Written Answers of 16 October 1996

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Staff Costs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what discussions he has had with the Senior Salaries Review Body to encourage the SSRB to complete its work in respect of separating the staffing costs of hon. Members out of the office cost allowance; and if he will make a statement on when proposals will be received and put to the House. [40266]

  Mr. Newton
  Work on the SSRB's development recommendations has already begun at official level. Sir Michael Perry and I are to meet shortly to consider how best to carry this work forward, bearing in mind the SSRB' s other responsibilities.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee on what occasions asbestos has been encountered during building and refurbishment on the parliamentary estate during the last year. [40298]

  Sir Raymond Powell
  As with most older buildings, asbestos is regularly encountered during building and refurbishment work on the parliamentary estate. Generally, the Parliamentary Works Directorate is aware of the locations where asbestos will be found, which are recorded in its asbestos register. Where asbestos materials can safely remain in place, they are encapsulated and inspected at regular intervals. Ultimately, the aim is to remove any materials containing asbestos but that cannot all be done at once, nor is it necessary to do so. Maintenance and new works projects include specific allowance for the removal of hazardous materials. In all such projects the opportunity is taken to remove asbestos and materials containing asbestos in the course of the work. The removal of asbestos is undertaken in strict accordance with the guidelines and procedures laid down by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) if all asbestos has now been removed from the Palace of Westminster; [41092]

  (2) what types of asbestos were present in the Palace of Westminster; what were the levels of asbestos found in the air; and when the asbestos was removed; [41094]

  (3) what are the current levels of asbestos remaining in the Palace of Westminster. [41093]

  Sir Raymond Powell
  As in most older buildings, there is some asbestos remaining in the Palace of Westminster. A register is kept of the locations on the Parliamentary Estate where asbestos is known to remain—usually because it is inaccessible—and of those places from 902
  which it has been removed. It is the practice to remove asbestos found when undertaking maintenance and other works services. Ultimately, the aim is to remove any materials containing asbestos but that cannot all be done at once, nor is it necessary to do so. Remaining asbestos is sealed in and inspected at regular intervals.

  Removal of asbestos is undertaken in line with the recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive for managing the asbestos hazard and preventing any risks to occupants or workmen. Areas are tested for fibres in the air both during and after the removal of asbestos. All areas have to be issued with an asbestos clear certificate by an independent accredited company before they are reoccupied.

  Parliament Square
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what discussions he has had with Westminster council regarding the proposed closure of the south side of Parliament square to traffic. [40944]

  Sir Raymond Powell
  The Director of Parliamentary Works is a member of a consultation group on the scheme for Parliament square and he reports to my Committee. I will ask him to write to the hon. Member.

  Fact-finding Missions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what facilities exist for hon. Members who are Front Benchers to visit countries on fact-finding missions and for such visits to be paid for by(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the House; and if he will examine the desirability of making additional funds available for this purpose. [40242]

  Mr. Newton
  Her Majesty's Government facilities are a matter for individual Departments concerned. With regard to facilities provided by the House, the sum of £108,657 is allocated within the 1996–97 Short money—financial assistance to Opposition parties—in connection with Front-Bench travel in the United Kingdom and Europe on the parliamentary business of the parties. This travel fund, which I announced on 4 November 1993,Official Report, column 495, is uprated on the same basis as the main Short money allocation, that is by reference to the retail prices index in April of each year.

PRIME MINISTER

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement of 10 October in Bournemouth concerning improvements to rail passenger services from privatisation, if he will(a) give specific examples and (b) show that criteria he used for coming to this general conclusion. [40796]

  The Prime Minister
  Rail franchising is leading to extra investment, additional train services, better passengers charters and improved passenger care. The new franchisee on South Eastern, for instance, is committed to replacing its existing trains with modern
  903
  rolling stock, at a cost of up to £400 million. The franchisee for Midland MainLine plans to introduce an extra 22 weekday services each day between Leicester and London, and InterCity East Coast intends to invest some £17 million in improvements to rolling stock performance, passenger security and disabled access. These are just some of the improvements which franchising will bring to the passenger rail network at less cost to the taxpayer.

  Royal Travel Expenditure
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have for the future funding of royal travel by rail and air. [41216]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government propose, with Her Majesty the Queen's agreement and following consultation with the Leader of the Opposition to invite Parliament to approve next year a single grant in aid on the Department of Transport's vote for official royal travel by rail and air. The royal household will use this to purchase the services of the royal train, of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron or suitable commercial providers.

  At present, these costs are met by the Department of Transport and the Ministry of Defence or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as part of their general expenditure. The aim of the change is to have one focus—the royal household—responsible for securing the best value for money from this public money and to improve accountability to Parliament through the Department of Transport.

  The grant in aid from the Department of National Heritage, under which the royal household takes on first line of responsibility for property services on the occupied royal palaces, provides a suitable model. It has enabled savings in excess of 25 per cent. in real terms to be achieved since it was introduced in 1991. An annual report on the new grant in aid for royal travel will be presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Transport. Once the new system is established, targets for savings will be agreed and performance against them published in this annual report.

  The new grant in aid will not cover expenditure on the royal yacht, which is due to be decommissioned in 1997.

  I am confident that these measures, which are consistent with modern financial management, will improve the cost-efficiency and public accountability of this expenditure.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotions, and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40618]

  Mr. Streeter
  My Department has spent the following amounts on(a) and (b) publicity and promotions, and (c) hospitality over the last six years:

  1991–92: Publicity and promotions £35,734

  Hospitality £20,895

  904

  1992–93: Publicity and promotions £40,000

  Hospitality £20,697

  1993–94: Publicity and promotions £46,667

  Hospitality £20,477

  1994–95: Publicity and promotions £78,961

  Hospitality £26,159

  1995–96: Publicity and promotions £117,684

  Hospitality £27,694

  1996–97 (to end September):

  Publicity and promotions £40,061

  Hospitality £6,165.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40636]

  Mr. Streeter
  The information requested is not collected in relation to either oral or written questions and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Royal Commission Recommendations
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action has been taken on the royal commission on criminal justice recommendation No. 249 on monitoring of performance during training and No. 251 on performance appraisal of the judiciary. [41220]

  Mr. Streeter
  The royal commission on criminal justice recommended that"The performance of judges should be monitored during training by other members of the judiciary"
  (Recommendation 249)

  The performance of those who sit in a part-time judicial capacity, both in the Crown court and in other jurisdictions, is already appraised, particularly during their initial training. Following consultation with the senior judiciary and the chairman of the Judicial Studies Board, these arrangements will be extended further.

  At the present time, before a trainee assistant recorder, for example, is authorised to sit alone, he or she must undertake an induction programme, which includes the training course run by the Judicial Studies Board, but also involves a period of sitting in with an experienced circuit judge in the Crown court—the pupil-master judge—who is required to report to the Lord Chancellor stating whether in his or her opinion the trainee is duly fitted to sit.

  In accordance with the recommendation of the Judicial Studies Board, the role of the pupil-master judge in respect of assistant recorders—and the equivalent supervising judges in respect of certain other categories of judicial office holder—is to be extended to include an element of in-court observation so as to provide further advice and appraisal to newly-appointed part-time judges, and enable better assessment of their suitability for appointment to full-time judicial office.

  Advice is already provided to those who attend Judicial Studies Board courses by serving members of the judiciary who serve as tutors for this purpose.
  905
  Full-time judges are appointed only from the ranks of those with the experience of service in a part-time capacity for a sufficient period to demonstrate their competence and suitability for full-time appointment; the period of part-time service accordingly provides a basis for on-going assessment for this purpose.

  The royal commission also recommended that
  "The judiciary should also have in place a formal system of performance appraisal. Presiding and Resident Judges should have the lead in this; members of the Bar should also be able to comment on the performance of judges. These aspects should be looked at by the Lord Chancellor in consultation with the judiciary." (Recommendation 251).

  These matters have been reviewed, as recommended by the royal commission.

  There are already appraisal arrangements in place for the judiciary. It is an essential feature of the arrangements for part-time sittings by recorders and assistant recorders and others that their service affords opportunities for assessing their suitability for appointment to full-time judicial office—and this stands to be developed further in accordance with the arrangements outlined above.

  Judicial office holders are also assessed by more senior full-time judges as to their suitability for appointment to higher judicial office.

  Judges accept their obligations under the judicial oath which is taken on appointment. All judges are subject to two further forms of appraisal or review. First, almost all judicial decisions are subject to appeal or review, enabling higher courts to scrutinise and, where appropriate, to comment on or redress judicial decisions or conduct. Secondly, judges undertake their work for the most part in full view of the public and are subject to the more informal scrutiny of the media.

  It is, however, important to ensure that we do not undermine the primary place within our constitution of the principle of judicial independence or our confidence that judges will determine each case fairly and on its own merits, without fear of reprisal or improper intervention. The independence of the judiciary, therefore, must connote independence not only from the executive but that of one judge from another. For these reasons, neither the Lord Chancellor nor any other senior judges have any constitutional power to require one judge to report on another, or to offer appraisal or any other qualitative assessment of the judge's performance as a judge. Neither is there any authority to require a judge to submit to such appraisal. The Lord Chancellor's statutory powers to dismiss a judge, which in any event do not extend to the more senior judges, are also very narrowly drawn. These important considerations make it inappropriate to introduce a formal system of appraisal. The heads of divisions, and presiding and resident judges, however, do have responsibilities for the oversight of judicial business and they are able to assist judges informally where that appears likely to be helpful. It is a well understood role of the leaders of the circuits to draw to the attention of the presiding and resident judges, as appropriate, concerns expressed by members of the Bar about the judiciary.

  In his report "Access to Justice", Lord Woolf recommended that the judiciary conducting civil cases should be monitored int he performance of the case management functions envisaged for them int he report.
  906
  This monitoring would not amount to appraisal, but would be aimed at securing consistency of approach in this new role and promotion of best practice. The Government support that recommendation, and its aim of facilitating the improvement of judges' working methods.

  Judges are fully aware of their duties arid responsibilities to the Crown, and the existing arrangements strike an appropriate balance between the obligations of the judiciary to the public and the overriding of preserving judicial independence.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40629]

  Mr. Willetts
  This is a matter of public record.

  HMSO (Uzbekistan)
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what percentage of the value of the consignments of educational stationery sent by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to Uzbekistan has so far been recovered; how long it will take on the basis of current sales to recover the remaining payments due to the office; and what steps he has taken to ensure that there will be no loss resulting from this business; [40452]

  (2) if he will publish details of the current situation and projection for Her Majesty's Stationery Office's stationery trade with Uzbekistan; and what estimate he has made of how much of the money owing to the office he expects to recoup. [40451]

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: The original sales value of the 10 consignments for Uzbekistan was £6.5 million. Prior to privatisation on 30 September, HMSO had received £1.6 million from its trading with Uzbekistan, £1.5 million of which was reported to the Committee on Public Accounts by the then chief executive of HMSO on 10 June 1996. This fully covers the sales value of the first three consignments and amounts to nearly 25 per cent. of the sales value of all 10 consignments.

  HMSO signed, in early June, a new contract with Uztoshkitob—the Uzbekistan Republic Wholesale and Retail Association of the State Publishing Committee—aimed at maximising potential receipts from the sale in Uztoshkitob's retail outlets of the remaining goods. Payment is dependent on the rate at which the goods are sold.

  The return due from retail sales during August and September amounted to approximately £200,000, but conversion to hard currency is precluded by general bank order. All bidders for HMSO were made aware of the details of HMSO's trading with Uzbekistan: the payments so far received, stocks in the UK and abroad, the contract terms and potential receipts. The successful bidder took over the stationery office as a going concern including all the stocks and debtors of the business.
  907
  The HMSO privatisation was in the form of a share sale rather than an asset sale and therefore it is not possible to identify the value placed by the new owner on the Uzbekistan stocks, contract and potential receipts. The sale of HMSO represents value for money for the taxpayer taking account of all assets and liabilities involved. Realisation of future payments from Uztoshkitob is now a matter for the Stationery Office Ltd.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many political advisers have been employed in each Government Department in each of the last three years; at what costs; and what are the current salary scales by which they are paid. [40448]

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is contained in the tables.

  Special advisers are paid on a salary spine of 34 points ranging from £20,631 to £71,517.

  Special advisers in post in Government Departments

  1 August 1993

  1 August 1994

  1 August 1995

  No. 10 Downing Street

  4.6

  4.6

  5.6

  Deputy Prime Minister's Office

  0

  0

  2

  No. 12 Downing Street

  1

  1

  1

  Chief Whip's Office (Lord's)

  1

  1

  1

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  1

  1

  2

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's Office

  1.3

  1

  0

  Defence, Ministry of,

  1

  1

  1

  Education and Employment, Department for,

  2

  2

  1

  Environment, Department of the,

  4

  4

  4

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  2

  2

  2

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  3

  3

  3

  Health, Department of.

  1

  1

  2

  Home Office

  2

  2

  2

  National Heritage, Department of,

  1

  0

  1

  Northern Ireland Office

  1

  1

  1

  Privy Council Office

  1

  1

  1

  Scottish Office

  2

  2

  2

  Social Security, Department of,

  1

  1

  1

  Trade and Industry, Department of,

  0

  4

  1

  Transport, Department of,

  0

  1

  1

  Welsh Office

  0

  1

  1

  Total

  29.9

  34.6

  35.6

  Figures include paid political and expert special advisers.

  Total salary costs for Special Advisers

  1 August 1993–31 July 1994

  1 August 1994–31 May 1995

  1 August 1995–31 July 1996

  £1,133,590

  £1,460,733

  £1,512,622

  Total salary costs take account of any changes in postholders and additional appointments during the year.

  New Buildings and Premises
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41153]
  908
  Mr. Willetts
  The table details for the Cabinet Office and its agencies, including the Central Office of Information, (i) the capital costs, including fees, of new buildings and premises and new extensions to existing buildings and premises and (ii) the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented for the five financial years 1991–92; 1992–93; 1993–94; 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Financial year

  Capital costs

  Square footage (purchased)

  Square footage (rented)

  1991–92

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  1992–93

  £685,000

  1,613

  Nil

  1993–94

  Nil

  Nil

  15,954

  1994–95

  £2,940,482

  Not offices

  86,638

  1995–96

  Nil

  Nil

  30,083

  The capital costs include extensions to non office accommodation at the Civil Service College and other non-office accommodation occupied by various agencies. Corresponding information for the Stationery Office Ltd. is not available from the company.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the arrangement by which the chief executive of the Welsh Development Agency has been appointed chief executive of Greenwich Millennium Exhibition plc with an option to return to the Welsh Development Agency within 90 days; what assessment she has made of the principal advantages of this arrangement to the exhibition company; and if she will make a statement. [41068]

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will state in respect of the millennium exhibition planned for the Greenwich peninsula site(a) the amount to be contributed by the national lottery, (b) private commitments already made by each individual organisation and the total and (c) the number of staff, their location, and names of those responsible as executive officers. [40930]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to the hon. Members in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Royal Naval College
  Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what the responsibilities of her Department will be for the maintenance of the royal naval college, Greenwich when the Ministry of Defence has left the site. [41193]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My Department is currently responsible for the maintenance of the external fabric of the royal naval college buildings together with the maintenance, including the interiors, of the painted hall and chapel. When the Ministry of Defence vacates the buildings, my Department will continue to contribute to the funding of these maintenance responsibilities. The level of funding and duration will be a matter for
  909
  agreement between the Department and the trust which is being established to take over the main lease on the buildings. I would expect the taxpayer's contribution to reduce as the trust generates income to meet the costs of maintenance. My Department will remain concerned to ensure that the buildings are maintained to a standard appropriate to their status.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotions, and (c) hospitality in each year since its formation. [40619]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  £

  1992–93 (actual)

  1993–94 (actual)

  1994–95 (actual)

  1995–96 (actual)

  1996–97 (spend to date)

  Publicity and promotions

  nil

  25,000

  57,000

  348,000

  188,470

  Hospitality

  22,037

  18,277

  14,967

  25,563

  10,798

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by her Department in each of the past two years. [40637]

  Mr. Sproat
  This is a matter of public record.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations have been received recently over the concessionary television licence for pensioners; and what were the main points in such representations. [40971]

  Mr. Sproat
  Since April 1996, we have received about 170 representations concerning the concessionary television licence available to certain pensioners.

  The main points raised were specific queries on eligibility for the concession, calls for extending the scope of the scheme and proposals to abolish the concession in favour of a reduced fee licence for all pensioners.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the total income received from(a) national lottery tickets and (b) national lottery scratchcard sales in South Yorkshire; what proportion these figures represent of the total income nationally; and what percentage of national lottery awards funding has been received by South Yorkshire lottery. [40840]

  Mr. Sproat
  Figures on the sales of national lottery tickets and scratchcards in South Yorkshire are operational matters for Camelot Group plc. I have therefore asked the Director General of the National Lottery, to write to the hon. Member, placing copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.
  910
  To date, 135 lottery awards—1.5 per cent. of the total—have been made to projects in South Yorkshire for a total of £67,336,877—2.98 per cent. of the total awarded.

  Television Licence Fraud Hotline
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will set up a free phone hotline for the reporting of suspected television licence fraudsters; and if she will make a statement. [40872]

  Mr. Sproat
  No. The BBC is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the television licensing system, including policy on reducing licence evasion.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Aid Budget
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase the overseas aid budget; and if he will make a statement. [40773]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  In common with the budgets of other Departments, the ODA's budget for 1997–98 is currently under consideration in the public expenditure survey round, the outcome of which will not be known until the Chancellor's November Budget statement. At £2,154 million in 1996–97, the UK's development assistance programme is substantial and is internationally recognised for its quality, effectiveness and poverty focus.

TREASURY

  Balance of Payments
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the disparity between his forecast for the balance of payments current account deficits in 1997 and the average of the forecasts made by the Panel of Independent Forecasters for 1997. [40728]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The latest Treasury forecast for the current account deficit in 1997 is £1½ billion, shown in the table 1.4 of the "Summer Economic Forecast". This lies within the range of forecasts provided by members of the Panel of Independent Forecasters, detailed in table 1A.1 of the same publication.

  Self-assessment Computer System
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to make sure that the self-assessment computer system will have the comprehensive technical support necessary to put right promptly any faults that may occur in live operation. [41231]

  Mr. Jack
  Electronic Data Systems Ltd.—the Inland Revenue's information technology partner—will ensure that full technical support is provided by all companies contracted to supply components of the self assessment computer system. In particular Oracle, the company
  911
  supplying the software package for the database holding taxpayer records, will provide 24-hour support using its worldwide service network.

  Such diagnostic and remedial work undertaken to support the system may at times necessitate specialist staff—either in the UK or, exceptionally, at Oracle facilities abroad—having access to copies of batches of taxpayer records. The handling of such confidential data will, as now, be governed by the strictest possible security arrangements to safeguard against misuse. The actual processing of individual's tax affairs and the development of the Inland Revenue's computer systems will continue to be undertaken wholly within the UK.

  These comprehensive technical support arrangements will help ensure that the operation of the new self-assessment computer system is as trouble-free as possible.

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce the results of the review by HM Customs and Excise of its next steps arrangements. [41232]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Customs and Excise has been operating along next steps lines since 1991 when the bulk of the Department's operational staff were organised into executive units.

  The Department currently has 24 executive units; 14 collections, national investigation service, national intelligence division, solicitor's office and seven other central operations or service units which together employ some 95 per cent. of their staff.

  The Department and each executive unit has a framework document which contains statements of responsibilities and accountabilities. The review of its organisation and the impact of next steps clearly demonstrates that Customs and Excise continues to be fully committed to next steps principles. The outcome of the review is the publication today of the revised departmental document "HM Customs and Excise: Next Steps Framework Document 1996", copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Executive unit framework documents will be published before the House rises for the Christmas recess.

  Public Debt
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the use of the general Government financial deficit as the principal measure of public debt. [40336]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The general Government financial deficit is a national accounts measure of the deficit on the Government's current and capital accounts. As a national accounts measure, the GGFD follows internationally recognised guidelines, allowing international comparisons of government deficits. Partly for this reason, it was chosen as the deficits measure in the excessive deficit procedure set out in the Maastricht treaty. But most countries also use their own measure of the deficit when presenting their Budgets. The UK focuses on the public sector borrowing requirement as it is a measure of the net cash demand of the whole of the public sector on the rest 912
  of the economy. In addition, monthly PSBR figures are available about two weeks after the end of the period to which they relate, whereas the GGFD is available only quarterly and about three months after the end of the quarter. Forecasts of both are given in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

  Privatisation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums were(a) paid to and (b) received from public funds in (i) telephone and electronic communications, (ii) gas, (iii) electricity, (iv) public water services and (v) Royal Mail, for the year of and five years preceding the year of their disposal or 1995 as appropriate; and if he will make a statement. [40412]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the following documents, which set out the information available for each industry. Figures for external financing requirements can be found in "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 1996–97" and its predecessor publications; including the "Statistical Supplement to the FSBR" and "Government Expenditure Plans". The EFR measures the difference between what an industry spends and the income from its trading and related activities; the most significant components of external finance are normally Government grants, subsidies and loans, and movements in deposits—which are normally liabilities of the public sector.

  Figures for interest payments from the industries to the national loans fund are quoted in the "Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts".

  Tax and dividend figures for all nationalised industries are available in "Inland Revenue Statistics" and the Office for National Statistics' Blue Book respectively; however, this information is not broken down on an industry-by-industry basis.

  UK Bonds
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps his Department has taken to investigate the volume of United Kingdom bonds issued on the Swiss market which have subsequently been deemed to be defunct or in default; if he will list the United Kingdom banks and other financial institutions which have been approached to participate in such investigations; and what action his Department has taken; [40150]

  (2) if he will list those United Kingdom bonds issued on the Swiss market since 1987 which have subsequently been deemed by (a) his Department and (b) the Swiss authorities to be (i) defunct and (ii) in default, indicating the approximate value of each bond and all such bonds. [40151]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  None that I am aware of.

  Public Sector Borrowing
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the title and authorship of the documents used by Governments of the member states by the European Union in concluding that the percentage of public sector borrowing and debt as a proportion of gross national product should be those specified in the treaty of union, Maastricht. [40363]
  913
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Council, meeting in the form of Heads of State or Government, in accordance with article 109j of the EC treaty, will assess which countries fulfil the necessary conditions for the adoption of the single currency. In doing so, the Council will take account of reports prepared for this meeting by the Commission and the European Monetary Institute. Sound public finances, as detailed in article 104c of the treaty and in protocol No. 5 on the excessive deficit procedure, will form an important part of the assessment.

  Diesel and Oxygenated Fuel
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits deriving from environmental improvements of(a) City diesel and (b) oxygenated fuel; and what consideration he has given to the introduction of fiscal incentives to encourage their use. [40716]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  We keep the potential economic and environmental benefits of City diesel and oxygenated fuel under review. The Government do consider, where appropriate, the use of fiscal incentives to promote practices which are environmentally and economically beneficial, but each case is looked at on its merits.

  Road Fund Licence Exemption
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the road fund licence exemption to allow variable concessions; and if he will make a statement. [40777]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  We keep under review the vehicle excise duty concessions and exemptions. Any statement on this will be made in the Budget.

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had concerning equalising the tax on Scotch whisky with that of other alcoholic drinks; and if he will make a statement. [40769]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has received representations from the Scotch Whisky Association and the Wine and Spirit Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Other interested groups and individuals have written or made representation through Members of Parliament to the Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers.

  Each year, prior to making his Budget decisions, the Chancellor of the Exchequer reviews the levels of taxation on alcoholic beverages including spirits. consideration is given to a wide range of social, economic and health factors as well as the revenue effect. Any statement on this will be made in the Budget.

  Abortion
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many abortions have been performed in total to women usually resident in the Trent region under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; and how many and what percentage of these abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother. [40820]
  914
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The total number of abortions performed under the Abortion Act, to women usually resident in the Trent health region1 from 1970 to 19942 was 245,489. During this period, nine abortions, 0.004 per cent. of the total number of abortions performed, were carried out in an emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary, to save the life of the woman3.
  1 Figures are based, where possible, on 1994 health authority boundaries. Other boundary changes have not been reflected in the figures.
  2Figures for 1968–69 are not held on a comparable basis.
  3Abortions performed under statutory grounds 5 (1970–31 March 1991) and F (1 April-present day) that is, where in the case of emergency it was necessary to save the life of the woman.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by gestation of the pregnancy of the abortions performed on women usually resident in the Trent region in the last year for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous four years. [40821]

  Mrs. Knight
  The latest year for which abortion data by gestation of the pregnancy are available for women usually resident in the Trent health region is 1994. The data are presented in table 21 of the 1994 abortion statistics, series AB No. 21, HMSO publication 1996.

  Comparable figures for each of the last four years, 1990 to 1993 inclusive, are available in table 24b (1990, 1991) and 24c (1992, 1993) in the following publications: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, abortion statistics, England and Wales, series AB Nos. 17 to 21 respectively; HMSO publications 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 respectively.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by the procedure adopted of the number of abortions performed on women usually resident in the Trent region in the latest year for which he has figures; and what were the comparable figures for each of the last four years. [400874]

  Mrs. Knight
  The latest year for which abortion data by procedure are available for women usually resident in the Trent health region is 1994. The data are presented in table 18 of 1994 abortion statistics, series AB No. 21, HMSO publication 1996.

  Comparable figures for each of the last four years, 1990 to 1993 inclusive, are available in table 22, in the following publications: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 abortion statistics, England and Wales, series AB Nos. 17 to 21 respectively; HMSO publications 199d1, 1993, 1995, 1995, 1996 respectively.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by age of the mother of abortions carried out on women usually resident in the Trent region in each of the last five years. [40833]

  Mrs. Knight
  A breakdown of legal terminations by age of mother usually resident in the Trent health region, for the years 1990 to 1994 inclusive are available in the following publications: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 abortion statistics, England and Wales, series AB Nos. 17 to 21 respectively; HMSO publications 1991, 1993, 1995, 1995, 1996 respectively.
  915

  Taxpayers' Incomes
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what percentage of taxpayers, whether employed or self-employed, have a gross income(a) above £100,000 annually, (b) between £60,000 and £100,000, (c) between £30,000 and £60,000 and (d) £10,000 and below. [40988]

  Mr. Jack
  Latest estimates for 1996–97 are given in the table.

  Gross income1 £ per year

  Number of taxpayers (thousands)

  Percentage of taxpayers

  £10,000 and below

  9,200

  36

  £30,000–£60,000

  1,700

  7

  £60,000–£100,000

  260

  1

  Over £100,000

  140

  under 1

  1 Defined as total income for income tax purposes.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Council of Ministers of the European Community will carry out the assessment, required by article 109j of the treaty, of whether the third stage of economic and monetary union can begin in 1997; and if, in relation to that process, the United Kingdom is required to notify its intentions. [41214]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Article 109j of the EC treaty requires that a formal assessment by the Council of Ministers of which member states meet the necessary conditions for the adoption of the single currency in 1997 should take place by the end of 1996. The European Council agreed at its meeting in Florence in June that member states will not be ready to adopt the single currency in 1997 and confirmed its commitment to the third stage of economic and monetary union starting in 1999 in line with the EC treaty. However, in accordance with its obligation under the EC treaty, the Council will carry out the assessment procedure under article 109j before the end of 1996.

  Paragraph 1 of protocol No. 11 to the treaty requires the United Kingdom to notify its intentions in relation to the third stage before this assessment under article 109j is carried out. Accordingly, the Council has been notified by the United Kingdom's permanent representative that the United Kingdom does not intend to move to the third stage in 1997. A copy of the notification has been placed in the Library of both Houses.

  This notification does not prejudge or affect in any way the future decision on the United Kingdom's participation in the third stage. Under the treaty, the United Kingdom is not committed and cannot be obliged to move to the third stage without a separate decision to do so by the Government and Parliament. The Government's policy remains that no decision will be taken either way on participation in the third stage during the lifetime of the current Parliament because sufficient information to make a full assessment of the implications for the United Kingdom will not be available.
  916

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Test Ban Committee
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for a report on the outcome of the negotiations in the Nuclear Test Ban Committee of the Untied Nationals Conference on Disarmament, which resumed on 29 July, to be put in the Library as soon as it becomes available. [39917]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Conference on Disarmament issued a report on 12 September. A copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the numbers of(a) regulation and (b) directives which have been (i) operative in United Kingdom law since 1 January 1973, (ii) introduced between 1973 and 1986 and (iii) introduced since 1986. [40411]

  Mr. David Davis
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Embassies
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what facilities have been provided to Prince Michael of Kent for business visits by British embassies over the past five years; and what is the estimated cost of those facilities; [40455]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government in the provision of facilities by British embassies to private individuals on business trips. [40456]

  Mr. Rifkind
  The detailed information sought could be provided only after considerable research, which would involve disproportionate costs. The facilities offered by British embassies to Prince Michael of Kent and those accompanying him have been similar to those available for other British business visitors. These generally include advice on programmes and briefing on political background and commercial opportunities in the relevant market sectors. When appropriate, senior officers also accompany and sometimes lobby on behalf of senior British visitors during calls on local authorities. Hospitality is at times provided in order to effect introductions.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what facilities were provided to Prince Michael of Kent on his business visit to Beijing in September; who approved the provision of such facilities; under what arrangements such facilities were provided; to what other citizens of the United Kingdom such facilities are made available; and if he will make a statement. [40457]

  Mr. Rifkind
  Prince Michael of Kent was invited by the People's Institute of Foreign Affairs in Peking to lead a delegation of senior representatives of British companies active in China. PIFA was responsible for the
  917
  arrangements, including travel and accommodation in China. The delegation met its own costs for travel to and from China.

  The embassy provided briefing and assistance consistent with the seniority of the group and the reception accorded by the Chinese Government. The ambassador accompanied His Royal Highness on his call on the Premier, Li Peng, and the group was accompanied during the visit by a commercial officer on his staff.

  Our embassy in Peking seeks to provide appropriate assistance to all British business delegations visiting China. The facilities the embassy provides to business visitors are tailored to their programme and their individual requirements.

  Pakistani Diplomats
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomats have been expelled from the Pakistani high commission in 1996 as a result of their procurement on nuclear technology. [40494]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  No diplomats of the Pakistan high commission have been expelled from the UK in 1996. However, a member of the high commission's local staff was deported in July of that year.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what invitation he had for the International Bar Association to be represented at its conference in London on 9 September on Lockerbie; and why he declined. [40707]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary was not invited. A number of officials were invited, but did not attend. The Government's position on the trial of those accused of the Lockerbie bombing is well known: the two accused must stand trial in Scotland or in the United States.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40632]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  This is a matter of public record.

  Sudan
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Sudan about the lack of religious tolerance in their country, with particular reference to the persecution of Christians; and if he will make a statement. [40763]

  Dr. Lian Fox
  Freedom of worship is a fundamental human right. We are very concerned by disturbing reports of forced islaminisation in Sudan. We frequently make clear our concerns, and those of the British Parliament and people, about human rights and abuses in Sudan. The Minister of State Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my 918
  right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), did so most recently to the Sudanese ambassador on 2 July.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotions, and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40625]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  (a) and (b)Total expenditure on publicity—that is, promotional material and recruitment advertising—in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, diplomatic wing and Overseas Development Administration, in each of the last six years was:

  1990–91: £1,825,882

  1991–92: £1,785,388

  1992–93: £2,033,000

  1993–94: £2,130,264

  1994–95: £2,320,000

  1995–96: £2,442,763.

  (c) I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 1 February, Official Report, column 857–58.

  Acts of Parliament (Updating)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means a citizen of the United Kingdom can refer to any Act of Parliament in force to which is added, or incorporated, the texts of amendments to current law occasioned by regulations of the European Economic Community, stating by whom such updating is maintained, where it is done, what is its cost and which vote of the estimates defrays this expenditure. [40797]

  Mr. David Davis
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Li Langing (Visit)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the dates and purpose of the visit planned by the Chinese Vice-Premier Li Langing to the United Kingdom. [41062]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Tibet
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations led him not to raise the issue of Tibet at his recent meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister; and if he will make a statement. [41064]
  919
  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Unidentified Flying Objects
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what consultation has taken place in each of the last five years by his Department with the French Service de Documentation Exterieur et de Contre-Espionnage in respect of unidentified flying objects; and if he will make a statement; [40970]

  (2) if he will list by month for each of the last 10 years, and this year to date, the number of occasions that MI6 has monitored unidentified flying objects investigations; and if he will make a statement; [40981]

  (3) if he will list by month for each of the last 10 years and this year to date the number of occasions on which the Government Communications headquarters has monitored unidentified flying object investigations; and if he will make a statement. [40922]

  Mr. David Davis
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992, in 1996 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in. [41178]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  New Buildings and Premises
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41144]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Telephone Interceptions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each of the last 12 months the number of(a) interceptions and (b) monitorings of telephone calls (i) entering or (ii) leaving the United Kingdom, through the joint
  920
  Government Communications headquarters—National Security Agency agreement; and if he will make a statement. [40972]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom policy on the use of nuclear weapons of the decision of the International Court of Justice on nuclear weapons. [41224]

  Mr. David Davis
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what capacity of electricity used in his Department's buildings is generated in a combined heat and power plant; and what plans he has to increase that capacity. [41321]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), will write to the hon. Member shortly. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

DEFENCE

  Religious Discrimination (Caterick Camp)
  Mr. Gabraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of religious discrimination at Catterick camp during June and July; and if he will make a statement. [40766]

  Mr. Soames
  There have been no reported incidents of religious discrimination at Catterick Camp during June and July. However, we treat any allegations of discrimination extremely seriously and if the hon. Member can provide any information which suggests that religious discrimination has taken place at Catterick Camp it will, of course, be fully investigated.

