Written Answers of 15 May 1996

DEFENCE

  Chemical and Biological Defence
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what chemical agents service personnel attending the defence nuclear biological and chemical centre at Winterbourne Gunner have been exposed during training courses since 1966; and what was the purpose of such exposure. [28039]

  Mr. Soames
  Service personnel attending courses at DNBCC have not been subjected to any chemical agents since 1980. Between 1966 and 1980, students at DNBCC were exposed to a small amount of mustard agent, equating to the size of a pinhead, on the inside of their wrists. The aim of these exercises was to prove and give confidence to the chemical agent decontamination process which students would be expected to teach to members of the service in their parent units. The practice stopped on scientific advice from the chemical and biological defence establishment because it was not compatible with emerging health and safety guidelines.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel attending the defence nuclear biological and chemical centre at Winterbourne Gunner have taken part at the same time in the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment since 1966. [28040]

  Mr. Soames
  No service personnel attending courses at the DNBCC at Winterbourne Gunner have participated in the service volunteers programme at CBDE Porton Down since 1988. Prior to that date, a small number of personnel may have volunteered to participate in routine short trials at CBDE, although this was not standard practice. However, while records are maintained of all volunteers attending Porton Down, DNBCC did not maintain a record of its students who may have attended trials at CBDE on an ad hoc basis. In the absence of such records, it is impossible to identify how many, if any, participants on the service volunteers programme were DNBCC students when they volunteered.

  Helicopter Flying School
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on industrial participation for the defence helicopter flying school competition. [29223]

  Mr. Soames
  Having reviewed our approach to industrial participation on the defence helicopter flying school competition, it has now been decided that IP proposals should be sought in accordance with MOD policy. The three bidders have been informed.

  Services Airpower Doctrine
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the services doctrine on airpower was last published. [29325]

  Mr. Soames
  The most recent edition was published in 1993.

  Redundancy Costs
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answers of 14 December 1995,Official Report, column 772 and Official Report, 21 March 1996, columns 286–87, how many redundancies there have been in each of the armed services in each financial year since 1992. [29334]

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of redundancies in each of the armed services for each financial year since 1992–93 are as follows:

  Year

  RN

  Army

  RAF

  Total

  1992–93

  400

  3,338

  219

  3,957

  1993–94

  1,272

  6,460

  1,310

  9,042

  1994–95

  2,440

  7,015

  1,639

  11,094

  1995–96

  12,400

  87

  2,832

  5,319

  1 This RN figure covers financial years 1995–96 to 1996–97.

  Nuclear Accident Exercise (Otterburn)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the scenario and aims of the nuclear weapon accident exercise due to take place between 20 and 24 May at the Otterburn ranges in Northumbria; if the guidance to civil authorities on action to be taken in the event of a nuclear weapons accident will be tested; if he will list(a) the civil authorities due to participate in the exercise and (b) the civil and military authorities from the United Kingdom and abroad invited as observers; and what is the cost of mounting the exercise. [29396]

  Mr. Soames
  Exercise Senator will be based on an accident during the road transportation of nuclear weapons. While the scenario and its consequences are extremely unlikely, it has been designed to fulfil the aim of testing arrangements for a full combined response by the MOD's nuclear accident response organisation and the appropriate civil agencies. It will therefore provide an opportunity to evaluate the MOD guidance which was recently issued under the title "Local Authority and Emergency Service Information on Nuclear Weapon Transport Contingency Plans". A copy of this document is in the Library of the House. There will be a wide range of civil players, including the emergency services and local authorities in the vicinity of Otterburn, and officials from appropriate government departments and other agencies at both regional and national level. Invitations to observe relevant parts of the exercise have been issued by the main participants to appropriate authorities and individuals. The costs attributable to Exercise Senator are not available centrally and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Otterburn Ranges
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the training programmes which will be affected by the decision of Northumberland county council to delay infrastructure upgrading at Otterburn ranges; and if he will make a statement; [29159]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on Salisbury plain training area of not proceeding with the proposed infrastructure upgrading at Otterburn ranges; and if he will make a statement. [29160]

  Mr. Soames
  Once developed, Otterburn will be the sole training area in the United Kingdom where multi-launch rocket system regiments can conduct live firing over land as fully integrated units. AS90 can also be fired on Salisbury plain, which is, however, the only training area that can sustain tracked vehicle manoeuvre training and exercises of armoured-mechanised battle groups, and has already reached its training and environmental capacity. Any delay to the development of the Otterburn training area would therefore have a severe impact on the Army's overall training programme, and on the operational efficiency of artillery units equipped with AS90 and MLRS.

TRANSPORT

  Railway Station Operators
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available a list of railway stations giving details of the operator responsible for each one. [29753]

  Mr. Watts
  Two publications giving this information have today been placed in the Library: the "Index of Britain's Stations" published by the Central Rail Users' Consultative Committee, and "A Guide to Railway Stations and Parliamentary Constituencies", produced by the British Railways Board.

  Second Severn Crossing
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on the completion date of the approach roads contract to the second Severn crossing in respect of(a) opening any lanes on the approach roads and (b) opening the whole carriageway on the approach roads of (i) defects in the steel work and (ii) substandard construction materials; and if he will make a statement; [29409]

  (2) what consultations he has had with the chief executive of the Highways Agency concerning the investigations by the Avon and Somerset police into the allegations of fraudulent supply of construction materials for the M4 and M5 approach roads to the second Severn crossing. [29386]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
  444
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 15 May 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about substandard materials and defects in steel work on the approach roads to the Second Severn Crossing.

  As I said in my letter dated 2 May, defects found during inspections and problems with steel fabrication will have no impact on the opening dates for the M4 approach road.

  Traffic Management will ensure that any remedial work required after the official opening will be carried out causing minimum disruption to the public.

  The allegations of fraud are a matter for the Police.

  Regional Airports
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken further to liberalise services to Manchester and other regional airports for airlines wishing to serve them; and if he will make a statement on the prospects for further liberalisation. [28663]

  Mr. Norris
  The United Kingdom already has a large number of bilateral agreements with foreign partners which allow the airlines of both sides access to regional airports in both countries. In most cases it is solely a lack of demand that inhibits the provision of services under these agreements.

  Services between the USA and UK regional airports, Stansted and Luton, were liberalised last year. Since then several new services have been introduced by US and UK airlines to regional airports. Over the past 12 months, new regional rights have also been negotiated with Jordan, Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Gulf, Pakistan and South Africa. Additionally, Israel was granted a third ex gratia frequency for El Al to serve Manchester.

  The Department of Transport continues to aim to liberalise its air services agreements with other countries, taking into account the interests of consumers, airlines and airports. The effect of new air services to regional airports on the regional economy is also taken into account.

  Public Service Vehicle Licences
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks are made in respect of the criminal records of applicants for PSV licences. [29180]

  Mr. Norris
  Public service vehicle operators' licences are not granted unless traffic commissioners are satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements of good repute. The applicant must declare any relevant convictions that he or any of his employees have had in the last five years. In advance of the grant of a licence, the names of all applicants are circulated to the police and local authorities who have a statutory right to make a formal objection to a licence being granted.

  Driving Instructors
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many approved driving instructors have been found to be in groups 5 and 6 following assessment by the Driving Standards Agency. [29545]
  445
  Mr. Norris
  As at the end of March 1996, the figures were:

  Grade 5: 12,748

  Grade 6: 2,288.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures his Department has in place to monitor the training of large goods vehicle and passenger-carrying vehicle driving instructors. [29537]

  Mr. Norris
  The Driving Standards Agency is working with representatives in the road haulage and training industries to produce a voluntary register of LGV driving instructors. Matters such as entrance exams and check tests, and how such a register should be administered, are currently being considered. It is hoped to introduce the register in spring 1997.

  Road Maintenance
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  to ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals have been injured as a result of road accidents attributed to(a) road surface defects, (b) road works, (c) defective or obscured road signs and (d) defective traffic signals for each of the last 10 years. [29554]

  Mr. Norris
  The number of casualties involved in injury road accidents where road works were present is shown in the following table:

  Number of casualties from injury road accidents where road works were present: GB 1984 1984–1994

  Casualties

  At road works

  All

  1984

  526

  324,314

  1985

  564

  317,524

  1986

  641

  321,451

  1987

  665

  311,473

  1988

  628

  322,305

  1989

  635

  341,592

  1990

  708

  341,141

  1991

  628

  311,269

  1992

  541

  310,673

  1993

  599

  306,020

  1994

  585

  315,189

  The presence of road works does not necessarily indicate that they were the cause of the accident. Information about casualties in accidents attributed to road surface defects, defective or obscured road signs and defective traffic signals is not available.

  Airbags
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 26 March,Official Report, column 552, what research his Department has undertaken into injuries and fatalities occurring as a result of a front passenger seat airbag hitting a child in that seat. [29532]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department of Transport has not undertaken any research into injuries and fatalities occurring as a result of a front passenger seat airbag hitting a rear facing child restraint.

  Passenger Transport Executives
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the revenue received by British Rail for the use of its facilities for the provision of services provided by(a) West Yorkshire PTE and (b) South Yorkshire PTE in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96; and what each of those bodies will pay Railtrack in 1996–97. [26513]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 2 May 1996]: The figures, which are set out in the table, represent BR's charges for PTE-secured rail services in PTE passenger transport areas net of ticket receipts. BR deducts the revenue from ticket sales in determining the net charges that BR makes to the PTEs. The 1993–94 figures reflect the accounting treatment applicable for that year, when the PTEs were charged only on a marginal cost basis. The figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 reflect the full costs of rail support, including access charges and rolling stock leasing charges.

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  South Yorkshire

  5.2

  16.8

  19.8

  West Yorkshire

  13.8

  43.7

  45.7

  The relevant train operating companies, rather than the PTEs, are responsible for payments for Railtrack charges arising from rail operations.

TREASURY

  Self-employment
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 February,Official Report, column 508, what progress has been made on extending the use of the single form; and in what areas it is now available. [29158]

  Mr. Jack
  Following the pilot of the single form to give the self-employed a single notification point for tax, national insurance contributions and VAT, the use of the form was extended to the whole of the country in April 1996. The form is available from tax, social security and VAT offices. The form is accompanied by a new leaflet which guides people commencing self-employment through the ins and outs of income tax, national insurance and VAT, explaining how to get things right first time. Both leaflet and form have been well received by customers.

  Tax Offices
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is(a) the total area of the premises, (b) the area of office space and (c) the area of office space currently in use at Salisbury tax office. [29086]

  Mr. Jack
  The areas of the premises, office space and office space currently used by Salisbury tax office are as follows—figures shown are in square metres:
  447

  Total area of the premises

  Area of office space1

  Area of office space used by tax office

  2,903

  2,903

  1,326

  1 Although precise details are not known it would appear that the whole premises are for office use.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rents, fees or charges paid by the Inland Revenue in respect of its occupation of Salisbury tax office; and to whom they are paid. [29084]

  Mr. Jack
  Details of the amounts paid annually by the Inland Revenue in respect of its occupation of Salisbury tax office are as follows:

  £

  Freehold property—assessed rent paid to the property

  212,252.63

  Advisers to the Civil Estate

  Service charge paid to the Lord Chancellor's Department1

  75,386.87

  1Includes contribution in lieu of rates.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rents, fees or charges paid by the Inland Revenue in respect of its occupation of Swindon tax office; and to whom they are paid. [29083]

  Mr. Jack
  There are two tax districts and a collection office in Swindon. The amounts paid annually by the Inland Revenue in respect of its occupation total £491,687 which includes rent, service charge and a contribution in lieu of rates. It is not possible to provide details of individual recipients and amounts paid to them as this information is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is(a) the total area of the premises, (b) the area of office space and (c) the area of office space currently in use at Swindon tax office. [29085]

  Mr. Jack
  There are two tax districts and a collection office in Swindon. Details of the areas of the premises, office space and office space currently used by each are as follows—areas shown are in square metres:

  Office

  Total area of premises

  Area of office space1

  Area of office space used by tax office

  Swindon 1

  1,431

  1,431

  980

  Swindon 2

  1,609

  1,609

  1,523

  Swindon Collection

  864

  864

  624

  1 Although precise details are not known it would appear that the whole premises are for office use.

  State Earnings-related Pension Scheme
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Securities and Investments Board has concluded its examination into the sale of personal pensions to those who would otherwise have remained in SERPS; and if he will make a statement. [29809]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The then Minister of State announced on 25 October 1994 by written parliamentary answer,Official Report, column 509–12, that the
  448
  Securities and Investments Board would work with the Department of Social Security to investigate whether there has been widespread misselling to people who would otherwise have been contributing to the state earnings-related pension scheme. SIB is today making a statement on the outcome of its research. The results are striking, and I hope will be welcomed as positive evidence of the significant financial benefits personal pensions can bring to those who choose them.

  Based on a sample, the research demonstrates that nearly all those who contracted out of SERPS stand to gain—and gain significantly—compared with the pension entitlements they would have had in SERPS. At least 96 per cent., and perhaps as many as 99 per cent., of the personal pension policyholders concerned stand to be better off—in most cases by between about 150 and 300 per cent. of the SERPS entitlement given up. That typically amounts to an extra £550 to £1,000 a year of pension rights in today's prices.

  However, not all those who contracted out of SERPS are likely to share in this benefit. The research pinpointed a small minority who are likely to be worse off as a result. They may number as few as 1 per cent. of those who chose a personal pension instead of SERPS, and no more than 4 per cent. Where losses occur, they are likely to be very low—typically between £33 and £78 a year in reduced pension rights.

  Of those likely to lose, most fall into the category of people with very small personal pension funds: for example, where contributions to the personal pension have ceased because the policy in question has been closed. Often the losses are associated with flat-rate charges by the pension provider, which can erode the value of the pension over time. That does not mean that everyone in this situation is bound to lose. If, for example, the pension policy is later revived, the losses may be wiped out. Those who have policies with providers who waive fixed charges in years where no money is received may not lose out at all.

  In view of this, SIB has been exploring with pension providers what scope there is to help people in risk categories through altering charging structures or otherwise. I am pleased to say that action already planned by some firms should help to protect the position of vulnerable policyholders. This is a welcome step in demonstrating the good will of the industry. I challenge all firms to follow their good example.

  The research published today makes it clear that a review of the kind currently being carried out for pension transfers and opt-outs would be out of all proportion to the scale of the potential losses. The scale and extent of the potential losses for those who contracted out of SERPS is in stark contrast to the evidence in relation to personal pension holders who had left occupational pension schemes. In the latter case, there was evidence of widespread misselling and loss. There is no such evidence in the case of those who contracted out of SERPS.
  449
  However, that does not leave those who may stand to lose without the means to improve their situation. Action is being taken to ensure proper information is available to all those who may be affected. SIB will produce a leaflet for policyholders in the autumn so that they are able to reach an informed view of their own position and on the courses of action that are open to them. Anyone who believes they are the victim of misselling has the option of making a complaint under the normal arrangements established by the Financial Services Act regulators.

  This FSA protection, and the additional action that is planned, will ensure that ample help is available to all those who stand to lose from choosing a personal pension instead of SERPS to understand and address their situation.

  SIB has acted with commendable thoroughness and diligence in pursuing its research, which places beyond doubt the very great success of the policy of giving people the option to leave SERPS, and demonstrates the very significant advantages of personal pensions for many people.

  Government Deficit
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to have the UK general Government financial deficit in 1997–98 at below the reference value used in the European Union's excessive deficits procedure; and if he will make a statement. [28891]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 10 May 1996]: The Government's fiscal objective is to bring the public sector borrowing requirement back towards balance over the medium term. The Budget projection of the general Government financial deficit in 1997–98 was £17 billion, equivalent to 2 per cent. of GDP. An updated forecast will be published in the summer economic forecast on 9 July.

