Written Answers of 11 November 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Illegal Drug Use Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask Secretary of State for the Home Department what new proposals he has to improve the accuracy of illegal drug use statistics. [2466]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: Information on drug seizure and offenders, collected from police and customs, and statistics of drug addicts notified to the Home Office are published annually. The accuracy of drug seizure statistics is being continually improved by, for example, direct collection of figures from regional crime squads and automatic data interchange from police forces. Dug offender figures will also be collected by ADI via the court appearances system.

  Probation Service Revenue Expenditure

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  National Provision

  (i) Real terms

  £274.5 million

  £276.7 million

  £312.1 million

  £318.7 million

  £332.8 million

  £321.9 million

  £323.7 million

  (ii) Per cent. change (year on year)

  —

  +0.8 per cent.

  +12.8 per cent.

  +2.1 per cent.

  +4.4 per cent.

  -3.3 per cent.

  +0.6 per cent.

  West Midlands Provision

  i. Real terms

  £17.6 million

  £19.5 million

  £20.1 million

  £20.5 million

  £21.3 million

  £20.6 million

  £21.3 million

  ii. Per cent. change (year on year)

  —

  +10.8 per cent.

  +3.1 per cent.

  +2.0 per cent.

  +3.9 per cent.

  -3.3 per cent.

  +3.4 per cent.

  1. Figures are in 100 per cent. expenditure terms (ie including the 20 per cent. local authority contribution).

  2. Real-terms values are calculated using the gross domestic product deflator, with 1990–91 as the base year.

  3. To permit comparison, figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 exclude devolved funding to support probation service partnerships with the independent sector previously funded separately by the Home Office.

ENVIRONMENT

  Lead (Guidance for Doctors)
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific improvements have been made to the operation of the appointed doctor system in relation to the dangers of working with lead; and if he will place the updated guidance for appointed doctors in the Library. [1443]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive has drawn up guidance for appointed doctors. The guidance is entitled "Guidance for Appointed Doctors" and was issued in July 1992. The guidance details the role and function of appointed doctors and provides guidance on their duties under specific statutory regulations. With respect to the control of lead at work regulations, guidance for appointed doctors in given on lead toxicity and
  2
  Additionally, we have developed a more accurate way of measuring the extent of drug misuse in the general population which involves taking a large representative sample of adults and asking them to report on their own drug misuse.

  The Department of Health issued guidance to the national health service in July 1996 on managing regional drug misuse database services.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Probation Service's budget(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands for (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998. [2172]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The national revenue grant provision for the Probation Service in 1997–98, and the budgets for individual services, will be announced after the Chancellor's Budget statement on 26 November.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the budget for the Probation Service(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands for each year since 1990; and if he will express the figures (i) in real terms and (ii) to show the percentage change on the previous year. [2167]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The information is shown in the table.

  poisoning, biological monitoring, medical surveillance, clinical considerations and employment of women of reproductive capacity.

  A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.

  Tracer Silt
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend the trials of tracer silt to the Solent and the shores of the Isle of Wight. [2595]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department has not conducted trials of the type indicated. Tracer studies were conducted by Southern Water Services Ltd. as part of its investigations into the proposed long sea outfall for Sandown bay.

  Sewerage
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what size of served population gives rise to a requirement for additional sewerage treatment before the discharge into the sea; and over what period such population figures are calculated. [2557]

  Mr. Clappison
  Under the urban waste water treatment directive, sewage discharges with a population equivalent greater than 10,000 normally receive secondary treatment before discharge to coastal waters, but if the discharge is into a high natural dispersion area and it can be demonstrated that the environment will not be adversely affected, primary treatment may be sufficient.

  Population equivalent is a measure of organic biodegradable load. The size of discharge is calculated on the basis of the maximum average weekly load entering treatment plants during a year and excludes the effect of unusual weather conditions.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for the publication of the full list of research undertaken by or on behalf of the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive in regard to its proposed rock characterisation laboratory and nuclear waste repository near Sellafield; and if he will place copies of the reports in the Library. [2648]

  Mr. Clappison
  UK Nirex Ltd. has no proposals to construct a radioactive waste repository near Sellafield, but has applied to build a rock characterisation facility in order to help assess the suitability of the site as a possible location for a repository.

  The company publishes its research reports. These reports, which are extensive, are available on request from the company. I have asked the company to provide the Library with a list.

  Maintenance Work
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current backlog of maintenance in the publicly owned housing stock. [2796]

  Mr. Clappison
  The 1991 English house condition survey collected information related to repairs. This indicated that at 1991 the amount needed to bring the stock up to a good state of repair was £3.6 billion. A more up-to-date estimate will be available next year from the 1996 EHCS.

  Newcastle City Council
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the inspector's report into the unitary development plan of Newcastle city council to be published. [3081]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The inspector's report on objections to the Newcastle unitary development plan is expected to be delivered to the council in early December this year. It will then be for the council to decide when to publish the report. I have asked the planning inspectorate's chief executive, Mr. Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.
  4
  Letter from C. J. Shepley to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 7 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment has asked me to reply to your question about the Inspector's report from the public inquiry into the Newcastle Unitary Development Plan.
  The report is expected to be issued to the Council in early December. It will then be for the Council to decide when to publish it.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the advantages of increasing grants towards upgrading the energy saving standards of existing buildings; and if he will make a statement. [3192]

  Mr. Clappison
  Earlier this year, we published a consultation paper about our successful and well-regarded home energy efficiency scheme, which pays grants towards basic insulation of homes. Since 1991, this scheme has upgraded energy efficiency in almost 10 per cent. of the housing stock, and given average potential savings of around £40 annually to householders. Our proposals included making the scheme more responsive to the energy standards of individual homes by widening the range of energy efficiency measures available. We have taken account of the comments we received on our proposals, and hope to announce our plans for the scheme soon.

  Specialised Dwellings
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the change in the number of specialised dwellings for chronically sick and disabled persons started and completed between 1979 and 1994. [1416]

  Mr. Clappison
  Estimates of housebuilding for chronically sick and disabled persons are shown in the publication "Housing and Construction Statistics". Figures for 1984 to 1994 are in table 6.7 of the annual edition; figures for 1979 to 1983 are in the annual edition for 1979 to 1989. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress has been made in ensuring that CFCs are not used in the air cooling systems of properties owned or occupied by the Government or Government agencies since October 1992; [3248]

  (2) what progress has been made in phasing out the use of CFCs in the air cooling systems of properties owned or occupied by the Government or Government agencies. [3249]

  Mr. Clappison
  Government Departments have had green housekeeping strategies in place since 1992, which include restrictions on the purchase and use of CFCs in air cooling systems and other applications. There is no record covering the Government estate as a whole; Departments take responsibility for implementing and monitoring their own strategies. My Department's policy is to continue to ensure that no products containing CFCs
  5
  or other ozone-depleting substances are purchased, and appropriate advice has been issued to our property managers, suppliers and contractors. The Departrnent is studying the use of ozone-friendly hydrocarbon refrigerants in smaller air conditioning units.

  Radioactive Emissions
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to change regulations concerning emissions of radioactive(a) material and (b) waste. [3198]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Secretary of State has no plans to change regulations concerning emissions of radioactive material or waste. Discharges of radioactive substances are regulated by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (as amended).

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring has been undertaken by his Department into emissions of technetium 99 from sites in the United Kingdom [3197]

  Mr. Clappison
  Monitoring levels of radioactivity in the environment is the responsibility of the nuclear operators; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Environment Agency also carry out routine monitoring. The most recent MAFF monitoring report, "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment", is being published today by my right hon. and learned friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions his Department has had with(a) Directorate-General XI and (b) other departments of the European Commission regarding discharges of technetium 99 from Sellafield; and if he will make a statement. [3199]

  Mr. Clappison
  Officials in my Department have discussions with the European Commission from time to time on various matters relating to radioactivity. These discussions have encompassed consideration of discharges from Sellafield, including discharges of technetium-99.

  The latest monitoring report, "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment", addressing levels of radioactivity in both the terrestrial and marine environment, is being published today by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Discharges of radioactive wastes from sites including Sellafield are strictly regulated by the Environment Agency to ensure that such discharges pose no unacceptable risks to members of the public in the UK or elsewhere. The UK remains committed to meeting all of its international obligations.

  Environmental Appraisals
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when an environmental appraisal was produced using the guidance contained in his Department's guide "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" for the Local Government and Rating Bill; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [3308]
  6
  Mr. Clappison
  The Local Government and Rating Bill takes forward commitments from the rural White Papers published in 1995 and 1996. Environmental considerations were a fundamental part of the preparation of the White Papers and each included specific sections on the importance of the rural environment.

  As regards the Bill's provisions, the business rate relief scheme will promote the viability of village shops and other rural businesses which should help to encourage people to use their local facilities and enable them to travel shorter distances to shop. The community transport provisions should help to reduce dependence on use of the car by assisting the development of alternative means of meeting rural transport needs. The other provisions within the Bill have little or no environmental impact.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations his Department proposes to repeal by the end of 1996; if he proposes to conduct a compliance cost assessment on each regulation repealed; and what is the estimated cost of undertaking a compliance cost assessment to determine the advantages or disadvantages of such a repeal. [3201]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department currently proposes to revoke the following regulations by the end of 1996:

  The Flax and Tow Spinning and Weaving Regulations 1906

  The Hemp Spinning and Weaving Regulations 1907

  The Cotton Cloth Factories Regulations 1929

  The Kiers Regulations 1938

  The Jute (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations 1948

  The Factories (Cotton Shuttles) Special Regulations 1952

  The Agriculture (Ladders) Regulations 1957

  The Agriculture (Safeguarding of Workplaces) Regulations 1959

  The Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) (Extension) Order 1960

  The Agriculture (Threshers and Balers) Regulations 1960

  The Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 1962

  The Cotton Cloth (Record of Humidity) Order 1964

  The Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) (Extension) Order 1965

  The Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) (Extension) Order 1966.

  In addition, it is proposed to repeal the Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) Act 1952, and section 68 and schedule 1 of the Factories Act 1961.

  Since the effect in each case will be to reduce rather than increase compliance costs, a CCA is not required. The cost of undertaking a CCA varies from case to case but is generally modest. Because part of the cost falls on the businesses consulted, a full CCA would be inappropriate for measures designed to reduce business burdens.

  Dogs and Cats (Identification System)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate his Department has made of the cost of introducing an identification system for domestic dogs and cats; and what assessment he has made of the feasibility of introducing such a scheme. [3066]
  7
  Mr. Clappison
  Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, dogs, other than certain types of working dogs, must wear a collar and identification when in a public place. The Government have no plans either to change this requirement or to introduce any general requirements for the identification of dogs and cats.

  Opencast Coal Mines
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications were made in the United Kingdom for opencast coal mining sites in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of these(a) were rejected at the initial stage, (b) went to appeal and (c) succeeded at appeal. [3307]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Information concerning planning applications for opencast coal mining is not held centrally. Statistics are published annually for the County Planning Officers Society by Durham county council. Four appeals were lodged in England in 1995, of which one has been allowed and one dismissed. Two appeals have yet to be determined. Information relating to appeals in Scotland and Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.

  Local Government Finance
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the standard spending assessment reduction grant and police standard spending assessment reduction grant paid to each local authority and police authority in 1996–97; and for each authority, what is that grant as a proportion of(a) band D equivalent dwellings and (b) chargeable dwellings, as used for council tax setting in 1996–97; [3440]

  (2) what is the standing spending assessment reduction grant and police standing spending assessment reduction grant paid to each class of local authority and police authority in 1996–97; and for each such class, what is that grant as a proportion of its aggregate number of (a) band D equivalent dwellings and (b) chargeable dwellings, as used for council tax setting in 1996–97. [3439]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what changes to the standard spending assessment formula methodology he is assessing for implementation in 1997–98; and for each individual option what is its potential financial impact on each class of local authority in England expressed(a) as the net change in its SSA and (b) as the net change in its SSA divided by (i) the aggregate number of band D equivalent dwellings and (ii) chargeable dwellings, as used for council tax setting in 1996–97, for that class of authority; [3444]

  (2) what changes to the standard spending assessment formula methodology he is assessing for implementation in 1997–98; and for each individual option what is its potential financial impact on each local authority in England (a) expressed as the net change in its SSA and (b) as the net change in its SSA divided by the number of (i) band D equivalent dwellings and (ii) chargeable dwellings as used for council tax setting in 1996–97, for that authority. [3445]
  8
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The report of this year's discussions between local and central government on possible changes to the methodology of the SSA formulae has been placed in the Library. The report describes each of the possible changes and gives an estimate of its effect on the SSA of each authority and each class of authority. Tables expressing these estimated changes in terms of the number of band D equivalent dwellings and the number of chargeable dwellings have also been placed in the Library.

  Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the local authority powers in the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 will be brought into force. [3527]

  Mr. Clappison
  On 17 July this year, we consulted on the practical implementation of the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. A list of responses to this consultation has been placed in the Library of the House; copies of individual responses may be obtained through the Library.

  Following this consultation, we have now made regulations setting the procedure by which local authorities can create areas where people have to clear up after their dogs. We have also made an order setting the fixed penalty for the new offence at £25 and providing a form for the penalty notice. These statutory instruments come into force on 1 December and will allow local authorities to take full advantage of these welcome new powers. We also issuing a circular to local authorities to inform them of the new powers.

  Standards in Public Life
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will respond to the issues raised by the Committee on Standards in Public Life on aspects of conduct in local government in England, Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [3651]

  Mr. Curry
  The Government's observations on the matters-which were raised in the "Issues and Questions" paper, which was published by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in June this year-have today been submitted to the Committee. The observations describe the current statutory and other rules governing conduct in local government, offer views on how the particular rules appear to be working, and comment on issues on which the Government would welcome the Committee's views. Copies of the observations have been placed in the Library.

  Construction Contracts
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to consult on the regulations to be made under section 114 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. [3829]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I have today published a consultation document entitled "Making the Scheme for Construction Contracts" containing proposals for regulations to underpin the fair construction contracts provisions in part II of the 1996 Act.
  9
  These proposals concern the fall-back arrangements which contracting parties may use if their contracts do not comply with the Act in respect of adjudication and payment procedures. It includes detail on a number of important issues such as the appointment of adjudicators, criteria for appointing bodies, the conduct of adjudication proceedings, and payment machinery.

  Scheme procedures may be called upon in a variety of circumstances across all sectors of construction, so I am inviting comments from a wide cross-section of the industry and its customers.

  Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Library.

  Krill
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he has carried out on the effect of the decline in krill on the world's whale population. [2590]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK continues to play a leading role in research into krill populations and the likely impact of developing krill fisheries in the Southern ocean on the whole of the ecosystem, including whale populations, through the research programme of the British Antarctic Survey.

  The two BAS programmes concerned with the question of population fluctuations in krill are:

  (i) Pelagic ecosystem studies, dealing with the question of sea-ice formation and the effect of surface sea-current systems; average annual expenditure amounts to £100,000 per annum, exclusive of infrastructure costs; and

  (ii) Higher predator, studies, dealing with the breeding success and diet and feeding habits of mammals and birds whose food chains depend to varying degrees on the krill population; average annual expenditure in this programme amounts to £100,000 per annum, exclusive of infrastructure costs.

  Largely as a result of this UK research, fluctuations in the availability of krill to certain predators are now known to be related to two main causes. These are:

  (i) the extent of sea-ice formation in certain years, which impacts on the ability area to survive; and

  (ii) the effects of climate phenomena, such as the El Nino southern oscillation.

  A further related impact is that of the breeding success of those species which depend on krill.

  Sewers
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the
  Environment how many critical sewers were(a) renovated and (b) replaced in each area in England and Wales in each of the 10 years immediately before the privatization of the water industry; and how many critical sewers have been (i) renovated and (ii) replaced in each year since privatisation. [1888]

  Mr. Clappison
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 November 1996, c. 464-65]: The figure contained in column 1 (1994–95) represented a five-year span from 1990–92 to 1994–95 in the case of critical sewers renovated and a four-year span from 1991–92 to 1994–95 in the case of critical sewers replaced, rather than just the financial year
  10
  1994–95. The figures included for 1994–5 are also subject to verification. The following tables have therefore been amended accordingly:

  Critical sewers renovated (km)

  Company

  1990–91 to 94–95

  1995–96

  Anglian

  13

  14

  Dwr Cymru

  13

  7

  North West

  82

  26

  Northumbrian

  102

  16

  Severn Trent

  79

  5

  South West

  29

  2

  Southern

  19

  0

  Thames

  113

  24

  Wessex

  37

  14

  Yorkshire

  17

  2

  Critical sewers replaced (km)

  Company

  1991–92 to 94–95

  1995–96

  Anglian

  31

  3

  Dwr Cymru

  46

  18

  North West

  85

  16

  Northumbrian

  15

  1

  Severn Trent

  225

  9

  South West

  12

  4

  Southern

  14

  1

  Thames

  47

  20

  Wessex

  14

  2

  Yorkshire

  0

  2

  Water Mains
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many kilometres of water mains were(a) renewed and (b) relined in each area in England and Wales in each of the 10 years immediately before the privatisation of the water industry; and how much has been (i) renewed and (ii) relined in each year since privatisation. [1887]

  Mr. Clappison
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 November 1996, c. 465–66]: The figures contained in column 1 (1994–95) represented a five-year span from 1990–91 to 1994–95 rather than just the financial year 1994–95. The figures included for 1994–95 are also subject to verification. The following tables have therefore been amended accordingly:

  Water mains relined (km)

  Company

  1990–91 to 94–95

  1995–96

  Anglian

  147

  0

  Dwr Cymru

  487

  64

  North West

  186

  0

  Northumbrian1

  1,219

  145

  Severn Trent

  5,202

  407

  South West

  905

  156

  Southern

  162

  30

  Thames

  316

  129

  Wessex

  197

  78

  Yorkshire

  785

  167

  Bournemouth and West Hants

  0

  0

  Bristol

  31

  9

  Cambridge

  12

  0

  Chester

  0

  0

  Essex and Suffolk

  79

  55

  Folkestone and Dover

  131

  13

  11

  Water mains relined (km)

  Company

  1990–91 to 94–95

  1995–96

  Hartlepool

  8

  0

  Mid Kent

  6

  0

  Mid Southern

  13

  50

  North Surrey

  0

  0

  Portsmouth

  1

  7

  South east

  561

  81

  South Staffs

  2

  0

  Sutton and east Surrey

  24

  0

  Tendring Hundred

  49

  17

  Three Valleys

  16

  22

  Wrexham

  100

  4

  York

  0

  0

  Water mains relined (km)

  Company

  1990–91 to 94–95

  1995–96

  Anglian

  1,889

  518

  Dwr Cymru

  907

  429

  North West

  2,470

  612

  Northumbria 1

  612

  149

  Severn Trent

  2,236

  499

  South West

  179

  10

  Southern

  123

  27

  Thames

  144

  15

  Wessex

  280

  84

  Yorkshire

  699

  114

  Bournemouth and West Hants

  29

  23

  Bristol

  83

  3

  Cambridge

  91

  17

  Chester

  15

  2

  Essex and Suffolk

  42

  117

  Folkestone and Dover

  3

  1

  Hartlepool

  14

  3

  Mid Kent

  178

  4

  Mid Southern

  104

  20

  North Surrey

  25

  8

  Portsmouth

  179

  36

  South East

  113

  38

  South Staffs

  220

  102

  Sutton and East Surrey

  170

  22

  Tendring Hundred

  34

  8

  Three Valleys

  151

  49

  Wrexham

  43

  5

  York

  16

  2

  1 Figures for Northumbrian include those of north-east following their merger in 1996.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information British Nuclear Fuels is required to provide to his Department with regard to the environmental safety arrangements made prior to and during the transport of high-level radioactive waste canisters from Sellafield to(a) Japan and (b) European Union countries; and what is the planned date of the next transport to (i) Japan and (ii) another EU member state. [2960]

  Mr. Page
  The transport of vitrified waste complies with all relevant national and international regulations governing its movement. The flasks are specifically designed, constructed and transported in accordance with 12
  the recommendations and regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The date of the next transport is an operational matter for BNFL.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what environmental provisions covering plutonium-based mixed oxide nuclear fuel and associated wastes will be included in the proposed Euratom-Japan nuclear co-operation agreement. [2957]

  Mr. Page
  The scope of the proposed Euratom-Japan nuclear co-operation agreement has yet to be worked out between the two parties. Any eventual agreement will be negotiated by the European Commission on behalf of the European Community, after negotiating directives have been agreed by the Council.

  Business Breakfast Tours
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 4 November,Official Report, column 329, in respect of business breakfast tours, if he will list the costs of each of the events known to date. [2949]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The final costs are not yet known.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the advantages of subsidising(a) research into and (b) trials of tidal and wave generation of electricity; and if he will make a statement. [3191]

  Mr. Page
  A review of wave energy was published by the DTI in December 1992. The review found that wave energy had limited potential to contribute commercially to energy supplies in the next few decades.

  Tidal energy, using both conventional barrages and free standing tidal stream devices, has also been the subject of a DTI programme. The main conclusion of the programme was that tidal energy had poor prospects for commercial deployment in the future, especially as the technology associated with tidal barrages was well developed and the Government believed that there was little potential for significantly reducing costs.

  In consequence, the Minister for Energy has previously announced the completion of both the wave and tidal programmes.

  Postcodes
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will review the process of formulating postcodes, in order to(a) encourage the retention of local identity, (b) facilitate the effective operation of delivery and (c) ensure that the highway authorities and the Royal Mail wherever possible retain the use of local area names as locality names in postal addresses. [3160]

  Mr. Page
  No. The designation of postcodes and postal addresses is an operational matter for the Post Office.

  Hairdressing Industry
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to ensure that the hairdressing industry is regulated so as to protect consumers. [3163]

  Mr. Page
  The Government's aim is to reduce the burden on industry and we believe that existing consumer legislation is adequate to protect consumers in this area. In addition, the Hairdressing Council administers a voluntary register of practitioners in hairdressing, membership of which carries with it specific qualification requirements.

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the items which he will be pressing to be included on the agenda of the forthcoming Singapore meeting of the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [1327]

  Mr. Lang
  I shall be pressing for Ministers at the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in December in Singapore to agree a substantial work programme for the World Trade Organisation to continue the process of multilateral trade liberalisation. This should include: standards, Government procurement, tariffs, trade facilitation, rules of origin, intellectual property rights, subsidies and regulation reform.

