Written Answers of 14 May 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police (Housing Allowance)
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ensure consistent application of regulations relating to police officers' previous housing allowance where career breaks were taken prior to 1994. [28912]

  Mr. Maclean
  The application of the police regulations is a matter for police forces and police authorities. The regulations are clear about preserved entitlements to housing allowance for police officers who were appointed before 1 September 1994, including those who had been granted leave of absence for a career break. It would be for the Police Negotiating Board to consider in the first instance whether further amendment to the regulations was desirable and to make whatever recommendations to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department it considered appropriate.

  Gardian Family (Llandudno)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received on behalf of the Gardian family of Llandudno, North Wales; and if he will make a statement. [28901]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have received representations on behalf of the Gardian family from 12 hon. Members, two noble Lords and numerous members of the public. I have considered the relevant factors in this case and have decided that in the light of all the particular circumstances deportation action is not appropriate.

  Forensic Explosives Laboratory
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the work of the forensic explosives laboratory. [29688]

  Mr. Howard
  On 14 March, explosives contamination was found in a centrifuge at the forensic explosives laboratory which is a part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. The laboratory carried out a preliminary investigation and laid all the information before the Government in a formal report. A copy of that report has today been placed in the Library.

  The forensic explosives laboratory's primary role is to provide scientific support to the police service and to provide expert witnesses for the Crown Prosecution Service in cases involving the criminal use of explosives. One of the services that it provides involves the laboratory analysis of swab samples taken to determine the presence of explosives and the type involved. This "trace" analysis involves a range of procedures, including the use in many cases of a centrifuge.
  382
  The explosives contamination involved a small amount, not more than 30 micrograms or 30 millionths of a gram, of the explosive RDX, one of the main components of the explosive Semtex. It was detected in a part of a laboratory centrifuge which was probably already contaminated on its arrival at the forensic explosives laboratory in 1989. By normal standards, the amount of explosive detected was tiny; nevertheless, it should not have been there.

  The centrifuge involved was immediately taken out of operational action on discovery of this contamination and the trace laboratory thoroughly cleaned. No incidences of contamination from the centrifuge could, therefore, occur from that point on.

  There is a small theoretical possibility that any casework sample showing RDX traces may have been affected by the centrifuge contamination. Regular quality assurance tests undertaken by the laboratory have not revealed RDX traces at a level which would suggest that casework samples are likely to have been contaminated but this cannot be ruled out completely. This may call into question evidence submitted by the FEL in criminal cases involving RDX.

  On present information there may be around a dozen such cases which resulted in convictions, but the identification of all relevant cases and assessment of the possible risk of contamination are matters on which I want independent advice. I have therefore decided that an immediate independent review of the casework and procedures at the forensic explosives laboratory must take place. The terms of reference will require the reviewer:

  (1) to report on the general likelihood of contamination being spread from the centrifuge to samples in the laboratory;

  (2) to examine FEL papers on all cases in which RDX traces were found and a criminal conviction resulted and assess the likelihood of contamination;

  (3) to examine FEL procedures in the trace laboratory and make recommendations.

  Professor Brian Caddy, professor of forensic science at Strathclyde university, has agreed to undertake this review and will begin work shortly. He will report to me in the first instance, but the results and recommendations of his review will be made public.

  As soon as it is clear which cases involved an RDX trace and resulted in a conviction, we will notify the representatives of those concerned.

  Once the report has been completed, I will decide what further action should be taken, particularly with regard to any concerns raised about the possible contamination of casework samples which subsequently resulted in criminal convictions. If appropriate, I will consider whether particular cases should be referred to the Court of Appeal.

  From the information currently available to me, it would appear that the risk of contamination is small, but in a matter of this sensitivity I am determined to act only on the basis of the most rigorous and independent scientific assessments. I will keep the House fully informed of the outcome of that scrutiny and the measures which flow from it.

  Metropolitan Police (Inspector's Report)
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as police authority for the Metropolitan police on the recent report by Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary on Metropolitan police area 1. [29689]

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes. We have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from the report, together with the Commissioner's responses and the police authority responses, which takes into account the advice that my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and I have received from the Metropolitan police committee.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Council
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from what source the redundancy payments for the employees of the British Council who lose their jobs will be funded. [28970]

  Mr. Hanley
  Redundancy payments and other compensation arrangements will be made by the British Council. The possibility of the Government helping the British Council with some of these restructuring costs is currently being considered in the context of the studies being carried out with the aim of avoiding overseas post closures.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent attack on the Governor of St. Helena; and what assessment he has made of the cause of the incident. [29263]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  On 19 April a demonstration outside the castle in Jamestown was organised to press demands for increased social security benefits. A number—about 60 to 70—of those demonstrators forced their way into the Governor's office. They were eventually persuaded to leave: there was no damage to property or harm to the Government servants involved.

  The ODA had sent an expert adviser on social security to St. Helena in March. He has recommended changes to the social security system on the island, which are being studied by the St. Helena Government.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 April,Official Report, column 81, if the review is considering the rights of civil servants on temporary contracts to maternity leave; and when he expects the reviews to be (a) completed and (b) published. [29264]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The review of the unestablished work force in respect of maternity leave is now complete. A new order is in the process of being drafted for inclusion in the public service orders to make provision for unestablished females to be granted maternity leave. The order will be published by 1 June 1996.

  MI6 (Pensions)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to submit the administration of civil service pensions for employees of MI6 to(a) market testing and (b) privatisation. [29287]

  Mr. Rifkind
  There are no plans to do so.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Wembley Stadium (Disabled People)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information her Department evaluated on access to Wembley stadium for disabled people; how it compared with such access to other major sporting venues; and if she will make a statement. [28658]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: My Department has made no evaluation of Wembley stadium or compared it with other sporting venues. The provision of disabled facilities in existing stadiums is the responsibility of the management of the ground in question. The Government strongly support improvements in facilities for disabled spectators at sports grounds, and the Sports Council takes into account disabled access when distributing lottery funds for grounds and facilities. Also, the Disability Discrimination Act creates new rights of access for disabled people. The Act places a duty on service providers to make adjustments to the premises, where reasonable, in order to make them more accessible. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Disabled is currently analysing the results of a consultation on the timetable for implementing the rights of access.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Wasted Costs Orders
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Attorney-General what considerations led to the omission of wasted costs orders from the annual reports of the Crown Prosecution Service. [28307]

  The Attorney-General
  Information on costs awarded against the prosecution is published in the departmental report of the Lord Chancellor's and Law Officers' Department, Cm. 3209, March 1996.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Attorney-General how many wasted costs orders have been made by courts against the Crown Prosecution Service in the last accounting year, with the breakdown of each Crown Prosecution Service area and the total sums for such areas and further broken down by the Crown courts and the magistrates courts. [28306]

  The Attorney-General
  Wasted costs orders are usually so described—that is, orders against the legal or other representatives personally, pursuant to section 19A of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, are extremely rare in relation to representatives of the Crown Prosecution Service.

  I have taken the hon. Member's question to refer to orders made under section 19(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 and regulation 3 of the Costs in

  385
  Criminal Cases (General) Regulations 1986, being orders based on an unnecessary or improper act or omission for which the prosecution is held responsible, which can arise for a variety of reasons. The numbers of such orders recorded against the Crown Prosecution Service, broken down by each Crown Prosecution Service area, and further broken down by Crown court and magistrates courts, are set out in the table. The final column of the table shows the amounts actually paid out by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last accounting year. This information cannot be separated between sums paid in respect of orders made by magistrates courts and those made in the Crown court.

  Costs awarded against the Crown Prosecution Service 1995–96

  Area

  Number of costs awards against CPS

  Amount paid £

  Crown courts

  Magistrates' courts

  North

  2

  19

  3,102

  Yorkshire

  11

  160

  8,215

  Mersey/Lancashire

  11

  6

  3,259

  Humber

  9

  6

  22,827

  North-west

  5

  14

  9,363

  East Midlands

  20

  39

  18,347

  Wales

  10

  4

  5,108

  Midlands

  9

  7

  7,503

  Anglia

  6

  16

  12,637

  Severn/Thames

  16

  16

  16,798

  South-west

  4

  4

  2,227

  London

  111

  95

  63,804

  South-east

  13

  26

  19,528

  Central casework

  Not available

  Not available

  52,003

  Total

  227

  412

  244,721

  1. Information is not available to establish the enactment under which the orders were made and awards of costs made otherwise than in accordance with the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 may be included.

  2. The information in relation to the number of awards is limited to Crown court and magistrates court cases. It does not include cost awards made in the higher court.

  3. The number of awards relates to all cases dealt with by the CPS areas, but does not include any orders made in respect of the specialised work handled by central casework.

  4. Information about the amounts actually paid includes payments in respect of orders made in the higher courts and those in respect of the specialised work handled by central casework, but the amounts paid cannot be broken down by type of court.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Police Training (ODA Funding)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects or schemes under which the Overseas Development Agency has given funding to countries to finance training of their police officers(a) in the UK or (b) in their home countries. [29041]

  Mr. Hanley
  Assistance for police training under the aid programme is financed through the ODA's country aid programmes, whether the training takes place in the UK or in the trainee's home country.
  386
  Countries who received aid for in-country training from ODA under country aid programmes in 1994 and 1995 were:

  1994

  Albania

  Anguilla

  Bangladesh

  Barbados

  British Virgin Islands

  Bulgaria

  Cayman Islands

  Czech Republic

  Gambia

  Hungary

  India

  Indonesia

  Jamaica

  Lesotho

  Maldives

  Montserrat

  Namibia

  Nepal

  Nigeria

  Pakistan

  Poland

  Romania

  Russia

  St. Helena

  Sierra Leone

  Slovak Republic

  South Africa

  Sri Lanka

  Swaziland

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Uganda

  1995

  Estonia

  Latvia

  Lithuania

  Bangladesh

  Botswana

  Bulgaria

  Cayman Islands

  Czech Republic

  Hungary

  India

  Jamaica

  Kenya

  Lesotho

  Malawi

  Namibia

  Nepal

  Nigeria

  Pakistan

  Palestinian Authority

  Poland

  Romania

  Russia

  387

  St. Helena

  St. Kitts and Nevis

  Slovak Republic

  South Africa

  Sri Lanka

  Swaziland

  Uganda

  Countries receiving police training in the UK in 1994 and 1995 under country aid programmes were listed in the answer given to the hon. Member on 28 February, Official Report, column 546.

  It would involve a disproportionate cost to collect this information for earlier years or by projects.

  Nigeria
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Nigerian Government's political programme for the creation of a democracy in Nigeria; if he will list, with proposed dates, the main elements of that political programme; if he will indicate in the case of each of those dates which have passed whether the stated goal had been achieved, with particular reference to local government elections; and if he will list those targets within the programme which gave rise to the concerns about a lack of progress expressed by the Minister of State in his oral answer on 3 April,Official Report, column 373. [29079]

  Mr. Hanley
  A copy of the transition programme, as announced by the General Abacha on 1 October 1995, has been placed in the Library of the house.

  We are not satisfied that the non-party elections held in March were free or fair. We are concerned by the introduction of new decrees which further extend the powers of the regime to control political activity and by the continued detention of opposition figures.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Probate Service
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when his Department will be announcing its response to the recommendation of the report on the structure of the probate service of September 1994. [28395]

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

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Paul Boateng, dated 14 May 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about the progress of the response to the Report on the Structure of the Probate Service.The Principal Registry of the Family Division forwarded a submission to Court Service Headquarters on 9 May. The submission will shortly be forwarded to the Lord Chancellor for his consideration. The Lord Chancellor will make a decision on the proposals in due course.

TREASURY

  Personal Alcohol Imports
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what restrictions apply to the importation of large quantities of alcohol from other EU countries in cases where the person importing the alcohol declares it to be for personal use; and what tests are applied to establish whether the alcohol is intended for personal use. [28690]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs apply no restrictions to private importations of alcohol purchased duty paid in another EU country by travellers for their own use. The definition of "own use" and the conditions applying to relief of excise duty on personal importations are contained in the Excise Duty (Personal Reliefs) Order 1992. The main criteria applied by Customs to identify goods being imported for commercial purposes under the personal reliefs provisions are defined in paragraph 5 of the order.

  Educational Trusts
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the School Fees Insurance Association concerning the taxation of educational trusts; and if he will make a statement. [28321]

  Mr. Jack
  Following the Charity Commissioners' recent decision that certain educational trusts are not truly charitable, I met representatives of the trusts concerned, including the SFIA, on 9 May, when I learned of the discussions they have been having with the Charity Commission and the Inland Revenue about ways of addressing current issues.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the yield of a 50 per cent. rate of tax starting at £50,000 and a 60 per cent. rate starting at £100,000; and how many taxpayers would be involved; [28314]

  (2) what would be the yield of a 50 per cent. rate of tax starting at £50,000; and how many taxpayers would be involved; [28312]

  (3) what would be the yield of 50 per cent. rate of tax starting at £100,000; and how many taxpayers would be involved. [28313]

  Mr. Jack
  Estimated full-year yields, 1996–97 income levels, are given in the table. The estimates of income tax yields do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of the increases in tax rates.

