Written Answers of 15 October 1996

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to review the workings of the Serious Fraud Office; and if he will make a statement. [40554]

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office continues to implement recommendations made in the Graham report and by the Davie group, including measures to rationalise its investigative function and to make the most efficient use of police resources. I have no plans for further reorganisation.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the total number of magistrates' courts in each region, for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [39116]

  Mr. Streeter
  [pursuant to reply, 24 July 1996, c. 340]: The information requested is not collected centrally. Magistrates' courts are locally managed by magistrates' courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979.

  The extra time to answer this question afforded by the parliamentary adjournment has allowed officials to contact each of the 100 MCCs, and for the requested information to be collected. The cost of this exercise has exceeded the maximum limit set for answering parliamentary questions.

  The information requested is as follows:

  Magistrates courts' committee area

  The number of magistrates courts 1992 to 1996

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Avon

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Barking

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Barnet

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Barnsley

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Bedfordshire

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  16

  15

  15

  13

  13

  Bexley

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Birmingham

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Bolton

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Brent

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Bromley

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Buckinghamshire

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Bury

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Calderdale

  3

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  8

  7

  7

  7

  7

  Cheshire

  10

  10

  10

  9

  10

  828

  Magistrates courts' committee area

  The number of magistrates courts 1992 to 1996

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  City of London

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Cleveland

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Cornwall

  9

  9

  9

  9

  9

  Coventry

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Croydon

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Cumbria

  12

  12

  12

  10

  10

  Derbyshire

  13

  13

  12

  12

  12

  Devon

  18

  18

  18

  18

  17

  Doncaster

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Dorset

  12

  12

  12

  11

  11

  Dudley

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Durham

  9

  9

  9

  9

  9

  Dyfed

  15

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Ealing

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  East Sussex

  9

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Enfield

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Essex

  13

  13

  13

  13

  12

  Gateshead

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Gloucestershire

  11

  11

  9

  9

  9

  Gwent

  11

  11

  10

  10

  9

  Hampshire

  16

  13

  12

  10

  10

  Haringey

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Harrow

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Havering

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Hereford and Worcester

  10

  9

  9

  9

  9

  Hertfordshire

  10

  10

  9

  9

  9

  Hillingdon

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Hounslow

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Humberside

  17

  17

  17

  17

  10

  Inner London

  20

  19

  19

  19

  17

  Isle of Wight

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Kent

  17

  16

  16

  15

  14

  Kingston upon Thames

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Knowsley

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Lancashire

  16

  14

  13

  13

  13

  Leeds

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Leicestershire

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  Lincolnshire

  14

  14

  14

  14

  14

  Liverpool

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Manchester

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Merton

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Newham

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Norfolk

  11

  10

  10

  10

  8

  North Tyneside

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  North Wales

  24

  24

  24

  21

  19

  North Yorkshire

  19

  19

  18

  17

  17

  Northamptonshire

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Northumberland

  6

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Nottinghamshire

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Oldham

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Powys

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Redbridge

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Richmond upon Thames

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Rochdale

  2

  2

  2

  2

  1

  Rotherham

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Salford

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Sandwell

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Sefton

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Sheffield

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Shropshire

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  Solihull

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Somerset

  12

  6

  6

  6

  6

  South Wales

  9

  9

  8

  8

  8

  South Tyneside

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  St. Helens

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Staffordshire

  15

  14

  14

  13

  13

  Stockport

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Suffolk

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Sunderland

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Surrey

  11

  11

  10

  10

  10

  829

  Magistrates courts' committee area

  The number of magistrates courts 1992 to 1996

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Sutton

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Tameside

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Trafford

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Walsall

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Waltham Forest

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Warwickshire

  6

  5

  5

  5

  5

  West Glamorgan

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  West Riding Metropolitan

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  West Sussex

  7

  7

  7

  6

  6

  Wigan

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Wiltshire

  11

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Wirral

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Wolverhampton

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  576

  537

  526

  510

  491

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates' courts are,(a) administered by an office in a different area, and (b) deal with custody cases in another area; what were the figures five years ago; and if he will make a statement. [39072]

  Mr. Streeter
  [holding answer 24 July 1996]: The information requested is not collected centrally. Magistrates' courts are locally managed by magistrates' courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979.

  The extra time to answer this question afforded by the parliamentary adjournment has allowed officials to contact each of the 100 MCCs, and for the requested information to be collected. The cost of this exercise has exceeded the maximum limit set for answering parliamentary questions.

  Area has been taken to mean petty sessional division and emergency arrangements or Saturday morning rota sittings have not been included.

  The information requested follows:

  Magistrates court's committee area

  Magistrates courts administered by an office in a different area

  Number of courts dealing with custody cases in a different area

  1992

  1996

  1992

  1996

  Avon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barking

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barnet

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barnsley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire

  4

  4

  —

  —

  Berkshire and Oxfordshire

  4

  4

  —

  —

  Bexley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Birmingham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bolton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Brent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bromley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Calderdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  3

  4

  —

  —

  Cheshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  8

  6

  —

  —

  Coventry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Croydon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  830

  Magistrates court's committee area

  Magistrates courts administered by an office in a different area

  Number of courts dealing with custody cases in a different area

  1992

  1996

  1992

  1996

  Cumbria

  8

  6

  —

  —

  Derbyshire

  2

  2

  —

  1

  Devon

  4

  3

  —

  —

  Doncaster

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset

  7

  7

  —

  —

  Dudley

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Durham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed

  9

  6

  —

  —

  Ealing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Sussex

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Enfield

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  6

  5

  —

  —

  Gateshead

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  2

  2

  1

  1

  Gwent

  8

  6

  10

  8

  Hampshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Haringey

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Harrow

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Havering

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hereford and Worecester

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  5

  3

  —

  —

  Hillingdon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hounslow

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Humberside

  11

  6

  —

  —

  Inner London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Isle of Wight

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  5

  9

  —

  —

  Kingston Upon Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Knowsley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  2

  4

  —

  —

  Leeds

  4

  4

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  3

  5

  —

  1

  Lincolnshire

  6

  7

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Manchester

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  3

  2

  —

  —

  North Tyneside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Wales

  9

  7

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  5

  7

  —

  1

  Northamptonshire

  5

  5

  4

  4

  Northumberland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Oldham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Powus

  4

  4

  6

  6

  Redbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Richmond upon Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rochdale

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Rotherham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Salford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sandwell

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Sefton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shropshire

  4

  5

  —

  —

  Solihull

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset

  —

  1

  —

  —

  South Wales

  1

  1

  —

  —

  South Tyneside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  St. Helens

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  5

  8

  —

  2

  Stockport

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sunderland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Surrey

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Sutton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tameside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Trafford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Walsall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Waltham Forest

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Warwickshire

  2

  3

  —

  —

  West Glamorgan

  2

  3

  —

  —

  West Riding

  831

  Magistrates court's committee area

  Magistrates courts administered by an office in a different area

  Number of courts dealing with custody cases in a different area

  1992

  1996

  1992

  1996

  Metropolitan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Sussex

  3

  2

  —

  —

  Wigan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  6

  1

  —

  —

  Wirral

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  161

  148

  21

  26

  Where a section shows no value the answer was none.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the trends in manufacturing productivity in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other member states of the European Union in each of the first three quarters of 1996. [40549]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  Figures on UK manufacturing output per person employed are published by the Office for National Statistics in table 4.7 of "Economic Trends", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. They are also available on the central shared database, which can be accessed from the Library. The figures up to August 1996 will be released on Wednesday 16 October. Comparable figures for the other member states of the European Union are not yet available.

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what sum was received by the Government from the sale of British Coal Enterprises. [40422]

  Mr. Page
  The sale of British Coal Enterprise is a matter for British Coal. I understand that the corporation has not yet completed the sale of all the activities of BCE.

  Research Establishments
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the president of the Board of Trade when he will place further memoranda concerning the prior options reviews of public sector research establishments in the Library. [41075]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have placed in the Library of the House the memorandum setting out the rationale underlying the decisions concerning ADAS which were announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 18 July.

  Businesses
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are his plans for reforming Government support for business. [41076]

  Mr. Lang
  We are today launching two new challenges. I am also confirming a major simplification of central schemes.
  832
  Both challenges are designed to enhance the competitiveness of businesses, either through helping local partnerships to design and deliver high quality business support to firms—particularly smaller firms in their area—or through projects to improve the business performance of specific sectors of industry.

  The local challenge will build on business link partnerships. It will reinforce the opportunities offered to small firms to access support in the co-ordinated way that these partnerships provide. It will encourage cross-partnership bids where these add value.

  The sector challenge will bring together in one place the majority of Government funding for sectoral activity. it covers activities designed to have a broad impact on the competitiveness of sectors wherever they are located in the United Kingdom, including innovative approaches to export promotion.

  A radical streamlining of DTI business support will reduce the number of separate schemes from 140 to fewer than 25 central programmes plus the two new challenges.

  Further announcements in the coming weeks will set out in more detail our plans on specific schemes aimed at helping smaller firms to win through exporting, foresight the information society, and so on.

  The Government have agreed criteria under which all current or potential new central schemes will be reviewed. Such reviews will be an on-going process with annual reports back to Ministers. We are committed to changing the emphasis of support away from central towards local and sectoral design and delivery. Over time, central schemes will become the exception, not the rule.

  We are also committed to involving businesses and business support organisations more directly in deciding which schemes should continue. In future, we will consult businesses and business support organisations as a matter of course before taking decisions. I am pleased therefore to welcome the new consultative group being established by the business link partners to provide their input into this exercise.

  Business told us that it wanted simpler, more accessible and more flexible support. The proposals announced today delivery just that.

  I am placing copies of the local and sector challenge bidding guidelines in the Library of the House.

TREASURY

  VAT
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for each member state of the European Community the rates levied by value added tax on food in shops, household fuel, children's clothing, books, newspapers and magazines, public transport, water and sewage services, newly constructed homes, second-hand homes and the standard of tax most recently adopted; when the current VAT agreement expires; and what remunerations have been received from the Commission concerning its services or continuation for any stated period. [41410]
  833
  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: The information about VAT rates is set out in the table. The current EC VAT agreement (the sixth VAT directive), and so the provisions governing the VAT rates

  VAT rates on various goods and services in the EC

  Percentage rate of VAT

  Homes

  Member state

  Foods in shops

  Household fuel

  Children's clothing

  Books

  Newspaper and magazines

  Public transport

  Water and sewage supplies

  New

  Second-hand

  Standard rate

  Austria

  10

  20

  20

  10

  10

  10

  20

  20

  Exempt

  20

  Belgium

  6

  121

  21

  6

  6

  6

  221

  12

  Exempt

  21

  Denmark

  25

  25

  25

  25

  325

  4Exempt

  5Exempt

  25

  Exempt

  25

  France

  65.5

  20.6

  20.6

  5.5

  2.1

  5.5

  720.6

  20.6

  Exempt

  20.6

  Germany

  7

  15

  15

  7

  7

  815

  915

  Exempt

  Exempt

  15

  Greece

  8

  18

  18

  4

  4

  8

  1018

  18

  Exempt

  18

  Ireland

  110

  12.5

  0

  0

  12.5

  Exempt

  21

  12.5

  Exempt

  21

  Italy

  1210

  1310

  16

  4

  4

  1410

  19

  1519

  19

  19

  Luxembourg

  3

  1612

  3

  3

  3

  15

  15

  Exempt

  Exempt

  15

  Netherlands

  6

  17.5

  17.5

  6

  6

  6

  1717.5

  17.5

  Exempt

  17.5

  Portugal

  1817

  1917

  17

  5

  5

  5

  2017

  21Exempt

  Exempt

  17

  Spain

  227

  16

  16

  4

  4

  7

  7

  16

  Exempt

  16

  Sweden

  12

  25

  25

  25

  6

  12

  25

  25

  Exempt

  25

  UK

  230

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Exempt

  17.5

  1 A reduced rate of 12 per cent, applies to coal and peat.

  2 A reduced rate of 6 per cent, applies to the supply of water.

  3 A zero rate applies to magazines.

  4 Transport on regular services is exempt, but on chartered buses is taxable at 25 per cent.

  5 Exemption only applies to water in connection with the letting of a house or premise; otherwise the standard rate of 25 per cent, applies.

  6 Sweets, chocolate, margarine and vegetable fat are subject to the standard rate of 20.6 per cent.

  7 A reduced rate of 5.5 per cent, applies to sewage services.

  8 A reduced rate of 7 per cent, applies to transport which takes place within a town or where the distance does not exceed 50 km.

  9 A reduced rate of 7 per cent, applies to supplies of water.

  10 A reduced rate of 8 per cent, applies to sewage services.

  11 Chocolates, sweets, biscuits etc. are taxable at 12.5 per cent.

  12 A reduced rate of 4 per cent, applies to basic foodstuffs such as bread and pasta; a rate of 16 per cent, applies to items such as lobsters and oysters.

  13 A 16 per cent, rate applies to coal.

  14 Transport between towns which are less than 50 km apart is exempt.

  15 A reduced rate of 4 per cent, applies to certain social housing.

  16 A 12 per cent, rate applies to wood, oil and coal.

  17 A reduced rate of 6 per cent, applies to the supply of water.

  18 A reduced rate of 12 per cent, applies to unprepared foodstuffs.

  19 A reduced rate of 5 per cent, applies to electricity and oil.

  20 A reduced rate of 5 per cent, applies to the supply of water.

  21 A reduced rate of 5 per cent, applies to certain constructions of housing by building co-operatives.

  22 A reduced rate of 4 per cent, applies to certain basic foodstuffs.

  23 The standard rate of 17.5 per cent, applies to confectionery, crisps, ice cream, chocolate etc.

  Tax Secrecy
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to remove tax secrecy from(a) the Channel Islands, (b) the Isle of Man, (c) Gibraltar and (d) Caribbean dependencies; and if he will enter into discussions with the authorities of such places about the prevention of drug trafficking and fraud. [40368]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: Arrangements already exist for the exchange of information with the Channel Islands and other dependencies, where appropriate, for taxation purposes, including the detection and prevention of fraud. Legislation has been in place for some time to tackle the avoidance of tax through the use of off-shore concerns, and if the Government become aware of any significant new risk in this area, further legislation will be considered.
  834
  detailed in the table, have no expiry date. In the absence of any unanimous agreement upon 'definitive' VAT regime, the existing provisions continue to apply automatically and without time limit.

  The Government take a prominent role in advising these territories on suitable legislation concerning the prevention of drug trafficking and fraud. All have drug money laundering legislation and some have extended these provisions to cover all serious crimes. Many have statutory gateways which allow information to be passed to overseas regulators. These measures have removed many obstacles caused by secrecy provisions, and further work is continuing to improve the exchange of information with these territories.

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage change in real personal disposable income(a) overall, (b) of persons in employment and (c) of persons not in employment, for each year since 1979. [40364]
  835
  Mrs Angela Knight
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: Information on real personal disposable income at 1990 prices is published annually in the United Kingdom National Accounts, the Blue Book, and is also held on the Office for National Statistics database. These sources are available in the House of Commons Library. It is not possible to calculate the proportion of real personal disposable income which goes to persons in employment and to persons not in employment.

  However, information at current prices is available on sources of household incomes in table 4.9 of the Blue Book; and analyses of incomes, only at household level, based on the family expenditure survey are also available—results are published annually in the relevant editions of "Family Spending" which are available in the Library.

  The percentage change in overall real personal disposable income at 1990 prices in each year since 1979 is:

  1979: 5.7

  1980: 1.5

  1981: -0.8

  1982: -0.5

  1983: 2.7

  1984: 3.7

  1985: 3.2

  1986: 4.4

  1987: 3.7

  1988: 6.2

  1989: 4.2

  1990: 1.9

  1991: 0.0

  1992: 2.0

  1993: 1.8

  1994: 1.2

  1995:3.0

  Incomes
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are currently earning less than £3 per hour; and what was the number in 1991. [40142]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The labour force survey shows that, in spring 1996, there were 1.74 million people in Great Britain earning less than £3 per hour. The labour force survey did not collect earnings information prior to 1992.

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new cases of glaucoma were detected in each of the last five years. [40573]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Statistics on glaucoma are not collected centrally.

  Oral Cancer
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new cases of oral cancer were detected(a) in each regional health authority and (b) nationally in (i) 1991 and (ii) 1992. [40572]
  836
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The number of new cases of oral cancer detected in(a) each regional health authority and (b) nationally in 1991 are shown in the table. Data for 1992 are not yet available.

  Oral Cancer Registrations (ICD1 codes 140–149 excluding 142 by regional health authority and constituent countries of the United Kingdom.

  19912

  Number

  Northern

  221

  Yorkshire

  227

  Trent

  249

  East Anglian

  110

  North-west Thames

  207

  North-east Thames

  175

  South-east Thames

  199

  South-west Thames

  142

  Wessex

  194

  Oxford

  124

  South Western

  155

  West Midlands

  320

  Mersey

  189

  North Western

  249

  England

  2,761

  Wales3

  185

  Scotland

  466

  North Ireland

  103

  UK

  3,515

  1 International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision.

  2 All data are provisional, except those for Scotland.

  3 1990 data; 1991 are not yet available.

  International Monetary Fund
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World bank. [40951]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I attended meetings of the IMF's interim committee and the IMF/World bank development committee in Washington on 29 and 30 September, and the IMF/World bank annual meeting on 1–2 October, where progress was made on several issues of importance for the world economy and for developing countries. As usual, the IMF and World bank meetings were preceded by meetings of the G7 and G10 finance Ministers arid central bank governors. I also attended the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting in Bermuda on 24 to 26 September.

  One of my top priorities for these meetings was the reduction in debt of the poorest, most indebted countries. I first launched an initiative on this subject at the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting in Valletta two years ago. This year the IMF/World bank launched their own proposals in response to my initiative. These proposals were discussed in Bermuda and in Washington. I am delighted to be able to tell the House that they were endorsed. All other Ministers in the development committee joined me in calling for implementation to begin for the first potentially eligible countries before the end of 1996.

