Written Answers of 13 November 1996

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EU Research and Development Programme
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the European Commission concerning integration of applied research funded under the fifth framework programme and national research initiatives. [3167]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK set out its view on the relationship of EU and nationally funded research programmes in its position paper on the fifth framework programme for research and technological development, submitted to the European Commission in June 1996. This is available on the Internet at http://www.open.gov.uk/ost/osthome.html.

  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the European Commission as regards the priority accorded to basic research in the fifth framework programme. [3165]

  Mr. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK set out its view on the place of basic research in the EU's fifth framework programme for research and technological development in its position paper submitted to the European Commission in June 1996. This can be found on the Internet at http://www.open.gov.uk/ost/osthome.html.

  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the EU on the levels of funding available for social sciences and humanities under the fifth framework programme. [3166]

  Mr. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  None. At this early stage in the negotiations for the EU's fifth framework programme for research and technological development, it is premature to make representations on levels of funding for specific parts of the programme.

  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that the quality of research funded by the fifth framework programme is of a similar standard to that funded in the United Kingdom. [3164]

  Mr. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK attaches great importance to research funded by the EU's framework programmes for research and technological development being of the highest quality. In
  214
  the negotiations on the EU's fifth framework programme the UK will press for scientific excellence to remain the primary criterion for selecting projects for support.

  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking in respect of the indirect costs of European research programmes to enable universities to participate actively in the fifth framework programme. [3168]

  Mr. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  None. It is for individual institutions to decide whether to bid for EU framework programme funds on the basis of the EU's conditions of funding.

  Anglo-French Summit
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had on the furtherance of nuclear co-operation with France at the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux. [3618]

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, together with our French counterparts, reviewed the work of the Franco-British Joint Nuclear Commission.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the United States Government before the Anglo-French summit on the matters to be discussed there. [3565]

  Mr. Davis
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary had no specific discussions with the United States Government prior to the UK-French summit on matters to be discussed there.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the members of his Department who attended the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux and (b) the positions they hold. [3619]

  Mr. Davis
  The following members of this Department accompanied me to the UK French summit in Bordeaux:

  London delegation

  Mr. W. G. Ehrman: principle private secretary

  Mr. J. Macadie: Private secretary, Minister of State

  Ms E. R. Rea: Personal assistant

  Mr. P. Lever: Director for EU and economic affairs and deputy under-secretary of state

  Mr. J. Greenstock: Political director and deputy under-secretary of state

  Mr. N. Sheinwald: Head of news department

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which representatives of the United States Government attended the Anglo-French summit as observers. [3564]

  Mr. Davis
  No representatives of the United States Government attended the UK-French summit as observers.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place copies of all agreements reached between Britain and
  215
  France and all communiqués issued during the Anglo—French summit in Bordeaux in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [3603]

  Mr. Davis
  One joint agreement was signed at the summit, a UK-French naval letter of intent; and one joint statement was issued, on Zaire. A copy of each will be deposited in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had on the memorandum of agreement on co-operation concerning nuclear safety and security which the United States of America signed with France on 4 June at the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux [3617]

  Mr. Soames
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have had no such discussions.

  China
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government regarding the detention of Mr. Ngawang Choephel; and if he will make a statement. [3659]

  Mr. Hanley
  A great many cases, such as those of Ngawang Choephel, are brought to our attention. We continue to be concerned about such cases, and regularly express our views about the human rights situation in Tibet to the Chinese authorities. I did so most recently when I met the Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing in London on 5 November.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the advice given by his Department to the Home Office about political freedom in Pakistan following the recent decision by the President of that country to dismiss the Government. [3559]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We are continuing to monitor closely the situation in Pakistan in conjunction with the Home Office. It is important that the elections called for 3 February are free and fair.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the report of the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Pakistan; and if he will list the steps taken by his Government to ensure that the special rapporteur's recommendations are implemented. [3560]

  Dr. Fox
  The Special Rapporteur on Torture has reported instances of serious human rights abuses in Pakistan. We expect such allegations to be fully investigated. We have regularly raised human rights issues with Pakistan, most recently when I met the Human Rights Minister in Islamabad in October, and will continue to do so.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the findings of the Secretary-General's report to the General Assembly of the 216
  United Nations in September 1995, regarding the health, social and economic conditions of areas in Belarus, Ukraine, and the southern Russian Federation which were worst affected by the Chernobyl disaster; and if he will make a statement. [3696]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Secretary-General's report on the Chernobyl accident, presented to the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 1995, was studied with great interest by those UK Government Departments and agencies concerned. It was a valuable contribution to international understanding of the problems arising from the accident. The main emphasis of the UK's aid policy in relation to the affected areas of Belarus, Ukraine and in Russia has been to deliver assistance through international agencies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organisation and the European Union. We believe such agencies are best placed to co-ordinate and prioritise the work that needs to be done.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives Her Majesty's Government(a) have taken and (b) plan to take in 1996 to provide bilateral aid to the Governments of Ukraine and Belarus for the purposes of alleviating the social, health, economic and environmental effects of the Chernobyl disaster; and if he will make a statement. [3697]

  Dr. Fox
  Since 1986, UK bilateral assistance has included £6.1 million from the UK's know-how fund for energy sector reform measures in Ukraine, and we have funded land remediation feasibility studies in the region via the environmental know-how fund. But most of the UK's assistance is channelled through joint programmes managed with our G7 and EU partners. So far, we have contributed £18.25 million to the international nuclear safety account, of which £10 million has been earmarked for Chernobyl-related projects. The Department of Health is supporting international activities to deal with health effects from Chernobyl and is directly supporting research on the incidence of childhood thyroid cancer. This year we have supported work on radioactive food screening and soil decontamination.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the Government have made to the United Nations trust fund for the relief of Chernobyl victims. [3698]

  Dr. Fox
  Her Majesty's Government have contributed £25,000 to the United Nations trust fund for the relief of Chernobyl victims.

ENVIRONMENT

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to revise planning policy guidance note No. 22 on renewable energy to give greater encouragement to autonomous local services and associated industries; and if he will make a statement. [3435]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government have no immediate plans to revise planning policy guidance note No. 22, "Renewable Energy".

  Regeneration Assistance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department provides to(a) the Prince's Trust and (b) Business in the Community. [3431]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department assists these organisations in a number of ways and greatly values the contribution that they make to strengthen communities and promoting regeneration. We are currently assisting the Prince's Trust through the free secondment of two members of staff, one to the headquarters office of the Prince's Trust volunteers and another to the Prince of Wales business leaders forum. We liaise with Business in the Community on various matters of common interest and provide grants towards some of its regeneration and environmental work, the total for the current financial year being about £120,000. My Department worked in partnership with Business in the Community and others to set up the local investment fund, which has already provided over £½ million in loans for voluntary sector projects in deprived areas.

  Preston Farm, Stockton on Tees
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are employed on Teesside development corporation's Preston Farm site in Stockton on Tees. [3880]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is estimated that 3,400 people now work on the Preston Farm site.

  Green Ministers
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when was the last meeting of the green Ministers; who attended; and what issues were discussed. [3867]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer the hon. Member to the Department's news release No. 480, issued earlier today.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Pension Scheme
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many requests for information the principal civil service pension scheme has received from pension providers undertaking reviews of pension transfers and opt-outs; in how many cases all appropriate information has been supplied; what is the average length of time taken to supply such information; and what moratorium has been introduced on supplying such information. [3340]

  Mr. Freeman
  The administration of the principal civil service pension scheme is carried out by employing Departments and the information requested is not held centrally. Administrators have been provided with information packs on the PCSPS, and use these, together with a standard questionnaire on members' benefits, to help them handle requests from pension providers consistently and efficiently. The recent introduction of powers to recharge administrative costs should assist 218
  further with the processing of such requests although we believe that relatively few civil servants are affected by the personal pensions review.

  Central Intelligence Machinery
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to revise the booklet published in 1993 on the Cabinet Office's central intelligence machinery. [4256]

  Mr. Freeman
  A revised edition of the booklet is to be published today and copies are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It is being launched simultaneously on the Internet.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Zaire and Rwanda
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the British Government(a) are taking and (b) plan to take, within the EU and with their UN partners, (i) to support the ceasefire in eastern Zaire, (ii) to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the refugee population in eastern Zaire and (iii) to promote a regional solution to the problems of the Great Lakes region. [3678]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  UN Security Council resolution 1078 of 9 November calls for an immediate ceasefire and complete cessation of all hostilities in the region. We continue to urge all parties to observe a ceasefire, which will be vital for humanitarian aid to reach those in need. We are in close touch with UN agencies and non-governmental organisations, many of them British, which have undertaken missions into eastern Zaire to assess humanitarian needs and means of delivery. We stand ready to provide further assistance. An EU ministerial troika is also in the region to assess what contribution the EU can make. We strongly support the efforts of the EU and UN special envoys to promote a regional solution to the problems facing the Great Lakes, and welcome the constructive engagement of regional leaders in that process.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the British Government have made to proposals to send a multinational force to Zaire; and what logistical and financial support the Government have offered in respect of such a force. [3679]

  Dr. Fox
  We supported United Nations Security Council resolution 1078 authorising member states to begin preparations for a multinational force and are working closely with our partners in considering the options for a possible UK contribution.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the British Government are taking to promote the holding of a regional conference on the political problems of the Great Lakes region. [3677]

  Dr. Fox
  We fully support the convening, under UN and Organisation of African Unity auspices, of an international conference on peace, security arid development in the Great Lakes region. We are working
  219
  to promote the support of countries within the region, as well as of the wider international community, for urgent action to make all the necessary arrangements for such a conference.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent declaration of a ceasefire by the Tutsi rebels in eastern Zaire; and if he will make a statement. [3680]

  Dr. Fox
  We welcome the declaration of a ceasefire on 5 November by Banyamulenge leaders. We continue to urge all parties to the conflict in eastern Zaire to declare a complete cessation of violence.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the current total of unclaimed prizes from the national lottery; how much interest has been earned by this sum; and where each sum is retained and by whom. [3279]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This is an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. I have, therefore, asked the Director General of the Office of the National Lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the right hon. Member, placing copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.

DEFENCE

  Environmental Assessment
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what environmental assessment in respect of contaminated land has been conducted at(a) the chemical defence establishment at Nancekuke in Cornwall, (b) the central dockyard laboratory at HM naval base, Portsmouth and (c) the RAF aeroplane and armaments experimental establishment at Boscombe Down; [3526]

  (2) what environmental impact assessment has been conducted in respect of contaminated land at (a) the Admiralty engineering laboratories at (i) Ditton Park and (ii) West Drayton (b) the Admiralty experimental works at Haslar, Gosport, (c) the Admiralty marine engineering establishment at Portland, (d) the Admiralty materials laboratory at Holton Heath, Poole, (e) the Admiralty research laboratories at (i) Perran Porth, Cornwall, (ii) Teddington and (iii) Bushy Park, (1) the Admiralty surface weapons establishments at (i) Ditton Park, (ii) Eastney Portsmouth, (iii) Funtingdon, (iv) London road, Portsmouth, and (v) Portsmouth, Cosham and (g) the Admiralty underwater weapons establishments. [3413]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has carried out environmental assessments as appropriate at its sites. As I informed the hon. Member on 15 October,Official Report, column 861, we are introducing a prioritised procedure of land quality assessment for the defence estate, which will provide a publicly available land quality statement for individual sites. However, such documents
  220
  do not yet exist in respect of these sites, and historic details are not held centrally on work carried out in the past.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ask his United States counterpart to provide routinely to his Department copies of the environmental compliance assessment and management programme reports for each military facility in the United Kingdom and overseas territories where operating rights have been granted to United States defence forces. [3414]

  Mr. Soames
  MOD personnel are already fully involved in the environmental audit process at US military facilities in the UK and are routinely made aware of the contents of environmental compliance assessment and management programme reports. Similarly FCO personnel are kept fully informed of the environmental impact of all US activities at overseas territories where operating rights have been granted to US forces.

  Nuclear Co-operation (France)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions were held on co-ordinating the patrols of Trident and the French Triomphant submarines at the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux. [3616]

  Mr. Soames
  No such discussions were held.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of occasions in the last four years that members of the French armed forces have visited the United Kingdom to discuss the furtherance of nuclear co-operation. [3604]

  Mr. Soames
  Members of the French armed forces regularly visit the United Kingdom to discuss matters related to defence nuclear co-operation.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the number of occasions in the last four years that representatives or contractors of the Delegation Generale pour l'Armement, and the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique have visited the atomic weapons establishments at Aldermaston, Burghfield, Cardiff and Foulness; [3606]

  (2) if he will list the number of occasions in the last four years that representatives or contractors of the Delegation Generale pour l'Armement, and the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique have visited the United Kingdom to discuss the furtherance of nuclear co-operation. [3605]

  Mr. Soames
  There have been 28 visits by representatives or contractors of the DGA and CEA to UK atomic weapon establishments in the period. There have also been four visits by French officials to the UK for discussions on nuclear technical and scientific matters.

  Armed Forces (Beef)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 31 October,Official Report, column 195, for what reasons British frozen beef is not readily available for use by the armed forces. [3821]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  For commercial reasons the British market deals predominantly in fresh beef.

SCOTLAND

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the purpose of the visit by the Under-Secretary of State, the Earl of Lindsay, to Middleshot square, Prestonpans, on 6 November. [3411]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: My noble Friend visited Prestonpans on 6 November to see at first hand the damage to the homes in Middleshot square and the efforts of the local authority and emergency services in dealing with the situation. He also took the opportunity to visit Preston Lodge school, where the local authority had provided rest centre facilities for the families who had been evacuated from their homes.

  Earth Tremors (Musselburgh)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many earth tremors have been recorded in the Musselburgh area in recent weeks; what was the magnitude of the tremors; and if he will make a statement on possible connections with current and historic coal mining operations in the neighbourhood. [3086]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The British Geological Survey reported on 6 November that 79 tremors have been detected in the Musselburgh area; 19 of which have been recorded as being felt by residents. The tremors have been of varying magnitude; the largest, with a magnitude of 2 on the Richter scale, was recorded on 25 October. Precise records of old workings in the area do not exist. It is difficult therefore to determine precisely the relationship between the tremors and previous and current mining operations. However, in the 25 years of the British Geological Survey's seismic monitoring programme, there have been no reports of structural damage or injuries caused by mining-induced earthquakes.

  Research and Development
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those companies which have established plants in Scotland in each of the past 10 years which have created research and development centres within those plants. [3210]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Child Witnesses
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many cases at (a) the High Court and (b) the sheriff court have been abandoned because of the inability of child witnesses to give evidence in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement; [3211]

  (2) in respect of how many cases at (a) the High Court and (b) the sheriff court closed circuit television has been employed in the examination of child witnesses in each of the past four years; [3212]

  (3) if he will list the courts which (a) currently have closed circuit television and (b) are to have such equipment installed within the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [3213]
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  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Statistics regarding the abandonment of such cases are not available, but indications are that the numbers are not substantial. A range of measures contribute to this. To assist those children whom it is anticipated may have difficulty giving evidence in a conventional court setting, applications may be made before the trial for the use of screens, closed circuit television or evidence on commission. Since 1 April 1996, prior statements of witnesses, including children, may be admissible in terms of the new exceptions to the hearsay rule contained in sections 259 to 262 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. There have been a number of instances where prosecutors have had recourse to these provisions, which allow for the introduction of prior statements by a child, providing at the time a statement was made, the child would have been a competent witness.

