Written Answers of 22 May 1996

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if staff from the Central Office of Information will be allowed to put in a bid for work earmarked for market testing which they currently carry out for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement. [29981]

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 November 1995,Official Report, column 235. I have decided that COI's activities should become more closely focused and it would not be compatible with this aim for COI to compete in market tests carried out by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Andersen Consulting
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many public sector computer projects Andersen Consulting has advised since 1985; how many of these and which have(a) been substantially delayed and (b) failed; and how many claims for compensation against Andersen are now in progress. [29996]

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not held centrally and it would be disproportionately expensive to obtain it. From the information that I have, which may not be complete, I can say that since 1993 the following contracts have been awarded to Andersen Consulting:

  Department of Social Services/War Pensions Agency—War Pensions Project, 1993;

  MOD/Procurement Executive—ASPECT study and report, 1993;

  MOD/Navy—WRAM project, 1993;

  Department of Employment—Image Processing, 1993;

  MOD/Navy—ACCESS project, 1995;

  Department of Social Services/Contributions Agency—National Insurance Recording System 2, 1995;

  Employment Service; Department of Social Services/Benefits Agency jobseeker's allowance review and implementation, 1995.

  None of these projects has been substantially delayed and none has failed. So far as I am aware from the information available to me, there are no claims for compensation against Andersen in progress, but this information is not held centrally and it would cost a disproportionate amount to collect it.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each of his Department's agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide; and what were the results. [30047]
  188
  Mr. Willetts
  The market testing of services provided by this Department's agencies is a matter for their chief executives and for their customers. I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from N. E. Borrett to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply to your Question about the market testing of our services.
  Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) was set up on 1 April this year following Ministers' decision to implement the findings of an Efficiency Scrutiny Report on the Management of the Government's Civil Estate. The roles of PACE set out in the Scrutiny recommendations which by their nature have to be performed in the public sector aim to ensure that the benefits of a centrally managed estate are retained following the transfer to departments of full responsibility for the properties they occupy.
  The Agency has a key role to promote co-operation between departments to enable them to obtain best value for money in the management of their properties. This may either be in relation to departments' or agencies' activity in the property market or promoting opportunities for inter-departmental rationalisation.
  PACE also provides a single central point for the provision of general property advice. The Central Advice Unit (CAU) was set up a year in advance of the Agency to assist departments taking on their new responsibilities.
  Where departments decide that it will not be economic to retain skills in-house, PACE provides intelligent client support on repayment terms. By charging for this particular service PACE are, in effect, being market tested by departments because the work would otherwise be carried out by their own staff.
  The Agency has been reconstituted out of Property Holdings (PH), which ceased to exist at the end of March. Since 1990, PH had managed the Government's Common User Estate (CUE), comprising mainly general purpose office property. PACE has therefore as a result inherited considerable experience in procuring and managing private sector services. Though maintenance responsibilities for some buildings on the CUE had been passed to departments, PH remained largely responsible for estates and most works services. In its last year (1995/96) PH had funding of £550 million for rents and £127 million for maintenance and new works. All estates and works services were undertaken by consultants and contractors in the private sector. During the early years of PH's existence services previously handled within Government by the Property Services Agency (PSA) had all been market tested. Consultants analysed Property Holdings savings from market testing. The level of fees paid under market tested commissions in 1992–93 were estimated to be some 40% less than the rates charged in the previous year under supply and service arrangements with the PSA.

  Letter from Mike Devereau to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 20 May 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply, in respect of the Central Office of Information, to your question about the market testing of services.
  COI has not market tested any of the services it provides for clients in the last year. Its activities are subject to constant market testing by customers who are under no obligation to use its services.

  Letter from R. N. Edwards to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply to your question about market testing in his department's Agencies.
  The Chessington Computer Centre has not carried out any market testing since April 1995. This is because Chessington has been working to prepare itself for privatisation in 1996.
  The sale of Chessington is on target for late July.

  189
  There has however, been a steady programme of market tests carried out since April 95 by customers on the services we provide for them.
  I hope this provides the information that you need. If it does not please do not hesitate to get in touch.

  Letter from Robin Guenier to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 20 May 1996:
  As Chief Executive of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA), 1 am responding on behalf of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to your recent question raised about market testing of services provided by CCTA.
  I am able to inform you that no services provided by CCTA have been market tested.

  Letter from S. H. F. Hickey to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 20 May 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to your Question on the Market Testing that has been carried out into the services that the Civil Service College provides.
  The College provides training and consultancy services to the Civil Service and also the wider public sector and internationally. We have no tied customers and thus are operating in a competitive market with other providers of these services. About three quarters of our income in 1995/96 came from open courses run mainly at Sunningdale Park and our London centre. The remainder of our work is single-client training and consultancy and is normally won following some form of competitive tendering which may well form part of our customers' market testing programmes.
  The College carries out its own training and consultancy and we have not market tested any of this provision. We do however use a considerable amount of input from outside sources. Over 50% of teaching input is from non-Civil Service College Staff. This is a strategic decision to ensure quality, relevance and flexibility and ranges from associate lecturers doing individual sessions on a course to partnership with Price Waterhouse to jointly deliver courses on the Private Finance Initiative.
  Ancillary services which include services which are provided by us to our customers, such as hotel and catering services, have been subject to market testing.

  Letter from John King to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to write to you directly, with information about SAFE's market testing. This is in response to your recent PQ addressed to him.
  SAFE is an Executive Agency with a remit to provide a range of security services to Government. It has no tied customers and as a result it is for our customers to choose to use the Agency and most do this through market testing or other forms of competitive bidding. The Agency undertakes a great variety work to a value of £40M to £45M per annum and I regret that it is impractical to list all the individual items.
  Recently, the Agency did, however, initiate a major market test of one of its four operational units—the Inter Despatch Services (IDS). The IDS has a turnover of about £2½M per annum and the in-house team won against stiff competition from the private sector. The outcome has been significant price reductions for IDS customers.

  Letter from Chris Penn to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 21 May 1996:
  In the temporary absence of our Chief Executive, I have been asked to reply, so far as HMSO is concerned, to your Parliamentary question about the market-testing of the services provided by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's agencies.
  The cost-effectiveness of the services that HMSO offers is frequently tested in the market-place by our customers. There have been some losses but a significant and growing proportion of our business has been won in open competition.
  190
  In terms of our own programme of market-testing, HMSO has tested a number of key service areas over the years, and our Annual Reports have regularly recorded the results. In the last year or so, we have announced the outcome of two market tests covering important elements of our Publications distribution business. A test of the order and enquiry services was awarded jointly to the in-house team and a commercial telesales company, EWA Ltd of Chelmsford. The new service began at the start of the year and is already demonstrating improvements in service standards. These include much reduced telephone call waiting times, increases in the numbers of order lines processed and a more proactive response to customers' needs. More recently, the test of receipt, storage and distribution arrangements was awarded to the in-house team with the prospect of both service and cost improvements.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Dr. E. C. McCloy to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 20 May 1996:
  Mr. Willetts, Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, has asked me to reply to your question to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster asking him to list, for each of his department's agencies, the results of market testing of the services they provide.
  In the period since 1 April 1995 no market testing was carried out of the services provided by the Occupational Health and Safety Agency (OHSA). As part of the privatisation process of the Agency some government departments have indicated that they may wish to market test the provision of occupational health services but no formal announcements have been made.
  In the past (1994–95) the OHSA market tested the provision of laboratory services which resulted in an aggregate net value of efficiency gains of £7,000 in each of the three future financial years.

  Letter from Craig Muir to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 21 May 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning market testing into the services provided by Recruitment and Assessment Services (RAS).
  As you are no doubt already aware, RAS was established as an Executive Agency on 1 April 1991. We provide recruitment, consultancy and related services to government departments, executive agencies and other public service bodies.
  As a result of government departments and executive agencies being given responsibility to carry out their own recruitment above Executive Officer level in 1991 (with the exception of the most senior appointments and fast stream entrants), RAS was faced with the challenge of competing against private sector recruitment companies for public sector business.
  The great majority of RAS potential customers now subject recruitment agencies to market testing by competitive tendering on the range and quality of services they are able to provide before appointing the successful bidder. RAS is not immune from this process and our reaction from this increased competition was to continue to develop and expand the range of services and recruitment products we are able to offer, both to those who had decided to carry out their own recruitment (sometimes with our assistance) and to those who had selected RAS to run the recruitment campaign for them.
  Despite a general decline in the number of appointments on offer, the wider range of services and products we are able to provide led to 1994–95 being our most successful year since our inception.
  We had a marked increase in market penetration. Our share of Civil Service recruitment rose to 11% in 1994–95 (compared to 7% in 1993–94), and from a deficit of £333,000 in 1993–94 to a surplus of over £415,000 in 1994–95. There was also a significant increase in consultancy and other recruitment related services. In total, 1,173 consultancy days were provided in 1994–95, an increase of 146% over the previous year.
  I hope that you will see from the above that the services of RAS are in the continuous process of marketing testing; it is only by remaining competitive and high on quality that we will maintain our position as the leading provider of recruitment and related services to a wider market as we head for privatisation later this year.
  191
  Letter from S. P. Sage to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 20 May 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply on behalf of the Buying Agency to your recent parliamentary question concerning the market testing of the services provided by the agencies for which his department is responsible.
  You may find the following background useful. TBA is a government trading fund with a sales turnover this year projected at around £250m, an expenditure budget of £5m and 125 staff. The agency offers a full range of procurement services to its public sector customers.
  TBA has no tied customers or business. It operates on a fully commercial basis and must continue to minimise costs in order for its services to remain competitively priced and attractive to customers. All TBA's services are market-tested regularly by customers, either as a result of winning business through competitive tenders or through customers' own price comparison exercises.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has reached a decision on the short-list of bidders for HMSO. [30789]

  Mr. Freeman
  HMSO was advertised for sale in March, and a large number of organisations expressed interest in the sale. We subsequently received 14 indicative bids, and I am pleased to announce that the following parties have been short-listed:

  an independent consortium backed by Mercury Asset Management, 3i and Capita;

  a Hambros consortium;

  National Publishing Group, a consortium led by Electra Fleming;

  Westminster Information System, led by NatWest Ventures.

  Each of these will now prepare final bids based on detailed information about HMSO and discussions with its management and staff.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress has been made in drawing up a contract for the provision of printing and publishing services to the House after the privatisation of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. [30990]

  Mr. Beith
  A draft contract has been prepared by the House's legal advisers, and has been approved by the Commission for release to the short-listed organisations bidding for HMSO. A copy of the draft—excluding certain financial provisions which are commercially confidential—will be placed in the Library on Tuesday 4 June when the House returns from the spring adjournment. The Commission considers that the draft contract provides the safeguards stipulated in the Speaker's letter of 28 November 1995 to the Lord President of the Council,Official Report, 11 December 1995, columns 455–57.

  The provisions of the draft contract are not subject to negotiation with the short-listed bidders.
  192

TREASURY

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of his agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30045]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executives of the Royal Mint, the Office for National Statistics, the Valuation Office and Paymaster agencies. I have asked each of them to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Longford to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  In your question to the Chancellor (ref: 30045) you ask what market testing has been carried out into the services provided by the Agency and what were the results.
  The Valuation Office is an Executive Agency within the Inland Revenue and carries out valuations of land and buildings for a wide range of clients in the public sector throughout England, Wales and Scotland, including an estate surveying and valuation service for other government departments, public bodies and local authorities.
  The main functions of the Valuation Office are to:

  undertake rating and council tax valuation work in England and Wales;

  provide valuation services to the Inland Revenue in England, Wales and Scotland mainly in connection with inheritance tax and capital gains tax;

  provide various other statutory and non-statutory valuation services to Government Departments and the wider public sector in England, Wales and Scotland;

  assess, make and recover contributions in lieu of rates in respect of Crown occupation of properties within the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Gibraltar and make payments of rates in respect of properties in the United Kingdom occupied by overseas Governments;

  Provide policy advice to Government Departments and Ministers on property valuation matters.

  The initiative to undertake market testing for non-statutory work rests with other government departments, public bodies and local authorities and the Valuation Office responds by tendering on a regular basis for estate surveying and valuation services in competition with the private sector.
  Please let me know if I can assist further.

  Letter from Roger Holmes to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your Question about market testing.
  The Royal Mint has operated as a trading fund since 1 April 1975 and already runs on a commercial basis with normal private sector disciplines rigorously applied. As a leading player in export markets with two-thirds of our sales overseas, all our sourcing decisions must be commercial. In these circumstances the Royal Mint does not operate a formal market testing programme, but managers review regularly whether goods and services should be provided internally or outsourced and, as a result, sub-contract or outsource a wide range of items.
  I trust my reply is helpful.

  Letter from Keith Sullens to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your Question asking if he will list for each of his agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results.
  193
  The following tables show what services PAYMASTER has had market tested and what the results were:

  Banking business

  Service Market Tested

  Result

  56 NHS Trusts and Health Authorities

  Either retained existing level of business or gained additional business in some cases

  Teachers' Pensions Agency

  Lost the banking transaction business but retained the vote funding element

  NHS Pensions Agency

  Retained

  Countryside Council for Wales

  Retained

  Further Education Funding Council

  Retained

  Funding Agency for Schools

  Won

  English Nature

  Part retained

  BBSRC

  Part retained

  Pension services

  Service Market Tested

  Result

  Teachers' Pensions Agency

  Database and Payroll Services

  Retained

  Customer Services

  Lost to in house bidder

  NHS Pensions Agency

  Pensioner Payroll and

  Retained via subcontract with

  Administration

  MDIS

  Pensioner Administration

  Lost

  Computer System

  Letter from Tim Hold to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your Question of 17 May about market testing of services provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
  The ONS was created as a new government department and executive agency on 1 April 1996. It brought together the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) and the Central Statistical Office (CSO). This response provides information covering market tests completed by March 1995. Competing for Quality figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for the ONS Efficiency Plan. It is anticipated that this information will be published in the 1996 Next Steps Review.
  CSO Market Testing Activities up to March 1995:

  Activities included in the 1995 Next Steps Review

  Catering Services

  Retail Price Index (local price collection)

  Statistical Methodology

  Training

  Other activities, not published in the 1995 Next Steps Review

  Internal Audit

  Graphic Design Services

  Producer Price Index (computer development)

  Four of these were awarded externally, three retained in-house.

  OPCS Market Testing Activities up to March 1995:

  Activities included in the 1995 Next Steps Review

  Reprographics

  London Housekeeping

  Registration Bindery

  Redevelopment of NHSCR IT system

  Other activities not published in the 1995 Next Steps Review

  Voice and Data Communications

  One of these was awarded to the private sector, four were retained in-house.

  194

  Community Transit Procedures
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence the Government has submitted to the European Parliament committee of inquiry into community transit procedures. [30167]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  At a preliminary stage of its work, the European Parliament committee of inquiry into community transit procedures invited Governments to respond to the areas of investigation outlined under its terms of reference. A response by HM Customs and Excise was sent to the committee on 19 March 1996. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Members' Library.

  Income Level Research
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for the Inland Revenue to increase the sample size of information collected from its files to enable a more accurate assessment of income levels by local authority area. [30398]

  Mr. Jack
  The size of the sample for the survey of personal incomes is set with a view to meeting efficiently its primary purpose of providing information relevant to the costing of income tax proposals affecting the United Kingdom as a whole. As such, a plan to increase its size is not required.

  Some information from the survey of personal incomes on income levels by local authority areas is already published in "Inland Revenue Statistics 1995". Like all information derived from sample surveys, the figures are subject to statistical variation and the published tables indicate which estimates are particularly uncertain.

  Film, Recording and Publishing Industries
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the levels of(a) the invisible and (b) the visible imports and exports of (i) the record industry and (ii) the publishing industry over the past three years. [30350]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Estimates are not available in the format requested. For visible trade, the estimates to the nearest definition available are given in the following table:

  £ million

  Publishing of recorded media1

  Of which: sound recordings

  CDID

  Exports WIQC

  Imports WLJD

  Exports QAED

  Imports QDYH

  1992

  1,292

  877

  231

  148

  1993

  1,543

  902

  237

  166

  1994

  1,762

  956

  301

  192

  1995

  1,999

  1,058

  375

  231

  Note:

  1 Includes books, newspapers, journals and periodicals, sound recordings and other publishing.

  Source:

  Business Monitor MQ10 "Overseas Trade analysed in terms of industries".
  195
  For invisibles, the estimates are available only for the overall classification group "publishing printing, performers and other recreation services".

  The latest available figures are given in the following table.

  £ million

  Royalties and services from "publishing, printing, performers and other recreation services" industry

  Exports

  Imports

  1992

  537

  259

  1993

  665

  331

  1994

  790

  429

  Source:

  First Release (CSO (95) 280) "Overseas Earnings from Royalties and Services".

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current level of employment in(a) the film industry, (b) the record industry and (c) the publishing industry. [30349]

  Mrs. Knight
  The information requested is available only at census of employment dates. Figures from the latest census at September 1993 are shown in the following table.

  Employees in employment in Great Britain: September 1993

  Industry

  SIC92 code

  Level

  Motion picture and video production1

  92.11

  11,200

  Publishing of sound recordings2

  22.14

  1,700

  Publishing of books, newspapers, journals, periodicals etc3

  422.1

  117,200

  1 Includes production of motion pictures and video tape. Excludes related areas such as motion picture and video distribution and projection, reproduction of video from master copies, activities of own account actors etc.

  2 Includes publishing of gramophone records, compact discs and tapes with music or other sound recordings. Excludes related areas such as reproduction from master copies of gramophone records, compact discs and tapes.

  3Includes publishing of postcards, timetables, forms and posters. Excludes related areas such as printing.

  4Less 22.14

  Information about employment in related areas is available from "Census of Employment Statistics 1993" which is available in the Library.

  Employment Levels
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the changes in employment levels for(a) employees and (b) the self-employed for (i) full-time males, (ii) part-time males, (iii) full-time females and (iv) part-time females between spring 1995 and 1996. [30162]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Information is not available for spring 1996 until 14 August 1996 when provisional results will be published in the labour force survey first release. The latest information from the LFS showing the change in employment levels between winter 1994–95 and winter 1995–96 are shown in the table.196

  Employment changes in Great Britain between winter 1994–95 and winter 1995–961 Seasonally adjusted.

  000

  Employees

  Full-time males

  +138

  Part time males

  +76

  Full-time females

  +19

  Part-time females

  +201

  Self-employed

  Full-time males

  -62

  Part-time males

  +4

  Full-time females

  0

  Part-time females

  -11

  Note:

  Provisional.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey.

  EU (UK Contribution)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the United Kingdom gross contribution to the EU in 1996; and if he will express this total as a sum per person per week. [30216]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government's latest estimate of the United Kingdom's gross contribution to the European Community budget for 1996–97 is £7,733 million, after account is taken of the UK's abatement. Assuming a population for the UK of 58.3 million, the estimate translates arithmetically to £2.54 per person per week.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net contribution to the EU in 1996; and if he will list the principal areas in which revenue is returned from the EU. [30217]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government's latest estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community budget for 1996–97 is £2,899 million. Included within the estimate is a total of £4,834 million for public sector receipts. The great bulk of these receipts come from the three major Community funds, as follows:

  Fund

  1996–97 £ million

  European Agricultural and Guarantee Fund

  2,999

  European Social Fund

  1,068

  European Regional Development Fund

  744

  Value Added Tax
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest available figures for(a) under-declarations and (b) over-declarations of VAT voluntarily disclosed; and what assessment he has made of the preventive effects of assurance visits on these figures. [30053]
  197
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: Customs' latest audited figures for VAT voluntarily disclosed in the year ended 31 March 1995 are as follows:

  (a) under-declarations—£366 million

  (b) over-declarations—£568 million.

  It is not possible to quantify the preventive effect of assurance visits on these figures.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by Customs and Excise into the link between VAT compliance and assurance visits; if the results are published; and what plans he has for additional research in this area. [30054]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: Customs tells me that it has an on-going programme of research into the link between VAT compliance and assurance visits. It asks academics to carry out research to evaluate the effect of the assurance programme on trade sectors. None of the material produced so far is of sufficient general interest to warrant publication, although it has been made available to interested parties inside the Department.

  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of VAT arrears have been written off in each of the last 10 years. [30055]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: Write-off figures for 1995 have not yet been finalised. The value of VAT remitted or written off in the previous 10 years was as follows:

  1994: £550,464,000

  1993: £742,376,000

  1992: £745,773,000

  1991: £515,335,000

  1990: £212,715,000

  1989: £176,478,000

  1988: £225,780,000

  1987: £216,354,000

  1986: £178,601,000

  1985–86: £238,999,000.

  From 1 April 1986, schedules of these amounts have been prepared on a calendar year basis. Figures for 1986 cover the period 1 April to 31 December.

  Insolvency accounts for approximately 90 per cent. of all VAT write-offs or remissions.

  Council of Europe Meetings
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995 have been attended by Ministers or officials of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [29364]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 17 May 1996]: No Ministers or officials from my Department have attended meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995.
  198

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been mis-sold personal pensions since 1986. [28813]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: There is no reliable estimate available of the number of people who have been mis-sold personal pensions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Jammu and Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received in respect of the general election in India concerning the percentage of electors in Jammu and Kashmir who cast votes; and if he will make a statement. [30441]

  Mr. Hanley
  Elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being spread over three days: 7, 23 and 30 May. Turnout in the constituencies of Jammu and Ladakh, where polling took place on 7 May, but where the count has not yet begun, is estimated to have been around 55 per cent. and 80 per cent. respectively.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of those United Kingdom nationals who observed on behalf of the United Kingdom recent elections in Jammu and Kashmir; if he will place their reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [30443]

  Mr. Hanley
  A member of our high commission staff in New Delhi visited the constituency of Jammu during the elections on 7 Mary. The overall atmosphere was peaceful. The high commission's report on that visit is an internal document and will not be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received to date, concerning those taken hostage in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [30440]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We are aware of recent reports that the hostages may be dead and, together with the Indian and other Governments, are working to assess whether or not they are true. We continue at present to work on the basis that the hostages are alive and to work hard for their early and safe release.

  We keep in close touch with the families and give appropriate briefing to the constituency Members of Parliament involved.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when a decision is to be taken by the post in Islamabad on an application by Mrs. Tazeem Akhtar and her children (ref. IMM/C7358) to enter the United Kingdom; when the results of DNA tests in relation to this application were received; and if he will make a statement; [30235]

  (2) when a decision is to be made on the application made to the post in Islamabad by Mrs. Muzamal Jan and her two children (ref. IMM/C7226) to enter the United Kingdom; when the applicant was interviewed at the post; and if he will make a statement. [30234]
  199
  Mr. Hanley
  I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply form the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement. [30258]

  Mr. Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans at present to visit the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

  Angola
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what UN sanctions are currently being enforced against UNITA. [30331]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  UN Security Council resolution 864 of 15 September 1993 imposed a ban on the sale or supply to UNITA of arms and related materials and military assistance, as well as petroleum and petroleum products.

  UN Peacekeeping
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on peacekeeping operations of the United Nations' borrowing of funds from its peacekeeping budgets. [30500]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Funds borrowed from peacekeeping budgets to meet cash shortfalls on the UN regular budget have had no appreciable impact on UN peacekeeping operations.

  Conventional Forces in Europe Review Conference
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position with respect to the CFE review conference; and what the British delegation will seek to achieve at the conference. [30501]

  Mr. David Davis
  The CFE review conference is the forum for an operational review of the treaty and for resolving outstanding treaty implementation issues. To this end the UK delegation's aim will be to:

  conduct a review of the treaty's operation;

  support efforts to resolve the flank problem and other outstanding implementation issues;

  consider any proposals for discussions on the future of the treaty.

  WPC Fletcher
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State, Home Office, of 8 May,Official Report, column 213, what representations have been made to the Government of Libya about two
  200
  people in the Libyan bureau in London in 1984, possessing diplomatic immunity, suspected of the murder of WPC Fletcher. [29297]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: We asked the Libyan Government to co-operate with the police investigation into the murder of WPC Fletcher at the time. They refused. In the absence of such co-operation it was not possible to bring charges against any individual. There were therefore no grounds for making further representations.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30120]

  Sir John Wheeler
  This is a matter for the chief executives of each agency. They will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Jan Walters to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about market testing the Agency's services.
  The Agency already outsources the delivery of programmes and services which account for 80% of the Agency's annual budget. Since 1992 the Agency has undertaken a vigorous competing for Quality programme and has continued to scrutinise its programmes and services. Scoping studies have been carried out in the following areas:-

  1992/93: Training Centre Network

  1993/94: Business Support: Jobclubs

  1994/95: Disablement Advisory Service

  1995/96: Careers Service (Including Jobskills pre-entry)

  These studies have not led to further contracting out of services or programmes but have resulted in substantial savings being identified and realised.
  Most notable so far, the examination in 1992/93 of the potential for market testing the Agency's network of Training Centres prompted a major reorganisation of the network, involving running costs of £10.6m and 626 staff (approximately 40% of Agency staff). This re-organisation resulted in total annual running cost savings which rise to approximately £2m by the end of 1995/96, as well as total annual programme cost savings rising to approximately £2m over the same period. The Business Support study resulted in cash savings of £ 134k per annum.
  The Agency's revised Framework document includes a commitment to continue to examine the scope for and, if appropriate, implement proposals for market testing with a view to ensuring best value for money.
  Furthermore, a comprehensive study due for completion shortly is examining the current and future potential roles of the private sector in delivering the Agency's services.