  Inland Revenue (Interest Charges)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulations permit the Inland Revenue to impose interest charges on money requested from taxpayers in respect of time taken by the Inland Revenue to respond to queries about the calculation of the assessment; if he will make it his policy to review the effect of this practice on the Inland Revenue response times; and if he will make a statement. [28659]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: Interest is chargeable on overdue tax under a number of statutory provisions, depending on the particular head of tax. The main provisions are sections 86, 87 and 87A of the Taxes Management Act 1970, which charge interest on overdue income tax, capital gains tax and corporation tax, and the pay-as-you-earn regulations, which provide for interest on overdue PAYE tax. The rules for charging interest are designed to encourage prompt payment and to neutralise the advantage late payers have over those who pay promptly, while aiming to recompense the Exchequer for the loss of taxes paid later than the due dates laid down by Parliament.

  The Inland Revenue aims to reply to inquiries about assessments within 28 days, but there may be good reason why it cannot meet this target. However, if there is a long delay by the Department, for which there is no good
  450
  reason, it will give up interest on tax that was unpaid during the period of the delay. The Inland Revenue publishes the rules on this in its code of practice on mistakes.

  Earnings Statistics
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the percentage of full-time workers in England and Wales with gross weekly earnings both including and excluding overtime, of less than(a) £228.68, (b) £215.47 and (c) £161.60 for the categories (1) male manual, (2) male non-manual, (3) all male workers, (4) female manual, (5) female non-manual, (6) all female workers, (7) all manual, (8) all non-manual and (9) all workers; [29165]

  (2) if he will list the average gross weekly earnings, both including and excluding overtime, for (a) all manual workers, (b) all non-manual workers and (c) all workers in England and Wales; [29164]

  (3) if he will list the number and percentage of full-time workers in England and Wales with gross hourly earnings, both including and excluding overtime below (a) £6.03, (b) £5.68, (c) £4.24 and (d) £3 for (1) male manual, (2) male non-manual, (3) all male workers, (4) female manual, (5) female non-manual, (6) all female workers, (7) all manual, (8) all non-manual and (9) all workers; [29170]

  (4) if he will list the percentage of full-time workers (a) in Scotland and (b) in each region in Scotland with gross weekly earnings, both including and excluding overtime, of less than (i) £228.68, (ii) £215.47 and (iii) £161.60 for the categories (1) male manual, (2) male non-manual, (3) all male workers, (4) female manual, (5) female non-manual, (6) all female workers, (7) all manual, (8) all non-manual and (9) all workers; [29169]

  (5) if he will list (a) the mean weekly earnings, (b) median weekly earnings and (c) the distribution of earnings for those with incomes (i) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (b) at the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed, with a breakdown by (1) all manual workers, (2) all non-manual workers and (3) all workers; [29167]

  (6) what was the number and percentage of full-time workers (a) in Scotland and (b) by region in Scotland with gross hourly earnings both including and excluding overtime, below (i) £6.03, (ii) £5.68, (iii) £4.24 and (iv) £3 for (1) male manual, (2) male non-manual, (3) all male workers, (4) female manual, (5) female non-manual, (6) all female workers, (7) all manual, (8) all non-manual and (9) all workers; [29166]

  (7) if he will list the average gross weekly earnings, both including and excluding overtime, for (a) all manual workers, (b) all non-manual workers and (c) all workers in Scotland; and if he will provide a regional breakdown of these figures. [29168]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: Average gross weekly earnings of manual, non-manual and all workers in England and Wales are published in table X5 of "New Earnings Survey 1995", part A, a copy of which is available in the Library. The rest of the information requested is contained in several tables which I will place in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Agency (Home Visits)
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will correct the information regarding how many home visits were made by Benefits

  April 1994–March 1995

  April 1991–March 1992

  April 1989–March 1990

  April 1984–March 1985

  April 1979–March 1980

  Effective Supplementary Benefit/Income Support visits

  498,819

  552,191

  803,795

  3,001,362

  3,288,025

  Effective Contributory Benefit visits

  49,186

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Data is provisional and is subject to amendment.

  Benefit Payments (Service Provider)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if a service provider has been selected to supply and operate the new technology which will automate post office counter operations with particular reference to the payment of social security benefits; and if he will make a statement. [29632]

  Mr. Lilley
  Pathway Group Ltd. has been selected as the successful service provider under the private finance initiative. Pathway Group Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of ICL plc. Their major sub-contractors are Girobank, De La Rue and the Irish Post Office An Post.

  The new benefit payment arrangements are intended to combat the deficiencies of the current system, including significant losses through fraudulent encashment, and will help to secure the future of the post office network. Introducing the new system will entail replacing order books and girocheques with a plastic card. The views of customers and their representatives have been taken into account to ensure that they, and post office staff, will find the new system easy to use.

  The current planning assumption is that the first cards will be issued this autumn starting with some child benefit recipients. Other benefit groups will follow and the table sets out our current assumptions for the transition. These indicative plans will be subject to review in the light of experience. There will be a pilot of up to three months for each benefit group before full rollout commences. The length of time it will take to complete the change to card for all customers in each benefit group will depend on the rollout of automation into post offices, but we expect almost all customers to be paid by the card system by mid-1999.

  Benefit Type

  Planned rollout start Date

  Child Benefit

  October 1996

  Incapacity Benefit

  February 1997

  Severe Disability Allowance

  Widows Benefit

  Maternity Allowance

  Family Credit

  May 1997

  Disability Working Allowance

  Earnings Top Up

  Disability Living Allowance

  July 1997

  Attendance Allowance

  Guardians Allowance

  452
  Agency staff for the period April 1979 to March 1980 provided in the answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 19 July 1995, Official Report, column 1503. [29811]

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

  Benefit Type

  Planned rollout start Date

  Retirement Pension

  July 1997

  Income Support

  January 1998

  Jobseeker's Allowance

  January 1998

  Social Fund

  April 1998

  War Pensions

  April 1998

  Motability
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the profits of Motability Finance Ltd. are reinvested into the Motability charity. [28637]

  Mr. Burt
  None. Motability Finance Ltd. is a non-profit making independent company.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to increase the level of control exerted by the banks involved with Motability Finance Ltd. [28605]

  Mr. Burt
  None. Motability Finance Ltd. is an independent company which is neither funded by, nor accountable to, this Department.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the percentage profit margin of Motability Finance Ltd. [28345]

  Mr. Burt
  The amount of profit the funding banks can make from taking part in the Motability scheme is currently 1 per cent. on the average value of the funds they have invested in the scheme.

  Source:

  Motability's Annual Report 1994–95.

  Office Space
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the square footage and cost of office apace rented by his Department and its agencies and the number of his Department's 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. [27721]
  453
  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables:

  Square footage and cost of rented office space

  Year

  Square footage

  Rent passed to property holdings (PH) division of the Department of Environment £000

  1991–92

  16,290,696

  138,521

  1992–93

  18,083,520

  177,214

  1993–94

  16,049,124

  191,709

  1994–95

  18,029,700

  201,125

  1995–96

  18,341,856

  206,402

  Property Holdings division of the Department of the Environment was responsible for the cost of vacant Common User (Office) Estate up to and including 31 March 1996.

  Size and cost of vacant office space

  Year

  Vacant or under-utilised properties

  Cost £000

  1991–92

  Minimal

  Minimal

  1993–94

  1994–95 (first ¾)

  1994–95 (last ¼)

  95,046 ft2

  420

  1995–96

  95,046 ft2

  1,682

  Information for each executive agency could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  In response to the information required regarding properties on the Common User (Office) Estate, I refer the hon. Member to the recent reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 31 January, Official Report, columns 648–50.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  UN Conference on Human Settlements
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will be representing the Government at the UN conference on human settlements in Istanbul in June; and what new proposals the Government will make to help to ensure that city dwellers in the world's poorest countries have access to adequate housing and clean water. [29275]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be leading the UK delegation to the UN conference on human settlements—Habitat II—which is to be held in Istanbul over the period 3 to 14 June 1996. He will be accompanied by a broad-based team, which will include representatives from both the aid and diplomatic wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in addition to senior members of his own Department.

  The sectors in which ODA assistance can best help to contribute to sustainable development vary from country to country, depending on needs, what others are doing to tackle these needs, and our capacity to contribute.
  454
  On this basis, we are currently planning new projects in urban housing and/or water and sanitation for direct ODA funding in a number of cities in India, China and Nepal. We are also investigating possibilities for assistance in Ghana and Kenya, particularly in urban water supply. In addition, we are planning to extend our current assistance in urban areas in Pakistan and in South Africa. We will also continue to provide support to non-governmental organisations through our joint funding scheme for assistance in these sectors.

  Mr. John Battle (Leeds West)
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much money Her Majesty's Government has contributed in support of the Angolan Community Rehabilitation and National Reconciliation Programme since its annoucement in September 1995. [29319]

  Mr. Hanley
  Since June 1993 the UK has committed almost £50 million bilaterally and through the European Commission to Angola. More than £13 million of this has been targeted on priority areas within the Community rehabilitation and national reconciliation programme announced in September 1995. Our ability to do more will depend on the Angolan Government efforts to expedite the peace process and to improve economic management.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners' Release Procedures
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the release procedures from gaol when the release date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday. [28718]

  Miss Widdecombe
  There are no plans at present to amend the current legislation.

  Prison Boards of Visitors
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members representing boards of visitors on the National Advisory Council, indicating the boards on which each serves. [28972]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Members of boards of visitors who serve on the National Advisory Council, including the boards they represent, are as follows:

  Mr. David Emanuel Abelson OBE JP: Her Majesty's Prison Latchmere House

  Mrs. Sarah (Sally) Black MBE: HMP Ackington

  Mrs. Barbara Mary Vyvyan Blackburn JP: HMP Risley

  Mr. Hugh John Boulter: HMP Reading

  Mrs. Ruth Draycott JP: HMP The Verne

  Mr. Norman William Simpson: HMP Wayland

  Mrs. Anthea Rosemary Taylor JP: Her Majesty's young offenders institution/remand centre Brinsford and HMP Stafford

  The Chairman of the National Advisory Council is Mrs. Ruth Draycott JP.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquiries his Department has
  455
  received from housing authorities seeking to establish whether a claimant for homelessness is also seeking political asylum. [28968]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Since the beginning of February this year, when a central point of contact was set up within the immigration and nationality directorate, 577 inquiries have been received from housing authorities seeking to establish whether a person seeking assistance under part III of the Housing Act 1985, England and Wales, part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 or part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, has applied for asylum.

  Prisoners (Private Property)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's policy in respect of the restrictions on prison inmates' private property. [28971]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 15 May 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the restrictions on prisoners' private property.

  Each prison decides on the type of property a prisoner is allowed to retain in line with Prison Standing Orders. Each prison may therefore allow different articles. Security, as well as health and safety aspects are considered before permitting each article.

  As a result of Sir John Woodcock's report, volumetric control of prisoners' property is currently being introduced across the prison estate. Under this system, each prisoner may hold up to two boxes of property, plus one outsize item; legal papers; bedding; and an additional set of clothing.

  Firearms
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to deal with those firearms recovered by the police during the amnesty in June; what disposal procedure was adopted during the 1988 amnesty; and if he will make a statement. [28255]

  Mr. Maclean
  Where a surrendered firearm is selected as being of significant scientific or historical value it will be allocated to suitably authorised, publicly funded museums or other public bodies. The remainder, probably the vast majority, will be destroyed in line with the usual practice of local police forces. Similar procedures were operated in 1988.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures, other than the national firearms amnesty, exist for members of the public to dispose legally of firearms that have been owned, or discovered, without a licence; how long these procedures have been in place; in what ways these have been publicised by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [28256]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: Whether to prosecute offences of unlawful possession of firearms is a matter for the prosecuting authorities on a case-by-case basis, but Home Office guidance to the police is that no obstacle should be placed in the way of individuals who wish to hand in unlicensed or unwanted
  456
  guns, even when an amnesty is not running. Our current guidance, publicly available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office since 1989 in "Firearms Law: Guidance to the Police", underlines this advice.

  Buckley Hall Prison
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer on 19 March,Official Report, column 154, on smuggling at Buckley Hall prison, what is the estimated total amount of items that have been smuggled over the prison fence since the prison was opened; what is the estimated proportion of total smuggling caused by items being thrown over the prison fence; and what is the basis for the estimate that additional fencing will reduce the potential for this method of smuggling by 80 per cent. [28955]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 15 May 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question, pursuant to the Director General's reply of 19 March, Official Report, column 154, about smuggling at Buckley Hall prison.

  The estimated number of unauthorised items that have been smuggled over the fence since the prison opened is very small, but the smuggling of most articles at Buckley Hall prison takes place in this way.

  Additional fencing has restricted the area adjacent to the perimeter fence which can be accessed by prisoners by 80 per cent.

  Stage Hypnotism
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the Home Office's recommendations on stage hypnotism. [29080]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I expect to be able to announce the outcome of our review of stage hypnotism in June.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to instituting controls on the video taping of stage hypnotism shows and the sale of home videos. [29081]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  All videos, other than a small category of exempt works, must be certified by the British Board of Film Classification. It is a criminal offence to supply unclassified videos or to breach the classification certificate.

  The recent report by an expert panel on the alleged dangers of participation in stage hypnotism found no evidence of serious risk. I do not therefore propose to place additional controls on videos of stage hypnotism.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire, reference GK/HB/060396. [28991]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: I wrote to the hon. Member on 10 May.

PRIME MINISTER

  Pay Review Bodies
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the current membership of the public sector pay review bodies. [29812]

  The Prime Minister
  The current membership, with effect from 1 April 1996, is as listed:

  Senior salaries review body

  Sir Michael Perry CBE (Chairman)

  Mr. Gordon Hourston

  Sir Anthony Wilson

  Sir Sydney Lipworth QC

  Mrs. Rosemary Day

  Ms Patricia Mann

  Mrs. Yve Newbold

  Mr. Mark Sheldon

  Mr. Michael Beloff QC

  Armed forces pay review body

  Mr. Gordon Hourston (Chairman)

  Mr. Michael Bolton

  Mrs. Dorothy Venables

  Mr. John Cox OBE

  Mr. John Crosby

  Air Chief Marshall Sir Roger Palin KCB OBE

  Mr. Guy Neely

  Sir Gavin Laird CBE

  Review body on nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine

  Mr. Bryan Rigby (Chairman)

  Miss Anne Mackie OBE

  Professor Gillian Raab

  Ms Ruth Lea

  Mrs. Shelia Gleig

  Mrs. Anne Dean

  Mr. Lyndon Haddon

  Mr. Keith Miles

  Review body on doctors' and dentists remuneration

  Mr. Brandon Gough (Chairman)

  Mrs. Carol Hui

  Dr. Elizabeth Nelson

  Mr. David Penton

  Mr. Michael Innes

  Mr. Christopher King CBE

  Mrs. Beryl Brewer

  Mr. Roderick Jackson

  School teachers review body

  Mr. Tony Vineall (Chairman from September 1996)

  Mr. John Gardiner (Chairman until September 1996)

  Mrs. Brigita Amey

  Mr. Michael Harding

  Mrs. Julia Cuthbertson

  Mrs. Elizabeth Drummond

  Miss Janet Langdon

  Mr. Peter Gelding

  Mr. Philip Halsey CB LVO (until September 1996).

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  HMSO(Uzbekistan)
  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many consultancies were invited by HMSO to tender for the investigation of its bad debts with the public authorities of Uzbekistan. [29087]

  Mr. Freeman
  Earlier this year I asked Binder Hamlyn to undertake an urgent investigation of matters surrounding HMSO's trade with Uzbekistan. Binder Hamlyn was already acting as reporting accountant for the HMSO privatisation, and so had an unrivalled knowledge of the business. No wider tendering procedure was necessary or, given the urgency of the situation, desirable.