  All major creditors—the IMF, World bank, and Paris Club—confirmed in Washington that they would play their part in delivering debt sustainability. The World bank will do so through the creation of trust funds. It has already allocated $500 million, and expects to contribute

  837
  up to $2 billion in all. The IMF has undertaken to provide a combination of grants and loans which have longer maturities and grace periods, thereby effecting a substantial reduction in the value of its share of debt. The Paris Club of official bilateral creditors has agreed to go beyond Naples terms, on a case-by-case basis, up to 80 per cent. reduction of present value of claims. This is something the British Government have been advocating for many years, since it was first proposed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, in 1990.

  I regard agreement on this initiative, which the Prime Minister and I have advocated at successive international meetings over the last two years, as a major achievement. In the timescale of international economic diplomacy, two years from my first outline proposal to worldwide agreement on implementing a detailed scheme is good going. I am grateful to those who have worked to help us get there, including the voluntary organisations which have kept up the international pressure for action, as well as the officials of the international organisations who have helped put the pieces in place. We now have a scheme that offers real hope to some of the world's poorest countries. I will continue to work to ensure it is implemented in a flexible and commonsense way by the institutions concerned, to give countries that qualify an early and lasting exit from unsustainable debt.

  I will also work to try to ensure that poor countries do not slip back into unsustainable debt, and that all developing countries have the best possible access to work markets and flows of private sector capital. I was therefore glad that, at the Commonwealth Finance Minister's meeting in Bermuda, Ministers agreed on the need for donors and creditors to discourage the financing of unproductive spending in developing countries. At Bermuda also, Ministers stressed the importance of an open, rules-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. Ministers also discussed the rapid expansion in private capital flows, acknowledging their importance in promoting economic growth and investment. I pointed out the need for financial sector reform and liberalisation of the capital account. At my request, a small working group of Finance Ministry officials from Commonwealth countries will now study the role of national and international policies in encouraging private capital flows for investment.

  Following another UK initiative, Ministers in Bermuda endorsed the new and updated 40 recommendations agreed by the financial action task force at the end of June 1996, which set out the measures countries should take to combat money laundering. In addition, we approved the publication of a comprehensive set of guidelines, prepared by the Commonwealth Secretariat, to help Commonwealth countries with the practical implementation of their anti-money-laundering strategies. Ministers also supported the establishment of regional groups—modelled on the Caribbean financial action task force—to enable Commonwealth countries to review their progress in implementing anti money laundering measures. We also urged the IMF and the World bank to take full account of the need for countries to maintain effective anti-money laundering systems in their surveillance activities and in their provision of technical assistance.
  838
  At the G7 meeting in Washington, we reviewed economic and financial market developments in the world economy and assessed the outlook for the G7 economies. In G7 countries, inflation remains at low levels, efforts are being made to reduce fiscal deficits, and external imbalances have receded. We agreed that policies should continue to be directed at sustaining non-inflationary growth and reduction of imbalances. We reaffirmed our standing commitment to co-operate closely in the exchange markets. At the request of my US and Canadian colleagues, we had a useful discussion about progress towards EMU.

  We met representatives of the European Commission and the senior Russian economic team on developments in the Russian economy and progress on economic reform. We agreed that Russia has made significant progress in the area of macroeconomic stabilisation. We also agreed on the importance of strengthening Russia's fiscal balances in consolidating the gains it has made to date, and on the importance of adhering to the structural reform programme agreed with the IMF.

  We reviewed the progress achieved and the considerable work underway to implement the initiatives arising from the last year's Halifax summit, and this discussion was continued in the G10 and interim committee.

  The G10 discussed issues relating to international monetary and financial stability. We welcomed the progress that has been made towards the establishment of the new arrangements to borrow. I emphasised the benefits these arrangements would bring, not only through increasing the resources available to the IMF in the case of a threat to the stability of the international monetary system, but also in involving in the facility a wider range of countries including some of the emerging market economies, recognising their interest in the stability of the international financial system.

  At the IMF interim committee, I stressed the importance of freedom of capital movement, and the benefits for countries that have not already done so of making careful progress in dismantling their remaining capital controls. I called on the IMF to help its members in this process, and I launched a proposal to bring the IMF's articles up to date to recognise its role in this area. Other Ministers supported my call to the IMF to revisit its role in relation to capital liberalisation, and to consider whether its present articles should be revised to reflect and promote the fund's proper role in encouraging capital liberalisation and helping member countries reap the full benefits of international capital flows. The Interim Committee agreed to discuss this at its next meeting in the spring.

  We also agreed a new declaration—an update to the one first agreed in Madrid two years ago—on the partnership for sustainable global growth. This included calls to achieve budget balance, improve fiscal transparency, tackle corruption, prevent money laundering, encourage freedom of capital movements, and ensure the soundness of banking systems.

  In the development committee, I stressed the importance of trade and development, and in particular giving poor countries the opportunity for growth through access to world markets. Many Ministers joined me in

  839
  support for the President of the World Trade Organisation's proposals that developed countries should provide access duty-free to all the exports of least developed countries.

  Copies of my speeches to the Commonwealth Finance Minsters' meeting, the interim and development committees, the annual meeting, and the communiques of those meeting and the G10 Finance Ministers' meeting, have been placed in the Library of the House. The G7 did not on this occasion issue a communiqué.

  Public Bodies
  Mr Miller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines have been issued to non-departmental public bodies in relation to the implementation of local pay delegation, following the decision to end the previous pay arrangements for such organisations. [40133]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Departments were given delegated responsibility for the pay systems of their civil service staff outside the senior civil service from 1 April 1996. This change did not directly affect non-departmental public bodies—they already had responsibility for their pay systems, subject to Treasury approval or consent in many, but not all, cases, and do not generally employ civil servants. However many NDPBs have pay systems which are analogous to or closely follow those of the civil servants in the sponsor department. As Departments introduce pay systems tailored to their particular requirements, NDPBs will need to consider what changes are appropriate for them. The Treasury has issued guidance to help departments think through the many issues involved, and Departments are free to show this to their NDPBs if they decide that is helpful.

ENVIRONMENT

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further assistance he proposes to support local authority local waste recycling schemes; and if he will make a statement. [38365]

  Mr. Gummer
  The measures and policy framework to assist local recycling are set out in the White Paper "Making Waste Work".

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding energy conservation. [38367]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I regularly receive a wide range of representations on this subject.

  Area Cost Adjustment
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the application of the area cost adjustment on Local government funding. [38368]
  840
  Mr. Gummer
  In our consultation, all four local government organisations have expressed reservations about implementing this review and have asked for further work. I will consider the representations after my meeting with them tomorrow.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to reform the area cost adjustment. [38374]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We will be discussing the review of the area cost adjustment with the local authority associations tomorrow at the consultative council on local government finance. Once we have taken their views, we will decide how to proceed. [38374]

  Sewage
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of sewage outfalls into rivers or the sea receive tertiary treatment. [38369]

  Mr. Gummer
  Fourteen.

  Coastal Management
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the management of coastal areas. [38370]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We recognise that coastal areas are an important resource and have taken a number of steps to promote their effective management. In England, these include creation of a national coastal forum, publication of policy guidelines for the coast and—later this month—the issue of a best practice guide to coastal management.

  Pollution Report
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the latest report of the royal commission on environmental pollution. [38371]

  Mr. Gummer
  We welcome the royal commission's 19th report on the "Sustainable Use of Soil." We are considering all its recommendations carefully and expect to publish a formal response to the report by the end of the year.

  Local Government Conduct
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent studies he has made of the conduct of local government. [38372]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have made no recent studies of the conduct of local government. However, the Nolan committee announced in June that its third study will examine aspects of conduct in local government in England, Scotland and Wales.

  London Governance
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the governance of London. [38373]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The current arrangements serve our capital city and the nation extremely well.
  841

  Wetlands
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary Environment what progress he has conservation of wetlands in Europe. [38375]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government have broadly welcomed the policy set out in the European Commission's communication on the wise use and conservation of wetlands. Many positive steps are already being taken in Europe to conserve wetlands under EU directives and international conventions. The UK makes a major contribution. For example, we have listed 107 internationally important wetlands under the Ramsar convention. Many wetland sites have also been classified as special protection areas under the birds directive. Other sites have been submitted to the Commission as candidate special areas for conservation under the habitats directive, and will be protected in the interim pending formal designation. [38375]

  Housing
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes are under construction and how many have been built during the last 12 months; and what were the equivalent figures in 1978–79. [38376]

  Mr. Curry
  It is estimated that 146,000 dwellings were completed in England during the 12 months to August 1996 and that 197,000 were under construction by the end of August. In comparison, some 227,000 dwellings were completed in the financial year 1978–79 and there were 339,000 under construction at the end of March 1979. [38376]

  Global Warming
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new responses he plans to combat global warming(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) via international initiatives. [38377]

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken by his Department to meet its objectives in respect of carbon dioxide reductions. [38378]

  Mr. Clappison
  I am pleased to say that the UK is on target to meet the Rio commitment to return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000 and we expect carbon dioxide emissions to be 4 to 8 per cent. below 1990 levels. This achievement reflects the impact of measures set out in the UK climate change programme and the progress report on carbon dioxide emissions.

  However, there is no room for complacency. The UK is one of only a handful of states which will meet the Rio commitment and, by the next climate change conference in December 1997, we need to have agreed significant reductions in emissions beyond 2000. That is why I have called on other states to agree to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 to 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010.
  842

  Integrated Regional Office, Yorkshire
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure democratic accountability of integrated regional office officials in Yorkshire. [38379]

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

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment how many tenants have exercised the right to buy in the last 12 months. [38366]

  Mr. Curry
  In the year to March 1996, there were more than 31,500 right-to-buy sales by local authorities and new towns in England. Right to buy and other home ownership schemes are still producing about 180 new home owners a day in Britain.

  Policy Initiatives
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental policy initiatives have been launched since 26 July. [38518]

  Mr. Clappison
  During the parliamentary recess, we have been mainly concerned to develop initiatives which will be announced in this place shortly. Since 26 July, we have launched the following main environmental policy initiatives: consultation on air quality strategy; publication of circular on revised special waste regulations; and publication of draft statutory guidance on contaminated land. In addition, the landfill tax came into operation on 1 October.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take in regard to the protection of hedgerows which were established under private enclosure legislation in the light of a recent court case in East Yorkshire. [40073]

  Mr. Clappison
  The recent judgment in this case established that the Yorkshire wildlife trust and Mr. Colin Seymour, a parishioner, have locus standi to pursue their application for a declaration that Flamborough parish council is bound by the relevant Enclosure Act and award to preserve part of an enclosure hedge. I understand that the application has yet to be heard by the court. We await the outcome with interest. When that is known, we will consider the implications of this case, if any, for regulations for the protection of important hedgerows to be introduced under section 97 of the Environment Act 1995. Such regulations will not, however, override restrictions imposed by other enactments or agreements, including enclosure awards.
  843

  Rating Appeals
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many rating appeals(a) in total and (b) by valuation office were lodged against the (i) 1990 and (ii) 1995 rating lists; and in each case how many (1) have been resolved and (2) are outstanding. [40423]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I am placing in the Library a set of tables which set out, in total, by region and by each office of the Valuation Office agency in England, the number of valid proposals to alter the 1995 rating lists which were received by 31 August 1996, the number settled and the number outstanding.

  I am also placing in the Library tables setting out, in total, by region and by each office, the number of proposals to alter the 1990 lists which are outstanding as at 31 August. The number of valid proposals received against the 1990 list in England up to 31 August was 1,402,948. Information on the number received by individual office and region is not available, as the structure and number of offices have now changed.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects all the appeals against(a) the 1990 rating list and (b) the 1995 rating list to have been resolved; and if he will make a statement. [40424]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Current plans are that appeals against the 1990 rating lists outstanding at 1 April 1996 should be cleared by 31 December 1996; appeals made prior to 31 March 1996 by 31 December 1997; and to reduce progressively the time to clear appeals to a maximum of 12 months by 1 April 1988. The only exceptions will be cases where all reasonable efforts to settle matters by agreement have been exhausted and the cases are awaiting determination by valuation tribunals or by the Lands Tribunal.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the research being conducted at British universities into materials that could be exported in support of construction projects compatible with principles of sustainable development; and what support his Department has provided these projects. [40425]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department has made no such assessment. However, the Department of the Environment is providing direct support for the enhancement of civil engineering exports, including environmental technology, through collaborative funding of a two-year research project led by the Institution of Civil Engineers. This follows a recommendation from the national technology foresight exercise and will promote appropriate research programmes to cultivate UK expertise critical to export success in civil engineering.

  Child Care (North Hull)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce approval of the child care facility in north Hull under the Yorkshire and Humberside objectives of the European regional development fund programme. [40477]
  844
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The approval letters for this scheme were issued by the Department for Education and Employment on 25 September 1996.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department plans to complete its review of ERDF processes in England. [40421]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We hope to complete the review in time for the implementation of the 1997 to 1999 round of objective 2 programmes.

  Administrative Expenditure Guidelines
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his finance directorate issued its MINIS 17 guidelines for administrative expenditure. [40654]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Expenditure guidelines were issued on 22 September 1995 at the beginning of the MINIS 17 planning round, based on the resource requirements which were agreed in MINIS 16. The guidelines were adjusted as normal throughout the MINIS 17 round, in the light of available resources, technical changes and decisions taken.

  Drinking Water Inspectorate
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether the outcome of the review of the handling of incidents arid prosecutions by the drinking water inspectorate is consistent with the quality procedures manual and the code of enforcement. [40656]

  Mr. Clappison
  The review of incidents was carried out by a consultant on behalf of the drinking water inspectorate. It did not cover the inspectorate's handling of incidents, but was concerned with the lessons that could be learnt by the water companies in preventing incidents and their handling of them. The objectives of the review included: categorising the type of incidents, causes and frequency of occurrence; carrying out a critical appraisal of water companies' responses to incidents, including actions taken to protect and inform consumers, to communicate with health and local authorities and to prevent recurrence of incidents; assessing the effectiveness of water companies' arrangements for responding to incidents and the actions taken to rectify any faults in the treatment/distribution system, identifying areas of weakness; identifying those incidents which were outside the control of the company and those incidents which were avoidable; identifying those regulations which are commonly breached; and making recommendations appropriate to the findings from the above on any issues which warrant wider consideration.

  The inspectorate is assessing the consultant's findings and will publish the main conclusions and lessons to be learnt early in 1997.

  The drinking water inspectorate's quality procedures manual consists of a number of procedures covering the inspectorate's activities, including one on the handling of incidents and another on the handling of consumer complaints about drinking water quality. These procedures have been developed as part of the inspectorate's total quality programme. The one on

  845
  handling incidents has been in operation since May 1996. This procedure is an important part in achieving a consistent and rigorous approach to the investigations of incidents.

  The code for enforcement was introduced at the beginning of 1994. The code sets down how the inspectorate carries out its duties and sets service standards with response times. The inspectorate reports on its performance against the response times in its annual report.

  Central Economic Directorate
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make more transparent the output of his Department's central economic directorate. [40657]

  Mr. Clappison
  The output of the Department's chief economist directorate is set out each year in its MINIS return.

  "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish his Department's evaluation of the Government advisory document, "Policy Appraisal and the Environment," as implemented by Government Departments. [40655]

  Mr. Clappison
  The consultants appointed to undertake the evaluation of "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" are due to submit a draft final report to the Department in mid-December. No decision about the timing of publication has yet been taken.

  Environment Policy
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the implications for the United Kingdom environment policy of ISO 14001 published in September; and if he will make a statement. [40653]

  Mr. Clappison
  The White Paper on sustainable development—Cmnd. 2426—set out the Government's belief that voluntary initiatives by business have a vital role to play. The Government therefore welcome the new international standard for environmental management systems, ISO 14001, as it provides a management tool which will enable businesses voluntarily to improve their environmental performance. I was delighted earlier this week to address the British Standards Institution's conference to launch ISO 14001 in this country, an event which aptly reflected the pioneering work previously done by the institution to establish the world's first specification for environmental management systems, BS 7750. Businesses now have a framework for a voluntary and proactive approach to the management of their environmental impacts which is backed up by a regime of independent certification and is recognised worldwide. Companies making use of the standard will also be well on the way to achieving registration of their sites under the eco-management and audit scheme, which was launched last year across the European Union and is keenly supported by the Government. These initiatives, with their industry-wide recognition, should together form a powerful incentive for progressive business organisations to improve their competitiveness and at the 846
  same time raise the level of their environmental performance well above the minimum demanded by regulation.

  Unexploded Bombs (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department(a) holds and (b) has assessed in respect of unexploded bombs in London; how many unexploded bombs are estimated to exist in each London authority area; how many bombs are officially listed; what is the estimated risk associated with these; what contact his Department has had with planners, surveyors or their representative groups in this matter; and what action is planned to deal with the situation. [40564]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There is nothing I can add to the answer already given today by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, who has undertaken to write to the hon. Member.

  Wildlife Law (Guide)
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the practitioner's guide to wildlife law. [40945]

  Mr. Clappison
  Last November, I launched the partnership for action against wildlife crime, and announced that the Department would make funds available to finance a guide to wildlife law. Through the launch of the partnership, we have established good links between enforcement organisations, identified problems hampering enforcement, and sought ways to overcome them. One problem has been the lack of a comprehensive source of information about the various pieces of legislation protecting wildlife.

  Tomorrow, the Secretary of State for the Environment will announce the publication of the guide "Wildlife Crime—a Guide to Wildlife Law Enforcement in the UK" at a major seminar on combating environmental crime, to be held at the QEII conference centre in London. A copy of the guide will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The seminar will explore the scope for improving the enforcement of trade measures contained in key international environmental agreements to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of tackling the illegal trade in endangered species, ozone-depleting substances and hazardous waste, and whether lessons learnt in one area can be applied in another.