  Lower limit of taxable income for the 50 per cent. rate

  Full-year revenue Number of taxpayers yield1 at 1996–97 income levels

  Number of taxpayers affected

  £

  £ billion

  Thousands

  50,000

  2.3

  450

  100,000

  1.1

  110

  50,000 (and with 60 per cent. rate above 100,000)

  3.4

  450

  1 including the consequential effects on the yield of capital gains tax after allowing for likely changes in the volume of disposals.

  389
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) of 31 October 1995,Official Report, columns 151–52, on gross income and income tax liability by income band for 1996–97. [28581]

  Mr. Jack
  Available estimates are given in the table. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates for the specified bands of income above £100,000, nor is it possible to incorporate the detailed effect of mortgage interest relief which, in total, reduces income tax liability by £1.2 billion for taxpayers included in the table.

  1996–97

  Gross income1 £ millions

  Income tax liability2 £ millions

  Number of taxpayers (thousands)

  £20,000 to £30,000

  97,500

  17,200

  4,100

  £30,000 to £40,000

  42,200

  8,750

  1,200

  £40,000 to £50,000

  20,100

  4,920

  450

  £50,000 to £60,000

  12,100

  3,250

  220

  £60,000 to £70,000

  7,220

  2,070

  110

  £70,000 to £80,000

  5,630

  1,680

  80

  £80,000 to £90,000

  4,020

  1,240

  50

  £90,000 to £100,000

  2,630

  830

  30

  £100,000+

  25,600

  8,910

  130

  1 Gross income is defined as total income for income tax purposes. It excludes income from certain social security benefits and some investment income such as National Savings Certificates.

  2 Not taking account of mortgage interest relief.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) of 6 November 1995,Official Report, column 537, to 1996–97 on the average tax allowances and reliefs for those with gross earnings up to £120,000, differentiating between reliefs and allowances claimed (i) at the marginal rate and (ii) at other rates. [28580]

  Mr. Jack
  Available estimates for taxpayers in 199697 are in the table. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates for the specified bands above £100,000.

  Gross income range £ per year

  Average amount of tax reliefs and allowances claimed at marginal rates set against income £

  Average amount of tax reliefs and allowances claimed at other rates, set against income £

  0–10,000

  4,100

  650

  10,000–20,000

  4,400

  1,400

  20,000–30,000

  4,800

  2,300

  30,000–40,000

  5,300

  2,700

  40,000–50,000

  6,100

  2,800

  50,000–60,000

  6,700

  2,850

  60,000–70,000

  7,200

  2,950

  70,000–80,000

  7,900

  2,900

  80,000–90,000

  8,300

  2,950

  90,000–100,000

  9,000

  3,000

  Over 100,000

  13,900

  3,100

  Average

  4,500

  1,400

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 4 May 1995,Official Report, columns 262–63, to provide estimates for 1996–97 for the number of taxpayers with gross and taxable income in income bands up to £150,000, supplying data at intervals of not more than £10,000. [28582]
  390
  Mr. Jack
  Available estimates are given in the table. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates for the specified bands of income above £100,000.

  Number of taxpayers by range of

  1996–97

  Gross income1 (thousands)

  Taxable income2 (thousand)

  Under £5,000

  1,400

  8,100

  £5,000 to £10,000

  7,800

  6,500

  £10,000 to £15,000

  6,000

  4,500

  £15,000 to £20,000

  4,200

  2,900

  £20,000 to £25,000

  2,700

  1,500

  £25,000 to £30,000

  1,400

  770

  £30,000 to £40,000

  1,200

  750

  £40,000 to £50,000

  450

  300

  £50,000 to £60,000

  220

  150

  £60,000 to £70,000

  110

  80

  £70,000 to £80,000

  80

  50

  £80,000 to £90,000

  50

  30

  £90,000 to £100,000

  30

  20

  Over £100,000

  130

  110

  Total

  25,800

  25,800

  1 Gross income is defined as total income for income tax purposes. It excludes income from certain social security benefits and some investment income such as national savings certificates.

  2 Taxable income is defined as gross income for income tax purposes less those allowance and reliefs which are available at the taxpayer's marginal rate.

  National Debt
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the national debt for the end of the current fiscal year; and what the figures were for each of the last seven years. [28858]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  New forecasts for debt will be published in the summer economic forecast on 9 July. The table contains the information requested.

  Net debt £ billion1 2

  1988–89: 155.8

  1989–90: 150.0

  1990–91: 153.6

  1991–92: 167.2

  1992–93: 204.5

  1993–94: 251.7

  1994–95: 290.8

  1At end March.

  2 First estimate for end-March 1996 will be published in the summer economic forecast on 9 July.

  Tobacco Products
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are being proposed by Her Majesty's Government to create greater tax harmonisation on tobacco products within the European Union. [29163]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government will continue to take every opportunity to press the case for higher minimum rates of excise duty on tobacco products.

  Welsh Language Birth Certificates
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make available birth
  391
  certificates in the Welsh language for babies of Welsh parentage born in England; and if he will make a statement. [28902]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  There are no immediate plans to make available birth certificates in the Welsh language for Welsh babies born in England.

  The White Paper "Registration: proposals for change", Cm 939, published in 1990, recommended that such events be registered in a bilingual—Welsh and English—register held by the Registrar General from which certificates could be issued when required. The Government remain committed to implementing the White Paper proposals when parliamentary time permits.

  Inland Revenue (National Insurance Charts)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints the Inland Revenue has received regarding late delivery to small firms of charts for calculating national insurance contributions of employees. [28747]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The Inland Revenue head office, which had responsibility for monitoring the west midlands combined pack trial, received one complaint about the late arrival of material.

PRIME MINISTER

  Isle of Skye (Visit)
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to pay an official visit to the Isle of Skye. [28020]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 14 May. [28291]

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

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have(a) been refused unemployment benefit and (b) had their unemployment benefit reduced under section 30 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. [29179]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The number of unemployed claimants in Great Britain on 10 August 1995 who had their unemployment benefit reduced under section 30 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 was 17,000. Of these, 8,000 had their unemployment benefit fully abated.

  Source:

  5 per cent. sample of unemployed claimants in Great Britain taken on 10 August 1995
  392

  Suspension of Benefits
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many awards of benefit he has suspended under regulation 37 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 in each year since 1990. [29383]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) on 10 May,Official Report, columns 277–78.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Independent Schools
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many independent schools there are in the United Kingdom; and how many are registered as having charitable status. [29068]

  Mrs. Gillan
  There are currently 2,275 independent schools in England registered with this Department. Of those, 1,323 have informed us that they have charitable status. Questions regarding independent schools elsewhere in the United Kingdom should be addressed to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, and for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Drugs (School Inspectors)
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision is made to ensure that schools inspectors are able properly to assess the efficiency of a school's drugs policy and drugs education performance. [29307]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to my hon. Friend.

  Hurworth School
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total cost of the inquiry into allegations of misinformation concerning the ballot on grant-maintained status at Hurworth school; and if she will publish the evidence collected during the course of this inquiry. [29178]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Costs to the Department of the investigation are part of normal running costs and cannot readily be calculated as they involve a range of staff who also have other responsibilities. The evidence collected during the course of investigations into ballots for grant-maintained status is not published. Those who provide evidence may prefer their comments not to be made public. In the case of the investigation concerning Hurworth school, some respondents specifically asked that their evidence be treated in confidence.

  University Funding
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has had on the need to restore the capital allowance for
  393
  university equipment and minor works and on the need for stability in the level of funding received per student; what replies have been sent; what action she is taking; and if she will make a statement. [28662]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations about higher education funding. The UK HE sector is currently receiving £7 billion in public funding, 20 per cent. of the funding for education as a whole. That is a large sum, and a substantial share of available resources. We are working with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and other HE bodies to collate evidence about the effects of levels of public funding on universities, and to consider the private finance initiative in HE.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many professional and executive job clubs have been closed in the last two years; and in which areas. [28900]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Michael Meacher, dated 14 May 1996:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Jobclubs. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  Number of executive jobclubs by region Quarter ending figures 1994–1996

  Region

  March 1994

  June 1994

  September 1994

  December 1994

  March 1995

  June 1995

  September 1995

  December 1995

  March 1996

  Northern

  10

  8

  8

  9

  11

  9

  8

  8

  7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  11

  7

  10

  9

  10

  10

  12

  11

  12

  East Midlands and Eastern

  19

  19

  19

  19

  20

  19

  14

  15

  14

  London and South East

  46

  55

  53

  79

  65

  49

  60

  53

  43

  South West

  19

  14

  18

  20

  18

  19

  16

  14

  13

  Wales

  8

  8

  8

  6

  6

  4

  5

  5

  5

  West Midlands

  15

  16

  16

  16

  15

  16

  16

  15

  14

  North West

  14

  14

  12

  11

  10

  8

  10

  10

  10

  Scotland

  10

  9

  10

  10

  9

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Total executive jobclubs

  154

  149

  154

  179

  164

  144

  151

  141

  128

  Total all types jobclub

  1,461

  1,373

  1,446

  1,443

  1,389

  1,345

  1,423

  1,398

  1,338

  Grant-maintained Special Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many grant-maintained special schools have admitted pupils who do not have a statement of special educational needs. [29204]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Most special schools, whether local education authority-maintained or grant-maintained, may admit pupils without statements of special educational need in certain circumstances. The latest available data on the number of pupils and statements relate to January 1995, when there were two grant-maintained special schools. Both had admitted pupils without statements.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many grant-maintained special schools have admitted pupils who have statements which do not name that grant-maintained school. [29205]
  394
  The Employment Service currently maintains a network of 1,338 Jobclubs throughout the country. This will provide places for around 204,000 unemployed people during 1996/97. This includes a number of specialist Jobclubs for particular groups of people including a number catering for the needs of unemployed executive and professional job seekers.

  Decisions about the type and location of Jobclubs are made by my 154 District managers who are responsible for the delivery of the full range of Employment Service programmes within their Districts. Wherever possible they will seek to maintain a network of Jobclubs which will be accessible to the vast majority of our clients and take into account the circumstances of the local labour market. In many locations this may mean that a standard Jobclub is provided which is able to cater for a broad range of clients, including professional and executive job seekers. You may be interested to know that research has shown that 16% of the people who leave all Jobclubs to start work, take up professional and managerial positions.

  Information about the number and location of executive Jobclub closures is not collected routinely. However, regional totals of the number and type of Jobclub are collected at the end of each quarter. I have therefore attached a table showing the total number of executive Jobclubs in each region on the quarter ending dates between March 1994 and March 1996.

  You will note that the number of executive Jobclubs has fluctuated during the period, reflecting changing labour markets and client needs in different locations. In addition the fluctuation in the numbers will be due to different patterns of contract tendering in each region during the operational years.

  You will note that there are currently around 128 executive Jobclubs which represents some 10% of the total network.

  Jobclubs remain successful and in 1995/96 helped over 95,000 unemployed people find jobs.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department does not collect this information. Admissions to grant-maintained special schools are the responsibility of the governors, subject to admissions arrangements approved by the Secretary of State.

  Primary Teacher Training
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of entrants to primary teacher training have had qualifications above GCSE or O-level in English in each of the last five years; [29206]

  (2) what percentage of entrants to primary teacher training have had qualifications above GCSE or O-level in science in each of the last five years; [29207]
  395
  (3) what percentage of entrants to primary teacher training have had qualifications above GCSE or O-level in mathematics in each of the last five years. [29208]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Office Space
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the square footage and cost of office space rented by her Department and its agencies and the number of her Department or agencies' buildings partly, or fully unoccupied together with the square footage of that unoccupied office space and its estimated rental value where available in each of the past five financial years. [27734]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: The following tables contain the information available for the DfEE estate, including all headquarters buildings and outstations. The estimated costs for occupied properties include rent, rates and service charge.

  Occupied DfEE leasehold properties

  DfEE HO and outstations

  Employment service agency

  Area = sq ft for 1995–96

  621,831

  8,914,290

  Estimated cost 1991–92

  Not available

  £44,920,494

  Estimated cost 1992–93

  Not available

  £57,781,989

  Estimated cost 1993–94

  £29,051,367

  £62,285,889

  Estimated cost 1994–95

  £29,249,929

  £59,331,224

  Estimated cost 1995–96

  £27,625,884

  £56,004,487

  Surplus/partly vacant DfEE leasehold properties

  DfEE HO and Outstations

  Employment Service Agency

  Number of properties in 1995–96

  21

  126

  Area= sq ft for 1995–96

  183,039

  904,176

  Estimated rental value 1991–92

  Not available

  Not available

  Estimated rental value 1992–93

  Not available

  Not available

  Estimated rental value 1993–94

  £1,965,793

  Not available

  Estimated rental value 1994–95

  1,704,930

  Not available

  Estimated rental value 1995–96

  2,303,885

  4,022,276

TRANSPORT

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the final cost of the Jubilee line extension; and if he will make a statement. [28643]

  Mr. Norris
  I understand from London Underground Ltd. that it estimates the final outturn cash cost of the Jubilee line extension to be approximately £2.1 billion.