  CCTV has been employed in the examination of child witnesses on the following occasions:

  Year

  Sheriff Court cases

  High Court cases

  1993

  2

  5

  1994

  6

  5

  1995

  6

  5

  1996 (to 30 September)

  0

  6

  CCTV equipment is available in the High Court in Edinburgh and in each sheriffdom. It can be made available for all High Court sittings at which it is required. For the sheriff courts, equipment is based at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Aberdeen, Airdrie and Falkirk sheriff courts. Installation of CCTV equipment is included in the plans for the refurbishment of the High Court buildings in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

  Extra-contractual Referrals
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to simplify the procedure for extra-contractual referrals; and when he plans to implement them. [3518]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Measures to simplify the procedures for extra-contractual referrals were introduced on 1 October 1996. From that date, it is no longer necessary for NHS trusts to notify purchasers in advance of emergency and tertiary extra-contractual referrals, unless a patient's stay is expected to exceed 28 days or where the costs are likely to be in excess of £6,000. Similar procedures have been introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We will consult the health service in Scotland about any future proposals further to simplify the procedure for extra-contractual referrals.

TREASURY

  Cross-channel Shopping
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss of(a) excise and (b) VAT revenue during the last 12 months due to consumers crossing the English channel to avoid United Kingdom taxation on (i) alcohol, (ii) cigarettes and tobacco and (iii) perfumes; what is the equivalent figure for the previous 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [2787]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Customs' latest estimate of excise duty and VAT revenues lost from legitimate personal importation of duty-paid alcohol and tobacco products is for the calendar year 1995, and is given in the table. Equivalent figures for calendar year 1994 are given in brackets.

  Revenue losses from cross-border shopping

  £ million

  Product type

  Excise duty

  VAT

  Total revenue

  Alcohol products

  145 (145)

  65 (60)

  210 (205)

  Tobacco products

  65 (55)

  15 (15)

  80 (70)

  Total

  210 (200)

  80 (75)

  290 (275)

  Figures have been independently rounded to £5 million. Figures assume that 50 per cent. of alcohol purchased is additional consumption.

  Customs' estimate of revenue evasion through smuggling of alcohol and tobacco products, excluding any losses from commercial fraud, is set out in the table. The actual loss to the Exchequer will be less than the amount of revenue evaded, as some smuggling is likely to represent additional consumption, rather than substituting for similar goods bought in the UK. There was no previous official estimate of revenue evaded through smuggling.

  Revenue evaded through smuggling

  £ million

  Product type

  Excise duty

  VAT

  Total revenue

  Alcohol products

  145

  65

  210

  Tobacco products

  445

  115

  560

  Total

  590

  180

  770

  Figures have been independently rounded to £5 million.

  There is no official estimate of revenue losses from cross-border shopping in perfumes.

  Opticians (VAT)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost of repayments of VAT to opticians; what rebates remained unpaid after the cut off date; what representations he has received on this matter; and what action he proposes to take as a result. [3035]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  VAT refunds totalling about £200 million have been made to opticians. Customs and Excise does not have information on how many opticians had not made claims by 18 July, and does not hold figures centrally of those who have not received a full refund. Following the Government's announcement on 18 July, and the subsequent exposure of the related draft Finance Bill 224
  clauses, a number of representations on various aspects of the proposed changes have been received. They are being considered along with all other representations.

  NHS Trusts (VAT)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with(a) the Secretary of State for Health and (b) NHS trusts regarding the three year limit for refund claims for VAT payments by NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement. [3240]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None. Where trusts incur VAT on contracted-out services relating to their non-business activities, they should not normally need to make retrospective claims for VAT. Under the special arrangements for contracted out services, refunds can be claimed on a current, monthly basis and there is some flexibility at the end of each financial year.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the reviews of personal pensions cases referred to in the guidelines issued by the Securities and Investments Board in 1994. [4278]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  SIB' s guidance to regulators recognised under the Financial Services Act 1986 called for a substantial programme of case reviews to establish whether people who had transferred out of occupational schemes, or opted out of them, or had never joined them, in order to hold a personal pension had done so as a result of mis-selling. Where mis-selling was found to lead to financial loss for investors, SIB has looked to the investment firms responsible to provide redress either by reinstating the investor into the occupational scheme—where this was possible—or by topping up the investor's personal pension.

  This review process has proved extraordinarily difficult for all concerned. It has required regulators and investment firms to devote substantial resources to the casework. There have been a number of reasons why progress has been slower than the regulators had expected, some of them arising from factors beyond the control of the firms responsible for carrying out case reviews. However, regrettably there are some investment firms which have made less effort than others to carry out the required casework.

  Even when the firms concerned are anxious to bring cases to a speedy conclusion, it has often proved difficult to do so because of the volume and complexity of the information required to evaluate each case in full. For whatever reason they arise, delays are a matter of concern.

  In order to speed up progress with reviews, SIB has today issued a statement setting out a streamlined approach to evaluation of scheme benefits for computation of loss or redress. It involves using a simplified model which is designed both to reduce significantly the burden on occupational schemes and to enable firms to reach reliable conclusions by using information which is generally available about the terms of the relevant occupational scheme(s) together with standard or approximate data for missing items. By using this approach, it should be possible for investment firms to conclude case reviews more quickly and thus put matters right for investors more quickly too. Where

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  standard or approximate data are used for important items, investors will be informed and have the opportunity to provide detailed data.

  The Government welcome this initiative. SIB's model should provide robust results with less administrative input. It means investors who might otherwise have been members of occupational schemes should get their cases sorted out more quickly while investment firms should need to divert resources into this important task for a shorter period. It will also require less input from occupational schemes, which can experience difficulties in providing non-pension information about former members.

  The pensions industry must make haste to complete their case reviews, in the interests not only of the financial position of the investors concerned but of restoring the industry's reputation. I also trust that occupational schemes will co-operate in providing information to investment firms and in providing reinstatement for current employees.

  For the public service pension schemes, the basic information required is already fully available. Steps have also been taken to ensure that these schemes stand ready to reinstate current employees into the relevant schemes for both future and past service.

  At this state, it is not clear how fast cases can now be progressed. Investment firms have much relevant information already and may be able to complete these cases quickly now. SIB now expects the front-line regulators to assess what can be achieved by their members using the new guidance, and then to set and monitor realistic but appropriately challenging targets for completing the review process.

  Investment firms have a clear responsibility to give priority to this important task. Their good names and the prospects of the industry depend upon it. I therefore welcome SIB's warning that firms failing to carry out their responsibilities must expect disciplinary action from their regulators. I very much hope that further disciplinary action will not be necessary and that the pensions industry will now move swiftly to put this unfortunate episode behind it.

  Earnings
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will show the number and proportion of manual, non-manual, and all part-time employees on adult rates earning less than(a) £4.42, (b) £5.89 and (c) £6.31 per hour excluding overtime payments for (i) women, (ii) men and (iii) both sexes by standard economic region for Great Britain as a whole and for (1) each county and unitary authority in England, (2) each unitary authority in Wales, (3) each London borough and Greater London as a whole,(4) each unitary authority in Scotland, (5) Great Britain as a whole and (6) England as a whole for April 1996; [518]

  (2) if he will show the number of and proportion of manual, non-manual and all full-time employees on adult rates earning less than(a) £167.45, (b) 223.27 and£(c) £239.16 per week excluding overtime payments for (i) women, (ii) men and (iii) both sexes by standard economic region for Great Britain as a whole and for each county and unitary authority in England, each unitary authority in Wales, (3) each London
  226
  borough and Greater London as a whole, (4) each unitary authority in Scotland, (5) Great Britain as a whole and (6) England as a whole for April 1996. [517]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answers 30 October 19961: 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 M. P. G. Pepper to Mr Peter Hain dated 13 November 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked the Director of the Office for National Statistics to reply to your recent questions asking for various figures on the number of and proportion of manual, non-manual part-time and full-time employees on adult rates of pay per hour and per week.
  The director has asked me to respond in his absence.
  The latest information from the New Earnings Survey, April 1996, is contained in the enclosed tables. I will also arrange for a copy of this letter and the tables to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Taxpayer Records
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchquer (1) how security clearance is obtained for all personnel handling classified information at Oracle facilities abroad; [1076]

  (2) if he will specify the arrangements made for the prosecution of offences under section 182 of the Finance Act 1989 by persons working at Oracle facilities abroad; [1078]

  (3) if he will publish the undertaking which persons working at Oracle facilities abroad are required to sign in relation to taxpayer information; what are the terms of the oral declaration which persons working at Oracle facilities abroad are required to make and what are the circumstances in which it is required to be given, and the person to whom it is to be given; what are the arrangements made for ensuring compliance with these obligations at Oracle facilities abroad; and if he will specify the actions that would be taken against a person working at an Oracle facility abroad for breach of such obligations, or any other confidentiality obligation imposed by UK law; [1075]

  (4) how Oracle ensures that persons at Oracle facilities abroad are made aware of their obligations under section 182 of the Finance Act 1989. [1077]

  (5) if he will specify such other arrangements as may be made by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in carrying out their functions of care and management under section 1 of the Taxes and Management Act 1970 in respect of access to copies of batches of taxpayer records at Oracle facilities abroad. [1080]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answers 30 October 1996]: The Inland Revenue's contract with Electronic Data Service Ltd. and EDS's contract with Oracle have both been amended to enable specialist staff at Oracle facilities abroad, in exceptional circumstances, to have access to copies of subsets of taxpayer records in order to carry out either diagnostic and/or remedial work necessary to support the self-assessment computer system. These amendments ensure that such access is permitted only under the very strict security arrangements specified by

  227
  the Inland Revenue and that Oracle is fully accountable, through EDS, to the Inland Revenue if there are any breaches of confidentiality. All Oracle employees are required to sign an agreement which, among other provisions, commits them to protect any information belonging to the Inland Revenue. If these procedures were to be breached, the agreement provides for a range of sanctions, including summary dismissal. The sanctions and remedies afforded by the criminal or civil laws of the United States and Australia may also flow from any such breaches.

  Inheritance Tax Exemption
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent local authorities are consulted prior to agreements being made to grant conditional exemption from inheritance tax on condition that reasonable public access is allowed over the site; if local authorities are required to consult interested parties over the proposals; and what restrictions are imposed upon local authorities preventing them from disclosing information on the proposals. [1626]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 5 November 1996]: In considering claims for conditional exemption for land, the Inland Revenue seeks advice from the Government's heritage advisory agencies-for example, the Countryside Commission for scenic land in England. As well as considering the eligibility of the land, the advisory agencies discuss and negotiate with owners the steps needed to meet the undertakings required by the law about the maintenance and preservation of the land, and securing public access to it. As part of this process, the agencies consult local authorities and other interested parties as appropriate. In many cases the local authority is offered an agency agreement to monitor the owner's compliance with the undertakings.

  When an advisory agency consults a local authority or other body, the normal rules on taxpayer confidentiality apply, and any information given in connection with a claim or designation for conditional exemption is therefore confidential.

  Home Income Plans (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-taxpayers are in receipt of tax relief for home income plans; and if he will indicate the distribution of tax relief paid out for home income plans by income group. 13320]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: I regret that reliable information is not available.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the revenue which would be raised by restricting mortgage interest tax relief at source, for new mortgage payers only, to(a) 10 per cent. in 1997–98, (b) 5 per cent. in 1998–99 and (c) 0 per cent. in 1999–2000. [3405]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The revenue yield in 1997–98 and future years would depend on future interest rates and the future distribution of the number and value of new mortgages.

  Uncollected Tax
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of uncollected(a) income tax, (b) corporation tax, (c) value added tax and (d) other taxes in (i) 1991–92, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [3385]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: The information is given in the following table. In this question, "uncollected" has been taken to mean "uncollected and subsequently written off or remitted".

  Inland Revenue collection accounts are drawn up each year to the end of October, and the table therefore shows the amounts as at the end of October 1991, October 1994 and October 1995 (the latest date for which figures are available). Customs and Excise accounts are drawn up for each calendar year.

  Amount remitted/written off

  £ million

  Type of tax

  October 1991

  October 1994

  October 1995

  Income tax

  524

  853

  593

  Corporation tax

  321

  262

  127

  Other taxes

  39

  44

  36

  Value added tax

  515

  550

  484

  Customs and other duties

  0.7

  1.7

  5.9

  The boards of Inland Revenue and of Customs and Excise allow remissions of tax on a case-by-case basis as an aspect of their responsibilities for the care and management of the various taxes.

  Sound management requires that tax which is not collected and which cannot practicably be collected—for example, because the taxpayer is insolvent or his whereabouts are unknown—should be written off.

  Insolvencies, where the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise have very little control over the amount recoverable, account for the vast majority of tax written off.

  Tax Allowances
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of allowing married couples to choose joint income tax assessment on the assumption(a) that each would retain their personal allowance, (b) that the 20 per cent. and 24 per cent. rate bands were doubled and (c) that the married couples allowance was not given. [2823]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 12 November 1996]: The estimated full-year cost at 1996–97 income levels of allowing married couples to choose whether they are taxed under the current system of independent taxation or taxed under the proposed joint taxation regime is about £5 billion.

  Building Societies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the building societies legislation in order to safeguard the interests of disabled people whose accounts are held by trustees in the context of bonus payments given by building societies at the time of flotation. [2744]
  229
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to ensure that investors, with severe disabilities, whose account is managed by a third party, will benefit from payments consequent upon building societies converting to banks. [2699]

  Mr. Angela Knight
  [holding answers 7 November 1996]: The existing law allows building societies to take account of the interests of underlying beneficiaries, including disabled investors and others in this position, but the final structure of any distribution is a matter for the society concerned, and it is for its members to decide whether they agree that distribution. I understand that the Building Societies Association has issued guidance to its members on future account opening and handling practice in advance of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 coming into force on 2 December.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent the membership and voting rights of the Governor of the Bank of England on the European Monetary Institute will be modified if the United Kingdom declares against proceding to the third stage of economic and monetary union; [51]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact on United Kingdom representation at the general council of the European central bank, referred to in article 45 of the statute of the European system of central banks, if the United Kingdom decides not to join the third stage of EMU. [8]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Governor of the Bank of England would retain his voting rights in the Council of the European Monetary Institute irrespective of whether the Government were to decide that the United Kingdom should participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

  The governing council of the European central bank will be the main decision-making body of the ECB and will take decisions about the single monetary policy. Only governors from the central banks of countries participating in the single currency and members of the executive board of the ECB will be members of the governing council. Only nationals of those member states may be members of the executive board, including the president and vice-president of the ECB. In addition, the treaty provides for a general council of the ECB, which will have very limited responsibilities. The general council shall comprise the president and vice-president of the ECB and the governors of all member states' national central banks.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Dounreay Nuclear Power Station
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent safety and environment reviews have been conducted by(a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and (c) the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency into nuclear-related operations at Dounreay. [2958]
  230
  Mr. Page
  There have been no recent safety and environmental reviews, but Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate, on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, carries out regular inspections of nuclear safety related operations on the Dounreay site. SEPA also carries out regular inspections to ensure that conditions of the discharge authorisations are in compliance with the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and these will be continuing.

  Business Links
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what form and on what scale his Department will continue to fund business links beyond their third year of operation. [3777]

  Mr. Page
  DTI funding for business links beyond their third year of operation is in the form of a grant to the relevant training and enterprise council for business link services.

  The scale of funding for business links beyond their third year is currently being considered in the 1996 public expenditure survey.

  Packaging
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the current situation in respect of the EC's proposals on packaging and packaging waste. [3655]

  Mr. Page
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environmental published for consultation on 11 July 1996 the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations, which propose to implement the provisions relating to the recovery and recycling targets contained in the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste, 94/62/EC. Responses received during the consultation period, which ended on 30 September, are now being considered. It is intended to implement certain other provisions in the directive by means of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, along with others relating to the identification and marking of packaging, when Commission decisions and a further Parliament and Council directive are adopted.

  Minimum Wage (Hairdressing)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will re-introduce a minimum wage in occupations where the service provided is not traded internationally, with particular reference to hairdressing. [2081]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No. The Government have no intention of introducing minimum wage legislation. Statutory wage fixing would lead to increased costs and job losses in hairdressing as in any other industry.