  Rural White Paper
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government intend to publish their progress report on the Rural White Paper, "Rural England: A Nation Committed to a Living Countryside". [41082]

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I intend to publish the progress report "Rural England 1996" on 24 October 1996. This reports on progress in implementing the commitments made in "Rural England", which we published in October 1995.
  847

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 October. [38691]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 15 October. [38692]

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

  Ombudsman
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the offices of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, for Scotland and for Wales. [40949]

  The Prime Minister
  In accordance with section 1(3) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 and schedule 1 to the Health Service Commissioners Act 1993, Sir William Reid will be retiring from these offices on 2 January 1997.

  Her Majesty ha
  s been pleased to approve the appointment of Mr. Michael Sydney Buckley as Sir William's successor as Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, for Scotland and for Wales, with effect from 3 January 1997.

  I am sure all Members of the House would wish me to express their gratitude and admiration for the very able and thorough manner in which Sir William Reid has fulfilled these duties over the last seven years. He has made an outstanding contribution to our public life.

  Royal Family (Taxation)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes are planned to be made to the memorandum of understanding of 5 February 1993 under which the Queen and the Prince of Wales pay income, capital gains and inheritance tax on a voluntary basis, to take account of the introduction of the new system of self assessment for income tax and capital gains tax. [40950]

  The Prime Minister
  Yes, a change is required to reflect the new tax payment dates under self assessment. The memorandum of understanding has been amended, and I am placing a copy of the amendment in the Library.

  The memorandum of understanding provided that income tax and capital gains tax would be payable on 1 December following the end of the tax year. However, under self-assessment, 1 December will no longer be a tax payment date, and instead income tax will be payable on 31 January and 31 July and capital gains tax on 31 January. The memorandum of understanding has therefore been amended to make income tax and capital gains tax for 1996–97—the transitional year—payable on 31 January 1998; and income tax and capital
  848
  gains tax for 1997–98 and subsequent years will be payable on 31 January and 31 July in accordance with the normal rules of self assessment.

  These new arrangements mean tax will be paid under the memorandum of understanding several months earlier on average than at present.

  Changes have also been made to the provisions relating to payments on account, and interest on tax underpaid or overpaid, to bring them into line with the new self assessment rules.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Early Retirement and Voluntary Severance
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (i) early retirement and (ii) voluntary severance packages were given to civil servants by grade in each Government Department in 1995–96. [40121]

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that the information requested is available only at disproportionate cost. However, the table provides details of the number of early retirements and early severances in 1995–96 by main Department.

  Department

  Number of early retirements

  Number of early severances

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  280

  228

  Crown Prosecution Service

  53

  10

  Customs and Excise

  588

  335

  Defence

  2,285

  2,400

  Education and Employment

  450

  627

  Environment (including Property Holdings)

  180

  102

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  98

  15

  Overseas Development Administration

  47

  92

  Health

  284

  355

  Her Majesty's Prison Service

  51

  25

  Home Office

  103

  22

  Inland Revenue

  1,090

  466

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  84

  28

  National Savings

  316

  307

  Office for National Statistics

  55

  31

  Ordnance Survey

  52

  33

  PSA Services

  191

  231

  Scottish Office

  144

  105

  Scottish Prison Service

  119

  115

  Social Security

  1,254

  752

  Trade and Industry

  217

  102

  Transport

  374

  525

  Treasury

  44

  64

  Welsh Office (including OHMCIS)

  48

  51

  Others

  979

  595

  Total

  9,686

  7,616

  Notes:

  1. Numbers relate to departures with a last day of service of 31 March 1995 to 30 March 1996 inclusive.

  2. "Others" include 566 early retirements and 430 early severances from employments covered by the Civil Service Compensation Scheme but which do not participate in the scheme for central funding of early departure costs, announced in a Written Answer by the then Chief Secretary, Official Report, 19 July 1994 c.95.

  Source:

  Paymaster agency.
  849
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the average value of (i) early retirement and (ii) voluntary severance packages given to civil servants by grade in each Government Department in 1995–96 [40120]

  (2) what was the highest value (i) early retirement and (ii) voluntary severance package given to civil servants by grade in each Government Department in 1995–96. [40122]

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Business Support
  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what conclusions have been drawn from the Government's consultation on simplification of business support, announced in the third competitiveness White Paper. [40512]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  My Department is today publishing the conclusions of the cross-government review on simplification of business support. The new arrangements mark a significant development in the partnership between government and business. We are bringing together support form across government into more coherent, simplified programmes. We are also committed to moving away from centrally designed and administered support schemes, which business has told us can be too complex and distant from their own needs, and to making government-funded support as customer focused as possible.

  The new challenge funds—local and sectoral—will be set up to support the best proposals for the most effective and customer focused business partnerships. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is today announcing further details of these challenges. Wherever possible these partnerships will take over the design and delivery of business support. Services that are best administered centrally, such as export market information, will be simplified to make them more accessible and responsive to business needs.

  By giving business more of a say in how support services are provided, the Government aim to meet their needs more fully and to ensure the best value for money for the taxpayer. Copies of the conclusions, "Helping businesses to win: the conclusions of the consultation", have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the progress of the sales of HMSO, Chessington Computer Centre, Recruitment and Assessment Service and the Occupational Health and Safety Agency. [41081]

  Mr. Freeman
  These sales have now been completed. Chessington Computer Centre was sold on 31 July to a consortium made up of a management and employee buy-out team, Integris UK—the outsourcing division of Bull Information Systems Ltd.—and financial backers, Close Brothers. The consideration was £12.5 million, of which £1.25 million is deferred until 31 December 1999.
  850
  The Occupational Health and Safety Agency—OHSA—was sold on 18 September to BMI Health Services, which is part of General Healthcare Group plc. The consideration was £350,000. In addition, BMI is acting as agents for the Government to collect trade debts owed to OHSA which were estimated to be about £1.4 million when the sale was completed.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office was sold on 30 September to National Publishing Group—NPG—a consortium led by Electra Fleming, to trade under the name The Stationery Office. The consideration was £54 million. In addition, NPG has raised £71 million to fund investment, restructuring and working capital for The Stationery Office. In a separate transaction in September, the Government sold an HMSO site near Manchester for £1.4 million.

  Recruitment and Assessment Services was sold on 30 September to the Capita Group plc. The consideration was £7.25 million.

SCOTLAND

  Ethnic Minorities
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women from ethnic minorities are employed by his Department and its agencies; at what grade; and what measures he has taken to encourage the(a) recruitment, (b) employment and (c) promotion of women from ethnic minorities within his Department and its agencies. [39895]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are seven women members of staff who have declared themselves to be from an ethnic minority background in the Scottish Office and its agencies. Three hold posts at AO grade and four at AA grade. As an employer committed to equal opportunities for all staff we monitor the recruitment, employment and promotion of men and women whatever their background to ensure that no discrimination takes place. In recent months we have established a network group to support staff from an ethnic minority background. That group has discussed awareness raising of employment opportunities in the Scottish Office among ethnic minorities.

  Blind People
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of registered blind people in Scotland by category. [40033]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest complete figures are those for 1995:

  Number of persons registered blind and partially sighted: Scotland—1995

  Number registered at 31 March (include those registered as new cases)

  Blind

  Partially sighted

  Age (as at 31 March or date of registration)

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Under 5 years

  97

  201

  298

  55

  78

  133

  5–15

  128

  110

  238

  87

  85

  172

  851

  Number of persons registered blind and partially sighted: Scotland—1995

  Number registered at 31 March (include those registered as new cases)

  Blind

  Partially sighted

  Age (as at 31 March or date of registration)

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  16–29

  301

  213

  514

  214

  145

  359

  30–49

  873

  665

  1,538

  403

  365

  768

  50–64

  942

  836

  1,778

  412

  399

  811

  65–74

  1,197

  1,530

  2,727

  544

  810

  1,354

  75 and over

  4,047

  9,984

  14,301

  1,530

  4,224

  5,754

  All ages—total

  7,585

  13,539

  21,124

  3,245

  6,106

  9,351

  Prisons (Hepatitis)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to monitor the levels of hepatitis B and C within prisons in Scotland; how many inmates in the prison system have hepatitis B and C; what guidance his Department gives for the treatment of prisoners with hepatitis B and C; what measures are being taken to minimise the spread of hepatitis B and C within Scottish prisons; and if he will make a statement. [39891]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 15 October 1996:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the steps taken by the Scottish Prison Service to deal with hepatitis B and C within prisons in Scotland.
  The Scottish Prison Service encourages inmates at risk of hepatitis B and C (principally those who have been involved in intravenous drug misuse) to come forward for voluntary testing on a confidential basis. For that reason it is not possible to state how many prisoners are infected with hepatic B and/or C. In a survey of 14 establishments in April 1995, however, there had been 48 positive results for hepatitis B out of 264 blood tests carried out in the previous year on prisoners at risk. The records of a sample of known intravenous drug users recently admitted to prison were also scrutinised. Ten per cent of the 165 prisoners involved were known to be hepatitis B positive, 47% were negative while for 43% the hepatitis status was not known. As regards hepatitis C, in Shotts Prison (with 465 adult male prisoners), 21 prisoners sought tests between January and July this year, of which 13 were positive (2 being confirmations of earlier tests). In Cornton Vale prison (for females) over the same period 27 out of 40 tests for hepatitis C were positive. For hepatitis B 6 tests out of 29 were positive.
  Immunisation against hepatitis B is available to prisoners and support treatments are provided as appropriate by prison medical officers, including the use of Interferon if required. The Medical Adviser to the SPS will shortly be issuing guidance to prison medical officers based on best practice in the NHS.
  Information is provided to prisoners through leaflets and clinics. As part of a wider hygiene initiative, disinfectant tablets are available to all prisoners for cleaning utensils. So far as is known these tablets will also kill hepatitis B and C.

  NHS Funds
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the reasons for delaying further reconsideration of the Scottish health authorities revenue equalization—SHARE—formula for 852
  distribution of health service funds, with specific reference to rural areas; and when he plans next to have discussions with officials of Highland health board on this matter. [40676]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I anticipate that all health boards will be moved to their SHARE parity position at 1 April 1997. Evaluation of technical aspects of the formula is continually undertaken by my officials. Any proposals for changes to the formula would be subject to consultation with health boards and others at the appropriate time.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Millenium Exhibition
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a progress report on plans for the millenium exhibition funding from the(a) public and (b) private sectors; and by what date a final decision will be made. [40648]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: This is a matter for the Millenium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Millenium Festival
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made in preparing for the millennium festival. [37928]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: This is a matter for the Millenium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

TRANSPORT

  Transport Security Director
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has published the 1995–96 annual report of the Director of Transport Security. [40952]

  Sir George Young
  Copies of this report are available in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to reduce the level of unpaid maintenance as assessed by the Child Support Agency. [40056]

  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.
  853
  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 14 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency maintenance assessments.
  The Agency is currently in the process of implementing a number of initiatives to further improve the collection of legally due maintenance.
  A Debt Management System (DMS) has been trialled in our Plymouth Centre and will be rolled out nationally between January 1997 to March 1997. This will enable the Agency to better identify accounts which fall into arrears and take positive action to progress these cases. The Agency is also enhancing the Child Support Computer System and introducing procedural modifications to help improve compliance.
  Various payment methods are used to help minimise debt. The use of deduction of earnings orders (DEOs) where necessary, has proved a very effective method. To further improve the effectiveness of DEOs the Agency has streamlined its procedures to ensure that payment of maintenance starts as soon as possible.
  Where a DEO is not appropriate the Agency considers enforcement action such as obtaining a liability order. Also, since May 1996 the Agency has been able to enter debts in the County Court Register of Judgements. This is particularly useful with self-employed absent parents who do not pay their legally due maintenance. It is a powerful incentive to avoid credit blacklisting.
  The Agency is also looking at ways of further improving compliance at an early stage by encouraging the use of other payment methods such as direct debit.
  Finally, I would like to add that reduction of the outstanding maintenance debt is a high priority for the Agency.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases deferred by the Child Support Agency following the announcement of 20 December 1994(a) have been taken on by the agency and (b) have yet to be taken on. [40059]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 14 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency cases where take on was deferred in December 1994.
  The Agency recommenced take on of these cases in November 1995, in line with the agreement made with the Secretary of State to recommence take on by December 1995. Up to 31 August 1996, 4,845 cases had been taken on by the Agency.
  It is not possible to give an exact figure for the number of cases still outstanding. To obtain this a clerical examination of all the deferred cases would have to be made to find those appropriate for action and this would incur disproportionate cost. It is estimated that the number outstanding at 30 June 1996 has reduced to around 190,000 cases.
  This reduction is due to a number of reasons. The recommencement of take on mentioned above; also, in some cases where Income Support has ceased and the parent with care has made a fresh application for benefit, the Agency will have become involved and these cases will have been taken on; in other cases the parent with care will have requested that the Agency take on the case and this will have been done; finally, some clients will no longer be claiming Income Support.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number and percentage of women, since the establishment of the Child Support 854
  Agency, whose cases have been examined by the Child Support Agency who (a) have not named the father, (b) are accepted by the agency as not knowing the name of the father and (c) claim not to know the name of the father but whose claim has been rejected by the Child Support Agency. [40141]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 14 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency cases.
  The details that you have requested are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost; there are a number of reasons for this:
  Firstly, the Agency does not differentiate absent parents and parents with care by gender; by far the vast majority of parents with care are women, but within those cases where the parent with care has failed to identify the person liable to pay maintenance, there is a small number where the parent with care is male.
  Also, when dealing with parents with care and collecting details of absent parents, the Agency encounters very different circumstances and goes through different stages for different cases. The issue of naming the absent parent, and the question of whether the parent with care knows the name of the absent parent are factors that contribute to this process; however, the Agency does not record statistical information in every case on these factors separately.
  From the nearest available information in this area, I can tell you that of over 1.3 million cases cleared by the Agency since its launch in April 1993, the number of cases where the failure to name the absent parent, initially at least, has been an issue is estimated to be in the region of 180,000.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Community Care Grant Appeals
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to accelerate the community care grant appeals procedure; and if he will make a statement. [40236]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The Secretary of State has laid down guidance and directions for dealing with a request for a review. We are not aware of any major problems with the current review process.

  From 1 April 1996 to 31 July 1996 inclusive the average clearance time for a community care grant review was 13.8 days.

  One benefit office in the hon. Member's constituency did have a backlog of reviews outstanding at the end of July. It has since taken action to reduce the arrears in this area of work. Its clearance time for reviews should be showing an improvement and constituents should now be receiving an improved service.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals in each of the benefit districts in Wales have been lodged against the withdrawal of the reduction in earnings allowance. [40464]

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

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate his Department has
  855
  made of the number of appeals to be made in England and Wales against the withdrawal of the reduced earnings allowance; [40468]

  (2) how many additional staff have been employed and how many man hours have been devoted to deal with the outstanding appeals made to date against the withdrawal of the reduced earnings allowance. [40461]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  It was estimated that approximately 25 per cent. of reduced allowance recipients transferred to retirement allowance following the introduction of amending legislation would appeal against the adjudication officer's decision.

  Based on this assumption the cost in staff time for the Benefits Agency is estimated at a total of 15.81 man years. This figure is provisional and may be subject to change.

  Offices have been provided with resources accordingly to enable them to deal with the extra work arising from these appeals.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individual appeals against the withdrawal of the reduced earning allowances have been heard; and what percentage of appeals heard have found in favour of the appellants. [40469]

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

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the average cost to an individual who has lost his reduced earnings allowance as a result of recent regulations in each of the benefit districts in Wales. [40467]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Reduced earnings allowance recipients who are over pensionable age and who are not in regular employment have been transferred to retirement allowance in accordance with the Social Security (Industrial Injuries and Diseases) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996, which came into effect on 24 March 1996. The average difference between reduced earnings allowance and retirement allowance is estimated to be around £29.00. This may be offset by additional income-related benefit entitlement for some retirement allowance recipients.

  Child Support Departure System
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he proposes to introduce the child support departure system. [40915]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I have today laid draft regulations which, subject to the approval of the House, will provide for the departures system to be phased in nationally from 2 December 1996.

  The child support formula assessment is right in the vast majority of cases but the new system will allow scope for discretion in the small proportion of cases where the standard formula is not seen to produce a fair result. The
  856
  grounds on which a departure application may be made include, for example, property and capital transfers made before April 1993 and high travel costs to maintain contact with the child. Also included are cases where parents are diverting income which would otherwise be available or where their lifestyle is inconsistent with their declared income.

  Supported Housing
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the terms of reference of the interdepartmental review of funding of supported housing; and if he will make a statement. [40914]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In April, right hon. Friend the Secretary of State consulted on draft regulations to clarify the treatment of service charges in housing benefit. The representations that he received indicated that significant amounts of housing benefit may be being paid in respect of personal services in supported accommodation. He concluded that the sudden withdrawal of this source of income may cause significant difficulties for vulnerable people. Therefore, the proposed amendment was withdrawn and an urgent inter-departmental review commissioned to consider all aspects of the funding of services in supported accommodation. The review's terms of reference are to:

  1. Identify and estimate current benefit expenditure on services provided in supported accommodation.

  2. Consider the proposed legislation and its implications. In particular, identify and estimate the numbers of people who would have been affected by it.

  3. Examine and report upon the current mechanisms for funding and delivery of support services.

  4. Identify and report upon alternative mechanisms for funding support services.

  5. Examine and support upon where the sustainable balance should lie between Social Security and other funding services, and the implications for the care and housing sectors.

  We are seeking a sustainable balance between the various funding sources which ensures that essential support services are properly and appropriately funded whilst securing the most effective and economic resources.

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

  Mr. Burt
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 May 1996, Official Report, c. 290]: The information that I gave regarding the number of 17-year-olds undergoing youth training was incorrect. The correct information is as follows.