  I shall also be pressing for timely implementation of existing commitments, the completion of outstanding negotiations on services, in particular telecommunications services, and for the conclusion of an agreement to eliminate tariffs in the information technology sector.

  I shall support the start of work in the World Trade Organisation on competition and investment issues.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and I will shortly lay before Parliament a White Paper setting out the Government's approach to trade policy and its interaction with UK foreign policy.

  Electricity Black-out (Wales)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultation he has had with the Director-General of Electricity Supply as regards the black-out risk throughout south and mid-Wales on Sunday 20 October. [3108]

  Mr. Page
  The National Grid Company kept my Department and the Director General of Electricity Supply fully informed of the problems at Aberthaw power station referred to—which took place on 12 to 14 October and not on 20 October—and discussed with us the action which was taken to ensure that the electricity supply to south and mid-Wales was maintained. My Department and the director general will continue to keep the situation under review.

  Overseas Projects Fund
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many projects have been funded by the overseas projects fund in each of the last five years. [3429]

  Mr. Lang
  The following is the information:

  1991–92: 36

  1992–93: 40

  1993–94: 46

  1994–95: 33

  1995–96: 33

  Mr. Pope
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in respect of how many projects funded by the overseas project fund his Department has not had direct contact in(a) the last six months, (b) the last year and (c) the last two years; and what is the total amount of public moneys involved. [3454]

  Mr. Lang
  No information is maintained in the precise form sought by the hon. Member.

  Officials maintain regular contact with companies when the latter are drawing down assistance from the overseas projects fund. Officials continue in contact when the company remains in pursuit of the target contract after all the funds offered have been claimed.

  Mr. Pope
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent in each of the last five years on the overseas projects fund. [3430]

  Mr. Lang
  The following is the information:

  1991–92: £4.36 million

  1992–93: £5.00 million

  1993–94: £5.69 million

  1994–95: £5.83 million

  l995–95:£5.09 million

  Small Businesses
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the presentation of Government policy relating to small businesses. [1320]

  Mr. Page
  My Department makes every effort to present its small firms policy as widely as possible. For example, its annual report, "Small Firms in Britain", sets out current Government policy for small businesses and includes key statistical indicators. This publication is widely disseminated and a copy is sent to every member.

  We have also established a small business Ministers' group with representation across 17 Whitehall Departments. The group is playing a key role in promoting small firms policy within all areas of Government.

  The Government's response to the "Your Business Matters" consultation, completed earlier this year, provided an excellent opportunity to set out the framework for small firms policy. In addition to responding directly to the 84 key issues raised by "Your Business Matters" delegates, the Government also outlined 30 measures aimed at helping small businesses to prosper and grow. A copy of "Your Business Matters—Government Response", has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Wool Products
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from United Kingdom wool textile manufacturers about the recent proposal by the EU to bring forward the abolition of quotas on wool products from 2003 to 1998; what estimates he has made of the likely impact of this proposal on employment within the wool textile sector; and if he will make a statement. [3304]

  Mr. Lang
  The British Apparel and Textiles Confederation and the Wool Textiles Action Committee have expressed concern about liberalisation of imports of woven wool fabrics under stage 2 of the European Union's phase-out of the multi-fibre arrangement. The Government accept their case and are accordingly arguing within the EU for those products to be excluded from the stage 2 package.

  Publicity
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was his Department's expenditure on consultants to assist with information, publicity, and media in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1993–94. [3581]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department's information directorate does not employ consultants. It does, however, use contractors to provide a wide range of publicity and news services in support of the Department's objectives. Such expenditure from centrally managed budgets has been as follows:£000

  1995–96: 10,006

  1994–95: 9,119

  1993–94: 9,419

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of staff employed full-time or part-time (i) to provide information and publicity and (ii) to work in press or media in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1993–94. [3570]

  Mr. Taylor
  The costs of relevant staff in my information directorate was as follows:

  £000

  Year

  Publicity

  Press and media

  1995–96

  1,047

  919

  1994–95

  937

  817

  1993–94

  1,151

  954

  Scientific Laboratories
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress with market testing the first tranche of Government scientific laboratories. [1316]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade placed in the Library of the House on 26 January 1996, a copy of the guidelines on the conduct of prior option reviews. These confirmed that research establishments would have their functions rigorously tested to decide whether the function was required at all, and whether there was scope for privatising, contracting out (which could include market testing), merging establishments or transferring work between them.
  16
  Announcements have subsequently been made: (i) to privatise ADAS, the Building Research Establishment, and the Royal Observatories; (ii) to create as new executive agencies within the public sector, the Directorate of Fisheries Research, the Fisheries Research Services, and the Forestry Commission Research Division; and (iii) that the Central Laboratory for the Research Councils, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, the Health and Safety Laboratory, and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency retain their current status within the public sector.

  Information on the market testing of individual functions of each establishment is not held centrally.

  Opencast Coal Mines
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many opencast coal mining sites are currently in operation; where they are situated; and what is the annual tonnage of coal extracted. [3306]

  Mr. Page
  There are 95 opencast coal mining sites currently in operation and their locations are given in the following table. The tonnage of coal extracted from opencast sites in 1995 was 16,369,000 tonnes.

  Opencast sites

  Site name

  Location

  Airdsgreen

  East Ayrshire

  Arden Quarry

  Derbyshire

  Arkwright Colliery Reclamation

  Derbyshire

  Bag Lane

  Wigan

  Ballochney

  North Lanarkshire

  Blairfordel

  Perth and Kinross

  Bleak House

  Staffordshire

  Blindwells Extension

  East Lothian

  Blinkbonny West Mine

  Midlothian

  Braehead

  Fife

  Brawds Level

  Neath and Port Talbot

  Birch Vale Quarry

  Derbyshire

  Broughton Lodge

  Cumbria

  Burnfoot Moor

  East Ayrshire

  Cairncubie

  Fife

  Candles

  Shropshire

  Carters Ford West

  St. Helens

  Castle Farm

  Durham

  Chalmerston

  East Ayrshire

  Chester House

  Northumberland

  Clarence Farm Extension

  Durham

  Colliersdean

  Northumberland

  Common Farm Phase III

  East Ayrshire

  Cynheidre

  Carmarthenshire

  Dalquhandy

  South Lanarkshire

  Damside

  North Lanarkshire

  Derlwyn 2

  Neath and Port Talbot

  Doe Hill House

  Derbyshire

  East Pit Extension

  Neath and Port Talbot

  Easter Balbeggie Farm

  Fife

  Easter Fortissat

  North Lanarkshire

  Edge Farm

  South Lanarkshire

  Fencehillhead

  Falkirk

  Ffos Las

  Carmarthenshire

  Gilfach Iago

  Carmarthenshire

  Glascoed

  Wrexham

  Greenside Farm

  North Lanarkshire

  Grove Farm

  Leeds

  Grove Farm (Extended)

  Leeds

  Hannahston Farm

  East Ayrshire

  Hare Hill Site

  South Lanarkshire

  Hawks Nest Wood

  Leeds

  17

  Opencast sites

  Site name

  Location

  Henllan Uchaf

  Powys

  Ireland Colliery

  Derbyshire

  Kidburngill

  Cumbria

  Kirk (revised)

  Derbyshire

  Laigh Riggend

  North Lanarkshire

  Lambhill Remainder

  Perth and Kinross

  Leadbrook Hall

  Flintshire

  Llanilid West Revised

  Rhondda, Cynon and Taff

  Lletty'r Crudd

  Neath and Port Talbot

  Lodge Coppice

  Shropshire

  Low Gordon

  Durham

  Lowca

  Cumbria

  Marks Quarry

  Durham

  Methley Park

  Leeds

  Moorgreen

  Nottinghamshire

  Mossband Farm

  North Lanarkshire

  Nadins

  Derbyshire

  Nant Helen

  Powys

  New Farm

  Midlothian

  Northwood

  Durham

  Norwood

  Gateshead

  Odd House Farm

  Leicestershire

  Orgreave Reclamation

  Rotherham

  Oxenfoord

  Midlothian

  Park Slip West

  Merthyr Tydfil

  Piperhill

  East Ayrshire

  Plenmeller

  Northumberland

  Prathouse Site

  Fife

  Priors Close North

  Durham

  Rainge

  Derbyshire

  Reedswood Reclamation

  Walsall

  Rockingham

  Barnsley

  Rosslynlee

  Midlothian

  Roughcastle North

  Falkirk

  Rye Hill

  Sunderland

  Sarn Helen Opencast

  Neath and Port Talbot

  Shellbrook and Wood Farm

  Leicestershire

  Shortrig Gorbachev

  Falkirk

  Smotherfly

  Derbyshire

  South Brandon Extension

  Durham

  Stanley Moss

  Durham

  Stobswood

  Northumberland

  Trecatti Landfill Opencast

  Caerphilly

  Trinity III

  Derbyshire

  Trinity III Deep Hard Opencast

  Derbyshire

  Wagtail

  Durham

  Waingroves III

  Derbyshire

  Wester Mosshat Farm

  South Lanarkshire

  Westfield Link

  Fife

  Whittington Sewage Treatment Works

  Derbyshire

  Whitwell Drift

  Durham

  Woodbine Opencast Site

  Barnsley

  Woodmuir

  South Lanarkshire

  Source:

  The Coal Authority.

  British Coal Land
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money British Coal's land sales have raised to date; and what acreage has been bought by coalmining companies. [3305]

  Mr. Page
  The sale of British Coal's property is a matter for the corporation.

  Enterprise Britain Initiative
  Mr. Hoon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 30 October,Official Report, column 154 if he will list the constituencies in which meetings have so far been arranged under the enterprise Britain initiative; and what is the projected cost to date. [2291]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: The programme of events is still being arranged. Events are being held in cities and smaller towns across Britain and are not being held for individual parliamentary constituencies. The first events will be in Luton and Lincoln on 11 November. The cost of these and future events will depend on the number of participants.

  Biomass Plants
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many biomass plants are operating in the UK under the non-fossil fuel obligation; where they are situated; and what is the potential output of each plant. [2975]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: Two poultry—litter fuelled electricity generating stations are operating in the UK under the non-fossil fuel obligation, at Diss in Suffolk and Scunthorpe in Humberside. Each has a declared net capacity of 12.69 mw. In addition, an installation at Piddlehinton in Dorset, utilising pig slurry as a fuel, is currently generating under the NFFO. It has a capacity of 0.1 mw.

  A further poultry-litter fuelled power station with a capacity of 38.5 mw is under construction at Thetford in Norfolk.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the presentation of the Government's policies relating to manufacturing investment. [1321]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  Manufacturing investment is primarily a matter for manufacturing companies. The role of Government is to encourage enterprise by providing a stable macroeconomic environment, making markets work better, and helping firms to help themselves through the provision of high quality business support services.

  The Government set out their policies to achieve these objectives in "Competitiveness: Creating the Enterprise Centre of Europe", Cm 3300. My right. hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and other Ministers are explaining these policies to business people and listening to their concerns at a series of business breakfasts being held in several towns and cities.

  Launch Aid
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the last project supported by his Department under the launch aid programme; when this took place; and what was the level of the support. [991]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  [pursuant to the reply, 30 October, Official Report, column 152]: The hon. Member should be aware that part of the amount remaining to be paid has been allocated in 1996–97.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings (i) he, (ii) other Ministers and (iii) officials from his Department(a) have had and (b) plan to have with representatives of the Australian Government to discuss the report of the Canberra commission on the elimination of nuclear weapons. [2929]

  Mr. David Davis
  We have regular discussions with the Australian Government on nuclear non-proliferation and arms control issues. The Australian Government have made clear that the Canberra commission acted as an independent body.

  Death Penalty
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to the Governments of Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Russia concerning(a) the abolition of the death penalty and (b) resolution 1097 (1996) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement. [2745]

  Mr. Hanley
  The European Union made a demarche to Ukraine on 31 October, and to Russia on 4 November, encouraging them to fulfil commitments made to the Council of Europe to introduce moratoriums on the death penalty. The Presidents of Latvia and Lithuania have declared moratoriums on the death penalty pending parliamentary discussion of its abolition.

  Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to lay draft legislation before Parliament to ratify the comprehensive test ban treaty; what form that draft legislation will take; and if he will make a statement. [2961]

  Mr. David Davis
  We are considering what steps will be necessary, including legislation, to enable the United kingdom to ratify the treaty.

  Japan (Fast Reactor Accident)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek from his Japanese counterpart information on the official assessment of the environmental implications of the sodium release from the accident at the Monju fast reactor in Japan. [2959]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The embassy in Tokyo has been asked to obtain from the Japanese authorities the information mentioned in the hon. Member's question. It will be passed to him as soon as possible.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he 20
  has made of the findings of the UN special rapporteur in respect of the activities of the security forces in Pakistan. [3043]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The special rapporteur on torture has reported instances of serious human rights abuses in Pakistan. We expect such allegations to be fully investigated. We have raised human rights issues with Pakistan and will continue to do so.

  Croatia
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Croatia's current allocation from the know-how fund. [3162]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The know-how fund has allocated £0.5 million to Croatia for the current financial year.

  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his Department's priorities for allocations from the know-how fund in Croatia. [3161]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  A project identification mission to Croatia in February 1996, arranged by the know-how fund, identified financial and economic services, small and medium enterprise development, health care administration and environment as priority areas for know-how fund support in 1996–97.

  Information Technology Projects
  Ms Church
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many information technology project have been undertaken since 1992 and are planned for the coming year, in cost bands of £1,000,000. [1899]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The diplomatic wing and the Overseas Development Administration have undertaken 178 information technology projects since 1 April 1992. We plan to pursue 41 projects, including seven new ones, in the financial year 1997–98. However, plans depend on available resources, including private sector capital under the private finance initiative.

  The table gives details:

  Capital cost (£ million)

  IT projects since financial year 1992–93

  Projects planned for financial year 1997–98

  0-1

  166

  34

  1-2

  5

  7

  2-3

  2

  0

  4-5

  1

  0

  5-6

  1

  0

  10-11

  2

  0

  16-17

  1

  0

  Total

  178

  41

TREASURY

  Unemployed Claimant Count
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people would have been included in the unemployed claimant count if the changes in the method of calculation since 1979 had not taken place; [1142]

  (2) if he will list the changes made in the unemployed claimant count since 1979, outlining how many people were added or removed from the claimant count figures as a result of each change; [1141]

  (3) how many people are excluded from the unemployed claimant count because they are in dispute with the Employment Service. [1145]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to the three questions you have tabled on the coverage of the claimant count measure of unemployment.
  Current numbers on old definitions
  It is not ONS policy to make estimates of the numbers of people who would be included in the monthly claimant count if the benefit rules which were in place in 1979 still applied. Such estimates would be unreliable as they would relate to hypothetical situations and would therefore involve unwarranted speculation about the behaviour of individuals. We do however assess the impact of each relevant benefit change and if necessary recast the seasonally adjusted series to give an estimate of the claimant count, based on its current coverage, which is consistent over time. The latest consistent historic time series, available from January 1971 for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and from April 1974 for the standard regions, can be accessed from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library.
  Changes in the count since 1979
  An article entitled Changes to the coverage of the monthly count of claimant unemployment was published in the November 1995 edition of Labour Market Trends. This provides a complete listing of changes in the coverage of the monthly claimant unemployment count, including nine which were significant enough in the view of government statisticians to warrant a recasting of the consistent seasonally adjusted series. Past editions of Labour Market Trends are available in the House of Commons Library.
  Claimants who are in dispute with the Employment Service
  People whose claims are going through the adjudication process at the time the monthly figures are compiled will be included in the monthly count. Statistics on the outcomes of adjudication are published quarterly by the Employment Service in Analysis of Adjudication Officer's Decisions. No statistics are available on the numbers included in the claimant count who subsequently cease claiming after an adjudication decision has been made against them. The Employment Service publication is also available in the Library.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of United Kingdom public expenditure is discharged by(a) the Scottish Office, (b) the Welsh Office and (c) the Northern Ireland Office. [2132]
  22
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The proportion of general Government expenditure discharged by these Departments in 1994–95 was:

  Scottish Office: 5.0 per cent.

  Welsh Office: 2.2 per cent.

  Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland departments: 2.8 per cent.

  Mr. Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of United Kingdom public expenditure is spent in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [2130]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The proportion of general Government expenditure identified as being for the benefit of each country in 1994–95 was:

  England: 61.1 per cent.

  Scotland:8.0 per cent.

  Wales: 4.3 per cent.

  Northern Ireland: 2.8 per cent.

  The remaining 23.8 per cent. of public expenditure is not attributable to any one country. Her Majesty's Treasury collects information to identify, where possible, which country is to benefit from expenditure, not where the expenditure occurs.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of public spending per capita for each of the last five years for which figures are available in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales. [2633]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The figures requested are published in tables 7.2b, 7.3b, 7.4b, 7.5b and 7.6b of "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 1996–97", Cmn 3201, which is available in the Library.

  Lost Tax Revenue
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigation he has instituted into the amount of tax revenue lost to the Exchequer, owing to(a) persons reducing their overtime working and (b) persons leaving employment as a result of the requirements of child support legislation. [2449]

  Mr. Jack
  No specific investigations have been instituted. However, such factors as changes in working patterns are taken into account when tax forecasts are produced.

  Incontinence Products (VAT)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue will be raised in a full year as a result of the extension of VAT to the supply of incontinence products to NHS trusts and non-charitable residential and nursing homes; what the cost to the NHS will be; and if he will make a statement. [2629]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Under the Value Added Tax Act 1994, incontinence products are zero rated only when supplied directly to a disabled person or to a charity that makes them available to a disabled person. Supplies of incontinence products to the NHS and non-charitable residential and nursing homes have always been standard rated.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) court judgments and (b) administrative decisions have extended the coverage of VAT without the specific authority of primary legislation since 1990; how much revenue was received in the most recent full year for which figures are available as a result of each decision; and which goods or services were covered by each extension. [2634]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Records of court judgments and administrative decisions affecting the interpretation or application of VAT legislation are not maintained in a way that could provide this information.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases are pending in the United Kingdom courts against HM Customs and Excise concerning the repayment of VAT; how many of these are for recovery of debt in respect of VAT reclaims for the years 1993 or earlier; and if he will make a statement. [2649]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  There are 125 cases before the VAT and duties tribunals concerning Customs' decision to defer repayments over three years old. Four cases have already been heard, with the tribunal chairman deciding that he had no power to order Customs and Excise to repay the deferred amounts. In addition, four applicants have been given leave for a judicial review in respect of Customs' policy of deferment.

  Audit Visits
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 October,Official Report, column 60, how many audit visits for (a) large employers and (b) other employers have been conducted since 6 April; and what percentage of these visits are made up by (i) joint visits and (ii) single visits covering pay-as-you-earn and national insurance contributions. [3196]

  Mr. Jack
  Between 6 April and 30 September 1996, the Inland Revenue conducted 291 visits to large employers. Of these, 31—10.7 per cent.—were joint visits and 260—89.3 per cent.—single visits covering both PAYE and NICs; 20,933 visits were made to other employers. Of these, 17,823—85.1 per cent.—were single visits covering both PAYE and NICs. The remaining 3,110—14.9 per cent.—related to instances where a visit by the Contributions Agency revealed evidence of PAYE irregularities requiring further investigation by the Inland Revenue.

  Joint visits for these employers are not seen as appropriate.

  Drugs Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent calculation of the number of people who have died in each of the past five years as a result of using(a) methadone, (b) temazepam,(c) diazepam and (d) heroin. [1551]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: The information falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  24
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the numbers of people who have died in each of the last five years as a result of using methadone, temazepam, diazepam and heroin.
  The numbers of deaths in 1991–1992 as a result of using methadone, temazepam, diazepam and heroin are published in Table 10 of Mortality statistics: injury and poisoning, England and Wales, Series DH4, nos. 17 and 18, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.
  The information for 1993, 1994 and 1995 could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Information Technology Projects
  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many information technology projects have been undertaken since 1992 and are planned for the coming year, in cost bands of £1,000,000. [1898]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The total number of information technology projects undertaken by the Treasury, within the costs bands and years stated, are shown in the table:

  Projects undertaken in year

  Project value

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–981

  £10,000-£1 million

  13

  17

  12

  23

  25

  7

  £1 million-£2 million

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  £2 million-£3 million

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  £3 million-£4 million

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1 Planned.

  There were no IT projects with a value greater than £4 million from 1992 to 1996 and there are none planned for 1997–98.

  Qualifications
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for(a) the United Kingdom, (b) each English region, (c) England, (d) Wales, (e) Scotland and (f) Northern Ireland the percentage of those unemployed who have (i) a degree or equivalent qualification, (ii) A-level or equivalent, (iii) an apprenticeship, (iv) a GCSE or equivalent and (v) no qualifications. [2981]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question asking for a breakdown of the unemployed according to level of qualification by region.
  The available information for the United Kingdom is shown in the table attached.
  25

  All persons ILO unemployed of working age (thousands) of which (percentage) with highest qualification1

  Degree or other higher education

  'A' level and equivalent (excluding trade apprenticeships)

  Trade apprenticeship

  GCSE or equivalent

  Other

  No Qualification

  United Kingdom

  2,344

  11.6

  12.3

  10.6

  18.1

  20.0

  27.4

  Great Britain

  2,274

  11.7

  12.3

  10.4

  18.2

  20.4

  27.0

  England

  1,942

  11.8

  12.2

  9.7

  18.1

  20.8

  27.4

  South East

  742

  14.1

  12.8

  8.7

  16.7

  22.1

  25.5

  Greater London

  379

  15.6

  11.2

  7.1

  15.8

  23.7

  26.5

  Rest of South East

  362

  12.6

  14.4

  10.5

  17.7

  20.3

  24.5

  East Anglia

  72

  2—

  2—

  2—

  21.1

  23.6

  23.0

  South West

  169

  12.7

  14.9

  10.1

  22.1

  18.4

  22.0

  West Midlands

  219

  9.0

  12.1

  6.6

  16.9

  19.5

  35.9

  East Midlands

  152

  9.9

  13.4

  11.5

  18.5

  18.7

  28.0

  Yorkshire and

  189

  11.0

  11.9

  8.2

  18.3

  20.2

  30.4

  Humberside North west

  248

  11.9

  9.4

  10.7

  19.9

  20.0

  28.2

  North

  151

  7.1

  11.3

  16.5

  16.8

  22.1

  26.3

  Wales

  114

  9.3

  9.7

  10.8

  19.2

  20.2

  30.8

  Scotland

  218

  12.0

  14.6

  16.0

  19.1

  16.6

  21.6

  Northern Ireland

  69

  2—

  2—

  19.4

  14.1

  2—

  41.0

  Notes:

  1 Working age is men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59. Includes those who did not answer, but percentages are based on totals excluding them.

