Written Answers of 12 November 1996

ENVIRONMENT

  Planning Guidance
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evaluation his Department has made of the capacity of the planning system to absorb a new(a) low-impact and (b) permaculture use class into existing guidelines; and what assessment he has made of the advantages of this policy. [3368]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have not conducted such research.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of giving additional weight to environmental impact in determining planning restrictions on agricultural buildings. [3370]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We published research on planning controls over agricultural forestry development last December. The report "Planning Controls over Agricultural and Forestry Development and Rural Building Conversations" is available from HMSO.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has(a) planned, (b) commissioned and (c) evaluated into the advantages of establishing a permaculture use class within the planning system; and if he will make a statement. [3236]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review(a) planning policy guidance and (b) other planning guidance on agricultural and other dwellings in the countryside in order to give greater weight to environmental and social sustainability; and if he will make a statement. [3299]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We are reviewing PPG7. We issued a draft revision for public consultation earlier this year.

  Standard Spending Assessment (Lincolnshire)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on discussions his Department has had with North Lincolnshire council and North East Lincolnshire council regarding their standard spending assessment for 1997–98. [3221]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My officials have been in correspondence with the authorities on issues currently under consideration about possible changes in the standard spending assessment for 1997–98. Their views,102
  and indeed those of others who have made representations to my Department, will be taken into account when we finalise our decisions on the 1997–98 settlement.

  I have also met a delegation from the area, led by the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), which made representations about SSAs.

  All authorities will have the opportunity to make representations on the proposals for next year's settlement during the consultation period which follows the provisional local government finance settlement soon after the Budget statement, which will be made on 26 November.

  Low-impact Accommodation
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the role of low-impact and self-built accommodation in the provision of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement. [3373]

  Mr. Clappison
  In the last financial year, 7 per cent. of all new housing completions in the United Kingdom were self-built. My Department has grant-supported a number of charitable trusts and agencies promoting low-impact self-build accommodation in the belief that this represents a valuable contribution to the provision of affordable housing.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has(a) planned, (b) commissioned and (c) evaluated into establishing practical criteria for assessing sustainable and low-impact developments, with particular regard to rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [3270]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have commissioned good practice guidance on planning for sustainable development. Work on this continues, with a view to publication next year. We have no plans for research into "low-impact developments".

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of the planning system to accommodate low-impact development; and if he will make a statement. [3359]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have not conducted such research.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the advantages of amending the Building Regulations to make it obligatory to conform to the highest energy—saving standards; and if he will make a statement. [3188]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Building Regulations require only that reasonable provision should be made for the conservation of fuel and power. They do not make it obligatory to conform to the highest energy—saving standards. The regulations were last amended in July 1994 and the changes came into effect in July 1995. In the normal way, arrangements have been made to assess the advantages gained from the changes after two to three years' experience.

  Radioactive Waste Sites
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the chief executive of the Environment Agency concerning the agency's independent evaluation of Nirex's research on the suitability of sites near Sellafield for final disposal of intermediate-level radioactive waste; and what further discussions he plans. [3416]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no formal discussions with the chief executive of the Environment Agency but does from time to time have discussions with the chairman, Lord De Ramsey, on various matters.

  Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has in respect of the funding of the leasehold enfranchisement advisory service in the coming financial year.[3537]

  Mr. Curry
  The leasehold enfranchisement advisory service has submitted a proposal concerning future funding arrangements and this is being considered. No final decision will be made before the Budget when it will become clear what funds will be available to my Department in the coming financial year.

  Rural Business Use Class
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for a reformulation of the new rural business use class to a sustainable rural business use class; and what assessment he has made of the desirability of such a reformulation. [3503]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department's consultation paper describing the proposed rural business use class made it plain that the objective was to encourage development that sustained the character of rural areas while controlling business uses that were likely to generate excessive traffic. As such, the proposal is already consistent with the principles of sustainable development.

  Construction Skills Certification
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many operatives have been registered under the construction skills certification scheme to date, broken down to show(a) bricklayers, (b) roofers and tilers, (c) painters and decorators, (d) partitioning fixers and (e) piling operatives, indicating in each case what percentage those registered represent of the total numbers employed in each grade. [3538]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Information on registrations under the scheme is the property of Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd.

  Leasehold Property
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the code of management practice in respect of leasehold property for which provision was made in section 87 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. [3536]
  104
  Mr. Curry
  Two codes, entitled "Rent" and "Service Charges", concerning the management of residential property, have been prepared by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and submitted to the Secretary of State. They will be approved by order to be laid before Parliament on 21 November. A code of practice covering private sheltered leasehold housing, produced by the Association of Retirement Housing Managers, came into force on 1 January this year.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 5 November,Official Report, column 463, if he will list the criteria for the future operation of the Building Research Establishment specified by him in April which were not satisfied by the proposal from the Construction Industry Council for a national centre for construction. [3566]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My answer of 5 November made it clear that our judgment related to whether the package of proposals put forward by the Construction Industry Council provided a basis on which to take forward single tender sale negotiations, rather than whether the proposal for a national centre met particular criteria. It would be wrong, in any event, to enter into discussion about the merits of the NCFC proposal, when the Construction Industry Council bid for BRE, at its request, remains available for consideration, in competition with other bids that may come forward.

  Office of Water Services
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much Ofwat has exceeded its budget in(a) the current year, (b) last year and (c) the previous year. [3110]

  Mr. Clappison
  Ofwat did not exceed its budget in 1994–95. Regarding expenditure in 1995–96 and 1996–97, I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 5 and 11 of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's answer of Monday 4 November 1996,Official Report, columns 346–48, to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day).

  Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what meetings officials of his Department have had with officers of Hillingdon borough council to discuss the objections he has lodged with the council to its proposed changes to Hillingdon's draft unitary development plan; and what meetings are planned for the future; [3708]

  (2) to which of its proposed changes to the Hillingdon draft unitary development plant his Department lodged objections with Hillingdon borough council; [3709]

  (3) on what grounds his Department lodged objections with Hillingdon borough council to its proposed changes to the Hillingdon draft unitary development plan; [3710]

  (4) if he will publish in the Official Report the text of his letter to Hillingdon borough council in objection to its planned changes to Hillingdon's unitary development plan.[3711]
  105
  Sir Paul Beresford
  Objections were made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to 26 proposed modifications. The objections were made to modifications that appeared to bring the plan into conflict with national or regional policies without good reason and where that was proposed would result in the plan lacking clarity such that it could cause great difficulties to users later.

  Twelve modifications concerned green-belt and metropolitan open land; six modifications would produce policies or proposals that were unclear or imprecise; and three modifications conflicted with our preferred approach to planning and affordable housing. A further five modifications to which objections were made related to proposals for residential development on two recreation grounds.

  Objections to the published modifications in respect of the deposited Hillingdon unitary development plan are addressed to the council of the London borough of Hillingdon. I would be pleased to provide a copy of the objections made by my right hon. Friend, but the approach in the first place should be to the council.

  We encourage local authorities to meet objectors to discuss objections. These informal meetings are helpful, not least to consider how the plan might be changed to meet the objections. Officials in the Government office for London and those from Hillingdon have met recently to pursue the objections made by my right hon. Friend. Further discussion is likely once Hillingdon's response to the objections it has received is known.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has, following the consultation, to vary any of the proposals to tighten up the compulsory competitive tendering framework for local authority professional services and housing management which he announced in May. [4112]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State is today writing to the local authority associations to consult them on draft regulations which we intend to put before the House early in the new year. The Welsh and Scottish Offices are also writing in similar terms. These draft regulations will amend the existing CCT framework for local authorities, other than police authorities in England and Wales. The Government will be considering whether to make comparable changes to the CCT regime for police authorities and will be consulting the relevant associations.

  These draft regulations incorporate the proposals which we put forward earlier this year, except that they will include five main variations in respect of English authorities—there are minor differences in the variations for Scotland and Wales:
  (a) The means by which authorities calculate the amount of work which must go out to competition to exclude the need for credits and allowances which prevent work from being exposed to competition more than once;
  (b) Goods and services which are "bought-in" will be recognised in the new formula. Where work has been awarded after a competition, this will directly work towards satisfying the amount which must be exposed to competition;
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  (c) As a result of these two changes, which effectively concentrates competition on local authority labour costs, the competition percentages for finance and information technology services will be 50 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively, except for county councils in England where the Finance competition requirement will be 40 per cent.
  (d) On housing management, the "de minimis" level is reduced in due course to 2,500 properties as proposed, but not further reduced to 500 properties as originally proposed;
  (e) Authorities are given 18 months from the new regulations coming into force to meet the new requirements on finance and housing management.

  These variations address the major concerns that local authorities put to us in the consultation exercise, namely, that the calculation framework remained unclear in the light of our intention to abolish certain credits and allowances, that the proposed 65 per cent. competition percentage on finance cut too deeply into core services and did not recognise differences in the functions of different local authorities, that a 500 property de minimis figure for housing management might mean competitions which cost more than they saved, and that, because local authorities were unprepared for competition beyond the existing CCT requirements, they needed more time than proposed to meet the higher requirements.

  The revised package of changes, which is summarised in the table, will restore the amount of white collar work subject to competition to a level first envisaged when the statutory framework was introduced lat year, with an increase in the volume of work where subsequent experience has shown the market is well placed to respond. It will mean we have a much more robust CCT framework which will force authorities to put the interests of local taxpayers first. Local authorities that have voluntarily sought opportunities to involve the private sector will find that the calculation framework recognises this. Authorities that are reluctant to expose work to competition will find it much more difficult to use flexibilities within the rules to avoid competition. External auditors will also have a clear basis for checking local authority calculations.

  Type

  Activity

  Details

  1

  Credit

  All

  Amend credit on work for LMS and DSM schools

  2

  Credit

  Personnel

  Amend credit on Grant for Education Support and Training

  3

  Calculation/Allowance

  All

  Abolish 'double-counting' of work in totals and allowance

  4

  Credits

  All

  Abolish credits on work done in support of DSOs and DLOs

  5

  Calculation/Allowance

  All

  Abolish 'pre-shrunk allowance'; create credit for indirectly contracted-out expenditure applied before competition percentage in CCT calculations

  6

  Allowance

  All

  Replace 'Bought-in Goods & Services allowance with BIGs credit applied before competition percentage and credit for work awarded under CCT applied after the competition percentage

  7

  Competition Percentage

  Finance

  Increase percentage from 35 per cent. to 50 per cent. (40 per cent. in English County Councils)

  8

  Competition Percentage

  Personnel

  Increase percentage from 30 per cent. to 40 per cent.

  9

  Competition Percentage

  IT

  Reduce percentage from 70 per cent. to 40 per cent.

  107

  Type

  Activity

  Details

  10

  De Minimis

  Construct & Property

  Reduce from £450,000 to £300,000

  11

  De Minimis

  Personnel

  Reduce from £400,000 to £300,000

  12

  De Minimis

  Housing Management

  Set level at 4,000 properties in England reducing to 2,500 properties. In Wales and Scotland the 2,500 properties figure comes into effect when the regulations take effect.

  13

  Exemption

  Security work

  Increase cut-off from 51 per cent. to 81 per cent.

  14

  Allowance

  Vehicle management

  Abolish allowance

  Lead Pollution (Barham Base)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to clean up land contaminated by lead-polluted water at the Barham base near Thetford. [3415]

  Mr. Soames
  I have been asked to reply, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility.

  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Effluent Reports
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effluent reports have been prepared by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in regard to(a) British military bases (b) bases made available to the United States in the United Kingdom and (c) British overseas territories in each year since 1979; and if he will place copies in the Library. [3281]

  Mr. Soames
  I have been asked to reply as this matter falls within my area of responsibility.

  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Tourism
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what measures she is taking to increase tourism to the north-east of England. [3388]

  Mr. Sproat
  Government support for tourism is channelled through the statutory British Tourist Authority and English tourist board. Through the ETB, support is made available to the 10 non-statutory regional tourist boards, including the Northumbria tourist board, which helps them undertake a variety of marketing and development activities of benefit to the tourism industry in their regions.

  The Northumbria tourist board has been instrumental in widening the appeal of the region. In 1995, the number of UK and overseas visitors to the region rose by over 20 per cent. on 1994. Overseas visitor spend showed an impressive increase of 53 per cent. on the previous year.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the rules and regulations she proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if she will make a statement. [3443]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The Department of National Heritage does not plan any such repeals or amendments before the end of 1996.

  National Heritage Bill
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when an environmental appraisal was produced using the guidance contained in the Department of the Environment's guide "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" for the National Heritage Bill[Lords]; and if she will place a copy in the Library. [3309]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: My right hon. Friend has considered the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" and is satisfied that an appraisal of the environmental effects in relation to the National Heritage Bill is not appropriate at this time. We will keep this decision under review as appropriate. The main purpose of the Bill is to extend the powers of the national heritage memorial fund so that it can support applications from a wider range of projects and applicants. There is nothing in the Bill that should have an adverse effect on the environment. On the contrary, the NHMF's new powers will provide greater protection for the environment. The Bill will allow the NHMF to provide support for recording schemes such as a survey of the flora and fauna of our rural areas. Also, privately owned scenic areas which may act as havens for wildlife will become eligible for funds.

  British Academy of Sport
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will place in the Library all the bids submitted for the British academy of sport; and if she will make a statement. [3031]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The bids we received for the British academy of sport are commercially confidential to the bidders. I understand that a small number of bidders have made aspects of their proposals public, but it would be a breach of confidentiality for me to place copies of the bids in the Library.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Citizens Advice Bureau
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made to review Government funding of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and Citizens Advice Scotland. [4046]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department is the major provider of funds to NACAB and CAS. A financial, management and policy review of both organisations began in October. The review will take place in two
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  stages, the first stage being a prior options review and the second an examination of efficiency and financial management and control systems. Pannell Kerr Forster Associates has been appointed to carry out the work and report its findings to my Department. The report on stage 1 will be submitted before the end of the year, with completion of the review and final report before the end of March 1997. The detailed terms of reference for each stage of the review have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Works Councils
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many United Kingdom-based companies have adopted works councils as specified by the European social chapter. [2820]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The European works councils directive sets down requirements for European level information and consultation arrangements in companies which operate in more than one of the countries covered by the directive and are above a specified size. The directive was adopted under the agreement on social policy and therefore does not apply to the UK, but a number of UK-based companies are affected by it because they have employees above the threshold levels in the countries covered.

  My Department does not hold precise information on the numbers of companies affected, but I understand that approximately 40 UK-based companies had reached voluntary agreements by 22 September 1996.

  Taxation (Self-assessment)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assurances his Department has(a) sought and (b) been given from the Inland Revenue regarding its ability to deal with the volume of queries likely to arise regarding self-assessment of taxation. [3113]

  Mr. Page
  The President of the Board of Trade is aware of the Inland Revenue's preparation for self-assessment which includes a programme to handle inquiries from taxpayers, employers and tax agents. A new telephone helpline has been established to assist taxpayers outside normal working hours.

  Century Date Change
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice his Department has issued to small businesses regarding the need to plan for changing information technology systems for 2000. [3114]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Taskforce 2000, a cross-private group set up at my invitation to increase awareness of the century data change issue, has over recent weeks stimulated considerable media coverage. The task force is well on its way to ensuring that, by the end of March 1997, maid board level executives in every company in the UK are aware of the problem. The task force has recently produced an awareness pack which my Department will make available through our network of business links and on the web page. The pack contains a statement of the problem, advice to companies and sources of help.

  Post Office
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the percentage of small firms which are(a) in favour of and (b) against the end of the Post Office's monopoly on letter delivery. [3115]

  Mr. Page
  None. I am, however, aware of the survey recently carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses on members' attitudes to the future delivery of mail.

  Business Links
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost of advertising business links. [3259]

  Mr. Page
  The total cost of the national advertising campaign and supporting publicity activities for business link in 1996–97 will be £4 million. A survey of business link target client companies following the July wave of advertising showed that the campaign was increasing their awareness and understanding of business link. A further survey will be conducted following the present wave of advertising which ends in mid-November.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [3782]

  Mr. Page
  My Department has consulted or is currently consulting on the following proposals for use of the deregulation order-making power:Consumer Credit Act 1974—exempt lending and hiring to unincorporated business from the Act and modify notification requirements for consumer credit licence holders;
  Companies Act 1985—reduce information required on shareholder details;
  Electricity Act 1981—enable projects not linked to the electricity grid to benefit from the fossil fuel levy; and
  Companies Act 1985—alter the law on disclosure of directors shareholdings.

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

PRIME MINISTER

  Anglo-French Summit
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list(a) the members of his Office who attended the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux and (b) the positions they hold. [3615]

  The Prime Minister
  I was accompanied to the Anglo-French summit by three officials and four support staff.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 November. [2182]
  111
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 November. [2183]

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

  Burma
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Burma regarding abuses of human rights; and if he will make a statement. [3178]

  The Prime Minister
  We have recently issued several statements about violations of human rights in Burma, and did so again yesterday.

  In addition, our ambassador in Rangoon has expressed our grave concern at recent events in Burma on several occasions.

  The EU presidency and troika Foreign Ministers also raised these concerns at meetings with the Burmese Foreign Minister on 22 July and 26 September.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from UNICEF concerning land mines in(a) Cambodia and (b) Thailand; and if he will make a statement. [3175]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, none.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister what assistance(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) non-governmental organisations have given to (a) Cambodia, (b) Laos and (c) Thailand in respect of the clearance of land mines; and if he will make a statement. [3176]

  The Prime Minister
  Since 1 April 1993, the British Government have committed over £5.1 million for humanitarian mine clearance activities in Cambodia, £543,000 in Laos and £5,000 in Thailand, concentrating on specific clearance projects addressing urgent humanitarian needs. Some of these projects are managed by British non-governmental organisations.

  We do not have details of all non-governmental organisations' commitments to mine clearance in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

DEFENCE

  Unidentified Flying Objects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what factors underlay his Department's decision that the reported sightings of unidentified flying objects on 5 November 1990 and 31 March 1993 were not of defence significance; [2898]

  (2) for what reasons his Department assessed the sightings of an unidentified flying object over RAF Shawbury, referred to in his answer of 24 July, Official Report, column 424, as having no defence significance. [2928]
  112
  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 8 July 1996,Official Report, column 26.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if supplies of vaccine 10HO3A supplied to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment were used in circumstances relating to the Gulf war. [1674]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours, dated 12 November 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about whether the Vaccine 10HO3A supplied to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment were used in circumstances relating to the Gulf War. I have been asked to reply since The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBD) is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of which I am Chief Executive.
  I regret that it is not our policy to provide details of the particular vaccines required for the research programme at CBD Porton Down.
  I am sorry I could not be more helpful.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date vaccine 10HO3A was received by United Kingdom military personnel in the Gulf; [1675]

  (2) if named patient requirements as required by the manufacturer were used in the case of vaccine 10HO3A while used in circumstances relating to the Gulf war; [1673]

  (3) on what date Her Majesty's Government purchased from the Miles Drug Company, Miles Pharmaceuticals or Bayer UK vaccine 10HO3A; and which was used in the Gulf war; [1672]

  (4) how many British Aerospace personnel (a) did and (b) did not receive doses of vaccine 10HO3A during the course of the Gulf war; [1671]

  (5) if he will make a statement on the use of vaccine 10HO3A during the course of the Gulf war. [1670]

  Mr. Soames
  At present, details relating to biological warfare medical counter-measures remain classified for operational reasons.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time on 20 and 21 January 1991 United Kingdom personnel were brought into contact with chemical or biological agents near Dhahran. [1677]

  Mr. Soames
  No chemical or biological agents were detected at Dhahran on 20 and 21 January 1991.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time on 20 and 21 January 1992 chemical agent monitors indicated sarin in the air in the vicinity of United Kingdom personnel at Dhahran. [1676]

  Mr. Soames
  There is no evidence of sarin being detected at Dhahran on 20 and 21 January 1991.

  Gurkha Troops
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkha troops will be stationed in Britain as a result of the handover of Hong Kong; where they will be stationed; what will be their remuneration relative to British troops of similar rank; and if he will make a statement. [3205]

  Mr. Soames
  On the completion of the restructuring of the Brigade of Gurkhas, some 2,000 Gurkha troops will be garrisoned in the UK, including those on long leave in Nepal. On current plans they will be stationed as follows:

  First Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles: Church Crookham;

  Gurkha Demonstration Company: Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst;

  Gurkha Demonstration Company: Brecon;

  Queen's Gurkha Engineers: Maidstone;

  Queen's Gurkha Signals: Blandford;

  Queen's Own Gurkha Transport Regiment: Colchester

  Three Gurkha reinforcement companies will be allocated to the following battalions stationed as follows:

  First Battalion, The Royal Scots: Colchester;

  First Battalion, The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment: Canterbury;

  Second Battalion, The Parachute Regiment: Aldershot.

  There will also be some Gurkhas stationed elsewhere on individual postings or attending training courses.

  We intend that the Gurkhas' remuneration will be broadly equivalent to that of British troops of similar rank.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many wives and children of Gurkha troops will be returning to Nepal as a result of the handover of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [3206]

  Mr. Soames
  Between June 1996 and June 1997 some 359 wives and children of Gurkha troops will have returned to Nepal as a direct result of the drawdown. In addition, 74 dependants of those Gurkha soldiers who have completed their service will return to Nepal, and a further seven will return as a result of postings to other units. Future arrangements for married accompanied service for Gurkhas are under review.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the Gurkha troops who will be moving to Britain; and if he will make a statement.[3207]

  Mr. Soames
  I have received a number of representations regarding the move of Gurkha troops from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom. Possible changes to the terms and conditions of service of Gurkha soldiers are under review.

  Channel Islands (Wartime Occupation)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when further documents on the wartime occupation of the Channel Islands are due to be released into the public domain; and if he will make a statement. [3668]

  Mr. Soames
  A number of previously closed files concerning the wartime occupation of the Channel Islands will be made available at the Public Record Office on 19 November 1996.

  Performance Measurements
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department performed against performance measurements in the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996; and if he will make a statement. [3887]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has today published a performance report covering the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Private Sector Contracts
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of his Department's contracts with the private sector; and how many people are employed to carry out those contracts. [3239]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department publishes each year in table 1.14 of "UK Defence Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, details of numbers and values of contracts placed by headquarters contract branches. Table 1.10 of the same publication gives estimates of the number of UK jobs dependent on my Department's expenditure.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons, his Department does not collate information on the number of written and oral parliamentary answers issued by his Department that require correction. [3222]

  Mr. Soames
  Where a correction to a parliamentary answer is necessary, it is usually our practice for this to be done by means of a pursuant answer in the Official Report. My Department has not thought it necessary to record such corrections centrally.

  Quadrilateral Armaments Structure
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the quadrilateral armaments structure with France, Germany and Italy; and if he will make a statement. [3975]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am pleased to announce that today the UK signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a quadrilateral armaments agency with France, Germany and Italy. The UK is now fully involved on an equal basis in the agency's formation, operation and subsequent development. This important initiative will lead to a more efficient and effective approach to the management of collaborative defence programmes.

TRANSPORT

  Mr. Kashieris
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the circumstances leading to the injury to Mr. Kashieris of Isleworth on 1 June 1993; if he will investigate the work of the Civil Aviation Authority in attempting to identify the aircraft involved; and if he will ensure that Mr. Kashieris is compensated. [3790]
  115
  Mr. Bowis
  My noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping wrote to my hon. Friend about this on 20 October 1995. There have been no new developments since that time.

  Traffic Area Boundaries (Manchester)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations the Minister for Transport in London, local transport and road safety has received from the leader of Manchester city council on redrawing the traffic area boundaries; what reply he is sending; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement. [2034]

  Mr. Bowis
  Two letters dated 30 July and 3 October have been received from the leader of Manchester city council about redrawing the traffic area boundaries. Replies were sent on 10 August and 20 October respectively. I hope to make an announcement about traffic area boundaries shortly.

  Motor Cycle Licences
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will repeal the provision to suspend motor cycle licences upon failure to pass a test at the same time as implementing the provisions of the second EC directive on driving licences. [3083]

  Mr. Bowis
  The provision under which licences are suspended if a motor cycle test is not passed within two years was introduced in 1981 in order to improve motor cycle safety by providing an incentive for learner motor cyclists to take training and become qualified early in their riding careers. There are no plans to repeal it.

  Fuel Duty
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors underlie the differential in fuel duty between private bus companies and private rail companies. [2600]

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1993, operators of rail passenger services were charged duty on diesel at a rate of 2.33p per litre. Bus operators of registered local bus services were eligible for fuel duty rebate and effectively paid no duty on diesel. In 1993, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer froze the level of fuel duty rebate for buses at 25.14p per litre. This coincided with the strategy of increasing fuel duty by on average at least 5 per cent. per annum above inflation every year, to contribute to the UK's Rio target that levels of carbon dioxide emissions should be at 1990 levels in 2000. It was important that the UK bus industry also played its part in improving fuel efficiency and in meeting the Rio target. It would not be possible for the red diesel scheme set up for rail, agricultural and construction uses to be applied to buses, or to charge different rates of duty for different uses of red diesel. This creates practical difficulties in changing the taxation of diesel used by rail in response to changes in the fuel duty regime for buses.

