Written Answers of 25 March 1996

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  War Pension Appeals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, columns 254–55, when the domiciliary visit to assess Mr. John Middleton's war pension appeal took place. [22172]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As arranged with Mr. Middleton earlier this month, the visit took place on 21 March, that being the earliest date at which the medical member was available.

  Departmental Staff (Working Hours)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21504]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  This answer is given on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department headquarters, including associated offices, the Court Service and the Public Trust Office.

  The number of staff recorded as being paid for overtime which took their hours worked to over 48 hours a week are 143, 3,068 and 130 respectively, which represents approximately 15.6 per cent., 29.2 per cent. and 22.7 per cent. of total staff employed in the Lord Chancellor's Department headquarters, the Court Service and the Public Trust Office.

  No records are held centrally, however, of the hours worked either by senior staff not eligible for paid overtime or by those on flexible working schemes.

  Departmental Contractors and Suppliers
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures his Department is taking to ensure that its contractors and suppliers(a) pay their employees a wage which ensures such employees do not need supplementary welfare payments via various state benefits and (b) meet workplace health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [21467]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are a matter between the contractor or supplier and his employees, subject of course to any relevant legal requirements. For certain contracts, however, the Department requests salary information from contractors and suppliers in support of tenders, as part of its value for money criteria.

  Compliance with health and safety regulations is a legal requirement for the contractor or supplier.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Pension Fund
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate he has made of the continuing viability of the pension fund. [20674]

  Mr. Alison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 January,Official Report, column 492.

  The commissioners have had detailed discussions with dioceses about how quickly they expect to be able to raise the full costs of pension contributions and the response has been very encouraging. The General Synod has given general approval to draft legislation to give effect to the arrangements. This legislation is now in the revision stage and will come before Parliament in due course in the usual way.

  Clergy
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the right hon. member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many currently beneficed clergy are(a) male and (b) female; and if he will make a statement. [20675]

  Mr. Alison
  As at 31 December 1995, 5,835 men and 63 women held benefices. The total numbers of clergy of incumbent status, including priests-in-charge and team vicars, were 7,417 men and 250 women.

ENVIRONMENT

  Executive Action
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [20542]

  Mr. Gummer
  Comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested but the following provisions have been identified from readily available sources.Common lands
  Decisions are required from the Secretary of State under public, local and private Acts. Examples of matters involving individuals are applications to the Secretary of State for—
  Orders for the exchange of lands under section 147 of the Inclosure Act 1845, applications for consent to the improvement of common land under the Law of Commons Amendment Act 1893, confirmation of regulation of regulations under the Commons Act 1908, imposition of limitations on the public's rights of access to common land under section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925.
  Countryside
  Decisions on nature conservation orders, limestones pavement orders, designation of marine nature reserves and orders in respect of moor and heath land in National Parks (under sections 29, 34, 36 and 42 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).
  Wild birds, habitats and animals and plants
  Decisions on special protection areas for birds, designation of special areas of conservation, the system for licensing various matters in respect of sale and possession of wild birds (in particular under sections 3, 6, 7 and 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and regulations made thereunder).

  397
  Highways
  Certain powers with respect to public path extinguishment and diversion orders and temporary stopping up of highways under section 120 of the Highways Act 1980 and section 261 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
  Trees
  The power for the Secretary of State to make tree preservation orders under section 202 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
  Town and country planning
  Various powers relating to the preservation of listed buildings and in particular sections 46 to 48, 54, 55 and 76 to 78 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
  The decision to issue a direction calling in an application for planning permission or hazardous substance consent under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and section 20 of the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990.
  Building control
  The determination of questions referred to the Secretary of State about plans for building work under section 16(10) of the Building Act 1984.
  Housing
  Decisions as to whether to give assistance in connection with legal proceedings in relation to the right to buy (section 170 of the Housing Act 1985).
  Landlord and tenant
  Decisions about apportionment of rent under section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927.
  Rentcharges
  Decisions relating to redemption and apportionment of rentcharges under sections 3 and 5 of the Rentcharges Act 1977.
  Zoos
  Decisions on revocation of licences, and on directions on dispensation from the Act under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.

  This list does not include certain provisions which allow the Secretary of State to take decisions which might in theory apply only to a particular individual, such as section 115(9) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which confers powers to specify generally or for particular cases purposes for which renovation work may be approved for grant.

  Under section 10 of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992, Ministers are under a duty to give reasons for decisions in any case in which a person concerned could have required a statutory inquiry or hearing to be held.

  Research Establishments
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which former public sector research establishments in his Department have been privatised since 1979; and which public sector research establishments in his Department are currently undergoing reviews with a view to placing them in the private sector. [21939]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Hydraulics Research Station was converted to an independent company limited by guarantee in 1982.

  Prior options reviews of the Building Research Establishment and the Health and Safety Executive's health and safety laboratory have been undertaken and the recommendations of both reviews are being considered. The reviews have addressed the relationship of the establishments to others working in similar or related fields and, among other things, the potential for privatisation or rationalisation.

  Westminster City Council
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the district auditor's report on Westminster city council will be published. [22061]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The timing of the publication of his report is a matter for the auditor.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent evidence he has evaluated concerning damage to the ozone layer; and if he will make a statement. [22063]

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of recent changes in the ozone layer over the British Isles; and if he will make a statement. [22814]

  Mr. Clappison
  On behalf of the Department, the United Kingdom Meteorological Office makes daily measurements of total ozone levels at two sites in the UK and publishes the information weekly during the sensitive winter and spring period of potentially low ozone. The Government also receive all reports from the World Meteorological Organisation on the state of the global ozone layer and information on the ozone layer over Europe from the European ozone research co-ordinating unit in Cambridge.

  Statistically significant stratospheric ozone reductions continue everywhere except in equatorial regions, due to the high level of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere. Recent levels of ozone over the United Kingdom have been significantly lower on individual days than previously observed due mainly to a particularly cold stratosphere this winter. Some year-to-year variation is to be expected due to fluctuations in meteorological conditions.

  During the next 50 years, ozone levels are expected to return slowly to normal as a result of actions being taken under the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amounts of money have been paid out by(a) his Department and (b) executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and other organisations for which he is accountable to Parliament, to how many staff or former staff in respect of (i) alleged equal opportunities breaches that do not proceed to tribunals or courts and (ii) equal opportunities breaches that proceeded to tribunals or courts in (1) the current year and (2) the two previous years. [22519]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No cases have arisen in the current year. Two cases arose during the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1995: one in category(a) (ii) amounted to £16,526 and one in category (b) (ii) amounted to £21,500.

  Organic Pollutants
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the 12 most dangerous persistent organic pollutants which the United Nations Environmental Programme has recommended should be banned; and if he will make a statement. [22227]

  Mr. Clappison
  The United Nations Environmental Programme has not yet come to a decision on the need to ban any persistent organic pollutants, although it has identified 12 substances that should be assessed for risks posed to human health and the environment. Consideration will then be given to measures necessary to control risks identified. The 12 consist of:pesticides (aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, endrin, chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene and heptachlor);
  industrial chemicals known as polychlorobiphenyls (or PCBs); dioxins and furans.

  The UK has played a major role in developing a proposed protocol on persistent organic pollutants under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe convention on long-range transboundary air pollution. The Government support the UNEP initiative to build on this work, and will play an active role in its development.

  Government Office for the South-West
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for, and publish, a cost-benefit analysis on the work of the Government office for the south-west. [22355]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The GOSW's programme and running cost expenditure for 1994–95, objectives and achievements, are contained in the office's annual report, which I have arranged to be sent to the hon. Member. For 1995–96, the office's running cost budget is £7.6 million. Details are available in GO-MINIS1, a copy of which is in the Library of this House.

  The office's annual report for 1995–96 and GO-MINIS2 with details of Government office running costs budgets for 1995–96 will be available in due course. I believe that the Government office, operating within the rigorous framework of the GO-MINIS exercise, provides good value for money.

  Bat Conservation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has for bat conservation measures in(a) urban and (b) rural conservation areas. [22808]

  Mr. Clappison
  Four species of bat have had a range of measures proposed within biodiversity species action plans, which the Government are currently considering. A response to these proposals is expected this spring.

  A range of measures within the rural environment to improve habitat identification and management are being considered. English Nature's species recovery programme for the greater horseshoe bat includes the promotion of appropriate land management around maternity roosts.

  Butterfly and Moth Conservation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has to improve the(a) rural and (b) urban habitats for butterfly and moth conservation. [22816]

  Mr. Clappison
  Preparation of action plans for the large blue and large copper, and the high brown and marsh fritillaries, via English Nature's species action plans is in hand in appropriate habitats.

  Work continues on five of our most threatened moth species—reddish buff moth, black-veined moth, Sussex emerald moth, barberry carpet moth and fiery clearwing moth. The 1996 programme involves enlarging the areas of available habitat and restoration of other sites in preparation for colonisation.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the White Paper on sustainable development and the Government response to the second annual report of the panel on sustainable development will be published; and if he will make a statement. [22995]

  Mr. Gummer
  We will publish "This Common Inheritance: UK Annual Report 1996" and the "Government Response to the Second Annual Report of the Government's Panel on Sustainable Development" tomorrow. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  The White Paper reports progress during 1995 in meeting the commitments which we made in previous White Papers and in the UK sustainable development strategy, as well as making commitments for future action. In particular, it highlights our new priorities for the year ahead and bring together the main quantified targets which have been already agreed by Government or which are under consideration.

  At the strategic level, Government policy is guided by advice from their panel on sustainable development, which issued its second annual report in January of this year, focused on environmental accounting, biotechnology, forestry and the disposal of radioactive waste. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is writing to the convenor of the panel with the Government's response, which is also being issued in the form of a short booklet.

  The White Paper and the panel reports provided an objective audit of the Government's success in moving towards sustainable development. They complement the recently published "Indicators of Sustainable Development for the United Kingdom", which aims to demonstrate the progress which the country is making towards sustainable development and to show where further action is needed—not just by Government but by business, local authorities and individuals.

  Housing Partnership Fund
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the allocation of resources to local authorities under his Department's housing partnership fund for 1996–97. [23057]
  401
  Mr. Curry
  Some 238 schemes in 181 housing authorities will benefit from the £30 million housing partnership fund for 1996–97.

  The scheme, which brings together the combined skills of the private sector, housing associations and other local organisations, continues to prove a popular and successful one. It demonstrates the Government's commitment to supporting imaginative, high-quality housing projects which will be of long-lasting benefit to local communities.

  The successful bids involve a wide range of innovative and valuable housing projects, which address local housing needs. This year, we have particularly focused on schemes to bring empty properties back into use.

  The combination of public sector money means that up to £135 million will be invested to meet local housing need, help stimulate local economic growth and create jobs.

  A list of the resources being allocated to local authorities under the housing partnership fund for 1996–97 has been placed in the Library.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Manchester Airport Exhibition
  Mr. William O' Brien
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to 50 years of achievement of Manchester airport to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall. [22537]

  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 1 July to Friday 5 July 1996.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many parliamentary questions have been tabled since 6 November with the indication that a relevant registered interest has been declared.

  Mr. Newton
  There have been 73 parliamentary questions tabled from 6 November 1995 until 21 March 1996 where a registered interest was declared-56 written, 17 oral. These figures do not include those oral parliamentary questions tabled but not successful in the ballot.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Departmental Staff (Working Hours)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Attorney-General how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21585]

  The Solicitor-General
  For the departments and agency for which my right hon. and learned Friend is responsible the number of staff recorded as being paid for overtime which took their hours worked to over 48 hours in a week is in the table.
  402

  Number of staff

  Percentage of staff

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  3

  0.74

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  5

  20

  Serious Fraud Office

  71

  41.5

  Government Property Lawyers

  4

  3

  Information for the Crown Prosecution Service is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  No records are held centrally of the hours worked by senior staff not eligible for paid overtime or those on flexible working schemes.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Heathrow Airport Passengers
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers arriving at Heathrow airport were refused admission to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and how many were deported immediately. [21079]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information on passengers refused leave to enter and removed at Heathrow airport is given in the table. The available statistics do not show how many were removed immediately following refusal.

  Passengers refused and removed at Heathrow Airport

  Year

  Number of passengers removed

  1991

  8,086

  1992

  6,809

  1993

  7,155

  1994

  7,108

  1995

  7,937

  Police Tasks
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which of the 26 police tasks to be reviewed under the police core roles and ancillary tasks report have been identified as being less cost-effective if they were removed from police responsibility; [22083]

  (2) what savings his Department expects as a result of the police core roles and ancillary tasks report; and if he will list the savings he expects to attribute to each of the 26 identified police tasks. [22082]

  Mr. Maclean
  Work is still in progress on these matters in consultation with the police and other interested parties, as part of the follow-up work to the review. We expect to receive a report on the review's proposals, including an evaluation of savings and other benefits, by the summer.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the Home Office inquiry into police core roles and ancillary tasks, established in 1993 and reporting in 1995. [22081]

  Mr. Maclean
  The total estimated cost to my Department of conducting the review, including pay costs, travelling and subsistence, and the final costs of printing and distribution, amounted to about £232,000.

  Computer Misuse Act 1990
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under the provisions of the Computer Misuse Act 1990; and how many of these have resulted in convictions. [22249]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is given in the table.

  Number of prosecutions at magistrates1 courts and convictions at all courts for offences1 under the Computer Misuse Act 19902 1990–94

  England and Wales

  Year

  Prosecutions

  Convictions3

  Indictable offences

  1990

  —

  —

  1991

  4

  2

  1992

  7

  10

  1993

  8

  5

  1994

  4

  3

  1 Data for summary offences committed under Section 1 of the Act cannot be separately identified from other summary non-motoring offences.

  2 Came into force 29 August 1990.

  3 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or initially for other offences.

  Buckley Hall Prison
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of concerted indiscipline at Buckley Hall prison have been reported to the Prison Service headquarters since the prison first opened; and what is the average figure over the same period of time for male category C training prisons. [22760]

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

  Letter from A. Pearson to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General, to reply to your recent Question asking how many incidents of concerted indiscipline at Buckley Hall prison have been reported to Prison Service Headquarters since the prison first opened; and what is the average figure over the same period of time for male category C training prisons.
  The number of incidents of concerted indiscipline reported from Buckley Hall prison since its opening on 14 December 1994 until 20 march 1996 is seven.
  The average number of incidents of concerted indiscipline reported during the same period from male category C training prisons is 0.6.

  Domestic Violence (Islington)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation his Department has made of the domestic violence matters project based at Islington police station. [22542]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Islington domestic violence matters project was funded by the Home Office programme development unit from 1992 to September 1995. The work was independently evaluated by the university of North London and the final evaluation is close to completion.