  Trade Deficit (Germany)
  Mr. Renton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the trade deficit with the Federal Republic of Germany in(a) visibles and (b) invisibles for 1996; and what were the equivalent figures for (i) 1995 and (ii) 1994. [3868]
  231
  Mr. Lang
  The UK current account balances with unified Germany, for 1994, 1995 and the first eight months of 1996, are given in the table.

  £ million

  1994

  1995

  1996 (January-August)

  Goods

  -4,669

  -5,960

  -4,392

  Services

  +462

  +638

  n/a

  Investment income

  +46

  +293

  n/a

  Transfers

  +28

  +35

  n/a

  Sources:

  1. Geographic Analysis of the Current Account of the Balance of Balance of Payments, Economic Trends, October 1996, Office of National Statistics.

  2. Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, August 1996, Office for National Statistics.

  Note:

  n/a = not available.

  Joint Equipment Initiative
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the eligibility criteria for the provision of funds for capital expenditure under the joint equipment initiative; and if he will make a statement. [3690]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The eligibility criteria can be found in the guidelines for the initiative, which were issued on 26 February 1996. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support has been provided to universities under the joint equipment initiative; what were the targets set for the initiative; and if he will make a statement. [3689]

  Mr. Taylor
  The awards to be made under the joint research equipment initiative have yet to be announced, so no figure is currently available for the support provided to universities under the initiative. The objectives of the scheme were as follows:To enable high-quality research relevant to the foresight generic science and technology priorities to be conducted with the equipment;
  To contribute more generally to the physical research infrastructure in higher education institutions;
  To promote partnership between higher education institutions and external sponsors of research, such as industry/commerce, charities, Government Departments, agencies and NHS trusts;
  To assist the funding councils, the Department of Education Northern Ireland and research councils in taking a strategic overview of the equipment needs of the UK higher education sector.

  Research Councils Procurement Officer
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what annual savings targets have been set for the newly appointed central procurement officer for the research councils. [3691]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The procurement adviser has been set a number of key objectives for his first year, including an impact on the procurement bill. During the first three calendar months he will assess the current state of procurement practices and performance within the 232
  councils and that basis will propose targets and define the parameters for savings taking account of both purchase price and where applicable life-cycle cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Female Detainees
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were detained in prisons, under Immigration Act powers, at the end of(a) July, (b) August and (c) September; what were the nationalities of those detained; how many were deported; and in which prison establishments they were detained. [1043]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many women were detained in prison, under Immigration Act powers, at the end of (a) July, (b)August and (c) September; what were the nationalities of those detained; how many were deported; and in which prison establishment they were detained.
  The information requested on those detained is given in the attached table. Provisional information shows that between July and September 4 persons were recorded as being discharged for removal by the Immigration Service.

  Population of female Immigration Act detainees1 in prison service establishments in England and Wales on last day of month, July to September 1966; by nationality2

  Nationality

  Number

  July 1996

  HMP Holloway

  Jamaica

  6

  Nigeria

  5

  Zimbabwe

  2

  Others

  8

  HMP Risley

  Other

  2

  Total

  23

  August 1996

  HMP Holloway

  Jamaica

  4

  Nigeria

  5

  Zimbabwe

  3

  Others

  12

  HMP Risley

  Other

  1

  HMP Styal

  Other

  1

  Total

  26

  September 1996

  HMP Holloway

  Jamaica

  7

  Nigeria

  3

  Zimbabwe

  3

  Other

  9

  HMP Risley

  Other

  1

  HMP Styal

  Other

  1

  233

  Population of female Immigration Act detainees1 in prison service establishments in England and Wales on last day of month, July to September 1966; by nationality2

  Nationality

  Number

  HMP New Hall

  Other

  1

  Total

  25

  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Nationalities with only one prisoner are included in "Other".

  Prisoners (Drugs Tests)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the number of prisoners tested for drugs each month since March 1996, (b)the number of prisoners who have tested positive for each type of drug in each month since March 1996 and (c)the number of prisons testing for drugs each month since March 1996. [1499]

  Mandatory and voluntary drug testing: numbers of prisoners tested and numbers positive for each drug group, March 1996 to September 1996

  Number positive for each drug

  Number tested

  Can

  Opi

  Ben

  Coc

  Amph

  Meth

  Bar

  LSD

  March

  6,482

  1,869

  472

  116

  13

  16

  17

  2

  0

  April

  6,419

  1,488

  483

  140

  17

  15

  24

  2

  0

  May

  6,960

  1,495

  515

  209

  22

  21

  32

  3

  1

  June

  6,777

  1,384

  517

  189

  25

  12

  23

  4

  0

  July

  7,448

  1,623

  675

  173

  17

  10

  29

  4

  0

  August

  6,596

  1,404

  534

  143

  32

  15

  19

  1

  0

  September1

  6,743

  1,413

  570

  143

  21

  17

  33

  4

  1

  1 Figures for September are provisional.

  Key:

  Can = cannabis

  Opi = opiates

  Ben = benzodiazepines

  Coc = cocaine

  Amph = amphetamines

  Meth = methadone

  Bar = barbiturates

  LSD = lysergic acid diethylamide

  Prisoners (Earnings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the rules which govern the earnings of prisoners in United Kingdom prisons and the discretion given to individual prison governors. [1420]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter in so far as it relates to England and Wales has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given. The rules
  234
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the numbers of prisoners tested for drugs, the number of prisons testing and the number of prisoners testing positive for each drug type since March 1996.
  The attached table sets out the numbers tested and the numbers testing positive for each drug under all forms of Drug Strategy testing. These comprise the random, on suspicion, risk assessment, frequent testing and on reception types of mandatory drug test, and voluntary testing. Since forms of targeted testing of drug misusers are included in these figures and because multiple drug positives from a single sample have all been counted, these figures indicate higher levels of drug misuse than those for random mandatory drug testing previously published in Hansard. Since the end of March this year all prison establishments have been testing for drugs.

  governing the earnings of prisoners in Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the rules which govern the earnings of prisoners within the United Kingdom. The rules governing prisoners' earnings in Scotland are a matter for the Secretary of State for Scotland, so this reply only relates to England and Wales.

  235
  Under Rule 28(6) of the prison Rules 1964 (as amended) relating to England and Wales, prisoners may be paid for their work at rates approved by the Secretary of State, either generally or in relation to particular cases. The present Prison Service pay scheme for prisoners, introduced in 1992, is designed to encourage prisoners to engage in purposeful activity (work, education or other purposeful activity); to allow governors flexibility to use pay to meet their local priorities; and to ensure a reasonable degree of uniformity in rates of pay for similar work in different establishments.
  Under the scheme prisoners willing to engage in purposeful activity but who cannot be offered a place receive a wage sufficient to meet their basic needs (the basic rate). Prisoners who engage in purposeful activity and perform to an acceptable level of quality and effort receive a higher wage designed to meet their reasonable needs and to provide a real incentive to engage in such activity (the employed rate). These two rates of pay are set nationally, and currently stand at £2.50 and £4 per week respectively.
  In addition, governors may set rates of pay above these amounts for prisoners engaged in purposeful activity to acceptable levels of quality and effort measured against targets made known to each prisoner in advance.
  Within these parameters, governors will establish a standard working week for each activity according to the needs of the establishment; and they may establish differentials between activities in recognition of regime priorities, the regular working of long hours, environmental conditions, and any other factors which in the governor's view merit financial recognition. Governors therefore calculate their budgets for prisoner pay on the basis on an average of £7 per week (£8 per week in dispersal prisons).
  Some prisons are able to operate schemes under which prisoners may earn higher amounts for higher productivity. Such schemes must be self-financing. Average earnings under the schemes currently running is about £15 per week, although a few prisoners have been able to boost their earnings to £30 in some weeks.
  The Prisoners' Earnings Act 1996, which receive Royal Assent in July, provides a framework by which governors can make deductions from the wages of a prisoner earning enhanced wages in a prison operating the enhanced wages scheme. This allows for payments to be made in respect of a prisoner's own maintenance and accommodation, to support their dependants, towards organisations involved with victims and crime prevention and towards savings against release. It is intended that the Act will be implemented in spring next year.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current complement by grade of(a) part-time and (b) full-time staff employed by Premier Prison Services at Her Majesty's prison Doncaster; and what changes to staffing levels there have been in the last 12 months; [2712]

  (2) how many serious assaults there have been on staff in her Majesty's prison Doncaster since 1 June; and what has been the total number of assaults on staff at the prison since it was opened; [2716]

  (3) how many and what types of incidents have been reported to the Prison Service in relation to Her Majesty's prison Doncaster since (a) 1 June and (b) its opening; [2714]

  (4) what is the current ratio of non-health staff to prisoners at (a) Her Majesty's prison Doncaster and (b) other similar grade prisons; [2713]

  (5) how many prisoners at Her Majesty's prison Doncaster have been subject to closed visits since it was opened; and what is the current number; [2717]
  236
  (6) what percentage of temporary release decisions have resulted in temporary release failures at Her Majesty's prison Doncaster (a) since 1 June and (b) since Her Majesty's prison Doncaster was opened; and for each period what was the average failure rate among similar grade prisons; [2711]

  (7) how many serious assaults there have been on prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison Doncaster since it was opened. [2715]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about HMP Doncaster.
  The number and type of incidents during the periods covered by your questions recorded centrally for the purpose of analysing trends within prisons are shown on the attached table.
  Charges of assaults proven following a disciplinary adjudication were as follows:

  Date

  Assaults on prisoners

  Assaults on staff/others

  1 June 1996 to 31 October 1996

  53

  20

  Opening (20 June 1994) to 31 October 1996

  280

  219

  The percentage of temporary release failures at Doncaster and all other local prisons and remand centres were as follows:

  Percentage

  20 June 1994 to 31 October 1996

  1 June 1996 to 31 October 1996

  Doncaster

  10.52

  None

  Other local prisons and remand centres

  0.48

  0.09

  Records have not been kept of the number of prisoners subject to closed visits since the prison opened. Currently 51 prisoners are receiving closed visits.
  On 5 November 1996 the ratio of staff (excluding healthcare staff) to prisoners at Doncaster was 1:2:16 and the ratio of similar staff to prisoners in other category B local prisons was 1:2:77.
  Information about the overall number of staff in each grade is commercially confidential, but the Prison Service agreed to fund 5 additional prisoner custody officers to introduce at its request a dedicated search team in line with mandatory requirements at other prisons. 12 additional programme and clerical staff have also been recruited to reflect an increase in the capacity of the prison to 900 prisoners.
  The complement of full-time staff on 1 November 1996 was 458 compared to 449 on I November 1995. The equivalent numbers of part-time staff are, respectively, 17 and 14.

  Incident1 type

  1 June 1996–31 October 1996

  20 June 1994–31 October 1996

  Assault

  52

  332

  Attempted escape

  —

  1

  Barricade

  —

  1

  Concerted indiscipline

  —

  18

  Death of inmate

  —

  2

  Dirty protest

  —

  1

  237

  Incident1 type

  1 June 1996–31 October 1996

  20 June 1994–31 October 1996

  Drugs

  93

  668

  Escape

  —

  1

  Fire

  1

  21

  Food refusal

  1

  8

  Key/lock compromise

  —

  1

  Miscellaneous

  3

  33

  Recapture/Surrender

  —

  11

  Self harm

  7

  110

  Suicide

  —

  5

  Tool loss

  —

  5

  Temporary release failure

  —

  2

  Total

  157

  1,220

  1 The number of prisoners involved in each incident and whether any charges resulting from an incident were proven is not recorded.

  Prison Service Performance Indicators
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to increase the number of key performance indicators for the Prison Service which assess standards of custody and control; [2936]

  (2) what plans he has to introduce key performance indicators for the Prison Service which assess (i) headquarters staffing levels, (ii) productivity, (iii) efficiency, (iv) standards of staff development and commitment and (v) rates of recidivism; [2937]

  (3) what plans he has to increase the number of key performance indicators for the Prison Service' which assess (i) standards of physical security and (ii) levels of prisoner discipline; [2938]

  (4) what plans he has to introduce key performance indicators for the Prison Service which assess (a) levels of drug use, (b) availability of rehabilitation services and (c) rates of self-inflicted deaths. [2939]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the introduction of new key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Prison Service.
  Under the terms of the Framework Document, the KPIs for the Prison Service have to be agreed with Ministers. They are kept regularly under review to ensure that they reflect current key priorities for the Service. Our Corporate Plan 1996–99 explained that Ministers had agreed a number of changes to our KPIs for this year. The Service has achieved in full the KPIs on access to sanitation, and the number of prisoners with the opportunity to exceed minimum visiting entitlement, and these have therefore been discontinued. Three new KPIs were introduced: on the rate of positive testing for drug misuse, the number of prisoners completing programmes accredited as effective in reducing re-offending, and the amount of staff training. Targets for each of these were set for the current year.
  Some of the areas you refer to are already covered by existing KPIs, at least in part: for example prisoner discipline is reflected in the KPI on rates of assault, standards of custody are reflected in the KPI on the escape rate, the levels of drug use are reflected in the KPI on positive testing for drug misuse, efficiency is reflected in the KPI on cost per place and staff development in the KPI on the amount of staff training.
  238
  Clearly, there is a great deal of public interest in information about the Prison Service. I believe it important to keep KPIs to a manageable number, if we are to focus staff effort and other resources to achieve better results, particularly at a time when the Service is under great pressure. The Home Secretary announced, on 20 May 1996, that some management information not currently featured in KPIs would routinely be reported in our Corporate Plan. The current Corporate Plan includes, for example, information about self-inflicted deaths, staff turnover rates and Headquarters overheads.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the results achieved by the Prison Service on each of its key performance indicators for the first six months of 1996–97; and what assessment he has made of those results against (a) the published full year targets for 1996–97 and(b) the equivalent phased internal targets for the first six months. [2935]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the results achieved by the Prison Service on each of its key performance indicators (KPIs) for the first six months of 1996–97.
  Prison Service KPI performance and targets for 1996–97 and performance from April to September 1996 are shown below (we do not set monthly targets within the annual target because performance on some KPIs is subject to considerable seasonal fluctuation). However, where necessary I indicate below the level of performance required over the rest of the year in order to achieve the target.

  KPI I: Escapes from prisons and from escorts:
  To ensure no Category A prisoners escape and to ensure that the number of escapes from prisons and from escorts, expressed as a proportion of the prison population, is at least 10% lower than in 1995–6.

  Category A prisoners

  Rate (Per cent.)

  1996–1997 target

  0

  0.21 or lower

  April-September 1996 performance

  0

  0.23

  KPI 2: Assaults
  To ensure that the number of assaults on staff, prisoners and others, expressed as a proportion of the average population, is lower than in 1995–6.

  1996–1997 target: lower than 10.6%

  April-September 1996 performance: 9.4%

  KPI 3: Random drug testing
  To ensure that the rate of positive testing for drugs (the number of random drug tests that prove positive expressed as a percentage of the total number of random tests carried out) is lower in the fourth quarter of 1996–7 than in the first quarter of that year.

  April-June 1996 performance: 23.9%

  April-September 1996 performance: 23.8%

  January-March 1997 target: lower than 23.9%

  KPI 4: Overcrowding
  To ensure that no prisoners are held three to a cell designed for one.
  April-September 1996 performance: No prisoners
  239
  KPI 5: Purposeful activity
  To ensure that prisoners spend on average at least 26.5 hours per week engaged in purposeful activity.
  April-September 1996 performance: 25.4 hours per prisoner per week (this figure is subject to further validation).
  We would need to achieve an average of 27.6 hours of purposeful activity per prisoner per week for the rest of the year in order to meet the target.

