162

  155

  156

  169

  157

  142

  138

  123

  95

  Serious

  0.15

  479

  391

  380

  409

  403

  461

  429

  432

  329

  335

  16+

  1,565

  1,395

  1,357

  1,355

  1,394

  1,440

  1,341

  1,160

  1,136

  1,078

  Slight

  0–15

  2,344

  2,426

  2,393

  2,579

  2,646

  2,716

  2,454

  2,559

  2,359

  2,553

  16+

  9,208

  9,791

  10,351

  10,697

  11,800

  12,406

  11,680

  12,188

  12,228

  12,793

  Total

  0–15

  2,846

  2,843

  2,797

  3,011

  3,069

  3,194

  2,911

  3,013

  2,705

  2,906

  16+

  10,919

  11,348

  11,863

  12,208

  13.363

  14,003

  13,163

  13,486

  13,487

  13,966

  Casualties by age and severity: Great Britain: 1985–94

  Fatal

  0–15

  515

  450

  466

  462

  440

  417

  377

  310

  306

  299

  16+

  4,647

  4,926

  4,653

  4,565

  4,906

  4,765

  4,169

  3,908

  3,493

  3,320

  Serious

  0–15

  10,614

  9,621

  9,087

  8,909

  8,965

  8,870

  7,683

  7,434

  6,670

  7,226

  16+

  59,721

  58,542

  54,516

  53,945

  53,648

  50,958

  43,281

  41,134

  37,642

  38,543

  Slight

  0–15

  37,649

  36,472

  35,399

  36,541

  38,502

  39,353

  36,349

  36,442

  35,614

  37,626

  16+

  200,085

  207,137

  203,430

  213,865

  230,791

  232,534

  215,079

  215,998

  216,659

  221,822

  Total

  0–15

  48,778

  46,543

  44,952

  45,912

  47,907

  48,640

  44,409

  44,186

  42,590

  45,151

  16+

  264,453

  270,605

  262,599

  272,375

  289,345

  288,257

  262,529

  261,040

  257,794

  263,685

  Note:

  The tables do not include data where the age of the casualty was not recorded.

  Ferries (Safety)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to encourage ferry companies to install watertight internal doors on the vehicle decks on roll-on roll-off vessels in a similar manner to those being fitted in Norway; [20602]

  (2) when roll-on roll-off ferries using British ports will meet the safety standards shortly to be universally applied to Norwegian ferries. [20163]

  Mr. Norris
  All ferry operators operating to and from the UK will be required to apply, within the agreed time scales, the survivability standard agreed with Norway and other maritime administrations last month at the Stockholm conference. The measures necessary to comply with the standard will depend on the characteristics of the individual ships.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the precautions to be taken to protect the Pembroke coastline against a spill of orimulsion from ships delivering to Pembroke power station. [20849]

  Mr. Norris
  Like all ships carrying oils in bulk, ships transporting orimulsion are required to be constructed and operated in compliance with the UK regulation giving effect to internationally accepted rules and standards on the prevention of pollution. Any additional conditions attached to the grant of planning permission in respect of the current applications for the construction of a jetty and 46
  from road accidents have been recorded in each year of the last 10 years (i) nationally and (ii) in the Greater Manchester area; and how many of those affected were under the age of 16 years. [21419]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  for the conversion of Pembroke power station are matters for the local authority and the President of the Board of Trade respectively.

  EU Driving Licence
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what EU symbols the new driving licence will incorporate; by whom and when this was agreed; and what parliamentary approval was sought. [21213]

  Mr. Norris
  Gold stars which encircle the letters indicating the member state appear on a blue panel in the top left hand corner of the proposed plastic photocard driving licence. The proposal for an amending directive which will allow member states the option of introducing licences in a common plastic format has not yet been adopted, but a common position was adopted at the Council of Transport Ministers of 7 and 8 December 1995. An explanatory memorandum on the proposal was submitted to the House of Commons Select Committee on European Legislation in July 1995, and was considered by the Committee on 18 October 1995.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Upper Waiting Hall Exhibition
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the coverage of Parliament by PA News in the Upper Waiting Hall. [21672]
  47
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 13 May to Friday 17 May 1996.

  Advisory Committee on Works of Art
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what changes have been made to the membership of the Advisory Committee on Works of Art. [21690]

  Mr. Beith
  I understand that Madam Speaker has appointed to the Advisory Committee on Works of Art the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson) in place of the right hon. Member for Horsham (Sir P. Hordern).

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Research Councils
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was(a) the total amount of funding allocated by the Government to each of the research councils, indicating what proportion of that funding was allocated in respect of indirect costs, (b) the total amount of funding awarded by each of the research councils in respect of indirect costs for research projects supported by the councils and (c) the total number of research projects supported by the research councils in each of the financial years from 1990–91 to 1994–95; how many applications for funding to the research councils claimed for indirect costs and how many of these were supported; into what specific categories funding awarded for projects by each research council was divided; and how much was allocated to each category. [18807]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information is not all available in the form requested.

  (a)

  Announced Allocations to the Research Councils 1990–91 to 1994–95

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  AFRC

  86.6

  93.5

  107.3

  110.4

  BBSRC1

  171.8

  ESRC

  36.2

  35.5

  45.1

  53.9

  ESRC

  58.9

  MRC

  185.7

  200.4

  227.6

  256.9

  MRC

  269.2

  NERC

  136

  122.6

  129.7

  141.0

  NERC

  155.4

  SERC

  437.1

  451.3

  520.8

  587.0

  EPSRC

  364.0

  PPARC

  184.9

  1 The new research council system was set up from 1 April 1994.

  From 1 August 1992, there was a shift in the dual support boundary which involved the redefinition of responsibilities-and the transfer of appropriate funding to the research councils-for meeting costs associated with research projects. The above figures therefore include the funds transferred to the research councils. This transfer of funds is known as the dual support transfer.

  Research councils are now responsible for funding all the direct costs-other than the costs of permanent academic staff-associated with the projects that they
  48
  fund and a contribution to the indirect costs or overheads. The institution receiving the research council grant is still responsible for meeting the costs of the maintenance of premises, the permanent academic staff, and central computing costs.

  The new funding arrangements applied in full to new grants beginning on or after 1 August 1992. Grants that started before that date were subject to transitional arrangements: no additional direct costs were payable on these grants, but indirect costs were paid as for new grants.

  No funding is specifically allocated to the research councils in respect of indirect costs.

  (b) The total amount of funding awarded by each of the research councils in respect of indirect costs for research projects from 1990–91 to 1994–95.
  Research councils contribute to indirect costs through a standard percentage addition-40 per cent-to any direct staff costs. All awards to higher education institutions with staff costs will therefore automatically be awarded indirect costs.

  (c) The total number of research projects in higher education institutions supported by the research councils from 1990–91 to 1994–95.

  The information available gives the number of new awards in each academic year.

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  BBSRC

  362

  438

  576

  446

  578

  EPSRC

  1,316

  1,801

  2,278

  2,078

  1,300

  ESRC

  366

  356

  357

  438

  416

  MRC

  453

  504

  492

  473

  393

  NERC

  165

  211

  208

  155

  151

  PPARC

  266

  284

  251

  259

  346

  The funding awarded by each research council in various categories is as follows, in academic years unless otherwise stated:

  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council-BBSRC

  For 1990–91 to 1993–94, BBSRC data are compiled from Agricultural and Food Research Council-AFRC-data on responsive-mode awards and on all SERC award data relevant to the BBSRC portfolio. The AFRC and SERC data are therefore shown separately; the 1994–95 data are for BBSRC responsive-mode awards.

  AFRC

  £ thousand

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  BBSRC

  1994–95

  Staff costs

  7,860

  11,020

  11,250

  13,500

  -

  27,100

  Travel and subsistence

  280

  210

  240

  400

  -

  700

  Consumables

  2,760

  3,670

  3,975

  5,100

  -

  9,700

  Exceptional items

  -

  10

  50

  100

  -

  0

  Equipment

  870

  1,220

  2,080

  2,400

  -

  3,800

  Indirect costs

  -

  1,810

  4,470

  5,400

  -

  10,800

  49

  SERC data on all awards relevant to BBSRC portfolio for 1990–91 to 1993–94

  £ thousand

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Staff costs

  15,910

  13,560

  26,370

  7,920

  Travel and subsistence

  420

  375

  800

  220

  Consumables

  4,300

  5,050

  9,310

  2,900

  Exceptional items

  -

  40

  1,470

  36

  Equipment

  4,140

  3,150

  8,770

  2,020

  Indirect costs

  -

  2,710

  10,550

  3,170

  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council-EPSRC

  £ thousand

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Staff costs

  63,700

  102,000

  130,000

  131,800

  76,100

  Travel and subsistence

  3,900

  6,200

  6,900

  9,100

  5,100

  Consumables

  11,800

  21,500

  26,100

  29,300

  14,200

  Exceptional items

  -

  400

  1,700

  1,300

  800

  Equipment

  23,500

  33,100

  41,000

  40,600

  27,000

  Indirect costs

  -

  19,100

  52,000

  52,700

  30,400

  Economic and Social Research Council-ESRC

  £ thousand

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Staff costs

  11,013

  11,556

  12,100

  16,367

  19,690

  Travel and subsistence

  1,469

  1,932

  1,602

  1,893

  2,359

  Consumables

  1,212

  1,225

  571

  952

  1,316

  Exceptional items

  17

  128

  1,765

  2,242

  2,466

  Equipment

  195

  191

  273

  477

  689

  Indirect costs

  -

  -

  4,734

  6,420

  7,644

  The information available relates to financial years and is the actual expenditure on each category for the year

  Medical Resear Council-MRC

  £ thousand

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Staff costs

  34,692

  40,815

  41,101

  48,150

  46,309

  Travel and subsistence1

  405

  Consumables

  12,031

  13,709

  14,260

  17,395

  20,160

  Exceptional items1

  -

  -

  -

  -

  11

  Equipment

  7,452

  5,297

  4,979

  6,641

  9,272

  Indirect costs

  -

  -

  5,559

  17,486

  18,072

  1 Recorded in accounts as consumables until 1994–95.

  Natural Environment Research Council -NERC

  thousand

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Staff costs

  7,337

  10,874

  10,626

  8,309

  8,707

  Travel and subsistence

  866

  1,152

  957

  654

  881

  Consumables

  1,602

  1,930

  2,009

  2,083

  1,993

  Exceptional items

  -

  119

  248

  100

  195

  Equipment

  896

  2,254

  1,920

  1,854

  1,939

  Indirect costs

  -

  1,557

  3,660

  3,307

  3,258

  50

  Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council-PPARC

  £ thousand

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Staff costs

  8,862

  34,952

  21,718

  47,795

  21,440

  Travel and subsistence

  3,156

  2,068

  3,733

  3,058

  1,359

  Consumables

  1,336

  3,589

  3,346

  3,838

  4,514

  Exceptional items

  -

  54

  872

  437

  668

  Equipment

  3,255

  3,767

  4,656

  11,044

  1,360

  Indirect costs

  -

  8,884

  8,646

  19,118

  8,576

  Burma (Trade Missions)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for future trade missions to Burma. [21066]

  Mr. Nelson
  Two DTI-supported trade missions were planned for 1996. The first took place from 26 February to 1 March. We intend to evaluate the results of this mission before deciding on supporting the second.

  Companies (Financial Assistance)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance has been given since 1980 by his Department to(a) MGC Technical Services Ltd., Plymouth, (b) Ivens Electronics Ltd., Plymouth, (c) Ridgewood Industries Ltd., Plymouth, (d) Ridgewood Electronics Ltd., Plymouth, (e) Ridgewood Engineering Ltd., Plymouth, (f) Ridgewood Holdings Ltd., Plymouth and (g) Avocet (UK) Ltd. by (i) type of grant and (ii)date. [19468]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 7 March 1996]: Two of the companies have received assistance under the Department's principal regional, enterprise and technology schemes since 1980:

  Company

  Scheme

  Payment £

  Year

  MGC Technical Services Ltd.

  Consultancy Initiative (CI)

  4,521

  1991

  Ivens Electronics Ltd.

