Written Answers of 16 May 1996

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Tribunals
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those tribunals whose members(a) receive and (b) do not receive payments and allowances; and if he will set out the payments and allowances for each tribunal. [28691]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The tribunals for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible whose members(a) receive payments and allowances are:

  (i) the Immigration Appeal Tribunal

  (ii) the Lands Tribunal

  (iii) the Pensions Appeal Tribunal

  (iv) the Transport Tribunal

  (v) the VAT and Duties Tribunal.

  The salary of the president of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal is £79,978; the salary of full-time members is £75,978; the daily sitting fee of part-time legal members is £282; the daily sitting fee of part-time lay members is £130.

  The salary of the president of the Lands Tribunal is £79,978; the salary of full-time members is £75,978; the daily sitting fee of part-time members is £345.

  The salary of the part-time president of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal is £26,407.20; the daily sitting fee of part-time legal chairmen is £282; the daily sitting fee of part-time medical members is £300; the daily sitting fee of part-time lay members is £130.

  The daily sitting fee of part-time legal members of the Transport Tribunal is £254 and of part-time lay members is £203.

  The salary of the president of the VAT and Duties Tribunal and presiding special commissioner of income tax—a combined post—is £88,266; the salary of the vice president is £66,018; the salary of chairmen is £62,018; the daily sitting fee of part-time chairmen is £282; the daily sitting fee of part-time lay members is £162.

  All full-time members of the judiciary who receive a salary of £62,018 or £66,018 and who are in receipt of the £2,000 London allowance also receive a salary lead of £2,000 per annum over their colleagues outside London.

  Allowances for each tribunal are:

  Subsistence (day):

  daily, over five hours: £4.25

  daily, over 10 hours: £9.30

  daily, over 12 hours: £13.55

  Subsistence (overnight):

  up to £65.16 (London)

  512

  up to £62.40 (elsewhere)

  personal incidental expenditure £5 per night

  Travelling expenses are payable. These are the actual cost of rail, bus, taxi or air travel. Car mileage is paid thus:

  pence

  Pence per mile

  Engine to 1500cc

  1501 to 2000cc

  over 2000cc

  First 5,000 miles in a year

  37.5

  42

  46

  Over 5,000 miles in a year

  18

  22

  30

  Public transport rate

  23.08

  23.08

  23.08

  (b) There are no tribunals for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible whose members do not receive payments.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  EC Legislation
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the results of the review of guidance on avoiding the over-implementation of EC legislation in UK law. [29976]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government's policy is to implement EC legislation in a way that fully meets our legal obligations while imposing the least possible burden on business and others affected.

  I am today publishing a new "Implementing European Law" checklist, which will assist Ministers and officials in avoiding any over-implementation of EC legislation. Ministers will certify personally that they have applied the checklist.

  I am arranging for copies of the checklist to be placed in the House Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total amount of unpaid assessed maintenance owing to the Child Support Agency at 31 March; [29347]

  (2) what was the average level of arrears for absent parents at 31 March who had received (a) full maintenance assessments and (b) interim maintenance assessments. [29348]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 15 May 1996:

  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about unpaid assessed maintenance.

  The total Maintenance Debt as at 31 March 1996 was £895.6m. This includes the debt for both Full Maintenance Assessments estimated at 32% (£286.6m) and Interim Maintenance Assessments estimated at 68% (£609m).
  513
  It should be made clear that this is not debt due to the Child Support Agency. Rather it is debt due from absent parents to parents with care some of which will be re-directed to the Secretary of State for Social Security to re-imburse benefit payments previously paid to parents with care.

  The average level of arrears in Full Maintenance Assessment cases is not available, nor is it available in Interim Maintenance Assessment cases. This information will be available from the Agency's Debt Management System which will be introduced later this year.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications the Child Support Agency has received for property settlements to be taken into account when calculating maintenance payments; and in how many cases maintenance payments have been reduced to take account of property settlements. [29024]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 15 May 1996:

  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency maintenance payments.

  The Agency received 11,388 applications in response to mailshots from March 1995, which notified absent parents about property/capital settlements. Of the cases live on the Child Support Computer System prior to April 1995, 3,113 cases have been awarded an allowance in respect of property and capital settlements.

  New cases since April 1995, which include consideration of property and capital settlements as part of the maintenance assessment process, have to date resulted in 1,928 successful applications.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total administrative cost of running the Child Support Agency in 1995–96; and what was the whole-time equivalent number of staff employed by the agency at(a) the start and (b) the end of that year. [29023]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 15 May 1996:

  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency costs and staffing.

  The running costs of the Agency for 1995/96 are not yet finalised. The most up to date figure is £197m (subject to end of year adjustment).

  The number of whole time equivalent staff employed by the Agency at the start of financial year 1995–96 was 5965.4. The number of whole time equivalent staff employed by the Agency at 31 March 1996 was 6660.0.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) incoming and (b) outgoing items of correspondence and telephone calls were recorded by the Child Support Agency in 1995–96. [29021]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
  514
  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 15 May 1996:

  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency correspondence and telephone calls.

  No records are kept of the numbers of either incoming or outgoing items of post. The post handled by the Agency contains not just items of correspondence from clients, but general administration items, internal post and files etc. There is no business need for the Agency to differentiate between the types of post received or sent, nor is there a need to record exact figures.

  Similarly, the Agency does not maintain records at all its business locations of every incoming and outgoing telephone call (which would include internal and Departmental calls). Procedures are in place to try to ensure that all calls from the public are dealt with effectively, and all Child Support Agency Centres (CSACs) have Client Helplines that record details of all case-specific calls on the Child Support Computer System. Any telephone enquiry which requires action by another section is passed on with a written referral.

  Information is available to show how many calls from the public were answered by the Client Help Line sections in each CSAC and the National Enquiry Line, and is shown on the table attached. This also shows the number of occasions where these sections made calls back to the public to answer the query raised.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Telephone calls answered and made by the client help line and national enquiry line for the period April 1995 to March 1996

  Number

  Incoming calls

  1,799,686

  Call back to the public

  41,962

  Child Support Assessments
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many child support assessments had been concluded before the 1995–96 financial year; how many were concluded during that year; and how many applications were being processed but had not been concluded at the end of that year. [29022]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 15 May 1996:

  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support assessments.

  In 1993/94 and 1994/95 financial years a total of 456,278 child support assessments were concluded.

  The number concluded for financial year 1995/96 is 127,876.

  The number of applications that were being processed but had not been concluded at the end of March 1996 is 409,659.

  It may be helpful for you to know that this information is regularly updated and copies are placed in the Library.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average full maintenance assessment made by the Child Support Agency. [29349]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
  515
  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 15 may 1996:

  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency maintenance assessments.

  In cases where the absent parent has earned income the average full maintenance assessment is £38.92. When absent parents on benefit are included the average figure is £23.43. These figures are based on a 5% sample of cases as at 30 November 1995.

  I hope you find this helpful.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Examination Results
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the average point scores (A*=7) for (a) English language, (b) GCSE mathematics and (c) both subjects together of each individual 20th group of (i) all 15-year-olds, (ii) boys only and (iii) girls only, when ranked in each case by their average point scores in each of these subjects, indicating the average point score of each group for all GCSE subjects and its average number GCSE entries per pupil in each case, together with the number of pupils in each group for all such pupils (1) in England, (2) in the local education authority maintained sector, (3) in the grant-maintained sector, (4) in the whole maintained sector and (5) in the independent sector for 1992 and 1995. [28607]

  Mr. Paice
  The data are contained in a number of tables which will be placed in the Library. The tables for 1992 and 1995 show the average point scores (A*=7) for (a) GCSE English language, (b) GCSE mathematics, (c) both subjects and (d) all GCSEs together of each group (i) of all 15-year-olds, (ii) boys only and (iii) girls only, when ranked in each case by their average point scores in each of these subjects, indicating the average point score of each group for all GCSE subjects and its average number of GCSE entries per pupil in each case, together with the number of pupils in each group for all such pupils (1) in England, (2) in the local education authority maintained sector, (3) in the grant maintained sector, (4) in the whole maintained sector and (5) in the independent sector. For English and mathematics separately there are eight groups, and for both subjects together there are 15 groups.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the academic performance of children at grant-maintained schools in London. [28967]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Deva) on 20 March,Official Report, column 223.

  Smoking
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to publicise to children in school the link between smoking and cancer. [29228]
  516
  Mr. Robin Squire
  Education about the harmful effects of tobacco is a statutory requirement as part of national curriculum science. The Department has issued guidance to schools on their contribution towards ensuring pupils are aware of the health risks associated with smoking, and to teachers on addressing smoking within the school curriculum and on their contribution towards ensuring pupils are aware of the health risks associated with smoking, and to teachers on addressing smoking within the school curriculum and on appropriate smoking education materials.

  Student Loans Company
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the savings to date the Student Loans Company has made from out-sourcing arrangements with the SHL software computer system, compared with the use of in-house services; and if she will make a statement. [29530]

  Mr. Forth
  This is a matter for the Student Loans Company. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Unemployment (Merseyside)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the measures taken by her Department to assist the unemployed in Merseyside. [29289]

  Mr. Forth
  In Merseyside, as elsewhere, the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils will continue to deliver a wide range of employment, enterprise and training programmes to help people find the best and quickest route back to employment.

  Poverty and Racism
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to take up the finance being provided by the European Union for programmes to tackle poverty and racism; and what amount is being offered. [29661]

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have recently agreed, in conjunction with other member states, the Commission's guidelines for its new EMPLOYMENT-INTEGRA initiative, which is designed to help vulnerable groups to enter the labour market. The UK will receive an additional 43.9 million ecu to support action under that initiative.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lichfield
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the effects of the Government's policies on the people of Lichfield. [28487]

  The Prime Minister
  Lichfield has benefited fully from the Government's policies to provide the foundation for sustainable economic growth and improving living standards.
  517

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Sir Richard Scott, concerning the Government response in the media to the publication of his report into military exports to Iraq. [29507]

  The Prime Minster
  None.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16 May. [28650]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16 May. [28651]

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

  Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to receive the second report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement. [30147]

  The Prime Minister
  The second report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, under the chairmanship of Lord Nolan, is being published today as Command Paper 3270 and copies of the report have been placed in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. I should like to thank Lord Nolan and his colleagues for their continuing commitment and effort in discharging their important remit.

  The second report covers further and higher education bodies, grant-maintained schools, training and enterprise councils, local enterprise companies and registered housing associations. I welcome the fact that the committee found these to be
  "organisations in which very many voluntary Board members and paid staff work hard, maintain high standards and achieve good results.".

  I should like to join Lord Nolan and his colleagues in putting on record the Government's appreciation and admiration of the dedicated unpaid service of so many thousands of volunteers in these local public spending bodies. This inquiry confirms the continuing vitality of voluntary service as one of the great strengths of the British system. This voluntary local commitment, channelled through a clear policy framework set by central Government, provides a successful formula for delivering high-quality service to meet local needs.

  Naturally, the committee has identified some areas where it believes that improvements can be made and we shall now give the report the close study it deserves before making a considered response, particularly to those recommendations which are addressed directly on the Government.

  Armed Forces (Health Services)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the pay of medical and dental officers in the armed forces. [30149]
  518
  The Prime Minister
  The Armed Forces pay review body has made recommendations on the pay of medial and dental officers in the armed forces in a supplementary report being published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House.

  The review body recommends that the daily rate of basic pay should be increased by an average of 3.8 per cent. from 1 April. Further it recommends that, along with other military personnel, the x-factor, which compensates for the balance of disadvantage of service life, should be increased by 0.5 per cent. to 12 per cent. The review body has also recommended increases in consultant pay, which are designed to improve retention in this area.

  The Government have decided to accept the review body's recommendations but to stage their introduction in the same way as the earlier recommendations of the Armed Forces pay review body, and the recommendations of most of the other review bodies. The full award less 1 per cent. will be back-dated to 1 April, and the remainder will be paid from 1 December.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995–96. [28579]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 9 May 1996]: My office spent £60,000 on official hospitality in 1995–96. This reflected twice as many receptions as in the previous year, primarily held to promote issues of importance. The details are set out below.

  Receptions in 1995–96

  Two General Receptions

  South African Sports Initiative

  Lord Lieutenants

  Motability

  Praemium Imperiale

  Chartermark Winners

  National Sports Initiative

  World War Two Commemorations

  Armed Forces

  Eve of Session

  Police

  Education

  London Fashion Week

  UK Science, Engineering and Technology.

TRANSPORT

  Buses (Roadworthiness Checks)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources are being allocated to roadworthiness enforcement in 1996–97 to allow more roadworthiness checks to be made on buses. [29535]

  Mr. Norris
  The level of roadworthiness enforcement on public service vehicles—PSVs—by the Vehicle Inspectorate in 1996–97 is forecast to increase by 16 per cent. compared with the budgeted level for 1995–96. This is equivalent to an increase of about two vehicle examiner man years.

  Joint Enforcement Database Initiative
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 387, when he expects a decision to be made on the investment required for the joint enforcement database. [29571]

  Mr. Norris
  I have nothing to add to my earlier answer.

  Health Visitors (Parking)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include health visitors in the categories of exemptions from parking restrictions for medical personnel. [29547]

  Mr. Norris
  There are no general exemptions from parking restrictions for medical personnel. I understand that local agreements exist in London, and in some other parts of England and Wales, whereby the police, traffic wardens and parking attendants exercise discretion where doctors, nurses and midwives park illegally in the course of their work. These have no formal status in law, and their scope is a matter for local consideration.

  Bus Operator Licences
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the bus working group to report on the need for applications for operators' licences to provide financial projections to traffic commissioners. [29536]

  Mr. Norris
  I expect to receive the recommendations of the bus working group on this issue later this year.

  Central Transport Group (Pay)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the estimated outturn of the Civil and Public Services Association grades base pay bill in the central transport group for the end of the current financial year. [29557]

  Mr. Norris
  The estimated outturn for the CPSA grades base pay bill in the central transport group for the current financial year is not yet known as pay negotiations for the 1996–97 CPSA pay settlement are still in progress. The estimated outturn excluding the pay settlement is £9.4 million.

  Driving Examiners
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many delegated driving examiners are authorised by(a) his Department and (b) the Driving Standards Agency; [29538]

  (2) if he will list the pass and fail rates for delegated driving examiners together with those for examiners employed by the Driving Standards Agency. [29539]

  Mr. Norris
  The Driving Standards Agency has appointed, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, 62 driving examiners to conduct driving tests for staff working in their organisations. There are 59 persons authoritised to conduct bus driving tests and three authoritised to conduct car driving tests.
  520
  The number of tests conducted and pass rates in 1995 were:

  Total

  Pass rate (per cent.)

  Passenger Carrying Vehicle tests

  DSA

  15,060

  50

  Other examiners

  6,926

  63

  Car tests

  DSA

  1,493,642

  47

  Other examiners

  301

  72

  The armed forces, police and fire brigades are also authorised to conduct driving tests for their staff. Statistics about the pass rates for those organisations are not collected by this Department.

  Heavy Vehicle Driving Standards
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the theory test questions for the large goods vehicle and passenger carrying vehicle driving test will be published; and if they will contain questions relating to drivers' hours rules. [29540]

  Mr. Norris
  The question bank for LGV and PCV tests will be published on 8 November. The question bank does contain questions on the rules relating to drivers' hours

  Driving Theory Test Centre
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what criteria were used in the decision not to locate a driving theory test centre in Crewe; [29534]

  (2) what criteria were used when deciding the location of the proposed driving theory test centre. [29533]

  Mr. Norris
  The criteria for locating theory test centres across Great Britain were decided in order to give a balance between costs, the travelling distances to centres for candidates and the frequency with which test sessions would be available. They are that tests will be available: within five miles in districts—usually towns or cities—with population density of greater than or equal to 1,250 persons per sq km; within 40 miles in sparsely populated districts with a population density of fewer than 100 persons per km; within 20 miles in other districts where population density lies between these limits.

  On this basis, it was decided not to locate a theory test centre in Crewe.