  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much in fees was paid to Mr. Paul Howell by HMSO for his study of its bad debt in Uzbekistan. [29088]

  Mr. Freeman
  Mr. Howell was engaged by HMSO to assist in progressing its trade in Uzbekistan. It is normal policy not to disclose the terms of individual consultancy appointments for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in improving the efficiency of the Central Office of Information following his announcement in November that it would remain as a next steps agency. [29752]

  Mr. Freeman
  Following an efficiency report by Kinsley Lord, I have agreed a substantial programme of efficiency improvements and restructuring of the COI, which will in future concentrate on procurement rather than the direct provision of services. This programme is being carried forward by the chief executive, and is due to be completed by April 1997. But in view of the fact that the current chief executive is due to retire shortly, I am setting in train the process of appointing by open competition a new chief executive, who will have the responsibility of carrying forward the programme of change and ensuring the continuation of the valuable service provided by COI.

  Public Appointments Unit
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the current role of the public appointments unit. [29810]

  Mr. Freeman
  The public appointments unit's role is as set out in "The Government's Response to the First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life", Cm 2931. It advises, through the head of the home civil service, on certain appointments in which the Prime Minister has an involvement; maintains a central list of around 5,000 potential appointees; acts as an initial point of contact for individuals seeking public appointments; and provides Departments with names from the list suitable for specific appointments, and other relevant advice.
  459
  To keep Departments informed about this continuing role, the unit is issuing guidance on public appointment procedures which supplements that of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. I am placing copies of this supplementary guidance in the Libraries.

  Chessington Computer Centre
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make an announcement on the progress of the sale of Chessington Computer Centre. [29813]

  Mr. Freeman
  I told the House on 17 October last year that it was the Government's intention to sell Chessington Computer Centre as a single viable business in a way which would ensure that it retained its reputation for the provision of high-quality services to Government Departments and the wider public sector while allowing it to benefit from the freedom and opportunities for attracting new customers to be gained outside the constraints of operating within government.

  A large number of expressions of interest were received following the advertisement of the sale in December last year. These have subsequently been reduced through pre-qualification and indicative bid procedures. A final shortlist of three has now been selected. Those being invited to submit final bids are:

  The Capita Group

  CMG Computer Management Group

  The Management Employee buy-out team in partnership with Integris UK.

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

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Youth Training
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of people on youth training(a) failed to complete the course and (b) failed to obtain a recognised qualification, for each training and enterprise council in the last year for which information is available. [29232]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The available information, which comes from the national follow-up survey of youth training trainees, is contained in a number of tables and will be placed in the Library. These results are consistent with the national totals published monthly in "Labour Market Trends". The figures overstate the extent to which young people leave the programme early. They include a significant number who simply switched from one training provider to another, as well as trainees who left early having already achieved their full qualification. Those not gaining a qualification will include many who subsequently obtained a job, or continued in further education and training.

  "Going GM" Costs
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been spent by her Department on "Going GM" conferences; and how much has been spent on "Going GM" packs sent to schools and school governers in each of the past three years. [29335]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Grant-maintained information packs can contain a variety of publications, so it is not possible to identify the cost of the packs within overall spending on publications relating to grant-maintained status. The available information is set out in the following table:

  £

  Expenditure on:

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Going GM conferences1

  270,298

  222,696

  217.234

  GM information2

  320,000

  380,000

  178,000

  Total

  590,298

  602,696

  395,234

  1 The expenditure figures for "Going GM" conferences include venue costs, the contracted support services and mailings.

  2 The expenditure figures for GM information represent the total production and distribution costs of all GM publications over the last three years.

  The table refers to financial years.

  Investors in People
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 30 April,Official Report, columns 41–42, how many firms with under 50 employees (a) are currently participating in investors in people and (b) have achieved the standard, (i) in total, (ii) in each region and (iii) in each parliamentary constituency. [29157]

  Mr. Paice
  As at 24 March 1996 a total of 10,558 firms with under 50 employees were participating in investors in people of which 1,525 firms are already recognised as having achieved the standard.

  A breakdown of the figures by parliamentary constituency is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a regional breakdown is provided in the following table:

  Investors in People commitments and recognitions in firms with under 50 employees

  Region

  Commitments

  Recognitions

  East Midlands

  874

  101

  Eastern

  840

  69

  London

  1,205

  99

  Merseyside

  268

  62

  North West

  1,277

  160

  Northern

  351

  83

  South East

  1,140

  134

  South West

  768

  246

  West Midlands

  804

  158

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  691

  166

  Wales

  498

  107

  Scotland

  277

  122

  Northern Ireland

  40

  18

  Total

  9,033

  1,525

  Grant-maintained Schools, Wiltshire
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the grant-maintained schools in the county of Wiltshire, together with the number of pupils on the roll at each school. [29082]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is detailed in the following table:

  GM school

  Number of pupils on roll1

  Aloeric School

  403

  Bishop Wordsworth's School

  720

  Blunsden St. Andrews Primary School

  135

  Bradon Forest School

  993

  Castle Primary School, Lugershall

  293

  Castledown Comprehensive School

  423

  Clarendon Infants School

  248

  Clarendon Junior School

  227

  Devizes School

  1,046

  Downton CE Primary School

  228

  Frogwell Primary School

  418

  Hardenhuish School

  1,140

  Holy Rood Junior School

  240

  Holy Trinity CE School

  205

  Kingsdown School

  955

  Lavington Comprehensive School

  514

  Lowbourne Infants' School

  253

  Lowbourne Junior School

  270

  Matravers School

  651

  Paxcroft Primary School

  239

  Pewsey Vale School

  418

  Pitton Primary School

  72

  Rowde CE Primary School

  144

  Sheldon School

  1,125

  South Wilts Grammar School for Girls

  814

  St. Augustine RC Comprehensive School

  615

  St. Edmund's RC Primary School

  210

  St. George's RC Primary School

  174

  St. John's School

  1,370

  St. Joseph's RC Comprehensive School

  1,119

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  204

  St. Mary's RC Primary School, Chippenham

  273

  St. Mary's RC Primary School, Swindon

  264

  Studley Green Primary School

  314

  Sutton Benger CE Primary School

  110

  The Commonweal School

  929

  The John Bentley School

  1,095

  Wingfield CE Primary School

  70

  Wyvern College

  521

  Zouch Primary School

  294

  1 Number of pupils on roll obtained from January 1995. DFEE School Census.

  Nursery Education Inspections
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what occupations are(a) included and (b) excluded by the provision of the substantial experience of providing for education of four-year-olds in the advertisement for applicants for registered nursery education inspectors. [29519]

  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 the hon. Member.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what instructions she has given to Ofsted in respect of persons of substantial 462
  experience in provision of education for four-year-olds in relation to applications for becoming nursery education inspectors. [29520]

  Mr. Squire
  The Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Bill requires the chief inspector to satisfy himself that nursery education inspectors are fit and proper persons to undertake nursery education inspections, and capable of conducting them competently and effectively, before registration.

  Employees' Rights
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision is available to employees of executive agencies under the control of her Department for(a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) workplace nurseries, (m) child care allowances, (n) carers' leave and (o) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case. [27591]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency and the Teachers' Pensions Agency under the chief executives. I have asked for them to arrange for replies to be given.

  Letter from Denyse Metcalfe to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 10 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about provisions for employees within the Executive Agency.The arrangements that apply to the Teachers' Pensions Agency are the same as that of the Department for Education and Employment and I would refer you to the reply sent to you on 7 May 1996, Official Report, column 107–110.I hope this is helpful.
  Letter from Robert Horne to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question, in the absence of the Chief Executive, about provisions for employees within the executive agencies.
  General guidance for employees and their managers is contained in a number of documents. The ES has nearly completed the process of putting this guidance together in 2 volumes of 'The ES and You'; the first covering 'Your rights and responsibilities' and the second 'A guide for managers'. Some of the information you request is still contained in a chapter of the old guidance which has yet to be incorporated into the new volumes. Copies of this guidance and that for personnel managers on various flexible work patterns are enclosed, and also placed in the Library. Together these will provide information on maternity leave and pay; paternity leave and parental leave; flexible working hours; part time work; leave to care for sick children; homeworking; term time contracts; carers leave and career break schemes. This covers your items a—f, h—j, n and 0.

  Annual Hours contracts (item k) are not offered as standard in the Employment Service and therefore no guidance is available. Likewise, childcare allowances (item m) are not available, although the ES does pay additional childcare costs where extra hours are worked. The relevant extract from the ES guide to expenses will also be sent to you.

  Job sharing (item g) is encouraged and my Personnel Managers have the flexibility to manage this locally in the light of people's requests and operational need. No central guidance is produced.
  463
  Likewise, the ES supports the establishment of workplace nurseries (item 1) and has recently opened one in Sheffield. Local arrangements vary widely depending on need and the provision already available. Often nurseries will be shared with other organisations and Government Departments and Agencies. Full details of Civil Service nursery provision is contained in the Childcare Bulletin produced by the Office of Public Service.

  I hope this is helpful.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Business Employment (Strangford)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many businesses employ fewer than(a) 10, (b) 50 and (c) 100 employees in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the Strangford constituency. [28850]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are approximately 15,325 non-agricultural enterprises in the private sector in Northern Ireland which employ fewer than 10 employees; 19,669 which employ fewer than 50 and 20,182 which employ fewer than 100. Similar information for the Strangford constituency is not readily available.

  Average Incomes
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average per capita income in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) each constituency within Northern Ireland; what have been the figures for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [28849]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The average gross weekly incomes in Northern Ireland, for each of the years 1990–1995, was as follows:

  £

  1994–951

  326.32

  1993

  302.71

  1992

  281.25

  1991

  285.21

  1990

  256.59

  1989

  220.46

  1 Financial year April 1994–March 1995.

  This information is taken from the published results of the Northern Ireland family expenditure survey. Due to a change in definitions, the income measure for 1992 and subsequent years is not strictly comparable with those for earlier years. Information on income is not available by parliamentary constituency.

  Jobs and Investment (Strangford)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern ireland what was the last project in which the Industrial Development Board was involved which resulted in investment in the Strangford constituency; what was the total amount of investment; and how many jobs were created. [28847]

  Mr. Ancram
  The most recent project in the Strangford constituency assisted by the Industrial Development Board was the £1.25 million investment by Lamont Textiles in the B. H. McCleary operation at Ballygowan 464
  in 1995. The project holds out the prospect of 14 additional jobs in the manufacture of polypropylene carpet yarn.

  Veterinary Surgeons
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many veterinary surgeons are employed by the Government in Northern Ireland; what was the number five and 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the supply to deal with problems arising from bovine spongiform encephalopathy. [28851]

  Mr. Ancram
  The number of veterinary surgeons employed by the Government in Northern Ireland at April 1996 is 135, compared with 114 at April 1991 and 103 at April 1986.

  The number employed is adequate to deal with present problems arising from BSE.

  Traffic Offences
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the figures for traffic offences by police division between April 1994 to April 1995. [28603]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is not available in the form requested as traffic statistics are not all held on a divisional basis, nor are they held by fiscal year.

  The following Northern Ireland total figures refer to the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1994:

  Number

  Persons given advice and warning

  261,472

  Fixed penalty notices issued

  68,294

  Persons proceeded against

  22,926

  Total traffic offences detected

  352,692

  The following figures are available by division and for the period requested:

  Number of persons proceeded against1 for motoring offences 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

  Division

  Persons proceeded against1

  A

  1,372

  B

  1,506

  D

  3,102

  E

  1,245

  G

  1,319

  H

  861

  J

  1,317

  K

  1,243

  L

  1,118

  N

  1,714

  O

  1,146

  P

  1,027

  Total

  16,970

  1 Figures refer to primary offence only.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what tendering procedures(a) are being planned and (b) have been implemented for the appointment of a voucher company for pre-school education; and when he estimates an appointment will be made. [28700]

  Mr. Ancram
  Advertisements have been placed in The Guardian, the Financial Times, the Sunday Times and the Times Educational Supplement seeking expressions of interest in tendering for the contract to administer the national phase of the nursery education voucher scheme. It is estimated that a contractor will be appointed by the end of September 1996.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish a draft Order in Council for the proposed voucher scheme for pre-school children. [28701]

  Mr. Ancram
  I intend to publish a draft Order in Council, which will include provisions relating to the pre-school voucher scheme, later this year. It is not possible to give a precise date for its publication.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the administrative costs per place of the proposed voucher scheme for pre-school education. [28699]

  Mr. Ancram
  I am at present consulting on the Government's proposals for the operation of the pre-school voucher scheme in Northern Ireland. It would not be possible or appropriate to provide any estimate of administrative costs per place in advance of decisions arising from this consultation.

  Pre-school Curriculum
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he commissioned the Northern Ireland curriculum council to prepare a pre-school curriculum; and when he expects the council to report. [28702]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment was commissioned on 7 March 1996 to prepare, and consult on, a suitable pre-school curriculum and to report to the Department by 31 October 1996.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated number of cattle which will have to be slaughtered in Northern Ireland in accordance with the Government's BSE eradication policy. [28848]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is estimated that more than 40,000 cattle are on farms in Northern Ireland awaiting slaughter under the Government's over-30 months slaughter scheme, which came into operation recently.

  Notwithstanding the requirement for slaughter under this scheme, all suspect BSE cases are slaughtered as and when they are identified.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the maximum group size and staffing ratios(a) recommended and (b) allowed in nursery education in Northern Ireland. [28703]

  Mr. Ancram
  The maximum group size to staffing ratio specified for nursery education in Northern Ireland is 25 children to two adults. No other maximum ratio is allowed.

  Manufacturing Business
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed in manufacturing business in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Strangford constituency, for each of the past five years. [28588]

  Mr. Ancram
  Information on the number of employees in manufacturing is obtained from the Northern Ireland census of employment, which is currently conducted every two years. The available figures are:

  Employees in employment in manufacturing

  1989

  1991

  1993

  Northern Ireland

  105,631

  104,840

  101,840

  Strangford Constituency

  4,273

  4,728

  4,423

  Further Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the capital expenditure, by project, on further education in Northern Ireland in the current financial year. [29181]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  £000

  Institutions of further and higher education

  North east (Magherafelt)

  1,505

  North west (Londonderry)

  1,100

  Newtownabbey

  2,560

  North Down and Ards

  523

  Colleges of further education

  Armagh

  53

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to publish details of the targets for the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement. [29815]

  Mr. Moss
  The Child Support Agency will publish its 1996–97 business plan today. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  The targets that I have set for the Child Support Agency for 1996–97 are:

  A target band of between £7.9 million and £8.3 million of maintenance to be either collected, or arranged for direct payment from absent parents to parents with care.1

  95 per cent. of payments made to parents with care to be made in 10 working days of receipt from an absent parent.

  467

  To achieve a continuing improvement in accuracy, so that in at least 85 per cent. of cases checked during March 1997 the cash value will be for the correct amount.

  Where a client is dissatisfied with a child support officer's decision and requests a review, 55 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80 per cent. to be cleared within 26 weeks; and no more than 15 per cent. to be older than six months as at 31 March 1997.

  65 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and as at 31 March 1997 no more than 2 per cent. of applications received by the agency to be over 12 months old.2

  To manage the agency's resources so as to deliver its business plan within the gross budget allocation as adjusted during the course of the year; this includes the administration of the Belfast Child Support Agency Centre on behalf of the GB agency.

  The targets are challenging and will require a substantial improvement in a number of areas of the agency's performance. The new targets include measures of accuracy and of the time taken to provide services. This underlines the agency's continuing focus on quality and client services in 1996–97.