  Letter from F. G. McConnell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU)

  201
  to reply to your question about market testing within Executive Agencies.
  An independent study of the scope for market testing of IRTU's activities has recently been completed. The study involved a detailed examination of the Agency's activities and recommended that none of these is appropriate for market testing. This recommendation is being considered.
  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Letter from D. J. Bell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Question about what market testing has been carried out into the services provided by the Valuation & Lands Agency for Northern Ireland.
  Since its launch as a Next Steps Agency on 1 April 1993, only once has market testing been fully carried out on a service provided by the Agency.
  In that instance, market testing was carried out by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and as a result, the valuation service previously provided by the Agency to the NIHE throughout Northern Ireland, was restricted to that part of Northern Ireland covered by the NIHE's Western Region.
  I trust this information is sufficient for your purposes but if you think I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to let me know.

  Letter from F. Jardine to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question on market testing on behalf of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
  NISRA was established as a Next Steps Agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel on 1 April 1998. Its role is to provide statistics, social research and civil registration services and to undertake the Census of Population. The Agency thus shares a number of functions in common with the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the short period since it was established NISRA has not market tested any of its services but is committed in the Framework Document to examining the scope for future market testing.
  The collection and processing of much regional statistical data in Northern Ireland is closely linked to analogous GB activities and the market testing of such work is normally undertaken in association with the ONS. Prior to Agentisation Northern Ireland with GB to market test the collection of prices information which contribute to the Retail Prices Index (RPI). The collection of RPI data was transferred subsequently to the private sector.

  Letter from D. Court to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 May 1996:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State to list for each of his Department's Agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results.
  As Chief Executive of the Government Purchasing Agency, I am replying on his behalf.
  The Government Purchasing Agency was launched on 1 April 1996 and is responsible for the provision of a professional procurement service for Northern Ireland Departments, their agencies and the Northern Ireland Office. It also manages the procurement process and advises Ministers on all issues relating to procurement policy.
  Each year Departments will review their Service Level Agreements with the Agency and are free to obtain their services from elsewhere, if they so wish. Therefore the Agency, while unable to market test itself, is subject to a continuous market test by its customers.
  The Agency does contract out some of its work and it is intended to continue to examine opportunities for this in the future.
  I hope this is helpful.
  202
  Letter from Alec Wylie to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on market testing.
  The Social Security Agency has not market tested any of its services since its establishment in July 1991.
  I hope this explains the position for you but 1 would be happy to provide any further information you require.

  Letter from P. Devlin to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your question about market testing carried out into the services provided by his Department's agencies and the results.
  I should like to explain that there has been no market testing of child support maintenance services.
  I hope you find this information useful.

  Letter from Ronnie Brown to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on market testing in agencies.
  On 1 November 1992 Health Estates commenced the market testing of design, consultancy and site supervision services in respect of clients' healthcare buildings.
  In each of the three reporting periods since then the in-house team has demonstrated its ability to offer competitive bids for these services and to win sufficient work to ensure the full utilization of the current staff resources.

  Letter from D. A. Stanley to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question regarding market testing.
  As part of the Agency's Prior Options review in 1994 an entry was placed in Market Testing Bulletin inviting those with an interest in the Agency's work to respond. In addition, the Northern Ireland Office, the Agency's parent department, wrote to a number of organisations who were viewed as having an interest, these included the Law Society of Northern Ireland, the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters, the Association of British Insurers, the Northern Ireland Bankers Association, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and the Northern Ireland Bar Library. Letters were also written to the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Select Committee and to the 17 Northern Ireland MPs.
  There were responses only from the Law Society, the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters and one MP. In each case the view was that administration of the compensation schemes in Northern Ireland should be carried out by a public body, such as the Agency, accountable to Parliament and Ministers and that it would be inappropriate for the private sector to handle such sensitive material.

  Letter from Alan Shannon to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about market testing undertaken by Government agencies.
  The Northern Ireland Prison Service became an executive agency on 1 April 1995. None of its functions have been subject to direct market testing in the intervening period. However, a prior options review of its payroll services, which was completed in 1995/96, resulted in a number of recommendations for a more efficient organisation of the service, including a reduction in the number of posts required. In addition, prior options reviews of the works department, pharmacy services and fire prevention arrangements were started in 1995/96 and will be completed during the current year.
  203
  Letter from R. A. Hall to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 May 1996:
  You recently raised a Question to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland asking if he would list for each of his Department's Agencies, what market testing had been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results.
  I have been asked to reply to you directly. My Agency was launched on 1 September 1995 after a prior options study had been conducted on the provision fo the service. That study concluded that the service should be established as an Executive Agency of the Northern Ireland Office. No market testing of the service was carried out.

  Letter from D. W. Gallagher to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about market testing of our services.
  No market testing has yet been carried out though there are plans to market test our services in toto after 1 April 1997.

  Letter from J. F. Codd to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked the Chief Executive to reply to your question about market testing by Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland. In the absence of the Chief Executive I am replying on his behalf.
  We had two core activities in the market testing programme for 1993–94:

  (i) resurvey at basic scales for preparation of master survey documents; and

  (ii) data conversion of large scales topographical archive to digital information.

  A judgement was made that their small size meant that the cost of preparing for formal market testing would have exceeded potential savings. Consequently we kept the work in-house on condition that we achieved at least 10 per cent. cost reduction in 1993–94 and succeeding years.

  Letter from J. B. Watson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  I refer to the question which you recently put to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, asking for Information on market testing in each of his Department's Agencies. This matter has been referred to Chief Executives for reply and this response covers the Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency.
  The Agency was set up with effect from 1 April 1992, following a complete review of the activities. This review considered all options for the future provision of Driver and Vehicle Testing and concluded that a Next Steps Agency represented the optimum means of delivery. In 1993 privatisation of the private car vehicle testing operation was examined. This review also concluded that the existing arrangements were the most efficient. A full review of the Agency is planned to commence next year.

  Letter from Brendan Hagee to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked the Chief Executive to reply to your question in relation to Market Testing which has been carried out into services provided by the Department's Agencies and the results.
  DVLNI invited tenders in relation to a market test on Local Vehicle Licensing Offices during 1994. The bid was won in-house and a new contract commenced 1 July 1995.

  Letter from A. P. W. Malcomson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Question as to what market testing has been carried out for the services provided by this Executive Agency and what were the results.
  204
  The following Public Record Office areas have been subject to market testing (ie, Competing for Quality): cleaning, catering, wordprocessing, reprographics and information technology. The first two functions were contracted out centrally; the third was reduced in scale but retained in-house; and the fourth and fifth were retained in-house. Another area, namely Repository, was also retained in-house subject to the achievement of 10% efficiency saving.

  Letter from C. E. Ronaldson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17May 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about Market Testing of the services provided by his Department's Agencies.
  A Prior Options Study was carried out on Works Service (Construction Service's predecessor) prior to the launch of the Agency on 1 April 1996.
  Since 1 April 1996 none of the services provided by Construction Service have been Market Tested.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17May 1996:
  Mr. Moss has asked me to reply on behalf of the Environment and Heritage Service, to your parliamentary question about what market testing has been carried out into services provided by his Department's agencies and the results.
  Grounds maintenance at the 2 largest of the 7 Country Parks, managed by this Service, was market tested in 1991. In both instances the work was won by the in-house bid, which proved to be the cheapest.
  Grass cutting operations at 42 of the 181 State Care Monument sites managed by us in the eastern half of Northern Ireland were market tested in 1994.
  This area was chosen as it contained the greatest concentration of monuments in commercially viable groups. In all, 4 groups were market-tested and the work was won by the in-house bid in each case.

  Letter from Arthur H. Moir to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  A Prior Options Review of the activities of the Land Registry. Registry of Deeds and Statutory Charges Register which was completed in 1995 recommended Agency Status and was accepted by the Office of Public Service on the basis that the new Agency would consider the market testing of non-core functions.
  None of the Agencies activities have yet been Market Tested. All of the Agencies activities are being fundamentally examined, as part of the current efficiency plan, in a Business Process Re engineering Project. This will be completed by the Autumn. The Agency is also attempting to secure a private sector partner under the Private Finance Initiative to computerise the Land Registration process. Market Testing will be considered further when these projects are completed.

  Letter from H. R. F. Flester to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  You recently tabled a written question on the issue of market testing for answer by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. As the Water Service has been a Next Steps Agency within the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland since 1 April 1996 this has been forwarded to me, as Chief Executive, for reply in respect of the Agency.
  The Water Service has been engaged in a market testing and efficiency review programme since the late 1980s and will, within 2 years, have market tested or carried out efficiency reviews of 50% of all its activities.

  205
  The activities covered in the most recent part of this programme, between October 1994 and March 1996, are:

  1. Collection and transportation of water quality samples

  2. Sludge tinkering

  Septic tank emptying

  Minor to major sewage treatment works, and major sewage treatment works to disposal points.

  3. Sewer maintenance

  Clearing of blockages and desilting.

  Sewer and manhole repairs and construction.

  Of these recent market tests 64% were won by the in-house teams.

  Letter from V. Crawford to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked the Chief Executive to reply to your question about market testing which has been carried out by Roads Service. In his absence I am replying on behalf of the Chief Executive.
  Prior to becoming an Executive Agency within the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on 1 April 1996, Roads Service market tested a number of road maintenance and inspection/testing functions. In addition, street lighting maintenance, car park management, the Strangford Ferry Service, Roadman Training Centre, Castlenavan Quarry and the materials testing maintenance contracts were lost to the private sector, but the remainder, representing approximately 90% of the work tested, was won by in-house teams.
  The agency has not completed any market tests since it was created. It does, however, intend to test approximately three quarters of its work during the next 3 years.

  Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 17 May 1996:
  Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your question about what market testing has been carried out in the services provided by The Planning Service and what were the results.
  The Planning Service since it became an Agency, within the Department of the Environment, on 1 April 1996, has not carried out any market testing. In 1993 The Planning Service market tested the "Area Plans Research and Analysis process" which is the first stage in the preparation of Area Development Plans. The work market tested was for 6 Area Plans extending over a period of 18 months and was awarded to the In-House team.
  A second market test to revisit the market is scheduled for completion by 31 March 1997 and is included in the Agency's Business Plan.

  Sinn Fein Candidates
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Upper Bann for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been(a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30514]

  (2) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for North Down for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30515]

  (3) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for South Down for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged
  206
  and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30516]

  (4) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Newry and Armagh for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30517]

  (5) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Strangford for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30518]

  (6) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Fermanagh and South Tyrone for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offence with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30519]

  (7) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for West Tyrone for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30520]

  (8) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for South Antrim for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30529]

  (9) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Foyle for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30531]

  (10) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Mid-Ulster for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30521]

  (11) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Belfast, North for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30522]

  (12) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Belfast, South for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30523]
  207
  (13) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Belfast, East for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30524]

  (14) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Belfast, West for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30525]

  (15) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Lagan Valley for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30526]

  (16) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for East Londonderry for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30527]

  (17) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for the East Antrim for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date or release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30528]

  (18) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for North Antrim for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30530]

  (19) if he will publish the regional list of Sinn Fein candidates for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which each candidate has been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him. [30532]

  Sir John Wheeler
  It is not possible to indicate terrorist offences with which any of the candidates nominated by Sinn Fein to stand for election on 30 May, and listed in full in the Belfast Gazette, may have been charged or convicted, or details relating to sentences any may have served. To enable the Royal Ulster Constabulary's criminal records office to begin a search of its records it would be necessary to provide the office with the full name, date of birth and address of each person. As this, however, would not guarantee that the correct person had been identified, the RUC would further require a set of fingerprints to compare with those held on record.
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  European Fund for Peace and Reconciliation
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the maximum sum of money per head of population in each district council in Northern Ireland which can be obtained from the European fund for peace and reconciliation. [30322]

  Mr. Moss
  Under sub-programme 6 of the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland 1995 to 1999, a proposed sum of £35 million will be allocated among Northern Ireland's 26 district council areas to take account of both population and levels of relative deprivation. The maximum sum of money per head of population in each district council area in Northern Ireland under sub-programme 6 is as follows:

  District council

  Allocation per capita (£)

  Antrim

  12

  Ards

  13

  Armagh

  16

  Ballymena

  13

  Ballymoney

  14

  Banbridge

  13

  Belfast

  34

  Carrickfergus

  11

  Castlereagh

  11

  Coleraine

  13

  Cookstown

  28

  Craigavon

  14

  Derry

  36

  Down

  14

  Dungannon

  25

  Fermanagh

  20

  Larne

  15

  Limavady

  30

  Lisburn

  19

  Magherafelt

  20

  Moyle

  25

  Newry and Mourne

  24

  Newtownabbey

  13

  North Down

  11

  Omagh

  19

  Strabane

  43

  Average

  21

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff were employed by his Department on BSE-related research during(a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993, (d) 1994 and (e) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [26004]

  Mr. Boswell
  The following numbers of MAFF staff have been employed on BSE-related research:

  Year

  Staff years

  1991–92

  n/a

  1992–93

  116.8

  1993–94

  104.1

  209

  Year

  Staff years

  1994–95

  103.8

  1995–96

  102.8

  n/a = not available.

  These figures do not reflect the totality of MAFF's BSE research programme as MAFF also funds BSE-related research at non-MAFF establishments. MAFF staff are also employed on work related to the diagnoses and monitoring of the disease.

  Directorate of Fisheries Research
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the future organisation of the directorate of fisheries research. [30671]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The directorate of fisheries research was recently the subject of a prior options review. This looked at the need for its services, and how they could be provided most effectively. Following this review, the Government have decided that the directorate of fisheries research should become a next steps executive agency of MAFF. This will give it greater management freedom to improve performance within a framework of targets set by Ministers while retaining it within the public sector. My intention is that this change should take place on 1 April 1997 if this can be achieved, and in any event as soon as practicable.

  Horticulture Research International
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received about the proposed privatisation of Horticulture Research International; [30013]

  (2) what steps he has taken to protect the interests of small to medium-sized horticultural enterprises following privatisation of Horticulture Research International; [30015]

  (3) what guarantees of future funding for Horticulture Research International he will give following privatisation; [30016]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the planned time scale for the privatisation of Horticulture Research International. [30020]

  Mr. Boswell
  No decisions have been taken on privatisation of Horticulture Research International.

  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the meetings and consultations which he has had with representatives of the horticultural industry to discuss the future of Horticulture Research International in the last six months. [30014]

  Mr. Boswell
  Horticulture Research International is the subject of a prior options review which is looking at a variety of options, including whether it should remain in the public sector. The review team has met the following representatives of the horticultural industry:

  The Apple and Pear Research Council

  East Mailing Trustees

  Horticultural Development Council

  National Farmers' Union

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  Written comments were received from the following additional horticulture associations:

  East Mailing Research Association

  Horticultural Research Association

  Horticultural Trades Association

  Mushroom Growers Association

  National Hop Association

  Potato Marketing Board

  Processors and Growers Research Organisation

  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans for the future of Horticulture Research International; and if he will make a statement. [30018]

  Mr. Boswell
  As part of the prior options review, the future status of HRI is now to be considered by the Prime Minister's adviser on efficiency, Sir Peter Levene. Decisions on the outcome will be announced as soon as possible.

  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the benefits to small to medium-sized horticultural enterprises which will accrue from privatisation of Horticulture Research International. [30019]

  Mr. Boswell
  In reaching a decision on Horticulture Research International's future status, the Government will take into account the responses received from the horticulture industry in the course of the prior options review.

  Departmental Staff (Directorships)
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those MAFF employees who currently hold directorships with companies engaged in the sourcing, processing, distribution or retailing of food, the dates of their appointment and the income or secondment received by his Department for their service. [30392]

  Mr. Boswell
  Under the guide to non-executive directorships for civil servants, Mr. A. R. Burne and Mr. B. J. Harding currently hold directorships in companies engaged in the sourcing, processing, distribution or retailing of food. The dates of their appointments are October 1994 and March 1996 respectively. The Department does not receive any income or secondment from these appointments.

  Lindane
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to publish the results of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides' review of the agricultural uses of the pesticide substance lindane. [30786]

  Mrs. Browning
  The committee completed this review at its meeting on 15 February. The Government have accepted the committee's recommendation that all present agricultural uses of lindane should continue without unacceptable risks to people or the environment.

  Full details of the review are given in the committee's evaluation document which was published on 2 May. Copies of the document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
  211

  Live Animal Transport
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made on the implementation of the new EU rules on the welfare of animals in transport; and if he will make a statement. [30962]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In October last year, we circulated our proposals for implementing the new EU rules on the welfare of animals in transport to over 600 interested organisations and individuals. That initial consultation ended in December and we have been considering the comments received. There are some issues on which it is now possible to give a clearer indication of the shape of future legislation. There are other issues where we shall need to consult interested parties further on how we should take practicalities into account while providing improved welfare conditions.

  It is now clear that there is nothing to be gained by bringing forward early legislation on particular aspects of the directive. We shall, instead, develop practical and workable measures, which we shall implement in a single statutory instrument later in the year.

  One of the central issues to emerge from consultation has been how livestock markets will fit in with the new rules. Consultation has clearly underlined the difficulties in requiring a "paper trail" to follow individual animals from farm of origin through markets and beyond and we will not now be pursuing this. We shall be consulting further on alternative approaches to markets to ensure that the continuity of protection required by the EU rules is provided.

  We have also been considering the requirement for transporters to be competent. It had been our intention to require such transporters to undergo a formal assessment of their competence. However, we have decided, in the light of the consultation exercise, that this would impose an unnecessary burden on the majority of transporters and that, in common with approaches in other sectors, the onus should instead be on transporters to show that their staff have the necessary competence. In order to help both transporters and enforcers, it is our intention to provide a framework of the competences required.

  We want to take the time available to us to make sure that all the detail of our implementing measures is sound and practical. We have therefore asked officials to continue discussions with all interested parties. When we have firmer proposals, we shall set these out in a further consultation document before finally deciding what approaches to adopt.

  Collection Centres
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of collection centres approved in accordance with EU legislation on animal health. [28626]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 May 1996]: As at 17 May 1996, the following livestock markets and assembly points were approved as collection centres, as defined in Council directive 64/432/EEC:

  Penrith Auction Mart, Agricultural Hall, Skirsgill, Pentrith, Cumbria;

  Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria;

  212

  Lazonby Auction Mart, Lazonby, Pentrith, Cumbria;

  Kendal Auction Mart, Appelby Road, Kendal, Cumbria;

  Sedbergh Auction Mart, Station Road, Sedbergh, Cumbria;

  Skipton Auction Mart, Gargave Road, Skipton, North Yorks.

  Leybum Auction Mart, Richmond Road, Leyburn, North Yorks;

  Applegarth Market, Romanby Road, Northallerton, North Yorks;

  York Livestock Centre, Murton, York;

  Malton Cattle Market, Cattle Market, Malton;

  Bentham Auction Mart, High Bentham, Lancaster;

  Thirsk Auction Mart, Station Road, Thirsk;

  The Auction Mart, North Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire;

  Lingfield Farm, Colton, Tadcaster;

  Lancaster Farmers Auction Mart, Golgotha, Lancaster;

  Light Foot House Farm, Light Foot Lane, Fulwood, Preston;

  Brockholes Arms Auction Mart, Garstang Road, Claughton on Brock, Garstang;

  Haslingden Auction Mart, Private Lane, Bent Gate, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancs;

  Deben Farm, Land Dyke Lane, Scalford, Melton Mowbray, Leicstershire;

  Northampton Cattle Market, Victoria Promenade, Northampton;

  Stratford-upon-Avon Cattle Market, Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire;

  Airfield Farm (Calf Centre), Airfield Farm, Bearley Road, Snitterfield, Warwicks;

  The Cattle Market, Craven Road, Rugby, Warwickshire;

  Melton Mowbray Cattle Market, Scalford Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics;

  Henley In Arden Market, Warwick Road, Henley in Arden;

  Market Harborough Cattle Market, Foxton Road, Lubenham, Market Harboroug;

  The Grange Farm, Boon Hill, Bignall End, Stoke on Trent;

  Lichfield Auction Centre, Woodend Land, Fradley;

  Prospect Farm, Millmeece, Eccleshall, Staffs;

  Walnut Croft, Poole, Nantwich;

  Crewe Livestock Market, Barker Street, Crewe;

  Beeston Smithfield, Tarporley, Cheshire;

  Chester Auction Centre, Bumpers Lane, Chester;

  Hilltop Farm, Newton by Frodsham, Warrington;

  Elm Bank, Whitchurch Rd, Rowton, Chester;

  Chelford Agricultural Centre, Chelford, Cheshire;

  Bank Farm, Hough, Crewe;

  Ross-on-Wye Livestock Centre, Overross, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire;

  Hereford Cattle Market, Hereford Market, (Market Office), Hereford;

  Shrewsbury Livestock Auction, The Smithfield, Harlescott Lane, Shrewsbury;

  Market Drayton, Cattle Market, Addreley Rd, Market Drayton, Shropshire;

  Oswestry Cattle Auctions, New Smithfield, Shrewsbury Rd, Oswestry, Shropshire;

  Kidderminister Cattle Market, Comberton Hill, Kidderminster;

  Salisbury Agricultural Centre, Salisbury Road, Netherthampton, Salisbury;

  Gloucester Market Auctioneers, The Cattle Market, St Oswalds Road, Gloucester;

  Forest Gate Farm, Pewsham, Chippenham, Wiltshire;

  Chippenham Livestock Market, Cocklebury Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire;

  Chowle Farm, Faringdon, Oxford;

  213

  Lodge Farm Calf Holding Shed, Lodge Farm, Barnard Gate, Witney Oxon;

  Banbury Market, Banbury, Oxfordshire;

  Homestead Farm, Petham, Canterbury, Kent;

  Abbotsland Farm, Capel Le Ferne, Folkstone, Kent;

  Kingsley Hill Farm, Warbleton, Rushlake Green, Heathfield, East Sussex;

  Coxhill Farm, Shepherdswell, Dover, Kent;

  Ashford Market, Ashford, Kent;

  Maidstone Market, Detling, Maidstone, Kent;

  'Wyjac' Ashill, Nr. Ilminster, Somerset;

  Chancellors Farm Calf Unit, Chancellors Farm, Wanstron, Nr. Shepton Mallet;

  Halsey Cross Farm, Over Stowey, Bridgwater, Somerset;

  Mendip Farm, Hornblotton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset;

  Frome Market, Standerwick, Frome;

  Truro Market, 58 Lemon St, Truro, Cornwall;

  Helston Market, St. Johns Rd, Helston, Cornwall;

  Penzance Livestock Market, Poniou Road, Long Rock, Penzance, Cornwall;

  Liskeard Market, Liskeard, Cornwall;

  St. Austell Market, Pentenan Rd, St. Austell, Cornwall;

  Wadebridge Market, Wadebridge, Cornwall;

  Upperwood Farm, Threapwood, Malpas, Cheshire;

  Gaerwen Livestock Market, Gaerwen, Ynys Mon;

  St. Asaph Market, The Roe, St. Asaph, Clwyd;

  Dolgellau Market, Dolgellau Smithfield, Dolgellau;

  'Davela', Llyswen, Brecon, Powys;

  Halifax Agriculral Services, 5 Walters Rd, Swansea;

  Cowbridge Cattle Market, The Buthe, Cowbridge;

  Newport Cattle Market, Newport, Gwent;

  Penderyn Market, Boedwiged Farm, Penderyn;

  Cardigan Market, Station Road, Cardigan, Wales;

  Whitland Livestock Market, West St, Whitland;

  Llanybydder Market, Carms, Wales;

  Dingwall Auction Mart, 15 Tulloch St, Dingwall Ross-Shire;

  Ben Nevis Auction Mart, Corpach, Fort Williams, Invernesshire;

  Thurso Auction Market, Ormlie Road, Thurso, Caithness;

  Lochmaddy Auction Mart, Lochmaddy, North Uist, Western Isles;

  Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae, Watten, Caithness;

  Agricultural Marketing Centre, Staneyhill, Lerwick, Shetland;

  Orkney Auction Mart, 44 Junction Rd, Kirkwall, Orkney;

  Huntley Auction Market, The Ward, Huntley, Aberdeenshire;

  Thainstone Agricultural Centre, Thainstone, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire;

  Glenfield Market, Glenfield Road, Paisley;

  Stathaven Auction Mart, Station Road, Strathaven;

  Stirling Auction Mart, Kildean, Stirling;

  Oliver and Son, New Mart Rd, Edinburgh.

  Deregulation Unit
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual budget for his departmental deregulation unit; how many staff it employs; and of these how many(a) are career civil servants and of what grades, (b) have been seconded from business, and (c) have experience of the private sector. [30066]
  214
  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The 1995–96 annual budget for the MAFF deregulation unit covering pay and non-pay costs was approximately £96,000. The unit consists of four permanent members of staff, one at each of the following grades: grade 7, higher executive officer, executive officer and administrative assistant. In addition, there is involvement at more senior grades including the grade 5 head of division to whom the deregulation unit reports. All members of staff are career civil servants, none of whom has been seconded from the business sector. The grade 5 has some experience of the private sector through a non-executive directorship.