  Channel Tunnel Safety Authority
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to publish its annual report for the year 1994–95. [29737]

  Mr. Watts
  The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority has now published its seventh annual report, covering the period from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995. I have today arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Stansted Airport
  Sir Alan Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decision he has reached on options to increase the limit on aircraft movements at Stansted airport. [29876]

  Mr. Norris
  Following consultation with interested parties, I am today laying before the House a draft order for an increase in the aircraft movement limit from 78,000 per annum to 120,000 per annum. Based on the latest information about the average number of passengers per aircraft, a revised limit of 120,000 movements per year will allow a throughput of 8 million passengers per annum. This throughput is expected to be reached in around 2000–01.

  This proposal is consistent with the planning inquiry's conclusion that the timing of the further development of Stansted to a capacity of 15 million passengers per annum should depend on the rate of growth of demand.

  The Government welcome the development of the less busy airports in the south-east. The increase to 120,000 movements per year would permit the continued growth of Stansted, providing more jobs for the local communities, in line with the further development of the associated infrastructure. This new limit would also ensure that growth of the airport is phased, allowing BAA, the airport operator, to invest in new facilities at the terminal as business grows.

  Shadow Tolls
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what forecast he has made of the total cost of shadow tolls per annum from design, build, finance and operate road schemes to the Government in(a) 2000, (b) 2005 and (c) 2010. [29268]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Cohn Pickthall, dated 16 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the cost of shadow tolls for design, build, finance and operate road schemes. We forecast expenditure of approximately £110m in 2000/01, £120m in 2005/6 and £130m in 2010/11 at cash prices on contracts let to date. Actual expenditure incurred will be dependent on traffic levels.

  Rail Infrastructure
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the replacement cost of the permanent way and other railway infrastructure in Great Britain. [28475]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack's fixed asset values as at 31 March 1995 on a current cost basis are described in section D of part 10 of the Railtrack prospectus. Current cost is the cost of replacing the existing asset with an equivalent asset capable of performing its task. The total gross replacement cost of Railtrack's tangible fixed assets at 31 March 1995 was £19,366 million, of which £9,097 million related to the track. After taking into account accumulated depreciation, the amounts are £6,492 million and £1,467 million respectively. Fuller information is set out on pages 144 to 146 of the prospectus, a copy of which is available in the Library.
  522
  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) bridges, (b) viaducts and (c) other railway structures have been demolished by Railtrack since it assumed responsibility for the railway infrastructure. [28476]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack would demolish bridges or other structures only when they were no longer required for operational reasons and after any necessary consents had been granted. Exact figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost because Railtrack does not hold this information centrally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Committee of the Regions
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to announce the nomination of a new United Kingdom member of the Committee of the Regions to replace Mr. Roy Cross. [29686]

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has recently nominated Councillor Robert Eccles, JP, an independent member of Ryedale district council and of the new unitary York district council, to replace Mr. Cross.

  Conference Representatives of Governments
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he has received from the secretariat of the conference of representatives of Governments of member states of the European Union concerning its endowment with a specific legal personality by an amendment to the present treaty of European Union. [29712]

  Mr. David Davis
  The secretariat has circulated a presidency note setting out options on the issue of legal personality for the European Union. The document is note No. 27 (CONF 3827/96). It was placed in the Library of the House on 8 May.

  Indonesian Police
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Indonesian police officers have received training in the United Kingdom under the police management training project in each year since 1990; and if he will list for each officer the(a) name, (b) rank, (c) cost of training, (d) duration of training and (e) United Kingdom police force which provided the training. [29506]

  Mr. Hanley
  Between 1990–91 and 1995–96, 24 Indonesian police officers have received training in the United Kingdom under the police management training project. Details are given in the table, which records that several officers came to the UK for training more than once. The training costs quoted are approximate.
  523

  Year/name

  Rank

  Cost (£)

  Date training commenced

  Date training completed

  Training provider

  1990–91 Scholarships

  Mr. Yusnar Arsyad

  Lieutenant Colonel

  8,300

  16 August 1990

  15 December 1990

  Royal Institute of Public Administration

  Mr. Adjie Rustam Ramdja

  Major

  8,300

  16 August 1990

  15 December 1990

  Royal Institute of Public Administration

  Mr. Deddy S.K.

  Lieutenant Colonel

  8,300

  16August1990

  15-December-1

  Royal Institute of Public Administration

  Mr. Medhy Chumadi

  Lieutenant

  8,300

  16 August 1990

  15 December 1990

  Royal Institute of Public Administration

  Study tours

  Mr. C. H. M. Waskito

  Colonel

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr. F. Sumampow

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr. H Rasyid

  Colonel

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr Soebariliyono

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr Suryaningprang

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Y. Y. Laoli

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr. D. Rustadi

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr. M. Thoyib

  Captain

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr. N. Eko

  Captain

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Lihawa

  Brigadier General

  3,100

  July 1990

  July 1990

  Surrey Police

  1991–92 Scholarships

  Ms Minton Mariaty Simanjuntak

  Major

  8,000

  13 September 1991

  12 December 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Soekamid

  Major

  9,000

  1 October 1991

  30 September 1992

  Salford University

  Mr. Yadi Ermiyadi

  Captain

  9,000

  1October1991

  30 September 1992

  Kent University

  Study tours

  Mr. F. Sumampow

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. H. Rasyid

  Colonel

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Soebariliyono

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Suryaningprang

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Y. Y. Laoli

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. D. Rustadi

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. M. Thoyib

  Captain

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. N. Eko

  Captain

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Soekamid

  Major

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Yadi Ermiyadi

  Captain

  3,000

  July 1991

  July 1991

  Surrey Police

  1992–93 Scholarships

  Mr. Soekamid

  Major

  13,500

  1 October 1992

  30 September 1993

  Salford University

  Mr. Y Ermiyadi

  Captain

  13,500

  1 October 1992

  30 September 1993

  Sheffield University

  Ms Pengasihan Gaut

  Major

  8,500

  1 August 1992

  30 November 1993

  Thames Valley University

  Mr. Adjie Rustam Ramdja

  Major

  8,500

  8 December 1992

  7 April 1993

  Manchester University

  Mr. Pepe Tjahjana

  Lieutenant Colonel

  8,500

  8 December 1992

  7 April 1993

  Manchester University

  Study tours

  Mr. C. H. M. Waskito

  Colonel

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. F. Sumampow

  Lieutenant Colonel

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. H. Rasyid

  Colonel

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Soebarliyono

  Lieutenant Colonel

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Suryaningprang

  Lieutenant Colonel

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Y. Y. Laoli

  Lieutenant Colonel

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. D. Rustadi

  Lieutenant Colonel

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Ms Hemawati

  Major

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Ms M. Simanjuntak

  Major

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Ms R. P. Gaut

  Major

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. M. Thoyib

  Captain

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. N. Eko

  Captain

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. M. B. Hutagalung

  Major General

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. R. Lihawa

  Brigadier General

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  Mr. Karyoso

  Brigadier General

  2,865

  July 1992

  July 1992

  Surrey Police

  1993–94 Scholarships

  Mr. Herman Rasyid

  Colonel

  3,000

  21 May 1993

  20 June 1993

  Surrey Police

  1994–95 Scholarships

  Mr. Wakin

  Major

  5,000

  1 July 1994

  30 October 1994

  Surrey Police

  524 525

  Year/name

  Rank

  Cost (£)

  Date training commenced

  Date training completed

  Training provider

  Mr Nicholas Eko

  Captain

  13,500

  1 August 1994

  30 September 1995

  Sheffield Hallam University

  Mr.James Sitorus

  Lieutenant Colonel

  13,500

  1 August 1994

  30 September 1995

  Sheffield Hallam University

  Mr fred Sumampow

  Lieutenant Colonel

  5,000

  13 April 1995

  12 June 1995

  Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire Police

  1995–96

  Mr Didi Rustadi

  Lieutenant colonel

  6,000

  9 April 1995

  12 May 1995

  Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire Police

  Mr Suryaningprang

  Lieutenant colonel

  7,000

  25 March 1996

  26 April 1996

  Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire Police

  Mr Soebarliyono

  Lieutenant colonel

  7,000

  25 March 1996

  26 April 1996

  Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire Police

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firemen
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) fatalities and (b) injuries have been suffered by firemen in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [29048]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is given in the table.

  Deaths and injuries of fire brigade personnel while on duty in England and Wales 1992 to 1994–95

  England and Wales

  Year

  Deaths

  Injuries1

  1992

  3

  861

  19932Q1

  0

  276

  1993–94

  3

  797

  1994–95

  31

  737

  Notes:

  1 Injuries are defined as those which result in absence of duty for at least one month or two weeks or more of hospitalisation.

  2 January to March 1993, followed by financial years—April to March.

  3 Died of natural causes attending a call.

  Source:

  Home Office.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last two year, how many(a) pistols, (b) other handguns, (c) sub-machine guns, (d) rifles, (e) other firearms and (f) shotguns seized subsequently by the police, or surrendered under amnesty to the police, in (i) Manchester, (ii) Liverpool and (iii) the Metropolitan police areas, have been used in a crime, or have been seized by the police as being in the possession of persons conspiring to commit a crime; how many had been previously deactivated in accordance with the requirements of the Firearms Act 1988, and subsequently illegally reactivated; and in each category, how many were fitted with a sound modulator or silencer. [29277]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on seizures of firearms, on sound moderators and on silencers is not available. There have been no firearms amnesties in the areas referred to in the past two years.

  I shall write to the hon. Member with the available information about illegally reactivated firearms, which is being obtained from the Forensic Science Service.
  526

  Prisoners (Drugs)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down by class the illegal drugs found on prisoners in England and Wales in the last available year; what assessment he has made of the advantage of restricting the visiting privileges available to prisoners who are tested positive for drug use and found in possession of illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement. [29394]

  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. Alex Carlile, dated 16 May 1996:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking for a break down by class of illegal drugs found on prisoners; and for an assessment of the advantage of restricting the visiting privileges available to prisoners who test positive for drugs and who are found in possession of illegal drugs.

  Information is held centrally about drug finds reported by establishments and includes finds in various locations as well as finds on prisoners. Information relating to finds on prisoners could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The breakdown by class of the illegal drugs finds reported by prisons in England and Wales during the 1995/96 financial year is shown in the table below.

  Number

  Class A

  1,019

  Class B

  7,020

  Class C

  81

  Total

  8,120

  There were a further 404 finds for which no classification is available. As part of its drugs strategy, the Prison Service is introducing in a number of prisons, on a trial basis, mandatory closed or non contact visits for any prisoner found, through mandatory drug testing to have misused drugs, or who is known or reasonably suspected to have dealt in drugs in any way. This initiative will be carefully assessed and evaluated to see whether it should be extended to the rest of the prison estate.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the estimated percentage of non-drug offences which arise from, or are connected with, the misuse of drugs by male offenders in the 14 to 21 years age group. [29391]
  527
  Mr. Sackville
  It is not currently possible to estimate with any accuracy the percentage of drug-related crime committed by male offenders in the 14 to 21 years age group.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned concerning the relationship between the misuse of illegal drugs and other non-drug offences; and if he will make a statement. [29392]

  Mr. Sackville
  Research has been commissioned by the Home Office into the nature and incidence of drug-related crime, and projects currently in progress include interviewing and testing people arrested by the police to establish the extent of their drug misuse, obtaining information on how crack-cocaine addicts fund their habits and the impact of treatment programmes on offending behaviour.

  Police Authorities
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the expenditure for each of the police authorities in England in 1995–96, their planned expenditure in 1996–97 and the percentage change in each case. [29616]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Planned revenue expenditure in 1995–96

  Planned revenue expenditure in 1996–97

  Budget

  Percentage increase over 1994–95

  Spending power1

  Percentage increase over 1995–96

  Force

  £ million

  £ million

  Avon and Somerset

  147.75

  7.2

  154.62

  4.6

  Berdfordshire

  55.4

  10.6

  57.54

  3.9

  Cambridgeshire

  62.73

  8.7

  66.42

  5.9

  Cheshire

  93.14

  10.4

  98.53

  5.8

  City of London

  61.33

  5.8

  63.26

  3.2

  Cleveland

  70.74

  6.3

  73.42

  3.8

  Cumbria

  55.01

  2.5

  58.08

  5.6

  Derbyshire

  88.29

  7.9

  92.49

  4.8

  Devon and Cornwall

  146.5

  6.2

  153.5

  4.8

  Dorset

  65.54

  2.5

  68.09

  3.9

  Durham

  67.96

  14.6

  71.54

  5.3

  Essex

  147.8

  2.5

  153.49

  3.9

  England

  Police grant paid in 1995–96 £

  Police grant paid in 1996–97 £

  Percentage change over 1995–96 £

  Amount per head of population 1995–961 £

  Amount per head of population 1996–971 £

  Avon and Somerset

  73,080,634

  77,278,260

  5.74

  50

  53

  Bedfordshire

  27,538,879

  28,811,092

  4.62

  51

  53

  Cambridgeshire

  31,136,129

  33,348,537

  7.11

  45

  48

  Cheshire

  46,286,157

  49,500,131

  6.94

  47

  51

  City of London

  26,753,210

  27,831,884

  4.03

  5,119

  5,326

  Cleveland

  35,134,959

  36,816,273

  4.79

  63

  66

  Cumbria

  26,869,743

  28,688,560

  6.77

  55

  59

  Derbyshire

  43,763,201

  46,355,758

  5.92

  46

  49

  Devon and Cornwall

  72,710,706

  77,025,454

  5.93

  48

  50

  Dorset

  30,950,898

  32,474,611

  4.92

  46

  48

  Durham

  33,683,229

  35,827,979

  6.37

  55

  59

  Essex

  72,744,989

  76,160,629

  4.7

  49

  51

  528

  Planned revenue expenditure in 1995–96

  Planned revenue expenditure in 1996–97

  Budget

  Percentage increase over 1994–95

  Spending power1

  Percentage increase over 1995–96

  Force

  £ million

  £ million

  Gloucestershire

  56.35

  5.4

  58.54

  3.9

  Greater Manchester

  327.13

  4.0

  342.79

  4.8

  Hampshire

  169.0

  10.4

  175.58

  3.9

  Hertfordshire

  87.04

  10.8

  90.43

  3.9

  Humberside

  98.11

  8.9

  103.11

  5.2

  Kent

  158.1

  5.4

  164.22

  3.9

  Lancashire

  155.47

  6.7

  163.56

  5.2

  Leicestershire

  89.85

  14.7

  94.82

  5.5

  Lincolnshire

  60.4

  4.7

  63.32

  4.8

  Merseyside

  218.56

  2.5

  226.74

  3.7

  Metropolitan police

  1,687.83

  1.6

  1,717.0

  1.7

  Norfolk

  71.17

  11.4

  76.01

  6.8

  Northamptonshire

  59.19

  1.5

  62.03

  4.8

  Northumbria

  179.64

  10.1

  188.22

  4.8

  North Yorkshire

  66.66

  8.2

  69.65

  4.5

  Nottinghamshire

  110.23

  10.4

  115.24

  4.5

  South Yorkshire

  147.22

  7.6

  154.78

  5.1

  Staffordshire

  102.18

  2.5

  109.89

  7.5

  Suffolk

  58.45

  4.6

  61.77

  5.7

  Surrey

  84.1

  2.5

  87.33

  3.8

  Sussex

  145.78

  16.1

  151.44

  3.9

  Thames Valley

  194.41

  2.5

  204.06

  5.0

  Warwickshire

  47.66

  5.3

  49.51

  3.9

  West Mercia

  97.79

  4.3

  103.59

  5.9

  West Midlands

  329.28

  4.3

  344.21

  4.5

  West Yorkshire

  249.83

  3.7

  260.79

  4.4

  Wiltshire

  59.29

  2.5

  61.58

  3.9

  1 This figure is the total of the budget set by the police authority and the special grant for additional police officers in 1996–97.