  1This target includes cases where maintenance is paid direct by the absent parent to the parent with care.

  2 For this target, applications include all cases received via the Social Security Agency or from private clients.

WALES

  Speech and Language Therapists
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of speech and language therapists at each grade from spine points 23 to 27 in each of the past five years. [28446]

  Mr. Richards
  Reliable information for the particular spine points requested is not available. However, the total whole-time equivalent numbers of speech and language therapists directly employed by the NHS in Wales is given in the following table. Data for 1994 and 1995 may exclude a small number of staff paid on local pay scales for whom no details of occupation are available centrally.

  Staff in post at 30 September (whole-time equivalent numbers)

  1991: 153

  1992: 168

  1993: 177

  1994: 180

  1995: 199

  Brain Search Facilities
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the(a) centres and (b) hospitals which provide minute brain search facilities; and if he will make a statement. [28634]

  Mr. Richards
  In Wales the majority of NHS trusts with acute hospital facilities are able to offer access to neurological services. Neurosurgical services are provided at the University Hospital of Wales and Morriston hospital. Further information should be obtained directly from the relevant chief executives.

  Physiotherapists
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many placements were available for physiotherapy students for each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement. [28654]

  Mr. Richards
  The number of placements is dependent on the individual college's course and the requirements of the validating body. This is not recorded centrally.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of state for Wales how many people have qualified as physiotherapists since 1988; and if he will make a statement. [28707]

  Mr. Richards
  The number of physiotherapists qualifying has been monitored centrally only since the introduction of the towards 2000 arrangements for non-medical education and training in 1993. The figures are as follows:

  July 1993: 32

  July 1994: 26

  July 1995: 31

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the current number of physiotherapy vacancies; and if he will make a statement. [28653]

  Mr. Richards
  This information is not routinely collected centrally. However, a recent survey of physiotherapy departments estimated that there were some 77 WTE vacancies in total across Wales which took account of 62 additional posts arising from local service developments over the past two years.

  Teachers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of(a) male and (b) female primary and secondary school teachers; and how many (i) male and (ii) female headteachers there are in each sector in Wales. [28709]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is contained in the following table. The number of qualified teachers—full and part time—and headteachers is shown as at January 1995, for local education authority-maintained and grant-maintained schools.

  Qualified teachers at January 1995

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Full time teachers (including head teachers)

  2,430

  9,412

  5,807

  6,049

  Part time teachers

  24

  1,416

  137

  761

  Head teachers

  939

  752

  203

  24

  Source:

  1995 Schools Census.

  Railway Contractors
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the contractors supplying railway services between Cardiff and the north Wales coast to increase the number of through trains each day in each direction; and if he will make a statement. [28595]
  469
  Mr. Hague
  None. Any increase in the number of through trains between Cardiff and the north Wales coast is currently a matter for the British Railways Board and the train operating companies concerned.

  South Wales and West currently operates one through train between Cardiff and Holyhead, via Crewe. The franchising director has undertaken consultation on the draft passenger service requirements for the South Wales and West franchise. He is assessing the representations he has received and will publish the final PSR in due course. The draft PSR specifies services between Cardiff central and Crewe. Services between Crewe and Holyhead will be specified in the PSR for the North West Regional Railways franchise, which the franchising director will develop in due course. Franchise operators are free to operate services in addition to the PSR in response to demand.

  Forestry
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what mechanism exists for deciding on a Welsh forest policy; [28428]

  (2) how Welsh input into the evolution of United Kingdom forest policy is ensured; [28429]

  (3) what direct responsibilities he has for forest policy in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [28427]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has responsibility for forestry in Wales and, together with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is jointly responsible for forestry policy in Great Britain.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken in respect of the conclusions of the Minister's working group on forests in Wales. [28430]

  Mr. Jones
  My right hon. Friend has asked the Forestry Commission, through the Forestry Authority for Wales, to take the lead role in furthering the issues raised by the Minister's working group.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his role in respect of the management of the Forestry Commission estate in Wales as it relates to(a) wood, (b) conservation and (c) landscape. [28431]

  Mr. Jones
  My right hon. Friend approves the Commission's plans for managing its estate, including those relating to wood production, conservation and landscape.

  Mr. Dais
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what corporate plans subject to his approval exist for the Welsh public woodland; [28432]

  (2) what targets have been set for Forest Enterprise in Wales; and what role he has in the setting of those targets. [28425]

  Mr. Jones
  Forest Enterprise's business plan for 1996–97, a copy of which is in the Library, includes targets for Forest Enterprise's activities throughout Great Britain. The plan and the targets were approved by my right hon. Friend.
  470
  Mr. Dais
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has evaluated on the end use of wood from publicly owned forests in Wales; and what assessment he has made as to whether such wood is used to the best advantage in strengthening and diversifying the economy of rural Wales. [28424]

  Mr. Jones
  The Minister's Welsh forestry group investigated the timber market in Wales. More timber is now processed in Wales than is grown in Wales and over £350 million has been invested in Welsh timber processing industries. These industries are among the most technically advanced in the world; they make 20 per cent. of the newsprint, 25 per cent. of the particleboard and 37 per cent. of the medium density fibreboard produced in Britain. The development of this sector has been a major industrial success story in Wales.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that accounts are published for the Welsh activities of Forest Enterprise. [28426]

  Mr. Jones
  Forest Enterprise's accounts are published in the Forestry Commission's annual report; separate accounts are not prepared for Wales.

  Robert Powell (Medical Treatment)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he received the report of the inquiry into the keeping of the general practitioner records pertaining to the appeal concerning the medical treatment of Robert Powell of Ystradegynlais, Powys; when he expects to publish the report; and in what form. [29387]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department received the report on 17 April and is currently considering its contents. When this process is complete I will write to the hon. Member.

  South East Wales Ambulance Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South East Wales ambulance trust concerning the advertising of the chief executive's post; and if he will make a statement. [29388]

  Mr. Hague
  None. The appointment of a chief executive for the trust is a matter for the chairman and his non-executive directors. My officials have briefed the chairman on the statutory requirements for such an appointment and on the accountability role associated with the post.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South East Wales ambulance trust concerning the minimum level of qualifications acceptable for the post of gold commander for major incidents. [29389]

  Mr. Hague
  I have held no such consultations. It is for the boards of NHS ambulance trusts to ensure that those nominated to take on the responsibilities of gold commander or equivalent have sufficient authority and expertise to carry out this important role.

  It is for health authorities to ensure that appropriate arrangements and staff are in place.
  471
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South East Wales ambulance trust concerning the(a) number of trained paramedics available by the end of 1996, (b) participation in research and development groups by paramedics and (c) numbers of training places for paramedics and numbers of training officers. [29390]

  Mr. Hague
  None. These are matters primarily for the trust. However, the Government's target of a paramedic on all front-line emergency vehicles by the end of 1996 is monitored by my Department. The numbers of training places for paramedics are determined on an all-Wales basis in line with employers' requirements.

SCOTLAND

  Irvine Development Corporation
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the district valuer's valuation of the housing stock of Irvine development corporation; [29195]

  (2) what value was put on the properties of Irvine development corporation by the district valuer; when this valuation took place; and if this valuation was passed to all the bidders for the housing stock of Irvine development corporation. [28992]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: For the disposal of tenanted housing stock, the district valuer's valuation was £33.043 million, assuming the warden costs of sheltered housing were borne by the social work budget, or £32.269 million if these costs were met by rental income from the housing.

  The valuation took place on 17 August 1995 and was subsequently passed to both bidders for the housing stock of Irvine development corporation.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of the bid lodged by Irvine housing association for the housing stock of Irvine development corporation; and for what reason it was allowed. [29194]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The aggregate of the cash bids made by Irvine housing association was £22.777 million. My right hon. Friend concluded that the bids were value for money, particularly when broader factors were taken into account. These included VAT which is not recoverable by the housing association, the opportunity to give tenants a genuine choice in the ballot between a municipal and non-municipal landlord and the possibility of attracting private sector funding into tenanted housing in Irvine.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what procedure was used by his Department in scrutinising the bids lodged by prospective landlords for taking over the housing stock of Irvine development corporation; what guidance was issued to Cunninghame district council and North Ayrshire council, relating to the valuation which it has to put on the properties of Irvine development corporation; and in what respect this guidance differed from that given to Irvine housing association; [28993]
  472
  (2) against what criteria the Scottish Office assessed the bids lodged for the housing stock of Irvine development corporation. [29193]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: During 1992 and 1993 the Scottish Office issued comprehensive guidance about housing disposal to the development corporations, the district councils in their areas, hon. Members with constituencies in the areas of new towns and other interested parties. The guidance applied to all bidders and covered all aspects of the process including bidding, valuation and appraisal of bids.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Irvine housing association has received in funding from(a) Irvine development corporation and (b) Scottish Homes. [29075]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: Scottish Homes has to date paid £15,050 to Irvine housing association. The development corporation has not provided funds to the association.

  Ambulance Base, Kyleakin
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what established planning restriction exists from Kyle Farm road end to the Lucy Burn at Kyleakin, Isle of Skye; and if he will make a statement. [29241]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 14 May 1996]: There is no established statutory planning policy which restricts development at this location.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what representations he has received from those involved in the tourist industry on the east coast of Sutherland about the potential impact on local visitor numbers of proposals to establish wind farms at West Garty and Gartymore; [29483]

  (2) what representations he has received from crofters about the proposal to develop a wind farm on common grazing land at Gartymore, East Sutherland; [29482]

  (3) pursuant to his answer on 7 May, Official Report, column 63, how many of the letters in support of proposals to develop wind farms at West Garty and Gartymore were received from those who have a financial interest in the proposed developments through payments they will receive from RES Ltd. and Micon Ltd. if the developments proceed. [29485]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 14 May 1996]: Of the 412 letters of objection that my right hon. Friend has received about the wind farm proposals at West Garty and Gartymore, Sutherland, 11 proprietors of various tourism related businesses have commented on the development's potential harm to the industry.

  One crofter has written against the proposal, but only in general terms. Letters in a similar vein have been received from two local farmers and a shareholder in local grazing.

  Of the 10 letters written in support, five were received from family members with a financial interst in the developments.
  473

  Local Authorities (Structure Plans)
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will devolve more power to local authorities in Scotland in relation to structure plans; and if he will make a statement. [29814]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am delighted to announce a new initiative today which is consistent with my general aim to devolve more power from central to local government in Scotland. I propose to give councils greater freedom for deciding how best to allocate appropriate land for housing in structure plans on the basis of their own detailed knowledge of local circumstances and priorities, including housing demand. This responds to representations about the inflexibility of the present policy and persistent claims about central Government imposing unacceptable levels of development on existing communities. Accordingly, what I propose represents a change from the current position where the Government set out guidance on what needs to be provided and I take decisions about whether to approve or modify the structure plans in the light of these. In my view, this is too prescriptive and means too many planning decisions are taken centrally.

  My new policy will enable authorities to take on real responsibility for deciding what level of provision is appropriate in their areas having regard both to those who want to live in the area and those who already live there. To assist authorities with this task I will be publishing shortly fresh guidance which will set out the factors authorities should take into account. In addition to housing demand these will include economic, infrastructure, environmental and amenity considerations with a view to authorities striking a balance in the light of local priorities. Authorities will now, for example, be better able to protect small towns and villages from inappropriate large scale development where they consider this would adversely affect the local environment and amenity.

  In considering the structure plans which come before me, I will retain my present obligation to satisfy myself that the way authorities have carried out this balancing is reasonable and complies with policy guidance.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Scott Report
  Sir Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if the Committee has considered how the appendices to the Scott report will be made available to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement. [28978]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  At its meeting on 23 April, the Administration Committee, following a request from Madam Speaker, considered whether the laying of the appendices to the Scott report in CD-Rom form would be acceptable to the House, with or without paper copy, and what other provisions should be attached to such laying.
  474
  Following similar consideration by the Information Committee at its meeting on 29 April, Madam Speaker has endorsed the following recommendations:

  (a) that two CD-Rom copies and two paper copies should be deposited in the Votes and Proceedings Office by the Department of Trade and Industry in the normal way after the House has agreed to the proposed Address for an Unopposed Return; and that a further two paper copies should be available in the Library as loan copies;

  (b) that the CD-Rom should be made available to the Deliverer of the Vote in numbers which he deems necessary to satisfy the requirements of hon. Members until the end of the Parliament;

  (c) that the CD-Rom should be compatible with, and available on, the parliamentary data and video network;

  (d) that a machine capable of accessing the CD-Rom should be available in the Library for the use of hon. Members.

  The Administration Committee considers that acceptance by the House of the appendices in CD-Rom should not be seen as creating a precedent, but rather as an acknowledgement of a possibly unique situation.

  Until every hon. Member has access to the parliamentary data and video network or has their own CD-Rom reader, the Committee does not consider it acceptable for CD-Roms to be the usual way of presenting papers to the House. However, if a similar proposal were to arise in the future, the Committee would be prepared to consider it on its merits.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Vietnamese Refugee Camps (Hong Kong)
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese refugees are located in camps or similar facilities in Hong Kong and its territories; and what proposals he has to address their needs when the Chinese Government take control of Hong Kong. [29273]

  Mr. Hanley
  On 1 May 1996 there were 19,456 Vietnamese in camps in Hong Kong, including 1,366 refugees, 17,762 non-refugees to be repatriated to Vietnam and 328 cases pending screening. Our objective is to have the camps cleared by the time sovereignty is transferred to China, but the needs of any Vietnamese remaining in camps in Hong Kong after 1 July 1997 would be a matter for the Government of the Special Administrative Region.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Malaysian high commissioner in London representations he has received about the impact of the Bakun dam project. [28423]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have no plans to discuss the Bakun dam project with the Malaysian high commissioner in London.
  475

  UN Peacekeeping Budget
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of reductions in the UN peacekeeping budget arising from diversion of funds to the regular UN budget. [29510]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The practice of borrowing funds from UN peacekeeping budgets to meet cash shortfalls in the UN regular budget is a short-term measure. It does not result in any overall reduction of UN peacekeeping budgets. However, we oppose this on grounds of good practice.