  Regional Selective Assistance

  50,000

  1989

  Ivens Electronics Ltd.

  CI

  5,185

  1990

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the financial assistance that has been given since 1980 by his Department to(a) Queensbury International Ltd., Plymouth, (b) Pendennis Shipyard Ltd., Falmouth, (c) H. Beare and Sons Ltd., Newton Abbot, (d) Bredy Agricentre Ltd., Newton Abbot, (e) Cox and Sons (Wellington) Ltd., (f) Drilldown Ltd., (g) Brompton House plc and (h) Graffiti Management Ltd., by (i) type of grant and (ii) date. [19470]
  51
  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 7 March 1996]: Two of the companies have received assistance under the Department's principal regional, enterprise and technology schemes since 1980:

  Company

  Scheme

  Payment £

  Year

  Queensbury International Ltd.

  Consultancy Initiative

  3,284

  1993

  Pendennis Shipyard Ltd.

  Regional Selective Assistance

  350,000

  1993 and 1995

  In addition, a loan to Queensbury International Ltd. was guaranteed under the loan guarantee scheme in 1994.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance has been given since 1980 by his Department to(a) Country Farm Inns Ltd., (b) CFI Ltd., (c) Dellcourts Ltd. Totnes, (d) Sandy Beach Freehold Ltd., (e) Porthcurno Management Co. Ltd., (f) KJH Consultants Ltd. and (g) South West Farm Processors Ltd. by (i) type of grant and (ii) date. [19469]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 7 March 1996]: Only one of these companies-South West Farm Processors Ltd.-received assistance under the Department's principal regional, enterprise and technology schemes since 1980: £1,800 under the consultancy initiative in 1989 and £100,000 regional selective assistance in 1992.

  A loan to Porthcurno Management Company Ltd. was guaranteed under the loan guarantee scheme in 1993.

TREASURY

  Taxation
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all tax threshold rates and personal allowances for each year since 1976–77 (i) at 1976 constant prices and (ii) at 1996 constant prices. [19813]

  Mr. Jack
  Available information is given in the table. As the retail price index is not yet available for calendar year 1996, earnings tax thresholds have been given at 1995 constant prices.

  Tax thresholds 1976–77 to 1996–97

  Single person

  Married man without children

  Threshold at

  1976 prices

  1995 prices

  1976 prices

  1995 prices

  1976–77

  707

  2,647

  1,044

  3,908

  1977–78

  798

  2,986

  1,228

  4,597

  1978–79

  768

  2,874

  1,196

  4,479

  1979–80

  784

  2,934

  1,221

  4,571

  1980–81

  795

  2,976

  1,240

  4,642

  1981–82

  713

  2,669

  1,112

  4,164

  1982–83

  758

  2,839

  1,185

  4,435

  1983–84

  827

  3,095

  1,294

  4,846

  1984–85

  883

  3,307

  1,390

  5,204

  1985–86

  918

  3,435

  1,438

  5,383

  1986–87

  941

  3,524

  1,473

  5,516

  1987–88

  940

  3,521

  1,472

  5,510

  1988–89

  953

  3,567

  1,498

  5,607

  52

  Tax thresholds 1976–77 to 1996–97

  Single person

  Married man without children

  Threshold at

  1976 prices

  1995 prices

  1976 prices

  1995 prices

  1989–90

  945

  3,537

  1,484

  5,556

  1990–91

  930

  3,481

  1,462

  5,474

  1991–92

  973

  3,642

  1,481

  5,543

  1992–93

  986

  3,693

  1,479

  5,536

  1993–942

  970

  3,630

  1,454

  5,442

  1994–952

  944

  3,533

  1,415

  5,296

  1995–961 2

  929

  3,478

  1,269

  4,751

  1996–971 2

  971

  3,633

  1,317

  4,929

  1 Provisional

  2 Assuming husband receives full married couple's allowance

  Income Tax
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 1996,Official Report, column 372, what would be the estimated full-year costs at 1996–97 income levels of introducing a single positive rate of income tax at 20 per cent., assuming transferable personal allowances of £5,000 per person and the abolition of all other tax expenditures, exemptions and reliefs now allowable against income tax. [20334]

  Mr. Jack
  The estimated full-year cost of introducing a single 20 per cent. rate of income tax at 1996–97 income levels would be about £12 billion. This assumes a personal allowance of £5,000 transferable between spouses and the abolition of all other income tax allowances, and mortgage interest relief, tax relief on employee's contributions to occupational and personal pension schemes, reliefs for TESSAs, PEPs and profit-related pay, national savings certificates, employee share schemes and charitable giving.

  This estimate does not take into account the substantial behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such a change nor do they allow for any subsequent changes to the tax system, such as changes to tax relief on employer's contributions to pension schemes or relief for investment income in pension funds.

  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of all tax expenditures, reliefs, exemptions and allowances allowable against income tax excluding personal allowances(a) in 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) in the latest year for which figures are available. [20343]

  Mr. Jack
  The available historical information about the costs of income tax allowances and reliefs have been published in Inland Revenue Statistics. Table 1.6 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1995 contains figures for the latest years. Copies can be found in the Library.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total revenue that would be raised from personal income tax for the year 1996–97 if there were a flat rate of 20 per cent., no deductible allowances, but the first £10,000 of income was tax free. [20825]
  53
  Mr. Jack
  Available information was given in my answer to the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 7 February 1996,Official Report, column 186.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of income tax is paid by the top 5 per cent. of income tax payers; and what was the figure in 1979. [20731]

  Mr. Jack
  It is estimated that in 1996–97 the top 5 per cent. of income tax payers will pay 34 per cent. of the total income tax liability compared with 24 per cent. in 1978–79.

  Government Grants
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines there are on income tax liability for Government grants made to individuals to meet the costs of non-statutory services. [19136]

  Mr. Jack
  The income tax liability on any particular Government grant would depend on the nature of the grant and the circumstances of the individual. For example, a grant provided by Government which is not income or benefit from employment or profit from a trade or profession, would not be liable to income tax under schedule D or E.

  Valuation Office

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Items

  Value £

  Items

  Value £

  Items

  Value £

  Items

  Value £

  Items

  Value £

  56

  6,439

  14

  1,010

  47

  28,699

  31

  7,655

  11

  990

  5

  330

  5

  1,206

  6

  300

  13

  825

  7

  352

  3

  6,000

  4

  8,000

  52

  44,830

  51

  27,300

  32

  61,300

  Note:

  No items lost or stolen are valued at £5,000 or more.

  Paymaster Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the staff of the Paymaster agency were consulted before the announcement of its privatisation; and if he will make a statement; [20610]

  (2) what length of notice the Paymaster agency gave to customer organisations regarding its intended privatisation; and if he will make a statement; [20607]

  (3) what will be the length of the terms of contract to the successful bidder for the Paymaster agency in the event of privatisation and if he will make a statement; [20600]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the benefits of privatising the Paymaster agency; [20669]

  (5) what steps he is taking to protect the pension entitlements of staff of the Paymaster agency after privatisation; what assessment he has made of efficiency gains from the privatisation; and if he will make a statement; [20665]

  (6) what value he has set on the skills of the Paymaster agency staff for the purposes of privatisation; and if he will make a statement; [20611]
  54

  Departmental Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [19041]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Available information in respect of the Treasury and the Chancellor's four agencies is as follows, all values being approximate:

  HM Treasury

  Over the last five years 61 items have been recorded as stolen collectively valued at £31,000. The item valued over £5,000 is uninterruptable power supply, £9,000.

  Paymaster Agency

  No IT equipment was stolen in the last five years. Two other items were stolen in 1995–96, together valued at £520.

  Royal Mint

  No equipment stolen in the last five years.

  Central Statistical Office

  The total amount of equipment recorded as stolen is as follows:

  1993–94: £3,590

  1994–95: £300

  1995–96: £5,500

  No data exist for previous years. The only recorded loss over £5,000 occurred in 1995–96, this was a Panasonic Pentium laptop computer.

  (7) what factors led him to set the proposed time scale for privatising the Paymaster agency; and if he will make a statement; [20609]

  (8) what public consultation process has been arranged in respect of privatising the Paymaster agency; and if he will make a statement; [20606]

  (9) which functions of the Paymaster agency are to be sold in the course of its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [20654]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A prior options review of all the activities of the Paymaster agency was announced on 4 December 1995,Official Report, columns 15–16. The review still in progress, and no decision for or against privatisation has yet been taken.

  All interested parties were invited in that announcement to submit contributions to the Treasury by 26 February. On the same day the agency's staff were advised of the review and my officials wrote to the relevant trade unions, customer organisations and pensioner bodies to solicit comments within the same period. The response has been very good, and the review team is pursuing specific points where appropriate.
  55
  The review, which was envisaged for this period when agency status was first granted in 1993, is considering to what extent the functions performed by the Paymaster agency need to remain with the Government. If any do not, the costs and benefits of transfer to the private sector will be examined along with how this might best be achieved.

  As my December statement made clear, I will be reporting back to the House on the outcome of this review in due course.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the public sector borrowing requirement in 1995–96 to date of cash flows associated with national lottery funds; and if he will make a statement. [20910]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The table gives the relevant figures. The direct impact of the lottery, before allowing for the displacement of other indirect tax receipts, was to reduce the PSBR by £1.8 billion in the 11 months to February 1996.

  The effect of the lottery on the PSBR will be largely unwound in due course, as the national lottery distribution fund runs down its surplus by increasing its grants to the good causes.

  The direct effects of the lottery on the PSBR in the first 11 months of 1995–96 (£ million)

  Receipts

  Lottery duty: 566

  Income of the distribution fund:1,407

  Total general Government receipts: 1,973

  Payments

  Expenditure of the distribution fund: 128

  Total general Government expenditure: 128

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement:-1,845

  Uncertificated Securities Regulations
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the powers in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1995 will be delegated to the Securities and Investments Board. [21191]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury has now delegated to the Securities and Investments Board the relevant powers in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1995, SI 1995 No. 3272. This gives to the SIB the role of approving and supervising Crest as the current operator of the forthcoming paperless securities settlement system. Copies of the delegation instrument have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Roads
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was spent on(a) road infrastructure in Scotland, (b) new roads and road improvements and (c) road maintenance in Scotland at outturn prices in each year between 1975 and 1995. [19302]
  56
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not available in the requested format. The table details capital and current expenditure between 1975–76 to 1994–95:

  £ million

  Year

  Capital expenditure

  Current expenditure

  Other

  Total

  1975–76

  91

  53

  10

  154

  1976–77

  92

  59

  13

  164

  1977–78

  109

  85

  13

  207

  1978–79

  122

  98

  16

  236

  1979–80

  150

  113

  19

  282

  1980–81

  157

  131

  20

  308

  1981–82

  187

  148

  24

  359

  1982–83

  211

  158

  25

  394

  1983–84

  204

  163

  26

  393

  1984–85

  202

  169

  15

  386

  1985–86

  228

  173

  16

  417

  1986–87

  219

  180

  15

  414

  1987–88

  232

  185

  18

  435

  1988–89

  231

  203

  21

  455

  1989–90

  273

  229

  20

  522

  1990–91

  303

  250

  37

  590

  1991–92

  314

  262

  37

  613

  1992–93

  349

  294

  39

  682

  1993–94

  353

  312

  36

  701

  1994–95

  355

  315

  37

  707

  1. Capital expenditure includes new roads and improvements on all roads; and structural maintenance on trunk roads. Current expenditure includes routine and winter maintenance on all roads; and road lighting and structural maintenance on local authority roads. Other expenditure includes administration, car parks, road safety, traffic management and surveys.

  2. Minor changes in the classification of expenditure have occurred during the above period.

  3. Expenditure for 1994–95 is provisional.

  Cairngorm Funicular Railway
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received concerning the proposed railway development on Cairngorm; how many of these support the development; and how many oppose it. [19989]

  Mr. Kynoch
  To date, my right hon. Friend has received a total of 1,848 letters about the Cairngorm funicular railway. Of these, 81 support the proposal with 1,767 opposed to the development.

  Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd.
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what factors led to the delay by the procurator fiscal after court proceedings were initiated against Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd.; and what assessment he has made as to whether the procurator fiscal was in possession of all relevant information before that date; [20019]

  (2) what factors governed the length of the interval between the completion of police scientific evidence of material seized from Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd. and the service of an indictment on Mr. Gilbert Mackie; [20228]

  (3) what is the cost to public funds of the police investigation, storage charges and jury trial arising from allegations concerning Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd.; and if he will make a statement; [20020]
  57
  (4) what consideration was given to evidence provided by Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd. about the ownership of material before it was seized by the police in 1991; [20034]

  (5) what factors governed the length of the interval between the procurator fiscal receiving the police report on Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd. and his decision to proceed with a prosecution. [20230]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am advised by the Lord Advocate that the procurator fiscal at Haddington received a report in this case on 20 May 1993. A decision was taken to precognosce the case prior to placing the accused on petition. This was a complex case involving numerous witnesses. During the course of precognition, it became apparent that further forensic examination, in addition to that already conducted by the police, would be required. This examination was carried out at the university of Edinburgh.

  The investigation involved considering in detail evidence about ownership of the property in question, including documentary evidence produced to the police on the accused's behalf.

  Once the case had been precognosced, it was submitted for Crown counsel's instructions. Crown counsel considered there to be sufficient evidence and instructed that proceedings should be taken on indictment. The accused, Gilbert Mackie, was placed on petition on 20 September 1994. The case was initially indicted for a sitting of the sheriff court on 15 March 1995, but was adjourned on the motion of the accused. The case was re-indicted for trial on 19 September 1995 but was adjourned on this occasion because the Crown had not received a list of defence witnesses. This list was provided in November 1995 and the case was re-indicted for trial on 12 February 1996.

  The other information sought about the cost to public funds of the case is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps were taken to ensure that materials taken from Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd. On and after 12 April 1991 were stored in a satisfactory and secure environment; [20033]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the decision taken by the police to make arrangements with companies which had claimed to be the legal owners of material seized from Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd. in 1991, to remove and store that material; [20035]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the change in the condition of timber and other materials stored on behalf of the police pending court proceedings against Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd.; and if it is in a satisfactory condition for (a) production at a criminal trial and (b) further use by its rightful owner; [20018]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am advised by the Lord Advocate that storage of the material taken from Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd. pursuant to the police inquiry was arranged with a haulage contractor. The equipment has been stored out of doors since 1991. The storage arrangements were as satisfactory as circumstances would allow, having regard to the nature of 58
  the equipment and the fact that scaffolding equipment is exposed to weather and adverse elements throughout its normal usage.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the length of the interval between notification by the police that certain items would be returned to Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd. and the actual delivery; [20017]

  (2) if (a) the Crown Office and (b) the police have a full list of material taken by the police from Lothian Scaffolding Services Ltd. on and after 12 April 1991; and if he will make a statement. [20032]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am advised by the Lord Advocate that the Crown Office has a list of material seized by the police following identification of the material by others as being their property. This material has not been returned because ownership is disputed. If this dispute cannot be resolved, civil court proceedings may be required. Further inquiries are being made as to whether the police seized other material which was not the subject of charges. This additional information is not available and I will reply further as soon as possible.

  Derelict Land (Glasgow)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what public funds have been spent cleaning up derelict land in the city of Glasgow(a) in 1994–95 and (b) in 1995–96. [21093]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The main source of public funds for the treatment of derelict land in Glasgow is the local enterprise company, the Glasgow development agency. The expenditure of local enterprise companies is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the chairman of that organisation to write to the hon. Member.

  Police
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when police authority establishment figures were last revised; and if he will make a statement. [21100]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Statutory controls by police authorities and the Secretary of State over the authorised regular police establishments of forces were removed on 13 December 1995. The number of police officers in each force is now determined by individual chief constables.

  Responsibility for the number of police civilians in each force will be determined by individual chief constables from 1 April 1996 when the statutory controls by police authorities and the Secretary of State over authorised civilian establishments are removed.

  Police establishment figures were last revised for each force on the dates set out in the table.

  Force

  Month and year police establishment figures last revised

  Month and year civilian establishment figures last revised

  Central Scotland

  November 1994

  April 1994

  Dumfries and Galloway

  August 1991

  March 1993

  Fife

  July 1990

  May 1994

  Grampian

  August 1991

  March 1995

  59

  Force

  Month and year police establishment figures last revised

  Month and year civilian establishment figures last revised

  Lothian and Borders

  January 1994

  April 1994

  Northern

  August 1995

  August 1995

  Strathclyde

  August 1995

  December 1995

  Tayside

  August 1995

  October 1994

  Glasgow Development Agency
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was Glasgow development agency's budget in 1995, in current prices; and what is the budget for 1996. [21094]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The allocation of local enterprise company budgets is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Reconviction Rates
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the reconviction rates two years and four years after release for(a) adults, (b) 15 to 17-year-olds and (c) 18 to 21-year-olds, breaking down the figures by gender. [21018]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available.

  Population Statistics (Hawick)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the level of population in the Hawick area of Roxburghshire in(a) the 1991 census population and (b) each earlier census in the last years. [19852]

  Borders region: Components of population change by district; 1991–94

  Population change

  Estimated population 30 June 1991

  Births

  Deaths

  Natural change

  Estimated net civilian migration

  Estimated population 30 June 1994

  Number

  Percentage

  Borders Region

  104,100

  3,582

  4,225

  -643

  2,243

  105,700

  1,600

  1.5

  Berwickshire

  19,120

  662

  733

  -71

  371

  19,420

  300

  1.6

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  34,390

  1,232

  1,364

  -132

  1,232

  35,490

  1,100

  3.2

  Roxburgh

  35,320

  1,174

  1,522

  -348

  258

  35,230

  -90

  -0.3

  Tweedale

  15,270

  514

  606

  -92

  382

  15,560

  290

  1.9

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now conduct sample surveys of recent population levels in the Hawick area of Roxburghshire. [19854]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  Housing Finance
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department first received reports of an adverse impact on the bids of local authorities bidding for new town housing caused by the changes in the handling of capital receipts from local authorities last year. [21060]
  60
  Lord James Duglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is given in the table. Hawick locality covers the urban area and is the nearest equivalent to the small burgh that existed before 1974.

  Resident population Hawick small burgh

  Hawick locality

  1961

  16,324

  -

  1971

  16,530

  16,726

  1981

  -

  16,213

  1991

  -

  15,812

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will estimate the recent trends in population in the Hawick area of Roxburghshire since the 1991 census; and what assessment he has made of the scale of these changes relative to corresponding changes in other towns in the Borders region; [19853]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the degree of statistical variation in respect of recent changes in level of population in the Hawick area of Roxburghshire; [19855]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the recent changes in the level of population in the Hawick area of Roxburghshire. [19856]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In periods between censuses, population estimates are normally prepared only for local authority areas because no source provides reliable estimates of migration at small area levels. The Registrar General estimates that between mid-1991 and mid-1994, the population of Roxburgh district as a whole fell by 90 from 35,320 to 35,230. The factors underlying this change are a small set migration gain offset by an excess of deaths over births. Complete figures for Borders region and its four districts are given in the table, from which it can be seen that recent growth has mainly been in Ettrick and Lauderdale district.

  Mr. Kynoch
  West Lothian district council wrote to the Department on 6 December 1995. Its views, with those expressed by other parties, were carefully considered by my right hon. Friend and his decision as conveyed to the local authorities on 15 February.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations led his Department not to exclude the bids lodged by local authorities involved in the bidding process for the housing stock of Scotland's development corporations from the effects of his changes in the handling of capital receipts by local authorities. [21063]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Government consider it important that the overall level of local authority debt in Scotland should be reduced. My right hon. Friend's decision
  61
  ensures that a proportion of any receipts from ex-new town stock sold by a local authority under the right-to-buy scheme will reduce that authority's debt.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what delay has been caused in the bidding process for the housing stock of Scotland's development corporations by the changes in the Scottish Office rules on the handling of capital receipts by Scottish local authorities; and when his Department decided not to exempt local authorities in the bidding process for the housing stock of Scotland's development corporations from these changes in capital receipts. [21062]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The transfer of the housing stocks of the development corporations is to be completed before wind-up on 31 December 1996. The decision on the treatment of local authority capital receipts will alter the time scale of the interim stages. Letters conveying my right to hon. Friend's decision not to exempt local authorities involved in the bidding process from the revised capital receipt rules were issued on 15 February 1996.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to allow the relevant existing local authorities and their successor councils to be included on the ballots for the housing stock of Irvine, Cumbernauld and Livingston development corporations. [21241]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Government's policy is to admit local authorities to the ballots provided that their final bids are considered to be value for money.

  Exel Logistics
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will intervene to stop the threatened job losses at Exel Logistics in Falkirk. [21154]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I understand that this company, which offers transport services to industry and the retail trade from 14 depots in the UK, intends to rationalise its entire UK operations. This is a matter for the commercial judgment of management in the company. The company's announcement to its work force was accompanied by the offer of counselling and of a transfer to the company's headquarters. Forth Valley Enterprise will offer to all affected by the announcement its range of retraining and counselling services.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what ways the eligibility, financial and operating rules which apply to LECs in Scotland differ from those outlined in the 1996–97 technical operating agreement for(a) youth training/youth credits and (b) training for work; and if he will make a statement. [21026]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The rules which govern the delivery by local enterprise companies in Scotland of the principal Government-funded training and enterprise programmes for 1996–97 are set out in an operating agreement between Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and their respective networks of local enterprise companies which follows closely that for training and enterprise councils.

  Renfrewshire Healthcare Trust
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors led Healthcare NHS trust to reduce nursing costs; and if contracts with purchasers of the Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS trust are dependent on reducing costs. [21174]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The review of nursing management and organisational structures within the Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS trust was driven by the objective of improving patient care and providing nursing services which would best meet the health care needs of the people of Renfrewshire for the future.

  All NHS trusts and health boards in Scotland are required to identify efficiency savings to release resources for re-investment in direct patient care. It is for the trusts and boards to determine how this is to be achieved.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations led Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS trust to remove the position of ward sister and charge nurse from hospitals in its responsibility. [21173]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS trust has reviewed its nursing management and organisational structure and is embarking on a two-year implementation programme. The revised staffing structure will change the current configuration of nurse grades and increase the number of nurses involved in direct patient care.

  It is for the trust to decide on the implementation of the revised structure, but I welcome this initiative if it improves the quality of patient care and offers an opportunity for nurses in the trust to develop further their skills and expertise.

  Surgery Cancellations
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a breakdown by health board of(a) the number of operations cancelled for non-medical reasons on or after the day of admission and (b) the number of patients not re-admitted within one month after a cancellation for each quarter since records began. [21444]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Departmental Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [19039]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 March 1996]: A variety of items are periodically reported missing. The following items valued at £5,000

  63
  or more have been formally recorded since 1991 as losses to the Scottish Office, including those attributable to theft.

  Year

  Item

  Approximate value

  1992

  Car

  £8,000

  1995

  Van

  £13,000

DEFENCE

  Art Thefts
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to co-ordinate art theft investigations conducted by MOD police and the special investigations branches of the various armed services police. [20834]

  Mr. Soames
  The chief constable MoD police and provost/marshals of the service policing organisations meet as the Defence Police Chiefs Forum to discuss and plan the joint investigation of such matters.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MoD police officers are trained in art theft detection techniques. [20831]

  Mr. Soames
  I am unaware of specific courses in art theft detection techniques. All Ministry of Defence police CID officers attend Home Office detective training and specialisation courses. Furthermore, all police agencies pool their expertise to combat specific areas of concern.

  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the works of art belonging to the departmental art collection which are considered missing or stolen; [20561]

  (2) if he will list the works of art on loan from the Government art collection that are considered missing or stolen. [20565]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am placing the information requested in the Library of the House.