  Police Grant
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the police grant for each English police authority in(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97; what was the percentage change; and how much that represents (i) per resident and (ii) per elector in each authority area. [29591]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information available is set out in the table. Numbers of electors are not available by police authority area. Numbers of electors by London boroughs, counties and districts are published by the Office for National Statistics in "Electoral Statistics 1995" (series EL No. 22), a copy of which is in the Library.
  529

  England

  Police grant paid in 1995–96 £

  Police grant paid in 1996–97 £

  Percentage change over 1995–96 £

  Amount per head of population 1995–96 1£

  Amount per head of population 1996–97 1 £

  Gloucestershire

  27,919,401

  29,317,079

  5.01

  51

  53

  Greater Manchester

  162,401,953

  171,880,949

  5.84

  63

  67

  Hampshire

  83,989,820

  88,068,573

  4.86

  49

  51

  Hertfordshire

  43,244,815

  45,304,535

  4.76

  51

  53

  Humberside

  48,701,807

  51,746,268

  6.25

  55

  58

  Kent

  78,591.41

  82,321,694

  4.75

  51

  53

  Lancashire

  77,102,214

  81,970,295

  6.31

  54

  58

  Leicestershire

  44,419,616

  47,395,525

  6.7

  48

  52

  Lincolnshire

  27,459,730

  29,232,699

  6.46

  45

  48

  Merseyside

  106,672,413

  112,588,958

  5.55

  74

  78

  Metropolitan police

  827,595,814

  846,761,947

  2.32

  111

  114

  Norfolk

  35,376,168

  38,205,064

  8

  46

  50

  Northamptonshire

  27,592,869

  29,320,943

  6.26

  46

  49

  Northumbria

  88,858,912

  94,046,011

  5.84

  62

  65

  North Yorkshire

  33,100,745

  34,961,340

  5.62

  46

  48

  Nottinghamshire

  54,493,281

  57,583,603

  5.67

  53

  56

  South Yorkshire

  73,046,395

  77,594,905

  6.23

  56

  59

  Staffordshire

  50,200,542

  54,610,654

  8.78

  48

  52

  Suffolk

  29,042,990

  31,033,584

  6.85

  45

  48

  Surrey

  40,052,299

  42,090,281

  5.09

  52

  54

  Sussex

  72,343,209

  75,763,690

  4.73

  50

  52

  Thames Valley

  95,749,532

  101,658,543

  6.17

  47

  50

  Warwickshire

  23,595,032

  24,725,312

  4.79

  48

  50

  West Mercia

  48,154,173

  51,605,192

  7.17

  43

  46

  West Midlands

  163,211,148

  172,342,961

  5.6

  62

  66

  West Yorkshire

  123,524,528

  130,447,666

  5.6

  59

  62

  Wiltshire

  29,074,837

  30,427,811

  4.65

  49

  52

  ' Resident population at 30 June 1994—Source: Office for National Statistics (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the Welsh Office police grant to each police authority in Wales in(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97; how much that represents per

  Police authority1

  Police grant paid in 1995–96 £

  Police grant paid in 1996–97 £

  Percentage change over 1995–96

  Amount per head of population 1995–962 £

  Amount per head of population 1996–973 £

  Percentage change over 1995–96

  Amount per elector 1995–962 £

  Amount per elector 1996–973 £

  Percentage change over 1995–96

  Dyfed-Powys

  22,839,951

  24,241,009

  6.13

  48.28

  51.07

  5.77

  61.41

  60.98

  -0.71

  Gwent

  24,476,607

  31,333,758

  28.02

  54.12

  56.30

  4.03

  72.86

  59.04

  -23.39

  North Wales

  32,701,794

  34,681,073

  6.05

  49.73

  52.87

  6.31

  63.94

  64.07

  0.21

  South Wales

  75,959,258

  75,246,910

  -0.94

  57.11

  61.38

  7.49

  75.92

  82.44

  7.9

  1 The figures represent those grants paid in the respective years. Between the two settlements, there were boundary changes involving the district of Rhymney Valley, which moved from South Wales to Gwent police authority and three communities which moved from North Wales police authority to Dyfed-Powys police authority.

  2 Resident population at 30 June 1994—Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS).

  3 Resident population at 30 June 1994 adjusted to reflect boundary changes—Source: ONS.

  Contracts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 382, if he will now make a statement on health service contracts agreed by health authorities for 1996–97. [29474]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on health service contracts agreed by health authorities will be placed in the Library.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has instigated into past cases of CJD, with 530
  (i) resident and (ii) elector in each authority area; and what was the percentage difference in each case between 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is set out in the table.

  particular reference to analysis of museum specimens, to establish whether the new strain of CJD recently reported to his Department existed previously. [28612]

  Mr. Horam
  The Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance unit in Edinburgh holds data going back to the 1970s on pathologically confirmed cases of CJD. The post mortem reports show no evidence of the new variant CJD—NVCJD—announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 20 March 1996. Further checks on younger cases have produced no evidence of the earlier existence of NVCJD.

  Some 32 United Kingdom and four European museum specimens dating from 1980 to 1990 have been examined by the CJD unit. Two UK cases dating from pre-1980 have also been examined.
  531

  Mental Health
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 April,Official Report, column 24, how many children have been admitted to (a) NHS psychiatric care and (b) non-NHS psychiatric care for each year since 1979; and how many children have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 or other provision for each year since 1979. [29478]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 April,Official Report, column 24, for the information on children admitted to national health service psychiatric care. Information on the number of children admitted to registered private mental hospitals and nursing homes is not recorded centrally. The number of children detained for psychiatric care under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other provisions is not identifiable separately in the information available centrally.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients undergoing a mental health review tribunal under mental health legislation have been refused discharge on the ground of inadequate and inappropriate provision in the community, for each year since 1979. [29404]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not held centrally. Such grounds are not part of the criteria in sections 72 and 73 of the Mental Health Act 1983 but discharge can be delayed until a care plan under the care programme approach is in place.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collates in respect of the incidence of carcinoma of the larynx; and how many cases were attributed to an individual working with asbestos in the last five years for which figures are available. [29272]

  Mr. Horam
  There were 1,996 newly diagnosed cases of cancer of the larynx (ICD1 161) in 1990, the latest year for which data are available. Figures for earlier years are given in the annual reference volumes, "Cancer statistics: registrations", series MBI, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Information on possible exposure—occupational or otherwise—to asbestos related to newly diagnosed cases of cancer of the larynx is not collected.
  1International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision.

  National Register for Carers
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department is giving to the National Register for Carers; and if he will make a statement. [29274]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Mr. Pickthall) on 7 May,Official Report, column 36.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effects on people with epilepsy of changes to their medication; [29309]
  532
  (2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the levels of misdiagnosis in respect of children suspected of suffering from epilepsy. [29313]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health has not commissioned research in these specific areas. The Medical Research Council is the main agency through which the Government commission biomedical and clinical research, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. The MRC is always willing to consider scientifically sound research proposals and has identified neurological conditions, which include epilepsy, as an area in which it would particularly welcome proposals.

  The Department of Health's central research development committee has a standing group on health technologies. This group has identified new anti-epileptic drugs and existing therapies as a priority area for research. A call for proposals will be made in June 1996. In addition, a large MRC multi-centre study has recently been set up to compare immediate versus deferred treatment with anti-epileptic drugs.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the preferred medicine choices for people with epilepsy that are contained in the prodigy pilot study on computer-assisted prescribing currently being evaluated. [29311]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Health gave my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 945.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many nurses specialising in the care of people with epilepsy are employed in the national health service; [29315]

  (2) how many hospital consultants and paediatricians specialising in the treatment of epilepsy are employed in the national health service. [29314]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent on medicines for the treatment of epilepsy in the last five years. [29308]

  Mr. Bowis
  The table shows the information for England for the period 1991 to 1995. The data were obtained from the prescription cost analysis system, an information system administered by the Prescription Pricing Authority The figures are in terms of net ingredient cost which has increased from £26 million in 1991 to £48.5 million in 1995. The figures for 1995 are based on provisional data.

  Net ingredient cost of drugs prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy

  England

  Year

  Net ingredient cost (£ millions)

  1991

  26.0

  1992

  31.0

  1993

  36.3

  1994

  41.8

  1995

  48.5

  533
  1. Drugs used for the treatment of epilepsy are those preparations in the British National Formulary (issue 28 September 1994) therapeutic group 4.8—antiepileptics. Some of the drugs in this section may be used for other conditions.

  2. The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis system and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and personal administration.

  3. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.

  4. The figures for 1995 are based on provisional data.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of medicines prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy was for(a) generic preparations and (b) branded medicines in each of the last five years for which records are available. [29310]

  Mr. Bowis
  The table shows the information for England for the period 1991 to 1995 obtained from the prescription cost analysis system. The figures for 1995 are based on provisional data.

  Proportion of generic and branded drugs prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy

  England

  Percentage

  Year

  Generic

  Branded

  1991

  41.2

  58.8

  1992

  43.5

  56.5

  1993

  45.8

  54.2

  1994

  46.7

  53.3

  1995

  50.0

  50.0

  1. Drugs used for the treatment of epilepsy are those preparations in the British National Formulary (issue 28 September 1994) therapeutic group 4.8—antiepileptics. Some of the drugs in this section may be used for other conditions.

  2. The data are from the prescription cost analysis system and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists an appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and personal administration.

  3. Drugs prescribed generically include drugs prescribed and dispensed generically and drugs prescribed generically but dispensed as a branded drug because a generic is not available (for example the branded is still under patent).

  4. The figures for 1995 are based on provisional data.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to issue guidance to the regional offices of the national health service executive on appropriate standards of care for people with epilepsy. [29312]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have no current plans to do so.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department held with GPs and patient organisations before deciding which medicines should be included for the treatment of epilepsy in the prodigy pilot study. [29316]

  Mr. Bowls
  We fund several sources of information for general practitioners on drug treatments, consulting a wide range of professional and other bodies as appropriate. GPs are of course free to choose which drugs to prescribe for their patients, in the light of the information available to them.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has issued to doctors treating people with epilepsy regarding consistency and continuity in prescribing medicines. [29318]
  534
  Mr. Bowis
  While it is our policy to encourage generic prescribing, we expect the doctor to choose the product which, in his clinical judgment, is most appropriate for the patient's condition. The British National Formulary, issued free of charge to all doctors, recognises that bioavailability can be a problem, making it necessary that some patients remain with one brand.

  Prescription Guidelines
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medicines are currently contained in the prescription guidelines; and if the guidelines include brand names. [29317]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 946 and to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 19 December 1995, Official Report, column 1154.

  Doctors
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those who completed their training as doctors in each of the last 10 years were(a) men and (b) women. [29323]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 19 March,Official Report, column 190.

  Embryos
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to instruct the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to contract donors of sperm or eggs whose embryos will be kept past the five-year limit. [29338]

  Mr. Horam
  Most embryos currently in store were created from gametes from couples being treated together. In a small number of cases, donor gametes were used. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has issued guidance on the steps to be taken to alert couples and, where appropriate, donors to the arrangements available for extending the storage period. The authority has also had a series of meetings with centres where it has stressed the importance of making all reasonable effort to contact those whose embryos are nearing the end of their storage period.

  Committees (Membership)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the present members of(a) the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy, (b) the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food and (c) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Foods, together with their current employers; [29285]

  (2) which present members of (a) the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy, (b) the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food and (c) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, are in receipt of grants from private companies. [29286]

  Mr. Horam
  Current membership of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy is as follows:
  535

  Chairman

  Sir K. Calman: Chief Medical Officer

  Members

  Professor P. Aggett: Head of Department of Nutrition, Diet and Health, Biotechnology and Biological Research Council Institute of Food Research, Norwich

  Professor K. Alberti1: Professor of Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  Dr S. Bingham: Senior Scientist, Medical Research Council Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Cambridge

  Dr. H. Campbell1: Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Social Security Northern Ireland

  Professor F. Cockburn: Samson Gemmell Professor of Child Health, University of Glasgow

  Dr. H. Denner (until July 1995)1: Chief Scientist (Food), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Mr. B. Dickinson (From August 1995)1: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Professor J. Grimley Evans: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford

  Ms A. Foster: Director, Scottish Consumer Council

  Dr. G. Fowler: Clinical Reader in General Practice, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Oxford

  Dr. D. Hine1: Chief Medical Office, Scottish Office

  Professor A. A. Jackson: Professor of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton

  Professor W. P. T. James: Director, Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen

  Dr. M. Kemp': Medical Research Council

  Dr. R. Kendell': Chief Medical Officer, Welsh Office

  Professor M. Marmot: Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Medical School, London

  Dr. D. Richardson: Nestle UK Limited

  Ms L. Stockley1: Health Education Authority 1 Ex officio.

  Current membership of the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Enviornment is as follows:

  Members

  Professor J. M. Parry (Chair): University College of Swansea

  Professor J. Ashby: Zeneca

  Professor R. L. Carter: The Royal Marsden NHS Trust

  Dr. J. Cole: Medical Research Council, University of Sussex

  Dr. C. Cooper: The Institute of Cancer Research, Haddow Laboratories

  Professor D. S. Davies: Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital

  Professor H. J. Evans: Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital

  Professor R. F. Newbold: The University of West London

  Dr. D. J. Tweats: Glaxo Research and Development Ltd.

  Dr. S. Venitt: The Institute of Cancer Research, Haddow Laboratories.

  Current membership of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment is as follows:

  Members

  Professor H. F. Woods (Chair): Royal Hallamshire Hospital

  Professor P. Aggett: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Norwich

  Dr. P. N. Bennett: University of Bath, Wolfson Centre

  536

  Dr. N. A. Brown: Medical Research Council Experimental Embryology and Teratology Unit, St. George's Hospital Medical School

  Dr. J. K. Chipman: The University of Birmingham

  Professor A. D. Dayan: Department of Health Toxicology Laboratory

  Professor G. G. Gibson: University of Surrey

  Professor G. M. Hawksworth: University of Aberdeen

  Dr. M. Joffe: St. Mary's Hospital Medical School

  Dr. I. Kimber: Zeneca

  Dr. D. Prentice: Self employed

  Dr. A. G. Renwick: University of Southampton

  Dr. A. G. Smith: University of Leicester

  Dr. A. Thomas: Plymouth General Hospital

  Dr. M. J. Tucker: Retired

  Relevant grants for research from private companies are declared by members in the appropriate register of commercial interests. A copy of these are available in the Library.

  General Practitioners
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of whose who completed their training as GPs in each of the last 10 years were(a) men and (b) women.[29324]

  Mr. Malone
  The information is not available centrally.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those in general practice in each of the last 10 years were(a) men and (b) women. [29322]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is contained in "General Medical Services Statistics for England and Wales", copies of which are available in the Library.

  NHS Trusts (Insurance Premiums)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the costs to trusts of paying insurance premiums each year. [29667]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on national health service trust insurance premium costs is not available centrally.

  Supervision Registers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are currently on supervision registers. [29671]

  Mr. Bowis
  The latest complete set of information indicates that 3,498 patients were reported to be on supervision registers at 31 December 1995.

  Property Sales
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 321, (1) what estimate he has made of the annual proceeds from the sale of properties in each of the next 10 years; [29714]

  (2) if his estimate of proceeds from the sale of surplus or potentially surplus properties has been assumed in published public expenditure survey accounts. [29715]
  537
  Mr. Horam
  The estimated annual proceeds from the sale of non-national health service trust properties over the next four years is shown in the table, together with an aggregate estimate of sales after 2000. The figures are based on the best estimate of estates advisors to the NHS executive. The estimates are based on current open market values and are liable to change as a result of fluctuations in property market values. Actual proceeds may be subject to considerable variation since many properties scheduled for sale are currently in operational use and the estimates are based on provisional disposal dates.

  Estimates of the proceeds from the sale of surplus non-national health service trust properties have been taken into account as capital receipts in the Government's expenditure plans, published as Cm 3212 in March.

  Year

  Estimated annual proceeds £ million

  1996–97

  237

  1997–98

  220

  1998–99

  213

  1999–00

  223

  Post 2000

  311

  Total

  1,204

  Regional Health Authorities (Financial Reserves)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial reserves have been held by regions for each of the last four years. [29670]

  Mr. Horam
  Donation reserve by regional health authorities in England are shown in the tables.