  Tottenham Court Road
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he estimates that the present road works in Tottenham Court road will be completed. [29142]
  396
  Mr. Norris
  The London borough of Camden is the highway authority responsible for the works in Tottenham Court road. Officers at the borough expect the works to be completed by 15 May 1996.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the non-executive directors he and his predecessors have appointed to the board of London Regional Transport, giving their main occupations. [28593]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested, giving the main occupation at the time of appointment, is as follows:

  Name

  Main occupation on appointment

  Mr. Keith Brown

  Partner, W. Greenwell and Co.

  Miss Eileen Cole

  Chairman and Chief Executive of Research International (Unilever Ltd.)

  Dr. Stephen Glaister

  Cassell Reader in Economics with special reference to Transport at the London School of Economics

  Sir David Hardy

  Directorships—Waterford Glass Group, The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, Electra Investments (Zimbabwe) Ltd., Effold Properties Ltd., Rothesay Trust Ltd., Carya Pecans Inc., Rowton Hotels pic

  Mr. S. Jenkins

  Directorships—Faber and Faber Publishers, Municipal Journal Ltd.

  Mr. Kenneth Joyner

  Managing Director, Worldwide Estates Ltd. and other private property companies

  Mrs. Helen Robinson

  Group Style Director, Debenhams

  Miss Patricia Steel

  Secretary of the Institution of Highways and Transportation; Director and Company Secretary, Seaway Court (Torquay) Ltd.

  Sir Neil Shields

  Chairman of the Commission for New Towns

  Mr. Oscar Roith

  Retired

  Mr. Roy Thomas

  Finance Director, Fisons plc

  Mr. David Thompson

  Chairman, Rank Xerox (UK)

  Sir Alan Bailey

  Retired

  Mr. Keith Davies

  Retired

  Mr. Robert Dorey

  Retired

  Mrs. Rosemary Day

  Operations Director, Allied Dunbar

  Mr. Michael Lawrence

  Chief Executive, the London Stock Exchange

  Ms Sally O'Sullivan

  Editor-in-Chief, 'Good Housekeeping'

  Mr. Brian Appleton

  Retired

  Mr. Robert Chase

  Group Managing Director, the Automobile Association

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms Anderson) of 30 April,Official Report, column 444 on revenue spending under the private finance initiative, if he will reconcile the figures in that answer with those for spending on design, build, finance and operate road schemes in his Department's transport report 1996, Cm. 3206; and if he will provide a breakdown of these figures for each year for 1995–96 to 1997–98. [29220]

  Mr. Watts
  The figures given in my answer of 30 April to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms Anderson) were current estimates of the revenue
  397
  spend by my Department on all private finance initiative projects, not design, build, finance and operate road schemes alone.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the regulations on the award of contracts for local air traffic control in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the criteria upon which the contracts tendered this year for Glasgow airport and Edinburgh airport will be awarded. [29341]

  Mr. Norris
  Provision of air traffic control services in the UK must be in line with approvals granted by the Civil Aviation Authority under article 77 of the Air Navigation (No. 2) Order 1995. Before it grants such approvals, the authority must satisfy itself that the applicant is competent to provide a safe service, having regard to organisation, staffing, equipment, maintenance and other matters. Any air traffic controllers employed by the applicant must also obtain a licence from the authority under the terms of article 81 of the order.

  The criteria for awarding the ATC supply contracts for Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are a matter for BAA plc, the owner of both airports.

  Railways (Disabled Access)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which rail lines wheelchair users are required to travel in the guard's van; and if he will make a statement. [23187]

  Mr. Watts
  The necessity for wheelchair users to travel in the guard's van is becoming increasingly rare. The extent to which train operating companies operate accessible trains in which wheelchair users are carried in the passenger saloon is as follows:Anglia Railway Train Services Ltd. All trains used are accessible.
  Cardiff Railway Co. Ltd. The company hires one inaccessible loco-hauled train from a private company. It is used to make one journey and back from the valleys to Cardiff on Mondays to Fridays at peak times. Otherwise the company operates an entirely accessible fleet of diesel Sprinters and Pacers.
  Central Trains Ltd. Central Trains mostly operates accessible modern electric trains and Sprinters. They have a few inaccessible electric multiple unit trains used on CENTRO, West Midland Passenger Transport Executive, services in and around Birmingham and on a few services between Birmingham and Liverpool.

  Chiltern Railway Co. Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  CrossCounty Trains Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  Gatwick Express Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  Great Eastern Railway Ltd. Operates almost exclusively accessible modern EMUs but has a few older inaccessible EMUs that mostly operate only in the Monday to Friday morning and evening peak periods between Liverpool Street and Clacton.

  Great Western Trains Co. Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  InterCity East Coast Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  InterCity West Coast Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  Island Line Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  LTS Rail Ltd. Currently operates a fleet comprised of inaccessible older EMUs.

  Merseyrail Electrics Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  Midland Main Line Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  Network SouthCentral Ltd. Use modern accessible EMUs on their suburban routes but have traditional inaccessible "Southern Region" EMUs on their routes to Brighton, Eastbourne, East Grinstead etc.

  398
  North London Railways Ltd. All main services are operated with modern accessible EMUs. There are just seven inaccessible diesel multiple unit trains used on branch line services between BletchleyBedford, Gospel Oak-Barking and Willesden Junction-Clapham Junction.
  North West Regional Railways Ltd. Operates almost entirely with a modern fleet of accessible diesel Sprinters and Pacers. Trains between Crewe and Holyhead are formed of old loco-hauled trains that have been converted so as to be accessible. Some suburban trains in and around Greater Manchester are formed of older inaccessible DMUs and EMUs.
  Regional Railways North East Ltd. Operates almost entirely with a modern fleet of accessible diesel Sprinters and Pacers. Modern accessible EMUs are used on a local service between Doncaster and Leeds. Local trains between Leeds/Bradford and Ilkley/Skipton are operated on behalf of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive using older inaccessible EMUs.
  ScotRail Railways Ltd. Operates almost entirely with a fleet of accessible diesel Sprinters and accessible EMUs. Some inaccessible older DMUs and EMUs are used on suburban services in and around Edinburgh and Glasgow; in the latter on behalf of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive. Last summer, ScotRail also hired one inaccessible loco-hauled train from a private company that was used for one round trip each day between Inverness and Edinburgh.
  South Wales and West Railway Ltd. Operate almost entirely with a fleet of accessible modern Sprinters. Hire one older inaccessible loco-hauled train from a private company which is mostly used in summer for one round trip between Bristol and Weymouth on a route that is otherwise served by accessible trains.
  South West Trains Ltd. Use modern accessible EMUs on their suburban routes. Also have modern accessible trains on many services to Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Weymouth and Exeter, However still also run some inaccessible older "Southern Region" style EMUs on these routes.

  Thameslink All trains used are accessible.

  Thames Trains Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  The South Eastern Train Co. Ltd. Uses modern accessible EMUs on its suburban routes but has traditional inaccessible "Southern Region" EMUs on its routes to Hastings and Kent coast.
  West Anglia Great Northern Railway Ltd. All trains used are accessible.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has given to the franchise director in respect of train operating companies guaranteeing disabled access to train. [25503]

  Mr. Watts
  [pursuant to his answer, 23 April 1996, c. 76]: None. The Rail Regulator is responsible for protecting the interests of disabled rail passengers. All train and station operators are required to submit for the regulator's approval, a disabled people's protection policy, as a condition of being granted a licence to operate. Details of the accessibility of rolling stock were set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms Short) today.

  "Rail Travel for Disabled Passengers"
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects that a new edition of the pamphlet, "Rail Travel for Disabled Passengers", covering the period after 1 June 1996 will be published. [29061]

  Mr. Watts
  The new edition of "Rail Travel for Disabled Passengers", covering the period from 2 June to 31 December 1996, will be published shortly and made available by 2 June.
  399

DEFENCE

  GEC Defence Projects
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were(a) the out-turn prices and (b) the estimated prices at the time of Ministry of Defence approval, (c) the actual time and (d) the estimated time of completion in respect of each defence project valued at over £50 million undertaken for the Ministry of Defence since 1979 by GEC, where (i) GEC was the prime contractor and (ii) GEC was a member of a consortium with joint and several liability. [28639]

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

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Number of enrolled air cadets

  34,606

  35,296

  35,551

  35,488

  134,861

  ATC budget (cash costs) £ million

  16.2

  18.4

  19.0

  19.8

  21.0

  1 Averaged over three quarters.

  The average cadet flying sortie in the last five years was some 29 minutes. Not all air cadets fly on an annual basis, while others take more than one flight. Under current planned provision for flying instruction, each air cadet will continue to have the opportunity to fly once a year.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many confirmed breaches of low flying regulations occurred at Caerlaverock in Dumfries and Galloway, in each of the last three years; how many of such breaches led to formal disciplinary proceedings; and what is being done to reduce the number of breaches in that area. [28714]

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of breaches of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area at Caerlaverock confirmed by RAF police investigations in each of the last.
  400

  Cadet Forces
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 7 May,Official Report, columns 10–11, what were, in each of the last five years, the number of air training corps cadets, the resources made available for ATC cadet training and the flying time per cadet; and if he will make a statement as to the current planned provision of flying instruction. [28904]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of enrolled air training corps cadets and the resources made available for ATC training in the last five years is as follows:

  three years are as follows. One alleged breach in 1995 is still under investigation.

  1993: 12

  1994: 22

  1995: 15.

  In four of the incidents in 1994, the aircraft concerned were also found to have breached regulations by flying in low flying area 16 of the United Kingdom low flying system without proper authorisation.

  Formal disciplinary action under the service discipline Acts has not, to date, been taken as a result of any of the breaches listed.

  Measures have been taken to reduce the number of breaches of the avoidance area. The site has been granted permanent avoidance status, thereby ensuring that it is marked on navigation charts and aircraft moving map displays, and instructions have also been issued at senior level reminding air crew of the need to ensure observance of all avoidance areas, including Caerlaverock, and the possible consequences of not doing so.
  401

  Tornado and Hercules Contracts
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a statement about the final cost to his Department of the contracts awarded to Airwork for the Tornado F3 and Hercules. [29225]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In respect of the work performed on Tornado F3 aircraft, my Department is continuing to pursue the claim which it has lodged against Bricom Group Ltd., the then owners of Airwork, to recover the costs of repairing damaged aircraft and the Departments' other consequential costs. It is not yet possible to say when a settlement will be reached.

  The damage which occurred to Hercules aircraft during work undertaken by Airwork was rectified by Shorts—the new owners of Airwork—at their own expense. All the affected aircraft have been returned to RAF service.

  Table 10: Collaborative projects involving the United Kingdom at 1 April 1996

  Projects in production or in-service

  Australia

  Belgium

  Canada

  Denmark

  France

  Germany

  Greece

  Iceland

  Naval Equipment

  Sea Gnat Decoy System

  *

  NATO Ships Inertial

  Navigation System

  *

  Barra Sonobuoy

  *

  Land Equipment

  FH70 Howitzer

  *

  M483A1 Artillery Shell

  Combat Vehicle

  Reconnaissance (Tracked)

  Multiple Launch Rocket

  System Phase I

  *

  *

  Multiple Launch Rocket

  System Phase II

  M3 Amphibious Bridging

  System

  *

  Missiles

  Sidewinder Air-to-Air

  *

  Milan Anti-Tank (including improvements)

  *

  *

  Air Systems

  Jaguar

  *

  Lynx

  *

  Puma

  *

  Gazelle

  *

  Tornado

  *

  Harrier AV8B GR3 7

  *

  EH101 Merlin Helicopter

  RTM322-Helicopter Engine

  *

  Joint Tactical Information

  Distribution System

  Other Equipment

  Navstar Global Positioning

  System (GPS)

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Projects in Production or In-Service

  Italy

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Portugal

  Spain

  Turkey

  USA

  Naval equipment

  Sea Gnat Decoy System

  *

  NATO Ships Inertial Navigation System

  *

  *

  Barra Sonobuoy

  Land equipment

  FH70 Howitzer

  *

  M483A1 Artillery Shell

  *

  *

  *

  402

  Manufacturing Projects
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military defence manufacturing projects now taking place between member states of the Western European Union, indicating the value to the United Kingdom of each project. [28973]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to table 10 on page 66 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1996", which includes details of collaborative projects between the United Kingdom and other member states of the Western European Union. Apart from the projects that are in development and production, manufacturing work is still continuing to produce spares for equipment that is currently in service; the value to the United Kingdom of these projects could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the total costs of many of these projects are included in the "Major Projects Report 1994," a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
  403

  Projects in Production or In-Service

  Italy

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Portugal

  Spain

  Turkey

  USA

  Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)

  Multiple Launch Rocket System Phase I

  *

  *

  Multiple Launch Rocket System Phase II

  M3 Amphibious Bridging System

  Missiles

  Sidewinder Air-to-Air

  *

  *

  Milan Anti-Tank (including improvements)

  Air System

  Jaguar

  Lynx

  Puma

  Gazelle

  Tornado

  *

  Harrier AV8B GR5/7

  *

  EH101 Merlin Helicopter

  *

  RTM322 Helicopter Engine

  Joint Tactical Information Distribution System

  *

  Other equipment

  Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS)

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Projects in the development phase

  Australia

  Belgium

  Canada

  Denmark

  France

  Germany

  Greece

  Iceland

  Naval equipment

  Intercooled Recuperated

  (ICR) Gas Turbine Engine

  Land equipment

  COBRA (Counter Battery Radar)

  *

  *

  Aimed Control Effect

  Anti-Tank Mine

  *

  *

  Missiles

  Long range TRIGAT(Third

  Generation Anti-Tank

  Guided Weapon)

  *

  *

  Medium range

  TRIGAT(Third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Weapon)

  *

  *

  *

  Air systems

  Eurofighter

  *

  Other equipment

  ADA Computer Language

  ProjectSupport Environment

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Universal Modem for

  Satellite Communications

  Allied Data Systems

  Interoperability Agency—

  NATO Procedural

  Interoperability Standards

  *

  *

  Projects in the development phase

  Italy

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Portugal

  Spain

  Turkey

  USA

  Naval equipment

  Intercooled Recuperated (ICR) Gas Turbine Engine

  *

  Land equipment

  COBRA (Counter Battery Radar)

  Aimed Control Effect Anti-Tank Mine

  Missiles

  Long range TRIGAT

  Medium range TRIGAT(Third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Weapon)

  *

  404

  405

  Projects in the development phase

  Italy

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Portugal

  Spain

  Turkey

  USA

  Air systems

  Eurofighter

  *

  *

  Other equipment

  ADA Computer Language ProjectSupport Environment

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Universal Modem for Satellite Communications

  *

  Allied Data Systems Interoperability Agency—

  NATO Procedural Interoperability Standards

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Consultants
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to date of the employment of consultants for his Department's married housing quarters sell-off. [29342]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Further to my answer of 19 December 1995,Official Report, columns 114–15, the total cost to date of the employment of consultants since we began to develop the proposal to transfer the married quarters estate to the private sector announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 30 November 1995, Official Report, columns 810–11, amounts to some £3.5 million, exclusive of VAT, on the basis of invoices received by the end of April.