  The information is not available in the format requested. Child benefit data are not available on the nature of the education being undertaken, and education data have no regard to the receipt or otherwise of child benefit. The figures are therefore not directly comparable. However, child benefit is not payable for any young person undergoing a youth training course, and all

  857
  entitlement ceases at the 19th birthday. Available data on the number of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds for whom child benefit is paid, and the number in education and training are in the tables:

  Number of children for whom child benefit is paid

  Number

  16 year olds

  577,100

  17 year olds

  400,700

  18 year olds

  177,600

  Educational establishments attended by 16 to 18-year-olds

  16-year-olds

  17-year-olds

  18-year-olds

  Schools

  246,000

  175,000

  19,000

  Sixth form colleges

  53,000

  40,000

  10,000

  Tertiary colleges

  35,000

  30,000

  13,000

  Further education

  125,000

  112,000

  74,000

  Youth training

  69,000

  76,000

  40,000

DEFENCE

  Precision Guided Missiles
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received that parts for the ISC-Ferranti precision guided missile were to be supplied by South Africa; what action his Department took as a result of such reports; and if he will make a statement. [40210]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The hon. Member will recall that he raised this issue in a letter that he sent to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister dated 5 November 1994.

  The Prime Minister's reply of 24 November stated that the papers that the hon. Member had forwarded with his letter did not provide any evidence of breaches in UK import or export controls. I have nothing to add to this.

  Biological Weapons (Iran)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the biological weapons capacity of Iran. [40506]

  Mr. Soames
  Iran has a developed biotechnology industry which would be capable of sustaining a biological warfare research programme. For this reason, it is a cause for concern that Iran, though a state party to the biological and toxin weapons convention since 1973, has not offered to submit to the UN centre for disarmament affairs any confidence-building and transparency declarations.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to add a gynaecologist to the medical team examining British service men and ex-service men and their partners who are suffering prolonged illness following service in the Gulf war. [40496]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not intended to add a gynaecologist to the medical team running the Department's medical assessment programme. If a consultant gynaecological opinion is required, this will be obtained through the usual medical referral procedure.
  858
  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research in collaboration with the United States Institute of Medicine has been funded by his Department into Gulf war syndrome. [40497]

  Mr. Soames
  The United States Government are funding a range of studies into Gulf health issues, including one in the United Kingdom by Dr. Simon Wessely of King's college medical school. I shall be announcing the final selection of research projects to be funded by my Department, as recommended by the Medical Research Council, in November.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to compensate victims of Gulf war syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [40557]

  Mr. Soames
  Those who served in the Gulf war have the same legal right of compensation against the Ministry of Defence as civilian workers have against MOD or any other employer. Any Gulf veterans who can be shown to be suffering from illness caused by negligence on the part of my Department will be entitled to compensation in line with common law principles. However, no such compensation claims have yet been pursued by lawyers for claimants, although a list of over a thousand names of potential claimants has been lodged with MOD. This list gives the symptoms or disease claimed to have been experienced by each person since the Gulf war, without specific allegations of negligence.

  Gulf War Clean-up Operations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops were involved with United States forces in the clean-up operations near A1-Nasiriyah in 1991 following the Gulf war. [40498]

  Mr. Soames
  Our records indicate that no British troops were involved in the US Army's activities in the Al-Nasiriyah area after the Gulf war.

  Operation Granby
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British forces served directly with the US Army's 37 Engineer Battalion during Operation Granby. [40499]

  Mr. Soames
  We have no record of any British forces serving directly with the US Army's 37th Engineer Battalion during Operation Granby.

  Gulf War Publications
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which sections of the text of the recent book on the Gulf war by Major-General Patrick Cordingley, were amended by his Department on submission of the draft text for clearance; and if he will list the reasons for the removal of sections of the submitted text. [40505]

  Mr. Soames
  Minor changes to Major-General Cordingley's manuscript were agreed in order to protect confidentiality and national security.
  859

  Military Bases (Pollution)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been commissioned by his Department into(a) the degree of contamination and (b) the prospects for remedial action at (i) military bases in the United Kingdom and (ii) dependent territories abroad. [40426]

  Mr. Soames
  Within the United Kingdom my Department is introducing a procedure of land quality assessment to establish the condition of individual sites on the defence estate and where appropriate make recommendations for and implementation of remediation. Given the extent of the defence estate a prioritised programme for this work is being drawn up. For dependent territories abroad, a similar land quality assessment process is being adopted, where this meets the requirements of the host country.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received this year from the Celtic League concerning the environmental consequences of pollution at and leakages from existing and retired military bases in the United Kingdom. [40427]

  Mr. Soames
  None. The league has asked for environmental information about UK military bases, but it has not yet confirmed that it would be prepared to meet any MOD administrative costs for researching the information due under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has commissioned on the levels of(a) toxic and (b) other pollution at military bases in Wales; and what publications his Department has issued in this respect over the past 12 months. [40518]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department is introducing a procedure of land quality assessment to establish the condition of individual sites and detect the presence of contaminants on the defence estate, and where appropriate make recommendations for and implementation of remediation. Given the extent of the defence estate, a prioritised programme for this work is being drawn up. Land quality assessment work is being undertaken at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency sites at Aberporth, Llanbedr and Pendine, and an assessment of RAF Caerwent was commissioned on 4 October 1996.

  My Department has not issued any publications about the level of contamination at military sites in 'Wales during the last 12 months.

  HMS Royal Oak
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential environmental threat from the seepage of oil from the wreck of HMS Royal Oak at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. [40428]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has taken urgent steps to remove the environmental threat to Scapa Flow posed by oil leaking from a small area of the wreck of HMS Royal Oak. The leak has been sealed, and the small quantity of oil which had come ashore prior to this action has been removed.
  860

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation his Department has undertaken with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise over the implementation of the landfill tax; and if he will make a statement. [40429]

  Mr. Soames
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have kept my Department informed of the plans to implement the landfill tax. As the MOD and its agencies do not operate any landfill sites, we do not except to pay direct landfill tax charges.

  Submarines
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarines are now assessed to be surplus to requirements; and what plans exist for their disposal. [40551]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  There are currently six diesel-electric submarines surplus to the Royal Navy's requirements: four Upholder class and two Oberon class boats. The four Upholder class submarines are currently being marketed for sale or lease to a number of friendly countries. The Oberon class boats are in the hands of a commercial residual asset manager who is stripping them of reusable components before the hulls are sold for breaking.

  Eleven nuclear-powered submarines have been withdrawn from service. Our current policy is that decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines should be stored safely afloat at the location where they are decommissioned, pending disposal. We envisage final disposal, early next century, in the deep repository currently being developed by Nirex.

  Deysbrook Barracks, Liverpool
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Deysbrook barracks site in Liverpool. [40552]

  Mr. Soames
  It is planned to redeploy the Regular Army units currently occupying Deysbrook barracks to other locations. The majority of the site will therefore no longer be required by my Department, and will be disposed of within the next four years. A small enclave will, however, be retained as a Territorial Army centre to house the Territorial Army and cadet units currently using the barracks.

  Private Simon Jeans
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the murder of Private Simon Jeans serving with IFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [40556]

  Mr. Soames
  Private Simon Jeans of the Royal Logistics Corps was attacked in Split, Croatia, on 7 September this year. Sadly, he died of his injuries 10 days later, having been medically evacuated to the UK. Her Majesty's Government are very saddened by this vicious and senseless act, and offer our most heartfelt sympathies to his family.
  861
  Criminal proceedings are progressing against four Croatian youths. Every assistance has been, and will continue to be, given to the Croatian civil police to bring the perpetrators of this dreadful crime to justice.

  Trilateral Defence Agreement
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the trilateral defence agreement with Poland and Ukraine. [40559]

  Mr. Soames
  I met the Polish and Ukrainian Defence Ministers in Poland on 2 and 3 September. We agreed to institute a regular process of trilateral meetings and to develop a programme of trilateral defence co-operation. Within this framework, we are examining the possibility of UK assistance to the joint Polish-Ukrainian peacekeeping battalion and of joint training exercises.

  Unexploded Bombs
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department(a) holds and (b) has assessed in respect of unexploded bombs in London; how many unexploded bombs are estimated to exist in each London authority area; how many bombs are officially listed; what is the estimated risk associated with these; what contact his Department has had with planners, surveyors or their representative groups in this matter; and what contact his Department has had with planners, surveyors or their representative groups in this matter; and what action is planned to deal with the situation. [40563]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Services Sound and Vision Corporation
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's relationship with the Services Sound and Vision Corporation. [40946]

  Mr. Soames
  The Services Sound and Vision Corporation is a registered charity and also a company limited by guarantee which supplies a range of goods and services to my Department and to other customers. It does not carry out any function of government as such. It is classified as a non-departmental public body sponsored by my Department because most of its income has derived from work which was automatically placed by my Department with the corporation on a non-profit basis, and the Ministry of Defence is represented by trustees in the higher organisation of the corporation. However, this arrangement has not provided MOD with the kind of control that it is appropriate for sponsoring Departments to exercise over their NDPBs. It has been decided that best value for money would be obtained if the relevant goods and services were obtained by normal contractual means. My Department intends, subject to any responses to the minute that it laid before Parliament on 14 October 1996, that all future work done for it by SSVC should be conducted under contract.

  MOD's proposed contractual relationship with SSVC would be the same as its relationship with any commercial supplier, so it would be inappropriate for the corporation to retain its status as a NDPB. Therefore, subject to signing of the proposed contracts, it is intended that SSVC's NDPB status shall be revoked.
  862
  In order to prepare for the proposed new relationship with MOD, SSVC reviewed its activities. As a result of this, the corporation decided not to compete for some types of work that it previously undertook for MOD. This decision, and restructuring to enable it to compete for other types of MOD work, led to the need to reduce the SSVC work force by some 25 per cent. or about 200 posts. My Department has honoured its consequential liabilities towards SSVC by funding the restructuring costs, which mainly consisted of redundancy payments.

  Another effect of the new relationship between MOD and SSVC concerns residual contingent liabilities. MOD would, under the proposed contractual relationship, retain some liabilities arising from the NDPB arrangement. This is explained in greater detail in the minute laid before Parliament to earlier.

  With the removal of SSVC's NDPB status there would be no reason for MOD to continue to be represented in the corporation's higher organisation and, given the new contractual relationship between MOD and SSVC, it would be preferable for the practice to end as soon as possible.

  Following the restructuring of SSVC and the removal of its NDPB status, the corporation should be able to operate more efficiently and with greater freedom than in the past. Given this, and its expertise in the business activity it will continue to undertake, MOD believes that the corporation should flourish.

  Intelligence and Security Centre
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre. [40947]

  Mr. Soames
  The defence costs study recommended that a single joint services defence intelligence and security training centre with a rationalised management and support structure be formed at one location and that this centre be considered for defence agency status.

  Following detailed studies, I have agreed to the formation of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre as a defence agency on 1 October 1996 at the former RAF Chicksands.

  When collocation is complete, the DISC will comprise units formerly based at Ashford and Garats Hay stations, Royal Air Force North Luffenham and Wyton, and HMS Mercury. It will employ approximately 500 staff, comprising military personnel from all three Services and civil servants.

  The chief executive will hold executive powers delegated from my Department to allow the agency to fulfil its responsibilities. The chief executive will also be directly accountable to my Department and Parliament for the propriety and regularity of the agency's expenditure, for the adequacy of its financial systems, and for the efficient and economical conduct of its business. I will arrange for copies of the agency's framework document and corporate plan to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The aim of the agency is to train the armed forces and other intelligence agencies in intelligence, security and psychological operations disciplines and conduct after

  863
  capture to contribute to effective and timely advice to the armed forces on appropriate intelligence and security policy matters, and to maintain an operational capability all in a cost effective manner.

  The chief executive has been set the following demanding output and developmental key targets for the first six months of operation, taking into account that units will be moving to Chicksands during this period:

  The output targets are:
  For training:
  to make available to customers an agreed number of planned annual course training days—1,125 days between 1 October 1996 and 31 March 1997, recognising the need to meet any surge requirements within allocated resources.
  For advice:
  to contribute to formulation of MOD policy on appropriate intelligence, security and psychological operations matters in an efficient and satisfactory manner.
  For operations:
  to meet the operational tasking to manning levels and performance standards agreed with the owner to the satisfaction of customers.

  For development of the DISC, the targets are:
  On training:
  by 31 March 1997 to evaluate quality control mechanisms across all areas of training including systems of measurement, target setting and customer interface, all in accordance with the systems approach to training and identify any corrective measures necessary.
  On advice:
  in consultation with the owner and customers, determine a formal assessment mechanism by which the effectiveness of the contribution made by DISC staff to formulation of MOD policy for appropriate intelligence and security matters can be made.
  Concerning resource management:
  to introduce interim systems for training and financial management in order to produce training information and full cost accrual accounting based resource accounts for the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997, in accordance with the requirements of agency reporting and the accounts direction for trial audit by the National Audit Office.
  And also:
  to progress the implementation of the planned DISC rationalisation and collocation programme.

  All these targets will encourage continuous improvements and efficiencies to intelligence and security training for the armed services and enable the DISC to develop into a cohesive corporate centre of excellence. The bringing together of these units will also enable efficiencies in manpower and support costs to be made and a saving to the defence budget of £5 million per annum once collocation has occurred.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the figures for grant in aid for St. Helena for the past five years(a) in cash terms and (b) at constant prices. [40602]
  864
  Dr. Liam Fox
  The figures are:

  £ million

  Cash prices

  Constant prices

  1991–92

  3.424

  3.827

  1992–93

  3.479

  3.731

  1993–94

  3.495

  3.644

  1994–95

  3.225

  3.303

  1995–96

  3.805

  3.805

  Grant in aid, or budgetary aid, is only one element of the UK's wider aid programme to St. Helena.

WALES

  Local Government Consultation Paper
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to announce his decisions on the proposals set out in his consultation paper "The Welsh Office and Local Government: Redefining the Relationship", published in March of this year. [41074]

  Mr. Hague
  I have already announced progress in a number of important areas, including arrangements for the first round of the Welsh capital challenge scheme. However, I have today published a second paper which provides a comprehensive summary of the original proposals and the responses received. It also sets out my decisions on all of the proposals and encourages further dialogue on the question of the Welsh Office's relationship with local government. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Second Severn Crossing
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will commission a study over an appropriate period of the effect of the second Severn crossing on the economy and employment of south Wales. [40031]

  Mr. Hague
  I have no such plans. The new crossing represents an opportunity that I believe Welsh businesses will take.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many TB cases there were in Wales in the last available year; and if he will make a statement. [40051]

  Mr. Hague
  There were 184 notified cases of tuberculosis in Wales in 1995.

  Smoking-related Diseases
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people died from smoking-related diseases in each of the last three years. [40047]

  Mr. Hague
  The available information is as follows. All figures for 1995 are provisional.

  The specific category of smoking-related disease is not defined explicitly. Three diseases commonly caused by smoking are: lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  865
  The total number of deaths occurring in Wales from lung cancer was 2,017 in 1993, 1,966 in 1994 and 1,864 in 1995. It is likely that smoking would have been a major factor in between 90 and 95 per cent. of these deaths.

  The total number of deaths occurring in Wales from coronary heart disease was 9,676 in 1993, 8,611 in 1994 and 8,739 in 1995. The total number of deaths occurring in Wales from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was 1,802 in 1993, 1,557 in 1994 and 1,990 in 1995. It is likely that smoking would have been a major factor in a significant proportion of these deaths.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many women from ethnic minorities are employed by his Department and its agencies; at what grade; and what measures he has taken to encourage the(a) recruitment, (b) employment and (c) promotion of women from ethnic minorities within his Department and its agencies. [39900]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department is committed to increasing the proportion of its staff who come from ethnic minority backgrounds. Outreach programmes have been introduced to encourage recruitment. A programme of action for staff from ethnic minorities has been developed to help identify and overcome any barriers and ensure staff have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

  Statistical information on staff from ethnic minorities is not available in the format requested.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many practice managers and practice administrative staff there are in the health service in Wales. [40049]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is given in the following table.

  Whole-tune equivalent number of GP practice staff in post

  1 October 1995

  Practice managers, including fund managers

  440

  Other administrative staff1

  2,463

  1 Secretarial, receptionist, clerical, computer operators and other administrative staff.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spends on mental health; what proportion this constitutes of the health budget; and if he will make a statement. [40050]

  Mr. Hague
  In 1995–96, according to their audited accounts, district health authorities and family health authorities spent £149,880,964 on mental illness services which represented 7.6 per cent. of the total provision spent purchasing health care. This included some £13.8 million allocated by the Department for spending on mental health services.
  866

  Road and Economy Studies
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the titles of the studies(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by his Department during the last 10 years concerning the relationship between economic growth, jobs and road building. [40064]

  Mr. Hague
  None, but the south Wales area traffic study published in December 1990 and the north-east Clwyd traffic study published in November 1991 looked at traffic levels, traffic growth and future capacity requirements for the road network in those areas of Wales. There is a degree of assessment of potential economic growth associated with such studies. Copies of both reports are in the Library of the House.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the average cost of a national vocational qualification acquired through youth training within each of the training and enterprise councils in Wales. [40484]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The following table gives the estimated apportionment of costs, as between national vocational qualifications levels 1 to 4, incurred by the Welsh Office as a result of its contracts with the respective training and enterprise councils in Wales in 1995–96.

  Average cost of a national vocational qualification

  TEC

  Average—cost per NVQ 1995–96(£)

  NVQ1

  NVQ2

  NVQ3

  NVQ4

  Mid Glamorgan TEC

  4,285

  3,658

  7,943

  8,544

  Gwent TEC

  3,338

  2,604

  5,943

  6,227

  West Wales TEC

  3,309

  3,022

  6,331

  6,944

  South Glamorgan TEC

  4,768

  3,709

  8,477

  8,874

  Powys TEC

  3,801

  2,997

  6,798

  7,145

  Targed

  2,983

  2,448

  5,430

  5,775

  North East Wales TEC

  3,217

  2,176

  5,393

  5,416

  Wales

  3,751

  3,009

  6,760

  7,141

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the percentage and number of those aged 19 who have not achieved a national vocational qualification at level 2 or a comparable educational qualification. [40487]

  Mr. Evans
  The labour force survey for winter 1995–96 estimated that 36,000 or 39 per cent. of 19 to 21-year-olds in Wales had not achieved a national vocational qualification at level 2 or a comparable educational qualification. No reliable figures are available for 19-year-olds separately.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the amount offered per training week within the youth training scheme by each training and enterprise council; and what proportion of that amount is spent on training. [40485]

  Mr. Evans
  The Welsh Office does not make estimates of the prices offered by each of the training and enterprise councils in Wales to training providers. The Department contracts with each TEC for a range of services at prices which reflect the nature and volume of service to be provided and take account of the previous year's outturn
  867
  performance in terms of comparative unit costs. The TECs in turn contract with training providers and other suppliers at prices which reflect their own commercial judgment as to appropriate levels. These may be above or below those paid by the Department.