  Menwith Hill
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to public funds of the RAF's present responsibilities at Menwith Hill. [20625]

  Mr. Soames
  Most costs at RAF Menwith Hill to my Department are reimbursed by the US Government. The principal cost for which my Department receives no reimbursement is for the Ministry of Defence police overtime occasioned by activities of protesters, which amounted to approximately £100,000 in 1994–95.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the 23 radomes and signals interpretation equipment at Menwith Hill. [20623]

  Mr. Soames
  The radomes and most of the equipment at RAF Menwith Hill are owned by the United States Government.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many residents at Menwith Hill station are entitled to vote in British elections. [20633]

  Mr. Soames
  None.
  64
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) British and (b) United States personnel work at, or for, both Forest Moor royal naval communications base and RAF Menwith Hill. [20645]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently 600 UK employees and 1,200 United States personnel employed at RAF Menwith Hill, and 132 UK employees and no United States personnel employed at Forest Moor royal naval communications base. No personnel work for both bases.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the squadron leader in charge is resident at Menwith Hill. [20632]

  Mr. Soames
  No.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the squadron leader in charge at Menwith Hill is security cleared for access to intercepted data. [20628]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not our policy to comment on specific security arrangements.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed at Menwith Hill; and of these how many are US personnel. [20626]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently 1,800 personnel employed at RAF Menwith Hill, of whom 1,200 are United States personnel.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the United States Government reimburses the British Government for the salaries of his Department's staff at Menwith Hill. [20624]

  Mr. Soames
  Approximately £5.4 million per annum.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees at Menwith Hill are security cleared for access to intercepted data. [20630]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not our policy to comment on specific security arrangements.

  Armed Forces Bases
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which US National Security Agency bases in Britain have RAF status. [20644]

  Mr. Soames
  All bases made available by the Ministry of Defence for the use of United States visiting forces have RAF status.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF bases in the United Kingdom have no(a) runways, (b) jets and (c) other aeroplanes; how many United States personnel are stationed at each; and how much each base cost in the last year for which figures are available. [20642]

  Mr. Soames
  The information given in the following table covers all RAF bases in the UK where US personnel are present and which do not have an operational runway or aircraft:
  65

  RAF base

  Approximate number of US personnel

  RAF Croughton/RAF Barford St. John

  580

  RAF Daws Hill/RAF High Wycombe/RAF West Ruislip

  570

  RAF Digby

  12

  RAF Edzell

  530

  RAF Hythe

  5

  RAF Menwith Hill

  1,200

  RAF Molesworth/RAF Alconbury

  1,100

  RAF Northwood

  30

  RAF Oakhangar

  30

  RAF Spadeadam

  5

  RAF Uxbridge

  70

  Arrangements that exist between the UK and US Governments provide for the reimbursement to the UK of most of the support costs associated with the US visiting forces. The exception is certain administrative and personnel costs. These are not separately recorded for each of the bases listed above but the total cost incurred in supporting the US visiting forces during 1994–95 was approximately £10.7 million.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis and by whom it is decided that a base is to be designated as an Army, Navy or Air Force base; and what guidelines are available to inform that decision. [20643]

  Mr. Soames
  There is no specific definition of the term "base". The decision as to which service is responsible for a particular Ministry of Defence site is made on the basis of who is the major occupier and who has responsibility for matters such as security and maintenance. Sites used by US visiting forces are designated as RAF stations.

  Interception of Information
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the present arrangements between the British Government and other European Governments to allow the RAF to intercept electronic telecommunications from Europe; [20634]

  (2) what procedures govern the sharing by the RAF of trade, commercial and other kinds of intercepted information with the United States National Security Agency. [20635]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not our practice to comment on such matters.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Morwenstowe interception station at Bude, in Cornwall, is classified as having RAF status. [20636]

  Mr. Soames
  No.

  Armed Services Budget
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of gross domestic product is budgeted for the three armed services in the current financial year in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) France. [21050]

  Mr. Soames
  In calendar year 1995, the most recent period for which information is available, both the UK and France spent approximately 3.1 per cent. of gross domestic product on the armed services.

  Nuclear Capability Budget
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current budget for Britain's nuclear capability; and if he will make a statement. [20855]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 6 March 1996,Official Report, column 232.

  Franco-German-British Armaments Agency
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what measures he will take to ensure that the commercial interests of the British defence equipment industry are protected in programmes managed by the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency in Bonn; [21203]

  (2) how many personnel of the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency in Bonn will be drawn from (a) the European Commission, (b) the Western European Union, (c) the French Government and armed forces, (d) the German Government and armed forces and (e) NATO; [21207]

  (3) how many personnel from the Procurement Executive of his Department will be transferred to Bonn to work for the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency; and on what date their transfer will be effective; [21211]

  (4) what proportion of the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency's budget in its first year of operation will be derived from (a) the British Government, (b) the French Government, (c) the German Government, (d) the European Union, (e) the Western European Union and (f) NATO; [21205]

  (5) what is the name, rank, nationality and style of the first head of the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency in Bonn; [21204]

  (6) what measures he will take to ensure the maximum export potential for tri-national defence equipment programmes managed by the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency in Bonn; [21202]

  (7) if he will require the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency in Bonn to submit annual financial accounts to the British Parliament; [21206]

  (8) what local overseas allowance personnel from his Department serving on the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency in Bonn will be eligible for; and what will be the total annual cost of this allowance. [21210]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As I announced on 13 March 1996,Official Report, columns 648–49, discussions with France and Germany on participation in the Franco-German Armaments Agency will commence following completion of work on the tender documents for the armoured utility vehicle. The agency's policy, staffing, and operating procedures remain to be determined in these discussions, as do the detailed management arrangements for any collaborative projects involved.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the multi-role armoured vehicle programme for the British Army will be managed by the Franco-German-British Armaments Agency in Bonn. [21209]
  67
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is not yet possible to determine in detail how the collaborative multi-role armoured vehicle programme will be managed under the auspices of the armaments co-operative structure.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the British industrial work loads and contract values of a multi-role armoured vehicle(a) procured solely from British manufacturers and (b) procured on a Franco-German-British basis. [21208]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The implications for British industry were taken into account in our decision to join the current competition which is planned to lead to a collaborative programme for a multi-role armoured utility vehicle. Industries of all three countries will take part on an equal basis, providing British industry with an opportunity to carry out a share of a substantial programme to meet the requirements of France, Germany and the UK for armoured vehicles. A competition to meet only the British requirement would not have been restricted to British manufacturers alone. The value of any contracts will depend on the outcome of competition.

  Ship Maintenance and Refitting Costs
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the total(a) maintenance costs and (b) refitting costs for (i) HMS Fearless and (ii) HMS Intrepid since the ships were last removed from operational capability. [21065]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  HMS Fearless was last at sea operationally in June 1995. The cost of her recent maintenance period was some £32 million. HMS Intrepid has been maintained in a state of extended readiness since 1989; by the end of her ongoing maintenance period maintenance costs during this time will total some £33 million.

  Contracts (Transfer)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts were transferred from MGC Technical Services Ltd. to(a) Ridgewood Industries Ltd., (b) Ridgewood Engineering Ltd., (c) Ridgewood Electronics Ltd. and (d) Ridgewood Holdings Ltd.; on what date they occurred; and what was the value of these contracts. [21179]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The central records of contracts held by the Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive do not show any contracts placed on the Ridgewood Engineering, Electronics or Holdings companies during the past five years. While this Department had numerous contracts with both MGC Technical Services Ltd. and Ridgewood Industries Ltd. up to 1992, MOD can trace no record of any transfer of prime contracts from MGC Technical Services Ltd. to Ridgewood Industries Ltd. Research of earlier records could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations his Department received from hon. Members about the transfer of contracts from Ridgewood Industries Ltd. to Avocet Ltd.; and on what date they were received; [21178]
  68
  (2) what contracts were transferred from Ridgewood Industries Ltd. to Avocet Ltd.; on what date they occurred; and what was the value of these contracts. [21180]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The central records held by the Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive do not indicate that there has been any request to transfer any contracts from Ridgewood Industries Ltd. to Avocet Ltd. during the last five years and consequently no record of any representations has been traced. Research of earlier records could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

  There is no record of any prime contracts between this Ministry and Avocet Ltd. in the past five years.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department received from hon. Members about the transfer of contracts from MGC Technical Services Ltd. to(a) Ridgewood Industries Ltd. (b) Ridgewood Engineering Ltd. (c) Ridgewood Electronics Ltd. and (d) Ridgewood Holdings Ltd.; and on what date they were received. [21181]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am not aware of any recent such representations from hon. Members. A search of records of earlier years could not be completed except at disproportionate cost.

  Aircraft Crashes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, columns 739–40, if he will list the dates and types of aircraft his Department has lost through crashes since 11 January; and what were the causes of these accidents. [21021]

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

  Date

  Aircraft type

  Cause

  1996

  23 January

  Jaguar GR1B

  Under investigation by board of inquiry

  13 February

  Hawk T1

  Under investigation by board of inquiry

  13 February

  Sea Harrier FA2

  Under investigation by board of inquiry

  19 February

  Harrier GR7

  Under investigation by board of inquiry

  23 February

  Harrier T4N

  Under investigation by board of inquiry

  26 February

  Tornado GR1

  Under investigation by board of inquiry

  Service Family Quarters (Rents)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 117, what additional financial assistance he will give to service personnel to compensate for the rises in rents on service family quarters. [21188]

  Mr. Soames
  We do not propose to introduce any additional financial assistance to compensate for the rises in service accommodation charges.

  In recommending increases to pay and family quarter charges this year, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body-while continuing to follow the principle that charges

  69
  levied on service personnel should compare fairly with the costs civilians have to incur for comparative housing-have also sought to ensure that no personnel will experience a net decrease in pay.

  Nimrod Aircraft
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 March,Official Report, columns 508–09, when the Nimrod R aircraft first entered service with the Royal Air Force. [21648]

  Mr. Soames
  The Nimrod R's in-service date was July 1974.

  Heavy Vehicles (Train Transportation)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which vehicles returning from Bosnia were loaded on to trains at Marchwood on 28 December for transportation to Ashworth; when they were unloaded at Ashworth; what facilities exist for unloading heavy vehicles at Ashworth; and if he will make a statement. [20750]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 14 March 1996]: This is a matter for the Defence Transport and Movements Executive under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Hodson to Dr. David Clark, dated 18 March 1996:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, about vehicle movements from Marchwood, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive Agency.
  First, I must apologise for the delay in answering your question but some considerable investigation was necessary, as we could not identify the movement you refer to as taking place on 28 December. Furthermore, I believe you were intending to quote Ashchurch, instead of Ashworth.
  The nearest instance that we can identify is the return of some light "A" vehicles which arrived in Marchwood Military Port (MMP) on 4 January. These included vehicles which could not be driven under their own power. They were loaded to rail to remove

  National lottery awards in Gwynedd

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Location

  Amount

  NHMF

  08 June 1995

  6 Palace Street, Caernarfon

  Gwynedd

  55,760.00

  MC

  02 October 1995

  Restoration of the Glan-Llyn Youth Centre

  Gwynedd

  390,000.00

  MC

  02 October 1995

  Welsh Highland Railway Restoration

  Porthmadog, Gwynedd

  4,300,000.00

  NLCB

  23 November 1995

  Gwynedd Pre-school Playgroup Association

  Gwynedd

  17,000.00

  NHMF

  23 November 1995

  Hafod Garregog Estate

  Gwynedd

  372,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Antur Nantlle Cyf.

  Penygroes, Caernafon, Gwynedd

  92,003.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Beddgelert Community Hall

  Beddgelert Gwynedd

  30,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Clwydd and Gwynedd Advice and Advocacy

  Llanfairfechan, Gwynedd

  239,918.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Cylch Meithrin Penmachno

  Betws y Coed, Gwynedd

  700.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Cylch Meithrin Rhosybol

  Ynys Mon, Gwynedd

  710.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Epilepsy Wales

  Dolgellau, Gwynedd

  300,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Holyhead Opportunities Trust

  Gwynedd

  144,007.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Llandudno and District Mencap Society Gateway Clu

  Llandudno, Gwynedd

  20,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Llanfairfechan, Playgroup

  Llanfairfechan, Gwynedd

  13,923.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, Gwynedd

  Gwynedd

  20,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Neuadd Bentreff Llanfachraeth

  Ynys Mon, Gwynedd

  26,523.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Neuadd y Pentref, Llanystumdwy Village Hall

  Criccieth, Gwynedd

  90,250.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  North Wales Association for Spina Bifida and Hydra

  Llandudno, Gwynedd

  11,970.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Pentrefelin Community Centre

  Criccieth, Gwynedd

  34,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Samaritans-Gwynedd Branch

  Bangor, Gwynedd

  10,000.00

  70
  them from the immediate working area of the port side as MMP was at that time subject to intense activity arising from the deployment of I-FOR.