  Chemical and Defence Establishment
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work has been carried out at the chemical and defence establishment, Porton Down, to assess whether and how LSD could be used in interrogations; what were the conclusions of this work; and if he will make a statement. [29344]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clarke, dated 14 May 1996:

  I have been asked to reply to your question about the possible use of LSD in interrogations at the Chemical and Biological Establishment (CBDE) as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the former CBDE in one of its divisions.

  The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) of what is now known as the Protection and Life Sciences Division (PLSD) at Porton Down has no record of any work being carried out to assess whether and how LSD could be used in interrogations. The work which was undertaken at Porton Down was aimed at ascertaining the effects of LSD on service personnel in operational circumstances.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Army Training (Video)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the release of video footage of Army training by the Northern Ireland training advisory team. [29343]

  Mr. Soames
  Video tapes used to debrief soldiers during pre-Northern Ireland training were passed by the BBC to the Ministry of Defence on 8 May; they had apparently been bought by a third party in Coventry. Urgent steps are being taken to prevent any recurrence of 406
  this incidence, and a full assessment of any implications for current military operations in Northern Ireland is being made.

  As a police investigation is now in hand it would be inappropriate to comment further.

  The continued safety of our troops in Northern Ireland is of paramount importance.

  Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion
  Sir Peter Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance the United Kingdom will continue to give to support the development of the Baltic peacekeeping battalion. [29528]

  Mr. Soames
  The UK, together with other NATO allies—Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the USA—and Sweden and Finland, has been involved in the training and development of the Baltic peacekeeping battalion since 1994. This programme, which includes English language training and training by the Royal Marines in basic infantry skills, will continue until late 1997. In addition to training provision, the UK—as part of an international equipment package—has provided 38 Carl Gusav anti-tank weapons to the peacekeeping battalion. These weapons are surplus to UK requirements and are non-offensive weapons suited for defensive purposes in a peacekeeping environment. These will be delivered today.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fish Quotas
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government will table proposals in Brussels(a) to stop quota hopping and (b) to increase British quotas for the United Kingdom fishing industry. [28915]

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister in the House on 5 March Official Report, column 130. The Government intend to table proposals to address the problem of quota hopping at an appropriate stage in the intergovernmental conference.

  Feedstuff Ingredients
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the categories of(a)foodstuffs and (b) additives permitted for

  407
  sale for feeding to (i) cattle, (ii) sheep, (iii) pigs and (iv) poultry, indicating the regulations applying to each category; [28712]

  (2) if he will list the categories of (a) foodstuffs and (b) additives permitted for sale for feeding to fish for human consumption, indicating which regulations apply to each category. [29067]

  Mrs Browning
  There is no list of permitted food ingredients for animals, including fish. However, the Feeding Stuffs Regulations 1995, S.I. 1412, contain detailed provisions on the composition and labelling of feedingstuffs and a list of permitted feed additives. A copy of the regulations is in the Library of the House.

  Specified Bovine Materials (Handling)
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the results of the state veterinary service's visits to abattoirs to monitor the handling of specified bovine materials in the period January to April 1996; and if he will make a statement. [29687]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The State Veterinary Service is continuing its programme of unannounced visits to all plants handling specified bovine material. In the first four months of 1996, 1,196 visits to abattoirs have been recorded. Of these, 1,148 or 96 per cent. found the handling of SBM to be fully satisfactory. Of the four per cent. of cases where deficiencies were reported, not all—for instance, poor record keeping—presented a risk to public or animal health. There were only four incidents recorded where pieces of spinal cord had not been completely removed from the spinal canal. No such incidents have been reported since 20 March, some seven weeks ago.

  I will ensure that a note is placed in the Library of the House regularly to update these figures.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Skills Audit
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what dates he has received written representations from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment about the skills audit. [28954]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The Secretary of State and I have worked together closely on the audit since it was announced in the last competitiveness White Paper.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 7 May,Official Report, column 113, which department is responsible for conducting the skills audit; with which countries the United Kingdom's skills level and performance will be compared; if it will include consideration of the performance of the Untied Kingdom schools system; and if he will make a statement. [28943]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The skills audit has been conducted by an ad hoc interdepartmental group under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Office, with the support of a Department for Education and Employment chaired working group. The remit of the audit was to examine the 408
  UK's performance at the level of basic qualifications for employment and to compare it with those of our leading competitors. It will be published in the summer in parallel with the third competitiveness White Paper.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Colliery Tips
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the value of the colliery tips still held by British Coal; and what receipts to public funds he estimates will accrue from their disposal in(a) the current and (b) the next financial year. [28857]

  Mr. Page
  The valuation of British Coal's property, including colliery tips, and the likely proceeds from their disposal is a commercial matter for the corporation.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if British Coal is subject to the scrutiny of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in the disposal of its surplus colliery tips. [28855]

  Mr. Page
  The Comptroller and Auditor-General is not the external auditor of British Coal and has no statutory right of access to its records. He can, of course, look at the Department's activities in relation to its sponsorship of British Coal.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what mechanisms exists to ensure that British Coal obtains value for money in its disposal of colliery tips; [28853]

  (2) what guidelines he issues to British Coal in respect of obtaining the best price for disposals of colliery tips. [28854]

  Mr. Page
  The disposal of its non-operational property, including colliery tips, is a matter for British Coal. However, British Coal must comply with its statutory duties under section 11 of the Coal Industry Act 1994.

  Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what liability for (i) the management of spent fuel following AGR station closure, and for reprocessing of the final core, (ii) stage 1 AGR decommissioning payments, (iii) the decommissioning of British Nuclear Fuels plc, AGR-related facilities and (iv) the management and disposal of intermediate and high level AGR wastes will fall upon(a) the British Energy segregated fund and (b) other bodies; and if in each case he will list those bodies. [29229]

  Mr. Eggar
  British Energy will be responsible for all the fuel cycle and decommissioning liabilities associated with its nuclear power stations. The segregated fund will cover all the longer term post-closure costs of decommissioning British Energy's nuclear power stations and their sites, in accordance with decommissioning strategies agreed between the company and the regulator, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate. It will, therefore, include the post-closure costs related to the care and maintenance and ultimate
  409
  decommissioning of any on-site long-term spent fuel storage facilities if they become part of a future agreed strategy.

  General Utilities and Mid Kent Holdings plc
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what waiver he has given to General Utilities in respect of its undertaking of 21 March 1991 in respect of Mid Kent Holdings plc; and if he will make a statement. [28975]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No waiver has been given to General Utilities. The company remains bound by the undertakings given on 21 March 1991.

  Company Auditors
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received the fourth annual reports on the recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors under part II of the Companies Act 1989; and if he will make a statement. [29631]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have received the fourth annual reports of all the recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors, and have placed copies in the Library of the House. My Department will be discussing the contents of the reports with the bodies as necessary.

  Company Directors
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of individuals disqualified from acting as company directors in each of the last 10 years. [29015]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  As this is a day-to-day matter dealt with by Companies House executive agency, I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Gentleman in person.

  Letter from John S. Holden to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 14 May 1996:

  You recently asked the President of the Board of Trade for information about disqualified directors. As Companies House Executive Agency has the responsibility for maintaining these statistics, I have been asked to reply to you.

  The figures for disqualification orders notified to Companies House between 1986 and 31 March 1995 are given below. These have been taken from our Annual Report for 1994/95. The current number of directors on the disqualification register is 2,574 However, you will need to be aware that not all orders are notified by the courts to Companies House.

  Period

  Total

  1986

  124

  1986–87

  112

  1987–88

  197

  1988–89

  332

  1989–90

  318

  1990–91

  289

  1991–92

  289

  1992–93

  497

  1993–94

  374

  1994–95

  493

  If you need further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
  410

  Company Collapses
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will investigate the circumstances leading to Homepower Retail Ltd. and Power Store Trading Ltd. reducing a £7 million trade surplus and going into administration. [29260]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  If the hon. Member or any other person has any information which suggests that there has been any fraud or misconduct in connection with the affairs of the companies, he should send it to my investigations and enforcement directorate at room 707, 10 Victoria street, London SW1H ONN.

  The Secretary of State will await the report on the conduct of the directors which is due to be made under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 within six months of the appointment of the administrators.

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take to assist Homepower retail customers who have paid for goods which they have not received. [29259]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The administrators have identified a number of customers who have paid all or part of the cost of goods which have yet to be supplied. I am advised that on 1 May 1996 Mr. Duggins, one of the joint administrators, wrote to each of these customers advising them of the various actions they could take and asking them to complete a claim form. Prior to the appointment of administrators, the directors set up trust accounts with a view to protecting customers against loss of payments made for undelivered goods. The administrators are investigating the position and there is a possibility that customers may eventually recover some or all of their money from this source.

  If any such customers have not yet heard from the administrators it is suggested that they contact Mr. Duggins at Arthur Andersen, 1 Victoria square, Birmingham B1 1BD, telephone 0121 233 2101.

  Business Grants
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the grants and loans provided by his Department to businesses together with the criteria they have to fulfil. [28183]

  Mr. Richard Page
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: Grants are available directly to eligible businesses under the following schemes and programmes.

  British National Space Centre: Applications Technology Support Programme

  British National Space Centre: Earth Observation Programme

  British National Space Centre: Space Telecommunications Programme

  Carrier Technology Programme

  Civil Aircraft Research and Demonstration Programme

  Clean Coal Technology Programme

  Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme

  EUREKA (Collaborative Technology Projects)

  Export Marketing Research Scheme

  Information Society Initiative

  Innovative Manufacturing Initiative

  Launch Aid

  411

  LEXAS (Languages in Export Advisory Scheme)

  LINK

  North America Now: Strategic Alliance Service

  OSSCAR (Offshore Supplies and Service Company Assistance for Research)

  Outward Missions Scheme

  Overseas Project Fund

  Overseas Science and Technology Expert Mission Scheme (OSTEMS)

  Overseas Trade Services: Hands on Training Scheme (HOTS)

  Regional Selective Assistance

  Renewable Energy Programmes

  Shipbuilding Intervention Fund

  SMART (Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology)

  SPUR and SPUR+ (Support for Products Under Research)

  Trade Fairs Support Scheme

  My Department does not normally give loans, although it guarantees loans under the small firms loan guarantee scheme and the home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme. My Department also gives financial assistance to businesses in forms other than grants or loan guarantees under various schemes and programmes.

  Details of eligibility criteria for the schemes or programmes listed can be obtained by applicants direct from my Department.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received regarding engaged call charging by British Telecom; and if he will make a statement. [28452]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 9 May 1996]: I and the Director General of Telecommunications have received a number of representations regarding engaged call charging by British Telecom. The director general has given this matter careful consideration, and concluded that claims that BT is charging for engaged calls are unfounded.

  Post Codes
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what guidance his Department offers to the Post Office regarding the need to avoid disadvantaging businesses when making changes to postal codes; [28739]

  (2) what guidance his Department offers to the Post Office regarding the need for consultation of businesses when planning changes to postal codes; [28740]

  (3) what action he has taken to ensure that changes to postal codes do not disadvantage small firms. [28741]

  (4) what plans he has to ensure that changes to postal codes do not disadvantage small firms. [28742]

  Mr. Phillip Oppenheim
  [holding answers 13 May 1996]: Changes to postcodes are an operational matter for the Post Office, which follows consultation procedures agreed with the Post Office Users National Council. Royal Mail is committed to a policy of no change to post codes unless it becomes operationally necessary to do so. To
  412
  minimise disruption to all customers, Royal Mail has a code of practice which must be followed whenever a post code is to be changed.