  2 Sample size too small for reliable estimate.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey (winter 1995–96), Office for National Statistics.

  Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recently agreed highly indebted poor countries initiative; and if he will make a statement. [1329]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Timms) on 14 October,Official Report, columns 705–06.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the report of the Canberra commission on the elimination of nuclear weapons. [2931]

  Mr. Soames
  We have noted the conclusions of the Canberra commission. We remain committed to the pursuit of negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament, as set out in article VI of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. But nuclear disarmament cannot realistically be pursued independently of the broader security context. We and NATO continue to judge that nuclear deterrence plays an essential role in maintaining peace and stability in Europe.

  Unidentified Flying Objects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the two occasions referred to in his answer of 24 July,Official Report, column 424, when RAF aircraft were scrambled or diverted from task to investigate uncorrelated radar targets; if the objects were identified;
  26
  if it was judged that breaches of United Kingdom airspace had occurred; and if he will list all similar incidents which have occurred since 1979. [2932]

  Mr. Soames
  The targets were identified as Russian maritime patrol aircraft and were in the northern portion of the UK air defence region. They did not penetrate UK airspace. Information covering the period from 1979 is not held in a readily available form and could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when United Kingdom military personnel were briefed about the scrambling of Belgian F-16 aircraft on 30 and 31 March 1990; when the unidentified flying object concerned was detected on United Kingdom radar systems; and if RAF aircraft were scrambled. [3185]

  Mr. Soames
  The Belgian authorities did not notify adjacent countries because no threat was perceived. There is no evidence of radar contacts within the UK air defence system.

  Radiation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the radiation readings, reported to his Department by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Halt on 13 January 1981, were judged to have posed any threat to Lieutenant Colonel Halt and his team; who assessed the readings; how the radiation compared with background radiation in the area; and if he will make a statement. [2934]

  Mr. Soames
  There is no record of any official assessment of the radiation readings reported by Lieutenant Colonel Halt.

  India
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet his Indian counterpart to discuss India's concerns over signing the comprehensive test ban treaty. [2930]

  Mr. Soames
  None, but we routinely discuss a wide range of issues with the Indian Government.

  Armoured Vehicles
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what maintenance is currently being carried out to armoured vehicles at Ashchurch which was previously dealt with at the Army vehicle depot at Ludgershall. [2933]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from K. J. W. Goad to Mr. Paul Murphy, dated 11 November 1996:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence, about what maintenance is currently being carried out to armoured vehicles at Ashchurch which was previously dealt with at the Army Vehicle Depot at Ludgershall, as this matters falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency.

  Principal headings of the Defence budget

  Current prices (£million)

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Estimate

  1975–76

  1980–81

  1985–86

  1990–91

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Total expenditure

  5,346

  11,182

  17,943

  22,298

  23,762

  23,424

  22,519

  21,715

  21,425

  Expenditure on personnel

  2,530

  4,556

  6,379

  8,811

  10,504

  9,835

  9,313

  8,684

  8,516

  of the Armed Forces

  1,305

  2,460

  3,510

  4,811

  5,634

  6,907

  6,490

  6,175

  6,191

  of the retired Armed Forces

  255

  503

  899

  1,406

  1,950

  —

  —

  —

  —

  of civilian staff

  970

  1,593

  1,970

  2,594

  2,920

  2,928

  2,823

  2,509

  2,325

  Expenditure on equipment

  1,792

  4,885

  8,193

  8,838

  8,711

  9,200

  8,819

  9,019

  8,460

  Sea

  440

  1,513

  2,499

  2,955

  2,891

  2,589

  2,441

  2,203

  1,999

  Land

  413

  904

  1,887

  1,927

  1,846

  1,806

  1,642

  1,841

  1,594

  Air

  752

  2,059

  3,296

  3,197

  3,152

  3,245

  3,184

  3,357

  3,444

  Other

  187

  410

  511

  759

  822

  1,559

  1,552

  1,618

  1,423

  Other expenditure

  1,024

  1,741

  3,371

  4,649

  4,547

  4,389

  4,387

  4,012

  4,449

  Works, buildings and land

  394

  623

  1,413

  2,067

  1,780

  2,073

  2,402

  1,917

  1,858

  Miscellaneous stores and services

  630

  1,118

  1,958

  2,582

  2,767

  2,316

  1,985

  2,095

  2,591

  Total expenditure at 1994–95 prices

  25,129

  25,485

  28,856

  26,956

  25,181

  24,161

  22,519

  20,963

  20,129

  28
  The maintenance required by armoured vehicles stored at the Base Vehicle Depot (BVD) Ashchurch is being carried out by staff, to the same exacting standards demanded by the Army's Equipment Managers, as was the case when armoured vehicles were stored at BVD Ludgershall.
  I hope this fully answers your question.

  Royal Squadron
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who, other than entitled members of the royal family, are passengers entitled to use the royal squadron. [3097]

  Mr. Soames
  In addition to the royal family, No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron aircraft may be used by Government Ministers, senior officers and officials of the MOD in fulfilment of their official duties, as well as meeting operational, exercise and flying training requirements. Visiting foreign dignitaries may also be flown, when appropriate: such additional usage adds to overall cost effectiveness.

  Departmental Staff
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) civilians and (b) service personnel are employed by his Department; and what was the total cost of employing each category. [3238]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is contained in the UK defence statistics 1996, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The latest available estimates of costs are contained in table 1.2 and the related figures for numbers of personnel are in table 2.1.
  29

  percentage of total expenditure

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Estimate

  1975–76

  1980–81

  1985–86

  1990–91

  1992–93

  1994–944

  1994–955

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Expenditure on personnel

  47.3

  40.7

  35.6

  39.5

  44.2

  42.0

  41.3

  40.0

  39.8

  of the Armed Forces

  24.4

  22.0

  19.6

  21.6

  23.7

  29.5

  28.8

  28.4

  28.9

  of the retired Armed Forces

  4.8

  4.5

  5.0

  6.3

  8.3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  of civilian staff

  18.1

  14.2

  11.0

  11.6

  12.3

  12.5

  12.5

  11.6

  10.9

  Expenditure on equipment

  33.5

  43.7

  45.7

  39.6

  36.7

  39.3

  39.2

  41.3

  39.4

  Sea

  8.2

  13.5

  13.9

  13.3

  12.2

  11.0

  10.9

  10.1

  9.3

  Land

  7.7

  8.1

  10.5

  8.6

  7.8

  7.7

  7.3

  8.5

  7.4

  Air

  14.1

  18.4

  18.4

  14.3

  13.3

  13.9

  14.1

  15.5

  16.1

  Other

  3.5

  3.7

  2.8

  3.4

  3.4

  6.7

  6.9

  7.5

  6.6

  Other expenditure

  19.2

  15.6

  18.8

  20.9

  19.1

  18.7

  19.5

  18.5

  20.8

  Works, buildings and land

  7.4

  5.6

  7.9

  9.3

  7.5

  8.9

  10.7

  8.8

  8.7

  Miscellaneous stores etc.

  11.8

  10.0

  10.9

  11.6

  11.6

  9.8

  8.8

  9.6

  12.1

  Source:

  MOD Resources and Programmes (Finance).

  Regular service and civilian personnel strength

  1 April

  Thousands

  1975

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total personnel

  664.3

  605.0

  542.9

  487.0

  476.3

  468.9

  438.9

  404.0

  371.8

  354.0

  Service

  347.7

  328.8

  336.4

  314.7

  307.1

  302.4

  283.0

  261.7

  238.6

  227.3

  Civilian

  316.7

  276.2

  206.5

  172.3

  169.1

  166.5

  155.9

  142.3

  133.2

  126.7

  Split by:

  UK personnel

  606.0

  560.4

  500.3

  447.1

  438.3

  432.9

  404.1

  376.0

  349.5

  332.3

  Service

  338.4

  320.6

  326.2

  305.7

  298.1

  293.4

  274.8

  254.5

  233.3

  222.4

  Civilian

  266.6

  239.8

  174.1

  141.4

  140.2

  139.5

  129.2

  121.6

  116.1

  109.9

  Locally entered/engaged

  59.4

  44.6

  42.6

  40.0

  38.0

  36.0

  34.8

  28.0

  22.3

  21.7

  Service

  9.3

  8.2

  10.2

  9.0

  9.1

  9.0

  8.2

  7.2

  5.2

  4.8

  Civilian

  50.1

  36.4

  32.4

  30.9

  26.9

  27.0

  26.6

  20.7

  17.1

  16.9

  Royal Irish(Home Service)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6.6

  5.4

  5.3

  5.0

  Source:

  DASA (Civilian and tri-service).

  NATO
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the(a) gross and (b) net expenditure by the United Kingdom on NATO in each of the last five years, with a breakdown between the (i) military, (ii) infrastructure and (iii) civil budget; what is the percentage contribution the United Kingdom makes to each budget; and what is the total spending by NATO under each budget for each of those years. [1678]

  Mr. Soames
  The United Kingdom contributes between 17.58 and 21.98 per cent. of NATO's military budget, and between 10.5394 and 12.1757 per cent. of the security investment programme—formerly known as the infrastructure programme—budget, depending on whether 14, 15 or all 16 nations are participating in any particular segment of the programme; total expenditure on each budget, and the UK's gross and net contributions for each of the last five years are shown in the table.30

  UK contributions to NATO budgets1

  Military budget2

  Overall NATO budget

  UK contribution

  1991

  341.7

  67.0

  1992

  373.4

  72.6

  1993

  369.4

  70.9

  1994

  349.5

  69.6

  1995

  250.3

  52.4

  SIP (Infrastructure)

  £ million

  Overall NATO budget

  UK contribution(gross)

  UK contribution(net)

  1991

  798.6

  168.7

  132.6

  1992

  787.9

  154.4

  115.9

  1993

  743.6

  111.8

  61.1

  31

  SIP (Infrastructure)

  £million

  Overall NATO budget

  UK contribution (gross)

  UK contribution(net)

  1994

  536.9

  127.5

  73.6

  1995

  522.6

  80.9

  58.9

  1 The SIP and military budgets are calculated in NATO artificial currencies, known as accounting units, and paid in instalments. The exchange rates between these units and individual national currencies vary during the year. The above figures are calculated using the exchange rates in force at the time each payment was made.

  2 UK receipts from the military budget are minimal (of the order of £400,000K pa).

  The UK contribution to the civil budget is almost entirely funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This budget has been maintained at zero real growth throughout the last five years with the UK contribution set at 18.82 per cent. The 1995 budget was £115 million, of which the UK's contribution was £21.6 million.

  Electric Shock Dog Collars
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which (i) regiments and (ii) other section of the armed forces and the MOD police, are using dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals; [3077]

  (2) what is the number of dogs owned by any section of the armed forces and the MOD police, on which electric shock dog collars (a) have been used and (b) are currently being used; [3078]

  (3) what guidelines he has given to (i) the armed forces and (ii) the MOD police, on the use of dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals. [3076]

  Mr. Soames
  These are essentially matters for the chief executive of the Defence Animal Centre and the chief executive and chief constable of the Ministry of Defence Police. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. David Rendel, dated 11 November 1996:
  I am replying to those parts of your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about electric shock collars in relation to police dogs as this falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
  Electric shock collars are not used in my Force on police dogs and I have no plans to introduce such equipment.

  Letter from A.H. Roache to Mr. David Rendel, dated 11 November 1996:
  I am replying to your three Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC).
  As the focal point for animal training for the three Services, the DAC does not make use of such pieces of equipment in training of dogs and consequently, no guidelines for usage have ever been issued.
  By the same token, no Service unit would ever be advised to use an item such as this on one of their animals. If, having left the DAC after training, a dog proved to be unsuitable for its role for whatever reason, it would be returned to the DAC for evaluation and re-training. If the dog could not be brought back to the required standard, it would be replaced.

  Anglo-French Summit
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the members of his Department who attended the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux and (b) the positions they hold. [3614]

  Mr. Soames
  Accompanying my right. hon. Friend the Secretary of Defence to the UK-French summit in Bordeaux on 7 to 8 November were the First Sea Lord, the deputy-under secretary for policy and his principal private secretary.

PRIME MINISTER

  Information Technology Projects
  Ms Church
  To ask the Prime Minister how many information technology projects have been undertaken since 1992 and are planned for the coming year, in cost bands of £1,000,000. [1901]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: For these purposes, my Office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General today.

  State Opening (Costs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost to the Government of the state opening of Parliament. [2807]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: Some £40,000 has been set aside between the two Houses for the state opening of Parliament and £1,600 has been allocated for the printing of the Queen's Speech. This does not include any additional cost of police and military staff who took part in the ceremony, which are not separately costed.

WALES

  Permaculture
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates he has made of the number of farms or holdings operating on permaculture principles; and if he will make a statement. [2347]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  : None.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the work of the permaculture farm at Tir Penrhos Isaf in Gwynedd; what plans he has to encourage permaculture within national parks; and if he will make a statement. [2359]

  Mr. Evans
  No assessment has been made and there are no plans to encourage permaculture within national parks in Wales.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the practice and benefits of permaculture within Wales; and if he will make a statement. [2352]

  Mr. Evans
  None.
  33
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each year since 1994 the estimated number of organic farms or holdings in Wales; in each year, how many of these organic farms or holdings operated under the principles of permaculture; and if he will make a statement. [2321]

  Mr. Evans
  There are currently 101 registered organic producers in Wales representing an area of 3,377 hectares. Details for earlier years are not available. No estimate has been made of the number of organic farms operating on permaculture principles.

  Local Exchange Trading Schemes
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the desirability of providing financial aid and incentives to encourage rural local authorities to set up specific local exchange trading schemes to help farmers cope during the BSE crisis; and if he will make a statement. [2312]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 7 November 1996,Official Report, column 657.

  Security Systems (Schools)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sums he will make available to(a) local education authorities and (b) schools for security systems; if he will compensate those schools which installed security systems ahead of his allocations; and if he will make a statement. [2261]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Measures to improve school security for LEA-maintained schools have been included in the grants for education, support and training—GEST—programme for 1997–98. It is for LEAs to determine funding arrangements in their areas. Security measures for voluntary aided and grant-maintained schools may be made available from within their respective capital grant proposals.

  New Hospital (Porthmadog)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what date he expects to complete the private finance initiative procedures in respect of the proposed new hospital at Porthmadog; when he expects work to start on building; and when completion is scheduled. [2204]

  Mr. Hague
  The private finance initiative procedures for this scheme are being undertaken by the Gwynedd Community NHS trust, I understand that the North Wales health authority is undertaking a major review of all community hospital facilities in north Wales and that a delay of some six months will be required pending the outcome of that review.

  Hospitals (Private Finance Initiative)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospitals in Wales are involved in private finance initiative bids by area. [2266]
  34
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The following are involved in private finance initiative bids where the proposed scheme costs exceeds their delegated capital spending limits—although all trusts test for private sector interest within the private finance initiative for all capital schemes:

  NORTH WALES HEALTH AUTHORITY

  Gwynedd Community NHS trust

  Gwynedd Hospitals NHS trust

  DYFED POWYS HEALTH AUTHORITY

  Carmarthen and District NHS Trust

  Derwen NHS trust

  Powys Healthcare NHS trust

  MORGANNWG HEALTH AUTHORITY

  Glan-Y-Mor NHS trust

  BRO TAF HEALTH AUTHORITY

  University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS trust

  Cardiff Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Velindre NHS trust

  GWENT HEALTH AUTHORITY

  Glan Hafren NHS trust

  Gwent Community NHS trust

  Nevil Hall NHS trust

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each year since 1994(a) what forms of financial aid are available exclusively for organic farmers, (b) what administrative procedures were required for its acquisition, (c) how much money was earmarked, and (d) what percentage of the money annually earmarked was received by farmers in that year; and if he will make a statement. [2350]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The organic aid scheme provides direct financial support for farmers wishing to convert from conventional to organic production methods.

  To obtain aid, a farmer must register the land as in conversion with the UK register of organic food standards—UKROFS—or a body approved by UKROFS, and undertake to convert to organic agriculture in accordance with the rules of the scheme and UKROFS organic production standards.

  The scheme provision and percentage paid to farmers during the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 and provision for 1996–97 are shown in the table:

  (£ thousands)

  Financial year

  Provision

  Percentage outturn

  1994–95

  170

  0

  1995–96

  296

  2

  1996–97

  382

  —

  Difficulty obtaining suitable technical advice and information may have deterred some farmers. I was therefore pleased to launch the Welsh organic conversion information service last September. The service provides a telephone helpline and free advisory visits to prospective organic farmers. Interest has been strong and I hope that more farmers will be encouraged to convert as a result of this imaginative initiative.

  Child Abuse Inquiry
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance he plans to make available to Flintshire county council and North Wales police authority with regard to their additional costs incurred as a result of the north Wales child abuse inquiry. [1935]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the Attorney-General's parliamentary answer of 29 January 1990—Official Report, column 26—and confirm that the Government will not meet the costs of substantial bodies of this kind in respect of tribunals and public inquiries unless there are special circumstances.

  New Medical School
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for a new medical school within the university of Wales at(a) Bangor and (b) Swansea. [2441]

  Mr. Hague
  I have no such plans.

  Death Rates
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what analysis he has made of the current trends in death rates from(a) suicide, (b) road accidents,(c) violence, (d) drugs and (e) other causes for men aged (i) 15 to 24 and (ii) 25 to 44 years, relative to the targets set out in the Welsh "The Health of the Nation" publications. [2647]

  Mr. Hague
  There are no specific targets for men in these age groups set out in the Welsh protocols for investment in health gain. Analyses of death rates for men aged 15 to 44 years were set out in "Welsh Health", the 1995 annual report of the chief medical officer, in particular figures 2.10 and 2.11 on pages 13 and 14 respectively. The report is available in the Library of the House.

  The injuries protocol does include a target for reducing the death rate from road traffic accidents for persons aged 15 to 24 years. Progress towards this target is described on page 32 of the chief medical officer's annual report.

  Health Promotion
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what analysis he has made of the current trends in obesity relative to the targets for health improvement set out in Welsh "The Health of the Nation" publications; [2645]

  (2) what analysis he has made of the trends in (a) drug misuse and (b) smoking among teenagers published in his chief medical officer's annual report for 1995, with particular reference to the targets set out in previous Welsh "The Health of the Nation" publications. [2646]

  Mr. Hague
  The chief medical officer's report for 1995 analyses current trends. Informed by the report's findings, national health gain indicators are currently being prepared, and these will feed through into the strategic plans of health authorities in 1997. This will enable health authorities to focus attention on particular problem areas and my Department to monitor action to bring about improvements.

  Mortality and Morbidity Statistics
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each of the areas of mortality and morbidity referred to in his chief medical officer's 1995 annual report where the trend since 1989 is(a) better than the targets set that year, (b) at or around the target and (c) worse than the target; and if he will make a statement. [2658]

  Mr. Hague
  The following areas of mortality and morbidity, referred to in the chief medical officer's annual report 1995, demonstrate a trend since 1989 which is:

  (a) better than the target set:

  Deaths from road traffic accidents ages 0 to 14, 65 and over

  Deaths from accidents other than road traffic accidents

  Deaths from coronary heart disease under the age of 65

  Death from strokes under the age of 65, 65 and over

  Deaths from lung cancer in men ages 45 to 64

  Death from breast cancer in women ages 50 to 64

  Death from cervical cancer in women ages 45 to 64

  Dental injuries in children

  (b) at or around the target set:

  Perinatal mortality (still births and deaths in the first week of life)

  Infant mortality (deaths in the first year of life)

  Smoking in adults

  Deaths from suicide in women

  Deaths from lung cancer in women ages 45 to 65

  Deaths from colorectal cancer ages 45 to 64

  Dental caries in children

  (c) Worse than the target set:

  Low birth weight

  Unmanaged refective error in people with learning disability

  Untreated hearing deficit in people with learning disability

  Side effects of psychotropic medication in people with learning disability

  Deaths from road traffic accidents ages 15 to 24

  Smoking in teenage children

  Overweight and obesity

  Physical exercise

  Alcohol consumption

  Deaths from suicide in men

  Deaths from asthma under the age of 45

  Treatment of decayed teeth in children

  Consumption of sweets and cakes in teenage children.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of GP registrars on the GP training scheme, by(a) available places and (b) places filled in each training centre. [2644]

  Mr. Hague
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the reply in the Library of the House.

  US Military Bases
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reports his Department obtained from the United States Government regarding the conducting of environmental compliance assessments at military bases used by United States forces in Wales. [3282]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Qualifications
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of young people qualified in the last available year to level 3; and what comparison he has made with the percentages qualifying at a similar level in(a) England, and (b) Scotland and (c) each member of the European Union. [3040]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information on the percentage of young people who qualified to national vocational qualification level 3 in the last available year is not readily available. However the labour force survey for winter 1995–96 estimated that 45 per cent. of 21 to 23-year-olds in Wales were qualified to national vocational qualification level 3, advanced GNVQ or the academic equivalent of two GCE A-levels. The corresponding percentages for England and Scotland were 45 and 52 per cent. respectively, but this information is not readily available for each member of the European Union.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what percentage of students achieved grades A to C at A-level in 1996; and what assessment he has made of how this percentage compares with(a) England and (b) the equivalent qualifications in Scotland; [3037]

  Simplified scheme

  Main scheme

  County

  Total payments £

  Cereal payments £

  Oilseed payments £

  Protein payments £

  Linseed payments £

  Set-aside payments £

  Total £

  Clwyd

  800,026.12

  675,097.78

  88,816.01

  50,314.77

  3,795.78

  174,216.20

  992,240.54

  Dyfed

  1,806,674.34

  1,522,674.79

  261,232.71

  57,839.70

  70,928.34

  421,522.09

  2,334,197.63

  Gwent

  481,924.24

  849,302.56

  131,540.54

  66,516.21

  81,400.52

  246,686.02

  1,375,445.85

  Gwynedd

  335,677.34

  199,583.92

  14,753.47

  6,289.57

  0.00

  67,683.53

  288,310.49

  Mid Glamorgan

  86,467.20

  238,594.61

  55,767.44

  11,111.69

  12,859.21

  58,510.28

  376,843.23

  Powys

  703,938.20

  793,113.14

  105,049.37

  17,467.83

  343.70

  184,646.26

  1,100,620.30

  South Glamorgan

  175,555.78

  580,217.37

  121,566.30

  7,453.30

  46,668.09

  145,344.22

  901,249.28

  West Glamorgan

  126,012.48

  80,950.71

  11,562.34

  0.00

  8,129.54

  33,737.69

  134,380.28

  Total

  4,516,275.70

  4,939,534.88

  790,288.18

  216,993.07

  224,125.18

  1,332,346.29

  7,503,287.60

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the maximum, minimum and average payment made under the arable area payments scheme in 1995. [3623]
  38
  (2) what percentage of students achieved A to C grades in GCSEs in 1996; and what assessment he has made of how this compares (a) with England and (b) with the equivalent qualification in Scotland. [3036]

  Mr. Evans
  I intend to publish information on examination results for 1996 in school and college performance booklets later this month.