PRIME MINISTER

  Council of Europe and Western European Union
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the information bulletin on the activities of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union covering the period October 1995 to April 1996. [30790]

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so today.

  India
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what representations he has made to the Indian Government since the general election; and if he will make a statement; [30442]

  (2) if he will invite the next Prime Minister of India to visit the United Kingdom to discuss the resolution of the Kashmir dispute; and if he will make a statement. [30439]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 23 April,Official Report, columns 191–92. Our policy on Kashmir remains unchanged. I look forward to an early opportunity to discuss bilateral and other issues, including Kashmir, with the new Indian Prime Minister.

  Ministers (Overseas Travel)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all those occasions on which Ministers from Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland Offices have participated in overseas trade or goodwill missions on official business during(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) in the programme for 1996–97. [29941]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 May 1996]: Ministers promote British business and British jobs at every available opportunity. The information requested is as follows:

  Minister

  Country

  Welsh Office

  1994

  Right hon. John Redwood

  Japan

  Mr. Gwilym Jones

  Australia/New Zealand/ France/Belgium

  Sir Wyn Roberts

  Spain/Sweden/Italy

  Rod Richards

  Saudi Arabia

  215

  Minister

  Country

  1995

  Right hon. William Hague

  Japan/Korea/Hong Kong/Spain

  Rod Richards

  Argentina/Dubai/United Arab Emirates

  Gwilym Jones

  Italy/Germany

  1996

  Right hon. William Hague

  USA

  Rod Richards

  Indonesia

  Gwilym Jones

  Luxembourg/Spain

  Scottish Office

  1994

  Right hon. Ian Lang

  USA/Belgium

  Allan Stewart

  Japan/Germany

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  Finland

  Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

  USA/Greece

  Sir Hector Monro

  Norway/Canada/France

  1995

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  Norway

  George Kynoch

  Taipei/Finland/USA/Spain

  The Earl of Lindsay

  Germany/Canada

  1996

  Right hon. Michael Forsyth

  USA/Canada

  The Earl of Lindsay

  France

  Northern Ireland Office

  1994

  Tim Smith

  Belgium/USA

  1995

  Baroness Denton

  Belgium/Canada/USA/Hong Kong/Japan/France/Italy/Singapore

  1996

  Baroness Denton

  Canada/Netherlands/France/USA/ Japan/Korea/Indonesia

HEALTH

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the NHS summarised accounts, 1994–95, in respect of how many cases the use of general practitioners' fundholder savings has been(a) outside the scope of the regulations since the inception of the fundholding scheme and (b) outside the scope of the regulations, in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95. [23062]

  Mr. Malone
  Two such cases have been formally identified, one by the Audit Commission and the other by a regional health authority.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much general practitioner fundholders in each health authority area, by region, have spent on health care from outside the NHS, in each of the last four years. [29664]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 16 May 1996]: The information will be placed in the Library.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the spending on pay and administrative costs of health authorities in each region in each year since 1991–92. [29400]
  216
  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 8 November 1995 at column 974, for spending on pay and administration costs of health authorities in each region for the years 1991–92 to 1993— 94. The comparable information for 1994–95 will be placed in the Library.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff that are women, in his Department on 1 April. [30557]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is shown in the table. The grades of staff in the national health service regional offices which became part of the Department of Health on 1 April are not comparable with civil service grades. A separate entry has been made for these.

  Whole-time equivalents

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Female percentage

  UG1

  3

  0

  3

  0

  UG2

  5

  0

  5

  0

  UG3

  18

  6

  24

  25

  UG4

  17

  9

  26

  35

  UG5

  128

  60

  188

  32

  UG6

  55

  39

  94

  41

  UG7

  335

  172

  507

  34

  SEO

  186

  68

  254

  27

  HEO

  343

  264

  607

  43

  EO

  361

  436

  797

  55

  AO

  263

  736

  999

  74

  AA

  117

  225

  342

  66

  NHS

  372

  570

  942

  61

  Total

  2,203

  2,585

  4,788

  54

  Staff out on secondment or on loan to other Government Departments, on maternity leave more than three months, or on unpaid career breaks/study leave are excluded.

  Renal Services Review
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) of 4 March,Official Report, column 68, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting in April 1996 with the National Kidney Federation about the national review of renal services; and when his Department's renal services review will be published. [30688]

  Mr. Horam
  I had a constructive meeting with the National Kidney Federation on 2 April at which its concerns about the provision of renal services were discussed. I was able to inform it that the national renal review, and purchasing guidelines for health authorities based on the review, would be published soon. The review and purchasing guidelines were published on 7 May.
  217
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to consult patients in the contracting process in the implementation of the renal services review; [30219]

  (2) if he will publish a timetable for the implementation of the renal services review; [30220]

  (3) what steps he is taking to ensure the recommendations outlined in the renal services review are fully implemented. [30221]

  Mr. Horam
  The renal review, which we published on 7 May, makes several recommendations about the development of services for patients with renal failure. On the same day the national health service executive published guidelines, EL(96)35, for health authorities drawing attention to the important issues raised in the review and advising how these might best be tackled. The majority of recommendations are being taken forward locally by purchasing authorities and national health service trusts in accordance with local needs and priorities which take account of the views of patients locally. Copies of the review will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions he has made for extra funding for renal services in the United Kingdom. [30222]

  Mr. Horam
  In England health authorities are given general allocations for hospital and community health services to purchase health care services for their resident population. It is for individual health authorities in consultation with the providers of services to decide the level and type of services purchased, taking account of local circumstances and national policies and priorities. Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Staff out on secondment or on loan to other Government Departments, on maternity leave more than three months, or on unpaid career breaks/study leave are excluded.

  Pressure Sores
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 May,Official Report, column 479, if he will make it his policy (a) to collate statistics and (b) to establish estimated costs in respect of statistics in relation to the incidence of pressure sores among NHS hospital patients. [30212]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health is seeking to reduce the burden of data collection by the national health service and rationalise data flows within the NHS and between the NHS and the centre. The collection of additional information on pressure sores would not be in line with this policy.

  Private Investigators
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; which agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30568]
  218
  Mr. Horam
  None.

  Pharmacists
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the improvements in productivity of pharmacists in each of the last 10 years, together with the change in NHS payments to pharmacists for each of those years. [29577]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The table shows that amount of national health service payments to pharmacists in cash terms for the years 1985–86 to 1994–95. There is no overall measure of pharmacists' productivity. The number of prescriptions dispensed over the period is shown as one indicator of their NHS activity.

  Pharmacists' NHS payments amount paid1

  Prescriptions dispensed

  Year

  £ millions

  Year on year percentage change

  Millions

  Year on year percentage change

  1985–86

  1,240.6

  —

  337.4

  —

  1986–87

  1,401.8

  13.0

  350.8

  4.0

  1987–88

  1,583.2

  12.9

  367.4

  4.7

  1988–89

  1,743.5

  10.1

  370.3

  0.8

  1989–90

  1,911.6

  9.6

  384.3

  3.8

  1990–91

  2,068.8

  8.2

  391.5

  1.9

  1991–92

  2,345.3

  13.4

  412.8

  5.4

  1992–93

  2,634.1

  12.3

  429.4

  4.0

  1993–94

  2,903.8

  10.2

  447.3

  4.2

  1994–95

  3,148.9

  8.4

  462.2

  3.3

  1 Amount includes net ingredient costs of drugs (i.e., excluding discount and including container allowance) and pharmacists' remuneration. Adjusted to account for payback and clawback of under/overpayment of pharmacists' remuneration in previous years.

  Breast Screening Programme
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount the national health service breast screening programme spends on screening women aged 65 years or over; and what percentage of the total budget this is. [29676]

  Mr. Horam
  In 1994–95—the latest year for which figures are available—the national health service breast screening programme spent approximately £840,000 on screening women aged 65 years and over. This represents approximately 3.1 per cent. of the total expenditure of the NHS breast screening programme.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish how many women were tested or screened under the national health service breast screening programme as a result of self or GP referral for each year since 1992–93 broken down by age bands(a) 50 to 54, (b) 55 to 59, (c) 60 to 64, (d) 65 to 69, (e) 70 to 74 and (f) 75 years and over; [29677]

  (2) how many women were tested or screened under the national health service breast screening programme as a result of first invitation or routine recall broken down by age bands (a) 50 to 54, (b) 55 to 59, (c) 60 to 64, (d) 65 to 69, (e) 70 to 74 and (f) 75 years and over in the last year for which figures are available. [29678]

  Mr. Horam
  The available information is shown in the table. Data for 1994–95 are provisional.
  219

  Breast screening programme: number of women screened by age and type of invitation.

  Thousands

  Age

  Type of invitation

  Years

  50–54

  55–59

  60–64

  65–69

  70–74

  75+

  Self or GP referral

  1992–93

  7.7

  6.7

  5.8

  13.0

  4.1

  1.1

  1993–94

  7.4

  7.0

  5.7

  13.4

  4.9

  1.2

  1994–95

  9.0

  7.4

  7.0

  19.3

  1(for age 65+)

  First invitation or routine recall

  1992–93

  317.3

  312.4

  283.4

  29.8

  1.1

  0.1

  1993–94

  324.2

  314.4

  291.1

  29.9

  0.2

  0.0

  1994–95

  337.5

  320.8

  280.7

  10.4

  1(for age 65-)

  1 Information not available by separate age bands for women over 65 for 1994–95.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost per woman screened on the national health service breast screening programme. [29679]

  Mr. Horam
  In 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available, the approximate cost per woman screened on the national health service breast screening programme was £27.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) those non-unitary local authorities in England with populations over 90,000 and (b) those unitary authority local authorities with populations under 120,000 (i) at present and (ii) following completion of the local government reorganisation. [30000]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  All county councils have a population over 90,000. The following district councils which are currently non-unitary, have populations over 90,000—using Office of Population Censuses and Surveys figures as at mid-1994. For those districts marked with an asterisk, either orders establishing unitary authorities have been made or draft orders have been consulted upon.

  Luton* 180,848

  Mid Bedfordshire 114,853

  Bedford 137,001

  South Bedfordshire 110,389

  Bracknell Forest* 104,635

  Newbury* 141,581

  Reading* 138,503

  Slough* 104,945

  Windsor and Maidenhead* 137,781

  Wokingham* 141,735

  Aylesbury Vale 152,033

  Chiltern 91,432

  Milton Keynes* 188,447

  Wycombe 162,588

  Cambridge 113,009

  Huntingdonshire 149,869

  Peterborough* 158,654

  South Cambridgeshire 123,563

  Chester 120,622

  Crewe and Nantwich 111,422

  Halton* 123,727

  Macclesfield 151,503

  220

  Vale Royal 114,695

  Warrington* 186,749

  Allerdale 96,125

  Carlisle 103,335

  South Lakeland 100,263

  Amber Valley 114,451

  Chesterfield 101,104

  Derby* 230,473

  Erewash 107,142

  North East Derbyshire 99,180

  East Devon 122,839

  Exeter 104,537

  Plymouth* 255,815

  Teignbridge 114,088

  Torbay* 122,990

  Bournemouth* 160,139

  Poole* 138,100

  Darlington* 100,612

  Easington 97,980

  Sedgefield 91,405

  Brighton* 154,942

  Hove* 91,338

  Wealden 134,936

  Basildon 162,114

  Braintree 123,648

  Chelmsford 155,800

  Colchester 149,621

  Epping Forest 118,943

  Southend-on-Sea* 169,948

  Tendering 130,915

  Thurrock* 131,368

  Cheltenham 106,782

  Gloucester 104,735

  Stroud 106,271

  Basingstoke and Deane 147,193

  East Hampshire 108,209

  Eastleigh 110,780

  Fareham 101,764

  Havant 119,430

  New Forest 166,354

  Portsmouth* 189,270

  Southampton* 211,718

  Test Valley 105,318

  Winchester 101,848

  Bromsgrove 93,968

  Wychavon 104,577

  221

  Wyre Forest 97,239

  Dacorum 134,231

  East Hertfordshire 121,624

  Hertmere 94,195

  North Hertfordshire 114,303

  St. Albans 128,739

  Welwyn Hatfield 94,682

  Ashford 94,765

  Canterbury 133,859

  Dover 106,938

  Gillingham* 96,165

  Gravesham 92,914

  Maidstone 138,456

  Rochester upon Medway* 145,463

  Sevenoaks 109,919

  Shepway 96,464

  Swale 117,195

  Thanet 125,301

  Tonbridge and Mailing 102,765

  Tunbridge Wells 102,727

  Blackburn* 140,147

  Blackpool* 153,971

  Burnley 90,530

  Chorley 96,854

  Lancaster 134,991

  Preston 133,127

  South Ribble 103,592

  West Lancashire 110,226

  Wyre 103,927

  Charnwood 153,144

  Hinckley and Bosworth 97,707

  Leicester* 293,387

  East Lindsey 121,431

  South Kesteven 115,229

  Breckland 112,171

  Broadland 110,069

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk 130,958

  North Norfolk 94,300

  Norwich 127,778

  South Norfolk 104,467

  Northampton 187,608

  Harrogate 148,412

  Scarborough 108,654

  Ashfield 109,863

  Bassetlaw 105,479

  Broxtowe 112,170

  Gedling 111,659

  Mansfield 102,127

  Newark and Sherwood 104,149

  Nottingham* 282,440

  Rushcliffe 102,967

  Cherwell 127,456

  Oxford 132,758

  South Oxfordshire 121,823

  Vale of White Horse 113,195

  West Oxfordshire 94,981

  Shrewsbury and Atcham 94,622

  The Wrekin* 143,430

  222

  Mendip 98,017

  Sedgemoor 101,443

  South Somerset 148,298

  Taunton Deane 98,158

  Cannock Chase 90,789

  East Staffordshire 98,972

  Lichfield 93,619

  Newcastle under Lyme 123,137

  South Staffordshire 104,379

  Stafford 122,458

  Staffordshire Moorlands 95,072

  Stoke on Trent* 254,197

  Ipswich 114,065

  St. Edmundsbury 92,840

  Suffolk Coastal 113,163

  Waveney 107,604

  Elmbridge 119,717

  Guildford 126,162

  Reigate and Banstead 118,340

  Spelthorne 91,448

  Waverley 114,758

  Nuneaton and Bedworth 119,142

  Stratford on Avon 109,462

  Warwick 119,758

  Arun 134,328

  Chichester 103,078

  Horsham 114,324

  Mid Sussex 125,109

  Worthing 97,392

  North Wiltshire 118,899

  Salisbury 110,015

  Thamesdown* 173,516

  West Wiltshire 110,035

  The following local authorities have populations under 120,000. Those marked with an asterisk are unitary authorities at present; for the reminder, either orders establishing unitary authorities have been made or draft orders have been consulted upon.

  City of London* 5,222

  Bracknell Forest 104,635

  Slough 104,945

  Hartlepool* 92,228

  Darlington 100,612

  Rutland 33,639

  Isles of Scilly* 2,017

  Energy Efficiency Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many households received voucher booklets offering discounts on energy efficiency products and services; [30497]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the likely take-up of 25 per cent. grants under the home energy efficiency scheme from the results of energy efficiency voucher scheme; [30498]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of households taking up one or more of the discounted offers under the energy efficiency voucher scheme. [30499]
  223
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The home energy efficiency scheme is the Government's major domestic energy efficiency programme and almost 2 million grants have been paid since it began in 1991. We expect a significant number of householders aged over 60 who qualify for HEES only on age grounds to take advantage of the 25 per cent. grant. This discount is a substantial incentive to adopt the energy efficiency measures under this scheme with its good reputation for quality. There is, however, no specific link between HEES and the voucher book scheme which was a separate promotion to encourage energy saving under the "Wasting Energy Costs the Earth" campaign.

  For information about distribution and take-up of the voucher book I refer the hon. Member to answers given to the hon. Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) on 22 November 1995, column 111, and 23 April, column 63.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the current level of capital receipts now held by each local authority as a result of the sale of council houses; and in what form such assets are currently held. [30447]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A list of the amounts of accumulated usable capital receipts for each English local authority at 31 March 1995 was placed in the Library of the House in response to the question of Monday 22 January 1996,Official Report, column 85, from the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith). About 90 per cent. of these receipts are held by authorities whose responsibilities include housing, but it is not possible to say how much of the total derives from the sale of houses.

  Figures for the amounts of set-aside capital receipts are not available. These form part of the provision for credit liabilities, which is reported to the Department, but which also includes amounts set aside from revenue.

  Information on the way these assets are held is not available, but they are likely to be mainly invested in bank and building society accounts. Some may have been used temporarily to finance expenditure.

  Bankside Power Station, London
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the expected date for completion of the demolition works at Bankside power station in London. [30469]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Demolition works are taking place in two stages. I understand that minor works are being carried out at the moment to allow for the removal of the redundant boilers and electrical equipment. This work should be completed by the end of the summer. There will then be further demolition to remove extensions and additions to the original building to turn the power station into the Tate gallery of modern art. These works are likely to continue until April 1997.
  224

  Building Projects
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Britain retains a leading position in the design and construction of innovative building projects. [30467]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department is producing, jointly with the Department of National Heritage, new guidelines on architectural competitions which will help to promote high-quality building and design. It also has a research budget which provides funding towards an extensive programme of research into the built environment, including projects carried out on a collaborative basis with the construction industry. This programme covers the design, planning and carrying out of the construction process, as well as the products and materials used in it.

  Rented Housing Starts
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new rented homes housing associations will be able to start in 1996; and what were the figures for each of the past three years. [29901]

  Mr. Curry
  The Housing Corporation has granted approvals for 27,000 new rented homes to be provided by housing associations using funding from the approved development programme during the financial year 1996–97. In addition, local authorities may also provide new rented homes using local authority housing association grant. Current indications are that an additional 11,000 social lettings will arise from LAHAG funding during 1996–97. Most of these approved schemes will be started during 1996–97.

  These approvals will contribute significantly to the 61,100 new social lettings expected to become available during 1996–97 from housing association and local authority activities under the rental and home ownership programmes.

  Figures for rental provision for the past three years are:

  ADP funded (approvals)

  LAHAG funded (completions)

  1993–94

  45,781

  7,159

  1994–95

  44,422

  9,018

  1995–96

  26,516

  11,394

  Packaging Waste Regulations
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the areas where the proposed packaging waste regulations will be more extensive than the requirements set by the European Union directive on packaging waste regulations; and what are the reasons for such a policy. [29923]

  Mr. Clappison
  The EC directive on packaging and packaging waste (92/62/EC) is a framework directive which requires member states to put in place systems which they determine and which are intended to implement its provisions. The directive provides a single market framework for the free circulation throughout the European Community of packaging which meets certain essential requirements reflecting environmental and other considerations. It also contains environmental objectives,
  225
  including the need to achieve an overall recovery rate of 50 to 65 per cent. by the year 2001, with a minimum of 15 per cent. materials recycling per material.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment set out in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 7 May 1996, Official Report, columns 73–75, the Government have accepted industry's view that we should provide for the directive to be implemented by business-led schemes. The regulations which we hope to publish shortly for consultation will reflect that as well as the industry agreement achieved on 15 December 1995 on how the burdens might be shared between the sectors of the packaging chain.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate his Department has made of the cost for the packaging waste industry of complying with the proposed new packaging waste regulations; and what was the outcome of this assessment. [29924]

  Mr. Clappison
  A preliminary cost compliance assessment for implementation of this directive was set out in "Producer Responsibility for Packaging Waste— A Consultation Paper"—published in May 1995, a copy of which is in the Library. That assessment is currently being revised. I hope to publish it shortly for consultation alongside the draft regulations on implementation of the directive on the basis set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Eastbourne on 7 May 1996,Official Report, columns 73–75.

  Pollution
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many days in the last year for which figures are available pollution levels in British cities have exceeded limits set by his Department. [30474]

  Mr. Clappison
  A summary of exceedences of national and international guidelines and standards for pollution levels in air, water and soil across the United Kingdom is included in the Department of the Environment's "Digest of Environmental Statistics No. 17, 1995", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons. The 18th volume of this report will be published in mid-June.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many fraudulent claims for legal aid were pursued in 1995–96 and how much was recovered from claimants in the same year. [29927]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Following investigations carried out by the Benefits Agency into applicants' financial eligibility for civil legal aid, 29 cases were referred to the police in 1995–96. In the same period, the Legal Aid Board assisted police in their investigations into five assisted persons in receipt of criminal legal aid.
  226
  Amounts recovered in respect of these cases are not recorded separately from amounts recovered by the board from all assisted persons whose legal aid has been withdrawn for various reasons. The total amount recovered in 1995–96 from all assisted persons was over £1.4 million.

  In 1995–96, the board also referred to the police seven cases of suspected fraudulent claims by solicitors. During the same period, £1,174,000 was recovered from solicitors in respect of costs which were either wrongly or fraudulently claimed.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each of his Department' agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide; and what were the results. [30046]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Lord Chancellor has responsibility for four agencies: the Court Service, HM Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. As the question concerns a specific operational matter, the chief executives of the agencies have been asked to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about market testing.
  Since April 1995, the date on which the Court Service was established, no market testing has been carried out.

  Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your Parliamentary Question, listed on 16 May 1996, regarding market testing carried out, the services provided and the results.
  The Public Trust Office market tested the typing service in 1993. The proposal made by the in-house team was successful.

  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply for the Public Record Office to your question about the market testing of services provided by the agencies for which he is responsible.
  The Public Record Office has market tested the following:
  1. Security services
  The contract was awarded to the in-house bid team. Savings have amounted to £275,000 p.a. on pre-test costs of £ 1.14m p.a.
  2. General office copying
  It was decided, as part of the market testing process, that this service should be contracted out. The tender process did not produce a bid from the private sector which would have provided running-cost savings. The service remains in-house but is likely to be considered again within a proposed facilities management market test.
  Additional services costing £1.79m p.a. have been subject to other efficiency techniques under the Public Record Office's Competing for Quality programmes, producing savings estimated at £174,500 p.a. for 1996–97.
  227
  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 22 May 1996:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question concerning the results of market testing within HM Land Registry. I can supply the following information:

  Service

  Result

  Saving (£ per annum)

  Inspection Surveys

  Retained in-house

  31,500

  Full surveys

  Outsourced

  167,250

  Building maintenance/Estate management

  Outsourced

  44,000

  Catering

  Outsourced

  398,000

  Records management

  Retained in-house

  99,000

  Security guarding

  Part outsourced Part retained in-house

  29,000

  Graphic Design/Printing

  Retained in-house

  19,000

  Legal services

  Outsourced

  4,000

  IT procurement/Hardware support/Training

  Part outsourced Part retained in-house

  62,600

  Local file management

  Retained in-house

  rising to 1,200,000

  Local reprographics

  Function disbanded Machinery outsourced

  422,000

  Finance—payments

  Tender in progress

  —

  Payroll administration

  Tender in progress

  —

  IT services

  In progress

  —

  Finance—Receipts/Debts

  In progress

  —

  Pensions administration

  In progress

  —

  Transfers and removals

  In progress

  —

  Probate Offices
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from trade unions, members of the public and public bodies concerning the proposed closure of probate offices. [30361]

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

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about representations received on the proposed restructuring of the Probate Service.
  Written responses were received from the Lord Chancellor's Department Whitley Council Trade Union Side, the Public Services, Tax and Commerce Union (PTC), and the National Union of Civil and Public Servants (NUCPS). 99 individual members of the public wrote in to make representations against the closure of specific Probate Sub-Registries and Probate Offices, of whom three lodged petitions bearing the signatures of a combined total of 696 people.
  228
  Nationally, replies were received from the Law Society and the National Federation of Post Office and BT Pensioners. Locally, representations about the proposed closure of specific Sub-Registries and Offices were received from local authorities, local Citizens Advice Bureaux, local Law Society offices, solicitors, local branches of banks and other financial institutions, Family History Societies and local branches of Age Concern.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Rwanda
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received in respect of deaths caused by suffocation of inmates in Rwandan prisons; and what representations he has made to the Rwandan Government about conditions in Rwandan jails. [30334]

  Mr. Hanley
  The human rights field operation in Rwanda reports that five detainees died from suffocation during April. A further 37 died as a result of various illnesses. Our ambassador has made representations to the Rwandan Government about prison conditions, including these latest incidents.

  Zaire
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current security situation in Zaire, with particular reference to the recent ethnic clashes in eastern Zaire. [30218]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are extremely concerned about the ethnic conflict in eastern Zaire and the recent reports of further killings. We make regular representations to all the Governments in the region to encourage a return to peace and stability.

  Angola
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of breaches of the peace plan in Angola. [30330]

  Mr. Hanley
  As the UN Secretary-General noted in his report of 30 April to the Security Council, the level of ceasefire violations has diminished. However, the implementation of the Lusaka protocol has been delayed considerably, particularly in the key areas of quartering of UNITA troops and reaching agreement on the incorporation of UNITA personnel into the joint armed forces. The overall achievements still fall well short of what we and other members of the Security Council expected. We have made our dissatisfaction clear to both sides, and continue to use every opportunity to encourage progress.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the peace process in Angola. [30332]

  Mr. Hanley
  Implementation of the Lusaka protocol remains behind schedule. We have urged both sides to honour their commitments without delay. Dr. Savimbi's recent undertaking to quarter 50,000 UNITA troops by 15 June is a welcome step forward.
  229
  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the sale of diamonds in international markets on behalf of UNITA. [30333]

  Mr. Hanley
  The sale of diamonds from Angola is a matter for the Angolan authorities, but we look forward to a time when Angola's natural resources are used for the benefit of the Angolan people as a whole.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list, for his Department's agency, what market testing has been carried out into the services it provides and what were the results. [30113]

  The Attorney-General
  The two agencies for which I am responsible have participated in the following market tests in the year 1995–96. Contracts were won by the agencies in the cases shown.