  Arrangements were then made with Railfreight Distribution (RfD) to move the train from Marchwood to Ashchurch in early January. Carrying out the "can consignee accept" procedure with Ashchurch, RfD/MMP were informed that the facilities at Ashchurch were not suitable. The only alternative was to move the vehicles by road and this was arranged.

  You will appreciate that in a very busy port, identifying specific vehicles and movements, in retrospect, is not easy. I hope that we have managed to pin down the one to which you were referring.

  Fast Jet Aircraft
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the number of operational fast jet aircraft in the RAF, (b) the number of operational fast jet aircraft pilots in the RAF, (c) the aggregate number of flying hours for operational fast jet aircraft in the RAF and (d) the aggregate number of flying hours at low level for operational fast jet aircraft in the RAF for (i) 1990 and (ii) 1995. [19957]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many recipients of national lottery awards have made representations about the difficulty in raising the required matching amount. [20549]

  Mr. Sproat
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which projects in the county of Gwynedd have benefited from lottery funding; what sums they have received; and if she will make a statement. [20742]

  Mr. Sproat
  To date, 36 awards totalling £6.6 million have been made to projects in Gwynedd. They are:
  71

  National lottery awards in Gwynedd

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Location

  Amount

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  St Michael's Church-Valley

  Anglesey, Gwynedd

  35,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Taran Mon Ltd.

  Holyhead, Gwynedd

  147,221.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  The Abbeyfield Bangor/UCNW Society

  Gwynedd

  6,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Ti a Fi Canolfan Noddfa

  Caernarfon, Gwynedd

  3,560.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Ynys Mon Volunteers

  Talwrn, Ynys Mon, Gwynedd

  68,804.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Ysgol Feithrin Amlwch

  Amlwch, Anglesey, Gwynedd

  2,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Ysgol Feithrin Brynaerail

  Porthmadog, Gwynedd

  2,600.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Ysgol Feithrin Criccieth

  Criccieth, Gwynedd

  3,000.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Ysgol Feithrin Y Parc

  Holyhead, Gwynedd

  500.00

  NLCB

  15 December 1995

  Ysgol Meithrin Dwyran

  Newborough, Anglesey, Gwynedd

  1,073.00

  Arts

  13 December 1996

  Cor Meibion Prysor

  Gwynedd: Meirionnydd

  20,726.00

  Arts

  13 December 1996

  Cymdeithas Theatr Cymru

  Gwynedd: Dwyfor

  2,455.00

  Arts

  13 December 1996

  Neuadd Gyhoeddus Trawsfynydd

  Gwynedd: Meirionnydd

  49,500.00

  Arts

  13 December 1996

  Neuadd Ysgol Botwnnog

  Gywnedd: Dwyfor

  57,068.00

  Arts

  13 December 1996

  Royal Cambrian Academy

  Gwynedd: Aberconwy

  8,343.00

  Arts

  13 Feburary 1996

  Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern

  Gwynedd: Ynys Mon

  43,327.00

  Total

  6,619,941.00

  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which projects in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the English lottery regions have benefited from lottery funding; and what sums they have received. [20802]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To date, Wales has received £126.6 million towards 485 projects. Some 633 projects in Scotland have received a total of £128.4 million. Over £27.7 million has been awarded to 348 projects in Northern Ireland and England has received £957.9 million towards 3,562 projects.

  Reports on the distribution of national lottery proceeds are placed in the Library of the House on a monthly basis.

  Breakdown of National Lottery Awards

  SPORT

  ARTS

  HERITAGE

  MILL. COMM

  CHARITIES

  TOTAL

  TOTAL

  Value of awards £

  Number of awards

  Value of awards £

  Number of awards

  Value of awards £

  Number of awards

  Value of awards £

  Number of awards

  Value of awards £

  Number of awards

  Value of awards £

  Number of awards

  England (83.3 per cent of population)

  London

  26,368,530.00

  66

  131,392,378.00

  95

  23,899,436.00

  26

  116,000,000.00

  5

  17,830,854.00

  253

  315,491,198.00

  444

  North West

  13,582,243.00

  96

  49,610,723.00

  58

  14,531,294.00

  14

  31,455,500.00

  8

  14,799,050.00

  268

  123,978,810.00

  444

  North East

  21,164,197.00

  69

  14,485,644.00

  39

  2,407,278.00

  11

  4,650,000.00

  2

  8,684,004.00

  111

  51,391,123.00

  232

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  17,414,401.00

  115

  10,689,306.00

  59

  11,479,537.00

  20

  52,112,000.00

  5

  12,730,874.00

  193

  104,426,118.00

  392

  Eastern

  14,549,404.00

  127

  11,599,544.00

  53

  21,988,297.00

  23

  11,379,890.00

  3

  8,592,052.00

  122

  68,109,187.00

  328

  East Midlands

  12,635,468.00

  94

  8,170,515.00

  40

  498,165.00

  8

  2,529,600.00

  5

  8,600,222.00

  166

  32,433,970.00

  313

  West Midlands

  17,467,594.00

  86

  16,552,659.00

  61

  6,303,728.00

  12

  6,227,540.00

  4

  13,669,261.00

  200

  60,220,782.00

  363

  South West

  22,641,333.00

  159

  15,099,988.00

  48

  7,021,686.00

  28

  4,013,000.00

  3

  9,228,414.00

  161

  58,004,421.00

  399

  South East

  28,062,265.00

  198

  34,414,181.00

  57

  5,640,257.00

  22

  41,570,000.00

  6

  11,981,236.00

  230

  121,667,939.00

  513

  Merseyside

  4,654,140.00

  13

  3,416,201.00

  12

  170,000.00

  2

  3,168,500.00

  2

  4,422,072.00

  59

  15,830,913.00

  88

  All England

  -

  0

  -

  0

  -

  0

  -

  0

  6,405,600.00

  46

  6,405,600.00

  46

  Total

  178,539,575.00

  1,023

  295,431,139.00

  522

  93,939,678.00

  166

  273,106,030.00

  43

  116,943,639.00

  1,808

  957,960,061.00

  3,562

  Scotland (8.9 per cent. of population)

  23,051,239.00

  187

  22,986,792.76.00

  142

  24,011,239.00

  31

  40,782,180.00

  50

  17,593,170.00

  223

  128,424,620.76

  633

  Wales (5.0 per cent. of population)

  9,763,218.00

  111

  10,263,012.00

  159

  2,513,850.00

  19

  94,287,500.00

  11

  9,799,686.00

  185

  126,627,266.00

  485

  Northern Ireland (2.8 per cent. of population)

  6,587.309.00

  100

  5,407.067.00

  75

  2,536,880.00

  6

  6,855,675.00

  5

  6,400,474.00

  162

  27,787,405.00

  348

  Total

  39,401,766.00

  398

  38,656,871.76

  376

  29,061,969.00

  56

  141,925,355.00

  66

  33,793,330.00

  570

  282,839,291.76.00

  1,466

  United Kingdom Wide

  -

  0

  -

  0

  -

  0

  58,417,000.00

  202

  8,344,977.00

  82

  66,761,977.00

  284

  Grand Total

  217,941,341.00

  1,421

  334,088,010.76

  898

  123,001,647.00

  222

  473,448,385.00

  311

  159,081,946.00

  2,460

  1,307,561,329.76

  5,312

  72
  The reports include the information requested. The March edition will be placed in the Library of the House in early April.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what the total value of national lottery awards has been; and how much has been awarded by(a) the sports councils, (b) the Arts Council, (c) the National Heritage Memorial Fund, (d) the Millennium Commission and (e) the National Lottery Charities Board in each of the national lottery regions. [20780]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  To date, over £1.3 billion has been awarded to 5,312 projects throughout the UK. A breakdown is contained in the following table.
  73
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of national lottery awards have been made in(a) Wales, (b) the English regions, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [20917]

  Breakdown of National Lottery Awards

  Value of awards Total £

  Value of awards Percentage of total

  Number of awards Total

  Number of awards Percentage of total

  England (83.3 per cent. of pop.)

  London

  315,491,198.00

  24.13

  444

  8.36

  North West

  123,978,810.00

  9.48

  444

  8.36

  North East

  51,391,123.00

  3.93

  232

  4.37

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  104,426,118.00

  7.99

  392

  7.38

  West Midlands

  60,220,782.00

  4.61

  363

  6.83

  South West

  58,004,421.00

  4.44

  399

  7.51

  South East

  121,667,939.00

  9.3

  513

  9.66

  Merseyside

  15,830,913.00

  1.21

  88

  1.66

  All England

  6,405,600.00

  0.49

  46

  0.87

  Total

  957,960,061.00

  73.26

  3,562

  67.06

  Scotland (8.9 per cent. of pop.)

  128,424,620.76

  9.82

  633

  11.92

  Wales (5.0 per cent. of pop.)

  126,627,266.00

  9.68

  485

  9.13

  Northern Ireland (2.8 per cent. of pop.)

  27,787,405.00

  2.13

  348

  6.55

  Total

  282,839,291.76

  21.63

  1,466

  27.60

  UK Wide

  66,761,977.00

  5.11

  284

  5.35

  Grand total

  1,307,561,329.76

  100.00

  5,312

  100.00

  Ariane Programme
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for national Heritage what representations she has received on the European Commission's Ariane programme; and if she will publish them. [20258]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has received a number of letters concerning the proposed Ariane programme. The Department has no present plans to publish them.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement about the promotion of a wider knowledge of(a) the Welsh language and (b) other languages in the European Union under the European Commissiom' s Ariane programme. [20261]

  Mr. Sproat
  One of the aims of the Ariane programme-which is still under discussion and not yet finalized-is to support the translation of literary works into and out of one Community language to another with a priority being given to lesser-used ones, including Welsh.

  Riding Stables
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations have been made to her over the past two years about the effect on tourism of financial difficulties facing small-scale riding stables. [20213]

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received one, direct, letter about the importance of riding stables to tourism and the financial burdens such businesses face. My hon. Friend the Paymaster General
  74
  Mrs. Bottomley
  The information is in the following table:

  has forwarded a further letter on this issue for reply by my Department. In addition, I have also received a number of oral representations on the subject.

  The Government are very conscious of the needs of small businesses and the valuable contribution that they make to the economy. On 11 March, the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to help reduce burdens on small firms. My Department is also pursuing sponsorship initiatives which will assist small firms in the tourism industry in particular.

  Royal Palaces Estate
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the residential accommodation available within the unoccupied palaces and its occupants. [19436]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 8 March 1996]The information is as follows:

  Number of residences

  Occupied by

  Hampton Court Palace

  6

  Grace and Favour

  5

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency Management (Gardens Manager, Operations Manager, Nurseries Manager, Deputy Estates Manager, Duty Manager)

  75

  Number of residences

  Occupied by

  5

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency former staff

  4

  Royal Household former staff

  2

  Landmark Trust

  2

  Unoccupied

  1

  The Royal Collection

  1

  Residents Wardens for Grace and Favour residents

  1

  Chaplain

  1

  Vine Keeper

  1

  Royal Parks Constabulary

  1

  Real Tennis Club

  The Tower of London

  36

  Yeoman Warders

  5

  Unoccupied-undergoing maintenance

  3

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency Management (Resident Governor, Deputy Governor Operations, Deputy Operations Manager)

  2

  Unoccupied-vacant

  2

  Used on occasion by other senior staff on duty

  2

  Yeoman Warder supervisors

  1

  Jewel House Curator

  1

  Master of the Armouries

  1

  Chaplain

  1

  Doctor

  Broadcasting Licences
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations she has received from the Association of Independent Radio Companies on relaxing the Broadcasting (Restrictions on the Holding of Licences) Order 1991. [20587]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Association of Independent Radio Companies has made several representations on this subject, in writing and at meetings. Following debate on Report on the Broadcasting Bill in the House of Lords on 5 March, columns 258 to 263, the Government are considering with the Radio Authority whether the current arrangements can be improved.