  Copies of the booklets will be sent to the hon. Member, and further copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Booklets containing similar information will also be published for England and Scotland.

  SSR Budgets
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he has in place to ensure that local education authority service, strategy and regulation budgets are not transferred to local education authority-maintained schools in the form of in-year payments. [3079]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 4 November,Official Report, column 353. Were a local education authority to delegate this money to any of its schools, it would be identified in the audit of the financial statements that LEAs are required to prepare under section 122 of the Education Act 1996. Where it could be demonstrated that this had implications for the funding of grant-maintained schools, steps would be taken to ensure that they were not financially disadvantaged.

  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by county the payments made under the arable area payments scheme in 1995. [3622]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information is given in the table:

  Mr. Evans
  The maximum payment was £135,569, the minimum payment £140, and the average payment £4,909.

HEALTH

  NHS Funding
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the outturn figures for each district health authority in respect of revenue and capital expenditure for each year since 1992; and what were the revenue and capital allocations. [1125]

  Mr. Horam
  Under the National Health Service Act 1977, health authorities are required to keep only total attributable expenditure within the sums allotted by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Health authorities may spend more on revenue or capital provided providing this is contained within the overall cash limit. That may give rise to anomalies when revenue and capital are considered separately. Additional columns have therefore been provided in a table on the comparison of spending with cash limits, to record the overall position on cash limits. Copies of this table have been placed in the Library.

  Dentists
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists are now contracted for national health service work; and how many of them handle only children and exempt categories for national health service work. [1361]

  Mr. Malone
  The information is contained in the following table:

  General dental service: number of dentists1. 3. 4 who have received payment for national health service treatment from May 1996 to October 1996, and the number 3. 4 receiving no payment for treatment involving a patient charge

  England

  Number of dentists 1 who received payment May-October 1996

  Number of dentists 2.3.4 who received no payment for treatment attracting a patient charge

  May 1996-October 1996

  15,738

  658

  1 This is the number of dentists who received a payment schedule in respect of an adult or child patient in the last six months rather than the number who have carried out NHS treatment during this time.

  2 There are a small number of treatments which do not attract a patient charge even for charge payers.

  3 The above figures exclude dentists whose payment schedule was either nil or negative.

  4 The number of dentists in this column includes orthodontists whose practices focus solely on children.

  Salaried dentists are excluded.

  Nottingham District Health Authority
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research's report on the funding of health districts; and if he will make a statement on its conclusion regarding Nottingham district health authority. [1421]

  Mr. Horam
  The report provides no major new insights into the funding of Nottingham health authority.

  Car Leasing Costs
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on leasing cars for use by NHS managers in the latest year for which figures are available. [2579]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collate information on how many persons are covered by private medical insurance; and if he will make a statement. [2740]

  Mr. Horam
  The Association of British Insurers already collates this information.

  Mentally Disordered Offenders
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mentally disordered offenders are currently receiving treatment in each health authority area; how many are estimated to have received treatment in each health authority area in each year since 1991; of these, how many have received or are receiving care in(a) private and (b) NHS facilities; and at what cost in each health authority area. [2659]

  Mr. Burns
  Information available centrally relates to admissions of mentally disordered offenders. National data are published in the Statistical Bulletin "In-patients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation, England: 1989–90 and 1994–95", copies of which are available in the Library; data will be published shortly giving information at trust level for 1994–95. Reliable information on numbers of mentally disordered offenders in hospital at any given time is not available centrally. Information about the costs in each health authority is not held centrally.

  Agency and Bank Nurses
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of(a) agency and (b) bank nurses currently employed by NHS trusts; and what is the average weekly cost of one of each to a trust. [2661]

  Mr. Horam
  There were 5,560 whole-time equivalent agency nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed in national health service trusts and 14,730 whole-time equivalent bank nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed by NHS trusts at September 1995—the latest date for which figures are available. The average weekly cost of an agency nurse and bank nurse to an NHS trust is not available centrally.

  Adoption
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to amend the law in respect of contact between adults after adoption to enable the birth parent to have information identifying the adoptee once the adoptee is aged over 25 years; and if he will make a statement. [2720]

  Mr. Burns
  The Adoption Act 1976 as amended by the Children Act 1989 introduced the Adoption Contact Register. The Adoption Contact Register, which is
  41
  operated by the Registrar General, enables adopted people, their birth parents and other relatives to be put in touch with each other when that is the wish of the parties concerned. The register is open to people who are at least 18 years of age. Proposals contained in the draft Adoption Bill make no changes to these arrangements.

  Day Care (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision he has made in(a) Doncaster and (b) South Yorkshire to support school leavers with physical disabilities with day care facilities. [2678]

  Mr. Burns
  The latest figures available, from September 1995, show that, in South Yorkshire, 1,430 day centre places were available for those aged 16 to 64 with physical and/or sensory impairments. In Doncaster, 197 day centre places were available to the same client group.

  Hepatitis C
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophiliacs have been infected with hepatitis C. [2761]

  Mr. Horam
  The figure of just over 3,000 for haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C through blood products which has been quoted by the Haemophilia Society is substantially in line with the Department's own estimates.

  Prescribed Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) diuretics, (b) analgesics, (c) night sedations, (d) digoxins, (e) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, (f) laxatives, (g) corticosteroids, (h) beta blockers, (i) beta agonists, (j) long-acting nitrates and (k) aminophyllines have been prescribed to people in the United Kingdom broken down by age bands of 10 years in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [2882]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the number of prescription items listed alphabetically within therapeutic class for England 1995 is available in a publication entitled "Prescription Cost Analysis, England, 1995", copies of which are available in the Library. For previous years' data, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member. for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 18 June, at column 415.

  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 respectively.

  Motor Neurone Disease
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in the treatment of motor neurone disease; and if he will make a statement. [2878]

  Mr. Horam
  A new drug called riluzole is, so far, the only treatment shown to slow the progression of one type of motor neurone disease. Other drugs to treat motor neurone disease are currently undergoing clinical 42
  investigation. The national health service and local social services authorities assist sufferers from motor neurone disease through symptom control and by provision of services such as speech and language therapy and domiciliary support.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the methods of treatment of motor neurone disease in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement. [2879]

  Mr. Horam
  Riluzole was available in the United States of America before the marketing authorization in Europe was granted. The assessment of riluzole, to determine its availability in Europe, was undertaken by the United Kingdom licensing authority on behalf of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.

  Prodigy Pilot Study
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the prescribing recommendations in the Prodigy pilot study in respect of people with epilepsy who experience adverse reactions to no-branded medicines; and if he will make a statement; [3292]

  (2) what representations he has received from (a) pharmaceutical manufacturers, (b) patient groups and (c) general practitioners regarding the prescribing recommendations in the Prodigy pilot study; [3296]

  (3) what plans he has to review the prescribing recommendations in the Prodigy pilot study relating to the treatment of hypertension; and if he will make a statement; [3289]

  (4) what plans he has to review the prescribing recommendations in the Prodigy pilot study in respect of people with diabetes requiring animal-based insulins; and if he will make a statement. [3291]

  Mr. Malone
  The Prodigy project encourages comment from general practitioners taking part in the trial. Following publication of the guidelines used for phase 1 of the project, we have received a number of detailed comments from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and from patient groups. Any appropriate revisions to the recommendations will be made in the light of this information.

  Hospital Doctors
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors were employed in hospitals(a) at the latest available date (b) five years ago; and to what extent the change in numbers is accounted for by reductions in junior doctor's hours. [3277]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the number of hospital doctors is published in the Department of Health's Statistical Bulletin "Hospital, Public Health and Community Health Service Medical and Dental Staff in England 1985 to 1995", copies of which are available in the Library. The overall increase between 1990 and 1995 was 6,760 doctors, a rise of 14 per cent. Between June 1991 and March 1996, the Government-funded centrally 1,339 extra posts for hospital doctors, including 1,125
  43
  consultants, to support the reductions in junior doctors' hours.

  Genetic Testing
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing has taken since July 1996. [3682]

  Mr. Horam
  The Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing met in July and in September. The committee has established two sub—groups, one on genetic testing offered direct to the public, and another on the issue of late onset genetic disorders.

  The chairman of the advisory committee, the Rev. Dr. John Polkinghorne, has today written to professional, consumer, voluntary and industrial bodies requesting comments on a draft voluntary code of practice on genetic testing offered direct to the public. Copies of the document have been placed in the Library.

  Pressure Sores
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the letter of 23 July from the Minister for Social Security and Disabled Persons and other Ministers to Hon. Members, if he will make a statement on the campaign to increase public and professional awareness of pressure sores; and if he will collate statistics in respect of the incidence of pressure sores among NHS hospital patients. [1414]

  Mr. Burns
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him on 22 May 1996, column 217 about the collating of statistics on the incidence of pressure sores among national health service patients.

  The Department has undertaken a number of recent initiatives on pressure sores. I refer the right hon. Member to the letter my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to him on 29 October 1996 on this subject.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums his Department has devoted to the prevention of pressure sores in constant prices for each of the last 10 years; and what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in this area in this period. [1409]

  Mr. Burns
  Complete information about expenditure on the prevention of pressure sores by the Department of Health is not available.

  To help clarify the cost of pressure sores, the Department commissioned a report in 1993 from Touche Ross. The report found that there may be some small opportunity cost savings to be made for the high-risk patient groups but pressure sore prevention should be seen as a quality of care issue rather than a means of cost savings.

  The Department of Health commissioned work to produce clinical guidelines for pressure sores in 1994. The
  44
  Royal College of Nursing has been asked to redevelop the work so far.

  The health technology assessment programme has commissioned a systematic review into wound care management, including pressure sore prevention. The project is on-going, with further expenditure expected this year and next.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health is he will make a statement on the cases investigated by the Health Commissioner in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 relating to bed sores; and what impact the commissioner's findings have had on the work of his Department. [1408]

  Mr. Burns
  A number of cases investigated by the Health Service Commissioner in 1994–95 and 1995–96 involved, among other things, issues relating to pressure sores. Where the commissioner made recommendations as part of his investigation reports, the national health service bodies concerned have acted on these.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums(a) his Department and (b) the Medical Research Panel have devoted to research into (i) epilepsy and (ii) related conditions in the last 10 years in constant prices. [1410]

  Mr. Burns
  Information on research commissioned by the Department of Health is contained in "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme" and "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme: Commissions in 1994–95", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Within the national programme on implementation of research findings, there is a project looking at comparing a patient-held reminder card to a doctor-held reminder card to improve epilepsy care in the community. This is at a cost of £102,000.

  There are also a number of regionally supported research projects. We do not have complete records on regional research activity but we are aware of the following:
  A pilot project aimed to develop and evaluate the role of a nurse specialist delivering a package of information, advice and counselling to patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy at a cost of £50,000.
  Collaborative care planning health outcomes contract which includes a collaborative care plan for epilepsy, which is a patient focused approach to planning care at a cost of £15,000.
  The identification of the relationship between function and anatomy using 3-D fusion of SECT nuclear medicine and CT medical images which many facilitate the improvement of diagnosis and classification of brain disorders such as dementia and epilepsy at a cost of £45,000.
  45
  The Medical Research Council expenditure figures for epilepsy up to 1993–94 are:

  1986–87: £437,000

  1987–88: £446,000

  1988–89: £350,000

  1989–90: £310,000

  1990–91: £340,000

  1991–92: £381,000

  1992–93: £336,000

  1993–94: £472,000

  The Medical Research Council databasing system has now changed and figures for later years cannot be accurately compared with these earlier figures. However, the MRC currently supports a wide portfolio of epilepsy-related research both through its own establishments and through grant support in universities, as follows:
  Ten programmes and projects related to epilepsy, for which the total MRC funding is £4,277,000;
  Five further projects of relevance to epilepsy, for which total MRC funding is £377,000;
  A large programme directly related to epilepsy, for which total MRC expenditure was £940,000, was completed in January 1996.

  Incontinence
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in relation to incontinence in the last 10 years. [1411]

  Mr. Burns
  The national health service research and development strategy was launched in April 1991. It is not possible conclusively to confirm the costs designated for research on incontinence before this date.

  The following research has been funded by the Department of Health policy research programme:
  (i) 1988–89: Total cost £40,385
  An evaluation of incontinence training packages
  Social policy research unit, university of York.
  (ii) 1990–91: Total costs £11,000
  Further analysis of Office of Population Censuses and Survey's disability survey data on incontinence

  Section 64 grant and related expenditure on incontinence 1987–88–1996–97

  Year

  Section 64 grant payments

  Expenditure relating to section 64 grants

  Total

  Continence foundation £

  ERIC1£

  InconTact £

  Disabled living Manchester £

  Communications budget2 £

  Publicity budget £

  £

  1987–88

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988–89

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  —

  10,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10,000

  1991–92

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1992–93

  26,250

  30,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  56,250

  1993–94

  60,000

  23,496

  —

  —

  —

  114,076

  197,572

  1994–95

  85,000

  10,000

  —

  —

  —

  69,559

  164,559

  1995–96

  85,000

  38,000

  25,000

  —

  215,300

  49,953

  213,253

  1996–97

  75,000

  26,492

  25,000

  16,000

  —

  40,000

  182,492

  Total

  331,250

  137,988

  50,000

  16,000

  215,300

  273,588

  824,126

  1 Enuresis resource and information centre.

  2 This expenditure was incurred to produce the incontinence report in conjunction with the Royal College of Physicians.

  NB: The costs quoted above are likely to be significantly under estimated as they are project related and do not include other unit costs e.g. core staff costs.
  46
  Social policy research unit, university of York.
  (iii) 1991–93: Total cost £90,000
  The current and future role of continence advisors.
  (iv) 1993–96: Total cost £181,745
  Costs, effectiveness and quality in continence services
  Social policy unit and centre for health economics, university of York.
  (v) 1993–96: Total cost £251,183
  DH post doctoral fellowship: Dr. Brenda Roe to evaluate health interventions by members of the primary health care team and continence advisory services.
  (vi) 1994–95: Total cost £99,819
  The development of methodologies to identify urinary incontinence and set targets for health gain.
  Health and community care research unit, university of Liverpool
  (vii) 1995–96: Total cost £13,000
  The health technology assessment programme—a review into the use of laxatives by the elderly, and the effects on incontinence.
  National health service centre for review and dissemination, university of York.
  (viii) To be completed 1997: Total cost £96,000
  Research into the treatment of urinary incontinence in stroke patients. University department of medicine for the elderly, university of Leicester.
  (ix) To be completed 1997: Total cost £84,500
  The development of an improved re-usable incontinence bed pad. The medical physics and bio-engineering department, university College, London.
  NB: The costs quoted above (Nos. 1 to 4) for research projects within the social policy research unit are likely to be significantly under estimated as the costs quoted are project related costs only and do not include other unit costs such as staff costs.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his Department's budget relating to incontinence for each of the last 10 years in constant prices. [1412]

  Mr. Burns
  The Department of Health funds several voluntary organisations through section 64 grants and has run publicity campaigns relating to incontinence since 1993–94.

  The table shows that the total amount spent over the last 10 years is £824,126, which does not include research projects, staffing or administration costs.

  Hearing Impairment Aids
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department on aids for those with hearing impairments in each of the last 10 years at constant prices. [1413]

  Mr. Burns
  The purchase and supply of hearing aids is a matter for national health service trusts. Information on the cost of provision is not available centrally.

  Fetal Sentience
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the membership, terms of reference and proposed timetable for action of the working party on fetal sentience established by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. [3310]

  Mr. Horam
  The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is establishing a working party to conduct an independent review of the evidence relating to fetal awareness and to consider whether there is any need for change in current practice. I understand that the college will be announcing shortly the chairman and membership of the working party, along with its full terms of reference.

  Cystic Fibrosis Trust
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 November,Official

  Post

  From

  To

  Appointment letter signatory

  Regional Chairman for the Northern and Yorkshire Region of the NHS Executive

  1 April 1996

  31 March 1998

  Stephen Dorrell

  Chairman, Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  1 April 1994

  31 March 1996

  Virginia Bottomley

  Chairman, St. James' University Hospital NHS Trust

  17 December 1990

  31 March 1994

  William Waldegrave

  Non-executive member, York District Health Authority

  1990

  1990

  Sir Bryan Askew

  Non-executive member and later Vice-Chairman, Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  1984

  1990

  —

  Non-executive member, Scarborough District Health Authority

  1980

  1984

  —

  Non-executive member, North Yorkshire Family Practitioner Committee

  1978

  1980

  —

  Information about the signatories of the appointment before 1990 is not available.

  BSE and CJD
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidence his Department has evaluated connecting cases of BSE with cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; [3069]

  (2) what evidence his Department has evaluated indicating the BSE (a) can be and (b) has been transmitted to humans. [3070]

  Mr. Horam
  The main evidence has been the report of the new variant cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease published in The Lancet on 6 April 1996, Professor Collinge's work on transgenic mice published in Nature on 21 December 1995 and the report of Professor Collinge's glycoprotein mapping experiments published in Nature on 24 October 1996.

  We have sought advice on these and on related work from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, which provides independent scientific advice on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
  48
  Report, columns 403–04, if he will make a statement on the purposes for which each of the three three-year section 64 project grants has been given to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. [3071]

  Mr. Horam
  The grants were for the following purposes:Family support project (1990–1993): to establish a national network of volunteer family support workers responsible for befriending parents of newly diagnosed children, providing practical help and advice, encouraging the development of home care and providing information about welfare benefits.
  Family and adult support volunteer network (1993–1996): to devise and provide a programme of mutual support activities for young adults with cystic fibrosis that would enable them to make the difficult transition from childhood to adulthood and support their efforts to obtain employment and live independently of their parents.
  Cystic fibrosis advocacy project (1996–1999): to demonstrate that the best advocates of the needs of people with chronic illnesses are the patients themselves, by training adults with cystic fibrosis in four areas to become advocates for others.

  Mr. John Greetham
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what appointments Mr. J. Greetham(a) holds and (b) has held within the NHS, with their dates; and which (i) Minster and (ii) regional chair signed the letter of appointment in each case. [3082]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the Hon. Member to the reply I gave on 29 March, columns 778–79. The further information requested is an follows:

  SEAC's view is that a connection between exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy and new variant CJD has not yet been conclusively established. In the absence of any alternative explanation, exposure to BSE remains the most likely explanation and Professor Collinge's latest work provides further support for that view.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 November,Official Report, columns 498–500 on tuberculosis cases, how many cases of (a) chemoprophylaxis and (b) tuberculosis including chemoprophylaxis have been recorded in England in each of the last 10 years. [3528]

  Mr. Horam
  The figures in the following table give the number of cases of tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis in England which have been notified to the Office for National Statistics, and the number of all notifications of tuberculosis in England, including those notified as
  49
  chemoprophylaxis. Cases of tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis are not cases of actual tuberculosis and most are therefore not notified.

  Year

  Notifications of cases of tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis in England

  All notifcations of tuberculosis (including chemoprophylaxis) in England

  1986

  643

  6,386

  1987

  434

  5,287

  1988

  265

  5,225

  1989

  375

  5,598

  1990

  346

  5,356

  1991

  456

  5,726

  1992

  552

  6,149

  1993

  579

  6,300

  1994

  482

  5,891

  1995

  458

  5,884

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Women Priests
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how much compensation the commissioners expect to be paid to clergy leaving the Church due to the ordination of women priests. [1340]

  Mr. Alison
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) earlier today.

  Forestry Commission Woodlands
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list those woodlands by county sold off by the Forestry Commission over which the Church Commissioners retained rights and regarding which the Church Commissioners were consulted prior to the sale for each year since 1981. [2409]

  Mr. Alison
  High Plumps wood, a 20-acre wood on the York estate in the county of Yorkshire leased to the Forestry Commission, was sold to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1991 as part of the site for the Central Scientific Laboratory. The Forestry Commission surrendered its lease and the commissioners retained the mineral rights.

  Repton Shrubs, a 118-acre woodland on the Foremarke estate in the county of Derbyshire was sold by the commissioners in 1993 subject to a tenancy of 999 years to the Forestry Commission. The site was sold subject to existing rights of way, wayleaves and easements and included the sporting rights, subject to the existing sporting lease.

  Details of other relevant sites which have been sold are not currently available, but I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as they are available.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list those woodlands by county currently owned or leased by 50
  the Forestry Commission in respect of which the Church Commissioners have (i) third party rights and (ii) own the freehold. [2410]

  Mr. Alison
  The Commissioners own the freehold of the following woodlands which are leased to the Forestry Commission:

  County

  Name

  Acreage

  Cambridgeshire

  Salome Wood, Leighton Bromswold

  58.09

  Derbyshire

  Foremarke Estate Woods

  290.48

  Staffordshire

  Bishop's Wood Plantation

  869.48

  Yorkshire

  Ampleforth and York Forests (which includes Hagg Wood); Kilburn and Sand Hutton Woods

  Yorkshire

  Millington Wold

  50.17

  Yorkshire

  World's End, Stockton on Forest

  52.15

  Yorkshire

  Cawood and Wistow Woods

  786.15

  Total

  2,752.92

  Land Rights
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what policy the Church Commissioners have regarding(a) the development and (b) the commercial exploitation of shooting over land (i) in its ownership and (ii) for which it has retained the shooting rights. [2411]

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners have a duty to try to obtain the best possible return from all their assets for the benefit of the Church of England clergy. Sporting rights are let, following negotiations, either to farm tenants or third parties and are subject to regular review.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what mechanism the Church Estate Commissioners adopt to resolve conflicts arising between public access on foot and the commercial exploitation or sale of shooting rights over land or woodland (i) which they own and (ii) over which they have retained the shooting rights. [2412]

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners are not seeking any change whatsoever to the existing public rights of access to their woodlands. It is the commissioners' policy to protect any access to these woodlands in the form of public footpaths or bridleways.