  School Leavers
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the percentage of school leavers who have entered work without recognised training or further education. [40486]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested is not collected by the Welsh Office. However, the Wales Association of Heads of Careers Companies has published figures showing that, of 16-year-olds in Wales in 1995, approximately 5 per cent. entered employment without any planned training.

  Effluent Treatment Plants
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Wales on how many occasions since 1 January 1990 consent conditions applied to effluent treatment plants in Wales have been contravened; and what steps have been taken to remedy the pollution. [40525]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to tables 13.1 to 13.3 in the "Environmental Digest for Wales No. 9 1996" published by the Welsh Office, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Under the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Environment Act 1995, the Environment Agency has a wide range of powers to tackle aquatic pollution.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the compliance of provision of public drinking water supplies in Wales with the 1985 World Health Organisation guidelines on drinking water quality. [40520]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The national standards for public drinking water supplies are prescribed by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, SI 1989 No. 1147. These incorporate the standards of the EC Drinking Water Directive, 80/778/EEC, which in turn are based in many cases on the 1984 World Health Organisation guidelines for drinking water quality. Information on compliance in Wales with the regulations is contained in the annual reports published by the chief inspector of the drinking water inspectorate, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of implementation since June 1992 of Agenda 21 for sustainable development in Wales. [40517]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information on the progress made in Wales toward achieving sustainable development in Wales will be included in "The Environment in Wales—Fifth Report", which will be published in the next few weeks by the Welsh Office. I will arrange for copies of the report to be sent to the hon. Member and to be placed in the Library of the House.
  868

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations have been received in respect of the effect on sites of special scientific interest in wales of airborne and aquatic discharge from(a) power plants and (b) agri-farming. [40515]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  None.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) major (b) significant (c) minor and (d) unsubstantiated water pollution incidents have been (i) notified and (ii) suspected in Wales in each year since the coming into force of the Water Resources Act 1991; how many prosecution have resulted arid what punitive or remedial action has been taken in each case. [40522]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the annual reports published by the Environment Agency and its predecessor the National Rivers Authority on "Water Pollution incidents in England and Wales", copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions since the coming into force of the Water Resources Act 1991 the environmental protection authorities in Wales have dropped a prosecution against an alleged polluter where the incident was notified during the investigation as a category 1 or category 2 case. [40523]

  Mr. Evans
  The policy of the Environment Agency and previously the National Rivers Authority is to prosecute category 1 pollution incidents where there is adequate evidence to support the case. The policy for category 2 incidents is less rigid and allows for the use of formal cautions or warning letters where appropriate. Information on prosecutions under the Water Resources Act 1991 that have been dropped by the authority and the agency is not held centrally.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the meetings he has had in the past 12 months with the head of the Welsh region of the National Rivers Authority and the Welsh divisional office of the Environment Agency to discuss the effectiveness of the application of legislation to protect drinking water sources from pollution; and if he will indicate the outcome of each meeting. [40524]

  Mr. Evans
  Officials of the Environment Agency, and previously the National Rivers Authority, including the Welsh regional general manager, meet regularly with officials of the Welsh Office to discuss a range of matters relating to the functions of the agency and the authority. My right hon. Friend is advised on the carrying out of these functions by committees which have been established under section 6 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and section 11 of the Environment Act 1995 and annual reports are placed in the Library of the House.
  869

  Homelessness
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of homelessness in Wales; and what steps he is taking to alleviate the problem. [40516]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I am very pleased that the level of homelessness in Wales continues to fall significantly. The recently published "Welsh Housing Statistics 1996", a copy of which is in the Library, recorded a fall in accepted cases of homelessness of 13 per cent. to 9,000 in 1995 and the proportion of priority acceptances at 65 per cent of this figure is the lowest recorded level since 1978.

  We have a range of policies and initiatives in place in Wales to assist authorities in tackling homelessness and clearly these are working.

  Bullying
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provisions exist to assist schoolchildren in Wales to combat bullying. [40521]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As part of the Government's commitment to tackling issues of school discipline, we have made available funding of £925,000 under this year's grant for education support and training programme for specific projects aimed at reducing truancy and improving classroom discipline generally. However, primary responsibility for measures to combat and deal with bullying rests with schools themselves supported by local education authorities.

  All schools should establish their own anti-bullying policy as part of their overall policy on pupil behaviour and discipline.

  We will be bringing forward a package of measures to improve school discipline in the Education Bill which we will be introducing in the next session of Parliament.

  Urban Investment Grant Scheme
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the urban investment grant scheme will be transferred to the Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [41073]

  Mr. Hague
  Transfer of responsibility for the urban investment grant—UIG—scheme was deferred from 1 April to 1 October 1996 to allow the WDA not only to administer new projects but to act as my agent for existing UIG agreements and for projects where grant was approved subject to the successful conclusion of a legal agreement falling within the WDA's statutory powers. This increased level of responsibility was made possible through section 130 of the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, which came into force on 25 September. I appointed the WDA to be my agent in relation to these matters from 1 October 1996.

  Also from 1 October 1996, for new business, I have asked the WDA to offer incentives similar to those previously available under the Welsh Office's UIG scheme to promote the economic regeneration of derelict land and buildings in urban areas. For 1996–97, £3.882 million will be transferred to the WDA to fund on-going and new projects.
  870

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Test Ban
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions at the United Nations General Assembly on a nuclear test ban; and if he will place in the Library a copy of all speeches made by representatives of the United Kingdom Government to the UNGA on a test ban since 1 September. [39918]

  Mr. David Davis
  A resolution adopting the comprehensive test ban treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 September 1996, with the support of 158 states. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs set out the Government's position in his statement to the United Nations General Committee on 24 September, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  European Youth Foundation
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries currently contribute towards the budget of the European Youth Foundation. [40180]

  Mr. David Davis
  The following countries have undertaken to contribute towards the current budget of the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe:

  Albania

  Andorra

  Austria

  Belgium

  Greece

  Hungary

  Iceland

  Ireland

  Norway

  Poland

  Portugal

  Romania.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British youth groups, apart from the scouting movement, presently benefit from the work of the European Youth Foundation. [40178]

  Mr. Davis
  About 70 British youth groups in 1996, apart from the Scout Association, have benefited directly or indirectly from European Youth Foundation grants made to their respective international umbrella youth organisations.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to(a) reduce and (b) end the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Youth Foundation. [40177]

  Mr. Davis
  We have given the requisite 12 months notice to cease contributing our annual endowment to the European Youth Foundation with effect from 1 January 1997. Our 1996 contribution has been paid in full.
  871
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the saving to public funds when his Department withdraws its financial support to the European Youth Foundation. [40181]

  Mr. Davis
  We estimate that our withdrawal from the European Youth Foundation will save the public purse about £325,000 per annum.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries currently contribute towards the funding of the European Youth Foundation. [40179]

  Mr. Davis
  Thirty-six countries have undertaken to contribute to the current budget of the European Youth Foundation.

  Nuclear Safety Agreement
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations his Department had with the United States State Department about the memorandum of agreement on co-operation concerning nuclear safety and security it signed with France on 4 June; and if he will make a statement. [40280]

  Mr. David Davis
  None.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received from the US State Department a copy of the memorandum of agreement on co-operation concerning nuclear safety and security which France entered into with the United States on 4 June; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [40276]

  Mr. Davis
  No. Bilateral co-operation between the United States and France is a matter for the Governments concerned.

  Eastern Europe (Nuclear Weapons)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications for the stipulations of articles (i) and (ii) of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty over the transfer of nuclear weapons and nuclear know-how of negotiations to increase the membership of NATO with eastern European states; and if he will make a statement. [40519]

  Mr. David Davis
  None. Articles I and II of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty do not prevent the stationing of nuclear weapons on the territory of non-nuclear weapon states, but the alliance made clear last year that there was no a priori requirement for the stationing of nuclear weapons on the territory of new members, and that the present NATO nuclear posture would for the foreseeable future continue to meet the requirements of an enlarged alliance.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 June Official Report, column 566, relating to the dismissal of a teacher in St. Helena, if the notification was received from the Governor operating in his personal capacity. [40603]
  872
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The teacher in question resigned from her post. She was not dismissed. There is therefore no relevance in this case to the Governor's reserved powers.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for how many days in 1996 the Governor of St. Helena has been resident on St. Helena. [40600]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  During 1996, the Governor has been resident on St. Helena for the whole year except for 30 days spent travelling to and from St. Helena's dependencies on duty, and 76 days travelling to and from the UK for consultations in London and leave. St. Helena's Chief Secretary was appointed to administer the Government during the Governor's absences.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the figure for unemployment in percentage term on St. Helena at 1 January 1996; what is the latest figure; if he will make a statement. [40601]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The percentage of people seeking full-time employment at the end of December 1995 was 15 per cent. of the on-island work force. The latest equivalent figure available—for August 1996—is 18 per cent. We are working with the St. Helena Government to develop the island's economy to create new employment opportunities and to alleviate the unemployment situation on St. Helena.

  Secretary-General of the United Nations
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the post of UN Secretary-General. [40562]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  It is the Government's long-standing policy not to reveal their voting intentions for the election of the United Nations Secretary-General.

  Private Simon Jeans
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Croatian Government in respect of the murder of Private Simon Jeans serving with IFOR; if compensation is being claimed from Croatia; and if he will make a statement. [40555]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have made clear our grave concern at the incident leading to the tragic death of Private Simon Jeans. The Croatian authorities have arrested and charged with manslaughter four people in connection with his death. They are due to appear in court in Croatia on 23 October. British IFOR commanders remain in very close contact with the Croatian authorities. It is for the family of Private Simon Jeans to consider claiming compensation once the outcome of the Croatian authorities' investigation is known. The broader question of UK criminal injuries compensation for service men and women killed in the former Yugoslavia is being examined by the Government.
  873

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the joint FCO-BBC World Service working group report on the implications for the future of the BBC World Service of the BBC's restructuring proposals. [40916]

  Mr. Rifkind
  The chairman of the BBC and I met on 14 October to consider the report of the joint FCO/BBC World Service working group. We have accepted its conclusions.

  I am encouraged that the working group has agreed a series of 20 new proposals designed to ensure the continued protection of World Service interests and the maintenance of the special character, style, ethos and quality of World Service broadcasts.

  The working group will reconvene in the autumn of 1997 to review the effects of the World Service of the implementation of the BBC's restructuring proposals to ensure that the new measures agreed by the working group are functioning satisfactorily and producing the desired results.

  The Government remain committed to the success of the World Service, to the maintenance of the high quality of its output, and to its continued pre-eminence among international broadcasters.

  I have placed copies of the full report of the working group in the Libraries of both Houses.

  A summary of the measures agreed by the working group is as follows:
  SUMMARY OF MEASURES AGREED
  In the course of its discussions the working group considered a number of measures designed to ensure the continued protection of World Service interests under the restructuring proposals put forward by the BBC. The following are the principal measures agreed with respect to financial and economic issues, the maintenance of the quality of World Service news and other programmes including management issues, and the FCO/World Service relationship.
  Financial and economic

  (i) BBC to draw up new guidelines to govern the trading relationship between World Service and BBC supplier departments. These will be subject to periodic internal review, independent external monitoring and an effective financial penalty clause. Guidelines to be approved by NAO.

  (ii) Financial mechanisms to be developed to ensure proper allocation of the cost of overseas correspondents.

  (iii) The FCO/BBC financial memorandum to be redrafted to incorporate new financial mechanisms.

  (iv) The BBC's fair trading guidelines to be revised to incorporate the commitment that FCO grant in aid funds cannot he used for non-World Service purposes.

  (v) NAO to examine the functioning of the new financial mechanisms after six months of operation.

  (vi) Arrangement for appointing the Accounting Officer of the World Service to be re-examined in separate discussions between FCO and BBC.

  (vii) Proposals for alternative methods of managing World Service Capital Assets to be examined in separate discussions between FCO and the BBC.

  (viii) BBC proposals on future savings to be considered further when all necessary information is available.

  874
  Quality
  News and current affairs programmes

  (ix) World Service news and real-time current affairs programmes to be produced by a dedicated unit within BBC News co-located with the World Service including the vernacular services. Dedicated team members to be appointed for a period of time agreed with World Service.

  (x) World Service to specify additional competencies and training for staff working on the supply of such programmes and services.

  (xi) World Service programme commissioners to have full editorial responsibility rooted in the power to specify the agenda, range and breadth of news programmes and services as well as their style, content and distinctive voice. There would also be provision for an internal review process with, in cases of disagreement, referral to senior management up to the director general. The board of governors to be made aware of any such referrals. This internal review process to feed into the BBC's annual performance review by the Director General to the Chairman and Board of Governors.

  (xii) World Service to be represented on all senior appointment boards of significance to the provision of World Service output. All appointments concerned to be jointly agreed. World Service to approve individual presenters for all key programmes.

  (xiii) World Service to have the right within the specification agreed between World Service and BBC News to require programming to cover particular events or to respond to breaking news.

  Newsgathering
  (xiv) World Service to have power to require that strategic deployment of newsgathering resources including geographical spread is appropriate to range and breadth of World Service needs. Correspondents' assignment briefs to spell out their responsibilities to World Service.
  Co-location
  (xv) Co-location between the team producing World Service news and current affairs programmes and the vernacular services to be given top priority. Any period of separation to be kept to a minimum and entered upon only if and when the World Service has agreed that the advantages significantly outweighed the disadvantages.
  General programmes

  (xvi) BBC to ensure that staff of BBC Production are fully briefed and trained on special requirements of World Service and that there are regular interchanges of staff.

  (xvii) Programme commissioners to have extensive powers to specify target audience, strategic objectives, style and content of programmes as well as wide freedom to commission as they see fit from within and outside BBC.

  Management

  (xviii) Managing Director World Service to attend meetings of BBC executive committee whenever World Service issues are to be discussed. World Service to be represented on BBC executive committee by the deputy director general.

  (xix) BBC to strengthen oversight of World Service by BBC board of governors, including the establishment of new procedures to approve strategy and review performance and to ensure that any disagreements between World Service commissioners and BBC production are made known to the governors. An independent advisory panel to be established under the chairmanship of a BBC governor to advise the governors on World Service output and performance.

  FCO/World Service relationship
  (xx) The World Service's relationship with the FCO to remain unaffected by the restructuring.
  875

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new gun licences have been issued in England and Wales since 1 January. [40113]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Statistics on firearm and shotgun licences are collected centrally only on an annual basis. Statistics for 1996 will be published in the spring of 1997.

  Sir Michael Sheresby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many deaths occurred as the result of shooting in which unregistered and illegally held firearms was used during each of the past 10 years; [40322]

  (2) in how many cases during the past 10 years police officers in England and Wales have been killed by a registered firearm used (a) by the licence holder and (b) by a third party; [40320]

  (3) how many deaths have occurred in each of the past 10 years as a result of gunshot wounds in which a registered firearm was used (a) by the holder of the firearms licence and (b) by an unauthorised third party; [40319]

  (4) in how many cases during the past 10 years police officers in England and Wales have been killed by an unregistered and illegally held firearm. [40321]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information as to whether firearms used in offences of homicide are legally held is not at present routinely collected centrally.

  However, a special exercise has been recently carried out to find out whether the guns used in homicide were licensed or not.

  This covered the years 1992 to 1994, and out of a total of 196 homicides, information was available in 152 cases to show that 22 cases—14 per cent.—involved the use of a legally held firearm. In 5 per cent. of homicides in which the weapons were not legally held by a suspect, the weapons were believed to have been stolen—seven out of 130. For 88 of these offences, however, the police reported that they did not know whether the firearm had been stolen or not.

  During the period of the survey, one police officer and one special constable were shot and killed, the firearms being illegally held.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifiable offences were recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been used in Wales in 1995. [40052]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not yet available for 1995, but is due for publication in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1995" on 7 November.

  Emergencies
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which bodies have statutory duties for and what statutory bodies have responsibilities for providing emergency assistance to(a) those trapped in vehicles after road accidents, (b) householders or owners of commercial or industrial premises who have been
  876
  subject to unexpected flooding and (c) persons trapped in lifts, when no local assistance is able to release them, giving in each case how the bodies are funded for such activities. [40362]

  Mr. Sackville
  Under section 1 of the Fire Services Act 1947, a fire authority has a duty to make provision for firefighting purposes, and in particular to secure the services of a fire brigade and equipment in order to meet efficiently all normal requirements. Section 3(1)(e) of the 1947 Act gives a fire authority supplementary powers to employ its brigade for purposes other than firefighting, such as those referred to in the question. The police service has no statutory responsibility or duty as such to provide assistance in respect of such incidents, although it may well do so in practice. The role of the ambulance service is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Fire authorities are financed from council tax, national non-domestic rates and revenue support grant.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to make an announcement regarding the future of section 11 funding; which and what percentage of projects currently in operation will be guaranteed funding until March 1998; and if he will make a statement. [40582]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have under active consideration the position regarding further section 11 funding from next April onwards. Although we are not yet in a position to make an announcement, I expect to be able to do so shortly.

  Betting
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the law in relation to betting on the national lottery; and if he will make a statement. [40771]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  There are no plans at present to change the law in relation to betting on the national lottery.

  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation on the deregulation of casinos, bingo clubs and advertising of commercial gambling. [41077]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  On 27 February, we went out lo consultation on a package of measures to relax certain controls on casinos, bingo clubs and advertising of commercial gambling. This is a general report on the outcome of that consultation and our plans for taking the changes forward.