  £ Thousands

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Northern RHA

  48

  40

  93

  Yorkshire RHA

  224

  222

  48

  Trent RHA

  101

  69

  48

  East Anglia RHA

  65

  53

  758

  North West Thames RHA

  0

  36

  737

  North East Thames RHA

  0

  0

  0

  South East Thames RHA

  0

  0

  0

  South West Thames RHA

  117

  11

  0

  Wessex RHA

  0

  0

  0

  Oxford RHA

  0

  0

  0

  South Western RHA

  0

  0

  0

  West Midlands RHA

  0

  0

  0

  Mersey RHA

  0

  0

  0

  North Western RHA

  10

  8

  7

  1994–95 £000s

  Northern and Yorkshire RHA

  1,905

  Trent RHA

  0

  Anglia and Oxford RHA

  1,636

  North East Thames RHA

  0

  South West Thames RHA

  0

  South and West RHA

  0

  West Midlands RHA

  0

  North West RHA

  4

  Source:

  The annual accounts of regional and district health authorities and the special health authorities of the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.
  538

  Social Services (Wirral)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received the report from the social services inspectorate on the functioning of Wirral social services department. [29713]

  Mr. Bowis
  The social services inspectorate, working with the north-western regional office of the national health service executive, will shortly complete its investigation into the implementation of community care by Wirral metropolitan borough council and the Wirral health authority. In the light of its conclusions, we shall consider what further action, if any, is required.

  Section 64 Grants
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eccles (Miss Lestor) of 5 March,Official Report, column 185, if he will list the organisations (a) within and (b) outside London to which grants will be paid in the current financial year under the section 64 grant scheme; and if he will indicate the amount of each grant and whether the organisation has previously received such grants. [29331]

  Mr. Bowis
  Grants can be authorised at any time during the year. Comprehensive information about those paid during 1996–97 will not therefore be available before the end of that year. The majority of grants go to national organisations.

  Social Services (Essex)
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the chief inspector of social services to(a) commence and (b) conclude his investigations into Essex social services. [29582]

  Mr. Bowis
  The social services inspectorate will shortly complete its investigation into the implementation of community care by Essex county council. Material originally submitted by the end of March is being updated in the light of newly available statistical data. In the light of the inspectorate's conclusions, we shall consider what further action, if any, is required.

  NHS Trusts (Cost Improvements)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trusts have failed to meet their cost improvement target in each of the last two years. [29668]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Business Subsidies
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the grants and loans provided by his Department to businesses, together with the criteria they have to meet in order to obtain the subsidy. [28189]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: The Department makes no grants or loans to businesses.

  GP Practices
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices there were in each region in 1995–96; and what each figure was as a proportion of the total. [29572]
  539
  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Number of general practitioner practices in England at 1 April 1995

  NHS executive regional office

  Number of practices

  Percentage of total practices

  Northern and Yorkshire

  1,188

  13.1

  Trent

  842

  9.3

  Anglia and Oxford

  780

  8.6

  North Thames

  1,611

  17.8

  South Thames

  1,277

  14.1

  South and West

  1,001

  11.0

  West Midlands

  1,056

  11.7

  North West

  1,308

  14.4

  England

  9,063

  100.0

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the PFI schemes worth over £5 million indicating for each(a) the costs of preparing outline and full business cases and (b) the amount spent on consultancies. [29665]

  Mr. Horam
  The table shows private finance initiative schemes with a capital value of more than £5 million that have been approved to date:

  NHS body (by Region)

  Nature of scheme

  Capital value (£ million)

  Northern and Yorkshire Region

  Yorkshire regional health authority

  Clinical waste incinerator

  5.6

  United Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS trust

  Provision of power station

  5.8

  St. James's University Hospital NHS trust

  New paediatric wing, private patients unit and medipark

  50.0

  Anglia and Oxford Region

  Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital NHS trust

  Office accommodation, car parking, private patients wing and retail outlets

  20.0

  South Buckinghamshire NHS trust

  New hospital developments at High Wycombe and Amersham

  35.0

  Norfolk and Norwich NHS trust

  New district general hospital

  170.0

  South Thames Region

  South East London Commission Agency

  Office accommodation

  11.0

  St. Peter's Hospital NHS trust

  Housing redevelopment

  5.2

  South and West Region

  Swindon and Marlborough NHS trust

  Redevelopment of St. Margaret's hospital

  90.0

  National

  NHS executive

  NHS-wide clearing service

  5.5

  540
  Information on the costs of preparing outline and full business cases, and on consultancy costs, is not collected centrally.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Arms Export Licences
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of the licences granted for the export of arms manufactured in the United Kingdom to the former Yugoslavia, for each year between 1987 and 1991; and what is his policy on the granting of such licences currently. [27445]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The first part of this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

  The UK has observed the UN arms embargo of former Yugoslavia with effect from 25 September 1991. The Government's current policy was set out in an answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury, (Mr. Lidington), 31 January 1996, Official Report, column 766.

  Land Mines
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many export licences for land mines possessing a self-destruct mechanism have been(a) applied for and (b) granted in each year since 1990; [28316]

  (2) how many export licences for components which can be used in the manufacture of land mines have (a) been applied for and (b) granted in each year since 1990. [28317]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to disclose details of applications for export licences or export licences. The hon. Lady may be aware that, following the publication of the Scott report, the Government have accepted Sir Richard Scott's recommendation that we should review this convention. The Ministry of Defence is taking the lead in the review and is consulting widely during its consideration.

  In this case, however, I am prepared to say that no export licences have been applied for, or granted, for anti-personnel land mines or for specially designed components for such mines during the period in question.

  Car Imports (Germany)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the tariff levied on(a) British, (b) Swiss and (c) Japanese cars imported into Germany. [28917]

  Mr. Nelson
  No tariff is levied on British cars. The Community common customs tariff of 10 per cent. is charged on Japanese and Swiss cars unless the latter qualify for EC-EFTA—European Free Trade Association—preference, in which case they enter Germany duty free.

  Mechanical Engineered Products
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the tariff levied by Germany on imports from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Switzerland and (c) Japan of mechanical engineered products. [28918]
  541
  Mr. Nelson
  No tariff is levied on imports from the United Kingdom nor on Swiss goods qualifying for EC-EFTA—European Free Trade Association—preference. Other Swiss products and products from Japan are charged the tariffs laid down in the Community common customs tariff. Current rates are contained in Commission regulations (EC) No. 3009/95,Official Journal L 319 of 30 December 1995. Most mechanical engineered products are classified from chapter 84 onwards.

  Crown Post Offices
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money the Post Office has generated from the introduction of agency status in(a) Scotland (b) throughout the rest of the United Kingdom in each financial year since the introduction of the policy. [28965]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand from the Post Office that the recurring financial benefits, on a national basis, from the policy of converting crown post offices to agency status are as follows:

  Net recurring benefits from that year's conversions

  Year

  £ million

  1989–90

  4.4

  1990–91

  3.9

  1991–92

  4.1

  1992–93

  3.4

  1993–94

  3.9

  1994–95

  14.1

  1995–96

  13.9

  1 Estimated.

  Total cumulative recurring benefit: £27.7 million.

  Separate figures for Scotland could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used by the Post Office in assessing which crown post offices should be given agency status. [29066]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand from the Post Office that it uses the following criteria in assessing crown post offices for conversion to agency status:

  the customer service benefits of changing, eg longer opening hours, better location;

  financial benefits;

  ability to redeploy any surplus staff;

  availability of a suitable partner to become agent.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what surveys the Post Office has carried out on the impact of agency status and franchising on the operation of former crown post offices. [29065]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand that the Post Office has conducted regular customer opinion surveys of the offices that have converted to agency status. The results show that customers prefer the new agency offices, principally due to improvements in the office environment and longer opening hours.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff who formerly worked in crown post offices have left employment following the introduction of agency status. [28963]
  542
  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand from the Post Office that, when a crown post office is to be converted to agency status, staff are offered redeployment opportunities or voluntary redundancy terms. The total number of Post Office Counters Ltd. staff who have accepted voluntary redundancy since the introduction of the crown conversion policy is 4,288. It is not possible to say how many of those who opted for voluntary redundancy terms did so as a result of the conversion of crown offices to agency status.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many crown post offices in Ayrshire have been converted to agency status since the introduction of the policy; and how many crown post offices there are currently in Ayrshire. [28987]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand from the Post Office that 13 former crown post offices in Ayrshire have been converted to agency status since 1989. At the end of April 1996, there were five crown post offices in Ayrshire.

  Colliery Areas (Regeneration)
  Mrs. Clywd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what allocation of the reserve fund for Community initiatives from the EU will be made available for RECHAR in the United Kingdom. [29463]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I shall announce the allocation as soon as possible.

  British Coal Industrial Death and Retirement Fund
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the conformity of British Coal's appropriation of the assets of the industrial death and retirement fund with clause 18 of the fund's governing document. [29505]

  Mr. Page
  The operation of the industrial death and retirement scheme—IDRS—is a matter for British Coal. However, I understand that the chairman of British Coal has written to the hon. Member previously, outlining the corporation's powers under clause 18.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received, and from which bodies, asserting that the British Coal industrial death and retirement fund was intended to be a trust.[29504]

  Mr. Page
  I have not received any such representations.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ascertain from British Coal if there was an intention to create a trust or fund when the industrial death and retirement fund was created. [29503]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for British Coal. However, I understand that the chairman of British Coal has written to the hon. Member previously, confirming the nature of the scheme when it was established.

  Trade Associations
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department has taken to put into effect the proposals contained in the model trade association paper. [29657]
  543
  Mr. Page
  The best practice guide for the model trade association was developed by the DTI in consultation with trade associations and other representative bodies including the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors, the Engineering Employers Federation and the Federation of Small Businesses.

  It is for trade associations to reach decisions about putting the guide into effect. I and my colleagues and officials are, however, actively encouraging adoption of the model through discussions with individual associations. We are also supporting a benchmarking club which aims to set benchmark standards against which trade associations may measure their performance in the various areas covered by the model.

  Business Failures
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of business failures in the first quarter of(a) 1996 and (b) 1995. [28488]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The number of compulsory liquidations, creditors' voluntary liquidations and bankruptcy orders in the first quarters of 1995 and 1996, by category and on a seasonally adjusted basis, are shown in the table:

  1995

  1996

  Compulsory liquidations

  1,364

  1,273

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  2,141

  2,022

  Bankruptcy orders

  5,054

  5,000

  Domestic Gas Bills
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of changes in domestic gas bills over the past five years. [28494]

  Mr. Eggar
  The average annual domestic gas bill, in real 1995 prices and excluding VAT, fell by more than 12 per cent. from 1991 to 1995. Including VAT, the fall over the same period was 5 per cent. in real 1995 prices.

  Export and Import Control
  Ms Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to bring forward legislation to replace the Export and Import Control Act 1990. [29350]

  Mr. Nelson
  I plan to publish a consultative paper on export licensing procedures in the summer. I shall consider, in the light of representations made to me in response to that paper, whether new legislation is needed to replace the Export and Import Control Act 1990.

  Manufacturing Output
  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]

  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.
  544

WALES

  M4
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations his Department has received concerning the need for an integrated transport study of the M4 corridor; and if he will make a statement. [27922]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office has received several representations in response to the public consultation on the M4 relief road—Major to Castleton—proposals.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans his Department has to undertake an integrated transport study of the M4 corridor; and if he will make a statement. [27899]

  Mr. Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I have no plans but the development of proposals for the M4 relief road will include an assessment of alternative transport modes.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department plans to publish a draft order concerning the M4 relief road; and if he will make a statement. [27898]

  Mr. Jones
  It will be several years before the necessary work has been done to identify the scheme details and prepare draft orders.

  Beef Producers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he will assist beef producers in respect of their cash flow; and if he will make a statement. [28406]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government have introduced a series of measures to assist beef producers. The two main aids are the calf processing scheme and compensation for animals over 30 months which no longer have a market. Both schemes are operational in Wales and will help producers' cash flow.

  In addition, I arranged for payments of subsidies to Welsh beef producers to be accelerated and over £66 million—representing 90 per cent. of livestock payments—was paid during April 1996.

  Cattle Slaughter Scheme
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to compensate farmers for the transport costs of delivering cattle from collection points to abattoirs under the slaughter scheme. [28548]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Under the 30 month slaughter scheme, the Government pay the cost of carcase disposal.This includes the transport costs beyond the abattoir. Costs for transporting live animals to abattoirs is the responsibility of producers either directly or via the commission charged by livestock markets.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the foreign-owned companies which have been granted regional selective assistance in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [28655]
  545
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Negotiations between the Welsh Office and applicants are confidential. However, certain information on offers of assistance of over £75,000 is published in "Labour Market Trends"—previously in the "Employment Gazette"—following the first payment of grant.

  Between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1996, 186 firms described as foreign owned at the time of the application received offers of regional selective assistance towards a total of 204 projects. These offers totalled £218 million and the projects were forecast to create or safeguard some 30,000 jobs and involved private investment of £1.8 billion.

  Physiotherapists
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many physiotherapists there were in(a) general practices and (b) hospitals, in each health board area, in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [28708]

  Mr. Richards
  The available information is given in the following table. Staff employed by NHS trusts are shown in the health authority area in which the trust is situated.

  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent numbers)

  Old Health Authority area

  General practices11993

  Hospital and community21994

  1994

  1995

  Clwyd3

  —

  1

  92

  93

  East Dyfed

  —

  —

  51

  49

  Gwent

  —

  —

  99

  111

  Gwynedd

  —

  —

  62

  65

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  —

  87

  87

  Pembrokeshire

  —

  —

  5—

  5—

  Powys3

  —

  1

  5—

  30

  South Glamorgan3

  —

  —

  148

  142

  West Glamorgan

  3

  3

  89

  87

  WHCSA4

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1 At 1 October.

  2 At 30 September.

  3 The data may exclude a small number of staff, in the hospital and community, paid on local payscales for whom no details of occupation are available centrally.

  4 Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  5 As most staff in the relevant pay groups are paid on local payscales and details of occupation are not available centrally, no reliable information can be given.

  Agricultural Pollution
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on agricultural pollution. [29044]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Pollution is tackled through a variety of measures. These include the provision of free advice to farmers, the availability of codes of good agricultural practice, a programme of targeting specific river catchment areas identified in consultation with the Environment Agency where farmers are encouraged to prepare their own farm waste management plans, and the availability of waste handling grants in nitrate vulnerable zones.

  Beef
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he plans to assist farmers who raise mature beef; and if he will make a statement. [29046]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 May 1996,Official Report, column 422.

  North Wales Fire Authority
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the funding of the north Wales fire authority. [29047]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  We have received a number of representations about revenue and capital funding for 1996–97.

  Development Status (Cash Grants)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total amount in cash grants given to those parts of the former county of Clwyd which were covered by full development status during the term they were so covered; [29049]

  (2) what was the total amount in cash grants given to the former district of Alyn and Deeside in those years when it was covered by full development status; [29050]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on all grants is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Politically Restricted Posts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appeals have been lodged against the political restriction of their posts by Government employees during the last five years; how many of these appeals have been (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful; and how many of these appeals have still to be dealt with. [29219]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In the past five years, 11 applications for exemption from political restriction in Wales were made to the independent adjudicator appointed by my right hon. Friend under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. All were granted exemption.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many patients whose operations were cancelled were not re-admitted to hospital for a period exceeding four weeks in each quarter of(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96; [29278]

  (2) if he will list the number of operations cancelled within 24 hours of the proposed operation time, in each of the health authorities in Wales for each (a) year and (b) quarter in (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) 1995–96. [29279]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the number of cancelled operations in Welsh hospitals is not collected centrally.
  547

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals the Environment Agency has to implement its remit to promote sustainable development in Wales. [29373]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Section 4 of the Environment Act 1995 describes the principal aim of the agency, which relates to sustainable development and requires the agency to have regard to guidance issued by Ministers. A draft of the guidance was issued for consultation with the Environment Agency and others in December and the comments received are under consideration. The Government intend to lay a draft of the statutory guidance before Parliament shortly.