HEALTH

  Coronary Heart Disease
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the use of(a) agnio-tensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, (b) aspirin, (c) beta-blockers and (d) cholesterol lowering agents in the treatment of coronary heart disease; and if he will make a statement. [19562]

  Mr. Horam
  Guidance is contained in "Assessing the Options: CHD/Stroke", published by my Department in 1995. Advice on cholesterol lowering agents is covered in the effective health care bulletin on "Cholesterol Screening and Treatment", published in June 1993 by the 76
  NHS centre for reviews and dissemination. Copies of both of these documents will be placed in the Library.

  Information on these subjects is also contained in the health care needs assessment on coronary heart disease which was commissioned by the Department of Health and published in 1994 by the Wessex Institute of Public Health and Radcliffe Medical Press.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were performed in each of the last three years for(a) percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and (b) coronary artery bypass grafting by (i) age and (ii) sex of patient and by (1) NHS trust, (2) district and (3) region. [19563]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested will be placed in the Library.

  Personal Health Data
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what safeguards will be put in place to prevent identifiable personal health data held on the NHS-wide clearing system which are provided by patients and health professionals for the purpose of medical treatment and care from being marketed outside the NHS; [20211]

  (2) which company has become the operator of the NHS-wide clearing system and what rights the contract gives that company to market identifiable personal health data, provided by patients and health professionals for the purpose of medical treatment and care (a) inside the NHS and (b) outside the NHS. [20212]

  Mr. Horam
  The contract for operating the NHS-wide clearing system has been awarded to AT and T Istel. The contract gives no right to the company to market identifiable personal health data. Services providing analyses of such data will be provided only to NHS organisations which are the registered data users.

  The contract will prevent AT and T Istel from marketing personal health data, and security policy and safeguards will prevent any release of such data to third parties.

  Dentists and Pharmacists (Premises)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 March,Official Report, column 288, what schemes within the NHS allow (a) dentists and (b) pharmacists to bid for money to fund the improvement of their premises. [20322]

  Mr. Malone
  No central funding is available for improvements to dentists' and pharmacists' premises. National health services fees cover remuneration and expenses including the cost of improvements.

  Community Care
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many households are estimated to be eligible for direct payments for community care on eligibility criteria(a) if restricted to physically disabled recipients aged under 65 years, (b) if restricted to physically or mentally disabled recipients with no age limit and (c) as

  77
  listed in paragraph 15 of the consultants paper on the Community Care (Direct Payments) Bill. [20455]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is not possible to estimate accurately how many households will be eligible for direct payments. The number of households receiving home help and home care services provides an indication, but it cannot give a complete picture as direct payments will also be available in lieu of other non-residential community care services.

  In 1994, local authorities provided home help and home care services to 538,900 households in England. Households may, of course, include more than once client. The oldest client was aged 65 or over in 478,600 households-89 per cent. of the total. Out of the total of 54,500 households receiving home help and home care services where the oldest client was between the ages of 18 and 64, 32,500 households were receiving services for clients with physical and/or sensory disabilities, and 4,110 were receiving such services for clients with learning disabilities. Figures are not available by client group for those aged 65 or over, but a substantial proportion of clients in the 478,600 households are likely to be people with physical or learning disabilities.

  Fraud
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to eliminate the fraudulent obtaining of the free provision of dental services, optical treatment and prescription. [20359]

  Mr. Malone
  The Government are determined to eliminate fraud in the national health service wherever it occurs.

  From April 1995, amended prescription forms have asked patients to sign a declaration indicating the charge paid or the reason for exemption.

  The Department of Health has set up a prescription fraud unit at the Prescription Pricing Authority which will operate from 1 April 1996. The unit will provide an expert service for health authorities in the prevention, detection and prosecution of prescription-related fraud.

  Declarations by patients have been changed to clarify the basis of exemption or remission from dental charges from 1 April 1996 and will be used for post-payment checks on claims for remission of charges during 1996–97.

  Health authorities are asked to undertake post-payment checks on patient eligibility for NHS sight tests and spectacle vouchers.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of fraud took place in(a) his Department and (b) the NHS in each of the last five years; and what sums of money were involved. [21540]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 26 October 1995 at column 784, for the available information relating to the Department of Health.

  National health service losses from fraud are not separately identified from other losses recorded in returns
  78
  to the Department. The Audit Commission has identified cases of detected fraud in the NHS as follows:

  Year

  Number of cases

  Sums involved (£ million)

  1991–92

  300

  4.5

  1992–93

  332

  0.4

  1993–94

  328

  1.0

  1994–95

  350

  0.75

  These figures represent on average slightly less than 1p for every £100 spent in the NHS.

  Communicable Diseases
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of cases of(a) diphtheria, (b)syphilis, (c) tuberculosis, (d) cholera and (e) malaria in each of the past four years and in the current year to date; and if he will make a statement. [20658]

  Mr. Horam
  Notification-as opposed to number of cases-in England and Wales are as follows:

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Provisional

  First nine weeks highly provisional

  Diphtheria

  8

  6

  9

  12

  2

  Tuberculosis, excluding chemoprophylaxis

  5,799

  5,921

  5,591

  5,608

  964

  Cholera

  25

  23

  30

  32

  3

  Malaria

  1,189

  1,198

  1,139

  1,300

  151

  Source:

  OPCS.

  Figures are notifications, not confirmed cases.

  Syphilis is not a notifiable disease and the figures given are from the Department of Health's statistics division's KC60 returns and relate to the number of new cases seen in England. Figures for 1995 are not yet available.

  Syphilis

  1991

  1,349

  1992

  1,312

  1993

  1,347

  1994

  1,393

  Rabies
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of rabies have been reported in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years. [20576]

  Mr. Horam
  There have been three reported cases of rabies in the United Kingdom since 1986: one in each of the years 1986, 1987 and 1988. All were in people who were infected abroad.

  Mental Health
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total number of people with mental health problems requiring 24-hour care in each of the last five years. [20857]
  79
  Mr. Bowis
  For working purposes in producing the report "24-hour nursed care for people with severe and enduring mental illness", the average prevalence for people requiring such care was estimated at one per 10,000 members of the national population, although there will be significant variations between districts.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral statement of 20 February,Official Report, column 175, if he will make a statement on the provision of crisis accommodation for mentally-ill people; for whom it is intended; how it will be staffed; and which authority will provide it. [21007]

  Mr. Bowis
  The provision of crisis accommodation forms one part of a spectrum of care for those who are unable to cope, and should be purchased by every health authority. It could be provided by a range of statutory or independent providers, in a variety of settings, which would include hostels or supported housing.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients aged 16 to 64 years have been readmitted to the care of a psychiatric specialist within 90 days of discharge in each of the last five years(a) by health authority, (b) by regional health authority and (c) nationally. [20881]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  NHS Executive (Posts)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many advertisements for NHS executive staff posts in 1995 received no applicants. [20916]

  Mr. Horam
  There were no advertisements for posts in the national health service executive in 1995 for which there were no applicants.

  Emergency and Intensive Care (Leeds)
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral statement of 6 March,Official Report, column 356, how much money will be made available for additional beds in Leeds hospitals. [21255]

  Mr. Horam
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his statement of 6 March, this is a matter for local health authorities working with national health service trusts.

  Medical and Dental Education and Research
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the publication date of the fourth report of the steering group on undergraduate medical and dental education and research; and if he will make a statement. [21702]

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am pleased to announce that the fourth report of the steering group on undergraduate medical and dental education and research is published today, and copies will be placed in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and I welcome and endorse the report.

  The steering group brings together all the main bodies involved in the management of undergraduate medical and dental education and research, and we are grateful to the representatives of these bodies who have served on the group.
  80
  Close co-operation between the national health service and the universities is essential for the successful management of medical and dental education and research. The report acknowledges and welcomes the close co-operation that already exists between the NHS and the universities and explores how this can be further developed. It includes a revision of the 10 key principles which help to define the shared goals of the two parties.

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantity of each individual type of benzodiazepine was prescribed via community pharmacists in England and Wales in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [20621]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information for England will be placed in the Library. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Bed Closures (South Manchester)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has had from the South Manchester community health council in regard to the closure of 64 hospital beds, including four intensive care beds, in consequence of the accounting error made in the South Manchester University Hospitals NHS trust; what reply he is sending; if he will be instituting an independent public inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [20614]

  Mr. Horam
  We have received a letter from South Manchester community health council and will be replying shortly. An independent inquiry is already under way.

  Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech of 4 March to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. [20870]

  Mr. Dorrell
  My speech was delivered from notes and I regret that a full text is not available.

  Rehabilitation Services (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken on the resolution contained in minute 71 of the proceedings of the meeting of the Yorkshire regional health authority held on 8 March 1994 with regard to(a) the overall development of rehabilitation services in West Yorkshire, (b) the establishment of a centre of excellence in rehabilitation at Pinderfields hospital, Wakefield and (c) the establishment of a chair in rehabilitation at Pinderfields hospital, Wakefield; and if he will make a statement. [20871]

  Mr. Bowis
  This is a matter for Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority for further details.

  General Practitioners (Malpractice)
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners were accused by patients of malpractice or incompetence; how many were disciplined following such accusations; and how many successfully appealed to industrial tribunals in the last 12 months for which he has figures. [20921]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Doctors and Nurses
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to increase the nursing student intake over the next 12 months; [21537]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the annual requirement of (a) doctors and (b) nurses in each specialty. [21566]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health takes advice from the medical work force standing advisory committee on the required student intake to medical schools. The Government have accepted the recommendations of the medical work force standing advisory committee to increase the medical student intake target by 500, or 11 per cent., to reach 4,970 by 2000.

  Advice is also received from the specialist work force advisory group on the number of doctors needed in higher specialist training in each specialty, to ensure that there are sufficient trained candidates to fill consultant posts in the future. Following the specialist work force advisory group's recommendations, I recently announced

  Cadaveric (live) transplants in United Kingdom

  Region

  Kidney

  Kidney and pancreas

  Pancreas

  Heart

  Heart and lung

  Lung

  Liver

  1991

  Northern

  131 (4)

  -

  -

  43 (1)

  7

  19

  -

  Yorkshire

  90 (1)

  -

  -

  3

  1

  2

  31

  Trent

  95 (7)

  -

  -

  18

  -

  -

  -

  East Anglian

  56 (6)

  -

  -

  41 (13)

  23

  11

  90

  North West Thames

  91 (5)

  -

  -

  67 (20)

  31

  38

  11

  North East Thames

  116 (7)

  -

  -

  16 (1)

  6

  -

  38

  South Thames

  224 (6)

  -

  -

  36 (1)

  -

  -

  129

  Wessex

  83 (2)

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Oxford

  83 (7)

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  South Western

  90 (5)

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  West Midlands

  151 (1)

  -

  -

  1

  -

  -

  122

  Mersey

  65 (11)

  5

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  North Western

  107 (4)

  -

  -

  19 (5)

  11

  2

  -

  Wales

  62 (11)

  3

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Scotland

  130 (7)

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Northern Ireland

  47 (2)

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Total

  1,621 (86)

  8

  -

  244 (41)

  79

  72

  421

  1995

  Northern and Yorkshire

  213 (9)

  4

  1

  49

  4

  20

  116

  Trent

  123 (11)

  -

  10

  24

  -

  2

  -

  Anglia and Oxford

  122 (14)

  -

  3

  42 (3)

  20

  20

  88

  North Thames

  204 (35)

  9

  -

  69 (21)

  26

  36 (2)

  71

  South Thames

  166 (19)

  -

  1

  33 (1)

  -

  4

  189 (1)

  South West

  172 (13)

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  West Midlands

  140 (3)

  -

  -

  25

  3

  9

  157

  North West

  225 (20)

  8

  -

  19 (2)

  5

  20

  -

  Wales

  78 (4)

  2

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Scotland

  140 (11)

  -

  -

  32

  -

  -

  46

  82
  additional funding of £5.7 million in 1996–97 to provide a significant increase in training opportunities for doctors wishing to become consultants, including the creation of at least 300 new higher specialist training posts.