  Civil Aviation Accidents and Incidents
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to implement Council 116
  directive 94/56/EC establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents. [3997]

  Mr. Bowis
  This directive will be implemented by the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 1996 which come into effect on 21 November 1996.

  Civil Aviation Authority
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives he has set for the new chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. [3974]

  Sir George Young
  I wrote to Sir Malcolm Field on 11 November and have today placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Members of the European Parliament
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for(a) a register of MEPs' interests, (b) a list of MEPs' attendance records and (c) copies of debates in the European Parliament to be placed in the Library. [3242]

  Mr. David Davis
  (a) The European Parliament agreed arrangements for a register of Members' interests in July 1996. We understand that the register will be complete around the end of the year.

  Arrangements for consulting the register have not been finalised.

  (b) Attendance at European Parliament sessions is recorded in the Parliament's minutes, which are placed in the House Library.

  (c) Minutes of European Parliament debates and other business are already placed in the Library.

  Visas
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the range of charges for applications for visas; what is the average cost of processing each application; what is the reason for the policy of making no refunds, in whole or in part, in the event of an application being refused; and what was the difference between the income from visa applications and the expenditure in processing them in the last year for which figures are available. [2035]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Details of the fees for receiving applications for entry clearance for the United Kingdom are given in the Consular Fees Order 1996, SI 1996 No. 1915. The average cost of processing an application ranges from £25 for a direct airside transit visa to £230 for a settlement visa. Application fees are not refundable because it is Government policy to recover the full cost of processing an application irrespective of the outcome. However, if at a preliminary assessment stage the entry clearance officer believes that an application probably will not succeed, the applicant is informed and given the opportunity to decide not to make a formal application. In
  117
  that case, no fee is paid. In 1995–96, the income from fees was £42 million; the global entry clearance operation cost £48 million.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many potential applicants in(a) 1995 and (b) January to October 1996 seeking visitors' visas at (i) Islamabad, (ii) Delhi, (iii) Bombay and (iv) Lagos have been advised not to pursue their application; and if he will make a statement. [3209]

  Dr. Fox
  The numbers of entry clearance applicants who, following preliminary assessment advice, chose not to proceed were:

  Islamabad

  Delhi

  Bombay

  Lagos

  1995

  13,717

  6,101

  4,260

  348

  January-September 1996

  10,643

  4,905

  2,618

  0

  Statistics of those who were advised not to pursue their applications, but who nevertheless chose to do so, are not recorded.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of pre-sifted withdrawals for entry clearance from(a) Islamabad, (b) New Delhi, (c) Bombay and (d) Lagos for 1995; and if he will make a statement. [3208]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The numbers of entry clearance applicants who following preliminary assessment advice chose not to proceed were:

  Islamabad

  Delhi

  Bombay

  Lagos

  1995

  13,717

  6,101

  4,260

  348

  Iraq
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on missing Kuwait prisoners of war held in Iraq. [3172]

  Mr. Hanley
  Britain remains concerned about the plight of over 600 Kuwaitis and other nationals missing in Iraq since the Gulf war. We strongly support Kuwait's efforts through the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish the whereabouts of its missing citizens and will continue to play an active role.

  Sadly, the Iraqis continue to show no interest in making progress. We have made it clear to Iraq that this is unacceptable.

  I discussed this issue with Ministers in Kuwait in October.

  Diplomatic Appointments
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions his Department places on the religious affiliation permissible to a head of mission to the state of Israel. [3339]
  118
  Mr. Hanley
  There are no restrictions on the religious affiliation of a British ambassador accredited to the state of Israel.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons his Department appoints only non-Roman Catholics as head of mission to the Holy See. [3338]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 11 July 1994,Official Report, column 428.

  Sri Lanka
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to prevent human rights abuses against Tamils in Sri Lanka.[3516]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We believe that the Sri Lankan Government have made genuine efforts to improve their human rights record, which was very poor under the previous Government. Reports of abuses cause us great concern. We have raised our concern with the Sri Lankan Government on a number of occasions, most recently during the visit by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and by me, and stressed the importance of ensuring that violators are prosecuted.

  Non-co-operation Policy
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the measures from which the Government withheld agreement in the Council of Ministers under their policy of non-co-operation which have not yet been agreed. [3672]

  Mr. David Davis
  As a consequence of the policy of non-co-operation announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 May, the UK did not sign the EC convention on insolvency proceedings. The deadline for signatures passed on 23 May.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Traffic Police (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been dedicated to traffic division operations in each of the past five years in the South Yorkshire police force; and what percentage this is of the total South Yorkshire police force.[2674]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is as follows:

  Police strength: traffic operational

  Percentage of total police strength

  1991

  205

  6.84

  1992

  189

  6.30

  1993

  169

  5.61

  1994

  182

  5.99

  1995

  189

  6.14

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list by year for each of the last five years, and by sex, the number of persons successfully convicted under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988; [2721]

  (2) how many (a) men and (b) women have been successfully convicted under (i) section 1 and (ii) section 139 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 in each of the last five years. [2722]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is given in the table.

  Number of persons convicted at all courts for offences involving carrying weapons by sex 1991 to 1995

  England and Wales

  Offence description/sex

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Carrying article with blade or point in a public place (Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139)

  Males

  1,671

  1,778

  1,783

  2,424

  2,469

  Females

  66

  70

  69

  78

  90

  Carrying of offensive weapons1 without lawful authority or reasonable excuse in a public place (Prevention of Crime Act 1953, section 1)

  Males

  3,785

  3,490

  3,028

  3,186

  3,063

  Females

  122

  116

  90

  109

  127

  1May include a small number of offences involving truncheons etcetera.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes ended in a court conviction in each police force area of England and Wales in(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [2232]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: Information available centrally on the number of offenders found guilty is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales", supplementary tables, volume 3. Tables S3.2(A) and S3.4(A) refer to that subject.

  Copies of the publication are available in the Library.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes ended in a caution in each police force area of England and Wales in(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [2233]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: Information available centrally on the number of offenders cautioned is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales", supplementary tables, volume 3. Table S3.6(A) refers to that subject.

  Copies of the publication are available in the Library.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were cleared up by the police in each police force area of England and Wales in(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [2234]
  120
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Notifiable offences cleared up1 by police force area

  Police force area

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Avon and Somerset

  29,769

  34,226

  35,008

  Bedfordshire

  12,110

  11,377

  11,142

  Cambridgeshire

  16,375

  15,019

  12,626

  Cheshire

  19,875

  22,049

  22,329

  Cleveland

  19,758

  14,429

  18,180

  Cumbria

  15,677

  14,657

  15,639

  Derbyshire

  18,278

  17,891

  16,434

  Devon and Cornwall

  30,534

  29,257

  27,771

  Dorset

  17,073

  16,373

  14,765

  Durham

  18,663

  19,041

  16,113

  Essex

  35,991

  37,691

  31,404

  Gloucestershire

  12,134

  14,493

  14,928

  Greater Manchester

  116,938

  105,157

  71,314

  Hampshire

  37,223

  36,905

  36,552

  Hertfordshire

  12,039

  13,044

  15,270

  Humberside

  22,399

  23,291

  24,347

  Kent

  40,163

  43,338

  40,348

  Lancashire

  41,211

  36,356

  37,607

  Leicestershire

  27,391

  28,817

  26,924

  Lincolnshire

  18,755

  15,062

  17,878

  London, City of

  1,225

  1,406

  1,325

  Merseyside

  54,101

  45,328

  40,998

  Metropolitan Police

  146,342

  175,105

  187,671

  Norfolk

  17,664

  18,936

  15,758

  Northamptonshire

  16,294

  17,595

  15,948

  Northumbria

  38,227

  40,340

  39,034

  North Yorkshire

  16,816

  14,542

  13,816

  Nottinghamshire

  44,789

  40,708

  33,897

  South Yorkshire

  30,247

  36,669

  35,589

  Staffordshire

  28,602

  28,496

  29,179

  Suffolk

  15,571

  13,603

  12,831

  Surrey

  10,604

  14,119

  13,649

  Sussex

  25,391

  24,991

  29,297

  Thames Valley

  40,948

  41,174

  41,210

  Warwickshire

  9,665

  10,202

  9,725

  West Mercia

  23,035

  23,957

  21,971

  West Midlands

  86,809

  77,531

  75,279

  West Yorkshire

  54,073

  58,167

  59,012

  Wiltshire

  14,395

  13,433

  11,455

  Dyfed-Powys

  11,518

  10,501

  10,147

  Gwent

  17,411

  17,699

  16,093

  North Wales

  16,899

  16,416

  13,336

  South Wales

  45,173

  36,975

  43,076

  England and Wales

  1,328,155

  1,326,366

  1,276,875

  1Excludes criminal damage £20 and under.

  Police
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on(a) the terms of reference of his Department's review of the area cost adjustment as applied to the police service, (b) the alternative methods of measuring the local costs of policing which are being considered to replace the area cost adjustment, (c) the nature of the proposed regional salary premium for the police service and (d) the date on which the outcome of this review will be published. [2896]

  Mr. Maclean
  We have commissioned no such review, but the review of the area cost adjustment commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration considered the adjustment as it affects all local authority services including the police. The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member
  121
  for Croydon, Central (Sir P. Beresford), announced the publication of the report of the review on 12 July, column 350, and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  The report proposed that all local authority services should receive a regional pay premium to reflect the difference in average wages in different parts of the country. The police and local authority associations are being consulted about the recommendations. No further alternatives to the present adjustment for the police are currently being considered, although work continues on methods of taking into account any extra costs associated with the policing of sparsely and densely populated areas.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent(a) police officers and (b) civilian staff were employed by each police authority in England and Wales; and what was each police authority's annual expenditure on the salaries and other employment costs of (i) police officers and (ii) civilian staff in the latest year for which figures are available. [2897]

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest available information on police and civilian staff numbers relates to those in post at 31 March 1996. The latest available data on police expenditure on salaries and other employment costs cover the financial year 1994–95. The information is set out in the tables.

  Table 1: Full-time equivalent police officers and civilian staff as at 31 March 1996

  England and Wales

  Police force

  Police officers

  Civilian staff

  Avon and Somerset

  2,981.0

  1,213.2

  Bedfordshire

  1,127.7

  472.2

  Cambridgeshire

  1,238.1

  529.7

  Cheshire

  1,997.9

  689.5

  City of London

  869.5

  324.0

  Cleveland

  1,420.3

  553.3

  Cumbria

  1,115.0

  407.8

  Derbyshire

  1,763.1

  655.5

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,898.9

  1,120.9

  Dorset

  1,263.0

  620.5

  Durham

  1,401.0

  530.5

  Dyfed-Powys

  991.0

  309.5

  Essex

  2,884.3

  1,130.0

  Gloucestershire

  1,132.7

  415.0

  Greater Manchester

  6,938.0

  2,748.9

  Gwent

  1,043.5

  377.5

  Hampshire

  3,347.1

  1,323.0

  Hertfordshire

  1,712.0

  753.7

  Humberside

  2,041.0

  682.7

  Kent

  3,120.1

  1,140.9

  Lancashire

  3,171.0

  1,349.0

  Leicestershire

  1,908.3

  667.0

  Lincolnshire

  1,144.6

  441.8

  Merseyside

  4,411.0

  1,560.0

  Metropolitan Police

  27,343.0

  14,371.5

  Norfolk

  1,401.0

  529.2

  Northamptonshire

  1,152.5

  511.0

  Northumbria

  3,668.3

  1,318.8

  North Wales

  1,377.5

  512.0

  North Yorkshire

  1,324.4

  520.1

  Nottinghamshire

  2,317.7

  979.1

  South Wales

  3,027.0

  1,286.5

  South Yorkshire

  3,073.1

  1,418.0

  Staffordshire

  2,208.8

  753.5

  Suffolk

  1,137.8

  485.2

  Surrey

  1,643.8

  754.0

  Sussex

  3,073.5

  1,131.5

  Thames Valley

  3,674.0

  1,738.0

  122

  Table 1: Full-time equivalent police officers and civilian staff as at 31 March 1996

  England and Wales

  Police force

  Police officers

  Civilian staff

  Warwickshire

  979.0

  376.1

  West Mercia

  2,016.8

  963.7

  West Midlands

  7,145.1

  2,780.0

  West Yorkshire

  5,142.0

  2,036.5

  Wiltshire

  1,218.5

  452.6

  Total all forces

  124,843.7

  52,933.2

  Table 2: Police service: expenditure on salaries and other employment costs

  1994–95 outturn (£000s)

  Total police pay-related expenditure1

  Total civilian pay-related expenditure2

  Police forces in England and Wales

  Avon and Somerset

  85,316,111

  19,139,213

  Bedfordshire

  33,140,685

  7,457,656

  Cambridgeshire

  36,242,935

  8,128,967

  Cheshire

  56,217,819

  9,355,671

  City of London

  30,983,908

  6,956,611

  Cleveland

  40,931,816

  7,694,758

  Cumbria

  32,637,506

  6,964,780

  Derbyshire

  54,267,941

  10,016,527

  Devon and Cornwall

  83,887,086

  18,029,887

  Dorset

  37,305,970

  9,733,193

  Durham

  39,142,692

  6,965,621

  Dyfed-Powys

  27,216,557

  4,905,418

  Essex

  91,146,416

  17,906,359

  Gloucestershire

  34,703,509

  6,529,384

  Greater Manchester

  209,642,777

  38,231,708

  Gwent

  29,576,743

  4,701,197

  Hampshire

  100,624,081

  17,244,553

  Hertfordshire

  48,478,580

  11,264,686

  Humberside

  60,229,954

  9,932,736

  Kent

  94,163,173

  18,715,546

  Lancashire

  90,848,818

  14,541,103

  Leicestershire

  51,620,858

  11,245,407

  Lincolnshire

  36,042,507

  7,356,684

  Merseyside

  138,009,293

  22,924,164

  Metropolitan Police3

  886,003,000

  267,568,000

  Norfolk

  42,573,312

  8,607,065

  North Wales

  38,981,949

  7,397,179

  North Yorkshire

  37,809,131

  6,627,382

  Northamptonshire

  35,768,521

  7,667,025

  Northumbria

  106,112,247

  19,801,523

  Nottinghamshire

  65,261,970

  14,184,376

  South Wales

  88,142,297

  17,359,348

  South Yorkshire

  88,151,669

  15,922,784

  Staffordshire

  62,084,101

  9,766,539

  Suffolk

  36,198,568

  7,689,433

  Surrey

  49,062,078

  12,485,234

  Sussex

  86,111,850

  18,072,982

  Thames Valley

  117,103,908

  27,034,246

  Warwickshire

  31,345,249

  5,557,639

  West Mercia

  60,839,289

  12,408,662

  West Midlands

  201,413,195

  41,182,039

  West Yorkshire

  143,186,706

  28,458,413

  Wiltshire

  36,557,487

  6,243,494

  Source:

  Home Office 1994–95 revenue expenditure grant claim forms.

  Notes:

  1Police pay and related expenditure comprises police salaries, overtime, national insurance, allowances and expenses.

  2Civilian pay and related expenditure comprises salaries, overtime, national insurance and employers' pension contributions.

  3Expenditure data were taken from the Metropolitan police budget and precept report 1996–97.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what adjustment was made in(a) percentage

  123
  and (b) cash terms to the budget of each police authority in England and Wales in 1996–97 as a result of the area cost adjustment. [2895]

  Mr. Maclean
  The area cost adjustment is applied to the share of police principal grant and standard spending assessment allocated to individual forces. The following table shows how the allocations in 1996–97 would have varied if area cost adjustment had not been applied, and there had been no change in the total amount allocated.

  Effect of removing area cost adjustment factor

  Police principal grant and SSA

  With ACA £ million

  Without ACA £ million

  Percentage change

  Avon and Somerset

  153

  160

  4.4

  Bedfordshire

  57

  57

  -0.2

  Cambridgeshire

  66

  69

  4.5

  Cheshire

  98

  102

  4.5

  City of London

  53

  36

  -32.2

  Cleveland

  73

  76

  4.5

  Cumbria

  57

  59

  4.4

  Derbyshire

  92

  96

  4.5

  Devon and Cornwall

  152

  159

  4.4

  Dorset

  64

  67

  4.5

  Durham

  71

  74

  4.4

  Dyfed-Powys

  48

  50

  4.5

  Essex

  150

  147

  -2.3

  Gloucestershire

  58

  61

  4.6

  Greater Manchester

  340

  356

  4.5

  Gwent

  62

  65

  4.5

  Hampshire

  174

  174

  -0.2

  Hertfordshire

  89

  84

  -5.4

  Humberside

  102

  107

  4.5

  Kent

  163

  161

  -1.0

  Lancashire

  162

  169

  4.5

  Leicestershire

  94

  98

  4.5

  Lincolnshire

  58

  60

  4.4

  Merseyside

  217

  227

  4.5

  Metropolitan Police1

  1,551

  1,416

  -8.7

  Norfolk

  75

  79

  4.5

  North Wales

  69

  72

  4.5

  North Yorkshire

  69

  72

  4.4

  Northamptonshire

  58

  61

  4.5

  Northumbria

  186

  195

  4.5

  Nottinghamshire

  114

  119

  4.5

  South Wales

  149

  156

  4.4

  South Yorkshire

  154

  160

  4.5

  Staffordshire

  108

  113

  4.4

  Suffolk

  61

  64

  4.4

  Surrey

  81

  76

  -6.3

  Sussex

  150

  149

  -0.6

  Thames Valley

  200

  197

  -1.9

  Warwickshire

  49

  51

  4.5

  West Mercia

  103

  107

  4.5

  West Midlands

  340

  356

  4.6

  West Yorkshire

  258

  270

  4.5

  Wiltshire

  60

  63

  4.8

  Total

  6,487

  6,487

  0.0

  1Including a special payment of £130 million to cover national and capital city functions.

  Children (Sexual Exploitation)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take in response to resolution 1099 (1996) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concerning the sexual exploitation of children; and if he will make a statement. [2746]
  124
  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are studying the terms of the recommendation, which appears broadly in line with the agenda for action adopted by the world congress against the commercial sexual exploitation of children, held in Stockholm last August. The United Kingdom played a leading role at the congress, and in encouraging other states to adopt the agenda and to bring their law and procedures into line with its requirements.

  Stringent laws already exist in this country in regard both to the sexual abuse of children and to child pornography. Legislation planned for this Session of Parliament will extend that protection further by giving Untied Kingdom courts jurisdiction over acts of child sex abuse committed abroad by British nationals or residents, and by requiring paedophiles and other serious sex offenders to register changes of name and address with the police.

  Death Penalty
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the Government's policy towards the sixth protocol to the European convention on human rights concerning the abolition of the death penalty; and if he will make a statement. [2747]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have no plans to review its policy towards the sixth protocol to the European convention on human rights. The Government believe that the question of the reintroduction of capital punishment for murder or its abolition for those offences for which it is still available are matters for Parliament to decide.

  Television Licences
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been arrested for non-payment of television licence fines in each of the last five years;[2801]

  (2) how many single mothers in receipt of income support have been arrested for non-payment of television licence fines in each of the last five years. [2803]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce provisions to allow single mothers in receipt of income support to have free television licences. [2802]

  Mr. Sproat
  I have been asked to reply.

  No.

  Asylum and Immigration Act 1996
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now remove Pakistan from the list of designated countries under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1966; and if he will make a statement. [3042]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have no plans at present to remove Pakistan from the list.

  Mr. Kenneth Noye
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since his conviction for manslaughter in 1986 Mr. Kenneth Noye has been used by the Metropolitan police as an informer. [3276]

  Mr. Maclean
  This is an operational matter which is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

  Burglary and Vehicle Thefts
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of recorded offences of(a) burglary in a dwelling, (b) burglary elsewhere, (c) theft of a vehicle or taking and driving away and (d) theft from a vehicle in each police force area of England and Wales in the year to June 1996. [2235]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police by police force area 12 months to June 1996

  Police force area

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary other than a dwelling

  Theft of a vehicle1

  Theft from a vehicle

  Avon and Somerset

  17,881

  16,167

  16,548

  31,688

  Bedfordshire

  5,358

  5,363

  6,141

  10,473

  Cambridgeshire

  6,443

  8,042

  7,638

  14,119

  Cheshire

  7,808

  8,698

  6,488

  10,006

  Cleveland

  12,604

  10,721

  8,795

  11,847

  Cumbria

  4,101

  4,816

  2,309

  6,792

  Derbyshire

  8,117

  11,349

  9,451

  14,248

  Devon and Cornwall

  12,630

  13,463

  6,035

  19,358

  Dorset

  6,023

  5,588

  3,607

  9,527

  Durham

  6,078

  7,277

  6,189

  6,914

  Essex

  7,992

  11,316

  9,071

  16,802

  Gloucestershire

  6,865

  6,074

  4,145

  12,154

  Greater Manchester

  50,936

  35,853

  46,742

  48,638

  Hampshire

  11,089

  13,601

  8,749

  26,699

  Hertfordshire

  4,519

  6,446

  5,839

  12,886

  Humberside

  16,594

  22,104

  11,787

  18,651

  Kent

  15,332

  18,770

  16,278

  24,443

  Lancashire

  17,647

  12,977

  9,109

  22,275

  Leicestershire

  13,597

  12,143

  9,979

  16,358

  Lincolnshire

  5,210

  6,906

  3,377

  5,934

  City of London

  31

  556

  114

  513

  Merseyside

  20,133

  12,158

  19,009

  18,423

  Metropolitan Police

  100,497

  65,069

  57,871

  110,810

  Norfolk

  5,013

  7,416

  3,464

  8,194

  Northamptonshire

  7,126

  6,803

  6,495

  9,122

  Northumbria

  24,250

  24,423

  19,977

  21,927

  North Yorkshire

  7,146

  8,831

  5,346

  9,587

  Nottinghamshire

  18,147

  17,367

  15,161

  18,891

  South Yorkshire

  23,559

  22,483

  23,016

  24,052

  Staffordshire

  12,380

  12,246

  9,058

  13,941

  Suffolk

  2,790

  4,021

  2,140

  5,113

  Surrey

  3,922

  4,873

  2,787

  8,154

  Sussex

  11,582

  10,626

  7,069

  19,417

  Thames Valley

  19,301

  18,708

  18,088

  38,274

  126

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police by police force area 12 months to June 1996

  Police force area

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary other than a dwelling

  Theft of a vehicle1

  Theft from a vehicle

  Warwickshire

  3,748

  5,210

  4,207

  7,283

  West Mercia

  6,996

  7,719

  7,143

  15,464

  West Midlands

  47,621

  45,147

  48,140

  52,862

  West Yorkshire

  54,257

  35,007

  33,846

  42,419

  Wiltshire

  3,586

  3,933

  1,907

  5,995

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,296

  2,086

  999

  2,043

  Gwent

  3,311

  4,202

  3,172

  5,823

  North Wales

  3,429

  5,902

  2,267

  7,147

  South Wales

  13,974

  20,457

  22,104

  24,340

  England and Wales

  630,919

  582,917

  511,657

  809,606

  1Includes aggravated vehicle taking and unauthorised taking of a vehicle.

  Immigration
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes have been made in each year since 1994; how many have been refused; and if he will list the refusal rate for each year as a percentage of the whole; [3336]

  (2) if he will list the number of refusals for applications to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes according to geographical region or country in each year since 1992; and if he will list the refusal rate for each year and geographical region as a percentage of the whole; [3337]

  (3) if he will list the number of known applications and refusals for entry clearance to the United Kingdom in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [3334]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on applications to enter the United Kingdom, refusals and the refusal rate, 1994–95, is contained in table 1.

  Information on refusals to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes by geographical region, 1992 to 1995, is contained in table 2.

  Table 1: Entry clearance applications, 1994–95

  United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  Entry clearance applications

  Newly received

  Total granted1

  Refused initially2

  Initial refusal rate Percentage3

  Temporary purposes

  1994

  1,086,940

  980,600

  64,420

  6

  1995

  1,168,240

  1,044,590

  72,640

  7

  Settlement

  1994

  47,800

  35,250

  9,690

  22

  1995

  44,600

  33,830

  10,890

  24

  1Granted initially or on appeal.

  2Some may have been granted subsequently on appeal.

  3Calculated as the number of initial refusals as a proportion of total decisions.