  Student Hardship
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement indicating what funds his Department operates to alleviate hardship amongst Welsh students. [29603]

  Mr. Richards
  The Department makes access funds available to the Welsh funding councils for distribution to further and higher education institutions. These funds enable institutions to provide financial help to full-time students who are in financial difficulties. Some £1,661 million has been made available for this academic year and £1.732 million for next year.

  Police Authorities (Council Tax)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the band D council tax levied in respect of each of the police authorities in Wales in 1995–96 and 1996–97; what was the percentage increase in each case; and if he will make a statement. [29588]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is given in the following table. It would be noted that, for 1996–97, part of the area of the South Wales police authority—that of the Rhymney Valley district council—is transferred to the area of Gwent police authority.

  Amounts of band D council tax bills relating to the levy by the relevant police authority, by police authority area

  Police authority

  1995–96 £

  1996–97 £

  Percentage increase

  Dyfed-Powys

  38.31

  46.57

  21.6

  Gwent

  38.69

  46.78

  20.9

  North Wales

  37.88

  46.21

  22.0

  South Wales

  38.23

  46.36

  21.3

  Source:

  Local authority budget requirements returns.

ENVIRONMENT

  Business Rate Relief (Village and Charity Shops)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amount of business rate relief in England and Wales, for the latest year for which figures are available, in respect of 548
  (a) village shops obtaining reduction or omission of rates under section 69 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and (b) charity shops. [28606]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In 1994–95 in England and Wales, £2,309,392 of rate relief was granted to ratepayers under section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988; and £450,935,653 was granted to charities. My Department does not keep information on the breakdown of these figures by types of business.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what records are(a) collected and
  (b) evaluated in respect of the number of (a) men and (b) women suffering from asbestos-related diseases. [28602]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department of Social Security keeps records of people suffering from certain asbestos-related disease which are prescribed for the purposes of industrial injuries disablement benefit. The records do not provide a complete count of the incidence of asbestos-related diseases as only those eligible to claim the benefit are recorded. From 1994, these records distinguish between men and women.

  The Health and Safety Executive maintains records under the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). These require employers, in certain circumstances only, to report certain asbestos-related diseases occurring among their employees. These figures distinguish between men and women.

  Council Tax (Students)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions his Department has had with the Department of Social Security regarding the liability of students for council tax when sharing a house with people on income support. [29037]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department reviews with the Department of Social Security from time to time a range of matters of mutual interest relating to the operation of the council tax and council tax benefit systems.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to make changes to the regulations on the liability of students for council tax when sharing a house with people on income support. [29038]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Politically Restricted Posts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local government employees work in politically restricted posts. [29216]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Approximately 40,000 local authority posts in England and Wales are estimated to be so restricted.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been lodged against the political restriction of their posts by local
  549
  government employees during the last five years; how many of these appeals have been (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful; and how many of these appeals have still to be dealt with. [29218]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In the past five years, 516 applications for exemption from political restriction were made in respect of England to the independent adjudicator appointed under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Exemption was granted in 489 cases, declined in 24, and three applications are outstanding.

  Passive Smoking
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals he is now evaluating to encourage the leisure industry to protect workers and customers from the effects of passive smoking; [29221]

  (2) what steps he is taking to guarantee a smoke-free atmosphere for those who work in the leisure industry. [29222]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government's view is that passive smoking can best be addressed by voluntary means. The Department of the Environment has issued a code of practice for owners and managers of public places, providing practical guidance on implementing suitable policies on smoking. The code emphasises that such policies should protect both the public and non-smoking employees from passive smoking. The Health and Safety Executive has issued guidance to employers calling on them to adopt smoking policies to protect workers from the effects of environmental tobacco smoke.

  The recently published results of a survey commissioned by the Department of the Environment show the leisure industry to be lagging behind in establishing effective smoking policies. The Government are currently considering how best to target advice and publicity campaigns further to encourage progress in these areas.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with representatives of the workers in the licensed and restaurant trade regarding the dangers of passive smoking incurred by their workers in the leisure industry. [29230]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have held no discussions with representatives of workers in the licensed and restaurant trade on this subject.

  Ofwat (Nature Conservation)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he proposes to give to the Office of Water Services with regard to the implications of the habitats directive to review licences and consent which could damage special protection areas and special areas of conservation; and how this will be reflected in its next price review. [29256]

  Mr. Clappison
  The review of abstraction licences and discharge consents in the light of the habitats directive is a matter for the Environment Agency. The conduct of periodic price reviews is a matter for the Director General of Water Services.
  550
  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what duty there is on Ofwat to further nature conservation. [29257]

  Mr. Clappison
  Section 3(2) of the Water Industry Act 1991 places a duty on the Director General of Water Services, in formulating or considering any proposals relating to the functions of a water or sewerage undertaker, to exercise his powers so as to further the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty and the conservation of flora, fauna and geological of physiographical features of special interest.

  Water Companies
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new measures the water companies propose to implement as result of their new duty to promote the efficient use of water. [29271]

  Mr. Clappison
  The measures water companies are taking to promote the efficient use of water amongst their customers are the responsibility of the water companies themselves. The Director General of Water Services is considering how he should use his powers to impose this requirement on water undertakers.

  Water Leakage
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action the water regulator is taking to ensure that the leakage targets which companies have set themselves are reasonable; [29320]

  (2) how Ofwat will ensure that a consistent and coherent approach is adopted to water leakage by all water companies. [29321]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Director General of Water Services is involved in discussions with the water companies about their targets and the measures they are taking to reduce leakage.

  Government Office, Yorkshire and Humberside
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what democratic accountability he proposes for the new structure of the integrated Government office in Yorkshire and Humberside. [29659]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  As head of the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside, the regional director remains accountable to each of my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment and for Transport and to me for the delivery of our particular policies and programmes.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it a requirement for the operators of integrated pollution control processes to advertise applications or variations of an authorisation in the national and relevant local press. [28477]

  Mr. Clappison
  Operators of processes falling under integrated pollution control have been required to advertise applications for, and variations of, authorisations in the relevant local press since the inception of the
  551
  regime in 1991. Such operators have additionally, since 1 April 1996, been required to advertise applications and variations in the London Gazette.

  Planning Controls
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to bring forward legislation to abolish crown immunity from planning controls. [29269]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We intend to remove crown exemption from the planning system as soon as a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

  Planning Guidance
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the regional planning guidance for Yorkshire and Humberside was subject to environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; if he will publish the appraisal; what alternative courses of action from those set out in the guidance were considered in the environmental appraisal; how the guidance was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal; and what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the guidance. [29490]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The process of preparing regional planning guidance generally followed the principles set out in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment". The final guidance included numerous modifications to the original advice reflecting the views expressed by environmental organisations and others. It draws heavily on published national policy. A central theme of the guidance is the need to attain the objective of sustainability. I do not intend to publish a separate environmental appraisal in addition to the material already published.

  The guidance asks that development plans prepared by local authorities be subject to environment appraisal to ensure that planning policies and proposals are consistent with the principles of sustainable development set out in the guidance. The arrangements for monitoring and review and the means whereby a cross-section of organisations and interests in the region can contribute to the process is currently the subject of discussions between the Government office and local planning authorities.

  Water (Environmental Appraisal)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the "Water: Increasing Customer Choice" consultation paper was subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; if he will publish the appraisal; what alternative courses of action from those set out in the "Water: Increasing Customer Choice" consultation paper were considered in the environmental appraisal; how the paper was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal; and what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the paper. [29491]

  Mr. Clappison
  The consultation paper is about customer choice between suppliers of drinking water. Inter alia, possible environmental aspects were taken into account in developing the proposals; they take for granted 552
  that there would be no change in the environmental standards and performance required—that is, with respect to abstraction requirements and the handling of wastes arising in the treatment process—see in particular paragraphs 4.34 and 4.36.

  Biodiversity
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the environmental appraisal conducted in accordance with guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" for the forthcoming Government response to the report of the United Kingdom biodiversity steering group. [29492]

  Mr. Clappison
  The United Kingdom steering group took account of the guidance set out in the booklet, "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", in preparing the costed action plans for key species and habitats contained in the group's report. The Government's response to the report, published on 15 May 1996, accepts the order of costs involved as a best estimate at this time by leading scientists and economists in this field. As more detailed implementation plans are drawn up the costs and benefits may well become clearer. If these differ significantly from the group's estimates, they will be referred to the UK biodiversity group.

  Planning and Telecommunications
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the planning and telecommunications consultation paper was subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; if he will publish the appraisal; what alternative courses of action from those set out in the planning and telecommunications consultation paper were considered in the environmental appraisal; how the paper was modified following the appraisal; and what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the paper. [29493]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Our consultation paper, "Planning and Telecommuncations", seeks views on whether a general planning permission should be granted for certain kinds of telecommunications development. The potential environmental impact was considered in drawing up the paper although a full environmental assessment was not judged appropriate. Likely environmental implications will be fully taken into account in the formulation of any new policies, in the light of responses to the consultation. We are not proposing special arrangements to monitor the impact of any new legislation arising from this consultation exercise but this will be kept under a review in the normal way.

  Waste Management
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the waste management regulations were subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; if he will publish the appraisal; what alternative courses of action from those set out in the waste management regulations were considered in the appraisal; how the regulations were modified by the results of the appraisal; and what procedures have been
  553
  put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the regulations. [29494]

  Mr. Clappison
  The main purpose of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 is to transpose into national law the requirements of the amended EC framework directive on waste. In view of the objectives and requirements of the directive, a separate environmental appraisal in relation to the 1994 regulations would not have been appropriate.

  The Environment Agency is a competent authority for the purpose of the regulations and has a duty under section 42 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to ensure that licensed activities do not cause environmental pollution or harm to human health.

  Durham Chemicals, Birtley
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the report by the Environment Agency concerning the release of chlorine gas by Durham Chemicals in Birtley on 17 April; [29585]

  (2) if he will make a statement regarding his power to insist that where poison gas is released, the local authorities environmental health department and local health authority must be informed, with special reference to the incident at Durham Chemicals on 17 April; [29586]

  (3) if he will give an instruction to the director of the Environment Agency to ensure that all companies manufacturing hazardous chemicals in the United Kingdom are aware of their duty to report immediately a leak of those chemicals to the Environment Agency and to the local authority environmental health committee. [29590]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Environment Agency learnt on 24 April that there had been an unauthorised release of chlorine gas from the Durham Chemicals process. The agency promptly investigated the incident, which had occurred on 17 April, and as a result of its findings, issued an enforcement notice to Harcros Chemical UK Ltd. the operator of the process, on 2 May. The notice states that conditions of the company's integrated pollution control—IPC—authorisation were breached by the operator's failure to report the release to the agency within 24 hours of its occurrence, the failure to provide adequate supervision of staff and the failure to follow written operating instructions. There was a regrettable delay in discussing the incident with officers of Gateshead metropolitan borough council, but the agency is now in discussion with both officers and councillors, and with the Health and Safety Executive, which regulates the site under the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1984. The agency is reviewing the options for further enforcement, including prosecution.

  The Environment Agency routinely includes in its IPC authorisations a condition requiring operators to report any unauthorised release within 24 hours of its occurrence. The Secretary of State considers that such conditions are essential. In the event of any serious incident at an IPC process which is likely to give rise to significant local public concern, he would also expect that the agency would inform interested bodies such as the local authority and, where there are implications for public health, the local health authority.

  Integrated Regional Offices
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the (i) running costs and (ii) number of staff employed for each integrated regional office in 1995–96. [29662]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information is as follows:

  Government office

  Running costs (forecast outturn 1995–96) (k)

  Number of staff employed on 1 October 1995

  North East

  8,918

  297

  North West

  9,984

  323

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  9,125

  318

  Merseyside

  4,746

  169

  West Midlands

  10,500

  326

  East Midlands

  7,125

  233

  Eastern

  6,137

  184

  South West

  7,666

  251

  South East

  8,348

  220

  London

  11,065

  323

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is made available by the Government on the disposal of urban waste water and sludge. [30110]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Environment Ministers have today issued a leaflet on sewage collection, treatment and disposal in the United Kingdom. The leaflet is in the Department of the Environment series of "One World" information sheets. It describes on-going and major new initiatives on sewage treatment in the UK, and the investment programme which is involved, in order to ensure that we safeguard and build on our successes in protecting and improving the water environment.

  The UK's extensive and effective systems for the continuous collection and treatment of sewage play an essential part in the management and improvement programmes, promoted by our pollution control authorities, for our inland and coastal waters. The £9,000 million investments by the UK water industry since 1989 on sewage collection and treatment services have made significant contribution to improvements in our inland and coastal waters. For example, between 1990 and 1994 there has been a net upgrading of over 26 per cent. of the total length of rivers and canals surveyed in England and Wales.

  The leaflet is being disseminated to the public in the UK through local authorities and libraries and the relevant pollution control authorities.

  I am placing copies of the leaflet in the House Library.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the band D council tax levied in respect of each of the English police authorities in 1995–96 and 1996–97; and if he will indicate the percentage increase in each case. [29589]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is as follows:
  555

  1995–96£

  1996–97£

  Percentage increase

  Receiver for the Metropolitan Police

  54.08

  56.01

  3.6

  Greater Manchester Police

  45.53

  45.86

  0.7

  Merseyside Police

  53.42

  57.87

  8.3

  South Yorkshire Police

  44.95

  45.80

  1.9

  Northumbria Police

  44.92

  45.95

  2.3

  West Midlands Police

  44.48

  45.65

  2.6

  West Yorkshire Police

  45.28

  45.28

  0.0

  Avon and Somerset Police

  45.32

  45.73

  0.9

  Devon and Cornwall Police

  45.60

  45.66

  0.1

  Hampshire Police

  45.00

  45.81

  1.8

  Sussex Police

  45.18

  45.99

  1.8

  Thames Valley Police

  46.86

  46.96

  0.2

  West Mercia Police

  44.94

  45.34

  0.9

  Bedfordshire Police

  45.40

  46.46

  2.3

  Cambridgeshire Police

  44.64

  45.00

  0.8

  Cheshire Police

  44.71

  45.10

  0.9

  Cleveland Police

  45.23

  46.02

  1.7

  Cumbria Police

  49.54

  51.14

  3.2

  Derbyshire Police

  45.04

  45.18

  0.3

  Dorset Police

  56.13

  57.49

  2.4

  Durham Police

  45.00

  45.45

  1.0

  Essex Police

  47.25

  48.42

  2.5

  Gloucestershire Police

  44.92

  44.96

  0.1

  Hertfordshire Police

  44.89

  46.02

  2.5

  Humberside Police

  45.09

  45.72

  1.4

  Kent Police

  45.09

  45.81

  1.6

  Lancashire Police

  45.18

  45.71

  1.2

  Leicestershire Police

  45.27

  45.32

  0.1

  Lincolnshire Police

  62.21

  66.96

  7.6

  Norfolk Police

  45.27

  44.82

  -1.0

  Northamptonshire Police

  63.29

  64.26

  1.5

  North Yorkshire Police

  45.47

  45.34

  -0.3

  Nottinghamshire Police

  45.51

  45.94

  0.9

  Staffordshire Police

  47.87

  48.15

  0.6

  Suffolk Police

  44.64

  45.09

  1.0

  Surrey Police

  41.94

  42.93

  2.4

  Warwickshire Police

  44.60

  46.70

  4.7

  Wiltshire Police

  48.45

  49.44

  2.0

  Waste Shipments
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy in relation to shipments of waste into and out of the United Kingdom. [30021]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government's policies are set out in the "United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste", which is published today, and comes into operation on 1 June 1996.

  Under the plan, which is legally binding throughout the United Kingdom, all exports of waste for disposal are banned, as are most imports for disposal other than in exceptional cases where wider environmental considerations apply. Exports of water for recovery to countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development may continue but, subject to limited exceptions, exports of hazardous waste for recovery to non-OECD countries are banned. Imports of waste for genuine recovery operations may continue.