  With regard to the requirement for nurses, it is for local employees to determine the work force required to deliver the services they have been contracted to provide. This is set in the context of annual planning guidance issued by the NHS executive, which maintains a national overview. Planned commissions for nurse trainees are expected to rise by 14 per cent. in 1996–97.

  Deregulation and Contracting Out Act
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 March,Official Report, column 68, when he plans to publish his response to the consultation document. [21561]

  Mr. Bowis
  Responses to the consultation are being considered but I have decided not to take any decision on this until the Cullen inquiry has reported.

  Transplant Surgery
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received transplant surgery for each organ in each region for each year since 1991 and for 1996 to date. [21568]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of transplants carried out by organ and region for 1991 and 1995 and 1996 to date are shown in the table. The figures for 1995 and 1996 are provisional. For the years 1992, 1993 and 1994, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 31 October 1995,Official Report, column 207.
  83

  Cadaveric (live) transplants in united Kingdom

  Region

  Kidney

  Kidney and pancreas

  Pancreas

  Heart

  Heart and lung

  Lung

  Liver

  Northern Ireland

  45 (2)

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Total

  1,628 (141)

  23

  15

  293 (27)

  58

  111 (2)

  667 (1)

  1996 (to 1 March)

  Northern and Yorkshire

  34

  1

  -

  8

  1

  3

  18

  Trent

  19 (3)

  -

  3

  3

  -

  -

  -

  Anglia and Oxford

  17 (1)

  -

  -

  9

  1

  1

  13

  North Thames

  31

  1

  -

  8 (2)

  5

  4

  6

  South Thames

  29 (1)

  -

  -

  7

  -

  3

  20 (1)

  South West

  20

  -

  -

  -

  -

  1

  27

  West Midlands

  19 (1)

  -

  -

  2

  -

  -

  -

  North West

  26

  -

  -

  4

  1

  3

  -

  Wales

  11

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Scotland

  26 (2)

  -

  -

  5

  -

  -

  4

  Northern Ireland

  7

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  Total

  239 (8)

  2

  3

  46 (2)

  8

  15

  88 (1)

  Source

  United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority (UKTSSA).

  Childhood Cancer
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings of the National Radiological Protection Board, NRPB-R276, pages 100 and 109, in respect of the incidence of childhood cancer linked to natural background alpha radiation. [21533]

  Mr. Horam
  The report NRPB-R276 entitled "Risks of Leukaemia and other Cancers in Seascale from all Sources of Ionising Radiation", copies of which are available in the Library, calculates radiation doses and associated risks of cancer to children and young persons in Seascale village in west Cumbria. The calculations were based on a population of 1,348 children born and living in the village between 1945 and 1992 and followed to age 24 years, or 1992, whichever came sooner.

  In this population, the total number of radiation-induced fatal leukaemias and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas arising from natural background radiation over this time period was calculated to be 0.28. High-LET-high energy-radiation was calculated to contribute about 0.12 cases. Leukaemia in children is now more successfully treated and estimates of fatality from leukaemias these days would be substantially lower than those calculated for the study population. The risk of fatal cancers in this population, other than leukaemia and NHL, was calculated to be 0.02 for high-LET radiation.

  If my hon. Friend wishes to know more about this study, perhaps he would care to write to me.

  Managers (Redundancy Payments)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what redundancy payments were made to general and senior managers and chief executives in(a) trusts and (b) health authorities in 1994–95 and 1995–96, indicating the number of payments and their values. [21563]

  Mr. Malone
  All redundant staff are entitled to either statutory or contractual redundancy compensation if they satisfy the relevant criteria. The specific information requested is not available centrally.

  Education and Training Expenditure
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been spent on education and training by(a) health authorities and (b) trusts in each of the last three years. [21541]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the services(a) that have been market tested and (b) are planned to be market tested by NHS trusts and in each case the outcome. [21544]

  Mr. Horam
  A list of services market tested by one or more national health service trust and their outcome is as shown. It is based on information supplied to the NHS executive's market testing database and indicates the number of known contracts awarded in-house, or to another NHS contractor or to a non-NHS contractor. None of the planned future exercises notified to the NHS executive add to the list of services indicated.

  Service tested

  In-house

  NHS contractor

  Commercial contractor

  Advertising and recruitment

  1

  0

  15

  Agency staffing

  4

  1

  29

  Clerical and Secretarial

  7

  0

  17

  Audit

  14

  9

  101

  Banking

  0

  0

  60

  Management services

  4

  2

  3

  Computing

  7

  3

  71

  Financial services

  17

  13

  45

  Human resources

  1

  1

  11

  Insurance

  0

  0

  62

  Legal

  2

  3

  48

  Consultants

  0

  1

  21

  Micro-filming

  0

  0

  3

  Fire systems

  0

  0

  1

  Design

  0

  0

  1

  Electrical

  0

  0

  5

  Energy management

  0

  0

  2

  Estates management

  5

  4

  13

  Flooring

  0

  0

  2

  Repairs and maintenance

  0

  0

  1

  85

  Service tested

  In-house

  NHS contractor

  Commercial contractor

  Glazing

  0

  0

  1

  Lighting

  0

  0

  4

  Painting

  11

  0

  13

  Gas supply

  0

  0

  1

  Water services

  0

  0

  11

  Building and engineering

  35

  6

  95

  Estates maintenance

  2

  1

  7

  Equipment/system

  32

  18

  317

  Accommodation

  1

  0

  1

  Car parks

  2

  0

  40

  Hotel services

  59

  2

  50

  Catering

  336

  4

  122

  Domestic

  353

  5

  320

  Laundry

  128

  67

  158

  Supplies

  6

  11

  21

  Pest control

  7

  6

  221

  Portering

  7

  2

  30

  Security

  9

  0

  114

  General patient services

  3

  1

  5

  Switchboard/reception

  9

  1

  15

  Transport

  52

  35

  138

  Window cleaning

  9

  1

  302

  Waste disposal

  10

  22

  190

  Continuing care-elderly

  0

  1

  2

  Bio-engineering

  0

  2

  0

  Clinical coding

  0

  2

  0

  CSSD1

  13

  6

  19

  Dental

  0

  0

  1

  HSDU1

  2

  0

  1

  Infection control

  0

  1

  0

  Medical physics

  0

  1

  0

  Medical photography

  0

  1

  1

  Nuclear medicine

  0

  1

  0

  Opthamology

  0

  0

  2

  Magnetic resonance imaging

  0

  1

  1

  Occupational health

  9

  5

  7

  Orthotics

  1

  0

  2

  Occupational therapy

  1

  0

  0

  Prosthetics

  0

  0

  2

  Pathology

  3

  14

  2

  Pharmacy

  5

  3

  2

  Physiotherapy

  0

  1

  0

  Patient appliances

  0

  1

  12

  Radiology

  0

  1

  0

  Speech therapy

  2

  0

  0

  Termination of pregnancy

  1

  0

  0

  Psychology

  1

  0

  0

  Education and staff training

  2

  1

  6

  1CSSD = Central sterile supply department, HSDU = Hospital sterilising and disinfecting unit, IVF = In-vitro fertilisation.

  Notes:

  1. There is no standard definition of services or list of services within the NHS and those listed above relate to provider units' interpretation.

  2. Service headings such as "Hotel Services" and "Facilities Management" include a wide and varying range of individual services, e.g., catering, portering, security, car parking. Again there is no set pattern of which services make up hotel services, etc., but relates to individual provider units' interpretation.

  Pinderfields Hospitals NHS Trust
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the chairman of Pinderfields Hospitals NHS trust to issue a statement outlining the reasons for the departure of the former chief executive of the trust. [21212]

  Mr. Malone
  This is a matter for Pinderfields Hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Roy Cusworth, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Consultancy Service Index
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 March,Official Report, column 68, what information his Department collates on the consultancy service index. [21560]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is available on the overall number of names on the consultancy index, and on the number of checks sought by prospective employers.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospital closures which have been referred to his Department for decision in the last five years, indicating in each case the nature of the organisations objecting, the decision and the date. [21567]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister for Health gave to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 17 May 1995,Official Report, column 279. A list of proposed closures referred to Ministers for the period January 1992 to December 1995 is in the Library and is updated quarterly. These proposals have, except where indicated, been referred following objections by community health councils, but other organisations may also have objected to the proposals.

WALES

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many visits he has made to the Principality since becoming Secretary of State to discuss tourism. [19390]

  Mr. Hague
  Tourism is raised regularly on my visits to Wales, among a number of other issues, and I have recently met the chief executive of the Wales tourist board.

  Family Doctors
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent measures he has taken to encourage patients to make the best use of their family doctors. [19393]

  Mr. Richards
  I launched a patient education campaign in Wales on Wednesday 28 February, together with representatives from the British Medical Association and community health councils in Wales. The campaign has the theme "doctor-patient partnership".

  Advertisements in the national press will run throughout March to promote the partnership and encourage people to use GP services responsibly. This will be followed by a series of local campaigns run by health authorities.

  Welsh Assembly
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received urging the establishment of a directly elected legislative assembly. [19394]
  87
  Mr. Hague
  Since 1 September 1995 I have received two written representations in favour of the establishment of a directly elected legislative assembly, together with one which asked simply for an assembly, but did not mention legislative powers, and five which opposed the establishment of an assembly.

  School Teachers and Governors
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been recently taken to provide support for teachers and school governors in Wales. [19395]

  Mr. Richards
  As part of the "Bright Future" programme in Wales the grant for education support and training-GEST-arrangements provide support and training for teachers and school governors. Taking all elements into account, the GEST programme will be worth £24.7 million in 1996–97.

  Community Hospitals (Gwynedd)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Gwynedd community health trust to discuss the provision of community hospitals in Gwynedd. [19396]

  Mr. Richards
  Neither my right hon. Friend or I have plans to meet the chairman, but Welsh Office officials are in regular contact with the trust to discuss the provision of community hospitals in Gwynedd.

  Local Authorities (Maladministration)
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the local government commissioner for Wales to discuss reports of maladministration by local authorities. [19397]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales-the local Government ombudsman-acts independently of central government and it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to seek to become involved in his work.

  Toxic Waste (Abercwmboi)
  Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take following the expert reports on the toxic waste at Abercwmboi in the Cynon valley. [19398]

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

  Male Unemployment
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of men unemployed in Wales at the latest available date; and what this is in percentage terms. [19399]

  Mr. Hague
  In February 1996, the seasonally adjusted number of males on the claimant unemployment count in Wales was 80,700, which is 11 per cent. of the male work force.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the impact on Wales of the forthcoming European Union intergovernmental conference; and if he will make a statement. [19402]

  Mr. Hague
  I have received two representations in the past year which relate circumstances in Wales to the intergovernmental conference. The conference will affect Wales in the same way as it affects the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Inward Investment
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the most recent instances of major inward investment by companies into Wales. [19385]

  Mr. Hague
  Some welcome announcements have been made over the past few months. Among them are Ford's £340 million expansion at Bridgend; Newport Wafer-Fab's £230 million expansion near Newport and Halla's £17 million investment at Pentrebach. In the space of a few months, almost 2,500 new jobs and investment of over £600 million has been announced and I expect more to come soon.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the inward investment projects recorded for Wales by the Invest in Britain Bureau during 1995 were in the counties of(a) Gwynedd and (b) Dyfed. [20255]

  Mr. Hague
  Of the inward investment projects recorded with the Invest In Britain Bureau during the calendar year 1995, three will be located in Gwynedd and three in Dyfed.