  The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSD)

  Whether bid successful

  Provision of legal services

  Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils

  No

  Welsh Development Agency

  No

  Funding Agency for Schools (jointly with GPL)

  Yes

  ODA

  Yes

  Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales

  Yes

  Department for Education and Employment (Employment Service)

  No

  The Government Property Lawyers (GPL) Provision of legal services in relation to property matters

  Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils

  No

  Department of Transport

  No

  Highways Agency (London and Dorking areas)

  Yes

  Highways Agency (Exeter, Bedford and Manchester areas)

  No

  Funding Agency for Schools (jointly with TSD)

  Yes

  Welsh Development Agency

  No

  Inland Revenue

  No

  DSS/BA Estates

  No

  English Nature (Cumbria team)

  No

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Yes

  Public Order Offences and Assaults
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Director of Public Prosecutions proposes to issue further guidance on charging standards relating to public order offences and assaults. [31053]

  The Attorney-General
  The Director of Public Prosecutions has agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers guidance to assist police and prosecutors select the right charge for people alleged to have 230
  committed public order offences. The charging standard will be implemented with effect from Monday 3 June 1996.

  The main offences covered by the standard are those contained in part I and part III of the Public Order Act 1986. Those provisions penalise individuals or groups who use violence and/or intimidating behaviour. Special guidance is given in dealing with racially motivated conduct. Violent and/or intimidating behaviour which is directed at particular individuals or groups of individuals as the result of racial motive is liable to be dealt with under part I of the Act or other provisions of the general law with the motive being drawn to the attention of the court as an aggravating feature. On the other hand, conduct intended or likely to incite racial hatred is liable to be dealt with under part III of the Act.

  The previous charging standard relating to offences against the person has been revised and will also be implemented with effect from Monday 3 June 1996. The revised standard contains guidance on the handling of cases of assault where the allegation is made by a person who was, at the material time, himself engaged in criminal activity, such as a burglar alleged to have been assaulted by the occupier of the premises concerned. Police and prosecutors must examine such cases by reference to all the surrounding circumstances including the suspect's state of mind and the common law and statutory provisions which permit the use of reasonable force in self-defence, the defence of another, the defence of property, the prevention of crime and the effecting of a lawful arrest. The difficulties facing someone confronted by an intruder or defending himself against attack must always be taken carefully into account but excessive force may not be used.

  Copies of the charging standard relating to public order offences and the revised charging standard relating to offences against the person have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

TRANSPORT

  Airport Development
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 March,Official Report, column 103, what are the time scale and programme for the BAA investigation into less environmentally damaging options for runway development. [29569]

  Mr. Norris
  The study of options for a close parallel runway at Gatwick, initiated by BAA in April 1995, is expected to take two to three years to complete. The study is being conducted in three phases, examining in turn the technical feasibility of a close parallel runway, the supporting airport infrastructure that would be required, and finally the impacts of any options which have survived the first two stages.
  231

  Aircraft Movements
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 27 March,Official Report, column 594, on whom the responsibility falls to collate statistics on information concerning aircraft taking off or landing without an allocated runway slot. [30006]

  Mr. Norris
  The co-ordinator for the major UK airports, Airport Co-ordination Ltd., is required under the EC legislation to monitor the use of slots at the airports for which it is responsible. The ACL therefore maintains records of aircraft landing or taking off without a slot, by comparing slots it has allocated with data supplied by the airport operator on actual aircraft movements operated.

  British Rail (Political Donations)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for each of the last five years, the amount paid by British Rail's Sapphire accounts system in respect of political donations, under its G/L code 686200. [30044]

  Mr. Watts
  Sapphire is a proprietary accountancy system used by all the British Railways Board-owned train operating companies, together with those in the private sector. The G/L code 686200 is a specific accounting code relating to donations to political parties. It was part of the original package bought from the manufacturer.

  As a nationalised industry, British Rail is prevented by statute from making donations to political parties.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30130]

  Mr. Norris
  Between October 1992 and January 1996, the following services of the Department's agencies have been market tested, with the following results:

  Results

  The Coastguard Agency

  Property Management

  Contracted out

  Messengers

  Contracted out

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  Personnel

  Restructured

  Accommodation

  Restructured

  Training

  Restructured

  Micrographics

  Restructured

  VED refunds

  Restructured

  Legal services

  Restructured

  Procurement

  Restructured

  Security

  In house win

  Stores and Waste Management

  In house win

  Messengers

  In house win

  Reproduction

  In house win

  Despatch

  In house win

  Telesales

  Contracted out

  Forms despatch

  Contracted out

  Internal Audit

  Contracted out

  Waste Collection

  Contracted out

  232

  Results

  The Driving Standards Agency

  Driver test booking (subsequent restructuring)

  In house win

  Regional Property Management

  Contracted out

  Property Maintenance

  Contracted out

  The Highways Agency

  Graphics

  Restructured

  Winter maintenance operations

  Restructured

  Valuation Office Agency

  In house win(trial area only)

  Government Property Lawyers

  In house win/contracted out

  The Vehicle Certification Agency

  Microfilming

  Contracted out

  The Vehicle Inspectorate

  Training Finance and Management IS

  Restructured

  Roller brake maintenance

  Contracted out

  Weighbridge maintenance

  Contracted out

  Workshop

  Contracted out

  Building and Estate Management

  Contracted out

  IT Strategy

  Contracted out

  Library

  Contracted out

  Operational legal and casework

  In house win

  Bristol-Plymouth-Penzance Line
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the trans-European networks feasibility funding application for the Bristol-Plymouth-Penzance line; and if he will make a statement. [30400]

  Mr. Watts
  A bid for TENs funding support for a study into options for enhancing the main lines from Paddington to the west country was included in the UK's bid for 1996 TENs funding. The European Commission is currently considering the bids made by the UK and other member states, to draw up a proposed allocation for member states' consideration at the next meeting of the TENs financial committee, currently planned for 10 July.

  Funds cannot be disbursed, however, until guidelines for the development of transport TENs have been adopted by the Council and the European Parliament. The draft guidelines are presently at the conciliation stage and an agreed text is expected to be available in mid-June and will then require separate approval by the Council and Parliament.

  Traffic Area Offices
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on the proposed closure of traffic area offices; and if he will make a statement. [30464]

  Mr. Norris
  I expect to make an announcement shortly on the future structure of the traffic area network.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the redundancy costs involved in closing the traffic area office in(a) Leeds, (b) Manchester, (c) Birmingham and (d) Cardiff. [30466]

  Mr. Norris
  It is not possible to give reliable estimates, as it would depend on how many and which staff were located.
  233
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those organisations or individuals who have made representations following the publication of the Curtis review, indicating those that were in favour of closing one or more traffic area offices. [30488]

  Mr. Norris
  Representations were received from those listed in the following table, following the publication of the Curtis efficiency scrutiny of the traffic area network. Of those who commented on proposals to restructure the traffic area network, no organisation specifically supported the closure of one or more offices. However, some supported moves towards a more centralised administrative system.

  Representations received from

  Association of Chief Police Officers

  Passenger Transport Executive Group

  Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland)

  Road Haulage Association

  Association of District Councils

  Mr. Peter Snape MP

  Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers

  Trade Union Side

  Association of Transport COs (Scotland)

  Transport 2000

  BRAKE

  Transport Tribunal

  Cabinet Office

  Traffic Commissioners

  TAO

  Staff

  Total running costs £

  Accommodation costs £

  Lease expiry date1

  Goods licences

  PSV licences

  North Eastern

  49.5

  1,165,387

  230,401

  December 2006

  18,600

  1,260

  North Western

  57

  1,353,055

  302,371

  June 1999

  20,000

  1,180

  West Midland

  36.5

  1,053,446

  306,980

  September 2004

  13,100

  720

  Eastern

  43.8

  1,282,071

  341,054

  June 1997

  19,250

  990

  South Wales

  24

  609,025

  191,280

  2020

  5,900

  470

  Western

  49.3

  1,185,500

  269,897

  2015

  16,050

  1,170

  South Eastern and Metropolitan

  46

  1,154,923

  218,794

  March 1998

  14,500

  940

  Scottish

  45

  1,115,746

  267,802

  2012

  10,100

  990

  1 In some cases there is provision to terminate the lease earlier.

  Unit costs

  TAO

  Unit cost goods vehicle operator licensing £

  Unit cost public service vehicle operator licensing £

  Unit cost bus registration £

  North Eastern

  10.79

  12.97

  5.45

  North Western

  11.19

  24.66

  6.27

  West Midland

  13.26

  26.27

  6.81

  Eastern

  10.31

  12.60

  4.86

  South Wales

  14.64

  26.69

  6.25

  Percentage

  Service standards

  North eastern

  North western

  West midland

  Eastern

  South Wales

  Western

  South Eastern and Metropolitan

  Scottish

  Goods vehicle operator licensing

  New, replacement and major variation without Public Inquiry within deadline

  96

  91

  87

  84

  98

  91

  82

  97

  New, replacement and major variation with Public Inquiry within deadline

  89

  78

  72

  37

  70

  58

  59

  87

  234

  Representations received from

  Confederation of Passenger Transport UK

  Welsh Office

  Council on Tribunals

  Freight Transport Association

  Lancashire County Council

  Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on

  Food and Trading Standards

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of his Department's overall budget is allocated to the traffic area office network. [30491]

  Mr. Norris
  Some 3.98 per cent. of the Central Transport Group's running cost budget net of VAT receipts.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area office(a) the current number of staff in post, (b) the total running costs, (c) the accommodation costs, (d) the unit costs, (e) the service standard achievements, (f) the expiry date for the building lease and (g) the number of goods and public service vehicle operator licences held in that area. [30465]

  Mr. Norris
  The figures requested, for the financial year 1995–96, are in the tables:

  Unit costs

  TAO

  Unit cost goods vehicle operator licensing £

  Unit cost public service vehicle operator licensing £

  Unit cost bus registration £

  Western South Eastern and

  13.12

  24.66

  6.16

  Metropolitan

  11.70

  21.74

  5.07

  Scottish

  17.15

  21.54

  7.27

  235

  Percentage

  Service standards

  North eastern

  North western

  West midland

  Eastern

  South Wales

  Western

  South Eastern and Metropolitan

  Scottish

  Non-publishable variations within deadline

  98

  95

  95

  93

  96

  96

  61

  96

  Refunds issued within deadline

  100

  90

  97

  85

  98

  96

  86

  99

  Public service vehicle operator licensing

  New and Continuous applications without Public Inquiry within deadline

  100

  99

  99

  98

  97

  98

  93

  100

  Variations without PI within deadline

  100

  99

  98

  100

  98

  94

  82

  100

  New and Continuous applications with Public Inquiry within deadline

  100

  100

  100

  77

  100

  100

  96

  n/a

  Variations to licences with Public Inquiry within deadline

  100

  n/a

  100

  n/a

  100

  n/a

  100

  n/a

  Refunds issued within deadline

  100

  99

  84

  99

  98

  99

  96

  100

  Bus registration

  Registrations processed within deadline

  100

  96

  76

  95

  100

  96

  91

  92

  Heavy Vehicle Licensing
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of checks undertaken(a) on a weekend and (b) outside normal office hours in order to collate the statistics for the recently published report into the illegal operation of heavy goods vehicles. [30472]

  Mr. Norris
  There were 114 check sites used during the survey altogether. During the survey, 3,927 vehicles were checked. Six sites were used at weekends, where 210 checks were undertaken. On Monday to Friday, four sites were used entirely outside office hours and a further 80 were used partly outside office hours. In total, 880 checks were conducted outside office hours—between 0900 and 1700—on Monday to Friday. Therefore, in total, 1,090 checks were undertaken outside office hours.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the goods and public service vehicle operator licensing fees is transferred to Treasury funds. [30463]

  Mr. Norris
  All fee revenue is paid into the Consolidated Fund.

  A2
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the A2 trunk road to accommodate the proposed Ebbsfleet station contained in the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill. [30831]

  Mr. Watts
  I have today announced that a scheme to widen the A2 between Cobham and Bean has been added to the national roads programme. The scheme will proceed in two phases. The first will complement work already in hand in association with the Blue Water park development and will result in additional capacity on the A2 in both directions between Bean and the A227 at Tollgate junction. The second will add a fourth lane in both directions between Tollgate and Cobham.

  The first phase will be contained within the existing highway boundary. The other requires additional land.

  Fares (London)
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce a capping formula for London Transport fares. [30338]
  236
  Mr. Norris
  None; I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 9 May 1996,Official Report, columns 195–6.

  Rail Contracts
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (i) all contracts awarded by his Department to(a) Eurorail Ltd. and (b) Eurorail CTRL Ltd. (ii) the date those contracts were awarded, (iii) the length of those contracts, (iv) the purpose of those contracts and (v) the total value of those contracts. [30339]

  Mr. Watts
  My Department has not entered into any contracts with either of these firms.

  Ms Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (i) all contracts awarded by Union Railways to(a) Eurorail Ltd. and (b) Eurorail CTRL Ltd. (ii) the date those contracts were awarded, (iii) the length of those contracts, (iv) the purpose of those contracts and (v) the total value of those contracts. [30342]

  Mr. Watts
  Union Railways has not let any contracts to these firms since it was formed as a separate company from the BR Board, but it did take over two contracts with Eurorail Ltd. from the British Railways Board rail link project group in connection with the channel tunnel rail link project. These are(a) for the provision of personnel on secondment, awarded in December 1990 and (b) for the provision of engineering design services, awarded in April 1992. Both contracts are still in force as at 21 May 1996. The commercial terms and value of the contracts are commercially confidential.

  "Transport: The Way Forward"
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which recommendations made by the royal commission on environmental pollution in its 18th report have been specifically addressed in the Government's report "Transport: The Way Forward"; [29282]

  (2) which recommendations made by the royal commission on environmental pollution in its 18th report have not been specifically addressed in the Government's report "Transport: The Way Forward". [29283]

  Sir George Young
  The Green Paper "Transport: The Way Forward" is a response to the national debate on transport, and as such it picks up most of the major points
  237
  made by the royal commission in its call for sustainable transport policies. It did not include a point by point response to the royal commission report.

  I recently met the chairman of the royal commission to discuss how to take forward the debate, including further consideration of the commission's recommendations and its views on the Green Paper.

  Central Railway
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent submissions he has received from Central Railway plc. [30678]

  Mr. Watts
  On Monday 20 May, an application was received from Central Railway plc for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992. I have decided that Parliament should have an opportunity to debate the principle of the proposals before a public local inquiry is held. A notice to this effect will appear in the London Gazette on Friday 24 May and in local newspapers along the route of the proposed railway as soon as practicable.

DEFENCE

  Married Quarters
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland will remain in his ownership following the sale of the married quarters estate; and how many of these require upgrading to bring them to a satisfactory condition. [30002]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The sale of the married quarters estate does not involve properties in Scotland or Northern Ireland, where my Department owned 6,707 and 3,130 married quarters respectively at 31 March 1996. Of these totals, 159 in Scotland and 120 in Northern Ireland require work in order to bring them back into use.

  The sale of the married quarters estate in England and Wales is being progressed as an integrated package and separating the two for the purpose of this reply would incur disproportionate costs. Figures for the sale have yet to be finalised, but I am able to advise that, after the sale, my Department will continue to own some 3,000 married quarters in England and Wales not included in the sale, and will continue to own the freehold on the properties in the sale which we will then take back for service use through underleases. Out of all the properties involved, some 1,700 require work to bring them back into use.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties were flown in the Borders tactical training area in each of the last five years. [30320]

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of operational low flying movements authorised into the Borders tactical training area—TTA—in each of the last five years are as follows:

  1991: 1,256

  1992: 2,067

  1993: 2,389

  1994: 1.127

  1995: 1,545

  238
  From July 1988 to September 1993, the Borders TTA was divided into east and west sectors. Movements for the two sectors were counted separately so that sorties that crossed the border between the two sectors generated additional movements. The figures for 1991 to 1993 therefore overstate the amount of activity in comparison with later years.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received on the subject of low flying in the Borders tactical training area in each of the last five years. [30321]

  Mr. Soames
  Since July 1988, when the Borders tactical training area—TTA—was extended to include what was at the time referred to as the western sector, complaints from that sector have continued to be counted in the totals for low flying area 16 within which the TTA lies, rather than being recorded as coming from the TTA. Accurate records of the number of complaints received from the Borders TTA as a whole are therefore not available and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Action is being taken to ensure that complaints from the TTA are identified as such in future.

  Service Personnel (Cyprus)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total financial cost to date in providing legal aid for the three British military personnel who were charged and convicted of the manslaughter of a Danish tour guide in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [30206]

  Mr. Soames
  The total cost of defending the three soldiers convicted of the abduction and manslaughter of Miss Louise Jensen is, so far, about £260,000.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the terms of the Army legal aid scheme under which the legal expenses of the three British service men convicted of the manslaughter of a Danish tour guide are paid until all legal processes have been exhausted. [30201]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 20 May 1996,Official Report, column 52.

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many search and rescue helicopters are currently based in the United Kingdom. [30204]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently 19 RAF Sea King and seven RAF Wessex search and rescue helicopters in the UK. There are also four RN Sea Kings available for search and rescue duties, although search and rescue is not their primary role.

  Retention Bonus
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the loyalty bonus scheme to the Royal Logistics Corps; and if he will make a statement. [30486]

  Mr. Soames
  The bonus referred to is, in fact, known as the retention bonus. The scheme is open to soldiers in the Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Artillery and Infantry, where the most serious manpower shortages currently exist. There are no plans at present to extend the retention
  239
  bonus scheme to any other corps, although the possibility of doing so in future is being examined. The retention bonus is one of a number of measures which have been taken to improve recruitment and retention.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amounts paid out in loyalty bonuses to soldiers since the introduction of the new bonus scheme on 1 October 1995. [30487]

  Mr. Soames
  The total amount of retention bonuses paid to soldiers between 1 October 1995, when the scheme was introduced, and 31 March 1996 was £2,248,000.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Legg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to call out any more Army reserve and Territorial Army personnel in support of the operations in the former Yugoslavia. [30819]

  Mr. Soames
  Approval has been given to call out up to 240 members of the Army reserve and Territorial Army to provide support to operations in the former Yugoslavia. They will report from 12 June 1996 to mobilisation centres for selection and a short period of training before deployment. All are volunteers.

  Fixed Telecommunications System
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the factors underlying the delay in the announcement on the Defence fixed telecommunications system. [30318]

  Mr. Soames
  An invitation to tender for the defence fixed telecommunications system was issued on 27 March 1995 and bids were received from four companies on 29 June 1995. Following evaluation of the companies' proposals, on 21 December 1995 two companies were invited to submit best-and-final offers—BAFOs. The BAFOs were received on 21 February 1996, and initial analysis showed that neither bid provided a basis for the MOD to proceed to contract. Discussions with both the companies have since taken place and they are due to submit updated proposal on 30 May 1996. The evaluation of the bids is a complex process, but it is hoped that the preferred contractor can be announced in the autumn. Subject to a satisfactory outcome of the final negotiations, a contract will be awarded early in the new year.

  Nimrod Maritime Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Nimrod maritime aircraft are currently out of operational use at RAF Kinloss; what are the causes of the technical difficulties affecting the aircraft; what will be the total cost to public funds to repair these aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [30317]

  Mr. Soames
  As at 20 May 1996 there were no Nimrod maritime aircraft out of operational use at RAF Kinloss, nor were there any technical difficulties to give cause for serious concern. The estimated cost of the current support contract for maintaining the Nimrod maritime force is some £ 15 million for a five-year period.
  240

  Small Firms
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many firms with fewer than(a) 100, (b) 50, (c) 20 and (d) 10 employees were used by his Department in each of the last five years. [29431]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The Ministry of Defence does not classify the thousands of contractors with which contracts are placed each year by the size of the contractor. Researching the answer to this question could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

  Goods and Services
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department paid to the private sector for goods and services in 1995–96. [29461]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her of 19 December 1995, Official Report, columns 1108–109. The 1996 edition of "UK Defence Statistics" will be published on 18 July and will provide details for 1994–95. Figures for 1995–96 will appear in the 1997 edition.

  Larkhill Garrison (Electricity Supply)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost per unit of electricity purchased from Southern Electric plc to supply Larkhill garrisson in Wiltshire; what costs are attributed to the budget of consuming units who are nominated account holders; and what is the charge per unit levied on domestic occupants at Larkhill married quarters. [29868]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: Electricity is supplied to Larkhill garrison by PowerGen under the terms of a contract awarded after a competitive tender process, the details of which are commercial in confidence. Costs are attributed to consuming units at the rate provided for in the contract. Current policy is, however, to charge other customers of publicly negotiated contracts of this kind a rate consistent with the published tariff of the local utility company. Domestic occupants of Larkhill married quarters are therefore charged the Southern Electric rate of 7.1p per unit.

  Military Equipment Expenditure
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the outturn expenditure on military equipment during 1995–96. [30200]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The 1995–96 provisional outturn figures will be available in the public expenditure outturn White Paper to be published in July.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Ministers (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the overseas visits made by Ministers in his Department since 1992 indicating the places visited, the reasons for the visit, the cost to public funds and whether the Ministers concerned were accompanied by members of their family. [29958]
  241
  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Hall) on 1 April at column 62. Since then, there has been one ministerial overseas visit. This was made by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville), to The Hague on 1 and 2 April to discuss British and Dutch co-operation on drugs matters. He was not accompanied by any member of his family. The cost of the visit, including that of accompanying officials, was £1,093.

  Mixed Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mixed prisons there are currently in England and Wales. [29718]

  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of mixed prisons there are currently in England and Wales.
  There are currently five prisons that hold both male and female prisoners on the same site. These are Brockhill prison, Durham prison, Low Newton remand centre, Risley prison and Winchester prison.

  London Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which London prisons overspent their allocated budget in 1995. [29719]

  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about which London prisons overspent their allocated budget in 1995.
  Budgets are allocated for a financial year and adjusted periodically during the year. Provisional outturn figures for 1995/96 show that Belmarsh, Brixton, Holloway, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs prisons exceeded their revised budget allocations for that year.

  Young Offenders (Secure Units)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many secure units for young offenders there were within the Greater London area on 30 March. [29725]

  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.
  242
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of secure units in London for young offenders.
  On 30 March 1996 there were two local authority secure units in the Greater London area approved by the Secretary of State for Health for the purpose of restricting the liberty of children.
  One is at Stamford House in Hammersmith; the other one is at Orchard Lodge, Annerley.

  Prisoners (Drugs)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned into the supply of illegal drugs to prison inmates by prison staff; and what plans he has to make a further evaluation of the extent of such smuggling and to adopt policies to reduce its occurrence. [29680]

  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 Richard Tilt to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about research which has been commissioned into the supply of illegal drugs to prisoners by prison staff; for further evaluation of the extent of such smuggling; and the policies which have been adopted to reduce its occurrence.
  Centrally-held records show that no members of staff have been disciplined for trafficking in drugs since the introduction of the new Prison Service Code of Conduct and Discipline in July 1993. No research has been commissioned into the smuggling of drugs by staff and there are no plans to undertake any. Governors have the discretion to search staff on entry to the prison. Staff searches should also be a part of local searching strategies.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 10 May,Official Report, column 306, (i) how many prisoners were tested for drugs in each month since February 1995; [29873]

  (2) how many prisoners have tested positive for each type of drug, in each month since February 1995. [29819]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 2 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the number of prisoners tested for drugs and the numbers tested positive for each drug in each month since February 1995.
  Tables setting out the number of tests conducted each month (Table A) and the numbers tested positive for each drug (Table B) under the random testing programme are attached. Results for other forms of mandatory drug testing are not yet centrally collated.

  243

  Table A: Mandatory drug testing random testing programme: numbers tested February 1995 to February 1996

  Month

  Number tested

  1995

  February

  207

  March

  319

  April

  324

  May

  239

  June

  342

  July

  317

  August

  191

  September

  521

  October

  717

  Table B: Mandatory drug testing random programme: prisoners tested positive for each type of drug February 1995 to February 1996

  Month

  Cannabis

  Opiates

  Cocaine

  Amphetamines

  Benzodiazepines

  Methadone

  Barbiturates

  LSD

  1995

  February

  70

  5

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  March

  111

  5

  1

  0

  5

  0

  0

  0

  April

  106

  14

  1

  0

  12

  1

  1

  0

  May

  75

  8

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  June

  95

  11

  0

  0

  7

  0

  0

  0

  July

  110

  11

  2

  0

  6

  0

  0

  0

  August

  53

  2

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  September

  142

  36

  8

  0

  18

  0

  0

  0

  October

  242

  66

  7

  0

  29

  4

  0

  0

  November

  236

  58

  1

  1

  22

  0

  0

  0

  December

  273

  74

  6

  1

  30

  3

  0

  0

  1996

  January

  618

  148

  5

  0

  60

  5

  0

  0

  February

  791

  178

  6

  5

  82

  2

  2

  0

  Total

  2,922

  616

  33

  7

  278

  12

  3

  0

  Because prisoners may test positive for more than one drug, the total number of drug positive is greater than the number of prisoners found positive. Checking of statistical returns for January and February 1996 has revealed a number of errors. Error checking continues and this data must be regarded as provisional.