  127

  Table 2: Decisions on entry clearance applications worldwide, by geographical region, 1992–95

  United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  Entry clearance applications for temporary purposes1

  Geographical region where application made2

  Granted3

  Refused initially4

  Initial refusal rate percentage5

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Europe

  214,040

  236,750

  281,820

  309,900

  9,820

  10,470

  10,870

  13,160

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Europe Economic Area

  74,500

  77,160

  82,600

  80,640

  2,380

  3,040

  2,850

  2,390

  3

  4

  3

  3

  Remainder of Europe

  139,540

  159,580

  199,220

  229,260

  7,440

  7,430

  8,020

  10,770

  5

  4

  4

  4

  Americas

  62.980

  67,220

  76,960

  76,850

  1,180

  1,130

  1,380

  1,090

  2

  2

  2

  1

  Africa

  106,150

  106,690

  114,840

  117,380

  24,760

  20,450

  20,450

  20,980

  19

  16

  15

  15

  Indian sub-continent

  135,890

  136,020

  152,070

  160,500

  21,420

  18,760

  23,510

  27,130

  14

  12

  14

  4

  Middle East

  108,630

  126,190

  134,100

  136,100

  5,230

  4,800

  4,480

  6,330

  5

  4

  3

  4

  Remainder of Asia

  160,360

  174,920

  200,520

  214,220

  5,240

  4,450

  3,680

  3,930

  3

  2

  2

  2

  Asia

  406,370

  437,130

  486,700

  510,820

  31,990

  28,010

  31,670

  37,390

  7

  6

  6

  7

  Oceania

  12,390

  13,770

  20,040

  29,400

  60

  40

  50

  30

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Other

  1,600

  270

  240

  250

  20

  6—

  6—

  —

  1

  1

  6—

  —

  All countries

  803,520

  861,810

  980,600

  1,044,590

  67,830

  60,100

  64,420

  72,640

  8

  7

  6

  7

  1Nationals of certain counties currently need a visa to enter the United Kingdom regardless of the purpose of their journey.

  2Some applications, particularly many of those in EEA countries, will have been made by nationals of other countries.

  3Granted initially or on appeal.

  4Some may have been granted subsequently on appeal.

  5Calculated as the number of initial refusals as a proportion of total decisions.

  6Five or fewer (less than 0.5 per cent.).

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had obtained entry clearance as visitors prior to travelling to the United Kingdom were refused entry on arrival in 1995. [3335]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information available relates to the total number of persons with an entry clearance or work permit who were refused leave to enter at ports in the United Kingdom. There were 1,260 such persons in 1995.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what right to British citizenship a child of British parents, adopted in babyhood by a couple of other nationality and brought up by them retains; and if he will make a statement. [3558]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  A child who is a British citizen at birth retains that status irrespective of the nationality of his or her adoptive parents, unless, when of full age, he or she voluntarily renounces it.

  Animal Head Transplants
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in respect of experiments involving the transplantation of heads from one animal to another; and if he will make a statement. [3596]

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Repatriations
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 November,Official Report, column 440, if he will clarify the final sentence of paragraph 1. [3785]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I regret that, due to an error, the meaning of the original answer was unclear. The sentence in question should have read:"Repatriation is subject to the agreement of both states concerned, as well as of the prisoner, following consideration of all the relevant information".

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the selection committee who appointed the chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission and, for each, the outside interests which they declared. [3706]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The Criminal Appeal Act 1965 provides for the members of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to be appointed by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The panel which advised on the selection of the chairman of the commission consisted of Mr. Richard Wilson, permanent under-secretary of state at the Home Office; Mr. David Burr, a civil service commissioner; Professor Sir John Smith, former assessor to Sir John May's inquiry into the convictions arising from the 1974 Guildford and Woolwich bombings; and Sir David Yardley, former chairman of the Commission for Local Administration in England. None of the members of the panel declared an outside interest.

  Correspondence
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Barking of 4 September, 26 September and 4 October. [3707]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I will be replying to the hon. Member very shortly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  7 Millbank (Newspapers)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what estimate he has made of the cost of the theft of newspapers from the foyer of 7 Millbank over the last 12 months.[2653]
  129
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  The estimated face value of newspapers removed is £520 per year. This estimated annual "cost", based on nine newspapers removed daily, is slightly misleading, given that by their very nature newspapers have a value only on the day of publication.

  Initiatives have been taken to reduce the loss, but they do require the co-operation of all hon. Members.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what estimate he has made of the cost of fitting wooden library newspaper holders for daily newspapers in the foyer of 7 Millbank; and if he will make a statement. [2654]

  Mr. Martin
  The item concerned was taken from stock purchased five years ago. Its cost did not exceed £50.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Zaire
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests Her Majesty's Government have received from the United Nations or its agencies to investigate the supply of arms from the United Kingdom to the Hutu refugees or other groups in Zaire; when these requests were received; what steps have been taken to undertake such investigations; and when Her Majesty's Government responded to the United Nations. [3610]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Government have a record of having received one letter, dated 12 September 1996, from the United Nations commission of inquiry regarding the supply of arms to the former Rwandan armed forces. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has not at this stage found evidence to support criminal proceedings in the UK, but will continue to co-operate with the United Nations commission, will investigate as appropriate any new allegations and is responding to the inquiry already made.

  UN Refugee Camps
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list United Nations refugee camps on the African continent indicating the number of refugees they hold at the most recent available date; and if he will make a statement. [3177]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The numbers of refugees in UN camps on the continent of Africa within individual countries are shown in the table. Figures for individual camps within countries are not held centrally.

  Refugee population by country 1995

  Number 000's

  Algeria

  219.1

  Angola

  10.7

  Benin

  70.4

  Burkina Faso

  50.0

  Burundi

  300.3

  Cameroon

  44.0

  Central African Republic

  47.8

  Congo

  15.5

  Côte d'Ivoire

  360.1

  Djibouti

  33.4

  Egypt

  7.2

  Ethiopia

  348.1

  130

  Refugee population by country 1995

  Number 000's

  Gambia

  2.2

  Ghana

  113.7

  Guinea

  553.2

  Guinea-Bassau

  23.9

  Kenya

  252.4

  Liberia

  120.0

  Libya

  2.0

  Malawi

  90.2

  Mali

  15.8

  Mauritania

  82.2

  Namibia

  1.1

  Niger

  15.1

  Nigeria

  6.0

  Rwanda

  6.0

  Senegal

  73.0

  Sierra Leone

  15.9

  South Africa

  91.9

  Sudan

  727.2

  Tanzania

  883.3

  Togo

  12.4

  Uganda

  286.5

  Zaire

  1,724.4

  Zambia

  141.1

  Zimbabwe

  2.2

  Other Countries

  3.7

  Total Africa region

  6,752.0

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the United Nations refugee camps in the Gulf area indicating the number of refugees they contain at the most recent date; and if he will make a statement. [3174]

  Dr. Fox
  The numbers of refugees in UN camps in the Gulf area within individual countries are shown in the table. Figures for individual camps within countries are not held centrally.

  Number 000's

  Iran

  2,236.4

  Iraq

  119.6

  Saudi Arabia

  18.0

  Total Gulf region

  2,374.0

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the value of the contract awarded to Capita Managed Services to administer the national implementation of the voucher scheme; and what is the length of the contract period. [2762]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The cost of administering the nursery education voucher scheme will be around £15 million over three years—a cost of less than £10 per child.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she plans to publish her report on phase 1 of the nursery education voucher scheme. [4092]

  Mr. Squire
  A report on the first phase of the nursery voucher scheme is being published tomorrow morning. Copies of the report will be placed in the Library by 9.30 am.

  Education Expenditure
  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.

  LEA

  Primary SSA per pupil 1996–97 £

  Secondary SSA per pupil 1996–97 £

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,273

  3,057

  Barnet

  2,203

  2,897

  Barnsley

  1,955

  2,617

  Bath and North East Somerset

  1,880

  2,462

  Bedfordshire

  2,057

  2,750

  Berkshire

  2,047

  2,733

  Bexley

  2,124

  2,831

  Birmingham

  2,173

  2,907

  Bolton

  1,958

  2,603

  Bradford

  2,070

  2,777

  Brent

  2,554

  3,504

  Bromley

  2,074

  2,744

  Buckinghamshire

  2,021

  2,715

  Bury

  1,909

  2,517

  Calderdale

  1,986

  2,650

  Cambridgeshire

  1,962

  2,615

  Camden

  2,841

  3,596

  Cheshire

  1,903

  2,529

  City of Bristol

  2,011

  2,759

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  2,080

  2,789

  City of London

  2,736

  7,422

  Cornwall

  1,984

  2,644

  Coventry

  2,049

  2,731

  Croydon

  2,277

  3,089

  Cumbria

  1,957

  2,598

  Derbyshire

  1,911

  2,555

  Devon

  1,958

  2,609

  Doncaster

  2,039

  2,719

  Dorset

  1,909

  2,536

  Dudley

  1,896

  2,526

  Durham

  1,983

  2,649

  Ealing

  2,378

  3,246

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  1,890

  2,517

  East Sussex

  2,043

  2,728

  Enfield

  2,289

  3,034

  Essex

  2,055

  2,749

  Gateshead

  2,006

  2,691

  Gloucestershire

  1,912

  2,542

  Greenwich

  2,716

  3,620

  Hackney

  2,991

  4,207

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,808

  3,701

  Hampshire

  1,989

  2,657

  Haringey

  2,631

  3,599

  Harrow

  2,194

  2,951

  Hartlepool

  2,010

  2,673

  Havering

  2,104

  2,816

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,914

  2,556

  Hertfordshire

  2,074

  2,754

  Hillingdon

  2,195

  2,930

  Hounslow

  2,341

  3,072

  Isle of Wight Council

  2,070

  2,755

  Isles of Scilly

  3,574

  4,794

  Islington

  2,865

  3,889

  132

  LEA

  Primary SSA per pupil 1996–97 £

  Secondary SSA per pupil 1996–97 £

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,628

  3,605

  Kent

  2,032

  2,714

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,108

  2,787

  Kirklees

  1,971

  2,637

  Knowsley

  2,231

  3,055

  Lambeth

  3,024

  4,431

  Lancashire

  1,964

  2,616

  Leeds

  1,947

  2,597

  Leicestershire

  1,954

  2,601

  Lewisham

  2,803

  3,769

  Lincolnshire

  1,969

  2,630

  Liverpool

  2,203

  2,924

  Manchester

  2,320

  3,141

  Merton

  2,216

  2,948

  Middlesbrough

  2,109

  2,859

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,104

  2,793

  Newham

  2,620

  3,490

  Norfolk

  1,971

  2,630

  North East Lincolnshire

  1,982

  2,638

  North Lincolnshire

  1,965

  2,595

  North Somerset

  1,863

  2,462

  North Tyneside

  1,946

  2,620

  North Yorkshire

  1,940

  2,560

  Northamptonshire

  1,927

  2,568

  Northumberland

  1,935

  2,582

  Nottinghamshire

  1,973

  2,630

  Oldham

  2,008

  2,646

  Oxfordshire

  1,985

  2,625

  Redbridge

  2,241

  2,970

  Redcar and Cleveland

  2,042

  2,698

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,040

  2,660

  Rochdale

  2,017

  2,711

  Rotherham

  1,978

  2,609

  Salford

  2,047

  2,747

  Sandwell

  2,051

  2,734

  Sefton

  1,955

  2,590

  Sheffield

  1,996

  2,679

  Shropshire

  1,952

  2,596

  Solihull

  1,872

  2,468

  Somerset

  1,933

  2,580

  South Gloucestershire

  1,834

  2,442

  South Tyneside

  2,012

  2,681

  Southwark

  2,926

  3,933

  St. Helens

  1,945

  2,609

  Staffordshire

  1,894

  2,520

  Stockport

  1,863

  2,482

  Stockton on Tees

  1,981

  2,622

  Suffolk

  1,901

  2,538

  Sunderland

  2,001

  2,673

  Surrey

  2,040

  2,723

  Sutton

  2,162

  2,829

  Tameside

  1,908

  2,530

  Tower Hamlets

  3,052

  4,051

  Trafford

  1,905

  2,518

  Wakefield

  1,910

  2,536

  Walsall

  1,991

  2,634

  Waltham Forest

  2,484

  3,348

  Wandsworth

  2,654

  3,551

  Warwickshire

  1,906

  2,543

  West Sussex

  1,987

  2,647

  Westminster

  2,667

  3,470

  Wigan

  1,905

  2,523

  Wiltshire

  1,921

  2,561

  Wirral

  2,024

  2,690

  Wolverhampton

  2,081

  2,807

  York

  1,888

  2,533

  England—average

  2,053

  2,728

  Former Incapacity Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what research her Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the employment needs of people who have previously claimed incapacity benefit; [2771]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the similarities and differences between the employment needs of people registering as unemployed who were formerly incapacity benefit claimants who (a) first claimed incapacity benefit after April 1995 and (b) formerly were on invalidity benefit before 1995. [2772]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the research and evaluation which has been commissioned into the employment needs of people who have previously claimed Incapacity Benefit (IB). You also asked what assessment has been made of the similarities and differences between the employment needs of people registering as unemployed who were formally IB claimants, who first claimed IB after April 1995 and those who were on Invalidity Benefit before 1995. I will answer both questions in this one reply. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The needs of people who have previously claimed a sickness benefit have been examined by Employment Service (ES) Occupational Psychology Division. This work compared the needs of those people who had been disallowed IB (which we refer to as ex-IB) at the time they make a claim to unemployment benefit with those of other jobseekers at the same point. It was hoped that through this work it would be possible to identify whether ex-IB jobseekers had different employment needs so that the package of help that the ES offers these people could be reviewed to ensure that it is correctly focused. This package of help includes, a full advisory interview when they first make their claim, early access to ES programmes such as Jobplan and Jobclub and, if appropriate, help from our specialist disabilities services.
  The work by our Psychologists showed that this was a diverse group with a wide range of employment and jobseeking needs. It did not specifically compare those who had been on Invalidity Benefit (IVB) with those who made a claim to IB after April 1995, but looked across the board, finding that other personal factors influenced need rather than purely the time that they had been claiming a sickness benefit and the nature of that benefit.
  The psychologists found that the full advisory interview was valuable and that ES programmes could meet the needs of many of these people. The work has led ES to consider the possibility of a specially tailored programme for people who have previously claimed a sickness benefit, should the future volumes of such clients warrant it. The work of the psychologists has also enabled us to provide additional guidance for our advisers dealing with people who have claimed Incapacity Benefit.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Safety Measures (Guidance)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance she plans to issue to local education authorities and schools on the development of action plans for implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of safety measures. [2753]
  134
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department produces a wide range of safety guidance for local education authorities and schools, for example, on improving school security, safety aspects of outdoor education and safety in science education.

  Schools (Selection Applications)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools have applied to select more than 15 per cent. of their intake; and in each case if she will list(a) the percentage selected, (b) the selection criteria and (c) the status of the schools concerned. [2754]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Since 1989, 25 schools have applied to select more than 15 per cent. of their intake. The following table lists the percentage of selection, the selection criteria, and whether the proposals were approved, rejected, or are still under consideration.

  LEA area

  School name

  Selection

  Approved Grant maintained

  Barnet

  Queen Elizabeth Boys' School

  100 per cent. including 10 per cent. by aptitude for music

  Barnet

  Mill Hill County High School

  30 per cent. by aptitude for technology

  Berkshire

  Southlands School

  One selective form of entry (18 per cent.)

  Cumbria

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School

  100 per cent. by ability

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  London Oratory School

  20 boys at age 7 on musical and general ability

  Hertfordshire

  Watford Grammar School for Girls

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Hertfordshire

  Watford Grammar School for Boys

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Hertfordshire

  Parmiters School

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Hertfordshire

  Rickmansworth School

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Kent

  Chaucer Technology School

  100 per cent. by aptitude for technology

  Kingston

  Holy Cross School

  15 per cent. selection by ability

  Lambeth

  Archbishop Tenison's GM school

  {*B}banding including

  Lambeth

  St. Martin in the Fields High School

  {*B}40 per cent. of above average

  Lambeth

  Dunraven GM School

  {* B}ability

  Surrey

  Roseberry GM Girls School

  30 per cent. selection on academic ability and 10 places on aptitude for music

  Wandsworth

  Graveney GM School

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Wandsworth

  Burntwood School

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Voluntary aided

  Liverpool

  The Blue Coat School

  100 per cent. selection by ability

  Rejected Grant maintained

  Hertfordshire

  The Bishop's Stortford High School

  50 per cent. Selectionby ability

  Kent

  The Westlands School

  One selective form of entry (11 per cent.)

  Kirklees

  Castle Hall GM School

  100 per cent. selection by ability

  135

  LEA area

  School name

  Selection

  Lambeth

  Dunraven GM School

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Surrey

  Glyn ADT GM Technology School

  40 per cent. selection by aptitude for technology

  Sutton

  Cheam High School

  50 per cent. selection by ability

  Under consideration Grant maintained

  Bromley

  Hayes School

  25 per cent. selection by ability

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many three and four-year-olds were in(a) nursery classes in primary schools, (b) nursery schools and (c) reception classes at January 1996. [2756]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The available information is shown in the following table:

  Pupils aged 3 and 4 in maintained nursery and primary schools in England

  Position as at January

  Nursery classes in primary schools

  312,094

  Nursery schools

  52,177

  Infant classes in primary schools1

  344,222

  1Includes reception and other classes.

  Jobseeker's Agreement
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the costs to the Employment Service of administration of the jobseeker's agreement. [2770]

  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. Alan Howarth, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the costs to the Employment Service of administration of the Jobseeker's Agreement. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The Jobseeker's Agreement is an integral part of the effective delivery of the Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). It is an agreement which is entered into by a Jobseeker and an employment officer and which complies with the prescribed requirements in force at the time when the agreement is made.
  The Jobseeker must sign the agreement which states their availability for, and what they will do to actively seek employment. The Jobseeker's Agreement is used during the Jobseeker's intervention to discuss their efforts to find work.
  However, the agreement is only one aspect of an intervention under JSA, and therefore it is not possible to separately identify the cost of administering just the Jobseeker's Agreement within the overall costs of Jobseeker's Allowance.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Books Expenditure
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average amount spent per pupil on books, for each of the past five years, broken down by (i) special schools, (ii) primary schools and (iii) secondary schools. [2763]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows expenditure per pupil on books and equipment for local education authority maintained (i) special, (ii) pre-primary and primary, and (iii) secondary schools from 1990–91 to 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available. Spending on books is not recorded separately.

  Books and equipment cost per pupil

  £

  Special

  1990–91

  177

  1991–92

  236

  1992–93

  255

  1993–94

  241

  1994–95

  249

  Pre-primary and primary

  1990–91

  41

  1991–92

  54

  1992–93

  59

  1993–94

  62

  1994–95

  64

  Secondary

  1990–91

  80

  1991–92

  93

  1992–93

  98

  1993–94

  102

  1994–95

  103

  Age Limits
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will introduce legislation to eliminate job advertisements specifying age limits, except where reasons are given for them; and if she will make a statement. [3189]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Government are convinced that the best way to combat age discrimination is through persuasion and education and they do not intend to introduce legislation to eliminate job advertisements specifying age limits.

  Pupils
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the school population of primary and secondary schools in England and Wales in each academic year since 1978–79. [3170]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information for England is shown in the following table. Pupil numbers in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  137

  Numbers of pupils (millions) in maintained primary and secondary schools in England

  Position in January each year

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary1

  1979

  4.52

  3.82

  1980

  4.36

  3.81

  1981

  4.18

  3.78

  1982

  4.01

  3.73

  1983

  3.84

  3.67

  1984

  3.77

  3.58

  1985

  3.75

  3.46

  1986

  3.76

  3.32

  1987

  3.79

  3.18

  1988

  3.84

  3.01

  1989

  3.91

  2.87

  1990

  3.98

  2.79

  1991

  4.05

  2.77

  1992

  4.09

  2.82

  1993

  4.17

  2.87

  1994

  4.24

  2.93

  1995

  4.31

  2.99

  1996

  4.39

  3.01

  1Excludes pupils in sixth form colleges which ceased to be classified as schools in April 1993.

  Project Work
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a progress report on the project work pilot schemes. [3285]

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to extend the project work pilots; and if she will make a statement. [3237]

  Mr. Forth
  I am very encouraged by the results of the two current pilots of project work, which having been running since April in Hull and Medway and Maidstone. The latest information indicates that around 25 per cent. more people are leaving the unemployment register in the pilot areas than in comparable areas. Based on this encouraging evidence, the Secretary of State announced on 7 November that the project work approach was to be extended early next year to around 100,000 people in a wide range of locations in England, Scotland and Wales. The full list of areas in which the pilot will run is as follows:

  Travel-to-work areas to be covered by the further pilots of the project work approach

  Bath

  Bolton and Bury

  Bradford

  Brighton

  Bristol

  Derby

  Dudley and Sandwell

  Dundee

  Dunfermline

  Edinburgh

  Grimsby

  Hertford and Harlow

  Huddersfield

  Lanarkshire

  Leicester

  London, East and North-east

  138

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  Neath and Port Talbot

  Norwich

  Nottingham

  Peterborough

  Portsmouth

  Preston

  South Tyneside

  Stoke

  Swansea

  Weston Super Mare

  Wigan and St. Helens

  The existing pilots, in Hull and Medway and Maidstone will also continue beyond July 1997.

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what estimate she has made of the effect of project work by April 1997 on the official count of claimant unemployed with durations of over two years in the(a) Hull travel-to-work area and (b) Medway and Maidstone travel-to-work areas; [3062]

  (2) if people currently counted as having an unemployment duration of more than two years will continue to be classified as such on their return to the register direct from project work.[3063]

  Mr. Forth
  The treatment of people who claim jobseeker's allowance after a period on project work is consistent with that of people leaving training for work, or other Employment Service programmes which have involved the payment of an allowance. They will be treated as new claims for the purposes of payment of jobseeker's allowance. Those who return will continue to qualify for all ES programmes, including those for people unemployed over two years, and for training for work. The numbers of those entering and leaving project work will be made publicly available.

  Collective Worship
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations she has studied from the British Humanist Association regarding collective worship; and if she will make a statement. [3190]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a letter dated 29 October from Mr. Robert Ashby, the executive director of the British Humanist Association. I have placed a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many surplus places there were in primary and secondary schools in England and Wales in each academic year since 1978–79. [3169]
  139
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is only available on a consistent basis for England for 1993–94 and 1994–95. In those years, the number of surplus places was as follows:

  thousand

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  1993–94

  541

  476

  1994–95

  478

  406

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for monitoring surplus places in Wales.

  Office for Standards in Education Research
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place the recent Ofsted research into (i) the background of excluded pupils and (ii) school library provision in the Library. [3103]

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

  Unemployment
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will publish the current unemployment rates in each European Union member state, indicating in each case whether the social chapter is in force; [2919]

  (2) if she will publish the current youth unemployment rates in each European Union member state, indicating in each case whether the social chapter is in force. [2920]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The information is set out in following table. I am pleased to confirm that, both for unemployment overall and for unemployment of people below the age of 25, the UK rate is substantially below the figure in the European Union as a whole. The UK is the only country to which the social chapter does not apply.

  Total

  Under 25 years

  Belgium

  09.8

  25.0

  Denmark

  06.1

  07.9

  Germany

  08.9

  09.7

  Greece

  —

  —

  Spain

  21.3

  39.2

  France

  12.4

  28.7

  Ireland

  12.5

  19.0

  Italy

  —

  —

  Luxembourg

  03.1

  07.7

  Netherlands

  —

  —

  Austria

  04.1

  06.1

  Portugal

  07.1

  16.7

  Finland

  16.0

  35.2

  Sweden

  09.8

  22.6

  UK

  08.2

  15.0

  EU

  10.8

  21.1

  Employment Service
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) which body established 140
  the resource baselines quoted by the chief executive of the Employment Service as a factor in the decision to make staffing reductions; [3613]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the likely costs of (a) redundancies and (b) transfers occasioned by the reductions in activity in the headquarters of the Employment Service; [3612]

  (3) who announced the decision to reduce activity at the Employment Service headquarters; and in what manner the announcement was made; [3608]

  (4) what is (a) the timetable for and (b) the distribution of the staffing reductions at the headquarters of the Employment Service; and how many and what percentage of staff are to be lost at each divisional office; [3611]

  (5) what is the staffing budget for the Employment Service in 1996–97, broken down according to grades; and what is the projected staffing budget for (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000; [3609]

  (6) what account was taken of public expenditure negotiations in respect of her Department as a whole in the decision to reduce staff activity at the Employment Service headquarters. [3607]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. David Blunkett, dated 12 November 1996:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your questions on staffing reduction in the Employment Service Headquarters. For ease of reference I have grouped my replies by subject using the numbers that will appear in Hansard.

  Determination of Employment Service resources and relationship with public expenditure negotiations (questions 3613 and 3607).

  In common with other Departments and Agencies, the Employment Service's resource provision is determined by Government within the public expenditure framework. As part of that framework Departments and Agencies are required to absorb pay and price increases and to improve the efficiency with which they are run. It is one of my tasks to identify and develop efficiency measures to meet these requirements. Our current work to reduce the Headquarters overhead is one strand in a programme of continuing efficiency measures designed to do that.