  Casinos

  The deregulation proposals received general support. I have laid a draft deregulation order today for Parliamentary scrutiny;

  allowing casinos in England and Wales to sell alcohol up to 2 am (3 am in London);

  reducing the waiting period for casino membership from 48 to 24 hours.

  I also plan to lay a draft order later this year allowing payment by debit cards in casinos and bingo clubs.
  877
  I hope in the next few weeks to publish a consultation document about the precise form of the deregulation orders allowing:

  postal applications for membership;

  group membership;

  limited advertising;

  casino slot machines.

  Permitted areas for casinos

  In February we proposed to allow casinos in 13 new locations. The new areas attracted support from their local councils, with the exception of Croydon and Peterborough. I intend to finalise that list in the light of the comments received.

  We have also received representations from other areas. I do not think it appropriate to add an unmanageable number or to depart radically from the original proposals, but I am considering the case for some additions. New permitted areas can be implemented by secondary legislation, but I will need to address the resource, timing and other practical implications before any are introduced. I will make my intentions clear in the next few weeks.

  Bingo

  There has been a mixed response from inside and outside the industry to the proposals to abolish the demand criterion for bingo licence applications, the requirement to operate as clubs and the 24 hour waiting period for membership. In the light of the representations received I do not propose to proceed with those measures.

  I am still assessing the detailed responses to the other proposals affecting bingo clubs. I will give priority to a measure abolishing advertising restrictions and will then examine further the move to three yearly licences. I would also like to allow simplified charging in bingo clubs, subject to advice from the Gaming Board following discussions with the industry.

  Advertising betting shops

  I also plan later in the year to bring forward a measure allowing non-broadcast advertising of betting shops.

  R v. Preddy
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government intend to take to deal with the effect of the judgment of the House of Lords in the case of R v. Preddy. [41078]

  Mr. Howard
  The Law Commission has today published report No. 243, "Offences of Dishonesty: Money Transfers", in which it examines the implications of the House of Lords judgment in Rv. Preddy, building on its earlier work on its report No. 228, "Conspiracy to Defraud". The Government accept the law Commission's recommendations, and will introduce legislation to give effect to its proposals at the earliest possible opportunity.

  Immigration
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his plans for the reintroduction of compulsory application forms for foreign nationals wishing to apply for leave to remain in the United Kingdom following the suspension of the scheme on 6 June. [41079]
  878
  Mr. Kirkhope
  The compulsory application forms system introduced on 3 June was suspended after three days following legal challenge. Having heard the arguments, we were persuaded that it was right to make changes and the forms have therefore been revised to take account of the issues raised. Copies of the newly prescribed versions have been placed in the Library. The new forms will be compulsory for applications made on or after 25 November. As before, the scheme does not cover applications under European Community law or applications for asylum.

  Application forms are designed to help applicants and to improve efficiency. They set out the basic information that an applicant must provide. The compulsory forms scheme is being introduced following a successful 12 months pilot scheme which demonstrated a clear demand for application forms. During the pilot scheme applicants showed themselves willing and able to use the forms and where forms were used applications were resolved more quickly and the need to make further inquiries was greatly reduced. Application forms benefit the applicant, the immigration system and the taxpayer. They are being introduced in order to demonstrate the high priority the Government attach to a fair and efficient manner of immigration control.

  Criminal Justice (Delays)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work is in hand to reduce delay in the criminal justice process. [40180]

  Mr. Howard
  Following the report of the royal commission on criminal justice and the efficiency scrutiny of administrative burdens on the police, efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice process have been taken forward by officials from my Department, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Crown Prosecution Service through the trial issues group. Nevertheless, my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General and I believe that it is now appropriate to explore additional means of reducing the time that it takes to deal with cases. We have therefore set up a review urgently to identify means of expediting the progress of criminal cases from initiation to resolution, consistently with the interests of justice. The review will examine the scope for improvements within current structures as well as those which might require new legislation. We expect a report next January.

  Asylum and Immigration Act 1996
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) communications and (b) consultations have taken place on the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 and instruments made under it, with the Commission of the European Communities and with member states under Commission decision 88/384/EEC and article 118 of the EC treaty; on what dates; by what means; and if he will place in the Library the documents concerned. [40509]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: None. These matters are covered by the arrangements for intergovernmental co-operation under title VI of the treaty on European Union.
  879

  Police (Health and Safety)
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to introduce legislation to provide that police officers will be covered by health and safety requirements; [40232]

  (2) when he expects the ad hoc working group on health and safety management in the police service to complete its work; [40230]

  (3) when he plans to produce his Department's advice in the form of a Home Office circular on health and safety in the police force. [40231]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: I have today announced the Government's proposals to amend the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the corresponding Northern Ireland legislation so that it extends to the work of police officers, police cadets and special constables. The ad hoc working group on the management of health and safety in the police service has completed the first phase of its work. We have today issued to police forces in the United Kingdom practical guidance on the application of the health and safety legislation to the duties of police officers. A copy of this guidance has been placed in the Library.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Intervention Board
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the Intervention Board performed against its targets for 1995–96; and what key performance targets Agriculture Ministers have set the agency for 1996–97. [40948]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information is as follows:

  1995–96

  Target

  Performance

  Percentage of claims processed within deadlines

  98.5 per cent.

  99.9 per cent.

  Percentage of claims processed correctly

  98.5 per cent.

  99.2 per cent.

  Cumulative running cost efficiency gains

  2.5 per cent.

  3.3 per cent.

  Improvement in index of productivity

  6.0 per cent.

  3.9 per cent.

  Ratio of disallowance to EAGGF funds handled

  0.4 per cent.

  1—

  To maintain expenditure within vote provision, cash and running cost limited

  —

  Met

  New value for money savings in procurement of goods and services

  6.0 per cent.

  8.8 per cent.

  Yield: cost ratio of anti-fraud activities

  3.0:1.0

  3.7:1.0

  1 A decision covering the clearance of the 1993 EAGGF accounts is still awaited.

  880
  In agreement with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, I have set the following targets for 1996–97:

  Target

  Percentage of claims processed within deadlines

  99.0 per cent.

  Percentage of claims processed correctly

  98.5 per cent.

  Cumulative running cost efficiency gains

  2.5 per cent.

  Improvement in index of productivity

  6.0 per cent.

  Ratio of disallowance to EAGGF funds handled

  0.4 per cent.

  To maintain expenditure within vote provision, cash and running cost limited

  —

  New value for money savings in procurement of goods and services

  6.0 per cent.

  Yield: cost ratio of anti-fraud activities

  3.0: 1.0

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Inspections
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for North Thanet, (Mr. Gale) of 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1017 if she will publish the advice from Her Majesty's chief inspector on a more targeted approach in the second cycle of inspection. [39919]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 16 September that she had accepted in full the chief inspector's recommendations to move to a more targeted programme of inspection. The key elements of the new arrangements, which will take effect from the end of the first cycle, are that: each school will be subject to a full inspection within a six-year period, instead of every four years as at present: weaker schools should be inspected more frequently; seriously weak schools will be specifically identified within registered inspectors' reports; and that special visits will be made to schools which are models of good practice.

  The Secretary of State has deposited copies of the chief inspector's recommendations and of her response in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Teacher Training Courses
  Mr Bunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the number and percentage of teachers who completed training courses in 1994, broken down by subject and in total; and who were in posts by March 1995. [39928]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows the number of teachers who successfully completed Bachelor of Education or Postgraduate Certificate of Education courses leading to qualified teacher status in 1994 and their position as at 31 March 1995.
  881

  Number of completers1 in England and Wales Calendar year 1994

  1994 completers in service at 31 March 1995 in the maintained schools sector in England and Wales2

  In service as a percentage of completers

  Primary

  12,643

  8,756

  69

  Secondary (by subject of ITT)

  Maths

  1,598

  974

  61

  English

  1,389

  1,023

  74

  Science

  2,089

  1,384

  66

  Modern foreign language

  1,484

  1,021

  69

  Technology

  1,526

  900

  59

  History

  649

  470

  72

  Geography

  563

  421

  75

  Art

  730

  398

  55

  Music

  447

  318

  71

  Religious education

  344

  232

  67

  Physical education

  968

  656

  68

  Other

  1,123

  662

  59

  Total secondary

  12,910

  8,459

  66

  Total primary and secondary

  25,553

  17,215

  67

  Notes:

  1 Excludes 131 students who successfully completed School Centred Initial Teacher Training in 1994.:

  2 Details of service as at 31/3/95 are provisional. Includes service in the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special education sector. Service details are available for some, but not all, teachers in the independent and further and higher education sectors. Around 1,110—per cent.—of the 1994 completers are known to have entered service in these sectors, but are not included in the table.

  Source:

  Database of Teachers' Records.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what information from Office for Standards in Education inspections of providers under the nursery voucher scheme will be made available to parents; and when. [40389]

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

  Ms Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many vouchers for nursery education have not been redeemed to date during phase I of the nursery voucher scheme. [40385]

  Mr. Squire
  Nursery education vouchers were issued in respect of 14,711 children for the summer term of 1996. Of these, 1,372—some 9 per cent.—have not been redeemed.

  Ms Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the difference is between the number of vouchers issued under phase 1 of the nursery voucher scheme and the number of places available in each of the four pilot areas. [40383]
  882
  Mr. Squire
  The number of vouchers issued for summer term 1996 in each of the phase 1 authorities is shown in the table. Information on the number of places available for children eligible for vouchers is not held centrally.

  Number of vouchers issued

  Norfolk

  8,976

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,151

  Wandsworth

  3,170

  Westminster

  1,414

  Ms Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many providers have participated to date in phase 1 of the nursery voucher scheme. [40390]

  Mr. Squire
  Some 1,141 providers, of which 647 are in the private and voluntary sectors, have participated in the scheme to date.

  Ms. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of new providers established since the introduction of phase 1 of the nursery education voucher scheme. [40386]

  Mr. Squire
  Any provider that is not a maintained or independent school has to be registered under the Children Act 1989. Our records do not show whether an institution was established specifically in response to the introduction of the scheme.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will request each of the four local education authorities operating the vouchers scheme for pre-school education to publish an estimate of the number of places in all settings that will be required in each of their areas if 90 per cent. of eligible pupils' parents apply for vouchers. [40403]

  Mr. Squire
  The table shows the estimated number of eligible children in each of the phase 1 authorities and 90 per cent. thereof. These estimates of population are less reliable when broken down both by local authority area and by year group.

  LEA

  Estimated number of eligible children

  90 per cent. of estimated number of eligible children

  Norfolk

  9,300

  8,370

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,650

  1,485

  Wandsworth

  3,300

  2,970

  Westminster

  1,900

  1,710

  Schools White Paper
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the pamphlet "Self-Government for Schools: A Summary" was accompanied with a letter noting that the White Paper is a consultation paper; and in what form responses to the consultation were invited. [40586]
  883
  Mr. Forth
  A summary of the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools" was sent to the head teachers and chairmen of governors of all local education authority-maintained and grant-maintained schools. It was accompanied by a letter from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The letter invited comments on the White Paper by 4 October, gave details of where they should be sent, and noted that each school was eligible for one free copy of the White Paper on request.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many responses her Department has received to the consultation on the 'White Paper "Self-Government for Schools", listed by type of organisation consulted; which consultees responded favourably; which consultees offered criticisms; and what was the nature of these criticisms. [40588]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received some 600 responses to the White Paper by the deadline of 4 October. We are currently analysing the responses. A summary will be placed in the Library in due course.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many copies of "Self-Government for Schools: A Summary" were sent out; to which bodies; and at what total cost. [40585]

  Mr. Forth
  The summary of the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools" was sent to the head teachers and chairmen of governors of all local education authorities-maintained and grant-maintained schools. It has also been made available to interested parties on request. Over 70,000 copies have so far been issued. The cost of producing and distributing the summaries sent to schools was some £18,000.

  Students (Hardship Funds)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students applied for hardship funds in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96 for (i) further and (ii) higher education, and if she will make a statement. [40579]

  Mr. Forth
  The purpose of the hardship funds, correctly known as the access funds, is to provide financial help to students whose access to further or higher education might be inhibited by financial considerations or who, for whatever reason, including physical or other disabilities, face financial difficulties.

  From the information provided by institutions, the number of eligible applicants for further and higher education access funds were as follows:

  Academic year

  Further education

  Higher education

  1993–94

  41,668

  77,060

  1994–95

  51,027

  77,005

  1995–96

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a=not yet available.

  884

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what(a) statistics and (b) representations her Department has assessed regarding spending on (i) discretionary awards and (ii) special needs by local education authorities in England in 1995–96 and 1996–97; and if she will make a statement. [40545]

  Mr. Forth
  The latest available data from local education authorities on discretionary awards are for the academic year 1994–95. Provisional national data were published in a departmental press notice—110/96—on 1 April 1996. Final data, including information from individual local education authorities, will be published on 22 November in the statistics of education student support volume, 1994–95. Provisional data at national level for the academic year 1995–96 will be available in spring 1997.

  Both the number and level of discretionary awards have been in decline recently. Representations have been made about this by a wide range of bodies representing the interests of students and institutions in dance and drama, horticulture and agriculture, legal practice and other disciplines. These are matters for local education authorities, who decide which students to support and at what rates in the light of local needs and priorities and the resources available.

  Funds for special education are contained within the education standard spending assessment but cannot be separately identified. Local education authorities can and do spend more or less than their education SSA on education services.

  Teaching Publicity
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the amount spent on publicity and promotion for each year since 1994, by the Teacher Training Agency (i) in total and (ii) broken down into components; how many calls are received annually by the telephone line promoting teaching as a career; and what evidence she has assessed to indicate that the telephone line has improved recruitment. [40587]

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

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average size of single teacher classes in primary schools in January in each local education authority and in total; and what was the actual and percentage change in numbers compared' with January 1995 in each local education authority and in total.
  885
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is shown in the table:

  Average size of classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in each local education authority area in England 1995 and 1996 (provisional)

  Position in January each year

  Average class size

  Change2

  LEA

  1995

  11996

  Number 1995–96

  Percentage 1995–96

  Corporation of London

  26.8

  26.8

  0.0

  0.0

  Camden

  27.3

  27.3

  -0.1

  -0.3

  Greenwich

  26.4

  25.5

  -0.9

  -3.2

  Hackney

  26.1

  26.1

  0.0

  -0.1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  25.6

  26.1

  0.5

  1.8

  Islington

  26.6

  26.2

  -0.3

  -1.2

  Kensington and Chelsea

  25.1

  24.4

  -0.7

  -2.8

  Lambeth

  24.6

  24.6

  0.0

  -0.2

  Lewisham

  25.4

  25.7

  0.3

  1.1

  Southwark

  26.9

  26.1

  -0.8

  -2.9

  Tower Hamlets

  26.7

  25.8

  -0.9

  -3.5

  Wandsworth

  25.2

  25.4

  0.2

  0.9

  Westminster

  25.3

  24.9

  -0.4

  -1.7

  Barking and Dagenham

  26.7

  26.7

  0.0

  -0.1

  Barnet

  26.5

  26.3

  -0.2

  -0.8

  Bexley

  28.6

  28.6

  0.0

  0.1

  Brent

  26.9

  26.7

  -0.2

  -0.7

  Bromley

  28.4

  28.7

  0.3

  1.0

  Croydon

  28.1

  28.3

  0.2

  0.8

  Ealing

  26.6

  27.2

  0.6

  2.2

  Enfield

  28.4

  28.5

  0.1

  0.5

  Haringey

  27.2

  27.0

  -0.2

  -0.6

  Harrow

  27.1

  27.8

  0.7

  2.8

  Havering

  27.4

  27.9

  0.5

  2.0

  Hillingdon

  26.8

  26.6

  -0.2

  -0.9

  Hounslow

  27.4

  27.3

  -0.1

  -0.3

  Kingston upon Thames

  29.5

  30.0

  0.5

  1.8

  Merton

  27.0

  28.1

  1.1

  4.0

  Newham

  27.5

  27.9

  0.3

  1.2

  Redbridge

  29.2

  29.0

  -0.2

  -0.7

  Richmond upon Thames

  26.1

  26.7

  0.5

  2.0

  Sutton

  28.0

  27.3

  -0.7

  -2.4

  Waltham Forest

  26.5

  26.4

  -0.1

  -0.3

  Birmingham

  28.2

  27.8

  -0.4

  -1.5

  Coventry

  27.8

  27.2

  -0.6

  -2.2

  Dudley

  27.3

  26.9

  -0.4

  -1.5

  Sandwell

  28.2

  28.6

  0.4

  1.4

  Solihull

  27.6

  28.2

  0.6

  2.0

  Walsall

  26.0

  26.0

  -0.1

  -0.4

  Wolverhampton

  26.2

  26.5

  0.3

  1.1

  Knowsley

  28.0

  27.6

  -0.3

  -1.2

  Liverpool

  27.1

  26.8

  -0.3

  -1.1

  St. Helens

  27.0

  27.5

  0.5

  1.7

  Sefton

  27.6

  27.5

  -0.1

  -0.3

  Wirral

  26.1

  26.4

  0.3

  1.1

  Bolton

  28.7

  28.5

  -0.2

  -0.8

  Bury

  27.8

  28.3

  0.5

  1.9

  Manchester

  26.9

  27.0

  0.1

  0.5

  Oldham

  28.5

  28.6

  0.1

  0.3

  Rochdale

  29.2

  29.2

  0.0

  -0.1

  Salford

  27.3

  27.4

  0.1

  0.5

  Stockport

  27.5

  27.7

  0.3

  1.0

  Tameside

  29.5

  29.3

  -0.2

  -0.5

  Trafford

  29.0

  28.7

  -0.3

  -1.2

  Wigan

  28.0

  28.2

  0.2

  0.6

  Barnsley

  27.5

  28.2

  11.7

  2.7

  Doncaster

  28.1

  28.2

  0.1

  0.5

  Rotherham

  25.8

  26.9

  1.1

  4.4

  Sheffield

  26.8

  26.8

  0.0

  -0.1

  Bradford

  27.8

  27.9

  0.1

  0.4

  Calderdale

  27.5

  27.7

  0.2

  0.7

  Kirklees

  28.2

  28.7

  0.4

  1.5

  Leeds

  28.2

  28.1

  -0.1

  -0.3

  Wakefield

  27.9

  28.0

  0.1

  0.3

  Gateshead

  26.0

  25.9

  -0.1

  -0.4

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  27.6

  27.7

  0.1

  0.4

  North Tyneside

  26.9

  27.0

  0.2

  0.6

  South Tyneside

  26.3

  26.8

  0.5

  1.8

  Sunderland

  25.4

  25.6

  0.3

  1.0

  Isles of Scilly

  17.3

  13.7

  -3.6

  -20.8

  Avon

  27.8

  27.7

  -0.1

  -0.5

  Bedfordshire

  26.8

  27.1

  0.3

  1.1

  886

  Average size of classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in each local education authority area in England 1995 and 1996 (provisional)