  Preston Prison
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what maintenance and modernisation work is to be deferred at Her Majesty's prison, Preston as a result of the reduction in the prison maintenance budget. [29758]

  Miss Widdecome
  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 Mr. Richard Tilt to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about deferred work at Preston prison.
  The maintenance fund for routine work at Preston prison has increased by 91 per cent this year from £91,266 in 1995/6 to £175,000 in the current financial year.
  The only work to be deferred at this stage is the planned refurbishment of C wing which will now probably take place in 1997 instead of 1996 as originally planned.

  Mr. Patrick Kelly
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Patrick Kelly was transferred from the United Kingdom to a prison in the Republic of Ireland; how many years of his original 25-year sentence remains; what assessment he has made 244

  Table A: Mandatory drug testing random testing programme: numbers tested February 1995 to February 1996

  Month

  Number tested

  November

  1,254

  December

  1,698

  1996

  January

  2,316

  February

  3,304

  Total

  11,749

  Checking of statistical returns for January and February 1996 has revealed a number of errors. Error checking continues and this data must be regarded as provisional.

  of the financial implications for the United Kingdom of Mr. Kelly's detention in an Irish prison; and if he will make a statement. [29904]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Patrick Kelly was repatriated to the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday 14 May. Including time spent on remand before sentence, Mr. Kelly has completed three years and six months of his 25-year sentence. No assessment has been made of the financial implications for the United Kingdom of Mr. Kelly's detention in an Irish prison since these costs fall to the Irish authorities.

  Prisons (Assaults)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of assaults,(a) by prisoners on prison officers, and (b) by prisoners on prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster during the financial year 1995–96; and what were the average rates for its public sector equivalent comparator group. [29820]

  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.
  245
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the number of assaults at Doncaster prison during the financial year 1995–96 and the average rates for its public sector equivalent comparator group.
  As I stated in my reply of 23 April (col. 90), a report has been commissioned from consultants Coopers and Lybrand to assess the relative costs and performance of contractually managed prisons against comparable establishments in the public sector during 1994/5. This report will be published soon and I will write to you, following publication, with information on the periods mentioned in your Questions.

  Durham Prison
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the governor of Her Majesty's prison, Durham is debarred from tendering for the courts and escorts service for the area covered by Durham prison in July 1997. [29855]

  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking why the governor at Durham prison has not been allowed to tender for the provision of the court and escort services for the area covered by Durham prison in July 1997.
  Invitations to tender for the work—which covers the north of England rather than just the Durham area—were issued at the end of April. It is intended to award the contract in October or November this year and for phased implementation to commence in April 1997.
  The contract will cover work currently undertaken both by the police and the Prison Service. It involves taking prisoners to and from court and their custody while at court. It does not constitute a part of the core duties and responsibilities of either police or prison officers, however, and has in the past often either been under resourced or has drawn valuable and highly trained personnel away from their core tasks. Contracting-out the work has led to higher standards of service to the courts and to lower costs.
  In-house bids are time consuming and costly to mount, and would therefore only be undertaken if there was a reasonable prospect of achieving better value for money than contracting-out. This would be difficult to achieve in the case of court escorts. The geographic make-up of the contract area is intended both to stimulate and maintain private sector interest and offer the potential for economies of scale. Durham prison could therefore neither bid solely for its own catchment area nor the work that it currently performs. Any proposal would also need to incorporate police input to the activity.
  In view of all these considerations, the decision was taken at the outset to exclude in-house bids and to contract out the work.

  Advertising Standards
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent representations he has received about offensive or disturbing advertising on billboards; [30195]

  (2) what monitoring he routinely undertakes of the Advertising Standards Authority. [30196]

  Mr. Sackville
  This year my right hon. and learned Friend has received four letters from Members of Parliament and one letter from a member of the public about offensive advertisements.
  246
  Government contracts with the Advertising Standards Authority are conducted principally through the Department of Trade and Industry, but my right hon. and learned Friend would not hesitate to approach the authority directly if there were grounds for concern over particular advertising material.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30122]

  Mr. Howard
  Services provided by Home Office agencies which has been market tested since their creation are as follows:Prison Service

  Operation of Manchester prison—won by the in-house bid team.

  Operation of Buckley Hall prison—contract awarded to Group 4.

  Warehousing and distribution, Prison Service stores at Branston—won by the in-house bid team.

  Prison Service College, Newbold Revel, administration and maintenance—won by the in-house bid team.

  The value of Prison Service business conducted under contract or service level agreement after a market test, exceeds £27 million per annum at 1994–95 prices. Estimated savings are £9.26 million per annum.

  No market tests have been completed by the Forensic Science Service, Fire Service College or United Kingdom Passport Agency of the services that they provide to external customers.

  British Citizenship
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons resident in the United Kingdom for over 20 years have been refused British citizenship in each year since 1979. [30399]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  This information is not available.

  Maidstone Prison
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications were made to undertake rehabilitation courses at Her Majesty's prison, Maidstone per month since April 1993; [30209]

  (2) what has been the number of available places on rehabilitation courses at Her Majesty's prison, Maidstone per month since April 1993. [30210]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about (i) the number of available places and (ii) the number of applications to undertake rehabilitation courses at Her Majesty's Prison Maidstone per month since April 1993.
  This information is not available in the form requested.
  Sixteen places are provided monthly for prisoners on the sex offender treatment core programme. Records are not kept of how many applications have been received for the sex offender treatment

  247
  core programme. Since April 1993, 60 prisoners have attended the core programme and 81 have attended the extended programme. There are currently 38 prisoners waiting for a place on the core programme and 113 for the extended programme.
  Records are not kept of how many applications have been received for the social skills course. This course lasts for two weeks and has 12 prisoners. In 1993 there were two courses; one in 1994; four in 1995; and so far in 1996 there has been one course, with three more planned.
  The group work programme, which is run by the probation department in the prison, started in September 1995. There are an average of two groups running per month, which offer 8–10 places per group. There have been 912 applications for places on these groups. Since September 1995, 12 groups have run involving 108 prisoners.
  One-to-one counselling sessions are run by the probation and psychology departments in the prison and by outside drug counsellors. Occasional courses on problem drinking, anger management and on relationships are also run. No record is kept of the number of applications for these sessions.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) parole applications and (b) successful parole applications were made at Her Majesty's prison, Maidstone in each month since April 1993. [30208]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  British Board of Film Classification
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department has given the British Board of Film Classification regarding its powers to review its certification of films for video release at the request of the film maker. [30243]

  Mr. Sackville
  Under the provisions of the Video Recordings (Review of Determinations) Order 1995, the British Board of Film Classification may, if it thinks fit, review any classification certificate issued before 3 November 1994. It is for the board to decide which video works should be reviewed in this way. There is no power for the board to review any classification certificate issued on or after that date.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the British Board of Film Classification regarding the application of section 4(a) of the Video Recordings Act 1984 in respect of harm to potential viewers to the certification of films containing gratuitous violence for video release. [30244]

  Mr. Sackville
  It is for the British Board of Film Classification to apply the classification criteria in section 4A of the Video Recordings Act 1984 to individual video works.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that independent scientific expertise is included in the membership of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. [30247]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The Criminal Cases Review Commission will have access to independent scientific expertise and will be able to request independent scientific tests and reports. It is important that the commission's248
  members should reflect as wide a range of relevant skills and experience as possible, however, and we therefore have no plans to specify that scientific expertise must be included among the membership.

  Forensic Science Advisory Board
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the establishment of an independent forensic science advisory board; and if he will make a statement. [30246]

  Mr. Maclean
  According to our records, representations from three organisations or individuals have been received about the establishment of a forensic science advisory board since the publication of the report of the royal commission on criminal justice.

  Women (Protection Against Violence)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the protection available to women against violence and the threat of violence. [30257]

  Mr. Maclean
  The response to violence against women involves a number of Government Departments, whose work is co-ordinated at ministerial level. Effective action also requires the commitment and involvement of local agencies, working together to develop local preventive strategies, and to provide help and support to women who are victims of violent or sexual crimes. In order to encourage an effective co-ordinated response by local agencies, the Government published an inter-agency circular on domestic violence in August 1995. In addition, wide-ranging advice on personal safety is contained in the Home Office booklet "Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention", a copy of which is in the Library. The booklet also contains information on what men can do to help women feel more secure.

  We will continue to take measures to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice; that victims receive the necessary emotional and practical support; and that steps are taken, through education and community initiatives, towards prevention in the long term.

  Dr. Bayo Omoyiola
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons a re-entry visa was not granted to Dr. Bayo Omoyiola following a visit to the British Crown colony of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [30452]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I have written to the hon. Member.

  Merseyside Police
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects on operations of the Merseyside police of the police grant report (England and Wales) 1996–97. [30504]

  Mr. Maclean
  None. It is for the police authority and the chief constable to determine spending and operational priorities on the basis of the resources made available to them.
  249

  Under-age Prostitutes
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of police prosecutions, during 1995, against adults in England and Wales for having sexual relationships with prostitutes under the legal age of consent. [29995]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  John Mathews
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review exclusion orders that are currently in force in respect of the case of John Mathews; and if he will review the forensic evidence in the case. [30253]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The order excluding Mr. Mathews from Great Britain is due to expire shortly and is therefore already under review. All relevant considerations will be taken into account.

  Deregulation Unit
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual budget for his departmental deregulation unit; how many staff it employs; and of these how many(a) are career civil servants and of what grades, (b) have been seconded from business, and (c) have experience of the private sector. [30057]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The annual staff budget of my Department's deregulation unit, which co-ordinates the deregulation activities of the Department, is £62,870. The unit has one full-time and one part-time member of staff dedicated to deregulation: one higher executive officer and one senior executive officer, respectively, who report to a head of unit. All three members of staff are career civil servants. None has been seconded from business or has had any direct experience of the private sector. Many other officials in the Department contribute to taking the deregulation initiative forward.

  Asylum and Immigration Bill
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the documents which an employer will have to recognise, other than national insurance documents, under clause 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Bill. [29951]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: In cases where no documented national insurance number was available it is currently envisaged that any one of the following documents would provide an employer with a defence:
  birth certificates issued in the United Kingdom;
  passports describing the holder as a British citizen or as having the right of abode in the United Kingdom;
  certificates of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen;
  passports issued by a state which is a party to the European Economic Area agreement;
  identity cards issued by a state which is a party to the EEA agreement and which describes the holder as a national of a state which is party to that agreement;
  250
  passports or other travel documents endorsed to show that the holder has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom;
  passports or other documents endorsed to show that the holder has current leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and is not precluded from taking the employment in question; and
  certain letters issued by the Home Office or Department for Education and Employment indicating that the person named in the letter has permission to take any or specified employment.

  Appropriate guidance about these documents will be made available to employers in due course. A telephone helpline facility will also be made available.

  Repatriation (Irish Republic)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to decide on the application of Michael O'Brien to be repatriated to prison in the Irish Republic; when he received the latest response from the Irish authorities concerning Mr. O'Brien's sentence; and if he will make a statement. [29746]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The repatriation of prisoners between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is governed by the Council of Europe convention on the transfer for sentenced persons. The convention requires the consent of both states involved as well as that of the prisoner concerned before repatriation can take place. Under the terms of the convention the receiving state must provide, among other things, details of how they intend to continue to enforce the sentence. In the case of Mr. O'Brien, information on this was provided by the Irish authorities on 14 February. The Government's long-established policy is not to agreed to prisoners transferring to other jurisdictions, save in exceptional circumstances, if, as a consequence, a prisoner is likely to receive a substantial reduction in time to serve. The information provided by the Republic of Ireland is currently under consideration and Mr. O'Brien's request will be determined as soon as possible.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he announced that Patrick Kelly was to be repatriated to prison in the Irish Republic; on what date Mr. Kelly was transferred from Northern Ireland to the Republic; and if he will make a statement. [29747]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: Patrick Kelly was advised on Thursday 9 May of the decision to grant his request for repatriation to the Republic of Ireland. He was transferred there on Tuesday 14 May.

  Prison Service (Education Programmes)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all education programmes in the Prison Service which have been dropped, in the last year for which the information is available; and if he will make a statement. [29395]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: 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.
  251
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 22 May 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Prison Service education programmes which have dropped in the last year.
  Courses which are provided in prisons vary constantly in response to local needs and priorities. Details of programmes which begin and end are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  The guidance on cost reductions which the Prisons Board has issued to governors makes it clear that emphasis should be on securing greater efficiency and that reductions in regime activities such as education should come as a last resort.
  Where reductions do take place, governors have been advised to look at courses which have few prisoners and are costly to run and also those which do not offer worthwhile qualifications or are not of any clear use to prisoners in helping them lead law-abiding and useful lives after release.

  Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody within the administrative counties of Clwyd and Gwynedd 1984, 1989–1994

  Petty sessional division1

  1984

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Within the County of Clwyd

  Berwyn

  15

  12

  9

  9

  9

  11

  8

  Colwyn

  58

  66

  44

  74

  58

  57

  55

  Dyffryn Clwyd

  15

  13

  6

  9

  18

  18

  23

  Flint

  35

  40

  54

  51

  53

  53

  43

  Hawarden

  42

  29

  35

  33

  43

  30

  40

  Mold

  67

  46

  36

  77

  52

  70

  104

  Rhuddan

  117

  101

  86

  76

  74

  100

  114

  Wrexham Maelor

  167

  140

  136

  162

  113

  121

  123

  Within the county of Gwynedd

  Aberconwy

  101

  99

  76

  105

  56

  56

  53

  Bangor

  68

  51

  40

  31

  29

  37

  41

  Caernarfon and Gwyrfai

  33

  36

  35

  43

  30

  38

  29

  Eifionydd and Pwllheli

  6

  30

  24

  12

  4

  26

  17

  North Anglesey

  54

  56

  36

  35

  21

  39

  37

  North Meirionnydd

  17

  22

  8

  10

  10

  7

  10

  South Anglesey

  24

  16

  21

  13

  16

  40

  19

  South Meirionnydd

  14

  36

  21

  24

  11

  12

  20

  1 Includes persons convicted at the Crown court where the committing court was one of those listed.

  252
  Some prisons are likely to reduce expenditure on non-essential education courses, others will be maintaining their existing provision and some are planning to expand education provision.

  Sentencing Statistics (Wales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish for the last 10 available years the number of people(a) sentenced to terms in prison, (b) on remand and (c) the total of (a) and (b) for each the present boroughs of Ynys Môn, Gwynedd, Conwy, Sir Dinbych, Sir Fflint and Wrexham. [28657]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 10 May 1996]: The available information on persons sentenced to immediate custody is given in the table. Information for 1985 to 1988 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Comprehensive data about remands by petty sessional division are not available.
  253

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Educational Selection
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received regarding educational selection. [29109]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend receives frequent representations on this subject.

  Employment (West Midlands)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to increase employment in the west midlands. [29110]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department's aim is to continue to promote a free and flexible labour market to encourage employment in the west midlands region as elsewhere— a market that during the last three months has supported 20 overseas companies investing in the west midlands, bringing with them £188 million of investment and creating almost 1,300 new jobs.

  Performance and Spending
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the relationship between performance standards and spending in schools. [29111]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The most important factors in school performance are leadership and the quality of teaching. There is no close correlation between performance and spending on education.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the correlation between performance and spending on education. [29090]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The most important factors in school performance are leadership and the quality of teaching. There is no close correlation between performance and spending on education.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the United Kingdom's record on reducing unemployment in relation to that of other major EU countries. [29112]

  Mr. Forth
  The UK, free of the burden of unnecessary regulation, has the lowest unemployment rate of any major European country—at 8.4 per cent., well below the 11 per cent. average throughout Europe.

  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she next expects to meet her European counterparts to discuss current levels of unemployment in EU countries. [29124]

  Mr. Forth
  I expect to meet European Union Employment Ministers at the next meeting of the Social Affairs Council on 3 June at which we will be discussing 254
  a draft report to the Florence European Council on employment issues. We will also discuss the employment situation with Economic and Finance Ministers.

  Departmental Amalgamation
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the benefits to date accruing from the amalgamation of the former Departments for Education and of Employment. [29113]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The amalgamation has given us the opportunity to develop more coherent policies in critical areas such as lifetime learning and the framework of qualifications. We are beginning to see the first fruits of the new approach.

  Higher Education Funding
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations she has received from universities about higher education funding. [29114]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has received a substantial volume of correspondence about higher education funding from the universities in recent months.

  Failing Schools (Inner London)
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has to assist failing schools in inner London. [29115]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The primary responsibility for the improvement of failing schools lies with governing bodies and local education authorities. LEAs can provide financial assistance and advice; but, where necessary, the Government will transfer failing schools to the conduct of an education association.

  Primary Education (Standards)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what comparisons she has made between different local education authorities with regard to standards in primary education. [29116]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The national measure of standards of achievement in primary education is performance in national curriculum assessments. The Government have announced their intention to publish next spring school level performance tables of achievement at key stage 2. It will be possible from these tables to derive a measure of the relative achievement of schools in different local education authorities.

  Primary Schools (Class Sizes)
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she intends to take to reduce class sizes in primary schools. [29117]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Decisions about class sizes are a matter for local education authorities and schools taking account of local circumstances and priorities.
  255

  Jobseekers Act 1995
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on progress in respect of the implementation of the Jobseekers Act 1995. [29118]

  Mr. Forth
  The jobseeker's allowance, as set out in the Jobseekers Act, is on course for implementation on 7 October 1996.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been spent on publicity in phase 1 of the nursery voucher scheme. [29120]

  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been spent to date on publicity in phase 1 of the nursery voucher scheme. [29127]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  To date, some £1.1 million has been spent on providing information to parents and providers nationwide. It is not possible to break down expenditure between the phase 1 areas and the rest of the country.

  Technology Grants
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the technology grants already awarded have gone to estate schools which are neither opted out, nor voluntary aided nor city technology colleges. [29121]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Since the specialist schools initiative was launched in November 1993, a total of £37.9 million has been allocated to the initiative up to the end of 1996–97. Of this total, £3.4 million has been allocated in capital grant and £5.3 million in recurrent grant to participating state schools which are neither grant maintained, nor voluntary aided nor CTC.

  Secondary Modern Schools
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received urging the reintroduction of secondary modern schools. [29122]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Secondary modern schools continue to contribute to the diversity of educational provision in England. Some 160 schools are classified as secondary modern in the secondary school performance tables.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to improve the competence of United Kingdom children in respect of information technology. [29123]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department has given a central lead to the development of IT in schools since the early 1980s. Following Sir Ron Dearing's review of the national curriculum in 1993, we took the opportunity to make information technology a separate subject within the national curriculum. It is a mandatory area of study from five to 16.
  256
  Since 1990, financial support for IT in schools totalling over £132 million has been provided under grants for education support and training.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to publish the results of her Department's statistical survey into the provision of IT equipment in schools. [30225]

  Mr. Squire
  The Department plans to publish the 1996 survey of information technology in schools in November. A press notice listing a schedule for the publication of statistics, including the IT survey, was issued on 28 March 1996.

  Teaching Standards
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures she intends to take to improve teaching standards in schools. [29125]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Following the Office for Standards in Education report on the teaching of reading in three London boroughs, my right hon. Friend has announced a number of additional measures designed to expose and tackle poor teaching standards—and to monitor the performance of local authorities and teacher trainers.

  Full-time Employment
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans her Department has to increase full-time employment in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [29126]

  Mr. Forth
  We shall continue with the policies that have enabled businesses to create more than 350,000 full-time jobs since autumn 1993.

  Part-time and Temporary Jobs
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research she has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the number of employees who are in part-time and temporary jobs because they can not find permanent work and as to trends in the number; and if she will make a statement. [29128]

  Mr. Forth
  The labour force survey provides routine information on part-time and temporary work, and shows that the vast majority of part-timers are in permanent employment.

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils, and for what period of time, have been excluded from schools in the Easington constituency in each year since 1992. [30214]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not available centrally.

  The Department has this year started collecting figures on permanent exclusions through the annual census returns sent to all schools in January. Data on exclusions in the school year 1994–95 should be available by the early autumn.
  257

  Truancy
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the recorded rates of truancy in schools in England and Wales(a) at the latest available date and (b) in 1980. [30202]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Rates of unauthorised absence for maintained primary and secondary schools in England for the 1994–95 school year were as follows:Primary Schools

  Percentage of half days missed: 0.5 per cent.

  Average number of half days missed per absent pupil: 10

  Secondary Schools

  Percentage of half days missed: 1.0 per cent.

  Average number of half days missed per absent pupil: 22

  Equivalent information was not collected centrally in 1980.

  Information on pupil absence rates in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Head Teachers
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to reform procedures for the appointment of head teachers; and if she will make a statement. [29107]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the Teacher Training Agency to establish a national professional qualification for headship—NPQH. The Government anticipate that, in time, those being appointed as head teachers will be expected to have gained the NPQH.

  Teacher Training Agency
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the expenditure plans for teacher recruitment by the Teacher Training Agency for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [30453]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This is a matter for the Teacher Training Agency. I will ask the chairman of the agency, Geoffrey Parker, to write to the hon. Member direct.

  National Council for Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she received a report of the quinquennial review of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications; and if she will make a statement. [30788]

  Mr. Paice
  The report is being published today and copies are being placed in the Library. The review has informed our recent consultation document, "Building the Framework", on the future of NCVQ and School Curriculum Assessment Authority, in the light of Sir Ron Dearing's recommendations.

  EU Trade Talks
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she plans next to meet 258
  European Community Ministers to discuss trade; and if he will make a statement. [30306]

  Mr. Lang
  I have been asked to reply.

  My colleagues and I meet our European Union counterparts regularly to discuss a wide range of trade issues particularly those arising in preparation for the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Singapore in December.

SCOTLAND

  Drug Users (Tayside)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of funding allocation by the national services division to Tayside health board for services for drug users in the current year; and what was the figure in each of the three previous years. [29756]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The level of funding allocated by the national services division to Tayside health board for drug misuse services in the four financial years from 1993–94 to 1996–97 is set out in the table.

  1993–94: £265,0001

  1994–95: £850,000

  1995–96: £1,091,000

  1996–97: £1,090,302

  1 The figure for 1993–94 does not include allocations for HIV drugs-related services which, since 1994–95, have been included in the general drug misuse allocations.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of funding allocated by Tayside health board in the current year and for last year to(a) Dundee drugs and AIDS project, (b) Wishart centre, (c) Body Positive and (d) Scottish drugs forum. [29757]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information, which has been provided by Tayside health board, is set out in the table.

  1995–96 Actual £

  1996–97 Intended allocations £

  Dundee drugs and AIDS project

  1220,000

  3158,500

  Wishart center

  242,000

  20,000

  Body Positive

  —

  15,000

  Scottish drugs forum

  60,000

  42,000

  1 This amount includes non-recurrent funding of £82,000.

  2 This amount includes non-recurrent funding of £22,000.

  3 This amount includes non-recurrent funding of £20,500.

  Scottish Drugs Forum
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of core funding provided by the Scottish Office to the Scottish drugs forum in the current year and in 1995–96. [29731]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The core funding provided by the Scottish Office to the Scottish drugs forum for the two years in question is as follows:
  259

  Financial year

  Total core grant £

  1995–96

  88,000

  1996–97

  150,000

  Betaferon
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the arrangements adopted in each health board area in Scotland for the prescription of the drug betaferon to patients suffering from multiple sclerosis; and what estimate he has made of the number of patients in each health board area potentially able to benefit from this drug. [29732]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that his Department's guidance on the use of the drug betaferon for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis is being consistently applied in each health board area in Scotland. [29733]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  NHS circular MEL (1995) 73 issued on 16 November 1995 to all health boards and NHS trusts offering guidance in the context of their responsibilities to develop and plan local arrangements to manage the entry of beta interferon into the NHS.

  The use of the drug for the treatment of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis is, in each case, a matter for the clinical judgment of the responsible medical practitioner.

  Woodcot and Arduthie Hospitals
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure a full public consultation before the proposed closure of Woodcot and Arduthie hospitals in Grampian, and that the award of the contract for the replacement hospital is announced before the consultation is completed. [29734]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Public consultation carried out by Grampian health board through the local health council between June and September 1995 established strong support for a new hospital in Kincardineshire to replace the two existing old and unsuitable facilities. I look forward to learning the outcome of the tendering exercise currently being undertaken by the health board, and I will wish to be satisfied that any proposals put forward for an alternative model of service provision represent an improvement on what exists at present before I agree to the closure of any hospital.

  Student Nurses
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the drop-out rate of student nurses in Scotland in each year of Project 2000 courses, for each of the last three years for which there are figures; and if he will make a statement. [29816]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the table. It gives the overall wastage rates for each year of training for intakes commencing during the fiscal years 1992–93 to 1994–95.260

  Percentage

  Year of commencement

  Lost during first year

  Lost during second year

  Lost during third year

  1992–93

  12.2

  9.4

  3.6

  1993–94

  9.6

  7.5

  —

  1994–95

  9.1

  —

  —

  Note:

  All losses are expressed as percentages of the original intake sizes at commencement.