  Irish Prisoners
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decisions have been taken by the parole board in relation to Irish prisoners who completed 20-year sentences last July; and if he will make a statement. [22417]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 22 March 1996]: Discretionary lifer panels of the parole board heard the cases of Sean Kinsella, Stephen Nordone, Noel Gibson, Paul Norney and Brendan Dowd on 12, 13 and 14 December 1995.

  Noel Gibson, Sean Kinsella and Stephen Nordone were directed to be released. Such a direction is binding on the Secretary of State and they were released on 26 January. The discretionary lifer panels did not direct the release of Paul Norney and Brendan Dowd.

  Holloway Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Sir David Ramsbotham last visited Holloway prison. [21750]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Sir David Ramsbotham, GCB, CBE visited Holloway prison on 13 and 14 December last year as part of an unannounced inspection of the establishment.

  Boot Camps
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's policy on boot camps for young offenders; and what progress is being made in its implementation. [21752]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Our policy is to pilot two tough, disciplined and demanding new regimes for young offenders which are intended to break the cycle of reoffending.

  Last September, my right hon. and learned Friend announced details of the first of these pilots, the high-intensity training regime at Thorn Cross young offender institution in Cheshire which will take its first inmates in the summer.

  High-intensity training will provide the discipline which young offenders need. It will also equip them with skills they must have for the world of work, and it will tackle their anti-social attitudes by making them face up to what they have done and accept responsibility for it.

  I hope shortly to make an announcement about a second pilot regime.

  Chief Inspector of Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales Sir David Ramsbotham has visited since his appointment; and how many reports, following those visits, have been submitted to the Home Office. [21751]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Since his appointment on 1 December 1995, Sir David Ramsbotham, GCB, CBE has visited 22 Prison Service establishments. Seven visits were as part of an inspection and inspection reports on these establishments will be submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many questions were tabled to his Department in each Session since 1987–88; how many were not answered on the grounds of disproportionate cost; what percentage of the total number of questions this represented; how many were not answered on the grounds that the information was not centrally available; and what percentage of the total number of questions this represented. [21143]

  Mr. Howard
  The number of questions tabled to the Home Office in each Session since 1987–88 is:

  Written

  Oral (including supplementaries)

  Total

  1987–88

  3,846

  414

  4,260

  1988–89

  3,549

  274

  3,823

  1989–90

  3,252

  212

  3,464

  1990–91

  2,245

  238

  2,483

  1991–92

  1,351

  134

  1,485

  1992–93

  4,345

  361

  4,706

  1993–94

  3,348

  267

  3,615

  1994–95

  3,187

  278

  3,465

  1995–96

  1,310

  98

  1,408

  The remainder of the information requested by the hon. Member could itself be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  India
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last visited India; at what cost to public funds; which places he visited in India and for what reasons; and if he will list the names of officials who accompanied him. [18575]

  Mr. Howard
  I visited India and Pakistan between 29 December 1995 and 9 January 1996 at a total cost of £34,201. The officers who accompanied me were my private secretary, a press officer and the head of the immigration policy division. The guidelines in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" were followed. The necessary approval was sought in advance of the visit and full official programmes were followed which had been drawn up with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  In India, I visited Jodhpur, at the invitation of the Indian high commissioner for Great Britain, Delhi, Bombay and Amritsar. In Pakistan, I visited Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad.

  The purpose of my visit was to visit the entry clearance operations run by the Home Office in these countries, to discuss drugs issues with both Governments, to further my understanding of community relations issues and to help improve relations between countries.

  Departmental Gun Clubs
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Government Departments have(a) gun clubs and (b) shooting ranges on the premises. [21988]
  406
  Mr. Maclean
  Four Government Departments in Great Britain have gun clubs approved by the Secretary of State under section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 in which members may use firearms for target practice without holding a firearm certificate. Information is not held centrally on gun clubs which do not fall under the section 15 scheme. Information about the number of shooting ranges on Government premises could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Involuntary Manslaughter
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration the Law Commission has given to the introduction of prison sentences for involuntary manslaughter; [21878]

  (2) what action he intends to take following the publication of the Law Commission report into involuntary manslaughter. [21771]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Law Commission's final report on involuntary manslaughter was published on 5 March. It recommends reform of the existing law by the creation of two new offences of unintentional killing by individuals, for which a penalty of imprisonment would continue to be available, and a new offence of corporate killing for which a penalty of imprisonment would not be available. We are grateful to the Law Commission for the work which it has carried out in this complex area of the law. We will consider carefully the recommendations contained in its report.

  Police Driver Training
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount spent by the Metropolitan police on driver training in 1995; and what is the projected budget for 1996. [22405]

  Mr. Maclean
  Driver training costs incurred by the Metropolitan police in 1995 were £5,410,352. I understand from the Commissioner that projected costs for 1996 are £5,629,832.

  Criminal Records
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept of individuals' criminal convictions. [22157]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information about criminal convictions for reportable offences, including all imprisonable and specified other offences, is held on the police national computer and in the record library of the national identification service. Local police forces may also keep this information together with information about convictions for non-reportable offences.

  Prisoners (Drug Testing)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the last 12 months have tested positive as a result of mandatory drug testing; and if he will make a statement. [22395]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  407
  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Elfin Llwyd, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the Office, to reply to your recent Question regarding the number of prisoners who have tested positive in the last 12 months as a result of mandatory drug testing.
  Between February 1995 and January 1996 8352 prisoners were tested under the random testing programme with 3073 positive test results. Results for February 1996 are not yet available.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Welsh prisons over the last 12 months have tested positive as a result of mandatory drug testing; and if he will make a statement. [22396]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 21 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners in Welsh prisons who have tested positive in the last 12 months as a result of mandatory drug testing.
  Of the three Welsh establishments, Swansea and Usk/Prescoed began testing in December 1995 and Cardiff in February 1996. Results for February 1996 are not yet available. Of 74 prisoners tested at Swansea and Usk/Prescoed in December and January, 22 were found to be positive for drugs.

  Departmental Staff (Working Hours)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21507]

  Mr. Howard
  Records of the number of hours worked by each employee are not kept centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Contractors and Suppliers
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to ensure that its contractors and suppliers(a) pay their employees a wage which ensures such employees do not need supplementary welfare payments via various state benefits and (b) meet workplace health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [21469]

  Mr. Howard
  Terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are a matter between the contractor or supplier and his employees, subject of course to any relevant legal requirements. Compliance with health and safety regulations is a legal requirement for the contractor or supplier.

  Police (Body Armour)
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the British police standard of stab-proof ballistic material for soft body armour. [21532]
  408
  Mr. Maclean
  Standards are set out in publications by the Home Office police scientific development branch entitled "PSDB Ballistic Body Armour Standard (1993)" and "PSDB Stab Resistant Body Armour Test Procedure (1993)". Copies have been placed in the Library. These standards have been agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers and are made freely available to manufacturers and other interested bodies.

PRIME MINISTER

  Taiwan
  Sir Nicholas Scott
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to support the application by Taiwan to join the United Nations organisation and to seek support from Commonwealth and EU partners for it. [22219]

  The Prime Minister
  No. Membership of the United Nations is open only to states. Her Majesty's Government do not recognise Taiwan as a state.

  Rathbone Community Furniture
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister what reply he gave to Rathbone Community Furniture, Liverpool, in response to its recent letter to him; and if he will make a statement. [22156]

  The Prime Minister
  My office has forwarded the letter to the Department for Education and Employment which will respond in due course.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 19 March 1996,Official Report, columns 167–68, to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Cummings) if he will list the advantages which will be given to the area by virtue of the creation of an enterprise zone; and how long it has taken from the first proposal for such a zone to the date of coming into effect of such a status. [22382]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1996]: The benefits available to businesses during the 10-year life of an enterprise zone are the following: 100 per cent. allowances for corporation tax purposes for capital expenditure on industrial and commercial buildings: exemption from the national non-domestic rate on industrial and commercial property; a simplified planning regime; speedier administration of residual statutory planning controls; exemption from industrial training levies and from the requirements to supply information to industrial training boards; processing applications for certain customs facilities as a priority, and the relaxation of certain criteria; and the reduction of government requests for statistical information. Enterprise zones can effect economic activity over a wide area through displacement effects and are not the appropriate regeneration measure in most circumstances.

  The Government announced that they would consider the case for new enterprise zones at Easington in County Durham on 29 March 1993; zones in that area were designated on 29 November 1995.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Taiwan
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to reduce the tension between Taiwan and China. [22411]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have repeatedly urged China to show restraint and have called for an early resumption of the cross-straits dialogue. We have made these points to the Chinese directly at prime ministerial level and through the EU. We remain fully supportive of the actions taken by the United States to defuse the situation.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amounts of money have been paid out by(a) his Department and (b) executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and other organisations for which he is accountable to Parliament, to how many staff or former staff in respect of (i) alleged equal opportunities breaches which do not proceed to tribunals or courts and (ii) equal opportunities breaches which proceeded to tribunals or courts in (1) the current year and (2) the two previous years. [22520]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have made the following settlements, without prejudice, in respect of alleged equal opportunities breaches:(i) in 1995 £5,000 was paid to a former employee. The case did not proceed to a tribunal or court.
  (ii) in 1994 an out-of-court settlement of £25,000 was paid to a former employee. Industrial tribunal proceedings had been initiated.

  In respect of other organisations, a without prejudice settlement for £20,875 was paid in 1995 to a former employee. The case did not proceed to a tribunal or court.

  European Parliament
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 March,Official Report, column 11, what rents were paid for the various buildings rented by the European Parliament in (a) Strasbourg, (b) Brussels and (c) Luxembourg; and if he will indicate the floor areas of the buildings, the purposes for which they are used, and the nature of any applicable rent reviews. [22360]

  Mr. David Davis
  The information requested is as follows:

  1996 rent (£)

  Floor area

  Luxembourg

  2140,000m

  BAK building

  8,593,930

  NHE building

  679,884

  Schuman building

  3,158,223

  Senningerberg building

  287,417

  Tower building

  1,504,316

  Strasbourg

  2120,000

  Palais de L'Europe

  664,084

  IPE O, IPE I and IPE II

  7,042,439

  IPE III

  4,016,552

  410

  1996 rent (£)

  Floor area

  Brussels

  2175,000m

  Belliard I building

  4,771,102

  Belliard II building

  1,210,748

  Belliard III/IV building

  4,328,590

  Eastman building

  270,054

  Remorqueur building

  251,708

  Remard building

  1,019,901

  Van Maerlant building

  3,232,279

  D2 building

  11,143,704

  The Palais de 1'Europe in Strasbourg and the D2 building in Brussels contain debating chambers for plenary sessions of the European Parliament. Other buildings contain offices and meeting rooms.

  The figures for rent also include property tax. The rentals are calculated over 12 months on the basis of existing leases. They are not subject to periodic review, but the leases provide for indexing to the cost of living, or to construction costs.

  European Union
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will conduct a review of the presentation of Government policy on the European Union. [20683]

  Mr. David Davis
  We have no such plans.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what television satellite services are available in St. Helena; at what cost to the consumer; and if he will make a statement. [22037]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Cable and Wireless receives and re-broadcasts the CNN international satellite television channel. The cost to the consumer consists of an installation charge, which varies according to consumers' particular requirements, and a service charge of £5 per month.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people in St. Helena are(a) employed in the private sector, (b) employed by the Government, (c) unemployed and (d) working on community projects. [22041]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  There are(a) 786 people employed in the private sector, (b) 1,282 employed by the Government, (c) 254 unemployed and (d) 122 working on community projects.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British Ministers have visited St. Helena in each of the past 22 years; and on what dates. [22033]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  There has been one visit at ministerial level: the late Neil Marten represented the Minister for Overseas Development in January 1984.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the trades, businesses, professions and vocations approved by the
  411
  governor of St. Helena since 1994 which are new to St. Helena, are likely to be continued in St. Helena and which have taken advantage of tax holidays. [22034]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Coffee production—one. Cabinet making—one. They have both taken advantage of tax holidays.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what banking licences have been granted on St. Helena in the past five years. [22038]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  No banking licences have been granted on St. Helena in the past five years.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what activities on St. Helena have been privatised in the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [22040]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  No activities have been privatised in the past five years. However, the St. Helena Government have recently embarked on a public sector reform programme which they anticipate could lead to the privatisation of various activities and services in due course.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Telecommunications (Key Escrow)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 March,Official Report, column 229, when he intends to announce the Government's decision on the introduction of a telecommunications key escrow. [22204]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  As I made clear in my previous answer on 6 March, discussions on this important issue are continuing. It would be inappropriate to establish at this stage any artificial time constraints.

  Satellite Dish Sales
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of satellite dish sales in(a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in the last five years. [22235]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Estimated sales of satellite dishes in United Kingdom for each year from 1991 to 1995 are:

  1991: 710,000

  1992: 710,000

  1993: 740,000

  1994: 750,000

  1995: 760,000

  I am not aware of any statistics separately available for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what entitlements to paid leave for(a) part-time employees and (b) full-time employees are specified within the working time directive. [22267]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The directive specifies that every worker should be entitled to paid annual leave of the least four weeks a year in accordance with conditions for 412
  entitlement laid down by national legislation or practice. Member states may reduce this to three weeks for a transitional period of three years. The directive does not distinguish between part-time and full-time employees.

  Employment Insecurity
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the president of the Board of Trade what plans he has to investigate the effect of employment insecurity on productivity in relation to(a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) the economy. [22290]

  Mr. Page
  The Department has no plans for research into this topic.

  Community Pharmacies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if in considering the Office of Fair Trading review of resale price maintenance on non-prescription medicines, he will take account of the viability of community pharmacies. [22199]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Secretary of State has no statutory role or discretion in relation to the review being undertaken by the Office of Fair Trading. Representations concerning the viability of community pharmacies and other aspects of the review should be made direct to the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Recycled material
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what discussions he has had with the glass industry in developing more end-use markets and products for recycled glass; [21738]

  (2) what recent discussions his Department has had with the bottling industry regarding the use of recycled glass. [21743]

  Mr. Page
  My Department has funded an environmental technology innovation scheme project with British Glass to develop alternative uses for green waste glass—cullet. A number of interesting applications have been identified, such as foam glass building blocks, coffee tables, floor tiles and "glasphalt", and British Glass is now pursuing some of the more promising ideas under its own auspices. The environmental technology best practice programme will promote the results of projects aiming to increase the proportion of cullet used in UK glass industry. The Government frequently meet representatives of the glass container-making and using industries in the course of discussions on producer responsibility for packaging waste.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what studies his Department has commissioned to evaluate the enterprise potential of the manufacture of products from recycled material; [21741]

  (2) what research his Department has initiated into the feasibility of expanding markets for products manufactured from recycled material. [21740]

  Mr. Page
  My Department periodically commissions the recycling advisory unit of the national environmental technology centre to carry out and publish studies into the market prospects for a number of recycled materials, including paper, plastics, metals, glass and wood. These
  413
  studies, which include an assessment of the technical and market barriers to increasing the use of material for recycling, are in the process of being brought up to date, and copies will be placed in the Library of the House when they are finalised.