  Suicides
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 16 May to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr Clark),Official Report, column 559, if he will break down the number of suicides in the armed forces by (a) year and (b) service for each year since 1991. [40767]

  Mr. Soames
  Since January 1991 the total number of service personnel who have been confirmed as committing suicide is 130, which is broken down as follows:
  921

  Year

  Army

  Royal Navy1

  RAF

  1991

  22

  5

  7

  1992

  19

  6

  5

  1993

  18

  1

  4

  1994

  17

  6

  5

  1995

  12

  1

  2

  1 Includes the Royal Marines.

  Figures are not yet available for 1996.

  The total figure given in the answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 16 May, Official Report, column 559, was 135. This original figure has subsequently been amended to reflect the rulings of coroners courts.

  Beef Purchases
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of beef supplied to service personnel in the British armed forces in the last year and purchased by his Department was purchased(a) from United Kingdom sources, (b) from other European Union sources and (c) from the rest of the world; and if he will make a statement. [40440]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Since 1 October 1994 the supply of food for the armed services has been the responsibility of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, NAAFI. My Department does not specify sources from which meat should be obtained, but NAAFI is required to meet the specification and achieve best value for money. The majority of our requirements are, however, for frozen beef which is not readily available from the British market and on cost grounds the majority of meat is sourced from south America and eastern Europe. Nevertheless, some beef including sirloin, foreribs, minced and diced and a range of manufactured products are normally procured from UK sources.

  Prior to 1994, beef was purchased directly by my Department, but no records were kept of the quantities sourced by a particular country, although the majority was imported from south America.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make it his policy to investigate media allegations of cases of the Gulf war syndrome if invited to do so in parliamentary questions from hon. Members. [40734]

  Mr. Soames
  Our first duty, and prime concern, is to the health of those veterans who served in the Gulf, and we will of course explore any information made available which may have affected the health of those veterans. The proper means for the medical examination of Gulf veterans who are concerned about their health is the medical assessment programme which we established in 1993. I urge any veteran who has such concerns and has not yet been seen by the MAP to come forward as soon as possible.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new assessment his Department has made of the possible effects of fluorine on Gulf war military and medical veterans since the reply of 24 October 1994,Official Report, column 500. [40750]
  922
  Mr. Soames
  No assessment has been made of the possible effects of fluorine on Gulf war veterans. No evidence of the effects of fluorine has been found among any of the UK Gulf war veterans examined under my Department's medical assessment programme.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the memorandum on the discovery of mustard gas during the Gulf war by the commander of the 54 Chemical Troop, dated 4 January 1994, has now been discovered and assessed. [40751]

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

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information on the environmental effects of organophosphates his Department has received from the United States Government in regard to the joint research being conducted on the implications of organophosphate use in Operation Granby in the Gulf war. [40736]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department is liaising closely with the United States Government on all aspects of research into the health of Gulf war veterans. It has received information on the United States Government's assessment of the health effects on US forces of organophosphate use during the Gulf war, and on associated work being conducted as part of their research programme into Gulf war illnesses. No joint US-UK research is being conducted into organophosphate use during the Gulf war.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quality control was conducted on the organophosphate pesticides purchased by his Department to combat fly-borne diseases in the Gulf war; and what post-war assessment has been made on the effect on the local environment in Kuwait and southern Iraq of the use of pesticides during Operation Granby. [40738]

  Mr. Soames
  The organophosphate pesticides, malathion and fenitrothion, were approved for use at the time of Operation Granby under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. ALFACRON, containing the organophosphate azamathiphos, and purchased locally in the Gulf, was also approved for use under these regulations. SNIP, a similar product purchased locally containing azamathiphos, was licensed for use in the United States, but it is understood that no application has been made for approval in the UK. A further organophosphate pesticide purchased locally, neocidal, is understood to have been supplied in error in response to an order for a non-organophosphate pesticide.

  My Department is not aware of any post-war assessment of the effect of the use of pesticides on the local environment in Kuwait and southern Iraq during Operation Granby.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf war veteran service people and medical support staff have been found to suffer from brainstem encephalitis; and what assessment has been made of the relationship between incidences of brainstem encephalitis in Gulf war veterans and the environment of the Gulf war. [40746]
  923
  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 15 October 1996]: There have been no reported cases of Gulf war veterans suffering from brainstem encephahlitis. No assessment has therefore been made of a possible link between brainstem encephalitis and the environment of the Gulf.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical studies have been conducted by his Department on the effects on human health and the environment of the organophosphate pesticides malathion, diazinon, azamathiphos and dimethyl phosphorothionate prior to their use in Operation Granby in the Gulf war. [40745]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 15 October 1996]: No medical studies on the organophosphate pesticides malathion, diazinon, azamathiphos and dimethyl phosphorothionate were conducted by my Department prior to the Gulf war.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40628]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is not collected.

  Exercises (Ebford)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 4 December 1995,Official Report, column 2, what members of the armed forces were deployed in the vicinity of Ebford village during autumn 1988; and if he will make a statement. [40645]

  Mr. Soames
  No personnel of the Royal Marines Command were deployed for any purpose in the vicinity of Ebford village during the autumn of 1988.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotions, and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40621]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of central MOD expenditure on publicity and service recruitment advertising for 1990–91 to 1993–94 are published in the annual MOD departmental reports, Cm 2201 (page 31), Cm 2501 (page 36) and Cm 2801 (page 39). The outturn for 1994–95 and the latest estimate for 1995–96 have been published in the MOD performance report for 1994–95, Cm 3055 (page 43). Copies of the relevant publications are available in the Library of the House.

  In respect of hospitality, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 30 January 1996, Official Report, columns 604–605. The outturn for 1995–96 was £5.13 million.

  Nuclear Materials (Transport)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what environmental assessments his Department has conducted on the transport of nuclear materials to and from the United States of America from the United 924
  Kingdom undertaken within the provisions of the 1958 mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters as amended. [40747]

  Mr. Soames
  I am not aware of any requirement for environmental assessments in this context; none has therefore been carried out. Whenever nuclear materials are transported by the UK, they are carried in containers which are designed, manufactured and tested in conformity with the appropriate International Atomic Energy Agency regulations.

  Biological Warfare Agents
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now review his policy regarding the release of details of the countermeasures taken against biological warfare agents by Her Majesty's armed forces during conflict. [40733]

  Mr. Soames
  The protection of British personnel is our prime concern in times of conflict. Details of the medical countermeasures taken by the armed forces against biological warfare agents during conflicts, therefore, remain appropriately classified, in order to avoid informing potential adversaries of the UK's strengths and weaknesses in dealing with the threat of biological weapons. We are, however, considering whether any information can be released after conflicts have ended.

  War Graves (Singapore)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the desecration of war graves in Singapore. [40933]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department is unaware of the desecration of any war graves in Singapore. Where war graves are disturbed or sullied, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is responsible for the marking and continuing maintenance of all such graves, should be contacted. It will arrange for the grave to be restored to its previous standard with all due care and respect.

SCOTLAND

  Parole System
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his proposals to reform the parole system in Scotland. [38717]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We are determined that criminals should serve the sentences given by the courts and should be allowed reductions only if they earn it. Our proposals were outlined in our White Paper and we will introduce legislation at an early date.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the future financing of further education. [38723]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Our policies have created a strong further education sector. Levels of student activity rose by 6 per cent. in the year following incorporation and present funding plans allow for continuing growth in student numbers through increasingly efficient colleges.
  925

  Forest Roads
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about weight restrictions imposed on forest roads in the highlands; and if he will make a statement. [38725]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office Development Department received five representations in 1995 concerning proposed weight restriction orders published by the former Highland regional council.

  Newmilns Bypass
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when work is planned to start on the Newmilns bypass; and what plans he has to involve the private finance initiative in the project. [38726]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The A71, on which Newmilns stands, is a local road. Proposals for improvements at Newmilns are therefore a matter for East Ayrshire council as the local roads authority for the area.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to meet Scottish Enterprise to discuss unemployment in Scotland. [38727]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet Scottish Enterprise to discuss a wide variety of issues concerning the Scottish economy.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about inward investment in Scotland. [38728]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Inward investment in Scotland has been running at record levels over the past two years and this success is continuing. Firms like Hyundai, Chunghwa, Lite-On, Simple Technology and Rohr recognise that locating in Scotland means locating in one of Europe's most competitive business locations.

  "Crime and Punishment"
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what responses he has received to his White Paper, "Crime and Punishment", Cm 3302; and if he will make a statement. [38729]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A considerable number of detailed and helpful submissions were received in response to the White Paper. My right hon. Friend is currently giving careful consideration to all the views expressed and plans to bring forward legislation at an early date.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend the operation of nursery vouchers in Scotland. [38730]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The pre-school education voucher initiative is currently being piloted in four local authority areas in Scotland. It will be extended to the whole of Scotland from August next year.
  926
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of pilot schemes for nursery vouchers in Scotland. [38739]

  Mr. Robertson
  The pilot schemes of the pre-school education initiative in Scotland have been under way for barely two months, but already there are indications that they are progressing well: over 150 centres have been admitted to the system, and vouchers have been issued for over 95 per cent. of eligible children. My right hon. Friend's final assessment will be informed by the implementation evaluation conducted by Stirling university, and also by the findings of HM inspectors of schools in the course of their inspections during the pilot phase.

  Crofting
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is pursuing to promote crofting in Scotland. [38731]

  Mr. Robertson
  On 10 October my right hon. Friend announced the publication of draft legislation which would give all crofters on his estates a unique opportunity to control their own land.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to encourage local authorities to find alternatives to landfill as a method of waste disposal. [38733]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Government have introduced measures to encourage recycling and waste reduction as alternatives to landfill. These include the recycling credits scheme operated by local authorities and the landfill tax, which will encourage waste producers to examine their option for dealing with waste.

  Departmental Employees
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are currently employed in the Scottish Office; what was the figure in May 1979; in each case at what cost in 1996 prices; and if he will make a statement. [38734]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Eight thousand two hundred and thirty-three people were employed in the Scottish Office, excluding the Scottish Prison Service, at 1 April 1996. In the same period, numbers in the Prison Service rose from 2,582 to 4,439.

  The current staff costs are £109 million for the Scottish Office, excluding the Scottish Prison Service, and 85.3 million for the Scottish Prison Service: it is not possible except at disproportionate cost to produce accurate figures for 1979 on a fully comparable basis.

  Housing (Glasgow)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet Glasgow city council to discuss the housing situation in the city. [38735]
  927
  Mr Raymond S Robertson
  I have met representatives of Glasgow city council on several occasions during the past year and officials from the Department are due to meet the council at the end of the month to discuss housing matters.

  Economic Prospects
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from businesses in Scotland about prospects for the Scottish economy. [38736]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Business confidence in Scotland remains high and economic prospects are excellent.

  Fishing Industry
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of the Scottish fishing industry. [38738]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The Scottish fishing industry makes a vital contribution to the social and economic welfare of Scotland's coastal communities. With fish stocks under increasing pressure, we need to safeguard the industry's future through better management and conservation. The Government are determined to secure whatever improvements in the common fisheries policy may be necessary to that end.

  NHS Employees
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses, doctors and dentists were employed by the national health service in Scotland in 1980 and in 1995. [38740]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The whole-time equivalent number of nurses and midwives has increased from 27,398 in 1980 to 35,378 in 1995, a rise of 29 per cent.; hospital and community medical staff have increased from 5,629 in 1980 to 6,849 in 1995, a rise of 22 per cent.; hospital and community dental staff have reduced from 525 in 1980 to 446 in 1995, a drop of 15 per cent.

  Feudal Superiors
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes in legislation he proposes to limit the powers of feu superiors in Scotland. [38741]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Law Commission is considering proposals to abolish or amend the remaining aspects of the feudal system and will report in due course. The Government are committed to completing the reform of the feudal system, but would not wish to proceed in advance of the commission's report.

  General Practitioner Fundholding
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how may GP fundholding practices there are in Scotland. [38742]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Three hundred and eighty-one.
  928

  Prison Sentences
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his proposals to make prisoners liable to serve the full terms of their sentences in Scotland. [38743]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We are determined that criminals should serve the sentences given by the courts and should be allowed reductions only if they earn it. Our proposals were outlined in our White Paper and we will introduce legislation at an early date.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss local government finance. [38724]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend and I will next meet COSLA on 8 November.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what invitation the Crown Office had from the International Bar Association to be represented at its conference on Lockerbie on 9 September; and why he declined. [40706]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, or in his place a representative from the Crown Office, did receive an invitation to attend this conference. It was, however, inappropriate for my noble and learned Friend, as head of the independent prosecution service in Scotland or anyone on his behalf, to attend the conference. The Government's position on the trial of those accused of the Lockerbie bombing is, in any event, well known. Trial of the two Libyan accused should be in Scotland or the United States.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives between July and October 1996 the Crown Office has taken to resolve the issues raised by the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [38901]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Crown Office has maintained its preparedness for the trial of the two accused in the Lockerbie case.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40640]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This is a matter of public record.

  Ministerial Visits (Catalonia)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an official visit to Catalonia in order to study its system of government. [38716]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.
  929

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Publicity
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of staff employed full-time or part-time (i) to provide information and publicity and (ii) to work on the press and media in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1993–94. [39434]

  Mr. Boswell
  The budget allocations for staff employed full-time or part-time (i) to provide information and publicity and (ii) to work on the press and media in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1993–94 was as follows:

  Publicity £

  Press £

  1995–96

  680,592

  262,645

  1994–95

  539,099

  300,933

  1993–94

  592,048

  298,104

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost budgeted for staff, employed full-time or part-time, to provide information and publicity in 1996–97. [39438]

  Mr. Boswell
  The budget allocation for staff employed full-time or part-time to provide information and publicity in 1996–97 is £632,600. The figure does not include those working on press and media, nor administration support staff.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's budget in 1996–97 for consultants to assist with information, publicity, press and media. [39354]

  Mr. Boswell
  Nil.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff are assumed in his Department's budget to be employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time,(a) to work on press and media and (b) to provide information and publicity in 1996–97. [39382]

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of MAFF staff being employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time,(a) to work on press and media and (b) to provide information and publicity in 1996–97 are as follows:

  Press: 7

  Publicity: 22.

  Administration support staff are not included.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff were employed full-time or part-time(a) to provide information and publicity and (b) on press and media in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) 1993–94. [39414]

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of staff employed by MAFF, both full-time and part-time, to(a) provide information and publicity and (b) on press and media in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) 1993–94, were as follows:
  930

  Press

  Publicity

  1995–96

  7

  25

  1994–95

  9

  22

  1993–94

  9

  23

  Administration support staff are not included.

  Beef Sales
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the level of beef sales in Britain, and in each of the other EU countries on(a) 1 April and (b) the latest available date in each case. [30152]

  Mrs. Browning
  According to a consumer survey conducted on behalf of the Meat and Livestock Commission, overall household purchases for the four-week period ending 10 March were 19,561 tonnes valued at £90,519. This was the last consumer survey produced before the Minister's announcement on the 20 March. For the latest available four-week period ending on 22 September, overall household purchases of beef were 15,893 tonnes valued at £71,862.

  For other member states, information on beef consumption is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that beef consumption in France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Holland, and across the EU, is well below normal levels.

  Computerised Cattle Database
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to introduce a national computerised cattle database; and if he will make a statement. [32963]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: The Government are working with urgency on plans for the accelerated introduction of a national cattle movements database. A feasibility study is underway.

  Animal Feed (Advice)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many of the advisers and consultants who advised his Department on policy and regulatory requirements in relation to the composition of animal feed were(a) full-time Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials, (b) part-time Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials or (c) outside appointment; [32329]

  (2) if he will list the names of the advisers and consultancies who advised his Department on policy and regulatory requirements in relation to the composition of animal feed in each year since 1986. [32328]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 17 June 1996]: The information requested on all advisors and consultants including Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The interdepartmental Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs advises on the composition and labelling of feedingstuffs. Eleven of its members are full-time officials—including technical experts—of MAFF or its agencies and five members are full-time officials of other Government Departments. The interdepartmental group

  931
  on new feed developments reviews new developments concerning animal feed materials, manufacturing processes and animal feeding practices. It also draws its expertise from officials in MAFF and other Government Departments.

  The Veterinary Products Committee and the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee provide independent expert advice on certain aspects of the composition of animal feedingstuffs.

  Independent committees which have completed their work are the working party on bovine spongiform encephalopathy—the Southwood committee—and the Consultative Committee on Research into Spongiform Encephalopathies—the Tyrrell committee. In addition, the expert group on animal feedingstuffs under the Chairmanship of Professor Eric Lamming reviewed the regulatory framework covering the animal feed industry and reported in 1992.

  I will write separately to the hon. Member with membership details of the independent committees and the expert group.

  Rendering Processes (Canterbury)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons his Department has not responded to Canterbury city council's statutory consultation procedures concerning rendering processes at Canterbury Mills; and if he will make a statement. [33135]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 18 June 1996]: A letter on this matter was sent to Canterbury city council on 26 July, following detailed and extensive assessment of the processes employed at Canterbury Mills.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the French Government alleging that French cattle have contracted BSE from eating feedstuffs supplied from the United Kingdom; and what evidence he has evaluated on this matter. [35714]

  Mrs. Browning
  We have received no representations from the French Government about the possibility that French cattle have contracted BSE from eating feedstuffs supplied from the UK or containing UK-sourced raw materials.

  Mammalian-derived meat and bonemeal could legitimately be used in feed for pigs and poultry up to 29 March 1996. It was in free circulation and could quite legitimately be exported to other member states for similar use. The UK informed the Commission and other member states of the measures it was taking to introduce a ruminant feed ban in July 1988 and the reasons for this. It was, however, for the Commission to introduce controls across the Community, and for other member states to introduce their own domestic regulations. The feeding of meat and bonemeal to bovines was prohibited in France from July 1990 and extended to include all ruminants in December 1994.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of(a) how long the prions involved in BSE survive
  932
  (i) in water, (ii) in soil and (iii) in stored meat and bonemeal and (b) their general stability or degradation characteristics. [34508]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, which advises Government on all aspects of the spongiform encephalopathies, has reviewed all the environmental aspects and issued a statement following its meeting on 29 May. This was published under cover of a Ministry of Agriculture press notice of 7 June. A copy of that press notice is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield of 19 June,Official Report, column 499, what research he has evaluated indicating how gelatin processed from bovine skin and bone is free from risk of contamination; and what account this research took of the resistance of the BSE agent to (a) heat and (b) caustic soda. [34779]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 1 July 1996]: Considerable research effort has gone into determining the extent to which various bovine tissues may harbour the BSE infective agent. No infectivity has ever been detected in bovine hides or bones, and the raw materials from which gelatin is made would not therefore be expected to be contaminated with BSE agent. Published research has examined the ability of various stages in the manufacture of gelatin to remove or inactivate the infective agent, in the unlikely event that any were present in the raw materials. The application of caustic substances and heat are only elements in the overall process, which must be examined as a whole in determining the likely reduction in infectivity which would result. All the available evidence, along with full details of the processes employed in producing gelatin and information provided on a confidential basis by the gelatin manufacturers of Europe, was considered by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee in arriving at its conclusions about the safety of gelatin.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure that smaller beef producers are not made bankrupt by the present BSE eradication arrangements; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which beef producers are making a loss when steers are marketed. [38096]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 22 July 1996]: I am fully aware that current market prices for all beef cattle are substantially lower than those at the same time last year and am conscious of the enormous strain this has put on beef producers.

  The Government agreed a package of addition support measures for beef producers at the June Agriculture Council worth some £110 million in the UK. Most of the money, some £81 million, is being paid as supplements under the beef premium schemes. A large proportion of the income of beef producers comes from suckler, cow premium, beef special premium and HLCA payments. Increases in these payments are therefore reducing the impact of lower cattle prices on producers incomes. Over 90 per cent. of claimants will have already received their supplements. The remainder will be paid by early October.
  933
  The Government have also arranged for beef producers to receive 80 per cent. rather than the normal 60 per cent. rate of advance payments under the beef premium schemes from 1 November. This should ensure additional funds are in the pockets of beef producers in the crucial autumn period.

  In addition, some £29 million has been made available under the 1996 beef marketing payment scheme. This money is being distributed to beef producers according to the number of adult clean cattle—including steers, heifers and young bulls—sold in the period 20 March to 30 June (inclusive) for slaughter for human consumption. The application period for this scheme closed on 23 August and payment will be at a flat rate of £66.76 per eligible animal. The first payments under this scheme began earlier this month and it is hoped they will be completed by 15 October.

  While the measures that I have outlined should relieve some of the financial pressures currently facing the beef industry, they are not designed as compensation for the fall in market prices. They are market support measures designed to ensure the survival of the industry. In the longer term, we would hope that as public confidence increases and the market adjusts to the situation, the incomes of beef producers will gradually recover.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers he has to prevent imports of beef from EU countries where he believes BSE is endemic and where the brain and spinal column are not removed from the carcase. [23998]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 2 April 1996]: Member states of the EU have power to take interim protective measures under article 9 of Council Directive 89/662/EEC pending the adoption of EU legislation where there is an outbreak of disease in the territory of another member state.

  The United Kingdom has asked the Commission to adopt Community-wide controls on the removal of specified bovine offal from cattle carcases.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he took to inform abattoirs and renderers(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the EU of the decision to ban the use of thymus and intestines of calves under six months old. [35750]

  Mrs. Browning
  In the United Kingdom, the trade associations representing abattoir owners and renderers were consulted on the Government's decision to extend the specified bovine offal ban to include thymus and intestines of calves under six months of age. Renderers and abattoirs in other member states were not informed directly by the Ministry of the changes. The Commission was, however, notified of the Government's intention in 934
  accordance with EC directive 83/189 (as amended) laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations.

  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to assist farmers who are caught by the BSE culling backlog with the cost of winter feed; and if he will make a statement. [40813]

  Mrs. Browning
  A number of representations have been received about the introduction of a feed subsidy for cattle awaiting slaughter under the over 30-month scheme, which are being studied.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the level of under-reporting of cases of BSE in those countries which export cattle to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [40128]

  Mrs. Browning
  BSE is a notifiable disease in all member states.

  Apart from the UK, BSE has been confirmed in homebred cattle in France, Portugal, Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland. Since 1986, the UK has imported cattle from three of these countries: France, Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland. We have no evidence that under-reporting of BSE cases occurs in these countries.

  Specified Bovine Offal
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the extent to which local control adequately ensures that mechanical recovery of meat takes place with the minimum possible contamination from specified bovine offal; and if he will make a statement. [34108]

  Mrs. Browning
  Specified bovine materials have to be removed from all cattle at slaughter and are destroyed. In addition, in December 1995 the use of the bovine vertebral column for the production of mechanically recovered meat was prohibited. This was a precautionary measure to prevent a risk of potential contamination of MRM by small lengths of spinal cord accidentally left attached to the vertebral column. This ensures that no specified bovine material can enter mechanically recovered meat, even accidentally.

  Farming Population
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the farming population of the European Union. [35779]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 10 July 1996]: The Community survey on the structure of agricultural holdings in 1993 showed that there were some 15 million farming jobs—excluding casual workers and contractors—in the 12 member states. Some workers will hold jobs on different holdings. Further information is contained in "Statistics in Focus—Agriculture, forestry and fisheries" published by Eurostat.
  935

  Herds
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of herds in the United Kingdom which are closed. [37389]

  Mrs. Browning
  There are currently no accurate statistics available on the number of closed herds. The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service estimates that the percentage of UK herds that are closed (i) in the beef and dairy sectors are:

  Dairy herds 45–55 per cent closed

  Beef herds (suckler cows): 5–10 per cent. closed

  (i) that is herds which have not brought in any female animals in the last five years.

  Internet
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that major publications from his Department are accompanied by a simultaneous electronic release of the text on the Internet. [37228]

  Mr. Boswell
  MAAF has published a number of documents electronically to coincide with the release of the printed publication. The Department is looking at expanding the range of information which it places on the Internet.

  Beef Farmers
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to ensure that beef farmers who have been selling steers, heifers and young bulls since March, receive a share of the £29.4 million agreed for distribution to United Kingdom producers in special difficulties. [36743]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 15 July 1996]: Some £29 million has been allocated to a system of national aid measures. This money will be distributed to beef producers and under the beef marketing payment scheme, according to the number of adult clean cattle sold in the period 20 March to 30 June for slaughter for human consumption. The application period for this scheme closed on 23 August 1991. More than 29,000 claims were submitted in respect of some 450,000 animals throughout the United Kingdom. All of these claims have now been processed and the rate of payment has been fixed at £66.76 per eligible animal. The first payments began earlier this month and it is hoped they will all be completed by 15 October.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the safety and effectiveness of lindane-based sheep dips with particular reference to their performance relative to organophosphorus dips; what conclusions he has drawn from the recent pesticides safety directorate review of lindane (gamma HCH); and if he will make a statement. [37802]

  Mrs. Browning
  Licences authorising the use of lindane-based sheep dips were revoked in 1984. There has been no application for a marketing authorisation for lindane-based sheep dips since then and no assessment of 936
  the safety or effectiveness of such veterinary medicines have been undertaken subsequently in the United Kingdom.

  The independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides concluded, in February, a very thorough review of the uses of lindane as an agricultural pesticide regulated under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. The Committee recommended that all approvals of lindane for such agricultural uses should continue subject to certain further steps being taken to protect lindane users, improvements to product labelling and the subsequent submission of further data. Ministers in all the regulatory Departments have accepted these recommendations which are being implemented.

  Ketamin
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the veterinary anaesthetic drug ketamin is available in the United Kingdom; what safeguards he has issued to ensure that the drug does not become available to young people; and if he will make a statement. [38327]

  Mrs. Browning
  Ketamine hydrochloride is the active ingredient in three veterinary medicines with current marketing authorisations. It is authorised, for use as an anaesthetic for cats—two products—and sub-human primates—one product. In each of these cases, the product is authorised in the category of veterinary medicine available only on prescription, and as such would be used only under the direct control of a veterinary surgeon. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has published a code of practice for storage and dispensing of medicines by veterinary surgeons which includes a requirement that premises in which medicines are stored and dispensed should be capable of being secured to exclude the public and to deter unlawful entry.

  European Fisheries Council
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the European Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. [41157]

  Mr. Baldry
  I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 14 October together with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

  The Council discussed the principles underlying Commission proposals for substantial further capacity reductions in Community fishing fleets in the next series of multi-annual guidance programmes to run from 1997–2002. Most member states expressed concern about the rates of reduction proposed, the way these would impact on particular fleet segments and the consequences for employment and the economy of coastal communities. I also made it clear that the UK could not implement further compulsory fleet reductions while the quota-hopping problem remained unresolved and drew attention to the burning sense of injustice which the present situation caused in the British fishing industry.

  It was concluded that further detailed examination of all elements of the Commission proposal would be needed before decisions could be taken. There was, however, general recognition of the need for fishing mortality to be

  937
  reduced to acceptable levels for critical stocks and for this to be done in ways which are appropriate, equitable and soundly based. This would include consideration of policies other than capacity reduction, such as technical conservation and enforcement. It would also include careful assessment of the effects of reductions in fishing activity on the industry and those dependent on it.

  The Council also took note of the Commission's report on implementation to date of the existing multi-annual guidance programmes, with the proviso that the figures for a number of member states, including the UK, needed correction, in particular in relation to tonnage measurement.

  Ministers had a first exchange of views on the Commission's proposal for new technical conversation measures. There were many reservations about the proposal but general agreement on the need to improve the current measures in order to conserve stocks and reduce discards. It was also accepted that the measures eventually agreed must command the confidence of the industry and therefore be based on sound scientific advice, easily understood and enforceable.

  The Council discussed the Commission proposal on satellite monitoring. I pressed for harmonised implementation by all member states and the need to guard against fishermen being unfairly penalised in respect of genuine equipment failures. I also requested that the Commission should explore ways in which satellite monitoring could reduce the regulatory burden on fishermen. In the light of the many detailed concerns raised by member states, it was concluded that the matter should be referred for further detailed examination.

  The Council agreed unanimously a proposal consolidating regulations laying down common marketing standards for fish and fisheries products. It makes minor modifications to grading standards. It also provides for the ending of Community financial compensation for lower quality 'B' grade fish with effect from 1 January 2000 and subject to a review after one year.

  The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland reminded the Council of the difficulties that salmon farmers are facing in the critical marketing period before Christmas as a result of low prices. He emphasised the importance of the Commission's investigation of complaints about dumping and unfair subsidies in Norway resolving these recurring difficulties.

  The Council also agreed by qualified majority, with Italy and Spain voting against, a measure raising the ceiling on beef intervention purchases for 1996 by 60,000 tonnes and providing new intervention arrangements for store cattle until December.

  Gelatine (Parliamentary Questions)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the hon. Member for Wakefield can expect answers to his questions for answer on 4 June, 19 June and 25 June in respect of gelatine. [38092]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have replied to the hon. Member for Wakefield's questions in respect of gelatine on 18 July, columns 638, and 24 July, column 628.
  938

  Equines
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many equines were exported for slaughter for food in the past year; and if he will make a statement. [36684]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 18 July 1996]: I very much regret that my hon. Friend has had to wait so long for a reply.

  No equines were exported for slaughter for food in the past year.

  EU Standing Veterinary Committee
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the minutes of the meeting of the EU Standing Veterinary Committee of 9 and 10 October 1990. [37867]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 22 July 1996]: I have deposited in the Library of the House the report of this meeting as issued to member states by the EC Commission.

  Beef
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the independence of the members of the EU Committee of Experts nominated to examine United Kingdom proposals on beef. [37487]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government have no reason to question the independence of the members of the various EU expert scientific committees on BSE.

  Isle of Wight (Coastal Erosion)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food (1) what studies his Department has evaluated in respect of ways of stabilising the cliff erosion alongside the military road on the Isle of Wight; [36029]

  (2) what representations he has received from the Isle of Wight council about funding coastal protection works to preserve the military road between Freshwater and Brightstone. [36027]

  Mr. Boswell
  It is the responsibility of the Isle of Wight council, as the coastal protection authority, rather than the Ministry, to commission and evaluate any such studies which they consider to be necessary. At this stage, the Ministry has received no formal representations from the council about funding works to protect the military road. If any works were designed solely to protect a road, funding would be the responsibility of the relevant highway authority and grant aid would not be available from this Department.

  Live Domestic Animal Imports
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries which currently accept imports from the United Kingdom of live domestic animals. [39704]

  Mrs. Browning
  So far as we are aware, the following third countries, territories, states and so on, are willing to accept cats and dogs exported from Great Britain, subject to certain animal health conditions being met.
  939

  Alaska

  Anguilla

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Argentina

  Ascunsion Island

  Australia

  Austria

  Bahamas

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Barbados

  Belgium

  Belize

  Bermuda

  Bhutan

  Bolivia

  Borneo

  Botswana

  Brazil

  British Virgin Islands

  Brunei

  Bulgaria

  Burma

  Cameroon

  Canada

  Cayman Islands

  Chile

  China

  Colombia

  Commonwealth of Dominica

  Costa Rica

  Cote d'Ivoire

  Croatia

  Cuba

  Cyprus

  Czech Republic

  Denmark

  Dominican Republic

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  El Salvador

  Estonia

  Ethiopia

  Falkland Islands

  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Fiji

  Finland

  France

  Germany

  Ghana

  Gibraltar

  Greece

  Grenada

  Guatemala

  Guyana

  Hawaii

  940

  Honduras

  Hong Kong

  Hungary

  Iceland

  India

  Indonesia

  Iran

  Iraq

  Irish Republic

  Israel

  Italy

  Jamaica

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kazakhstan

  Kenya

  Republic of Korea

  Kuwait

  Laos

  Latvia

  Lebanon

  Lesotho

  Liberia

  Libya

  Lithuania

  Luxembourg

  Madagascar

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Malta

  Mauritius

  Mexico

  Montserrat

  Morocco

  Mozambique

  Namibia

  Netherlands

  New Caledonia

  New Zealand

  Nigeria

  Norway

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Panama

  Papua New Guinea

  Paraguay

  Peru

  Phillipines

  Poland

  Portugal

  Puerto Rico

  Qatar

  Republic of Korea

  Reunion

  Romania

  Russian Federation

  Saudi Arabia

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  941

  Singapore

  Slovakia

  Slovenia

  Solomon Islands

  South Africa

  Spain (including the Canary and Balearic Islands)

  Sri Lanka

  St. Helena

  St. Kitts and Nevis

  St. Lucia

  St. Vincent and The Grenadines

  Swaziland

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Syria

  Tahiti

  Taiwan

  Tanzania

  Thailand

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Uganda

  Ukraine

  United Arab Emirates

  United States

  Uruguay

  Uzbekistan

  Vanuatu

  Venezuela

  Wallace and Futuna Islands

  Yemen

  Zaire

  Zambia

  Zimbabwe.