  Announcement of decision on ES Headquarters Review and timetable/distribution of reductions (questions 3608 and 3611).

  The decision concerns Agency management rather than wider policy questions. To help us plan for the future effectively and to minimise uncertainty within ES I wrote to all my colleagues in ES's Head and Regional Offices (our "Headquarters") at the earliest opportunity. As part of that process we wrote to our trade unions and offered them a meeting to discuss the matter. This meeting took place on Monday 11 November.

  141
  Detailed plans for implementing the changes are in development, but broadly I see the process as starting now and continuing through to March 2000. Reductions in posts will be spread across this period and I envisage that these could be in the order of 750 by March 1998.
  The exercise encompasses my Head Office (mainly Sheffield, but also London) and 9 Regional Offices. The reductions will be spread across these locations. However, as distribution of the reduction will depend on a series of decisions over a range of functions, it is too early to say exactly where they will fall but it seems likely that more will occur in the Regions than in Sheffield. We currently have some 1,400 permanent posts in Sheffield. I should emphasise that these plans are intended to exclude the great majority of ES people who work in Jobcentres delivering services to employers and our clients seeking work.

  Cost of consequent redundancies and transfers, and staffing budgets for the Employment Service (questions 3612 and 3609).

  I intend to avoid redundancies if at all possible and they do not form part of our current plans. ES has a good record in managing fluctuations in staffing without recourse to compulsory redundancy and we will do everything in our power to manage these reductions in the same way. On transfers, I have said that if a member of staff is required to move they would be entitled to transfer expenses under normal rules. It is, though, too early to predict the numbers of transfers that will take place and therefore their cost. Transfer costs will, of course, be taken into account in reaching decisions on the implementation of the various changes.
  The current staffing budgets and forward plans for ES are:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Running costs

  £910 million

  £800 million

  £798 million

  Staff years

  36,536

  32,867

  32,586

  These include both paybill and general administration expenditure.
  The staff numbers for the current year broken down into broad divisions are:

  Grade

  Number

  Senior management

  (Grades 3-7)

  292

  Executive grades

  (SEO-EO)

  13,993

  Clerical

  (including temporary staff)

  22,251

  A breakdown of staff by grade is not available for future years. Unfortunately, the information for 1999–2000 is not yet available as the current public expenditure survey has yet to be concluded. The earlier information is published in the 1996 DfEE Departmental Report.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the rules and regulations she proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if she will make a statement. [3442]
  142
  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The Department has laid today a deregulation order relating to the distribution of school action plans. The effect of the order is to reduce unnecessary burdens on schools by allowing them to send parents a summary of the school action plan, instead of the full text. This order will be considered by the Deregulation Committee in due course.

  Teachers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to restrict the number of early retirements in the teaching profession. [3417]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I announced on 22 October consultation on a proposal to transfer directly to employers the costs of the premature retirement of teachers from 1 April 1997. This will enable employers' contribution rates to the teachers' superannuation scheme to be reduced to 7.2 per cent. of salaries instead of raised to 8.8 per cent. It will be for employers to decide how many premature retirements they want to finance. The Government think it important that schools should retain more of their experienced teachers, so as to maintain the quality of education and reduce demands on the teacher training system.

  Information to Schools
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of producing and circulating information sent by her Department to schools during the academic year 1995–96. [3632]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  To separate the cost of producing and distributing information sent to schools in 1995–96 from that sent to other educational establishments, parents, governors and the general public would involve disproportionate cost. The total cost of producing and distributing the Department's programme of education publicity in 1995–96 was some £5.4 million. Around £800,000 was spent on distribution of material from the Department's own mailing house, including some of the material covered above and a number of circulars and letters. It is not possible to disaggregate the cost of producing the latter from the Department's total copying costs.

  Spanish and Portuguese Examinations
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many candidates sat GCSE examinations in(a) Spanish and (b) Portuguese in each of the last six years for which figures are available; how many passed in each year; and what was the breakdown of passes by grade. [3458]
  143
  Mrs. Gillan
  The numbers of candidates that sat GCSE in(a) Spanish and (b) Portuguese in each year since 1992 and their pass grades are as follows: comparable information is not available before 1992.

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  (a) Spanish

  Number of candidates

  27,334

  29,370

  34,341

  37,970

  Number achieving pass grades

  Grade A*

  —

  —

  1,985

  2,234

  Grade A

  7,407

  7,531

  6,534

  6,779

  Grade B

  4,141

  4,685

  5,464

  6,020

  Grade C

  3,764

  4,102

  4,899

  5,841

  Grade D

  3,433

  3,869

  4,503

  5,667

  Grade E

  2,791

  2,837

  3,544

  3,825

  Grade F

  3,012

  2,918

  3,527

  3,683

  Grade G

  1,514

  1,987

  2,154

  2,014

  (b) Portuguese

  Number of candidates

  305

  250

  349

  318

  Number achieving pass grades

  Grade A*

  —

  —

  40

  39

  Grade A

  161

  138

  148

  125

  Grade B

  51

  39

  53

  63

  Grade C

  45

  36

  43

  45

  Grade D

  22

  18

  24

  18

  Grade E

  11

  2

  12

  10

  Grade F

  4

  3

  11

  5

  Grade G

  2

  —

  1

  —

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many candidates sat GCE advanced level examinations in(a) Spanish and (b) Portuguese in each of the last six years for which figures are available; how many passed in each year; and what was the breakdown of passes by grade. [3512]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The numbers of candidates who sat GCE advanced level examinations in(a) Spanish and (b) Portuguese in each year since 1992 are as follows: comparable information is not available before 1992.

  GCE A level pass achieved

  Number of candidates

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  (a) Spanish

  1991–92

  4,244

  877

  819

  779

  683

  535

  144

  GCE A level pass achieved

  Number of candidates

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  1992–93

  4,363

  911

  858

  786

  713

  501

  1993–94

  4,260

  980

  858

  863

  649

  384

  1994–95

  4,222

  910

  866

  810

  640

  461

  (b) Portuguese

  1991–92

  139

  34

  35

  34

  11

  15

  1992–93

  93

  31

  23

  15

  5

  9

  1993–94

  131

  40

  46

  21

  12

  3

  1994–95

  120

  43

  26

  15

  14

  3

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students graduated from degree courses at United Kingdom universities in which a principal subject was(a) study of the Spanish language and (b) study of the Portuguese language, in each of the last six years for which figures are available; and what projections can be made of the expected numbers in each of the next three years. [3513]

  Mr. Forth
  Information on students graduating in Portuguese or Spanish separately is not available for all of the years requested. The available information for the years 1990 to 1995 is given in the following table. Projections of graduates in individual subjects are not produced by the Department.

  First degree graduated in Spanish, Portuguese and other Latin American languages

  Year of graduation

  Numbers of graduates1

  1990

  214

  1991

  211

  1992

  279

  1993

  294

  1994

  328

  1995

  328

  of which:

  Spanish

  232

  Portuguese

  1

  Other Latin American languages

  95

  1Prior to 1995, the figures cover former University Funding Council funded establishments in the UK and former Polytechnic and Colleges Funding Council funded and FE establishments in England and Wales. The figures for 1995 relate to all HE institutions in the UK.

SCOTLAND

  Maintenance Work
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary o f State for Scotland what is the current backlog of maintenance work in(a) education institutions, (b) prisons and police stations, (c) council housing, (d) transport infrastructure, (e) the national health service and (f) defence bases in Scotland. [2792]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Recent road condition surveys would appear to indicate that the structural integrity of the trunk road network is being maintained at an acceptable level. There is therefore no evidence that there is a maintenance backlog.

  The on-going programme of maintenance work in prisons is on schedule and there is no large amount outstanding.

  Information on the level of maintenance work to be carried out in education institutions, police stations,

  Hospitalisations with a diagnosis related to the adverse effects of prescribed drugs, Scotland, calendar years 1991–95

  Year

  All ages

  <10

  10–19

  20–29

  30–39

  40–49

  50–59

  60–69

  70–79

  80–89

  90+

  Numbers

  1991

  2,632

  75

  66

  181

  180

  272

  338

  503

  586

  378

  53

  1992

  2,603

  66

  84

  210

  190

  228

  336

  524

  566

  352

  47

  1993

  2,678

  91

  97

  150

  186

  221

  364

  532

  591

  392

  54

  1994

  3,031

  87

  109

  200

  229

  283

  413

  579

  648

  416

  67

  1995

  3,683

  78

  134

  241

  269

  306

  493

  683

  835

  532

  67

  Percentages

  1991

  0.3

  0.1

  0.1

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  0.4

  0.4

  0.5

  0.4

  1992

  0.3

  0.1

  0.1

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  0.4

  0.4

  0.3

  1993

  0.3

  0.1

  0.2

  0.1

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  0.4

  0.4

  0.4

  1994

  0.3

  0.1

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  0.4

  0.4

  0.4

  1995

  0.3

  0.1

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.3

  0.4

  0.5

  0.5

  0.4

  Total discharges1

  1991

  919,120

  84,560

  58,212

  98,313

  95,905

  96,517

  110,576

  142,899

  137,189

  82,842

  12,107

  1992

  981,213

  90,766

  58,506

  104,040

  103,456

  103,672

  117,262

  151,669

  148,656

  89,595

  13,537

  1993

  1,052,709

  95,349

  59,506

  104,806

  110,873

  112,444

  128,438

  163,825

  163,013

  98,761

  15,251

  1994

  1,097,149

  96,878

  61,990

  105,502

  117,876

  119,027

  136,412

  171,835

  169,362

  102,200

  16,067

  1995

  1,147,438

  97,846

  64,045

  107,765

  125,831

  123,609

  144,060

  180,524

  178,078

  108,462

  17,218

  1Percentages are based on total discharges in each age group for each year.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the average(a) number of types and (b) quantity of preparations taken by people in Scotland in each of the last five years broken down by (i) gender and (ii) age bands of 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [2885]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No such estimate has been made.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact on the provision of nursery education in the pilot areas of the introduction of vouchers. [3090]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The pilot schemes of the pre-school education voucher initiative started only in August. Early indications show that a considerable number of new places have been created and early inspections by HM inspectorate confirm that there is good-quality pre-school education being offered in a wide 146
  council housing, local roads and other transport infrastructure, and the NHS in Scotland is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Defence bases in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Prescribed Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of, and how many, people admitted to hospital have been suffering from adverse reactions to a prescribed drug in each of the last five years and in age bands of 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [2907]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is shown in the table and relates to the number of discharges from hospital where an adverse reaction to "Drugs, medicaments and biological substances causing adverse effects in therapeutic use" has been recorded. It is not possible to identify centrally information relating specifically to prescribed drugs.

  diversity of settings. There are therefore encouraging signs that the aims of the initiative—in terms of growth, quality, and choice for parents—are being met.

  A comprehensive evaluation of the operation of the pilot year schemes is being conducted by Stirling university; and the findings of the study will be taken into account in planning for national extension. The authorities involved in the pilot are also conducting their own monitoring and evaluation of the initiative; and this too will contribute to my right hon. Friend's final assessment.

  Monofilament Nets
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring arrangements he is putting in place with regard to the reintroduction of monofilament gill nets. [3091]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The Inshore Fishing (Monofilament Gill Nets) (Scotland) Order 1996 permits the carriage by UK-registered vessels in Scottish waters
  147
  of monofilament nets only with a mesh size greater than 250 mm. Use of these nets will not be permitted within the six-mile limit. The Scottish Office is monitoring the levels of effort in those fisheries affected by this order.

  Dunblane
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what forms submitted by the late Thomas Hamilton by way of applications for the granting of firearms certificates required him to provide the names and addresses of one or more character references; if that requirement was met in full by the applicant; if in each case public office was held by any such referees cited; and if he will make a statement. [3015]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: Under the provisions of the Firearms (Scotland) Rules 1989, all applications for firearms certificates require to be verified by means of countersignature by a person who is not a member of the applicant's family, is resident in Great Britain, has known the applicant for at least two years and is a justice of the peace or someone of similar standing. Lord Cullen's report on the public inquiry into the shootings at Dunblane primary school, Cm 3386, records at paragraph 6.46 that Thomas Hamilton's applications in 1992 and 1995 were countersigned by a justice of the peace.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the consequences of the approaches made by Thomas Hamilton to the ombudsman. [3019]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 7 November 1996]: This is dealt with in chapter 4 of Lord Cullen's report, Cm 3386.

  Housing
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the role of low-impact and self-built accommodation in the provision of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement. [3374]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  There are a number of schemes in place designed to encourage the provision of appropriate affordable housing in Scotland. The role of low-impact accommodation within that provision has not yet been formally assessed. Scottish Homes is supporting self-build housing through a number of its existing grant mechanisms and will be evaluating the success of this approach in due course.

  Planning Guidelines
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of giving additional weight to environmental impact in determining planning restrictions on agricultural holdings. [3365]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish Office has not made any specific assessment of the weight which should be given to environmental impact in relation to agricultural holdings. Each planning application has to be considered on its own merits, taking account of the provisions of the 148
  development plan and all other material considerations, including environmental impact. It is for the planning authority determining the application to decide what weight to give to particular considerations. However, the Government recognise the importance of protecting the environmental qualities of rural areas and this principle is acknowledged in current planning guidance.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review planning guidance on agricultural and other dwellings in the countryside in order to give greater weight to environmental and social sustainability; and if he will make a statement. [3379]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Scottish Office is presently drafting a new national planning policy guideline on rural development which should be issued for consultation early in 1997. Publication of this NPPG will fulfil a commitment in the White Paper "Rural Scotland: People, Prosperity and Partnership", Cm 3041, that the Government would produce guidance intended to encourage positive and sustainable provision for employment and community purposes using the development plan and development control systems.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in relation to his Department's non-departmental public bodies(a) consulting with hon. Members on developments in their constituencies and (b) inviting hon. Members to events within their constituencies; what advice or guidance he (i) has given and (ii) proposes to issue on these matters; and if he will make a statement. [3034]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have given no specific advice to non-departmental public bodies on these issues. I would, however, expect them to observe the normal courtesies in relation to matters in hon. Members' constituencies.

  Crofting Trusts Advisory Service
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the number of specific inquiries made to the crofting trusts advisory service since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [3173]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The crofting trusts advisory service has had nine inquiries from crofting communities plus four from individual crofters and 26 from other parties.

  There have also been eight meetings with individual crofting communities, an open meeting in Skye and another in the Uists. In addition, CTAS has assisted one community to meet the cost of a study into the viability of community ownership and helped another with the legal costs of establishing a crofting trust.

  Forestry Commission (Woodland Sales)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list all Forestry Commission woodlands currently for sale, and indicate for each
  149
  (a) into which English or Welsh county or Scottish region it falls, (b) the number of hectares covered and (c) if an access agreement has been made with the local authority guaranteeing continuing public access; [475]

  (2) how many Forestry Commission woodlands have been sold since October 1991; how many of these were sold without public access protected; how many hectares of Forestry Commission woodland have been sold from October 1991 to the latest available date; and how many hectares have been sold with public access protected; [476]

  (3) how many Forestry Commission woodlands have been sold in each month of 1996 to date, indicating for each month (a) the number sold with access to the public protected and (b) the number sold with access to the public not protected; [477]

  (4) if he will list all the Forestry Commission woodlands for which the level of existing access has been assessed under the guidelines on continued public access to Forestry Commission woodlands after sale, giving for each (a) the English or Welsh county or Scottish region into which it falls, (b) the number of hectares covered by the woodland (c) the Forestry Commission's formal judgement regarding the importance of access at that woodland, (d) what consultations were carried out by Forestry Commission staff in making their judgment, (e) whether the woodland has been sold, or is currently for sale, or has been withdrawn from sale and (f) whether a public access agreement is currently in force. [478]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: The subjects of the questions relate to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. Gordon Cowie, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Gordon M. Cowie to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Scotland has asked me to reply to your four Questions about the sale of Forestry Commission woodlands.
  1. At Annex A, I enclose a list of all Forestry Commission Woodlands currently for sale, either on the Open Market or by Negotiation.
  2. The Forestry Commission sold 766 Woodlands covering 39,938 hectares in the period 1 October 1991 to 31 December 1995. Of them 48, 2,421 hectares, have Public Access protected either through a public access agreement or under the sponsorship arrangements.
  3. I enclose at Annex B, details of the number of Forestry Commission woodlands sold in each month this year.
  4. I regret that I am unable to answer your final question asking for details of the assessment of the level of public use in each individual case. We have assessed well over 1,500 woodlands since these procedures were introduced, and the details of the assessments are only stored on the individual files which are held in local offices throughout Britain; we have not summarised the assessments in any way. I am sure that you will appreciate, therefore, that it would be a very expensive and time-consuming task to provide the information needed to answer your question.

  Annex A: List of Forestry Commission woodland areas currently for sale

  Name of property

  Area (ha)

  ENGLAND

  Avon

  Greyfield Wood

  38.0

  150

  Annex A: List of Forestry Commission woodland areas currently for sale

  Name of property

  Area (ha)

  Buckinghamshire

  Back Lane Wood

  7.5

  Beech and Howlets Wood

  7.0

  Greens

  1.5

  Cornwall

  Port Eliot Kilquite and Waste

  6.6

  Wheal Par

  5.0

  Cumbria

  Denton Fell

  627.0

  Devon

  Deershill

  11.0

  Knowle Wood

  8.0

  Durham

  Stanley Cotts Wood1

  31.0

  East Yorkshire

  Black Plantation

  14.0

  Greenwickdale

  43.5

  Seaton Old

  16.5

  Hampshire

  Basset Green (land at)

  1.9

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  Newhouse Wood2

  227.5

  Hertfordshire

  Dawley Wood

  19.0

  Hoo Wood

  18.0

  Priest Wood

  28.0

  The Square and Cooks Coppice

  5.5

  Kent

  Challock Benacre Wood

  25.0

  Norfolk

  West Rudham

  78.0

  North Yorkshire

  Cold Kirby Woods1

  116.0

  Dunnington Woods

  80.0

  Glaisdale Blocks

  141.5

  Hayton Wood2

  56.0

  Hazel Wood2

  51.0

  Nottinghamshire

  Roe Wood

  47.0

  Shropshire

  Caldy Bank

  8.9

  Curnia Bank

  13.3

  Llan Llwyd

  3.8

  Somerset

  East Cranmore Wood2

  28.0

  Higher Bitcombe

  30.0

  Pink Wood

  33.0

  The Bushes

  15.0

  Wanstrow2

  45.0

  South Yorkshire

  Green Springs Wood2

  12.0

  Old Park Wood2

  41.0

  Wiltshire

  Stanton Park

  58.0

  151

  Annex A: List of Forestry Commission woodland areas currently for sale

  Name of property

  Area (ha)

  WALES

  Aberconwy and Colwyn

  Blackthorn Covert

  21.5

  Cefn Mawr

  81.7

  Cerrigellgwm

  20.0

  Coed Bryn Kenrick

  8.0

  Coed Melin Y Moch

  12.0

  Coed Plas Isaf

  6.0

  Coed Salisbury

  4.0

  Gelli Wood

  6.0

  Gwrych Castle Woodlands

  49.0

  Caerphilly

  Bedwas

  2.0

  Craig Y Parc

  16.0

  Craig Yr Arail

  58.0

  Hafodrisclawdd

  24.0

  Carmarthenshire

  Allt Cil Y Llyn Fawr

  2.5

  Allt Maes Yr Awdy

  6.0

  Allt Pant Glas

  9.0

  Allt Parc Y Dilfa

  14.0

  Allt Wig Wen

  8.2

  Allt Y Fron-Abermarlais 2

  5.6

  Cathilas

  51.4

  Cefn Wig

  19.0

  Coed Caeau Gwynion-Abermarlais

  4.8

  Coed Glyn Aeron2

  57.0

  Cwmllannarch

  32.0

  Falcondale Big Wood

  10.0

  Farthings Hook

  18.0

  Gallt Fydr

  33.0

  Henfeddau Ty Hen and Long Wood

  23.0

  Maesgwyn

  20.0

  Martletwy Wood

  18.0

  Nant Ffrwd

  26.0

  Penhill Wood

  4.0

  Pentre Mawr Trebwi

  10.0

  Rosehill Wood-Abermarlais 3

  3.9

  Tannerdy and Allt Y Fan Glansefi

  22.0

  Ty Rhyg2

  120.0

  Gwynedd

  Amnodd Wood

  87.5

  Bodfuan

  101.0

  Bronaber

  10.0

  Bryn Hendre

  10.0

  Brynffynnon

  7.0

  Brynffynnon Coed

  6.0

  Caeau Bodfel

  28.0

  Cefn Glas

  12.0

  Coed Cefn

  16.0

  Coed Mynydd Mawr

  24.0

  Cwm Prysor

  56.0

  Cymerau2

  87.5

  Dolymoch2

  22.0

  Flat Covert

  15.0

  Frochas 1

  7.5

  Frochas 2

  3.1

  Frochas 3

  5.4

  Frochas 4

  7.4

  Gelli Dywyll2

  25.0

  Graianog2

  19.0

  Hafotty Covert

  35.0

  Pengwern

  15.0

  Rhiwbach and Tyddyn Bach2

  106.0

  Tan Y Clawdd2

  13.0

  152

  Annex A: List of Forestry Commission woodland areas currently for sale

  Name of property

  Area (ha)

  Ynys Creua

  67.0

  Ynys Galed

  22.0

  Ty Coch North

  7.1

  Neath and Port Talbot

  Graig Ynysgollen

  10.0

  Nant Y Stalwyn2

  44.0

  Powys

  Cefn Derw Cil Owen

  10.0

  Cefn Perfa Wood

  3.4

  Cil Llawyn2

  15.0

  Freezeland2

  10.5

  Geufron

  10.1

  Gloddfa Nursery

  5.2

  Gorther Rough

  8.0

  Husky Hall

  1.8

  Llys Coppice and Penllys

  16.0

  Lower Ceulannau

  3.8

  Lower Wig

  2.2

  Penycarreg East

  3.0

  Penycarreg West

  11.0

  Penycastle Wood

  10.4

  Pool Plantation and Kerry Hill

  12.7

  Rock Wood and Fronfraith Wood2

  30.5

  The Smatcher2

  35.5

  Tyn Y Cwm

  3.5

  Y Wern2

  453.0

  SCOTLAND

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Cairnhead1

  1,361.0

  Euchenhead1

  689.0

  Glaisters

  383.0

  Glenluce1

  40.0

  Polskeoch1

  830.0

  Shinnelhead1

  843.0

  Grampian

  Auchinroath Plantation

  62.0

  Balmakewan (3222M)

  0.6

  Haremoss

  21.0

  Highland

  Ardbrecknish2

  626.0

  Kirkton

  92.0

  Orbost Plantation

  575.0

  Waternish

  1,159.0

  Strathclyde

  Ardlamont1

  749.0

  Knockbain

  145.0

  Little Clyde

  650.0

  Scoor Wood, Lot 5

  360.0

  Tayside

  Easter Muirhead

  34.4

  Newbigging and Braedownie

  413.0

  Warroch

  68.0

  1CPA agreement being negotiated.2CPA agreement completed.

  153

  Annex B: Forestry Commission areas sold in 1996

  Without CPA agreement

  With CPA agreement

  Public access protected1

  January

  18

  3

  —

  February

  9

  3

  —

  March

  16

  7

  —

  April

  10

  1

  1

  May

  13

  1

  —

  June

  10

  3

  —

  July

  13

  1

  —

  August

  6

  1

  —

  September

  6

  3

  —

  October

  6

  2

  —

  1Sold under Forestry Commission Sponsorship arrangements.

  BSE
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total expenditure to date on the BSE eradication and compensation schemes; and if he will make a statement. [2163]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: The total expenditure to date is £700 million. Most of this expenditure has been on the over-30-month slaughter scheme, the calf processing scheme, the additional ELI compensation package—beef special premium scheme and suckler cow premium scheme top-up, beef marketing payment scheme—the beef stocks transfer scheme, the animal feed recall scheme, aid to renderers, emergency aid to the slaughtering sector.

HEALTH

  Dementia
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the basic training nurses receive in respect of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia; [3272]

  (2) what steps he has taken to improve the training of health and social care professionals in respect of people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. [3271]

  Mr. Burns
  Such training is primarily the responsibility of the relevant professional bodies and of the organisations which employ health and social care professionals.