  A number of projects under our ETIS and Euroenviron schemes of assistance had as their objective the development of new products using recycled materials, and the current environmental technology best practice programme will promote the results of projects aimed at increasing the use of waste paper and glass.

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many companies are being considered for the purchase of British Coal Enterprise subsidiaries; and what criteria will be used against which to judge the suitability of the bids; [21742]

  (2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that workspace is sold to an appropriate purchaser with knowledge of and commitment to the regeneration of former coalfield communities through training and regeneration. [21812]

  Mr. Page
  The sale of British Coal Enterprise is a matter for British Coal. When launching the sales process, British Coal indicated that it would be considering proposals for BCE in the light of its statutory duties and the importance of ensuring continuation of effective assistance to coalfield communities.

  The corporation has announced that two management buy-out teams have been identified as preferred bidders for the business funding and outplacement arms of BCE, and that Birkby plc has been identified as preferred bidder for BCE's workplace portfolio.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has held about the disposal of British Coal Enterprise's property portfolio; who is to acquire it; from what date; what steps have been taken to ensure that the new owners continue to meet the needs of coalfield communities; and if he will make a statement. [22605]

  Mr. Page
  The sale of British Coal Enterprise is a matter for British Coal. When launching the sales process, British Coal indicated that it would be considering proposals for BCE in the light of its statutory duties and the importance of ensuring continuation of effective assistance to coalfield communities.

  The corporation has announced that Birkby plc has been identified as preferred bidder for BCE's workspace activities. The corporation expects that the sales process will be concluded at or shortly after the end of March 1996.

  Research Establishments
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which former public sector research establishments in his Department have been privatised since 1979; and which public sector research establishments in his Department are currently undergoing reviews with a view to placing them in the private sector. [21947]
  414
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The National Engineering Laboratory was privatised by trade sale in October 1995. The National Measurement Accreditation Service—NAMAS—formerly part of the National Physical Laboratory, was merged with the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies—NACCB—formerly part of the British Standards Institution, in August 1995 to form the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, which was established as a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee. The National Maritime Institute—formerly part of the National Physical Laboratory--was also privatised as a company limited by guarantee in October 1982, changing its name to NMI Ltd. The operation of the National Physical Laboratory was contracted-out in October 1995. Negotiations are currently under way with a preferred bidder for a trade sale of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

  No research establishments which fall within the area of responsibility of the research councils for which DTI is responsible have been privatised since 1979. The plant breeding activities of the former plant breeding institute were privatised by trade sale in October 1987, but the establishment itself remains in the pubic sector as part of the Institute of Plant Science Research.

  Commercially oriented research activity has formed. and will continue to form, part of the work of AEA Technology, which is also due to be privatised. This includes the rationalised activities of the Warren Spring Laboratory which were absorbed by AEA Technology in spring 1994.

  In terms of those research establishments currently under review, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 26 January 1996, Official Report, columns 421–23. Each review will address the relationship of establishments to others working in similar or related fields and consider, among other things, the potential for privatisation or rationalisation.

  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the annul report for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. [22983]

  Mr. Lang
  I am laying the ACAS report for 1995, before both Houses of Parliament today. Copies are available from the Vote Office.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that Ministers are aware of the views of the vice-chancellor concerning the use of selective quotations taken from the vice-chancellor's answers given at the press conference on 15 February. [17697]

  Mr. Lang
  The inquiry itself made it clear that Sir Richard Scott's views about selective quotation from his report applied to any summary of his report, whether by Government, Opposition or the media.

  Business Employment
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made as to the changes in employment levels in the last year in respect of businesses employing(a) over 20 people and (b) fewer than this figure; and if he will make a statement. [20697]

  Mr. Page
  Estimates of the changes in employment levels during 1995 for businesses of different sizes are not available but it will be possible to derive such figures in future years from information held on the Central Statistical Office's interdepartmental business register.

  Some information is available from the labour force survey, but with respect to workplaces rather than businesses. Changes in employment levels between autumn 1994 and autumn 1995, in workplaces with (a) fewer than 25 and (b) 25 or more people, are given in the table.

  Changes in the number of employees1 by size of workplace Great Britain, not seasonally adjusted

  Thousands

  Total2

  Less than 25 employees3

  25 or more employees3

  Autumn 1994

  21,632

  7,157

  14,237

  Autumn 1995

  21,977

  7,145

  14,578

  Change

  346

  -12

  342

  Notes:

  1 Figures are for employees only, and excluded the self-employed, unpaid family workers and those on Government programmes.

  2 Includes some people who did not give the number of employees at their workplace.

  3 Excludes those who did not give the number of employees their workplace.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the privatisation of the Insolvency Service. [20684]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 28 February 1996,Official Report, column 589.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Bilateral Aid
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government have to increase the proportion of bilateral aid spent on meeting basic needs for poor people in poor countries. [20712]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are committed to the goal of poverty eradication in poor countries but we do not set rigid targets about the quantity of aid going to the poor; we are instead most concerned to provide quality, effective aid which makes a lasting impact on basic needs.
  416
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many instances since 1979 aid has ceased because the country was judged no longer to need it. [20713]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have ceased normal bilateral programmes in a number of better-off developing countries such as Korea and Singapore. ODA policy is to continue to concentrate aid further on the poorest countries where it is most needed, and can be used effectively.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the criteria used to allocate overseas aid. [20708]

  Mr. Hanley
  The main criteria for allocating bilateral aid are the needs of the country concerned and the effectiveness with which aid can be used. A number of other factors, including good government, the commitment of recipients to political and economic reform and traditional ties with Britain, are also taken into account. There are also our obligations to multilateral organisations of which we are a member.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of aid to Rwanda; what were the equivalent figures in the last financial year; what is proposed for the next financial year; and if he will make a statement. [20714]

  Mr. Hanley
  In 1994–95, the United Kingdom spent more than £45 million in bilateral emergency aid in Rwanda. In 1995–96 we have committed more than £7 million in bilateral emergency and rehabilitation assistance. In addition, we have contributed £41.5 million to EU actions since April 1994. Future pledges will reflect needs and the capacity of the Government and implementing partners to deliver assistance.

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the level of aid devoted to sub-Saharan Africa in 1995–96. [20715]

  Mr. Hanley
  Gross public expenditure on bilateral aid to sub-Saharan Africa in 1995–96 is expected to total nearly £347 million. Africa is also a major recipient of multilateral assistance, to which Britain makes significant contribution—estimated at over £355 million in 1993.

  Lumle Agricultural Research Station, Nepal
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the visit to the office of the Minister for Overseas Development of the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir J. Stanley) and the hon. Member for Linlithgow about aid to Nepal, following the Inter-Parliamentary Union visit, what decisions he has arrived at regarding the Lumle agricultural research station. [20851]
  417
  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 29 January,Official Report, column 506, and to the letter he received from my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development dated 8 February 1996.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, by value of assistance, the fishing projects being supported by the St. Helena Development Agency. [22035]

  Mr. Hanley
  No fishing projects are being supported by the St. Helena development agency.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the costs to public funds of supporting the operation of RMS St. Helena in each of the past five years. [22043]

  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of the shipping subsidy and associated costs in each of the last five financial years is:

  1991–92: £0.920 million

  1992–93: £1.389 million

  1993–94: £1.071 million

  1994–95: £1.152 million

  1995–96: £1.346 million (estimate)

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many(a) females and (b) males normally resident in St. Helena have commenced higher education courses (i) on the island and (ii) overseas in each academic year since 1990; [22030]

  (2) how many (a) female and (b) males normally resident in St. Helena have commenced higher education courses (i) on the island and (ii) overseas in each of the most recent five years for which figures are available. [22031]

  Mr. Hanley
  All higher education courses have commenced in the United Kingdom. The numbers are:

  Academic year

  Male

  Female

  1990–91

  1

  8

  1991–92

  —

  5

  1992–93

  7

  7

  1993–94

  4

  5

  1994–95

  1

  9

  1995–96

  2

  5

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what constraints have been removed on fisheries under the St. Helena five-year development plan. [22032]

  Mr. Hanley
  The principal constraints to the development of an economically viable local fishery at St. Helena are related to its isolated location and to the limited natural resource base available for exploitation. St. Helena's geographical isolation does not permit easy or rapid access to markets, and the lack of a safe haven with associated vessel maintenance facilities precludes the operation of larger locally based fishing vessels. The Overseas Development Administration has worked closely with the Government of St. Helena, the St. Helena Fisheries Corporation and the island's fishing community 418
  to promote the development of a viable small-scale commercial fishery. To this end, the Administration, since 1978, has invested more than £3 million in a series of technical assistance and development aid projects. The Fisheries Corporation is now considering how best to expand throughput to meet demand and to develop its export marketing strategy further.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the staff employed by the St. Helena development agency who have previously worked with British development agencies, indicating for how long each employee worked for the relevant agency. [22036]

  Mr. Hanley
  No staff employed by the St. Helena development agency have previously worked with British development agencies.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the expert staff for key posts on St. Helena who are provided by the British Government. [22042]

  Mr. Hanley
  The key posts provided by the British Government are:

  Mr. David Smaliman: Governor

  Mr. John G. Penott: Chief Secretary

  Mr. Robert J. Penott: Financial Secretary

  Mr. David Jeremiah: Attorney General

  Mr. Kenneth Jones: Chief Auditor

  Mr. Chris Lomas: Chief Agricultural and Forestry Officer

  Dr. John Sharpe: Chief Medical Officer

  Mr. Keith Jones: Chief Engineer

  ODA is also funding the costs of an additional 13 expatriates working within St. Helena Government Departments.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what budgetary aid by category he is providing to St. Helena during the current financial year. [22044]

  Mr. Hanley
  The budgetary aid provision for St. Helena in 1995–96 is £3.56 million. This is a single grant in aid intended to supplement the St. Helena Government's overall public expenditure budget.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what non-governmental organisations have been established on St. Helena for electricity and water supplies. [22039]

  Mr. Hanley
  None. However, the St. Helena Government are currently considering a consultancy report which may lead to a restructuring of the electricity and water undertakings.

SCOTLAND

  Procurator Fiscal Service
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the procedure for processing complaints from members of the public about procurator fiscal offices. [21215]
  419
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate informs me that the Crown Office has recently completed a review of its complaints system. The revised system, which is about to be implemented, involves the introduction of a standard form for noting complaints. This will form the basis of a central record of the types of complaints received by the Department and the outcome of inquiries into those complaints.

  The Crown Office has also produced a leaflet which will be available to members of the public and which will describe the procedure for making complaints and the way in which they will be handled. Complaints will be investigated by or under the supervision of procurators fiscal, regional procurators fiscal or the Crown agent as appropriate.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions disciplinary action was taken against employees of the procurator fiscal service as a result of complaints from members of the public in each of the last five years. [21217]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Crown Office has no record of disciplinary action being taken against any member of staff in the last five years as a result of complaints from members of the public.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many complaints about the operation of the Glasgow procurator fiscal office he has received from members of the public in each of the last five years; [21216]

  (2) how many complaints against the operation of procurator fiscal offices in Scotland he received in each of the past five years. [21214]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate informs me that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as there is no central record of the number of complaints made about the operation of procurator fiscal offices. The procurator fiscal at Glasgow has checked his records for 1995 and 1996 to date. During that period only one written complaint was received from a member of the public about the actions of a member of his staff.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the work of the procurator fiscal service in respect of on-going staff training and development. [21218]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate informs me that the Crown Office and procurator fiscal service committed to the principles of "Investors in People" in December 1994. A departmental training and development group works with regional groups to take forward the training and development of staff in accordance with a training strategy agreed by senior management which addressed induction, core and development needs of each staff group. The group is currently revising competences which will form the basis of performance appraisal and be a420
  foundation for future training. The link between competences and vocational qualifications is under consideration. The training strategy reflects the overall objectives, values and business requirements of the organisation and includes an objective to provide training on a complaints system which is about to be implemented.

  Small Claims
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases have come before the sheriff courts in each sheriffdom under the small claims procedures in the last three years. [22442]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested in relation to small claims initiated is shown in the table.

  Sheriffdom

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Glasgow and Strathkelvin

  11,322

  10,401

  10,240

  Grampian, Highland and Islands

  12,175

  11,024

  9,149

  Lothian and Borders

  12,733

  12,116

  11,584

  North Strathclyde

  11,430

  8,646

  8,306

  South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway

  12,026

  9,966

  8,917

  Tayside, Central and Fife

  13,028

  11,849

  11,481

  Total

  72,714

  64,002

  59,677

  Dental Services
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been deregistered from their dentist since 1992 in each health board area; and if he will make a statement. [20875]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information supplied by health boards about deregistration is listed in the table:

  Number of patients deregistered from April 1992 to February 1996 by Health Board

  Health Board

  Number of patients de-registered1

  Argyll and Clyde

  2,349

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1,817

  Borders

  2,156

  Dumfries and Galloway

  7,033

  Fife

  1,535

  Forth Valley

  576

  Grampian

  3,302

  Greater Glasgow

  2,231

  Highland

  1,448

  Lanarkshire

  903

  Lothian

  4,127

  Orkney

  —

  Shetland

  —

  Tayside

  21,677

  Western Isles

  53

  Total

  29,207

  1 The total is the number deregistered by dentists for reasons other than the dentist moving, relocating, non-payment of bills etc or because a patient has entered into a private contract with the dentist. The information was supplied for management purposes only and is not statistically validated.

  2 From July 1992.

  Departmental Staff (Working Hours)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21512]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Records of the number of hours worked by each employee are not held centrally and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Amey Construction Ltd.
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list projects in which Amey Construction Ltd. were employed by the Scottish Office as contractors, by subject and by value, in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [22028]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Amey Construction Ltd. is currently employed by the Scottish Office on only one project, a joint venture with Miller Construction to upgrade the A 1 trunk road between Haddington and Tranent.

  The contract was let during financial year 1994–95 and is worth £26.61 million.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Opera House
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the impact of redundancy costs on the Royal Opera House. [18226]

  Mr. Sproat
  Central Government support for the arts in England is channelled through the Arts Council of England. The council works closely with its client bodies, including the Royal Opera House, in assessing the artistic, financial and management implications of forecast budgets and other plans.