  The Government's policy proposals for waste exports and imports were initially outlined in a statement by my right hon. Friend, the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Atkins), who was then Minister for the Environment and Countryside, on 15 June 1994. The Department
  556
  consulted on a draft document during February and March 1995; some 750 copies were dispatched, and 73 responses were received from industry, waste regulators and members of the public. Copies of non-confidential responses have been placed in my Department's library. The final text of the plan incorporates various changes to meet the concerns and interests of those consulted.

  A compliance cost assessment has been undertaken in relation to the plan. Copies of both the plan and the compliance cost assessment have been placed in the Library.

  The plan provides the means to implement the Government's long-standing policy of self-sufficiency in waste disposal, while preserving legitimate trade in wastes moving for recovery. It also takes account of the United Kingdom's international obligations, in particular under the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

  Radon
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the National Radiological Protection Board will be publishing the results of its mapping exercise to identify the areas of England with High radon levels. [30148]

  Mr. Gummer
  In January, we announced that the National Radiological Protection Board report on radon would be published later in the year. That report was published this morning. Copies of it have been provided to the Library of the House. The Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) has written to hon. Members with a direct interest enclosing a comprehensive briefing pack. Copies have also been sent to affected local authorities.

  Housing Purchase Grant
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the consultation paper on proposed rural exemptions from the purchase grant scheme for housing association tenants was subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; if he will publish the appraisal; what alternative courses of action from those set out in the paper were considered in the environmental appraisal; how the paper was modified by the results of the appraisal; and what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the paper. [29499]

  Mr. Clappison
  The new purchase grant scheme will extend the chance of home ownership to more housing associations tenants, allowing them to buy their own home at a discount. The consultation paper on proposed rural exemptions contains proposals to exclude small rural settlements with a population of 3,000 or fewer from the scheme. Housing association tenants living in those settlements would not have the right to buy their homes. As such exclusions will not have any environmental consequences, an environmental appraisal was not appropriate.

DEFENCE

  Ammunition
  Mr. King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to place a contract for 81 mm ammunition; and if he will make a statement. [29761]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am pleased to announce that we have decided, subject to the satisfactory completion of negotiations, to award two contracts to Royal Ordnance, a division of British Aerospace Defence Ltd., for the supply of five years' worth of 81mm mortar ammunition. The requirement is for the high explosive and smoke rounds for the 81mm mortar in service with the British Army. The total value of the two contracts is approximately £80 million.

  The high explosive round contract was won by Royal Ordnance in the face of competition from other UK firms and overseas suppliers. The contract for the smoke round will be placed with Royal Ordnance, as the producers of the only approved product to meet this requirement, subject to the satisfactory completion of price negotiations.

  A number of Royal Ordnance factories will benefit from these orders, in particular the factory at Glascoed, Gwent which will undertake the filling and assembly of the high explosive rounds. Significant work packages are also expected to go to RO factories at Birtley, Radway Green and Bridgwater. The orders should help maintain up to 400 jobs at Royal Ordnance sites and its UK sub-contractors for the duration of the contracts.

  Jaguar Project
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the estimated costs of the Jaguar thermal imaging airborne laser designator update; and what evaluation his Department has made of the contract process for this project. [29224]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The estimated cost of the initial programme upgrade 12 Jaguar aircraft was of the order of £13 million. The contracting process employed for this and all other procurement projects is decided only after careful consideration and evaluation of all relevant factors.

  Departmental Works of Art
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's works of art are classified as stolen. [29403]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Six works of art belonging to my Department have been reported as stolen.

  Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency
  Mr. Legg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency for 1996–97. [30022]

  Mr. Soames
  The chief executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency has been set the following key targets for 1996–97:

  (1) To achieve a minimum availability of 80 per cent. across the agency commodity ranges.

  558

  (2) To ensure that 80 per cent. of research and development milestones are met by the due date and within budget.

  (3) To ensure that 90 per cent. of procurement milestones are met for key items, and 80 per cent. of procurement milestones are met for other items, so that total planned time is achieved from initiation of requirement to delivery.

  (4) To ensure that expenditure is managed to within 2.5 per cent. of budget.

  (5) To ensure that 80 per cent. satisfaction rate is achieved on customer surveys.

  These key targets take forward much of the work of the previous targets as set out in the agency's first documents, and it is hoped that the collocation of the agency will drive the rationalisation and reform activities which are essential to the DCTA business plan. Given all the other pressures on the agency, including downward financial pressure, I believe they are challenging but achievable. Copies of the agency's new framework document will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Royal Air Force
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the projected strength of the RAF on 1 April 2000. [29645]

  Mr. Soames
  The estimated strength of the RAF on 1 April 2000 is around 55,500. This figure includes an element for personnel undergoing training.

  Civilian Contractors
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to use civilian contractors in front-line operations. [29647]

  Mr. Soames
  We have no such plans. Our aim is to maintain the effectiveness and operational capability of our armed forces. To that end, we seek to concentrate resources on the front line, providing support to the armed forces in ways which ensure long-term value for money, and utilising the skills and resources of the commercial sector wherever this makes operational and economic sense.

  Merchant Vessels
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ukrainian registered merchant vessels his Department has chartered in the current year. [29649]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has chartered one Ukrainian registered vessel to date in 1996. The vessel has undertaken two separate charters.

  Armed Forces (Strength)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total service strength of the armed forces at 1 April 1990; and what is the projected strength at 1 April 2000. [29653]

  Mr. Soames
  The total service strength of the regular armed forces at 1 April 1990 was 314,700. The estimated strength at 1 April 2000 is 213,500. Both figures include Gurkha strengths, Royal Marines and Queen Alexandra Royal Naval Nursing Service, and an element for personnel undergoing training. The former excludes the
  559
  then Ulster Defence Regiment and the latter excludes the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service Force).

  Armed Forces (Deaths)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths there have been among members of the armed forces since January 1991. [29646]

  Mr. Soames
  Since January 1991, the total number of deaths of serving personnel in the armed forces is 1,233.

  Merchant Ships
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names and country of registration of all merchant ships chartered by his Department for Operation Purple Star. [29650]

  Mr. Soames
  The names and countries of registration of ships chartered for Exercise Purple Star is as follows:

  Prince of Scandinavia: Danish

  Dan Hafnia: Danish

  Condock 3: German

  Condock V: German

  Kidira: Bahamian

  Kapitan Mezentsyev: Ukrainian

  Arcade Eagle: Norwegian

  Arcade Falcon: Norwegian

  Norcliff: Norwegian

  Chodziez: Polish

  Sochi: Maltese.

  Suicides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces have committed suicide since 1991. [29652]

  Mr. Soames
  Since January 1991, the total number of suicides by serving personnel in the armed forces is 135.

  Kapitan Mezentsyev
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department chartered the Ukrainian merchant vessel, Kapitan Mezentsyev; what checks his Department made to ensure that it would meet American safety standards; when it was impounded by the American authorities; what were the reasons given by the American authorities for the impounding; what discussions his Department has had with the US authorities; if his Department has chartered a replacement vessel for Operation Purple Star; and who is financially responsible for the Kapitan Mezentsyev during Operation Purple Star. [29651]

  Mr. Soames
  The Kapitan Mezentsyev was chartered on 12 March 1996 on the basis that she complied fully with international port state control standards. She has passed an internationally recognised safety inspection carried out by the Dutch authorities in Flushing on 24 January. She was examined by my Department's marine superintendents on 8–9 April when she reported for loading. No serious defects were noted, and all her safety documentation was found to be in order.

  The vessel was impounded on 22 April following a US port state control inspection, which identified a number of minor defects. These were subsequently remedied and, following a further inspection, the Kapitan Mezentsyev was released on 4 May. My Department naturally kept in close touch with the US authorities during the period when the vessel was confined to port.

  The vessel was contracted to my Department for the purpose of transporting equipment to the US, and return, for Exercise Purple Star. The contract included a clause requiring the vessel to comply with US marine legislation. No charter fees were therefore attracted during the period she was impounded. Financial responsibility for effecting the repairs needed to satisfy the US authorities lies, of course, with the owners. There was no requirement to charter a replacement vessel.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Business Closures
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many businesses in Northern Ireland have ceased trading(a) voluntarily and (b) involuntarily in each of the past five years. [28589]

  Mr. Ancram
  The following information relates to companies for the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1995. The companies and insolvency report for the year ended 31 March 1995 contains further data and is available in the Library of the House.

  Companies which commenced winding up proceedings

  Companies struck off the companies register

  Year to 31 March

  Members voluntary

  Creditors voluntary

  Court (Compulsory)

  Total

  1991

  58

  57

  77

  192

  647

  1992

  57

  69

  100

  226

  787

  1993

  51

  82

  85

  218

  678

  1994

  50

  76

  74

  200

  522

  1995

  51

  50

  75

  176

  489

  These figures do not include unregistered businesses which ceased trading voluntarily or involuntarily.

  Brain Search Facilities
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the(a) centres and (b) hospitals which provide minute brain search facilities; and if he will make a statement. [28636]

  Mr. Moss
  In Northern Ireland, all Health and Social Services trusts with acute hospital facilities are able to access neurological services. Regional neurosurgical services are provided by the Royal Group of Hospitals trust, Belfast. Further information can be obtained from the relevant chief executives.

  Social Security Agency Customers
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Social Security Agency customers in receipt of unemployment benefit or income support in Northern Ireland currently sign on by post by reason of the distance of their place of residence from their local social security office; how many of these will be required to sign on and be interviewed in person after the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance at each social security office in Northern Ireland; if they will be provided with a travel warrant to cover the cost of a return journey between their place of residence and their local social security office; and how many additional client adviser posts will be created in each social security office to advise and help job seekers. [29143]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  562
  Letter from Alec Wylie to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 15 May 1996:

  I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on Jobseeker's Allowance.

  There are 20,781 customers in receipt of Unemployment Benefit or Income Support in Northern Ireland who currently sign on by post because of the distance of their place of residence from their local Social Security Office. Some 10,000 of these customers will be required to sign in person and be interviewed when Jobseeker's Allowance is introduced on 7 October 1996. After this date the criteria for postal signing will be revised whereby the jobseeker's journey from home to office or return would have to exceed one hour or their attendance would have to result in an overall absence from home (due to the infrequency of public transport) in excess of four hours. Any jobseeker who has a physical or mental disability which restricts their mobility would also be able to sign by post.

  As is the case for all other jobseekers required to attend their local social security office on a regular basis, there will be no provision to meet the cost of travel. Travel expenses are only paid when a jobseeker has been requested to attend their local social security office on a day other than their signing day.

  The staffing complement in the local Social Security Offices is presently being considered but it is estimated that the existing client adviser complement will be increased by 114 posts.

  I hope this explains the position for you but I would be happy to provide any further information you require.

  Inward Investors (Visits)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by constituency the number of(a) first visits and (b) repeat visits by potential inward investors and industrialists to Northern Ireland during the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996. [28979]

  Sir John Wheeler
  This information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on visits to Northern Ireland by potential investors and industrialists is recorded by district council area. A breakdown, on this basis, for the period requested is attached.

  First and repeat visits to Northern Ireland—1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996

  District council

  1Potential investors

  2Industrialists

  First

  Repeat

  First

  Repeat

  Antrim

  13

  10

  8

  —

  Ards

  1

  2

  4

  —

  Armagh

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Ballymena

  2

  1

  4

  —

  Ballymoney

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Banbridge

  2

  1

  —

  —

  Belfast

  117

  75

  19

  —

  Carrick

  5

  2

  9

  1

  Castlereagh

  7

  2

  13

  1

  Coleraine

  1

  2

  4

  —

  Cooks town

  6

  10

  —

  —

  Craigavon

  15

  2

  —

  1

  Derry

  23

  10

  4

  —

  Down

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Dungannon

  3

  6

  4

  1

  Fermanagh

  5

  7

  4

  —

  Larne

  2

  1

  5

  1

  Limavady

  0

  2

  —

  —

  Lisburn

  27

  18

  —

  —

  Magherafelt

  —

  4

  —

  1

  Moyle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newry and Mourne

  12

  6

  —

  —

  Newtownabbey

  15

  9

  17

  2

  North Down

  9

  4

  3

  1

  563

  First and repeat visits to Northern Ireland—1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996

  District council

  1Potential investors

  2Industrialists

  First

  Repeat

  First

  Repeat

  Omagh

  2

  4

  —

  —

  Strabane

  4

  7

  —

  —

  Total

  274

  188

  98

  9

  1 Potential Investors are defined as companies which visited Northern Ireland as a potential location for a mobile investment project.

  2 Industrialists are defined as companies which have visited Northern Ireland on a general fact finding basis, not related to a specific investment project—for example, inward missions from the Invest in Britain Bureau.

TREASURY

  Taxation
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to alter the rates of tax for people who earn more than £34,000 per annum. [28501]

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon and learned Friend the Chancellor will announce any of his taxation proposals in November.

  Late Payments
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to deal with the problems caused to small businesses by late payment of invoices. [28503]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government have implemented a number of measures to tackle late payment, including improving Government Departments' payment performance, requiring large companies to state their payment policies in their annual reports, developing a British standard for prompt payment and improving court procedures for debt recovery.

  Tax Cuts
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for tax cuts; and if he will make a statement. [28505]

  Mr. Jack
  The Government are committed to a low-taxation economy and will cut taxes when it is right for the economy to do so.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of growth of GDP(a) in the last quarter and (b) in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [28506]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The economy continues to grow steadily. In the first quarter of 1996, it is estimated that GDP was 0.4 per cent. higher than in the previous quarter, and 2.0 per cent. up on a year earlier.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the PSBR for 1996–97 and 1997–98. [28507]
  564
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Budget forecast of the PSBR was £22½ billion in 1996–97 and £15 billion in 1997–98. An updated forecast of the PSBR will be published in the summer economic forecast on the 9 July.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to improve the accuracy of forecasts of the public sector borrowing requirement. [28516]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Treasury forecasters, and the tax forecasters in the Inland Revenue and Customs and Exercise, are always looking for way to improve the accuracy of their forecasts.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were(a) the highest and (b) the lowest levels of unemployment recorded in the period of each Parliament since 1979. [28508]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Figures for claimant unemployment are:

  Million

  Parliament

  Highest

  Lowest

  May 1979 to May 1983

  2.78

  1.04

  June 1983 to May 1987

  3.12

  2.80

  June 1987 to March 1992

  2.84

  1.59

  May 1992

  2.98

  2.18

  Privatisation (Debt)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much debt has been written off by the Government since 1979 in those industries and organisations that have been privatised. [28509]

  Mr. Jack
  In cash terms, the amount of debt written off in companies privatised since 1979 is £16.24 billion, but £9.73 billion of new debt was also injected.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what income tax rates were(a) in 1978 and (b) in 1995; and what plans he has for further reduction in income tax. [28511]

  Mr. Jack
  In 1978–79, the first £750 of taxable income was taxed at 24 per cent. and the next £7,250 at the basic rate of 33 per cent. There were nine higher rates of tax, beginning at 40 per cent. and culminating in a rate of 83 per cent. on taxable income over £24,000.

  In 1996–97, the first £3,900 of taxable income is taxed at 20 per cent., and the next £25,500 is taxed at the basic rate of 24 per cent. All income above this level is taxed at a single higher rate of 40 per cent. It is our intention to reduce tax rates when it is right for the economy. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor will announce his plans for taxation in November.

  Economic Forecasts
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his current forecasts for the principal economic indication over the medium term. [28512]
  565
  Mr. Waldegrave
  Illustrative projections for economic growth and inflation over the medium term are given in table 3.9 of the 1996–97 "Financial Statement and Budget Report", which show output growing at a rate of 2¾ per cent. to 3 per cent., whilst underlying inflation falls to 2 per cent.

  Veteran and Classic Vehicles
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many veteran and classic vehicles over 25 years old have been relieved from vehicle excise duty under the provisions of the Finance Act 1996. [28513]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  An estimated 166,000 veteran and classic vehicles over 25 years old were exempted from vehicle excise duty by the Finance Act 1996.