  We have had no reports of any conflicts between walking and shooting rights and no such concerns have been expressed direct to us. We are always ready to listen to those who contact us over the use of our land.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Deregulation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's deregulation policies on safety at work. [1310]

  Mr. Freeman
  Changes are being made which will simplify and clarify the law without reducing necessary standards. These stem from the Health and Safety Commission's own review of regulation.
  51
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with other Ministers regarding deregulation. [1312]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Deputy Prime Minister meets regularly with ministerial colleagues to discuss the progress of the deregulation initiative.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the EU directives and regulations implemented in the parliamentary Session 1995–96 which have contributed to a diminution of the regulatory burdens of small businesses in Britain. [1311]

  Mr. Freeman
  I share my hon. Friend's concern about the potential burdens that new regulations can place on small businesses. This is a message I continue to emphasise to the European Commission and to colleagues in other member states.

  I am pleased to note the recent announcement that the number of new proposals for legislation from the Commission has fallen yet again, from 48 in 1993 to just 16 for 1997.

  Debts (Late Payment)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received relating to Government policy on the late payment of debts. [1313]

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the presentation of Government policy with particular reference to the impact of late payment of debt on British companies' competitiveness. [1318]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have actively sought views on late payment, through specific consultation and through the your business matters series of conferences. We are taking these views into account in determining the best way forward.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Brian David Jenkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the change since 1992 in the proportion of public budgets administered by non-departmental public bodies. [1314]

  Mr. Willetts
  The proportion of general government expenditure administered by NDPBs in 1991–92 was 4.4 per cent., and in 1994–95 it was 6 per cent. This was primarily due to increased programme expenditure made through a small number of such bodies providing important public services, like the Legal Aid Board, Housing Corporation and higher and further education funding councils.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on non-departmental public bodies. [1315]

  Mr. Willetts
  The Government continue to reduce the number of non-departmental public bodies and improve the efficiency of those that remain.

  Civil Service
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people are currently employed in the civil service. [1317]

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people are currently employed in the civil service. [1325]

  Mr. Willetts
  In 1979, when we came to office, there were 735,000 civil servants. There are now 492,000: a fall of 33 per cent.

  Government Openness
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new initiatives he plans to take to increase the openness of central Government. [1319]

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) earlier today.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the responses received to the consultation paper published by his Department on propriety and accountability issues in public bodies. [1322]

  Mr. Willetts
  We shall announce our conclusions in a White Paper early next year.

  Government Policies
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his role in co-ordinating Government policies. [1324]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I chair the ministerial committee on the co-ordination and presentation of Government policy and work with my colleagues to build on this Government's unprecedented record in improving competitiveness and achieving economic success.

  Information Technology Projects
  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many information technology projects in the Office of Public Service have been undertaken since 1992 and are planned for the coming year, in cost bands of £1,000,000, starting at £0 to £1,000,000; [1900]

  (2) to ask the Minister without Portfolio how many information technology projects have been undertaken at his office since his appointment. [2030]

  Mr. Willetts
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: For these purposes, my answer includes 10 Downing street and the office of my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio. It includes details of expenditure on information technology projects incurred since 1992 by the Cabinet Office, the Office of Public Service and Science and its successor from July 1995, the Office of Public Service, and their agencies.
  53
  The numbers of information technology projects undertaken since 1992 in cost bands of £1,000,000, are as follows:

  £0 to £1,000,000 = 98

  £1,000,000 to £2,000,000 = 5

  £2,000,000 to £3,000,000 = 1

  £3,000,000 to £4,000,000 = 1

  Seven projects, all of value less than £1,000,000 are presently planned for 1997–98.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under what circumstances his Department issues central guidance to other Departments answering parliamentary questions; what changes there have been to this guidance in the past year; and if he will make a statement. [2927]

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department issued "Guidance to Officials on Drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions" earlier this month. This new guidance, which takes account of helpful comments made by the Public Service Committee on an earlier draft, is as follows:1. Never forget Ministers' obligations to Parliament which are set out in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers":
  "Ministers must not knowingly mislead Parliament and the public and should correct any inadvertent errors at the earliest opportunity. They must be as open as possible with Parliament and the public, withholding information only when disclosure would not be in the public interest, which should be decided in accordance with relevant statute and the Government's "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information."
  "Ministers … have a duty … to give Parliament … and the public as full information as possible about the policies, decisions and actions of the Government, and not to deceive or mislead Parliament and the public."
  2. It is a civil servant's responsibility to Ministers to help them fulfil those obligations. It is the Minister's right and responsibility to decide how to do so. Ministers want to explain and present Government policy and actions in a positive light. They will rightly expect a draft answer that does full justice to the Government's position.
  3. Approach every question predisposed to give relevant information fully, as concisely as possible and in accordance with guidance on disproportionate cost. If there appears to be a conflict between the requirement to be as open as possible and the requirement to protect information whose disclosure would not be in the public interest, you should check to see whether it should be omitted in accordance with statute (which takes precedence) or the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", about which you should consult your departmental openness liaison officer if necessary.
  4. Do not omit information sought merely because disclosure could lead to political embarrassment or administrative inconvenience.
  5. Where there is a particularly fine balance between openness and non-disclosure, and when the draft answer takes the latter course, this should be explicitly drawn to the Minister's attention. Similarly, if it is proposed to reveal information of a sort which is not normally disclosed, this should be explicitly drawn to Ministers' attention.
  6. If you conclude that material information must be withheld and the PQ cannot be fully answered as a result, draft an answer which makes this clear and which explains the reasons in equivalent terms to those in the Code of Practice, or because of disproportionate cost or the information not being available. Take care to avoid draft answers which are literally true but likely to give rise to misleading inferences.

  Century Date Change (Computers)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the cost effects of the millennium date change on the computer systems operated by his Department. [2610]

  Mr. Willetts
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: Whilst the millennium effect on computer systems generally may be significant, within the Cabinet Office and its agencies this effect is likely to be minimal.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Hon. Members' Activity Reports
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce provisions to enable hon. Members to send twice-yearly reports of their activities to each of their constituents at the House's expense; and if he will make a statement. [1988]

  Mr. Newton
  I have no such plans.

  Leader of the Opposition
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what resources from public funds are available to the Leader of the Opposition, additional to those available to other hon. Members, to enable him to(a) run his office and (b) deal with correspondence. [2186]

  Mr. Newton
  Public funds are made available, under the terms of the resolution of the House of 4 November 1993, to assist the official Opposition in carrying out its parliamentary business.

  The Leader of the Opposition certifies that expenditure has been incurred in accordance with that resolution and the Fees Office makes payments to the Labour party on a monthly basis. Details in respect of the office costs and correspondence are a matter for the Opposition.

  There are of course similar arrangements in respect of other parties in the House, as defined in the above resolution, apart from the party in government.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  World Food Summit
  Mr. Brian David Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with development non-governmental organisations regarding the forthcoming world food summit; and if he will make a statement. [1333]

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will represent the United Kingdom at the world summit in Rome. [1335]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will represent the United Kingdom at the world food summit in Rome.

  The ODA has held extensive consultations with NGOs. It organised, with an independent moderator, a public consultation in July at which Her Majesty's Government's

  55
  policy towards the summit was explained and the views of NGOs and other interest groups sought. The ODA has also held frequent discussions over the last year with an umbrella group of non-governmental organisations.

  Child Labour
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent proposals he has made to eliminate child labour in developing countries. [1334]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The ODA has recently approved funding for two initiatives: an International Labour Organisation research programme to combat trafficking in children and exploitation in prostitution and other forms of child labour in Asia; and, a series of workshops organised by a network of NGOs involved in child labour issues in Asia.

SCOTLAND

  Dounreay Nuclear Plant
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for the Atomic Energy Authority nuclear establishment at Dounreay to publish an inventory of the contents of the on-site shaft used for radioactive and other waste disposal. [2639]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 4 November 1996]: I have been asked to reply.

  A copy of the inventory published in 1988 was placed in the Library of the House in December 1995. In addition, I am advised by the UKAEA that the inventory is now computer based and can be viewed on request at the Dounreay site.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of school leavers in Scotland have been vaccinated against tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement. [1562]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  BCG vaccination has been offered to schoolchildren in Scotland since 1953. In more recent years, the target age group has been 12 to 13 years. Statistical information about the numbers of children vaccinated appears in "Scottish Health Statistics 1995" (Table 8.8). In 1995, 97.9 per cent. of children who were tuberculin tested were either vaccinated or tested positive, indicating that they already had immunity and therefore did not require vaccination. My right hon. Friend accepted the recent recommendation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation that the schools-based BCG vaccination programme should continue.

  BSE
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what mechanisms his Department is able to identify the cattle assessed as being at risk from BSE which require to be slaughtered under the Florence 56
  agreement; how many such cattle there are in Scotland; and what is the minimum practical time scale for completing that accelerated cull in Scotland. [2137]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Data on all herds with confirmed cases of BSE are held at the Central Veterinary Laboratory. This data can be used to identify the herd of birth of BSE cases—and hence animals subject to the same feeding regimes; that is, the birth cohorts. To identify all these at-risk animals, it is necessary to visit the herds of origin, to identify the cohort animals remaining in such herds and finally to determine the present location of cohort animals which have moved to other herds. This involves detailed inspection of records. In May of this year, the CVL made an estimate that a maximum of some 127,000 cohort animals were present on farms in Britain, of which some 4,300 were in Scotland. Given the need for on-farm visits and reference to on-farm records, it is impossible to give a reliable estimate of how long it would take to identify all these animals.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage and total amount of BSE eradication and compensation scheme expenditure has been received by(a) farmers, (b) slaughterers,(c) renderers and (d) other recipients; and if he will make a statement. [2161]

  Mr. Robertson
  Between April and October 1996, the total expenditure on BSE eradiation and compensation schemes broken down by recipient was as follows:

  £ million

  Per cent.

  (a) Farmers

  477

  68

  (b) Slaughterers

  97

  14

  (c) Renderers

  78

  11

  (d) Other Recipients

  48

  7

  700

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of breast cancer were identified in women aged 65 years and over in each year since 1992; and what proportion they represent of all women diagnosed as having breast cancer. [2397]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Year

  Breast cancer cases in women aged 65 and over

  Breast cancer cases in women of all ages

  Women (aged 65+) with breast cancer expressed as a percentage of all women with breast cancer

  1992

  1,353

  3,240

  41.8

  1993

  1,330

  3,111

  42.8

  1994

  1,307

  3,074

  42.5

  Community Care, Tayside
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the report into the provision of community care in Tayside will be presented. [1937]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Angus Skinner, the chief social work inspector, has completed his report on community care services in Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross. It will be published on 14 November 1996.

  Mortality rates

  Neonatal

  Perinatal

  Health board area

  1992

  1993

  1994

  19951

  19923

  1993

  1994

  19952

  Scotland

  4.6

  4.0

  4.0

  4.0

  9.0

  9.6

  9.0

  9.6

  Argyll and Clyde

  4.6

  4.4

  5.1

  4.3

  8.3

  11.6

  9.3

  9.7

  Ayrshire and Arran

  5.5

  3.7

  2.1

  4.5

  9.9

  8.3

  7.6

  12.6

  Borders

  5.0

  —

  1.7

  2.6

  10.0

  5.2

  6.1

  6.8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  5.7

  4.1

  6.3

  4.3

  8.0

  9.3

  13.1

  8.5

  Fife

  4.2

  4.4

  4.6

  3.5

  6.5

  9.3

  8.7

  7.7

  Forth Valley

  3.5

  3.9

  1.9

  3.8

  8.6

  10.7

  8.4

  11.2

  Grampian

  4.2

  3.3

  4.4

  2.9

  9.1

  9.1

  10.0

  6.8

  Greater Glasgow

  5.3

  5.3

  4.7

  5.2

  9.8

  9.9

  9.5

  11.9

  Highland

  3.0

  3.9

  2.4

  3.3

  8.1

  9.8

  8.4

  6.2

  Lanarkshire

  4.4

  4.4

  2.7

  4.0

  11.0

  10.1

  8.6

  10.5

  Lothian

  5.4

  3.3

  4.7

  4.2

  9.7

  9.2

  8.7

  9.3

  Orkney

  4.2

  —

  8.0

  —

  12.4

  4.2

  15.8

  8.6

  Shetland

  3.1

  3.2

  3.2

  —

  —

  6.4

  3.2

  6.8

  Tayside

  3.3

  3.0

  4.1

  3.2

  6.5

  9.0

  8.1

  8.2

  Western Isles

  3.0

  7.1

  3.3

  3.3

  6.0

  14.0

  16.4

  9.9

  1 Deaths in the first four weeks of life, rate per 1,000 live births.

  2 Still-births and deaths in the first week of life, rate per 1,000 live and still-births.

  3 The Still-Birth (Definition) Act 1992 redefined still-births. from 1 October 1992, to include losses between 24 and 27 weeks gestation. The perinatal mortality rates in this table include all still-births registered in 1992.

  Thomas Hamilton
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he made of the applicability of the Moorov doctrine for mounting a successful prosecution against Thomas Hamilton for sexual interference with male children. [2995]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am replying on behalf of my learned and noble Friend the Lord Advocate who is responsible for criminal prosecutions in Scotland. With a few minor exceptions, no person can be convicted of a crime or statutory offence in Scotland unless there is evidence of at least two witnesses implicating that person with the commission of the crime or offence with which he is charged. Where, however, the accused is charged with a serious of similar offences, closely linked in time, character and circumstances, in terms of the so-called Moorov doctrine the evidence of single witnesses as to particular offences can be treated as corroborating the evidence of each other. As is clear from paragraph 4.15 of Lord Cullen's report (Cm 3386), there was in fact very little evidence of any acts of indecency on the part of Thomas Hamilton. So far as can be established, no incident amounting to sexual interference with male children was reported to the police while Hamilton was alive. The Lord Advocate informs me that while Thomas Hamilton was alive, the criminal authorities were not in possession of evidence which would have justified a prosecution against Thomas Hamilton for sexual interference with male children.

  Neonatal and Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) neonatal and (b) perinatal mortality rates for the last four years by each health board. [2670]

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

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the actions of the police and the procurator fiscal in respect of the possible prosecution of Thomas Hamilton for abuse of male children. [2724]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: The actions of the police in reporting cases and incidents to procurators fiscal were examined by Lord Cullen. The Lord Advocate arranged for an independent senior member of the procurator fiscal service—Mr. Alfred Vannet, the regional procurator fiscal for Grampian, highland and islands—to examine all the relevant case papers and to interview the members of the procurator fiscal service who were responsible for taking decisions in the cases. Mr. Vannet had never worked in the procurator fiscal office involved. He had had no prior involvement in any of the cases. He carried out his review under the supervision of Crown counsel. All the relevant police reports and Mr. Vannet's review, were placed before Lord Cullen's inquiry. Lord Cullen also heard evidence from police officers and from two members of the procurator fiscal service who had dealt with reports concerning Hamilton. Lord Cullen's report (Cmnd 3386) deals with the matter in some detail. Lord Cullen noted—at page 162—that Mr. Vannet's report was thorough and set out a considerable amount of detail. Lord Cullen dealt—in chapter 2 of his report—with the decisions taken by procurators fiscal. In relation to the incident at

  59
  Mullarochy bay, Loch Lommond in July 1991, he concluded that there was no basis for his entertaining criticism of the decision taken by the procurator fiscal (para. 4.44). As regards the incident at the residential sports training course in June 1992, he concluded that there was no evidence of any criminal act (para. 4.51). Finally, as regards the complaints about Hamilton in January, May and June 1993, Lord Cullen concluded that the decision not to apply for a warrant to search Hamilton's house was a matter for the discretion of the procurator fiscal. In the light of Lord Cullen's findings, the Secretary of State sees no need for further investigation into the actions of the police in making reports to procurators fiscal; and the Lord Advocate considers that further investigation of the actions of procurators fiscal is unnecessary.

  Storm Damage
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide additional resources for local authorities affected by storm damage on 6 November. [3410]

  Mr. Kynoch
  In the event of severe weather, authorities are expected to bear a certain level of emergency without recourse to central Government assistance. In addition, the Bellwin scheme exists to provide a means by which additional revenue funding may be made available to authorities in certain circumstances. If any council believes that the demands placed on it as a result of the storms of 6 November would justify either the triggering of the scheme or the granting of additional capital consent, then it is open to it to make a case for this to the Scottish Office.

  Public Relations
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on(a) advertising, (b) public relations and (c) entertainment in each of the last five financial years. [1275]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 November 1996]: A breakdown of expenditure by my Department is set out in the table:

  The Scottish Office

  Advertising

  Running costs of The Scottish Office Information Directorate

  Entertainment1

  Year

  £

  £

  £

  1991–92

  1,538,881

  1,155,268

  83,836

  1992–93

  1,497,250

  1,229,758

  2125,118

  1993–94

  1,547,568

  1,312,661

  76,088

  1994–95

  1,454,172

  1,323,234

  79,510

  1995–96

  1,613,616

  1,531,037

  382,978

  Scottish Prison Service became an agency in April 1993.

  1 These figures include expenditure on hospital by the agencies. To provide a breakdown could be done only at disproportionate cost.

  2 This figure includes expenditure on hospitality during the EC Council Meeting in Edinburgh in December 1992.

  3 In addition, the Scottish Office spend £34,680 on the VE day and VJ day events in Edinburgh in May and August 1995.

  60

  Historic Scotland

  Advertising

  Press office

  Entertainment

  Year

  £

  £

  £

  1991–92

  not available

  not available

  —

  1992–93

  not available

  not available

  —

  1993–94

  269,000

  92,160

  —

  1994–95

  280,000

  92,430

  —

  1995–96

  293,000

  102,400

  —

  Scottish Prison Service

  Advertising

  Communications branch

  Entertainment

  Year

  £

  £

  £

  1991–92

  —

  —

  —

  1992–93

  —

  —

  —

  1993–94

  —

  —

  —

  1994–95

  —

  31,217

  —

  1995–96

  —

  60,407

  —

TRANSPORT

  Railway Closures
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) to whom the duties on the British Railways Board(a) to use its best endeavours to ensure that alternative services are provided when railway services are closed and (b) to alert the Secretary of State when there is a failure to comply with closure conditions will be passed when the duty to provide rail services passes to a private train operating company; [3313]

  (2) if the obligations to retain transport services placed on the British Railways Board as conditions of railway closures will be passed to the Franchising Director to ensure that these obligations are honoured in future by train operating companies winning franchises to provide passenger services. [3312]

  Mr. Watts
  From time to time in the past, various obligations were placed on British Rail as a condition of approving the enclosure of routes or services. Much more comprehensive obligations are now placed on franchise operators in the form of the contractually binding passenger service requirements—PSRs—which are specified by the Franchising Director in accordance with his objectives, instructions and guidance from the Secretary of State. PSRs are based on the existing British Rail timetable, including those services British Rail is operating to meet obligations relating to past closures. The contractual service obligations the PSRs introduce effectively supersede those which applied previously to British Rail.

  Maintenance Work
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current backlog of maintenance work on(a) the road network and (b) the rail network. [2795]

  Mr. Watts
  The latest information on the condition of the road network is contained in the national road maintenance condition survey. The notion of a current
  61
  backlog cannot be defined in a meaningful way. In the case of the rail network, this is an operational matter for Railtrack.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [3203]

  Mr. Bowis
  My Department is currently consulting on the following proposals for use of the deregulation order-making power:Contracting out Civil Aviation Authority computer services by amending the Civil Aviation Act 1982;
  Various measures amending the Road Traffic Regulation Act, including a proposal to allow cycle racing on bridleways.

  The timing of any reference to the Deregulation Committee will depend on various factors including the outcome of the consultation exercise.

  Avon Ring Road
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to ensure the early completion of stage II of the Avon ring road. [3409]

  Mr. Watts
  The Avon ring road is a local road scheme which is being promoted by South Gloucestershire council who succeeded Avon county council as a result of local government reorganisation. The project was first approved for transport supplementary grant in the 1994–95 local transport capital settlement. The Department of Transport allocated £4 million to the scheme in 1996–97. This funding is conditional on the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures. The Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment's decision to confirm the orders and grant the certificates for the Avon ring road on 12 October 1995 are currently the subject of a legal challenge; the dates for the proposed High Court hearing of that challenge are 21 and 22 November. Progress on the scheme will depend on the outcome of that challenge.

  Health Professionals (On-duty Car Signs)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding provision of on-duty car signs to non-GP health professionals in the NHS; what plans he has to widen the provision of such signs; and if he will make a statement. [2727]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: There are some schemes under which the police and traffic wardens exercise discretion where doctors and others involved in the provision of emergency or primary health care, such as midwives, are forced to park illegally when making home visits in the course of their work. I understand that local agreements to this effect, recognised by the British Medical Association, but with no formal status in road traffic law, exist in some parts of England and Wales. Participants are issued with a badge for display in their vehicle. The Government receive occasional correspondence on the subject, but are not involved in the establishment of such schemes. Their scope is a matter for local consideration.

  Compulsory Purchase Orders
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his recent letter to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailling, which are the clauses in the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill that disapply the provisions of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965, regarding the serving of blight notices in relation to properties over tunnels. [2909]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The relevant provisions are set out in paragraph 6(4) of schedule 4 to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill, which provides that section 8(1) of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 is not to apply where the compulsory purchase powers in clause 4(1) of the Bill are exercised only in relation to the subsoil or under-surface of the land.

  Section 8(1) of the 1965 Act provides that no one is obliged to sell part of a property if he is willing and able to sell the whole of it, unless the lands tribunal is satisfied that part of the property can be taken without material detriment or without affecting the amenity of the property.

  If, after the Bill passes into law, an owner of a property over a tunnel serves a blight notice, the Secretary of State may serve a counter notice claiming that he proposes to acquire part only of the property—the subsoil—and the owner could then refer the matter to the lands tribunal. Although in non-CTRL blight cases, the lands tribunal would have to consider material detriment under section 166(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, that section is disapplied because of the reference to section 166(1) (b) of that Act and section 8(1) of the 1965 Act.