  Beef Ban
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will hold discussions with the European Agriculture Commissioner and at the Council of Ministers to ensure that the restrictions that apply in Britain to abattoirs and rendering plants to ban the use of specified bovine offal and to ban the use of meat and bone meal in animal feeding are also applied in European countries. [39839]

  Mrs. Browning
  The European Commission has already produced proposals which, if adopted, would introduce a Community-wide ban in animal and human food of:

  (a) any material from mammals which had not received ante-mortem inspection;

  (b) the skill, vertebral column and spinal cord of cattle, sheep and goats aged over 12 months and the spleen of sheep and goats of any age.

  Subject to detailed negotiation on the coverage of the proposal in relation to sheep and goats, the UK is supporting these proposals, which have been referred to the Commission's Scientific Veterinary Committee for further consideration.
  942
  As regards the use of meat and bonemeal, there has been a prohibition on the feeding of mammalian protein to ruminants throughout the EU since Commission decision 94/381 of 27 June 1994. There is an exemption for member states which can demonstrate that non-ruminant protein is processed separately from ruminant protein which we believe applies to Denmark which has plants dedicated to processing only porcine material.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of climate changes in the United Kingdom on trends in the use of agricultural pesticides. [40070]

  Mrs. Browning
  There are many uncertainties in terms of the nature, extent and timing of climate change, the consequent changes in prevalence and behaviour of pests, weeds and diseases and the response of farmers to these changes. However, studies support the view that it is unlikely that climate change will lead to rapid change In the pattern or volume of pesticide use.

  The Government continue to fund related research. The Government will ensure that the regulation of pesticides continues to protect people and the environment as pesticide usage alters in response to climate change and other developments.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the report from Professor John Krebs on the relationship between tuberculosis in cattle and diseased badgers. [40812]

  Mrs. Browning
  It is expected that Professor Krebs will report in the early summer of 1997.

  Milk Quota Transfers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what level of allowance the Intervention Board sets when(a) a lessee and (b) a transferee acquires a multi-lot milk quota transfer from the same (i) leasor and (ii) transferor; and if he will make a statement. [40893]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Intervention Board has informed milk producers, purchasers and quota agents of its intention to round calculations of permanent butterfat percentages in transfers or leases of milk quota to six places of decimal. This change will take effect from 1 April 1997. In the meantime, transfers and leases presented in multi-lotted form, which the board considers will have the effect of achieving a higher butterfat percentage than would have arisen from a single lot movement of the same quantity, will have the individual transactions rounded to six places of decimal at each stage and the final figure to two places. This measure is necessary to ensure that the butterfat level of the national quota is not distorted in a way which would leave the United Kingdom open to financial correction of its accounts by the European Commission.
  943

  Quarantine Regulations
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement regarding the Government's current policy towards quarantine regulations. [40898]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government's first priority is public health and our current strict quarantine controls have ensured that the UK is rabies free. The Government are determined that should remain the case. The Government recognise that the current restrictions are onerous for some people and agree that they should be replaced if alternatives offering the same protection become available. The Government would, however, never support any change which increased the likelihood of rabies entering the UK.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40627]

  Mr. Boswell
  This is a matter of public record.

  Milk (Dioxins)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the results of his Department's survey of dioxins in milk in the vicinity of Hampshire incinerators. [40873]

  Mrs. Browning
  A summary of the results currently available, including dioxins in milk from the vicinity of four incinerators in Hampshire, will be published in this month's issue of the MAFF/Department of Health food Safety-Information Bulletin.

  Forestry Commission Land
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the plots of Forestry Commission land in South Yorkshire which are(a) currently for sale and (b) being considered for sale; and in each case (i) what is the size of the plot, (ii) what consultation is planned in advance of the sale and (iii) how many representations he has received to date for and against the proposed sale; [40904]

  (2) if he will list the plots of land which have been sold by the Forestry Commission in South Yorkshire in each of the last five years; and in each case (a) what was the size of the plot, (b) what consultation was made in advance of the sale and (c) how many representations he received (i) for and (ii) against the sale. [40905]

  Mr. Boswell
  The subjects of the questions relate to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. Gordon Cowie, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Gordon M. Cowie to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Questions about Forestry Commission land in South Yorkshire.
  In answer to your questions I enclose the following information:—
  Annex A—a list of land sold since 1991
  944
  Annex B—a list of land currently for sale, either on the Open Market or by Negotiation, or currently being considered for sale.
  All the properties listed were notified in the Estates Gazette, added to which the local authority have been advised of our intention to sell.
  For Annex A, we have no detailed records of any representations.
  For Annex B, there has only been one representation received to-date, and that is against the sale of Owston & Duck Holt Woods and Wadworth Woods. The matter is being dealt with separately via Ministerial Correspondence between yourself and the Rt Hon. John Gummer MP which has since been redirected to the Scottish Office to be replied to in due course.

  Annex A: Forestry Commission cases sold in South Yorkshire from 1991 to date

  Year

  Name of property

  Area (ha)

  1991

  Bagger Wood (pt)

  0.1

  Broom Royd

  8.3

  Crane Moor Wood

  1.0

  Top Pit Wood

  5.6

  1992

  Bagger Wood

  26.8

  Lower Lee Wood

  5.0

  Melton Wood

  100.5

  Upper Lee Wood

  2.7

  1993

  Bawtry Woods

  214.0

  Stockbridge By-Pass

  2.8

  1994

  Black Carr

  20.4

  Cannon Hall Estate

  160.4

  1995

  No sales

  —

  1996

  No sales

  —

  Annex B: Forestry Commission land currently for sale either on the open market or by negotiation in South Yorkshire

  Year

  Name of property

  Area (ha)

  1996

  Owston and Duck Holt Woods

  64.0

  Wadworth Woods

  115.0

  Green Springs Wood

  12.0

  Old Park Wood

  41.0

  Walker Wood

  6.0

  Hugset Wood

  34.0

  Millerhill/Wigfield Wood

  5.0

  Forestry Commission land currently being considered for sale in South Yorkshire
  There are no cases being considered at present.

  Thirty-month Scheme
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to reduce the backlog of cull cattle under the 30-month scheme in Dorset. [41217]

  Mr. Baldry
  A telephone survey of producers carried out by my Department and those in Wales and Northern Ireland revealed a much larger backlog of animals awaiting entry to the 30-month scheme than we had previously estimated. It also showed that some areas, including the south-west of England, were much more seriously affected than others. The Intervention Board is taking urgent steps to increase the weekly slaughter from a level at the end of August of about 23,000 animals a
  945
  week to 55,000 as quickly as possible. A new rendering mix will allow more animals to be slaughtered for a given amount of rendering capacity by consigning more material to cold store. More cold storage space is being contracted and the renderers are making significantly greater capacity available from next week. About 42,000 animals are expected to be slaughtered this week and the number is planned to increase to more than 50,000 next week. In increasing abattoir allocations, the Intervention Board is giving priority to those serving markets and producers in the particularly disadvantaged areas including those in Dorset.

  Buildings and Premises (Expenditure)
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41152]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information is as follows:

  New buildings and premises (including specialised buildings)

  £

  1991–92

  25,042,934

  1992–93

  20,303,048

  1993–94

  27,631,496

  1994–95

  42,176,564

  1995–96

  49,969,517

  New office space

  sq.ft.

  1991–92

  17,190.10

  1992–93

  1,199.74

  1993–94

  10,579.35

  1994–95

  6,528.73

  1995–96

  18,445.76

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to impose a reciprocal ban on the import of beef from any country that bans the import of British beef until such time as that country's Government can satisfy him that its cattle herds are entirely free of BSE. [23148]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 28 March 1996]: I very much regret that my hon. Friend has had to wait so long for a reply.

  Member states of the EU have power to take interim protective measures under article 9 of Council directive 89/662/EEC pending the adoption of EU legislation where there is an outbreak of disease in the territory of another member state.

  The United Kingdom has asked the Commission to adopt Community-wide controls on the removal of specified bovine offal from cattle carcasses.

  All fresh meat imported into the UK, whether from other member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council directive 64/433/EEC. In addition, the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption of all
  946
  bovine meat derived from bovines which, at the time of slaughter, were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996, whether in the UK or overseas, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in those third countries listed in the schedule to those regulations, and those aged between 30 and 42 months from herds registered under the beef assurance scheme. The list of countries is confined to those where the Government are satisfied we can import beef without risk.

  The imposition by the UK of any unreasonable barriers to trade would be contrary to our World Trade Organisation commitments. It would not therefore be appropriate for us to take retaliatory action in respect of those countries which have imposed a ban on exports of beef from the UK in advance of the general prohibition on exports introduced under Commission decision 96/239/EC of 27 March.

  Driftnets
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he intends to review the current maximum lengths of driftnets in respect of the finding of the recent report, cetacean by-catch in the UK tuna driftnets fishery 1995; and what proposals he has to ban the use of driftnets; [24842]

  (2) what response he has made to the proposals for a ban on the use of driftnets from the European Parliament and the European Commission; and if he will make it his policy to support an EU-imposed ban on driftnetting; [24580]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the scientific evidence for a ban on high seas driftnets. [24581]

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 April 1996, c. 464–6]: The current maximum length of driftnets permitted on UK and other Community fishing vessels is set at 2.5 km in line with the precautionary approach and in response to United Nations resolutions. I am not aware of scientific evidence that justifies a different maximum length or a ban on the use of drift nets. I do not therefore support the European Commission's proposal but I do think that means should be sought to reduce by-catches of cetaceans in high seas driftnet fisheries.

  Live Sheep Traders (Ireland)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current position in respect of the case brought by MAFF against Live Sheep Traders (Ireland); and what arrangements have been made by Mr. Roger Ernest Mills to pay the damages awarded to MAFF. [28438]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 7 May 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, East (Mr. Heppell) on 15 February 1996, Official Report, column 675.

  Animal Feed
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulatory monitoring there is in place to check on the antibiotic content of farm animal feed and its possible cumulative effect on the human consumer. [30724]
  947
  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 4 June 1996]: The use of additives in animal feedingstuffs is subject to directive 70/524/EEC, as amended. No feed additive may be authorised unless it satisfies criteria set out in the directive, including a requirement that, at the level permitted in feedstuffs, it does not adversely affect human or animal health or the environment.

  Surveillance for the use of residues of veterinary medicines including antibiotics in food producing animals is carried out under the national surveillance scheme for residues in meat, which implements EC Directive 86/469. About 40,000 samples are collected in GB each year from randomly selected slaughterhouses by the Meat Hygiene Service and tested for the presence of these substances.

  The results show that the incidence of residues found in 1995 was very low. Only 99 samples out of some 47,000 tested were above the action level. Because of the considerable margins of safety involved, none of these samples was likely to have posed a health risk to consumers. The results of this surveillance are published in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's annual report on surveillance for veterinary residues and updated quarterly in its Medicines Act veterinary information newsletter, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  European Movement
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what grants his Department made to the European Movement in each year since 1985 to 1996; and what plans he has to offer financial assistance in future years. [40080]

  Mr. Page
  The Department of Trade and Industry made a grant of £40,000 in 1989 towards an education campaign on the single market. A further £32,000 was granted in 1990 and approximately £20,000 in 1991.

  The Department has no plans to offer financial assistance to the European Movement in future years.

  Radio Spectrum
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress his Department has made in increasing co-operation with Europe over the management and distribution of the radio spectrum. [40316]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My Department continues to participate actively in all areas of European radio spectrum management in order to provide the maximum opportunities and benefits for UK manufacturers, operators and users through, in particular, the harmonisation of European radio usage. My officials have led in many European developments including the formation of the European Radiocommunications Committee of CEPT, the Conference of European Posts and Telecommunications administrations, and in the current discussions on the future management of the radio spectrum arising from our White Paper, Cm 3252, published last June.
  948
  Additionally, on 27 September, the EU Telecommunications Council reached political agreement on a proposed decision to facilitate the introduction of satellite personal communications services. The appropriate framework is to be developed by CEPT.

  Internet (Ethical Issues)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the final report of the Government's study into ethical issues and the Internet will be published and placed in the Library. [40344]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The CCTA work on ethical issues and the Internet provides an input to the relevant Departments as they take forward their various responsibilities in this area. The CCTA itself has no policy responsibility in this field.

  The work will not be made more widely available, because it does not reflect a full account of the Government's policies in this area and was a contribution to advice to Ministers. The Government's considered views on the subject were set out in my speech to the Internet Services Providers Association on May 21, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. In support of these policies, we have worked with the Internet industry, the Home Office and the police, towards the agreement of industry proposals—"R3 Safety-Net"—to combat the problems of illegal material on the Internet. Copies of the industry proposals were distributed to the Trade and Industry Select Committee, and I have also deposited copies in the Library of the House.

  British Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many shares in British Energy are held by Her Majesty's Government following privatisation. [40501]

  Mr. Page
  Approximately 85.9 million shares in British Energy plc are presently held by the Government.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the decision not to sell 12.3 per cent. of British Energy shares during the privatisation of the company. [40503]

  Mr. Page
  In line with previous privatisations, and as set out in detail in the British Energy share offer prospectus, up to 90 million shares in British Energy plc were retained by the Secretary of State at the time of the offer to cover the over-allotment option granted to BZW. Following settlement of that option on 13 August, the Secretary of State retained approximately 85.9 million shares, of which approximately 5 million represent shares retained to satisfy potential entitlements to bonus shares under the UK public offer.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage and cash value of the shares in British Energy remain held on behalf of the Government; and if he will make a statement. [40709]

  Mr. Page
  Up to 90 million shares were retained at the time of the share offer to cover the over-allotment option granted to BZW. Following settlement of that option on 13 August, the Secretary of State retained approximately 85.9 million shares, of which approximately 5 million
  949
  shares are retained to cover potential entitlements to bonus shares under the UK public offer. The shares retained by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of the Government represent approximately 12⅓ per cent. of the total shares.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had, or his officials have had, regarding(a) reviewing the contributions made by British Energy to the segregated fund and (b) assessing British Energy's ability to meet its operational liabilities; and what staff and mechanisms are to be deployed to monitor (a) and (b) above. [40727]

  Mr. Page
  British Energy's contributions to the segregated fund are determined by British Energy and the Nuclear Generation Decommissioning Fund Ltd., owned by the trustees of an independent trust, under the terms of the contractual arrangements between them. It is for British Energy to deal with its operational liabilities.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total sum raised for the Exchequer by the sale of British Energy to date; and what further moneys are forecasted. [40721]

  Mr. Page
  Proceeds from the British Energy Share Offer to date have been £630 million from the first instalment paid for the shares sold and £60 million of debt repayment. A further £100 million of debt is expected to be repayed later in this financial year. In the financial year 1997–98, it is anticipated that the proceeds from payment of the second instalment on the shares sold will be £590 million. British Energy will continue to have a debt to the Government, in the form of bonds to the value of £440 million, and the Government hold shares in British Energy which have a value of about £183 million at the issue price. In addition, liabilities of £3.7 billion have been transferred to the private sector.

  Fissile Materials (Verification)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to part 2(3) of his Department's management information system for Ministers—MINIS—return, what proposals he has to ensure that the verification regime established for the fissile materials cut-off convention is proportionate to the security gains and that the United Kingdom contribution to the costs is not disproportionate. [40508]

  Mr. Nelson
  We are preparing for prospective negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty. A ban on the future production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices would be a significant contribution to non-proliferation and international security, provided that it enjoyed wide support from countries including those which have not yet signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The nature and scope of the proposed FMCT and its associated verification regime have still to be negotiated.

  National Grid
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of trade what assessment he has made of the effect on safety of the national grids of the implementation of the recommendation by the electricity regulator made 'on 13 August, in respect of reduction in transmission costs charged by the National Grid. [40502]
  950
  Mr. Page
  The Director General of Electricity Supply issued his fourth consultation document of the review of transmission price controls on 13 August. On 3 October he issued his final proposals which included some modifications. The Director General of Electricity Supply, in making his final proposals, was required to have regard to his statutory duties. These include, among other duties, exercising his functions in a way best calculated to protect the public from dangers arising from the transmission of electricity, and to secure that National Grid is able to finance the carrying on of its licensed activities. The National Grid is required to operate its transmission system in accordance with regulations relating to safety which are made under part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989.

  Trade Mission (China)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who accompanied him on his recent trade mission to China; what cities were visited; what was the outcome of the visit; and if he will make a statement. [40453]

  Mr. Nelson
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade visited Dalian and Beijing during his recent visit to China. In Dalian he promoted the opportunities for British business there and in particular, supported the close links between Dalian and the city of Glasgow with which it is twinned. In Dalian, my right hon. Friend was accompanied by: the Lord Provost and representatives of Glasgow city council; Bass International Brewers; China Britain Trade Group (Scotland); Commercial Union Assurance Co. plc; GEC Alsthom; Ian Dickson Travel Service; Koo and Partners; Lawrence Graham; Prudential Corporation Asia Ltd.; Robert Flemming and Co. Ltd.; Robert Gordon University; Royal and Sun Alliance Group plc; Siemens Traffic Controls; Silleck Mouldings (Scotland) Ltd.; Standard Chartered Bank; and Strachan and Henshaw.

  In Beijing, my right hon. Friend's discussions with senior Chinese leaders continued the series of high-level bilateral exchanges which have promoted closer two way business relations. He was accompanied in Beijing by senior representatives from: British Petroleum Co. plc.; Commercial Union Assurance Plc; Eagle Star Asia; General Accident plc; Kvaerner Corporate Development Ltd; Lucas Braking Systems; Prudential Corporation Asia Ltd.; Robert Fleming and Co. Ltd.; Rolls Royce plc; Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group Plc; Shell Transport and Trading Co.; Standard Chartered Bank; Varity Perkins; and Zeneca China Ltd.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations his Departments held about the business visit to China by Prince Michael of Kent in September; what was the nature of this visit; how its related to the trade mission which he led to China; and if he will make a statement. [40454]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Department of Trade and Industry was not involved in the arrangements for Prince Michael of Kent's visit to China in September. This was a business trip by private companies, unrelated to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade's official visit to China in the same month.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which countries with which British Nuclear Fuels
  951
  has reprocessing contracts have agreed to accept the return of reprocessing waste using the substitution formula developed since 2 May 1986. [40778]

  Mr. Page
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 20 February 1995,Official Report, columns 34–35.

  Nuclear Energy
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the reasons for, and the amounts of, increased spending on back-end fuel costs in years 1994–95 and 1995–96 by Nuclear Electric and British Nuclear Fuels. [40724]

  Mr. Page
  Increased spending by Nuclear Electric on back-end fuel costs in 1994–95 and 1995–96 included partial payments of outstanding moneys due to BNFL from the period between 1989 when contract negotiations began until 1995, when fixed price contracts between Nuclear Electric and BNFL were finalised. The exact value of these payments is a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the difference in the discounted advanced gas-cooled reactor and pressurised water reactor liabilities between the figures announced in(a) February and (b) British Energy's prospectus. [40722]

  Mr. Page
  The difference between the figures for discounted AGR and PWR liabilities discussed in February in, for example, submissions to the Trade and Industry Committee and the figures published in the prospectus is mainly attributable to the change in the discount rate from 2 per cent. to 3 per cent.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on current Government policy on the time scale for decommissioning and dismantling nuclear power stations. [40725]

  Mr. Page
  Government policy on the decommissioning of nuclear power stations is set out in paragraphs 124 to 127 of last year's final conclusions of the "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy", Cm 2919, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the result of the nuclear installations inspectorate investigations into the cause of spent fuel damage in advanced gas-cooled reactors at(a) Hunterston, (b) Hinkley Point, (c) Torness, (d) Heysham (i) 1 and (ii) 2 and (e) Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement. [41035]

  Mr. Page
  I understand that Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear are currently carrying out an investigation into the causes and implications of a small amount of unexpected wear to the external ribbing of some fuel pins recently discharged from some AGR nuclear power stations. The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate, which is closely monitoring this investigation, is satisfied that the unexpected wear raises no immediate safety concerns and that the installations can continue to operate.
  952
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the arrangements for payment of the AGR reprocessing costs. [40838]

  Mr. Page
  This is a commercial matter between British Energy and BNFL.

  Magnox
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the increase in the undiscounted Magnox liabilities between the figures given in evidence to the Trade and Industry Select Committee and the figure accepted in Magnox's recent report and accounts. [40723]

  Mr. Page
  The figures for nuclear liabilities published by the Trade and Industry Committee were for the year ending 31 March 1995. The detailed movements in Magnox Electric's undiscounted liabilities in the year ending 31 March 1996 are set out in the table on page 6 of Magnox Electric's report and accounts for that year. The main changes concerned recognition of inflation and the acquisition of Hunterston A.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the 10 inward investment decisions of most financial value since January 1993; which companies were concerned; where the inward investment is to be made; and what is its value. [40762]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  According to figures notified to my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau, since January 1993, the 10 inward investment decisions of most financial value are as follows:

  Year

  Company

  Country

  £'s

  Investment to be made

  1

  1996

  Hyundai

  Korea

  2.4 billion

  Scotland

  2

  1996

  LG

  Korea

  1.7 billion

  Wales

  3

  1995

  Siemens

  Germany

  1.1 billion

  North-east

  4

  1995

  Fujitsu

  Japan

  816 million

  North-east

  5

  1994

  Toyota

  Japan

  800 million

  East Midlands

  6

  1996

  UPS

  USA

  £784 million

  East Midlands

  7

  1994

  NEC

  Japan

  £530 million

  Scotland

  8

  1994

  Samsung

  Korea

  £450 million

  North-east

  9

  1995

  Jaguar

  USA

  £370 million

  West Midlands

  10

  1994

  Newport Wafer FAB

  Hong Kong

  £340 million

  Wales

  Regional Services
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to transfer the responsibility for designing and delivering regional services currently provided by Government Departments or regional offices to business-led partnerships between training and enterprise councils and business links. [40756]

  Mr. Page
  The Government's new approach to support for business, including the delegation of design and delivery of such support to business-led partnerships at local and sectoral level, was set out in the replies given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire (Mr. Mates) and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson).
  953

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many copies of "The Social Chapter-British and Continental Approaches" have been printed; and what is the total cost including research, printing and distribution. [40761]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Forty thousand copies of the booklet have been printed. It is planned that a smaller number of copies will be produced in French, German, Italian and Spanish for distribution in other EU member states.

  The text was prepared internally, so no external costs for research were incurred. It is not possible to quantify the staff time involved. The final cost of design, printing and distribution is expected to be in the region of £25,000.

  Porterbook Leasing
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what conclusions he has reached in his discussions with(a)the Rail Regulator and (b) the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of a referral of the proposed takeover of Porterbook Leasing plc by the Stagecoach Group plc and its subsidiaries. [40990]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is considering the advice received from the Director General of Fair Trading on this takeover under the merger provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973. He will announce his decisions in due course on whether or not to refer it to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotion and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40611]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Expenditure on publicity and promotions from centrally managed budgets and hospitality has been as follows:

  £000

  Publicity and promotions

  Hospitality

  1990–91

  15,869

  1392

  1991–92

  10,203

  535

  1992–93

  9,923

  548

  1993–94

  8,468

  690

  1994–95

  8,112

  712

  1995–96

  9,211

  2670

  1 Information not readily available for Companies House prior to October 1991.

  2 Work previously carried out by the Accounts Services Agency and National Physical Laboratory was contracted out on 1 April and 1 October 1995 respectively. The National Engineering Laboratory and Laboratory of the Government Chemist were privatised on 31 October 1995 and 31 March 1996 respectively. Information for the National Engineering Laboratory and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  954

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40642]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This is a matter of public record.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Hardy
  to ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to ensure that the British steel industry does not face unfair competition within the European Union; and what steps are being taken in regard to subsidies of production by(a) national and (b) regional governments in Belgium. [40074]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  The Government have made their opposition to illegal subsidies to EU steel producers very clear to both the Commission and other member states. The UK Steel Subsidies Monitoring Committee has also played a part in maintaining the pressure to end these subsidies. Following a complaint from the UK and others, the Commission recently opened an investigation into the state aid element of the Forges de Clabecq rescue package. If a British company is able to provide evidence of illegal subsidies to other steel producers, we will pursue the matter vigorously with the Commission.

  Pay Rates
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to persuade employers to increase rates of pay. [40145]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Pay is a matter to be resolved by the employer and employees concerned in light of local circumstances, without Government intervention. The Government's role is to create the conditions for a growing economy and to remove barriers to employment. Our policy of keeping inflation and interest rates at low levels is aimed at securing an improved standard of living for all. Since 1979, pay at all levels has increased in real terms.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish industrial tribunal statistics for 1994–95, indicating which proportion of applications to industrial tribunals come from companies which employ fewer than 24 people, broken down by jurisdiction in the same format as those made available for 1993–94. [41129]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Industrial tribunal statistics for 1994–95, in the same format as those previously made available for 1993–94, were published in the July 1996 issue of "Labour Market Trends". The industrial tribunals do not collect information on the number of people employed by companies involved in cases before them.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what statistical evidence was supplied by his Department to the deregulation task force on industrial tribunal cases for their 1995–96 report; and if he will publish this evidence. [41130]

  Mr. Taylor
  The information on industrial tribunal performance and work load supplied to the deregulation task force was that published in departmental reports, the
  955
  Green Paper "Resolving Employment Rights Disputes: Options for Reform" and "Labour Market Trends". In addition, in the first three months of this year the tribunals have met their main performance target of bringing 80 per cent. of cases to a first hearing within 26 weeks of the date of registration.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the advantage of the proposal made by the Trades Union Congress in the consultation on the draft Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) Bill to allow directions hearings on test cases where there are multiple applications to industrial tribunals. [41131]

  Mr. Taylor
  The rules of procedure already allow the tribunal judiciary to hold directions hearings on test cases in multiple applications. However, I shall consult both presidents of the industrial tribunals about the TUC proposals to see whether any changes in the rules are appropriate.

  Lead Imports
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of lead imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [41124]

  Mr. Page
  The information is published by HM Customs and Excise in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", which is available in the Library of the House.

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has anything further to add to the answer given on 2 April,Official Report, column 149, regarding the sale of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist. [41233]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  In my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Hargreaves) of 2 April about the completion of the sale of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, I explained that the consideration—a payment to the Department of £360,000—was to be adjusted in the light of the level of net current assets at completion. The closing accounts for LGC in its last year as an executive agency of the Department have been laid before Parliament today. The adjustment to the sale consideration will be £729,000, resulting in a net payment by the Department to the purchaser of £369,000.

  The payment arises principally because LGC's trading performance was not as good as expected and because the Department benefited from advance receipts for work which LGC would have to undertake after the sale. The payment by the Department takes account of LGC's purchase of employee debts. The fact that the sale of LGC represented value for money is not affected by this payment because changes to the level of net current assets and the purchase of employee debts have an equal impact on the benchmark.

  Allied Medicare Ltd.
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his current estimate of the publication date 956
  of the investigation into Allied Medicare Ltd.'s discharge of its functions as a registered employment agency, pursuant to the Huw Evans case. [40752]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information obtained by my Department during its investigation under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 into the supply of Mr. Huw Evans as a nursing auxiliary by Allied Medicare Ltd. cannot be disclosed without the consent of the persons concerned in consequence of section 9(4)(a) of the Act. A copy of my letter of 15 October 1996 to the hon. Gentleman about this matter is being placed in the Library of the House. The licensing of agencies under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 ceased on 3 January 1995. Agencies supplying registered nurses and certain other persons continue to be licensed by local authorities under the Nurses Agency Act 1957.

  Import and Export Control Act 1990
  Ms Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's current policy towards the replacement of the Import and Export Control Act 1990. [41072]

  Mr. Nelson
  The consultation document, "Strategic Export Controls", Cm 3349, presented to Parliament in July 1996 sought views on whether there should be new primary export control legislation. When responses to that document have been fully considered, I shall inform Parliament of my conclusions.

  Internet
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's estimate of the number of households in the UK connected to the Internet. [40938]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Six hundred and seventy-six thousand. This is an 87 per cent. increase on the 1995 figure, 362,000.

  British Coal Land
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of British Coal about the transfer of land to English Partnerships; if he will list the sites involved; if he will account for delays in the transfer of this land; and when he estimates the transfer will be concluded. [40764]

  Mr. Page
  The disposal of British Coal property is a matter for the corporation. My Department maintains regular contact with British Coal as discussions on this matter continue.

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what sums were received in respect to the(a) loan, (b) training and (c) workshop elements of British Coal Enterprise. [40430]

  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 of the activities of BCE.
  957

  Atolls (Radioactivity)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade pursuant to his answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 601, if he will make a statement on the work of the task groups and the working groups established by the International Atomic Energy Authority to assess the radiological situation of the atolls of Iluvovou and Fangataufa. [40379]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: In a report to the recent International Atomic Energy Agency general conference, the secretariat of the agency gave details to member states of the progress made so far in the study of the radiological situation at the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa. I have instructed that a copy of this report be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The report gives details of the participation of United Kingdom experts mentioned in my answer of 3 April to the hon. Member, Official Report, columns 309–10.

  The report of the international advisory committee is expected in early 1998.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the United States Government in respect of making use of spare production capacity at the mixed oxide plutonium fuel production plant at Sellafield for the recycling of plutonium form dismantled nuclear warheads; and what new authorisations would be required for such recycling. [40445]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: None. It is not possible to comment in detail on what authorisations might be necessary were any such contacts to be contemplated. However, British Nuclear Fuels did wish to conclude a contract for the fabrication of MOX fuel from weapons grade plutonium, then an appropriate revision to the Sellafield site safety case would be required, and would need to be agreed with the regulator, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the implications for the DRAWMOPS—decommissioning and waste management operational programmes—arrangements for nuclear waste management of the proposals for privatisation of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. [40513]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: The separation of the science and engineering services business, AEA-Technology, from UKAEA and its subsequent privatisation has no implications for DRAWMOPS nuclear waste management arrangements. DRAWMOPS will remain under the direct control of the UKAEA. There are no plans to privatise the residual UKAEA.

  Cambertown Ltd.
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the nature of the arrangement his 958
  Department has with Cambertown Ltd. concerning the distribution of letters to hon. Members; what is the cost of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [40680]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department makes arrangements from time to time with a number of companies, including Cambertown Ltd. for the storage and distribution of specific Government publications. The detailed costs of these arrangements are commercially confidential.

  Hon. Members are sometimes included in the distribution of such publications, but there is no separate arrangement for this.

  Departmental Staff (Energy Matters)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff in his Department spend 50 per cent. or more of their time on energy-related matters; and how many of them work on press and publicity and public relations. [41288]

  Mr. Page
  Within the Department I estimate that there are 412 staff spending 50 per cent. or more of their time on energy-related matters, including those staff employed in the oil and gas projects and supplies office. Six of these staff work on publicity, press and other media relations activity.

  Coal Stockpiles
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what tonnages of stockpiled coal are currently held by power generators in England, Scotland and Wales; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of their meeting demand over the next six months. [41290]

  Mr. Page
  Latest available data are for the end of July 1996 when electricity generators in the United Kingdom held 7.7 million tonnes of coal in stock. Separate figures for England, Scotland, and Wales are not available.

  I expect stocks to be adequate to maintain generation at coal-fired stations over the next six months.

  Link Programmes
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what priorities to improve competitiveness have been revealed since March 1995 as a result of the link programmes on(a) genetic and environmental interactions in health, (b) waste minimisation through recycling, reuse and recovery in industry, (c) competitive industrial materials from non-food crops, (d) sustainable livestock production and (e) integrated approaches to healthy aging. [41226]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  These programmes are all addressing priorities identified by technology foresight panels. However, collaborative research projects funded through these programmes are only just beginning. These and subsequent projects will provide for research partnerships between companies and the science and engineering base. lasting several years. Based on experience from earlier Link programmes, they can be expected to take forward the development of new technology in high priority areas.

  There are currently 15 Link programmes addressing foresight priorities and there has been extensive dissemination of information about each programme, with

  959
  encouragement given to industry—including to small and medium-sized companies—to develop research partnerships with academic institutions, across a range of sectors.

  Companies which become involved in the programmes the hon. Gentleman mentions can be expected to improve their competitiveness by exploiting the outcomes of their collaborative research projects in a range of markets.

  New Buildings and Premises
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41149]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Within my Department, management of property is delegated to a series of property centres to maximise synergy with business operation. The DTI headquarters property centre has acquired only one new building over the past five years. To replace premises on which the lease had expired, we acquired in March 1995 about the same amount of new space—20,094 sq.ft.—at a total annual cost of £461,000.

  I have asked the chief executives of the DTI's executive agencies to respond direct to the hon. Member.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what capacity of electricity used in his Department's buildings is generated in a combined heat and power plant; and what plans he has to increase that capacity. [41313]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Nil. My Department keeps under review the opportunities for using combined heat and power, but currently there are no firm plans to install such a system in our buildings.

  Dowdon and Fox Cover Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress made in the transfer of Dowdon and Fox Cover enterprise zones to English Partnerships. [41223]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  I hope that an announcement can be made shortly.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992, in 1996 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in. [41188]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
  960

ATTORNEY GENERAL

  Butte Mining and Plateau Mining
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) on what dates since January 1990 the Serious Fraud Office sent letters to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the activities of(a) Butte Mining and (b) Plateau Mining; [40757]

  (2) at what date the Serious Fraud Office began its investigation into (a) Butte Mining and (b) Plateau Mining; when the investigations were completed; what action was subsequently taken; and if he will make a statement. [40758]

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office commenced investigation into the affairs of Richmond Oil and Gas plc on 29 June 1992. Matters emerging during that investigation caused the Serious Fraud Office to begin an investigation into Butte Mining plc on 9 September 1993. Between May 1995 and March 1996 four people were charged with conspiracies to defraud and the case is awaiting trial before the central criminal court.