HEALTH

  Pharmaceuticals (Safety)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require his Department's regulatory bodies to disclose all relevant safety data to(a) their own advisory committees and (b) the relevant manufacturers in advance of any decision being taken about the safety of pharmaceutical products. [25809]

  Mr. Malone
  It is normal policy to disclose all relevant safety data available to our advisory committees and, when not restricted by confidentiality agreements, the relevant data are provided to pharmaceutical companies whose products are under consideration. If compulsory regulatory action is proposed, it is the policy of the Medicines Control Agency to provide the relevant pharmaceutical companies with a copy of the assessment reports prior to a final decision being made.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on official hospitality in 1994–95 and the financial year to date; and what is the 1995–96 projected budget for official hospitality. [5581]

  Mr. Horam
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 December 1995, c. 935]: There was an error in the figure given for the Department's agencies. Expenditure on hospitality to the end of November 1995 was as follows:

  £

  Department

  49,779

  Agencies

  19,277

  Total

  69,076

  The projected total expenditure for 1995–96 that was provided for the agencies should therefore have been about £38,000, not £75,000.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995–96. [28575]
  476
  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 9 May 1996]: The amount of expenditure on official hospitality in the financial year 1995–96 was:

  £

  Department of Health

  73,516

  Agencies

  36,304

  Total

  109,820

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the additional amounts in the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 which would have been received by GPs in(a) Waltham Forest and Redbridge and (b) London if deprivation payments were based on information available in the 1991 census. [28023]

  Mr. Malone
  Deprivation payments for 1995–96 and 1996–97 are, in all cases, based on 1991 census data.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners were registered in each family health service authority or its equivalent at 30 December in each of the last 20 years. [29202]

  Mr. Malone
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid to fundholding GP practices to meet computerisation costs in each year since 1990–91. [29018]

  Mr. Malone
  Information is not available for 1990–91. Information on the subsequent years is contained in the 1996 departmental report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Smoking
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new programmes he is evaluating to publicise to young women the dangers to their health of smoking. [29231]

  Mr. Horam
  The Health Education Authority continually evaluates the effectiveness of the current national smoking education campaign. A new teenage smoking campaign, starting later this year, will also be carefully evaluated. Both campaigns contain elements which are targeted at young women.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the financial cost incurred in 1995 by Her Majesty's Government in respect of campaigns on the dangers of smoking. [28974]

  Mr. Horam
  In the 1995–96 financial year, the Department provided £6.5 million for anti-smoking campaign activity in England. In addition, health authorities and trusts run local anti-smoking campaigns.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to help the families of disabled people who sell their(a) homes and (b) other assets to meet the costs of long-term care; [29064]
  477
  (2) what assessment he has made as to how partnership schemes in the United States provide insurance against the costs of long-term care for disabled people; [29062]

  (3) what are the current arrangements for means testing disabled people when establishing how much they should contribute to the costs of their long-term care; [29035]

  (4) what discussions he has had with representatives from the insurance industry regarding the development of immediate needs annuities designed for disabled people wishing to insure against the costs of long-term care; [29030]

  (5) what plans he has to meet representatives of (a) the insurance industry and (b) organisations representing disabled people to discuss how best disabled people can insure against the costs of long-term care; and what steps he has taken to canvass the opinion of disabled groups regarding the consultation paper "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age;" [29034]

  (6) what plans the Government have for helping disabled people insure against the costs of long-term care in the event that the insurance industry does not provide insurance schemes designed specifically for disabled people. [29063]

  Mr. Bowis
  The consultation paper "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age" sets out the Government's proposals for helping people to make better provision for the costs of long-term care through greater flexibility in pension provision and through a partnership scheme. The proposals are likely to be of most interest to those who need care in old age, but people who need long-term care at a younger age may also be able to benefit from them.

  The partnership scheme would enable people to protect more of their assets from the means test for residential care arranged by local authorities. The means test does not make any distinction between the various client groups, such as elderly or disabled people, in assessing ability to contribute to the cost of residential care.

  It is proposed that the scheme would be open not only to those who take out long-term care indemnity insurance, as in the United States schemes, but also to those who take out immediate needs annuities. It would therefore potentially be of benefit to those whose condition meant that they could obtain insurance only for a very high premium, if at all.

  As the consultation paper makes clear, the terms on which indemnity insurance and annuities are offered are a matter for the insurance and annuity providers themselves to determine—subject, when the relevant provisions have been commenced, to the Disability Discrimination Act.

  We welcome comments on our proposals, by 14 June, from all interested parties.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many disabled people at present are insured against the costs of long-term care using an indemnity insurance scheme. [29032]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available.
  478
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total public cost of a partnership scheme, in accordance with(a) paragraph 9.6 and (b) paragraph 9.7 of "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age" assuming an individual achieves total asset protection by purchasing £30,000 of care insurance, requires five years of care and exhausts their insurance entitlement in (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) three years and (iv) four years with the remaining years of care being provided by a local authority at a cost of £12,500 per annum, to which the individual contributes £2,000 per annum. [29521]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 14 May, at column 419.

  Sunderland Health Authority
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications, broken down by gender, were received for the position of chairman of the new Sunderland health authority; how many candidates matched the criteria for selection; how many were considered for the short-list; and what criteria were used for the final selection. [29200]

  Mr. Malone
  Twelve men and one woman applied for the chairmanship of the new Sunderland health authority. Four men and one woman were shortlisted for interview. Candidates were assessed against the job description for health authority chairmen, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  Mental Illness (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is currently the number of people living in the Greater London area who are registered with local health authorities as being mentally ill. [29069]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new acute psychiatric beds were established during 1995 at NHS hospitals in the Greater London area. [29056]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mental Hospitals (Sales)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the proceeds from each sale of water tower mental hospital property in each of the last 10 years. [29470]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the remuneration paid to NHS trust chairs and non-executive directors in each region in 1995–96. [29402]

  Mr. Malone
  All non-executive directors of national health service trusts are entitled to remuneration of £5,000 per year. National health service trust chairmen are remunerated in one of three bands. These bands, which have not been increased since 1991, are currently:

  Band 1: £19,285

  Band 2: £17,145

  Band 3: £15,125

  479
  A list of those appointed to national health service authorities and trusts as at 1 April 1996, together with their remuneration details, will be published in the summer and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Corticosteroids
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risks associated with prescribed corticosteroid drugs. [29515]

  Mr. Malone
  Corticosteroids are authorised for use in the treatment of many serious and life-threatening conditions and have been used for the treatment of children and adults for many years. All medicines have side-effects, and those for corticosteroids are well documented in the product information, which is produced by the manufacturer and authorised by the licensing authority, and in the British National Formulary, which the Department sends free of charge to all doctors. In 1994, the Committee on Safety of Medicines evaluated the association of corticosteroids and severe chickenpox, as a result of which the product information for corticosteroids was revised to strengthen warnings and precautions of use. Doctors and pharmacists were informed of these changes through the CSM's regular bulletin,"Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance."

  West Lancashire and Southport and Formby NHS Trusts
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for taking the decisions about the reconfiguration of the West Lancashire and Southport and Formby NHS trusts. [29161]

  Mr. Malone
  There have been no decisions to re-configure the West Lancashire and Southport and Formby national health service trusts. Any proposals for the dissolution and merger of trusts would be subject to public consultation, with the final decision being taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Pressure Sores
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 May,Official Report, column 32, about statistics in relation to the incidence of pressure sores among NHS hospital patients, if he will give his estimate of the cost of securing the information requested. [29026]

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

  Private Patients
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private patients were treated in(a) NHS pay beds and (b) independent sector beds for (i) all acute conditions excluding maternity care, (ii) maternity care, (iii) cataract surgery, (iv) hip replacement surgery and (v) heart surgery in 1989–90 and each year since then. [29019]

  Mr. Malone
  Information for England for private patients treated in national health service pay beds is shown in the table. Information on private patients treated in independent sector beds is not available centrally.
  480

  Finished consultant episodes

  Acute care (excluding maternity)

  Maternity

  Cataract

  Hip replacement

  Heart surgery

  1990–91

  66,956

  2,089

  4,019

  1,142

  3,217

  1991–92

  74,629

  2,356

  4,193

  1,267

  4,152

  1992–93

  72,791

  2,505

  3,906

  1,244

  4,648

  1993–94

  81,697

  1,934

  4,369

  1,463

  5,253

  Note:

  Data in the table is grossed. Information for 1989–90 is not available on a comparable basis.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode System.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated number of admissions to NHS hospitals in England from non-NHS hospitals, nursing homes, health care and residential institutions in 1985–86 and in each year since then. [29020]

  Mr. Malone
  The relevant information is as follows:

  From local authority care (including residential accommodation and foster care)

  From non—NHS hospitals, nursing homes, health care or residential institutions

  1990–91

  4,303

  39,766

  1991–92

  5,031

  36,535

  1992–93

  4,389

  32,225

  1993–94

  4,693

  30,408

  Note:

  Data in the table is grossed. Information for 1989–90 and earlier years is not available on a comparable basis.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode System.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which(a) water authorities and (b) water companies have rejected health authorities' requests for fluoridation since 1985 indicating where these have been on (i) non-technical and (ii) technical grounds; [29135]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the savings in dental health costs to Sunderland health authority from water fluoridation; [29132]

  (3) when his Department last discussed fluoridation of water supplies with (a) the NHS Executive, (b) the Water Services Association and (c) the Water Companies Association; [28990]

  (4) if he will give the total number of cases since 1986 of dental fluorosis in each of the district health authorities in the Northern and Yorkshire region indicating which DHA has (a) artificial fluoridation and (b) natural fluoridation; [29138]

  (5) what are the estimated annual projected (a) capital and (b) revenue costs to Sunderland health authority from water fluoridation; [19133]

  (6) what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned regarding the relationship between the incidence of tooth decay in areas of similar income level which (a) have and (b) do not have fluoridated water supplies. [29139]

  Mr. Malone
  Sunderland is naturally a fluoridated area
  481
  with 87 per cent. of the population receiving water with a natural fluoride content between 30 per cent. and 70 per cent. of the optimum concentration for dental benefit. There are no revenue or capital costs associated with natural fluoridation at the level found in Sunderland. No estimate has been made of the savings this has made in dental health costs to Sunderland health authority. Studies have shown in general, however, that the incidence of caries can be reduced by as much as a third to a half in fluoridated areas compared with non-fluoridated areas.

  A number of studies and surveys have been carried out since 1990 showing the effect of water fluoridation on dental caries in five-year-old children in communities of differing socio-economic groups. These are listed, with the relevant technical references, in the publication "One in a Million" published in 1994 by the British Fluoridation Society and the Public Health Alliance. This publication is available in the Library. Some of the studies have been commissioned by the British Fluoridation Society, which is funded by the Department of Health. The Department has not itself, however, directly undertaken nor commissioned such studies as information is already available. A recent study into the effect of fluoridation and social class on caries experience in five-year-old Newcastle children in 1994 compared with results over the previous 18 years, showed that differences between the fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas were observed in all social class groupings but the greatest difference in the percentage of children with decay experience occurred in social groups IV and V.

  Figures on the number of cases of dental fluorosis in each district are not collected. Officials are currently in correspondence with both the Water Services Association and the Water Companies Association about new guidelines to be issued to health authorities on water fluoridation. Since 1985, the English water undertakers which have rejected fluoridation requests by health authorities have been North Western Water, Yorkshire Water and Southern Water. None of these rejections was on technical grounds.

  Oral Contraceptives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 321, (1) if he will lists the costs of (a) printing and (b) distributing the letter of 26 October 1995 attributed to the Family Planning Association; [26247]

  (2) what factors led the Medicines Control Agency to fund the letter dated 26 October 1995. [26571]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 24 April 1996]: The cost of printing and collating the letter was £36,780.17. The costs relating to postage to relevant health professionals were £54,040.52. The Medicines Control Agency agreed to fund the costs of this letter since there was a clear need to provide health professionals with additional information and guidance on the practical management issues arising from the advice issued by the Committee on Safety of Medicines on the safety of oral contraceptives dated 18 October. The letter was produced jointly by the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care and the Family Planning Association.
  482

  Nurses (Work Permits)
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many work permits have been issued to trained nurses from outside the European economic area to work in private sector nursing homes and in NHS hospitals in East Sussex in each year since 1990. [29197]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is not available. Records of the number of work permits issued each year do not identify county or region.

ENVIRONMENT

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by(a) water authority and (b) water company each incident since 1985 which has resulted in an overdose of fluoride entering the water supply. [29134]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are no records available for the period 1985 to 1989. No incidents have been reported since then.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to renew the code of fluoridation practice. [29136]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to revise this code at present.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department last discussed fluoridation of water supplies with(a) water companies and (b) the Water Services Association. [29137]

  Mr. Clappison
  My officials last discussed fluoridation of drinking water supplies with an individual water company in October 1995, and with the Water Services Association in November 1993.

  Surrey Docks
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by what date he plans to remove the Surrey docks peninsula from designation as part of the London docklands development area; and what procedures apply to this removal. [29199]

  Mr. Curry
  Our aim is to remove Surrey docks peninsula from the docklands urban development area, and to transfer planning and development control powers to the London borough of Southwark, with effect from 31 December 1996. This accords with the target timetable outlined in my predecessor's letter of 15 February 1994 to the hon. Member.

  The procedures are the same as those which applied to the removal of Bermondsey Riverside from the UDA. First, there are comprehensive discussions between the London borough of Southwark and the London Docklands development corporation to bring forward detailed proposals for handling all LDDC's assets and liabilities and for ensuring the on-going regeneration of the area. These discussions are now at an advanced stage for the Surrey docks peninsula and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as they are concluded.
  483
  Subject to the agreement of all parties to the detailed withdrawal proposals, consultations with the London borough of Southwark and LDDC will be undertaken on a draft statutory order under section 134(3A) and (5) of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980, as amended by section 179 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. The order will alter the UDA boundary and transfer planning and development control powers.

  We expect to lay the order in late November to early December 1996. It is subject to the negative resolution procedure.

  Dry-stone Walling
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department provides to encourage the maintenance and building of dry-stone walls. [29145]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government provide grant assistance for the restoration and maintenance of dry-stone walls. Until 1 April, the Countryside Commission, one of my Department's countryside agencies, operated the countryside stewardship scheme, which offers grants for the repair and restoration of walls in association with other land management measures. This scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 1 April, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister announced the introduction of a new stand-alone option for field boundaries including payments for stone walls and banks within stewardship, and that an extra £5 million will be available for new management agreements under the scheme for each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also provides grants for wall restoration under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to promote the preservation of dry-stone walling. [29150]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government provide grant assistance for the maintenance and improvement of dry-stone walls under the countryside stewardship and environmentally sensitive areas schemes. Both these schemes are open to appropriate applications from local authorities. Some local authorities also take an active part in the promotion of the countryside stewardship scheme to farmers in their areas. This scheme was transferred from the Countryside Commission to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 1 April, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister announced that an extra £5 million will be available for new management agreements under the scheme for each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98.

  Local authorities and national parks have powers themselves to operate local environmental grant schemes, some of which may include assistance for the management of dry-stone walls. Local planning authorities also have planning powers to control the demolition of dry-stone walls in conservation areas.

  Freshwater
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legislation governs (i) a local authority's and (ii) an urban development corporation's responsibilities for the safety, cleanliness and maintenance of freshwater used for recreational purposes. [29198]

  Mr. Clappison
  The environmental health departments of local authorities can make available data on the quality and any potential health risk of recreational waters, so that the public can decide whether to use them. If there is reason to suspect that there may be a specific health problem concerning the quality of the water it would be for the local environmental health department, in consultation with the consultant in communicable disease control and the director of public health, to decide what action would be appropriate. The powers under which environmental health departments operate are many and varied but, in the main, stem from public health legislation.

  Urban development corporations have no specific statutory powers in respect of the question the hon. Member raises. However, for the London Docklands development corporation the London Docklands Development Corporation Act 1994 confers powers on the LDDC for the management and regulation of certain lands and waters within its area.

  Passive Smoking
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will next meet representatives of the brewing industry to discuss the dangers of passive smoking in licensed premises. [29141]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are no plans to meet representatives of the brewing industry to discuss the dangers of passive smoking in licensed premises.

  The implementation of smoking policies in licensed premises is a matter for the discretion of the manager in line with the Government's continuing voluntary policy, which encourages the implementation of suitable smoking policies in all enclosed public buildings. Guidance on implementing policies is given in the Government's code of practice on smoking in public places, which was published in December 1991. It makes it clear that the Government expect every effort to be made to cater for the interests of the non-smoker.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government intend to proceed with their plans for a pilot scheme for the challenge funding of English local authorities' capital expenditure. [29684]

  Mr. Gummer
  The challenge approach has already proved its ability to stimulate new and innovative thinking among local authorities and so generate projects which offer excellent value for taxpayers' money. Our consultation paper of 30 January sought views on whether this approach could be brought to bear more widely on local authority capital spending on work such as highway maintenance, school building projects or house renovation.
  485
  The Government have considered carefully the points made by local authorities and others in response to that consultation paper. We have concluded that it is right to proceed with a practical test of how challenge funding of capital spending might work, the benefits it can bring and the possible opportunity costs of the approach. We therefore intend to establish a pilot capital challenge fund to allocate a proportion of total Government support for English local authorities' capital expenditure. The pilot will in particular test whether the challenge approach can:
  foster local choice and local decision making and provide a clear incentive to developing local partnerships;
  give positive encouragement to those local authorities which take a strategic approach to planning capital investment; and
  lift some of the close controls Whitehall exercises over investment decisions.