  Shadow Toll Payments
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the annual estimated cost to public funds of the shadow toll payments to the successful bidders in respect of tranche 1A let by the Highways Agency. [2010]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the costs of the four contracts let as Tranche 1A of the Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) programme (A618/A19 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel DBFO, A30/A35 Exeter to Bere Regis DBFO, A50/A564 Stoke to Derby Link DBFO and M40 Junctions 1 to 15 DBFO).
  The following figures illustrate the estimated range of annual cost (over a 5 year period), based on the Highways Agency's forecast of traffic volume for the above four contracts. These figures, which are cash price estimates, will be influenced by the usage of the DBFO road and the performance of the DBFO Company. The figures below do not include additional but relatively minor future lump sum payments covering, for example, archaeological works, which because of their uncertain nature are extremely difficult to estimate.

  1996–97: £4 million

  1997–98: £43 million

  1998–99: £45 million

  1999–00: £57 million

  2000–01: £76 million

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Doncaster-based British Rail businesses are in the programme for privatisation; what is the number of employees in each of these businesses; what is the expected date for the sale of each business; and what are the expected receipts from each sale. [2719]

  Mr. Watts
  Railpart UK Ltd. which has its headquarters in Doncaster, is expected to be sold in about two months. The company employed 272 staff as at 31 March 1996. It would be inappropriate for commercial reasons to speculate on possible receipts.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the date of privatisation of each of the Doncaster-based British Rail businesses which have been privatised to date; what was the number of employees in each business at the time of privatisation; and what was the amount of money received for each business. [2739]

  Mr. Watts
  The following British Rail businesses, whose headquarters were based in Doncaster, have been sold as at 6 November 1996.

  Business sold

  Date sale completed

  Number of employees at time of sale

  Gross proceeds (£ million)

  Doncaster Rail Maintenance ltd.

  5 June 1995

  575 (on 1 April 1995)

  —1

  BPE Mechanical and Engineering Consultancy Ltd.

  15 September 1995

  32(including branch offices)

  0.25

  Loadhaul Ltd.

  24 February 1996

  1,659

  —2

  1 Doncaster Rail Maintenance Ltd. was one of the three former BR Maintenance Ltd. businesses which were sold together for a single lump-sum price.

  2 Loadhaul Ltd. was one of the three former BR trainload freight companies which were sold together for a single lump-sum price.

  Road Congestion (North-east)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish his forecasts of future congestion on trunk roads in Yorkshire and the north-east, with particular reference to key links on the motorway network in these regions; [3058]

  (2) if he will publish an updated congestion map for the trunk and other main roads in the Yorkshire and Humberside region; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [3059]

  Mr. Watts
  Maps showing existing and predicted congestion levels on motorways and trunk roads in the Yorkshire, Humberside and north-east regions have been placed in the Library. The Department does not produce similar maps for other main roads.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the advantages of taking further substantial traffic-calming measures in conurbations; and if he will make a statement. [3193]
  64
  Mr. John Bowis
  My Department is providing £55 million in 1996–97 to fund local authorities' local safety schemes, mostly in urban areas. Many of these schemes involve traffic calming measures, which are very effective at reducing road accident casualties. The recently published transport research laboratory report—number 215—which reviewed traffic calming schemes in 20 mph zones found that accident frequency fell by 60 per cent. Pedestrian casualties fell by 61 per cent. and child pedestrian and child cyclist casualties fell by 67 per cent. There are now about 300 20 mph zones and more are likely to be created. The Department has ring fenced £1 million from within the 1997–98 budget to fund the construction of 20 mph zones specifically targeted at child pedestrian casualties.

  It is for local highway authorities to choose whether to introduce further traffic calming measures and 20 mph zones funded from their own resources in addition to those supported by the Department. I am pleased to say that many do so.

  Digital Selcall
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure British manufacturers are licensed to provide digital Selcall radios to the United Kingdom marine market. [2571]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from R.M. Bradley to Mr. Barry Field, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure British manufacturers are licensed to provide Digital Selcall radios to the United Kingdom marine market.
  There have been no discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry relating to the licensing of manufacturers of Digital Selcall radios—normally known as digital selective calling equipment. Discussions are ongoing with the Department through the Maritime Radio Technical Committee to develop suitable performance standards for digital selective calling equipment for the United Kingdom marine market. Manufacturers may obtain type approval from the Department of Trade and Industry for digital selective calling equipment designed to the relevant performance standards, approval being granted after consultation with the Marine Safety Agency.

  Trans-European Network
  Sir Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his Department's application to the EU for funding for the feasibility study for the rail trans-European network route from Bristol to Plymouth and Penzance; and if he will make a statement. [3457]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 16 July Official Report, column 440. We pressed the merits of the UK's TEN bid, including an allocation for a development study of the great western line, at the meeting of the TENs finance committee on 25 July. We now expect a formal Commission decision, in the light of that meeting and subsequent bilateral discussion, to be issued at the end of this month.

  Motorway Maintenance Contracts
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update the information in his answer of 7 June 1995,Official Report, columns 232–34, regarding substructure motorway maintenance contracts administered for his Department by W. S. Atkins and Partners and Maunsell and Partners, to the latest date for which information is available. [2973]

  Mr. Watts
  An "update" of Official Report, 7 June 1995, columns 232–34 regarding substructure motorway maintenance contracts administered by W. S. Atkins and G. Maunsell and Partners is listed as follows.

  Contract reference

  Viaduct

  Contractor

  Tender sum (£ million)

  Final account (£ million)

  W. S. Atkins

  R5

  Oldbury

  R. M. Douglas

  0.809

  1.040

  R33

  Wigmore

  Trafalgar House

  0.586

  1—

  R35

  Bescot

  Trafalgar House

  0.598

  1—

  R53

  Oldbury

  Taylor Woodrow

  2.760

  1—

  R67

  Bescot

  Curral Lewis Martin

  2.000

  1—

  R89

  Bescot and Ray Hall

  Dean and Dyball

  0.701

  1—

  Routine Maintenance Contracts

  V

  n/a

  R and C Williams

  2—

  1.479

  W

  n/a

  R and C Williams

  2—

  1—

  G. Maunsell and Partners

  R24

  Gravelly Hill Makers Industrial Ltd.

  0.674

  1—

  R60

  Bescot and Shephard Hill Ray Hall

  1.396

  1—

  1 Accounts not finalised.

  2 Schedule of rates contracts.

  It is of note the concept of schedule of rates contracts was explained in the Minister's letter of 23 August 1995, reference W/PSO/10345/95.

  Train Operating Companies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of train operating companies operating on the UK rail network are currently owned by foreign companies. [1941]

  Mr. Watts
  All franchised train operating companies are owned by companies registered in the United Kingdom. The ultimate holding company of Connex Rail Ltd. and of Great North Eastern Railway Company Ltd. is CGEA Group, registered in France, and Sea Containers Ltd. registered in Bermuda, respectively.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the spray suppression procedures for HGVs in (i) the Netherlands and (ii) the United Kingdom. [3094]

  Mr. Bowis
  No assessment of spray procedures in the Netherlands has been made by the Department of Transport. In the UK, research has been carried out by the transport research laboratory which centred on the measurement of spray and its effect on vision. Whilst the test work has been completed, the assessment of 66
  the results is not finished and it is too early to decide if any changes to current vehicle requirements are necessary.

  North Wales to Crewe Line
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation his Department has undertaken of the effect of the imposition of the minimum passenger requirement on the north Wales to Crewe train service; and if he will make a statement. [1863]

  Mr. Watts
  The passenger service requirement will protect a guaranteed level of service on the north Wales to Crewe line for the first time.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the observance of the 30 mph speed limit on urban roads; and if he will make a statement on the proportion of vehicles which exceed the 30 mph speed limit. [2390]

  Mr. Bowis
  Highway authorities are able to make changes of the layout of roads through traffic calming to encourage observance of the 30 mph limit. We are considering, as part of the current consultation on road traffic regulation, the possibility of allowing 30 mph repeater signs along lit roads. Enforcement is a matter for the police. Our Kill Your Speed campaign is geared to the message that a great many casualties are caused by motorists travelling too fast—mostly by just a modest amount—in 30 mph limited roads, where two thirds of all road casualties occur.

  New Drivers Legislation
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 will come into force. [2786]

  Mr. Bowis
  We intend to bring this Act into force by mid-1997.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are proposed to mitigate noise levels along the rail link from Waterloo station to the channel tunnel. [2952]

  Mr. Watts
  There is no statutory requirement for railway operators to provide noise mitigation on existing railway lines. However, a number of voluntary, jointly funded noise mitigation schemes have been agreed between Railtrack and several London boroughs and local authorities in the south-east. Under these schemes, acoustic barriers, and in some cases secondary glazing, have been installed at certain locations worst affected by noise from existing lines to the channel tunnel. The Government have encouraged and supported these schemes by allocating supplementary credit approvals to the local authorities concerned.

  As far as the new channel tunnel rail link is concerned, noise mitigation proposals were set out in the environmental statement that accompanied the CTRL Bill on introduction. Mitigation, at source, rather than relying simply on noise insulation of affected properties, will be provided in connection with the new works—the CTRL itself and the reinstated Gravesend west line. These

  67
  proposals will be further developed during the detailed design of the project and will be subject to approval by the local planning authorities along the route of the CTRL.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Shotgun Deaths
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were killed by shotguns over the last five years. [1203]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following list shows the number of deaths caused by shotguns in each of the past five years:

  Homicides

  Suicides

  Accidents

  1991

  6

  8

  —

  1992

  14

  10

  —

  1993

  10

  15

  —

  1994

  7

  10

  —

  1995

  4

  8

  2

  Permaculture
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage permaculture within national parks in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [2355]

  Mr. Moss
  Permaculture is a system of natural agriculture, requiring generous mulching, no artificial fertilisers, use of natural resources and only minimal weeding. It is an ecosystem-based method of production, with some similarities to organic methods.

  The Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 provides for national parks to be established, but none have been, nor are there any plans to introduce them.

  The Secretary of State is recommended to make the following statement:
  There are no plans to encourage permaculture in national parks in Northern Ireland as there are no such parks.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimates he has made of how many farms or holdings are operating on permaculture principles; and if he will make a statement. [2361]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are no UK registers of farms or holdings operating on permaculture principles. There are 10 UK-registered organic producers in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Trevor Wilson
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the investigation by the chairman of the Police Authority into allegations relating to the conduct of Mr. Trevor Wilson in July. [1990]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I am content with the manner in which the chairman of the Police Authority dealt with this matter.
  68
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland who decided that Mr. Trevor Wilson's conduct during July required no further action. [1991]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I am advised by the Police Authority that 12 members, including the chairman and vice-chairman, were present at the special authority meeting held on 30 July. Those attending were Mr. P. J. Armstrong, Professor H. Wallace, Mr. R. Empey, Mr. B. R. Johnston, Mr. T. A. Kerrigan, Mr. W. R. Martin, Mr. S. J. McCammick, Mrs. R. A. McCormick, Mr. J. O. McDonald, Mr. R. A. J. Spence, Mr. T. J. Wilson and one other member who did not wish to be named.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the report of the police investigation into the activities of Mr. Trevor Wilson in July was made available to the Police Authority. [1992]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I am advised by the Police Authority that the report of the police investigation into Mr. Wilson's involvement in events in Cookstown on 9 and 10 July 1996 was not made available to the Police Authority.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the statement of the Police Authority of 31 July 1995, if he will make a statement on the advice received by the authority that no criminal proceedings were to be taken against Mr. Trevor Wilson. [1993]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I do not intend to make a statement as the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, having heard from Mr. Wilson on the matter, regards the matter as being closed.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what actions or inquiries were undertaken by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland to establish the truth of allegations about the conduct of Mr. Trevor Wilson in July. [1994]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Following references in the press to the alleged conduct of authority member, Mr. Trevor Wilson in the Cookstown area on 9 and 10 July 1996, Mr. Wilson spoke to the chairman of the authority and asked for an opportunity to discuss the matter with his fellow members. Subsequently, the authority chairman wrote to the Chief Constable of the RUC about the matter and was advised that no criminal proceedings were to be taken against Mr. Wilson.

  During the special authority meeting held on 30 July 1996, Mr. Wilson gave members of the authority a full explanation of his actions and answered a range of forthright questions put to him. Members accepted Mr. Wilson's account of events and agreed that no further action was necessary.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what explanation of his conduct Mr. Trevor Wilson provided to the special meeting of the Police Authority on 30 July; and what factors underlay the decision of the RUC to investigate his conduct. [1996]
  69
  Sir John Wheeler
  I am advised by the Police Authority that Mr. Wilson gave his explanation of his conduct to the authority at its meeting on 30 July 1996 on the basis that it would remain confidential.

  Mr. Wilson was observed by a police officer in close proximity to, but not part of, a group of people who were blocking a road in the Cookstown area on 9 July 1996.

  In pursuit of investigations into this activity, Mr. Wilson was interviewed by police. No evidence was disclosed which warranted any further police action.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will instruct the Police Authority to publish the minutes of the special meeting of 30 July. [1997]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I have no plans to instruct the Police Authority to publish the minutes of the special meeting of 30 July.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he(a) called for and (b) considered (i) reports of the RUC criminal investigation and (ii) proceedings of the Police Authority on 30 July into the conduct of Mr. Trevor Wilson; and when he consulted the chairman of the Police Authority to discuss the allegations concerning Mr. Trevor Wilson. [1998]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I had no need to call for the reports specified in the question as I was kept informed of Mr. Wilson's request for a meeting of the authority, the authority's subsequent meeting and its decision that no further action was necessary.

  Information Technology Projects
  Ms Church
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many information technology projects have been undertaken since 1992, and are planned for the coming year, arranged in cost bands of £1,000,000. [1920]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: The information requested of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments is listed.

  IT projects undertaken 1992–93 to 1996–97

  IT projects planned 1997–98 2

  £0–£1 million 1

  81

  8

  £1 million-£2 million

  6

  2

  £2 million-£3 million

  1

  —

  £3 million-£4 million

  1

  —

  £4 million-£5 million

  —

  —

  £5 million-£6 million

  1

  —

  1 Includes projects above the general agreement on tariffs and trade threshold on contract value (£108,000).

  2 Excludes the Department of the Environment (NI).

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of the conference on incorporation of the further education colleges held at Slieve Donard hotel, Newcastle on 4 and 5 November; how many people were involved; and by whom the cost was borne. [2728]
  70
  Mr. Ancram
  The cost of the consultation conference was £12,300 including VAT; 128 delegates from across the sector attended. The cost was borne by the Department of Education.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what work on management information systems will be classified as nugatory if incorporation of further education colleges does not proceed. [2729]

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure the Department of Education planned to incur on commissioning consultants to advise on the adequacy and implementation of college action plans. [2730]

  Mr. Ancram
  The planned expenditure is up to £80,000.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the additional costs of appointing(a) personnel management, (b) estate management, and (c) financial management and marketing staff as a consequence of the incorporation of further education colleges. [2731]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Department is currently in negotiation with the education and library boards to determine the level of resources to colleges on incorporation. This will include provision for these additional staffing costs. It will be for the colleges to determine their management structures.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legislative proposals he has in respect of the RUC in the current parliamentary Session. [2735]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following measures in the Police Bill published by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 1 November will extend to Northern Ireland:the placing of the national criminal intelligence service on a statutory basis;
  the placing of police intrusive surveillance operations on a statutory footing;
  the placing of the police information technology organisation on a statutory basis
  the creation of a criminal records agency.

  The Government are continuing work on the proposals set out in the White Paper "Foundations for Policing" (Cm 3249) published in May 1996. However, no timetable has yet been set for the introduction of legislation to implement the White Paper.

  Education and Library Boards
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the basis of what criteria he chose the proposed boundaries for each of the new education and library boards. [2738]

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 7 of my statement of 25 June 1996 on the review of educational administration, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners in Northern Ireland have applied on compassionate grounds to visit close relatives living in the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years; how many have(a) been allowed and (b) been refused; and how may are awaiting decisions. [3302]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Northern Ireland Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Alan Shannon to Mr. Max Madden, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to the Parliamentary Question that you tabled seeking information concerning the numbers of prisoners in Northern Ireland who have applied on compassionate grounds to visit close relatives living in the Republic of Ireland in each of the last 5 years.
  The Information that you are seeking is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Records of prisoners seeking periods of temporary release are not maintained in a form that would enable us to identify applications from prisoners whose relatives live outside Northern Ireland.
  There are no outstanding applications from prisoners requesting a visit to relatives who reside int he Republic of Ireland.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what regulations his Department proposes to repeal by the end of 1996; if he proposes to conduct a compliance cost assessment on each regulation repealed; and what is the estimated cost of undertaking a compliance cost assessment to determine the advantages and disadvantages of such a repeal. [3441]

  Mr. Ancram
  A list of the regulations my Department currently proposes to repeal or amend by the end of 1996 has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Since the effect in each case will be to reduce, rather than increase, compliance costs, a compliance cost assessment—CCA—is not required. Departments do, however, seek to estimate approximate savings wherever possible. The cost of undertaking a CCA varies from case to case, but is generally modest. Because part of the cost falls on the businesses consulted, a full CCA would be inappropriate for measures designed to reduce business burdens.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  BSE
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what mechanisms his Department is able to identify the cattle assessed as being at risk from BSE which require to be slaughtered under the Florence agreement; how many such cattle there are in England and Wales; and what is the minimum practical time scale for completing the accelerated cull in England and Wales. [2134]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government have announced that it is not proceeding with the selective cull at present until the scientific evidence and options for a certified herd 72
  scheme have been considered further. The animals would need to be identified by reference to farm records. It is not possible to say how many animals might be involved, their location, or how long any cull programme might take, until that further analysis has been carried out and a decision taken. The estimated number of animals covered by our original proposals, and the distribution of natal herds, is contained in the UK's eradication plan, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Unlicensed Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps are being taken to curb the activities of unlicensed fishing vessels operating for profit in United Kingdom waters; [2890]

  (2) what information his Department collates on the number of unlicensed fishing vessels operating for profit in United Kingdom waters. [2889]

  Mr. Baldry
  Vessels fishing for profit must possess a license issued by the fisheries departments in accordance with the Sea Fishing Licensing Order 1992 (SI 1992 No. 2633) (as amended). Checks are carried out to ensure that vessels hold an appropriate licence as part of the surveillance operations carried out by the Ministry's sea fisheries inspectorate and the Royal Navy. There have been three successful prosecutions since the beginning of 1994.

  Rabies
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual costs to owners of(a) the present animal quarantine system against rabies and (b) a system based on identification and vaccination. [2808]

  Mrs. Browning
  We estimate that the annual cost to pet owners of the current animal quarantine system is some £11 million.

  There are a number of possible systems based on identification and vaccination. These are being considered as part of the review of rabies controls announced in my reply of 5 November 1996 to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) Official Report, column 488. Any costs associated with these options will be identified during the review.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of rabies prevention and research for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [2809]

  Mrs. Browning
  The cost of the present policy to the public purse is estimated at £1.3 million per year. About £0.4 million of this is for research. The remainder covers the costs of inspection of quarantine premises, licensing of imports, laboratory testing of suspect animals and publicity.

  Codex Alimentarius Commission
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names of the British representatives on the Codex Alimentarius Commission together with its(a) terms of reference, (b) decision-making procedures and (c) voting methods. [3102]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an intergovernmental body established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation"to guide and promote the elaboration and establishment of definitions and requirements for foods, to assist in their harmonisation and, in doing so, to facilitate international trade".

  The commission is assisted in its work by 29 committees. Some deal with general matters, that is labelling; some with specific commodities, that is, fish and fishery products; and some are regional committees. The UK is represented by officials from this and other Government Departments. Representatives of industry and consumer organisations may also attend.

  The commission determines the need for a standard and arranges for it to be drafted. There then follows an eight-step procedure—which can in certain circumstances

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  1989

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1990

  1

  1

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  0

  2

  4

  0

  1

  1991

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  3

  1

  0

  1

  2

  1992

  0

  1

  1

  3

  1

  0

  0

  2

  1

  3

  0

  1

  1993

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  1

  3

  1

  1

  1994

  1

  2

  2

  1

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  2

  2

  0

  1995

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  19961

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1Data incomplete.

  No earlier cases have been identified. We have no evidence to suggest that under reporting of FSE cases occurs.

  1. The data do not include five cases confirmed in 1996 for which detailed information is not yet available.

  2. Previous figures supplied for numbers of FSE cases have been on the basis of year of administrative confirmation and not on the basis of date of clinical onset of disease as is the case with the above. It would not be appropriate to provide monthly figures by the month of confirmation because of the time lag between suspicion and confirmation. The above figures will therefore not necessarily reflect previous figures given.

  Fishing Permits
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he estimates the European Union will institute a common fishing permit system. [3311]

  Mr. Baldry
  Council regulations 3760/92 and 1627/94 provide the framework for Community licence and permit systems to enable member states to regulate fishing activities. They are the basis for the detailed measures in western waters introduced on 1 January 1996. The United Kingdom fishing industry is therefore already familiar with these arrangements, which involved licences issued by UK fisheries departments. They do not entail a European fleet run from Brussels.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [3200]
  74
  be reduced to five steps—in which the standards are reviewed twice by the specific committee and the commission and twice by Governments and international organisations before adoption.

  Decisions at committee and commission meetings are generally taken by consensus. When it does occur, formal voting is either by a simple showing of hands of those eligible to vote—one vote per member country present—or, if demanded by any member, a roll call vote, where the vote of each member is recorded. The commission may also decide a matter by secret ballot.

  Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the incidence of reported feline spongiform encephalopathy for each available year until 1989; and if he will make a statement on his estimates of unreported feline spongiform encephalopathy for this period. [3361]

  Mrs. Browning
  The number of feline spongiform encephalopathy cases confirmed by date of clinical onset for each month since 1989 at 29 October 1996 is:

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry has already made use of order-making powers to deregulate aspects of the Corn Returns Act 1882 and the Slaughterhouses Act 1974. We currently have no plans to present further proposals to Parliament this year.

  Vaccinations
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what figures he collates relating to the costs of vaccination of cats and dogs in the United Kingdom. [3067]

  Mrs. Browning
  None. The price of vaccines and the fees charged by veterinary surgeons are matters of commercial judgment.