  During the course of its investigations, the Serious Fraud Office liaises as necessary with the Department of Trade and Industry. It is my practice not to give details of steps taken in the course of individual criminal investigations.

  The Serious Fraud Office has not conducted an investigation into the affairs of Plateau Mining.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotion and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40617]

  The Attorney-General
  The amounts spent on publicity, promotion and hospitality in the departments and agencies for which I am responsible are set out in the following tables. Information for the Treasury Solicitor's Department, lawyers management unit and the legal secretariat to the Law Officers for financial years before 1993–94 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It is not possible to distinguish between expenditure on publicity and promotion.

  Publicity and promotion

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  £

  £

  £

  Department

  Crown Prosecution Service

  138,284

  221,502

  238,559

  Serious Fraud Office

  1,072

  3,150

  —

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  £

  £

  £

  Department

  Crown Prosecution Service

  185,164

  199,316

  191,498

  Serious Fraud Office

  4,071

  585

  3,826

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  —

  4,671

  24,485

  Lawyers Management Unit

  23,799

  27,884

  35,483

  Government Property Lawyers Agency

  24,916

  1,543

  1,757

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  —

  —

  —

  961

  Hospitality

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Department

  £

  £

  £

  Crown Prosecution Service

  14,693

  19,541

  20,707

  Serious Fraud Office

  7,624

  2,923

  3,686

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Department

  £

  £

  £

  Crown Prosecution Service

  11,476

  16,678

  9,086

  Serious Fraud Office

  5,039

  3,187

  5,958

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  185

  782

  244

  Lawyers Management Unit

  —

  126

  65

  Government Property Lawyers Agency

  485

  502

  496

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  3,943

  3,127

  1,886

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General how many(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40635]

  The Attorney-General
  This is a matter of public record.

  "Barbecue in Rostock"
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given to prosecuting the band No Remorse, and the producers and distributors of the CD "Barbecue in Rostock"; and if he will make a statement. [41065]

  The Attorney-General
  I understand that Gwent police are conducting an investigation into the production of a compact disk by a band calling themselves No Remorse during which they have sought legal advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. When the investigation has been completed, it is expected that the police will submit a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for advice as to whether criminal proceedings should be instituted.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Attorney-General what capacity of electricity used in his Department's buildings is generated in a combined heat and power plant; and what plans he has to increase that capacity. [41324]

  The Solicitor-General
  The departments and agencies for which my right hon. and learned Friend is responsible have no electricity generating plant. The question of energy sourcing is kept under review.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorist Organisation (Funding)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bank accounts have been investigated under anti-terrorist legislation in each of the last five years. [40665]
  962
  Sir John Wheeler
  It is policy not to comment in detail on these matters. I can, however, assure the hon. Gentleman that the legislation is vigorously applied and used to good effect.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve legislation in respect of funding of terrorist organisations. [40664]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, which came into force on 26 August, incorporates, builds upon and extends the terrorist finance provisions which previously existed in the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 and would have been used to good effect against terrorist racketeers. The order strengthens and improves the measures available to confiscate the proceeds of drug trafficking and other serious crime, much of which is believed to be terrorist linked.

  The new powers extend at least as wide as the Emergency Provisions Act terrorist finance investigation and confiscation powers which they replace and are capable of being used to assist in tracing the ill-gotten gains of all racketeers, whether terrorists or not.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation of legislation in respect of the funding of terrorist organisations. [40662]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Government and the police recognise the importance of illegal finance and in the fight against terrorism a range of measures has been taken to counter it. The police have established specialist resources which have successfully investigated a wide variety of illegal terrorist funding activities including exploitation of social clubs to raise money through fraud and scams, extortion rackets, counterfeiting and tax exemption fraud.

  The Government have taken measures to counter terrorist finance in Northern Ireland and these provisions are contained in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 and the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been charged under funding of terrorist organisations legislation. [40663]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of persons against whom proceedings have commenced for offences contrary to sections 9 to 11 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, between 1991 and 1995 was 217; but there have been few convictions for contravention of part III of the Act primarily because of the lack of evidence to prove a terrorist link to finance offences. However, the absence of convictions is not a true indicator of the value of the legislative provisions. The existence of the powers deters the terrorists; it causes them unease and it disrupts their activities.

  Marches
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he had concerning the re-routing of the marches in the Lower Ormeau road on 9 August and in Derry on 10 September with the local residents and marchers.[40267]
  963
  Sir John Wheeler
  None. The routing of parades is primarily a matter for the Chief Constable. The RUC met on many occasions with local residents and marchers to discuss individual parades. On occasions, officials also met with these groups. The RUC however, have no records on the dates given of parades at these locations.

  Plastic Baton Rounds
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were injured by plastic baton rounds in Deny from 11 to 14 July; and what was the nature of the injuries. [40268]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Altnegelion Hospital (Incident)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will establish a public inquiry into the events involving the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Altnegelion hospital on 12 July. [40269]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I have no plans to establish an inquiry, but the House may wish to note that one complaint has arisen out of this incident and is currently under investigation by the RUC.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40638]

  Sir John Wheeler
  This is a matter of public record.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotion, and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40613]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested for the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments is listed.

  £ thousand

  Publicity and promotion1,2

  Hospitality

  1990–91

  8,369

  728

  1991–92

  10,604

  807

  1992–93

  9,564

  872

  1993–94

  8,162

  921

  1994–95

  8,397

  832

  1995–96

  10,953

  564

  1 To identify separately publicity and promotion costs would incur disproportionate cost.

  2 The Department of Agriculture is excluded as it could provide figures only at disproportionate cost.

  964

TRANSPORT

  Rail Franchise
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those rail franchises which have been re-sold since initial privatisation together with their original purchase price and subsequent selling price. [40682]

  Mr. Watts
  None of the franchises so far sold to the private sector has been re-sold.

  Railway Claims Ltd.
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the total amounts paid by Railways Claims Ltd. to claimants since its creation; [40692]

  (2) how many claims have been received by Railways Claims Ltd., for each year since its creation. [40691]

  Mr. Watts
  This is a matter for the board of Railway Claims Ltd.

  Coastguard
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by coastguard station the number of additional staff provided as a result of the introduction of the 2182 Khz system. [39478]

  Mr. Bowis
  As a result of the introduction of monitoring the 2182 Khz system by Coastguard, the agency agreed that an additional auxiliary operations room assistant should be made available to assist in maintaining the distress watch at the 10 designated 2,182 stations. This is in addition to the normal 24-hour watchkeeping complements at each rescue centre and is a temporary arrangement pending the introduction of coastguard watchkeeping assistants. At some of these stations it has proved difficult to find the additional auxiliary ORAs from the pool of trained auxiliaries locally, but this has not affected the ability to respond to 2182 Khz distress calls.

  Driver Training
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what have been the quarterly totals of new car drivers completing pass plus courses since their introduction; and what percentage of the numbers passing the driving test take such courses. [40444]

  Mr. Bowis
  Pass plus was launched on 6 February 1995. Up to the end of September, completion certificates have been issued to 18,823 successful participants. This represents about 2 per cent. of successful test candidates. The quarterly figures are:

  Number of certificates issued

  1995

  January to March

  976

  April to June

  3,659

  July to September

  3,149

  October to December

  2,873

  965

  Number of certificates issued

  1996

  January to March

  2,817

  April to June

  2,831

  July to September

  2,518

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of state for Transport how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40643]

  Mr. Bowis
  This is a matter of public record.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 6 March to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson),Official Report, column 211, if he will instruct Railtrack to hold details of past speed restrictions centrally. [40908]

  Mr. Watts
  No.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of speed restrictions currently in operation on the west coast main line, together with the reason for the restriction. [40710]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 6 March,Official Report, column 211. This is an operational matter for Railtrack and any update should be sought from it.

  Rail (Highlands)
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require Railtrack to carry out a comprehensive review of unmanned level crossings and automatic half-barriers in the highland rail network; and if he will make a statement. [40737]

  Mr. Watts
  No. Level crossing protection is a matter for Railtrack, subject to statutory approval by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the Secretary of State.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of(a) security and (b) accuracy of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's computer database. [40432]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Driver and Licensing Agency has a computer database security policy which meets Government requirements. The controls in place fully recognise the sensitivities of the date held.

  The agency meets its targets of between 96 per cent. and 98 per cent. accuracy of data input to the driver and vehicle registers.

  The principal cause of inaccuracy in the DVLA databases is the failure of those who change their name or address, or buy or sell vehicles, to notify the agency promptly. New and improved vehicle registration procedures to be introduced in 1997 will require the buyer and seller to notify DVLA at the same time on the same form.
  966

  Air Traffic Control
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely number of jobs to be created as a result of the establishment of a second air traffic control centre in Scotland. [40695]

  Mr. Bowis
  The proposed construction of the new Scottish centre and the replacement of the Oceanic flight data processing system, as envisaged in the invitation to tender of autumn 1995, would result in staff levels at Prestwick being maintained at approximately their current levels.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement of the future privatisation of the National Air Traffic Service and on the future of the second air traffic control centre in Scotland. [40694]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of 29 November 1995,Official Report, columns 783–84, to the hon. Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans). The timetable for privatisation has not yet been decided.

  The future of the proposed air traffic control centre in Scotland is the subject of a review by the Civil Aviation Authority and I expect recommendations emerging from the review to be presented to Ministers later this year.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the occasions over the last 12 months when the air traffic control centre covering the United Kingdom has failed, the length of time the system failed and the estimated number of flights affected. [40689]

  Mr. Bowis
  The air traffic control centres at West Drayton and Prestwick cover the UK flight information regions. Over the last 12 months there have been a total of five failures resulting in delays to aircraft as follows:

  Prestwick (Oceanic Data Processing System)

  23 August 1996—at 1005 with delays to aircraft peaking at over 2 hours.

  12 September 1996— at 1110 with 40 aircraft delayed in excess of 1 hour.

  West Drayton (Host Computer System)

  6 October 1995—at 0810—flow restrictions introduced.

  5 November 1995—at 1221 resulting in 50 minute outbound delays from Heathrow.

  25 January 1996—at 1520—flow restrictions imposed.

  New En Route Centre
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each contractor currently employed on the NERC project the number of staff involved and the number of hours of overtime worked for each of the last 12 months. [40686]

  Mr. Bowis
  Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the provision of operational software for the new en route centre at Swanwick. It has employed roughly 400 full-time staff on the project throughout the last 12 months. The contract with Lockheed Martin is on a fixed-price basis and no additional overtime costs have therefore been borne by the Civil Aviation Authority.
  967
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of overtime hours worked by Civil Aviation Authority or National Air Traffic Services staff involved on the NERC project for each of the last 12 months. [40687]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have asked the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to write to the hon. Member.

  Roads Programme
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the contractor building the road is liable for damages, should an accident occur on a design, build, finance and operate system financed road as a result of poor construction or design. [40705]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if the contractor building the road is liable for damages, should an accident occur on a design, build, finance and operate system financed road as a result of poor construction or design.
  Design, build, finance and operate contracts for roads place the responsibility for dealing with claims for damages resulting from poor construction or design on the contractor.

  Roads Programme>
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those road schemes removed from the main roads programme to the long-term programme in the last 12 months. [40698]

  Mr. Watts
  The review of the roads programme of November 1995, published in the document "Managing the Trunk Road Programme", categorised schemes according to their status. The list of longer-term schemes in that publication has not changed.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the annual cost to his Department of contracts currently let for road building under the design, build, finance and operate system. [40704]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the cost of contracts currently let for road building under the design, build, finance and operate system.
  The following figures illustrate the estimated range of annual cost (over a 5 year period), based on the Highways Agency's forecast of traffic volume for the 8 DBFO contracts awarded so far. These figures which are cash price estimates will be influenced by the usage of the DBFO road and the performance of the DBFO Company. The figures below do not include additional but relatively minor future lump sum payments covering for the example archaeological works, which because of their uncertain nature are extremely difficult to estimate.

  1996/97: £21n

  1997/98: £68m

  1998/99: £82m

  1999/00: £163m

  2000/01: £189m

  968

  Motorways
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected road life of the existing motorways in the north-west of England; and if he will make a statement. [39959]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jim Callaghan, dated 15 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking about the expected road life of the existing motorway in the North West of England.
  Regular inspections and surveys are carried out to determine maintenance needs and timing of the trunk motorway network. The latest assessment of the residual life of the carriageways shows that 7.6 per cent. of the trunk motorway network in the North West, including Cumbria, will within the next four years reach the point where future performance becomes unpredictable and maintenance needs to be considered. The equivalent figure nationally is 12.7 per cent. These figures show that the motorway network is in good structural condition. Roads are generally designed to last for 20 years before they require major maintenance and, at any time, about 20 per cent. of the motorway network could be expected to fall within the above category.
  These figures exclude carriageways constructed wholly of concrete for which there is currently no reliable method of measuring residual life.

  Railways (Complaints)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those train operating companies that have been subject to enforcement action by the Rail Regulator as a result of complaints received regarding improper advice in relation to ticket sales. [40697]

  Mr. Watts
  The enforcement of train operators' licence obligations is a matter for the independent Rail Regulator. He has recently completed a public consultation on accurate and impartial retailing and will wish to consider the outcome of that consultation before deciding what enforcement action, if any, is warranted.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints have been received in each of the last 12 months by the Rail Regulator regarding(a) the sale of tickets and (b) the telephone inquiry service. [40696]

  Mr. Watts
  The numbers of complaints received by the Rail Regulator regarding(a) the sale of tickets and (b) the telephone inquiry service are as follows—separate monthly figures are not available prior to 31 March 1996:

  Period

  Tickets and fares

  Telephone enquiry bureau

  Year to 31 March 1996

  121

  10

  April

  1

  1

  May

  3

  0

  June

  0

  0

  July

  0

  0

  August

  12

  6

  September

  9

  2

  October

  3

  1

  969

  Road Traffic Signs
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Transport what progress he is making with the development of proposals for public consultation on options for amending legislation to allow business sponsorship of, and advertising on, road traffic signs. [10828]

  Mr. Bowis
  I am considering the road safety and environmental implications of including sponsorship information on road traffic signs.

  Roads and Rail (Capital Value)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the capital value of(a) all motorways, (b) the trunk road network and (c) the property of Railtrack, together with the percentage of such sums payable annually to HM Treasury. [40798]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Highways Agency is currently undertaking a valuation of the motorway and trunk road network in England, including associated land and structures for future inclusion in its commercial accounts. Railtrack's annual report and accounts 1995–96 include a total net book value of tangible fixed assets—investment properties, stations, depots, other land and buildings, track, signalling systems, electrification, other infrastructure and plant and machinery—at 31 March 1996 of £4,554 million. No payment is made to HM Treasury specifically in relation to these assets.

  Shepherds Bush Flyover
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what report he has received on the recent accident that took place on the Shepherds Bush overhead intersection with the Westway that resulted in a lorry shedding its load on to the travellers, site situated beneath the flyover; and what additional safety precautions he is proposing. [40935]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Clive Soley, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about an accident on the Shepherds Bush overhead intersection with the Westway.
  The accident involved a lorry carrying industrial rolls of paper. The vehicle struck the parapet on an elevated stretch of road. The parapet, which conforms to the Highways Agency's latest standards, successfully restrained the vehicle but unfortunately parts of the toad were shed and fell onto the ground below.
  It would not be realistic or cost effective to make provisions such that no vehicles or their loads ever left elevated structures after an accident, and so no specific extra precautions are planned in the light of this accident. The Highways Agency is nevertheless committed to delivering a safe trunk road network and if other measures are identified that might improve the safety of this road they will he carefully considered.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the in-service date of the Jubilee line extension. [40937]

  Mr. Bowis
  London Transport is aiming to open the Jubilee line extension on 28 March 1998.
  970

  Rail Network (Incidents)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last 12 months the number of incident reports submitted to the railway inspectorate. [40712]

  Mr. Watts
  This information is not readily available in the form requested. The total number of reports for the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 is set out in the following table:

  Number

  Train incidents

  989

  Failures of rolling stock and permanent way

  1,960

  Movement accidents

  3,003

  Non movement accidents

  8,673

  These figures will be reproduced in the HM chief inspecting officer of railways' annual report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain 1995–96, which will be published before the end of the year. A copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Rail Network (Unqualified Contractors)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last 12 months reports have been made to the railway inspectorate regarding unqualified contractors found to be working on the rail network. [40711]

  Mr. Watts
  Instances of unqualified contractors working on the rail network are not reportable under the statutory reporting requirement. From time to time, Health and Safety Executive inspectors receive information or complaints alleging that unqualified contractors are working on the rail network, and these are invariable followed up by HSE's railway inspectorate. However, no central record exists and the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Rail Freight (Accidents)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of occasions when rolling stock operated by private freight companies has been involved in accidents since rail privatisation. [40690]

  Mr. Watts
  This information is available in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

  Bridge Strengthening
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport is he will list for each of the last five years the budget for bridge strengthening. [40684]

  Mr. Watts
  Each year, the Government provide the Highways Agency with an overall budget for the maintenance of trunk road structures and, through transport supplementary grant and credit approvals, support to local highway authorities in England for the assessment and strengthening of their structures. Details for the last five years are set out in the table. In neither case are funds specifically earmarked for bridge strengthening.
  971

  £ million

  Highways agency structures capital maintenance

  Local highway authorities assessment and strengthening approved expenditure

  1992–93

  130

  111

  1993–94

  150

  137

  1994–95

  150

  137

  1995–96

  135

  122

  1996–97

  130

  103

  Road Re-signing (London)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the decision was taken to cancel the re-signing project in London; what were the reasons; and if ministerial approval was sought. [40699]

  Mr. Bowis
  It has not been cancelled.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotion and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40612]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is as follows:

  Publicity

  1991–92: £8,270,000

  1992–93: £8,730,000

  1993–94: £8,275,000

  1994–95: £8,039,000

  1995–96: £7,525,000

  Hospitality

  1991–92: £102,000

  1992–93: £127,000

  1993–94: £220,000

  1994–95: £123,000

  1995–96: £106,000

  (a) Figures are not yet available for the current year.

  (b) Publicity includes promotions.

  (c) Hospitality includes teas, working lunches and entertainment by both Ministers and officials in the United Kingdom and abroad.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those vehicle registration offices where interviews are unable to be held as part of investigations into vehicle excise duty evasion. [40702]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is as follows:

  Bangor

  Carlisle

  Lincoln

  Northampton

  Portsmouth

  Shrewsbury

  972

  Road Fund Tax Fraud
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up a free phone-in hotline for the reporting of suspected road-fund tax fraudsters; and if he will make a statement. [40831]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have no plans to do so. To obtain a conviction a court must be satisfied that a vehicle has been used or kept on a public road without a licence. The police, traffic wardens and officials who currently report unlicensed vehicles are best equipped to supply this evidence and to appear in court when required. It is, of course, open to any member of the public to alert the police to a suspected offence.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those structures owned by Railtrack plc that fail to meet the standards for 44 tonne heavy goods vehicles. [40685]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack is currently undertaking a programme to assess the ability of those of its bridges which carry highways to bear 40 tonne lorries from 1999. There is no separate programme to assess the ability of structures to bear 44 tonne vehicles.

  Consumer Protection (Channel Ferries)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to ensure that consumers are protected from excessive price rises as a result of the proposed merger between P and 0 and Stena Sealink on some cross-channel ferry routes. [40681]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Director General of Fair Trading is considering the matter and will advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in due course. All representations on this matter should therefore be submitted directly to the DGFT.

  Bicycle Lights
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to prevent adult cyclists riding their bicycles without the necessary lights after dark. [39958]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  Enforcement of the law on pedal cycle lighting is an operational matter for individual chief constables. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 require that all bicycles which are used on roads at night must be fitted with a front and rear lamp, which must be kept lit and unobscured, and a rear retro reflector which must be kept unobscured. Fixed penalty notices can be issued to cyclists who fail to comply with these requirements.

  The Department of Transport continues to encourage cyclists to comply with the law on pedal cycle lighting through the highway code and the cycle safe publicity campaign.
  973

WALES

  Students
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of(a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18-year-olds in (i) Wales and (ii) each EU member state are in full-time education or training. [40488]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information on the participation of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds in education and training for Wales and 11 of the EU member states is presented in the following table. Information given is for full and part-time education and training, as figures for full-time education and training alone are not directly comparable between the countries; 1991–92 is the latest year for which information is available on a consistent basis for these states.

  Participation in education and training of 16 to 18-year-olds by age in 1991–921

  Percentage

  Age 16

  Age 17

  Age 18

  Wales

  87

  77

  48

  United Kingdom

  91

  77

  52

  Belgium

  99

  97

  78

  Denmark

  92

  80

  69

  Finland

  95

  86

  82

  France

  92

  89

  79

  Germany, Fed.

  96

  94

  84

  Greece

  88

  62

  45

  Ireland

  89

  77

  58

  Netherlands

  98

  94

  81

  Spain

  76

  67

  54

  Sweden

  90

  88

  64

  Source: Welsh Office, OECD (Education at a Glance, 1995).

  1 Includes apprenticeships and similar schemes such as YT. Also includes an estimate of participation in part-time higher education.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent assessment he has made of the impact on employment in Wales of preparations made for the single currency and economic and monetary union. [40492]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral reply I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) on 19th February 1996,Official Report, column 5.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotion and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40610]

  Mr. Hague
  Welsh Office expenditure on publicity, promotions and hospitality for the last six years is as follows:

  £ thousand

  Publicity and promotion1

  Hospitality

  1990–91

  1,429

  45

  1991–92

  1,957

  36

  1992–93

  1,974

  38

  974

  £ thousand

  Publicity and promotion1

  Hospitality

  1993–94

  1,358

  27

  1994–95

  1,725

  29

  1995–96

  1,929

  22

  1 Spending is shown at outturn prices and cannot be disaggregated between publicity and promotion.

  Buildings (Public Access)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current level of access to public buildings with particular reference to(a) post offices, (b) banks and (c) building societies in Wales for the physically disabled. [40539]

  Mr. Hague
  I have seen a copy of Disability Wales's recent report "Access to Financial Premises".

  The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will require all service providers, including post offices, banks and building societies, to make reasonable adjustments to their premises, to the way they go about their business and to provide additional help in order to make it easier for disabled people to use their services. The employment rights and the first of the rights of access to goods, facilities and services come into force on 2 December 1996. The remaining rights of access will be phased in following decisions on the consultation exercise carried out earlier this year.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40644]

  Mr. Hague
  This is a matter of public record.

  Health Authority Budgets
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who in his Department is responsible for monitoring shortfalls in Welsh health authority budgets; and if he will make a statement. [40749]

  Mr. Hague
  My officials in the Welsh Office Health Department are responsible for monitoring the financial position of health authorities in Wales. This is undertaken on a monthly basis through a financial information system, and comprises cash as well as income and expenditure monitoring.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made to monitor the implementation of the landfill tax in Wales; and what plans he has to liaise with local authorities over the financial implications for their planning in respect of the liabilities of the landfill waste tax. [40540]

  Mr. Hague
  Implementation of the tax is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
  975
  I discussed the Welsh Local Government Association's assessment of spending needs, including its assessment of landfill tax costs, at a meeting of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance on 23 September. I will give careful consideration to the assessment in making my 1997–98 local government revenue settlement decisions.

  Buildings (Steel Frames)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the value of steel frames for use in the construction of buildings; and what plans he has to promote the marketing of Welsh-manufactured steel frames. [40784]

  Mr. Hague
  I have made no such assessment. I continue to promote the interests of all Welsh industry at home and overseas.

  Skill Shortages
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the major areas of employment where there will be skill shortages over the next five years; and what assessment he has made of the impact of these shortages on manufacturing industry. [41096]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh employers surveys, commissioned regularly by the Welsh Office in partnership with others, produces information on vacancies which are hard to fill because there is a shortage of applicants with the requisite skills. The training and enterprise councils in Wales build on this and other sources of information in making their assessments of the local labour market and skills priorities. "People and Prosperity: an Agenda for Action in Wales" underlined the importance of addressing the skill needs of manufacturing industry and sets out an action plan to meet these.

  Agenda 21
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has published to support local authorities in their efforts to meet the requirements of Agenda 21 arising out of the Rio treaty. [41161]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Welsh Office has published advice and guidance on various issues relevant to sustainable development and to the involvement of local authorities in undertaking local Agenda 21 processes. Recent examples include "Planning Guidance (Wales): Planning Policy" and "A Working Countryside for Wales", and the Department is shortly to publish its "Environment in Wales", and the Department is shortly to publish its "Environment in Wales", fifth report. The

  Average fees per school (age 11+)

  School

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Rydal School (Co-ed)

  5,436

  5,843

  5,963

  6,095

  6,197

  Howell's, Denbigh

  5,319

  5,436

  5,556

  5,688

  5,790

  Christ College

  5,248

  5,364

  5,484

  5,616

  5,718

  Penrhos College (Girls)

  5,040

  5,348

  5,467

  5,599

  5,701

  Llandovery College

  4,566

  4,908

  5,028

  5,160

  5,262

  Monmouth Boys

  3,998

  4,299

  4,419

  4,551

  4,653

  Monmouth Girls

  3,373

  3,627

  3,747

  3,879

  3,981

  Howell's, Cardiff

  2,967

  3,189

  3,309

  3,441

  3,543

  Average fee per annum

  4,493

  4,751

  4,872

  5,004

  5,106

  976
  Welsh Office has provided financial support to the Local Government Management Board to assist it in preparing advice to local authorities on local Agenda 21.

  New Buildings and Premises
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41151]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office estate has been reduced over the last five years from 50 to 23 properties, a reduction of 104,543 sq ft.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the budgeted provision, (b) the actual spending, (c) the places available, (d) the actual places provided and (e) the number of schools participating for each year of operation of the assisted places scheme. [41165]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested is set out in the following table:

  Year

  Provision £

  Spend £

  New places available

  New places taken up

  Schools in scheme

  1981–2

  —1

  160,783

  150

  113

  9

  1983–83

  —1

  274,777

  148

  113

  8

  1983–84

  —1

  459,626

  129

  120

  8

  1984–85

  —1

  626,876

  129

  118

  8

  1985–86

  —1

  842,488

  136

  115

  8

  1986–87

  —1

  1,110,805

  136

  123

  8

  1987–88

  —1

  1,394,246

  136

  115

  8

  1988–89

  —1

  1,435,040

  136

  126

  8

  1989–90

  —1

  1,589,392

  136

  128

  8

  1990–91

  —1

  1,756,283

  136

  123

  8

  1991–92

  1,948,000

  2,064,813

  136

  124

  8

  1992–93

  2,392,000

  2,457,230

  136

  131

  8

  1993–94

  2,646,000

  2,621,261

  136

  127

  8

  1994–95

  2,950,000

  2,771,504

  136

  130

  8

  1995–96

  3,097,000

  2,904,845

  136

  124

  8

  1996–97

  3,770,000

  —2

  272

  —2

  14

  1 Figures not readily available

  2 Figures not yet available

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in descending order, for each year the assisted places scheme has been in operation, the fees charged by schools participating in the scheme and the average fee charged each year. [41163]

  Mr. Evans
  The information requested is not readily available from the start of the scheme. For 1991–92 and subsequent years the fees charged are set out in the following tables:
  977

  School

  1996–97

  Rydal Penrhos (Co-ed)

  6,299

  Ruthin School

  6,081

  Howell's, Denbigh

  5,892

  Christ College

  5,820

  Rydal Penrhos (Girls)

  5,803

  Llandovery College

  5,530

  Monmouth Boys

  4,755

  Rougemont School

  4,536

  Ffynone House School

  4,206

  Kings Monkton

  4,204

  Monmouth Girls

  4,083

  St. John's College

  4,009

  St. Clare's Convent School

  3,702

  Howell's, Cardiff

  3,645

  St. Gerard's School

  2,727

  Average fee per annum

  5,092

  Education Statistics
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the number and percentage of pupils in primary school classes of 31 or more in each year since 1986(a) by local education authority and (b) for Wales; [41155]

  (2) if he will list the number and percentage of teachers who completed training courses in 1994, broken down by subject and in total, who were in posts by March 1995. [41097]

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

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the staff numbers in full-time equivalent employed by his Department as at(a) 1 April 1995, (b) 1 October 1995, (c) 1 April 1996 and (d) 1 October 1996; and what is his estimate of the numbers who will be in post at 1 April 1997. [41030]

  Mr. Hague
  The number of full-time equivalent staff employed in my Department on the specified dates were:

  (a) April 1995: 2,481

  (b) October 1995: 2,406

  (c) April 1996: 2,295

  (d) October 1996: 2,248.

  Staffing plans for 1997–98 will be published in the departmental report early next year in the usual way.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992, in 1996 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in. [41191]
  978
  Mr. Hague
  Expenditure, in 1996–97 prices, on external consultants engaged by the Welsh Office is as follows:

  £000

  1991–92

  1,267

  1992–93

  1,553

  1993–94

  1,550

  1994–95

  843

  1995–96

  1,212

  There are no central records of the savings resulting from consultancy work.

  M4
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each contract for repair and improvement works on the M4 since 1979, indicating the overall cost and cost per mile. [41158]

  Mr. Hague
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  School Ballots
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools have held opt-out ballots since 1988, indicating those which were successful; and what percentage this constitutes of(a) pupils and (b) schools in the maintained sector in Wales. [41162]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Since 1988, 40 schools have held ballots of which 19 were in favour of applying for grant-maintained status. The schools at which ballots have been held represent 5.1 per cent. of the January 1996 pupil population and 1.9 per cent. of the total number of maintained schools in Wales.

  Village Halls and Community Centres
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total grant paid in 1991–92, and each subsequent year, from the voluntary youth service, village halls and community centres programme. [41010]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested is in the following list:Expenditure, by the Welsh Office and plans from 1991–92 to 1996–97, in pounds thousands.

  1991–92: 724

  1992–93: 551

  1993–94: 399

  1994–95: 519

  1995–96: 509

  1996–97: 472.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the amount of funding that will be allocated to Welsh local authorities in 1997–98 when the responsibility for the voluntary youth service, village halls and community centres is transferred to them. [41012]

  Mr. Evans
  This will be the subject of consultation with the Welsh Local Government Association.
  979

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in relation to his fund-raising lunch for leaders of the Welsh business community in relation to the Greenwich millennium exhibition; and if he will make a statement. [41071]

  Mr. Hague
  I have received several letters of thanks for the lunch, with expressions of interest in the exhibition, and one letter expressing scepticism about the value of Welsh participation. I believe that the exhibition will provide an important marketing opportunity to project Welsh achievements to the wider world.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning the arrangement for lending the agency chief executive to the Greenwich Millennium Exhibition plc for 90 days; what representations he has received concerning this arrangement; what assessment he has made of the principal advantages and disadvantages of the agency; and if he will make a statement. [41069]

  Mr. Hague
  I have discussed the arrangement with the chairman of the WDA and I have not received any representations concerning the appointment of Mr. Hartop as chief executive designate of the Millennium Exhibition Company. With the appointment of an acting chief executive with 12 years experience in the agency, I have been assured that the WDA will continue to operate successfully.

  GCSE Scores
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average GCSE point score, where A*=7, for English language and mathematics for(a) girls and (b) boys in the maintained sector in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) 1996. [41166]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested is available for 1994 and 1995 only, and is contained in the following table. Average GCSE point scores for English language and mathematics are given per 15-year-old pupil—age as at 31 August—in maintained schools.

  Average GCSE point scores per 15-year-old pupil in maintained schools

  Girls

  Boys

  English language

  1994

  4.2

  3.3

  1995

  4.2

  3.4

  Mathematics

  1994

  3.4

  3.3

  1995

  3.4

  3.3

  1. Age as at 31 August.

  2. Includes pupils in LEA maintained, grant maintained, special schools and pupil referral units.

  3. Points have been allocated on the following basis A*=7, A=7, B=6, C=5, D=4, E=3, F=2, G=1.

  980

  Direct Labour and Service Organisations
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts of each service delivered by local authority direct labour or service organisations within the terms of the Local Government Act 1988. [41156]

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

  Nursery Places
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimate for unmet need for nursery places in Wales. [41053]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Some 90 per cent. of four-year-olds and 50 per cent. of three-year-olds attend maintained schools in Wales and some 1 per cent. of each, schools in the independent sector. Details of take-up of places in day care provision and in playgroups are not available. Provision in the maintained sector varies between and within local education authorities—from quarter to full time, and between places in nursery schools and nursery or reception classes in primary schools. There is no readily available information that this provision reflects parental choice.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve transport facilities for disabled people. [41095]

  Mr. Hague
  I am keen to improve the accessibility of public transport services for disabled people. Under the Railways Act 1993, the Rail Regulator is responsible for protecting the interests of disabled rail passengers. All train and station operators are required to submit for the regulator's approval, a disabled people's protection policy, as a condition of being granted a licence to operate. In addition, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 provides my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport with powers to make regulations to require that new public transport vehicles are accessible to disabled people. The Act will apply to new rail vehicles, as well as to buses, coaches and taxis.

  I understand that discussions are under way with the rail industry and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee about the shape of the new regulations.