  KPI 6: Time out of cell
  To ensure that, by 31 March 1997, at least 60% of prisoners are held in establishments which unlock all prisoners on the standard or enhanced regime for at least 10 hours per weekday.
  September 1996 performance: 67%

  KPI 7: Completions of accredited offending behaviour programmes
  To ensure that at least 1,300 prisoners complete programmes accredited as being effective in reducing re-offending, of whom 650 should complete the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

  Overall completions

  Sex Offender Treatment Programme completions

  April-September 1996 performance

  402

  136

  April-September 1996 target

  650

  325

  April 1996-March 1997 target

  1,300

  650

  We would need to ensure that 140 prisoners a month complete accredited offending behaviour programmes, of which 86 a month should complete the Sex Offender Treatment Programme, in order to meet the target.

  KPI 8: Cost per place
  To ensure that the average cost of a prison place does not exceed £24,388.
  It is not possible to show a meaningful mid-year figure because spending is not evenly distributed across the year and because the number of places is increasing over the year as new accommodation comes on line. We are however forecasting expenditure outturn within the cash limit, as revised to take account of additional funding agreed in year.

  KPI 9: Average training days per staff member
  To ensure that on average, staff spend at least six days in training.
  April-September 1996 performance: 2.31 days per staff member
  We would need to provide an average of 0.65 days training per staff member per month for the rest of the year in order to meet the target.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revise the way in which statistics are collected for the purpose of measuring the key performance indicators which refer to the Prison Service. [2940]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking if there were any plans to revise the way in which statistics are collected for the purpose of measuring the key performance indicators which refer to the Prison Service.
  The Prison Service currently collects its KPI data using a variety of information systems. These collection procedures are under constant review to ensure that monitoring of the KPIs is carried out as promptly and accurately as possible.

  Maintenance Work
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current backlog of maintenance work in(a) prisons and (b) police stations. [2798]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Prison Service has an on-going programme to identify, priorities and carry out maintenance work. Priorities are to preserve a safe and secure environment for prisoners and staff alike and to ensure that as far as reasonably practicable accommodation is kept in use to help cope with the pressure on places resulting from the rising prison population. Because of the nature of maintenance work it is possible that during the year other maintenance schemes might have to be given a higher priority than schemes already in the programme. The situation is monitored and reviewed on a regular basis and the programme revised as necessary.

  Despite financial constraints, the schemes which have been identified as having the highest priority are proceeding in 1996–97. Around 50 per cent. of schemes—worth £16 million—have been deferred until later.

  Maintenance work in police stations is the responsibility of individual police forces and records are not held centrally.

  Dog Breeding
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions govern a local authority's duties in respect of the prosecution of a person breeding more than two bitches for the purpose of sale without a licence. [3639]

  Mr. Sackville
  Section 4 of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 empowers a local authority to prosecute a person who keeps an unlicensed dog breeding establishment.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 November,Official Report, columns 324–25, what are the names and addresses of the companies or individuals convicted under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, as amended by the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991, since 1980. [3502]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for information the(a) police pension scheme and (b) fireman's pension scheme have received from pension providers undertaking reviews of pension transfers and opt-outs; in how many cases all appropriate information has been supplied; what is the average length of time taken to supply such information; and what moratorium has been introduced on supplying such information. [3348]

  Mr. Maclean
  The details requested are not held centrally. It is Government policy that assisting pension providers with their review should not impose a burden on the taxpayer. We hope that the necessary amendments can be made soon to the Police Pensions Act 1976 and the Fire Services Act 1947 to enable police and fire
  241
  authorities to deal with the inquiries of personal pension providers in return for a reasonable charge to recover the administrative costs involved.

  Soliciting
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of(a) men and (b) women cautioned in each of the last five years for soliciting, broken down by age. [3650]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is given in the tables.

  Table A: Number of recorded male cautions for the offence of soliciting or importuning in a public place for immoral purposes1, by age, 1991 to 1995

  England and Wales

  Age

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  —

  2

  3

  1

  —

  15

  1

  2

  —

  1

  —

  16

  3

  2

  1

  2

  —

  17

  1

  4

  2

  —

  1

  18

  4

  3

  —

  1

  1

  19

  2

  6

  7

  3

  3

  20

  4

  4

  7

  1

  2

  21–24

  17

  21

  20

  13

  10

  25–29

  26

  23

  22

  35

  12

  30–34

  15

  24

  24

  44

  24

  35–39

  26

  21

  30

  28

  9

  40–44

  26

  19

  21

  26

  15

  45–49

  16

  16

  30

  33

  12

  50–54

  13

  17

  18

  20

  12

  55–59

  4

  9

  8

  18

  6

  60 and over

  27

  20

  12

  28

  19

  All ages

  185

  193

  205

  254

  126

  1 An offence under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 32.

  Table B: Number of recorded male cautions for the offence of persistent soliciting of women for the purpose of prostitution1, by age, 1991 to 1995

  England and Wales

  Age

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  16

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  18

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  19

  3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  20

  3

  4

  1

  4

  1

  21-24

  9

  16

  9

  3

  1

  25-29

  19

  24

  22

  7

  3

  30-34

  28

  32

  21

  16

  —

  35-39

  18

  31

  19

  12

  3

  40-44

  21

  22

  18

  8

  1

  45-49

  16

  19

  10

  7

  —

  50-54

  6

  9

  5

  4

  1

  55-59

  2

  6

  4

  3

  —

  60 and over

  3

  5

  3

  1

  —

  All ages

  130

  171

  114

  66

  10

  1 An offence under the Sexual Offences Act 1985 Section 2.

  242

  Table C: Number of recorded female cautions for the offence of "Common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution"1 by age, 1991 to 1995

  England and Wales

  Age

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  10

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  1

  1

  —

  1

  2

  13

  5

  1

  5

  5

  4

  14

  10

  6

  32

  19

  11

  15

  34

  41

  32

  25

  27

  16

  111

  62

  82

  91

  63

  17

  200

  189

  145

  156

  156

  18

  318

  275

  247

  194

  187

  19

  294

  250

  260

  206

  201

  20

  292

  244

  211

  220

  212

  21–4

  946

  813

  860

  621

  769

  25–29

  868

  804

  809

  712

  692

  30–34

  451

  557

  527

  542

  466

  35–39

  184

  216

  248

  199

  238

  40–44

  84

  129

  104

  101

  80

  45–49

  33

  56

  42

  34

  43

  50–54

  8

  3

  7

  5

  6

  55–59

  1

  3

  5

  2

  5

  60 and over

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  All ages

  3,840

  3,653

  3,616

  3,133

  3,162

  1 An offence under the Street Offences Act 1859 Section 1.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue guidance to local authorities about funding from April 1997 under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1996. [4452]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his decision regarding the continued funding of schemes in Trafford currently funded under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. [3823]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We attach great importance to the valuable work performed by teachers and others funded under section 11 in helping members of ethnic minorities to overcome barriers of language or culture. Despite other pressures on public expenditure generally, I can now announce that the current level of section 11 grant will be maintained until August 1998. Grant recipients are being advised accordingly.

  Bukley Hall Prison
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason two different figures were given in letters of 29 October from the Director General of the Prison Service to the hon. Member for Rochdale for the number of assaults at HMP Buckley Hall since 14 December 1994. [3360]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Lynne, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Question about the different figures given in my letters of 29 October about the number of assaults at Buckley Hall prison 14 December 1994.

  243
  I very much regret that my replies did not distinguish between and explain the different kinds of data used in replying to each Question.
  The number of assaults given in response to your Question about all types of incidents was taken from information recorded on a central database. This provides an analysis of trends within the Prison Service on a wide range of types of incident for use in incident management. They do not take account of the number of individuals who have been involved in a single incident, whether an assault or otherwise, nor do they take account, in the case of assaults, of whether there is a resulting finding of guilt either in an internal disciplinary adjudication or criminal proceedings.
  The figures given in response to the Question about the number of assaults that had occurred were based on the number of charges of assaults proven following an internal disciplinary adjudication. This information is used for the purposes of a Key Performance Indicator.
  Steps are being taken to ensure that future Questions are answered in a way that makes this distinction clear.

  Hand Gun Licences
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department collates on the number of persons currently licensed to carry handguns in the countryside for the purposes of killing animals for sport. [3109]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: Killing animals for sport would normally not be considered a good reason for possessing a hand gun.

  Electric Shock Dog Collars
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidelines he has issued to (i) police authorities and (ii) the Prison Service on the use of dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals; [3073]

  (2) which (i) police authorities, (ii) prisons and (iii) sectors of the Prison Service are using dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals; [3074]

  (3)what is the number of dogs owned by (i) the police and (ii) the Prison Service on which electric shock dog collars (a) have been used and (b) are being used. [3075]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answers 11 November 1996]: The Prison Service has possessed an electric collar since January 1994. It is kept at the national dog training centre and has been used a total of seven times on six dogs.

  The electric collar is not currently being used on any dog and is only ever used in accordance with the policy guidelines issued on 19 July 1996. These guidelines state that the electric collar will be used only when authorised by the head of the NDTC. It will be used on adult dogs as part of a training course or remedial training and only as a last resort when other methods of attempting to correct the dog in control-related exercises have failed. The collar is not to be used as a short-term solution for problems that can be resolved by other more traditional and acceptable methods. All uses of the collar are registered at the NDTC.

  The police have no national guidelines for the use of electric dog collars and information on its use is not collected centrally.

  Ella O'Dwyer
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons applications for compassionate parole by Ella O'Dwyer, detained in Maghaberry prison, have been refused; how many such applications she has made in the current year; what her prison status is; and if he will make a statement. [3303]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: Ms O'Dwyer is a prisoner temporarily transferred to Northern Ireland. Applications for temporary release are therefore considered with reference to her eligibility under the rules which apply to prisoners in England and Wales. As a category A high escape risk prisoner, Ms O'Dwyer is not eligible for any form of temporary release under those rules. However, we have the power to authorise release under section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 and have therefore considered each of Ms O'Dwyer's three applications for release on compassionate grounds carefully and on their individual merits. I did not consider, however, that there were sufficient compelling grounds to justify granting release exceptionally.

  Prisoner Escapes
  Mr. Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how convicted prisoners escaped from a private coach on 5 November in London while being transferred from Her Majesty's prison, Blundeston; for what reasons a secure vehicle was not used; what changes he expects to make to the system for transporting prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [3392]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 12 November 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. David Porter, dated 13 November 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how convicted prisoners escaped from a private coach on 5 November in London while being transferred from Blundeston prison; for what reasons a secure vehicle was not used, and what changes are excepted to be made to the system of transporting prisoners.
  The prisoners who escaped were category B prisoners. Our policy on the transporting of category B prisoners is that they should be transported in as secure a vehicle as possible, based on a thorough risk assessment of the likelihood of escape. In this particular case it was decided that a secure vehicle was not required.
  A senior director in the Prison Service has completed an enquiry into the incident. He has put forward nine recommendations, which I have accepted. He has recommended that we should aim to use secure cellular vehicles for all multiple escorts of category B prisoners, as soon as the necessary equipment can be acquired. The Director of Security has been asked to examine the implementation of this recommendation.

  Prisoner Repatriations
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 November,Official Report, column 440, when the requests for repatriation to prison in the Irish Republic from Harry Duggen and Joe O'Connell will be decided; when the appropriate documents will be referred to the Irish Republic; and if he will make a statement. [3784]
  245
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 12 November 1996]: Agreement to repatriation requests requires the consent of both states as well as of the prisoner concerned. Requests are decided only after consideration of all the relevant information by the two states concerned. An initial decision on whether to refer the requests of Mr. Duggan and Mr. O'Connell to the Republic will be made once all the relevant information is available.

WALES

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will report progress on the survey of general practice practitioners and trainees in Wales; when he expects the results of the survey to be compiled; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [2643]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not yet in a suitable form for publication. A decision on publication will be made when the work has been completed. I cannot yet indicate when this will be.

  Prescribed Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [2904]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number of people admitted to hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to a prescribed drug is not available centrally. However the number of people admitted as a result of an adverse reaction to any drug is given in the following table.

  Finished consultant episodes—adverse effect of drugs

  Age

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  11995–96

  0-9 years

  19

  23

  48

  21

  11

  10-19 years

  5

  6

  8

  10

  9

  20-29 years

  11

  17

  9

  7

  2

  30-39 years

  7

  16

  6

  8

  6

  40-49 years

  11

  15

  7

  7

  6

  50-59 years

  11

  12

  15

  10

  9

  60-69 years

  30

  22

  20

  19

  9

  70-79 years

  28

  37

  15

  28

  7

  80 years and over

  2

  2

  3

  2

  1

  Not known

  19

  19

  18

  23

  5

  Total

  143

  169

  149

  135

  65

  Note:

  1 Data for 1995–96 are not comparable to earlier years as records are not available for all hospitals and the diagnosis code used was different from earlier years.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for 'Wales how many elderly(a) men and (b) women have been admitted to hospital in Wales as a consequence of an adverse reaction to (i) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, (ii) phenothiazines, (iii) diuretics, (iv) analgesics, (v) night sedation, (vi) digoxin, (vii) laxatives, (viii) corticosteroids, (ix) beta blockers and (x) aminophylline in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [2901]
  246
  Mr. Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Maintenance Work
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current backlog of maintenance work in(a) educational institutions, (b) prisons and police stations, (c) Council housing, (d) transport infrastructure, (e) the NHS and (f) defence bases in Wales. [2793]

  Mr. Gwilm Jones
  Prisons and police stations are the responsiblity of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Defence. bases in Wales are the responsiblity of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. Information on the backlog of work in educational institutions and council housing is not held centrally. Information regarding transport and council housing is not held centrally. Information regarding transport infrastructure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, The latest figure for backlog maintenance in the NHS is £275 million as at March 1995.

  Graduates
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of young people graduated in the last available year; and what comparisons he has made with the figures for(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) each member of the European Union. [3038]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In 1994–95 11,045 UK domiciled students graduated with a first degree from Welsh higher education institutions. These represented 31 per cent. of the population of 21-year-olds, corresponding to the most common age at graduation. On a similar basis, 32 per cent. of young people graduated from Scottish higher education institutions and 30 per cent. from English higher education institutions.

  Information is not available on a comparable basis for 1994–95 for other European Union countries, but limited information is available for 1991–92 and is shown on the following table.

  Public and private university education graduates as a percentage of the population at theoretical age of graduation 1991–92

  Per cent.

  Denmark

  22.1

  Greece

  11.8

  Ireland

  17.4

  Italy

  0.7

  Netherlands

  17.8

  Spain

  8.0

  Sweden

  11.4

  UK

  20.4

  Source:

  OECD "Education at a Glance".

  Health Authority Funding
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the additional non-recurring funding allocated to each health authority in the current financial year; and how much has been allocated to each contracted health care provider. [3438]
  247
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Up to the end of October, Welsh health authorities have received the following non-recurrent funding allocation additions:

  Health Authority

  Total additional funding £000s

  North Wales

  4,198

  Dyfed Powys

  3,084

  Morgannwg

  3,738

  Bro Taf

  5,644

  Gwent

  3,924

  Details on health care providers' income are not kept centrally.

TRANSPORT

  Red Routes
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to measure pedestrian activity along red routes (i) before and (ii) after their implementation. [3437]

  Mr. Bowis
  The traffic director for London, who is responsible for co-ordinating the introduction of the red route network, monitors the effects of implementation 248
  through comprehensive surveys each year. These surveys monitor pedestrian activity on shopping streets and the number of shoppers arriving on foot. The results of surveys in spring 1994, before implementation began, were included in "Red Routes and Retailing" published in October 1995. The next set of results from surveys conducted in spring 1995 will be published shortly. As more of the red route network is implemented, these annual surveys will provide a representative before and after picture of the effect of red route measures.

  Bridge Strengthening Programme
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expenditure on the bridge strengthening programme planned for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [3695]

  Mr. Watts
  Each year the Government provide the Highways Agency with an overall budget for the maintenance of trunk road structures and, through transport supplementary grant and credit approvals, support to local highway authorities for their bridge programme. For 1996–97 the Highways Agency's budget for structures capital maintenance is £130 million, and approved expenditure by local highway authorities is £103 million. In neither case are funds specifically earmarked for bridge strengthening. Figures for subsequent years have not yet been determined.