  Source:

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland.

  Project 2000 courses were introduced in August 1992 in Scotland; therefore only one cohort have completed; their three-year training courses. A valid wastage rate cannot be calculated from one cohort. As Project 2000 becomes established, trends in wastage rates will become apparent. An evaluation of Project 2000 has been commissioned and the results will be known in early 1997.

  Health Boards (Administration Costs)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of his statement of 9 May on administration costs of health boards in Scotland. [29945]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Copies of my news release concerning administration costs of health boards in Scotland have now been placed in the Library.

  Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the mechanisms which he employs for the acquisition of land for the provision of smallholdings under the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919. [30506]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  No land has been acquired under the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919 since 1947.

  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions the provisions of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919 have been used for the provision of smallholdings since 1966; and in each case what was the date and the location. [30507]

  Mr. Robertson
  The Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919 provisions for the creation of small holdings have not been used since 1966.

  Health Boards (Shields Report)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to publish the Shields report on the role and responsibilities of health boards in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [29944]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The Shields report is to be published shortly. I will then place a copy in the Library.

  Deregulation Unit
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual budget for his departmental
  261
  deregulation unit; how many staff it employs; and of these how many (a) are career civil servants and of what grades, (b) have been seconded from business, and (c) have experience of the private sector. [30067]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The Scottish Office deregulation unit comprises one member of the senior civil service, one grade 7, two higher executive officers, one executive officer and two administrative assistants. The officers concerned are all career civil servants and none has worked recently in the private sector. These staff also perform other functions within the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department and for that reason it is not possible to assign a specific cost to their deregulation activities.

  Home Energy Conservation Act 1995
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he plans to issue guidelines relating to the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; [28470]

  (2) if local authorities in Scotland will be eligible for grants during 1996–97 under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 action scheme; and if he will make a statement. [28471]

  Visits since 1 January 1991

  Date

  Place

  Reason

  Delegation

  1991

  25 March

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  Secretary of State. Private Secretary and official

  17–18 June

  Brussels

  Meeting EC Commissioners

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  10–13 September

  Munich

  Scottish Trade Mission

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official

  13–21 November

  Japan

  Inward investment promotion

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official

  1992

  20–23 June

  Thessalonika

  Europartenariat

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  12–19 September

  Japan

  Inward investment promotion

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  12–19 September

  Boston

  Inward investment promotion

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official

  1993

  12 February

  Munich

  Trade Fair and tourism promotion

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and official

  25–27 March

  Florida

  Inward investment promotion

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official

  6–8 June

  Madrid

  Trade Mission

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  17–18 June

  Lille

  Europartenariat

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  17–23 September

  Jedda/Dubai

  Trade Mission

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  20–21 September

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official

  5–15 October

  New York and Hong Kong

  Tourism promotion

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Private Secretary and one official per visit

  2–9 October

  USA

  Inward investment promotion

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  29 November-1 December

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  Lord Fraser, Private Secretary and 3 officials

  1994

  February

  Oslo

  Meet Norwegian Fisheries Minister and visit Winter Olympic Team

  Sir Hector Monro and 2 officials

  18 March

  Holland

  Tourism promotion

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Private Secretary and official

  11–12 April

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  Lord Fraser and Private Secretary

  26–29 May

  Crete

  Criminal Justice Conference

  Lord Fraser, Private Secretary and official

  2–5 June

  Corfu

  Informal meeting of Ministers

  Allan Stewart and official

  9 June

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  Sir Hector Monro and Private Secretary

  8–10 June

  Golansk

  Europartenariat

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  262
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 9 May 1996]: Guidance on the operation of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 will be issued to Scottish local authorities, following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, later this year. It is expected that the Act will be brought into force in Scotland in 1997.

  While Scottish local authorities are eligible to apply for assistance under the Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Conservation Act demonstration project, if they meet the criteria for the scheme, it is more likely to be of interest to Scottish authorities in 1997–98.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a list of all overseas visits made by all Ministers of his Department since 1990, including(a) details of the places visited and brief reasons for the visit, (b) details of the size, composition and cost to public funds of the delegation and (c) the names of non-ministerial members of each delegation and the capacity in which each was present. [17498]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 March 1996]: Details of overseas visits as from 1 January 1991 are listed in the table. Information before 1991 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Non-ministerial members of the delegations have not been named as it is not normal practice to do so. They were in attendance to provide support for Ministers.

  263

  Visits since 1 January 1991

  Date

  Place

  Reason

  Delegation

  14–15 June

  Munich

  Scotland/Bavaria Economic Forum

  Allan Stewart and Private Secretary

  8–9 September

  Brussels

  Anniversary of the liberation of Brussels

  Secretary of State and Private Secretary

  August

  Canada

  Visit Commonwealth Games

  Sir Hector Monro and Private Secretary

  24 September-1 October

  USA

  Inward investment promotion

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official

  24 September-2 October

  Japan

  Inward investment promotion

  Allan Stewart, Private Secretary and official

  27 September

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  Sir Hector Monro and Private Secretary

  24 October

  Paris

  SIAL Food Fair

  Sir Hector Monro, Private Secretary and 2 officials

  23 October

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  Sir Hector Monro and Private Secretary

  18 December

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  Sir Hector Monro and Private Secretary

  22 December

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  Lord Fraser and Private Secretary

  Visits since 1991

  Date

  Place

  Reason

  Delegation

  Cost £

  1995

  15–17 March

  Rome

  Forestry Meeting

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official

  1,942.80

  20–21 March

  Brussels

  Meet MEPs

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and official

  1,956

  31 March

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  Sir Hector Monro, Private Secretary and 3 officials

  2,610

  14 June

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  Sir Hector Monro, Private Secretary and 2 officials

  1,440

  26–31 August

  Taipei

  Trade Mission/Inward investment promotion

  George Kynoch, Private Secretary and 2 officials

  14,508

  15–19 September

  Helsinki

  Inward investment promotion

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Private Secretary and official

  2,309.13

  24–30 September

  Boston

  Trade Mission/Inward investment promotion

  George Kynoch and Private Secretary

  8,294

  4–5 October

  Cologne

  ANUGA Food Exhibition

  Earl of Lindsay, Private Secretary and 3 officials

  2,017.66

  8–10 October

  Stockholm

  Health Conference

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Private Secretary and 2 officials

  3,029.81

  17 October

  Brussels

  Meet with Commissioner Bonino UK Rep and MEPs

  Raymond Robertson, Private Secretary and official

  748.50

  26 October

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and 2 officials

  2,968

  1–3 November

  Washington

  United Nationals meeting

  Earl of Lindsay and Private Secretary

  7,162

  7–9 November

  Oslo and Tromso

  To meet with Mr. Olsen,Norwegian Fisheries Minister

  Raymond Robertson, Private Secretary and official

  2,582.40

  8–10 November

  Toronto and Ottawa

  Attend Royal Winter Fair Agricultural Show and fact funding visit about Canadian film industry

  Earl of Lindsay, Private Secretary and official

  7,246.83

  24 November

  Madrid

  Tourism promotion

  George Kynoch and Private Secretary

  982

  17–19 December

  Brussels

  EU Council of Ministers

  Earl of Lindsay and Private Secretary

  948

  20–22 December

  Brussels

  Meet with Commissioner Bonino UK Rep and MEPs

  Raymond Robertson, Private Secretary and officia

  1748.50

  1996

  5 March 1996

  Brussels

  Meet with Commissioner Bonino UK Rep and MEPs

  Raymond Robertson, Private Secretary and official

  748.50

  8–11 March

  USA

  Film Initiative

  Earl of Lindsay, Private Secretary and official

  10,309.10

  1 April

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  Earl of Lindsay, Private Secretary and official

  2,444.06

  17–19 April

  USA/Canada

  Tourism and Inward investment promotion

  Secretary of State, Private Secretary and 2 officials

  14,379.94

  22 April 1996

  Brussels

  Meet with Commissioner Bonino UK Rep and MEPs

  Raymond Robertson, Private Secretary and official

  748.50

  24 April

  Brussels

  Visit to Brussels Fisheries Exhibition

  Raymond Robertson, Private Secretary and official

  696.75

  29–30 April

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  Earl of Lindsay, Private Secretary and official

  2,150.80

  15–17 May

  Cannes

  Cannes Film Festival

  Earl of Lindsay, Private Secretary and official

  2,899.20

  264 265

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995–96. [28576]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 May 1996]: The total expenditure on official hospitality by the Scottish Office during the financial year 1995–96 was £82,978. In addition, the Scottish Office spent £34,680 on hospitality as part of the Government's contribution to the VE and VJ-day commemorations.

  The actual expenditure on official hospitality during the financial year 1995–96 for each of the agencies associated with the Scottish Office is set out in the table.

  Agency

  Outturn of expenditure £

  Scottish Office Pension Agency

  973

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  2,063

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  3,059

  Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  215

  Historic Scotland

  5,362

  Scottish Courts Service

  2,502

  Scottish Prisons Service

  6,824

  Scottish Record Office

  1,166

  Registers of Scotland

  6,249

  Total

  28,413

  Cattle
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of(a) dairy and (b) beef cattle in Scotland at the latest available date. [29912]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 17 May 1996]: The information requested is set out in the table.

  December 1995

  Total dairy cattle1

  342,541

  Total beef cattle1

  664,587

  Other cattle2

  1,124,305

  1 The totals in each class include breeding cows, breeding heifers and other female cattle for breeding.

  2 Other cattle includes bulls for service and all other cattle not for breeding.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Exchange Rates (EU Funds)
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the implications of recent changes in exchange rates upon the amounts Her Majesty's Government may receive from regional development funds and social funds from the European Union. [30166]

  Mr. Eggar
  Governments do not apply for grants from these funds; the Commission, following criteria laid down in Council regulations, makes a number of block allocations for each member state.
  266
  These allocations, like the whole of the EC budget, from which they are drawn, are denominated in ecu. Changes in exchange rates therefore affect the value in national currencies of the structural funds grants received by all member states.

  Business Links
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many business link chief executives have been dismissed from that post; and what proportion this is of the total. [30126]

  Mr. Page
  No business link chief executives have been dismissed.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many chief executives of business links are the first appointments to such posts. [30127]

  Mr. Page
  Sixty-six business link chief executives are first appointments to their posts.

  Nuclear Privatisation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his Department's response to the second report of the Trade and Industry Select Committee on nuclear privatisation, HC 383, what estimates his Department has received from British Nuclear Fuels plc in respect of the extent of the future growth in the market for plutonium-based mixed oxide fuel. [30007]

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a commercial matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  Export Controls
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives have been taken to date to implement the recommendations in Sir Richard Scott's report on(a) military and (b) dual-use equipment sales to Iraq in respect of the tightening of export controls and scrutiny of export licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the role of different Government Departments in executing the revised export control policy. [30008]

  Mr. Lang
  I plan to publish a consultative paper on export licensing procedures in the summer. The Government will consider fully all representations made in response to that paper before making proposals for a revised export control policy.

  Research Establishments
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to make a decision on the future of the public sector research establishments under the first tranche of the prior options review; and if he will make a statement. [30323]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced the timetable for the reviews on 26 January 1996,Official Report, columns 421–23, and made it clear that the results were to be considered by Ministers collectively.

  The Government are currently considering the outcome of the first tranche of reviews. I expect an announcement to be made shortly.
  267

  British Energy
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assumptions informed the adoption of a 135-year time scale for the full dismantling of British Energy's nuclear power generating plants; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the full dismantling of nuclear power generating plants could be undertaken in a shorter period; [30391]

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) of 14 May, Official Report, column 409, what are the determinants of the future agreed strategy; and if he will make a statement. [30395]

  Mr. Lang
  Government policy on decommissioning is set out in the July 1995 White Paper "Review of Radioactive Waste Policy". This concluded that there are a number of potentially feasible and acceptable decommissioning strategies for nuclear power stations, including "safestore". British Energy's preferred strategy will be set out in the pathfinder prospectus. To ensure that operators' decommissioning strategies remain soundly based as circumstances change, they will be reviewed quinquenially by the Health and Safety Executive, which will consult the environment agencies. The agreements establishing the segregated fund provide for changes in the level of payments into the fund in the event that British Energy's agreed strategy changes.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he has made of the assumptions and calculations used by BZW in its paper "The Cash Generator". [30455]

  Mr. Lang
  The research paper "The Cash Generator" was written by independent analysts from the utilities sector of BZW Research. It is one of a number of research papers by independent analysts on British Energy. The analysts at BZW Research are completely independent of the team from BZW advising the Government on the privatisation.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to underwrite future contributions by British Energy to its segregated fund in circumstances where(a) British Energy could not meet the payment and (b) British Energy became insolvent. [30344]

  Mr. Lang
  The agreements contain cross and parent company guarantees which make Nuclear Electric Ltd. and Scottish Nuclear responsible for each others' obligations and require British Energy to act as guarantor.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what would be the level of payments of British Energy to its segregated fund if the time scale for the full dismantling of the nuclear power generating plants was(a) 20 years, (b) 50 years and (c) 70 years after the end of production. [30346]

  Mr. Lang
  The level of payments into the fund are based on British Energy's expected costs of decommissioning its advanced gas-cooled reactor nuclear power stations 70 years after the end of generation and 50 years after generation for the Sizewell B pressurised water reactor. Figures for other time scales are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  268
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the segregated fund would have preferential creditor status on the company's assets if British Energy became insolvent. [30345]

  Mr. Lang
  As with other parties with whom British Energy has contractual arrangements, the fund will be able to enforce its contractual rights against the assets of British Energy.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) to what extent British Energy's segregated fund will meet liabilities from the privatised assets; [30382]

  (2) what proportion of the initial endowment towards the segregated fund of British Energy will be provided from public funds. [30381]

  Mr. Lang
  The initial endowment to the segregated fund will be paid for by British Energy, not from public funds. This endowment, and subsequent quarterly payments will be paid by the privatised companies.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the shortfall between total undiscounted liabilities of British Energy and the sum generated by the segregated fund will be met by British Energy revenues. [30335]

  Mr. Lang
  British Energy will be responsible for meeting all its liabilities.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds West, of 14 May,Official Report, column 409, from what source intermediate-level waste and high-level waste disposal costs are to be funded. [30394]

  Mr. Lang
  All ILW and HLW disposal costs for ILW and HLW arising from the operation of British Energy's power stations and the treatment of spent fuel from these stations will be funded by British Energy.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the undiscounted liabilities of British Energy will be met by the segregated fund. [30337]

  Mr. Lang
  BE's accounts for the year ended 31 March 1996 have not yet been finalised. BE provided provisional financial information in respect of the year ended 31 March 1995 at an analysts' briefing on 4 March 1996.

  The provisional financial information indicated that BE's undiscounted nuclear liabilities at 31 March 1995 were £14.3 billion, consisting of £10.3 billion for fuel cycle and £4 billion for decommissioning. The majority of the fuel cycle liabilities are covered by contracts. The segregated fund deals with all decommissioning costs except defuelling costs. As at 31 March 1995, the segregated fund arrangements cover just over 90 per cent. of the undiscounted decommissioning liabilities.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated annual cost for(a) each advanced gas-cooled reactor and (b) the pressurised water reactor of reprocessing after shut-down and stage 1 decommissioning. [30341]

  Mr. Lang
  This detailed information is a commercial matter for British Energy plc.
  269
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the undiscounted value of the liabilities of British Energy; and if he will give a breakdown of the constituent parts of the total. [30336]

  Mr. Lang
  Details of the undiscounted value of the nuclear liabilities of British Energy will be included in the prospectus.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the financial forecasts indicating when British Energy will generate income sufficient to meet the post-shut-down reprocessing costs and stage 1 decommissioning costs of the advanced gas-cooled reactors as they close. [30340]

  Mr. Lang
  This is a commercial matter for British Energy plc.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what public funds will be used to meet the liabilities arising from the assets of British Energy. [30383]

  Mr. Lang
  None. British Energy will be responsible for meeting all its liabilities.

  Magnox
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, (1) pursuant to paragraph 8.21 of the nuclear review White Paper, Cm 2860, if he will estimate the extent to which sufficient funds will be(a) generated by the Magnox stations and (b) realised by the privatisation of the advanced gas-cooled reactors and pressurised water reactors to meet the cost of the liabilities which remain in the public sector; [30384]

  (2) what is the undiscounted cost of the liabilities remaining in the public sector; and how those liabilities will be met; [30393]

  (3) when the Magnox stations will exhaust their existing sources of funding including, income from generation and outstanding fossil fuel levy and cash and investments currently held on current assumptions and calculations; and when the Government expect to contribute to reprocessing waste management and decommissioning costs. [30385]

  Mr. Lang
  The undiscounted cost of Magnox Electric plc's nuclear liabilities will be shown in the company's annual report and accounts, which I understand will be published shortly. The sources of funding of these liabilities were described in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy to the hon. Member for Colchester, South and Maldon (Mr. Whittingdale) on 10 May 1996,Official Report, columns 294–96.

  The timing and amount of funding of these liabilities by Magnox and the Government are dependent on a number of factors. These include the level of Magnox's future income, which is dependent on among other things, interest rates and electricity prices, the potential for further improvements in the understanding and control of decommissioning costs and other nuclear liabilities, and the benefits to be derived from the proposed integration of Magnox with British Nuclear Fuels plc.
  270

  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has reached a decision on the future of the BBSRC's agriculture and plant sciences institutes; and if he will make a statement. [30818]

  Mr. Lang
  Prior options reviews have been completed of the Institute of Arable Crops Research, the Institute of Grassland and Environment Research, the John Innes Centre and the Silsoe Research Institute. I am satisfied that the functions of these institutes are needed and that they should retain their separate existence.

  They are currently constituted as distinct legal entities with charitable status but are regulated by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Their staff are members of the research councils pension scheme and BBSRC carries contingent liability for staffing. They are consequently subject to public sector financial controls.

  I have concluded that full independence from the public sector, with the greater freedom this will provide the institutes to direct their own affairs, would be a desirable option which merits further consideration. This will therefore by the subject of further work led by the Prime Minister's adviser on efficiency, Sir Peter Levene. The institutes would remain eligible to compete for research funding from BBSRC and other public sector funders. [30329]

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to make an announcement on the current review of the research establishments under the control of the BBSRC.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced the timetable for the reviews on 26 January 1996, Official Report, columns 421–23.

  Four BBSRC institutes were included in the first tranche of reviews. These were the Institute of Arable Crops Research, the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, the John Innes Centre and the Silsoe Research Institute. I expect an announcement on the outcome of these reviews to be made shortly.

  Four further BBSRC institutes were included in the timetable. The reviews of the Babraham Institute, the Institute for Animal Health and the Roslin Institute are due to be completed by the end of July 1996. The review of the Institute of Food Research is due to be completed by the end of December 1996. Announcements on the outcome of each of these reviews will be made as soon as possible.

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the outcome of the prior options review of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory. [30817]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government have accepted the review team's recommendations that NWML should remain an executive agency of DTI.
  271
  In reaching this decision the Government took into account the advantages of maintaining the existing integration between NWML's technical and policy functions, for which support has been received from industry.

  Central Laboratory of the Research Councils
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has reached a decision on the future of the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils; and if he will make a statement. [30814]

  Mr. Lang
  I announced to the House on 17 November 1995,Official Report, column 10, that the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton laboratories, which together form the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils, were to be the subject of a prior options review.

  The review found that the functions performed by the CLRC are needed and that it should remain in the public sector as a non-departmental public body of the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Office of Science and Technology. The Government are content to proceed on this basis while asking that further work on the involvement of the private sector should be carried out as described later. I am also satisfied that the current arrangements, whereby CLRC obtains the great majority of its income from competitively won contracts and service level agreements, bring suitable market forces to bear on it and that these should continue.

  The Government have agreed with the recommendations of the steering committee for the review that the laboratory should work to achieve further reductions in its overhead costs, and that work should be done to put in place a sound, longer-term planning model between CLRC and its research council customers. In addition, I have agreed that the CLRC should be set targets for broadening its customer base, and that further work should be carried out to identify and overcome, where appropriate, any barriers to greater private sector involvement with the laboratory, and on potential private sector interest in operating the establishment. These matters will be investigated by my Department.

  I believe that these steps will enable the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils to build upon the success of the first year of its existence and will ensure that it remains well placed to contribute fully to the science and engineering base of the UK.

  Public Sector Research Establishments
  Mr. Wiltshire
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made on the prior options reviews of public sector research establishments. [30815]

  Mr. Lang
  I announced the timetable for the prior options reviews of public sector research establishments on 26 January,Official Report columns 422–23. The reviews are being conducted in three tranches, with a view to the major part of the work being completed by the end of 1996.

  The Government have been considering the outcome of the first tranche of reviews. Our objective is to ensure that the Government receive the best quality scientific and technical services, with the best possible value for money for the taxpayer.
  272
  An announcement on the Building Research Establishment was made on 2 April, Official Report, columns 163–64, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  I and my hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs are today making announcements on a number of establishments for which I have responsibility:

  Central Laboratory of the Research Councils

  Institute of Arable Crops Research

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  John Innes Centre

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  Silsoe Research Institute

  Announcements are also being made today by the responsible Minister for each of the following establishments:

  Directorate of Fisheries Research

  Fisheries Research Services

  Forestry Commission Research Division

  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  Scottish Crop Research Institute

  Decisions on other establishments will be announced as soon as possible.

  Industrial Relations
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the current state of industrial relations between management and employees. [29119]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There has been an immense improvement in relations between management and employees in recent years, as shown by the 94 per cent. reduction in the strike rate since the 1970s. The Government's step-by-step reform of industrial relations and trade union law has undoubtedly contributed significantly to this improvement.

  Enterprise Agencies (Employment Initiatives)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on enterprise agencies in relation to employment initiatives. [29091]

  Mr. Page
  Enterprise agencies are independent local companies whose boards are drawn from local industry and the community. They offer a range of business services to new and established small firms including advice and counselling, specialist financial services, business skills training and the provision of managed workspace. A majority of enterprise agencies are partners in business link and are often local deliverers of training and enterprise council and business link services to start-up and micro firms.

  Steelworkers
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that there is a fair distribution of(a) Rechar, (b) Resider, (c) Retek and (d) Konver funds to address the needs of unemployed steelworkers. [29975]
  273
  Mr. Eggar
  I will announce the allocations as soon as possible, after giving full consideration to the representations I have received from the hon. Gentleman and others.

  Late Payments
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 15 May,Official Report, column 495, when he expects to be in a position to state on what date his Department will be publishing the table of results of all Departments and their agencies for 1995–96. [30437]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: I refer to my answer of 15 May on this subject. The figures are currently being collated and I would expect to be able to announce a publication date shortly.

  Export Credit Guarantees
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the top 10 recipients of export credit guarantees granted by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in each of the last five years. [30154]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose information about commercial relations between the Export Credits Guarantee Department and individual companies unless the relevant parties have agreed to this.

  Coal Investments Ltd.
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the extra funding requirement needed by the Coal Authority as a result of the administrative receivership of Coal Investments Ltd.; and if he will make a statement. [30260]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the Coal Authority.

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Current

  Science Group

  Higher scientific officer

  2

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  5

  6

  4

  3

  5

  6

  Senior scientific officer

  8

  7

  8

  8

  8

  6

  6

  5

  4

  4

  5

  4

  Professional and technology group

  Higher professional and technology officer

  2

  4

  4

  3

  3

  3

  5

  6

  7

  6

  9

  7

  Senior professional and technology officer

  6

  7

  8

  6

  4

  5

  7

  10

  10

  10

  9

  9

  Unified grades (with science or engineering discipline)

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  7

  Senior civil service

  2

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 12 March,Official Report, columns 526–28, how many professional scientists and engineers of each category were employed at each of the unified grades in the headquarters division of his Department in each year since 1991. [29830]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: Data on the specialisms held by staff in the unified grades are not
  274

  Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he expects to publish draft regulations to implement the environmental impact assessment directive 85/337/EEC for offshore oil and gas exploration activities; and if he will make a statement; [29584]

  (2) when he gave an undertaking to implement the environmental impact assessment directive 85/337/EEC for offshore oil and gas exploration activities; what consultations he had undertaken with interested parties; and when that consultation period ended. [29587]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 16 May 1996]: The Government are committed to implementing directive 85/337/EEC in so far as it applies to offshore oil and gas activities and I intend to seek comments from interested parties on our proposals in the near future.

  Scientists and Engineers
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of
  Trade, pursuant to his answer of 12 March,Official Report, column 526–28; how many professional scientists and engineers of each category were employed at each grade, including unified grades, in each year in the regional offices from their inception. [29831]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The data requested are not available from the inception of regional offices. Records are available for the period since 1985 and are shown in the table, with the position as at 1 January in each year. Integrated Government offices were created out of regional offices on 1 April 1994. The figures for 1995 and 1996 reflect the number of relevant DTI officials in the integrated Government offices.