  Discretionary Education Awards
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each of the last six years the amount spent by each local education authority on discretionary awards and the number of students receiving them by LEA and year. [41164]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested for the academic years 1989–90 to 1994–95, the latest year for which data are available, is given for the LEAs current at the time in the following table.
  981

  Discretionary awards: students domiciled in Wales1

  Academic years

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Number

  Expenditure (£000)

  Number

  Expenditure (£000)

  Number

  Expenditure (£000)

  Number

  Expenditure (£000

  Number

  Expenditure (£000)

  Number

  Expenditure (£000)

  Clwyd

  1,114

  1,771.7

  1,172

  1,948.7

  2,595

  4,348.8

  3,174

  2,092.6

  1,889

  1,018.5

  518

  800.0

  Dyfed

  2,029

  1,915.4

  2,077

  2,445.1

  2,049

  2,159.2

  1,595

  1,893.4

  988

  817.2

  792

  235.0

  Gwent

  309

  853.2

  260

  827.1

  332

  1,089.7

  4,652

  3,924.4

  4,583

  3,392.5

  5,273

  3,066.6

  Gwynedd

  2,242

  798.3

  2,351

  1,059.8

  3,028

  1,384.4

  3,215

  1,176.6

  3,234

  1,189.3

  3,347

  999.2

  Mid Glamorgan

  3,450

  1,591.4

  3,370

  1,480

  4,671

  4,462.6

  5,122

  4,941.7

  3,612

  1,583.8

  3,569

  1,263.2

  Powys

  665

  785.1

  702

  947.3

  829

  1,127.2

  782

  1,002.5

  656

  646.9

  642

  577.7

  South Glamorgan

  602

  1,214.3

  771

  1,508.0

  845

  1,511.3

  2,829

  1,002.2

  3,665

  1,235.7

  3,145

  791.3

  West Glamorgan

  312

  849.7

  396

  1,039.1

  455

  1,318.6

  311

  983.1

  902

  964.5

  798

  577.5

  Total2

  10,723

  9,779.2

  11,099

  11,255.2

  14,804

  17,402

  21,711

  17,049.0

  19,529

  10,848.5

  18,185

  8,410.5

  Source:F503G. Department for Education and Employment.

  1 Awards made by local education authorities to students normally domiciled in Wales irrespective of their place of study: includes placement year sandwich students.

  2 Totals have been grossed to compensate for partial or missing returns.

  Child Care Facilities
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision he is currently making to develop child care facilities(a) in the workplace and (b) elsewhere; and what plans he has to extend such provision. [41098]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Welsh Office is supporting the development of child care for children of school age through the out of school child care grant initiative, and, for younger children, through the under-fives child care demonstration projects. The Government are currently consulting publicly on how child care might be developed, through the document "Work and Family: Ideas and Options for Child care", published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  School Transport
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that all vehicles used to transport children to and from school during school hours meet the standards of safety demanded by parents. [41154]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The provision of school transport is a matter for local education authorities. I have advised authorities that I expect the transport they provide to be appropriate to ensure that pupils travel in safety and reasonable comfort, and that they should take such steps as they consider necessary to satisfy themselves of the appropriateness of both vehicle and driver. The Government have now made regulations which require seat belts to be fitted on minibuses and coaches used specifically for transporting children, which should further reassure parents who are concerned for the safety of their children.

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure that providers of places under the nursery voucher scheme will be under the same obligations as maintained schools to provide parents with information about Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector inspections. [41160]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As a condition of grant, all nursery voucher scheme providers will be under the same obligations to make inspection reports available to parents, without charge.
  982
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of the number of nursery vouchers required in each of the local education authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement; [41266]

  (2) how many nursery vouchers he expects to issue on the start-up of the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [41270]

  Mr. Evans
  All four-year-olds in Wales will be entitled to a nursery voucher, to be issued on a termly basis. The nursery voucher scheme contractor will identify the number of eligible children from the child benefit database and will send the parents or carers an application form for vouchers. A publicity campaign will alert parents or carers to the need to apply if they have not received a form. In exceptional circumstances, schools will hold a supply of forms for eligible children who have not received a voucher.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amounts of public money are earmarked for the nursery voucher scheme in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [41267]

  Mr. Evans
  The total cost of the scheme in Wales, including the cost of inspection and administration, is expected to be some £43 million. A final decision on the relevant levels of additional provision and present expenditure funding will be taken in the context of the public expenditure settlement for 1997–98.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to make available to local education authorities in Wales the findings of the nursery voucher scheme's pilot schemes in England; and if he will make a statement. [41268]

  Mr. Evans
  Welsh Office officials are having on-going discussions with representatives of the local education authorities in Wales on all aspects of the detailed operation of the voucher scheme, which will include discussions on phase 1. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment will be making a statement to the House on the evaluation of phase 1 during the autumn.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, as a consequence of representations made to him concerning nursery vouchers, he will exempt Wales from the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [41269]
  983
  Mr. Evans
  I have already written to the hon. Member and informed him that I have no such plans. To do so would deny parents throughout Wales the opportunity for choice in the type of education they want for their four-year-old children.

  School Budgets
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the potential schools budget has been delegated by each local authority for its schools in each of the last five years; and what was the total of the potential schools budget in(a) cash and (b) real terms in each of these years in each local authority. [41195]

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

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Inspections
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what estimate she has made of the savings from increasing the length of the inspection cycle from four to six years; and if she will reinvest those savings in local advice services to back up Office for Standards in Education inspection; [39923]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the savings from focusing secondary school inspections after September 1997 on English, mathematics and science and up to four additional subjects only; and if she will reinvest those savings in local inspection and advice services to back up Ofsted inspections. [39924]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted Her Majesty's chief inspector's recommendation that all school inspections should be on the basis of the existing framework for inspection, covering all national curriculum subjects. Some schools will be inspected more frequently and some less frequently than at present, and the total volume of inspections in any given year is therefore likely to be of a similar order as at present. Hence, it is unlikely that significant savings will arise. Provision for Ofsted will continue to be reviewed annually as part of the public expenditure survey.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been awarded an assisted place since 1990; what is the cost for each year since 1990; and how much is proposed to be spent on the assisted places scheme for the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [40591]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The number of children awarded assisted places in England in each academic year from 1990–91 to 1995–96, and the total cost of the scheme for each financial year, are given in the following table. Present spending plans for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98 are £117 million and £139 million respectively. Questions on the assisted places scheme in Scotland and 984
  Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales. There is no assisted places scheme in Northern Ireland.

  Assisted places scheme

  Year

  Number of first year assisted places taken up

  Total cost (£ million)

  1990–91

  4,948

  63.4

  1991–92

  5,602

  75.8

  1992–93

  5,815

  92.9

  1993–94

  5,775

  92.3

  1994–95

  5,813

  101.5

  1995–96

  5,744

  104.8

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list in descending order the fees charged by schools participating in the assisted places scheme in the last academic year; indicating the average fee charged. [40584]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The average fee charged for assisted pupils in England in the academic year 1995–96 was £4,346. The average fee charged by each school participating in the scheme is given in the following table.

  Assisted places scheme: academic year 1995–96

  Average fee charged for APs1

  School name

  £

  Charterhouse, Nr Godalming

  9,543

  Bradfield College, Reading

  8,696

  Winchester College

  8,635

  Canford School, Wimborne

  8,341

  Bedales School, Petersfield

  8,259

  Hurstpierpoint College, Hassocks

  7,934

  Felsted School, Dunmow

  7,903

  Stowe School Nr Buckingham

  7,867

  Leighton Park School, Reading

  7,787

  Tonbridge School

  7,779

  Repton School, Nr Derby

  7,767

  Aldenham School, Elstree

  7,757

  Wellington College, Berkshire

  7,647

  Gresham's School, Norfolk

  7,644

  Ardingly College, Haywards Heath

  7,595

  Sedbergh School

  7,556

  Malvern College

  7,501

  Carmel College, Wallingford

  7,423

  Wycliffe College, Stonehouse

  7,413

  Leys School, Cambridge

  7,370

  Cranleigh School

  7,192

  Downe House School, Newbury

  7,118

  Monkton Combe School, Bath

  7,091

  Haileybury and Imperial Service College

  7,025

  Westminster School

  6,990

  Cheltenham Ladies' College

  6,964

  Clifton College, Bristol

  6,959

  Bishop's Stortford College

  6,928

  Bloxham School. Banbury

  6,905

  Pangbourne College, Reading

  6,859

  Stonyhurst College, Nr Blackburn

  6,754

  Rendcombe College, Cirencester

  6,693

  King's School, Bruton

  6,666

  Mill Hill School

  6,626

  St. Paul's School, Barnes

  6,593

  Christ's Hospital

  6,564

  Lord Wandsworth College, Basingstoke

  6,552

  St. Mary and St. Anne

  6,552

  Epsom College

  6,551

  985

  Assisted places scheme: academic year 1995–96

  Average fee charged for APs1

  School name

  £

  St. John's School, Leatherhead

  6,535

  Sutton Valence School, Nr Maidstone

  6,422

  Brighton College

  6,401

  St. Bees School, Cumbria

  6,323

  Durham School

  6,221

  Denstone College, Uttoxeter

  6,207

  Sevenoaks School, Kent

  6,196

  St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate

  6,150

  Ellesmere College

  6,147

  Reed's School, Cobham

  6,147

  St. Swithun's School, Winchester

  6,128

  Chigwell School

  6,114

  Merchant Taylors', Northwood

  6,073

  Taunton School

  6,056

  Dulwich College

  6,042

  St. George's College, Weybridge

  6,037

  Highgate School

  6,003

  Bedford School

  5,982

  University College School, London NW3

  5,954

  Dauntsey's School, Devizes

  5,921

  Oakham School, Rutland

  5,919

  Berkhamsted School

  5,917

  Godolphin School, Salisbury

  5,887

  King's College School, Wimbledon

  5,885

  Framlingham College

  5,870

  Friend's School, Saffron Walden

  5,799

  Wrekin College

  5,776

  King's School, Rochester

  5,721

  Mount School, York

  5,712

  Dover College

  5,683

  Culford School, Bury St. Edmunds

  5,623

  St. Felix School, Southwold

  5,619

  St. Paul's Girls School, Hammersmith

  5,598

  Bootham School, York

  5,591

  St. Peter's School, York

  5,563

  Worksop College, Nottingham

  5,547

  Trent College, Derbyshire

  5,527

  Alleyn's School, Dulwich

  5,513

  King Edward's School, Witley

  5,505

  City of London Freeman's School, Ashtead

  5,497

  Harrogate Ladies' College

  5,486

  City of London School

  5,469

  St. Mary's Hall, Brighton

  5,458

  Rossall School, Fleetwood

  5,453

  Royal Grammar School, Guildford

  5,391

  Queen's College Taunton

  5,343

  James Allen's Girls School

  5,304

  Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire

  5,275

  St. Catherine's School, Bramley

  5,260

  Godolphin and Latymer School, London W6

  5,250

  Giggleswick School, Settle

  5,220

  Woodbridge School, Suffolk

  5,218

  St. Edmund's College, Ware

  5,210

  Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks

  5,157

  Casterton School, Cumbria

  5,146

  Mount St. Mary's College, Nr Sheffield

  5,105

  Wellingborough School

  5,101

  Silcoates School

  5,097

  Haberdashers' Aske's School

  5,094

  Colston's Collegiate School, Bristol

  5,086

  Douai School, Reading

  5,068

  Kent College, Canterbury

  5,067

  Whitgift School, Croydon

  5,017

  Wells Cathedral School

  5,014

  Burgess Hill School for Girls

  5,008

  Caterham School

  5,007

  Queen's College, London W1

  5,001

  Kingswood School, Bath

  4,995

  Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire

  4,981

  Berkhamsted School for Girls

  4,937

  King's School, Worcester

  4,883

  986

  Assisted places scheme: academic year 1995–96

  Average fee charged for APs1

  School name

  £

  Ashford School, Kent

  4,878

  Trinity School of John Whitgift, Croydon

  4,875

  Eltham College, London SE9

  4,870

  St. Margaret's School, Bushey

  4,861

  City of London School for Girls

  4,838

  John Lyon School, Harrow

  4,808

  Edgehill College, Bideford

  4,789

  Scarborough College

  4,784

  Churcher's College, Petersfield

  4,740

  Brentwood School

  4,725

  Ursuline Convent School, Kent

  4,677

  Kimbolton School, Cambridge

  4,656

  Ashville School

  4,645

  Ipswich School

  4,611

  Laxton School

  4,606

  St. Albans School

  4,605

  Guildford High School for Girls

  4,586

  Kingston Grammar School

  4,580

  Latymer Upper School, London W6

  4,576

  Holy Child School

  4,575

  St. Benedict's School, Ealing

  4,572

  Abingdon School

  4,560

  Woodhouse Grove School, Bradford

  4,542

  Bancroft's School, Woodford

  4,524

  Francis Holland School, London NW1

  4,503

  Bedford High School

  4,485

  St. Helen's School, Northwood

  4,485

  Forest School, London E17

  4,483

  West Buckland School, Barnstaple

  4,476

  Pocklington School, Nr York

  4,469

  Emanuel School, London SW11

  4,438

  Prior Park College, Bath

  4,416

  North London Collegiate School, Edgware

  4,386

  Edgbaston C of E College for Girls

  4,377

  Magdalen College School, Oxford

  4,376

  Surbiton High School

  4,368

  Lady Eleanor Holies School, Hampton

  4,365

  Tormead School, Guildford

  4,365

  Yarm School

  4,362

  Wisbech Grammar School

  4,355

  Hampton School

  4,326

  St. Dunstan's College, Catford

  4,323

  Barnard Castle School

  4,314

  Colfe's School, London SE12

  4,313

  St. Albans High School for Girls

  4,266

  Reigate Grammar School

  4,264

  Hereford Cathedral School

  4,263

  Perse School for Boys, Cambridge

  4,233

  Royal Grammar School, Worcester

  4,230

  King Edward's School, Birmingham

  4,218

  Wolverhampton Grammar School

  4,212

  Headington School, Oxford

  4,210

  Ackworth School, Pontefract

  4,206

  Derby High School

  4,205

  King Edward VI School, Southampton

  4,200

  Talbot Heath School, Bournemouth

  4,194

  St. Maurs Convent, Weybridge

  4,174

  Warwick School

  4,164

  Bolton School (Boys)

  4,155

  Bolton School (Girls)

  4,155

  Alice Ottley School, Worcester

  4,152

  Truro School

  4,142

  Bedford Modern School

  4,140

  Plymouth College

  4,113

  Famborough Hill School

  4,111

  Wellington School, Somerset

  4,103

  Liverpool College

  4,088

  Clifton High School, Bristol

  4,061

  Solihull School

  4,060

  Norwich School

  4,059

  Ryde School

  4,059

  987

  Assisted places scheme: academic year 1995–96

  Average fee charged for APs1

  School name

  £

  Austin Friars School

  4,026

  King's School, Macclesfield

  4,026

  Croham Hurst School, Croydon

  4,019

  Ursuline High School, Ilford

  3,999

  Polam Hall School, Darlington

  3,976

  Nottingham High School

  3,970

  Northampton High School

  3,942

  Stafford Independent Grammar School

  3,936

  Kingsley School

  3,927

  South Hampstead High School GPDST

  3,914

  Croydon High School GPDST

  3,912

  William Hulme Grammar School

  3,912

  Blackheath High School GPDST

  3,909

  Bromley High School GPDST

  3,909

  Heathfield School GPDST

  3,909

  Notting Hill and Ealing High GPDST

  3,909

  Putney High School GPDST

  3,909

  Streatham Hill and Clapham High GPDST

  3,909

  Sutton High School GPDST

  3,909

  Sydenham High School GPDST

  3,909

  Wimbledon High School GPDST

  3,909

  Bristol Cathedral School

  3,897

  Dame Alice Harpur School

  3,891

  Exeter School

  3,887

  St. Joseph's College, Ipswich

  3,885

  Leeds Girls High School

  3,879

  Cheadle Hulme School

  3,870

  Stamford High School

  3,849

  King Edward's School at Bath

  3,846

  Loughborough Grammar

  3,846

  Stamford School

  3,846

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital School, Bristol

  3,843

  King Edward VI High School, Birmingham

  3,840

  Leeds Grammar School

  3,813

  Manchester Grammar School

  3,805

  Portsmouth Grammar School

  3,788

  Bradford Girls Grammar

  3,787

  Stockport Grammar School

  3,771

  King's School, Chester

  3,768

  Old Palace School, Croydon

  3,765

  Maynard School, Exeter

  3,764

  Perse School for Girls

  3,756

  Red Maids' School, Bristol

  3,750

  St. Bede's College, Manchester

  3,738

  Marist Convent Senior School, Ascot

  3,725

  St. Joseph's Convent, Reading

  3,725

  Truro High School

  3,714

  Bradford Grammar School

  3,711

  Abbey School, Reading

  3,699

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Wakefield

  3,699

  Wakefield High School

  3,699

  Bristol Grammar School

  3,697

  Redland High School, Bristol

  3,687

  St. Helen and St. Katherine, Abingdon

  3,687

  La Sagesse Convent School, Newcastle

  3,683

  Manchester High School

  3,672

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Blackburn

  3,672

  St. Mary's School, Cambridge

  3,618

  King's High School for Girls, Warwick

  3,610

  Sir William Perkins's School, Chertsey

  3,583

  St. Margaret's School, Exeter

  3,575

  Haberdashers' Aske's Schools for Girls

  3,570

  St. Mary's College, Crosby

  3,526

  Hulme Grammar, Boys, Oldham

  3,510

  Hulme Grammar, Girls, Oldham

  3,510

  Merchant Taylors' Girls, Liverpool

  3,504

  Merchant Taylors', Liverpool

  3,503

  Portsmouth High School GPDST

  3,498

  Arnold School, Blackpool

  3,489

  Bath High School GPDST

  3,489

  Belvedere School GPDST Liverpool

  3,489

  988

  Assisted places scheme: academic year 1995–96

  Average fee charged for APs1

  School name

  £

  Birkenhead High School GPDST

  3,489

  Brighton and Hove High School GPDST

  3,489

  Central Newcastle High School GPDST

  3,489

  Ipswich High School GPDST

  3,489

  Norwich High School GPDST

  3,489

  Nottingham Girls High School GPDST

  3,489

  Oxford High School GPDST

  3,489

  Sheffield High School GPDST

  3,489

  Shrewsbury High School GPDST

  3,489

  Loughborough High School

  3,483

  Colston's Girls School

  3,468

  Leicester Grammar School

  3,462

  Withington Girls School, Manchester

  3,441

  St. John's College, Southsea

  3,425

  Royal Grammar School, Newcastle

  3,414

  Bruton School for Girls

  3,399

  Coventry School, Bablake

  3,399

  Coventry School, King Henry VIII

  3,399

  King's School, Tynemouth

  3,396

  Westholme School, Blackburn

  3,393

  Newcastle Upon Tyne Church High School

  3,389

  St. Edward's College, Liverpool

  3,389

  Dame Allan's Boys School, Newcastle

  3,384

  Dame Allan's Girls School

  3,384

  Queen's School, Chester

  3,375

  Hymers College, Hull

  3,373

  Teesside High School

  3,364

  Kirkham Grammar School

  3,337

  Birkenhead School

  3,333

  Bury Grammar School (Boys)

  3,300

  Bury Grammar School (Girls)

  3,300

  Batley Grammar School

  3,273

  Newcastle Under Lyme School, Staffs

  3,266

  King Edward VII School, Lytham

  3,219

  Queen Mary School, Lytham

  3,219

  Mount Carmel School, Cheshire

  3,162

  St. Ambrose College, Altrincham

  3,156

  St. Joseph's College, Stoke on Trent

  3,135

  Hipperholme Grammar School

  3,031

  Loreto Convent Grammar School, Altrincham

  2,787

  Salesian College, Famborough

  2,787

  1 Includes tuition fees, fees for public examinations and other fees allowed for by schools' participation agreements.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many assisted places are available for the academic year 1996–97 in(a) the primary and (b) the secondary sector; and how many have been taken up. [40581]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The number of assisted places available for children below age 11 entering participating schools in England in academic year 1996–97 is 855. For children aged 11 to 13 there are 6,915 entry places and a further 1,899 places for direct entry into sixth forms. The total number of assisted places available in 1996–97, including places allocated in previous years, is 37,816. Final figures for take-up are not yet available, but preliminary indications are that take-up at entry continues to be high.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average grant received by students in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95 and (d) 1995–96; and if she will make a statement. [40578]
  989
  Mr. Forth
  The average net maintenance grants after means testing received by mandatory award holders in England and Wales in the academic years 1992–93 to 1994–95, the latest year for which data are available, are set out in the following table. Since 1990–91, eligible students have also had access to non-means-tested students loans.

  Average net maintenance grants to holders of mandatory awards (£) England and Wales: 1992–93 to 1994–95

  Academic year

  Average net maintenance grant paid by local education authorities to the nearest £10

  1992–93

  1,610

  1993–94

  1,670

  1994–95

  1,520

  School Funding
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for education and Employment what is the education budget and what proportion has been delegated to schools in the current financial year, in each English and Welsh local education authority; and if she will make a statement. [40590]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows, for each local education authority in England, the amount of the potential schools budget and the percentage delegated to schools. The figures related to the financial year 1996–97. Information regarding the funding os schools in wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Local education authority

  PSB £,000

  Percentage PSB delegated

  Barking/Dagenham

  61,126

  90.5

  Barnet

  75,939

  89.4

  Barnsley

  61,681

  88.7

  Bath and North-east Somerset

  48,609

  89.7

  Bedfordshire

  152,251

  92.4

  Berkshire

  195,984

  93.5

  Bexley

  60,283

  91.9

  Birmingham

  345,728

  91.3

  Bolton

  80,692

  88.5

  Bradford

  150,477

  89.7

  Brent

  47,858

  94.6

  Bristol

  112,495

  90.7

  Bromley

  44,048

  86.9

  Buckinghamshire

  174,158

  89.1

  Bury

  54,406

  92.5

  Calderdale

  427,64

  89.1

  Cambridgeshire

  159,124

  89.5

  Camden

  57,003

  88.2

  Cheshire

  301,969

  91.3

  Cornwall

  136,921

  88.3

  Corporation of London

  761

  89.9

  Coventry

  106,109

  90.9

  Croydon

  75,817

  91.3

  Cumbria

  113,416

  91.3

  Derbyshire

  222,302

  89.2

  Devon

  270,890

  91.2

  Doncaster

  102,611

  87.9

  Dorset

  144,951

  89.7

  Dudley

  78,438

  96.1

  990

  Local education authority

  PSB £000

  Percentage PSB delegated

  Durham

  180,197

  88.6

  Ealing

  71,556

  90.5

  East Riding

  96,389

  89.6

  East Sussex

  189,069

  90.1

  Enfield

  81,133

  90.2

  Essex

  278,140

  90.1

  Gateshead

  63,294

  86.8

  Gloucestershire

  92,634

  91.2

  Greenwich

  89,798

  93.1

  Hackney

  66,319

  89.4

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  39,290

  91.2

  Hampshire

  424,463

  91.1

  Haringey

  77,147

  86.4

  Harrow

  64,591

  90.1

  Hartlepoool

  30,587

  89.1

  Havering

  65,236

  92.1

  Hereford/Worcester

  182,361

  90.3

  Hertfordshire

  271,592

  93.6

  Hillingdon

  43,534

  90.2

  Hounslow

  74,553

  90.0

  Hull

  82,212

  89.8

  Isle of Wight

  37,173

  89.8

  Isles of Scilly

  902

  93.3

  Islington

  58,608

  93.9

  Kensington/Chelsea

  26,852

  90.7

  Kent

  344,908

  89.0

  Kingston

  32,964

  90.8

  Kirklees

  116,341

  89.0

  Knowsley

  56,775

  93.1

  Lambeth

  53,359

  87.4

  Lancashire

  414,077

  88.9

  Leeds

  220,601

  93.7

  Leicestershire

  281,645

  88.0

  Lewisham

  82,202

  89.9

  Lincolnshire

  131,670

  89.3

  Liverpool

  152,041

  92.7

  Manchester

  143,067

  91.8

  Merton

  48,209

  89.7

  Middlesbrough

  50,342

  88.0

  North-east Lincolnshire

  56,063

  89.8

  Newcastle

  83,740

  89.0

  Newham

  91,614

  85.1

  Norfolk

  186,841

  91.2

  North Lincolnshire

  51,172

  88.8

  North Somerset

  56,162

  89.6

  North Tyneside

  58,734

  92.0

  North Yorkshire

  168,846

  90.5

  Northamptonshire

  163,777

  92.9

  Northumberland

  95,647

  91.1

  Nottinghamshire

  296,611

  88.9

  Oldham

  83,982

  90.7

  Oxfordshire

  154,956

  92.0

  Redbridge

  78,182

  91.9

  Redcar and Cleveland

  50,199

  88.9

  Richmond

  42,377

  91.3

  Rochdale

  57,693

  93.3

  Rotherham

  86,343

  89.6

  Salford

  71,365

  90.6

  Sandwell

  98,885

  89.2

  Sefton

  95,490

  89.4

  Sheffield

  134,029

  87.4

  Shropshire

  110,326

  91.8

  Solihull

  67,562

  94.4

  Somerset

  129,049

  91.2

  South Gloucestershire

  77,194

  89.8

  South Tyneside

  48,326

  88.9

  Southwark

  70,401

  89.3

  St Helens

  59,467

  89.9

  Staffordshire

  293,568

  93.0

  Stockport

  81,968

  91.2

  Stockton on Tees

  63,165

  90.4

  Suffolk

  193,131

  92.6

  991

  Local education authority

  PSB £,000

  Percentage PSB delegated

  Sunderland

  95,675

  93.8

  Surrey

  215,844

  90.5

  Sutton

  37,808

  91.4

  Tameside

  60,908

  89.9

  Tower Hamlets

  86,792

  89.5

  Trafford

  53,731

  88.5

  Wakefield

  96,044

  87.2

  Walsall

  78,003

  89.9

  Waltham Forest

  69,543

  93.9

  Wandsworth

  53,758

  89.5

  Warwickshire

  129,650

  89.8

  West Sussex

  205,497

  89.2

  Westminster

  46,245

  89.4

  Wigan

  102,072

  92.9

  Wiltshire

  127,525

  90.0

  Wirral

  101,837

  90.7

  Wolverhampton

  76,544

  92.2

  York

  46,598

  89.0

  1. The Potential Schools Budget (PSB) is the yardstick usually employed to measure the level of delegation achieved by LEAs. The PSB represents the total planned expenditure on schools maintained by an LEA less certain items which have been considered impracticable or undesirable to delegate.

  2. The figures are derived from those provided by each LEA in its statement of planned financial expenditure produced under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988 and incorporate revisions notified to the Department up to 30 September 1996.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received from pre-school providers whose rolls have decreased as a result of competition from other providers in phase one of the voucher scheme; and if she will list those providers. [40538]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Of more than 640 private and voluntary providers registered for the voucher scheme at April 1996, I am aware of six that have asked to withdraw, citing competition from other providers. These are:

  Long Stratton Playgroup, Norwich

  Bradwell Plagroup, Great Yarmouth

  Marsham Playgroup, Norwich

  Lingwood Pre-School, Norwich

  Busy Bees, North Walsham

  Sandringham and West Newton Pre-School.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many four-year-olds were in(a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) local education authority pre-school provision, in each of the phase 1 areas of the nursery voucher scheme, at the latest date for which figures are available before 1 April 1996; and how many are provided for in each sector, in each phase one area, at the latest date for which figures are available. [40527]

  Mr. Squire
  The available information is shown in the following table. Information on pupils in voluntary and private provision is not collected centrally.
  992

  Pupils aged four1 in maintained schools in phase 1 local education authority areas—January 1996

  Primary schools

  LEA

  Nursery schools

  Nursery classes

  Infant classes2

  Special schools

  Total

  Wandsworth

  70

  729

  1,666

  9

  2,474

  Westminster

  66

  449

  538

  0

  1,053

  Kensington and Chelsea

  96

  269

  368

  0

  733

  Norfolk

  134

  537

  5,490

  26

  6,187

  1 Pupils born between 1 January and 31 December 1991.

  2 Includes pupils in reception classes.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many eligible children in each of the four pilot authorities have not taken up their entitlement to apply for a nursery voucher; and what research she proposes to identify which parents and children are not currently receiving vouchers. [40529]

  Mr. Squire
  The estimated number of children eligible for vouchers in each of the phase 1 authorities and the number of children for whom vouchers have been issued is shown in the following table. Estimates of population are less reliable when broken down both by local authority area and by year group. Non-take-up of vouchers will be analysed in the evaluation statement to be provided in the autumn.

  Estimated number of eligible children

  Number of children for whom vouchers have been issued

  Norfolk

  9,300

  8,976

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,650

  1,151

  Wandsworth

  3,300

  3,170

  Westminster

  1,900

  1,414

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice she has issued to the pilot authorities in respect of the admission of four-year-olds who do not have a voucher. [40531]

  Mr. Squire
  Guidance has been issued to the phase 1 authorities on the procedure by which headteachers can, in exceptional cases, apply for vouchers on behalf of their pupils. Guidance on the interaction of nursery education vouchers and admissions arrangements is currently being sent to all local education authorities and maintained primary schools.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 26 June Official Report, column 158, how much has been spent on publicity, in each of the four pilot authorities and overall, at the latest date for which figures are available; and what was the projected publicity budget in phase one of the voucher scheme. [40574]

  Mr. Squire
  The original budget for providing information to parents and providers in the financial year 1995–96 in the phase 1 areas was £750,000. This was revised to £1.1 million to meet the unexpectedly high demand for information nationwide. The estimated budget for the financial year 1996–97 is £300,000, of which £175,000 has been spent to date.
  993
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 16 July,Official Report, column 466, how many four-year-olds in each local authority participating in the pilot phase of the voucher scheme to date have been enrolled who did not have a voucher at the time of their enrolment; and how many applications have been made by providers on behalf of such children. [40576]

  Mr. Squire
  Of the 14,711 vouchers issued for the summer term, 1,166 were issued after the start of that term. Of these, 300 were issued in response to applications by maintained schools on behalf of eligible children.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average unit cost per pupil for provision in(a) nursery schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) reception classes in primary schools (d) and playgroups, at the latest date for which figures are available. [40537]

  Mr. Squire
  The average unit cost per full-time equivalent pupil in 1994–95 for those categories of under fives' provision for which estimates are available nationally are as follows:

  1994–95 estimates for England

  £

  Nursery schools

  3,500

  Nursery classes in primary schools

  2,880

  Primary classes (including under 5s)

  1,640

  Average

  2,150

  Comparable data for playgroups are not collected centrally.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made or received of the cost of administration arising from the voucher scheme, in respect of(a) each of the pilot local education authorities, (b) providers in each area and (c) her Department. [40530]

  Mr. Squire
  Grant aid was made available to the four local education authorities taking part in the first phase of the voucher scheme in respect of the extra costs incurred in participating in phase 1 compared to joining phase 2. Details were set out on 29 April 1996,Official Report, column 348. No detailed estimate of administration costs has been made in respect of providers in each area. The estimated cost of administering the nursery voucher scheme from April 1997 is not expected to exceed 2.7 per cent. of the total cost of the nursery voucher scheme. Some two-thirds of the administration costs are expected to cover the new system of inspection.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what notification she has received in respect of pre-school providers who have gone out of business as a result of competition from other providers in the phase 1 areas of the nursery voucher scheme; and if she will list those organisations notified to her. [40532]

  Mr. Squire
  Of more than 640 private and voluntary providers registered for the voucher scheme at April 1996, four have notified the nursery voucher centre that they have since closed, but none gave a reason.
  994
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many providers have received initial validation to accept voucher-bearing children, in the(a) maintained, (b) voluntary and (c) private sectors; and how many, in each sector, consequent to initial validation (i) have already been inspected, (ii) will be inspected during the autumn term and (iii) will be inspected during the spring term. [40533]

  Mr. Squire
  A total of 494 providers in the maintained sector and 647 providers in the private and voluntary sectors are participating in phase 1 of the scheme. I understand from the chief inspector of schools that approximately 300 providers will be inspected in the autumn term and approximately 350 in the spring term.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment her Department has made during the first term of the pilot phase of the impact of the voucher scheme on children with special educational needs. [40535]

  Mr. Squire
  The nursery education voucher scheme brings the prospect of earlier identification and intervention for children with special education needs. To achieve this end, providers who are not maintained schools will have a duty to have regard to the code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs and associated guidance. Following discussions with the National Portage Association, and a trial in phase 1, portage services registered with the National Portage Association will be allowed to redeem nursery vouchers in phase 2.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the latest estimate of the development costs for establishing national vocational qualifications; and if she will make a statement. [40755]

  Mr. Paice
  Expenditure through the Department's programmes on development costs of national vocational qualifications between 1988 and March 1996 is £106 million. This figure includes £83 million from the standards programme and £23 million grant in aid to the National Council for Vocational Qualifications.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her Department's estimate of the number of people who have obtained a national vocational qualification. [40754]

  Mr. Paice
  According to the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and the Scottish Vocational Education Council, there have been 1,203,159 national vocational qualifications and 33,707 Scottish vocational qualifications awarded respectively up till 30 June 1996.

  Provisional estimates from the spring 1996 Labour Force Survey show that 1.2 million people reported that they held an NVQ or SVQ.