  Students who undertake pre-registration nursing programmes in adult or mental health nursing gain an understanding of the various forms of dementia arid the care and treatment of people with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

  The Department has contributed funding towards the provision of training material on dementia for mental health professionals. We commissioned Manchester university to produce training literature in mental health, including specific guidance on older people with mental health problems. We helped the Alzheimer's Disease Society with the production costs of its recent training pack for general practitioner trainers, "Dementia in the Community: management strategies for general practice".
  154
  The Department also contributed funding to a recent feasibility study led by the British Medical Association into an educational video for GPs on dementia.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia(a) at present and (b) for the year 2006. [3274]

  Mr. Burns
  We estimate that there were around 600,000 people with a diagnosis of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, in 1994, which will rise to 652,000 in 2006.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the current state of research(a) funded and (b) evaluated by his Department into Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. [3275]

  Mr. Burns
  The Department runs two separate research programmes: the policy research programme and the national health service research and development programme. The latest available information on research being carried out under the policy research programme is contained in "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme: Commissions in 1994–95", copies of which are in the Library.

  The NHS research and development programme consists of a number of national programmes and regional research activity. The mental health programme includes a project examining the development of screening tests for dementia and depression in ethnic elders; it also includes a project which is examining dementia information in order to develop a model to establish the number of people in a given population needing specific dementia services. Information is not available centrally on all the regional research projects being undertaken. The projects on which information is available centrally include a study of the patterns and consequences of semantic memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease; a community-based control study of dementias; a study of neuronal structure in aging and Alzheimer's based dementia; and cognitive decline, dementia and aging in people with Down's syndrome: a study of the risk factors and care needs.

  NHS Information Management Group
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the national health service information management group in each of the last three years on consultancy fees; to which organisations it has been paid; and for what purposes. [3288]

  Mr. Horam
  The spend on consultancy fees from vote 2 of Department of Health budgets by the information management group in the last three years is as follows:

  1996–97: £3 million (estimated)

  1995–96: £4.8 million

  1994–95: £4.1 million

  These fees were paid for consultancy in support of the information management and technology strategy across a number of projects. Many consultancy firms and individuals were employed during this time and a breakdown by individual firms and projects can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  Tay-Sachs Disease
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has made available for research into Tay-Sachs disease. [3061]

  Mr. Horam
  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.

  Prodigy Pilot Study
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the extension of the Prodigy pilot study on(a) inward investment by non-United Kingdom-owned pharmaceutical companies, (b) research and development expenditure by the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry, (c) export performance by the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry and (d) the introduction in the United Kingdom of new medicines; and if he will make a statement. [3294]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consultations there were with patient groups over the drafting of the patient advice leaflets provided in the Prodigy pilot study; and if he will make a statement; [3290]

  (2) when the steering group of the NHS executive's patient partnership initiative was consulted about the recommendations on prescribing in the Prodigy pilot study and the contents of the patient advice leaflets; and if he will make a statement; [3295]

  (3) what steps he has taken to ensure that the prescribing recommendations in the Prodigy pilot study (a) are up-to-date, (b) are fully evaluated and (c) have as their primary purpose the greatest possible improvement in patient health; and if he will make a statement. [3432]

  Mr. Malone
  Prodigy is a research project to assess the value and acceptability of decision support for general practitioners. The prescribing recommendations and patient advice leaflets for the pilot were derived from respected sources including the British National Formulary and validated by a multi-professional group.

  Formal consultation at this stage would not have been appropriate, although we are in discussion with a number of interested parties about possible enhancements for the next phase of the project. The Department recently held a seminar, chaired by the chief medical officer, to look at which processes could be used to develop the therapeutic guidance and advice leaflets if it is ultimately decided to implement a national decision support system. A large measure of agreement was reached on the basis of a process which would be transparent, open and professional and reflect the latest evidence-based information. The seminar was attended by professional interests, patient groups, NHS management and the pharmaceutical industry.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total cost to date of the Prodigy pilot study; how this cost is broken down; what estimates he has made of the cost to his Department of phases 2 and 3156
  of the study; and what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the project to all United Kingdom general practices. [3293]

  Mr. Malone
  The total cost to date is £1,900,000. Costs for phase 2 are currently being negotiated. Any decision on future roll-out will be taken in light of the research findings which will also indicate the likely costs.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on patient care and the results of treatment of implementing the recommendations of the Prodigy pilot study about prescribing; and what further steps he is taking to assess the impact. [3287]

  Mr. Malone
  Prodigy is a three-year research and development project the results of which will not be known until late 1997.

  Health Strategy Committee
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Health Strategy has met in the last three years; on how many of these occasions "The Health of the Nation" targets have been discussed; when the last meeting took place; and when the next meeting is scheduled. [3298]

  Mr. Horam
  The Ministerial Sub-Committee on Health Strategy, EDH(H), has met seven times in the last three years. EDH(H)'s terms of reference are: to oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of the Government's health strategy, to co-ordinate the Government's policies on United Kingdom-wide issues affecting health, and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs. "The Health of the Nation" targets were discussed on all occasions. The last meeting was on 18 June 1996. The next meeting has not yet been scheduled.

  Nursing and Residential Homes
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing and residential homes there are in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales. [3273]

  Mr. Burns
  At 31 March 1995, there were 16,320 local authority and registered residential care homes with four or more places, 5,540 registered residential homes with less than four places and 5,330 registered private nursing care homes in England. The numbers of homes in Scotland and in Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales respectively.

  Steroids
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it mandatory for warnings on the hazards associated with steroid treatment to be issued with each steroid prescription. [3057]

  Mr. Malone
  This is already mandatory.

  Duplicate NHS Numbers
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many duplicate NHS numbers have been issued to date; if further duplicate numbers are being issued; what progress has been made towards correcting the duplicate
  157
  number problem and renumbering persons issued with duplicate numbers; what has been the total cost to date of the duplicate number problem; and what estimate he has made of the final cost.[3297]

  Mr. Horam
  National health service numbers issued by registrars of births and deaths are provisional until confirmed through health authorities on a patient's medical card.

  Between 4 December 1995, when the new NHS number was introduced, and 18 October 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, 4,793 new NHS numbers were assigned by RBDs which were re-issued at a subsequent birth registration. This is approximately 1 per cent. of all registrations. Whenever an NHS number is erroneously re-issued, at least two registrations are affected; occasionally numbers have been re-issued more than once, thereby affecting three or more registrations.

  Duplicate numbers continued to be issued at birth registration, but at a reduced rate. In the reply I gave the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 8 July, Official Report, column 14, it was confirmed that a study into the reasons for the issuing of duplicate numbers would be carried out. That study is now complete, and a copy of its final report is due to be placed in the Library shortly.

  If a duplicate number is issued at birth registration, this is detected at the NHS central register. In this circumstance, the duplicated number is not used for either baby; both are issued with unique replacement NHS numbers. This also applies if more than two babies have been issued with the same number.

  The cost to date to the new NHS number programme of addressing the issue of non-unique NHS numbers is £40,000; the expected final cost is £130,000.

  Public Health Laboratory Service
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his Department's proposals for reductions in the budget of the public health laboratory service; and which services will be affected. [3408]

  Mr. Horam
  The public health laboratory service received funding of £55.2 million directly from the Department of Health for 1996–97. As with all Government bodies, the public health laboratory service is expected to achieve efficiency savings each year, and the level of these savings is reviewed annually. Funding for 1997–98 will be notified shortly after the Chancellor's "Autumn Statement".

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the future of the public health laboratory service; and if he will make a statement. [3419]

  Mr. Horam
  I announced on 19 July that a prior options review of the public health laboratory service had recently begun, that interested parties would be invited to comment and that the review would report to Ministers in December. The period of consultation drew to a close last week, and comments from a wide range of organisations, including professional bodies, are now being analysed.

  Child Labour
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the procedures are for liaison between his Department and other Government Departments with responsibilities in the area of child labour. [3683]

  Mr. Burns
  The Department maintains close links with other Government Departments as part of its everyday business.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the replies which he received to his letter of 7 November to all Labour Members. [3688]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The letters referred to were sent out in my capacity as a Member of Parliament and not as the Secretary of State for Health.

  Personal Social Services
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the proposed new initiative to encourage better use of research evidence in the purchasing and provision of personal social services. [3971]

  Mr. Burns
  The aim of this new initiative is to help local authorities improve the cost-effectiveness of social services through better use of research evidence. I am very pleased to say that contractual terms have now been agreed, and contracts are likely to be signed very shortly with Exeter university and a consortium of 12 directors of social services in the south-west of England for this jointly funded initiative, beginning in January 1997.

  Dental Services
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 5 November,Official Report, column 1024, what was the number of dentists in England providing NHS treatment on 30 June 1995. [4049]

  Mr. Malone
  I regret that my reply, which quoted 15,927 dentists in the general dental services in England at 30 June 1995, was incorrect. That is the figure for June 1996. The correct number for June 1995 is 15,616.

  Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure health professionals are informed of the methods of recognising and treating attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder now employed in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement. [2504]

  Mr. Burns
  It is the responsibility of professional and academic bodies to assess the evidence for the best approaches in the recognition and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This evidence is available in literature from around the world, including the United States, and is widely available in professional journals within this country.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on use of advice issued to child psychiatrists in respect of treatment of
  159
  hyperactivity and of the flow chart attached; what plans he has to review the efficacy of such advice; and if he will make a statement. [2505]

  Mr. Burns
  None. It is for the relevant professional and academic bodies to review and evaluate evidence for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and to disseminate such information through training and through publications in professional journals and texts.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to examine the practice among medical practitioners of giving up the use of Ritalin among children suffering from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder after 12 months' use; and if he will make a statement. [2506]

  Mr. Burns
  The use of Ritalin to treat children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a matter for professional and clinical judgment and we have no plans to examine it.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of children identified as suffering from hyperkinetic disorder; and what percentage this is of his estimate of the total number of persons suffering from this disorder. [2507]

  Mr. Burns
  Information on the number of children identified as suffering from hyperkinetic disorder is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's latest assessment of the effectiveness of dopamine-releasing agents with special reference to Ritalin, in the treatment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder; what is his assessment of the use currently made of such treatment in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement. [2508]

  Mr. Burns
  We recognise that the more severe forms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be treated with Ritalin or other appropriate medication. Such medication should be part of a comprehensive treatment programme which may also include psychological, educational and social measures designed to stabilise children with the condition. There is a widespread view among clinicians in this country that a higher percentage of such children are treated with medication in the United States than is desirable or necessary.

  Coronary Care
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) medical receiving room and (b) minor accident treatment service units capable of dealing with coronary care. [3515]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [3780]
  160
  Mr. Horam
  The Department currently proposes to repeal or amend the following regulations by the end of 1996:

  The Imported Food Regulations 1984;

  The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995;

  The Nursing Homes and Mental Nursing Homes Regulations 1984.

  Since the effect in each case will be to reduce, rather than increase, compliance costs, a compliance cost assessment is not required. Departments do, however, seek to estimate approximate savings wherever possible and, where there is a potential impact on industry, a CCA is completed in all cases. The cost of undertaking a CCA varies from case to case but it 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.

  Silicon Bridge Research
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 November,Official Report, column 293, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Silicon Bridge Research report. [3669]

  Mr. Horam
  The Silicon Bridge Research report will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  CAMS Ltd.
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 November,Official Report, column 293, which parts of the CAMS contract with his Department have recently been terminated; and if he will make a statement. [3670]

  Mr. Horam
  No parts of the CAMS contracts with the Department of Health for the licensing and support of Read codes in the national health service, and for their licensing and support internationally, have been terminated recently.

  Neonatal and Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) neonatal and (b) perinatal mortality rates for the last four years by (i) trust, (ii) health authority and (iii) region. [2668]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  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. Alan Keen, dated 12 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 requesting neonatal and perinatal rates for the last four years by (a) trust, (b) health authority and (c) region.
  The information by health authority and region for the last four years is available in OPCS/ONS Monitors DH3 93/1 (1992). DH3 94/2 (1993) DH3 95/2 (1994) AND DH3 96/1 (1995), copies of which are available in the House of the Commons Library.
  Neonatal and perinatal mortality statistics by hospital trust is not routinely available and can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers paid tax at the lower and basic rates between 1992–93 and 1996–97. [3972]

  Mr. Jack
  The figures are set out in the table. Over a quarter of taxpayers now have a marginal rate of only 20 per cent.

  Millions

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  11995–96

  11996–97

  Lower rate1

  4.24

  5.39

  5.18

  5.6

  7.1

  Basic rate

  19.40

  17.87

  18.17

  18.0

  16.5

  Notes:

  1Provisional.

  2From 1993–94 onwards a number of taxpayers with taxable income in excess of the lower rate limit pay tax only at the lower rate. This is because their dividend and (from 1996–97) their savings income takes their taxable income above the lower rate limit and such income is chargeable to tax at the lower and not the basic rate. The numbers in this category for the four years between 1993–94 and 1996–97 are 0.22/0.24/0.3/0.8 millions respectively.

  EU Budget Council
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the EU Budget Council meeting of 25 July. [3973]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Sir Stephen Wall, the United Kingdom permanent representative to the European Union, represented the United Kingdom at the Budget Council on 25 July. The Council considered the Commission's preliminary draft budget for 1997. The

  Financial perspective ceilings1

  Preliminary draft budget

  Budget council draft budget

  mecu

  £million

  mecu

  £ million

  mecu

  £ million

  Commitment appropriations

  1. EAGGF guarantee

  41,805

  32,698

  41,805

  32,698

  40,805

  31,916

  2. Structural operations

  31,477

  24,620

  31,477

  24,620

  31,477

  24,620

  3. Internal policies

  5,603

  4,382

  5,523

  4,320

  5,255

  4,110

  4. External action

  5,622

  4,397

  5,528

  4,324

  5,310

  4,153

  5. Administration

  4,352

  3,404

  4,369

  3,418

  4,245

  3,320

  6. Reserves

  1,158

  906

  1,158

  906

  1,158

  906

  7. Compensation

  212

  166

  212

  166

  212

  166

  Total: Commitment appropriations

  90,229

  70,574

  90,072

  70,452

  88,461

  69,191

  Total: Payment appropriations

  85,807

  67,115

  84,521

  66,110

  81,646

  63,861

  1Throughout this reply the rate of £1=1.2785 ecu has been used (the rate notified in the Official Journal as prevailing on the last working day of the last month (31 October)).

  Inheritance Tax Exemption
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of inheritance tax for which conditional exemption has been granted to allow public access to land for each year since 1975. [1647]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: The annual average cost, in the years 1983–84 to 1995–96, of conditional exemption from inheritance tax—or its
  162
  draft budget established by the Council totalled 88.5 billion ecu—£69.2 billion—in commitment appropriations and 81.6 billion ecu—£63.9 billion—in payment appropriations. The draft budget would require own resources totalling 1.15 per cent. of Community gross national product, compared with the own resources ceiling of 1.24 per cent. of Community GNP. The draft budget is within the financial perspective ceilings.

  For the first time ever, the Council set its draft budget at the same level overall as in the preceding year—that is, zero growth.

  In establishing its draft budget the Council took account of the economic and financial context for 1997 to define real priorities within the resources available and to ensure that this was reflected in a realistic budget.

  The Council established its 1997 draft budget by a qualified majority with Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria voting against. No other formal votes were taken.

  The summary table below compares the outcome of the Budget Council to the proposals in the Commission's amended preliminary draft budget by reference to the financial perspective ceilings.

  (Further information is contained in the explanatory memorandum (9372/96) on the draft budget, which was deposited in the UK Parliament on 11 October.)

  The European Parliament considered the draft budget for 1997 at its plenary in October. The Parliament's amendments and modifications will be considered at the second Budget Council on 19 November. The European Parliament's Second Reading is likely to be in mid-December.

  predecessor, capital transfer tax—for land and buildings is estimated at between £5 million and £10 million. Figures for earlier years are not available.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sites in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales have been granted conditional exemption from inheritance tax on the basis of reasonable public access being granted; and what is the area of each site. [1648]
  163
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 29 March, Official Report, column 777.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of any statements made since 1979 setting out Government policies and practices which outline the granting and publicising of conditional exemption from inheritance tax in return for reasonable public access. [1649]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: The Government's various statements to the House on the topics in question are already a matter of public record. I am arranging for copies of the Inland Revenue's publications about conditional exemption, booklets IR 67, "Capital taxation and the national heritage", and IR 88, "Capital tax relief for national heritage property—how to make a claim", to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many locations granted conditional exemption from inheritance tax on condition of allowing reasonable public access have been included in the annual register of countryside stewardship scheme access sites in each of the past five years; [1625]

  (2) how many sites in the register of countryside stewardship scheme access sites received funding through the granting of conditional exemption of inheritance tax on the basis of reasonable public access for each of the last five years. [1628]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: In return for conditional exemption from inheritance tax, the owners have to give undertakings which cover not only provision of reasonable public access but the maintenance and preservation of the land. There have been 11 areas of conditionally exempt scenic land included with the countryside stewardship scheme access sites since 1993, when such land first appeared in the records of the scheme.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his policy in respect of British membership of the Monetary Committee, appointed under article 109c of the treaty on European Union, if the United Kingdom declared against proceeding to the third stage of economic and monetary union; and to what extent the British members' powers and voting rights would be modified; [49]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact on United Kingdom membership of the Economic and Financial Committee appointed under article 109c of the treaty on European Union of a United Kingdom declaration against proceeding to the third stage of economic and monetary union. [9]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Article 109c(1) of the EC treaty provides for the establishment of a Monetary Committee with advisory status. Its tasks include keeping under review the monetary and financial situation within the Community and preparing the work of the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers, ECOFIN, including the formulation of opinions on excessive deficits under article 104c(4) of the treaty. The United Kingdom would still participate in the Committee if the Government were to 164
  decide that the United Kingdom should not participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union. The powers and voting rights of its two members on the Committee would not be modified.

  Article 109c(2) of the treaty provides for the Monetary Committee to be dissolved at the start of the third stage of EMU. It also provides for all member states, the European Commission and the European central bank to each appoint "no more than two members" to the Economic and Financial Committee. The EFC will be an advisory body. Its tasks will include keeping under review the monetary and financial situation within the Community and preparing the work of ECOFIN, including the formulation of opinions on excessive deficits under article 104c(4) of the treaty, and other tasks assigned to it by ECOFIN.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the United Kingdom's right to participate in the discussions, and vote on which countries fulfil the necessary conditions for the adoption of a single currency, as described in article 109j of the treaty on European Union, is(a) withdrawn and (b) modified if the United Kingdom decides not to join the third stage of economic and monetary union. [10]

  Mrs. Knight
  All member states will be able to participate and vote in the decisions under article 109j of the EC treaty on which member states fulfil the necessary conditions to adopt the single currency at the start of the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the United Kingdom is obliged to subscribe to the capital of the European central bank when it comes into being if the United Kingdom does not join the third stage of economic monetary union; and what estimate he has made of the cost of subscription. [50]

  Mrs. Knight
  Article 28 of the statute of the European system of central banks contained in protocol No. 3 to the EC treaty provides for the European central bank to have capital of 5,000 million ecu when it is established. The subscription to the capital by the national central banks of countries participating in the single currency will be on the basis of the key in article 29 of the statute. The ECB will, in addition to its tasks relating to the single currency and participating member states, also take over certain remaining tasks of the European Monetary Institute relating to countries not participating in the single currency. Article 48 of the statute of the ESCB provides for the possibility of non-participating member states' national central banks contributing a "minimal" share of the capital towards the operational costs of the ECB in certain circumstances. This would require a decision of the general council of the ECB on which the national central banks of non-participating member states will be represented.

  Single European Currency
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the United Kingdom of converting to a single European currency; and if he will list cost estimates for each major sector of commerce, industry, Government and the general public. [11]
  165
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government have not made any such estimates. The Government will take into account the potential costs of introducing the single currency when the facts are known and when they make their decisions on whether the United Kingdom should seek to participate in the single currency, at the appropriate time.

  Self-employment Statistics
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the population in(a) the London borough of Lewisham, (b) the SOLOTEC area, (c) the wider central area, (d) Greater London and (e) the rest of southern England, were self-employed, using the labour force survey and mid-year population estimates in each of the past three years. [2300]

  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 Mrs. Bridget Prentice, dated 12 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 proportion of the population who are self-employed in the South East.
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) covers the population in private households plus persons in NHS accommodation and students in halls of residence. The mid-year population estimates additionally cover the rest of the non-household population. It is therefore more appropriate to calculate the proportions who are self employed using LFS estimates. This information can be accessed through the NOMIS database by the House of Common Library.
  Mid-year population estimates taken from the Census of Population are published in Monitor—Population and Health. A copy of this publication is also available from the House of Commons Library.

  Unemployment
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the proportion of male and female unemployed for(a) one year and (b) two years among the total unemployed for the latest period, and for the same period in 1995, 1994 and 1993 in (a) the London borough of Lewisham, (b) the SOLOTEC area, (c) the wider centre area, (d) Greater London and (e) the rest of the south-east; [2304]

  (2) if he will list the proportion of 17 to 19-year-olds unemployed for the latest period, and the same period in 1995, 1994 and 1993 in (a) the London borough of Lewisham, (b) the SOLOTEC area, (c) the wider central area, (d) Greater London and (e) the rest of southern England. [2303]

  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.
  166
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mrs. Bridget Prentice, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent questions on the proportion of the population who are unemployed in the South East.
  Published information on the numbers of people unemployed by duration and sex for the areas requested is restricted to claimant unemployment. The corresponding analyses from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), on unemployment on the internationally standard ILO basis are not available for TEC areas such as SOLOTEC which do not match local authority boundaries. In addition figures are not available for Lewisham because they are unreliable at this level of geographical disagregation.
  The LFS provides ILO unemployment rates covering all the years requested for 16–19 year olds for Greater London and ROSE but not for the other areas listed. Claimant unemployment rates at this level of disagregation are only available for travel-to-work areas and unitary authorities and are not calculated for different age groups.
  The available data can be assessed through NOMIS and the LFS Database in the House of Commons Library.

  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people(a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, have experienced at least one spell of unemployment since 1992, in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, taking the new constituency boundaries, (1) as an absolute figure and (2) as a percentage of the number of people employed in the constituency using the 1993 figures in the absence of the 1995 figures in the relevant age band; [1907]

  (2) what is the average length of time between claims for a claimant since 1992 (a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 year, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom; [1912]

  (3) what is the average number of claimants, in each constituency of the United Kingdom, (a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, whose duration of unemployment became more than 12 months in each month since January 1992;[1892]

  (4) how many people (a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, have experienced (1) two, (2) three, (3) four and (4) five spells of unemployment, since 1992, in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, taking the new parliamentary constituency boundaries, (x) as an absolute figure and (y) as a percentage of the number of people employed in the constituency using the 1993 figures in the absence of the 1995 figures; [1914]

  (5) what is the average number of claims made by a claimant since 1992 (a) in total and (b) the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom; [1911]

  (6) what is the number of claimants, in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, (a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55

  167
  to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, who have cumulatively claimed for 12 months or over, since 1992, in either one continuous claim or several separate claims (1) as an absolute figure, (2) as a percentage of the economically active work force in the relevant age band and (3) as a percentage of claimants in the relevant age band. [1889]

  Mrs. 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 Ms Judith Church, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent questions (1889, 1892, 1907, 1911, 1912 and 1914) on unemployment spell details by parliamentary constituency.
  The information requested is unavailable as the JUVOS unemployment cohort does not hold data by parliamentary constituency.

  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants, who had been claiming for 52 weeks or more in the United Kingdom,(a) in total and (b) overall and (1) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, left the count for a job, in the year to June 1996 (1) in absolute terms and (2) as a percentage of all those who had been claiming for 52 weeks or more, in the year to June 1996. [1895]

  Mrs. 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 Ms Judith Church, dated 12 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 how many claimants, who had been claiming unemployment-related benefits for 52 weeks or more in the United Kingdom left the count for a job.
  The figures requested are shown in the tables below.

  Number of leavers from claimant unemployment with a known destination, who had been claiming for 52 weeks or more, by destination of leaver and age

  Thousands

  Age band (year)

  Found work

  Destination of leaver Other known destination

  Total

  16–24

  66.0

  55.2

  121.2

  25–34

  84.1

  76.6

  160.7

  35–44

  48.3

  50.6

  98.8

  45–54

  37.4

  47.0

  84.5

  55–64

  12.0

  47.6

  59.5

  65 and over

  0.0

  0.6

  0.6

  All ages

  247.8

  277.6

  525.4

  Leavers over the year to June 1996.

  United Kingdom.

  168

  Percentage of leavers from claimant unemployment with a known destination, who had been claiming for 52 weeks or more, by destination of leaver and age

  Percentage

  Age band(year)

  Found work

  Destination of leaver Other known destination

  Total

  16–24

  54

  46

  100

  25–34

  52

  48

  100

  35–44

  49

  51

  100

  45–54

  44

  56

  100

  55–64

  20

  80

  100

  65 and over

  2

  98

  100

  Total

  47

  53

  100

  Leavers over the year to June 1996.

  United Kingdom.

  You should note that for about a quarter of leavers we do not know their destination.

  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average length of time between claims for a claimant since 1992(a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over in the United Kingdom. [1909]

  Mrs. 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 Ms Judith Church, dated 12 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 average length of time between claims for claimants since 1992, by age.
  The available data are shown in the following table. Data are only available for Great Britain.