  Ritual Slaughter
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much meat from animals slaughtered by a religious method for the food of(a) Muslims and (b) Jews was exported from the United Kingdom in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994 and (iii) 1995. [3624]

  Mrs. Browning
  Data are not separately available for exports of meat from animals slaughtered by religious methods and those slaughtered by other methods.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Heads and Governors (Duties)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of pages of legislation extant that are now directly applicable to heads or governors of(a) maintained and (b) grant-maintained schools in respect of their obligations and duties; and in each case what estimate she had made of the additional number arising from the Education Bill. [2554]

  Mr. Forth
  No such estimate has been made. Head teachers and governors carry important and wide-ranging responsibilities for the education of their pupils, alongside local education authorities and other parties. These responsibilities are duly set out in current and prospective statute, but cannot sensibly be assessed in terms of the number of pages of legislation.

  Departmental Offices (Security)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who are the contractors for security services to cover the offices of her Department in(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough; what is the total cost of the contract; and if she will make a statement. [2676]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 November 1996:
  As the Employment Service (ES) is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your question about the contractors for security services to cover the offices of her Department in Doncaster and Mexborough and the total cost of the contract. This is something which falls to me within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The ES takes very seriously the issue of security within its premises. In preparation for any significant change to our working methods there is a legal obligation to carry out risk assessments to highlight any potential dangers. A risk assessment in accordance with national guidelines was conducted at every ES Jobcentre as part of the preparations for the implementation of Jobseeker's Allowance.
  The outcome of the risk assessments at Doncaster Jobcentres showed that two security officers would be required at Trafford Way Jobcentre due to the perceived increased risk to staff following the implementation of Jobseeker's Allowance. The risk assessment carried out at Mexborough Jobcentre showed that security services would not be required.
  The contract to provide security services at Trafford Way Jobcentre was awarded to Burns International Security Services (UK) Ltd following a regional tendering exercise carried out under standard ES contracting procedures. The contract to supply two security officers is for a period of 12 months from 9 September with an option to extend for a further two years on annual review. Following a request by my District Manager in Doncaster, Burns International Security Services (UK) Ltd were also contracted to provide one security officer per site at East Laith Gate House, Queensgate House and Queensgate Corner Jobcentres in Doncaster for the period 30 September to 1 November 1996. In addition to static guarding of the premises, the service requirements include monitoring of CCTV systems which were installed in Trafford Way Jobcentre in Doncaster several years ago.
  76
  The security officers employed have attended a training course run by the ES' s Regional Training Consultancy Services. The course provided instruction and guidance on handling difficult situations. In addition, Burns International Security Services (UK) provide induction training for employees as part of their quality plan.
  In the current financial year, ES in Yorkshire and the Humber region anticipates that expenditure on security services will be approximately £191,000. Individual contracts are commercial in confidence and therefore I am unable to provide you with details of the costs relating to security services in Doncaster Jobcentres.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Class Sizes
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of primary schools and secondary schools currently have classes of more than 30; and what were the figures in 1976. [2709]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Sixty-five per cent. of primary schools and sixty-one per cent. of secondary schools had at least one class of more than 30 pupils taught by one teacher in January 1996. Comparable information is not available for 1976.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the costs to the Teacher Training Agency of preparing advice to her Department on the future supply of teachers in each of the last three years. [2956]

  Mr. Forth
  It is not one of the Teacher Training Agency's statutory functions to offer advice to DFEE on the future supply of teachers.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the costs to the Teacher Training Agency in the last full year for which figures are available of(a) the procedures required for the approval and scrutiny of courses of initial teacher education and (b) the scrutiny and development of criteria and courses of continuing professional development for assistant and head teachers. [2955]

  Mr. Forth
  The Teacher Training Agency is responsible for the accreditation of providers of initial teacher training, a function which replaced individual approval of courses by DFEE in 1995. The Office for Standards in Education is responsible for the inspection of initial teacher training.

  In respect of continuing professional development, the TTA maintains a list of registered providers of training under head teachers leadership and management programme, Headlamp; has drawn up standards to underpin the development of the national professional qualification for headship; and is developing at the Secretary of State's request a fuller professional framework with standards and training at other levels. Ofsted is inspecting at TTA's request the training offered by registered Headlamp providers, and has more general functions in respect of the inspection of in-service teacher training.
  77
  I will ask the chairman of the TTA, Geoffrey Parker, and, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools Chris Woodhead, to write to the hon. Member direct with estimated costings for relevant functions.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what INSET funding was distributed to institutions in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96; what is available in 1996–97; and what was the cost of administering this funding through (i) Higher Education Funding Council for England and (ii) the Teacher Training Agency during the period concerned. [2500]

  Mr. Forth
  Funding for higher education courses for in-service training of teachers, INSET, is calculated and distributed on the basis of academic years. This funding was not separately identified by HEFCE in 1993–94. The amount of recurrent funding allocated for such courses in later years by the HEFCE and TTA is set out in the following table.

  It is impossible to identify the cost of administering this funding between 1993–94 and 1995–96 because it formed part of a larger academic subject category; the cost of administering the funding through the TTA in 1996–97 is estimated to be £28,000.

  Funding for INSET courses provided by HEFCE and ITA

  £ million

  1994–95 (HEFCE)

  24

  1995–96 (HEFCE)

  25

  1996–97 (TTA)

  25

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent on administration(a) by the Teacher Training Agency in the current year following the transfer of the teacher training responsibilities of the teaching as a career unit, the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Department for Education and (b) by the teaching as a career unit, the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Department for Education in the full year prior to the transfer, separately identifying staff costs in cash and real terms. [2499]

  Mr. Forth
  The amount spent on the administration of functions which were subsequently transferred to the TTA by the teaching as a career unit, the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Department for Education during 1993–94 is shown in the following table. The total amount spent on administration by the TTA during 1995–96 is also shown in the table. This covers the full range of the TTA's functions under the 1994 Act, which also includes functions transferred from HEFCE and new activities in pursuit of the agency's statutory remit.78

  Running costs for activities transferred to the TTA

  TASC, CATE and Department1

  1993–94

  Running costs of which:

  £1,316,195

  Salaries

  £980,046

  FTE Staff

  34.8

  TTA

  1995£6

  Running costs of which

  £2,414,000

  Salaries

  £1,303,000

  FTE Staff(average)

  42

  1 Figures for DFE staff and costs are estimates only, as the functions formed part of the work of a number of teams.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was spent on(a) staff and (b) administration of the Teacher Training Agency (i) from the date of its inception to the financial year end 1994–95, (ii) from April 1995 to September 1995, (iii) from October 1995 to March 1996 and (iv) from April 1996 to September 1996; and what was the number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the agency on the last day of each period. [2501]

  Mr. Forth
  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.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the latest figures for graduates(a) applying for and (b) accepted by institutions for training as teachers by secondary schools by subject; and if she will list the equivalent figures for (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96. [2502]

  Mr. Forth
  The following table shows the number of graduate applications to secondary initial teacher training courses in 1994–95 and 1995–96 and the number of acceptances in 1995–96.

  Postgraduate initial teacher training courses

  England and Wales

  Secondary

  1994–95 Applications

  1995–96 Applications

  Acceptances

  Mathematics

  2,186

  1,873

  1,257

  English

  2,819

  2,837

  1,825

  Drama

  339

  360

  225

  Science

  4,020

  3,698

  2,377

  Biology

  1,444

  1,347

  855

  Chemistry

  886

  799

  485

  Physics

  686

  511

  317

  Geology

  70

  40

  14

  Comb/General Sciences

  871

  932

  662

  Env/Rural Sciences

  63

  69

  44

  Modern Languages

  2,706

  2,680

  1,680

  French

  1,368

  1,413

  882

  German

  455

  384

  254

  Italian

  20

  11

  6

  Russian

  22

  19

  6

  Spanish

  269

  251

  133

  Celtic Languages

  59

  52

  40

  Other Modern Languages

  513

  550

  359

  79

  Postgraduate initial teacher training courses

  England and Wales

  Secondary

  1994–95 Applications

  1995–96 Applications

  Acceptances

  Technology

  2,056

  1,549

  1,007

  Design and Technology

  1,189

  680

  456

  Information Technology

  73

  181

  106

  Business Studies

  713

  608

  386

  Home Economics

  81

  80

  59

  History

  1,984

  2,017

  885

  Geography

  1,280

  1,297

  876

  PE

  947

  1,062

  635

  Art

  352

  939

  571

  Music

  646

  594

  431

  RE

  741

  845

  603

  Other

  920

  903

  355

  Economics

  275

  322

  145

  Social Studies

  492

  442

  157

  Classics

  73

  56

  37

  Outdoor Activity

  80

  83

  16

  Total secondary

  20,996

  20,654

  12,727

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to market-test the functions of the Teacher Training Agency. [2503]

  Mr. Forth
  It is Government policy that every non-departmental public body should be subject to a comprehensive review at least every five years. This includes a critical examination of the justification for an NDPB on policy grounds, including whether there are other means of providing the desired services, as well as a review of the system of financial and management control. The TTA will be subject to such a review no later than the financial year 1999–2000.

  The TTA already contracts out a range of recurrent work costing £1.444 million where this offers better value for money than undertaking the work in-house.

  Teachers' Register
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the costs, in each of the last three years, to the Department for Education and Employment, of the procedures and publication connected with the list of teachers struck off the register, temporarily or permanently. [2954]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department does not maintain a register of teachers. It maintains a list—List 99—of teachers and other workers in the education sector who are subject to a bar or restriction on their employment on misconduct or medical grounds. The estimated cost of the work related to barring is £297,000 in 1993–94, £324,000 in 1994–95 and £381,000 in 1995–96.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost, in each of the last three years to the Department for Education and Employment, of maintaining the national register of teachers in primary and secondary schools. [2953]
  80
  Mr. Forth
  The Department does not maintain a register of teachers; the qualifications of teachers form part of the database of teacher records which is maintained primarily for pensions purposes. The team, whose main work is awarding qualified teacher status and collecting information for transfer to the DTR, cost about £420,000 in 1995–96, and broadly the same in real terms in the previous two financial years.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many disabled people have been given assistance(a) to obtain employment and (b) to remain in employment in each of the last four quarters for which information is available; what was the expenditure during that period by her Department on the access to work scheme; and what sums were obtained from employers towards the cost of the scheme during the period. [2742]

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

  Letter from M. G. Fogden to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of disabled people assisted to obtain employment and to remain in employment in each of the last four quarters; and what was spent on disabled people through the Access to Work programme, and the amounts contributed by employers.
  The number of disabled people the Employment Service has helped to obtain and remain in work through the Access to Work programme in the four quarters to September 1996 is given in the attached Table 1.
  Expenditure on Access to Work brought to account during the same period is given in Table 2. The pattern of expenditure means that each quarter's expenditure does not necessarily relate directly to the number of people helped in that quarter.
  The Employment Service does not receive money from employers or others towards the cost of providing help through Access to Work. Since June 1996, for employed people, Access to Work has contributed up to 80% of the approved costs of help between £300 and £10,000, and 100% of costs above £10,000.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Table 1: People helped through access to work

  Quarter ending

  New people helped to obtain work

  New people helped to remain in work

  People in work being helped on a continuing basis

  December 1995

  501

  1,738

  4,061

  March 1996

  367

  1,006

  4,098

  June 1996

  331

  330

  3,423

  September 1996

  334

  456

  4,233

  Table 2: Access to work expenditure

  Quarter ending

  ATW expenditure £ million

  December 1995

  4.7

  March 1996

  5.0

  June 1996

  3.5

  September 1996

  3.0

  Availability for Work Rule
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the revenue implications of changing the availability for work rule to 16 hours per week for people undertaking part-time work or study, or whose normal work pattern is part time. [2769]

  Mr. Forth
  No such estimate has been made with regard to changing availability rules for people who wish to undertake part-time work or study. It is clear, however, that for people to be available only for work of up to 16 hours per week would significantly restrict the number of jobs for which they were available and reduce their chance of finding work.

  Book and Equipment Shortages
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many schools have been found by inspectors to have shortages of books and equipment which have adversely affected the standard of lessons in each of the last three years; and what percentage of schools examined this is; [2764]

  (2) when the Office for Standards in Education report on the effects of book and equipment shortages is to be published. [2765]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  These are matters for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, who heads the Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

  "30 Tough Questions for LEAs"
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of the leaflet, "30 Tough Questions for LEAs", produced by the Grant-Maintained Schools Foundation. [2751]

  Mr. Forth
  Within the total of grant which the Department allocates each year to the Grant-Maintained Schools Foundation, details of expenditure on individual items are a matter for the foundation.

  Grant-maintained Status (Expenditure)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the expenditure of her Department in respect of grant-maintained status on (i) promotional publications and videos, (ii) "Going GM" conferences, (iii) press advertisements and associated telephone lines,(iv) expenses for speakers attending meetings in schools, (v) conferences and training for speakers, (vi) grants to the Grant-maintained Schools Centre and Grant-maintained Schools Foundation, (vii) the Funding Agency for Schools and (viii) the Electoral Reform Society in each year since 1988–89. [2752]
  82
  Mr. Forth
  The information requested, where available, is given in the following table:

  £ thousand

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  (iv/v)

  (vi)

  (vii)

  (viii)

  1988–89

  n/a

  nil

  nil

  nil

  25

  nil

  34

  1989–90

  n/a

  nil

  nil

  nil

  250

  nil

  42

  1990–91

  87

  nil

  nil

  nil

  425

  nil

  85

  1991–92

  35

  nil

  nil

  nil

  600

  nil

  224

  1992–93

  246

  154

  200

  19

  577

  nil

  525

  1993–94

  320

  254

  207

  33

  783

  1,044

  414

  1994–95

  380

  185

  nil

  70

  695

  10,927

  165

  1995–96

  179

  265

  nil

  45

  835

  11,534

  67

  1996–97

  193

  73

  2

  23

  549

  12,500

  56

  1. Headings relate to the following items of expenditure:

  (i) information publications and videos

  (ii) "Going GM" conferences (cost of venues and organisation of conferences)

  (iii) press advertisements and telephone service

  (iv/v) GM Speakers; expenses, conferences, and training

  (vi) Grant-maintained schools centre and foundation

  (vii) Funding agency for schools

  (viii) Electoral reform society

  2. Figures relate to financial years

  3. Figures for the financial year 1996–97 are expenditure incurred to date (except for the Funding Agency for Schools, column vii, which is the estimated full year figure).

  4. GM Speakers' expenses and conferences and training cannot be disaggregated for all years.

  5. The Grant-Maintained Schools Centre became self-supporting from the financial year 1994–95, when the Grant-Maintained Schools Foundation was set up.

  6. Figures for the funding agency are for setting up, membership and running costs. They do not cover grants for GM schools administered by the agency.

  Secondary Schools Staffing Survey
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the results of the 1996 staffing survey will be published. [2757]

  Mr. Forth
  It is planned to publish information from the 1996 secondary school curriculum and staffing survey in a statistical bulletin by September 1997.

  Maintenance Work
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current backlog of maintenance work in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) institutions of further education. [2797]

  Mrs. Gillan
  It is for local education authorities and school governors to assess the need for maintenance work in respect of school premises which they own and maintain.

  Further education colleges left local authority control in April 1993 with a maintenance backlog of £839 million. This included £359 million for urgent health and safety works, which the Further Education Funding Council estimates were three quarters complete by April 1996.

  Education Spending
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was (i) the actual spending per pupil in each local education authority and (ii) the education standard spending assessment per pupil in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) total in 1996–97. [2758]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Actual spending per pupil for 1996–97 will not be known until the year has ended. The following table shows the 1996–97 education standard spending assessment per pupil in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools for each local education authority, and (c) the England averages.

  Secondary School and College Students
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds were in full-time education at school or college in the autumn term of each year since 1985. [3592]

  Mr. Paice
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him in a letter on 21 October 1996 which gave student numbers for the census dates for the academic years requested. A copy of this letter is available in the Library.

  Information is not collected on a term by term basis, the census date is in January for schools and in November for further education colleges. However, a new survey which is calculated each September shows the number of pupils in maintained schools at the start of the autumn term from 1994. This information is not available for colleges.

  Maintained schools (including maintained special schools)

  Thousands

  September 1994

  January 1995

  September 1995

  January 1996

  Pupils aged 16

  160.3

  153.4

  170.3

  163.2

  Pupils aged 17

  109.5

  106.9

  112.7

  111.0

SOCIAL SECURITY

  North Staffordshire Services
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision his Department and its agencies currently make in north Staffordshire for(a) review visits, (b) provision of social fund money advice, (c) local customer surveys, (d) public caller offices, (e) district information officers, (f) non-technical training,(g) out-of-hours service and (h) freeline advice service; and if he will give in each case the location and staff establishment providing each of the services. [38]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  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 Ms Joan Walley, dated 7 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the provision made in North Staffordshire for (a) review visits, (b) provision of Social Fund money advice, (c) local customer surveys, (d) public caller
  84
  offices, (e) district information officers, (f) non technical training, (g) out of hours service and (h) freeline advice service; and in each case the location and staff establishment providing each of the services.
  The BA District of North Staffordshire has offices at Hanley, Longton and Newcastle (Staffs). As with other Districts, North Staffordshire is required to review the services it provides to ensure that the most effective service is given within the resources available.
  Targeted Reviews are conducted on existing claims by visit, post, and telephone. There are 8 visiting officers based at the Hanky Benefit Offices who also complete visits on New and Repeat claims.
  The Agency conducted an internal review into the Social Fund money advice provided by its Districts. This showed that formal money advice was offered very rarely. In view of this and in the context of our commitment to focus resources on our priorities, Social Fund sections ceased to provide money advice from 1 April 1996.
  A customer Survey was completed in May 1995 by North Staffordshire District. There are no plans at present to conduct another one.
  North Staffordshire District have carried out a review of public caller facilities and fully consulted with interested parties. As a result public caller offices in Leek, Biddulph and Cheadle have been closed. The District continues to offer a full range of advice and information from its offices at Hanley, Longton and Newcastle.
  There is one full time District Information Officer serving the North Staffordshire area based at Hanley office.
  Non-technical training is provided for North Staffordshire District by an outside contractor. This is an Area contract which provides a comprehensive programme of training courses.
  The Out of Hours Service (OOHS) operates in the North Staffordshire District on week days from 5 pm to 9 pm, on Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from 8 am to 4 pm. The public have direct access to an answering machine and are contacted within 15 minutes. North Staffordshire is part of a larger area for out of hours services and up to 15 staff are available for duty on a rota basis. There are 4 duty officers based in North Staffordshire with one on duty at the relevant times and the others available if needed.
  A national review of the OOHS is currently underway. A consultation exercise with representatives from the Department of Health, Local Authorities and welfare agencies to assess the impact of reduction or withdrawal of OOHS has recently been completed and a decision is expected to be made by the end of the year.
  North Staffordshire District does not have a freeline advice service. However staff are able to respond to enquiries with direct access to customers records and are able to provide a more personal advice and information service.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Expenditure
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the undated letter produced by his Department referred to in his answer of 19 July 1995, Official Report, column 1487. [2001]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Yes.

  The letter reads as follows:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking what would be the estimated reduction in expenditure on Social Security benefits and on welfare foods and free school meals for Social Security benefit recipients if everybody between the ages of 16 to 65 years who was fit and able to work earned (a) £120 per week gross of tax and national insurance contributions, (b) £140 per week gross and (c) £160 per week gross. At the time I was unable to reply and promised to write.

  85
  The estimated savings are shown in the table. These estimates assume that the level of earnings received would involve working 16 hours a week or more, thus excluding entitlement to Income Support. Earnings have also been calculated individually, so that at £120 a week each a couple would be deemed to be earning £240, providing they were both fit for work.
  Savings do not increase proportionately to the increase in assumed earnings since earnings of £120 are already sufficient to extinguish income-related entitlement for most claimants.

  Benefit

  Gross weekly earnings (Deemed)

  £120

  £140

  £160

  Estimated savings (£ billion)

  Income Support

  12.08

  12.08

  12.09

  Housing Benefit

  4.92

  5.33

  5.7

  Family Credit

  –1.36

  –0.53

  0.24

  Council Tax Benefit

  1.06

  1.08

  1.09

  Unemployment Benefit

  1.28

  1.28

  1.28

  Total

  17.98

  19.24

  20.39

  Notes:

  (i) Based on data from the 1991/92/93 Family Expenditure Surveys and the Income Support 1994 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry modelled at 1995/96 prices and benefit levels

  (ii) Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10 million. Due to rounding figures may not add up to the total.

  (iii) Positive figures are savings, negative figures are costs.

  (iv) Income Support figures include free school meals and welfare foods.

  Benefits Agency
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding his proposals to close the Benefits Agency out-of-hours service; and if he will make a statement. [2116]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Representations have been received from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, hon. Members, the Association of Directors of Social Services, individual social service departments, local authorities, women and children's aid groups, the Bishop of Bath and Wells and members of the public.

  The Benefits Agency has also held meetings with the Department of Health, local authorities, the Scottish Office and welfare agencies. Further meetings to assess financial implications have been arranged with Department of Health, Department of Environment and the Scottish office.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning the Income-related Benefits and Jobseeker's Allowance (Personal Allowances for Children and Young Persons) (Amendment) Regulations 1996; if he will place copies of such representations in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [2128]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Since the changes were announced, a small number of letters from hon. Members and the public have been received. Representations were also made to the Social Security Advisory Committee during the period of public consultation on the proposals. The committee's report, and the Government's response to it, were published with the regulations on 11 October and copies were placed in the Library.

  Fraud
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his campaign against fraud in social security will include parents with care of children receiving income from a current partner in receipt of benefit; and if he will make a statement. [2450]

  Mr. Heald
  We are concerned to tackle all types of fraud against the social security system, including, where relevant, the non-disclosure of income by benefit recipients.

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria were used to select the areas of Britain to be singled out for investigation by the Benefits Agency special fraud teams. [3381]

  Mr. Heald
  The choice of areas for the Spotlight campaigns is mainly based on the ready availability of the necessary DSS and other resources.

  Compactness of the locality is also taken into account.

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to(a) his Department and (b) the Benefits Agency of the current investigation by the Benefits Agency's special fraud teams. [3382]

  Mr. Heald
  The Department has set aside £3,500,000 for the total costs of the programme of "Spotlight on Benefit Cheats" campaigns. This makes allowance for the costs incurred by the Benefits Agency and other DSS agencies.