  Anti-drugs Programmes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the impact of the(a) DARE—drug abuse resistance education—and (b) other anti-drugs programmes in reducing the use of illegal drugs. [40605]
  995
  Mrs. Gillan
  The 16 innovative drug education and prevention projects supported under the Department's grants for education support and training programme in 1995–96 have been independently evaluated. The Department intends to publish a booklet later this year summarising the findings. One project, in Kirklees local education authority, dealt with, among other things, an evaluation of a pilot of the DARE—drug abuse resistance education—programme.

  In addition, the Office for Standards in Education is undertaking a specific study of provision for drug education in schools during this academic year. A report will be published shortly.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotions, and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40623]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following figures are given in financial years.

  Before the merger in July 1995, the Department operated separately funded programmes of publicity. This continued until the end of the financial year 1995–96. Figures for promotional work are not separately available.

  Department for Education

  Publicity £ million

  1990–91

  5.3

  1991–92

  9.0

  1992–93

  8.0

  1993–94

  10.1

  1994–95

  9.4

  1995–96

  5.4

  Department for Employment

  Publicity £ million

  1990–91

  2.6

  1991–92

  18.3

  1992–93

  7.2

  1993–94

  11.1

  1994–95

  11.1

  1995–96

  11.0

  The first year for which figures for expenditure on hospitality are available is 1993–94. Figures for the earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The combined figures for the two Departments are:

  1993–94: £121,000

  1994–95: £88,000

  1995–96: £98,000.

  Nursery Education Inspectors
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many people have embarked on a course to become a nursery education inspector; how many have successfully completed that course; what is the total number of qualified nursery education inspectors; and what were the recruitment targets; [40528]
  996
  (2) if she will require that inspections of voucher-bearing institutions be carried out during term time, when voucher-bearing children are present. [40534]

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

  Student Loans Company
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Student Loans Company's 1996 annual report and accounts will be available. [41202]

  Mr. Forth
  I have today placed copies of the report and accounts in the Library.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what revisions she proposes in respect of the framework document, setting out the aim and objectives of the Employment Service, with particular reference to the roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of state and the chief executive, following the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance. [41203]

  Mr. Forth
  The framework document for the Employment Service has been revised to take account of the recommendations of the prior options review and the changed responsibilities and objectives of ES following the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance. Copies of the new framework document have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what revisions she proposes in respect of the agreement between herself and the Secretary of state for Social Security on the administration of benefits for unemployed people, in respect of the introduction of jobseeker's allowance. [41201]

  Mr. Forth
  The agreement on the administration of unemployment benefit and income support for unemployed people became obsolete when jobseeker's allowance replaced those benefits on 7 October. A new agreement on jobseeker's allowance and related issues came into force. Copies of this agreement have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Social Affairs Council on 24 September. [41204]

  Mr. Paice
  My noble Friend the Minister of State attended the Social Affairs Council in Brussels on 24 September.

  There was a discussion of a draft decision setting up an Employment and Labour Market Committee. General support for the principle of establishing a committee was expressed.

  The posted workers directive was adopted as an "A" point. The UK and Portugal voted against the directive. Common position was reached unanimously on an amendment to the carcinogens directive.
  997
  There was a series of presentations, including a Commission presentation on a Commission communication on information and consultation of workers, a presidency progress report on the single report on employment for the second Dublin European Council in December, information on the burden of proof directive, which is being taken forward by the other member states under the social protocol and a Commission Green Paper on the social and societal aspects of the information society.

  School Transport
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those schools in Staffordshire which have been inspected by the Health and Safety Executive, indicating their findings in respect of health and safety in respect of school transport arrangements. [40742]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  HSE inspectors have limited enforcement responsibilities for school transport. The safety of school transport vehicles, on the road are covered by various Road Traffic Acts which are enforced by the police or Department of Transport.

  However, HSE inspectors will normally discuss during school inspections the management arrangements for health and safety during school activities, and this might include discussion on the arrangements in place for managing health and safety during school trips in the school's own transport or in that from a contractor, and for the movement of vehicles on school premises.

  In Staffordshire, policies on school transport and trips have been discussed by HSE inspectors with individual schools and centrally with Staffordshire education authority. The education authority produced a comprehensive policy on school transport in 1995 and this appears to have been implemented at schools recently visited. These include:

  Thomas Alleyne's High School, Uttoxeter

  Paulet High School, Burton on Trent

  Mary Hill Comprehensive, Kidsgrove

  Leek High School, Leek

  Merryfields Special School, Newcastle under Lyme

  Flash Ley County First School, Stafford

  Haywood High School, Burslem

  Leasowes County Infants, Stafford

  Clayton High School, Newcastle

  St. Nicholas CE First School, Codsall

  Marshlands Special School, Stafford

  St. Dominics Independent Girls School, Stafford

  St. Chads Cathedral School, Lichfield.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for the location of the pay and pensions branches of the Metropolitan police. [40221]
  998
  Mr. Maclean
  Between May and August 1996, the Metropolitan police conducted a review of the provision of police and civil staff pay and pension services. The Metropolitan police policy board will shortly be deciding whether to accept the review report's recommendations that pay and pension services should be contracted out, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State as police authority. If contracting out were to take place, the successful contractor or contractors, and the location or locations at which the work would be carried out, would not be identified until the middle of 1997 at the earliest.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the remit of the Metropolitan police committee to include reporting on any matters which they consider requires his attention. [40402]

  Mr. Maclean
  Mr right hon. and learned Friend announced to this House on 9 February 1995 the appointment of the Metropolitan police committee. He gave details of the terms of reference of the MPC. There are no plans to change these terms of reference.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the number of civilian staff employed by the Metropolitan police. [40818]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that as well as on-going efficiency savings, he has recently initiated a specific review of central support services within the Metropolitan police. The review focused on posts primarily held by civilian staff. Following a consultation period, the Commissioner will discuss the recommendations with his senior colleagues. Final proposals are expected shortly.

  Metropolitan Police
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent report by Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary on the No. 3 area (north-east) of the Metropolitan police. [41280]

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes. I have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from the report, together with the Commissioner's responses and the police authority responses, which take into account the advice my right hon. and learned Friend and I have received from the Metropolitan police committee.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions over the past 12 months there were two or fewer traffic division cars, other than those dedicated to work on the M25, operating in the Metropolitan police area. [40332]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: Records prior to January 1996 do not show this precise information. The Commissioner tells me that from January 1996 to August 1996—inclusive—records show that on no occasion were there two or fewer traffic division cars, other than those dedicated to work on the M25, operating in the Metropolitan police district.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of police officers dedicated to traffic division operations in the past 10 years in the Metropolitan police area. [40339]
  999
  Mr. Maclean
  No records were kept of the number of police officers dedicated to traffic division operations prior to 1994. Figures since then are as follows:

  Rank

  1994 (as at 31 December)

  1995 (as at 31 December)

  19961 (as at 31 August)

  Superintendent

  8

  0

  0

  Chief Inspector

  8

  5

  5

  Inspector

  30

  30

  27

  Police Sergeant

  101

  108

  109

  Police Constable

  670

  689

  685

  Total

  817

  832

  826

  1 The 1996 figures are provisional.

  Police (M25)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the number of police officers dedicated to policing the M25 has varied over the past 10 years, to take account of the changing traffic flows on the motorway; and if he will make a statement. [40331]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: Allocation of police resources to the M25 is an operational matter for the chief officers concerned. They are represented on a dedicated M25 group within the national motorway conference of the Association of Chief Police Officers Traffic Committee. I understand that resources are used in a flexible way to match them to anticipated demands and that a number of factors are taken into account including the time of day, the season and the sector of the motorway.

  Operation Bumble Bee
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in the number of burglaries in Greater London since the introduction of Operation Bumble Bee. [40458]

  Mr. Maclean
  Operation Bumble Bee was launched, on 1 June 1993, as a Metropolitan police initiative against burglary. Comparison of the 12-month rolling recorded burglary figures, incorporating both residential and non-residential burglary offences, for the Metropolitan police district for the years to May 1993 and to August 1996 are as in the following table:

  Offences

  June 1992 to May 1993

  189,514

  July 1995 to June 1996

  165,566

  Variation

  -23,948

  Percentage change

  -13

  Amyl-Nitrate
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to restrict over-the-counter sales of amyl-nitrate to juniors; and if he will make a statement. [40768]

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand from the Medicines Control Agency that products containing amyl-nitrate are not legally available over the counter. They are medicinal 1000
  products and are controlled by the Medicines Act 1968. Only doctors and chemists can supply this type of medicine to the public and their sale from other outlets is illegal.

  The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has considered on a number of occasions whether alkyl-nitrates, of which amyl-nitrate is one, should be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. On the last occasion, in 1995, the council concluded that they did not give rise to a social problem justifying their control under the provisions of the 1971 Act. That remains the present position, but the situation will continue to be monitored.

  Civil Defence Grant
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the planned levels for local authority civil defence grant for 1997–98 and subsequent financial years. [40819]

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

  Mortgage Fraud
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the criminal law in relation to mortgage frauds following the decision of the House of Lords in R v. Preddy, R v. Slade and R v. Dhillon (1996) 3 All ER 481; and if he will make a statement. [40434]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 15 October 1996.

  Military Corrective Centre, Colchester
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures have been adopted to designate the military corrective centre at Colchester a young offender institution; when the procedures were implemented; and if he will make a statement [40431]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The building at the military corrective training centre which we intend to use as a young offender institution will be declared to be such in the normal way by the Director General of the Prison Service acting on behalf of the Secretary of State under section 33(2) of the Prison Act 1952.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotion and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40616]

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is provided in the table.

  Financial years

  Publicity £

  Promotion £

  Hospitality £

  1990–91

  9,982,136

  69,340

  30,080

  1991–92

  10,570,379

  305,849

  28,094

  1992–93

  12,745,124

  228,493

  55,651

  1993–94

  14,028,929

  123,620

  49,017

  1994–95

  14,034,417

  67,941

  27,468

  1995–96

  10,731,655

  57,454

  38,604

  1001

  Metropolitan Police Brass Band
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has(a) to reduce the funding of or (b) to disband the Metropolitan police brass band. [40817]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a recent review of the Metropolitan police central support services has recommended replacing the current full-time civilian Metropolitan police band with a less expensive alternative. Following a consultation period, the Commissioner will discuss this and other recommendations with his senior colleagues. Final proposals are expected shortly.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40634]

  Mr. Howard
  This is a matter of public record.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on proposals to regulate the activities of firms engaging in wheel clamping vehicles on private land. [40442]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mrs. Maddock), the Automobile Association, the British Parking Association, and legislation on car clamping.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce proposals arising from his consultation on wheel clamping. [4296]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government are still considering what action should be taken to regulate wheel clamping on private land. We shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will issue further guidance on the position of female asylum seekers from China who base their claim for asylum on Chinese laws specifying forced abortion, contraception and sterilisation; [41086]

  (2) if asylum caseworkers have been instructed to take into account the threat of forcible abortion or sterilisation; [41085]

  (3) if asylum caseworkers have now been instructed to take into account forced contraception, with particular reference to the forced insertion of intra-uterine devices. [41084]

  Miss Widdecombe
  A copy of the guidance which has been issued to asylum caseworkers on applications involving allegations of forcible abortion, sterilisation or genital mutilation has been placed in the Library. Where other forms of physical abuse are alleged, these are considered in the light of the circumstances of each case.
  1002
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people who had applied for asylum were deported from(a) Doncaster prison and (b) The Wolds prison during each month from May to September; and what were the nationalities of those deported; [40869]

  (2) how many people who had applied for asylum were detained in (a) Doncaster prison and (b) The Wolds prison during each month from May to September; and what were the nationalities of those detained. [40868]

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

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992, in 1996 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in. [41180]

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

  Buckley Hall Prison
  Mr. Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current full complement by grade of(a) part-time and (b) full-time staff, employed by Group 4 at HMP Buckley Hall; and what changes to staffing levels have occurred in the last three months; [40980]

  (2) what percentage of temporary release decisions have resulted in temporary release failures at (a) HMP Buckley Hall and (b) other male category C training prisons since (i) 9 July 1996 and (ii) 14 December 1994; [40976]

  (3) if he will specify (a) what injuries were sustained by the prisoner Keith Tierney following his assault by another prisoner at HMP Buckley Hall in August, (b) what level of medical treatment was received by Keith Tierney following the assault, (c) how soon after the assault Keith Tierney's family were informed of his injuries, (d) what knowledge HMP Buckley Hall had at the time of this assault of assaults already received by Keith Tierney at other prisons, (e) what measures had been adopted at HMP Buckley Hall at the time of the assault and to minimise the risk of assault for Keith Tierney; [40982]

  (4) if he will list the number and types of incidents reported to the Prison Service in relation to Buckley Hall since (a) 12 June 1996 and (b) 14 December 1994; [40974]

  (5) what is the current staffing ratio for non-health staff to prisoners at (a) HMP Buckley Hall and (b) other male category C training prisons; [40978]

  (6) if he will list the representatives of (a) overseas Governments and (b) ministries of justice that have visited HMP Buckley Hall since 14 December 1994; and on what dates the visits occurred. [40977]
  1003
  (7) how many serious assaults have occurred on prisoners in HMP Buckley Hall since 14 December 1994; [40975]

  (8) how many serious assaults have occurred on staff in HMP Buckley Hall since 16 July 1995; and what is the total number of assaults on staff that have occurred at the prison since 14 December 1994. [40979]

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

  Letter from Hugh Taylor to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about Buckley Hall prison.
  The information requested is not immediately available and the Director General will write to you in full as soon as possible.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason Recruitment and Assessment Services was asked to delay the processing of applicants for appointments to the board of the Criminal Cases Review Commission; on what date it was given clearance to proceed; and if he will make a statement. [41060]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Recruitment and Assessment Services was not asked to delay the processing of applicants for the posts of members of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. It was unable to inform applicants about the outcome of their applications until all the applications had been considered and sifted. This process took longer than anticipated due to the large number of applications received. Preliminary interviews for the posts began on 3 September; the final interviews will be held during the next few weeks.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current budget for the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and how much has so far been spent. [41059]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The provisional budget for setting up and operating the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 1996–97 is £5 million. Up to 30 September, £104,000 had been spent, although much more has been committed in terms of accommodation and equipment for the commission.

  Ms. Sandra Gregory
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision exists to enable Ms Sandra Gregory, currently serving a 22—year sentence in Klong Prem womens' prison, Bangkok, to serve the rest of her sentence in a British prison. [40936]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I will write to the hon Member.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to place a safety net in the open space between the first floor landing and 1004
  the ground floor at Doncaster prison to prevent (a) self-harm by prisoners and (b) harm to prison staff by prisoners; and if he will make a statement; [40864]

  (2) how many prisoners and from which of Her Majesty's prison establishments worked at Goodwood racecourse during its July meetings; how they were selected; if they were recompensed for the work; what was the total cost of the service; what proportion of this was borne by (a) the racecourse executive and (b) from public funds; and if he will make a statement; [40866]

  (3) what is the (a) current number and (b) percentage of the current prison population at HMP Doncaster who have been imprisoned for (i) rape, (ii) murder, (iii) armed robbery, (iv) manslaughter and (v) arson; and what were the equivalent figures for 12 months ago; [40853]

  (4) how may prisoners and from which of Her Majesty's prison establishments have worked at Doncaster racecourse during the last 12 months; how they were selected; if they were recompensed for the work; what was the total cost of the service; what proportion of this was borne by (a) the racecourse executive and (b) from public funds; and if he will make a statement; [40867]

  (5) which trade unions are recognised by Premier Prison Services at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster; and in respect of which issues the company is prepared to consult and negotiate with each trade union. [40854]

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

  Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about Doncaster prison and prisoners working at Goodwood.
  The information requested is not immediately available and the Director General will write to you in full as soon as possible.

  Prisoners (Closed Visits)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are subject to closed visits; how long this policy has been in force; and how often it is reviewed. [40847]

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

  Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent question about closed visits.
  The information requested is not immediately available and the Director General will write to you in full as soon as possible.

  Detainees
  Mr. Richmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people detained in(a) Doncaster prison and (b) The Wolds prison under

  1005
  Immigration Act powers were deported in each month from May to September; and what were the nationalities of those deported; [40871]

  (2) how many people were detained in (a) Doncaster prison and (b) the Wolds prison, under Immigration Act powers, in each month from May to September; and what were the nationalities of those detained. [70870]

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

  Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about people deported under Immigration Act powers.
  The information requested is not immediately available and the Director General will write to you as soon as possible with a full reply.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many schools in South Yorkshire to date have applied for funding for closed circuit television; and what percentage of them were successful; [40865]

  (2) how much money his Department contributed towards each project in South Yorkshire which was successful for closed circuit television this year and what percentage this was of the total cost of each project. [40993]

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

  New Buildings and Premises
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41142]

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

  Dassault Aviation
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the visit by police to the chalet of Dassault Aviation during the Farnborough air show. [40943]

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

  Traffic Division Operations
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been dedicated to traffic division operations in(a) Thames Valley, (b) Hertfordshire, (c) Essex, (d) Surrey and (e) Sussex in each of the last 10 years. [41194]

  Mr. Maclean
  I will write to the hon. Member.
  1006

  James Hanratty Case
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take following receipt of the Scotland Yard report into the A6 James Hanratty murder case; and if he will make a statement. [41200]

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

  Stalking
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 523, if he will now give details of the number of people prosecuted for stalking under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as it related to crimes of intentional harassment. [41240]

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

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce his conclusions in the light of responses to the consultation document "Stalking: The Solutions." [41275]

  Mr. Maclean
  I shall be making an announcement on Friday.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capacity of electricity used in his Department's buildings is generated in a combined heat and power plant; and what plans he has to increase that capacity. [41323]

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

  London Fire and Civil Defence Authority
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reached a decision on the application from the London fire and civil defence authority under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947. [41279]

  Mr. Howard
  I have approved proposals put to me by the London fire and civil defence authority for the removal of one of two pumping appliances at each of 14 fire stations in London, the removal of a fire rescue unit and a reduction in establishment of 316 posts. The pumping appliances are in the fire stations at Barnet, Chiswick, Deptford, East Greenwich, Fulham, Hendon, Millwall, Sidcup, Silvertown, Southwark, Twickenham, Wimbledon, Woodford and Woodside. I have rejected the proposal by the authority to remove one of the appliances from the fire station at Battersea on the grounds that I am not satisfied that adequate consideration has been given to the representations that have been made to the authority about the arrangements for dealing with special fire risks.

  The primary responsibility for deciding what resources are needed to provide an efficient and effective fire service in London and how those resources should be deployed rests with the fire authority. In reaching a decision on its application, very careful consideration has been given to the representations that have been received. I have also sought the views of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services. I have accepted his firm professional advice that if those proposals which I have

  1007
  now agreed are implemented by the fire authority, nationally recommended fire cover standards will still be maintained throughout London.

  Ministry of Transport Certificates
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years against private individuals or companies for forging their MOT certificates. [40351]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: The following table gives the readily available information:

  Total number of proceedings for the offence of fraud, forgery etc. of test certificates, England and Wales, 1990–94

  Number

  1990

  638

  1991

  732

  1992

  676

  1993

  978

  1994

  1,803

  Statistics for 1995 are due to be published at the end of October 1996.

  Juries (Fraud Trials)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the use of juries in fraud trial cases; and if he will make a statement. [40553]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 October 1996]: The Government are keeping the handling of long and complex fraud trials under close review in the light of changing circumstances and recent developments.

  An examination of the role of the jury is one of the important issues which arises in this context and the Government are considering carefully the merits of any potential change.

  Prison Releases
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that prison release dates are calculated correctly; how many prisoners were recently wrongly released; how many reoffended or in other ways breached the conditions of their release; and if he will make a statement. [40560]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 15 October 1996]: The Government had proposed in March that there should be new arrangements in England and Wales for determining the effect on release dates of time spent on remand. These proposals, set out in the White Paper "Protecting the Public" provide that in all cases the judge will determine, when passing sentence, how much remand time will count against the sentence.

  Following the recent clarification of existing law by the High Court in the case of R v. Naughton, governors have been issued with fresh guidance stating that remand time in relation to consecutive sentences cannot be counted more than once.
  1008
  Of the 541 prisoners serving consecutive sentences who were released early, figures for the period ending 11 October show that nine prisoners have been returned to prison either for breach of their licence or following commission of further offences, or both. Information about any prisoner who may have been arrested for alleged further offences and has not been remanded in custody is not available.

  Witnesses (Cross-examination)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the law as it applies to the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses in cases of alleged sexual assault and related areas; and if he will make a statement. [40550]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 15 October 1996]: The Criminal Justice Act 1988 already prohibits a defendant from questioning a child witness in cases of sexual offences and cruelty. My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 8 October that he would like to see similar protection extended to protect victims of alleged sexual assault. A review is being undertaken to look at ways in which this might best be achieved.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people to date have lost their reduced earnings allowances in each of the benefit districts in Wales. [40465]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 15 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary question asking how many people to date have lost their Reduced Earnings Allowances (REA) in each of the benefit districts in Wales.
  I have assumed this question refers solely to Adjudication Officer's decisions to transfer over pensionable age (as at 24 March 1996) REA recipients to retirement Allowance following the coming into force of the Social Security (Industrial Injuries and Diseases) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 on 24 March 1996.
  As at 31 August 1996, the number of people whose entitlement to REA has been transferred to Retirement Allowance by each District in Wales is detailed in the table below:—

  Benefits agency district

  Number of cases transferred

  West Wales

  242

  Gwent Borders

  57

  Swansea Bay

  266

  Mid Glamorgan

  690

  Wrexham and North Wales

  176

  Cardiff and Vales

  82

  Gwyneddigion Maldwy

  102

  Eastern Valleys

  335

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
  I hope this reply will be helpful.
  1009
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the additional costs of holding the appeals against the withdrawal of the reduced earnings allowance. [40462]

  Mr. Evans
  Assuming that approximately 25 per cent. of the reduced earnings allowance recipients transferred to retirement allowance following the introduction of amending legislation will appeal against the adjudication officer's decision, the total cost of the processing and holding the appeals is estimated to be in the region of £1 million.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who have suffered a reduction in the related earnings allowance with the introduction of the retirement allowance in the benefit offices covering(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough. [40836]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate he has made of the number of people who have suffered a reduction in the reduced earnings allowance with the introduction of the retirement allowance in the benefit offices covering (a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because statistics are collected by Benefits Agnecy Districts and not by individual benefit offices. I have provided below the figures for Doncaster District which includes Doncaster Castle House and Doncaster St Peters House and Rother and Dearne District which includes Goldthorpe, Mexborough, Rotherham North, Rotherham South and Wathon Dearne. These figures are provisional and may be subject to amendment.
  In order to assess these people who might be transferred to Retirement Allowance under amending legislation (Social Security (Industrial Injuries and Diseases) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996) which came into force on 24 March 1996, the Benefits Agency identified all Reduced Earnings Allowance recipients over pensionable age as at 24 March 1996. As a result of assessing all those cases identified in the Doncaster and Rother and Dearne Districts the numbers whose benefit has been reduced are as follows:—

  (a) Doncaster District: 291

  (b) Rother and Dearne District: 349

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people covered by the Seaham and Peterlee Benefits Agency offices have had retirement allowance substituted for reduced earnings allowance. [41221]

  Mr. Evans
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Appeals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence between his Department and the Council on Tribunals regarding the draft of the Social Security (Adjudication) and Child Support Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1996; [40594]
  1010
  (2) if members of social security appeal tribunals, disability appeal tribunals and child support appeal tribunals will receive the documents relating to appeals in advance of the hearing in cases where an oral hearing is not requested; [40781]

  (3) if he will ensure that, before the chairman of a tribunal gives notice for the determination forthwith of an appeal which he believes has no reasonable prospect of success, the appellant has been given an opportunity to request an oral hearing and any such request has been complied with; [40783]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the percentage of successful appeals to a social security appeal tribunal if the appellant (a) requests and (b) does not request an oral hearing; [40786]

  (5) if he will defer the coming into force of the Social Security (Adjudication) and Child Support Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1996 to allow time for a debate on the proposed changes in the rights of appellants; [40816]

  (6) what assistance will be provided to ensure that appellants from tribunal decisions are able to comply with the requirement to include in their appeal a summary of the arguments relied on by them. [40782]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 23 July,Official Report, column 299.

  We do not intend to postpone the introduction of these regulations. They are essential to allow for improvements to the service offered appellants and any delay in their coming into force will only delay the point at which improvements can be made. Copies of subsequent correspondence between departmental officials and the Council on Tribunals concerning these amendments have been placed in the Library.

  The appeal leaflet is being re-written to tell appellants the type of information required to support their appeal. Staff of the relevant agencies and other advice agencies will continue to provide advice as they do now. The independent tribunal service will tell the appellant if the information given is insufficient.

  The right to an oral hearing is not modified by the power of the chairman to determine the appeal forthwith. The appellant will be asked in all cases if he wants an oral hearing. Currently, success rates for those people who choose to attend their hearing are around 53 per cent. compared to 15 per cent. for those people who choose not to attend. I have made no assumption about whether these figures will change following the introduction of the requirement to opt for an oral hearing. An evaluation will be undertaken once the new procedures have been in place for a reasonable time. The requirement to opt for an oral hearing will enable the independent tribunal service arrange non-attended hearings more efficiently.

  The issuing of documents to tribunal members about appeals is a question for the president of the independent tribunal service, His Honour Judge Bassingthwaighte, who will write to the hon. Member shortly.
  1011

  Family Credit
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of family credit in(a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Yorkshire and Humberside in 1988 and in each year since then. [40238]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 15 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were in receipt of Family Credit (FC) in York, North Yorkshire and Yorkshire and Humberside in 1988 and each year since then.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because the FC computer system holds records of the total number of claims received, awarded and disallowed on a national basis. Details are not broken down into individual towns or areas.
  However, statistics are available which indicate the number of families in receipt of FC within a Benefits Agency (BA) office area at a particular date. The information is only available from 1993 onwards as details relating to FC claims are normally destroyed after 18 months. The details available for each BA office in the Yorkshire and Humberside area, and the date of each scan, are shown in the attached Annex.
  I hope that you find this reply useful. If you would like any further information regarding the Family Credit scheme please write to Miss J Geering, Customer Service Manager, Family Credit unit, Government Buildings, Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 OSA.

  BA office

  28 May 1993

  15 April 1994

  13 April 1995

  12 April 1996

  York

  1,869

  2,174

  2,459

  2,793

  (North Yorkshire)

  Harrogate

  965

  1,049

  1,197

  1,391

  Northallerton

  858

  1,005

  1,085

  1,289

  Scarborough

  1,252

  1,417

  1,618

  1,794

  Skipton

  302

  371

  413

  565

  Total

  3,377

  3,842

  4,313

  5,039

  (Yorkshire and Humherside)

  Bamsley (East)

  1,178

  1,362

  1,464

  1,289

  Barnsley (West)

  678

  890

  1,147

  1,710

  Bradford (East)

  1,818

  2,143

  2,472

  2,736

  Bradford (South)

  1,755

  2,169

  2,357

  2,643

  Bradford (West)

  1,853

  2,093

  2,289

  2,494

  Castleford

  658

  830

  969

  891

  Dewsbury

  2,484

  2,889

  3,220

  3,468

  Doncaster (East)

  1,229

  1,366

  1,483

  1,709

  Doncaster (West)

  1,378

  1,727

  2,078

  2,597

  Goole

  517

  598

  624

  739

  Grimsby

  2,528

  3,007

  3,400

  3,829

  Halifax

  2,408

  2,690

  2,931

  3,160

  Hemsworth

  297

  488

  606

  779

  Huddersfield

  2,015

  2,331

  2,620

  2,969

  Keighley

  1,542

  1,712

  1,906

  1,971

  Leeds (East)

  1,902

  2,239

  2,352

  2,617

  Leeds (North-west)

  1,445

  1,661

  1,812

  1,951

  Leeds (North)

  1,628

  1,752

  1,962

  2,101

  Leeds (South)

  1,160

  1,289

  1,451

  1,558

  Leeds (West)

  1,611

  1,822

  1,865

  2,070

  Rotherham (North)

  647

  703

  742

  619

  Rotherham (South)

  1,603

  2,046

  2,408

  2,759

  Scunthorpe

  1,258

  1,441

  1,714

  1,865

  Sheffield (North-east)

  1,354

  1,593

  1,731

  2,135

  Sheffield (North-west)

  1,431

  1,509

  1,756

  1,978

  Sheffield (South-east)

  993

  1,117

  1,266

  1,505

  Sheffield (South-west)

  900

  1,043

  1,178

  1,401

  Wakefield

  1,465

  1,681

  1,844

  1,983

  Wath On Dearne

  515

  684

  921

  1,119

  Total

  40,250

  46,875

  52,586

  58,645

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.
  1012
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of lone-parent families received family credit in each of the last 10 years. [41025]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is set out in the table.

  Number of Family Credit Lone Parents

  Year

  Number of cases

  Percentage of lone parent population

  1986

  83,000

  9

  1987

  92,000

  9

  1988

  74,000

  7

  1989

  114,000

  10

  1990

  122,000

  10

  1991

  132,000

  10

  1992

  160,000

  11

  1993

  208,000

  14

  1994

  236,000

  15

  1995

  268,000

  16

  Notes:

  1. Family Income Supplement data for 1986 and 1987 are as at April, Family Credit data from 1988 onwards are based on May.

  2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Sources:

  Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 1996.

  Social Security Statistics 1986–1987.

  Lone Parent population data are based on DSS Estimates from General Household Survey.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of family credit in 1994–95; and how many people were in receipt of this benefit. [40143]

  Mr. Evans
  Expenditure on family credit in 1994–95 was £1,441 million. In March 1995, there were 602,000 families in receipt of the benefit.

  Sources:

  1. 1996 Departmental Report.

  2. Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards at 31 March 1995.

  Note:

  Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the effect of the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance in regard to the cost of family credit. [40144]

  Mr. Evans
  In the long term, the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance is estimated to increase the cost of the family credit by up to £10 million. This figure does not include behavioural effects.

  Source:

  Family Credit Expenditure Survey data.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have taken place in the number of recipients of family credit in each area of Yorkshire; and how those figures compare with the position one year earlier. [40147]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Peter Hardy, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what changes have taken place in the number of recipients of Family Credit (FC) in each area of Yorkshire; and how those figures compare with the position one year earlier.

  1013
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because the FC computer system holds records of the total number of claims received, awarded and disallowed on a national basis. Details are not broken down into individual towns or areas.
  However, statistics are available which indicate the number of families in receipt of FC within a Benefits Agency (BA) office are at a particular date. The details available for each BA office in the Yorkshire area, and the date of each scan, are shown in the attached Annex.
  I hope that you find the information useful. If you would like any further information regarding the Family Credit scheme please write to Miss J Geering, Customer Service Manager, Family Credit Unit, Government Buildings, Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 0SA.

  Scan Date:

  Benefit office

  13 April 1995

  12 April 1996

  +/-

  Barnsley (East)

  1,464

  1,289

  -175

  Barnsley (West

  1,147

  1,710

  +563

  Bradford (East)

  2,472

  2,736

  +264

  Bradford (South)

  2,375

  2,643

  +268

  Bradford (West)

  2,289

  2,494

  +205

  Castleford

  969

  891

  -78

  Dewsbury

  3,220

  3,468

  +248

  Doncaster (East)

  1,483

  1,709

  +226

  Doncaster (West)

  2,078

  2,597

  +519

  Goole

  624

  739

  +115

  Grimsby

  3,400

  3,829

  +429

  Halifax

  2,931

  3,160

  +229

  Harrogate

  1,197

  1,391

  +194

  Hemsworth

  606

  779

  +173

  Hudders field

  2,620

  2,969

  +349

  Keighley

  1,906

  1,971

  +65

  Leeds (East)

  2,352

  2,617

  +265

  Leeds (North-west)

  1,812

  1,951

  +139

  Leeds (North)

  1,962

  2,101

  +139

  Leeds (South)

  1,451

  1,558

  +107

  Leeds (West)

  1,865

  2,070

  +205

  Northallerton

  1,085

  1,289

  +204

  Rotherham (North)

  742

  619

  -123

  Rotherham (South)

  2,408

  2,759

  +351

  Scarborough

  1,618

  1,794

  +176

  Scunthorpe

  1,714

  1,865

  +151

  Sheffield (North-east)

  1,731

  2,135

  +404

  Sheffield (North-west)

  1,756

  1,978

  +222

  Sheffield (South-east)

  1,266

  1,505

  +239

  Sheffield (South-west)

  1,178

  1,401

  +223

  Skipton

  413

  565

  +152

  Wakefield

  1,844

  1,983

  +139

  Wath on Dearne

  921

  1,119

  198

  York

  2,459

  2,793

  +334

  Total

  59,358

  66,477

  +7,119

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the population is in receipt of family credit in each region of the United Kingdom. [40146]

  Mr. Evans
  The available information is set out in the table.

  This Department is responsible for social security in Great Britain and can therefore provide information only for England, Scotland and Wales.