  The scheme that we intend to implement builds on that outlined in our consultation paper. Key elements of the pilot are:
  it will consist of a single bidding round, with bids to be submitted by 23 September this year, which offers support for capital projects over a maximum of three years, beginning in 1997–98. A total of £600 million of planned support for local authority capital spending will be allocated to successful bids over the three years through the capital challenge fund, with £150 million available in 1997–98, £250 million in 1998–99 and £200 million in 1999–2000;
  authorities will be encouraged to seek support for broadly based, innovative projects or programmes which meet a well defined local need and offer particularly good value for money. They will not be required to address specific service-led objectives;
  authorities will be encouraged to submit a single bid encompassing the complete package of projects and programmes for which they seek support from the challenge fund. Where possible, different authorities responsible for different local services within an area should co-operate in deciding priorities and submit joint bids;
  bids must be submitted to Government offices by 23 September 1996. The names of successful bidders will be announced in December 1996;
  the capital challenge fund will be allocated on a regional basis. Indicative regional shares will be published; and
  awards to successful bidders will take the form of supplementary credit approvals (SCAB).

  We are today issuing to all local authorities detailed advice on the preparation and submission of bids for support from the capital challenge fund. I have placed copies of this guidance in the Library of the House.

  There are, of course, many practical questions about how best the challenge approach should be applied to the full range of local authority capital spending, and a number of authorities have raised important points which need to be addressed. The pilot scheme will give us the opportunity to consider these while maintaining the momentum towards challenge over the three years for which it will run. We will need to evaluate carefully the outcome of this first bidding round and the projects resulting from it before deciding whether to proceed beyond the pilot to a fuller application of challenge principles to the determination of capital allocations.

  In parallel with the pilot we will also consider other questions which it does not directly address, but which need to be considered before we decide whether the challenge approach can be taken further. These include the role of some form of assessment of need in the allocation of capital support and how best to ensure
  486
  authorities can meet their statutory obligations under a challenge regime, and the mechanism for taking into account usable capital receipts. We hope to involve local authority representatives both in the monitoring of the pilot and the additional work we plan to undertake.

  I believe the pilot capital challenge scheme will give us a sound basis from which to explore the challenge approach. I hope it will bring greater local choice over spending priorities, better and stronger local partnerships and improved value for money in publicly financed local authority capital expenditure.

  River Thames
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in rank order the approximate mileage of Thames river frontage(a) for each constituency abutting the Thames from Teddington to the estuary limits and (b) for each London borough and district council authority abutting the Thames from Teddington to the estuary limits. [28344]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The approximate length of Thames river frontage (km) for the London boroughs and district councils are, in rank order:

  Length (km)

  Thurrock

  30.50

  Rochester upon Medway

  128.00

  LB Richmond upon Thames (downstream of Teddington)

  21.80

  Southend

  14.00

  LB Greenwich

  13.48

  LB Tower Hamlets

  11.81

  Gravesham

  111.00

  LB Bexley

  9.86

  LB Hounslow

  9.74

  Dartford

  19.00

  LB Newham

  8.13

  LB Wandsworth

  8.13

  LB Southwark

  7.58

  LB Hammersmith and Fulham

  7.18

  LB Havering

  5.61

  LB Barking and Dagenham

  4.86

  LB Westminster

  4.37

  LB Lambeth

  2.95

  LB Kensington and Chelsea

  2.44

  City Corporation

  2.21

  Castle Point

  1.00

  LB Lewisham

  0.58

  1 To the nearest km.

  No information is held for individual constituencies.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with representatives of small companies in the construction industry following publication of the provisions of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill; and if he will make a statement. [28375]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Ministers in the Department of the Environment regularly meet representatives of small firms in the construction industry, and this has continued during the passage of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill.
  487
  The Bill offers considerable benefits for small construction firms. If enacted, it will provide a right to refer contractual disputes to adjudication and will ensure that all contracts provide an adequate payment mechanism. It will render ineffective the notorious pay-when-paid and pay-if-paid contract provisions, except in the case of insolvency, and it will give contractors the right to suspend work if they were not getting paid in accordance with the contract. All these objectives have been welcomed by representatives of small construction companies.

  Mining Industry (Major Accidents)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents involving major injury occurred in the mining industry in 1995–96; and what has been the change in the number of accidents involving major injury per man shift since the changes in safety regulations were effected. [29266]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not available in the form requested. However the provisional figure for major injuries in coal mines for the period from April 1995 to December 1995 is 126.

  Housing Need
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the Government's response to the Environment Select Committee's second report of Session 1995–96 on Housing Need (HC 22); and if he will make a statement. [29613]

  Mr. Curry
  The Government remain committed to responding to housing need and to an open public debate on the issue. I am pleased that the Environment Select Committee has welcomed our publication of estimates of housing need and recognised the importance of a full and open debate. I welcome the Committee's endorsement of the steps we are taking to improve the forecasting and estimates of future housing need.

  The response that I am publishing today makes clear the Government's view that our estimate of the number of social lettings required each year is correct. Latest evidence of continued growth in private rented housing and home ownership shows that we are right to provide social housing at the lower end of our range of estimates of 60,000 to 100,000 social housing outputs a year.

  Housing is improving and evidence shows that the numbers of people with severe housing problems is falling.

  (a) the number of people sleeping rough in central London has fallen from over 1.000 in 1990 to around 270 in 1995;

  (b) the number of households living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation has fallen by 66 per cent. since its peak in 1991 to 4,450 in 1995;

  (c) the number of households in overcrowded conditions is around 3 per cent. of all households, compared with 5 per cent. in 1981.

  We are getting ahead, not falling behind, in meeting the need for new homes. We will continue to take a balanced approach, promoting sustainable home ownership, encouraging growth in the private rented sector, and investing in social housing. Provisions in the housing Bill
  488
  currently before Parliament will help us meet need more effectively—for example by ensuring that social housing is allocated fairly.

  The private sector has a significant role to play in meeting housing need and can offer a variety of housing options, especially to meet the needs and preferences of older people. The quality of housing in this sector is improving and the Committee should be reassured that provisions in the housing Bill will substantially improve standards in houses in multiple occupation.

  I fully share the Committee's concern that some people who bought homes under the right to buy cannot sell them because potential buyers cannot get mortgages, and my Department has taken measures within the housing Bill to resolve the situation, including reducing leaseholders' charges for major works, and further encouragement to local authorities to guarantee loans. Discussions also continue to be held with lenders to encourage a more flexible approach.

  I am encouraged that the Committee's report also recognises the contribution of the planning system in assisting the delivery of affordable housing. The Government will continue to consider ways to improve planning guidance.

  Recycling Projects (Funding)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities will receive supplementary credit approval resources for recycling projects in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [29727]

  Mr. Clappison
  I am today announcing the allocation of over £10 million in supplementary credit approval resources for investment in recycling projects by local authorities in 1996–97. This is the sixth year of the programme and the allocations announced today bring the total number of recycling projects supported by the programme to over 1,300.

  The programme forms part of the Government's environmental partnership initiative, which aims to maximise investment through a combination of Government resources, authorities' own resources and private sector contributions. This year we received bids totalling almost £40 million. We have given priority in allocating resources to large-scale projects of strategic significance, aimed at delivering the objectives set out in our White Paper, "Making Waste Work: a strategy for sustainable waste management in England and Wales". If recycling infrastructure is to expand and recycling increase, all those involved in dealing with waste, including Government, local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors, need to work together. Partnership and co-operation are at the heart of our strategy for more sustainable waste management.

  Authorities working in co-operation with the private and voluntary sectors have therefore done particularly well in the allocations. The programme also provides the opportunity for authorities to work with the private sector to respond to our producer responsibility challenge for packaging. A number of bids are the result of partnerships between industry and local authorities and are aimed at recycling packaging. A variety of schemes have been successful, including a new materials reclamation facility

  489
  at Peterborough, a municipal composting facility to be run jointly by Sandwell and Dudley metropolitan borough councils and a kerbside collection scheme in Amber valley.

  One of the features of the SCA programme has been to provide assistance to projects which although environmentally beneficial may not attract support from the private sector. Home composting is a good example of this. We see composting as an important way in which the environmental impact of household waste can be reduced, as well as providing a valuable alternative to peat-based products.

  In our waste strategy, "Making Waste Work", we have set a target of 40 per cent. of domestic properties with a garden to carry out home composting by the year 2000. I am therefore pleased that so many authorities are enabling householders to taking increased responsibility for their own waste, by establishing home composting schemes, and I am happy to announce support for home composting which totals £1.1 million.

  Each authority is today being notified of the outcome of its bid. Lists of the allocations have been placed in the Library.

  Housing Bodies
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to implement the proposals in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill for the establishment of a residuary body to deal with those assets, rights and liabilities remaining when the Commission for the New Towns, the urban development corporations and the housing action trusts are wound up. [29728]

  Mr. Curry
  Powers to establish such a residuary body are included in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill. Subject to parliamentary approval of these powers, our intention is to base the new body on the Commission for the New Towns. The reformed body will be a small organisation with clearly defined targets and a limited life. It will concentrate on the disposal of the remaining new town land holdings and other assets at a rate consistent with maximising receipts by achieving full open market values, while also disengaging from the remaining liabilities.

  We will discuss with CNT the details of the new arrangements. We need to look carefully at a number of issues including the implications of transferring staff and the extent to which the reformed body should carry forward the powers currently enjoyed by the commission. We will also consult other relevant parties on the detailed arrangements, including the bodies to be wound up, the local authority associations and those representing the interests of affected employees.

  When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 27 July 1993, Official Report, column 896, that it was our intention to wind up CNT in its current form by March 1998, he said that provision would need to be made for the longer-term management and sale of those new town assets which it would not be prudent to dispose of within that time-scale and for the continuing management of any remaining liabilities. Since then, the commission has made considerable progress in disposing of its assets for their
  490
  full market value and in disengaging from a wide range of liabilities, on which both the board and officials are to be congratulated. We therefore now believe that it would make sense to build on their expertise and experience in order to maximise the returns to the Exchequer on the land holdings which will remain to be disposed of after 1998. In addition, although we expected each individual urban development corporation and housing action trust to dispose of its assets and liabilities before wind up, the reformed body will be able to take on any remaining responsibilities for which no other successor can be identified.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Energy Prices
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the movement in energy prices for(a) industry and (b) the domestic consumer since the privatisation of the electricity industry. [28363]

  Mr. Page
  Between electricity privatisation in 1990 and the last quarter of 1995 electricity prices, in real terms, fell by 10.5 per cent. for industrial consumers and by 7.5 per cent., excluding VAT, for domestic consumers.

  Export Markets
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures the Government plan in order to encourage small businesses to develop export markets. [28368]

  Mr. Page
  Through the Overseas Trade Services Organisation, my Department now provides its best ever package of information, advice and practical assistance to British companies. Small businesses can take advantage of this support through business links.

  Nuclear Industry (Privatisation)
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost to his Department to date of the privatisation of the nuclear industry. [28378]

  Mr. Lang
  The Department of Trade and Industry had provision for expenditure of £25 million in the year 1995–96. Provisional expenditure figures will be published in July in the public expenditure outturn White Paper. Actual expenditure will be reported to Parliament through the appropriation account.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the growth in manufacturing output in the last three months. [28383]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Chisholm) earlier today.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in which regions of England there has been a decline in manufacturing output since 1979. [28358]
  491
  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is not available. Overall, manufacturing output has risen by 12 per cent. since 1979. The latest CBI regional trend survey shows manufacturers are expecting strong output growth in all regions.

  Visible Trade Deficit
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on trends in the visible trade deficit in the last six months for which figures are available. [28385]

  Mr. Nelson
  The visible trade deficit averaged £1.14 billion per month in the six months to February and £1.05 billion per month in the previous six months.

  Insurance Companies
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultation he has had with European Trade Ministers on the prudential supervision of insurance companies. [28386]

  Mr. Nelson
  There has been no need for discussions at ministerial level in the recent past. However, my officials regularly meet their European counterparts to discuss these issues, both bilaterally and in EU and other international forums.

  Common European Currency
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the consequences of Britain joining a common European currency with a level of investment as a proportion of gross domestic product lower than that of the other participating nations. [28387]

  Mr. Lang
  We will agree to take part in a single currency only if it is in our national interest to do so, given the circumstances at the time. A full assessment of the benefits and disadvantages will be carried out nearer the time, before the decision is made.

  Since 1979 business investment in the United Kingdom has risen by over a third and has been a greater share of GDP than in the other major EU countries.

  Business Failures
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many business failures there were in the first quarter of 1996. [28389]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In the first quarter of 1996 there were, on a seasonally adjusted basis, 1,273 compulsory liquidations, 2,022 creditors' voluntary liquidations and 5,333 bankruptcy orders.

  Gas Suppliers
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that the directors of private gas companies which fraudulently missell gas contracts to consumers are investigated by his Department. [28391]

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ask the Office of Fair Trading to carry out an investigation into complaints received by 492
  the Gas Consumer Council about companies which fraudulently attempt to switch customers from British Gas to other suppliers. [28392]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson) earlier today.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish his memorandum to the Treasury on future trends within manufacturing industry. [28393]

  Mr. Lang
  No.

  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish his memorandum to the Treasury on future trends within manufacturing industry. [28381]

  Mr. Lang
  No.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had concerning restrictions on the importation of goods produced by child labour; and if he will make a statement. [28382]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government deplore any exploitation of children and press all countries which have signed labour conventions to meet their obligations. We believe improvements in labour standards are more likely to result from economic growth through trade than by unilateral trade restrictions.

  Mortality Study
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date the report, "Mortality Study of Workers at a Patent Fuel Plant"—Institute of Occupational Medicine 1987—was received by his Department; what was the date of publication; and what action was taken in light of the report's findings. [27783]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 2 May 1996]: I understand that the report, "Mortality Study of Workers at a Patent Fuel Plant," was published in December 1987 by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, an independent research body. Any action taken in light of that report is a matter for British Coal.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date the report "Toxicity Review 28, Cancer Epidemiology in Coal Tar Pitch Volatile-associated Industries" published in 1993 by the Health and Safety Executive was published; when it was received by his Department and what action was taken in light of the report's conclusion in respect of the risk of Cancers in coke oven workers. [27785]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 2 May 1996]: I understand that the report, "Toxicity Review 28", was published by the Health and Safety Executive on 14 April 1993. Any action taken in light of the report is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive and Commission.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action Her Majesty's Government have taken in respect of the analysis of mortality rates by occupation
  493
  in the Registrar General's occupational health decennial supplement in respect of lung cancer incidence in the occupational group labourers in coke ovens. [27715]

  Mr. Page
  Action taken in light of the Registrar General's occupational health decennial supplement is principally a matter for employers.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when trade unions were informed following the publication of the 1987 "Mortality Study of Workers at the Patent Fuel Plant in the Cynon Valley"; what action was taken consequently by(a) management and (b) the unions; and what consultations took place into (i) the management and (ii) the unions involved in the industry following the "Toxicity Review 28, Cancer Epidemiology in Coal Tar Pitch Volatile-associated Industries" in 1992. [27796]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 2 May 1996]: Matters relating to the 1987 "Mortality Study of Workers at a Patent Fuel Plant" are for British Coal. Matters relating to the report, "Toxicity Review 28" are for the Health and Safety Executive and the employers concerned.