HEALTH

  Human Embryos
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human embryos have to date been licensed for creation and storage by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; in how many of those cases the period of maximum storage for which consent was given was less than five years; in how many of those cases in which the authorised storage period has passed the embryos have been(a) implanted, (b) destroyed, (c) used for research purposes and (d) experienced other outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the action the authority takes to ensure that maximum storage periods are not exceeded and that embryos which reach the end of the authorised storage period die in a manner consistent with their status. [19654]

  Mr. Horam
  The records of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority show that the number of embryos created in IVF treatment in the period 1 August 1991 to 1994 inclusive—latest available figures—was 422
  302,156. Of these, the number of embryos placed in store during the same period was 64,161. Information on the number of people who consented to a storage period of fewer than five years and the purpose for which consent was given is not held centrally. This information is contained on the consent forms which are held by patients and the licensed centres.

  The HFEA's code of practice sets out the action necessary in licensed centres to sustain appropriate standards in the storage of embryos. Copies of the code of practice are available in the Library. Licensed centres are held to account for compliance with the code of practice when the HFEA carried out its annual inspection of centres.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 March,Official Report, column 67, how many live babies were born from the human embryos frozen between 1991 and 1994; and what percentage of the number of embryos frozen this represents. [20385]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of embryos used in treatment cycles during the period 1 August 1991 to 1994 inclusive includes embryos frozen prior to 1991. The number of babies born from frozen embryos during the period 1 August 1991 to 1994 inclusive was 1,339.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women had embryos implanted from 1991 to 1994 under the terms of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and how much was paid in fees for treatment by these women over the same period. [20386]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of women who had embryos transferred to the uterus in the period 1 August 1991 to 1994 inclusive was 36,867. The Department of Health does not collect information about fees paid for treatment.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human embryos have been frozen in each year since the practice was first sanctioned by law. [18317]

  Mr. Horam
  [pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1996, c. 67]: I regret that there was an error in the information provided. The correct reply should read as follows.

  As recorded in the records of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the number of embryos placed in store following in-vitro fertilisation treatment in each year was as follows:

  1991: 4,969 (from 1 August)

  1992: 15,940

  1993: 19,756

  1994: 23,496

  Data for 1995 have not yet been validated.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many frozen human embryos have been experimented on and then destroyed since the practice was first sanctioned by law; [18318]

  (2) how many unfrozen human embryos have been experimented on and then destroyed since the practice was first sanctioned by law. [18319]
  423
  Mr. Horam
  [pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1996, c. 67]: I regret that there were two errors in the information provided.

  The total number of embryos created in in-vitro fertilisation treatment from 1 August 1991 to 1994 inclusive was 302,156, not 498,493. Of these, the number donated for research during the same period was 27,524, not 27,493, as previously stated.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human embryos were used in treatment cycles from 1991 to 1994. [19787]

  Mr. Horam
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 March 1996, c. 386]: I regret that there was an error in the information provided.

  As recorded in the records of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the number of embryos used in treatment cycles between 1 August 1991 and 1994 inclusive was 139,973, not 140,410, as stated previously. This includes fresh and frozen embryos.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human embryos were destroyed between 1991 and 1994 at the request of their parents. [19788]

  Mr. Horam
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 March 1996, c. 386]: I regret that there was an error in the information provided.

  The number of embryos created in in-vitro fertilisation treatment that were not frozen or used for treatment or for other purposes during the period in question was 90,491, not 90,756 as stated previously. As required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, decisions about these embryos would have been taken only with the consent of the couple involved.

  Private Cosmetic Surgery
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the study commissioned by the Department of Health from the British Association of Plastic Surgeons on private cosmetic surgery started in July 1995. [21385]

  Mr. Horam
  We are awaiting a full analysis of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons' survey.

  Health Authorities (Spending Targets)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount by which NHS authorities failed to meet their spending targets in the year 1994–95. [21651]

  Mr. Horam
  The spending of four district health authorities and five family health services authorities exceeded their cash limits by a total of £694,000.

  Ministerial Engagements
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he cancelled at short notice his commitments personally to open the new mental health unit at City and Hackney community services trust. [21732]

  Mr. Horam
  My right hon. Friend was called to attend a meeting of the Cabinet.

  Blister Packs
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of hospital admissions are due to ailments caused by children ingesting pharmaceutical products they have extracted from blister packs in the last year for which figures are available. [21823]

  Mr. Malone
  The information is not available centrally.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on which basis the star rating system of triage in accident and emergency departments has been calculated; and what weight is given to(a) the quality and (b) speed of assessment. [21959]

  Mr. Horam
  The basis for star ratings for performance on the patients charter immediate assessment standard is set out in the national health service performance guide. The figure given for each unit is the number of patients seen and assessed by a qualified person within five minutes of arrival at the A and E department, as a percentage of the total number arriving. Star ratings indicate that the Audit Commissions' auditors were satisfied with the data collection systems.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of accident and emergency departments operating triage(a) 24 hours and (b) 12 hours a day. [21953]

  Mr. Horam
  In the first three quarters of the year 1995–96, 93 per cent. of patients were seen and assessed by a nurse or doctor within five minutes of their arrival at the A and E department.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the performance of patients(a) seen by a triage nurse before being registered and (b) seen after registration in accident and emergency departments. [21957]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected centrally. The organisation of A and E departments is a matter for local decision.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the relationship between performance star rating and the quality of care received by the patient in accident and emergency departments. [21956]

  Mr. Horam
  The patients charter sets out standards on quality of service for the national health service. One such standard is the length of time spent waiting for initial assessment in an A and E department.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the NHS chief executive to review with health authorities their plans for emergency services. This review will examine the scope for developing further standards which are accepted by professional staff as relevant indicators of quality.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sample size was used in the study of triage in accident and emergency departments. [21958]
  425
  Mr. Horam
  I understand that the hon. Lady is referring to the "Study of the Value of Initial Patient Assessment within the Accident and Emergency Department and the Most Effective Way of Achieving this Activity", copies of which have been placed in the Library. This study was commissioned by the patients charter unit of this Department and conducted by Mr. Gary J. Jones, who collected information from 46 hospitals.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement about the future of accident and emergency department services at the royal infirmary, Halifax; [22475]

  (2) if the accident and emergency department of the royal infirmary, Halifax, is meeting patients charter requirements for waiting times in accident and emergency services; [22529]

  (3) in respect of the accident and emergency department at the royal infirmary, Halifax, what vacancies there are for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants. [22474]

  Mr. Horam
  Accident and emergency services in Halifax are a matter for West Yorkshire health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority, Mr. Peter Wood, for details.

  Details of the proportion of patients assessed within five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency departments are contained in the NHS performance guide 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Vacancies for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at the hospital are a matter for Calderdale Healthcare national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Allan Templeton, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what vacancies there are currently for(a) nurses, (b) junior doctors, (c) middle-range doctors and (d) consultants at the accident and emergency department at Dryburn hospital, Durham; if the department is meeting patients charter requirements for accident and emergency waiting times; and if he will make a statement about the future of accident and emergency services at the hospital. [22224]

  Mr. Horam
  Vacancies for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at the hospital are a matter for North Durham Acute Hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Colin P. Douglas, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Details of the proportion of patients assessed within five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency departments are contained in the NHS performance guide 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Accident and emergency services in North Durham are a matter for North Durham health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority, Professor John I. Clarke, for details.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of accident and emergency departments in Greater Manchester with reference to the findings of the Audit Commission report. [22435]
  426
  Mr. Horam
  Accident and emergency services in Greater Manchester are a matter for the six local health authorities: Bury and Rochdale, Manchester, Salford and Trafford, Stockport, West Pennine, and Wigan and Bolton. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the respective health authorities for details.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what vacancies there are for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants in respect of the accident and emergency department at the Homerton hospital, east London; if the department is meeting patients charter requirements for waiting times in accident and emergency; and if he will make a statement about the future of accident and emergency services at the hospital. [22387]

  Mr. Horam
  Vacancies for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at the hospital are a matter for Homerton Hospital NHS trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Michael Haines, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Details of the proportion of patients assessed with five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency departments are contained in the NHS performance guide 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Accident and emergency services in east London are a matter for the East London and the City health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority, Frances Heidensohn, for details.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants in respect of the accident and emergency department at North Manchester general hospital; if the department is meeting the patients charter requirements for waiting times; and if he will make a statement about the future of these services at the hospital. [22390]

  Mr. Horam
  Vacancies for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at North Manchester general hospital are a matter for North Manchester Healthcare NHS trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. David Wilson, chairman of the trust, for details.

  Details of the proportion of patients assessed within five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency departments are contained in the NHS performance guide 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Accident and emergency services in Manchester are a matter for Manchester health commission. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the commission, Professor R. D. H. Boyd, for details.

  Smoking and Drinking-related Deaths
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparison he has made between the number of deaths attributable to smoking and to excessive alcohol consumption; what are the figures for each in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [22105]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 10 January,Official Report, columns 231–32.

  Free Prescriptions
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional revenue would accrue from limiting free prescriptions to those on income support. [21744]

  Mr. Malone
  It is not possible to make a reliable estimate. The present categories of exemption or remission are not mutually exclusive. Many people qualify under several categories and therefore no reliable estimates can be made of the number of those who would qualify under income support alone and hence the number of people who would no longer qualify for free prescriptions.

  NHS Management (Salaries)
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chairmen of health service bodies have salary payments made directly to them; how many receive payments indirectly; and what have been these numbers in each year since 1992. [22749]

  Mr. Malone
  Remuneration should be paid directly to the chairmen of all national health service bodies to comply with Inland Revenue requirements.

  Triazolam
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what powers, from which Acts, the suspension of the product licenses for triazolam referred to in the letter dated 1 October 1991 from the then chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines was made; and on which of the grounds specified in these Acts the Committee on Safety of Medicines based its view that the product licences should be suspended. [20930]

  Mr. Malone
  Product licences for triazolam were suspended on 2 October 1991 in accordance with the powers available in paragraphs 10 and 11 of schedule 2 to the Medicines Act 1968. The grounds were that the products could no longer be regarded as products which could safely be administered for the purposes indicated in the licences.

  Mianserin
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on which dates the adverse reactions group of the subcommittee on efficacy and adverse reactions and the Committee on Safety of Medicines considered safety issues relating to the antidepressant mianserin; what advice was given to the licensing authority; and on what dates that advice was given. [209311

  Mr. Malone
  Safety issues relating to mianserin were considered by these committees on a number of occasions between 1981 and 1990. The advice given to the Licensing Authority is confidential.

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Committee on Safety of Medicines took at its meeting on 13 October 1995 to ensure that the apparent association between third generation oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolism was not due to chance, confounding or bias. [20932]
  428
  Mr. Malone
  The committee took particular care to examine these issues on the basis of all the evidence available and concluded that the association could not be fully explained by chance, bias or confounding.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the intention of the chief executive of the Medicines Control Agency, as expressed in writing on 18 October 1995, to take regulatory action on third generation oral contraceptives was halted; on whose authority this decision was made; and what was the effect of this decision on the ability of the Licensing Authority to fulfil its statutory duties. [209291]

  Mr. Malone
  Regulatory action is initiated by the Licensing Authority. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1149, in which I made it clear that such matters are confidential until regulatory action has been completed.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who drafted and on what date the "Dear Doctor" letter of 18 October 1995; and if it was agreed by the Committee on Safety of Medicines at its meeting on 13 October 1995. [20935]

  Mr. Malone
  The chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines drafted the letter following the meeting of the Committee on Safety of Medicines on 13 October 1995, on the basis of the recommendations made by the committee.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations in respect of the Licensing Authority's view of the potential safety concern regarding third generation oral contraceptives the chairman made at the special meeting of the Committee on Safety of Medicines on 13 October 1995. [20936]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place within the Medicines Control Agency to monitor the technical competence of staff. [20933]

  Mr. Malone
  The Medicines Control Agency ensures that its staff have appropriate professional and technical qualifications to perform effectively through its stringent recruitment and selection procedures; all new staff undergo a probationary period of one year upon joining. The technical competence of staff is maintained through appropriate training and is monitored through annual appraisal of their ability to meet defined objectives; this is subject to sign-off by a senior member of staff.

  The agency is also involved in the development of continuing further education programmes to ensure that all staff remain abreast of developments within their field.

  Toxocariasis and Toxoplasmosis
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of(a) toxocariasis and (b) toxoplasmosis have been recorded in England and Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [22122]
  429
  Mr. Horam
  The numbers of laboratory reports for England and Wales of toxocariasis and toxoplasmosis to the public health laboratory service's communicable disease surveillance centre for each year from 1991 to 1995 are shown in the table.

  Year

  Toxocariasis

  Toxoplasmosis

  1991

  33

  636

  1992

  23

  580

  1993

  25

  454

  1994

  25

  627

  19951

  38

  322

  1 Data for 1995 are provisional,but are unlikely to change significantly.

  From the limited data received in recent years, the CDSC has not noted any significant change in the number of toxocariasis infections reported.

  On toxoplasmosis, the CDSC received an annual average of around 750 laboratory reports between 1982 and 1991, and an average 524 in each year between 1991 and 1995. From 1982, numbers remained fairly constant until 1989. Since 1990, with the exception of an increase in 1994, numbers have continued to decline.

  GP Patients (Transport)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance with transport is provided by his Department to patients who are unable to attend doctors' surgeries but who in the doctor's opinion do not require a home visit. [22250]

  Mr. Malone
  None. It is for general practitioners themselves to determine how best to provide their services, taking into account the needs of their patients.

  Beef Extracts
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent advice he received from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee about the implications for human health on the use of foodstuff containing beef extracts; [22675]

  (2) what recent advice he received from the chief medical officer about the implications for human helath on the use of foodstuffs containing beef extracts. [22674]

  Mr. Horam
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Helath made an oral statement on 20 March about the advice received from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee and the chief medical officer,Official Report, columns 375–86. The advice received about beef included beef products.

  Health Care Purchases
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by(a) districts within each region and (b) trusts within each region the costs of purchasing health care from non-NHS bodies in each year from 1991–92. [21538]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 18 March 1996]: The information will be placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incapacity Benefit
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of people claiming incapacity benefit(a) are currently subject to the age ruling and (b) have had income support withdrawn as a result of the age ruling. [16281]

  Mr. Burt
  Entitlement to incapacity benefit ceases when a person reaches state pension age, that is, age 65 for men and age 60 for women, with the exception that a person who had attained SPA and was in receipt of invalidity benefit on 13 April 1995 has the right to retain entitlement for up to five years beyond SPA.