  Average length of time between claims by age band, for claims since January 1992

  Age band (years)

  Average length of time between claims (days)

  16–24

  195

  25–34

  204

  35–44

  204

  45–54

  193

  55–64

  177

  65 and over

  0

  All ages

  198

  Great Britain.
  It is not possible to calculate proportions as a percentage of the economically active workforce because the corresponding number of people who have never been economically active over the period is not known—only point in time estimates of the latter are available.

  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how may people in the United Kingdom(a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, leaving the claimant count in the year to June 1996, went to (1) jobs and (2) other destinations; and if he will give (3) as a percentage of those leaving the claimant count in each age band.[1890]
  169
  Mrs. 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 Ms Judith Church, dated 12 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 how many people in the United Kingdom leaving the claimant count in the year to June 1996, went to jobs and other destinations, by age.
  The figures requested are shown in the tables below.

  Number of leavers from claimant unemployment with a known destination, by destination and age

  Thousands

  Destination of leaver

  Age band (years)

  Found work

  Other known destination

  Total

  16–24

  526.1

  191.0

  717.1

  25–34

  465.3

  186.5

  651.8

  35–44

  283.0

  117.3

  400.3

  45–54

  241.4

  111.3

  352.7

  55–64

  80.3

  95.9

  176.2

  65 and over

  0.1

  3.0

  3.1

  All ages

  1596.2

  705.0

  2301.2

  Leavers over the year to June 1996.

  United Kingdom.

  Percentage of leavers from claimant unemployment with a known destination, by destination of leaver and age

  Percentage

  Age band (years)

  Found work

  Destination of leaver Other known destination

  Total

  16–24

  73

  27

  100

  25–34

  71

  29

  100

  35–44

  71

  29

  100

  45–54

  68

  32

  100

  55–64

  46

  54

  100

  65 and over

  2

  98

  100

  Total

  69

  31

  100

  Leavers over the year to June 1996.

  United Kingdom.

  You should note that for about a quarter of leavers we do not know their destination.

  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people in each parliamentary consistency in the United Kingdom(a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, leaving the claimant count in the year to June 1996, went to (1) jobs and (2) other destinations; and if he will give (2) as a percentage of those leaving the claimant count in each relevant age band; [1891]

  (2) how many claimants, who had been claiming for 52 weeks or more, in each constituency in the United Kingdom (a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over, left the count for a job in the year to June 1996 (1) in
  170
  absolute terms (2) as a percentage of all those who had been claiming for 52 weeks or more in the year to June 1996. [1922]

  Mrs. 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 Ms Judith Church, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent questions (1891 and 1914) on the destination of those leaving the claimant count in each parliamentary constituency.
  The information on the destination of leavers from claimant unemployment is not available by parliamentary constituency.

  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of claimants in the United Kingdom(a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over who have cumulatively claimed for 12 months or over, since 1992, in either one continuous claim or several separate claims (1) as an absolute figure, (2) as a percentage of the economically active work force in the relevant age band and (3) as a percentage of claimants in the relevant age band. [1921]

  Mrs. 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 Ms Judith Church, dated 12 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 number of claimants in the United Kingdom who have cumulatively claimed for 12 months and over, since 1992, in either one continuous claim or several claims, by age.
  The available data are shown in the following table. Data are only available for Great Britain.

  Number of claimants within each age band, who have cumulatively claimed for 12 months or more, since January 1992

  Thousands

  Age band (years)

  Average length of time between claims (days)

  16–24

  1,457.1

  25–34

  1,065.6

  35–44

  683.9

  45–54

  587.4

  55–64

  248.2

  65 and over

  0

  All ages

  4,042.3

  171

  Percentage of all claimants within each age band, who have cumulatively claimed for 12 months or more, since January 1992

  Age band (years)

  Percentage of claimants

  16–24

  38

  25–34

  41

  35–44

  40

  45–54

  40

  55–64

  34

  65 and over

  9

  All ages

  39

  Great Britain.

  It is not possible to calculate proportions as a percentage of the economically active work force because the corresponding number of people who have never been economically active over the period is not known—only point in time estimates of the latter are available.

  Ms Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average number of claims made by a claimant since 1992(a) in total and (b) in the age bands (i) 16 to 24 years, (ii) 25 to 34 years, (iii) 35 to 44 years, (iv) 45 to 54 years, (v) 55 to 64 years and (vi) 65 years and over in the United Kingdom. [1908]

  Mrs. 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 Ms Judith Church, dated 12 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 average number of claims by claimants since 1992, by age.
  The available data are shown in the following table. Data are only available for Great Britain.

  Average number of claims made by claimants since January 1992

  Age band (years)

  Average number of claims

  16–24

  2.2

  25–34

  2

  35–44

  1.92

  45–54

  1.8

  55–64

  1.45

  65 and over

  1.05

  All ages

  1.99

  Great Britain.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the(a) first-year and (b) full-year costs of raising the personal income tax allowance in 1997–98, in addition to price indexation, by (i) £50, (ii) £100, (iii) £150 and (iv) £200; and what is his estimate in each case of the number of individuals who as a consequence would no longer be liable to pay income tax. [3244]
  172
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: Available information is given in the table.

  Increase in non aged and aged personal allowances indexation £

  Full year cost at 1997–98 income levels 1£million

  First year cost at 1997–98 income levels £million

  Number of taxpayers taken out of income tax thousands

  50

  320

  240

  120

  100

  630

  470

  230

  150

  940

  710

  350

  200

  1,250

  940

  450

  1Based on the Summer Economic forecast and allowing for statutory indexation.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost in 1997–98 of reducing the present 24p income tax band to a 20p income tax band. [3243]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The estimated full-year cost at 1997–98 income levels of reducing the basic rate of tax from 24 per cent. to 20 per cent. is £6.8 billion after allowing for statutory indexation of allowances and tax band widths. This is based on the summer economic forecast.

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the cost of revalorising fully the married couples allowance and the additional personal allowance to their 1990 introductory value, assuming that the allowances continue to be given at the rate of 15 per cent.; [2827]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost of revalorising fully the married couples allowance and the additional personal allowance to their 1990 introductory value, assuming that the allowances were given at the taxpayers' marginal tax rate. [2825]

  Mr. Jack
  The full year cost of revalorising the 1990–91 married couples allowance and the linked allowances, which include the additional personal allowance and the widows bereavement allowance, to 1996–97 levels is given in the table.

  Cost in full year at 1996–97 income levels £ billion

  Allowances given at 15 per cent.

  0.5

  Allowances given at marginal rates

  3.0

  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of allowing a married person to transfer an unused personal allowance to their spouse, on the assumption that the couple would not also be able to claim the married couples allowance. [2824]

  Mr. Jack
  The estimated full-year cost of allowing personal allowances to be transferred between spouses would be about £0.5 billion at 1996–97 income levels. This assumes that the married couples allowance would be abolished, but the widows bereavement allowance and the additional personal allowance would be retained. It does not take into account any behavioural change which would result from such a measure.

  Overseas Investment Services
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will instruct the Inland Revenue to review the liability of Overseas Investment Services registered in the Turks and Caicos to pay tax in the United Kingdom in respect of its management from the United Kingdom;[2650]

  (2) if he will investigate the financial regularity of the circumstances in which Firthpalm Ltd. transferred ownership of land at Mayals, Swansea in 1987–88 to Overseas Investment Services; [2652]

  (3) if he will instruct the. Inland Revenue to examine the terms in respect of liability for tax on which in 1987–88 Firthpalm Ltd. sold land at Mayals, Swansea, to Overseas Investment Services in Grand Turks and Caicos. [2651]

  Mr. Jack
  The tax affairs of particular companies are confidential between the Inland Revenue and the companies concerned. Treasury Ministers do not instruct the Inland Revenue to investigate a company's tax affairs or otherwise intervene in such matters.

  VAT Reclaims
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of the Waelbroeck opinion on the Government's policy to place a three-year limit on VAT reclaims. [3300]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: Customs and Excise has received a copy of this opinion and has had a meeting with the firm which commissioned it. It is being considered along with other representations received on the three-year cap.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in the value of the pound against(a) the deutschmark, (b) the dollar and (c) all currencies since the first day of each month of 1996 to date; and if he will make a statement.[3080]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The table gives the percentage increase in the value of the pound against the deutschmark, dollar and the exchange rate index from the first day of each month to close on 6 November—when sterling stood at DM2.49, $1.64 and 91.1 on the ERI. The effective exchange rate index measures the value of sterling against a basket of other currencies on a trade-weighted basis.

  Percentage increase since:

  1996

  DM

  $

  ERI

  January

  12

  6

  10

  February

  11

  9

  9

  March

  11

  7

  9

  April

  10

  8

  9

  May

  8

  9

  9

  June

  6

  7

  6

  July

  5

  6

  5

  August

  8

  5

  8

  September

  8

  5

  7

  October

  4

  5

  5

  Working Hours
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of employees working more than 48 hours per week in each year since 1979. [2067]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  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 Ms Joyce Quin, dated 12 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 time series of the number of employees working more than 48 hours per week.
  The available information is shown in the table below.

  Employees usually working more than 48 hours per week1

  Great Britain: spring of each year2

  (thousands)

  Number

  1984

  2,740

  1985

  2,763

  1986

  2,968

  1987

  3,126

  1988

  3,512

  1989

  3,598

  1990

  3,606

  1991

  3,414

  1992

  3,263

  1993

  3,360

  1994

  3,518

  1995

  3,690

  1996

  3,793

  Notes:

  1Total usual hours per week including paid and unpaid overtime and excluding meal breaks.

  2Data for 1979 to 1983 either not available or not consistent with later years.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics.

  Landfill Tax
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the landfill operators who have registered their liability for landfill tax, broken down by Customs and Excise region.[3328]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information as requested is not currently held in a form that can be published. The Finance Act 1996 allows the commissioners of Customs and Excise to publish information from the landfill tax register and they will do so as soon as possible.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum of money he estimates will be paid to approve environmental bodies through the landfill tax credit scheme in the financial year(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [3333]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  It is estimated that £10 million will be made available through landfill tax credits in 1996–97 and £50 million in 1997–98.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the figures for the average tenure per job in(a) manufacturing, (b) services and (c) general for (i) 1966, (ii) 1970, (iii) 1980, (iv) 1990 and (v) the latest year available. [2815]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  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. Peter Hain, dated 12 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 average tenure per job in manufacturing, services and all industries and services.
  Information showing the length of time continuously employed is available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) from 1984. However, of the periods requested, it is only possible to provide accurate averages at Spring 1996. The information is provided in the following tables.

  Length of time continuously employed in Great Britain1: Spring 1984

  All2

  Manufacturing

  Services

  At least lower but less than upper band (thousands):

  Total3

  23,131

  5,767

  14,231

  3 months or less

  1,042

  251

  655

  3 to 6 months

  818

  193

  546

  6 to 12 months

  1,764

  392

  1,198

  1 to 2 years

  1,869

  437

  1,240

  2 to 5 years

  4,341

  1,062

  2,839

  5 to 10 years

  4,528

  1,290

  2,752

  10 to 20 years

  3,988

  1,185

  2,353

  20 years or more

  2,071

  703

  1,036

  1Based on employees and self-employed.2 Includes those who did not state their industry.

  3Includes those who did not state the length of time they were employed.

  Length of time continuously employed in Great Britain1: Spring 1990

  All1

  Manufacturing

  Services

  At least lower but less than upper band (thousands):

  Total3

  25,871

  5,814

  16,889

  3 months or less

  1,526

  301

  1,060

  3 to 6 months

  1,258

  243

  891

  6 to 12 months

  2,527

  519

  1,751

  1 to 2 years

  3,060

  671

  2,073

  2 to 5 years

  5,628

  1,219

  3,778

  5 to 10 years

  4,155

  931

  2,711

  10 to 20 years

  4,980

  1,184

  3,140

  20 years or more

  2,693

  740

  1,454

  1Based on employees and self-employed.2 Includes those who did not state their industry.

  3Includes those who did not state the length of time they were employed.

  176

  Length of time continuously employed in Great Britain1: Spring 1996

  All1

  Manufacturing

  Services

  Average (months)

  99

  110

  91

  At least lower but less than upper band (thousands):

  Total3

  25,225

  4.912

  17,814

  3 months or less

  1,227

  217

  899

  3 to 6 months

  1,165

  214

  870

  6 to 12 months

  2,184

  365

  1,666

  1 to 2 years

  2,838

  523

  2,103

  2 to 5 years

  4,603

  807

  3,430

  5 to 10 years

  5,167

  1,025

  3.671

  10 to 20 years

  5,054

  1,059

  3,391

  20 years or more

  2,941

  695

  1,755

  1Based on employees and self-employed.

  2Includes those who did not state their industry.

  3Includes those who did not state the length of time they were employed.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the figures for the change in the level of(a) employment, (b) male unemployment and (c) female unemployment since (i) November 1990 and (ii) December 1992; [2826]

  (2) if he will give figures for the change in the level of part-time (a) male, (b) female and (c) total employment and part-time employment since (i) autumn 1990 and (ii) winter 1992–93; [2821]

  (3) if he will give figures for the change in the level of full-time (a) total, (b) male and (c) female employment and full-time employment since (i) November 1990 and (ii) December 1992. [2822]

  Mrs. Knight
  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. Peter Hain, dated 12 November:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent questions for the changes in the levels of employment and unemployment.
  Information showing the levels of employment and unemployment, broken down by full and part-time, is available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Information on employment is published in Table 2 of both the LFS Historical Supplement 1984–1996 and the October 1996 LFS First Release. Information on unemployment is published in Table 20 of the historical supplement and Table 9 of the First Release. Information on the number of people who are looking for work as either full or part-time employees is published in Table 28 of both the historical supplement and the LFS Quarterly Bulletin, which is next published on 18th December. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.
  The claimant unemployment count does not distinguish between full-and part-time unemployment. Monthly seasonally adjusted counts of unemployment are available from the NOMIS database which can be accessed through the House of Commons Library.

  Entrust
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by Entrust and in what positions; and how many further staff appointments will be made and in what positions.[3332]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Currently, Entrust employs only an acting chief executive. He will shortly be taking on a secretary. Further staff appointments will be made on the basis of need.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many organisations have enrolled with Entrust as appropriate bodies to receive funding from landfill operators through the landfill tax credits system under the environmental trust scheme to the latest available date. [3331]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No bodies have yet enrolled. Application forms will be issued shortly to those that have expressed an interest in enrolment.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the further directors appointed to the environmental bodies regulatory body Entrust, in addition to the appointments announced on 16 October 1996. [3329]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In addition to the appointments announced on 16 October, two further people have accepted invitations to join the board of Entrust: Mr. Neil Caldwell, of the Prince's Trust and the Welsh Language Board, and Mr. Donald Reid, a Scottish solicitor.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many organisations have made representations regarding enrolment with Entrust as appropriate bodies to receive funding from landfill operators through the landfill tax credits system under the environmental trust scheme to the latest available date. [3330]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  As of Monday 4 November, Entrust had received 216 inquiries, of which approximately 85 per cent. were from organisations interested in enrolling.

  Births
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many live births there were in each of the last 15 years in Great Britain. [2951]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  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. Frank Field, dated 12 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 the number of live births that occurred in Great Britain in each of the last fifteen years.
  178
  The figures requested are shown in the table below.

  Live births in Great Britain

  Year

  Live births

  1981

  703,546

  1982

  692,127

  1983

  694,212

  1984

  701,924

  1985

  723,093

  1986

  726,830

  1987

  747,752

  1988

  759,789

  1989

  751,205

  1990

  772,113

  1991

  766,241

  1992

  755,445

  1993

  736,755

  1994

  726,382

  1995

  708,189

  Civil Service Relocations
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he takes to monitor the impact of civil service relocations on individual localities. [1306]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: Central considerations for relocation are cost savings, employment and economic benefits.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cetaceans (Protection)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of harbour porpoises which died as a consequence of the use of monofilament nets in British waters in the last three years; and what international agreements the United Kingdom has agreed to, to ensure the protection of this and other smaller cetacean species. [2340]

  Mr. Baldry
  No reliable estimate for harbour porpoise deaths in British waters caused by monofilament nets is available. To help address this question, the Ministry is sponsoring the sea mammals research unit to develop a robust cetacean by-catch reporting scheme. SMRU is also a leading partner in an EC-funded project which will document levels of cetacean by-catch in the North sea and evaluate the likely effectiveness of a number of different management approaches aimed at reducing these by-catches.

  The UK is party to or subject to several international instruments which include measures to protect small cetaceans. They include the EC habitats directive, Council directive 92/43/EEC; the agreement on the conservation of small cetaceans of the Baltic and North seas, ASCOBANS; the convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats, the Bern convention; the convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals, the Bonn convention; and the convention on international trade in endangered species, CITES.

  Varroa Jacobsoni
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which areas of the country are currently assessed as being infected with varroa jacobsoni. [3597]

  Mr. Boswell
  The areas currently within the statutory infected area include all of Wales and England up to but not including the following counties: Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. During the recent search, outbreaks have also been discovered in Cumbria and Greater Manchester, but no decision has yet been taken on any changes to the extent of the SIA.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to offer subsides to beekeepers to assist with the diagnosis and control of varroa mites on bees. [3594]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry already provides a free testing and diagnosis service for varroa. The cost of treatment is borne by beekeepers.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of varroasis have been reported to his Department in each year since April 1992. [3595]

  Mr. Boswell
  The annual numbers of varroa positive apiaries reported to the Ministry since April 1992 are as follows:

  Year

  Number of cases

  1992

  305

  1993

  600

  1994

  610

  1995

  988

  Up to and including September 1996

  811

  Cumulative total 3,314.

  BSE
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the expenditure committed to support the agricultural industry as a result of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis, and the proportion of such expenditure which derives form the European Union; [3394]

  (2) if he will list, by sector, the expenditure committed as a result of the BSE crisis, separately identifying that paid to (a) abattoirs, (b) the rendering industry, (c) collection centres and (d) farmers direct; [3395]

  (3) if he will list (a) the methods by which compensation has been directed to farmers as a result of the BSE crisis, (b) the level of expenditure under these headings and (c) the amount of each expenditure item that is recoverable from the European Union.[3396]

  Mr. Boswell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 July,Official Report, column 533. Subsequent to that reply, additional expenditure has been agreed as follows:
  180
  Approximately £160 million from EU funds for direct support to UK beef producers. Over £100 million has already been disbursed through supplementary payments to the beef special premium and suckler cow premium schemes and through the beef marketing payments scheme.
  Some £89 million from national funds for direct support to UK beef producers. £60 million of this sum has ben earmarked for distribution to eligible cattle producers under the 1997 hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme.
  £16.6 million for extra cold storage capacity to help reduce the backlog of animals awaiting slaughter under the over-30 month scheme.

  A detailed breakdown of the latest BSE expenditure forecasts will be given in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's forthcoming Budget statement.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the impact of the BSE crisis on prices paid to farmers for beef cattle. [2451]

  Mr. Boswell
  Market prices for finished beef cattle in England and Wales have fallen by 15 per cent. to 20 per cent. since the middle of March. There have been greater price reductions for some store cattle and calves. These developments are likely to be attributable to a number of factors, some of them of a seasonal nature. It is not possible separately to identify the impact of BSE. Intervention purchases and measures announced by the Government have had the effect of limiting the extent of price reductions in the beef market and the impact on producers.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [3781]

  Mr. Boswell
  This Ministry has already repealed or simplified a large number of regulations this year. Further measures are planned for next year. Since the effect of repealing or simplifying regulations reduces rather than increases compliance costs, CCAs are not produced. 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 is inappropriate for measures designed to reduce business burdens.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the interim report by the Food Advisory Committee on nutritional labelling and health claims; and if he will make a statement. [3590]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Food Advisory Committee has not been asked to make an interim report on these matters. It is currently reviewing functional foods and health claims and is due to consider the issues again at its December meeting.

  Beef Farmers' Incomes
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the reduction in beef farmers' incomes since 20 March. [2583]

  Mr. Boswell
  Incomes of beef farmers in hill and upland areas are currently being considered as part of the autumn review of the economic prospects of hill farms, and forecasts of incomes for 1996–97 will be deposited in the Library of the House on 26 November.

  Estimates of 1996–97 incomes by type of farm for all farms in the United Kingdom will be published in a press notice on 31 January 1997.

  Agricultural Holdings
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans his Department has to bring the level at which agricultural holdings are deemed to be economically viable in line with Department of Social Security assessments of personal economic need; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the advantages of such changes. [3235]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department does not define any specific level of economic viability for agricultural holdings and there are no plans to introduce one.

  Planning Guidelines
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of giving additional weight to environmental impact in determining planning restrictions on agricultural buildings. [3363]

  Mr. Boswell
  Planning authorities are already able to take full account of the environmental aspects of development proposals involving agricultural holdings.

  British Beef
  Sir Robert Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken since 1 August to persuade the major supermarkets and fast-food retail organisations to(a) use and (b) promote United Kingdom beef; and if he will make a statement. [1629]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: In July, I launched an initiative aimed at restoring consumer confidence in British beef, which I believe needs to start with understanding the concerns of customers and consumers. As a part of this initiative, my officials and I have held a number of discussions with leading supermarkets and fast-food businesses about the measures which the Government have taken to protect public health, and the further steps needed to restore confidence in beef. We have also held seminars with important industry groups.

  Forestry Commission (Land Sales)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the plots of Forestry Commission land in Hampshire in each of the last five years which(a) were sold and (b) were offered for sale,
  182
  specifying in each case (i) which were sold without public access protected, (ii) the size of the plot and (iii) what consultation was undertaken in advance of the sale; [1968]

  (2) if he will list the plots of Forestry Commission land in Hampshire which are currently for sale, specifying in each case the size of the plot and the consultation process to be undertaken in advance of the sale. [1969]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 4 November 1996]: The subjects of the questions relate to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. Gordon Cowie, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Gordon M. Cowie to Mr. John Denham, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your two Questions about Forestry Commission land in Hampshire. [1968] [1969].
  1. At Annex A I enclose a list of woodlands sold in Hampshire since 1991. There were no other cases offered for sale during this period. None of these cases were sold with public access protected.
  2. At Annex B I enclose a list of land currently for sale, either on the Open Market or by Negotiation.
  All the properties listed were notified in the Estates Gazette, and the appropriate consultations with the Local Authority took place in accordance with the Continued Public Access arrangements and Sponsorship procedures. These are explained in the Commission's Access Guidelines, a copy of which is enclosed for your information. A copy is already in the House of Commons Library.

  Annex A: Forestry Commission woodlands sold in Hampshire since 1991

  Name of Property

  Area (ha)

  1991

  Beaper Wood

  10.3

  Hill Farm Copse

  2.5

  Lower Rowborough Copse

  7.9

  Nunwell Estate (pt)

  34.7

  Roundabout Copse

  8.4

  Whitefield Copse

  2.0

  1992

  Fishpond

  7.4

  Fleming Estate, Plot 9

  11.2

  Oxlease

  8.1

  Tall Boys

  16.9

  1993

  Ashe Park Copse

  37.0

  Fleming Estate (pt)

  70.1

  1994

  Fishers Tiddles Copse

  27.5

  Fleming (pt) (road imp)

  2.0

  Itchen Wood

  5.3

  Ladycross Lodge and Peace Cottage

  0.7

  Woodhay House Copse

  5.0

  1995

  There were no sales.

  —

  1996

  Fleming Estate, Lots 1–11, 13–15

  70.0

  Pitt Down

  15.0

  183

  Annex B: Forestry Commission woodland currently for sale either on the open market or by negotiation in Hampshire

  Name of property

  Area (ha)

  Bassett Green

  1.9

  Crawley Down

  29.5

  Redcap/Catham

  14.0

  Whitelands Copse

  12.0

  Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been initiated against individuals claimed to be flouting article 2 of the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996—statutory instrument 1996/961—and the subsequent amendments. [816]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: This Department has not, to date, initiated any prosecutions under the article 2 of the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996 or its replacement orders, the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) Regulations 1996 and the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Prisoners (Costs)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the current annual costs of keeping a prisoner in each of Northern Ireland's prisons; and what are the current average costs in England and Wales and Scotland. [2737]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for the subject of these questions 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. Tony Worthington, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the current annual cost of keeping a prisoner in each of Northern Ireland's prisons.
  The latest available figures relate to the last financial year (1995/96) and are:

  £

  HMP Belfast

  67,023

  HMP Maze

  78,388

  HMP Magilligan

  68,802

  HMP Maghaberry

  84,579

  HM YOC

  63,597

  Forestry Grants
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for increased financial provision in respect of proposals to increase the forest cover in the United Kingdom; what percentage of this provision is planned to be spent before May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [1846]
  184
  Mr. Ancram
  Uptake under the forestry grant schemes in Northern Ireland has increased over the past five years from around 500 ha in 1991–92 to more than 800 ha in 1995–96. Expenditure in 1995–96 was some £1.1 million and is expected to be just under £1.2 million in 1996–97. Future spending will be determined following the conclusion of the 1996 public expenditure round. Approximately 10 per cent. of annual provision is spent in each of the first two months of the financial year.