  Position in January each year

  Average class size

  Change2

  LEA

  1995

  11996

  Number 1995–96

  Percentage 1995–96

  Berkshire

  27.0

  27.3

  0.3

  1.2

  Buckinghamshire

  27.3

  27.8

  0.4

  1.5

  Cambridge

  27.3

  27.8

  0.5

  1.9

  Cheshire

  27.3

  27.4

  0.1

  0.5

  Cleveland

  26.9

  26.9

  0.0

  0.0

  Cornwall

  27.0

  27.3

  0.3

  1.1

  Cumbria

  26.2

  26.0

  -0.2

  -0.8

  Derbyshire

  27.9

  28.9

  1.0

  3.7

  Devon

  26.7

  27.2

  0.5

  1.8

  Dorset

  27.6

  27.7

  0.1

  0.3

  Durham

  27.7

  28.4

  0.8

  2.8

  East Sussex

  27.5

  27.7

  0.2

  0.8

  Essex

  26.9

  26.9

  0.0

  0.1

  Gloucestershire

  26.7

  27.2

  0.5

  2.0

  Hampshire

  27.7

  27.8

  0.1

  0.4

  Hereford and Worcester

  25.5

  25.9

  0.4

  1.4

  Hertfordshire

  26.5

  26.7

  0.2

  0.7

  Humberside

  27.7

  27.9

  0.2

  0.7

  Isle of Wight

  26.3

  26.9

  0.6

  2.4

  Kent

  27.7

  27.7

  0.0

  0.1

  Lancashire

  27.9

  28.4

  0.6

  2.0

  Leicestershire

  26.5

  26.7

  0.3

  1.0

  Lincolnshire

  26.8

  26.7

  -0.1

  -0.4

  Norfolk

  25.4

  26.0

  0.6

  2.4

  North Yorkshire

  26.2

  26.3

  0.1

  0.3

  Northamptonshire

  26.7

  26.5

  -0.1

  -0.5

  Northumberland

  27.2

  27.1

  0.0

  -0.1

  Nottinghamshire

  27.4

  28.3

  0.9

  3.4

  Oxfordshire

  25.9

  26.8

  0.9

  3.6

  Shropshire

  26.6

  27.3

  0.7

  2.8

  Somerset

  27.0

  27.3

  0.3

  1.2

  Staffordshire

  27.6

  27.7

  0.1

  0.4

  Suffolk

  24.9

  25.1

  0.2

  0.9

  Surrey

  25.6

  25.8

  0.2

  0.7

  Warwickshire

  26.9

  27.9

  1.0

  3.8

  West Sussex

  26.5

  26.8

  0.2

  0.9

  Wiltshire

  26.9

  27.1

  0.3

  0.9

  England

  27.1

  27.3

  0.2

  0.7

  1 Provisional.

  2 Rounding of components may cause discrepancies in number and percentage changes. The comparable average class size in 1979 was 25.9.

  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage, and how many primary school pupils were in classes of over 30 in January in each local education authority and in total; and what was the actual and percentage change in numbers compared with January 1995 in each local education authority and in total. [40159]

  Mr. Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 14 October 1996.

  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage and how many primary school pupils were in classes of over 36 in January in each local education authority and in total; and what was the actual and percentage change in numbers compared with January 1995 in each local education authority and in total. [40160]

  Mr. Squire
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  887

  Numbers and percentages of pupils in classes of size 37 or more taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in each local education authority area in England: 1995 and 1996 (provisional)

  1995

  1996

  Change

  Pupils

  Percentage1

  Pupils

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage3

  Corporation of London

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Camden

  0

  0.0

  37

  0.4

  37

  4—

  Greenwich

  50

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  -50

  -100.0

  Hackney

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Islington

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Lambeth

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Lewisham

  84

  0.5

  0

  0.0

  -84

  -100.0

  Southwark

  37

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  -37

  -100.0

  Tower Hamlets

  50

  0.3

  37

  0.3

  -13

  -26.0

  Wandsworth

  77

  0.5

  296

  2.1

  219

  284.4

  Westminster

  39

  0.6

  0

  0.0

  -39

  -100.0

  Barking

  323

  2.1

  272

  1.8

  -51

  -15.8

  Barnet

  76

  0.4

  164

  0.8

  88

  115.8

  Bexley

  37

  0.2

  112

  0.5

  75

  202.7

  Brent

  346

  1.8

  170

  0.9

  -176

  -50.9

  Bromley

  111

  0.5

  150

  0.6

  39

  35.1

  Croydon

  38

  0.2

  78

  0.3

  40

  105.3

  Ealing

  78

  0.4

  118

  0.5

  40

  51.3

  Enfield

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Haringey

  39

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  -39

  -100.0

  Harrow

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Havering

  37

  0.2

  127

  0.6

  90

  243.2

  Hillingdon

  477

  2.6

  387

  2.1

  -90

  -18.9

  Hounslow

  540

  3.2

  462

  2.8

  -78

  -14.4

  Kingston upon Thames

  76

  0.8

  197

  2.0

  121

  159.2

  Merton

  217

  1.7

  359

  2.8

  142

  65.4

  Newham

  76

  0.3

  204

  0.8

  128

  168.4

  Redbridge

  111

  0.7

  74

  0.4

  -37

  -33.3

  Richmond upon Thames

  60

  0.6

  0

  0.0

  -60

  -100.0

  Sutton

  78

  0.6

  115

  0.9

  37

  47.4

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Birmingham

  1,079

  1.1

  1,277

  1.3

  198

  18.4

  Coventry

  571

  2.1

  386

  1.4

  -185

  -32.4

  Dudley

  1,141

  4.7

  1,085

  4.4

  -56

  -4.9

  Sandwell

  589

  2.1

  895

  3.1

  306

  52.0

  Solihull

  341

  1.8

  339

  1.8

  -2

  -0.6

  Walsall

  193

  0.8

  458

  2.0

  265

  137.3

  Wolverhampton

  230

  1.1

  610

  2.8

  380

  165.2

  Knowsley

  591

  3.3

  475

  2.6

  -116

  -19.6

  Liverpool

  569

  1.2

  338

  0.7

  -231

  -40.6

  St Helens

  687

  4.7

  807

  5.5

  120

  17.5

  Sefton

  262

  1.0

  417

  1.7

  155

  59.2

  Wirral

  339

  1.2

  338

  1.2

  -1

  -0.3

  Bolton

  1,420

  6.3

  1,751

  7.4

  331

  23.3

  Bury

  261

  1.7

  267

  1.7

  6

  2.3

  Manchester

  789

  1.9

  1,539

  3.6

  750

  95.1

  Oldham

  574

  2.7

  598

  2.8

  24

  4.2

  Rochdale

  272

  1.4

  233

  1.2

  -39

  -14.3

  Salford

  595

  2.6

  887

  3.9

  292

  49.1

  Stockport

  608

  2.5

  878

  3.5

  270

  44.4

  Tameside

  306

  1.4

  452

  2.1

  146

  47.7

  Trafford

  946

  5.0

  419

  2.2

  -527

  -55.7

  Wigan

  1,138

  4.3

  1,377

  5.3

  239

  21.0

  Barnsley

  504

  2.5

  499

  2.4

  -5

  -1.0

  Doncaster

  1,358

  5.2

  1,163

  4.3

  -195

  -14.4

  Rotherham

  200

  0.9

  314

  1.4

  114

  57.0

  Sheffield

  1,328

  3.4

  1,389

  3.5

  61

  4.6

  Bradford

  883

  2.7

  1,309

  3.9

  426

  48.2

  Calderdale

  0

  0.0

  197

  1.1

  197

  4—

  888 889

  Numbers and percentages of pupils in classes of size 37 or more taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in each local education authority area in England: 1995 and 1996 (provisional)

  1995

  1996

  Change

  Pupils

  Percentage1

  Pupils

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage3

  Kirklecs

  1,140

  3.5

  1,489

  4.6

  349

  30.6

  Leeds

  2,190

  3.6

  2,354

  3.9

  164

  7.5

  Wakefield

  1,440

  5.2

  1,206

  4.3

  -234

  -16.3

  Gateshead

  117

  0.7

  80

  0.5

  -37

  -31.6

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  710

  3.5

  623

  3.0

  -87

  -12.3

  North Tyneside

  283

  1.9

  395

  2.6

  112

  39.6

  South Tyneside

  562

  3.8

  484

  3.3

  -78

  -13.9

  Sunderland

  155

  0.6

  113

  0.4

  -42

  -27.1

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Avon

  613

  0.8

  867

  1.1

  254

  41.4

  Bedfordshire

  1,824

  4.7

  2,094

  5.4

  270

  14.8

  Berkshire

  625

  1.1

  622

  1.0

  -3

  -0.5

  Buckinghamshire

  2,247

  3.8

  2,404

  4.0

  157

  7.0

  Cambridgeshire

  375

  0.7

  414

  0.7

  39

  10.4

  Cheshire

  1,717

  2.0

  2,035

  2.4

  318

  18.5

  Cleveland

  2,131

  3.6

  2,126

  3.6

  -5

  -0.2

  Cornwall

  766

  1.9

  533

  1.3

  -233

  -30.4

  Cumbria

  682

  1.7

  756

  1.9

  74

  10.9

  Derybshire

  3,116

  4.0

  7,176

  9.1

  4,060

  130.3

  Devon

  879

  1.1

  1,412

  1.8

  533

  60.6

  Dorset

  188

  0.4

  388

  0.9

  200

  106.4

  Durham

  844

  1.6

  1,123

  2.2

  279

  33.1

  East Sussex

  74

  0.2

  336

  0.7

  262

  354.1

  Essex

  417

  0.3

  372

  0.3

  -45

  -10.8

  Gloucestershire

  155

  0.4

  306

  0.7

  151

  97.4

  Hampshire

  1,257

  1.0

  1,416

  1.1

  159

  12.6

  Hereford and Worcester

  306

  0.6

  598

  1.2

  292

  95.4

  Hertfordshire

  194

  0.2

  225

  0.3

  31

  16.0

  Humberside

  3,272

  4.1

  3,114

  3.9

  -158

  -4.8

  Isle of Wight

  39

  0.6

  115

  1.6

  76

  194.9

  Kent

  359

  0.3

  508

  0.4

  149

  41.5

  Lancashire

  2,834

  2.3

  3,922

  3.2

  1,088

  38.4

  Leicestershire

  1,117

  1.5

  1,826

  2.4

  709

  63.5

  Lincolnshire

  497

  1.0

  572

  1.1

  75

  15.1

  Norfolk

  93

  0.2

  348

  0.6

  255

  274.2

  North Yorkshire

  1,108

  2.0

  932

  1.6

  -176

  -15.9

  Northamptonshire

  188

  0.4

  504

  1.0

  316

  168.1

  Northumberland

  662

  3.4

  581

  3.0

  -81

  -12.2

  Nottinghamshire

  2,973

  3.6

  3,257

  3.9

  284

  9.6

  Oxfordshire

  410

  1.0

  775

  1.9

  365

  89.0

  Shropshire

  416

  1.2

  516

  1.5

  100

  24.0

  Somerset

  204

  0.6

  341

  0.9

  137

  67.2

  Staffordshire

  3,282

  3.7

  3,623

  4.0

  341

  10.4

  Suffolk

  74

  0.2

  76

  0.2

  2

  2.7

  Surrey

  592

  0.9

  360

  0.5

  -232

  -39.2

  Warwickshire

  678

  1.6

  658

  1.5

  -20

  -2.9

  West Sussex

  336

  0.6

  153

  0.3

  -183

  -54.5

  Wiltshire

  336

  0.7

  377

  0.8

  41

  12.2

  England

  65,308

  1.7

  78,561

  2.0

  13,253

  20.3

  1 Provisional.

  2 Number of pupils in single teacher classes of size 37 or more expressed a percentage of all pupils in single teacher classes.

  3 Change in the number of pupils in single teacher classes of 37 or more between 1995 and 1996 expressed as a percentage of pupils in single teacher classes of 37 or more in 1995.

  4 No pupils in single teacher classes of 37 or more taught by one teacher in 1995.

  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage and how many primary school pupils were in classes of over 40 in January in each local education authority and in total; and what was the actual and percentage change in number compared 890
  with January 1995 in each local education authority and in total. [40161]

  Mr. Squire
  The information requested is shown in the table:
  891

  Numbers and percentages of pupils in classes of size 41 or more taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in each local education authority area in England: 1995 and 1996 (provisional)

  Position in January in each year

  1995

  1996

  Change

  Pupils

  Percentage1

  Pupils

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage3

  Corporation of London

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Camden

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Greenwich

  50

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  -50

  -100.0

  Hackney

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Islington

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Lambeth

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Lewisham

  47

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  -47

  -100.0

  Southwark

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Tower Hamlets

  50

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  -50

  -100.0

  Wandsworth

  0

  0.0

  62

  0.4

  62

  4—

  Westminster

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Barking

  52

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  -52

  -100.0

  Barnet

  0

  0.0

  48

  0.2

  48

  4—

  Bexley

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Brent

  188

  1.0

  95

  0.5

  -93

  -49.5

  Bromley

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Croydon

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Ealing

  0

  0.0

  44

  0.2

  44

  4—

  Enfield

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0 0

  Haringey

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0 0

  Harrow

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Havering

  0

  0.0

  50

  0.3

  50

  4—

  Hillingdon

  86

  0.5

  41

  0.2

  -45

  -52.3

  Hounslow

  41

  0.2

  41

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  Kingston upon Thames

  0

  0.0

  47

  0.5

  47

  4—

  Merton

  138

  1.1

  51

  0.4

  -87

  -63.0

  Newham

  0

  0.0

  52

  0.2

  52

  4—

  Redbridge

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Richmond upon Thames

  60

  0.6

  0

  0.0

  -60

  -100.0

  Sutton

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Birmingham

  107

  0.1

  157

  0.2

  50

  46.7

  Coventry

  75

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  -75

  -100.0

  Dudley

  867

  3.6

  775

  3.2

  -92

  -10.6

  Sandwell

  42

  0.2

  83

  0.3

  41

  97.6

  Solihull

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Walsall

  42

  0.2

  45

  0.2

  3

  7.1

  Wolverhampton

  0

  0.0

  233

  1.1

  233

  4—

  Knowsley

  52

  0.3

  52

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  Liverpool

  230

  0.5

  0

  0.0

  -230

  -100.0

  St. Helens

  0

  0.0

  83

  0.6

  83

  4—

  Sefton

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Wirral

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Bolton

  194

  0.9

  535

  2.3

  341

  175.8

  Bury

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Manchester

  177

  0.4

  582

  1.4

  405

  228.8

  Oldham

  188

  0.9

  178

  0.8

  -10

  -5.3

  Rochdale

  87

  0.4

  41

  0.2

  -46

  -52.9

  Salford

  94

  0.4

  314

  1.4

  220

  234.0

  Stockport

  47

  0.2

  117

  0.5

  70

  148.9

  Tameside

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Trafford

  41

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  -41

  -100.0

  Wigan

  87

  0.3

  127

  0.5

  40

  46.0

  Barnsley

  193

  1.0

  152

  0.7

  -41

  -21.2

  Doncaster

  41

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  -41

  -100.0

  Rotherham

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Sheffield

  244

  0.6

  229

  0.6

  -15

  -6.1

  Bradford

  0

  0.0

  43

  0.1

  43

  4—

  Calderdale

  0

  0.0

  45

  0.2

  45

  4—

  Kirklees

  91

  0.3

  139

  0.4

  48

  52.7

  Leeds

  266

  0.4

  244

  0.4

  -22

  -8.3

  Wakefield

  54

  0.2

  52

  0.2

  -2

  -3.7

  Gateshead

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  134

  0.7

  49

  0.2

  -85

  -63.4

  892 893

  Numbers and percentages of pupils in classes of size 41 or more taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in each local education authority area in England: 1995 and 1996 (provisional)

  Position in January in each year

  1995

  1996

  Change

  Pupils

  Percentage1

  Pupils

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage3

  North Tyneside

  50

  0.3

  50

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  South Tyneside

  103

  0.7

  99

  0.7

  -4

  -3.9

  Sunderland

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Avon

  92

  0.1

  44

  0.1

  -48

  -52.2

  Bedfordshire

  509

  1.3

  482

  1.2

  -27

  -5.3

  Berkshire

  85

  0.1

  46

  0.1

  -39

  -45.9

  Buckinghamshire

  419

  0.7

  372

  0.6

  -47

  -11.2

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Cheshire

  213

  0.2

  142

  0.2

  -71

  -33.3

  Cleveland

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Cornwall

  87

  0.2

  41

  0.1

  -46

  -52.9

  Cumbria

  110

  0.3

  111

  0.3

  1

  0.9

  Derbyshire

  474

  0.6

  722

  0.9

  248

  52.3

  Devon

  45

  0.1

  128

  0.2

  83

  184.4

  Dorset

  0

  0.0

  86

  0.2

  86

  4—

  Durham

  0

  0.0

  167

  0.3

  167

  4—

  East Sussex

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Essex

  230

  0.2

  109

  0.1

  -121

  -52.6

  Gloucestershire

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Hampshire

  46

  0.0

  47

  0.0

  1

  2.2

  Hereford and Worcester

  41

  0.1

  150

  0.3

  109

  265.9

  Hertfordshire

  42

  0.1

  0

  0.0

  -42

  -100.0

  Humberside

  391

  0.5

  229

  0.3

  -162

  -41.4

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Kent

  285

  0.2

  89

  0.1

  -196

  -68.8

  Lancashire

  244

  0.2

  41

  0.0

  -203

  -83.2

  Leicestershire

  424

  0.6

  224

  0.3

  -200

  -47.2

  Lincolnshire

  82

  0.2

  42

  0.1

  -40

  -48.8

  Norfolk

  55

  0.1

  43

  0.1

  -12

  -21.8

  North Yorkshire

  50

  0.1

  140

  0.2

  90

  180.0

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0.0

  42

  0.1

  42

  4—

  Northumberland

  41

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  -41

  -100.0

  Nottinghamshire

  543

  0.7

  212

  0.3

  -331

  -61.0

  Oxfordshire

  98

  0.3

  0

  0.0

  -98

  -100.0

  Shropshire

  0

  0.0

  102

  0.3

  102

  4—

  Somerset

  53

  0.1

  41

  0.1

  -12

  -22.6

  Staffordshire

  657

  0.7

  539

  0.6

  -118

  -18.0

  Suffolk

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Surrey

  89

  0.1

  45

  0.1

  -44

  -49.4

  Warwickshire

  175

  0.4

  44

  0.1

  -131

  -74.9

  West Sussex

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Wiltshire

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  England

  9,798

  0.3

  9,435

  0.2

  -363

  -3.7

  1 Provisional.

  2 Pupils in single teacher classes of 41 or more expressed as a percentage of all pupils in single teacher classes.

  3Change in the number of pupils in single teacher classes of 41 or more between 1995 and 1996 expressed as a percentage of pupils in single teacher classes of 41 or more in 1995.