  In the current year, 1995–96, to the end of February, approximately 23,000 claimants, around 1 per cent. of the incapacity benefit case load, had transferred to retirement pension. Information on the income support entitlement of this group is not available. However, the benefit structure is such that a person would not become disentitled to income support solely because of transfer from incapacity benefit to retirement pension.

  One-parent Benefit
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland currently receive(a) one-parent benefit plus family credit and (b) one-parent benefit plus disability working allowance. [21575]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  As I explained in my written answer of 11 March,Official Report, column 476, it is estimated that the vast majority of the 34,000 lone parents receiving family credit in Scotland are also receiving one-parent benefit.

  It is estimated that there are fewer than 500 recipients of disability working allowance in Scotland who are also receiving one-parent benefit.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department will undertake research to establish how many people have had their attendance allowance withdrawn because they were in residential care temporarily paid for by the local authority pending the sale of their houses since the allowance first came into operation. [22015]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  We have no plans to undertake such research. Information is collected about the overall number of cases where payment of attendance allowance has been suspended. It includes cases where payment has been suspended following admission to hospital as well as admission to residential care or nursing homes. The detailed reasons for such suspensions are not recorded.

  Office Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the number and (b) the value of items of equipment and furniture that have been (i) stolen and (ii) are otherwise unaccounted for from (1) DSS offices and (2) executive agency offices in each region, for each of the last five years; and if he will list by name those items valued at £5,000 or more. [13088]
  431
  Mr. Burt
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1996, c. 467]: Further information is as follows.

  The information is not available in the format requested. The Department of Social Security does not separately maintain centralised records of individual items stolen. Losses due to theft, fraud, arson, sabotage or other causes are recorded in a single category. The number of individual losses recorded within this category, and the total value for each of the last five years is in the table:

  Financial year

  Number of individual cases

  Total value £

  1990–91

  364

  89,799

  1991–92

  411

  72,315

  1992–93

  94

  84,500

  1993–94

  192

  222,382

  1994–95

  192

  192,020

  Since 1992–93 the Information Technology Services Agency has conducted annual certification exercises to confirm the value of its fixed asset register. Following the 1992–93 exercise, a total of £5,845,000 was noted on the Department's appropriation account for 1992–93 as being
  "loss arising from discrepancies between the ITSA Asset Register and actual equipment identified".

  Following the 1994–95 exercise, a total of £695,000 was so identified. The fact that the certification exercises in 1993–94 and 1994–95 revealed surplus equipment of over £6 million valued on a comparable basis suggests that these "losses" are not permanent. However, in Government accounting terms the discrepancies identified are categorised as losses.

  The estimated gross value of the Department's tangible fixed assets, excluding land and buildings, is approximately £780 million for 1994–95.

  Travel Grants
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make an estimate of the annual benefit savings from providing travel grants to families from the former Yugoslavia living on benefit in the United Kingdom to enable them to return home. [21764]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information upon which to base an estimate is not available and could be obtained only at disproportion cost.

  Benefits Agency Staff
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the(a) basic salary and (b) bonus paid to the Benefits Agency chief executives in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [22680]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The basic salary of the Benefits Agency chief executive was paid at £82,012 for the period 1993–94 and £86,475 for 1994–95. The chief executive's total remuneration is set out in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 Benefits Agency annual report and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for further changes in the administration of the Child Support Agency. [230671

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I am able to report changes to two significant areas within the administration of the agency.

  First, an independent complaints examiner will be recruited for the Child Support Agency later this year. The agency will be running a pilot scheme during the summer in order to inform the guidelines within which the examiner will operate. My intention is that a full independent complaints service will be in operation shortly after that.

  Secondly, I am pleased to announce the following improvements to the Child Support Agency's compensation scheme, which are to take effect from 1 April 1996.

  The rules under which the agency makes compensation payments for delays in issuing maintenance application forms—which are issued to the parent with care—and maintenance enquiry forms—which are issued to the absent parent—will be changed. Currently, compensation is considered only for delays exceeding three months, where the Child Support Agency is culpable for the delay, which leads to a loss of opportunity to receive child maintenance which would have otherwise been received. For claims where the full maintenance assessment is completed on or after 1 April 1996, however, payments will be made if the delay exceeds one month, unless the agency needs to make further inquiries before issuing a MEF, when the delay period will be two months.

  Additionally, a new type of consolatory payment will be introduced. In cases were the Child Support Agency is culpable of sending a MEF to a person who is not the parent of the child, or children, in question, that person will be entitled to a consolatory payment of £100 to compensate for the upset and inconvenience caused by this error, This new payment will also be introduced on 1 April 1996.

  These changes build on the existing compensation arrangements in the Child Support Agency which cover other losses incurred as a result of maladministration. They should ensure that compensation reaches those who do not receive an acceptable level of service in this area from the Child Support Agency. The changes to the scheme mean the Child Support Agency now has a compensation scheme which has been designed in the light of experience to meet the special circumstances of Child Support Agency responsibilities.

  These improvements, together with the announcement I made last week, Official Report, column 165, on the introduction of interest payments on maintenance that the Child Support Agency has not transferred quickly enough, are a further significant step in securing the kind of service that Parliament intended.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people whose homes were damaged as a result of the Canary wharf bomb and who have been rehoused as a consequence have applied for a social fund
  433
  (a) grant and (b) loan and how many of these in each category have had the application (i) granted and (ii) refused. [22415]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 22 March 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people whose homes were damaged as a result of the Canary Wharf bomb and have been rehoused as a consequence have applied for a Social Fund (SF) (a) grant and (b) loan and how many of these in each category have had the application (i) granted and (ii) refused.
  The information has been obtained from clerical records kept by the Benefits Agency (BA) District City East, which comprises of the BA offices of City, Poplar and Stepney Nelson Street. The figures provided are provisional and subject to change.
  Total applications to the SF from people rehoused as a result of the Canary Wharf bomb: 8
  Number of people who received a grant: None
  Number of people who received a loan: 8
  I hope you will find this reply helpful.

  Benefits Agency Medical Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many doctors were employed by the Benefits Agency medical services(a) in April 1995 and (b) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [19661]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 22 March 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many doctors were employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) (a) in April 1995 and (b) at the most recent date for which figures are available.
  On 1 April 1995 BAMS employed 250 doctors. The latest figures available show that as of 1 February 1996 BAMS employed 313 doctors.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Parlianentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many questions were tabled to her Department in each Session since 1987–88; how many were not answered on the grounds of disproportionate cost; what percentage of the total number of questions this represented; how many were not answered on the grounds that the information was not centrally available; and what percentage of the total number of questions this represented. [21152]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The number of questions tabled for the Department since 1987 are shown in the following table. The reminder of the information sought could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  434

  Department of Employment

  Department for Education and Science

  Year

  Written

  Oral

  Written

  Oral

  1987–88

  3,145

  390

  2,342

  461

  1988–89

  2,984

  362

  2,029

  318

  1989–90

  2,620

  321

  2,281

  266

  1990–91

  1,496

  312

  1,670

  274

  1991–92

  730

  143

  776

  127

  1992–93

  2,342

  403

  12,289

  1372

  1993–94

  1,636

  273

  11,550

  1278

  1994–95

  1,528

  218

  11,506

  1239

  1995–96

  —

  —

  2962

  2137

  1 Department of Employment.

  2 Department for Education and Employment.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average cost of answering an(a) oral and (b) written parliamentary questions from (i) Opposition and (ii) Conservative hon. Members in each Session since 1989–90. [21792]

  Mr. Squire
  This Department does not collect the information in the form requested.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many representatives of Scottish education interests he intends to appoint to the committee of inquiry into higher education in the United Kingdom. [22430]

  Mr. Forth
  My colleagues, including my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I are considering the membership of the committee of inquiry in the light of consultations and expect to make an announcement after Easter.

  Pupil Registration Regulations
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 28 November 1995,Official Report, column 676, what conclusions she has reached on updating the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 1956. [22287]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans to amend the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 1995, which replaced the 1956 regulations and came into force on 1 September 1995. Officials are, however, continuing to explore with representatives of local education authorities whether existing guidance and procedures in this area should be revised to take account of issues raised by the West case.

  Pupil Assessnents
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the evidence she has evaluated which shows that the performance of a school pupil in respect of subjects and related grades achieved in the general certificate of secondary education at the age of 16 plus can be predicted on the basis of assessments made at the age of 11 plus. [22768]

  Mr. Paice
  The first year of statutory assessment of 11-year-olds at the end of key stage 2 was 1995. It will be possible to compare these pupils' 1995 key stage 2 national curriculum assessment results with their GCSE results in 1999.
  435
  There are, however, a number of local schemes in existence which compare the value added by schools to pupils' achievements over time. We have asked the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority to investigate these and to advise how value added might be calculated nationally and for individual schools. The SCAA is due to report by the end of the year.

  Access to Work Scheme
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what was the outcome of her Department's consideration of the access to work scheme; [22251]

  (2) what plans she has to alter criteria for inclusion on the access to work scheme. [22252]

  Mr. Paice
  The review of the access to work programme is now complete; an announcement is expected to be made shortly about its future operation.

  Child Care Projects (Merseyside)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reason the rules concerning the funding of stand-alone child care projects attempting to gain support under objective 1 status in Merseyside were changed last year; and if she will make a statement. [22425]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The rules concerning the funding of stand-alone child care projects have not changed. Child care cost are only eligible as part of a European social fund vocational training or employment project.

  School Funding
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what information she collates about the allocation of funds by local education authorities to different age groups at schools; and what was the average expenditure for children between(a) four and six years old, (b) seven and 11 years old, (c) 13 and 14 years old and (d) 15 and 16 years old plus in the last year for which figures are available. [22447]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the funding allocated by local education authorities to schools in 1995–96 by reference to the number and ages of their pupils is set out at appendix A in the volume "Education Statistics 1995–96 Estimates", published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, which is available in the Library. Information on funding allocated by reference to other factors is set out in appendix B. The Department has itself undertaken no collation and analysis which would add usefully to CIPFA' s.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which contracts in respect of which local authority areas for the operation of the careers service have been awarded to Nord Anglia. [22448]
  436
  Mr. Paice
  Nord Anglia has provided the careers service in Stockport and the High Peak since April 1995. It is contracted to provide services in Wiltshire, Brent and Harrow and Bolton, Bury and Rochdale from 1 April 1996. A further contract is expected to be signed before the end of March but details remain commercial in confidence until then.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the salary range for each training and enterprise council chief executive or highest paid director in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [22491]

  Mr. Paice
  In line with other private companies, training and enterprise councils are required to report details of salaries paid to their highest paid director in their annual accounts. Copies of the accounts are held in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Southern Education Area Board Building (Armagh)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals the Southern education area board has(a) to replace the damaged flagpole and (b) repair the public clock at its premises in the Market house in the centre of the Armagh city conservation area. [21196]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Southern education and library board has said that the necessary repairs will be carried out as soon as possible.

  Killylane Reservoir
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the Department of the Environment environmental services sampling regime for discharge points at Killylane reservoir. [21248]

  Mr. Moss
  The environment service commenced monitoring of the discharge of waste water from Killylane water treatment plant in January 1996. Sampling will take place at monthly intervals.

  Mr. Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the aluminium content in samples taken from discharger points at Killylane reservoir between January 1993 and January 1996; and what assessment he has made of the compliance of those discharges with World Health Organisation tolerance levels. [21249]

  Mr. Moss
  A sampling regime for Killylane water treatment plant commenced in January 1996. A sample of the waste water discharge from the plant to the Killylane reservoir was taken by the environment service on 22 January and the aluminium content in the sample was 3.23 mg per litre.

  World Health Organisation guidelines apply to drinking water and are therefore not appropriate in the context of waste water discharges.

  Union Flag (Government Building)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the reason for the removal of the flagpole from the Government building at 2 Newry road, Armagh city; what proposals there are for its replacement; and what arrangements are in place to fly the Union flag at these Government buildings on appropriate dates. [21194]

  Mr. Moss
  An inspection of the flagpole found it to be rotten and it was removed immediately for health and safety reasons. A replacement flagpole is on order and will be wall mounted on arrival. The Union flag will then be flown on appropriate dates.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he has made to fly the Union flag on Government buildings on St. Patrick's day; and if the five education area boards and four health area boards have been made similar arrangements. [21225]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Each year, all Northern Ireland Government Departments are informed of the prescribed dates on which the Union flag should be flown; the list includes St. Patrick's day. These instructions apply only to central Government office buildings, that is, those buildings, irrespective of ownership, where the civil service is the major occupant. There is no requirement for health and social services boards, health trusts or education and library boards to fly the Union flag on these dates, although they are notified of the dates, should they wish to do so.

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fox fur farms there are in each county of Northern Ireland. [21369]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are no fox fur farms in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licences were issued for mink farms in each county of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [21368]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are currently no mink farms in Northern Ireland and no licences to keep mink have been issued by the Department of Agriculture in the last five years.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many grammar schools there are in Northern Ireland; how many of these schools include Latin languages in their curriculum to(a) GCSE level and (b) A-level examinations. [21195]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are 71 grammar schools in Northern Ireland;(a) 26 entered candidates for Latin at GCSE level and (b) 16 entered candidates for Latin at A-level in the 1994–95 academic year.

  Elections
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the format of the proposed elections in Northern Ireland. [21257]
  438
  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 March 1996,Official Report, columns 497–508.

  Traffic Lights (Conlig Main Street)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to erect traffic lights at the junction of Conlig main street with the dual carriageway. [21199]

  Mr. Moss
  There are no plans to erect traffic lights at this junction.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fire brigades failed to meet the statutory minimum standards for their rescue and firefighting role in Northern Ireland in 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [21576]

  Mr. Moss
  The Northern Ireland fire brigade is drawing to the end of implementing a 10-year plan to enable it fully to meet the UK nationally recommended standards of fire cover. However, I am satisfied that in general the brigade is already meeting those standards, with a few localised exceptions which the completion of the 10-year plan will address. Her Majesty's inspectors of fire services, in their annual inspection, draw attention to exceptions and it is for the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland to take the appropriate action in such cases.

  Departmental Staff (Working Hours)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21584]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Within the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments, the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Contractors and Suppliers
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures his Department is taking to ensure that its contractors and suppliers(a) pay their employees a wage which ensures such employees do not need supplementary welfare payments via various state benefits and (b) meet workplace health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [21465]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The conditions of contract used by the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office to contract for goods and services specifically require contractors and suppliers to comply with all statutory obligations which may affect the execution of the contract.
  439
  The statutory obligations include those relating to health and safety. In the conditions of contract, contractors' attention is drawn specifically to article 4 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978—general duties of employers to their employees—and they require contractors to prepare a written policy statement on health and safety, together with the arrangements for carrying out that policy.