  Government Borrowing
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of Government borrowing next year. [28514]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Budget projection of the 1997–98 public sector borrowing requirement was £15 billion.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report progress on the private finance initiative. [28515]

  Mr. Jack
  Some £4.76 billion of agreed private finance initiative deals were announced in 1995–96, and a further £300 million were at preferred bidder stage. The total of agreed, announced projects has now risen to £4.92 billion with the announcement of a preferred bidder for the Croydon tramlink project. More than £300 million more of deals are due to be agreed in the next few weeks.

  On 3 April, I announced the publication of new procurement guidelines, to smooth the procurement process, with case studies of two prisons built under the PFI. To assist further the development of the private finance initiative, a training course was introduced last in January. So far, nearly 1,400 civil servants have either received training or are committed to attend future courses.

  Telecommunication Charges
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic benefits of reduced telecommunication charges. [28517]

  Mr. Jack
  The Treasury has not carried out a detailed study of the effect of lower telecommunications prices on the UK economy. However, I would expect the very substantial falls in prices since privatisation—they are down some 40 per cent. in real terms—to have provided significant economic benefits to businesses and their competitiveness, particularly those for whom communication is a key element. The UK is now one of the cheapest countries in the world in which to make telephone calls, and UK charges and the cheapest in Europe, thus reaffirming our own economic competitiveness.
  566

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he made about including green peppers in the retail prices index and the contribution they make to monitoring price inflation in the United Kingdom. [28504]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  This year, green peppers were included for the first time in the list of goods covered by the retail prices index—RPI. The Office for National Statistics—ONS—updates this list every year to reflect changing consumer patterns. All fresh vegetables, including green peppers, account for only 0.7 per cent. in the RPI.

  Living Standards
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual change in average United Kingdom living standards for each year since 1966. [28510]

  Mr. Jack
  Real personal disposable income per head increased by 90 per cent. over the period 1966 to 1995, an annual rate of growth of 2.2 per cent.

  Transfer Pricing Practices
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the tax revenues lost as a result of transfer pricing practices by multinational companies in the last five tax years. [27345]

  Mr. Jack
  The Inland Revenue devotes significant resources to ensuring that the transfer pricing legislation is complied with, and any evidence of non-compliance is carefully investigated. Over the past five tax years, the estimated total tax from inquiries made by the specialist section at the Inland Revenue which deals with the largest cases with international aspects, including transfer pricing, was £793 million. This does not include additional tax arising from work in the Inland Revenue's local offices or at the oil taxation office, separate records of which are not kept but which would significantly increase the total. It is not possible to estimate the amount of tax revenue lost through any failures to follow the transfer pricing legislation of which the Inland Revenue has not become aware. The United Kingdom regards transfer pricing as a very significant aspect of international taxation and the Inland Revenue is consistently on the alert for failures to comply with the legislation.

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the savings to date which the Inland Revenue has made from out-sourcing arrangements with the SHL software computer system, compared with the use of in-house services; and if he will make a statement. [29529]

  Mr. Jack
  The Inland Revenue does not have an out-sourcing arrangement with the SHL software computer system.
  567

  Post Office
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the chairman of the Post Office to discuss the Post Office's external financing limit. [28755]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have not met the chairman of the Post Office to discuss the Post Office's external financing limit.

  Customs and Excise Risk Information System
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Customs and Excise risk information system. [29516]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 15 May 1996]: Customs tells me that this is an integrated risk information system that would eventually assess risk across the whole of a trader's activities in relation to those duties and taxes for which Customs is responsible. It has conducted a feasibility study and is working on the first stage of building a simple prototype that brings together existing risk information to inform better the targeting of local assurance activity.

  Value Added Tax
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the impact on VAT revenues of the recent reductions in(a) value added tax staff in his Department and (b) the number of assurance visits made by value added tax staff; [29517]

  (2) if he will estimate the percentage reduction which will take place in the number of standard VAT inspections, following staff reductions in Customs and Excise resulting from the fundamental expenditure review. [29522]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answers 15 May 1996]: Customs and Excise aims to improve its effectiveness by replacing some VAT visits with alternative means of gaining assurance and targeting the remaining visits better in relation to risks. This will enable it to reduce staffing levels while maintaining or improving outputs. The precise reduction in visiting which can be achieved will depend on the outcome of trials, which are currently taking place and will be evaluated during the coming year.

  We do not expect the changes made this year to affect VAT revenues.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the latest available figures for(a) under-declarations and (b) over-declarations of tax detected by value added tax assurance officers. [29518]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 15 May 1996]: The latest available full-year figures are for 1994–95 and total (a) £3,286 million in under-declarations and (b) £1,146 million in over-declarations identified by officers.
  568
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional revenue collected annually as a result of assurance visits by VAT officers. [29523]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 15 May 1996]: The additional revenue identified by officers in 1994–95 was £2,140 million.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it a charter commitment for a VAT officer to visit all newly registered businesses within three years of registration. [29524]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 15 May 1996]: Customs has recently published a revised charter standard, which includes a commitment to offer to every newly registering business a choice of options to learn about how VAT works.

  This provides timely advice, tailored to business needs, and replaces the commitment to visit within three years.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual amount of VAT evaded or undeclared; and if he will make a statement. [29525]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 15 May 1996]: In an average year, HM Customs and Excise investigates about 1,100 cases for fraudulent evasion of VAT, involving total arrears of approximately £60 million. About 1,502 are dealt with through criminal procedures, and about 950 are dealt with using the civil investigation route. Financial penalties of approximately £8 million per annum are applied. About 100 custodial years per annum are imposed by the courts.

  It is not possible to quantify the level of fraud that goes undetected, but by its nature the detection of a fraud prevents further evasion. We estimate the total annual amount of evasion prevented as a result of the investigation effort to be in the region of £200 million, including arrears.

  In addition, about £2.5 billion of net under declarations is identified, mainly through risk-based auditing of businesses' accounts.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT has been reclaimed by people leaving the country who have bought goods in the UK, in each of the last five years. [29526]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 15 May 1996]: No records are maintained of tax-free sales to entitled persons. Doing so would have resource implications for Customs and Excise and would impose an unacceptable burden on retailers who would be required to keep additional records and submit returns.

  Tax Office Closures
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax offices(a) have been closed in 1995–96 and (b) will be closed in 1996–97; if he will list such offices; and if he will make a statement. [29663]

  Mr. Jack
  The Inland Revenue is engaged in a programme to reorganise the structure of all local tax and collection offices to ensure that the right operational framework is in place to deliver its future business objectives.
  569
  Seventy-three tax offices and 22 collection offices were reorganised and merged in 1995–96 to form 38 new-style offices. Most of the mergers involve offices in London or the same provincial city or town. Outside those locations to tax offices in Guildford, Havant, Rotherham and Poole were closed during 1995–96 and merged with new-style offices created in a nearby city or town.

  On the basis of the present approved programme, 67 tax offices and 17 collection offices will be reorganised and merged in 1996–97 to form a further 38 new-style offices. The programme includes closure of the tax offices in Bexhill, Bexleyheath, Bognor Regis, Dartford, Ely, Greenwich, Neath and Solihull during 1996–97.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General at what date the Crown Prosecution Service learnt of the verdicts of unlawful killing in respect of(a) Richard O'Brien and (b) Shiji Lapite; and when in each case the Crown Prosecution Service expects to reach a decision whether to prosecute. [28717]

  The Attorney-General
  Evidence gathered during the police investigation into the death of Richard O'Brien was reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service. On 30 January 1995, it was concluded that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence of homicide. The Crown Prosecution Service learnt of the verdict of unlawful killing in respect of Richard O'Brien on 10 November 1995. The Crown Prosecution Service has requested transcripts of the evidence given at the inquest and some of the material was received on 4 and 22 April 1996. Once the transcripts have been received they will be carefully considered together with the evidence available prior to the inquest and, subject to any further enquiries that may prove necessary, the Crown Prosecution Service will then decide whether or not the evidence is now sufficient to justify proceedings.

  On 18 July 1995, the Crown Prosecution Service advised the police that the then available evidence was insufficient to provide a realistic prospect of conviction of any person for homicide arising from the death of Shiji Lapite. The Crown Prosecution Service learnt of the verdict of unlawful killing in respect of Mr. Shiji Lapite on 26 January 1996. All the transcripts of evidence and copies of documents produced to the inquest jury were received by 18 March 1996. This material is being considered together with the evidence available prior to the inquest and once this has been done the Crown Prosecution Service will decide whether or not the evidence is now sufficient to justify proceedings.

SCOTLAND

  Health Service (Acute Bed Strategy)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which(a) individuals and (b) organisations representing (i) doctors and (ii) nurses have been consulted in the acute bed strategy review. [28166]
  570
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As part of the review, the views of all health boards and NHS trusts in Scotland were invited. In addition, it was made clear that comments would be welcomed from any other individuals or organisations who wished to offer views.

  In order to obtain the views of doctors, nurses and other clinical professions, specific consultation was undertaken with:

  The British Medical Association

  The Scottish Committee of the Royal Colleges

  The Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh

  The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

  The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh

  The Scottish Joint Consultants Committee

  The National Professional Advisory Committees' Liaison Committee.

  Control of Advertisements
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the implementation of circular 10/1984, part II, clause 17 on outdoor advertisements; and if he will make a statement. [28329]

  Mr. Kynoch
  No formal assessment has been made. My right hon. Friend considers that the guidance contained in Scottish Development Department circular 10/1984, including that in paragraph 17 remains appropriate. However, as part of the wider review of the planning system in Scotland, my Department is currently reviewing the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984. A consultation paper will be issued shortly setting out proposals for change to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the advertisements regime.

  Water Fluoridation
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent instructions or guidance his Department has issued to Scotland's(a) health boards (b) water authorities relating to the fluoridation of public water supplies. [28614]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Guidance about the procedural and technical aspects of schemes to fluoridate the public water supplies was issued to health boards and water authorities in June 1991. The "Oral Health Strategy for Scotland", which was published in December 1995, described the changes introduced by the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. I have arranged for copies of these documents to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from (i) Scottish health boards and (ii) Scotland's water authorities during the last 18 months relating to the fluoridation of public water supplies. [28611]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has carried out into the fluoridation of public water supplies and the benefits and disadvantages of this policy. [28619]
  571
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Although no specific research has been carried out by the Scottish Office, the extensive research undertaken over many years in the United Kingdom and elsewhere has helped inform our view that fluoridation of the public water supplies constitutes a safe and effective means of reducing tooth decay.

  Pressmennan Wood
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Forestry Commission's policies for the protection of old native woodlands; and if he will call for a report on the application for a felling licence for oak trees in Pressmennan wood. [28713]

  Mr. Kynoch
  We are committed to protecting our ancient and semi-natural woodlands, the most important of which have been designated as national nature reserves and sites of special scientific interest.

  The Forestry Commission is currently considering an application for tree felling and replanting in Pressmennan wood. The commission has consulted Scottish Natural Heritage and East Lothian district council over the proposals, and will take account of the comments it receives from these bodies and any other organisations and individuals before making a decision on the application.

  GP Fundholding (Howie Report)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action his Department has taken in respect of the report on general practitioners fundholding produced by Dr. John Howie; if this report has been circulated to Scotland's health boards; and if his Department is now undertaking additional research on this issue. [28616]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Department has considered the conclusions of the report and has instigated further work on the development of weighted capitation budget setting.

  The report has not been formally issued to health boards, but was launched at a conference in March 1995, attended by around 100 invited participants representing primary care, policy making and research interests in the health service in Scotland.

  Additional work, in the form of a national evaluation of total purchasing, which is a development of fundholding, is being undertaken as a joint project between the Departments of Health in England and Wales, and in Scotland.

  Concessionary Travel
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will estimate the cost of complying with the Atkins v. Wrekin district council and Department of Transport decision by the advocate general of the European Court of Justice (a) in the current financial year, (b) in future years and (c) for each year between 1984 and 1995; [28984]
  572
  (2) if men who are or have been aged 60 to 65 years since December 1984 will be able to claim compensation from their local authority as a result of the Atkins v. Wrekin district council and Department of Transport case considered by the European Court. [28985]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The European Court of Justice has not yet given its judgment in the Atkins case. It is not appropriate to speculate as to the implications of the outcome.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much Scottish Homes spent in each operational district on establishing and supporting the work of housing associations in each financial year since April 1989 and from April to December 1995; [28962]

  (2) how many housing associations have received financial support from Scottish Homes since April 1989; how many of these housing associations have had tenancies transferred to them by Scottish Homes; and if he will list these associations, the number of tenancies which have been transferred to them by Scottish Homes and the amount which Scottish Homes has spent on supporting the work of each of these associations. [28983]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked the chairman, Mr. John Ward, to write to the hon. Member with the relevant information.

  Students
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement indicating what funds his Department operates to alleviate hardship among Scottish students. [28966]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the access funds which we introduced in Session 1990–91 as part of the wider changes in the student support arrangements. They are designed specifically to help those students whose access to, or continuance in, further or higher education might be being inhibited by financial difficulty.

  In Session 1995–96 access funds resources totalling £4.3 million were made available to universities and colleges in Scotland. Individual applications for assistance are dealt with by the institutions which are best placed to judge the needs of their own students.

  Access funds need to be viewed against the background of the overall level of resources made available to students through maintenance grants and loans. For students in full-time higher education, this package of support is uprated annually, and it is worth virtually the same in real terms as the grant alone in 1979–80.

  Politically Restricted Posts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people working in Scottish local government work in politically restricted posts. [28969]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Read 3 Project
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he had made of the Read 3 project; and if he will make a statement. [29051]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The development of the Read 3 project is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. The Scottish Office Department of Health is not contributing to the costs of the development but is monitoring its progress. Many general practitioners in Scotland currently use a form of Read version 2, which is also being piloted for hospitals in Scotland.

  Objective 5 Funding
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the allocation of objective 5 funds made so far within Scotland under(a) RETEX, (b) PESCA, (c) LEADER II and (d) other schemes; [29242]

  (2) what funds have been made available to the Hawick and Peebles travel-to-work areas to date; and what plans he has to make further allocations; [29243]

  (3) what extent textile dependency in travel-to-work areas contributes to eligibility for RETEX funding; [29244]

  (4) which diversification schemes in the Scottish Borders council area have received financial support from RETEX funding to date; and what additional schemes are currently under consideration. [29245]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The table shows the allocations of the relevant Community initiative resources to objective 5b areas in Scotland. In some cases, specific allocations are not made and in others allocations are indicative.

  £ million

  UK allocation

  Scotland allocation

  Objective 5b allocation

  RETEX II (1994 to 1997)

  26.600

  15.450

  11.388

  PESCA (Non Objective 1sub-programme 1995 to 1999)

  n/a

  10.106

  n/a

  LEADER II (Objective 5b programme 1995 to 1999)

  n/a

  6.906

  6.906

  SME (Lowlands programme 1995 to 1999)

  n/a

  7.071

  n/a

  EMPLOYMENT (1994 to 1999)

  111.778

  n/a

  n/a

  ADAPT (1995 to 1999)

  226.014

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Denotes indicative allocation only.

  Textile dependency as set out in article 6 of the

  1993–1994

  1994–1995

  Local Authority prior to 1st April 1996

  Column 1 £

  Column 2 £

  Column 3 £

  Column 1 £

  Column 2 £

  Column 3 £

  Aberdeen

  809,072

  640,072

  169,000

  1—

  523,733

  1—

  Angus

  227,896

  181,207

  46,689

  257,057

  217,385

  39,672

  Annandale and Eskdale

  206,888

  183,879

  23,009

  185,571

  79,394

  106,177

  Argyll and Bute

  131,840

  52,285

  79,555

  33,572

  5,892

  26,680

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  103,205

  97,862

  5,343

  75,640

  64,310

  11,330

  Banff and Buchan

  1—

  1—

  1—

  174,151

  36,456

  137,695

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  50,493

  37,853

  12,640

  56,113

  35,769

  20,344

  Berwickshire

  86,045

  84,044

  2,001

  155,000

  153,000

  2,000

  Caithness

  10,403

  5,112

  5,291

  13,566

  8,567

  4,999

  Clackmannan

  143,749

  94,223

  49,526

  118,439

  75,613

  42,826

  Clydebank

  48,838

  30,400

  18,438

  43,622

  36,248

  7,374

  Clydesdale

  474,981

  466,530

  8,451

  309,958

  297,914

  12,044

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  111,101

  38,363

  72,738

  66,268

  24,401

  41,867

  Cunnock and Doon Valley

  1—

  1—

  1—

  61,526

  45,492

  16,034

  574
  Commission's guidelines as decided on 13 May 1992 (Official Journal number C 142, 4 June 1992), determined the eligibility for funding under RETEX.