  Local Exchange Trading Schemes
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 during the BSE crisis; and if he will make a statement. [2310]

  Mr. Ancram
  There have been no representations to the Department to suggest that local exchange trade schemes would be of use.

  Beach Materials (Cloghy)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what permission has been given for the removal of sand and rock from the beach at Cloghy, County Down; and if he will make a statement about the removal of beach materials. [2399]

  Mr. Moss
  None. Much of Cloghy beach is held by Ards borough council under lease from the Crown Estate Commissioners. The removal of sand and rock is therefore a matter for the council.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the rocks on the beach at Cloghy, County Down form part of a breakwater; and what erosion there is at the beach near No. 9 Manser road, Cloghy. [2400]

  Mr. Moss
  I understand that, while there are several small isolated lengths of rock armour along the beach at Cloghy, which offer some protection to the adjacent sea wall, no such rock armour is present opposite to 9 Manser road, where a grassed area separates the beach from the road. I am also advised that the area in question is in private ownership.

  Stalking Legislation
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation he has undertaken with the Home Secretary in order to have Northern Ireland included in the proposed stalking legislation. [2454]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 23 July 1996,Official Report, column 256. The separate Northern Ireland consultation paper was published in September, with a closing date for comments of 2 December. When all these have been received, I shall consider what legislation is required for Northern Ireland and how best to proceed.

  Fair Employment (Teachers)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teaching jobs otherwise exempted form the fair employment legislation are
  185
  required, by the internal guidelines of (a) the five education and library boards and (b) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools to have appointments made under fair employment procedures. [2458]

  Mr. Ancram
  The guidance procedures to be used in individual cases is a matter for the relevant employing authority, and details are not available centrally.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were referred by general practitioners for(a) orthopaedic operations, (b) coronary bypass surgery and (c) coronary angiograms in each health and social services trust in Northern Ireland (i) between 1 April and 30 September 1996 and (ii) between 1 April 1995 and 31 March 1996; how many of those in (a) have been placed on a waiting list; how long they have been waiting; and what is the expected date for their operations. [2387]

  Mr. Moss
  General practitioners usually refer patients for consultant out-patient appointments in the first instance, with decisions regarding any subsequent action,

  Specialty

  Total

  Patients who had cancelled or failed to attend a previous appointment

  Patients who has not cancelled or failed to attend a previous appointment

  Time waiting of those who had not cancelled or failed to attend1

  < 6 mths Per cent.

  > 6–12 mths Per cent.

  > 12 mths + per cent.

  Orthopaedics

  3,010

  602

  2,408

  82

  9

  9

  Cardiology

  1,783

  239

  1,544

  97

  3

  1

  Cardiac Surgery

  74

  19

  55

  42

  36

  22

  1Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent. as a result of rounding. Percentages exclude a small proportion of cases where waiting time for admission was not known.

  The waiting times for admissions of elective in-patients in the trauma and orthopaedics specialty during the year ending 31 March 1996 are given in the table, with the waiting times for admission of those elective in-patients whose primary procedures in the same period were coronary bypass surgery or coronary angiogram.

  Waiting time for admission1

  Specialty

  Total

  <6 months Per cent.

  >6 <12 months Per cent.

  >12 months Per cent.

  Trauma and orthopaedics procedure

  8,988

  73

  21

  6

  Coronary bypass

  713

  65

  28

  6

  Angiogram

  974

  97

  2

  (<1)

  1Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent. as a result of rounding. Percentages exclude a small proportion of cases where waiting time for admission was not known.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the length of national health service waiting lists in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [2389]
  186
  including a decision to place on a waiting list for treatment, being taken following assessment at a consultant out-patient clinic.

  In the year ending 31 March 1996—latest figures available—there were 24,440 GP written referrals for out-patient appointments in the trauma and orthopaedics specialty and 7,676 in the cardiology specialty. Patients are not referred by GPs for coronary angiograms. The procedure which an individual patient may require is not determined until he/she is seen by the cardiologist at the first appointment. The latter information is not available centrally. In the cardiac surgery specialty, there were 823 consultant referrals for out-patient appointments. GPs do not refer directly to the cardiac surgery specialty—they refer patients to a cardiologist in the first instance. It is not possible to break down these overall Northern Ireland figures into the particular trust wherein the referring GPs are located.

  The numbers of those waiting for a first out-patient appointment at 31 March 1996 in these specialties, together with the time waiting for those who had not cancelled an appointment offered or who had not failed to attend such an appointment are given in the table:

  Mr. Moss
  The table shows that between 30 June 1995 and 30 June 1996—the latest available figures—the overall number waiting for treatment changed very little.

  Number waiting for first appointment

  For ordinary admission

  For day case admission

  June 1995

  67,750

  21,070

  14,688

  June 1996

  62,765

  21,687

  16,890

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to reduce the waiting lists for coronary angiograms in each of the health and social services trusts in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [2388]

  Mr. Moss
  Information is not available on waiting lists for individual procedures. However, the table gives the number of elective in-patients who had coronary angiograms as their primary procedure in the last three years and the time they had to wait between the decision to admit them to hospital and the date of their admission. The table shows that there has been a 20 per cent. increase in the number of angiograms performed over this period.
  187

  Coronary angiograms

  Waiting time for admission1

  Total

  6 months Per cent.

  6 to 12 months Per cent.

  12 months + Per cent.

  1993–94

  814

  95

  5

  (-1)

  1994–95

  799

  96

  3

  1

  1995–96

  974

  97

  2

  (-1)

  1Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent. as a result of rounding. Percentages exclude a small proportion of cases where waiting time for admission was not known.

  Blood Spreading
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cause of the unusual smell at Ballymaglaff road, Comber; what substances have been spread on that land; and if he will make a statement. [2444]

  Mr. Ancram
  I understand that the smell at Ballymaglaff road, Comber arose from the spreading of blood on land.

  The practice of spreading blood on land as an agricultural fertiliser is an acceptable method of disposal.

  Educational Qualifications
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Irish Republic gives full mutual recognition to educational qualifications obtained in Northern Ireland; and what issues are outstanding. [2456]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Republic of Ireland is currently establishing new arrangements for the certification of vocational and other qualifications. Officials of my Department have initiated contact with their counterparts and will be raising issues relating to mutual recognition.

  Queen's Speech
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the Bills announced in the Queen's Speech and not yet published will include Northern Ireland in their extent; and what were the reasons for not including Northern Ireland in the others. [2453]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Excluding the two Scottish measures in the Queen's Speech, nine of the remaining 12 Bills will apply wholly or in part to Northern Ireland. The nine Bills in question are: the Benefit Fraud Bill, the Compensation Recovery Bill, the Crime (Sentences) Bill, the Decommissioning Bill, the Education Bill, the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Bill, the National Heritage Bill, the Police Bill and the Primary Health Care Bill.

  The possibility of extending the Firearms (Amendment) Bill to Northern Ireland is still being considered.

  Students
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of students from the Irish Republic attending colleges in Northern Ireland of the introduction of free tuition in the Republic. [2457]

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Local Government Structure
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to review Northern Ireland's local government structure so as to reform the functions and powers of the district councils in line with the proposed rearrangements for the education and library boards. [2627]

  Mr. Moss
  The Government keep the arrangements for local government in Northern Ireland under continual review. I see no case at present for reforming the functions and powers of district councils.

  IRA
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the implications for his policies on peace and reconciliation of the IRA's continuing activities. [2628]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Government's declared aim is to achieve peace, prosperity and reconciliation in Northern Ireland by pursuing a range of complementary policies, including the search for a comprehensive political settlement which can command widespread support. This has been and will continue to be the Government's policy, irrespective of the level of IRA activity.

  Stormont Talks
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the progress of the talks at Castle buildings, Stormont. [2637]

  Mr. Ancram
  The participants have all made clear their total and absolute commitment to the principles of democracy and non-violence set out in paragraph 20 of the report of the international body; they have agreed rules of procedure, established a business committee and settled the agenda for the remainder of the opening plenary. They are currently addressing proposals regarding the decommissioning of illegal weapons.

  The talks process provides the best opportunity for a generation of reaching a comprehensive and widely acceptable political settlement which could underpin lasting peace in Northern Ireland.

  Agriculture and Rural Development
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were made in respect of the special programme for agriculture and rural development—SPARD—from 22 March 1995 to 24 March 1995; how many have been approved; and of these how many have received payments. [2708]
  189
  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 5,380 applications were received under the sub-programme for agriculture and rural development on 23 and 24 March 1995; 4,760 have been approved to date and, of these, 610 farmers have received payment of grant.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to expedite outstanding payments in respect of the special programme for agriculture and rural development in respect of applications which were forwarded between 22 March and 24 March.[2706]

  Mr. Ancram
  Claims for grant based on applications received on 23 or 24 March 1995 have, since 1 April 1996, been held in date order of receipt and will be paid in this order as financial resources permit. Nevertheless, the Department will make a special effort to make early payments in cases where there are exceptional circumstances. The expenditure on the SPARD schemes is monitored on a monthly basis, and if it becomes clear that the funds available are in excess of that required to pay all of the claims based on applications received prior

  Neonatal and perinatal death rates Northern Ireland

  1992

  1993

  1994

  19951

  Neonatal

  Perinatal

  Neonatal

  Perinatal

  Neonatal

  Perinatal

  Neonatal

  Perinatal

  Eastern health and social services board

  3.8

  8.7

  3.9

  7.3

  5.1

  10.7

  7.6

  12.3

  Northern health and social services board

  3.5

  7.6

  3.5

  9.4

  4.6

  9.6

  4.0

  8.5

  Southern health and social services board

  3.8

  8.5

  6.2

  8.8

  3.7

  10.0

  3.8

  8.6

  Western health and social services hoard

  5.6

  7.8

  7.5

  10.9

  2.1

  7.1

  5.0

  11.0

  Neonatal rate per 1,000 live births. Perinatal rates per 1,000 live and still-births.

  1Provisional.

  Dementia
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the status of the report "Dementia in Northern Ireland", to what extent it reflects Government policy on the matter; and what resources have been allocated to deal with the problem of dementia in each of the years 1993–94 to 1996–97. [3323]

  Mr. Moss
  "Dementia in Northern Ireland" is the report of a team brought together by the Department of Health and Social Services in 1994 to examine policy and make recommendations on the development of services. The report has been accepted by the Department and its recommendations have been adopted as the basis for its policy in this area.

  Financial provision for dementia is subsumed within overall allocations to health and social services boards, and it is a matter for each board to allocate resources within its area on the basis of assessed need and competing priorities.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the incidence of dementia within each of the board areas in Northern Ireland; and what the average per capita funding has been for(a) residential care and (b) respite care in each board area during the years 1993–94 to 1995–96 in respect of dementia. [3325]

  Mr. Moss
  Precise information about the incidence of dementia is not available as many sufferers are not in contact with services. However, it is estimated that in 190
  to 23 March 1995, the balance will be used to pay the outstanding claims arising from applications received on 23 or 24 March 1995.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were made in respect of the special programme for agriculture and rural development from 1 April 1994 to its suspension on 22 March 1995; of these how many were approved; and what was the total cost of the approved schemes. [2707]

  Mr. Ancram
  Some 5,635 applications were received under the sub-programme for agriculture and rural development from the date the scheme opened on 14 November 1994 up to 22 March 1995; 5,586 applications have been approved and the total cost of the approved applications is £31.5 million.

  Neonatal and Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the(a) neonatal and (b) perinatal mortality rates for the last four years by each health and social services board. [2669]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  1994 there were 12,500 people in Northern Ireland suffering from the disease. The information requested on funding is not available.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources have been allocated towards a public awareness campaign relating to dementia. [3326]

  Mr. Moss
  Since 1991, the Department of Health and Social Services has provided funding for the Alzheimer's Disease Society in Northern Ireland, one of whose main aims is to raise public awareness of the disease.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the respective roles of(a) his Department, (b) the boards and (c) health trusts in dealing with the problem of dementia. [3324]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of Health and Social Services sets and monitors strategic plans for implementation of its policy on dementia. In drawing up the regional strategy for health and social well-being 1997 to 2002, the Department has asked boards and trusts to conduct a detailed audit during 1997 of the needs of people with dementia and the services available to meet those needs. Building on this baseline, the Department intends to establish quantifiable targets for the remainder of the strategy period.

  Farmers' Income
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the changes in farmers' income in real terms for each month since January 1990; and if he will make a statement. [1583]

  Mr. Ancram
  Estimates of farm incomes in Northern Ireland are obtained on an annual basis from the farm business survey and are published each year in "Agriculture in the United Kingdom", "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom", the "Statistical Review of Northern Ireland Agriculture" and "Farm Incomes in Northern Ireland", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many recommendations have been made by the Government of the Irish Republic under article 6 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in each year since it was signed; how many persons were appointed in each year as a result of those recommendations; and of these how many are still serving in each body. [1964]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 1 November 1996]:

  The information now available is as follows:

  Year

  Number of recommendations

  Number of appointments resulting from recommendations

  1986

  45

  5

  1987

  21

  3

  1988

  15

  4

  1989

  6

  4

  1990

  1

  0

  1991

  21

  3

  1992

  34

  8

  1993

  30

  7

  1994

  17

  2

  1995

  53

  13

  19961

  41

  6

  1Up to 30 October 1996.

  Thirty-three of those appointments were still current as at 30 October 1996.

  The figures for recommendations relate to nominations made rather than persons nominated. Some persons were nominated a number of times.

  Orange Parade
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary are members of (i) the Orange Order and (ii) the Black Institution; and of these how many were on duty at Garvaghy road at any time during the period 6 July to 11 July. [1772]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: It is not known how many members of the RUC are members of the Orange Order or Black Institution.

  RUC (Sick Leave)
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the RUC were on sick leave in each week since 1 January. [1780]
  192
  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: The information is not available in the form requested. However, it is possible to provide information which shows the average work days lost per member of the RUC in the first three quarters of 1996:

  1 January 1996 to 31 March 1996: 3.24 days

  1 April 1996 to 30 June 1996: 3.15 days

  1 July 1996 to 30 September 1996: 3.61 days

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimates he has made of the sums to be spent in the current financial year, which will be contingent upon the Government gaining parliamentary consent to(a) the incorporation of the further education colleges, (b) education vouchers, and (c) its proposals on school boards. [2734]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: Estimated expenditure contingent on parliamentary consent is:

  (a) Nil

  (b) £23,000

  There are no proposals regarding school boards.

  RUC
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to publish the RUC's fundamental review of policing; with whom he plans to discuss its findings; when decisions will be taken in respect of it, and by whom. [2736]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: It has been necessary to re-examine the fundamental review of policing to take account of the ending of the Provisional IRA ceasefire and the public order difficulties of the summer. Once that process is completed and the review's recommendations have been approved, I shall consult the Chief Constable and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland about when the main findings will be made public as a contribution to the wider public debate on policing. Decisions on the review will fall to the members of the tripartite structure; implementation of specific recommendations will depend upon the wider environment.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to help lone parents into work. [1705]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Successive changes to the benefits system have helped over 200,000 lone parents to move off income support into work since 1992. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently announced that from April 1997, we will be piloting a major new scheme, parent plus, which will involve the private sector and initially help up to 100,000 lone parents on income support who wish to return to work.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect on his Department's budget of the introduction of the social chapter. [1710]

  Mr. Lilley
  Signing the social chapter would destroy jobs and so push up my Department's expenditure on benefits to the unemployed.

  Benefit Fraud Hotline
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many responses have been received by the benefits cheats hotline. [1711]

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many calls have so far been received by the beat-a-cheat hotline. [1715]

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what responses he has had to the beat—a—cheat hotline. [1719]

  Mr. Heald
  Since the launch on 5 August 1996, the number of calls to the national benefit fraud hotline have exceeded 91,000 in the first 12 weeks.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures have been taken to monitor the effects of the new jobseeker's allowance. [1713]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We have set in place an extensive programme of monitoring and evaluation, to enable us to ensure that the jobseeker's allowance is achieving its policy objectives.

  State Pension
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with the Government Actuary about the cost of paying the state pension from age 60 years; and if he will make a statement. [1714]

  Mr. Heald
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) earlier today.

  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received in favour of a state pension age starting at 60 years. [1695]

  Mr. Heald
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received one letter from the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms Harman) on 30 August advocating allowing people to claim state pension from age 60, but envisaging that the basic state pension would be reduced to offset the extra cost.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the future of the basic state pension. [2181]

  Mr. Heald
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral reply I gave the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) today.
  194
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which countries of the EU pay state pensions at a lower rate than the United Kingdom. [1699]

  Mr. Heald
  Because of the diverse nature of pension state schemes within the European Union, it is not possible to make a meaningful comparison.

  Child Benefit
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the provision of child benefit. [1717]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  We have a manifesto commitment to pay child benefit to all families in respect of all children, and we have honoured that pledge. We believe that all families with dependent children should receive some help from either the tax or the benefit system, a principle recognised throughout Europe.

  Mr. Bernard Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in respect of how many children new claims for child benefit were made in each of the past 15 years; how many child benefit claims were disallowed in each of the past 15 years; and what was the estimated take-up of child benefit in each of the past 15 years. [3390]

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

  Child benefit take-up rates 1981–1994

  1Take-up rate for children aged 1–15

  2Take-up rate for children under age 1

  1981

  99.7

  97.9

  1982

  99.6

  97.5

  1983

  99.7

  97.0

  1984

  99.7

  98.3

  1985

  99.7

  97.0

  1986

  99.5

  97.8

  1987

  99.5

  97.8

  1988

  99.3

  96.6

  1989

  99.1

  96.9

  1990

  98.9

  97.5

  1991

  98.8

  96.9

  1992

  98.9

  96.1

  1993

  98.8

  97.3

  1994

  98.7

  95.1

  1Rates calculated from population data, Office for National Statistics.

  2Figures for children under age I reflect an average delay in claiming of six weeks and is not therefore inconsistent with the 1–15 take-up rate.

  New claims for child benefit (CHB) 1980 to 1995

  Thousands

  Total of new claims for CHB in each year

  1980

  1,093

  1981

  968

  1982

  1,020

  1983

  1,009

  1985

  1,003

  1986

  1,022

  1987

  1,033

  1988

  1,041

  1989

  997

  1990

  1,062

  1991

  1,063

  1992

  1,025

  195

  New claims for child benefit (CHB) 1980 to 1995

  Thousands

  Total of new claims for CHB in each year

  1993

  1,000

  1994

  992

  1995

  981

  1. Data are not available for 1984 due to industrial action in that year.

  2. The figures include claims made on the birth of a child, claims from families entering Great Britain and repeat claims following a period of disentitlement.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received during the past six months on the effects of the reduced earnings allowance; and if he will make a statement. [1720]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  A number of right hon. and hon. Members have written to Ministers since the amendments to regulations from 24 March which brought in fairer rules for the transfer of people on reduced earnings allowance to retirement allowance.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the numbers of people who have lost entitlement to reduced earnings allowance as a result of changes to legislation. [1723]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, since the amendment regulations came into force from 24 March up to the end of September, approximately 21,000 over pensionable age reduced earnings allowance recipients who have given up regular employment have transferred to retirement allowance including both reviewed cases and those attaining pension age on or after 24 March.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the effectiveness of his Department's attempts to combat fraud in housing benefit. [1721]

  Mr. Heald
  We fully support local authorities in their efforts to prevent and detect fraud and abuse of housing benefit. In 1995–96, authorities made fraud savings of £224 million and earned £28 million in extra subsidy for their work through the incentive scheme we have introduced. In March this year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a comprehensive strategy for tackling housing benefit fraud. We are seeking further powers to help authorities fight fraud in the benefit fraud Bill which we shall shortly lay before the House.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will report on the progress of the interdepartmental review of proposed changes to housing benefit for people living in supported accommodation. [1724]
  196
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The terms of reference for the Review of supported accommodation were announced on 22 October. We have discussed the role played by housing benefit in funding supported accommodation with housing providers, umbrella organisations, local authority associations and welfare rights groups throughout Great Britain. The anecdotal evidence is that housing benefit does meet charges for support which enables people to remain in the community. This is consistent with findings of qualitative research carried out by the centre for housing policy which ware published on 31 October. We have commissioned the centre for research in social policy at Loughborough university to carry out research attempting to quantify the extent of this expenditure whilst the interdepartmental review will continue to consider all aspects of the funding of supported accommodation and report upon where the sustainable balance should lie between social security and other funding sources in supported accommodation and, if necessary, clarify legislation.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to encourage further competition in the administration of housing and council tax benefits. [4111]

  Mr. Evans
  Some local authorities have expressed concern that existing legislation prevents contractors who undertake housing and council tax benefit administration from carrying out determinations of benefit entitlement. This causes unnecessary double handling of claims and reduces the efficiency of contracts which local authorities are able to negotiate. We therefore propose to allow contractors to perform such determinations. In particular, this will enable local authorities to run pilots to establish whether they would wish to see such work permanently contracted out.

  This change, allied to the proposals which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has announced today for changes to the compulsory competitive tendering framework for local authority professional services and housing management, will create a climate in which local authorities are able to negotiate more efficient arrangements for the administration of these benefits.

  We will open consultations shortly with the local authority associations with a view to bring forward an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.

  Benefits Agency Medical Services
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services; [1722]
  197
  (2) if companies invited to take over the work of the Benefits Agency medical services will be encouraged to take over the adjudication functions of the agency; [766]

  (3) what proposals his Department has to contract out the adjudication function of the Benefits Agency medical services. [736]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Many adjudicating medical practitioners are already fee-paid doctors working under contract. It is proposed to include the adjudication functions of the Benefits Agency medical services in the scope of work to be contracted out. This will be set out in the statement of service requirements to be issued shortly by the Benefits Agency. Including the medical adjudication function in the contract offers the greatest prospect of increased efficiency, while safeguarding the integrity and standards of decision making and protecting customers' rights. Decisions must continue to be taken as now in accordance with the facts and the law, with rights of appeal to an independent body.

  We see no reason in principle to rule out involvement of the private sector in decision making. But we will want to examine this very carefully on a case-by-case basis to ensure that standards of decision making are maintained or improved. We make no presumption about the future extent of private sector involvement.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will require the independent living fund to make payments which take into account the employer's responsibilities in respect of recipients who employ their own care staff. [1725]

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he proposes to take to ensure that payments from the independent living fund cover employer's liabilities in the same way as direct payments from local authorities under the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 will do. [2427]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  We have no plans to do so. The trustees of the independent living funds have discretion to make payments towards client's care costs, and they currently help over 15,000 severely disabled people at a cost of £115 million.

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the number of people dependent on means-tested benefits,(a) at present and (b) in 1979. [1712]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There were 8.45 million recipients of one or more income-related benefits in May 1995. A direct comparison with 1979 is not possible.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received since announcing the outcome of his review into the 198
  system of cold weather payments, with specific reference to the highlands and islands of Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [1716]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Since the changes were announced on 14 October, we have received one representation relating to the highlands and islands of Scotland, from the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye.

  Benefits (Domestic Pets)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to include an element in social security payments for the upkeep of a domestic pet. [1718]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  No. Income support does not identify separate amounts for specific expenditure items. Claimants are free to manage their income according to their preferences.

  Family Incomes
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the income that an average family in rented accommodation needs to be better off than with nobody in employment receiving(a) the jobseeker's allowance and (b) income support. [2816]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  People in work on low incomes will usually be entitled to housing and council tax benefits to help ensure work is worthwhile.

  A wide range of factors can affect a family's income in and out of work and it is difficult to illustrate the effect of these by using a single typical family as an example. A range of examples is provided in the published tax benefit model tables, April 1996, a copy of which is available in the Library. The April 1996 tables do not cover jobseeker's allowance, but the position will be the same for this purpose as for families receiving income support.