  The conditions of contract do not contain any terms in relation to the wages paid by contractors or suppliers. Contracting Departments do not concern themselves with the rates of pay of contractors' employees other than to assist in the tender process of evaluating the quality of service on offer where that service is labour intensive.

  Civil Evidence Act 1995
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when section 1 of the Civil Evidence Act 1995 will come into effect in Northern Ireland. [214831

  Sir John Wheeler
  Section 1 of the Civil Evidence Act 1995, which abolishes the rule against the admission of hearsay evidence in civil proceedings, does not extend to Northern Ireland. However, the Law Reform Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland is in the process of examining the rule against hearsay in Northern Ireland and a report containing its recommendations is expected to be published shortly.

  War Memorials
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce legislation to allow relatives of service men and women killed in action since the end of the second world war to have their names placed on war memorials. [21023]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 18 March 1996]: There are no plans to change the existing legislation. It is similar to that in Great Britain, and allows for the names of those killed in a war to be placed on war memorials.

TREASURY

  Research Establishments
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which former public sector research establishments in his Department have been privatised since 1979; and which public sector research establishments in his Department are currently undergoing reviews with a view to placing them in the private sector. [219491

  Mr. Jack
  HM Treasury is not currently responsible, and has not been since 1979, for any public sector research establishments; the responsibility for the latest series of reviews is with the President of the Board of Trade.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the Customs and Excise consultation exercise on the scope of the lower rate of landfill tax. [23060]
  440
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs and Excise has now analysed the replies which it received to the consultation exercise on the scope of the lower rate of landfill tax. On the basis of the information provided and representation made, we have concluded that the lower rate of landfill tax should apply to the wastes listed. Mixtures consisting only of listed wastes will qualify for the lower rate, as will water with suspended solids consisted only of listed wastes.

  In order to be taxable at the lower rate, listed wastes—or mixtures of such wastes—must not contain or be contaminated with any material which is not listed. If they are, the standard rate of tax will apply. But a de minimis level will apply to enable wastes to qualify for the lower rate if they consist wholly of listed wastes, apart from a small quantity of material which is not listed, provided that the material does not lead to any potential for pollution. Where wastes appear on the lower rate list and are also covered by an exemption, the exemption will apply.

  Naturally occurring rocks and soils, including:

  clay, sand, gravel, sandstone, limestone, crushed stone, china clay, clean building or demolition stone such as sandstone, limestone or slate, topsoil, peat, coal, silt and dredgings.

  Ceramic or cemented materials

  Glass.

  Ceramics, including bricks (see below for bricks with plaster). tiles, clay ware, pottery, china, bricks and mortar.

  Concrete, including reinforced concrete, concrete blocks, breeze blocks and thermalite blocks.

  Processed or prepared mineral materials, which have not been used or contaminated

  Moulding sands and clays.

  Clay absorbents, including Fuller's earth and bentonite and other mineral absorbents.

  Man-made mineral fibres, including glass fibre.

  Silica.

  Mica.

  Abrasives.

  Furnace slags

  Certain ash:

  Bottom ash and fly ash from wood or coal combustion (including pulverised fuel ash from coal combustion).

  Low activity inorganic compounds:

  Titanium dioxide.

  Calcium carbonate.

  Magnesium carbonate.

  Magnesium oxide.

  Magnesium hydroxide.

  Fenic oxide.

  Fenic hydroxide.

  Aluminium oxide.

  Gypsum and plaster

  These will be subject to the lower rate only if disposed of in landfill sites licensed only to take inactive or inert waste.

  Other wastes

  There are, in addition to the above, a few wastes on which Custom and Excise is seeking further information before a conclusion is reached as to whether the lower rate is appropriate.

DEFENCE

  Civilian Employees
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian employees of his Department there are at each individual forces base in Scotland. [22714]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have placed a list in the Library of the House.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many questions were tabled to his Department in each Session since 1987–88; how many were not answered on the grounds of disproportionate cost; what percentage of the total number of questions this represented; how many were not answered on the grounds that the information was not centrally available; and what percentage of the total number of questions this represented. [21147]

  Mr. Soames
  The Library of the House has provided the following information on the number of questions tabled to my Department for the relevant years.

  Written Questions

  Oral Questions (including supplementaries)

  1987–88

  3,784

  415

  1988–89

  3,415

  367

  1989–90

  3,244

  333

  1990–91

  2,390

  275

  1991–92

  1,097

  132

  1992–93

  3,623

  385

  1993–94

  2,849

  302

  1994–95

  3,580

  276

  1995–96

  1,081

  133

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

  Ridgewood Group of Companies
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what departmental investigations have been(a) initiated and (b) completed by his Department into the Ridgewood group of companies; and if will publish his conclusions. [211821]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 18 March 1996]: Inquiries have been made within the Ministry of Defence to establish whether there are any departmental investigations into the Ridgewood group of companies; none are known to be current. Any in the past have been concluded satisfactorily and their conclusions will not be published.

  Married Quarters
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had from representatives of the building industry, the mortgage lenders and estate agents about the consequences for the English housing market of the sale of Ministry of Defence married quarters. [21383]
  442
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We have received no such representations on behalf of these groups.

  Research Establishments
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which former public sector research establishments in his Department have been privatised since 1979; and which public sector research establishments in his Department are currently undergoing reviews with a view to placing them in the private sector. [21937]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  No MOD research establishments have been privatised since 1979, and no such establishment is currently undergoing review for this purpose.

  Decommissioned Submarines
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on(a) the removal of decommissioned submarines from Rosyth royal dockyard and (b) the disposal and transportation of radioactive waste from the decommissioned submarines. [22099]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Government's policy is that decommissioned nuclear submarines should be stored safely afloat at the location where they are decommissioned. This policy is kept under review. There are no current plans to remove these decommissioned submarines stored afloat at Rosyth royal dockyard. Radioactive waste produced during the decommissioning process is handled in accordance with current national legislation. There is no transportation of radioactive waste following decommissioning.

  Tornado Crews (Training)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the average air crew flying training hours for Tornado aircraft in each of the last five years. [21884]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 21 March 1996]: The monthly average Tornado air crew flying training hours for each of the last five years are as follows:

  Financial year

  Tornado F3

  Tornado GR1

  1991–92

  17 hours 45 minutes

  17 hours 45 minutes

  1992–93

  18 hours 55 minutes

  16 hours 50 minutes

  1993–94

  15 hours 45 minutes

  15 hours 35 minutes

  1994–95

  14 hours 30 minutes

  16 hours 45 minutes

  1995–96

  13 hours 55 minutes

  13 hours 25 minutes

  The figures shown exclude operational flying in support of the Iraq no-fly zone and UN-NATO operations in Bosnia, in which the Tornado F3 has been involved since April 1993 and the Tornado GR to varying degrees throughout the period. Such flying includes an element of continuation training. The figures for 1995–96 are the monthly average up to and including January 1996.

  Service Strength
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the strength of(a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Navy by the end of the decade. [21883]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 21 March 1996]: The estimated strengths for the services at 1 April 1999 are as follows:

  (a) Royal Air Force: 55,500

  (b) Army: 114,000

  (c) Royal Navy: 44,000

  The Army estimate includes Gurkha strengths, but excludes the Royal Irish Regiment—home service force. The Royal Navy estimate includes the Royal Marines and Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service. All the figures include an element for personnel undergoing training.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amounts of money have been paid out by(a) his Department and (b) executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and other organisations for which he is accountable to Parliament, to how many staff or former staff in respect of (i) alleged equal opportunities breaches which do not proceed to tribunal or courts and (ii) equal opportunities breaches which proceeded to tribunals or courts in (1) the current year and (2) the two previous years. [22514]

  Mr. Soames
  The handling of civilian equal opportunities cases has been delegated to budget holders and agencies. Details of amounts paid and numbers of cases are not all readily available centrally. Information is however available on six cases over the past few years, for which the average payment was about £7,500.

  For service personnel, the great majority of such payments relate to compensation for those dismissed on the ground of pregnancy before the services introduced maternity leave in 1990. An average of about £10,000 has been paid to each of 4,615 cases which did not proceed to tribunals, and about £30,000 to each of 320 cases which proceeded to tribunal. Most of this expenditure was made in 1994–95. On service cases other than pregnancy dismissal, not all details are available in the form requested but an average of about £7,000 has been paid in each of about 60 cases, of which three proceeded to tribunal.

  HMY Britannia
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the annual running costs for HMY Britannia; and from which subheads of which votes these funds are taken. [22409]

  Mr. Soames
  The estimated total operating costs of HMY Britannia for the financial year 1995–96 are £8,933,000. Provision for this expenditure is currently made in class I, vote 1, subheads Al and F1 and in class I, vote 2, subheads Al and A2.
  444
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department is carrying out into the replacement of HMY Britannia; what has been the cost of these studies to date; and what is the estimated cost of a replacement for HMY Britannia. [22408]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The possible replacement of HMY Britannia, together with other options for meeting the tasks she presently fulfils, is being examined by an interdepartmental working group. The main cost of this work, which has been confined to a small proportion of the salaries of the officials involved, has not been collected centrally and could not be estimated without disproportionate effort. The cost of any replacement would depend entirely on its design and role.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average daily cost of crewing HMY Britannia(a) with and (b) without the royal family embarked. [22824]

  Mr. Soames
  In the current financial year, the present estimated average daily cost of crewing HMY Britannia is about £16,000. The presence, or absence, on board of members of the royal family does not affect crewing levels.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the daily running cost, excluding maintenance and refitting, of HMY Britannia(a) in harbour and (b) at sea with and without the royal family embarked. [22825]

  Mr. Soames
  This information is not available in the form requested. In the current financial year, however, the present estimated daily total operating costs of HMY Britannia are about £21,000, excluding repair and refit.

  Nuclear Decommissioning
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his Department's outstanding liabilities for future decommissioning of nuclear facilities at(a) Calder Hall, (b) Chapelcross and (c) Capenhurst. [22350]

  Mr. Soames
  British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. is responsible for assessing the costs of decommissioning facilities at its sites. My Department's share of these costs is either subsumed in prices paid on supply contracts or met when the costs are actually incurred, which in most cases will not be for some considerable time. It is not possible accurately to determine the costs of these liabilities as they will depend on a number of factors including future usage of the facilities by other customers.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current status of the A91 building at AWE Aldermaston; and on what date it is expected that this building will become fully operational. [22365]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Work to rectify the problems in the A91 building at AWE Aldermaston is progressing. The building is expected to become fully operational in 1997.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current total estimated cost of the new capital works projects at AWE Aldermaston. [22364]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The projects in question are largely complete and the estimate of their total cost remains £1.2 billion.
  445
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current status of the A90 building at AWE Aldermaston; and on what date it is expected that this building will become fully operational. [22349]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The phased radioactive commissioning of the A90 building is in progress. The building is expected to come into full operation by the end of this year, with the completion of the progressive transfer of plutonium processing from existing facilities.

  Pindar Facility
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current status of the Pindar bunker. [22351]

  Mr. Soames
  The Pindar facility is fully operational.

  51 Squadron
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role of aircraft from 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force, in operations over Bosnia. [22356]

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

  Exercise Arid Thunder
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) of 12 March,Official Report, column 510, which sub-munitions were used during the expending of BL755 cluster bombs during Exercise Arid Thunder. [22362]

  Mr. Soames
  The sub-munitions used were piercing—fragmentation bomblets.

  RAF Bases
  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 March 1996, c. 64–65]: I regret that there was an omission from the list of RAF bases where there is a US presence but where there is no operational runway or aircraft. This is RAF Feltwell where there are approximately 400 US personnel.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Deregulation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many new regulations have been introduced by the Government since April 1992; and how many regulations have been removed as a result of the Government's deregulation procedures. [20690]

  Mr. Willetts
  We have repealed or amended over 500 of the 1,000 regulations which we identified as unnecessary burdens on business. Of 3,334 new statutory instruments in 1994, nearly 2,000 were for road closures 446
  and other local measures. Two thirds of the remainder either were specifically to help businesses or had no impact on them.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new deregulation initiatives his Department is examining; and if he will make a statement. [20705]

  Mr. Willetts
  A number of new deregulation initiatives were announced at the "Your Business Matters" conference on 11 March. We also announced plans for a programme of deregulation seminars, covering sectors from tourism to financial services, to enable business to put forward their own ideas for further deregulation.

  Charter Mark
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Labour-held councils were recently awarded the charter mark; and what are the categories of the awards and the factors underlying their issue. [20694]

  Mr. Willetts
  There were 41 charter mark winners from within Labour-controlled local authorities in 1995.

  There is one category of award. All winners must demonstrate excellence against the nine criteria.

  Government Policy
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy on the co-ordination of Government policy. [20695]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  We are pursuing economic prosperity and security for all, based on an enterprise economy; creating a nation of opportunity, reflecting the Government's values of choice, ownership and reward; upholding decent common-sense values in the pursuit of law, order and justice; providing the people of Britain with first-class public services; and reflecting pride in the nation and its place in the world.

  Referendums
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will commission a study into the use of referendums in respect of Government policies. [20696]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  No; the Government have access to sufficient information and advice on the subject.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what contribution his Department made to the Government initiative on small businesses. [20698]

  Mr. Freeman
  A package of new deregulation measures for small businesses was announced at the "Your Business Matters" conference on 11 March. These measures, which include new rights for business in enforcement actions and a prototype IT system to provide information about forms and regulations, have been widely welcomed by business.
  447
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to co-ordinate more effectively the presentation of Government policy towards small businesses. [20699]

  Mr. Willetts
  Last year, the Prime Minister asked the Institute of Directors and other business organisations to organise a series of small business conferences, so that small businesses could give their views on Government policies and their presentation. At the final conference on 11 March, the Prime Minister announced further measures to help small firms and said that the Government would respond in full to these conferences in the third White Paper on competitiveness in the summer.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his division of responsibilities with other Cabinet Ministers. [20700]

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what are(a) his responsibility and (b) his authority in respect of (i) the Department of Trade and Industry and (ii) the Department for Education and Employment. [20704]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  Ministerial responsibilities are a matter of public record, set out in my Department's publication, the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities".

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes have taken place in his responsibilities since he was appointed. [20703]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  As previously announced, the Prime Minister has this year invited me to chair ministerial groups on information technology and on the Millennium festival. In other respects, my role is unchanged.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made following the Government's planned White Paper on competitiveness. [20701]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The Government will report on the progress made since last year's White Paper on competitiveness in a third competitiveness White Paper in the summer.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff there are in his Department. [20702]
  448
  Mr. Willetts
  By convention, the Office of Public Service, the Cabinet Office and CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems, are treated as one group, and staff currently number 1,332.