  4 No pupils in single teacher classes of 41 or more taught by one teacher in 1995.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to end the administration of student grants by local education authorities. [40558]

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have no plans at present to alter the current arrangements. The national committee of inquiry into higher education has been asked to look into the longer-term funding of higher education, including student support. The committee will report in the summer of 1997.
  894

  Grant for Education Support and Training
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the GEST funding per pupil in(a) grant-maintained schools and (b) local education authority schools, in each local education authority for (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1996–97; and if she will make a statement. [40593]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: The table shows GEST funding per pupil in local authority-maintained schools for 1995–96 and 1996–97 based on the latest available figures. Variations reflect such factors as the impact of bidding and the incidence of

  895
  small schools. Figures for 1994–95 are not readily available. Grant-maintained schools are outside the scope of GEST, but are funded for similar activities through special purpose (development) grant. SPG (D) grant is paid direct to GM schools at the rate of £42.50 per pupil in 1995–96 and £44.50 in 1996–97. GEST and SPG(D) are not directly comparable because the responsibilities of LEA and GM schools differ.

  GEST funding per pupil

  Funding per pupil 1995–96

  Funding per pupil 1996–97

  LEA

  £

  £

  Corporation of London

  231.60

  258.49

  Camden

  59.09

  50.07

  Greenwich

  41.64

  42.36

  Hackney

  47.79

  54.14

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  44.54

  58.18

  Islington

  48.64

  57.93

  Kensington and Chelsea

  45.47

  63.37

  Lambeth

  52.18

  68.49

  Lewisham

  44.06

  52.66

  Southwark

  53.29

  50.78

  Tower Hamlets

  51.75

  56.50

  Wandsworth

  59.13

  66.44

  Westminster

  40.27

  47.48

  Barking

  39.19

  40.96

  Barnet

  41.99

  32.20

  Bexley

  33.06

  37.13

  Brent

  72.42

  73.16

  Bromley

  35.49

  37.35

  Croydon

  36.24

  37.06

  Ealing

  45.38

  36.33

  Enfield

  40.08

  42.02

  Haringey

  44.79

  47.97

  Harrow

  38.62

  33.74

  Havering

  35.01

  32.11

  Hillingdon

  43.14

  38.84

  Hounslow

  35.54

  36.21

  Kingston upon Thames

  34.80

  28.64

  Merton

  44.74

  46.13

  Newham

  46.39

  41.75

  Redbridge

  32.68

  30.83

  Richmond upon Thames

  33.84

  35.92

  Sutton

  51.53

  52.62

  Waltham Forest

  38.58

  47.84

  Birmingham

  35.91

  34.81

  Coventry

  42.23

  44.79

  Dudley

  40.45

  40.09

  Sandwell

  34.42

  43.23

  Solihull

  32.98

  31.42

  Walsall

  41.87

  42.88

  Wolverhampton

  43.50

  44.94

  Knowsley

  41.25

  46.49

  Liverpool

  39.39

  41.76

  St. Helens

  34.56

  35.20

  Sefton

  38.53

  28.67

  Wirral

  30.57

  35.56

  Bolton

  30.46

  35.66

  Bury

  33.18

  35.56

  Manchester

  40.38

  41.31

  Oldham

  37.78

  39.58

  Rochdale

  34.80

  37.54

  Salford

  31.96

  36.44

  Stockport

  39.42

  36.07

  Tameside

  34.89

  38.01

  Trafford

  33.89

  37.12

  Wigan

  33.74

  40.31

  Barnsley

  38.39

  43.37

  Doncaster

  39.60

  33.99

  Rotherham

  38.87

  37.70

  Sheffield

  36.36

  36.92

  Bradford

  42.83

  45.92

  896

  GEST funding per pupil

  Funding per pupil 1995–96

  Funding per pupil 1996–97

  Calderdale

  36.10

  44.62

  Kirlees

  40.82

  43.20

  Leeds

  37.89

  35.49

  Wakefield

  35.18

  35.94

  Gateshead

  40.52

  39.44

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  48.85

  48.84

  North Tyneside

  39.44

  43.91

  South Tyneside

  42.13

  38.37

  Sunderland

  23.98

  32.64

  Isle of Scilly

  273.50

  293.64

  Bath and North-east Somerset

  n/a

  30.99

  City of Bristol

  n/a

  37.74

  North-west Somerset

  n/a

  32.26

  South Gloucestershire

  n/a

  34.54

  Hartlepool

  n/a

  35.24

  Middlesbrough

  n/a

  32.57

  Redcar and Cleveland

  n/a

  34.51

  Stockton on Tees

  n/a

  31.26

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  n/a

  30.53

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  n/a

  38.07

  North east Lincolnshire

  n/a

  33.89

  North Lincolnshire

  n/a

  38.98

  North Yorkshire

  37.12

  40.71

  York

  n/a

  49.21

  Avon

  31.26

  n/a

  Bedfordshire

  32.36

  36.39

  Berkshire

  37.24

  36.55

  Buckinghamshire

  40.96

  38.90

  Cambridgeshire

  43.69

  39.87

  Cheshire

  36.25

  34.78

  Cleveland

  29.62

  n/a

  Cornwall

  38.96

  36.76

  Cumbria

  46.14

  44.35

  Derbyshire

  39.93

  41.30

  Devon

  34.57

  39.80

  Dorset

  35.06

  35.17

  Durham

  34.63

  38.28

  East Sussex

  36.53

  34.92

  Essex

  41.59

  43.22

  Glouchestershire

  45.73

  49.45

  Hampshire

  34.25

  35.15

  Hereford and Worcester

  36.19

  35.67

  Hertfordshire

  41.39

  41.66

  Humberside

  32.39

  n/a

  Isle of Wight

  58.56

  52.85

  Kent

  39.88

  42.10

  Lancashire

  36.98

  37.04

  Leicestershire

  29.57

  30.50

  Lincolnshire

  39.58

  42.80

  Norfolk

  39.63

  42.16

  Northamptonshire

  37.67

  38.50

  Northumberland

  37.15

  40.50

  Nottinghamshire

  33.63

  34.13

  Oxfordshire

  40.48

  40.81

  Shropshire

  39.61

  41.55

  Somerset

  37.26

  38.57

  Staffordshire

  32.07

  34.23

  Suffolk

  36.75

  38.06

  Surrey

  35.67

  35.51

  Warwickshire

  33.76

  34.96

  West Sussex

  35.22

  34.61

  Wiltshire

  41.46

  44.39

  England

  37.76

  39.02

  n/a=not applicable due to local government reorganisation.

  897

HEALTH

  Suicide Attempts
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many suicide attempts have been made at the Broadoak psychiatric unit, Broadgreen hospital during the past two years; and if he will make a statement. [40301]

  Mr. Burns
  The available information is as follows:

  September 1994 to August 1995: two unexpected deaths; one open verdict, one still awaited;

  September 1995 to August 1996: two unexpected deaths; inquest verdicts awaited.

  Figures relating to suicide attempts are not available centrally.

  Health Information Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls the health information service has received in each year since 1992; and how much funding it has received in each year. [40565]

  Mr. Horam
  The health information service was established in April 1992. Table A provides details of the number of calls received by the service since its establishment and table B provides information on the cost of providing the service for the financial years 1992–93 to 1996–97.

  Table A: Number of calls received by the health information service between April 1992 and September 1996

  Year

  Number of calls

  1992

  51,252

  1993

  136,293

  1994

  275,404

  1995

  457,187

  1996 (January-September)

  442,424

  Table B: Cost of providing the service between 1992–93 and 1996–97

  Financial year

  Cost £

  1992–93

  1,507,643

  1993–94

  1,881,998

  1994–95

  2,045,338

  1995–96

  2,337,766

  1996–971

  2,718,933

  1 Projected expenditure for 1996–97.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are followed in respect of monitoring the subjects of inquiry or complaint to the health information service. [40566]

  Mr. Horam
  Health authorities have responsibility for securing the provision of the freephone health information service in line with health service guidance HSG(95)44, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Arrangements for monitoring calls made to the health information service are for determination between individual health authorities and their health information service providers. However, any system of monitoring must respect the callers right to confidentiality.
  898

  New Hospitals
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals have been built in 1996 and in each of the previous five years in(a) London and (b) each health region. [40569]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments have been closed in each health region in 1996 and in each of the previous five years. [40570]

  Mr. Horam
  It is the responsibility of each health authority to ensure the provision of adequate accident and emergency services for its resident population. Trusts with an accident and emergency department are listed in table 9 of "Bed availability for England". Booklets for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are available in the Library. The 1995–96 figures are expected to be available in November.

  Care should be taken in interpreting any reduction in the number of trusts with accident and emergency departments as closures. A trust may have more than one A and E department but will be listed once only. Mergers of trusts each with an A and E department would be listed once following a merger.

  Community Health Councils
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the procedure for the termination of appointments to membership of community health councils. [40526]

  Mr. Horam
  The conditions for termination of community health council membership are laid down in statute which came into force on 1 April 1996 There are no plans to review them.

  Mixed Wards
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mixed wards were in existence in the most recent year for which figures are available. [40571]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Indebtedness
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from(a) health authorities and (b) health trusts in respect of problems arising from indebtedness; and what extra assistance he is offering in this respect. [40561]

  Mr. Horam
  Health authorities have no power to borrow and thus the issue of their indebtedness does not arise. National health service trusts have powers to borrow to finance capital expenditure. Such borrowing is controlled by the external financing limit—EFL—which they are not permitted to exceed. Reporting of changes in trusts' balance sheet financing and indebtedness and
  899
  performance against the EFL form part of the year-end requirement to produce audited accounts, which are published.

  Hepatitis
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of NHS executive letter EL (96) 77 in the Library. [40675]

  Mr. Horam
  Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Hospital Bed Closures
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the number of(a) acute bed closures and (b) long-stay bed closures in London in each year since the publication of the Tomlinson report. [40567]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the number of beds opened or closed is not collected centrally.
  900
  Data on the average daily number of beds available in acute hospital wards in London, for the last three years for which information is available, are set out in the table. Similar information on long-stay beds is not collected centrally.

  Average daily number of available acute beds

  Inner London

  Outer London

  Total

  1992–93

  10,335

  8,881

  19,216

  1993–94

  9,708

  8,499

  18,207

  1994–95

  9,622

  7,977

  17,600

  Inner London includes former London postgraduates special health authorities. Totals may not add due to rounding.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have closed in 1996 and in each of the previous five years in(a) London and (b) each health region. [40568]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 7 June,Official Report, column 585.

  European Union Enlargement
  European Union Enlargement
  Armoured Water Cannon
  Armoured Water Cannon
  The Gambia
  The Gambia
  Northern Iraq: Irbil Shelling
  Northern Iraq: Irbil Shelling
  Legislation and Human Rights Obligations
  Legislation and Human Rights Obligations
  Torture: Right of Individual Petition
  Torture: Right of Individual Petition
  Ballistic Missile Defence: US/Israeli Agreement
  Ballistic Missile Defence: US/Israeli Agreement
  NATO Enlargement: Costs
  NATO Enlargement: Costs
  International Planned Parenthood Federation
  International Planned Parenthood Federation
  Birth Control Trust
  Birth Control Trust
  Psychotropic Drugs: Effects
  Psychotropic Drugs: Effects
  Long-stay Hospitals: Closure
  Long-stay Hospitals: Closure
  Village Communities for the Mentally Handicapped
  Village Communities for the Mentally Handicapped
  Asylum Seekers: Special Grant
  Asylum Seekers: Special Grant
  Council of Europe Human Rights and Biomedicine Convention
  Council of Europe Human Rights and Biomedicine Convention
  Foetal Sentience: All-Party Pro-Life Group Report
  Foetal Sentience: All-Party Pro-Life Group Report
  Employment of Children
  Employment of Children
  Agency Privatisations
  Agency Privatisations
  MoD Contracts
  MoD Contracts
  Mr. John Beckwith
  Mr. John Beckwith
  Gibraltar
  Gibraltar
  European Convention on Human Rights: Impact on Ministerial Proposals
  European Convention on Human Rights: Impact on Ministerial Proposals
  Human Rights: Duty of Compliance
  Human Rights: Duty of Compliance
  Latin America: London Conference
  Latin America: London Conference
  Burma: Mr. Michael Cohen's Visit
  Burma: Mr. Michael Cohen's Visit
  Copyright and Related Rights: European
  Convention
  Convention
  Northern Ireland: Co-ordination of Departmental Initiatives
  Northern Ireland: Co-ordination of Departmental Initiatives
  Northern Ireland: Emergency Provisions Renewal
  Northern Ireland: Emergency Provisions Renewal
  Northern Ireland: Race Relations Legislation
  Northern Ireland: Race Relations Legislation
  Northern Ireland: Ethnic Monitoring
  Northern Ireland: Ethnic Monitoring
  Northern Ireland: Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines
  Northern Ireland: Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines
  Benefit Offices: Future Administration
  Benefit Offices: Future Administration
  Benefit Payments: Administration
  Benefit Payments: Administration
  Asylum Seekers: Benefit Restriction
  Asylum Seekers: Benefit Restriction
  Asylum-Seekers: In-Country Applicants
  Asylum-Seekers: In-Country Applicants
  Child Support Agency: Computer System
  Child Support Agency: Computer System
  UK Debt: Percentage of GNP
  UK Debt: Percentage of GNP
  UK and EU Debt: Percentage of GNP
  UK and EU Debt: Percentage of GNP
  National Insurance Contributions
  National Insurance Contributions
  Refugees: Benefit Rules
  Refugees: Benefit Rules
  DSS: Male/Female Staff Ratio
  DSS: Male/Female Staff Ratio
  North Thames Health Region: Abortions
  North Thames Health Region: Abortions
  Deaths: Notifications to Government Departments
  Deaths: Notifications to Government Departments
  Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines
  Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines
  TEC Courses: Figures
  TEC Courses: Figures
  Life Sentences: Tariffs
  Life Sentences: Tariffs
  Immigration: Application Forms
  Immigration: Application Forms
  Casinos, Bingo Clubs and Advertising of Commercial Gambling: Report
  Casinos, Bingo Clubs and Advertising of Commercial Gambling: Report
  Criminal Justice Delays: Review
  Criminal Justice Delays: Review
  "Offences of Dishonesty: Money Transfers" Law Commission Report
  "Offences of Dishonesty: Money Transfers" Law Commission Report
  UK Passports: Security
  UK Passports: Security
  Prisoners: Identification Numbers
  Prisoners: Identification Numbers
  Women Imprisoned for Murder
  Women Imprisoned for Murder
  Deportation: Matters Considered before Enforcement
  Deportation: Matters Considered before Enforcement
  Asylum Immigrant (Ref. TN3/96/80865): Investigation
  Asylum Immigrant (Ref. TN3/96/80865): Investigation
  Europol Convention: Operational Powers
  Europol Convention: Operational Powers
  A.92 Trunk Road Scheme
  A.92 Trunk Road Scheme
  Eurostar: Security
  Eurostar: Security
  Ashford International Station: Security
  Ashford International Station: Security
  "Rural England 1996"
  "Rural England 1996"
  Organophosphorus Sheep Dips: Investigating Committee Membership
  Organophosphorus Sheep Dips: Investigating Committee Membership
  Charitable Events on Set-aside Land
  Charitable Events on Set-aside Land
  BSE in Cattle Born after July 1988
  BSE in Cattle Born after July 1988
  Farm Animals: Protocol to European Convention
  Farm Animals: Protocol to European Convention
  Rat Infestation: Control
  Rat Infestation: Control
  Abattoir Waste: Use as Fertiliser
  Abattoir Waste: Use as Fertiliser
  Scrapie
  Scrapie
  HM the Queen and HRH the Prince of Wales: Self Assessment for Tax
  HM the Queen and HRH the Prince of Wales: Self Assessment for Tax
  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, Scotland and Wales
  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, Scotland and Wales
  Questions for Written Answer
  Questions for Written Answer
  "Hansard" Internet Publication
  "Hansard" Internet Publication
  House of Lords Judgments: Internet Publication
  House of Lords Judgments: Internet Publication
  The Scarman Trust
  The Scarman Trust
  Test Match Cricket Listing under Broadcasting Act 1990
  Test Match Cricket Listing under Broadcasting Act 1990
  Cricket: Lottery Support
  Cricket: Lottery Support