  I would therefore refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for figures for Northern Ireland.
  1014

  Family credit cases and beneficiaries by social security administrative region

  Region

  Number of cases

  Number of beneficiaries

  Beneficiaries as a percentage of population

  North Eastern

  122,000

  433,000

  —

  London North

  81,000

  298,000

  —

  London South

  71,000

  260,000

  —

  South Western

  54,000

  196,000

  —

  Midlands

  121,000

  440,000

  —

  North Western

  106,000

  374,000

  —

  England

  553,000

  2,000,000

  4.1

  Scotland

  73,000

  237,000

  4.6

  Wales

  40,000

  142,000

  4.9

  Great Britain/total

  666,000

  2,379,000

  4.2

  Sources:

  1. Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards at 29 February 1996.

  2. Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys.

  Notes:

  1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. "Beneficiaries" include the Family Credit claimant, a partner if present, and any children or dependents included in the Family Credit assessment.

  3. The population figures used for comparison are the mid-year estimates for 1994 which are the latest available. Resident populations for Social Security.

  4. Administrative Regions are not available.

  Benefits Freeline Advisory Service
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many calls were received by the benefits freeline advisory service in Wales in the last year; and how many came from the Rhymney Merthyr benefit districts. [40325]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many calls were received by the Benefits Freeline Advisory Service in Wales in the last year; and how many came from the Rhymney Merthyr benefit districts.
  The information is not available in the format requested. The number of calls received has been taken to mean the number of calls answered by an advisor. The Benefits Freeline Advisory Service in Wales received 12,000 calls in the year April 1995 to March 1996. This figure has been rounded to the nearest 1,000. However no records have been kept indicating where calls originated from.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema.
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to respond to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Committee's report on chronic bronchitis and emphysema. [40714]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  No decision has yet been made with regard to the recommendations set out in the report, which is being given full and careful consideration. We will
  1015
  announce the decision as soon as we have completed our necessarily detailed examination of the issues it raises.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by region the number of claims that have been made for industrial injuries benefit in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema; how many have been successful; how many have been refused; and for what reasons. [40715]

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

  Chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema activity from 1 April 1996 to 31 August 1996 analysed by benefits agency area directorate

  Claims received

  Successful claims

  Claims disallowed

  Disallowed under:

  20 year rule1

  1–13 per cent.2

  Fev(1) test3

  x-ray4

  AD1 East London and Anglia

  4

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  AD2 Chilterns

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  AD3 London south

  3

  1

  7

  5

  0

  2

  0

  AD4 West Country

  5

  2

  4

  1

  0

  0

  3

  AD5 Mercia

  230

  44

  131

  18

  0

  55

  58

  AD6 West Midlands

  11

  2

  10

  2

  0

  3

  5

  AD7 Wales

  220

  28

  150

  14

  2

  75

  59

  AD8 North west Coast

  24

  5

  18

  6

  0

  3

  9

  AD9 Greater Manchester

  23

  4

  18

  4

  0

  2

  12

  AD10 Yorkshire

  232

  53

  291

  17

  0

  128

  146

  AD11 Tyne Tees

  83

  6

  57

  6

  0

  31

  20

  AD12 West of Scotland

  4

  0

  3

  1

  0

  1

  1

  AD13 East of Scotland

  28

  3

  40

  7

  0

  14

  19

  The number of claims received includes claims that will not have been determined by 31 August 1996 and the number of successful and disallowed claims includes claims received before 1 April 1996.

  1 20 year rule: these cases were disallowed because the customer had not worked underground for at least 20 years.

  2 Disablement 1–13 per cent, cases disallowed because Industrial Injuries benefit only becomes payable at 14 per cent, disablement and the customer had no other entitlements which, when added to the CB and E assessment, would result in an aggregated minimum 14 per cent, disablement.

  3 Customers failed the FEV (1) test: cases disallowed because the lung capacity test did not show that the customer's lung capacity was sufficiently restricted.

  4 Customers failed the x-ray test: cases disallowed because findings from the customer's x-rays(s) were not sufficiently conclusive in respect of dust retention.

  Source:

  Benefits Agency Central Data Unit. Based on 100 per cent. count and subject to amendment. NB: not all claims will have been decided by 31 August 1996.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotion and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40615]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 25 April,Official Report, column 249.

  Unfortunately, there was a typographical error in the answer I gave relating to the total amount of expenditure on publicity for the year 1994–95.

  The information is not available in the format requested as it is not possible to separate promotional activities from publicity undertaken. Such information as is available is in the lists.

  TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON PUBLICITY

  1990–91: £12,316,239

  1016
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list by region the number of claims that have been made for Industrial Injuries Benefit in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema; how many have been successful; how many have been refused; and for what reasons.
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the attached table. Statistics are not kept which are specific to regions, but are kept by Benefit Agency Area Directorate.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  1991–92: £17546,566

  1992–93: £19,510,968

  1993–94: £18,333,603

  1994–95: £20,054,914

  1995–96: £20,085,672

  TOTAL EXPENDITURE. ON HOSPITALITY

  1990–91: £75,778

  1991–92: £91,934

  1992–93: £175,901

  1993–94: £165,565

  1994–95: £127,139

  1995–96: £99,929

  Figures are for expenditure by Departmental Headquarters, all Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies.
  1017

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has for the privatisation of the Benefits Agency; and if he will make a statement. [41169]

  Mr. Lilley
  There are no proposals to privatise the Benefits Agency.

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

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the estimated total annual saving to the Benefits Agency of the proposed closure of the advice offices in Morley, Rothwell and Otley on 31 December; [41167]

  (2) what is his estimate of the numbers of people calling for information or advice at the Benefits Agency Office in Morley in each week of its operation; and how many of these he estimates will journey to Leeds for advice; [41159]

  (3) what was the cost to his Department of setting up the benefits advice office in Morley; and what was the cost to the Benefits Agency of running the office in 1995–96. [41168]

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what representations he has received concerning the change programme in the Benefits Agency; and if he will make a statement; [41271]

  (2) what plans he has to meet the Civil and Public Services Association to discuss the change programme of the Benefits Agency; and if he will make a statement. [41272]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I will write to the lion. Members shortly.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the offices within his Department that have been closed in the(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough area for each of the last five years. [40856]

  Mr. Burt
  In the five years prior to August 1996, no offices were closed in the Doncaster and Mexborough area.

  In August 1996 the Benefits Agency took occupation of a new building at Crossgate house, Wood street, Doncaster. While meeting the current future operational needs and the requirements of its customers, it enabled rationalisation of the overall DSS occupied estate in Doncaster. As a result four buildings occupied by, DSS in Doncaster were closed: St. Peters house, Castle house, Silver house medical examination centre and Arndale house medical adjudication centre.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he is yet in a position to report on the tenders submitted to him for the Benefit Agency's1018
  telephone interpreting service; and if he will make a statement. [40987]

  Mr. Evans
  A framework agreement has been negotiated with Language Line Ltd. for the provision of a telephone interpretation service to the Benefits Agency and other interested Government Departments. Unsuccessful tenderers were informed by letter dated 14 October 1996. Debriefs for the unsuccessful tenderers are currently being arranged with the first debrief organised for 7 November 1996.

  BA Purchasing and Supply, which let the contract on behalf of the Department of Social Security, is confident that the successful tender will provide an improved service in terms of quality of interpretation.

  Lone Parents
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total benefit expenditure on lone parents whose youngest child is over five years old. [41017]

  Mr. Burt
  Benefit expenditure on lone parents whose youngest child is over five years, for the main benefits paid to lone parents, has been estimated using departmental data and is set out in the table.

  £ million

  Year

  1995–96

  One parent benefit

  209

  Family credit

  491

  Child benefit

  810

  Housing and council tax benefits

  1,950

  Income support

  1,881

  Total benefit

  5,341

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey and various Analytical Services Division sample data.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the benefit bill for(a) income support, (b) family credit, (c) housing benefit, (d) council tax benefit, (e) one parent benefit and (f) lone-parent premium for lone parents by English region. [41027]

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

  Information for 1995–96 for (a), (c) and (d) is shown in table 1 and for (b) is shown in table 2.

  Expenditure by region for one-parent benefit and lone parent premium is not available.

  Components of a benefit award cannot be separately identified. The lone-parent premium is payable with income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. The income support lone-parent premium was worth £5.20 in April 1995. This would give implied expenditure in England for 1995–96 of £243 million for income support.
  1019
  The equivalent amounts for housing benefit and council tax benefit, excluding income support recipients, are £61 million and £57 million.

  However, some recipients will receive an overall amount of benefit which is less than the value of the premium.

  Table 1

  Region

  Income support

  Housing benefit

  Council tax benefit

  East Anglia

  116

  65

  10

  East Midlands

  260

  130

  25

  North

  247

  126

  25

  North West

  569

  295

  58

  South East

  1,416

  983

  132

  South West

  274

  169

  26

  West Midlands

  381

  186

  33

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  352

  166

  32

  All regions

  3,614

  2,119

  342

  Table 2

  Region

  Family credit

  North Eastern

  143

  London North

  78

  Wales and South Western

  100

  Midlands

  130

  North Western

  132

  London South

  74

  All regions

  657

  Notes:

  1. Information on income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit is provided by standard statistical region. Information on family credit is only available by social security administrative region.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £ million.

  Sources:

  1. Total expenditure figures are consistent with the 1996 Departmental Report.

  2. Housing benefit and council tax benefit figures are estimates derived from the annual 1 per cent. housing benefit sample enquiry.

  3. Income support figures are estimates derived from the income support statistical enquiry May 1995 (5 per cent. sample). Family credit figures are derived from the family credit statistical sample (5 per cent. sample). Expenditure has been calculated from average weekly payments and Number of claimants.

  4. A recent costing suggests that relatively few lone parents receive benefit less than the value of the premium.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the definition of availability for work for lone parents. [41015]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Lone parents with children aged under 16 may receive income support without being required to be available for work. However, they have full access to Employment Service advice and assistance if they wish to seek work. Lone parents if they choose may claim jobseeker's allowance at any time, rather than income support, but once their youngest child is aged 16 or over they may claim only jobseeker's allowance and must be available for work.

  Lone parents who claim JSA must be willing and able to accept a job offer given 48 hours' notice. They may
  1020
  restrict their availability for employment provided that they are available for the maximum hours that their responsibility for the care of their children allows; that they retain reasonable prospects of securing employment despite their restrictions; and that they are available for a minimum of 16 hours a week.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of lone-parent families received income support in each of the last 10 years. [41021]

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Number of Income Support Lone Parents

  Year

  Number of cases

  Percentage of lone parent population

  1986

  575,000

  62

  1987

  629,000

  64

  1988

  694,000

  66

  1989

  756,000

  67

  1990

  793,000

  65

  1991

  871,000

  66

  1992

  957,000

  68

  1993

  1,013,000

  68

  1994

  1,039,000

  66

  1995

  1,056,000

  64

  Notes:

  1. Lone parents are defined as those receiving the lone parent premium.

  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Sources:

  1. Supplementary Benefit/Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries 1986–93.

  2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries May 1994 and May 1995.

  3. Lone Parent population data are based on DSS estimates from General Household Survey.

  Miss Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total benefit expenditure on lone parents in each of the last 10 years; and what it is estimated to be in the current year. [41022]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is set out in the table.

  £ million

  Year

  Lone parents

  1986–87

  2,659

  1987–88

  2,972

  1988–89

  3,542

  1989–90

  3,961

  1990–91

  4,680

  1991–92

  5,728

  1992–93

  7,107

  1993–94

  8,124

  1994–95

  8,884

  1994–95

  9,510

  1995–96

  9,871

  Source:

  March 1996 Departmental Report and earlier equivalents.

  Notes:

  1. Outturn figures from 1986–87 to 1994–95, estimated outturn for 1995–96 and planned figure for 1996–97.

  2. Expenditure is classified by beneficiary group according to the main reason a benefit is paid.

  3. The benefits included in lone parent expenditure are:

  Child Benefit; One Parent Benefit; Family Credit/Family Income Supplement, Housing Benefit and Council Tax/Community Charge Benefit.
  1021

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been(a) the cost to date to the Benefits Agency of administering the habitual residence test to claimants for income support and (b) the cost to the Benefits Agency of preparing and presenting evidence for social security appeals tribunal hearings on the habitual residence test. [41032]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Robin Corbett, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what has been the cost to the Benefits Agency to date of administering the habitual residence test to claimants for Income Support (IS), and of preparing and presenting evidence at appeals tribunals on the test.
  The information is not available in the format requested. The cost of administering the habitual residence test in District Offices, including the preparation and presentation of appeals, for the period 1 August 1994 when it was introduced to 31 March 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, is as follows:

  1.8.94–31.3.95: £2,558,256

  1.4.95–31.3.96: £2,612,051

  It is not possible to separate the cost of the work associated with the preparing and presenting of evidence at appeals tribunals. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number of appeals heard after claimants have failed to meet the habitual residence test when applying for income support by tribunal centres by name, giving the numbers decided in the claimants' favour. [41033]

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

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of claimants tested and the number refused income support under the habitual residence test in each office site serving the Birmingham, Erdington constituency grouped according to United Kingdom nationals, European Economic Area nationals, or other nationals, for 1995–96 and for that period of 1996–97 for which figures are available. [41031]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Robin Corbett, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list the number of claimants tested and the number refused Income Support (IS) under the habitual residence test in each office site serving the Birmingham, Erdington constituency grouped according to United Kingdom nationals, EEA nationals, or other nationals for 1995–96 and for that period of 1996–97 for which figures are available.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because statistics are collected by Benefits Agency Districts and not by individual benefit offices. I have provided below the figures for Birmingham Tame Valley District, which covers the area of
  1022
  Birmingham Erdington, Birmingham Handsworth, Birmingham Perry Barr and Birmingham Washwood Heath. These figures are provisional and may be subject to amendment.

  Tested

  Failed

  UK nationals

  1995–96

  876

  98

  April 1996 to August 1996

  430

  70

  EEA nationals

  1995–96

  17

  8

  April 1996 to August 1996

  7

  5

  Other nationals

  1995–96

  250

  43

  April 1996to August 1996

  100

  29

  This statistical data is lodged monthly in the House of Commons Library.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total revenue collected for each year of operation of(a) Doncaster Child Support Agency field office and (b) Rotherham Child Support Agency field office for postal code area S64; and if he will indicate for (a) and (b) the (i) total running cost budget, (ii) total number of claims received and (iii) total number of (1) casual and (2) temporary staff employed. [40890]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr Martin Redmond, dated 16 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Doncaster and Rotherham Child Support Agency Offices.
  As Field offices do not collect revenue, I am not able to provide you with any information. The assessment and subsequent collection of a maintenance is undertaken by the Child Support Agency Centres (CSACs). Once in a CSAC, it is not possible to attribute an individual case's yield to the field office at which it originated.
  Since the inception of the Agency there have been several boundary changes within the Doncaster and Rotherham areas with both offices at some time being linked to others. In view of this, it is not possible to report on the running costs for these individual sites for either 1993/94 or 1994/95. This is also the case for details relating to both casual and temporary staff numbers.
  In 1995/96, Doncaster and Rotherham because a combined area. For this year the running costs were £490,508 for staff and £14,415 for non staff. During the year the number of casual and fixed term contract employees fluctuated; on average one casual and one fixed term contract employee were employed. The number of claims received in the area was 5147.
  In 1996/97, the staff costs are £474,279. There is no specific devolved budget for non staff costs in the current financial year as funds are allocated on a Divisional basis. The expenditure to date for the area is £10,181. There is currently one member of staff employed in the Doncaster/Rotherham area on a casual basis and there are three officers employed on fixed term contracts. The number of claims received in the current year (from April to September) is 2231.
  I hope this is helpful.
  1023
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the service availability of the Child Support Agency computer system in each week since 7 January. [40959]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is in the table:

  Week ending

  Service availability (percentage)

  7 January 1996

  99.9

  14 January 1996

  98.5

  21 January 1996

  98.8

  28 January 1996

  92.9

  4 February 1996

  99.7

  11 February 1996

  99.7

  18 February 1996

  95.5

  25 February 1996

  98.4

  3 March 1996

  100.0

  10 March 1996

  90.3

  17 March 1996

  100.0

  24 March 1996

  98.4

  31 March 1996

  98.6

  7 April 1996

  95.9

  14 April 1996

  97.6

  21 April 1996

  100.0

  28 April 1996

  99.9

  5 May 1996

  94.5

  12 May 1996

  99.2

  19 May 1996

  100.0

  26 May 1996

  99.9

  2 June 1996

  99.7

  9 June 1996

  99.8

  16 June 1996

  99.6

  23 June 1996

  89.6

  30 June 1996

  99.9

  7 July 1996

  98.8

  14 July 1996

  100.0

  21 July 1996

  100.0

  28 July 1996

  100.0

  4 August 1996

  74.4

  11 August 1996

  100.0

  18 August 1996

  98.6

  25 August 1996

  99.8

  1 September 1996

  88.8

  8 September 1996

  98.6

  15 September 1996

  98.6

  22 September 1996

  99.9

  29 September 1996

  100.0

  6 October 1996

  99.3

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been introduced or are in the process of being implemented as to grade and level of training for civil servants carrying out good cause interviews. [40973]

  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 Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 16 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency Good Cause process.
  1024
  Following the Government's acceptance of the Social Security Select Committee's recommendation that there should be a review of the Good Cause process, the Child Support Agency produced the Good Cause Report on 2 April 1996 which included 24 recommendations.
  The Government has accepted all 24 recommendations which included the training and grading requirements as appropriate, for staff involved in the revised Good Cause process.
  Action to implement these recommendations is well under way.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedures will exist to ensure that the opening and sorting of Child Support Agency post by Royal Mail staff will not lead to breaches of confidentiality; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which individual letters have to be read by Royal Mail staff to be effectively sorted. [40985]

  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 Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 16 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency post opening arrangements.
  Following a feasibility study carried out last year, the Agency decided to contract out its post opening requirements to the Royal Mail.
  Client confidentiality is of the utmost importance to the Agency, and was an important consideration in taking this decision. The Agency ran a pilot exercise to test procedures, and issues such as security and client confidentiality.
  In providing a sorting service to the Agency, Royal Mail are required merely to scan items of mail to ascertain their correct destination point. This is identical to the procedure previously undertaken by Agency staff. The volumes involved and the large scale use of machinery in the process makes the reading of individual letters and forms an impractical proposition. In addition. all Royal Mail staff are required to sign the Official Secrets Act: just as staff employed by the Child Support Agency.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what ways his Department takes account of the needs of pensioner households mainly dependent on benefits when uprating the old age pension. [41009]

  Mr. Burt
  Current legislation provides for the annual uprating of the state pension in line with the rise in prices. In this way, we have maintained the value of the state pension to provide a solid foundation for retirement at a time of strong pressure on public spending.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners were solely dependent on their old age pension and means-tested benefits in each of the last five years. [41000]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  The table shows estimates of the number and proportion of pensioner couples, single pensioners and all pensioner units who are solely dependent upon income from state retirement pension and income-related benefits.
  1025

  Pensioner units

  1989

  1990

  1990–91

  1992

  1993

  Single pensioners

  790,000 (18 per cent.)

  740,000 (17 per cent.)

  700,000 (16 per cent.)

  670,000 (15 per cent.)

  500,000 (11 per cent.)

  Pensioner couples

  80,000 (3 per cent.)

  180,000 (7 per cent.)

  150,000 (6 per cent.)

  140,000 (5 per cent.

  120,000 (4 per cent.)

  All pensioner units

  880,000 (13 per cent.)

  920,000 (13 per cent.)

  860,000 (12 per cent.)

  800,000 (11 per cent.)

  610,000 (9 per cent.)

  Source:

  The Pensioners' Incomes Series (based upon data from the Family Expenditure Surveys).

  Notes:

  1. Income-related benefits include housing benefit, income support and benefits to pay for local taxes (i.e. rate rebate, community charge benefit and council tax benefit). The Christmas bonus has also been included.

  2. All estimates of numbers are shown to the nearest 10,000 pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as being either a single person aged over state pension age, or a couple where the head, or husband, is aged over SPA. Percentage estimates are shown to the nearest whole percentile.

  3. The Pensioners Income Series gives single calendar estimates. However in 1991 one quarter of the family expenditure survey sample was omitted because of problems following the delayed issue of community charge bills in April 1991. As a result the sample size in that year it too small to provide sufficiently reliable estimates of pensioners' incomes. For this reason the remaining data for 1991 have combined with that for 1990 to produce estimates for the combined calendar years 1990 and 1991.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently in receipt of incapacity benefit; and at what total annual cost. [40848]

  Mr. Lilley
  At 31 May 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, 1.8 million people were in receipt of incapacity benefit.1 The estimated cost for the year 1995–96 is £8,120 million2.

  Sources:

  1. 5 per cent. sample from the incapacity benefit computer system. Excludes a small number of cases not on the system.

  2. Social Security Departmental Report (March 1996).

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals have been lodged against a disallowance of incapacity benefit in the benefits districts covering(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough in each quarter since April 1995; how many of these have been from (i) new incapacity benefit claimants and (ii) former claimants of invalidity benefit; in each case, how many appeals have been (x) disallowed, (y) superseded and (z) found in the claimants' favour; and how many are outstanding. [40837]

  Mr. Burt
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people disallowed incapacity benefit have successfully made claims to unemployment benefits or credits of national insurance in the Employment Service in(a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough districts in each quarter since April 1995. [40841]

  Mr. Lilley
  The available information is in the tables.

  Doncaster offices of the Employment Service

  Quarter ending

  Number of claims for unemployment benefits/National Insurance credits at Employment Service office by people found capable of work under the all work test

  June 1995

  3

  September 1995

  19

  December 1995

  30

  1026

  Doncaster offices of the Employment Service

  Quarter ending

  Number of claims for unemployment benefits/National Insurance credits at Employment Service office by people found capable of work under the all work test

  March 1996

  67

  June 1996

  108

  September 1996

  75

  Mexborough offices of the Employment Service.

  Quarter ending

  Number of claims for unemployment benefits/National Insurance credits at Employment Service office by people found capable of work under the all work test

  June 1995

  2

  September 1995

  92

  December 1995

  73

  March 1996

  68

  June 1996

  139

  September 1996

  140

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992, in 1996 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in. [41187]

  Mr. Burt
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have undergone the all-work test for incapacity benefit; what were the results of the tests; and how many are now employed.[40843]

  Mr. Lilley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
  1027

  April 1995 to August 1996

  Number of assessments under the all work test

  1,059,000

  Allowed benefit following reference to BA Medical Services on the all work test

  892,000

  Disallowed benefit following reference to BA Medical Services on the all work test

  167,000

  Source:

  Monthly scan of the incapacity benefit computer system.

  Note:

  All information is provisional and could be subject to change.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) total number of recipients and (b) average benefit paid in respect of (i) invalidity benefit for 1994–95 and (ii) incapacity benefit for 1995–96. [40844]

  Mr. Lilley
  The available information is in the table.

  Number of recipients

  Average weekly amount in payment (£)

  Invalidity Benefit at 12 April 1995

  1,767,000

  84.77

  Incapacity Benefit 1 at 31 May 1996

  1,677,000

  285.54

  Source:

  Invalidity Benefit figures taken from a 1 per cent. sample of cases. Incapacity Benefit figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample of cases from the Incapacity Benefit computer system. These figures exclude a small number of cases not on the system.

  Notes:

  1 Excludes recipients of the short term (lower) rate, the equivalent of Sickness Benefit prior to 13 April 1995.

  2 Includes those cases where benefit is in payment at the pre-April 1995 Invalidity Benefit rate (uprated) under the transitional protection rules.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average administration cost of the incapacity benefit per applicant since its inception [40846]

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is not yet available.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the success rate for appeals relating to the all-work test in the December 1995 and March 1996 quarters(a) where the appellant was present or represented at the tribunal hearing and (b) where the appellant was neither present nor represented. [40785]

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

  Percentage of appeals revised in favour of appellant following tribunal hearing

  Appellant present or represented

  57

  Appellant neither present nor represented

  7

  Note:

  Figures are for December 1995.

  Source:

  100 per cent. count of all appeals and referrals which have been registered with the Independent Tribunal Service.
  1028

  Income Support
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the percentage level of income support payments that met the target for accuracy in 1991–92 and 1995–96; what are the reasons for variations; and by what date he expects the target for the accuracy of income support payments to be met. [40986]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 16 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what was the percentage level of Income Support (IS) payments that met the target for accuracy in 1991–92 and 1995–96; what are the reasons for variations; and by what date he expects the target for the accuracy of income support payments to be met.
  I have provided below the figures for accuracy, including the target set by the Secretary of State and the Benefits Agency achievement for IS for 1991/92 and 1995/96. I should explain that in 1991/92 district staff were responsible for checking and reporting the accuracy for IS. The figures quoted were based on a limited case check carried out on the most recent action on the case. In 1995/96 the target and accuracy figures were based on a full case check involving all aspects of the award. This, in part, accounts for the variation in figures.
  The Benefits Agency is committed to improve its accuracy rate and meet the Secretary of State's target. However IS is a complex benefit. For example, on average each IS case needs to be reviewed 4 times per year. Sustained effort over a period of years will be required before a significant and lasting improvement can be achieved. The Agency has a programme of measures designed to bring about improvements in accuracy in the short term and is also undertaking a fundamental review of IS processes and its computer systems. The aim of the review is to improve accuracy, security and efficiency, thereby working towards paying benefit accurately at the outset.

  IS—accuracy target and achievement

  Percentage

  1991–92

  1995–96

  Secretary of State's target

  94.00

  87.00

  Agency figure

  95.7

  78.01

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the performance targets for each social security office in the county of South Yorkshire for(a) 1995–1996 and (b) 1996–97; and how many of these targets were achieved in 1995–96 in each case indicating how these targets and achievements relate to those set nationally. [40829]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I will write to the hon Member shortly.

  Child Care Disregard
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families now claim the child care disregard. [41018]
  1029
  Mr Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested as information on claims is not available. The latest information on the number of awards where the childcare disregard has resulted in extra benefit payment is in the table:

  Benefit

  1Numbers benefitting from childcare disregard

  Family Credit2

  25,000

  Disability Working Allowance3

  99

  Housing Benefit4

  4000

  Council Tax Benefit4

  5000

  Notes:

  1 All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand except Disability Working Allowance which is an exact figure. Numbers exclude cases where maximum benefit is already payable before the childcare disregard.

  2 Family Credit figures as at 31 May 1996.

  3 Disability Working Allowance figures as at 30 April 1996.

  4 Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit as at 31 May 1995.

  Sources:

  1. Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry (5 per cent. sample).

  2. Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of all claims.

  3. Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample enquiry for those not in receipt of Income Support taken at the end of May 1995.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the Government's original estimate of the number of families who would be eligible for the child care disregard. [40892]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The original estimate was that, in the long term, 150,000 families would benefit from the child care disregard.

  Executive Agency Staff
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of staff employed by his Department's(a) Benefits Agency, (b) Contributions Agency, (c) Information Technology Service Agency, (d) Child Support Agency, (e) War Pensions Agency and (f) other agencies in (i) Doncaster and (ii) Mexborough areas for each of the last five years. [40S91]

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

  Doncaster

  Mexborough

  Benefits agency

  349

  29

  Contributions agency

  29

  0

  Information technology services agency

  0

  0

  Child support agency

  20

  0

  War pensions agency

  0

  0

  Total

  398

  29

  Notes:

  1. The figures are represented as staff in post figures and include permanent and fixed term appointment staff as at 31 March 1996. Casual staff are excluded.

  2. Figures for previous years are not available.

  3. The sites covered by the reply are Doncaster Crossgates House and Mexborough Crown Buildings.
  1030

  National Insurance Records
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions in the last 10 years national insurance records have been mislaid; what back-up system was available in each case; and how secure is the current computer system. [40842]

  Mr. Burt
  There have been no instances of loss of registered national insurance records within the last 10 years. The back-up system consists of holding two copies of records within the computer installation and one copy remotely for added security. The computer system is regarded as very secure in protecting records and has a sophisticated series of computer program checks to detect corruption and loss of personal data.

  New Buildings and Premises
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41138]

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

  £ million

  Year

  Maintenance

  Accommodation capital

  Total

  1995–96

  36.6

  89.3

  125.9

  1994–95

  32.1

  89.1

  121.1

  1993–94

  28.3

  97.1

  125.3

  1992–93

  39.4

  113.3

  152.8

  1991–92

  32.9

  127.6

  160.5

  Information required regarding the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Benefits
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of state for Social Security what has been the total value of in-work benefits paid for each year since 1990–91; and if he will break down these figures for each year by family credit, housing benefit, income support, council tax benefit and disability working allowance. [40901]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the benefit bill for(a) income support, (b) family credit, (c) housing benefit, (d) council tax benefit, (e) one-parent benefit and (f) lone-parent premium for lone parents (i) in the last year for which figures are available and (ii) in each of the last five years. [41026]
  1031
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Information for(a) to (e) is shown in the table 1. Expenditure on the lone-parent premium (f) is not available in the format requested. Components of a benefit award cannot be separately identified. Lone-parent premium is payable with income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. The lone-parent premium has varied since in April 1990. The rate of premium would give implied expenditure in Great Britain as shown in the table 2. However, some recipients will receive an overall amount of benefit which is less than the value of the premium.

  Table 1: Benefit expenditure on lone parents

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Income support (a)

  2,286

  2,860

  3,448

  3,735

  4,051

  4,201

  Family credit (b)

  183

  220

  379

  558

  657

  776

  Housing benefit (c)

  906

  1,253

  1,656

  2,002

  2,208

  2,418

  Council tax benefit (d)

  275

  178

  223

  306

  349

  381

  One parent benefit (e)

  229

  249

  275

  282

  289

  312

  Source:

  Total expenditure figures are consistent with the 1996 Departmental Report. Figures are rounded to the nearest £ million.

  Table 2: Lone parent premium

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Income support (a)

  169

  202

  236

  258

  276

  285

  Housing benefit (c)

  30

  37

  44

  54

  63

  75

  CCB/council tax benefit (d)

  46

  45

  45

  47

  57

  68

  Notes:

  1. The above estimates are based on sample data and are not entirely consistent with Departmental Report figures.

  2. Council tax benefit replaced community charge benefit in April 1993.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants were refused a social fund loan on the grounds of inability to pay in 1995 96. [41291]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what capacity of electricity used in his Department's buildings is generated in a combined heat and power plant; and what plans he has to increase that capacity. [41314]

  Mr. Burt
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Sick Pay
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to go ahead with that proposal 1032
  to free employers from operating statutory sick pay rules where they pay more generous wages or occupational sick pay. [41276]

  Mr. Lilley
  I will be laying regulations later in the year which will free employers from the obligation to make SSP calculations where they pay contractual remuneration as good as or better than SSP for a period of incapacity for work. Around 900 copies of the consultation paper "Exempting Employers from Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)" were sent to employers, their organisations, employees' organisations and other interested parties and I am grateful to all those who responded. I am placing a copy of the responses in the Library. The majority view was that the new arrangements would be a useful easement. The change, which will take effect from April 1997, will allow greater flexibility to employers and cut back on administration. Employees' underlying entitlement to SSP will not be affected.

  Disabled People (Water)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what financial assistance is available to the severely disabled and their carers who use water meters, and because of their disability or medical condition, have to use large quantities of water. [41281]

  Mr. Burt
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Fraud Hotline
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost, by(a) county and (b) parliamentary constituency of publicising the fraud hotline; and what was the number of responses (a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency. [41327]

  Mr. Heald
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40641]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Session

  Total number of questions

  Corrections to written questions

  Corrections to oral questions

  1994–95

  2,750

  20

  0

  1995–96

  2,808

  12

  2

  Note:

  Figures as at 15 October 1996.

  Source:

  Departmental Archive.
  1033

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in respect of how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds child benefit was paid in the first week of January for each year since 1985. [40760]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is set out in the table.

  Children

  Year

  16-year-olds

  17-year-olds

  1984

  531

  292

  1985

  517

  291

  1986

  513

  287

  1987

  521

  289

  1988

  520

  317

  1989

  493

  324

  1990

  490

  329

  1991

  505

  358

  1992

  517

  373

  1993

  514

  387

  1994

  535

  386

  1995

  576

  400

  1. Figures represent the number of children for whom child benefit was paid as at 31 December in each year.

  2. The figures for 1984 to 1993 are based on a 4 per cent. sample. 1994 and 1995 are based on a 1 per cent. sample. Figures include late notifications received up to and including 31 March of the following year.

  3. Figures including children in Great Britain and overseas.

HEALTH

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who was the relevant regional general manager prior to Mr. McClean's appointment to the Yorkshire regional health authority; and who authorised the provision of a free private use car to Mr. McClean's predecessor. [40118]

  Mr. Malone
  The predecessor of Mr. McClean was Mr. A. W. Foster. Authorisation for the arrangements concerning the use of Mr. Foster's car was given by the director of personnel of the regional health authority.

  Blood Transfusion Services
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase co-operation between the national blood transfusion service and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service; and if he will make a statement. [40774]

  Mr. Horam
  The National Blood Authority and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service are responsible respectively for blood services in England and in Scotland. They co-operate with each other as necessary in providing those services.

  Lead
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the Government's current recommended safety levels for lead(a) in air and (b) in blood for (i) children, (ii) young people aged 16 to 18 years, (iii) women of child-bearing age, (iv) pregnant women and (v) men. [41120]
  1034
  Mr. Horam
  The current ambient air quality standard for lead is 2 microgrammes per cubic metre as an annual average.