  Research Establishments
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which former public sector research establishments in his Department have been privatised since 1979; and which public sector research establishments in his Department are currently undergoing reviews with a view to placing them in the private sector. [21936]

  Mr. Willetts
  There are no such research establishments in the Department and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contractual obligations to protect the jobs of existing employees of HMSO at its plants in Norwich, London and Oldham the prospective purchasers of the organisation will be required to meet. [22268]

  Mr. Freeman
  The level of HMSO staffing now, in all locations, largely depends on the amount of business it wins in competition with other suppliers. That will not change after privatisation, and I can offer no guarantees as to the future staffing levels. The hon. Member will note the recent high level of redundancies across HMSO, which reflect the need for it to streamline itself to remain competitive.

  HMSO has a major presence in Norwich, and to a lesser extent elsewhere in the country. Relocation is a very expensive process, and as I made clear during the 18 March debate, Official Report, column 89, I cannot envisage circumstances in which the new owner would wish to move significant numbers of staff away from their current locations. This is especially true in locations such as Oldham, where current facilities include a large amount of specialised plant. Bidders will be required to submit their plans for the development of the business, and an assessment of their overall plans will assist us in selecting the winning bid.

  However, I would not wish to pre-empt the commercial judgment of the new owner to reorganise the business in the future if circumstances dictated. That would cut across the whole purpose of the sale, which is to give the business the freedom necessary for it to prosper.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the number of charter marks which have been awarded to the Driving Standards Agency. [20692]

  Mr. Willetts
  The Driving Standards Agency was awarded a charter mark in 1992. This expired in 1995.

  Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to lay an order specifying the principal civil service pension scheme administration as a function which contractors may be authorised to carry out; and if he will make a statement. [22986]

  Mr. Freeman
  An order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 was laid today before Parliament in draft, and will be subject to affirmative resolution of both Houses.

  Approval of the order by Parliament will enable Departments to market test their day-to-day administration of the principal civil service pension scheme, and associated schemes. Occupational pension arrangements for civil servants will continue to be provided through the PCSPS. Market testing of the administration function will not affect pension benefits in any way. Competition will ensure value for money and the focus on performance outputs will help to raise the quality of service to scheme members. Decisions on the timing and method of competitive tendering will be for each employing Department to take. It will be open to existing service providers, such as the Paymaster agency, to compete on a value-for-money basis. Such bids will be at full cost and will be considered rigorously. The unions will be consulted on individual market tests as they arise.

  Responsibility for management of the PCSPS—and associated schemes—including setting the rules, will remain within government. This function transferred from HM Treasury to the Office of Public Service and Science on 1 April 1995. Expenditure on civil service pension benefits will continue to be met from the civil superannuation vote, responsibility for which also transferred to the Office of Public Service.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Departmental Staff (Working Hours)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21510]

  Mr. Newton
  Within the last 52 weeks, 10 Privy Council Office staff worked paid overtime which took their hours above 48 in a week, and two more received payments in recognition of hours worked on a similar scale. In aggregate, they constituted just over 30 per cent. of the Department's total staff. The hours worked by Ministers and senior staff not eligible for paid overtime are not recorded, nor are records kept of the hours worked in individual weeks by staff on flexible working schemes.

  Departmental Contractors and Suppliers
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what measures his Department is taking to ensure that its contractors and suppliers(a) pay their employees a wage which ensures such employees do not need supplementary welfare payments via various state benefits and (b) meet workplace health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [21468]

  Mr. Newton
  Terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are a matter between the contractor or supplier and his employees, subject to any relevant legal requirements. Compliance with health and safety regulations is a legal requirement for the contractor or supplier.

WALES

  Welsh National Opera
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March,Official Report, column 171, what were the dates of the meetings relating to the permanent home for the Welsh National Opera company; and if he will indicate the positions held by those present. [22410]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Friday 22 March,Official Report, column 356.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 1996,Official Report, column 745, relating to inward investment company visits, how many of these included visits to (a) Gwynedd and (b) Dyfed. [22218]

  Mr. Hague
  Of the 13 inward visits brought to Wales over the past 12 months by the Invest in Britain Bureau, one visited Dyfed.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent the £1,100 per four-year-old child currently in school which will be withdrawn from local education authorities in April 1997 under the nursery voucher scheme is funded through the revenue support grant for local authorities. [22237]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 22 March 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 11 March, Official Report, column 495.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been deregistered from their dentist since 1992 in each health authority area; and if he will make a statement. [20890]

  Mr. Richards
  From the information supplied by family health services authorities the number of patients in Wales who have been deregistered since August 1992 is as follows:

  FHSA

  Adult patients

  Child patients

  Total patients

  Clwyd

  12,363

  145

  12,508

  Dyfed

  4,585

  14

  4,599

  Gwent

  11,386

  0

  11,386

  Gwynedd

  19,928

  0

  19,928

  Mid Glamorgan

  2,142

  0

  2,142

  Powys

  0

  0

  0

  South Glamorgan

  6,565

  59

  6,624

  West Glamorgan

  44

  0

  44

  Totals

  57,013

  218

  57,231

  This information was supplied for management purposes only and is not statistically validated.
  452
  These are cumulative figures and do not indicate how many of those patients subsequently registered with another dentist.

  Statistics published by the Dental Practice Board indicate that, at the end of December 1995, the number of registered patients in Wales was 38,194 higher than it was at the end of June 1992.

  Planning
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what the planning status of technical advice notes will be; if they will be subject to consultation; and if he will make a statement; [22052]

  (2) when he plans to publish the single planning policy guidance (Wales); and if he will make a statement; [22054]

  (3) if the technical advice notes will be released at the same time as the planning policy guidance (Wales); and if he will make a statement; [22053]

  (4) what plans he has to prepare technical advice notes on nature conservation; and if he will make a statement. [22055]

  Mr. Hague
  A final decision on planning policy guidance in Wales has not yet been taken, but I shall be making an announcement shortly. If I decide to go ahead with a single planning policy guidance (Wales) document it would be issued in advance of the series of technical advice notes. The intention would be to cancel the current PPG series but leave the technical guidance contained in the notes extant until the TANs were issued in their formal form.

  Full consultation would take place on any draft TANs, one of which would relate to nature conservation, produced by my Department. The status of the TANs would be made clear at the time of issue.

  Amey Construction Ltd.
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list projects in which Amey Construction Ltd. were employed by the Welsh Office as contractors, by subject and by value, in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [22027]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In 1994–95 and 1995–96 Amey Construction has been employed on one road project. The project was M4 Brynglas tunnels—A4042 Malpas road relief scheme, and the accepted tender price was £38 million.

  Bird Reserve, Gwent
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 March 1996,Official Report, column 629, what assessment he has made of the additional time taken to establish the Gwent bird reserve by the Land Authority for Wales and the Cardiff Bay development corporation on the basis of using the private finance initiative compared with the conventional public sector route. [22805]
  453
  Mr. Hague
  It is Government policy to consider private finance initiative options for all capital schemes and the aim to complete engineering works before impoundment of the waters within Cardiff bay took account of this.

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 March 1996,Official Report, column 629, what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation and the leaders of the Cardiff and Vale councils concerning the exit strategy for the development corporation; and if he will chair the first exit strategy joint meeting. [22817]

  Mr. Hague
  I have asked the board of the Cardiff Bay development corporation to prepare a draft plan for winding up the corporation. The draft plan will be put out to consultation with the relevant local authorities and other interested bodies by July 1996 or sooner if possible.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the shadow unitary authorities which submitted their proposals for local management of schools schemes by the stated deadline, indicating(a) which have been the subject of requests for further information, the length of time and deadline for the return of this information and (b) which have had their local management of schools schemes approved and the estimated latest date on which approval can be given to county borough local management of schools schemes to enable them to inform the schools of their budgets for April 1996 to March 1997. [22544]

  Mr. Richards
  The 22 unitary authorities were asked to submit their draft schemes by 1 December, with subsequent amendments by 12 January this year. Thirteen authorities met the first deadline, all the second, although many of the schemes submitted were considered incomplete. It has been necessary to request far more information than anticipated in respect of all draft schemes submitted. The deadline set for the additional information has varied between authorities, in whose interests it is to provide the information as soon as possible. Additional information is still outstanding from four authorities.

  Thirteen schemes have been approved so far. Subject to the timely provision of all the additional information requested, I would hope that all schemes can be approved by 1 April. I understand that many authorities have already given their schools an indication of their budget for 1996–97.

  East Glamorgan General Hospital
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the future of accident and emergency services at the East Glamorgan General Hospital, Pontypridd. [22574]

  Mr. Richards
  The new district general hospital at Ynys-y-Plwm is scheduled to open in December 1998 and will offer a full accident and emergency service. Until then this service will continue to be available at East Glamorgan general hospital.
  454
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the accident and emergency unit at East Glamorgan general hospital, Pontypridd, is meeting patients charter requirements for waiting times in accident and emergency. [22599]

  Mr. Richards
  At 31 December 1995, 76 per cent. of patients were assessed within five minutes of arrival at the hospital's accident and emergency department. Over 90 per cent. of casualty patients were found a hospital bed within two hours of the decision to admit them.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimated date for the opening of the East Glamorgan general hospital at its new Llantrisant site. [22601]

  Mr. Richards
  The hospital is due to open in December 1998 following six months' commissioning after the contract completion date in May 1998.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that, as part of the transfer of services from its present, Church village, site to its new site at Llantrisant, the East Glamorgan general hospital will be required by the Welsh Office to provide a full and continuing accident and emergency service at the new site. [22603]

  Mr. Richards
  Yes, the East Glamorgan NHS trust will provide a full accident and emergency service from the new site.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what vacancies there are for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at the accident and emergency department at East Glamorgan general hospital, Pontypridd. [22600]

  Mr. Richards
  There is currently one vacancy for a staff grade doctor. This will be filled as soon as a work permit has been received in respect of an overseas doctor recently interviewed for the post.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is(a) latest projected cost for completion of the East Glamorgan general hospital at its new Llantrisant site and (b) the number of beds to be included in that hospital. [22602]

  Mr. Richards
  The latest projected costs including works, equipment, fees and VAT is £82 million and the hospital will include 513 beds.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil service jobs have been relocated out of Wales since the process of market testing and contractorisation began. [22810]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not collected.

TRANSPORT

  Road Schemes
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average cost overrun for major road schemes
  455
  constructed by his Department in each of the last 10 years; and if he will list the 10 schemes with the largest cost overrun during the last 10 years. [20777]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Clare Short, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the average cost overrun of road schemes. You asked what was the average cost ovenun of major road schemes constructed in each of the last ten years, and requested a list of the ten schemes with the largest cost ovenun during that period.
  A report entitled "Department of Transport: Contracting for Roads" was published by the National Audit Office in October 1992, and provided detailed information on this matter. In addition, I wrote to Mrs. Joan Walley MP on 3 October 1995 in response to a Parliamentary Question enclosing some information for schemes completed between March 1990 and March 1995, I enclose copies of these documents for your ease of reference.

  Highways Agency
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the restructuring of the Highways Agency announced in March 1995. [20775]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Clare Short, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the cost of the restructuring of the Highways Agency announced in March 1995.
  My assessment of the cost is £14,060,000.

  Chinese Military Manoeuvres
  Sir Nicholas Scott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about recent interference in recognised international sea and air routes by China in respect of launching missiles, firing munitions and conducting manoeuvres; and to what extent Chinese notification of these accorded with acceptable international practice. [22211]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since 8 March, the Chinese navy and air force have been conducting military exercises in the Taiwan straits. For this purpose, they have established and duly notified a series of maritime and air exclusion zones. While diversions by ships and aircraft may have been necessary, the Chinese exercises have not prevented transit passage through the straits.

  Although China is not yet a state party to the United Nations convention on the law of the sea, her actions, including notification procedures, appear to be in general conformity with international practice.

  Royal Family (Official Cars)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who(a) owns and (b) has responsibility for operating the official cars used by the royal family for their public duties. [21476]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have been asked to reply.
  456
  The costs of cars used for official purposes by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are met from the Queen's civil list and from His Royal Highness's parliamentary annuity respectively. They may be owned or leased and are operated by the Royal Mews. The costs of cars used for official purposes by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother are met from Her Majesty's parliamentary annuity. They are the responsibility of her staff and may be owned or leased. Cars are also owned privately for private use.

  Costs for other members of the royal family are not paid for from public funds.

  Aircraft (Ice Falls)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 6 March 1996,Official Report, column 215, if he will make a statement on the action his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of ice balls falling from aircraft. [21364]

  Mr. Norris
  The aviation industry and the Civil Aviation Authority are aware of public concerns and practical steps are being taken to reduce the number of occurrences of ice falling from aircraft. These steps include:the fitting of manufacturers' modification kits to improve resistance to water leaks at servicing points;
  enhanced maintenance requirements to ensure the continued integrity of water sealing systems in service;
  routine visual inspections of aircraft after landing, by airline engineers checking for evidence of ice accretion;
  unannounced inspections by CAA surveyors checking airworthiness standards which include evidence of ice accretion/water leakage; and
  recording of occurrences by the CAA and investigation of serious events by the air accidents investigation branch.

  Freightliner
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has entered into an agreement under section 137 of the Railways Act 1993 in connection with the proposed sale of Freightliner. [21719]

  Mr. Watts
  I expect to do so shortly.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the sources of legal advice obtained by the Vehicle Inspectorate; [21772]

  (2) how many vehicles were found not to be displaying a valid operator's licence in each spot check undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate in the last year; [21961]

  (3) how many vehicle spot checks were undertaken by the police or the Vehicle Inspectorate on tankers used to transport oil from south Pembrokeshire beaches to oil refineries in Milford Haven in the last year; and how many prohibition notices were issued; [21960]

  (4) if he will place in the Library the results of the Vehicle Inspectorate staff attitude survey. [21775]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to the hon. Member.
  457
  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning:
  (1) the sources of legal advice obtained by the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI);
  (2) the number of vehicles found not to be displaying a valid operator's licence in each spot check undertaken by the VI in the last year;
  (3) the number of vehicle spot checks undertaken by the police or the VI on tankers used to transport oil from South Pembrokeshire beaches to oil refineries in Milford Haven in the last year, and the number of prohibition notices issued; and
  (4) the Vehicle Inspectorate's Staff Attitude Survey.
  The Vehicle Inspectorate seeks legal advice from one of three sources: the Department of Transport's own Legal Branch, the Treasury Solicitors and from contracted solicitors. Contracted solicitors are based around the country to deal with regional prosecution cases.
  With regard to (2), this information is not collected as the non-display of a disc does not necessarily indicate an operator operating outside the "O" licence system.
  Four tankers have been examined, three by our Traffic Examiners and one by Vehicle Examiners, at normal roadside checks. None of the vehicles were issued with prohibition notices.
  A copy of the Survey has been forwarded to the Library.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of additional enforcement staff employed as a result of the recent £495,000 increase in the Vehicle Inspectorate's budget. [22348]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question concerning the number of additional enforcement staff employed as a result of the increase in the Vehicle Inspectorate's budget.
  The additional £495,000 funding will allow the Inspectorate to maintain frontline staff numbers in 1996/97 including the additional 14 posts created in 1995/96.