  Data on the specialisms held by staff in the unified grades are not maintained historically, but the current position is shown in the table.

  maintained historically. The current number of officers in the headquarters divisions of the Department with a science or engineering discipline is 117 at grade 7 level, 23 at grade 6 level and 17 in the senior civil service.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 12 March,Official Report, columns 526–28, how many professional scientists and engineers of each category were employed at each

  275
  grade, including unified grades, in each of his Department's agencies in each year since 1991. [29833]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The table shows data for all agencies since 1991 with the position as at 1 January in each year for which relevant information is available. The environmental work of the Warren Spring Laboratory executive agency were merged with that of the Atomic Energy Authority in April 1994; the National Physical Laboratory became a contractually operated agency in October 1995; the National Engineering

  Science group

  Professional and technical group

  Assistant scientific officer

  Scientific officer

  Higher scientific officer

  Higher scientific officer (development)

  Senior scientific officer

  Professional and technology officer

  Higher professional and technology officer

  Senior professional and technology officer

  Companies House

  1991

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1992

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1993

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1994

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1995

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1996

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Insolvency Service

  1992

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1993

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1994

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1995

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1996

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  1991

  66

  63

  63

  0

  33

  5

  2

  6

  1992

  64

  61

  67

  1

  41

  5

  3

  6

  1993

  49

  60

  69

  1

  38

  2

  4

  3

  1994

  43

  63

  68

  0

  40

  3

  4

  4

  1995

  32

  60

  64

  0

  35

  3

  3

  4

  1996

  28

  60

  54

  0

  34

  3

  3

  3

  National Engineering Laboratory

  1991

  14

  21

  67

  0

  50

  17

  6

  4

  1992

  11

  22

  59

  0

  55

  16

  10

  4

  1993

  9

  23

  57

  0

  54

  16

  10

  3

  1994

  9

  23

  53

  0

  49

  14

  11

  2

  1995

  5

  21

  37

  0

  34

  12

  8

  2

  Year

  Professional and technical group

  Assistant scientific officer

  Scientific officer

  Higher scientific officer

  Higher scientific officer (development)

  Senior scientific officer

  Professional and technology officer

  Higher professional and technology officer

  Senior professional and technology officer

  National Physical Laboratory

  1991

  57

  87

  133

  0

  111

  7

  8

  14

  1992

  44

  96

  137

  0

  113

  7

  8

  14

  1993

  33

  86

  144

  1

  111

  7

  8

  15

  1994

  26

  73

  150

  1

  108

  5

  8

  17

  1995

  32

  71

  161

  1

  100

  5

  6

  17

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  1991

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1

  4

  9

  7

  1992

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  5

  9

  9

  1993

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  6

  10

  8

  1994

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  7

  10

  7

  1995

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  10

  7

  1996

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  10

  7

  276
  Laboratory executive agency was privatised on 1 November 1995; and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist executive agency was sold on 1 April 1996.

  Historical data on the specialisms held by staff in the unified grades are not maintained, but of the Department's agencies, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory currently has two grade 7s and one in the senior civil service with a science or engineering disciple and the Radiocommunications Agency has 19 at grade 7 level, six at grade 6 and two in the senior civil service.

  277

  Year

  Professional and technical group

  Assistant scientific officer

  Scientific officer

  Higher scientific officer

  Higher scientific officer (development)

  Senior scientific officer

  Professional and technology officer

  Higher professional and technology officer

  Senior professional and technology officer

  Patent Office

  1991

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Radiocommunications Agency

  1991

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  16

  17

  1992

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  21

  20

  1993

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  21

  27

  1994

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  27

  26

  1995

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  28

  22

  1996

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  26

  25

  Warren Springs Laboratory

  1991

  24

  30

  63

  0

  45

  2

  2

  0

  1992

  27

  34

  59

  0

  51

  2

  2

  0

  1993

  23

  25

  52

  1

  48

  1

  2

  0

  1994

  16

  22

  48

  0

  44

  1

  1

  0

SOCIAL SECURITY

  State Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in the United Kingdom currently(a) draw their state retirement pension at a post office and (b) have it paid into a bank or building society. [29724]

  Mr. Heald
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many pensioners in the United Kingdom currently (a) draw their state Retirement Pension at a post office and (b) have it paid into a bank or building society.
  As of 31 March 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, 6,105,653 pensioners collect their Retirement Pension at the post office and 3,126,053 pensioners are paid direct into a bank or building society account. A further 279,995 pensioners receive payment by payable order which subsequently will be paid into a bank or building society account. These figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Motability
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to clear the report of the National Audit Office into Motability and related matters. [30051]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) on 30 January,Official Report, column 735.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he received in the first three months of 1996, regarding the working of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement. [29726]
  278
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Ministers received 640 letters and representations from hon. Members on child support issues during the first three months of 1996. This compares with 969 received in the first three months of 1995 and reflects the improvements we have made to the scheme since then.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for each of her Department's agencies, the market testing which has been carried out into the services and what were the results. [30133]

  Mr. Burt
  The information for the period up to March 1995 has been placed in the Library.

  "Competing for Quality" results for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for the Department's efficiency plan. It is anticipated that this information will be published in the 1996 next steps review.

  Benefits (Loans)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under what circumstances loans, other than student loans, are counted as income when applying for social security benefits. [26851]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [holding answer 29 April 1996]: Money from a loan may be treated as income if it is a sum received regularly—weekly, monthly or even annually—and will be taken into account at an equivalent weekly rate.

  Lump sums received as one-off loans will generally be treated as capital and will not affect benefit if a claimant's overall capital remains below the lower capital limit— £3,000 for most claimants or £10,000 for people in residential care or nursing homes.

  Compensation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will exempt persons who successfully
  279
  claim compensation as a result of disability arising from asbestosis and other similar conditions from the compensation recovery scheme; [30388]

  (2) if he will raise the small payments limit for the compensation recovery scheme; and if he will make a statement; [30389]

  (3) if he will ensure that the costs of any community care or aids and adaptations required, arising out of an injury or illness, where such medical conditions result in successful claims for compensation, are taken into account in any compensation recovery undertaken by the compensation recovery unit; and if he will make a statement. [30255]

  £ million

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  Social Security benefit expenditure (a)

  15,873

  18,777

  22,658

  27,698

  31,628

  35,332

  Means-tested benefits (b)

  2,692

  2,940

  3.830

  5,587

  7,917

  9,449

  (b) Expressed as a percentage of (a)

  17.0 per cent.

  15.7 per cent.

  16.9 per cent.

  21.1 per cent.

  25.0 per cent.

  26.7 per cent.

  £ million

  Year

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Social Security benefit expenditure (a)

  38,225

  41,699

  44,913

  46,697

  47,333

  50,174

  56,509

  66,382

  Means-tested benefits (b)

  10,755

  12,163

  13,171

  13,398

  13,265

  14,050

  16,804

  20,328

  (b) Expressed as a percentage of (a)

  28.1 per cent.

  29.2 per cent

  29.3 per cent.

  28.7 per cent.

  28.0 per cent

  28.0 per cent.

  29.7 per cent.

  30.6 per cent.

  Attendance Allowance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland over the age of 65 years were in receipt of attendance allowance in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1995–96. [29247]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Scotland, over the age of 65 years were in receipt of Attendance Allowance in (a) 1992–93 and (b) 1995–96.

  The information requested is as follows:

  At 31.3.93: 73,800

  At 29.2.96: 109,600

  (latest data available)

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the number of people in Scotland aged(a) five to 15 years, (b) 16 to 29 years, (c) 30 to 64 years and (d) over 65 years (i) in receipt of and (ii) refused disability living allowance mobility component at the higher and lower levels in (1) 1992–93 and (2) 1995–96; [29214]

  (2) if he will list the number of people in Scotland aged (a) five to 15 years, (b) 16 to 22 years, (c) 30 to 64 years and (d) over 65 years (i) in receipt of and (ii) refused
  280
  Mr. Roger Evens
  Extensive consultation has taken place on the implications of changes to the compensation recovery scheme is appropriate and will announce their decision in due course.

  Means tested Benefits
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the total cash value of all benefits paid out were means tested,for each year between 1979 and 1991. [29854]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table:

  disability living allowance care component at the higher, middle and lower levels in (1) 1992–93 and (2) 1995–96; [29209]

  (3) if he will list the number of people in Scotland aged (a) five to 15 years (b) 16 to 29 years, (c) 30 to 64 years and (d) over 65 years in receipt of the mobility and care components of disability living allowance in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1995–96. [29210]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the number of people in Scotland aged (a) 5–15 years, b) 16–29 years, and (c) 30–64 years and (d) over 65, (i) in receipt of and (ii) refused Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component at the higher and lower levels of the mobility and care components of disability living allowance in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1995–96.

  Appendix A gives details of DLA mobility component.

  Appendix B gives details of DLA care component.

  Appendix C gives details of DLA mobility and care components.

  Unfortunately the information for refusals is not available in the format requested, as it is not possible to give a breakdown of disallowances by component or component level. However I am able to provide the total figure for all refusals of DLA following new claims received at both Edinburgh and Glasgow disability benefit centres for both the years.

  1992/93: 25,890

  1995/96: 35,148.

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  281

  Appendix A

  Age

  Mobility Higher

  Components Lower

  DLA Recipients in Scotland at 28 February 1993

  5–15

  2,100

  1,300

  16–29

  4,200

  2,700

  30–64

  58,600

  8,400

  Over 65

  35,300

  1,000

  DLA Recipients in Scotland at 29 February 1996

  5–15

  3,900

  3,700

  16–29

  6,600

  6,200

  30–64

  95,300

  20,300

  Over 65

  33,100

  1,500

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Appendix B

  Care components

  Age

  Higher

  Middle

  Lower

  DLA Recipients in Scotland at 28 February 1993

  5–15

  3,100

  4,200

  200

  16–29

  2,300

  3,700

  900

  30–64

  10,600

  13,600

  12,400

  Over 65

  2,800

  4,200

  3,800

  DLA Recipients in Scotland at 29 February 1996

  5–15

  4,600

  6,000

  1,100

  16–29

  3,500

  5,800

  2,400

  30–64

  21,900

  31,100

  27,700

  Over 65

  4,400

  7,500

  5,100

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Appendix C

  Age

  Both components

  DLA recipients in Scotland at 28 February 1993

  5–15

  3,100

  16–29

  5,100

  30–64

  32,100

  Over 65

  9,900

  DLA recipients in Scotland at 29 February 1996

  5–15

  7,000

  16–29

  9,800

  30–64

  71,600

  Over 65

  15,600

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of people in Scotland aged(a) 16 to 29 years and (b) 30 to 64 years, (i) in receipt of and (ii) refused severe disablement allowance in (1) 1992–93 and (2) 1995–96. [29213]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The administration of severe disablement allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  282
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list the number of people in Scotland aged (a) 16 to 29 years and (b) 30 to 64 years, (i) in receipt of and (ii) refused Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) in (1) 1992–93 and (2) 1995–96.
  The information is not available in the format requested. The total number of people in Scotland who were in receipt of SDA as at 31 March 1993 was 34,920 and at 31 March 1996 was 41,205.
  However a statistical sampling exercise was completed and the information derived is as follows:

  Aged 16 to 29

  Aged 30 to 64

  As at 3.4.931

  8,000

  25,000

  As at 30.11.952

  9,680

  28,500

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  1 These figures are taken from a 1 % sample of all claims to benefit in Great Britain, and are rounded to the nearest thousand. Regional information is recorded and has been used to produce this data.

  2 The latest figures available are for 30.11.95. These are taken from a sample of the Pensions Strategy Computer System for Incapacity Benefit, and do not include a small number of cases which are not held on this system.

  The number of people in Scotland who were refused SDA can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people is Scotland currently in receipt of(a) the care, (b) the mobility and (c) both components of disability living allowance have been awarded the benefit for life. [29211]

  Mr. Mitchell
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Scotland currently in receipt of (a) the care, (b) the mobility and (c) both components of Disability Living Allowance have been awarded the benefit for life.

  The information requested is as follows:

  At 29 February 19961

  Care component

  87,500

  Mobility component

  134,300

  Both components

  77,800

  1 Latest date available. Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland were(a) in receipt of and (b) refused incapacity benefit at (i) the short-term lower rate, (ii) the short-term higher rate and (iii) the long-term rate in 1995–96. [29212]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  283
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Scotland were (a) in receipt of and (b) refused incapacity benefit at (i) the short-term lower rate, (ii) the short term higher rate and (iii) the long-term rate in 1995–96.
  The information is not available in the format requested, such information that is available is shown in the attached tables.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  1995–96

  Short term lower rate

  Short term higher rate

  Long term rate

  April

  31,100

  1,700

  240,400

  May

  29,500

  4,300

  243,500

  June

  28,700

  6,200

  236,500

  July

  30,800

  8,000

  233,300

  August

  31,400

  9,300

  233,300

  September

  31,000

  11,000

  232,300

  October

  32,000

  12,400

  231,000

  November

  26,600

  13,100

  227,700

  December

  26,400

  13,300

  225,800

  January

  27,800

  14,300

  222,200

  February

  28,700

  14,800

  221,000

  March

  28,900

  15,600

  220,600

  Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Figures are not cumulative but a snapshot at the end of the month.

  Figures are shown to nearest 100 cases.

  Number of customers in Scotland disallowed incapacity benefit 1995–96

  1995–96

  Short term lower rate

  Short term higher rate

  Long term rate

  April

  —

  2

  —

  May

  —

  13

  —

  June

  —

  452

  —

  July

  60

  190

  492

  August

  104

  216

  529

  September

  118

  267

  381

  October

  153

  452

  518

  November

  160

  436

  726

  December

  134

  255

  530

  January

  164

  375

  1,010

  February

  157

  333

  1,154

  March

  147

  324

  1,255

  Notes:

  1. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  2. Includes cases disallowed for own occupation test, failure to return questionnaire, failure to attend examination without good cause and found capable of all work.

  3. Excludes cases disallowed on initial application for Incapacity Benefit as the contribution condition is not satisfied.

  4. Figures for April to June 1995 were not broken down and are only available as a total of all three rates.

  Source:

  100 per cent. count of cases on the Incapacity Benefit system.

  Excludes a small number of clerically processed cases.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland were(a) in receipt of and (b) refused disability working allowance in (i) in 1992–93 and (ii) 1995–96. [29248]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  284
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 May 1996 The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Scotland were (a) in receipt of and (b) refused Disability Working Allowance (DWA) in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1995–96.
  The information requested is not available in the format requested. Data is not available for 1992/93 as it has been destroyed in line with our current document destruction policy. Data for the period January 1996 to March 1996 will not be available until August 1996. However information is available for the calendar years 1993 and 1995 in the following table:

  Number of customers

  1993

  1995

  In receipt of DWA1

  503

  1,073

  Disallowed DWA2

  457

  947

  Data is provisional and subject to amendment.

  Notes:

  1 Customers who have received DWA at some time during the year (i.e. if the award is renewed the customer is only counted once).

  2 Customers who have had DWA disallowed during the year (i.e. if a customer has had more than one claim disallowed, they are only counted once).

  Source:

  DWA Computer System all claims.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland were(a) in receipt of and (b) refused invalidity benefit in 1994–95. [29249]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Scotland were in receipt of and refused Invalidity Benefit (IVB) in 1994–95.
  The number of people in Scotland in receipt of IVB on the last working day of each month is as follows:

  Number

  April 1994

  229,208

  May 1994

  229,761

  June 1994

  230,554

  July 1994

  231,819

  August 1994

  232,697

  September 1994

  233,850

  October 1994

  232,826

  November 1994

  234,889

  December 1994

  235,023

  January 1995

  236,565

  February 1995

  237,121

  March 1995

  238,918

  Data are provisional and subject to amendment. Information on the number of people refused IVB is not held centrally. To obtain the information requested would require an examination of the clerical papers held in all BA benefit offices in Scotland to identify those customers who were refused invalidity benefit during the period in question. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.
  285

  Benefits Agency Emergency Service
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants contacted the Benefits Agency out-of-hours emergency service for each of the last five years; and if he will break down the figures by(a) age and (b) reason for application. [29839]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Ann Coffey, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many claimants contacted the Benefits Agency out-of-hours emergency service for each of the last five years; and if he will break down the figures by (a) age and (b) reason for application.
  The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics are not kept which show the age of the customers referred to the out-of-hours service or their reason for application. Also, statistics were not kept of the number of referrals to out-of-hours prior to 91/92.
  However listed below is the number of referrals for the statistical years (ending October) 91/92, 92/93, 93/94 and 94/95. It should be noted that the term "referral" is defined as a contact by the customer or by a third party on their behalf.

  Statistical year

  Number of referrals

  1991–92

  21,709

  1992–93

  42,722

  1993–94

  47,994

  1994–95

  48,744

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Value of income support/supplementary benefit at current prices

  £ million

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Great Britain

  6,063

  7,053

  9,871

  9,930

  9,329

  10,431

  —

  11,378

  11,307

  10,963

  Value of income support/supplementary benefit at current prices

  £ million

  DSS administrative region

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  North Eastern

  1,613

  1,536

  1,811

  2,109

  2,582

  2,416

  2,346

  London North

  1,511

  1,608

  2,099

  2,722

  3,313

  3,187

  3,137

  London South

  1,434

  1,505

  1,924

  2,423

  3,104

  2,945

  2,801

  Wales and South West

  1,286

  1,296

  1,688

  2,051

  2,426

  2,223

  2,128

  Midlands

  1,625

  1,620

  1,895

  2,330

  2,852

  2,671

  2,600

  North western

  1,647

  1,595

  1,844

  2,153

  2,573

  2,407

  2,342

  Wales

  588

  587

  723

  852

  998

  929

  947

  Scotland

  1,109

  1,084

  1,243

  1,409

  1,610

  1,529

  1,479

  Great Britain

  10,226

  10,248

  12,504

  15,196

  18,462

  17,377

  16,833

  Source:Social Security statistics 1979 to 1988 (income support/supplementary benefit annual inquiries). Income support statistics annual inquiries 1989 to 1993, Income support statistics quarterly inquiry May 1994–95.

  Notes:

  1. Figures prior to 1988 are from November/December of the year. Figures from 1988 onwards are from May of each year.

  2. All expenditure figures have been rounded to the nearest million.

  3. No regional figures are available for the years 1979 to 1988.

  4. Figures are not available for 1985.

  5. Cash values have been inflated by the GDP deflator at market prices so that the whole series time is expressed in 1996–97 prices.

  6. Income support replaced supplementary benefit in 1988.

  7. DSS administrative regions are based on boundaries which existed before the Benefits Agency was introduced in April 1991 and have been used for reasons of consistency.
  286
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to make available emergency financial provision to claimants following the proposed abolition of the Benefits Agency emergency service. [29838]

  Mr. Evans
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Ann Coffey, dated 21 May 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what proposals he has to make available emergency financial provision to claimants following the proposed abolition of the Benefits Agency emergency service.
  As you will be aware I recently outlined the BA's plans for the future delivery of social security benefits based on the BA vision of "right money to the right person at the right time, every time".
  It is against this background that the Agency has declined to review the need for the out of hours service and the London Emergency Office which provides a service to customers at night and weekends. A decision on the future of the service is expected during this year.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Benefit Statistics
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the figures given in his answer of 14 November 1995,Official Report, column 1018, for the amounts, at current prices, paid in (a) income support or its predecessor benefit and (b) housing benefit in each year since 1979, by region. [27846]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [holding answer 2 May 1996]: The available information is set out in the tables.

  287

  Total housing benefit expenditure at current prices

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  London

  760

  830

  866

  894

  922

  964

  1,086

  1,275

  South East

  643

  663

  690

  712

  676

  650

  698

  822

  South West

  290

  305

  319

  340

  329

  314

  330

  395

  East Anglia

  126

  130

  139

  148

  142

  136

  142

  166

  East Midlands

  285

  296

  307

  315

  308

  299

  306

  321

  West Midlands

  469

  502

  522

  529

  513

  497

  507

  531

  Wales

  238

  263

  278

  289

  276

  280

  292

  305

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  401

  440

  470

  490

  482

  471

  488

  486

  North West

  579

  608

  652

  677

  679

  677

  711

  755

  North

  319

  345

  372

  385

  374

  376

  387

  383

  Scotland

  437

  474

  520

  591

  644

  635

  698

  702

  Total expenditure

  4,547

  4,855

  5,134

  5,369

  5,346

  5,298

  5,646

  6,142

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest million. Due to rounding totals may not tally.

  2. Cash values have been inflated by the GDP deflator at market prices so that the whole series time is expressed in 1996–97 prices.

  Source:

  Department of the Environment: statement of local authority housing revenue account and claimed entitlement to housing subsidies and grant. Welsh Office: statement of local authority housing revenue account and claimed entitlement to housing subsidies. Department of Social Security: summary of claim FD3D\13 (Scotland and new towns) and FD3D\132 England.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people received in-work benefits in each year since 1980. [29156]

  Number2.3.4 in receipt of in-work benefits1 1980–95 (Great Britain)

  Family income supplement and family credit6

  Housing benefit and rent rebate allowance5

  Rates rebate8

  Community charge benefit and council tax benefit8

  Disability working allowance7

  1980

  88,000

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  1981

  115,000

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  1982

  146,000

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  1983

  190,000

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  1984

  204,000

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  1985

  201,000

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  1986

  202,000

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  1987

  221,000

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  1988

  213,000

  256,000

  301,000

  —

  —

  1989

  303,000

  219,000

  8230,000

  8100,000

  —

  1990

  316,000

  236,000

  —

  780,000

  —

  1991

  347,000

  255,000

  —

  518,000

  —

  1992

  397,000

  268,000

  —

  430,000

  52

  1993

  489,000

  288,000

  —

  321,000

  2,793

  1994

  551,000

  316,000

  —

  332,000

  4,251

  1995

  608,000

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  6,039

  Notes:

  1 Means-tested in-work benefits are defined as family income supplement, family credit and disability working allowance, plus housing benefit, rent and rates rebate, community charge benefit and council tax benefit paid direct to people with earnings but who are not on income support/supplementary benefit. Earnings for this purpose have been defined as employed or self-employed earnings.

  2 Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand except for disability working allowance, where exact figures are quoted.

  3 Figures are for May of each year and refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  4 Figures include estimates due to the data collection procedure in Scotland.

  5 Data on housing benefit and previous schemes providing financial assistance with domestic rents and rates cannot be broken down prior to 1988.

  6 Family credit replaced family income supplement in April 1988.

  7 Disability working allowance was introduced in April 1992.

  8 Community charge benefit—CCB—replaced rate rebate in Scotland for 1989 and Great Britain from 1990. CCB figures for 1989 refer to Scotland only; rate rebate figures refer to England and Wales only. Council tax benefit replaced community charge benefit from April 1993. Figures for council tax benefit exclude second adult rebate cases.

  Source:

  Social Security statistics 1980 to 1990.

  Family credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  Disability working allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

  Housing benefit management information system annual 1 per cent. sample taken at the end of May of each year given—1990 to 1994.

  Housing benefit management information system, 100 per cent. quarterly case load stock counts taken at the end of May for 1988 and 1989.
  288
  Mr. Evans
  [holding answer 14 May 1996]: Such information as is available is set out in the table. Individuals may be in receipt of more than one benefit at the same time and figures for individual years cannot therefore be totalled.
  289

  Income Support
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost in relation to income support of pensioners of reducing the assumed income from savings of between £3,000 and £8,000 to £1 per week per £1,000. [28898]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The estimated annual cost in 1996–97 is £60 million.

  Notes:

  1.Estimates are based upon date drawn from the 1991, 1992, and 1993 family expenditure surveys uprated to 1996–97 prices and benefit levels.

  2.Estimates exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes.

  3.Adjustments to these estimates are made using data drawn from the May 1995 quarterly statistical inquiry for income support.

  4.Pensioners are taken to be all cases where at least one member of a couple, or a single person, is aged over 60 years.

  5.Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  6.The estimate is based on assumed income of £1 per week for each £1,000 of capital held above £3,000 or part thereof.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of bringing the savings allowance for income support for pensioners into line with those for housing benefit and council tax benefit, and of setting the assumed income from savings above £3,000 to £1 per week per £1,000 for(a) income support for pensioners, (b) housing benefit for pensioners and (c) council tax benefit for pensioners. [28899]

  Mr. Evans
  [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The lower and upper capital limits which apply in the calculation of income support are currently £3,000 and £8,000 respectively, and £3,000 and £16,000 in housing benefit and council tax benefit. For people living permanently in residential care or nursing homes, the lower and upper capital limits are £10,000 and £16,000 respectively in income support and housing benefit—from April 1996.

  The estimated annual cost in 1996–97 of raising the upper capital limit in income support to £16,000 and reducing the assumed income from savings above £3,000 to £1 per week per £1,000 for pensioners on (a) income support is £220 million, (b) housing benefit is £140 million, and (c) council tax benefit is £80 million.

  Notes:

  1.Estimates are based on data drawn from the 1991, 1992 and 1993 family expenditure surveys uprated to 1996–97 prices and benefit levels.

  2.Estimates exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes.

  3.Adjustments to these estimates are made using data drawn from the May 1995 IS quarterly statistical inquiry for income support, and the May 1994 HB/CTB(MIS) for housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  4.Pensioners are taken to be all cases where at least one member of a couple, or a single person, is aged over 60 years.