HEALTH

  Eye Tests (Children)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision his Department has made for national eye screening of children. [2316]

  Mr. Malone
  An examination of the eyes is a mandatory part of all neonatal examinations conducted by a paediatrician, general practitioner or health visitor. A test for visual acuity is also conducted, usually by the school nurse, on entry to school. Health authorities are expected to assess the needs of their populations for visual examinations and organise appropriate screening programmes to meet these needs. Information is not collected centrally on the precise arrangements made in each authority area.

  Guidance on the need for visual examinations has been issued in the publication "Health for All Children" first published in 1989. The latest edition was issued in 1996 and commended to health authorities in the guide, "Child Health in the Community: A Guide to Good Practice", published on 5 September 1996.

  It is for health authorities to decide how to implement this guidance but, in most areas, school nurses undertake sight tests shortly after a child starts school. Health authorities are expected to monitor these arrangements and, in addition, the Department is in regular contact with representatives of paediatricians, ophthalmologists and nurses on developments in the assessment and treatment of sight defects in children.

  Prescribed Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to general practitioners prescribing drugs to the elderly; and if he will make a statement. [2791]

  Mr. Malone
  Advice on prescribing issues, including prescribing for elderly patients, is available to general practitioners from a variety of sources. Publications funded by the Department include the British National Formulary, which is regularly updated and provides advice for all doctors on the choice of suitable drugs, and the "MeReC Bulletin", which provides prescribing advice to all general practitioners. Copies of the British National Formulary are available in the Library. Copies of the "MeReC Bulletin" will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make additional funding available to meet the estimated deficits for the current financial year in health authorities(a) in the west midlands and (b) across England and Wales. [3284]

  Mr. Malone
  No additional funding is planned in the current financial year in England. Questions relating to Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Health authorities received an average cash increase of 3.9 per cent. in 1996–97. Health authorities are expected to manage within these resources and will benefit also from on-going improvements in efficiency.

  Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the minutes of meetings of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation held in the last year; and if he will make such minutes publicly available in the future. [3425]

  Mr. Horam
  The minutes of the meetings of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation are confidential. This is to ensure full and frank discussions can be recorded on issues which may include factors affecting external commercial interest and personal medical information. The recommendations of the committee, as endorsed by Ministers, are made available in the publication, "Immunisation Against Infectious Disease", the most recent edition of which was published in September 1996 and copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the next meeting of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will take place; and what issues will be discussed. [3424]

  Mr. Horam
  The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation meets twice annually; its next meeting is on 13 November. As with all JCVI meetings, discussion will cover all aspects of communicable diseases preventable, or potentially preventable, through immunisation.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received from the hepatitis sub-group of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding universal vaccination against hepatitis B; and if the next meeting of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will consider this subject. [3426]

  Mr. Horam
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State receives advice on immunisation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The next meeting of JCVI is on 13 November and will include further discussions on the control of hepatitis B in the United Kingdom, as well as other immunisation matters.

  Teenage Smoking
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his revised target date for meeting the "The Health of the Nation" target on teenage smoking; and what steps he is taking to reach this target. [3427]

  Mr. Horam
  Efforts will continue to achieve the target level of 6 per cent. for teenage smoking as soon as possible.

  The teenage lifestyle programme, "Respect" was launched in July and will cost up to £1 million a year for three years. Adult health education programmes will encourage parents to set a good example. Other measures in the Government strategy, including increasing tax and preventing illegal sales, are continuing.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether the series of events for teenagers currently being sponsored by the Gallaher tobacco company conforms to the voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising in respect of(a) the requirement not to encourage smoking in general and

  251
  (b) the requirement not to target young people; and if he will make representations to the company to halt further events pending clarification. [3428]

  Mr. Horam
  The operation of the voluntary agreement is overseen by the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship. I have no reason to suspect that the events being sponsored by Silk Cut breach the voluntary agreement, but I am confident that the committee will fully investigate any evidence put to it.

  Abortions (Folic Acid)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effect on the incidence of abortions of adding folic acid to bread. [3589]

  Mr. Horam
  Folic acid is currently added to some 10 per cent. of bread. Fortifying bread with this vitamin has only been practised, as a voluntary measure by the manufacturers, in very recent years. It is not possible to assess whether this limited and recent change in the diet has had an effect on the incidence of spontaneous abortions or whether this change has influenced the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects whose outcome has been termination of pregnancy.

  A sub-group of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy is considering whether extending such fortification is advisable, and is expected to report late in 1997.

  Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the last meeting of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health took place; and what was discussed. [3420]

  Mr. Horam
  The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health last met on 15 October 1996. The committee received information on the progress of work it has commissioned on environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer and on ETS and childhood respiratory diseases. The structure and content of the first report of SCOTH to the Chief Medical Officer were discussed and suggestions for the future work programme were considered.

  Infertility Treatment
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest advice his Department has issued to(a) purchasers and (b) providers of infertility treatment in the NHS: if he will place this information in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [2068]

  Mr. Horam
  Decisions about provision, priority and resources for infertility services are made by individual health authorities, who are in the best position to determine priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances. The decisions must be made on the basis of sound evidence.

  Advice is available to health authorities and clinicians in the following publications:
  The Effective Health Care Bulletin on "The Management of Subfertility" (August 1992), published for the NHS management executive by a consortium of Leeds and York universities and the research unit of the Royal College of Physicians.
  252
  The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists "Infertility—Guidelines for Practice".

  Copies of these are available in the Library.

  The RCOG is reviewing its 1992 guidance as part of a project sponsored by the Department of Health. The revised guidelines should be available to clinicians next year.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned in the last two years into the effectiveness of alternative infertility treatments. [2069]

  Mr. Horam
  None. 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.

  Children in Care
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children on care orders are placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. [3644]

  Mr. Burns
  This information is not separately available as the details collected centrally do not distinguish bed and breakfast from other lodging or independent accommodation.

  Secure Hospitals
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects disciplinary and grievance procedures for staff to be in place for(a) Ashworth, (b) Rampton and (c) Broadmoor. [3645]

  Mr. Burns
  Disciplinary and grievance procedures are in place at all three high security hospitals.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of breaches of security incidents in each of the last five years for(a) Rampton, (b) Ashworth and (c) Broadmoor. [3646]

  Mr. Burns
  The following tables list the number of breaches of security incidents at the three high security hospitals. For the purposes of this survey roof top incidents were classified as a breach of security although incidents of this kind are not uncommon in a high security mental health environment. Staff are fully trained to deal with this challenging group of patients and untoward incidents in the three hospitals are speedily contained and swiftly resolved.

  It is worth pointing out that thousands of rehabilitation programmes outside secure mental health environments take place every year without incident. The secure hospitals are places of treatment and care, and rehabilitation is a key component of the management of people with severe and enduring mental health problems. In view of the level of public concern over recent patient absconds while on rehabilitation programmes, the following measures were deemed necessary.

  The High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board, the three special health authorities, specialist clinicians, the mental health and community care division of the Department of Health and the Home Office have

  253
  established, with immediate effect, a steering group to examine professional practice around rehabilitation programmes outside secure mental health environments.

  Breaches of security at Broadmoor hospital authority

  Type/year

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total

  Escape

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Abscond

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Roof-top

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Hostage

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Total

  1

  5

  0

  0

  1

  7

  Breaches of security at Ashworth hospital authority

  Type/year

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total

  Escape

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Abscond

  1

  3

  2

  2

  3

  11

  Roof-top1

  —

  1

  11

  9

  6

  27

  Hostage

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  Total

  1

  6

  14

  11

  10

  42

  1 Please note that it is relatively easy to climb on the roofs of wards in the north and south campus of Ashworth hospital authority. The hospital does not regard this as a breach of security.

  Breaches of security at Rampton hospital authority

  Type/year

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total

  Escape

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Abscond

  3

  1

  —

  1

  —

  5

  Roof-top

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Hostage

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Total

  3

  1

  1

  1

  0

  6

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of recorded assaults on staff in each of the past five years at(a) Rampton, (b) Ashworth and (c) Broadmoor; [3647]

  (2) if he will list the number of prosecutions for assaults on staff in each of the past five years for (a) Rampton, (b) Ashworth and (c) Broadmoor; [3648]

  (3) on what dates the most recent work place risk assessments for (a) Broadmoor, (b) Rampton and (c) Ashworth were completed. [3649]

  Mr. Burns
  Data about recorded assaults on staff in each of the past five years, the number of prosecutions for assaults on staff and the most recent work place assessments at Ashworth, Rampton and Broadmoor are not kept centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Janice Miles, the chief executive of Ashworth hospital authority, Ms Sheila Foley, the chief executive of Rampton hospital authority, and Mr. Alan Franey, the chief executive of Broadmoor hospital authority for further information.

  National Health Service
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his plans for the future of the national health service; and if he will make a statement. [4276]
  254
  Mr. Dorrell
  I have today published a White Paper on the way forward for the national health service entitled, "The National Health Service: A Service with Ambitions". Copies will be available in the Vote Office and the Library. It sets out the Government's commitment to a universal, high quality service, available on the basis of clinical need, and one that is responsive to the needs and wishes of patients and carers. It also launches three initiatives designed to improve the use of information in the NHS; to strengthen its commitment to effective management of quality; and to ensure that our policies for education, training and development produce well qualified staff who will meet the needs of a changing NHS.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the percentage of college graduates obtaining teaching posts in each year from 1989–90 [2996]

  Mr. Ancram
  The available figures are:

  1989–90: 88 per cent.

  1990–91: 91 per cent.

  1991–92: 96 per cent.

  1992–93: 98 per cent.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the size of the approved intake of students into colleges of education in the current and future years and the reasons for his decisions on future teacher supply. [2997]

  Mr. Ancram
  This year's intake number was maintained at last year's total of 340 places. No decisions have been taken on future years' intakes as each year's allocation is based on an annually updated forecast of teacher demand.

  Student Costs
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the unit cost per student and constant price cost per student in each year from 1989–90, starting with unit cost per student equalling 100 in 1989–90. [2998]

  Mr. Ancram
  The recurrent cost per full-time equivalent student, excluding student support, at universities in Northern Ireland, indexed so that 1989–90 equals 100, has been as follows:

  Cash prices

  Constant prices

  1989–90

  100

  100

  1990–91

  105

  97

  1991–92

  107

  93

  1992–93

  106

  89

  1993–94

  105

  86

  1994–95

  103

  82

  Source:

  Universities' Statistical Record data, 1989–90 to 1993–94; HESA data 1994–95.
  255
  The spending per full-time equivalent student, excluding support, in further education colleges in Northern Ireland, indexed so that 1991–92 equals 100, has been as follows:

  Cash prices

  Constant prices

  1991–92

  100

  100

  1992–93

  98

  94

  1993–94

  101

  95

  1994–95

  106

  98

  Comparable figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 are not available.

  Universities (Student-Staff Ratio)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the student-staff ratios in universities in each year since 1989–90. [2999]

  Mr. Ancram
  The staff-student ratios are as follows:

  1989–90: 1:13.6

  1990–91: 1:14.5

  1991–92: 1:15.6

  1992–93: 1:15.7

  1993–94: 1:16.4

  1994–95: 1:14.81.

  1 Revised figure. The ratio for 1994–95 is not comparable with the ratios for earlier years, because of a change in the basis of the count of staff in 1994–95.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of young people in Northern Ireland have entered higher education in the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years. [3000]

  Mr. Ancram
  The proportion of young people aged under 21 expressed as a percentage of the Northern Ireland 18-year-old population, has been as follows:

  1986–87: 19.4

  1987–88: 20.4

  1988–89: 22.4

  1989–90: 25.6

  1990–91: 27.0

  1991–92: 29.2

  1992–93: 33.3

  1993–94: 37.0

  1994–95: 38.5

  1995–96: 41.71.

  1Provisional.

  Further Education (Staff-Student Ratio)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the staff-student ratio in further education in(a) 1989–90 and (b) 1995–96. [3001]

  Mr. Ancram
  The relevant staff-student ratios are as follows:

  1989–90–1:11.61

  1995–96–1:14.01.

  Further Education (Teachers)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of full-time equivalent teachers in further education in 1989–90; and what it is currently. [3002]

  Mr. Ancram
  The relevant numbers of full-time equivalent teachers are as follows:

  1989–90: 2,850.9

  1995–96: 2.813.02.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what facilities exist for the training of further education lecturers in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [3003]

  Mr. Ancram
  New full-time, permanent lecturers who do not already possess an approved teacher training qualification are expected to achieve the postgraduate certificate in further and higher education within three years of appointment. In-service training awards are available from the Department to assist such lecturers attend this part-time course at the University of Ulster.

  Further Education (Students)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the age profile of full-time students in further education(a) in 1989–90 and (b) currently. [3004]

  Mr. Ancram
  The age profile of full-time students in further education in each year is as follows:

  Age

  Full-time enrolments

  1989–90

  Under 18

  14,887

  19-24

  1,645

  25-34

  327

  35-44

  90

  45 and over

  113

  1995–96

  Under 18

  19,425

  19-24

  3,858

  25-34

  432

  35-44

  137

  45 and over

  82

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of full-time equivalent students enrolled in further education but taking higher level courses in each year since 1989–90. [3006]

  Mr. Ancram
  The number of full-time equivalent students enrolled in further education but taking higher level courses in each year since 1989–90 are as follows:

  Year

  Full-time equivalents

  1989–90

  1,441

  1990–91

  1,531

  1991–92

  1,620

  1992–93

  1,961

  1993–94

  2,295

  257

  Year

  Full-time equivalents

  1994–95

  3,146

  1995–96

  3,687

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the number of young people enrolled on national vocational qualification and general national vocational qualification courses in further education in recent years. [3007]

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1993–94, 995 national vocational qualifications awards were made by the main bodies to persons aged 19 or under; in 1994–95 the figure was 756. Enrolments in general national vocational qualifications programmes in further education colleges were as follows:

  1992–93: 566

  1993–94: 2,645

  1994–95: 5,234.

  Further Education (Costs)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the cost of a full-time equivalent place in further education in constant prices in each year since 1989–90. [3005]

  Mr. Ancram
  The spending per full-time equivalent student in further education colleges has been as follows:

  Constant 1995–95 prices

  £

  1991–92

  2,946

  1992–93

  2,783

  1993–94

  2,789

  1994–95

  2,874

  Comparable figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 are not available.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many surplus primary and secondary school places were removed in the last school session; and if he will make a statement. [3008]

  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 1,295 primary school places were removed in the 1995–96 school year. No surplus secondary school places were removed.

  School Pupil Costs
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the recurrent cost per pupil in primary, secondary and special education in each year since 1989–90, starting with the current cost in that year equalling 100. [3009]

  Mr. Ancram
  Expenditure per pupil figures in constant prices is as follows:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Primary:1992–93(£1,429) = 100

  100

  107

  114

  Secondary: 1992–93 (£2,243) = 100

  100

  105

  111

  258
  Information for primary and secondary is not available for 1989–90,1990–91 or 1991–92 on a comparable basis. Summary information on all forms of special education is not available.

  School Pupil-Teacher Ratios
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools in each year since 1989–90. [3010]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is contained in the table.

  Pupil-teacher ratios in Northern Ireland schools

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Primary1

  23.2

  22.8

  22.6

  22.2

  21.6

  20.8

  Secondary2

  14.7

  14.7

  15.1

  15.2

  15.1

  14.8

  1 Includes pupils and teachers in nursery and reception classes.

  2 Includes secondary and grammar schools.

  Department of Education (Costs)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a breakdown of the administrative costs of the Department of Education by sub-headings in each year since 1989–90. [3011]

  Mr. Ancram
  I will write to the hon. Member when the information becomes available.