  Deregulation
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has to report on the deregulation initiative as it affects his Department. [28369]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The deregulation initiative is making good progress in my Department. For example, we have laid six deregulation orders to date, and are pursuing radical improvements to the business environment through the Arbitration Bill, which, as the hon. Member will know, is before the House for consideration.

  Gas Industry
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the Director General of Gas Supply to discuss the future of that industry; and if he will make a statement. [28559]

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. Friend has not met the Director General of Gas Supply since becoming President of the Board of Trade. However, I last met her on 17 January. I am very pleased with the way competition is developing as are those consumers in the south-west now buying cheaper gas.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the collaborative arrangement on the development of an engine for the new generation of super-jumbo aircraft between General Electric and Pratt and Whitney on the United Kingdom aero-engine manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement. [29408]

  Mr. Eggar
  My officials have had preliminary discussions with Rolls-Royce. I shall continue to monitor the situation.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the Society of British Aerospace Companies on the United Kingdom aerospace industry; and if he will make a statement. [29407]
  494
  Mr. Eggar
  My Department and the Society of British Aerospace Companies issued a joint statement on 29 November 1995 outlining specific ways in which the Government can assist the aerospace industry and maintain an active dialogue on the key issues for the continuing success of this important industry.

  Research Councils
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 7 May,Official Report, column 45, from which existing budget the additional sums allocated to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council came. [29489]

  Mr. Lang
  The additional sums allocated to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council for international subscriptions came from the science budget. Details are provided in the booklet, "Allocation of the Science Budget 1996–97", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Financial Assistance
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 29 April,Official Report, column 363, if he will state, with reference to the register of personal financial interests of members of his Department's regional industrial development boards and external advisers, (a) its location, (b) the information that is required to be declared, (c) if it is a single document and (d) if the declarations of financial interest are mandatory. [28299]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: Details of regional industrial development board members financial interests are held on registered files in the appropriate Government offices. The declaration of interests is a mandatory requirement for appointment. The files are not available for public scrutiny to maintain legitimate personal and commercial confidentiality.

  Details of financial interests of external advisers, which are being collected in response to the recommendations of the internal report on ROM Data, are maintained on the same basis as for members of regional boards.

  Bomb Bags
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the banning of bomb bags; and if he will make a statement. [29406]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department has received four written and three oral representations about the safety of bomb bags and the nuisance which they can cause. The safety of toys such as bomb bags is controlled by the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995, which specify safety requirements which all toys must meet. Day-to-day enforcement of the regulations is the responsibility of local authority trading standards officers who have the necessary powers to remove products from the market if they consider them to be unsafe. My Department has ensured that trading standards departments are aware of the issues raised by these products.
  495

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the export credit arrangements for arms sales; and if he will make a statement. [28390]

  Mr. Nelson
  None.

  ECGD's role is to encourage United Kingdom capital goods and project exports by providing insurance against the risks of not being paid by overseas customers. Whether or not individual arms consignments are allowed to go overseas is a matter for the DTI's export licensing unit. Any exports which need an export licence, but do not have one, are not eligible for ECGD cover. ECGD support for defence and civil business is available on the same basis.

  Business Links
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 7 May,Official Report, column 43, which business links operate as divisions of training and enterprise councils. [29471]

  Mr. Page
  The following business links operate as divisions of TECs, as at 14 May 1996:

  Lincolnshire

  Milton Keynes

  Oldham

  St. Helens

  Sunderland

  Sussex

  Thames Valley

  Wolverhampton.

  Catering Industry
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many catering firms will be excluded from applying to the loan guarantee scheme from 1 September in each region of Great Britain. [29017]

  Mr. Page
  Given that eligibility for the loan guarantee scheme depends on factors other than business sector it is not possible to determine how many catering firms will be excluded.

  Late Payment
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 1 May,Official Report, column 546, on what day his Department will be publishing the table of results of all departments and their agencies for 1995–96. [29329]

  Mr. Page
  The table of results for 1995–96 departmental payment performance is currently being collated and will be published at the earliest possible opportunity before the summer recess of the House.

  Oil and Gas Installations (North Sea)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many of the offshore oil and gas industry installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North 496
  sea could be disposed of at sea under the present legal provisions; and what is the total weight of these installations in metric tonnes. [29336]

  Mr. Page
  The Government have made it clear that the decommissioning of offshore installations will be consistent with our international obligations, including the International Maritime Organisation's guidelines and standards for the removal of offshore installations. Application of the IMO guidelines and standards to the UK continental shelf—UKCS—means that shallow water installations in less than 75 m of water will be entirely removed. That represents almost three quarters of all UKCS fixed installations. It is likely that they will be returned to shore. In deeper waters, installations may be partially removed provided that there is at least 55 m of clear water above any remains. Around 60 fixed installations fall in to this category representing a total weight of some 3.3 million tonnes. Decisions on their decommissioning and disposal will be taken on the basis of an assessment of the best practicable environmental option in order to arrive at the appropriate solution in each case.

  Sellafield (Safety)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the correspondence on safety at Sellafield between the Minister of State and the executive director of Greenpeace UK. [29328]

  Mr. Page
  Lord Fraser made clear, in his answer in the other place on 15 April, that it is not for him to place copies of correspondence instigated by a Member of that House in the Library of the House. I have nothing to add to his reply.

  Electro-magnetic Comparability Directive
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the impact on United Kingdom industry of the European Union's electro-magnetic comparability directive; and what advice he has issued since it became enforceable. [28988]

  Mr. Lang
  The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Regulations, (Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 2372) implementing directive 89/336/EEC came into force on 1 January 1996. It is too early to assess their impact on industry in the United Kingdom, although an initial compliance cost assessment—CCA—estimated that between 2 and 5 per cent. could be added to design costs, this cost being lower as the proportion of designs which took account of EMC requirements from the outset increased. Manufacturers thus had a period of six years in which to design the necessary protection and immunity requirements into their products. By meeting the harmonised requirements and CE marking their products, manufacturers gain access to markets throughout the European economic area.

  It is possible for most manufacturers to self-certify their products against a European harmonised standard. Testing is not mandatory except for apparatus designed for the transmission of radiocommunications. Manufacturers are free to judge for themselves the extent to which testing is necessary. If they decide to conduct minimal tests or none at all, they may need to incur some costs to satisfy the

  497
  enforcement authority that the product complies, if called upon to do so in the absence of a test report—but this applies to all firms across the EU.

  Following an extensive awareness programme of seminars and publications between 1992 and 1995 my Department set up a telephone advice service at the beginning of this year, when the regulations came fully into force, to help to ensure that electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers had the most up-to-date information and guidance on specific queries relating to the legal, technical and standardisation aspects of the EMC legislation.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery Grants (Croydon)
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list for each constituency in Croydon the organisations which have received grants from the national lottery and their amount. [27877]

  Mr. Sproat
  There have been three awards, totalling £73,900 allocated to projects in Croydon, as follows:

  Body

  Announced

  Recipient

  Amount £

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Friends of the English Language Scheme

  9,400.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Victim support

  19,500.00

  NLCB

  19 December 1995

  Refugee project

  45,000.00

  73,900.00

  Figures for national lottery awards by constituency are not currently available, but my Department is developing a new lottery database, which will shortly allow for this break-down to be made.

  Millennium Celebrations
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if she will undertake an assessment within the next three months of the risks of the Greenwich millennium celebration not being fully operational within the agreed timetable; and if she will inform the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre of the results of such risk assessment before 1 August; [28045]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the prospects for (i) the private sector support for, (ii) the transport infrastructure of and (iii) the environmental restoration of the Greenwich site being in place in sufficient time for the Greenwich site to stage the millennium celebration to begin on 1 January 2000. [28046]

  Mr. Sproat
  The commission is currently undertaking an assessment of the viability of a millennium exhibition on the site of the Greenwich peninsula. The results are expected to be available in September.

  National Lottery (Arts Projects)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to revise the national lottery guidelines in respect of non-capital investment creative arts projects and receiving lottery grants. [28693]

  Mr. Sproat
  On 1 April, my right hon. Friend announced,Official Report columns 69–70, changes to the policy directions issued under subsections (1) and (2) of section 26 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. These changes will allow the Arts Council to make revenue-only lottery awards.

  Performing Arts (Coventry)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the performing arts organisations based in Coventry which have(a) requested and (b) received grants. [28695]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Departments's funding of the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of England and regional arts boards. It is for them to decide on the allocation of funding for the arts, taking into account national and regional priorities. For 1995–96 West Midlands Arts provided funding of over £770,000 for the following performing arts organisations in Coventry:

  DNA Dance and Music

  Coventry St. Vincent and Grenadine Association

  University of Warwick

  Bare Essential Youth Theatre

  Shaskeen Theatre Company

  Multi Arts National Ltd.

  Saint Michael's Singers

  Suits U2 Dance Company

  Jazz Coventry

  Vulcheva-Jenkins Incident

  Coventry University Performing

  Theatre Absolute

  Arts Alive

  Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

  Warwick Arts Centre.

  In addition national lottery awards of over £99,000 have been made to the following performing arts venues in Coventry:
  Coventry CPA Brass Band, towards instrument purchase
  Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, towards the purchase of a third
  theatre space for the Coventry Arts Alive summer festival

  A number of performing arts organisations have also received awards under the Government's national heritage arts pairing scheme. For 1995–96, awards of £26,700 were made to the following performing arts organisations in Coventry:

  Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

  Warwick Arts Centre

  Warwick Arts Society.

  Women in Sport
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps she is taking to encourage more women to take part in sport; and what funding is available to encourage women's participation in sport at every level. [29057]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government are keen to improve opportunities for women and girls to participate in sport at all levels. These objectives are pursued through sponsorship of the Sports Council, which received £49.2 million grant in aid in 1995–96. In the same year, the Sports Council awarded £617,000 to women's governing bodies of sport; almost £2 million was provided at a national and regional level for projects exclusively or primarily concerned with the development of sport for girls and women; and a further £7.1 million was provided at a national and regional level for projects which had specific implications for women. Women's sport would also have benefitted from the Sports Council's other programmes.

  In its first year of operation, the national lottery provided a huge injection of funds for capital projects aimed at increasing participation and enhancing performance. The changes to the directions that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently made will enable the Sports Council to give revenue awards to talented sportswomen.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much was spent on official hospitality by her Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995–96. [28577]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 9 May 1996]: The information is as follows:

  Department of National Heritage: £25,563

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency: £46,133

  Royal Parks Agency: £16,627.

  Euro 96 (Tickets)
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the ticket allocation procedures for Euro 96; what discussions she has had with the football authorities on this matter; what plans she has to meet the organisers of Euro 96; and if she will make a statement. [29326]

  Employee benefit

  Provision in the department

  Criteria to judge eligibility

  Variation if different in the Agencies

  (a) Maternity leave and (b) Maternity pay

  14 weeks' paid maternity leave, with up to 38 weeks' additional unpaid maternity leaveGenerally, women must have 1 years' continuous (permanent) employment in the Civil Service

  (c) Paternity leave

  2 days taken before or after the baby is born

  Male employees

  (d) Parental leave

  Generally up to 10 paid days in one leave year, and up to 52 weeks' unpaid leave (in cases of adoption up to 20 days paid leave)Where appropriate, at local management discretionFor Agencies currently no formalised arrangements

  500
  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 14 May 1996]: The allocation of tickets for Euro 96 has been carried out in accordance with UEFA guidelines, and the Football Association has established procedures for the distribution of tickets to supporters. Last week, it became apparent that a significant number of tickets had not been allocated in accordance with these procedures. Proper segregation of supporters is important for public safety and public order. The FA is working closely with the police and security checks are being made before the tickets concerned are released. I have had a number of meetings with the organisers of Euro 96. I shall continue to monitor developments closely. The eyes of the world will be on us during Euro 96. The FA is well aware that everything must be done to minimise possible disorder and have taken additional precautions in the light of what has emerged.

  Orchestras
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many orchestras have been awarded funds from the national lottery. [28942]

  Mr. Sproat
  To date, 23 orchestras have been awarded funds, totalling £5,201,119, from the national lottery.

  Employees' Rights
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what provision is available to employees of executive agencies under the control of her Department for(a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) workplace nurseries, (m) child care allowances, (n) carers' leave and (o) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case; [27605]

  (2) what provision is available to employees of her Department for (a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home-working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) workplace nurseries, (m) child care allowances, (n) carers' leave and (o) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case. [27604]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: The following table represents the provisions available in my Department and the two agencies for which the Department is responsible—the Historic Royal Palaces Agency and the Royal Parks Agency.
  501

  Employee benefit

  Provision in the department

  Criteria to judge eligibility

  Variation if different in the Agencies

  (e) Flexible working hours

  Agreed departmental policy

  Where appropriate, at local management discretion

  For RPA open to all staff except in sections where cover is essential eg Personnel, Reception

  (f) Part-time working

  Agreed departmental policy

  Where appropriate, at management discretion

  (g) Job sharing

  Agreed departmental policy

  Where appropriate, at local management discretion

  For Agencies currently no formalised arrangements

  (h) Leave to care for sick children

  As for 'parental leave'

  As for 'parental leave'

  For Agencies up to 5 days paid leave; thereafter unpaid leave possible

  (i) Homeworking

  No formalised scheme, pilot scheme currently being tested

  Where appropriate, at local management discetionFor Agencies currently no formalised arrangements

  (j) Term-time contracts

  Currently no provision

  (k) Annual hours contracts

  Currently no provision

  For HRPA two distinct groups of staff work under these contracts to meet the needs of the business/visitors

  (l) Workplace nurseries and

  One nursery place for a child up to five years old. In addition a holiday playscheme operates to help staff look after their children in school holidays. DNH provides 50 per cent, subsidy for both nursery and playschemeOpen to all employeesFor Agencies currently no provision

  (m) Childcare allowances

  (n) Carers' leave

  As for 'parental leave'

  As for 'parental leave'

  For Agencies up to 5 days paid leave; thereafter unpaid leave possible

  (o) Career break schemes

  Up to 5 years unpaid leave to cope with domestic responsibilities

  Open to all employees at local management discretion

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Meat Rendering Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations have been enacted since 1980 which(a) deregulate and (b) regulate the meat rendering industry. [28103]

  Mr. Boswell
  Legislation introduced by the Department since 1980 to regulate the rendering industry is as listed. No deregulatory legislation was introduced during this period:The Diseases of Animals (Protein Processing) Order 1981 (SI No. 1981/676). This order was revoked and replaced by the Processed Animal Protein Order 1989 (SI No. 1989/661).
  The Animal By-Products Order 1992 (SI No. 1992/3303)
  The Animal By-Products (Amendment) Order 1996 (SI No. 1996/827)
  The Animal By-Products (Identification) Regulations 1995 (SI No. 1995/614).
  The Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995 (SI No. 1995/1928) and the Specified Bovine Offal (Amendment) Order 1995 (SI No. 1995/3246) were revoked and replaced by the Specified Bovine Material Order 1996 (SI No. 1996/963), which was revoked and replaced by the Specified Bovine Material (No. 2) Order 1996 (SI No. 1996/1192).

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many extra staff
  502
  (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible, have employed since 20 March; and what extra staff have been (i) recruited and (ii) deployed from his Department in London to assist regional and local offices in providing information and assistance. [28216]

  Mr. Boswell
  Core MAFF, ADAS and the Pesticides safety directorate have employed 31 extra staff since 20 March as follows:

  Casual Administrative Assistants: 15

  Permanent Administrative Assistants: 1

  Casual Administrative Officers: 6

  Permanent Administrative Officers: 1

  Personal Secretaries: 1

  Recruitment Agency Staff: 7

  Of these, 30 members of staff were recruited by regional or local offices.