  Railway Stations (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sums were spent on measures to improve access for disabled people within local railway stations in Wales in the last three years. [22231]

  Mr. Watts
  No central record is maintained of amounts spent on facilities for disabled people at individual stations.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures Railtrack is taking to address the needs of wheelchair users and other disabled persons in local railway stations in Wales. [22233]

  Mr. Watts
  It is for each train operating company providing train services in Wales to produce its own plans as to how it will improve access facilities for disabled people on trains and at the stations operated by it. These plans will be set out in its disabled persons protection policy which each TOC has to have approved by the Rail Regulator.
  458
  Of the seven TOCs operating in Wales, Great Western Trains Co. Ltd, which is now a private sector company, has received approval for its DPPP from the Rail Regulator. The remaining TOCs involved are all at an advanced stage in obtaining approval from the Rail Regulator for their own DPPPs.

  Railfreight (Sale)
  Mr. Willian O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the units, goods depots and land in the care and ownership of Railfreight that will not be included in the sale of Railfreight; [22215]

  (2) if Europort's rail freight terminals are included in the privatisation of Railfreight; [22217]

  (3) what estimate he has made of income to the Government from the sale of Railfreight; [22205]

  (4) how many bids have been made by potential purchasers for Railfreight. [22216]

  Mr. Watts
  Railfreight Distribution has not yet been offered for sale. The Government and the British Railways Board are currently considering the options for its privatisation.

  Railway Companies
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that hon. Members are informed of all track, renewal, maintenance, operating freight and other non-British Rail companies that are operating in, or serving, their constituencies and that this information is issued with regular revisions. [22555]

  Mr. Watts
  No.

  Ferry Safety
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetables have been agreed for ferries operating in(a) British waters and (b) Norwegian waters to comply with the new 50 cm limit for flooding of the car decks. [22807]

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

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about the time tables for implementation of the new 50 centimetre limit for flooding on the car decks of ferries operating in (a) British waters and (b) Norwegian waters.
  The agreement concluded in Stockholm last month establishes a timetable for the application of the new standard to all ferries operating on international voyages in the waters of any country. within the specified geographical area, including the UK and Norway and wishing to apply the agreement. Such ferries are required to comply not later than the first yearly inspection following the date of compliance prescribed below according to the vessel's value of A/Amax:

  Value of A/Amax

  Date of Compliance

  Less than 85 per cent.

  1 April 1997

  Less than 90 per cent.

  31 December 1998

  Less than 95 per cent.

  31 December 1999

  459

  Value of A/Amax

  Date of Compliance

  Less than 97.5 per cent.

  31 December 2000

  97.5 per cent. or higher

  31 December 2001—but in any case not later than 1 October 2002.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the energy consumption per mile for(a) aircraft, (b) car, (c) rail and (d) water transport. [22815]

  Mr. Norris
  Estimates of energy consumption per mile are not made in the form requested.

  Second Severn Crossing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the second Severn crossing will be officially opened for traffic. [22813]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 25 March 1996:
  I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Transport to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when the Second Severn Crossing will be officially opened for traffic.
  The Concessionaire, Severn River Crossing Plc, have announced that the official opening ceremony will take place on 5 June 1996. It is expected that the crossing will be open to traffic on the following day.

  M25 (Speed Limits)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the working of the variable speed limits on the M25 and on his plans to extend the lengths of the motorway covered by these regulations. [20928]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Wilshire, dated 25 March 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about variable speed limits on the M25.
  Variable speed limits have been operating since the end of August 1995. We have been able to show that the system is capable of effectively controlling vehicle speeds during peak conditions, and the vast majority of drivers appear to appreciate that the system will ease conditions for them.
  More data is needed about the precise effect on the traffic flows, traffic safety and possible changes to driving patterns before we can determine the extent to which the system can be used elsewhere on the network.

  Traffic Violations
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of traffic violations involving Department of Transport vehicles, the nature of the violation, and the total amount of any fines arising from those violations, in each year since 1986. [22242]
  460
  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 22 March 1996]: The available records on traffic violations for 1986 to date are as follows:

  Year

  Violation

  Fine £

  1986

  Nil

  Nil

  1987

  Nil

  Nil

  1988

  Nil

  Nil

  1989

  Nil

  Nil

  1990

  Nil

  Nil

  1991

  Nil

  Nil

  1992

  Nil

  Nil

  1993

  Nil

  Nil

  1994

  Nil

  Nil

  1995

  2 x speeding

  80.00

  1 x parking

  30.00

  1996

  Nil to date

  Nil to date

  Total

  110.00

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farming Waste
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of tons of waste material produced by the farming industry each year. [21389]

  Mr. Boswell
  It is estimated that approximately 80 million tons of animal manure is produced each year on farms in the United Kingdom, most of which is recycled back to agricultural land. Estimates for other waste materials generated on farms are not available.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department provides to farmers on the safe removal or recycling of waste material from farm processes. [21388]

  Mr. Boswell
  Detailed guidance for farmers on the safe disposal or recycling of agricultural wastes is contained in the Ministry's codes of good agricultural practice for the protection of water, air and soil which are available free of charge to all farmers and growers. In addition, the Ministry funds ADAS—the agricultural development advisory service—to provide free advice to farmers in the form of a general pollution risk assessment or assistance in the preparation of a farm waste management plan.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance he will provide to farmers in nitrate vulnerable zones who are to face restrictions on the spreading of manures. [22996]

  Mr. Boswell
  I am very pleased to announce a new grant scheme which will be open to farmers in England and Wales who have land in a nitrate vulnerable zone. The scheme will help those farmers who need to improve their farm waste facilities as a result of limits to be set on the spreading of livestock manures in the zones. The necessary statutory instrument has been laid before Parliament today and will be debated in both Houses of Parliament.
  461
  The scheme, which offers a 25 per cent. rate of grant on eligible waste storage and handling facilities, will come into force on 17 April. For the first time, grant will be available on facilities for the separation of clean and dirty water, other than roofing, where this will reduce the need for storage. In addition, farmers will be able to call on ADAS for free advice to help them decide on the waste facilities needed to comply with the NVZ measures.

  Agricultural and Rural Development
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fishers and Food what discussions he has held with his ministerial counterpart in the Northern Ireland Office concerning the resumption of the special programme for agricultural and rural development. [21652]

  Mr. Boswell
  None.

  Departmental Staff (Working Hours)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21514]

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of staff recorded as being paid for overtime work which took their hours worked to over 48 hours net in any one week in the 12 months to February 1996 is 1,611, which represents 23.9 per cent. of this Department's staff.

  No records are held centrally of the hours worked either by senior staff not eligible for paid overtime or by those on flexible working schemes.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average cost of answering an(a) oral and (b) written parliamentary question from (i) Opposition and (ii) Conservative hon. Members in each Session since 1989–90. [21794]

  Mr. Boswell
  This Department does not collect the information in the form requested.

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 1996,Official Report, column 728, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the local veterinary inspectors, conditions of appointment in respect of recording the time taken for each inspection; and if he will make a statement. [22079]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 21 March 1996]: The conditions of appointment of local veterinary inspectors are kept under review. I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer that I gave him on 30 January 1996, Official Report, columns 696–97, which outlined the safeguards to ensure that high standards of veterinary certification are maintained. I have no immediate plans to change the conditions of appointment of LVIs.

  Dietary Supplements
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration is being given by the Codex 462
  Alimentarius Committee to the availability of and trade in dietary supplements; what is the role and purpose of that committee; through what mechanism the United Kingdom contributes to the committee; through what procedures it reaches conclusions; upon whom and with what authority those decisions are binding; and if he will make a statement. [22045]

  Mrs. Browning
  The purpose of the Codex Alimentarius is"to guide and promote the elaboration and establishment of definitions and requirements for foods, to assist in their harmonisation and, in doing so, facilitate international trade".

  The discussions bring together scientist, technical experts, government regulators, consumer organisations and industry representatives in order to develop Codex guidelines and standards by consensus. The UK is a member of the committee and participates fully. The Codex Alimentarius Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses is at a preliminary stage in developing a Codex guideline on dietary supplements. The committee develops guidelines by consensus, and the Codex guidelines are advisory instruments only.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department received copies of the minutes of the meetings of the Codex Alimentarius Committee at which dietary supplements have been considered; and if he will make such minutes available(a) in the Library and (b) to the Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy. [22046]

  Mrs. Browning
  The final report of the last meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses, which considered dietary supplements, was received by my Department on 12 June 1995. Interested parties were informed about this and the report is available to them on request. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Codex Alimentarius Committee to meet next; if dietary supplements will be discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement setting out the timetable for future meetings of and decisions by that committee in relation to dietary supplements. [22047]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Codex Alimentarius Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses will next meet from 7 to 11 October 1996. Dietary supplements will be on the agenda of the meeting. The timetable for future meetings and decisions by this committee is a matter for the committee to decide.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evaluation he has made of the proposals submitted by Germany to the Codex Alimentarius Committee in relation to dietary supplements; and what response he has made to those proposals. [22048]

  Mrs. Browning
  A paper was tabled by Germany at the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses from 27 to 31 March 1995. The United Kingdom delegation made a preliminary evaluation of the paper prior to the meeting in consultation with both industry and consumer representatives, and at the meeting expressed the view that Codex guidelines were not necessary.
  463
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to promote at meetings of the Codex Alimentarius Committee and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade the continued availability to consumers of vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements. [22049]

  Mrs. Browning
  Yes.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has received from(a) the Codex Alimentarius Committee and (b) other bodies associated with GATT to restrict (i) the potency, (ii) the availability and (iii) the trade in vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements for (1) prophylactic and (2) other use; and if he will make a statement. [22050]

  Mrs. Browning
  The paper tabled by Germany at the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses from 27 to 31 March 1995, which contained these points, was not a formal proposal, but an early draft for a revised draft guideline for dietary supplements.

  No proposals concerning dietary supplements have been received from any of the other international standards-setting bodies referred to in the GATT agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the competence of GATT structures for addressing(a) the potency, (b) the availability and (c) the trade in vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements for (i) prophylactic and (ii) other use; and if he will make a statement. [22051]

  Mrs. Browning
  The rules of the World Trade Organisation—the successor body to GATT—would be relevant to the availability or use of dietary supplements only if situation arose in which one WTO member country restricted imports of such substances and another wished to challenge that restriction. Such a situation would be likely to arise only if there were any evidence that dietary supplements posed a danger to human health.

  Rabies
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date the Council of Ministers discussed the report of the Scientific Veterinary Committee on various aspects of rabies, paper VI/1533/92-EN-REI-I (PVET/EN/1268). [22026]

  Mrs. Browning
  We do not have any record of this working paper itself being discussed at the Council of Ministers. However, discussions on the Balai directive—EC directive 92/65—were held at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting on 15 June 1992. The rabies provisions of this directive, particularly those relating to dogs and cats, were based on the Scientific Veterinary Committee recommendations in this paper.

  Organophosphate Poisoning
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a system of compensation for farmers suffering from 464
  organophosphate poisoning who cannot obtain legal aid; and if he will make a statement. [22371]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have no plans to introduce such a system. Questions of compensation are a matter between the individual and the company concerned.

  Fishing Fleet
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the discrepancy in the size of the British registered fishing fleet and the figures quoted by the EU Fisheries Commissioner, Emma Bonino, on her recent visit to the United Kingdom. [22253]

  Mr. Baldry
  The figures which the Fisheries Commissioner was reported as using apparently showed a doubling of the UK fleet from 116,000 GRT—gross registered tonnage—in 1986 to 239,000 GRT now.

  This is not so. The 1986 figure comes from a statistical series recording only certain significantly active vessels and is not comparable with later figures which give the total registered fleet. Moreover, the supposed figure for current tonnage is wrong and does not come from any published UK source.

  Our own figures show that there has in fact been a net reduction in registered tonnage over the last 10 years to the present position of 207,000 GRT.

  I have written to Mrs. Bonino drawing her attention to this.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the Environment Agency will from 1 April prepare, operate and maintain a programme for sea defence and coast protection; what will be its policy by region on managed retreat and artificial defences; and if he will make a statement. [22254]

  Mr. Boswell
  From 1 April the Environment Agency will assume the operational powers of the National Rivers Authority on flood defence. The EA will exercise general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence in England and Wales. It will also undertake measures to reduce flooding from main rivers and the sea.

  These functions will continue to be carried out through regional flood defence committees. Maritime local authorities will retain responsibility for coast protection against erosion.

  The EA will operate within the Ministry's comprehensive policy framework for flood and coastal defence which inter alia encourages the provision of technically, environmentally and economically sound and sustainable defences. There is no presumption in favour of "managed retreat", or "managed setback" as it is better described. Setting back the line of defence is simply one of a range of options that regions of the EA can be expected to consider. All capital schemes, including artificial defences, should be based on an understanding of natural processes and, as far as possible, be compatible with those processes. The development of catchment

  465
  plans and shoreline management plans will enable the EA to ensure that schemes are considered in a strategic context.

  Avoparcin
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise the animal welfare aspect of the Danish ban and German suspension of Avoparcin at the intergovernmental conference in Italy; if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the use of Avoparcin; and what actions the United Kingdom Government plan to take at the IGC on this issue. [22543]
  466
  Mrs. Browning
  The availability of Avoparcin is controlled under directive 70/524/EEC. The Danish ban and German suspension have been taken in accordance with article 11 of the directive, and the data submitted by both member states are under urgent consideration by the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition. On the basis of the currently available scientific information, we do not believe that such prohibition action is justified, but the position will be reviewed in the light of the committee's scientific advice, which is expected in April. In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate to raise this issue at the intergovernmental conference.

  Gibraltar: Pensions
  Gibraltar: Pensions
  Lithuanian-US Military Exercises
  Lithuanian-US Military Exercises
  Red Arrows: Performance in Indonesia
  Red Arrows: Performance in Indonesia
  Nitrate Vulnerable Zone Designations
  Nitrate Vulnerable Zone Designations
  Stratospheric Ozone Monitoring
  Stratospheric Ozone Monitoring
  Sustainable Development
  Sustainable Development
  Child Road Deaths
  Child Road Deaths
  Rail Passenger Deaths
  Rail Passenger Deaths