  Appeals Procedures
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he received during the consultations process in support of the changes of appeals procedures for benefits outlined in "Improving Decision Making and Appeals in Social Security", Cm 3328. [2381]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The period for consultation ended on 18 October and we are currently in the process of analysing all the responses received—currently 440. I cannot yet provide the information requested by the hon. Member but will write separately to him once the information becomes available.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the decision to implement changes of appeal procedures for benefits under the Social Security (Adjudication) and Child Support Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1996 before the end of the consultation procedure set out in "Improving Decision Making and Appeals in Social Security", Cm 3328. [2382]

  Mr. Evans
  When my right hon. Friend the Security of State announced his intention to make these changes on 23 July, he said that he was consulting the Council on Tribunals on the proposals and that, subject to that consultation, regulations would be laid during the recess to take effect in the autumn. This has been done. The changes are intended to improve the appeals process and there is no reason to delay them.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the estimated total of absent parents who in 1992 paid no maintenance for their children; how many such parents have been traced by the Child Support Agency; and what assessment he has made of the agency's record in contacting new absent parents since 1992. [2447]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  Research published in the White Paper "Children Come First" in 1990 showed that, in 1989, around 33 per cent. of lone parents received regular child maintenance.

  Since 1992, the number of absent parents who have been traced by the Child Support Agency has increased as follows: 28,240 (1993–94), 49,632 (1994–95), 55,025 (1995–96) and 29,001 in the first six months of 1996–97, showing that the agency has been making steady progress in finding absent parents whose address was unknown to the parent with care. It is not known how many of these were new absent parents.

  Maintenance Work
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current backlog of maintenance work in his Department's offices. [2799]

  Mr. Burt
  The Department has a programme of maintenance works which is tailored to meet the needs of its estate and this is carried out within the resources made available to it. The programme for the current year has outstanding only those projects earmarked for completion before the end of the financial year.

  Back to Work Bonus
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of the back to work bonus during a full year; and how many people he estimates will gain. [2783]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We anticipate that the first full year in which the back to work bonus will operate in a steady state will be 1998–99. Our latest estimate of the gross cost of the scheme in 1998–99 is £65 million. We estimate that at least 150,000 people will receive a bonus payment each year.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on 2.1 million unemployed.

  2. The cost shown is the gross cost of the scheme. Once behavioural effects are taken into account, we expect that the scheme will be broadly cost neutral. However, the behavioural effects are very difficult to assess accurately.

  Benefits Agency Medical Services
  Mr. Alan Howath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the timetable for the negotiations and issue of contracts for the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services. [2774]

  Mr. Burt
  The tendering process began in 1996 with the publication of an advertisement. Responses were evaluated and five companies selected to enter into negotiations with the Department for the provision of the 88
  services. A statement of service requirements—document containing details of the scope of work to be contracted out-will be issued to the shortlisted companies on 20 November. The companies will have time to clarify their understanding of the business and they will then be requested to put forward their proposals.

  It is anticipated that contracts will be let by April 1997.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he plans to safeguard confidential information in contracts for the delivery and administration of social security benefits and medical assessments. [2778]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 24 July,Official Report, column 586.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions have taken place with NHS hospital trusts concerning the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services; what agreements have been reached concerning the fees which the trusts may charge private sector companies for the release of claimants' medical records; and how the additional cost will be financed. [2776]

  Mr. Burt
  We are currently discussing this issue with the NHS executive. Whatever the outcome, it is imperative that provision of these services will not lead to an increase in the expenditure of public funds.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many contracts he intends to issue for the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services; and which companies have been shortlisted for consideration. [2775]

  Mr. Burt
  The undertaking has been divided into three contract packages based on geographical areas; however the contracts may be awarded to fewer than three contractors.

  Five companies have been chosen to enter into negotiations with the Department for the provision of a medical service. Those companies are Andersens, BMI, Capita, EDS Ltd. and Sema.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has made for the financing of the costs of claimants' travel expenses to medical centres following the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services. [2779]

  Mr. Burt
  No changes to the policy on reimbursement of travel expenses are planned. The responsibility for paying the expenses will however transfer to the successful contractors(s) following contract award.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which organisations he has consulted on the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services. [2773]

  Mr. Burt
  As part of the process to determine the feasibility of contracting out Benefits Agency medical services, market research was undertaken with a wide range of organisations which included medical, IT and managed services companies.
  89
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance targets he plans to include in contracts with private sector companies taking over the functions of the Benefits Agency medical services. [2777]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 July 1996,Official Report, column 509. Targets and performance indicators will be matters for discussion and negotiation prior to contract(s) being awarded.

  Benefits Agency (Attacks on Staff)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures(a) are in place and (b) are being introduced to protect staff from attack by Benefits Agency clients. [2767]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 7 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what measures (a) are in place and (b) are being introduced to protect staff from attack by Benefit Agency clients.
  My answer to your question concentrates on the delivery of Benefit services by BA staff, in Employment Service Jobcentres following the recent introduction of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Virtually all Benefits Agency offices have floor to ceiling screened protection and there are no plans to remove screens in Benefits Agency offices.
  The Benefits Agency and Employment Service have worked together to identify the risks to health and safety arising out of the introduction of JSA. We have taken the necessary practical steps to minimise risks, consistent with the need to ensure the effective delivery of services provided from Jobcentres. It was agreed that the Employment Service should initiate a nationwide programme of health and safety risk assessments at each of their Jobcentres to identify the appropriate measures required for that particular site.
  A full risk assessment audit has been conducted throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Comprehensive assessments have been carried out in all 1,100 Jobcentres, and the resultant risk reduction measures are intended to minimise the risks to staff while supporting the operational necessity for JSA to be administered in an open-plan environment. Examples of additional measures which have been introduced into Jobcentres following the Risk Assessments are panic alarms, closed circuit television and extra security guards. Local risk assessors are free to recommend any counter measures they feel appropriate. Where the Risk Assessment recommends delivery of an element of a benefit process from a screened environment, this aspect of service would be delivered from screened BA premises.
  The assessment process is ongoing. A generic review was completed some weeks ago and a full review is planned when the new benefit is more established.
  I hope my reply has helped to explain the position and you find it helpful.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the level 90
  of the (a) invalidity pension in December 1978 and (b) current level of incapacity benefit as a percentage of average earnings. [1415]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Percentage of average earnings

  Basic rate invalidity pension December 1978

  123.2

  Basic long term rate incapacity benefit August 1996

  217.4

  Notes:

  1Based on average earnings for men aged 21 or over and women aged 18 or over in full time employment.

  2Based on average earnings figures for all full time employees.

  Source:

  New earnings survey, Office of National Statistics.

  Disability Benefit
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the annual savings to his Department in constant prices of ending the link between disability benefit and average earnings. [1417]

  Mr. Burt
  The link between invalidity benefit and earnings was broken in 1980 to ensure that long-term provision of benefit based on incapacity should be sustainable.

  The additional costs which would have been incurred had invalidity benefit been increased by average earnings are set out in the table.

  Year

  Additional cost 1996–97 prices £ million

  1980–81

  5

  1981–82

  35

  1982–83

  45

  1983–84

  55

  1984–85

  110

  1985–86

  125

  1986–87

  205

  1987–88

  315

  1988–89

  410

  1989–90

  505

  1990–91

  595

  1991–92

  685

  1992–93

  860

  1993–94

  985

  1994–95

  1,055

  1. Estimates cover invalidity pension and adult dependency increases only.

  2. Estimates rounded to nearest £5 million.

  3. Estimates converted to 1996–97 prices using the GDP deflator.

  4. Other benefit offsets estimated using family expenditure survey data.

  Hearing Impairment Aids
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent by his Department on aids for those with hearing impairments in each of the last 10 years in constant prices. [1418]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
  91

  Expenditure at 1995–96 prices

  £

  1993–94

  215,697.14

  1994–95

  319,441.49

  1995–96

  381,767.49

  Retired Citizens
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent public representations he has received on the range of Government policies available for needy retired citizens. [1297]

  Mr. Heald
  I met with representatives from "Pensioners Voice" on 5 November. A number of letters have also been received from individual members of the public.

  Industrial Injuries
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total cost of operating the PD D12 scheme, including administration, medical boards and awards but excluding the cost of medical appeal tribunals. [3251]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available.

  The PD D12 scheme is one of some 70 prescribed diseases for which disablement benefit may be claimed. The costs of the administration of individual prescribed diseases are not identified separately.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of applicants for PD D12 to date; how many awards have been made; what is the average weekly award made; and what is the average disablement assessment for the disease. [3250]

  Table 6, paragraph 7.12 of "Options for Equality in State Pension Age": recalculated on the basis of current prices

  1996–97 prices

  £ per week

  Basic pension available at different ages

  60

  61

  62

  63

  64

  65

  66

  67

  68

  69

  70

  Age 63 "pivot"

  49

  53

  56

  61

  66

  72

  77

  84

  92

  101

  110

  Age 65 "pivot"

  42

  45

  48

  53

  56

  61

  66

  72

  79

  86

  95

  Table 6, paragraph 7.12 of "Options for Equality in State Pension Age": recalculated on the basis of current prices assuming pension increases to full basic pension at age 75 for those retiring before the pivot.1

  1996–97 prices

  £ Per week

  Basic pension available at different ages

  60

  61

  62

  63

  64

  65

  66

  67

  68

  69

  70

  Age 63 'pivot'

  45

  49

  55

  61

  66

  72

  77

  84

  92

  101

  110

  Age 65 'pivot'

  35

  39

  42

  48

  54

  61

  66

  72

  79

  86

  95

  Note:

  1 It has been assumed that where someone retired before the pivot age then their reduced pension will be increased to the full basic rate when they get to 75. For those that retire after the pivot age, and thus receive a higher initial pension, it has been assumed that this higher rate of pension will continue to be paid after age 75.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department
  92
  Mr. Evans
  As at 30 September 1996, there had been 48,778 claims and 5,3521 awards of industrial injuries disablement benefit for prescribed disease PD D12. The average weekly rate is estimated at £54.72, based on April 1996 benefit rates, and the average disablement assessment is 55 per cent2.

  Notes:

  1 Includes 35 assessments of 1 to 13 per cent. which resulted in an award of an aggregated pension since 3 October 1994. Not all claims will have been decided.

  2 The estimates are based on a 10 per cent. sample with an allowance for late returns.

  Source:

  BREM System and Benefits Agency central data unit.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is average cost of a single MAT case; and how many PD D12 appellants there were between September 1993 and September 1996. [3252]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not readily available in the format requested. The average cost to the independent tribunal service of a medical appeal tribunal case cleared, is estimated at £578, excluding departmental agency costs. The Benefits Agency estimates that its costs are in the region of £60 per case.

  Information on the number of appellants in respect of PD D12 is available only for the period from 13 September 1993 to 2 October 1994, when there were 7,817 appeals, including 1,654 appeals to an medical appeal tribunal. Information on PD D12 appellants for later periods could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will recalculate the figures in table 6, paragraph 7.12 of "Options for Equality in State Pension Age":(a) on the basis of current prices and (b) on the assumption that a individual reverted to the full basis state pension at age 75 years. [3318]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the tables:
  93
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list the number of awards of retirement pension made for the last year for which figures are available by(a) category of pension, (b) age and (c) sex; and if he will list for each (i) the average rate of basic pension payable and (ii) the average rate of net additional pension; [3314]

  (2) if he will list by benefit type the number of new awards of retirement pension made, for the last year for which figures are available, to people who were eligible for social security benefits at the start of the period; [3317]

  (3) if he will list by gender the number of new awards of (a) basic and (b) additional retirement pension, for the last year for which figures are available, which are deferred, by (i) the average period of deferment, (ii) the percentage increase for deferred retirement and (iii) the average percentage; [3315]

  (4) if he will list by (a) sex and (b) age the number of new awards of retirement pension made, for the last year for which figures are available, to people who had income from (i) an occupational pension and (ii) a personal pension at the start of the period; and if he will indicate the average income from these income sources; [3321]

  (5) if he will list the number of new awards of (1) basic and (2) retirement pensions made, for the last year for which figures are available, by (a) sex and (b) income band for (i) single pensioners and (ii) pensioner couples. [3316]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available.

  Frozen Pensions
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those countries outside the EU where British state pensioners(a) do and (b) do not receive the annual uprating; and if he will set down the guiding principles behind the decision to place non-EU countries chosen by British pensioners for their retirement into the uprated or the frozen category. [3301]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the lists.

  Lists A and B show the overseas countries outside the European economic area1 where United Kingdom retirement and widow's pensions were paid in July 1996. Annual pension upratings are payable in the countries listed in A. Upratings are not payable in the countries listed in B.

  The general rule is that annual pension increases are not payable outside the United Kingdom unless European Community regulations or reciprocal social security agreements provide otherwise. Reciprocal agreements with the countries listed in A were entered into with a view to providing a measure of social protection for workers, and members of their families, when moving from one country to the other during their working lives. In order to enter into an agreement with the UK the other country's social security scheme had to be sufficiently similar to provide for reciprocity. Increasingly, there had to be sufficient movement of workers between the two countries to justify the outlay of resources to negotiate, operate and maintain the agreement. Above all, any additional costs had to be affordable.
  94
  LIST A: NON-EEA COUNTRIES WHERE ANNUAL UPRATINGS ARE PAYABLE

  Barbados

  Bermuda

  Bosnia-Herzegovina2

  Croatia2

  Cyprus

  Guernsey

  Isle of Man

  Israel

  Jamaica

  Jersey

  Macedonia2

  Malta

  Mauritius

  Philippines

  Slovenia2

  Switzerland

  Turkey

  USA

  Yugoslavia

  1 Comprises EC member states plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. EC regulations on social security for migrant workers apply throughout the European Economic Area.
  2 Formerly a constituent republic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). Annual pension increases payable by virtue of the 1958 reciprocal agreement with FRY.

  LIST B: COUNTRIES WHERE ANNUAL UPRATINGS ARE NOT PAYABLE

  Afghanistan

  Albania

  Algeria

  Andorra

  Angola

  Anguilla

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Argentina

  Armenia

  Ascension Island

  Australia

  Bahamas

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Belarus

  Belize

  Benin

  Bhutan

  Bolivia

  Botswana

  Brazil

  British Virgin Islands

  Brunei

  Bulgaria

  Burma

  Burundi

  Cameroon

  Canada

  Cape Verde Islands

  Cayman Islands

  Chile

  95

  China

  Colombia

  Congo

  Cook Islands

  Costa Rica

  Cuba

  Czech Republic

  Denmark

  Djibouti

  Dominica

  Dominican Republic

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  El Salvador

  Estonia

  Ethiopia

  Falkland Islands

  Faroe Islands

  Fiji

  Gambia

  Ghana

  Grenada

  Guatemala

  Guinea

  Guinea-Bissau

  Guyana

  Honduras

  Hong Kong

  Hungary

  Iceland

  India

  Indonesia

  Iran

  Iraq

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kampuchea

  Kazakhstan

  Kenya

  Kiribati

  Korea (South)

  Kuwait

  Laos

  Latvia

  Lebanon

  Lesotho

  Liberia

  Libya

  Liechtenstein

  Lithuania

  Macau

  Malagasy Republic

  Malawi

  Malaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak)

  Maldive Islands

  Mexico

  Monaco

  Mongolia

  96

  Montserrat

  Morocco

  Mozambique

  Namibia

  Nepal

  Netherlands Antilles

  New Caledonia

  New Zealand

  Nicaragua

  Nigeria

  Norfolk Island

  Norway

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Panama

  Papua New Guinea

  Paraguay

  Peru

  Poland

  Puerto Rico

  Qatar

  Romania

  Russia

  St. Helena and Dependencies

  St. Kitts-Nevis

  St. Lucia

  St. Martin

  St. Vincent

  san Marino

  Saudi Arabia

  Senegal

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  Slovak Republic

  Solomon Islands

  Somalia

  South Africa

  Sri Lanka

  Sudan

  Swaziland

  Syria

  Taiwan

  Tanzania

  Thailand

  Togo

  Tonga

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Tuvalu

  Uganda

  Ukraine

  United Arab Emirates

  Uruguay

  Vanuatu (New Hebrides)

  Vatican city

  Venezuela

  97

  Vietnam

  Virgin Islands (USA)

  Western Samoa

  Yemen, Republic of Zaire

  Zambia

  Zimbabwe.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list Government expenditure on social security and welfare services as a percentage of gross domestic product following the definition adopted by "Eurostat, General Government Accounts and Statistics 1981–1992", page 25, table D for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) as many OECD countries as are readily available to his Department. [3068]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to Eurostat publication "General Government accounts and statistics 1970–1993", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  War Pensioners (Hearing Disorders)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent changes in provision for hearing disorders the War Pensions Agency is now introducing; how they affect the provision of remedial help for service-related hearing loss; when these changes were submitted for parliamentary approval; what representations he has received about them; and if he will make a statement. [3072]

  Mr. Heald
  Article 26 of the Service Pensions Order 1983 gives the Secretary of State a discretionary power to defray necessary expenses relating to the treatment of an ex-member of the armed forces arising as a result of disablement due to service, including the cost of aids and appliances such as hearing aids. The power cannot be used, however, when the treatment, aid or appliance is provided under other UK legislation.

  The long-standing policy has been to use that discretionary power to defray the costs of non-standard hearing aids for war pensioners only where a standard aid was not medically suitable.

  With the implementation of the NHS Trust and Community Care Act 1990, the NHS is no longer restricted to supplying hearing aids from a limited list of models. NHS hearing aid centres may now purchase and supply on free loan any type of hearing aid that they consider appropriate in any individual case.

  It was recently recognised that our operational procedures had not kept up with this change in the NHS arrangements. The procedures have now been amended to ensure that they reflect fully both the policy intention and the limitations placed on the Secretary of State's discretionary powers.

  Any war pensioner resident in the UK approaching the War Pensions Agency for a hearing aid is now being advised to access the NHS system in the normal way. War pensioners will not be disadvantaged by these operational changes as there is now no specific hearing impairment for which the NHS cannot supply a suitable aid.
  98
  The changes have not been submitted for parliamentary approval because there has been no change in either the law or normal policy.

  We have, to date, received one letter concerning the changes, from the national chairman of the Royal British Legion.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of uncollected national insurance contributions for(a) 1991–92, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [3386]

  Mr. Heald
  all employees whose earnings reach or exceed a minimum level are liable to pay class 1 national insurance contributions. It is the responsibility of the employer, in the first instance, to pay both their own (secondary) and their employee's (primary) share of the contribution at the time earnings are paid.

  Estimates of the underpayment of class 1 NICs have been made through two employer compliance surveys; however these covered only the years 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1995–96. The survey in respect of the 1995–96 tax year provided an estimate that £92.8 million NICs (primary and secondary) were not paid. This figure represents 0.21 per cent. of the total amount paid by way of NICs in 1995–96.

  The Contributions Agency commissioned the first survey in 1994 and following analysis and review of the results a further survey was carried out in respect of the performance in the 1995–96 tax year.

  Self-employed contributors pay class 2 and class 4 contributions. Class 2 contributions are paid by direct debit payments or in response to the issue of quarterly bills. Estimates as to unpaid class 2 contributions could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Class 4 contributions are collected by the Inland Revenue, which draws up its accounts on the last Friday in October. The figures for the year ended 1996 are not available, the figures for the years ended 1992 and 1995 the amounts of class 4 contributions uncollected and written off were:

  1992: £61.9 million

  1995: £34.5 million

  Figures for class 4 contributions are for England, Wales and Scotland only.

  War Pensioners
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which local authorities in the year ended March 1995 had a policy in addition to the statutory scheme(a) of disregarding all of a war pensioner's income when assessing housing and council tax benefit, (b) of no disregard and (c) of disregarding an element of the income; and for each of those named in (c) what was the level of disregard applied, the cost to each authority of applying the disregard and the number of war pensioners in each authority to whom the disregard applied. [3591]
  99
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what regulations his Department proposes to repeal by the end of 1996; if he proposes to conduct a compliance cost assessment on each regulation repealed; and what is the estimated cost of undertaking a compliance cost assessment to determine the advantages and disadvantages of such a repeal. [3446]

  Mr. Heald
  The Department currently proposes to amend the following regulations which impact on business by the end of 1996;100
  The Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations (No. 13) 1982 No. 894.

  It is anticipated that the changes will come into effect on 6 April 1997.

  Since the effect will be to reduce rather than increase compliance costs, a compliance cost assessment is not required. Departments do, however seek to estimate approximate savings where ever possible. The cost of undertaking a CCA varies from case to case but is generally modest. Because part of the cost falls on the business consulted, a full CCA would be inappropriate for measures designed to reduce business burdens.

  We plan to repeal a number of other regulations which have no effect on business.

  FCO Overseas Posts
  FCO Overseas Posts
  EC Human Rights Commission Report: Greece v. UK
  EC Human Rights Commission Report: Greece v. UK
  Indonesia: Aid
  Indonesia: Aid
  Entry Clearance Refusals Monitor
  Entry Clearance Refusals Monitor
  World Food Summit
  World Food Summit
  European Court of Human Rights: Cases against Turkey
  European Court of Human Rights: Cases against Turkey
  Genetic Testing: Advisory Committee
  Genetic Testing: Advisory Committee
  Paedophiles and Stalkers: Proposed Legislation
  Paedophiles and Stalkers: Proposed Legislation
  Police Role and Responsibilities: Report
  Police Role and Responsibilities: Report
  Disabled Voters: Access to Polling Stations
  Disabled Voters: Access to Polling Stations
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  Asylum Applications: Decision Times
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  Identity Cards: Security Arrangements
  Onley Secure Training Sector: Contractor
  Onley Secure Training Sector: Contractor
  Prisoner Transfers
  Prisoner Transfers
  Gulf War: Organophosphate Pesticides
  Gulf War: Organophosphate Pesticides
  Gulf War: Anglo-French Research
  Gulf War: Anglo-French Research
  Non-departmental Public Body Recruitment Costs
  Non-departmental Public Body Recruitment Costs
  Ballistic Missile Defence
  Ballistic Missile Defence
  Childcare Provision for House of Lords Staff
  Childcare Provision for House of Lords Staff
  Conduct in Local Government
  Conduct in Local Government
  Construction Contracts: Consultation Document
  Construction Contracts: Consultation Document