  Hong Kong Businesses
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce measures to assist businesses and their owners presently operating in Hong Kong. [28945]

  Mr. Phillip Oppenheim
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The Hong Kong Government have full responsibility for the management and regulation of the economy and business environment in Hong Kong. The future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will assume this responsibility when Hong Kong reverts to China in 1997. However, the British Government provide support for British businesses in Hong Kong through the office of the British Trade Commission. After 30 June 1997, this role will be per formed by the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong.

  Wind Farms
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the current total output of wind farms in the United Kingdom; [29174]

  (2) if he will list the wind farms in each part of the United Kingdom. [29173]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answers 13 May 1996]: As at 31 March 1996, 31 wind, farms consisting of three or more wind turbines, were operating in the United Kingdom. These wind farms are listed as follows:

  England and Wales

  Deli, Nr. Delabole, Cornwall

  Goonhilly Downs, Cury, Cornwall

  Carland Cross Wind Farm, Mitchell, Cornwall

  St Breock, St Breock Downs, Cornwall

  Four Burrows, Blackwater, Cornwall

  Cold Northcott Windfarm, Launceston, Cornwall

  Kirkby Moor, Nr Ulverston, Cumbria

  Orton Airport, Wiggonby, Cumbria

  Haverigg Airfield, Millom, Cumbria

  Caton Moor, Lancaster, Lancs

  Blood Hill, Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk

  Blyth Harbour, Blyth, Northumberland

  Royd Moor Farm, Thurlstone, S. Yorks

  Chelker, Skipton Road, W. Yorks

  Thornton (Ovendon Moor), Oxenhope, W. Yorks

  Coal Clough Farm, Cornholme, W. Yorks

  Rhyd-y-Groes 1 and 2, Rhosgoch, Anglesey

  Llangwyryfon Windfarm, Llangwyryfon, Dyfed

  Dyffryn-Brodyn, Blaenwaun, Dyfed

  Taff-Ely Wind Farm, Gilfach Goch, Mid-Glamorgan

  Mydydd Cemmaes, Cwith-Lliniad, Powys

  Penrhyddlan Windfarm, Llandinam, Powys

  Llidiartywaun Windfarm, Llandinam, Powys

  Marcheini Wind Farm (Bryntitli), Rhayader, Powys

  Northern Ireland

  Corkey Wind Farm, Co. Antrim

  Elliot's Hill, Co. Antrim

  413

  Slieve Rushen Phase 1, Co. Fermanagh

  Rigged Hill, Co. Londonderry

  Bessey Bell, Co. Tyrone

  Scotland

  Hagshaw Hill S10, Lanarkshire

  Hagshaw Hill S15, Lanarkshire.

  I estimate the total output from these windfarms to date to be approximately 1000 GWh, with approximately 40 per cent. of this having been generated during the last 12 months.

HEALTH

  GP Fundholders (Doncaster)
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the amount of underspend in the budget of GP fundholders in Doncaster for 1995–96. [27993]

  Mr. Malone
  The information will not be available until the accounts have been audited.

  Nationally, general practitioner fundholders have consistently achieved efficiency savings of between 3 and 4 per cent. of budgets set.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing the time patients have to wait for hospital and out-patient treatment. [27994]

  Mr. Horam
  Excellent progress has been made in reducing waiting times for all aspects of national health service treatment. At 31 March 1996 fewer than 4,400 patients had been waiting more than a year for inpatient or day case treatment. This is a significant improvement on the position only a year ago when there were more than 32,000 12-month waiters. Also for the first time no 18-month in-patient waits have been reported. For out-patients the latest available figures show that 97 per cent. of patients were seen within 26 weeks of referral and 83 per cent. seen within 13 weeks.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current normal waiting time for a specialist consultation for a non-urgent illness. [28007]

  Mr. Horam
  Waiting times for out-patient appointments vary between trusts and between specialties.

  The patients charter requires that all patients should be seen for their first out-patient appointment with a consultant within 26 weeks of a written referral from a general practitioner, with nine out of 10 seen within 13 weeks.

  Of the 1,904,000 patients seen during the quarter ended 31 December 1995, 83 per cent. waited under 13 weeks and 97 per cent. under 26 weeks.
  414

  South Essex Health Authority
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what percentage the funds provided to the Southend health authority have increased this year; and what is the relative national increase. [27995]

  Mr. Horam
  In 1996–97 South Essex health authority, which includes Southend has received a cash increase of 7.1 per cent. for hospital and community health services, which compares very favourably with the national increase of 3.9 per cent.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the supply of community psychiatric nurses. [27996]

  Mr. Horam
  Work force planning and decisions about the demand and supply of qualified nursing staff are most effectively taken by local employers.

  The whole-time equivalent number of nurses working In this area rose from 1,880 in 1984 to 4,760 in 1994.

  Care in the Community
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to reform the care in the community programme. [27997]

  Mr. Bowis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published the Government's proposals for helping people to make better provision for their long-term care needs on 7 May.

  NHS Trusts (Board Members)
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collates on the outside interests of board members of NHS trusts. [27998]

  Mr. Malone
  None. It is the responsibility of the board of each national health service trust to ensure that information on any relevant private interests of members is collected and maintained in a register of interests, which is available for inspection by the public.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend GP fundholding. [27999]

  Mr. Malone
  Fundholding continues to grow every year. This year has seen a record number of general practitioners entering fundholding, and more are applying to join from next April.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners are fundholders. [28009]

  Mr. Malone
  This year has seen a record number of general practitioners entering fundholding. Since 1 April approximately 51 per cent. of GPs are fundholders, serving 52 per cent. of the population.
  415

  London Initiative Zone Scheme
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many projects have been funded through the London initiative zone scheme; and if he will make a statement. [28000]

  Mr. Malone
  The London initiative zone scheme is a five-year programme which is not yet complete. At its start in 1993–94, nearly 1,000 projects were included in LIZ health authorities' plans to develop primary care services in the capital.

  East Lancashire Health Authority
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS patients within the East Lancashire health authority area who are registered with doctors in an adjacent health area are not transferred to another doctor against their wishes. [28001]

  Mr. Malone
  None. General practitioners have the right, subject to certain safeguards, to remove patients from their lists without giving a reason. Similarly, patients have the right to withdraw from a doctor's list without giving reasons. In order to ensure that no patient is unable to register with a doctor, GPs are required to agree with their health authority the geographical area within which they are willing to accept patients. It is sometimes necessary, for example due to a sudden influx of patients onto their list, for GPs to re-define their practice area. Any patient who is registered with a GP but lives outside the GP's geographical area, and who is then removed from that GP's list, can expect the local health authority to find them another GP within two working days. The national health service now achieves this standard fully.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of NHS dental provision; and what new initiatives he is taking to provide such facilities in areas at present without such a service. [28002]

  Mr. Malone
  We regularly monitor the provision of national health service dental services across England. Our record bears out the Government's commitment to NHS dentistry:

  At 31 December 1995 there were 15,942 NHS dentists on the lists of health authorities in England, the highest December figure ever. This is 516 more dentists than at 30 June 1992 and 3,796 more dentists than at 30 September 1979.

  At 29 February there were 26.4 million patients registered in England. This is broadly in line with the position at 30 June 1992, given operational and seasonal factors.

  In 1994–95 gross expenditure on general dental services in England was £1,279 million, an increase in real terms of nearly 60 per cent. since 1978–79.

  In 1994–95 there were 3.7 million more adult dental examinations in England compared with 1979.

  Health authorities can advise patients about where to obtain NHS dental services and are able to use various measures, such as employing salaried dentists to ensure adequate availability of NHS dental services. We keep such measures under review so that they remain appropriate to current circumstances. We are also discussing with the dental profession a range of issues
  416
  aimed to reform dental services. In the longer term we aim to put in place a purchaser/provider system which will be sensitive to local needs.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been raised for the NHS through the private finance initiative. [28003]

  Mr. Horam
  An estimated £50 million of capital funding was made available by the private sector in 1995–96 for private finance initiative schemes in the national health service.

  District General Hospital, Dartford
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will report progress on the proposed district general hospital in Dartford. [28004]

  Mr. Horam
  Dartford and Gravesham NHS trust has now shortlisted two consortia, and expects by August to be in a position to seek formal approval to award the contract for the proposed hospital.

  Inadequate Housing (Effect on Health)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to address the health needs of people living in inadequate housing. [28005]

  Mr. Horam
  Health may be affected by a number of factors, and it is difficult to quantify the effects of any one of them. It is for clinicians to treat patients to the best of their ability, whatever the cause of their illness.

  Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS trust regarding the funding of its phase II development; and if he will make a statement. [28006]

  Mr. Horam
  The outline business case of the phase II development at Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS trust was approved by the National Health Service Executive in January 1996, following appraisal and meetings with the trust. The scheme is now being tested under the private finance initiative.

  NHS Building Projects
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will report progress on the number of major NHS building projects(a) presently under construction and (b) planned to start imminently. [28008]

  Mr. Horam
  There are currently 71 major national health service building projects under construction. Information about schemes planned to start imminently is not collected centrally.

  Paediatric Intensive Care Beds
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he had made of the current availability of paediatric intensive care beds. [28010]
  417
  Mr. Horam
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the chief executive of the National Health Service Executive to report to him on the development of paediatric intensive care. This report will be published shortly.

  Operating Theatres (Dress)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring in regulations to require non-medically qualified persons viewing surgical operations(a) to conform with standard requirements concerning appropriate dress and (b) to be free of (i) jewellery (ii) make-up and (iii) other accessories. [28468]

  Mr. Horam
  It is for each national health service trust to ensure that it has effective local protocols, based on appropriate professional advice, for determining and maintaining safe and appropriate levels of cleanliness in operating theatres.

  Asbestos (Cancer of the Larynx)
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been commissioned by his Department into links between the use of asbestos and cancer of the larynx. [28859]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Suicide
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the relationship between individual anti-depressant drugs and suicide deaths; and if he will make a statement. [28692]

  Mr. Bowis
  We commissioned and evaluated an effectiveness bulletin, "The Treatment of Depression in Primary Care", which includes reference to 1990 data on death rates by poisoning from anti-depressant drugs. Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library.

  Brain Search Facilities
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) centres and (b) hospitals which provide minute brain search facilities; and if he will make a statement. [28633]

  Mr. Horam
  In England, national health service trusts with acute hospital facilities have access to neurological and neurosurgical services, which would include facilities for undertaking investigations of the brain.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of CJD have been identified in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years analysed by the age group of the sufferer; and if he will indicate in each case his Department's assessment of whether a genetic component contributed to the condition. [28591]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 1 April at column 46. The national Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance unit carries out genetic investigations
  418
  on cases of CJD referred to it. Approximately 10 per cent. of cases occur in clusters in families with an inherited genetic disposition.

  Doctors
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Sectary of State for Health how many(a) junior doctors, (b) middle range doctors and (c) consultants were employed in each health authority or family health service authority at 30 December for each of the last 20 years. [29203]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the number of doctors by grade is contained in standard tables on hospital medical staff for England and Wales which are available in the Library. These provide a breakdown by regional health authority for the years 1982–94 inclusive. Information by district and for years prior to 1982 is not available.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 9 January,Official Report, column 75, if he will update the figures on vacant doctor posts. [29469]

  Mr. Malone
  More recent information is not yet available.

  Osteosarcoma
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of osteosarcoma have been diagnosed in each of the district health authorities in the Northern and Yorkshire region since 1985. [29140]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of exempting from contributions to long-term care the value of an individual's home; [29152]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the cost of exempting from contributions to long-term care the value of an individual's home up to a limit of £300,000. [29151]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Macgregor) on 4 March at columns 82–83.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total public cost of introducing a partnership scheme for long-term care in which the average value insurance claimable is £30,000, under(a) the option set out in paragraph 9.6 of the consultation document, "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age", and (b) the option set out in paragraph 9.7, where the number of policies purchased is (i) 10,000, (ii) 100,000 and (iii) 1,000,000; and in each case over what period of time he forecasts that the expenditure would fall. [29265]

  Mr. Bowis
  The cost of the scheme would depend on a number of factors, including the level of protection from means testing earned by indemnity insurance and immediate needs annuities, the number of people with partnership products who need residential care and their asset holdings.
  419

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for consultants in each NHS trust. [29468]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on consultant vacancies in each national health service trust is not available.

  Medical Locums
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 November 1995,Official Report, column 614, if he will provide the figures for medical locums for 1995. [29472]

  Mr. Malone
  Figures from the medical and dental work force census relating to 30 September 1995 are not yet available.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will itemise for each trust, by region, the level of retained surplus or deficit in 1994–95 and 1995–96. [29397]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 5 December 1995 at column 193. Information for 1995–96 will be available in December, following the publication of the national health service trust annual accounts.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what have been the costs associated with the establishment of trusts in each region in each year since 1990–91, including conveyancing costs. [29398]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 5 May 1995 at column 323.