  Benefit Statistics
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many households received(a) means-tested benefits, (b) income support, (c) family credit, (d) housing benefit and (e) council tax benefit in (i) 1992 and (ii) 1996, in respect of (1) each region in Great Britain and (2) Great Britain as a whole; and what proportion of the total number of households this represented in each case; [3327]

  (2) how many households received (i) any means-tested benefit, (ii) income support, (iii) family credit,(iv) housing benefit and (v) council tax benefit in (a) 1992 and (b) 1996 in each standard region of Great Britain and in Great Britain as a whole; and what proportion of the total number of households this represented in each case. [3100]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. A breakdown of family credit date by Government standard statistical region could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is in the tables:
  199

  Table 1: Numbers on means-tested benefits—May 1992

  Thousands

  One or more means-tested benefit

  Income support

  Family credit

  Housing benefit

  Community charge benefit

  Great Britain

  8,410

  5,088

  397

  4,325

  6,564

  England

  7,040

  4,282

  325

  3,569

  5,561

  Scotland

  930

  519

  47

  539

  657

  Wales

  440

  287

  25

  217

  346

  Standard GSS region

  North

  n/a

  318

  n/a

  304

  458

  North West

  n/a

  693

  n/a

  547

  890

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  n/a

  463

  n/a

  411

  667

  East Midlands

  n/a

  321

  n/a

  266

  457

  West Midlands

  n/a

  493

  n/a

  400

  681

  East Anglia

  n/a

  143

  n/a

  127

  209

  South East (ex London)

  n/a

  706

  n/a

  574

  957

  London (Inner and Outer)

  n/a

  792

  n/a

  659

  764

  South West

  n/a

  353

  n/a

  282

  479

  DSS administrative regions

  Northern

  n/a

  n/a

  72

  n/a

  n/a

  North Western

  n/a

  n/a

  65

  n/a

  n/a

  Midlands

  n/a

  n/a

  74

  n/a

  n/a

  East Anglia and South East

  n/a

  n/a

  83

  n/a

  n/a

  South West

  n/a

  n/a

  32

  n/a

  n/a

  Table 2: Proportion of households on means-tested benefits—May 1992

  Per cent.

  One or more means-tested benefit

  Income support

  Family credit

  Housing benefit

  Community charge benefit

  Great Britain

  29

  18

  1

  15

  23

  England

  28

  17

  1

  14

  22

  Scotland

  36

  20

  2

  21

  25

  Wales

  32

  21

  2

  16

  25

  Table 3: Numbers on means-tested benefits—May 1995

  Thousands

  One or more means-tested benefit

  Income support

  Family credit

  Housing benefit

  Council tax benefit

  Great Britain

  8,440

  5,670

  608

  4,734

  5,624

  England

  7,090

  4,790

  504

  3,953

  4,756

  Scotland

  890

  555

  68

  543

  581

  Wales

  460

  325

  36

  238

  288

  Standard GSS region

  North

  n/a

  354

  n/a

  322

  393

  North West

  n/a

  757

  n/a

  597

  766

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  n/a

  513

  n/a

  438

  545

  East Midlands

  n/a

  357

  n/a

  287

  375

  West Midlands

  n/a

  548

  n/a

  425

  558

  East Anglia

  n/a

  163

  n/a

  140

  178

  South East (Ex London)

  n/a

  781

  n/a

  650

  803

  London (Inner and Outer)

  n/a

  936

  n/a

  774

  741

  South West

  n/a

  380

  n/a

  320

  397

  DSS administrative regions

  Northern

  n/a

  n/a

  110

  n/a

  n/a

  North Western

  n/a

  n/a

  97

  n/a

  n/a

  Midlands

  n/a

  n/a

  113

  n/a

  n/a

  East Anglia and South East

  n/a

  n/a

  136

  n/a

  n/a

  South West

  n/a

  n/a

  47

  n/a

  n/a

  200 201

  Table 4: Proportion of households on means-tested benefits-May 1995

  Per cent.

  One or more means-tested benefit

  Income support

  Family credit

  Housing benefit

  Council tax benefit

  Great Britain

  29

  19

  2

  16

  19

  England

  28

  19

  2

  16

  19

  Scotland

  35

  22

  3

  21

  23

  Wales

  31

  22

  2

  16

  19

  Notes:

  1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand, except figures for one or more means-tested benefit which are rounded to the nearest ten thousand. Due to rounding totals may not tally.

  2. Sample sizes: income support/family credit 5 per cent. Housing benefit/council tax benefit 1 per cent.

  3. Means-tested benefits are defined as income support, family credit, housing benefit, and community charge benefit/council tax benefit.

  4. Household information is not available since benefits are paid to a benefit unit. A benefit unit may be a single person or a couple. There may be more than one benefit unit within a household.

  5. Overlaps between benefits have been taken into account in producing the number of benefit units receiving one or more means-tested benefit. There will be a considerable overlap between individual benefit numbers, as a person may receive one or more means-tested benefit.

  6. Council tax benefit replaced community charge benefit from April 1993.

  7. English regions used for income support, housing benefit, community charge benefit and council tax benefit are Government standard statistical regions. For family credit these are DSS administrative regions.

  8. Housing benefit/community charge/council tax benefit figures include estimates due to the data collection procedure in Scotland.

  9. n/a = not applicable.

  Sources:

  1. Income support statistics quarterly enquiry May 1995.

  2. Income support statistics annual enquiry 1992.

  3. Family credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  4. Housing benefit management information system annual 1 per cent. sample enquiries, with and without income support taken at the end of May of each year given.

  5. Office of national statistics, family resources survey, family expenditure survey.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [3783]

  Mr. Heald
  The Department has no plans to repeal or amend any rules or regulations by means of reference to the Deregulation Committee by the end of 1996.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his plans for proceeding with the privatisation of the departmental estate. [4047]

  Mr. Lilley
  The three shortlisted bidders have today been issued with an invitation to negotiate along with supporting documentation about the Department's property assets and accommodation requirements. The bidders are being asked to make proposals according to the principles of the private finance initiative where the emphasis is on service delivery to specified standards rather than detailed specification of how the services are to be delivered. Overall, the aim of the transfer is to enable the Department to make significant savings in the costs of accommodation services, in part through lower service charges and in part through an immediate return to the taxpayer reflecting the value of these assets. The assets are to be transferred to the successful bidder which will be required to provide a payment of £250 million on completion of the contract to realise immediately an appropriate proportion of their underlying value. The Government also expect that the private sector will be able to provide accommodation services more effectively than if they had remained in-house and will be better able to realise additional development potential. The service 202
  charge will therefore reflect this greater efficiency and development potential and the costs to the bidder of raising the capital sum. Specifying a set capital payment will, however, simplify the bidding process for both the bidders and Government and reduce the financial risk to the Government over the lifetime of the contract.

  Compensation Reforms
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to ensure that proposals to reform compensation recovery are implemented in the current parliamentary Session. [1613]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 7 November,Official Report, columns 681–82.

  Building Societies
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the letter of 14 October from the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People, what external legal advice he has received on potential discrimination caused by(a) payment of bonus shares being made only once to a named building society member and (b) building society requirements that a person with a mental impairment incapable of handling his own affairs is unable to be the first or sole named person on an account. [2748]

  Mr. Burt
  None. As with all legislation, it is for individual service providers to seek any legal advice they might require on their responsibilities.

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the letter of 14 October from the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People relating to the question of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and building societies. [2749]
  203
  Mr. Burt
  Yes. The letter reads as follows:Thank you for your letter of 23 July concerning disabled people and building societies. I apologise for the delay in providing a full reply but, as I explained in my letter of 30th September, these matters are both important and complex. They have, therefore, necessitated investigation with the Treasury, the Building Societies Commission and the Building Societies Association.
  The question of the treatment of some disabled customers by building societies first arose earlier in the summer in discussions between my officials and representatives of disability organisations. The NDS has also been taking an interest.
  The main problem concerns building society accounts held by disabled people but operated under a power of attorney. In certain circumstances, where the account is held in the name of the attorney, it may be that the disabled person does not receive an allocation of bonus shares on the flotation of a society. This would therefore appear to be less favourable treatment contrary to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA).
  First I should explain that it is not always the case that the person with power of attorney necessarily becomes the member of a building society. An individual may appoint an attorney to deal with his account. However, if the account is held in the name of that individual he or she will remain the member. Alternatively if the account is opened by and held in the name of the attorney then the attorney would be the member and, therefore, be the person entitled to vote and to receive the benefits of membership.
  Similarly, a trustee or someone else acting on behalf of a disabled person may be the sole or first named person on the building society account, which would mean that they, rather than the disabled person, would be entitled to privileges of membership including the payment of bonus shares or cash.
  It is not discriminatory in itself for payment of bonus shares or cash to be made to someone acting on behalf of a disabled person rather than the disabled person himself. A trustee, attorney or other person first named on an account is under an obligation to account to the beneficial owner of the account for any benefits received. The individual should not suffer financially and is not receiving the service (the perks of membership) on less favourable terms.
  Further, the payment of bonus shares or cash to the first named member is a requirement under the Building Societies Act 1986. Therefore the building societies would be acting "in pursuance of an enactment" and would come with section 59 of the DDA. This section provides that if you are required to do something under another law this takes precedence over anything required by the DDA. In any event, the practice in itself is unlikely to be discriminatory for the reasons set out above.
  The difficulty comes in the situation that you identify in your letter, where the attorney or other trustee or first named person also has an account in his or her own right and receives a single benefit in respect of both accounts. This is usually the result of a society's decision to make its distribution scheme "member based", that is to say, linked to the entitlement of a member to vote on the transfer proposals (in building societies, as mutual organisations, members have by law only one vote regardless of the amount held in an account or of the number of accounts held). In the case of the Chelternham & Gloucester, however, the society elected to make its scheme "account based", with each qualifying account, rather than each qualifying member, being entitled to receive a cash payment calculated in accordance with the terms of that scheme, so that a member with a number of different accounts received a payment in respect of each account.
  The decisions as to which type of transfer arrangement and scheme to adopt is one for the society—and for its members—to vote on. It is not a statutory requirement in the same way as the payment of bonus shares or cash to the first named member.
  The payment of bonus shares being made only once to each named member, however many accounts he may have on his own or others' behalf. may well result in discrimination contrary to the DDA, in that a disabled person may not receive the benefits of membership in the same way as a non-disabled person.
  204
  Finally, if it is a building society's requirement that a person with a mental impairment. who is not capable of handling his own affairs, cannot be the first or sole named on the account, it is possible that there is discrimination under the DDA. The disabled person is being offered less favourable terms, for a reason relating to his disability. because he does not have the same choices in the opening of his account. However, this less favourable treatment may be justified under section 20(4)(b) of the DDA. If a building society reasonably believes that a disabled person is incapable of entering into an enforceable agreement, it would seem reasonable to treat that person differently in the opening of his account and require that someone capable deals with these important matters on his behalf. Regulations provide, however, that this subsection does not apply where an attorney is acting on behalf of a disabled person.
  As you are aware, the relevant sections of the DDA do not come into force until the 2nd of December. If, after this date, a disabled person can show that they have received less favourable treatment in terms of not receiving the benefits of membership, he or she may be able to argue that they have been unjustifiably discriminated against contrary to the DDA. Ultimately, it will be for the courts to decide whether discrimination has occurred.
  I understand that the Building Societies Association has already identified a number of these issues and will shortly be issuing guidance to it members. I will be taking steps to ensure that both the Building Societies Association and the Building Societies Commission are aware of all the potential issues.
  Thank you for this opportunity to explain the situation. I apologise again for the delay in replying.

  Incapacity and Unemployment Benefits
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people failed to qualify for(a) incapacity benefit and (b) unemployment benefit in (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96 because they failed the contribution conditions for benefit; and in each case, how many of these failed (1) the first contribution condition and (2) the second contribution condition. [2781]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table:

  Number

  Claimants who failed the contribution conditions and were refused incapacity benefit from April 1995 to March 1996

  1389,000

  Unemployed claimants as at 11 May 1995 not in receipt of unemployment benefit who failed the contribution conditions

  21,127,000

  Unemployed claimants as at 9 May 1996 not in receipts of unemployment benefit who failed the contribution conditions

  21,081,000

  Source:

  1Monthly scan of incapacity benefit computer.

  2Five per cent. sample of unemployed claimants.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the impact of the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 and the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Amendment Regulations 1996; how many people he estimates will(a) gain and (b) suffer financial loss as a result of these regulations; and what are the revenue projections relating to these measures. [2785]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There are insufficient data on which to base reliable estimates. However, we anticipate that the numbers of gainers and losers will be small. The revenue implications of the regulations are expected to be broadly cost neutral.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers gaining from raising the lower capital threshold from £3,000 to £8,000 for disability working allowance claims. [2784]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The estimated cost of raising the lower capital limit for disability working allowance from £3,000 to £18,000 is approximately £1 million at 1996–97 prices and benefit levels, for around 1,000 cases.

  Notes
  1. The 1994–95 family resources survey has been used to estimate the effect of this proposal. However the data do not contain a sufficient number of DWA cases to allow the direct modelling of DWA options on the policy simulation model. Instead, the changes have been modelled using all childless benefit units as a proxy for DWA cases without children, and all family credit benefit units as a proxy for DWA cases with children.
  2. The use of proxy groups means that these estimates are subject to relatively wide margins of error. Estimates will only be accurate to the extent that the proxy groups have the same characteristics as DWA cases, which is unlikely to hold in reality. Estimates should be treated with caution.
  3. Estimated expenditure is rounded to the nearest £1 million, with caseloads to the nearest 1,000.
  4. The figures should be treated only as broad estimates and not as actual.

  Derelict Property, Romford Road
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans his Department has for the future use of the derelict property it formerly occupied at 544 Romford road, London E12.[3280]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  None, as the Department's lease on the property expired in 1991.

  Pension Liabilities
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when, and in what form, he proposes to reply to the first report of the Social Security Select Committee, HC23, Session 1996–97, on unfunded pension liabilities in the EU. [3529]

  Mr. Lilley
  We propose to respond in the usual way within the normal period of three months of the original publication date.

  Benefits Agency (Emergency Payments)
  Mr. Redmond
  To asked the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the work load of the out-of-hours emergency payments service of the Benefits Agency area directorate covering(a) the Yorkshire and Humberside area (b) Doncaster and
  (c) Mexborough for the financial years (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97 to date. [2718]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will make a statement about the workload of the out of hours emergency
  206
  payments service of the Benefits Agency Area Directorate covering (a) the Yorkshire and Humberside Area (b) Doncaster and (c) Mexborough for financial years (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97 to date.
  Information is not available in the format requested. Statistics are collated at Area Directorate level and not by office. From April 1996, the two area Directorates of "South Yorkshire and Humberside" (which included Doncaster and Mexborough) and "North and West Yorkshire" merged to form Yorkshire Area Directorate (AD).
  I have provided the number of referrals to the Out of Hours Service (OOHS) for the year April 1995 to March 1996 and the latest collated figures for Yorkshire AD for the period 1 April 1996 and 13 October 1996.
  It should be noted that a referral means any contact by a customer or third party. Approximately 50% of the referrals require a visit by Benefits Agency staff.

  Referrals to OOHS

  1995–96

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  1.878

  North and West Yorkshire

  2,533

  1 April 1996 to 13 October 1996

  Yorkshire

  2,183

  These figures are provisional and subject to change. I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Peter Sutton
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if all the benefit claimants affected by computer error referred to in his Department's response of 12 August to correspondence on behalf of Peter Sutton have been contacted and, where applicable, reimbursed and compensated for the error; and what was the total value of both(a) arrears of benefit and (b) compensation paid. [3107]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if all the benefit claimants affected by computer error referred to in his Department's response of 12th August to correspondence on behalf of Peter Sutton have been contacted and, where applicable, reimbursed and compensated for the error; and what was the total value of both arrears of benefit and compensation paid.
  The exercise to contact the 12,325 benefit customers affected by the computer fault is continuing. I can confirm that 2088 awards have been revised from the statistics received so far from Benefit Agency Offices. The information requested is not available as the statistics relate specifically to the number of cases where all action has been completed and not to the number of customers contacted. Full details of the current information received are in the following table:
  207

  Total number of cases identified

  Number revised

  Amount underpaid £000

  Number of compensation claims

  Number of compensation claims so far awarded

  Amount of compensation paid £000

  Retirement pension and windows' benefit

  6,741

  1,392

  821

  1,039

  336

  24

  Invalidity benefit

  5,583

  696

  133

  156

  41

  2.7

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.
  Compensation will be payable in any case where the benefit arrears amount to over £50, the amount of compensation exceeds £5 and the delay in payment is more than eight months (retirement pension) or seven months (widows' benefit and invalidity benefit) from the date of entitlement to the revised rate of benefit.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Benefits Agency (Public Caller Offices)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency public caller offices are scheduled to(a) close and (b) have their opening hours reduced in order to reduce administrative costs in the three years to March 1999. [2118]

  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 Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 11 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State how many Benefits Agency (BA) public caller offices are scheduled to (a) close and (b) have their opening hours reduced in order to reduce administrative costs in the three years to March 1999.
  In the period April to October 1996 16 BA public caller offices were closed and 2 had their opening hours reduced. From November 1996 to March 1999, 17 BA public caller offices are currently scheduled to close and 3 are currently scheduled to have their opening hours reduced.
  Consultation with customers and customers' representatives always takes place before the closure of any BA public caller office.
  We are directing our resources to where they are needed most, and BA District Managers, using their local knowledge, will continue to review, on an on-going basis, the service they provide to maximise service to the public and provide value for money to the tax payer. Since the advent of Job Seekers' Allowance, unemployed customers also have access to enquiry facilities sited in over 1000 Employment Services Job Centres.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

WALES

  BSE (Compensation)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [2162]

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: Between April and the end of October 1996, the total UK expenditure on BSE eradication and compensation schemes broken down by recipients was as follows:
  208

  £ million

  Per cent.

  (a) Farmers

  477

  68

  (b) Slaughterers

  97

  14

  (c) Renderers

  78

  11

  (d) Other recipients

  48

  7

  700

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total expenditure to date on the BSE eradication and compensation schemes; and if he will make a statement. [2166]

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 6 November 1996]: The total UK expenditure to date is £700 million. Most of this expenditure has been on the over-30-month slaughter scheme, the calf processing scheme, the additional EU compensation package—beef special premium scheme and suckler cow premuim scheme top-up, beef marketing payment scheme—the beef stocks transfer scheme, the animal feed recall scheme, aid to renderers, emergency aid to the slaughtering sector.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the methods by which compensation has been directed to farmers in Wales since the onset of the BSE crisis, (b) the level of expenditure in Wales under each of these headings and (c) the amount of each expenditure item in Wales that is recoverable from the European Union.[3393]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 July 1996,Official Report, columns 532–33. Subsequent to that reply, additional expenditure has been agreed as follows:
  Approximately £160 million from EU funds for direct support to UK beef producers. Over £100 million—of this, £10.46 million in Wales-has already been disbursed through supplementary payments to the beef special premium and suckler cow premium schemes and through the beef marketing payments scheme.
  Some £89 million from national funds for direct support to UK beef producers. £60 million of this sum has been earmarked for distribution to eligible cattle producers under the 1997 hill livestock compensatory allowance scheme.
  £16.6 million for extra cold storage capacity to help reduce the backlog of animals awaiting slaughter under the over-30-month scheme.

  Disaggregated levels of expenditure for Wales are not held by the Intervention Board executive agency which is responsible for running the majority of BSE-related schemes in the UK. A detailed breakdown of the latest BSE expenditure forecasts will be given in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's forthcoming Budget statement.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for fundholding status he is considering from general practitioners in Wales; and if he will make a statement.[2267]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Applications from 25 practices have been accepted and they are now preparing to start fundholding from next April.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the population within each health district are presently covered by general practitioner fundholding practices.[3187]

  Mr. Jones
  The latest available figures are given in the following table.

  Health authority area

  Percentage of people registered with a doctor who are covered by a fundholding practice

  Bro Tag

  42

  Dyfed Powys

  73

  Gwent

  50

  Morgannwg

  56

  North Wales

  44

  Wales

  52

  Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many cases of MRSA have been recorded in the Royal Gwent hospital in each of the last five years broken down by age bands of 10 years; and if he will make a statement; [2899]

  (2) how many (a) cases and (b) deaths from MRSA have been recorded in Wales in each of the last five years broken down in each case by age bands of 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [2888]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There were two, two and 53 cases of MRSA recorded by the Royal Gwent laboratory in 1994, 1995 and 1996—up to 22 July—respectively. No breakdown of these data by age band is available centrally. Information relating to Wales is given in the following table.

  Laboratory confirmed cases of MRSA in Wales

  Age group

  1994

  1995

  19961

  Under 1

  2

  3

  8

  1 to 4

  1

  3

  7

  5 to 14

  —

  3

  10

  15 to 24

  16

  13

  51

  25 to 34

  17

  24

  88

  35 to 44

  21

  17

  85

  45 to 54

  23

  29

  99

  55 to 64

  26

  33

  157

  65 and over

  251

  270

  1,265

  Not known

  184

  47

  330

  Total

  541

  442

  2,100

  Source:

  CDSC Welsh unit MRSA surveillance programme in Wales.

  Notes:
  Completeness of reporting by laboratories is variable. Increased emphasis was placed on reporting in 1996 and additional features requested. Data may include some GP referrals. The numbers
  210
  indicated are patients identified with MRSA, only a proportion of these will have clinical illness—estimated at 50 per cent.—due to MRSA infection, the remainders will be carriers of the organism. 1To 4 November.

  Figures for the number of deaths are not currently available. Work being undertaken by the Office for National Statistics may provide some data in due course.

  Prescribed Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the average(a) number of types and (b) quantity of preparations taken by people in Wales in each of the last five years broken down by (a) gender and (b) age bands of 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [2884]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No estimate has been made.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many submissions he has received(a) in favour and (b) opposed to nursery school vouchers in the last two years. [3224]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Government's intention of increasing provision for four-year-olds has been welcomed. Submissions in favour of a voucher scheme as a means of giving effect to those proposals have not been solicited, although there has been one specific letter of support. In addition to ministerial correspondence, the Welsh Office has received some 4,500 letters and almost 60 petitions in opposition to the scheme. The large amount of correspondence against the scheme is not surprising as it is clear from the letters that there have been many misunderstandings and much misinformation.

  Crown Estate
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the land in Wales is owned by the Crown Estate; and what environmental regulations apply to this land. [3283]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Crown Estate in Wales extends to 67,466 acres, of which 63,509 acres are subject to commoners rights.

  Environmental regulations covering this land will depend upon its designation.

  Secondees and Consultants
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) secondees and (b) consultants are working for his Department on (i) private finance initiative arid (ii) other issues; and at what cost to public funds in (1) the current financial year and (2) 1997–98. [3673]

  Mr. Hague
  Thirteen people are currently on secondment to my Department, at a total cost in 1996–97 of £351,500. One is working on the private finance initiative. My Department plans to spend around £880,000 on external consultants in 1996–97, including £130,000 on PFI-related work. Plans for expenditure on inward secondments and external consultancy in 1997–98 have not yet been decided.

  Gwent Health Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Gwent health authority concerning a recent dispute relating to the appointment of a senior manager; [3674]

  (2) what requests he has received from the chairman of the Gwent health authority for approval of an ex gratia severance payment to a senior manager appointed in January 1996; and if he will make a statement. [3675]

  Mr. Hague
  I wrote to the chairman after I received a copy of the report of the inquiry into the appointment. No proposal to make a severance payment has been received.

  University Hospital of Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what secondment he has given to the former chief nurse of the university hospital of Wales; and if he will make a statement on the financial arrangements. [3676]
  212
  Mr. Hague
  The former chief nurse is working on a collaborative project managed by the trust, college of medicine and my Department on the developing role of the clinical nurse. It fulfils part of the remit of the task force on continuing education and practice chaired by the chief nursing officer. Costs are shared by the participants, with the trust paying for her salary until 31 May 1997.

  South and East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 1 November,Official Report, column 295, if he will arrange for a copy of the district auditor's report into the accounts of the South and East Wales Ambulance NHS trust to be placed in the Library. [3671]

  Mr. Hague
  Yes. A copy is now available in the Library of the House.

  Anglo-Israeli Arms Sales Discussions
  Anglo-Israeli Arms Sales Discussions
  Mr. Sanar Yurdatapan
  Mr. Sanar Yurdatapan
  Overseas Aid Tying Policy
  Overseas Aid Tying Policy
  Liberia: Child Soldiers
  Liberia: Child Soldiers
  Turkey: Foreign Minister's Statements
  Turkey: Foreign Minister's Statements
  UN Official Records: Internet Availability
  UN Official Records: Internet Availability
  Arms Race in Outer Space: UN Resolution
  Arms Race in Outer Space: UN Resolution
  Outer Space Treaty
  Outer Space Treaty
  European Security Declaration
  European Security Declaration
  European Human Rights Convention
  European Human Rights Convention
  Dependent Territories: Banking Secrecy
  Dependent Territories: Banking Secrecy
  Tobacco Industry: EU Subsidisation
  Tobacco Industry: EU Subsidisation
  Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE)
  Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE)
  Childcare Facilities for Civil Servants
  Childcare Facilities for Civil Servants
  MoD Performance Report 1995–96
  MoD Performance Report 1995–96
  Organophosphate Products: Research
  Organophosphate Products: Research
  General Osteopathic Council
  General Osteopathic Council
  Guinness plc: Inspectors' Report
  Guinness plc: Inspectors' Report
  Homicides by Previously Convicted Murderers
  Homicides by Previously Convicted Murderers
  Closed Circuit Television and Crime Prevention
  Closed Circuit Television and Crime Prevention