  The Borders objective 5b programme was allocated some £24 million of European funding for the period 1994 to 1999. To date £862,600 of, European regional development funding has been made available to the Hawick travel-to-work area and £367,500 has been made available to the Peebles travel-to-work area. In addition, match funding of £1,497,600 has been provided by project sponsors.

  Under European Social funding, a total of £1,958,480, involving match funding of £2,393,698, has been allocated to the Borders region under objective 3 and 5b. Beneficiaries from the Hawick and Peebles travel-to-work areas have been supported.

  The Scottish RETEX II working group met on 30 April and recommended for approval, subject to further information three Borders projects with combined funding of £330,000. The projects involve diversification into the developing environmental technologies. There are currently no other applications under consideration. The deadline for the next round of applications under RETEX II is 30 August 1996.

  District Courts
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each district council in Scotland the amounts collected by the district courts in each year since 1991; and of those how much was (i) remitted to the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and (ii) retained by each district council. [29660]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested has been collected centrally only for the last two years. The table sets out the figures, provided by district courts, for the financial years ending 1994 and 1995 and relates to district councils before 1 April 1996. The basis on which the figures were compiled differed slightly each year and are therefore directly comparable.

  Column 1 shows by local authority area the total value of revenue, including fines imposed by the court, fixed penalties, registered and fiscal fines received by the court each year. Column 2 details the value of fines passed to the Crown Office for onward transmission to the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and column 3 lists the sums retained by each local authority.
  575

  1994–1995

  1994–1995

  Local Authority prior to 1st April 1996

  Column 1 £

  Column 2 £

  Column 3 £

  Column 1 £

  Column 2 £

  Column 3 £

  Cunninghame

  189,771

  117,359

  72,412

  228,146

  149,488

  78,658

  Dumbarton

  81,205

  65,567

  15,638

  95,978

  78,241

  17,737

  Dundee

  619,290

  427,176

  192,114

  584,822

  386,908

  197,914

  Dunfermline

  299,415

  248,359

  51,056

  277,523

  229,545

  47,978

  East Kilbride

  47,803

  39,991

  7,812

  55,729

  39,518

  16,211

  East Lothian

  162,152

  130,242

  31,910

  200,225

  173,142

  27,083

  Eastwood

  1—

  1—

  1—

  114,355

  93,467

  20,888

  Edinburgh

  2,301,073

  1,515,926

  785,102

  2,457,926

  1,344,464

  1,113,462

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1—

  1—

  1—

  160,153

  139,675

  20,478

  Falkirk

  359,302

  273,744

  85,525

  318,744

  240,712

  78,032

  Glasgow

  2,768,604

  56,589

  2,712,015

  2,590,957

  1,795,927

  795,030

  Gordon

  81,974

  80,229

  1,745

  75,913

  96,271

  -20,358

  Hamilton

  332,213

  278,716

  53,497

  201,302

  197,999

  3,302

  Inverclyde

  193,378

  141,000

  52,378

  238,512

  223,272

  15,240

  Inverness

  1—

  1—

  1—

  62,640

  52,669

  9,971

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  155,656

  144,460

  11,196

  125,940

  111,991

  13,942

  Kincardine and Deeside

  104,557

  91,621

  12,936

  91,025

  83,197

  7,828

  Kirkcaldy

  239,217

  182,567

  56,650

  253,123

  210,494

  42,629

  Kyle and Carrick

  215,932

  167,894

  48,038

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Lochaber

  37,432

  23,573

  13,859

  61,047

  37,375

  23,672

  Midlothian

  245,305

  101,493

  143,812

  166,041

  110,057

  55,984

  Monklands

  115,234

  103,545

  11,689

  112,397

  100,385

  2,012

  Moray

  222,024

  176,813

  45,211

  225,089

  168,444

  56,645

  Motherwell

  393,984

  279,238

  114,746

  284,953

  222,139

  62,814

  Nairn

  1—

  1—

  1—

  7,064

  4,515

  2,549

  Nithsdale

  131,796

  97,100

  34,696

  202,000

  151,000

  51,000

  North East Fife

  127,916

  100,626

  27,290

  103,467

  98,543

  4,924

  Perth and Kinross

  302,371

  234,700

  67,671

  388,446

  309,618

  78,828

  Renfrew

  224,585

  133,815

  90,770

  449,779

  358,938

  90,841

  Ross and Cromarty

  87,562

  70,846

  16,716

  82,707

  68,184

  14,523

  Roxburgh

  74,341

  66,997

  7,344

  92,957

  74,905

  18,052

  Skye and Lochalsh

  11,404

  10,165

  1,239

  7,729

  6,865

  864

  Stewartry

  123,738

  56,273

  67,465

  63,382

  54,727

  8,655

  Stirling

  230,972

  187,349

  43,623

  241,716

  217,450

  24,266

  Strathkelvin

  163,962

  141,022

  22,940

  148,000

  127,000

  21,000

  Sutherland

  5,350

  4,340

  1,010

  12,883

  7,810

  5,073

  Tweeddale

  67,797

  63,863

  3,934

  60,525

  54,587

  5,958

  West Lothian

  406,648

  305,278

  101,370

  338,534

  269,977

  68,557

  Western Isles

  10,506

  8,960

  1,546

  15,144

  12,010

  3,134

  Wigtown

  81,880

  75,505

  6,375

  77,200

  1—

  1—

  1 Figures not supplied by local authority.

  Ravenspark Hospital
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when Ravenspark hospital will be closed; and what improvement the Scottish Office will have in the closure process. [29008]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: Ayrshire and Arran health board's three-month public consultation exercise on the closure of Ravenspark hospital ended on 30 October 1995. I have yet to receive the board's formal proposals for the hospital.

  Once I have received any closure proposals from the health board, I shall consider them carefully before making a final decision. I shall need to be convinced of real benefits for patients as a result of any proposals.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef Imports
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government will be requiring
  576
  the removal of brain, spinal cord and intestines from beef imported into the United Kingdom from other countries with BSE amongst their cattle. [24241]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996, as amended, already prohibits the sale for human consumption of all meat derived from bovines which, at the time of slaughter, were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered after the commencement of the order, whether in the UK or overseas, other than those slaughtered in third countries listed in the schedule to the No. 2 amendment order where the Government are satisfied we can import beef without risk. This exemption does not include any countries where there have been cases of BSE.

  As regards bovines less than 30 months of age, some countries with BSE have introduced controls requiring the removal of specified bovine offals. We continue to keep the position under review.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library all publications resulting from research sponsored by his
  577
  Department into the transmissibility of spongiform encephalopathies with particular reference to scrapie and BSE. [25192]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have placed a bibliography of research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies—TSEs— detailing much of the published work carried out by the three main research centres in the United Kingdom which receive Government funding, in the Library.

  Arrangement for publications on Government-funded TSE research by other institutions are dealt with by the author. Details of these publications are not held centrally.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what checks are made on(a) animal feed factories, (b) farms, (c) marts, (d) abattoirs, (e) meat wholesalers and (f) the rendering industry to prevent further production fo contaminated animal feed and to prevent BSE-contaminated material entering the food chain. [28539]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Specified Bovine Material (No. 2) Order 1996 lays down the requirements for the handling of specified bovine material—SBM—as defined in the order. It is the responsibility fo slaughterhouse operators and fresh meat wholesalers to comply in full with the controls on SBM. These are vital controls and full compliance is expected and will be enforced. Enforcement responsibilities in such premises lie with the Meat Hygiene Service—MHS. The MHS has enforced, and continues to enforce, the SBM controls rigorously and has reminded all staff at licensed premises of the importance of ensuring 100 per cent. compliance.

  Random sampling in mills producing animal feed commenced on 5 February. Up to 9 May, 1,210 samples had been taken at 574 visits. Eight of the samples, all taken prior to 29 March, were positive for mammalian protein and have been investigated. Mills identified as high risk for whatever reason are receiving weekly sampling visits. Farms that have had a case of BSE and where on-farm mixes appear to have been fed are also being visited, and samples are being taken if it is thought necessary. Mills that are mixing medication into feed are required to be licensed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain—RPSGB. Category A mills are mainly large compounders and are permitted to mix less than 2kg of medication per tonne of finished feed. Category B mills are mainly on-farm mixers, but some compounders, who are permitted to mix medication only at inclusion rates of more than 2kg per tonne. If medication is not mixed, millers/mixers are not required to be registered. Most of these unregistered premises, but not all, are on-farm mixers. All category A mills will be visited during the coming month and a questionnaire is being sent to all category B mills to determine whether the premises need to be visited for sampling purposes.

  Any animals taken to market which are suspected of being affected by BSE must be reported to the Ministry. Animals confirmed by the Ministry's veterinary officer as being affected by BSE are destroyed and their carcases sent for disposal by incineration. All animals going for slaughter are subject to an ante mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse. Animals identified at the slaughterhouse as being BSE suspects are reported to the Ministry. The
  578
  Ministry's veterinary officer visits the premises and, if the diagnosis is confirmed, arranges for the animal to be destroyed and disposed of.

  Checks on rendering plants are currently made by weekly unannounced visits by the state veterinary service. These ensure that rendering plants handle only the categories of material which they are approved for and, where appropriate, that SBM and non-SBM material is kept separate by use of dedicated processing facilities. Records of amounts of material being handled are also checked.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the projected total cost of all proposed and current support measures introduced to deal with BSE for the years(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997 and (d) 1998. [29621]

  Mrs. Browning
  The total estimated cost of measures in the UK taken in response to the BSE situation is £1.01 billion in 1996–97, £0.74 billion in 1997–98 and £0.68 billion in 1998–99.

  Cattle Slaughter (Compensation)
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what considerations underlay the payment of compensation under the over 30-month cattle disposal scheme at different prices through abattoirs and livestock markets. [28697]

  Mr. Baldry
  The scheme is essentially a live weight scheme and the level of compensation payable is based on live weight. In providing for the delivery of stock direct to abattoirs where facilities for weighing live are not common, we were constrained by the conclusions of the Agriculture Council of 1 to 3 April which implied that 1 ecu live weight was equivalent to 2 ecu dead weight. Throughout our discussions of this scheme in the beef management committee, some member states have insisted that EU funding should apply only to cull cows. It was not, therefore, possible to seek to negotiate a range of coefficients which reflect the different killing out percentages likely to be seen in practice.

  Beef Industry (Consultants' Report)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many management consultancies were approached recently with a view to preparing a report on the UK beef industry. [28715]

  Mrs. Browning
  Coopers and Lybrand was the only organisation to be approached recently with a view to the preparation of a report on the UK slaughtering and cutting plant sectors.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of the Coopers and Lybrand report on the UK beef industry; who was responsible for commissioning it; and for what reasons. [28846]

  Mrs. Browning
  The total cost of commissioning the recent Coopers and Lybrand report of 10 April on the UK slaughtering and cutting plant sectors is approximately £203,000 excluding VAT. In accordance with the requirements of Government accounting, the non-competitively tendered contract was let with the
  579
  agreement of the departmental accounting officer. The reasons for the contract were to obtain urgent analysis, advice and recommendations on:

  (a) whether there was a blockage of meat in abattoirs and cutting plants due to the recent and present crisis in the beef industry;

  (b) whether any such blockage was undermining the financial viability of enterprises that would otherwise be financially secure; and

  (c) to make observations on the possible justification for exceptional Government help for those affected, and whether there was some simple mechanism that could be employed to give effect to any such aid.

  Dry-stone Walling
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many metres of dry-stone walling were(a) built, (b) maintained and (c) destroyed in each of the last three years in the United Kingdom. [29149]

  Mr. Boswell
  We estimate that, in financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 around 1,355km, 1,020km and 620km1 respectively of stone walls were built or renovated with grant aid under the farm and conservation grant scheme of environmentally sensitive area schemes. Information on stone walls destroyed is not held.

  1England, Wales and Northern Ireland only. Figures for Scotland not yet available.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many skilled dry-stone wallers there are in the United Kingdom. [29147]

  Mr. Boswell
  I regret that the information is not available within MAFF.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dry-stone wallers were trained to a recognised standard in each of the last three years. [29148]

  Mr. Boswell
  I regret that the information is not available within MAFF.

  Beef Ban
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those non-EU countries which currently ban British beef, indicating in each case the date the ban became effective. [28976]

  Mrs. Browning
  Commission decision 96/239/EC of 27 March 1996 provided that the UK shall not export from its territory meat and meat products obtained from bovine animals slaughtered in the UK. The list of third countries therefore shows those countries with a ban on imports of British beef on the day before the introduction of the Commission decision. The month and year when the ban was introduced are shown where available.

  Importing country

  Date of ban

  Algeria

  June 1990

  Argentina

  August 1991

  Bahrain

  —

  Bulgaria

  September 1994

  Canada

  July 1990

  580

  Importing country

  Date of ban

  China

  October 1990

  Iran

  June 1990

  Iraq

  October 1994

  Jamaica

  September 1991

  Japan

  July 1990

  Jordan

  September 1990

  Kazakhstan (CIS)

  August 1993

  Libya

  November 1990

  Lithuania

  April 1995

  Malaysia

  —

  Philippines

  October 1994

  Russian Federation

  September 1993

  Saudi Arabia

  September 1990

  Switzerland

  June 1990

  Syria

  August 1990

  Taiwan

  February 1990

  United Arab Emirates

  August 1990

  United States of America

  —

  Uzbekistan

  —

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries which have banned the import of British beef since 1987. [29036]

  Mrs. Browning
  Commission decision 96/239/EC of 27 March provided that the UK shall not export from its territory meat and meat products obtained from bovine animals slaughtered in the UK. The information below sets out the position on the day before the Commission decision was introduced, identifying separately those countries which, during the period from 1987, have introduced and/or maintained a ban, and those which had introduced, but subsequently lifted, such a ban.

  Countries which have maintained a ban:

  Algeria

  Argentina

  Canada

  China

  Bahrain

  Bulgaria

  Iran

  Iraq

  Jamaica

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kazakhstan (CIS)

  Libya

  Lithuania

  Malaysia

  Philippines

  Russian Federation

  Saudi Arabia

  Switzerland

  Syria

  Taiwan

  United Arab Emirates

  United States of America

  Uzbekistan

  Countries which have introduced, but subsequently lifted, a ban:

  Chile

  581

  Cyprus

  Egypt

  Kuwait

  Lebanon

  State of Sarawak (Malaysia)

  Mauritius

  Morocco

  Oman

  Poland

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  Qatar

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets he has set for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [30111]
  582
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate—VMD—has submitted his proposals to me and I have agreed that the VMD should be set the following performance targets for 1996–97:

  to achieve full cost recovery for its three remain business activities of licensing and surveillance, policy work and residue monitoring;

  to determine 80 per cent. of new marketing authorisations within 120 clock days; 95 per cent. within 200 clock days;

  to achieve a 3 per cent. efficiency gain;

  to comply with the budgetary controls resulting from the public expenditure survey—PES—and the supply estimates; and

  to determine 90 per cent. of all renewals and variations outstanding on 1 April 1996 by 31 December 1996, and to introduce new internal targets for processing renewals and variations from 1 October 1996.

  These are challenging targets which will continue to build on the improvements already made in efficiency and quality of service provided by the directorate since its establishment as a next steps agency, and for which I commend the chief executive and his staff. In addition, I have agreed the VMD's corporate plan for 1996–97 to 1998–99, and copies are being placed in the Library of the House and the Public Information Office.

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