  NHS Performance
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the spending on the NHS in May 1979; how many patients were treated in the year to May 1979; and what were the equivalent figures for the last available periods. [28290]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available in the form requested. National health service total gross expenditure in England in the financial year 1979–80 was £7,755 million, compared with £31,983 million in 1994–95.

  On a comparative basis that is, after converting the 1979 discharge and deaths figure to finished consultant episodes—there were 6.6 million FCEs in all hospital specialties in England in the calendar year 1979 compared with 10.5 million FCEs in 1994–95.

  Hypothermia
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) incidents and (b) fatal incidents of hypothermia have occurred over the last five years in (i) London, (ii) Manchester, (iii) Cardiff, (iv) Newcastle, (v) Leicester, (vi) Derby, (vii) Nottingham, (viii) Norwich, (ix) Birmingham, (x) Plymouth, (xi) Edinburgh, (xii) Aberdeen and (xiii) Brighton.[28422]
  420
  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available in the form requested. Incidents of hypothermia in Wales and Scotland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland. The available information is shown in the tables.

  The number of finished consultant episodes in England where the main diagnosis is hypothermia, ICD code 991.6, ordinary and day case admissions to hospital

  Borough of residence

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  London inner and outer

  127

  107

  97

  133

  Manchester

  47

  36

  36

  35

  Newcastle

  6

  6

  10

  13

  Leicester

  6

  4

  3

  3

  Derby

  3

  1

  3

  2

  Nottingham

  9

  7

  8

  3

  Birmingham

  31

  50

  27

  27

  Plymouth

  10

  7

  3

  0

  Brighton

  7

  10

  5

  7

  Source:

  "Hospital Episodes Statistics".

  Deaths from hypothermia in various towns and cities in England, Wales and Scotland (1CD codes E991.6for England and Wales and E901, 778.3 (underlying cause of death), and E901, 778.3, 780.8, 780.9 (secondary cause) for Scotland

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  London

  60

  87

  58

  97

  81

  Manchester

  0

  2

  3

  3

  2

  Cardiff

  0

  2

  0

  2

  1

  Newcastle

  1

  0

  1

  5

  6

  Leicester

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Derby

  2

  1

  0

  0

  2

  Nottingham

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Norwich

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Birmingham

  5

  12

  5

  8

  5

  Plymouth

  3

  1

  2

  1

  0

  Brighton

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Edinburgh

  21

  15

  14

  13

  19

  Aberdeen

  3

  2

  4

  3

  5

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics.

  Diet and Behaviour (Children)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to investigate possible links between diet and disruptive behaviour and learning difficulties in children. [28933]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department's advisory committee—the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment—will be reviewing the issue of adverse reactions to food and food additives this year. The review will include assessing whether there is any firm evidence that food may affect behaviour in children.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Beef Ban (Job Losses)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated loss of jobs following the ban on Northern Ireland beef by the European Union. [28457]
  421
  Mr. Ancram
  The Department of Economic Development has received notifications of 142 proposed redundancies, of which 48 have taken place. All notifications relate to the red meat sector. It is estimated that some 1,500 people have been laid off due to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis.

  Figures for job losses directly attributable to the export ban are not available, and a number of those affected are self-employed.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the locations of the inward investment projects promoted by the Industrial Development Board between 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 indicating the financial amounts in respect of each project. [29016]

  Mr. Ancram
  The new inward investment projects negotiated during 1995–96 by the Industrial Development Board were as follows:

  Company name

  Location

  Assistance offered £ million

  Fruit of the Loom Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

  Londonderry

  2.72

  BCO Technologies (NI) Ltd.

  Belfast

  7.3

  Montupet (UK) Ltd.

  Lisburn

  57

  Stream International (NI) Ltd.

  Londonderry

  5.3

  Plastofilm Ltd.

  Enniskillen

  0.948

  Bumside Engineering

  Enniskillen

  1.033

  Aldiscon (NI) Ltd.

  Belfast

  0.678

  Duromould Ltd.

  Londonderry

  0.223

  Europa Tool Co. Ltd.

  Belfast

  3.2

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  Londonderry

  10.4

  Scansoft (NI) Ltd.

  Moira

  Non-selective financial assistance

WALES

  Cormorants and Saw-billed Ducks
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for a licence to shoot cormorants and saw-billed ducks were received by his Department in the year 1995–96; how many of these were refused; how many birds were licensed to be shot; and how many have been reported as having been shot. [28294]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Between 1 April 1995 and 31 March 1996, 15 applications for licences to shoot cormorants and goosanders were received. Two were refused. The 13 licenses issued permitted a maximum number of 37 cormorants and 38 goosanders to be shot as an aid to scaring. Reports on the number of birds shot are still to be fully completed.

  Beef Producers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to assist the producers of mature beef; and if he will make a statement. [28405]
  422
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said in his statement on 16 April,Official Report, columns 513–29, that arrangements were needed to allow back on the market meat from those breeds which often do not mature until after 30 months. Comments have now been invited from interested organisations on proposals to establish a voluntary mature beef assurance scheme. Under these proposals, those specialist beef herds where no cases of BSE have occurred would be able to sell cattle over 30 months for human consumption purposes. It is intended that they would exempt from the restriction in the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996.

  Part-time Employment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes have taken place since 1980 as a percentage of the working population in(a) males and (b) females who have part-time jobs; and if he will make a statement. [28407]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Data on the total number of part-time jobs in Wales in 1980 is not available. Information for 1981 and 1995 is shown in the following table:

  Employees in employment, part-time: Wales

  September 1981

  September 1995

  Change

  Change as percentage of 1981 working population1

  Males

  26,100

  52,200

  +26,100

  3

  Females

  158,400

  230,500

  +72,100

  16

  1 Working population comprises of employees in employment, claimant unemployed, self-employed, armed forces and participants on work-related schemes.

  Source:

  ONS.

  Housing (Elderly People)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses were built specifically for the elderly by local authorities and housing associations in Wales in(a) 1987, (b) 1991, (c) 1993 and (d) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [28641]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of dwellings

  1987

  1991

  1993

  1995

  Local authority

  438

  131

  72

  41

  Housing association1

  2509

  21,149

  655

  148

  1 These figures are estimates provided by Housing for Wales, which may differ from the estimates returned by local authorities on housing associations, published elsewhere.

  2 Data relates to financial years ending 31 March after year shown: information not available for calender years.

  Source:

  Local authority returns Housing for Wales.

  M4 (Accidents)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) deaths, (b) injuries and (c) accidents have occurred on the M4 in Wales since 1985; and if he will make a statement. [28706]
  423
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is given in the following table. The data refer to personal injury road accidents reported to the police and forwarded to the Welsh Office.

  Death, injuries and accidents on the M4 in Wales

  Year

  Deaths

  Injuries

  Personal injury accidents

  1985

  6

  199

  117

  1986

  6

  204

  121

  1987

  2

  176

  122

  1988

  4

  221

  156

  1989

  3

  245

  162

  1990

  7

  341

  214

  1991

  4

  272

  171

  1992

  3

  259

  158

  1993

  2

  224

  147

  1994

  6

  263

  177

  1995

  4

  319

  209

  Total

  47

  2,723

  1,754

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice has been issued to his Department by the Commissioner for Public Appointments on the need to identify political activity by persons(a) appointed and (b) re-appointed to executive non-departmental public bodies; and what guidelines his Department currently follows in this area. [28597]

  Mr. Hague
  Guidance on new procedures is being prepared which will take full account of the First Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cm 28501, and the principles and guidance published in April 1996 by the Commissioner for Public Appointments on appointments to executive non-departmental public bodies and NHS bodies. It will take effect by the target date of 1 July 1996.

  Council of Agriculture Ministers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the participation of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones), at the Council of Agricultural Ministers on 29 to 30 April; and what formal representations were made to the council on behalf of Welsh farmers. [28617]

  Mr. Hague
  As a member of the UK ministerial delegation at Luxembourg, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State participated fully in developing the UK's negotiating position as events unfolded.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which towns in Wales currently have closed circuit television to assist with crime prevention; and if he will make a statement. [28652]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government have funded closed circuit television schemes in the following towns in Wales: Aberdare, Barry, Bridgend, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Colwyn Bay, Cwmbran, Haverfordwest, Holyhead,424
  Maesteg, Merthyr Tydfil, Mountain Ash, Neath, Newport, Pontypool, Porthcawl, Rhyl, Swansea, Wrexham and Ystrad Rhondda.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's policy regarding the further expansion of closed circuit television schemes in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [28698]

  Mr. Jones
  The Government are convinced that closed circuit television has a crucial part to play in the fight against crime, and will continue to encourage its expansion in Wales.

  Independent Schools
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, by education authority area, the independent schools which have not yet received full recognition, indicating the reasons for this and the action being taken to deal with each school affected. [29288]

  Mr. Richards
  Independent schools are placed on the provisional register of independent schools in Wales when they are providing full-time education to five or more pupils of statutory school age and when they have provided specified information about the school, such as details about staff, to the Welsh Office. Full registration is considered by the Welsh Office in the light of advice provided by the Office of Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools who visit all provisionally registered schools at least annually. Of the 62 independent schools in Wales, eight are provisionally registered. These are as follows:

  School

  Local education authority

  Bethany Christian School

  Neath Port Talbot

  Emmanuel Christian School

  Caerphilly

  Frontline Christian School

  Bridgend

  Mayflower Christian School

  Torfaen

  Hendre House

  Pembrokeshire

  Prospects Centre for Young People

  Wrexham

  Thaibah Muslim School

  Cardiff

  Welsh Centre for Conductive Education

  Cardiff

  The reasons why full registration has not yet been granted varies between the schools but can include concern about the breadth and balance of the curriculum, school structures and organisation or that the school has recently started and needs time to become established. In all cases, where the inspectors have identified shortcomings, the Welsh Office has written to the school concerned asking for these matters to be addressed.

  If my right hon. Friend is satisfied that an independent school, whether provisionally or fully registered, is objectionable on certain grounds, including the suitability of the accommodation or instruction, the fitness of staff or the proprietor or concern about the welfare of children, he may issue a notice of complaint seeking remedies to the concerns.

SCOTLAND

  Damp Housing
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of houses in
  425
  Scotland suffering from (a) dampness and (b) condensation, in (i) the publicly rented, (ii) the privately rented and (iii) the owner-occupied sectors. [27557]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The available information is set out in the table. It is taken from the 1991 Scottish house condition survey. It should be noted that where a dwelling suffers from both dampness and condensation it is counted in both tables. More up-to-date information will become available when the results of the 1996 Scottish house condition survey are published in the autumn of next year.

  Estimated number of dwellings in Scotland with dampness or condensation (by tenure, 1991)

  Tenure

  Number (thousands)

  (a)Dwellings with rising or penetrating damp

  Local authority, New Town, other public sector

  122

  Scottish Homes

  6

  Privately rented

  35

  Owner-occupied

  100

  Housing associations

  4

  All tenures

  267

  (b) Dwellings with condensation

  Local authority, New Town, other public sector

  202

  Scottish Homes

  15

  Privately rented

  33

  Owner-occupied

  138

  Housing associations

  4

  All tenures

  392

  Approximately 110 thousand dwellings included in both the above tables had both damp and condensation.

  Source:

  1991 Scottish House Condition Survey.

  Cockenzie Power Station
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made an assessment of the consequences for the Scottish economy of the closure of Cockenzie power station; and if he will make a statement. [27843]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The future of Cockenzie power station is a matter for its owner, Scottish Power. I understand that the company currently plans to operate the power station until its working life expires in 2010.

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current level of electricity prices to industrial and commercial customers in Scotland; what it was in 1990; and if he will make a statement. [27842]

  Mr. Forsyth
  Since privatisation, electricity prices charged to industrial and commercial consumers with an annual consumption of over 100 KW have been a commercial matter for the electricity supply companies and their customers. Smaller industrial and commercial customers who use less than 100 KW are normally charged under published maxium demand tariffs. Such charges have fallen by about 10 per cent. in real terms since 1989–90.
  426

  Health Service (Acute Bed Strategy)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the review of the acute bed strategy; and if he will make a statement. [28173]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has received the report prepared by the review group. He will make an announcement in due course.

  Crofting
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to review the level of grant and loan available under the crofter building grant and loan scheme; and if he will make it his policy that no major changes to the structure of the scheme will be introduced without full and lengthy public consultation. [28274]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  My noble Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment, had a number of discussions with crofting interests earlier in the year about a possible shift to a grant-only scheme with increased levels of grant. The views expressed were considered carefully and are reflected in the statement made by my right hon. Friend at the Scottish Grand Committee meeting on Monday 13 May.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is taking to provide support to crofters for(a) controlling and maintaining bracken, hedges and dykes and (b) the provision or improvement of water supplies. [28195]

  Mr. Robertson
  Assistance for crofters is currently available through a number of schemes. The crofting counties agricultural grants scheme provides grants to crofters towards the costs of controlling and maintaining bracken, hedges and dykes, and the provision or improvement of water supplies. The agricultural business improvement scheme offers grants towards the eradication of bracken to encourage heather regeneration; the provision of dykes to exclude livestock in association with conservation management; and the provision, replacement or improvement of water supplies. The Argyll and Shetland islands environment sensitive area schemes include support for provision of dykes: the Argyll islands scheme also includes support for control of bracken in certain situations.