  Domestic Rates
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average rate bill per household in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [3939]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Rate Collection Agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Gallagher. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from David Gallagher to Dr. Marjorie Mowlam, dated 13 November 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the average rate bill for households in each of the last ten years.
  The average rate bill for domestic properties in each rating year from 1987/88 was:

  Year

  Average (£)

  1987–88

  233.57

  1988–89

  254.71

  1989–90

  284.55

  1990–91

  309.79

  1991–92

  222.20

  1992–93

  224.79

  1993–94

  230.59

  1994–95

  251.41

  259

  Year

  Average (£)

  1995–96

  294.57

  1996–97

  1305.00

  1 Estimate.

  The above figures have been calculated by taking the total sum of rates assessed for domestic properties (including Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties) and dividing that sum by the total number of domestic properties.
  I hope that you find this information helpful.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [3779]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 12 November 1996]: My right hon. and learned Friend will not be submitting any rules or regulations to the Deregulation Committee.

  In its deliberation of the 1994 Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill, Parliament decided that the general order-making power which enables Ministers to amend primary legislation by subordinate order for deregulatory purposes would not extend to Northern Ireland.

  Any deregulatory measures introduced in Great Britain by means of reference to the Deregulation Committee will, where appropriate, be replicated in Northern Ireland by the Order in Council procedure.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to(a) encourage the reporting and (b) collate statistics on the incidence of feline spongiform encephalopathy, indicating the dates for each action taken; and if he will make a statement. [435]

  Mrs. Browning
  Since November 1994, the diagnosis of any transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in the laboratory, other than those produced by experimental means in the course of research, has been officially notifiable. A free post mortem examination for FSE to encourage the reporting of FSE cases by veterinary practitioners has been available through the veterinary investigation service of MAFF since May 1990.

  Statistics have been collated by the Government since 1990, when the first case of FSE was confirmed. FSE statistics were provided for the hon. Member on 11 November 1996, Official Report, columns 73–74.

  Peanut Warnings
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what obligations(a) companies, (b) organisations and (c) individuals providing catering facilities have to warn customers who may be allergic to
  260
  peanuts of their presence in food that they provide; and if he will make a statement; [3234]

  (2) what obligations manufacturers of food products containing peanuts have, in addition to listing the products' ingredients, with regard to warning sufferers from peanut-related allergic reactions of the presence of peanuts; and if he will make a statement. [3233]

  Mrs. Browning
  All food offered for sale must meet the food safety requirements of the Food Safety Act 1990. There is no specific rule requiring caterers to indicate the presence of peanuts in their foodstuffs. However, many establishments are now aware that some consumers suffer reactions to peanuts and indicate their presence, or absence, in the food that they sell. This is either by a motif or by using the word peanut in the name of the food. Manufacturers of prepacked food have taken similar steps on product labels. There is a legal obligation that such information should not mislead the purchaser.

  Smallholdings
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance his Department gives to encourage smallholdings. [3452]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry's policies and support for agricultural businesses apply both to smallholdings and to larger businesses. In carrying out our various programmes to improve the economic performance of the agriculture industry, full account is taken of the needs of small businesses. Small businesses also benefit from the Ministry's implementation of the Government's deregulation policies.

  Fisheries Agreements (West Africa)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 28 October,Official Report, column 52, what has been the United Kingdom's contribution to the fisheries agreements with the west African countries. [3822]

  Mr. Baldry
  The annual cost to the Community budget of the EC fisheries agreements with west African countries is estimated to be 212 million ecu or £166 million. The UK's contribution will be around 15 per cent.

  Argentine Beef Imports
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on trends in the levels of imports into the United Kingdom of Argentine beef since 1993; what checks are made at ports of entry for the presence of steroids in such beef; and if he will make a statement. [3787]

  Mr. Baldry
  Overseas trade statistics for imports of beef from Argentina into the United Kingdom are as follows:

  1993: 14,285

  1994:1 14,917

  1995:1 28,289

  1996 to July:1 14,634.

  All data are in tonnes.

  1 Provisional data.
  261
  All third countries intending to export animal products to the EU are required to submit plans for residue surveillance for approval by the EU standing veterinary committee. They are also required to submit their results to the Commission as evidence that the surveillance plans are being carried out. Such imports are checked upon entry to verify compliance with animal and public health conditions of import, including conditions relating to steroids. All imports undergo a documentary check. In addition, a percentage are subject to additional identity and physical checks, including checks for prohibited hormones.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the estimated reduction in expenditure on(a) social security benefits, (b) welfare benefits and (c) free school meals for social security benefits recipients if all those aged 18 to 65 years, who were able to work, earned (A) £120, (B) £140 and (C) £160 per week gross of tax and national insurance contributions and 16 and 17-year-olds earned (i) £60, (ii) £70 and (iii) £80 per week gross. [2002]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the tables.

  Table 1 shows the net benefit savings if all the claimant unemployed earned the levels stated.

  Table 2 shows the additional net benefit savings if those currently in work with earnings below the levels stated were to earn the stated value, and work 30 hours or more a week. All figures must be regarded as broad estimates of the potential benefit savings.

  Table 1: Net benefit savings if the unemployed claimant earned £120, £140 or £160 per week

  Earnings

  £120

  £140

  £160

  Net benefit savings

  £6,900 million

  £7,300 million

  £7,600 million

  1 Estimates are based on 2.1 million unemployed, at 1996–97 prices.

  2.Estimates are rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  3.All claimants unemployed are assumed to work 30 hours or more a week.

  4.All partners of claimants unemployed who are identified as in work and earning below the level stated are assumed to work for 30 hours a week at the new level of earnings.

  5.Net benefit savings include the value of free school meals.

  6.Estimates exclude expenditure implications for welfare benefits.

  7.Sixteen and 17-year-olds are deemed to earn £60, £70 or £80 per week in place of £120, £140 and £160 respectively.

  8.Estimates are based on figures from the 1996 departmental report, the 1995 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and the 1994 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1996–97 prices.

  262

  Table 2: Net benefit savings if those currently in work earning less than the value earned £120, £140 or £160 per week

  Earnings

  £120

  £140

  £160

  Net benefit savings

  £1,000 million

  £1,300 million

  £1,600 million

  1.Estimates are set at 1996–97 prices.

  2.Estimates are rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  3.All those affected are assumed to work at least 30 hours a week.

  4.Net benefit savings include the value of free school meals.

  5.Estimates exclude expenditure implications for welfare benefits.

  6.Sixteen and 17-year-olds are deemed to earn £60, £70 or £80 per week in place of £120, £140 and £160 respectively.

  7.Estimates are based on the 1995 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and the 1994–95 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1996–97 prices.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the date on which the Child Support Agency received an application from the parent with care in case 1017680981 for a compensatory award and the date on which he expects that case to be referred to the special payments branch; and if he will make a statement. [2972]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. David Lidington, dated 12 November 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency case reference 1017680981.
  An application for compensation was received on 5 January 1996. In this case, the Agency could not consider the application until a full maintenance assessment had been calculated. A full assessment was calculated on 29 May 1996, and since then every effort has been made by the Agency to secure regular maintenance for the parent with care, culminating in the imposition of a deduction from earnings order on 1 October 1996.
  The claim for compensation was passed to the Agency's Special Payments Branch on I November 1996. Based on the information then available, it was decided that a compensation payment was not appropriate. However, further information has since come to light and it has now been accepted that compensation can be paid. A revised decision has been issued and a compensation payment of £1,651.73 paid.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Statutory Sick Pay and Maternity Pay
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of raising statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay to the level of the lower earnings limit and of the number of people gaining from this. [2782]

  Mr. Heald
  It is estimated that the gross cost of raising the current rate of statutory sick pay and lower rate of statutory maternity pay to the lower earnings limit would be around £135 million per annum. It is not possible to estimate the number of people who would gain from this as many people will already be covered by occupational sick or maternity pay schemes and there is no reliable current information on the extent of this cover.

  Note:

  Estimated expenditure is at current prices and is rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the amounts and types of benefit recouped by the compensation recovery unit which have been reimbursed to the national insurance fund for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96. [2780]

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

  Accounts and types of benefit recouped by the compensation recovery unit

  Benefit type

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  £

  £

  £

  Invalidity benefit1

  31,506,196.35

  51,912,225.48

  45,957,227.95

  Incapacity benefit1

  nil

  nil

  21,806,993.44

  Unemployment benefit1

  236,168.62

  355,419.58

  518,384.73

  Sickness benefit1

  3,027,307.11

  4,391,479.21

  5,039,440.94

  Income support

  5,188,320.46

  7,999,922.25

  10,150,965.02

  Attendance allowance

  495,364.16

  876,537.69

  839,317.51

  Statutory sick pay

  13,874,752.39

  17,268,020.26

  15,281,003.03

  Mobility allowance

  942,886.54

  1,039,547.38

  821,166.41

  Industrial injuries disablement benefit

  7,899,333.58

  12,511,359.68

  16,429,575.75

  Constant attendance allowance

  136,815.64

  244,809.00

  266,496.25

  Reduced earnings allowance

  4,894,461.35

  5,236,865.95

  4,176,652.21

  Retirement allowance

  3,506.55

  5,302.25

  601.76

  Family credit

  914.68

  625.82

  Nil

  Severe disablement allowance

  828,476.30

  1,520,197.28

  1,978,326.60

  Old cases act benefit

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Disability living allowance

  2,486,917.53

  6,601,000.90

  10,823,763.54

  Disability working allowance

  18,940.81

  53,767.19

  89,306.95

  Exceptionally severe disablement allowance

  23,894.90

  61,817.02

  53,128.88

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  >1These amounts have been reimbursed to the National Insurance Fund. The amounts for all other benefits have been reimbursed to either Votes 1 or 2 of Class XIII Appropriation Accounts.

  Private Pensions
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners currently receive private personal pensions; what percentage they comprise of all pensioners; and how many are estimated to receive a personal pension smaller than the level of the basic retirement pension. [3049]

  Mr. Heald
  Approximately 250,000 or 2.5 per cent. of people over state pension age derive an income from a personal pension. This represents 2.5 per cent. over state pension age. The income from the personal pension was less than the value of the standard rate of state retirement pension for a single person in around 160,000 cases.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 1994–95.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Ms. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of basic retirement pensioners who have a total disposable income in excess of(a) twice, (b), three times and (c) four times the basic retirement pension.[3052]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.
  264
  Letter from peter Mathison to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 12 November 1996:
  The secretary of state for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parlimentary Question asking, what were the amounts and types of benefit recouped by the Compensation Recovery Unit which have been reimbursed to the National Insurance Fund for (a) 1993–94 and (b)1994–95 (c)1995–96
  The information requested is shown in the attached table.
  I hope you find this reply helpful

  Disposable income of pensioner units

  Level of disposable income

  Pensioner units

  Over two times basic retirement pension

  Over three times basic retirement pension

  Over four times basic retirement pension

  Pensioner couples

  1,200,000

  550,000

  300,000

  Single pensioners

  1,250,000

  500,000

  200,000

  All pensioner units

  2,450,000

  1,000,000

  450,000

  Source:

  Pensioners' Incomes Series 1993, based mainly upon data from the Family Expenditure Survey 1993.

  1. Estimates of numbers have been rounded to the nearest 50,000 pensioner unit. A pensioner unit is defined as being a single person over state pension age, or a couple where the husband is over state pension age. Components may not sum to the totals due to rounding.

  2. Disposable income has been defined as net income before housing costs for the purpose of this analysis.

  3. The level of standard rate basic retirement pension in 1993 was £54.15 for single penisioners and £86.70 for pensioner couples until April, and from then on £56.10 and £89.80 respectively. For pensioner couples, the information in the table is based upon mulltiples of the couple rate.

  4. The estimates given above are calculated from the number of Family Expenditure Survey respondents who at the time of interview had a disposable income in excess of two, three or four time the standard rate basic retirement pension at that time. The calculations do not, therefore, involve deflating prices to July 1993 levels, consequently results are not directly comparable with published pensioners' Incomes Series results.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on benefit for single parent families in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1994–95 in equivalent terms. [3093]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is in the table.

  £ million

  1979–80

  1990–91

  1994–95

  Cash

  730

  4,680

  8,884

  At 1995–96 prices

  1,874

  5,574

  9,128

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has in respect of the compensation recovery unit. [3383]

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

  "Households Below Average Income"
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the next edition of "Households Below Average Income" will be published. [4277]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis 1979–1993–94" will be published on Thursday 14 November at 9.30 am. Copies will be placed in the Library and made available to Members in the Vote Office.

  Benefits Agency—Secretary of State targets

  Target area

  1995–96 target— National and district

  1996–97 target—National

  1996–97 target—District

  Income support claims (p)

  63 per cent. in 5 days

  63 per cent. in 5 days

  63 per cent. in 5 days

  Income support claims (s)

  87 per cent. in 13 days

  87 per cent. in 13 days

  87 per cent in 13 days

  Incapacity benefit claims (p)

  65 per cent. in 10 days

  65 per cent. in 10 days

  65 per cent. in 10 days

  Incapacity benefit claims (s)

  85 per cent. in 30 days

  85 per cent. in 30 days

  85 per cent. in 30 days

  Social fund crisis loans1

  On the day the need arises

  On the day the need arises

  On the day the need arises

  Income support accuracy

  87 per cent.

  87 per cent.

  76 per cent.2

  Short term benefit accuracy

  94 per cent.

  94 per cent.

  94 per cent.

  1 Target considered met if 95 per cent. of claims are cleared within one day.

  2All districts within London South area directorate have been set an income support accuracy improvement target of 76 per cent.

  (p) primary target.

  (s) secondary target.

  1. Hampshire comprises of the Benefits Agency districts of Hampshire North, South, East Hants and WTight and Solent and Forest.

  Benefits agency—Secretary of State targets—1995–96 performance against targets

  Percentage

  Target

  National

  Hampshire North

  South East Hants and Wight

  Solent and Forest

  Income support claims (p)

  67.1 per cent.

  63.1 per cent.

  61.2 per cent.

  66.0 per cent.

  Income support claims (s)

  88.2 per cent.

  86.2 per cent.

  86.4 per cent.

  88.7 per cent.

  Incapacity benefit claims

  78.9 per cent.

  74.3 per cent.

  84.0 per cent.

  77.5 per cent.

  Incapacity benefit claims (s)

  96.0 per cent.

  92.7 per cent.

  96.6 per cent.

  96.0 per cent.

  Social fund crisis loans

  97.4 per cent.

  98.4 per cent.

  98.3 per cent.

  92.9 per cent.

  Income support accuracy

  78.1 per cent.

  71.7 per cent.

  69.5 per cent.

  80.0 per cent.

  Short-term benefit accuracy1

  90.7 per cent.

  86.9 per cent.

  —

  —

  1 Only Hampshire North was visited by the STB accuracy checking team in 1995–96.

  (p) primary target.

  (s) secondary target.

  Benefits Agency Staff
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many Benefits Agency customer services staff there are; and what estimate he has made of the likely change in numbers in the next financial year; [3349]

  (2) how many persons worked within his Department's Benefit Agency as customer service staff in the last year for which figures are available. [3345]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information regarding the total number of Benefits Agency customer service staff is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Information regarding the number of district information officers is available only for 1995–96; approximately 450 were employed.