  Car Use (City Centres)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken by his Department to discourage the use of private cars in town and city centres; and if he will make a statement. [20651]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is for local authorities to determine the traffic management strategy most appropriate to their area, having regard to local circumstances. The Government's role is to set the framework, through the publication of advice and guidance, including advice on traffic restraint measures. The Government encourage people to travel by means other than the private car-cycling, walking and public transport-where that option is open to them.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans his Department has to improve the quality of public transport in Wales; and if he will make a statement; [20661]

  (2) what steps are being taken by his Department to promote public transport in and around traffic congested towns and cities; and if he will make a statement. [20653]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 5 February 1996,Official Report, column 55. Since then my right hon. Friend has published "A Working Countryside for Wales", a White Paper in 89

  89
  which he announces that the rural transport innovation grant scheme will be reviewed to see if ways can be found to increase its effectiveness.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many buildings in Wales are listed(a) grade I and (b) grade II; and what was the corresponding number in 1985. [20647]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments under its chief executive, Mr. T. J. Cassidy. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from T. J. Cassidy to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 18 March 1996 The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the current number of listed buildings in Wales and the corresponding figure for 1985.
  As you will recall from previous correspondence, Cadw is taking forward a national resurvey of historic buildings in Wales which we expect to be completed by 2005. As part of this programme the Agency's target for 1995–96 is that 60 community council areas shall be surveyed and I am pleased to tell you that this has been achieved.
  The number of buildings listed on 1 January 1985 was:

  Grade I: 228

  Grade II2: 525

  Grade II: 8,935

  Churches1: 714

  Total: 10,412

  The Corresponding number at 1 January 1996 was:

  Grade I: 302

  Grade II2: 978

  Grade II: 15,975

  Churches1: 604

  Total: 17,859

  1Anglican churches in use in Wales were at one time separately graded (A, B or C as appropriate) but this practice has been discontinued. As they arise in our resurvey, ecclesiastical buildings are now regraded on the same basis as secular (I, II2 or II) which is why this separate category is diminishing.

  I attach a copy of Cadw's recent leaflet "What is Listing?", which I hope you will find helpful and I should be glad to provide any further information you need. I will continue to send you copies of new lists for communities in your constituency when they are published.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will break down the number of people who were accepted as homeless in Gwynedd over the last five years by(a) sex and (b) age group; and if he will make a statement. [20646]

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

  Wrexham-Bidston Railway Line
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with North West Regional Railways and Railtrack concerning the long-term future of the Wrexham-Bidston railway line; and if he will make a statement. [21130]
  90
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have no plans to meet North West Regional Railways, but I intend to meet the directors of Railtrack soon to discuss their investment plans for all lines in Wales.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to travel on the Wrexham-Bidston railway line; and if he will make a statement. [21129]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I currently have no plans for travelling on the Wrexham-Bidston line.

  Federation of Clwyd Headteachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Federation of Clwyd Headteachers to discuss the Nursery Education and Grant-maintained Schools Bill; and if he will make a statement. [21133]

  Mr. Richards
  I have seen a copy of a letter issued by the federation which I consider to be misleading. I intend to write to all schools in Clwyd to set the record straight and will send a copy to the hon. Member. I see no need for a meeting at this time.

  Nurses' Pay
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many trusts agreed to a 3 per cent. pay award for nursing staff for the full financial year 1995–96; and what proportion of trusts in Wales this represents. [20405]

  Mr. Richards
  Twenty-four of the 25 trusts which employ nursing staff agreed to a 3 per cent. pay award for 1995–96 which represent 96 per cent. of such trusts in Wales. Ambulance trusts do not employ nurses and are not included in the total.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many trusts in Wales have yet to settle the pay award for nursing staff for the full financial year 1995–96. [20406]

  Mr. Richards
  One.

  Rural Affairs White Paper
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to publish a White Paper on rural affairs; and if he will make a statement. [20620]

  Mr. Hague
  I published the Government's White Paper for rural Wales, "A Working Countryside for Wales", on Wednesday, 13 March 1996.

  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 12 March 1996, Official Report, column 560.

  Rats
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received relating to recent changes in the level of the rat population in Wales; what estimate he has made of the estimated rat population in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [20615]
  91
  Mr. Hague
  None. Annual figures on rat populations are not collected centrally. The 1993 national rodent survey of England and Wales, conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health estimated the percentages of properties with a rat presence at 7.6 per cent. for north Wales and 4.6 per cent. for south Wales. The average for England and Wales is 4.8 per cent.

  Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to reduce deaths and serious illnesses caused by alcohol, tobacco and medicinal drugs. [20603]

  Mr. Richards
  Improving health, including the reduction of deaths and serious illnesses related to risky behaviour, is identified in "Caring for the Future" as a priority for action. It is for a number of different agencies to take action forward.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult the Welsh Language Board on the use of the Welsh language in proceedings of the Welsh Grand Committee at meetings in Wales. [20821]

  Mr. Hague
  This is for the Procedure Committee, but I understand that the views of the Welsh Language Board will be sought.

  A55 (Mobile Snack Bars)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the provision of snack bar facilities in lay-by areas along the A55 in north Wales. [21068]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  North Wales police and local authorities expressed concern for safety of road users because of trading on lay-bys along this busy route and I subsequently announced on 23 January that the Highways Directorate will shortly initiate statutory procedures necessary to prohibit the practice.

  Since the announcement, four informal representations have been made in favour of the prohibition and seven against.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what objections he has received to the proposal to introduce clearway orders to effect a trading ban in the A55 in north Wales in respect of mobile snack bars. [21067]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None, as the draft orders have yet to be published.

  Emergency Medical Admissions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answers of 4 March 1996,Official Report, column 99 and 12 March 1996, Official Report, column 536, (1) what approval was (a) sought and (b) given from his Department for the inclusion of the undertaking in the emergency admissions action plan to discuss levels of community care with unitary authorities; [21160]
  92
  (2) what consent was (a) sought and (b) given from his Department prior to the inclusion in the emergency admissions action plan of the undertaking for his Department to oversee and ensure adequate consideration and liaison between trust commissions and general practitioners concerning proposed general practitioner out of hours schemes. [21161]

  Mr. Hague
  The NHS representatives who prepared the action plan proposed a number of recommendations, only some of which were addressed to my Department. It would have been surprising had the NHS team involved felt they had needed to ask my Department for permission to make recommendations that they felt could form part of an effective response to the demand for emergency admissions.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 1996,Official Report, column 99, if he will list the number and ranks of his departmental officials who took part in the emergency admissions action plan; and what part they took in the proceedings. [21159]

  Mr. Hague
  None of my permanent civil servants were directly involved in the development of the NHS action plan to address the issue of rising emergency admissions. Mr. David Cliffe, an NHS manager seconded to the Health Department, contributed to the work on developing a best practice guide to inform the contracting process.

  Before embarking on the exercise, representatives of the NHS discussed the main issues involved and possible approaches with the Health Department's executive committee, which is chaired by Mr. Peter Gregory, director of the Health Department, and includes as members Dr. Deirdre Hine, chief medical officer, and Miss Marion Bull, chief nursing officer. The authors of the action plan met the executive committee on 29 February 1996 to present their report and its recommendations.

  Community Initiative Funding
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to widen the access to community initiative funding in(a) Clwyd and (b) Wales. [19392]

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend and I are always ready to put the case forward for EC funding for the whole of Wales, but this can be done only where the relevant conditions and criteria can be met.

  Departmental Changes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the changes which have taken place in respect of his(a) responsibilities, (b) budget and (c) staff numbers between 1979 and 1996. [21162]

  Mr. Hague
  The functions which have transferred from my Department since 1979 are:

  1986: Small Firms Service to the Welsh Development Agency

  1988: Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority

  1992: Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales established as a separate Government Department

  1993: Orbital Prosthetist Service to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority

  93

  1993: Dental Services to the Dental Practice Board

  1993: Divisional Medical Office to the Benefits Agency

  In addition, NHS litigation work will transfer to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority on 1 April 1996.

  The functions which my Department has gained since 1979 are:

  1984: Regional development grant work

  1992: Training, including responsibility for training and enterprise Councils

  1993: Responsibility for the further and higher education funding councils.

  Details of my Department's running costs and staff numbers are as follows:

  Running costs (£ million)

  Permanent staff (April)

  1979–80

  17.8

  2,599

  1980–81

  22.6

  2,430

  1981–82

  24.7

  2,363

  1982–83

  25.4

  2,212

  1983–84

  31.5

  2,177

  1984–85

  32.9

  2,207

  1985–86

  32.8

  2,279

  1986–87

  37.9

  2,271

  1987–88

  39.2

  2,278

  1988–89

  40.5

  2,162

  1989–90

  45.7

  2,203

  1990–91

  51.4

  2,308

  1991–92

  58.1

  2,326

  1992–93

  70.4

  2,535

  1993–94

  76.5

  2,430

  1994–95

  77.4

  2,376

  1995–96

  76.1

  2,229

  These figures are not comparable over time. For example, running costs in 1979–80 did not include superannuation charges, the training and enterprise councils management fee and various overhead costs including accommodation, which have added at least £22 million to the 1995–96 figure.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the NHS trusts in Wales concerning mergers of trusts; what representations he has received from trusts concerning proposed(a) mergers and (b) takeovers, and if he will make a statement. [21058]

  Number of patients admitted and treated more than one month after cancelled operation

  Quarter ending

  Health authority area/NHS trust

  30 June 1994

  30 September 1994

  31 December 1994

  31 March 1995

  30 June 1995

  30 September 1995

  31 December 1995

  Clwyd:

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  3

  Dyfed:

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  -

  -

  -

  -

  4

  2

  3

  Llanelli Dinefwr

  -

  2

  -

  -

  -

  -

  1

  Pembrokeshire

  1

  -

  2

  -

  -

  -

  -

  94
  Mr. Hague
  None. It is for the trust and health authorities themselves in the first instance to agree proposals which can demonstrate improved patient care. I would consider such proposals if they were put to me.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the external financing limit for the(a) total and (b) individual borrowings of national health service trusts in Wales. [21061]

  Mr. Hague
  The total external financing limit in 1995–96 is £57.016 million. Information on long-term borrowing of individual NHS trusts in Wales in this financial year is shown in the following table:

  NHS Trust

  Amount £

  Bridgend and District

  4,020,000

  Carmarthen and District

  1,842,000

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  900,000

  Clwydian Community Care

  5,842,000

  East Glamorgan

  4,798,760

  Glan Clwyd District General Hospital

  304,000

  Glan Hafren

  2,562,000

  Gwent Community Health

  3,350,000

  Gwynedd Community

  2,600,000

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  476,000

  Llandough Hospital

  4,404,000

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance

  268,000

  Nevill Hall and District

  632,000

  North Wales Ambulance

  301,000

  Pembrokeshire

  162,000

  Powys Healthcare

  227,000

  South and East Wales Ambulance

  2,653,000

  Swansea

  4,817,000

  University Hospital of Wales Healthcare

  5,414,000

  University Dental Hospital

  208,000

  Velindre

  3,260,000

  Note

  There has also been a further issue of public dividend capital to East Glamorgan NHS trust of £9,315,240.

  Surgery Cancellations
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a breakdown by district health authority of(a) the number of operations cancelled for non-medical reasons on or after the day of admission and (b) the number of patients not re-admitted within one month after a cancellation for each quarter since records began. [21441]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the number of cancelled operations is not collected centrally. Information on the number of patients not re-admitted within one month after a cancellation is given in the following table. The data are collected from individual NHS trusts in Wales and figures may not, therefore, relate to residents of the health authority area in which the trust is situated.
  95

  Number of patients admitted and treated more than one month after cancelled operation

  Quarter ending

  Health authority area/NHS trust

  30 June 1994

  30 September 1994

  31 December 1994

  31 March 1995

  30 June 1995

  30 September 1995

  31 December 1995

  Gwent:

  Glan Hafren

  -

  -

  1

  1

  -

  -

  -

  Nevill Hall and District

  -

  -

  -

  3

  1

  1

  4

  Gwynedd:

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  -

  -

  -

  1

  -

  -

  -

  Mid Glamorgan:

  East Glamorgan

  -

  -

  2

  5

  11

  -

  19

  Rhondda Health Care

  -

  2

  -

  1

  -

  -

  -

  South Glamorgan:

  University Hospital of Wales Healthcare

  1

  -

  6

  11

  46

  25

  12

  West Glamorgan:

  Glan-y-Mor

  -

  -

  1

  5

  3

  2

  1

  Wales

  2

  4

  12

  27

  65

  30

  43

  96

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