  Mrs. Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the budget allocation is planned to be for the crofter building grants and loans scheme in each of the next three years. [28198]

  Mr. Robertson
  The supply estimate provision for 1996–97 is £5.002 million. Ministers will take decisions on the level of provision for future years in the context of the forthcoming public expenditure survey.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total payments made under the crofting agricultural grants scheme 1995–96; and if he will publish the representations he has received regarding the proposed ending of the scheme. [28275]

  Mr. Robertson
  The provisional outturn for payments made in 1995–96 under the crofting counties agricultural grants scheme is £3.181 million. Unless specifically requested otherwise by the consultee, responses to the
  427
  consultation on proposals for a Scottish countryside premium scheme are available for public view in the Library in St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh.

  Skye Bridge (Explosives)
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement into circumstances surrounding the discovery and subsequent controlled detonation of explosive material in the vicinity of the Skye bridge on 30 April; and what steps he has taken to require a full search of the bridge and its environs to ensure the removal of any other similar items. [28176]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office has recently taken receipt of a report on the incident by the Miller Group safety department following its request for an inquiry. Details of the circumstances of the incident are described in the report. I have therefore arranged to have a copy lodged in the Library.

  The report concludes that the condition of the explosive material was such that its potential for causing harm was remote. It further concludes that the blasting sub-contractor had not encountered this problem before. As a consequence, the sub-contractor intends to amend his procedures to eliminate the possibility of such an incident recurring. The report will now be forwarded to the Health and Safety Executive for its attention. Both the sub-contractor and main contractor have carried out a thorough search of the area and have given their assurance that no similar items are present.

  Corncrake Initiative
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish countryside premium scheme will take the value of the corncrake initiative into account; and if he will make a statement. [28197]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The content of the proposed countryside premium scheme has yet to be finalised following the consultation period which ended on 30 April. Our proposals include specific measures to encourage the protection of ground nesting birds, including corncrakes.

  Funding for the countryside premium scheme is separate from any support given by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to their corncrake initiative.

  Eaglesham Bypass
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from East Renfrewshire council concerning the Eaglesham bypass; and what response he has given. [27844]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  To date no representations have been received from East Renfrewshire council on this matter.

  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the east Renfrewshire council concerning an Eaglesham bypass; and if he will make a statement. [28328]
  428
  Mr. Forsyth
  No representations have been received from east Renfrewshire council on this matter. Guidance has now been issued to councils about a transport challenge fund which will operate from 1997–98. It is open to the council to submit a bid for challenge funding for the Eaglesham bypass if it wishes to do so.

  Mearnskirk Hospital Site
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the future of the Mearnskirk hospital site in Newton Mearns; and if he will make a statement. [28336]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following full public consultation, Greater Glasgow health board will invest an estimated £4 million in a 60-bed elderly continuing care facility on the Mearnskirk hospital site. Surplus land on the site will be used for housing.

  The board's plans will match local services to local needs.

  Brain Search Facilities
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) centres and (b) hospitals which provide minute brain search facilities; and if he will make a statement. [28635]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The majority of acute hospitals in Scotland are able to access neurological services. Neurosurgical services are provided at Aberdeen royal infirmary, Western general hospital in Edinburgh, Dundee royal infirmary and the Southern general hospital in Glasgow.

  Traffic Flows (A78)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what traffic flow surveys his Department has carried out on the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston stretch of the A78; and if he will publish the results. [28609]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Traffic flow counts have been carried out at several locations on the A78 between Ardrossan and Saltcoats over 10 and 12-hour periods on the dates shown as follows:

  Date

  Location

  Recorded traffic flows

  26 May 1994

  200 metres west of Dalry Road, Saltcoats

  7260 Eastbound (12 hours)

  26 May 1994

  As above

  7480 Westbound (12 hours)

  21 April 1995

  Eglinton Road (At Seafield Drive), Ardrossan

  4832 Southbound (12 hours)

  21 April 1995

  As above

  4347 Northbound (12 hours)

  16 November 1995

  Loanhead Road, Ardrossan

  5049 Westbound (10 hours)

  16 November 1995

  As above

  5507 Eastbound (10 hours)

  25 January 1996

  As above

  5277 Westbound (10 hours)

  25 January 1996

  As above

  5030 Eastbound (10 hours)

  29 February 1996

  Parkhouse Road (High Tide Bar), Ardrossan

  5205 Northbound (10 hours)

  29 February 1996

  As above

  5413 Southbound (10 hours)

  429
  There is also a census point on the route within Saltcoats which was last counted on 26 May 1994. The total two-way traffic flow recorded was 17,150 vehicle movements over a 24-hour period of which 7 per cent. were heavy goods vehicles.

  In addition to this, my consulting engineers employed to plan the proposed Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston bypass have undertaken a number of traffic surveys during 1992 and 1993. This information will be contained in the environmental assessment stage 3 report which will be available for inspection by interested parties upon publication of the order.

  Peter William Hurtt
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the convictions of Peter William Hurtt; on what date such representations were received; and when he expects to reach a decision. [28905]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Representations on Mr. Hurtt's behalf were sent to my right hon. Friend on 22 May 1989, on 1 September 1992, on 4 May 1993 and on 29 August 1994. The three earlier representations have already been dealt with. The most recent representations allege that new scientific evidence has come to light which casts doubt on the safety of Mr. Hurtt's conviction. My right hon. Friend hopes to reach a decision on the latest petition as soon as may be possible.

  Traffic Flows (A737)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what traffic flow surveys his Department has carried out on the volume of traffic flowing along the A737 at its junction with the A738; and if he will publish the results. [28610]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No traffic surveys have been carried out at this location by the Scottish Office. However, a traffic survey was carried out about 1 mile south-east of this location on 13 June 1994 by the former Strathclyde regional council. The traffic survey produced an annual average daily flow of 10,522, of which 8 per cent. were heavy goods vehicles.

  NHS Management
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 26 March,Official Report, column 581, if he will list those chief executives who were employed by one NHS employer in Scotland and who resigned to take up employment with another NHS employer in Scotland since 1 September 1994; and if he will name in each case the NHS employing organisations they (a) left and (b) took up employment with. [28604]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Mr. G. Buchanan, who resigned employment with Caithness and Sutherland NHS trust and took up employment with Moray Health 430
  Services NHS trust, is the only chief executive to resign employment from one NHS employer in Scotland and become employed by another since 1 September 1994.

  Head and Deputy Head Teachers
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) staff and (b) female staff were employed at (i) head teacher, (ii) assistant head teacher and (iii) deputy head teacher levels for (1) secondary and (2) primary schools for each education authority within Scotland in September 1994. [28613]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Number (full-time equivalent) of headteachers, assistant headteachers and deputy head-teachers in education authority primary and secondary schools in Scotland at September 1994

  Head teacher

  Deputy head teacher

  Assistant head teacher

  Total

  Female

  Total

  Female

  Total

  Female

  Secondary schools

  Scotland

  394

  18

  395

  47

  1,031

  250

  Borders

  9

  0

  9

  1

  27

  5

  Central

  17

  1

  20

  1

  49

  5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  16

  0

  16

  0

  32

  4

  Fife

  19

  0

  18

  4

  69

  18

  Grampian

  38

  1

  37

  5

  98

  24

  Highland

  26

  0

  26

  1

  42

  6

  Lothian

  44

  3

  44

  6

  123

  30

  Strathclyde

  167

  11

  174

  22

  490

  126

  Tayside

  30

  1

  30

  4

  86

  28

  Orkney

  6

  0

  2

  0

  5

  1

  Shetland

  8

  1

  8

  1

  3

  1

  Western Isles

  14

  0

  12

  2

  7

  2

  Strathclyde Divisions

  Argyll and Bute

  10

  0

  10

  1

  22

  2

  Ayr

  29

  2

  27

  3

  80

  12

  Dunbarton

  23

  1

  27

  4

  77

  30

  Glasgow

  40

  3

  44

  5

  120

  36

  Lanark

  37

  3

  36

  2

  111

  26

  Renfrew

  28

  2

  30

  7

  81

  20

  Scotland

  2,256

  1,658

  708

  629

  775

  706

  Borders

  73

  48

  14

  14

  6

  5

  Central

  113

  86

  51

  46

  39

  36

  Dumfries and Galloway

  109

  70

  24

  22

  12

  8

  Fife

  144

  103

  57

  55

  43

  40

  Grampian

  265

  181

  80

  70

  59

  52

  Highland

  193

  138

  29

  27

  14

  11

  Lothian

  231

  154

  131

  114

  85

  77

  Strathclyde

  864

  696

  257

  226

  445

  415

  Tayside

  183

  119

  62

  53

  51

  43

  Orkney

  19

  15

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Shetland

  27

  19

  2

  1

  8

  7

  Western Isles

  34

  29

  1

  1

  11

  10

  Strathclyde Divisions

  Argyll and Bute

  71

  52

  8

  7

  6

  6

  Ayr

  146

  106

  45

  37

  73

  67

  Dunbarton

  114

  96

  44

  40

  66

  62

  Glasgow

  222

  186

  63

  60

  109

  103

  Lanark

  205

  170

  45

  38

  106

  97

  Renfrew

  106

  86

  52

  44

  86

  81

  Hospital and Health Services Contracts
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contracts for hospital and health services awarded under the competitive tendering process
  431
  to date by (a) Argyll and Clyde, (b) Ayrshire and Arran, (c) Borders, (d) Dumfries and Galloway, (e) Fife, (f) Forth Valley, (g) Grampian, (h) Greater Glasgow, (i) Highland, (j) Lanarkshire, (k) Lothian, (l) Orkney, (m) Shetland, (n) Tayside and (o) Western Isles health boards; and if he will indicate the successful tenderers and the value of the contracts. [28618]

  Contracts Awarded

  Service type

  Contractor

  Commence date

  Previous cost £000

  Tender value £000

  By Health Board

  Highland

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  38

  38

  Orkney

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  18

  18

  Shetland

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  18

  18

  Western Isles

  Domestic

  In-house

  1 January 1996

  433

  410

  Catering

  In-house

  1 January 1996

  456

  433

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  30

  30

  Laundry

  In-house

  1 January 1996

  119

  119

  Laundry

  In-house

  1 January 1996

  74

  55

  By NHS Trust

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  78

  78

  Occupational health

  RGIT Health Ltd.

  1 April 1995

  95

  1160

  Caithness and Sutherland

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  28

  28

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals

  Catering

  In-house

  1 August 1995

  1,337

  1,324

  Fife Healthcare

  Supplies

  In-house

  1 April 1996

  223

  221

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary

  Hotel services

  Initial

  28 January 1996

  774

  713

  Grampian Healthcare

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  70

  70

  Highland Communities

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  50

  50

  Moray Health Services

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  44

  44

  Raigmore Hospital

  Internal audit

  Coopers and Lybrand

  1 October 1995

  43

  43

  1 Higher specification of services being provided with the new contract.

  Bursaries
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amount of money(a) allocated in the current financial year to each further education college in Scotland for bursaries and (b) spent on bursaries for each college by the previous regional councils in 1995–96. [28648]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information is set out in the table.

  College

  1996–97 bursary allocation

  1995–96 local authority expenditure

  Aberdeen

  3,416,389

  3,362,732

  Angus

  1,254,211

  1,234,513

  Anniesland

  517,128

  509,007

  Ayr

  1,022,273

  1,006,217

  Banff and Buchan

  1,032,714

  1,016,494

  Barony

  150,002

  147,826

  Bell

  —

  —

  Borders

  1,162,435

  1,144,178

  Cambuslang

  509,326

  501,326

  Cardonald

  1,674,300

  1,648,003

  Central

  522,465

  514,259

  Clackmannan

  630,934

  621,025

  Clydebank

  1,295,143

  1,274,802

  Coatbridge

  862,214

  848,672

  Cumbernauld

  561,627

  552,806

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,381,549

  1,359,851

  Dundee

  2,335,871

  2,299,184

  Elmwood

  481,628

  474,064

  Falkirk

  1,624,131

  1,598,623

  Fife

  924,418

  909,899

  GCBP

  683,312

  672,580

  432
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Newcastle Upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 29 March 1995, column 581, which stated that the information requested had been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Since that date, information subsequently received on contracts awarded is set out as follows.