  Local Offices (Hampshire)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the performance targets for each social security office in Hampshire for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97; and how many of these targets were achieved in 1995–96 in each case indicating how these targets and achievements relate to those set nationally.[3355]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  The tables provide performance targets and achievement covering the Benefits, Child Support and Contributions Agencies. Only the Benefits Agency has individual targets for offices within Hampshire.
  267

  Benefits agency—Secretary of State financial targets 1995–96 and 1996–97 and performance against targets 1995–96

  Target/achievement

  National £

  Hampshire North £

  South East Hants and Wight £

  Solent and Forest £

  Social fund recovery

  1995–96 target

  273 million

  1.16 million

  2.30 million

  2.22 million

  1995–96 achievement

  263.5 million

  1.11 million

  2.21 million

  2.03 million

  1996–97 target

  278 million

  1.26 million

  2.26 million

  2.14 million

  Social fund expenditure1

  1995–96 target

  406 million

  1.73 million

  3.24 million

  2.98 million

  1995–96 achievement

  401 million

  1.70 million

  3.24 million

  2.86 million

  1996–97 target

  440 million

  1.82 million

  3.59 million

  3.09 million

  Benefit savings (fraud)

  1995–96 target2

  680 million

  —3

  —

  —

  1995–96 achievement

  715.6 million

  —3

  —

  —

  1996–97 target

  —

  —3

  —

  —

  Overpayments

  1995–96 target

  110 million

  —4

  —

  —

  1995–96 achievement

  122 million

  —4

  —

  —

  1996–97 target

  91.5 million

  343,000

  632,000

  627,000

  1 The Social Fund expenditure target is "to keep to the cash limit agreement with Treasury for the discretionary social fund budget approved by Parliament".

  2 From 1996–97 benefit savings (fraud) are included in the new security target.

  3 No. 1995–96 or 1996–97 target or performance data available at district level.

  4 No overpayment recovery target or performance data available at district level in 1995–96.

  Contributions agency—1995–96 Secretary of State target and performance against targets

  1995–96

  Class 1 survey—yield identified

  Number of class 1 and educational surveys

  Target

  Achieved

  Target

  Achieved

  Southhampton

  904,400

  1,229,383

  829

  560

  Portsmouth

  1,123,200

  593,653

  934

  1,109

  Fareham

  567,800

  391,630

  384

  470

  Aldershot

  759,600

  825,026

  655

  586

  National

  133 million

  151.7 million

  116,500

  123,308

  Collectable class 2 identified

  Customer inquiries

  1995–96

  Target

  Achieved

  Target (per cent.)

  Achieved (per cent.)

  Southampton

  314

  160

  95.0

  100.0

  Portsmouth

  379

  429

  95.0

  91.5

  Fareham

  152

  143

  95.0

  100.0

  Aldershot

  217

  188

  95.0

  100.0

  National

  40,000

  39,791

  95.0

  93.8

  Contributions agency—1996–97 Secretary of State targets

  1996–97

  Class 1 survey—yield identified Target £

  Collectable class 2 identified Target

  Customer inquiries Target (per cent.)

  Portsmouth

  1,179,648

  544

  95

  Southampton

  1,277,952

  589

  95

  National

  150 million

  40,000

  95

  1. In April 1995 Hampshire division consisted of four parent offices—Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham and Aldershot.

  2.In October 1995 regions replaced divisions. Hampshire division was split between South and West and South East regions. Aldershot and Basingstoke became part of South East region, while the other areas formed a part of the South and West.

  3. Within Hampshire in 1996–97, targets have been set individually for Portsmouth and Southampton only.

  Child support agency—Secretary of State targets 1995–96 and 1996–97 and performance against targets 1995–96:

  1995–96 national target

  1995–96 national achievement

  1996–97 national target

  £300 million to be collected, or arranged for direct payment from absent parent to parent with care in 1995–96.

  £301.5

  A band of £380 million to £400 million of maintenance to be collected by the agency or arranged for payment direct form absent parent to parent to parent with care.

  268

  Child support agency—Secretary of State targets 1995–96 and 1996–97 and performance against targets 1995–96:

  1995–96 national target

  1995–96 national achievement

  1996–97 national target

  90 per cent. of payments to be made to the parent with care within 10 working days of receipt from the absent parent.

  97 per cent.

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

  269

  Child support agency—Secretary of State targets 1995–96 and 1996–97 and performance against targets 1995–96:

  1995–96 national target

  1995–96 national achievement

  1996–97 national target

  To achieve rapid and continuing improvement in accuracy so that in at least 75 per cent. of cases checked in March the cash value will be correct.

  79 per cent.

  To achieve a continuing improvement in accuracy so that at least 85 per cent. of cases checked during March the case value of the assessment will be correct.

  Where the client is dissatisfied with a CSO's decision and requests a review, 50 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80 per cent. within 26 weeks and no more than 20 per cent. to be older than 26 weeks at 31 March 1996.

  52 per cent. within 13 weeks 71 per cent. within 26 weeks 27 per cent. over 26 weeks

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

  60 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and at 31 March 1996 no more than 10 per cent. of all maintenance applications received by the agency to be over 52 weeks old.

  48 per cent. within 26 weeks 15 per cent. over 52 weeks old

  60 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and at 31 March 1997 no more than 10 per cent. of all maintenance application received by the agency to be over 52 weeks old.

  To manage the agency's resources to deliver its business plan within the gross vote budget allocation.

  £194 million

  Not a Secretary of State target this year

  A score of 65 percent. on an index of client satisfaction as determined by an independent national survey.

  45 per cent.

  Not a Secretary of State target this year.

  Note:

  Hampshire offices are dealt with by the Plymouth Child Support Agency centre, but separate performance figures for those offices are not collected.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who have suffered a reduction in related earnings allowance with the introduction of the retirement allowance in each Benefits Agency office in Hampshire. [3354]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the policies governing advice for social fund applications undertaken by the Benefits Agency. [3352]
  270
  Mr. Roger Evans
  Section 140 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 requires that"A social fund officer shall determine any question in accordance with any general directions issued by the Secretary of State and in determining any question shall take account of any general guidance issued by him."

  That guidance is contained in the social fund guide and is intended to explain the basis for social fund officers' powers to determine applications to the discretionary social fund and to help them interpret the Secretary of State's directions in a consistent and flexible way.

  Section 140 also requires social fund officers to take account of any guidance issued by the social fund officer nominated for his area under section 64 of the Administration Act 1992. This local guidance concerns the level of priority of applications which can be met from the district budget.

  Regionalised Benefit Rates
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to regionalise benefit rates; and if he will make a statement. [3263]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  None. Regional benefit rates would be complex and expensive to administer.

  Computer System
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress with the installation of the NIRS 2 computer system; and for what reasons Andersen Consulting will not have the system fully operational in February 1997. [3264]

  Mr. Heald
  Progress on the development of the NIRS 2 computer system is currently proceeding in accordance with the contractual timetable. Under the contract with Andersen Consulting it was always the intention that the system would be fully operational by April 1999. This is still the planned date for NIRS 2 to be fully operational.

  Claimant Entitlement Decisions
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to restrict support for departmental employees in establishing claimants' benefit entitlements;[3341]

  (2)what plans he has to remove independent adjudication of claims from the social security system; [3342]

  (3) what proposals he has to change current regulations governing claimants' rights and service levels. [3344]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Full details of the Government's proposals for new decision making and appeals processes are set out in the Green Paper, "Improving decision making and appeals in Social Security", Cm 3328, which was published on July 23. The Green Paper was issued to a wide range of organisations with an interest in social security matters. Comments on the proposals were invited by 18 October.

  The responses received—around 440—are currently being independently analysed. We plan to publish the results of the consultation exercise early in the new year

  271
  and we will ensure that a copy is placed in the Library. Final decisions on the best way forward will be taken in the light of all the representations received.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals for privatisation in the social security system. [3343]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There are no proposals for privatisation of the social security system.

  Involvement of the private sector in the Department of Social Security is part of a wider programme of change to reduce running costs and improve efficiency.

  Correspondence
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when a reply will be sent to the letter from the hon. Member for Rochdale to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State dated 22 August, relating to Mr. R. Marsh of 43 Haslam street, Rochdale, Lancashire. [3786]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I replied to the hon. Member on 23 October.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Discipline
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received regarding measures relating to school discipline in the Education Bill. [2089]

  Mr. Forth
  While preparing the legislation, we have received a large number of representations from head teacher and teacher organisations, local authorities, school governors and other bodies with an interest in promoting good behaviour and effective discipline in schools.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to improve school discipline. [2091]

  Mr. Forth
  The Education Bill introduced on 30 October includes a package of measures to strengthen schools' ability to take action in the face of poor behaviour and discipline; to help ensure there is proper support for schools in dealing with pupils with behavioural problems; and to promote effective provision for such pupils out of school where necessary.

  Education Funding (Staffordshire)
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she last met the chief education officer of Staffordshire county council to discuss the level of education funding; and if she will make a statement. [2090]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend met Dr. Hunter, the chief education officer of Staffordshire, on 4 November. They discussed a number of issues concerning education in Staffordshire.

  Primary School Class Sizes
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy to reduce primary school class sizes. [2092]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is the Government's policy to allow local authorities to determine the distribution of available resources between their primary and secondary schools; and to allow governors and head teachers to manage the distribution among classes of pupils, teachers and support staff.

  Teaching Unions (Meetings)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will review the practice of teaching union representatives attending meetings during schools hours. [2094]

  Mr. Forth
  This is a matter for local management in the light of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service code of practice on time off for trade union duties and activities.

  Lostwithiel Primary School
  Sir Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will make a decision on Cornwall local education authority's application for funding to assist with the cost of the Lostwithiel county primary school rebuilding programme; and if she will make a statement. [2095]

  Mrs. Gillan
  All local education authorities' bids for capital funding under annual capital guidelines and for grant aid for projects at voluntary aided schools, are currently being assessed. Decisions will be announced shortly before Christmas.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to change the SSA calculations for local education authorities. [2096]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will make a statement on the SSA methodology for 1997–98 shortly after the Budget.

  Mr. Biffen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means, and by what date, she will ensure the details of the education standard spending assessments for 1997–98 will be available to hon. Members. [3510]

  Mr. Squire
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be making a statement shortly after the Budget. Written details of the education standard spending assessments for local authorities in 1997–98, together with details of the SSAs for the other major services, will be available at that time.

  Higher and Further Education Institutions
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) higher education institutions and (b) further education institutions currently do not have cash reserves to cover 30 days of total expenditure. [2097]

  Mr. Forth
  Eighty-eight higher education institutions did not have net cash balances sufficient to cover 30 days' expenditure at 31 July 1995. At the same date, 128 further education institutions had less than 30 days' cash in hand.

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils have been excluded from secondary schools in England in the last 12 months. [2098]

  Mr. Forth
  The latest figures on exclusions, which relate to the school year 1994–95, show that 8,870 pupils were permanently excluded from secondary schools in England.

  School Funding
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to review the allocation of resources to schools which under-perform. [2099]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  None.

  Unemployment (East London)
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the percentage of unemployment for(a) men and (b) women in Ilford, South in November 1990; what it is currently; and what plans she has to introduce further measures to reduce unemployment in east London. [2100]

  Mr. Forth
  Claimant unemployment rates are not available at constituency level. Claimant unemployment figures for Ilford, South in November 1990 was 1,633 men and 606 women. In September 1996 the figures were 3,251 and 1,126, respectively.

  However, I am pleased to say that unemployment in both south Ilford and east London is falling in line with national trends. Unemployment in south Ilford fell from a peak of 5,403 in August 1993 to 4,377 in September 1996. Similarly, unemployment in east London fell from a peak of 55,709 in April 1993 to 41,029 in September 1996.

  In east London, as elsewhere, the Employment Service and the training and enterprise councils will continue to deliver a wide range of programmes to help people find the best and quickest route back to employment. In particular, on 7 November I announced plans to extend the project work pilots to a number of areas across the country, including a large part of east and north-east London, which includes south Ilford.

  Claimant Register
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the reasons for which people have left the claimant register over the last year. [2101]

  Mr. Forth
  Of those leaving claimant unemployment with a known destination, around 70 per cent. do so because they have found work.

  School Commendations
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many grant-maintained and local education authority schools won Office for Standards in Education commendations for excellence in the most recent year for which information is available. [2102]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Of the 203 schools commended by the chief inspector in his 1994–95 annual report, 39 or 19 per cent. are grant-maintained and 162 are maintained by local education authorities; one is a city technology college and one is an independent special school. This contrasts with the underlying proportion of GM schools, compared with the rest of the state sector, of 5 per cent.

  High-tech Businesses
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent consultations she has had on the training requirements of new high-tech businesses. [2103]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department provides support to industry training organisations and training and enterprise councils, which enables them to monitor and address training requirements including those related to new high-tech businesses.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for education and Employment what plans she has to introduce measures to reduce unemployment among 16 to 18-year-olds. [2104]

  Mr. Forth
  The Government will continue with policies to improve standards of education and training and create a flexible and deregulated labour market which have already delivered one of the lowest rates of youth unemployment in Europe. In particular, we shall continue to resist the imposition of policies such as the social chapter and the national minimum wage, which would destroy jobs and create youth unemployment at levels seen in France and Spain where those policies are in place and where youth unemployment stands at 29 per cent. and 39 per cent. respectively.

  Unemployment Trends
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on trends in unemployment levels over the last year. [2105]

  Mr. Forth
  The United Kingdom started 1996 with unemployment lower than any other major European country and with unemployment falling at an underlying rate averaging around 10,000 per month. During the
  275
  course of the year the labour market has continued to improve and the Office for National Statistics estimates that the underlying rate at which unemployment is falling now averages around 15,000 to 20,000 per month.

  Workplace Training
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask. the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on policies to encourage workplace training schemes. [2106]

  Mr. Paice
  Employers must take the lead on workplace training. The Government's policy encourages them to look upon training as an investment by demonstrating the business benefits enjoyed by employers who invest effectively in training. Training and enterprise councils are working with employers in a variety of ways to help them address and manage their training needs. Our approach is working, recent surveys show that there has been a considerable increase in the number of employees receiving training in recent years.

  The investors in people standard is helping employers to make their training investment effective by linking the training and development needs of their work force directly with the achievement of business goals. Almost 25,000 employers are committed to the standard, of which 4,330 are already recognised as investors in people.

  European Social Fund
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to secure accelerated payments to qualifying organisations under the European social fund.[2107]

  Mr. Paice
  Payments of claims relating to approved European social fund projects cannot begin until the money arrives from the European Commission. Thereafter payment is made as soon as possible.

  Training (Young People)
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to extend training opportunities for those aged under 25 years. [2108]

  Mr. Paice
  The Government have consulted widely concerning the introduction of national traineeships and access and support strategies for 14 to 19-year-olds as recommended in Sir Ron Dearing's report on 16 to 19 qualifications. Details of the Government's plans for these new initiatives will be published in a White Paper in

  School

  LEA area

  Nature of change

  Date approved

  Abbs Cross school

  Havering

  10 per cent. music

  June 1993

  Beaverwood girls school

  Bromley

  10 per cent. performing arts (music and dance)

  August 1994

  Beverley school

  Kingston upon Thames

  10 per cent. art or music

  October 1994

  Bishop's Stortford school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music, sport or drama

  October 1993

  Canterbury high school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music

  April 1993

  Cardinal Vaughan Memorial school

  Kensington and Chelsea

  10 per cent. music

  August 1994

  Chancellor's school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent music, drama or sport

  December 1993

  Charles Dickens high school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music

  February 1993

  Chatham grammar school for girls

  Kent

  10 per cent. music, sport or drama

  August 1995

  Chaucer Technology school

  Kent

  10 per cent. technology

  December 1993

  276
  December. Modern apprenticeships continue to expand with over 41,500 young people starting training in 60 industry sectors.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much she plans to spend on publicity for the national implementation of the nursery voucher scheme. [2109]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig).

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will assess the impact of the jobseeker's allowance on rural areas. [2082]

  Mr. Paice
  We have commissioned a full evaluation of JSA policy from the centre for research in social policy at Loughborough university. The Employment Service itself will be carrying out local monitoring of delivery.

  Home-school Contracts
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received on the introduction of home-school contracts for all schools. [2093]

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to oral answer that my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy).