  Eight members of staff have been deployed from London to our offices in Tolworth as follows:

  Grade 7s: 2

  Higher Executive Officers: 2

  Executive Officers: 4

  Chief executives of other agencies will reply separately.
  503
  Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 15 May 1966:

  STAFF EMPLOYED SINCE 20 MARCH

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about staff employed since 20 March in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible. (28216)

  Since the date in question CSL has taken on some 54 staff. This includes 15 casual or fixed-term appointees and 33 Regional Bee Inspectors who are employed on short-term contracts to carry out work of a seasonal nature.

  Letter from Dr. J. M. Rutter to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 15 May 1996:

  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about extra staff employed since 20 March as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible. (28216)

  The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has employed 6 extra staff since 20 March. Of these 2 were recruited, 1 transferred from core-MAFF, 2 transferred from the Central Science Laboratory and 1 is on loan from the Department of Health.

  Letter from George Trevelyan to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 15 May 1996:

  I am replying to your Question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about the number of additional staff employed by this Agency since 20 March 1996 as this is a matter that falls within my administrative responsibility. (28216)

  Since 20 March this year, this Agency has recruited and appointed 54 new staff, ranging from the Higher Executive Officer grade to Clerical and Support Grade staff. Of these, 33 of the new staff have been deployed to help other existing staff working on BSE schemes or additional work arising from the recent announcements about BSE. Some of the other new recruits have been posted to other parts of the Agency in order that a further 10 more experienced permanent staff can be re-deployed to BSE related duties.

  The Agency is based in Reading and Newcastle and as the majority of our new staff requirements have been in the non-mobile clerical grades, no additional staff have been deployed from London or from other locations.

  Letter from T W. A. Little to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 15 May 1996:

  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on staff recruited since 20 March in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency since 20 March 1996.

  13 staff have been recruited and have filled existing vacancies in the Agency.

  Letter from Johnston O'Neill to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 15 May 1996:

  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning the employment of extra staff since 20 March has been passed for me for reply with respect to this Executive Agency. (28216)

  The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) was launched on 1 April 1996 as an Executive Agency of MAFF. It took over from some 300 local authorities responsibility for enforcement of the hygiene and welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed fresh meat premises in England, Scotland and Wales.

  The MHS is responsible for enforcing the enhanced specified bovine offal (SBO), now termed specified bovine material (SBM) controls recommended by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee. These controls are central to the protection of public health from any risk of BSE. They require the removal of all those tissues known to potentially harbour BSE infectivity from all cattle at slaughter. Compliance with these controls is of paramount importance
  504
  To ensure the rigorous enforcement of SBM controls the MHS has recruited 47 additional Meat Inspectors (Mls) and 1 Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS). The MHS has also developed a new concept of "meat technician" to provide back up support to MIs and OVSs and to give additional public assurance that SBM controls are comprehensively enforced. These individuals are required to hold appropriate relevant qualifications, e.g. from the Institute of Meat or have extensive practical experience in the meat trade. 52 meat technicians have now been recruited, 32 of whom are currently on a training course developed by the MHS in conjunction with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, University College Salford, the Royal Society of Health.

  The working hours of existing MHS staff have also been increased to ensure the strict enforcement of the controls. 31 casual Meat Inspectors have so far been upgraded to full time inspectors. In addition other staff continue to be redeployed to SBM control functions.

  Training on SBM controls is also being provided to all meat inspection staff. To assist in this exercise, the MHS has drawn up a guidance pack and a comprehensive set of slides on SBM controls.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the companies in which civil servants in his Department are directors have given money to political parties in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [29251]

  Mr. Boswell
  Details of contributions to political parties by companies are given in companies' accounts. Whether a particular company has or has not made a contribution to any political party is not taken into account when deciding whether appointments are suitable.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ensure that civil servants from his Department who sit on the boards of food and agricultural companies are removed from official duties in areas of work in which those companies have a trading interest; and if he will make a statement. [29255]

  Mr. Boswell
  The position of staff holding non-executive directorships or similar appointments is safeguarded by the general requirement binding on all civil servants that they must not take part in activities which might conflict with the interests of their Department, or impair their usefulness as public servants, or be inconsistent with their position as such.

  Civil servants acting as directors remain subject to the Official Secrets Acts and the need to preserve the confidentiality of departmental business and information received in confidence from others. In relation to any particular appointment, individuals and their line managers must consider whether there is a present or potential conflict of interest, including whether their duties are in areas of work in which the company has a trading interest. If appropriate, an appointment may not be proceeded with, or restrictions may be placed on the kinds of discussion that the individual can take part in.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what costs his Department has paid in respect of liabilities incurred by civil servants or directors of companies; and if he will make a statement. [29250]

  Mr. Boswell
  I am not aware of any departmental civil servant holding a non-executive directorship or non-executive appointment being subject to legal
  505
  proceedings or threatened legal proceedings in respect of his or her non-executive role; or of any other liability on behalf of civil servants or directors.

  It was agreed in 1991 to allow Departments to indemnify civil servants in non-executive roles because the civil liabilities associated with such appointments might have deterred civil servants from taking up these opportunities.

  Agricultural Systems
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the comparative costing of (a) organic, (b) bio-dynamic, (c) permaculture and (d) conventional intensive agricultural systems where the external costs have been internalised; if he will list the results of that research; and if he will make a statement. [29253]

  (2) what research on permaculture has been (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned by his Department; what plans it has to evaluate or commission such research in the near future; and if he will make a statement. [29254]

  Mr. Boswell
  We fund a wide range of research into the environmental aspects of conventional farming, to support our aim of protecting and enhancing the environment. We also have an organic research programme which so far has concentrated on evaluating the agronomic and economic performance of that system. As yet, no research has been commissioned of the specific type noted in these questions.

  Comparative work in this area is inherently difficult and subjective, not least because it requires a precise definition of the systems being compared, identification of the various cost factors, and a reliable technique for their valuation. We are considering a study of these methodological issues, in relation to a comparison of organic and conventional farming. Bio-dynamic agriculture is regarded as a form of organic farming, but we do not have a specific policy or research effort in relation to permaculture.

  Dry-stone Walling
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help his Department provides to encourage the maintenance and building of dry-stone walls. [29146]

  Mr. Boswell
  Grants for the restoration of dry-stone walls are available in those environmentally sensitive areas in which walls are a particular feature, as well as under the countryside stewardship scheme which applies throughout England outside ESAs.

  Chocolate Directive
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 523, what assessment he has made as to whether the European Commission proposals to replace the 1973 cocoa and chocolate products directive will adequately (a) protect the diversity of chocolate recipes which may be marketed within the European Community and (b) safeguard the use of the name chocolate on products containing mixtures of vegetable
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  fats currently marketed throughout the European Community; and what is his policy on the Commission's new draft directive on this matter. [29025]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 24 April 1996,Official Report, column 212.

  We have not yet seen the formal text of the proposals for the new cocoa and chocolate directive. I sympathise with the points made by the hon. Member and can assure him that we shall seek to protect the legitimate interests of United Kingdom consumers and manufacturers during negotiations.

  Wildlife Bill
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what brieflng his Department provided to hon. Members for the Committee stage of the Wildlife Bill. [29267]

  Mr. Boswell
  None.

  Employees' Rights
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provision is available to employees of executive agencies under the control of his Department for(a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) workplace nurseries, (m) child care allowances, (n) carers' leave and (o) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case. [27593]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: Responsibility for these matters is delegated to agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your PQ on provisions available to employees of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA).The VLA was established on 1 October 1995, from the merger of the existing Central Veterinary Laboratory with the Veterinary Investigation Service, which was part of the State Veterinary Service.The availability of the provisions you mention are set out in a MAFF Staff Handbook to which all employees in this Agency have access. They apply to both full-time and part-time staff. Maternity arrangements are provided in conjunction with the statutory entitlements available. Where provision in the Agency differs from that of MAFF, information is readily available, for example on the Holiday Playscheme.
  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about the provision available to employees for maternity leave and various other allowances and schemes in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.PSD currently follows the provisions allowed for by MAFF policies.507
  Letter from J. M. Rutter, to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about the provision of (a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home-working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) workplace nurseries, (m) childcare allowances, (n) carers' leave and (o) career break schemes for staff in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate as this is an area for which I am responsible.
  The availability of these provisions is set out in a Staff Handbook to which all employees in Veterinary Medicines Directorate have easy access. They apply to both full-time and part-time staff. Maternity arrangements are provided in conjunction with the statutory entitlements available.
  There is an on-site Playscheme for 5–12 year olds which is provided during the main school holidays by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, with whom we share the site. There is no provision for under 5 year olds.

  Letter from Phillip Needham to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply direct to your Parliamentary Question in which you ask what provision is available to employees of Executive Agencies for (a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (t) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children,
  (i) home-working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) workplace nurseries, (m) childcare allowances, (n) careers' leave and (o) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case.
  ADAS follows the provisions as set out in the MAFF Staff Handbook to which all employees in ADAS have access. They apply to both full-time and part-time staff. Maternity arrangements are provided in conjunction with the statutory entitlements available.

  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 15 May 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning various personnel policies has been passed to me for reply with respect to this Executive Agency.
  The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) was launched on 1 April 1996 as an Executive Agency of MAFF. It took over from some 300 local authorities responsibility for enforcement of the hygiene and welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed fresh meat premises in England, Scotland and Wales.
  The MHS has developed, consulted on, and negotiated the agreement on a comprehensive set of personnel policies covering a number of these areas, specifically a), b), c) and k). The MHS however must develop policies relevant to the nature of its business environment. On a full cost recovery basis the MHS provides statutory meat inspection and official veterinary services in approximately 1,800 licensed meat plants, cold stores and cutting rooms dispersed throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Employees operate in teams ranging in size from lone workers to a team size of approximately ten. The MHS seeks to provide a cost effective and responsive service to Industry at all times. Specific policies provide for the following:

  (i) The MHS maternity leave and payment arrangements apply to all pregnant employees regardless of the number of hours worked per week. To qualify for maternity leave, an MHS employee should write to their Regional Manager or Head of Department at least twenty one days before maternity leave is intended to begin or as soon as is reasonably practicable, confirming pregnancy and the expected week of confinement (EWC). Employees should state the date of the beginning of maternity absence and whether or not they intend to return to work. Maternity leave may not commence earlier than 11 weeks before the EWC. Employees who have
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  1 or more years' continuous service, are entitled to 18 weeks' leave of absence and may remain absent for up to 29 weeks from the beginning of the week in which confinement occurs. Employees who have less than 1 year's continuous service are entitled to up to 18 weeks' absence. Any employee returning to work after pregnancy may do so under the original contract of employment and on terms and conditions no less favourable than that which would have applied if there had been no maternity leave.

  (ii) Employees who have one or more years' continuous service receive maternity pay of 90 per cent. of full pay for the first six weeks and 50 per cent. of full pay and State Maternity Pay for the following 12 weeks. Employees with less than one year's service, casual employees and those with a fixed term contract of less than 2 years receive Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Pay.

  (iii) Maternity Support Leave (paternity leave) of 5 days with pay will be granted to the child's father or the partner or nominated carer of an expectant mother at or around the time of birth. A nominated carer is the person nominated by the mother to assist in the care of the child and to provide support to the mother at or around the time of the birth. Employees applying for maternity support leave must provide a copy of the mother's maternity certificate.

  (iv) Industry requirements for MHS services vary tremendously based on seasonal factors, consumer demand, etc. Accordingly employees operate principally on a 37 hour/5 day week. This is however supplemented by conditional/contractual overtime schemes, a variety of shift systems and in some cases a scheme of annualised hours where significant seasonal demand patterns exist, typically in lamb production. The particular scheme involves employees based at seasonal plants, or servicing a number of plants, working a longer working week of conditioned hours at certain times of the year and a correspondingly shorter working week at other times of the year. The particular scheme in question will be discussed with Industry representatives.

  Given the practical demands of the environment in which the majority of MHS operate it does not have any specific policy on parental leave, leave to care for sick children or carer's leave. However, consideration would be given for these purposes under the MHS special leave scheme. No provision is available for homeworking, term time contracts, flexible working hours, childcare allowances, part-time working or career break schemes. Sympathetic consideration would be given to some of the above if appropriate.

  Letters from P. I. Stanley to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about the provision available to employees for maternity leave and various other allowances and schemes in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  CSL has not as yet developed specific policies in the areas that you have referred to and is currently following the provisions allowed for by MAFF policies.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provision is available to employees of his Department for(a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, W part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) workplace nurseries, (m) child care allowances, (n) carers' leave and (o) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case. [27592]
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  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: The availability of these provisions is set out in a staff handbook to which all employees in this Department have easy access. They apply to both full-time and part-time staff. Maternity arrangements are provided in conjunction with the statutory entitlements available.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further research is being carried out to establish whether bovine TB in cattle is infective at any stage of the disease in the absence of gross visible lesion tubercles. [29261]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 14 May 1996]: None in this country at present.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the number of dairy herds which reported outbreaks of bovine TB in 1995, or the latest year for which figures are available, the approximate number of cases in each herd, and whether each was a first or repeat outbreak. [29262]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 14 May 1996]: The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, there were 446 new confirmed herd breakdowns in Great Britain in 1995. The approximate number of cases in each herd is four.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995–96. [28573]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 9 May 1996]: The amount spent by the Minstry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food excluding its agencies on hospitality in the financial year 1995–96 was £59,646.25.

  Chief executives of the agencies will reply separately.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on expenditure on official hospitality over 1995–96 in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA).The VLA was established on 1 October 1995, from the merger of the existing Central Veterinary Laboratory with the Veterinary Investigation Service, which was part of the State Veterinary Service. This information therefore includes spending from October 1995 to March 1996 by the former VI Service.510
  Expenditure on official hospitality in the VLA in the financial year 1995/96 was £18,900.

  Letter from J. M. Rutter to Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:

  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question (No. 28573) about expenditure on hospitality by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for 1995/96, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.

  The expenditure on hospitality, which principally covers working lunches for industry liaison meetings, for 1995/96 was £122.70.

  Letter from Johnston McNeil to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning official hospitality has been passed to me for reply with regard to this Executive Agency.£5,750 was spent on hospitality by the Meat Hygiene Service during the financial year 1995/96.
  Letter from Phillip Needham to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary question in which you asked how much was spent on official hospitality by his department and all associated agencies in the year 1995/96.
  The costs incurred by ADAS on official hospitality in 1995/96 were £10,630.

  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question concerning hospitality.The sum of £1,269 has been spent on official hospitality during 1995/96.
  Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about expenditure on hospitality in the financial year 1995/96 in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.Expenditure for the year in question is expected to be £21.3K. Final figures are not yet available but any variation to this estimate will be very small.
  Letter from George Trevelyan to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 15 May 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Question about the amounts spent of official hospitality by the Intervention Board in 1995–1996 as the matter is one within my operational responsibility.In 1995–1996 the cost of hospitality, which is included in the running cost of the Agency, was £2,522.

  Mr. Morteza Shirazi
  Mr. Morteza Shirazi
  Human Rights
  Human Rights
  US Policy and UN Charter
  US Policy and UN Charter
  Middle East: Disarmament
  Middle East: Disarmament
  Israel: Nuclear Status
  Israel: Nuclear Status
  UN Compensation Commission and Fund
  UN Compensation Commission and Fund
  Utilities: Regulation
  Utilities: Regulation
  Gas: Competition Pilot Scheme
  Gas: Competition Pilot Scheme
  Gas and Electricity Markets: Regulation
  Gas and Electricity Markets: Regulation
  Muffin the Mule Postage Stamps
  Muffin the Mule Postage Stamps
  Postage Stamp Design
  Postage Stamp Design
  Pay Review Bodies: Membership
  Pay Review Bodies: Membership
  Habitual Residence Test
  Habitual Residence Test