  5.Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  6.The estimate is based on assumed income of £1 per week for each £1,000 of capital held above £3,000, or part thereof.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received on his changes to the payment of mortgage interest for claimants. [19706]
  290
  Mr. Roger Evans
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 March 1996, c. 162]: Unfortunately, there was an error in my oral reply. The correct reply is as follows:

  Our intention was that the system of add back should protect the benefit entitlement of existing claimants at the point of change when the standard rate was introduced in October last year. It was never our intention that add-back should provide permanent protection. Where Mr. Tickle's case is concerned I have caused further inquires to be made. I am told that he has a mortgage that is fixed up to a certain level and then variable above that level. It also appears that the system of add back is working as we intended. It provided Mr. Tickle with complete protection at the point of change, and is continuing to provide some protection.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children aged(a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18 and (d) 19 years in receipt of child benefit attend (i) school, (ii) sixth form college, (iii) tertiary college, (iv) further education college and (v) the youth training scheme. [30139]

  Mr. Burt
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. Child benefit data are not available on the nature of the education being undertaken, and education data have no regard to the receipt or otherwise of child benefit. The figures are therefore not directly comparable. However, child benefit is not payable for any young person undergoing a youth training course, and all entitlement ceases at the 19th birthday. Available data on the number of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds for whom child benefit is paid, and the number in education and training, are in the tables:

  Number of children for whom child benefit is paid:

  16-year-olds: 577,100

  17-year-olds: 400,700

  18-year-olds: 177,600

  Educational establishments attended by 16 to 18-year-olds

  16-year-olds

  17-year-olds

  18-year-olds

  Schools

  246,000

  175,000

  19,000

  Sixth form colleges

  53,000

  40,000

  10,000

  Tertiary colleges

  35,000

  30,000

  13,000

  Further education

  125,000

  112,000

  74,000

  Youth training

  69,000

  46,000

  40,000

WALES

  Abattoirs (Rendering)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the rendering capacity available to Welsh abattoirs; and if he will make a statement. [29608]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I have been closely monitoring the rendering provision for Wales and have listened carefully to the many representations from hon. Members, the farming unions, abattoirs and individuals.
  291
  We have strongly put the case for appropriate provision for Wales and officials are in constant contact with the Intervention Board which is operating the scheme.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services it provides and what were the results. [30128]

  Mr. Hague
  Cadw—Welsh Historic Monuments—has market tested the provision of its conservation repair service. The in-house bid was successful.

  Alcohol Abuse
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from voluntary bodies working in the anti-alcohol abuse field concerning the level of funding to Alcohol Action Wales in the year 1996–97; and which successor bodies he has nominated to provide continuation of anti-alcohol abuse advice. [30502]

  Mr. Hague
  I have received two representations from voluntary bodies expressing concern at the decision not to fund Alcohol Action Wales this year. The Welsh drug and alcohol unit will provide expert advice and practical support to the Welsh Office, health and local authorities and other statutory and voluntary bodies that are involved in tackling drug and alcohol misuse.

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure on consultants in connection with the market testing of the materials management service, the contracts unit and the prescription pricing division of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority. [30503]

  Mr. Hague
  Some £176,190 for materials management and contracting which was a joint exercise and £120,609 for prescription services. In addition, £15,736 has been paid for legal advice to the authority covering these and other activities included in the market-testing exercises.

  Inward Investment Project Broadcast
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up an inquiry into the premature disclosure of the major inward investment project broadcast by the BBC on Friday 10 May. [30695]

  Announced

  Recipient

  Region

  Location

  Amount £

  30 October 1995

  Tate Gallery of Modern Art

  London

  Southwark

  50,000,000.00

  2 October 1995

  The Earth Centre

  Y & H

  Conisbrough

  50,000,000.00

  23 February 1996

  Millennium Stadium: S Glamorgan County Council/Welsh Rugby Union

  Wales

  Cardiff

  46,000,000.00

  11 September 1995

  Sustrans: National Cycle Network

  UK Wide

  UK Wide

  42,500,000.00

  2 October 1995

  The Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour

  SE

  Portsmouth & Gosport

  40,000,000.00

  1 March 1996

  British Museum: Great Court

  London

  London

  30,000,000.00

  15 December 1995

  Queen's Park Football Club

  Scotland

  Hampden Park, Glasgow

  23,000,00.00

  292
  Mr. Hague
  I have already looked into the matter and do not believe that the source of any information was the Welsh Office or its executive agencies. Further speculation and publicity would not be in the best interests of Wales.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Performing Arts (Young Offenders)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the value of performing arts programmes for the rehabilitation of young offenders. [28696]

  Mr. Sproat
  This is a matter for the Prison Service and the Arts Council of England which decides its own funding policy.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what has been(a) the number and (b) the amount of national lottery grants awarded by each of the national lottery boards in each English county, metropolitan authority and London borough; [29055]

  (2) what has been (a) the number and (b) the amount of national lottery grants awarded by each of the national lottery boards in each parliamentary constituency; [29053]

  (3) how many applications there have been to each of the five national lottery boards from each parliamentary constituency; [29052]

  (4) how many applications have been made to each of the five national lottery boards by each English county, metropolitan authority and London borough. [29054]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information requested is not available. The Department of National Heritage is developing a new lottery database that will allow for these breakdowns to be made.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the projects so far accepted for funding by the millennium fund(a) by value and (b) by local authority area. [29284]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Millennium Commission has made 55 awards totalling £494,033,411. These awards cover a total of 1,145 projects throughout the United Kingdom. The information is contained in the table.

  Figures for national lottery funds broken down by local authority areas are not currently available. The Department of National Heritage is developing a new lottery database that will shortly allow for these breakdowns to be made.

  293

  Announced

  Recipient

  Region

  Location

  Amount £

  11 September 1995

  Changing Places: The Groundwork Foundation (21 projects)

  UK Wide

  UK Wide

  22,100,000.00

  23 February 1996

  Middleton Botanic Garden Trust

  Wales

  Middleton, Llandello, Dyfed

  21,700,000.00

  22 December 1995

  Millennium Seed Bank: Royal Botanic Gardens

  London

  Kew

  21,547,500.00

  22 February 1996

  The Lowry Centre

  NW

  Salford, Greater Manchester

  15,650,000.00

  22 December 1995

  Llanelli Borough Council: Llanelli Coast Park

  Wales

  Llanelli

  14,500,000.00

  22 February 1996

  Mile End Park

  London

  Tower Hamlets

  12,322,010.00

  30 October 1995

  Rochdale Canal Trust

  NW

  Manchester to Halifax

  11,923,500.00

  26 April 1996

  21st Century Halls: ACRE-Action with Communities in Rural England (180 projects)

  All England

  All England

  10,000,000.00

  26 April 1996

  Millennium Greens: Countryside Commission— 250 projects

  All England

  All England

  10,000,000.00

  30 October 1995

  National Museums of Scotland: SCRANS

  Scotland

  Edinburgh

  7,474,200.00

  30 October 1995

  The Woodland Trust: Woods On Your Doorstep (200 projects)

  UK Wide

  UK: England and Wales

  6,637,000.00

  2 October 1995

  Millennium Forest for Scotland (45 projects)

  Scotland

  n/a

  5,750,000.00

  22 February 1996

  Peterborough Green Wheel

  E

  Peterborough, Cambs.

  5,554,881.00

  2 October 1995

  Trans Pennine Trail

  UK Wide

  UK Wide

  5,330,000.00

  22 December 1995

  Durham County Council: Turning the Tide

  NE

  Eastingdon/Horden

  4,537,760.00

  2 October 1995

  Welsh Highland Railway Restoration

  Wales

  Porthmadog, Gwynedd

  4,300,000.00

  30 October 1995

  Black Country Urban Forest

  WM

  Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton

  4,247,540.00

  30 October 1995

  Pickaquoy Project

  Scotland

  Kirkwall, Orkney

  3,700,000.00

  22 December 1995

  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

  SW

  Slimbridge, Glos.

  2,810,195.00

  18 December 1995

  Belfast 2000

  N Ireland

  Belfast

  2,640,900.00

  18 December 1995

  St. Patrick Visitor Centre

  N Ireland

  Downpatrick

  2,551,775.00

  26 April 1996

  Church Floodlighting: Church Floodlighting Trust— 400 projects

  UK Wide

  UK Wide

  2,288,788.00

  2 October 1995

  London Zoo Conservation Education Centre

  London

  Regent's Park

  2,200,000.00

  26 April 1996

  Kingdom of Fife Cycling Initiative: Fife Enterprise

  Scotland

  Fife

  1,793,450.00

  20 November 1995

  National Wildflower Centre

  Merseyside

  Liverpool

  1,668,500.00

  26 April 1996

  Weather Watch Discovery Centre

  SE

  Bracknell Forest Borough Council

  1,500,000.00

  11 September 1995

  Countryside Access for All/Northamptonshire County Council

  EM

  Northants.

  736,000.00

  22 December 1995

  Pensilva Village Hall

  SW

  Cornwall

  713,000.00

  18 December 1995

  Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway

  N Ireland

  North Antrim Coast

  700,000.00

  20 November 1995

  Clonoe Community Centre, Coalisland

  N Ireland

  Co. Tyrone

  613,000.00

  30 October 1995

  Thames Salmon Trust

  SE

  Berkshire: The River Kennet

  588,000.00

  11 September 1995

  Agnew Park Seafront Development/Wigtown District Council

  Scotland

  Stranraer

  547,000.00

  2 October 1995

  The Courtyard Community Project

  Y & H

  Goole

  462,000.00

  11 September 1995

  The Visions Centre

  NW

  Manchester

  435,000.00

  2 October 1995

  Restoration of the Glan-Llyn Youth Centre

  Wales

  Gwynedd

  390,282.00

  26 April 1996

  The Millennium Centre, Eastbrookend Park

  London

  London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

  360,000.00

  18 December 1995

  Enterprise Leisure

  N Ireland

  Trillick

  350,000.00

  11 September 1995

  Bennachie Community Centre, Insch

  Scotland

  Grampian

  311,000.00

  22 December 1995

  Wokingham District Council: Millennium Bridge

  SE

  Wargrave

  280,000.00

  22 February 1996

  St. Martha's Community Project

  EM

  Nottingham

  243,600.00

  2 October 1995

  Meanwood Valley Urban Farm

  Y & H

  Leeds

  175,000.00

  11 September 1995

  New Lock at Great Cornrad: River Stour Trust

  E

  Suffolk

  167,890.00

  22 February 1996

  Grayswood Village Hall

  SE

  Grayswood, Surrey

  150,000.00

  22 December 1995

  Ingleton and District Village Hall

  NE

  Ingleton, Co. Durham

  150,000.00

  20 November 1995

  Church Community Hall

  Wales

  Sully, S. Wales

  146,500.00

  2 October 1995

  Lawrenny Village Hall and Youth Hostel

  Wales

  Dyfed

  131,170.00

  20 November 1995

  Moulsoe Millennium Hall

  SE

  Bucks.

  126,000.00

  2 October 1995

  Larne Borough Council: The Gobbins Cliff Path (feasibility study)

  Co. Antrim

  N Ireland

  30,000.00

  Total

  494,033,441.00

  55 awards, 1,145 projects

  Mr. Renton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many charities have been awarded funds from the national lottery. [28880]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: As at 15 May, 6,685 awards have been made, totalling over £1.54 billion. More than 80 per cent. of these grants have gone to charities or voluntary organisations and account for around half of all the money awarded.

  The National Lottery Charities Board is distributing 20 per cent. of the proceeds of the national lottery exclusively to projects proposed not only by registered charities but by voluntary organisations and organisations
  294
  with a philanthropic aim. The board has made 2,460 grant awards, totalling £159 million, to charitable organisations both large and small.

  Canoeing
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the grant available from the Sports Council and other public bodies in support of canoeing in the year 1994–95, expressed in terms per capita of those participating in this sport; and what are the corresponding figures for the sport of angling. [29333]
  295
  Mr. Sproat
  In 1994–95 the British Canoe Union received a grant of £320,000 from the Sports Council. A further £6,500 was also provided for canoeing schemes in awards from sportsmatch, a business sponsorship incentive scheme for sport launched by the Government in 1992 to increase the amount of business sponsorship going into grass roots sport and physical recreation. This represents a sum of £3.26 on a per capita basis for the estimated 100,00 people who take part in the sport. In 1994–95 Sports Council grants to the governing bodies of angling totalled £54,125. In addition to this, sportsmatch provided £42,250 in awards for angling schemes. This represents a sum of 3p on a per capita basis for the estimated 2.9 million people participating in freshwater and seawater angling in England and Wales.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the technical definition for canoeing in the Scottish/NVQ, for coaching. [30325]

  Mr. Sproat
  The awarding bodies forum has accepted the technical definition for canoeing, and it therefore meets the normal requirements for S/NVQs. In relation to health and safety, the technical definition was developed by the British Canoe Union following principles and procedures agreed by the forum, and it is for the BCU to review this definition on a regular basis.

  Business Sponsorship
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the extent of business sponsorship of innovative arts projects and small arts bodies. [29932]

  Mr. Sproat
  A significant percentage of smaller arts companies have attracted business sponsorship. Based on statistics collected by the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and analysed by the Arts Council of England, I understand that some 51 per cent. of arts organisations with a turnover of between £10,000 to just under £50,000 were in receipt of commercial support during 1994–95. Innovative projects also continue to receive sponsorship from the business sector. Recent examples include Barclays stage partners and the Guinness ingenuity awards for pub theatre.

  Arts Council
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she last met the chairman of the Arts Council; and what was discussed. [29933]

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the chairman of the Arts Council on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues. Details of the discussions are not given.

  Listed Buildings (North Frith House)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice she has received from English Heritage on whether North Frith house, Tonbridge, Kent, should be listed. [29736]

  Mr. Sproat
  English Heritage has advised my right hon. Friend that North Frith house should be listed. My right hon. Friend has decided to accept that advice and North Frith house and two bathing boxes in its grounds were added to the statutory list on 17 May 1996.
  296

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has in respect of the repair and refurbishment of museums and galleries. [29934]

  Mr. Sproat
  It is for those responsible for individual museums and galleries to make plans for the repair and refurbishment of their buildings. In 1996–97, the Department will provide over £205 million of grants in aid to 17 museums and galleries, plus a further £9 million to the Museums and Galleries Commission to help the wider sector, but these bodies each decide how much of their grant is to be directed towards repair and refurbishment. In addition, museum and galleries throughout the UK can apply for funds from the national lottery to refurbish and improve their buildings.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information she collates on the level of admissions to national galleries and museums. [29931]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department collates figures on visitor numbers for each museum and gallery it sponsors. The latest such information was provided in the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 8 May 1996,Official Report, columns 170–71.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects the Scottish/NVQ technical definition for(a) cricket, (b) windsurfing, (c) trampolining, (d) tennis, (e) rugby union, (f) rugby league, (g) rowing, (h) swimming, (i) sub-aqua, (j) orienteering, (k) netball, (I) movement and dance (recreational), (m) judo, (n) hockey, (o) gymnastics, (p) fencing and (q) basketball, to be produced. [30324]

  Mr. Sproat
  Judo, cricket, tennis, movement and dance, hockey, swimming, rowing, orienteering, netball, and sub-aqua are all at an advanced stage of development of their technical definition. Windsurfing, basketball, gymnastics, and fencing are at the forefront of S/NVQ development in coaching. Consequently, their technical definition as part of their approval for centre status. In due course, these sports will develop a separate technical definition, which is the current practice for new NVQs. Rugby union, rugby league and trampolining are not, at present, involved in working towards the S/NVQ process of developing a technical definition.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if groups not recognised by the Sports Council are permitted to submit contextual definitions within the Scottish national vocational qualifications for coaching. [30326]

  Mr. Sproat
  It is the responsibility of the sport concerned to develop the technical definition by consulting widely throughout the sport. Any non-recognised body would be able to contribute to this process through the recognised governing body. One of the criteria for recognising a governing body is that they are truly representative of the specified sport.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many sport groups have taken up NVQs; and of these how many(a) are live, (b) have approved technical definitions and (c) can deliver NVQs. [30328]
  297
  Mr. Sproat
  Twenty-one sports have now developed materials to allow the technical content of S/NVQs to be assessed. This figure includes those sports with separate technical definitions and those where technical definitions were approved when they received centre status.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list, for each of her Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30118]

  Mr. Sproat
  In the period from the formulation of my two agencies until March 1995 they have market tested the elements of their services to the public listed in the table.

  The "Competing for Quality" figures for the period between April 1995 and March 1996 are being compiled for our agencies' efficiency plans. It is anticipated that this information will be published in the 1996 next steps review.

  Let by

  Activity

  Name of successful bidder

  Won by in-house bid

  1993–94

  The Royal Parks

  Property maintenance Management

  Tarmac Facilities management

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Kew Palace— Security Services

  Royal British Legion

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Hampton Court Palace— Gardens Litter Clearance

  SITA

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Hampton Court Palaces

  Initial Cleaning Service

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Kensington Palace Catering

  De Blanks

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Kensington Palace Cleaning

  Swanlux

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Banqueting House— Catering

  10 companies used—selected by tender

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Banqueting House— Floristry

  Nancy Ford

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Banqueting House— Security

  RBLA

  No in-house bid

  1994–95

  Historic Royal Palaces

  HM Tower of London— Window Cleaning

  Metropolitan

  No in-house bid

  The Royal parks

  Management of Car Parking Facilities

  Apcoa Parking Ltd.

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  HM Tower of London— Commercial Guarding

  RBLA

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  HM Tower of London— Costumed Interpretation

  Past Pleasures

  No in-house bid

  298

  Let by

  Activity

  Name of successful bidder

  Won by in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  HM Tower of London— Garden Maintenance

  Ground Control

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Hampton Court Palace— Catering

  Town and Country

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Hampton Court Palace— Costumed Interpretation

  Past Pleasures

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Hampton Court Palace— Recorded Tour Service

  Acoustiguide

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Hampton Court Palace— Warding Services

  Group 4

  In-house bid unsuccessful

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Kensington Palace— Catering

  De Blanks/Digby Trout

  No in-house bid

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Kensington Palace— Cleaning

  Securicor

  No in-house bid

  Concessionary Television Licence Scheme
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the concessionary television licence schemes currently operating in the United Kingdom. [29991]

  Mr. Sproat
  In addition to the accommodation for residential care concessionary television licence scheme, a reduction in the licence fee is available for registered blind people.

  Football Pools Industry
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will assist the football pools industry from the receipts of the national lottery, with special reference to measures to assist those recently made redundant in the industry; if she will consult representatives of the pools industry regarding this matter; and if she will make a statement. [30475]

  Mr. Sproat
  It was recognised during the passage of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 that the pools companies would face a considerable challenge when the lottery was up and running. The Government have, therefore, made important changes to their regulatory and tax regime to help the pools firms compete effectively. These are:

  lowering the minimum age for play from 18 to 16;

  allowing pools companies to advertise on television and radio;

  allowing pools companies to roll over jackpots not won;

  allowing them to sell coupons in retail outlets; and, most important, reducing the rate of pools betting duty by 10 per cent.

  A measure allowing the payment of football pools winnings in licensed betting offices is expected to come into force this summer. The Home Office is also considering further deregulatory measures proposed by the Pools Promoters Association and is consulting them and my Department about this matter.
  299
  All areas and sections of society are benefiting from the funds raised by the lottery for the five good causes. There are no current plans to change the beneficiaries or the method of distributing national lottery funds to allow the pools industry to benefit directly.

  Advertising Standards Authority
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what monitoring she routinely undertakes of the Advertising Standards Authority. [30197]

  Mr. Sproat
  None. Matters relating to advertising controls in the non-broadcast media are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

  Arts, Sport and Heritage Funding
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the funding provisions for the arts, sport and heritage. [28770]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The areas for which I am responsible benefit from a wide range of funding. The partnership between public money in the form of central and local Government support and the lottery, and private money through sponsorship, provides well over £3 billion for arts, sport and our heritage. This partnership supports all our sectors on a scale never enjoyed before.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her departmental funding of the arts for 1996–97; what estimate she has of the funding of the arts by other European Union states; and if she will make a statement. [22720]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 26 March 1996]: My Department's funding for the arts in England amounts to £194.25 million in 1996–97, of which £186.1 million is channelled through the Arts Council of England. The parallel figures for the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices are £24.47 million, £15.49 million and £7.67 million, of which £24.47 million, £15.49 million and £7.15 million respectively are channelled through the relevant Arts Councils. Local authorities spend an amount on the arts similar to that provided by central Government through the four Arts Councils which in 1996–97 totals more than £233 million. On top of this, lottery awards of more than £400 million have been made so far, all of which are helping to improve the quality and increase the availability of the arts for everyone in the UK. It is anticipated that the arts' share of lottery awards will be in excess of £300 million this year. This adds up to public funding in the UK for the arts in excess of £775 million in 1996–97. No comparative figures exist for funding provision for the arts by other European Union member states.

  Council of Europe Meetings
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995 have been attended by Ministers or officials of her Department; and if she will make a statement. [29362]
  300
  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 17 May 1996]: No separate record of attendance at meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe is kept by the Department of National Heritage.

  Small Businesses
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many firms with fewer than(a) 100, (b) 50, (c) 20 and (d) 10 employees were used by her Department in each of the last five years. [29439]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: In the past, neither my Department nor its agencies have kept a specific record of a supplier's size. This historical information could therefore be obtained only by incurring disproportionate cost.

  However, my Department and its two agencies are now recording the size of suppliers invited to tender and this information will be available in future.

  Sports Broadcasting
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she intends to publish the results of her consultation document on sport on television. [28784]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate" was not a formal consultation document, but a discussion paper published to assist the public and parliamentary debate. The Government's conclusions are reflected in the clauses on listed events which now form part of the Broadcasting Bill.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 29 April,Official Report, column 370, what consultations she has had with the home rugby unions concerning the possibility of adding the Five Home Nations international championship to the schedule of listed events under the Broadcasting Act 1990. [30407]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: I have had several informal discussions.

  Goods and Services
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department paid to the private sector for goods and services in 1995–96. [29454]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: While the information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, my Department paid a total of £10.1 million for goods and services in 1995–96.

  Performance Bonds
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her Department's policy on the use of performance bonds; in what circumstances they are used; what was the total sum paid by bond in each of the last five years; and if her Department requires bonds from businesses with fewer than(a) 100, (b) 50 and (c) 20 employees. [29423]
  301
  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: My Department and its agencies have made some use of bonds for building contracts in accordance with the advice on the use of performance bonds set out in the central unit on procurement's guidance note No. 48, "Bonds and guarantees", copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The guidance makes it clear that bonds are not always necessary and are no substitute for considered judgments about the risks of a particular contract and the capabilities and financial resources of the available contractor. These factors will vary for each contract independent of the size of the contractor. My Department has made claim against only two bonds, one in 1994–95 by the British library project for approximately £100,000 and another in 1995–96 by the Royal Parks agency for approximately £4,000.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will introduce measures to ensure that the National Lottery Charities Board in Scotland is able to provide funding for credit unions. [29828]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 May 1996]: We have no plans at present to introduce changes to the legislation governing the National Lottery Charities Board. But, as with all legislation, we will keep the operation of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 under review, and bring forward proposals for change where we consider it right to do so.

  Euro 96
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what mechanism was used to divide moneys made available to local authorities for Euro 96; and in allocating funds what consideration was given to the fact that the ground of Manchester United is located in the borough of Trafford. [29967]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The Association of Metropolitan Authorities requested the funding and the Secretary of State agreed to provide it.
  302
  The AMA identified in each case the local authority that would receive funding. In the case of Manchester, it has informed us that, although Old Trafford football stadium is in the borough of Trafford, the cultural events themselves will take place in areas under the jurisdiction of Manchester city council. Trafford council has a representative on the steering group which is overseeing that cultural programme.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what moneys have been made available to local authorities in respect of Euro 96; and for what purposes these sums have been granted. [29966]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: The Department of National Heritage agreed in June 1995 to a request by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities for a contribution of £400,000 towards a core funding package of £800,000 for cultural events organised by the eight cities where Euro 96 matches are taking place. The Department has committed £100,000 in direct grant aid and a further £150,000 was earmarked within both the sportsmatch and Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts schemes. The AMA assured us this would enable funds of about £2.5 million to be generated from other sources.

  In addition, the Sports Council is contributing £130,000, the Football Association is contributing £160,000 and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts has approved £78,000 for specific cultural events. The national music festival will also focus this year on Euro 96 and help promote events in the eight cities.

  Premier League Tickets
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will refer the pricing regime of premier league football tickets for the 1996–97 season to the Office of Fair Trading. [30248]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 21 May 1996]: I have no plans to refer the ticket pricing regime of the premier league to the Office of Fair Trading as I have no evidence of either monopoly abuse or anti-competitive practice by clubs in the league.

  Scottish Research Bodies: Prior Options Reviews
  Scottish Research Bodies: Prior Options Reviews
  Freight Facilities Grants: NAO Review
  Freight Facilities Grants: NAO Review
  "Right to Buy" Discounts
  "Right to Buy" Discounts
  Nursery Education Voucher Scheme: Promotion Costs
  Nursery Education Voucher Scheme: Promotion Costs
  Prisoners: Exclusion from Education
  Prisoners: Exclusion from Education
  HMSO: Shortlist of Bidders
  HMSO: Shortlist of Bidders
  Former Yugoslavia: Army Reserve and TA Call Out
  Former Yugoslavia: Army Reserve and TA Call Out
  Council of Europe and WEU Parliamentary Assembly: Report of UK Delegation
  Council of Europe and WEU Parliamentary Assembly: Report of UK Delegation
  Recruitment and Assessment Services
  Recruitment and Assessment Services