  College

  1996–97 bursary allocation

  1995–96 local authority expenditure

  GCFT

  659,434

  649,077

  GCNS

  570,988

  562,020

  Glenrothes

  880,220

  866,395

  Inverness

  1,545,448

  1,521,176

  James Watt

  1,605,220

  1,580,009

  JEVC

  995,670

  980,032

  John Wheatley

  368,111

  362,329

  Kilmarnock

  1,578,468

  1,553,677

  Langside

  970,046

  954,811

  Lauder

  1,020,161

  1,004,138

  Lews Castle

  388,848

  382,741

  Moray

  1,423,876

  1,401,513

  Motherwell

  1,833,883

  1,805,081

  North Glasgow

  831,965

  818,898

  Oatridge

  252,429

  248,465

  Perth

  1,305,562

  1,285,057

  Reid Kerr

  1,436,578

  1,414,015

  Stevenson

  1,375,391

  1,353,789

  Stow

  792,189

  779,747

  Telford

  1,974,867

  1,943,850

  Thurso

  449,325

  442,268

  West Lothian

  753,819

  741,980

  Total

  45,054,568

  44,347,129

  Ambulance Base, Kyleakin
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he received in favour of the proposal to site an ambulance base at Kyleakin, Isle of Skye; and if he will make a statement. [29238]
  433
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. However, the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS trust aims to make the most efficient and effective use of the resources at its disposal to improve the quality of service to its patients. In view of the changes brought about by the opening of the Skye bridge, the Scottish Ambulance Service has conducted a review and has concluded that the additional costs of establishing an ambulance station in Kyleakin will be justified by improved activation and response times. Highland health board, which is responsible for purchasing appropriate levels of emergency ambulance provision in the area, has supported these proposals.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will hold an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the decision to site an ambulance base at Kyleakin, Isle of Skye, with specific reference to the prohibition upon serving personnel to discuss the issue with others; and if he will make a statement. [29239]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. The deployment of its staff and vehicles and the siting of ambulance stations are operational matters for the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS trust to decide in agreement with the purchasing health board. The staff are fully aware of the proposals and have the opportunity to make any observations on these to senior officers of the service.

  Caledonian MacBrayne
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the subsidy to be paid to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. for the financial year commencing 1 April 1996; what it was for the year ended 31 March; how much of the difference in the figures is attributable to the withdrawal of the Kyle of Lochalsh-Kyleakin service; and if he will make a statement. [29240]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Subject to approval of the estimates, the Government propose to make available to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. in 1996–97 revenue deficit grant amounting to £11.7 million. The amount of revenue deficit grant made available to Caledonian MacBrayne in 1995–96 was £8.3 million. The increased requirement for revenue deficit grant in 1996–97 reflects a number of factors, including the loss of the revenue contribution from the Kyle of Lochalsh-Kyleakin service and the cost of compliance with additional safety requirements applying to ro-ro ferries. It is not the Government's practice to disclose information about the profit or loss incurred by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. in providing ferry services on individual routes.

  NHS Consultants
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the number of current vacancies for consultants in each NHS trust in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [29496]

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

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors were in higher training for consultancy positions in each year since 1990. [29498]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  434

  Hospital medical senior registrars in Scotland at 30 September

  Senior registrars

  1990

  405

  1991

  403

  1992

  390

  1993

  424

  1994

  467

  1995

  479

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vacancies for consultants there currently are in the NHS in Scotland; how many of these posts have been vacant for six months or more; how many vacancies for consultants there have been in each month since 30 September 1995; and if he will make a statement. [29495]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest information available centrally shows that at 30 September 1995 there were 201 consultant vacancies in the NHS in Scotland; 72 of these had been vacant for six months or more.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown, by specialist field, of the current vacancies for consultants in the NHS in Scotland. [29497]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest information available centrally is shown in the table.

  Consultant vacancies in the NHS in Scotland at 30 September 1995

  Accident and Emergency

  12

  Anaesthetics

  29

  Laboratory and support specialists

  9

  Blood transfusion

  1

  Clinical chemistry

  1

  Haematology

  2

  Microbiology

  4

  Pathology

  1

  Medical specialists

  46

  Dermatology

  1

  General medicine (group)

  21

  Cardiology

  4

  Communicable diseases

  1

  Gastroenterology

  4

  General medicine

  10

  Nephrology

  1

  Respiratory medicine

  1

  Geriatric medicine

  3

  Medical paediatrics

  14

  Neurology

  2

  Palliative medicine

  2

  Radiotherapy

  1

  Rehabilitation medicine

  2

  Obstetrics and gynaecology

  5

  Occupational health

  1

  Psychiatric specialists

  46

  Child and Adolescent psychiatry

  5

  Forensic psychiatry

  2

  General psychiatry

  29

  Mental handicap

  4

  Old age psychiatry

  6

  435

  Consultant vacancies in the NHS in Scotland at 30 September 1995

  Radiology

  6

  Diagnostic radiology

  6

  Surgical specialties

  31

  ENT surgery

  6

  General surgery

  5

  Ophthalmology

  5

  Orthopaedic surgery

  6

  Plastic surgery

  2

  Surgical paediatrics

  1

  Urology

  6

  Public health medicine

  8

  Community Specialties

  3

  Community child health

  2

  Family planning

  1

  Dental specialties

  5

  Oral surgery

  1

  Orthodontics

  3

  Restorative dentistry

  1

  Total

  201

  Private Finance Initiative
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the revenue spending estimated by his Department in connection with the private finance initiative for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [26636]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 2 May 1996]: The estimated revenue payments which may be met from my expenditure programmes in respect of private finance initiative projects reported to the Scottish Office are, for the three years respectively (a) £12 million (b) £20 million and (c) £51 million.

  Office Space
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the square footage and cost of office space rented by his Department and its agencies and the number of his Department or agencies' buildings partly, or fully unoccupied together with the square footage of that unoccupied office space and its estimated rental value where available in each of the past five financial years. [27722]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 May 1996]: Most of the leased office space occupied by the Scottish Office during the past five financial years formed part of the common user estate which was the responsibility of the Department of the Environment. My right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service has provided details of rents and vacant space on the common user estate which were held centrally.

  Details of payments made to Property Holdings by the Scottish Office in respect of common user estate accommodation, are shown in table 1. Information regarding offices leased directly by the Scottish Office and its agencies is given in table 2. In both cases, figures
  436
  are readily available only for the last three years and information regarding vacant space during that time could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Table 1: Scottish Office Common User Estate Offices

  Year

  Total number of buildings

  Rental cost (excl. VAT)

  Total leased floor area (ft2)

  1995–96

  28

  4,166,366

  423,769

  1994–95

  33

  3,916,859

  484,652

  1993–94

  34

  4,878,211

  511,578

  Table 2: Scottish Office (and Agencies) Offices

  Year

  Total number of buildings

  Rental cost (excluding VAT)

  Total leased floor area (ft2)

  1995–96

  15

  182,481

  23,697

  1994–95

  15

  173,761

  22,434

  1993–94

  16

  180,656

  70,547

  River Pollution
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of Dr. D. M. Holloway of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency eastern region of 2 April about the River Almond(a) what action he is taking to reduce ammonia concentrations elevated to levels toxic to aquatic organisms, (b) what action is available to him in respect of the deposition of sewage solids on the bed of the river, (c) what help he is giving with the construction of a trunk sewer from the Almond catchment area to Edinburgh and (d) if he will bring responsibility for abandoned minewater drainage within the control of SEPA. [27932]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has identified the River Almond as a sensitive area under the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994. This means that discharges of urban waste water from agglomerations with a population equivalent greater than 10,000 must by 31 December 1998 receive further treatment than either secondary or equivalent treatment in order that directive requirements may be fulfilled in respect of the watercourse. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has responsibility for the regulation of discharges to controlled waters and will monitor discharges to ensure compliance with the regulations.

  The East of Scotland Water Authority, however, intends that discharging into the River Almond should cease and that the proposed River Almond valley trunk sewer should take these discharges direct to Edinburgh sewage treatment works. There should then be a rapid improvement in the biological and chemical quality of the river and, in particular, a reduction in ammonia concentrations and deposition of sewage solids. The authority is at present considering using the private finance initiative to fund this project. The tendering process is likely to commence in June 1996.

  Owners or operators of existing abandoned mines have a statutory defence against prosecution for permitting water from an abandoned mine to enter controlled waters. However, the Coal Authority is working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on developing a programme of projects for the treatment of minewater

  437
  discharges. Discharges from mines abandoned after 31 December 1999 will be subject to regulatory control by the agency.

  Fishing Safety
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of grant aid awarded to Scottish fishermen under the Fishing Vessels (Improvement) (Grants) scheme in each year from 1990 to 1995, and the first quarter of 1996. [29175]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: Scottish fishing vessels received a total of £4.95 million under the Fishing Vessels (Improvement) (Grants) schemes between 1990–91 and 1995–96. A breakdown of the expenditure per year is given in the table.

  Year

  Amount paid (£)

  1990–91

  611,988

  1991–92

  263,290

  1992–93

  224,951

  1993–94

  935,580

  1994–95

  1,478,303

  1995–96

  1,437,155

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the average length of time taken to process applications for grants awarded in Scotland under the provisions of the Fishing Vessels (Improvement) (Grants) scheme each year from 1990 to 1995. [29154]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The Sea Fish Industry Authority administers the Fishing Vessels (Improvement) (Grants) scheme on behalf of the Government. It does not keep detailed historical records of the time taken to deal with individual applications, but I understand that the average time taken to deal with an application, from receipt to formal approval, is estimated as four weeks.

  Ravenspark Hospital
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department has had during the last six months with officers of Ayrshire and Arran health board and the Ayrshire and Arran community healthcare NHS trust concerning the closure of Ravenspark hospital. [29005]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: Scottish Office officials meet regularly with Ayrshire and Arran health board and the Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS trust to discuss a wide range of issues. The health board is keeping my Department in touch with developments concerning Ravenspark hospital.

  NHS (Private Contracts)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contracts NHS trusts and health boards have entered into with private providers during the financial years(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and if he
  438
  will list the NHS bodies involved, the values of the contracts in each case, the private providers used and the nature of each of the contracts. [29074]

  Mr.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: Comprehensive information about the extent to which NHS trusts and health boards contract with the private sector is not available centrally.

ENVIRONMENT

  Listed Structures (Demolition)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many listed buildings and other structures have been demolished since 1992. [28716]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 7 February at column 248, giving figures for the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–5. The corresponding figures for the financial year 1992–93 are:

  Grade I: 0

  Grade II: 0

  Grade II: 68.

  The Department is currently compiling figures for 1995–96. I shall write to the hon. Member once they are available.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made towards finalising the mineral planning guidance note No. 7; what representations he has received from local authorities regarding the restoration of opencast coal sites; and if he will make a statement. [29276]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A draft of mineral planning guidance note No. 7 was published for public consultation in December 1995, and comments were requested by 14 February 1996. Responses were received from the local authority associations, three local authorities and the Coalfield Communities Campaign regarding the reclamation of opencast coal sites. Their comments are being carefully considered, alongside all other responses. Revised guidance will be published in due course.

  Landlords (Right of Entry)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances landlords have a right of entry to their own property without a court order. [28928]

  Mr. Clappison
  Landlords have a right of entry to their property where there is specific provision in the tenancy agreement or lease. They also have statutory and common law rights of entry in defined circumstances, for instance when they need to carry out repairs, or to allow them to value their interest in a property which is subject to a statutory claim by leaseholders wishing to enfranchise or acquire a new lease.

  Joint Tenancies
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue guidance to local housing authorities on the use of joint tenancies for adults sharing a home on a long-term basis. [29580]

  Mr. Curry
  I have today published DOE circular 7/96, "Local Authority Joint Tenancies". Copies have been sent to all local housing authorities in England. A parallel circular has been issued in Wales. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Biodiversity Steering Group
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the report 440
  of the biodiversity steering group; and if he will make a statement. [29685]

  Mr. Gummer
  The UK biodiversity steering group was set up to advise the Government on the further development of the UK biodiversity action plan. The Government welcomed the group's report at its launch in December 1995. It will publish its response tomorrow under a foreword from the Prime Minister. The response will be positive and will explain how the Government, in partnership with other sectors will implement the species and habitat action plans and carry forward the other recommendations in the report. In particular it will set out a number of new initiatives it is taking to ensure that the UK maintains its leading role in the implementation of the convention on biological diversity. Copies of the response will be placed in the Library.

  Council of Europe Conventions
  Council of Europe Conventions
  Russian Federation: Council of Europe Membership
  Russian Federation: Council of Europe Membership
  East Timor
  East Timor
  Forensic Explosives Laboratory: Centrifuge Contamination
  Forensic Explosives Laboratory: Centrifuge Contamination
  Asylum Applicants: Country Assessments
  Asylum Applicants: Country Assessments
  Public Bodies: Appointments
  Public Bodies: Appointments
  Overseas Trade Balances
  Overseas Trade Balances
  Multimedia: Regulatory Regime
  Multimedia: Regulatory Regime
  Oftel Director-General: Role
  Oftel Director-General: Role
  Oftel: Complement
  Oftel: Complement
  Polar, Antarctic and Arctic Research
  Polar, Antarctic and Arctic Research
  Fish Landings: Quantities
  Fish Landings: Quantities
  Spongiform Encephalopathy Committee
  Spongiform Encephalopathy Committee
  Animal Feeds: Nutrient Content
  Animal Feeds: Nutrient Content
  BSE: Confirmed Cases
  BSE: Confirmed Cases
  Biodiversity Steering Group's Report: Response
  Biodiversity Steering Group's Report: Response
  Planning Application: Development Plan Consideration
  Planning Application: Development Plan Consideration
  Planning Appeal Statistics
  Planning Appeal Statistics