  Schools (Selection Applications)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many grant-maintained schools have(a) applied and (b) been approved to select up to 15 per cent. of their intake; and if she will name each such school and the selection criteria agreed. [2755]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table lists the 43 grant-maintained schools which received approval to select up to 10 per cent. of their pupils on the basis of ability or aptitude in certain specified subjects between January 1989 and September 1996. Grant-maintained schools have not since then been required to obtain approval for changes to their admission arrangements which do not require the publication of statutory proposals. Circular 6/69, "Admissions to Maintained Schools", takes the view that admission authorities may select up to 15 per cent. of a school intake in any subject, or by general ability, without the need to publish statutory proposals.
  277

  School

  LEA area

  Nature of change

  Date approved

  Cliff Park high school

  Norfolk

  10 per cent. music

  October 1994

  Cooper's school

  Bromley

  10 per cent. music, drama, Dance or sport

  June 1993

  Crofton school

  Hampshire

  5 places music

  October 1994

  Dame Alice Owen school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music or sport

  April 1993

  Dane Court Grammar school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music, sport, drama or any unusual talent

  March 1994

  Deacons school

  Cambridgeshire

  10 per cent. technology

  August 1994

  Dunrave school

  Lambeth

  10 per cent. music

  October 1993

  Enfield grammar school

  Enfield

  10 per cent. music or sport

  December 1993

  Goffs school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music, drama, sport or languages

  October 1995

  Heathside school

  Surrey

  10 per cent. music or sport

  July 1993

  Hendon school

  Barnet

  10 per cent. music

  November 1995

  Hertfordshire and Essex high school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music, sport or drama

  March 1994

  Hinchley Wood school

  Surrey

  10 per cent. music

  July 1995

  Kemnal Manor school

  Bromley

  10 per cent. technology

  February 1994

  King Edward VI grammar school

  Essex

  Three places for choristers

  June 1993

  Kings' school

  Cambridgeshire

  10 per cent. music and choristers

  October 1993

  La Retraite school

  Lambeth

  10 per cent. music

  September 1993

  La Sainte Union convent school

  Camden

  10 per cent. music

  September 1995

  Langley Park school for boys

  Kent

  10 per cent. music or sport

  September 1993

  Leventhorpe school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music

  October 1995

  Lincoln Christ's Hospital school

  Lincolnshire

  10 per cent. music

  October 1994

  Mill Hill county school

  Barnet

  10 per cent. music

  October 1993

  Queen's school

  Hertfordshire

  10 per cent. music, art or sport

  March 1993

  Rainham Mark grammar school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music, sport, drama or any unusual talent

  February 1992

  Rainsford high school

  Essex

  10 per cent. music or drama

  March 1994

  Robert Napier school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music, sport, drama or any unusual talent

  February 1992

  St. Anne's convent school

  Hampshire

  10 per cent. music

  January 1996

  St. George's CE school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music

  July 1995

  Thamesmead school

  Surrey

  10 per cent. music

  October 1994

  Ursuline convent school

  Essex

  10 per cent. music

  December 1993

  Westland high school

  Kent

  10 per cent. music

  January 1993

  Winston Churchill school

  Surrey

  6 per cent. music

  October 1995

  Wymondham college

  Norfolk

  10 per cent. music

  March 1995

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what regulations her Department proposes to repeal by the end of 1996; if she proposes to conduct a compliance cost assessment on each regulation repealed; and what is the estimated cost of undertaking a compliance cost assessment to determine the advantages or disadvantages of each such a repeal. [3202]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 11 November 1996]: It is proposed to revoke the Education (Transfer of Functions Relating to Grant-maintained Schools) Order 1996, SI 1996/2247, and to make a fresh order with technical amendments. No compliance cost is involved. The effect of the order is to transfer the function in relation to the consent to borrowing by grant-maintained schools in England from the Secretary of State to the Funding Agency for Schools.

  Travel-to-work Funding
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assistance is available to a person who lacks funds to travel to work in respect of a job opportunity verified by the local office of her Department. [3628]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  278
  Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Peter Griffiths, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the payment of fares to travel to work. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  While there are no schemes set up specifically to provide assistance with travel costs upon finding employment, Jobseekers who have been unemployed for two years or more may be entitled to claim the Jobfinder's Grant.
  The purpose of the Grant is to encourage people to look for work by overcoming some of the barriers associated with the transition from benefits into employment.
  Ongoing research has indicated that over 70¦ of Grant recipients cited the need to travel to work as one of the problems they had faced.
  In addition, we have been running the Travel to Interview Scheme for a number of years to help unemployed people cope with the expense of getting to job interviews. The scheme does this by helping people who have been unemployed more than 13 weeks with travelling costs, and if necessary, overnight accommodation costs to attend job interviews outside their usual travel to work area. A few basic conditions must be met before assistance can be granted, to ensure the scheme is properly and fairly administered and gives good value for money. In the last year the scheme has helped nearly 47,000 applicants with travelling costs totalling £1.7m.
  We also provide extra help for disabled people. People with disabilities can be given help with travel costs to attend job interviews and, if necessary, the travel costs of someone to accompany them, through our specialist Placing Assessment and Counselling Teams (PACTS). In addition, once a job has been

  279
  secured, the Access to Work programme can provide help with the additional costs, resulting from disability, of getting to and from work.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Religious Education
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many secondary schools(a) have a member of staff specialising in religious education and (b) have no such member of staff. [3626]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department does not collect detailed information about the deployment of teachers in individual schools. However, the 1992 secondary school staffing survey indicated that over 90 per cent. of schools had at least one teacher with an RE qualification.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers in training for secondary school posts are specialising in religious education. [3625]

  Mr. Forth
  In 1995–96, 494 students entered courses of initial teacher training in which religious eduction was either the main or second subject.

  Secondary Schools (Unacceptable Placements)
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many secondary school age pupils are at present being kept at home because local education authorities have not offered placements acceptable to the parents. [3627]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Teachers (Warwickshire)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many full-time equivalent teachers were employed in Warwickshire; and what was the pupil-teacher ratio in each year since 1991–92. [3511]

  Mr. Forth
  The number of full-time equivalent teachers employed in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector, including grant-maintained schools, and the overall pupil-teacher ratio, for the Warwickshire local education authority area are shown in the table.

  Position in January each year

  Warwickshire LEA area

  FTE teacher numbers1

  Overall PTR

  1992

  3,904

  17.8

  1993

  3,961

  17.8

  19942

  4,017

  17.7

  19952

  4,027

  18.0

  19962

  3,875

  18.9

  1 Excluding FTE teachers in special education and education elsewhere.

  2 Excluding sixth form colleges from 1994 onwards.

  Pupils (Unit Costs)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has to 280
  publish the unit costs of pupils in primary and secondary schools in all local education authority areas in England for 1995–96. [3828]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Provisional aggregate outturn expenditure per pupil for all LEA-maintained pre-primary, primary and secondary schools for 1995–96 will be published in the Department's annual report in March 1997. Data for individual LEAs should be available shortly thereafter.

  Higher Education Staff
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to establish a pay review body for staff employed in higher education establishments [3687]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.

  EDS Ltd.
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many contracts her Department, agencies and associated bodies have had with EDS for each year since 1985; what was the value of each contract; if she will indicate for each contract(a) if it was completed, (b) what modifications were made at the request of (i) the company and (ii) the Department and (c) if work under contract is being undertaken in-house; and if she will make a statement on the number of job reductions in her Department arising from the contracting out of work to EDS. [3795]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Both the Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service have recently signed contracts with EDS for access to the Government catalogue framework agreement for the supply of IT goods and services. EDS operates the catalogue on behalf of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. No modifications have been made to this contract.

  The Student Loans Company entered into a contract with EDS for software to support its lending operations in 1989. In 1990, at the suggestion of EDS, the contract was extended to include the provision of loan repayment software. The total value of the contract was £3 million per annum. Early in 1993, the SLC signed a revised contract with EDS which transferred ownership of the software lending system to the SLC. In 1995 the contract ended.

  There are no other contracts between the Department or its agencies and EDS. I am not aware of any further contracts between the Department's associated bodies and EDS.

  There have been no job reductions in the Department, its agencies and associated bodies as a result of contracting out work to EDS.

  Corporal Punishment
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will undertake a public consultation exercise on the value of corporal punishment in schools; and if she will make a statement. [2428]
  281
  Mr. Forth
  No. Corporal punishment is an issue which gives rise to a wide range of sincerely held views. However, the Government's view is that its reintroduction would not solve problems of indiscipline in schools.

  Teachers' Superannuation Scheme
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many requests for information the teachers' superannuation scheme has received from pension transfers and opt-outs; in how many cases all appropriate information has been supplied; what is the average length of time taken to supply such information; and what moratorium has been introduced on supplying such information. [3346]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Approximately 7,000 requests for information have been received in respect of members of the teachers' superannuation scheme for England and Wales. Responses have been issued in more than 1,000 cases. The average time taken to deal with priority cases is between three and four weeks. The Teachers' Pensions agencies which administers the teachers' superannuation scheme, was unable to deal with requests for information until 1 October when regulations came into force which enable it to provide and charge for information and process re-instalments.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many independent schools receiving funds from the assisted places scheme publish full accounts which are publicly available; and if she will list them. [3397]

  Mrs. Gillan
  All 355 schools participating In the assisted places scheme in England are conducted for charitable purposes, as required by section 479 of the Education Act 1996. Copies of their accounts are lodged with the Charity Commission and are publicly available.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils benefiting from the assisted places scheme have been (i) temporarily and (ii) permanently excluded from their school in each of the past five years. [3398]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Where an assisted pupil is expelled from a participating school, assistance under the scheme ceases from the date of expulsion.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what checks are carried out by her Department of the administration by individual schools of applications under the assisted places scheme; and(a) how many random audit checks have been made to ensure parental assessments have been carried out, (b) how many of the random checks uncovered shortcomings in the school's administration and (c) what action was taken against schools where shortcomings were found in each of the past five years. [3399]

  Mrs. Gillan
  All schools' claims for fee remission are audited by independent auditors who have to be satisfied that the claims have been prepared in accordance with the regulations governing the scheme and are in agreement 282
  with the schools' own financial records. The auditors are expected to check a sample of the parental income assessments carried out by the school.

  In addition, the Department carries out an annual audit survey on a random sample of participating schools to monitor their administration of the scheme, particularly with regard to their assessments of parental income. These surveys have identified a small proportion of cases with shortcomings which are drawn to the attention of the individual schools concerned in the sample and corrective action taken. After each survey, guidance is also issued to all schools in the scheme on the survey's findings to strengthen their administration.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools receiving funds from the assisted places scheme have had a full Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools or Office for Standards in Education inspection in the past five years. [3400]

  Mrs. Gillan
  All participating schools are covered in the cycle of independent school inspections carried out by Ofsted and the great majority have been visited by HMI in the past five years.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils have benefited from the assisted places scheme in each of the past five years; and what were total funds(a) allocated and (b) spent in each year. [3401]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is given in the report of the Department for Education and Employment, Cm 3210, published in March 1996, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many parents claiming funds under the assisted places scheme were(a) self employed and (b) unemployed in each of the past five years. [3402]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what checks her Department makes on schools which apply to receive pupils under the assisted places scheme. [3403]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Under section 479 of the Education Act 1996, the Secretary of State must have regard to the desirability of securing an equitable distribution of assisted places geographically and between boys and girls. Schools applying for admission to the scheme must be finally registered with the Department and conducted for charitable purposes only, and must satisfy stringent published criteria relating to the breadth and balance of their curriculum, the academic achievements of their pupils and the quality of their teaching staff. Information about the educational opportunities available, their intake policy and financial viability is also taken into account.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the independent schools which received funds from the assisted places scheme with, for each school(a) the number of pupils benefiting from the scheme and (b) the amount of money received in each of the past five years. [3404]
  283
  Mrs. Gillan
  A copy of the relevant tables for the academic years 1991–92 to 1995–96 has been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number and location of jobcentres in each Scottish local authority area. [3699]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question 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 Mike Fogden to Mr. James Wallace, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about the number and location of jobcentres in each Scottish local authority area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as chief Executive of the Agency.
  I can confirm that there are currently 132 Jobcentres in Scotland. For ease of reference I have attached as Annex 1 a detailed list of all Jobcentres and the corresponding local authority.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Unitary authority areas

  Jobcentres

  Aberdeen, City of

  Aberdeen Thistle Street and St. Nicholas

  Aberdeenshire

  Banff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead

  Angus

  Arbroath, Blairgowrie, Montrose

  Argyll and Bute

  Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Lochgilphead, Oban, Rothesay

  Ayrshire, East

  Cumnock, Kilmarnock A and B

  Ayrshire North

  Irvine, Kilbirnie, Kilwinning, Largs, Saltcoats

  Ayrshire, South

  Ayr, Troon, Girvan

  Clackmannanshire

  Alloa

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annan, Dumfries, Lockerbie, Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Sanquhar, Stranraer

  Dunbartonshire, East

  Kirkintilloch

  Dunbartonshire, West

  Alexandria, Clydebank, Dumbarton

  Dundee, City

  Dundee Wellgate and Gellatly Street

  Edinburgh, City of

  High Riggs, Torphichen Street, South St. Andrew Street, Leith, Portobello, Wester Hailes

  Falkirk

  Denny, Falkirk, Grangemouth

  Fife

  Glenrothes, Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldly, Leven, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, Cupar, St. Andrews

  Glasgow, city of

  Anniesland, Bridgeton, Castlemilk, Drumchapel, Easterhouse, Glasgow City, Glasgow Central, Govan, Hillington, Langside, Laurieston, Maryhill, Parkhead, Partick, Shawlands, Shettleston, South Side, Springburn

  Highland

  Alness, Invergordon, Thurso, Wick, Fort William, Inverness A and B, Nairn, Dingwall, Portree

  Inverclyde

  Greenock A and B, Port Glasgow

  Lanarkshire, North

  Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Motherwell, Shots, Wishaw

  Lanarkshire, South

  Blantyre, Cambuslang, Carluke, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Lanark, Larkhall, Rutherglen, Uddingston

  Lothian, East

  Musselburgh, Haddington

  Lothian, West

  Bathgate, Bo'ness, Broxburn, Livingston

  284

  Unitary authority areas

  Jobcentres

  Midlothian

  Dalkeith, Loanhead, Peebles, Penicuick

  Moray

  Buckie, Elgin, Forres

  Orkney Islands

  Kirkwall

  Perth and Kinross

  Forfar, Perth

  Renfrewshire

  Johnstone, Linwood, Renfrew, Paisley

  Renfrewshire, East

  Barrhead

  Scottish Borders

  Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso

  Shetland

  Lerwick

  Stirling

  Stirling

  Western Isles

  Stornoway

  Job Vacancy Display Boards
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her policy regarding the location of the job vacancy display boards in libraries, community centres and post offices in Scotland; and what financial contribution has been made by each unitary authority in Scotland towards this service in each of the last three years. [3700]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question 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 Mike Fogden to Mr. James Wallace, dated 12 November 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about policy on the location of job vacancy display boards in libraries, community centres and post offices in Scotland; and what financial contribution has been made by each unitary local authority in Scotland towards this service in each of the last 3 years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Through its network of local Jobcentres, The Employment Service in Scotland regularly reviews the provision of job vacancy display boards to libraries, community centres and post offices according to the needs and availability of appropriate venues. The provision of such display boards depends on the local labour market covered and the need to ensure that a system can be put in place to keep vacancies on display up to date. Local authorities do not make a financial contribution to this service.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Physical Education
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount of time primary school pupils are expected to devote to physical eduction each week; and what school facilities her Department assesses are necessary to support this. [4057]

  Mrs. Gillan
  It is for schools to decide how much time to allocate for the teaching of physical education. In deciding how much time to allocate, schools may wish to bear in mind the recommendation in the Government's 1995 "Raising the Game" policy statement on sport that they should offer two hours a week of physical education and sport in formal lessons.

  The Department makes no assessment of the facilities necessary to support physical education teaching; this is a decision for schools.

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