  There is no blood lead level that is considered completely safe although there is no clear evidence of harm at level below 10 microgrammes per decilitre of blood. It is for this reason that the policy of successive Governments has been to reduce exposure to lead, from all sources, whenever reasonably practical. Measures taken to date have produced a very substantial fall in blood lead levels in the past two decades as shown by various surveys including the health survey for England.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average level of lead in the blood of(a) children, (b) young people aged 16 to 18 years (c) women of child bearing age, (d) pregnant-women and (e) men in the United Kingdom. [41121]

  Mr. Horam
  A major blood lead monitoring programme was carried out as part of the health survey for England. The initial findings show a significant fall in blood lead concentrations. The median blood lead concentrations for men, women, and boys and girls aged 11 to 15 years, were 3.6, 2.6, 2.2 and 1.7 microgrammes per decilitre respectively. Results from this survey were published in a letter in the 5 October edition of the British Medical Journal.

  Fostering Allowance
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the fostering allowance payable in each local authority area. [40827]

  Mr. Burns
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health service projects in South Yorkshire in respect of which(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful efforts have been made to pursue funding under the private finance initiative since 1 January 1995. [40996]

  Mr. Horam
  Two projects valued at more than £1 million have received approval under the private finance initiative in South Yorkshire since 1 January 1995. They are: Rotherham General Hospitals national health service trust—concourse development value £1.1 million; Rotherham General Hospitals national health service trust; clinical waste incinerator, value £3.4 million.

  Information on unsuccessful schemes and lower value schemes is not held centrally.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has collated regarding expenditure incurred by each health authority and NHS hospital trust in South Yorkshire in unsuccessfully pursuing funding for projects through the private finance initiative since 1 January 1995; and if he will make a statement. [40997]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 17 July,Official Report, column 562.

  Further information is not available centrally.
  1035

  Health Service Staff Dismissals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the number of (i) medical, (ii) dental and (iii) nursing staff suspended or dismissed in the Trent region for each year since 1 January 1993 and (b) the number of staff in each category heard by disciplinary hearing who were not so suspended or dismissed in this period. [40928]

  Mr. Horam
  National health service bodies are separate, autonomous employers and the decision on whether an employee's conduct warrants disciplinary action, and its severity, is a matter for the health authority or trust concerned. Information collected centrally from national health service employers is the number of suspensions of hospital and community medical and hospital dental staff lasting more than six months since 31 March 1995. The number of reported cases in the Trent region from 31 March 1995 to 30 June 1996 is two.

  New Buildings and Premises
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41143]

  Mr. Horam
  From 1 April 1996, the Department of Health took over responsibility for its buildings from Property Holdings. The area of buildings leased by Property Holdings in the last five years which are now the responsibility of the Department of Health and its agencies is 21,400 sq m—1992–93—and 850 sq m—1995–96.

  Expenditure on new buildings and premises is not separately recorded from other building-related costs.

  Abortion
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to ban the use of partial birth abortion in late pregnancy; and if he will make a statement. [40954]

  Mr. Horam
  We are not aware of this procedure being used in the United Kingdom. Methods of abortion are a matter of clinical judgment.

  Adoption
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children were placed for adoption with their existing foster carers in every year since 1987 giving(a) the age of the children and (b) the length of time in foster care prior to adoption; [40960]

  (2) if he will list the number of adoption breakdowns in each year since 1974, indicating the (a) ages of children and (b) length of time in adoptive family. [40942]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of children in care and looked after by local authorities who were placed for adoption in every year since 1987, broken down by age. [40953]
  1036
  Mr. Burns
  The information requested, as at 31 March in each of the years to 31 March 1991, was published annually in "Children in Care of Local Authorities in England". Figures for the period from 1992 to 1994 were published annually in "Children Looked After by Local Authorities, England". Figures for the year ending 31 March 1995 were published in the statistical bulletin "Children looked after by local authorities: year ending 31 March 1995, England". Copies of all of these publications are available in the Library.

  Joint Ventures
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many joint ventures are currently established between the NHS and the private sector in hospitals covering the Trent region; and if he will list each project indicating the hospital involved. [40994]

  Mr. Horam
  Four private finance initiative schemes over the value of £1 million have been approved in the Trent region. The trusts and schemes approved by the national health service executive are as follows:

  NHS body

  Scheme

  Rotherham general hospital

  Concourse development

  Rotherham general hospital

  Clinical waste incinerator

  Nottingham ambulance service

  Radio replacement scheme

  Leicester mental health services

  Office accommodation

  NHS trust (trust HQ)

  Dedicated Case Managers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to collate centrally information on the locations of dedicated case managers for(a) head injury, (b) cancer and (c) fertility patients; and if he will make a statement. [40834]

  Mr. Horam
  No.

  Beta Blocking Drugs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 July,Official Report, column 386, about the cost per patient per month of beta blocking drugs, in what form the information is available. [40989]

  Mr. Malone
  The net ingredient cost per prescription item dispensed for beta blockers in England for 1995 was £5.81. Most repeat prescriptions will be for one to three months.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current percentage of patients in the Doncaster health authority who are covered by general practitioner fundholders. [40855]

  Mr. Malone
  Some 64 per cent. of the population of Doncaster health authority is currently served by a general practitioner fundholding practice.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the Doncaster health authority in(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1994–95 on (i) tendering for services

  1037
  and (ii) administering the general practitioner fundholding scheme; and what were the comparable figures for the previous financial year. [40925]

  Mr. Malone
  Information is not collected centrally in the form requested.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the median waiting periods(a) currently and (b) in each of the last two years for patients needing (i) hip replacements and (ii) cataract treatment at each hospital in the Trent region where the operation is provided. [40924]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes), on 23 July,Official Report, column 225.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on hospital waiting times in Leeds. [41287]

  Mr. Horam
  Waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment in Leeds have improved considerably over the last year. Latest published figures show that only 51 patients out of 16,268 were waiting more than a year for treatment at the two main hospitals in Leeds this March compared with 675 out of 13,492 last March. Along with the rest of the country, Leeds hospitals are working towards achieving the patients charter standards for the first out-patient appointments so that everyone is seen within 26 weeks of referral by their general practitioner, with nine out of 10 patients seen within 13 weeks.

  Children's Services
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what re-assessment has been made of the calculations of the standard spending assessment for children's services for the financial year 1997–98; what was the assessed figure for the London borough of Newham for the year 1996–97 and that for 1997–98 under this assessment. [40839]

  Mr. Burns
  For 1996–97, the standard spending assessment—SSA—for children's social services for the London borough of Newham is £27,191 million. The Government's proposals for 1997–98 SSAs are expected to be issued for consultation shortly after the Budget.

  Anti-psychotic Drugs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) pursuant to his answer of 23 July,Official Report, column 216, if he will list the research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the likelihood of developing tardive dyskinesia as a result of taking anti-psychotic drugs and ascertaining whether tardive dyskinesia is an irreversible condition; and if he will make a statement; [40860]

  (2) if he will estimate how many people have developed tardive dyskinesia as a result of taking anti-psychotic drugs; and if he will make a statement. [40863]

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

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are currently prescribed anti-psychotic drugs; and if he will make a statement. [40862]
  1038
  Mr. Malone
  Information in the form requested is not available.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people he estimates were covered by private medical insurance in(a) 1979, (b) 1989 and (c) 1995. [40998]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department does not collect this information.

  Management and Administrative Staff Costs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the(a) Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Mexborough Montagu NHS trust and (b) Doncaster Healthcare NHS trust the (i) total income, (ii) amount spent on the overall cost of management, staff, administrative staff and hoard members and (iii) (ii) as a percentage of (i) in each year since 1991–92. [40909]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the annual reports of the Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Mexborough Montagu and the Doncaster Healthcare national health service trusts respectively, published since September 1993.

  Managers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of(a) managers and (b) senior managers employed by (i) each South Yorkshire health authority, (ii) each South Yorkshire health trust and (iii) in total, in each year since 1979. [40991]

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

  GP Lists
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the recommendations issued by his Department in respect of homeless people being placed on a general practitioner's list; up to how many refusals a homeless person may receive before he is placed on a general practitioner's list; and if he will make a statement. [40969]

  Mr. Malone
  A permanent address is not necessary for the registration of a patient with a general practitioner and all health authorities and general practitioners are aware of this. The Department encourages the permanent registration of homeless people wherever possible. Should, however, any patient have difficulty in registering with a doctor, health authorities have the power to assign the patient to a GP.

  Voluntary Gender Reassignment
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current maximum age for voluntary gender reassignment on the national health service for(a) males and (b) females. [40859]

  Mr. Horam
  There are no clinically effective treatments provided under the national health service that should be withheld from any patient on age grounds alone. The NHS provides services for everybody on the basis of clinical need.
  1039

  Dental Health
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what number of teeth affected by decay in five-year-old children, and what number of decayed, missing and filled teeth in 14-year-old children are currently found in the Doncaster health authority area; and what is the national average for each category. [40999]

  Mr. Malone
  The most recent figures available show that the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth—DMFT—for five-year-olds in Doncaster in 1993–94 was 2.15, while the national average was 1.74; and the DMFT figure for 14-year-olds in Doncaster in 1994–95 was 2.32 while the national average was 1.67.

  Mentally Handicapped Children
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mentally handicapped children are currently in NHS hospital care in(a) the Trent region and (b) nationally; and what were the equivalent figures in each of the past four years. [40923]

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

  Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Auraus
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals in South Yorkshire that have recorded incidents of MRSA since 1990; and how many patients suffered in each incident. [40992]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 28 February,Offical Report columns 569–70.

  Nurses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of nurses employed by each of the health authorities in South Yorkshire for each of the last five years; and what was the national average for each health authority in this period. [40995]

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

  Nursery Places
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimate for unmet need for nursery places in England. [41044]

  Mr. Burns
  This information is not held centrally. Information on the percentage of children attending each type of pre-school day care facility was published in the Office of Population Censuses and Survey survey of "Day care services for children", 1990, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Resource Allocation
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the official Government response to the Health Committee report into resource allocation. [41238]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The response to the report has been published today and copies placed in the Library.
  1040

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there are in intensive care units in Leeds infirmary, St. James' hospital, Leeds and Pinderfields hospital, Wakefield. [41285]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the daily number of available beds by ward classification is collected annually from each trust. The latest published information shows that in 1994–95, the average daily number of available beds in wards classified as adult intensive care were as follows:

  United Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust: 28

  St. James' University Hospital National Health Service Trust: 9

  Pinderfields Hospital National Health Service Trust: 27

  Notes:

  1. Figures on numbers of beds by trust are published annually in 'Bed Availability for England' copies of which are available in the Library. Data for 1995–96 is available from 17 October 1996.

  2. The figures above exclude intensive care cots and paediatric intensive care beds.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors and nurses have been employed in NHS hospitals in(a) West Yorkshire and (b) Leeds since 1990; and how many vacancies for doctors and nurses in West Yorkshire and Leeds remain unfilled at the present. [41289]

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

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capacity of electricity used in his Department's buildings is generated in a combined heat and power plant; and what plans he has to increase that capacity. [41322]

  Mr. Horam
  At present, no electricity used by the Department in its buildings is generated by a local combined heat and power plant.

  One building, Richmond house in Whitehall, is connected to the Whitehall district heating system. It is proposed to convert the WDHS to a combined heat and power plant during the summer of 1997.

  The energy requirements of the Department are kept under review and any opportunities to connect departmental buildings to a combined heat and power plant will be actively considered.

  Coproxamol
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what names drugs containing coproxamol are marketed; and what is its concentration in each. [40608]

  Mr. Malone
  Coproxamol is authorised to be marketed under five names: distalgesic, cosalgesic tablets, co-proxamol tablets, co-proxamol tablets BP and co-proxamol tablets (paracetamol 325 mg dextro-propoxyphene 32.5 mg). All of these contain 32.5 mg dextropropoxyphene and 325 mg paracetamol.
  1041

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotions, and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40626]

  Mr. Horan
  Annual publicity spend information and hospitality spend for the financial years 1990–91 to 1995–96 is shown in the table. Promotions cannot easily be separated from publicity but the majority of health promotion work is in any case carried out by the Health Education Authority and other bodies.

  £ million

  Financial year

  Total publicity expenditure

  Hospitality expenditure

  1990–91

  21.01

  0.16

  1991–92

  24.5

  0.17

  1992–93

  20.71

  0.25

  1993–94

  19.2

  0.22

  1994–95

  18.2

  0.23

  1995–96

  15.55

  0.32

  Paracetamol
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what names drugs containing paracetamol are marketed; and what is its concentration in each. [40609]

  Mr. Malone
  A list of the names of the 490 products containing paracetamol currently authorised for marketing, together with the content of paracetamol in each, will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his most recent calculation of the total number of deaths that have been(a) associated with. and (b) attributed to, paracetamol use in each of the past seven years for which records are available. [40606]

  Mr. Malone
  The number of deaths associated with paracetamol in 1993,1994 and 1995 reported to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys—the Office for National Statistics from 1 April 1996 following a merger with the Central Statistical Office—is shown in the table. The data for 1989 to 1992 are published, for each year separately, in table 10 of "Mortality statistics:injury and poisoning, England and Wales", series DH4, Nos. 16–18, copies of which are available in the Library.

  For the number of deaths attributed to paracetamol use in the past six years, reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 February 1996, Official Report, column 462. For the year 1989, no fatal reports associated with the use of paracetamol were received by the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Deaths by poisoning—accident

  86(27)

  94(26)

  111(27)

  Paracetamol only

  44(9)

  40(10)

  41(6)

  Paracetamol with other drugs1

  42(18)

  54(16)

  70(21)

  Deaths by poisoning-suicide

  236(42)

  212(25)

  239(19)

  Paracetamol only

  67(7))

  68(5)

  77(2)

  Paracetamol with other drugs1

  169(35)

  144(20)

  162(17)

  1042

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Deaths by poisoning— undetermined

  130(25)

  147(27)

  218(30)

  Paracetamol only

  62(6)

  52(5)

  72(1)

  Paracetamol with other drugs1

  68(19)

  95(22)

  146(29)

  1 These include deaths from paracetamol-containing compounds. The figures in brackets include indicate the number of deaths with a mention of alcohol. These bracketed figures are already include in the unbracketed data and should not, therefore, be added to them.

  Health Service Deficits
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list for each district health authority serving the Greater London area for each of the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98 and subsequent years for which figures can be given(a) the recurrent deficit, (b) the non-recurrent surplus or deficit, (c) movement in balances, (d) the cash deficit and (e) those cash deficits expressed as a percentage of revenue or expenditure; [40794]

  (2) when he received the letter dated 31 July from the hon. Member for Newham, South concerning his failure to answer his written question requesting information on health service deficits, of 22 July; when a substantive reply was sent; and for what reason the figures requested were regarded as being unsuitable for publication. [40795]

  Mr. Horam
  I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as is possible.

  Morphine
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on the public of potentially addictive drugs containing morphine available without prescription in the past four years. [40607]

  Mr. Malone
  Medicines containing morphine available without prescription are effective remedies for common complaints such as diarrhoea and cough. The low dose and limited strength allowable without prescription, and the requirement for supply under the supervision of a pharmacist are considered to minimise the potential for addiction. The Medicines Control Agency monitors the safety of all authorised medicines and since October 1992 there has been only one report of a side effect with these products. We are not aware of any significant problem of people misusing these medicines.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40633]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter of public record.

  Salaried General Practices
  Mr.Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to set up schemes for salaried general practice; and if he will make a statement. [40669]
  1043
  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: Proposals for the development of primary care health services, including a salaried option for general practitioners, are set out in the White Paper "Choice and Opportunity", Cm 3390, published on 15 October.

  Copies have been placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Environmental Information
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications his Department, and non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies which report to his Department, have received for the release of information under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 since they came into force; how much it has cost the Department to provide the information requested; how many applications for information were refused; what reasons were given for the non-provision of the information; what was the(a) average charge and (b) highest charge made in each year for the provision of information; and what plans he has to review the operation of the regulations. [40342]

  Mr. Clappison
  No records are kept of the number of applications for information under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992. The Department does not keep central records of the aggregate cost in supplying information nor of any charges levied—the vast majority of requests are met without a charge being levied.

  As of April this year, when records were last collated, the Department had refused 33 requests for environmental information. The reasons cited for refusal were non-jurisdictional (1), manifestly unreasonable (3), international relations (3), national defence (3), legal or other proceedings (7), confidential deliberations (4), incomplete document (3), commercial confidentiality (7), contravene existing statutory provision (1), and delay (4).

  The operation of the regulations will be reviewed at the end of this year and a report will be submitted to the European Commission.

  Prosecutions
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the prosecutions carried out in England and Wales by the Environment Agency, in each month from 1 April 1996 to the latest available date, giving in each case the person or company prosecuted, the date and outcome of the prosecution, the nature of the offence, and where relevant, the penalty imposed; [40330]

  (2) if he will list the prosecutions carried out by (a) Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, (b) the National Rivers Authority, (c) the London waste regulation authority and (d) local waste authorities, in each month from 1 January 1995 to 31 March 1996 in England and Wales, giving in each case the person or company prosecuted, the date and outcome of the prosecution, the nature of the offence and, where relevant, the penalty imposed. [40329]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: I have placed the following information in the Library of the House: prosecutions carried out by (a) Her Majesty's
  1044
  inspectorate of pollution, (b) the National Rivers Authority, and (c) the London waste regulation authority, between 1 January 1995 and 31 March 1996. Data relating to the prosecution activity of the 83 former local waste authorities are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  I have also placed in the Library of the House information on the prosecutions carried out by the Environment Agency for water quality and integrated pollution control offences from 1 April 1996 to the latest available date. Data relating to prosecutions by the Environment Agency for waste offences are not yet held centrally, although detailed records are held at local level. When the data on waste offences from 1 April 1996 are centrally available, I will write to the hon. Member with them.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of special scientific interest have been destroyed in each of the last 20 years; and how many sites are currently designated. [40359]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: Statistical information on damage to SSSIs in Great Britain is set out in the annual reports of the former Nature Conservancy Council. Since 1 April 1991, similar details for England, Scotland and Wales are contained in the annual reports of the country agencies and, for Great Britain, in that of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Copies of annual reports are in the Library. As at 31 March 1996, 6,185 sites had been designated.

  World Bank and IMF Meetings
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department made to the United Kingdom submissions to the annual meetings of the World bank and International Monetary Fund held in Washington at the start of October; what environmental matters were discussed and decided upon during the meetings; and if he will place in the Library copies of all papers submitted to the meetings with an environmental component. [40652]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: Specific environmental issues were not on the formal agenda at the annual meetings of the World bank and International Monetary Fund earlier this month. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has placed in the Library copies of his speeches to these meetings and copies of the communiqués.

  Orton Scar
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will send a representative of his Department on 14 October to Orton scar; and what assessment he has made of the damage to the limestone pavements there. [40720]

  Mr. Clappison
  None of my officials was available to attend the event at Orton village hall on the 14 October, but I welcome the news that Cumbria county council has secured the future protection of this site. English Nature, the Government's scientific adviser, has examined the
  1045
  site. Although there has been some damage, almost five hectares of pavement will be protected by the new agreement.

  Environmental Programmes (Employment)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the total employment opportunities available from programmes to(a) clean up contaminated land, (b) restore derelict land, (c) protect and promote sites of ecological fragility and special scientific interest and (d) enhance the habitat of protected species in the United Kingdom. [40779]

  Mr. Clappison
  The information is not held in the form requested.

  Environmental Programmes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what(a) discussions and (b) other contact he has had with the World bank over the implementation of the bank's environmental management and sustainable development programmes; how many officials from his Department are on secondment to the World bank to work on environmental issues; and if he will make a statement on the impact on his departmental policy of the World bank's environmental policy programme. [40604]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 15 October 1996]: Responsibility within government for the World bank rests with the Overseas Development Administration, with which the Department of the Environment co-operates very closely. The Government welcome the steps which the bank has taken to ensure that environmental concerns are properly reflected in its operations and continues to press for further improvements. There are no officials of the Department of the Environment on secondment to the World bank.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many environmental projects his Department co-sponsors with the World bank involving non-governmental organisations; and if he will make a statement on the role of non-governmental environmental and business groups in enhancing the global environment.[40599]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 14 October 1996]: The Department of the Environment does not co-sponsor any environmental projects with the World bank. As I said in answer to question 40604. responsibility for the World bank rests with the Overseas Development Administration. The Government believe that non-governmental and business groups have an important role to play in supporting sustainable development and in enhancing the global environment and wishes them to develop their role further.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to article 4(4) of Council decision number 46/96 of 27 June,Official Journal of the European Communities No. C 264/28–33, of 11 September, what plans he has to make available new resources for the co-funding of projects studies, non-governmental groups and audits to further the integration of the environmental dimension into sustainable development in industrial developing countries. [40811]
  1046
  Mr. Clappison
  Council regulation 46/96 of 27 June addresses action by the European Community, not member states. However, the Overseas Development Administration funds, and in some cases co-funds, a wide range of projects and studies to help developing countries draw up and implement sustainable development strategies, and to help them tackle specific environmental problems. This includes support to a large number of non-governmental groups. Over £200 million was spent in this way in 1995–96. The ODA also supports work on sustainable development in developing countries through its substantial contributions to European Union development funds and to other multilateral bodies such as the World bank and the global environment facility. All the ODA's work is subject to environmental screening.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consumer research his Department has commissioned since 1990 on the uptake of, and attitude to clean technology by British industry and British exporters, and what are the liaison arrangements between his Department and the appropriate export promotion division of the Department of Trade and Industry and the research council's clean technology unit in respect of the promotion of the expansion of clean technology research, demonstration, development and utilisation. [40765]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department, with the Department of Trade and Industry, jointly manages the environmental technology best practice programme and the joint environmental markets unit. These programmes promote better environmental performance, including cleaner technology, and sponsor the environmental industry. Through these programmes, the Departments have undertaken attitude surveys of British industry and maintain close liaison arrangements with the export services of the DTI and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's clean technology unit.

  Planning System Indicators
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons the project to provide advice to the departmental planning directorate on the development of strategic indicators for the planning system has fallen behind the schedule established in the departmental "Minis Returns 16 (1995)". [40809]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The research project on developing performance indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of planning policy was included, in Minis 16, in the Department's work programme for both 1994–95 and 1995–96. The project was subsequently extended into 1996–97 to provide both the Department and the researchers additional time to address the complex issues involved. It is now due to be completed in November 1996.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations(a) he and (b) officials of his Department have had in the past year with (i) the World Health Organisation regional office for Europe, (ii) the United Kingdom water research centre at Medmenham and (iii) interested non-governmental environmental organisations, in regard to the effectiveness

  1047
  of the WHO guidelines for drinking water purity as incorporated in the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Environment Act 1995. [40791]

  Mr. Clappison
  The WHO guidelines for drinking water quality were reviewed and updated in 1993 in the light of new scientific information. The revised guidelines form the basis of many of the standards contained in EC proposal COM (94) 612 final, concerning the quality of water intended for human consumption. My officials have consulted widely on the Commission's proposal for a revised drinking water directive. The consultations have involved among others, WRC Medmenham plc and numerous non-governmental organisations, including Friends of Earth and Greenpeace.

  Business Pressures
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the negative effects of short-term business pressures on strategic thinking and cross-departmental work co-operation. [40808]

  Mr. Gummer
  A review conducted in 1995 concluded that my Department should improve its strategic approach to policy development and advice, which can all too easily suffer because of short-term pressures of work. Various steps have been taken to bring about such an improvement.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received from British Nuclear Fuels concerning variation in the discharge authorisation for nuclear waste from the THORP facility. [40799]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on this subject on 14 October column 825.

  Uranium Waste
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to isolate and package pyrophoril uranium wastes at British Nuclear Fuels, Sellafield and Chapelcross plants since 1966. [40806]

  Mr. Clappison
  Any steps taken are a matter for BNFL subject to satisfying the regulatory requirements of the nuclear installations inspectorate.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications for Her Majesty's Government's policy on substitution for the return of radioactive waste to countries of origin after reprocessing of the European Council written reply H629/96 of 18 September on this issue. [40810]

  Mr. Clappison
  None. The assertion that"BNFL is now considering the permanent on-site storage at Sellafield of high-level waste from the THORP plant, rather than returning it to foreign customers in Japan and Germany"
  as contained in the question answered on 18 September H629/96 is incorrect.
  1048
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the sight ion exchange extraction plant—SIXEP—and the enhanced actinide removal plant—EARP—waste filtration plants servicing the thermal oxide reprocessing plant facility at Sellafield have met their planned operational functions. [40800]

  Mr. Clappison
  The operation of the SIXEP and EARP plants has been closely monitored by the Environment Agency, and previously Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, since the plants came into operation. This monitoring has revealed that the two plants have met and some cases exceeded planned operational functions. The agency is continuing to monitor plant performance.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources are available to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to commission independent scientific, technical or other relevant support studies from institutes or academic establishments. [40804]

  Mr. Clappison
  Members of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee are appointed for their ability to advise the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Scotland and for Wales directly. Any additional advice required would normally be commissioned by the Government themselves. However, RWMAC is able to request resources to commission studies on an ad hoc basis.

  The committee is currently undergoing a financial management and policy review. The prior options stage of this review will consider whether there is a continued need for the operation of RWMAC. If it is decided that the committee should continue, the second stage of the review will consider its structure and operation. This will include examination of the resources available to the committee.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend the remit of RWMAC to oversee the expenditure of public money by public companies and organisations charged with the management of nuclear waste. [40803]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee is currently undergoing a financial management and policy review. The prior options stage of this review will consider whether there is a continued need for the operation of RWMAC. If it is decided that the committee should continue, the second stage of the review will consider its structure and operation. This will include examination of the scope of the committee's remit.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental policies are in place to cover the management of separated plutonium and plutonium contaminated wastes at nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom. [40805]

  Mr. Clappison
  Plutonium contaminated wastes are managed in accordance with the same policies that apply to all radioactive wastes. These are set out in the White Paper "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy—Final Conclusions", 1995, Cm 2919.
  1049
  Separated plutonium is not designated as waste at United Kingdom facilities. It is managed through safeguards applied to nuclear materials under chapter VII of the Euratom treaty, and through voluntary agreements which the United Kingdom has under the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards regime.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to request the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to prepare guidance on the optimum environmental strategy on the handling, packaging, storage and disposal of plutonium designated as waste at United Kingdom facilities. [40802]

  Mr. Clappison
  There is no plutonium designated as waste at United Kingdom facilities.

  Policy Documents (Implementation)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what factors led to his Department's delayed implementation of the principles published in the Government documents "Appraisal and the Environment" and "Making Markets Work for the Environment''; and what has been done to rectify the delay. [40790]

  Mr. Clappison
  The principles set out in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" relate to the integration of environmental considerations into the formulation of policies, programmes and projects, through the use of appraisal methodology. An evaluation of the extent to which the "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" guidelines have been adhered to across Whitehall was to be undertaken last year, but had to be postponed due to resource constraints. However, consultants have now been commissioned to undertaken the study and a report is due around the end of the year. The findings should provide a good overview of the extent to which the approach in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" is being followed, and to comment on this before seeing the report would be to pre-judge the issue. "Making Markets Work for the Environment" is concerned with developing better instruments to deliver environmental and sustainable development policies. The Government are committed to seeking an appropriate balance between direct regulation, economic instruments and voluntary actions, in a way fully consistent with the approach set out in "Making Markets Work for the Environment".

  Water Resources and Supply
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about public water resources and supply arrangements in the longer term. [41119]

  Mr. Gummer
  I commissioned in September 1995 a review of water resources and supply arrangements in England and Wales in the longer term. It has been undertaken with the full involvement of representatives of the water companies and their regulators—the Environment Agency, the Office of Water Services and the drinking water inspectorate. Other organisations have contributed views.

  As a result of that work, my Department and the Welsh Office are publishing today a paper entitled "Water Resources and Supply: Agenda for Action". Copies are available in the Library of the House. The paper confirms
  1050
  that the framework within which public water supplies are provided and developed is sound. It discusses the various factors which need to be considered in refining longer-term arrangements and identifies actions which the Government will take, together with actions for the water companies and their regulators.

  Prominent among these are steps which should be taken to build upon work on climate change, such as that which informed the report of my Department's climate change impacts review group which was published in July. Reliable yields of existing water resource systems need to be reassessed from recent data and against climate change scenarios. Water companies need to study in more detail how water is used by households and how that may change with changing climate.

  Demand on existing water resources needs to be managed in order to reduce the need for new resources. This can be done by encouraging efficient use of water, through the development of effective and equitable charging arrangements for water supply, and by companies reducing leakage to economic levels. Against the background of maximum economic use of demand management and a clear understanding of the capabilities of each discrete water resource and supply system, there needs to be a dialogue between water companies and their customers on the balance to be struck between higher security of supply and higher costs, taking full account of the need for sustainable development.

  A case for new water resource development will be compelling only if there is insufficient scope for deployment of existing resources to meet properly-managed demand. Where there are local resource pressures, water companies need to consider the scope for bulk transfers of water or redistribution of water abstraction licences. The Government believe that it is important that market mechanisms, including price signals, provide incentive for this and will publish a consultation paper on economic instruments in relation to water abstraction in early 1997.

  The Environment Agency has the central role in the planning of water resources at the national and regional levels. However, water companies have the duty to develop and maintain water supply systems and it is their responsibility, with full involvement of their regulators, to draw up plans for the timely development of new resources if the projected demand for water in particular areas cannot be reasonably or reliably managed to remain within the capacity of all the available existing resources. Where the existing resources are most finely balanced against projected demand increases, new resource planning should proceed in parallel with the continued implementation of measures to meet demand from the existing resources and against the background of continuous review of that balance. Each of these organisations will no doubt publicise its response to those actions in due course.

  The paper also draws attention to the various contributions which water companies, manufacturers of water-using equipment and water consumers can all make to the sustainable management of water resources through water conservation. This agenda for action is for us all and outlines a strategy for the environmentally sustainable provision of water supplies in the longer term.
  1051

  Estuarial Boundaries
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now revised the report of the National Rivers Authority reviewing estuarial boundaries with special reference to the Humber; and if he will make a statement of its effect on the urban waste water directive. [39910]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department is considering the recommendations that the Environment Agency has made and I intend to make an announcement soon.

  Environment Agency Guidance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sets of guidance have been published by(a) the Environment Agency and (b) its predecessor agencies during 1996; and if he will make a statement on the application of the guidance. [40438]

  Mr. Clappison
  This information requires compiling from a number of sources. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been conducted by(a) his Department and (b) the scientific panel of the Veterinary Products Committee of the environmental implications of the discharge of organophosphate sheep dip effluent into rivers and water courses; and if these studies were published. [40730]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department has not carried out any studies, but the Environment Agency, which has statutory powers to protect the aquatic environment, has an on-going research and development programme. As part of this programme, the agency has published two reports "The Disposal of Sheep Dip Waste—Effects on Water Quality" (1994) and "Pesticides in the Aquatic Environment" (1995).

  The activities of the Veterinary Products Committee are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to issue guidance to Health and Safety Executive inspectors to apply strict guidelines for the early investigation of incidents involving the alleged misuse of pesticides, including organophosphates. [40731]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None. Guidance was issued in November 1993.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have taken place for the misuse of organophosphate pesticides under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1 how many prosecutions for organophosphate misuse have been made, pursuant to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 since they came into force; and what steps have been taken to ensure stricter control over the use of organophosphates. [40735]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There have been no prosecutions under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 concerning the misuse of organophosphate pesticides.1052
  Three prosecutions have been taken under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations and three convictions were secured.

  The Health and Safety Executive has always strictly enforced health and safety legislation regarding the use of organophosphate pesticides at work. Free guidance has been sent to the agricultural sector and HSE inspectors give advice during workplace visits and, where necessary enforce measures to protect health and comply with FEPA and COSHH. Where significant shortcomings are found, they can issue enforcement notices and, ultimately prosecute.

  HSE pursues an effective policy of guidance for prevention. This is considered more effective than regulation enforced by prosecution.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what joint research his Department has conducted with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food over the environmental implications of the failure of all sheep farmers to enrol in the certificate of competence for the safe use of organophosphate sheep dips under the National Proficiency Test Council [40732]

  Mr. Clappison
  No joint research has been conducted, but without a certificate of competence, sheep farmers may not purchase organophosphate sheep dips. The certificate, held by over 12,000 sheep farmers, ensures that the holders are aware of the requirements for the safe disposal of sheep dip.

  Correspondence (Response Times)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the change in the time taken to reply to letters from hon. Members in each of the last three years; and what are the reasons for this change. [40659]

  Mr. Gummer
  The percentage of letters from honourable and right hon. Members replied to within the 15 days deadline in the last three years is as follows:

  1995: 52 per cent.

  1994: 57 per cent.

  1993: 56 per cent.

  The slower performance in 1995 resulted from the high pressures on the Department's resources. I am concerned about delays in replying to any letters and a recent departmental review has identified various ways in which performance can be improved.

  Ministerial Speeches
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of all speeches he made in the week beginning 7 October. [40815]

  Mr. Gummer
  The main text of my speech during the environment forum of the Conservative party conference and a note on the Government's environmental record that was produced for that are available in the Library. This emphasised the comprehensiveness of the Government's vision for an improved environment for us all, whether in city, town or country.

  I also spoke at a number of fringe events about different aspects of current and future Government policies.
  1053
  Speaking to the agriculture and countryside forum, I set out how Government policies help secure economic development in rural areas in a sustainable manner, and how we are extending our support for key rural services including the isolated village shop.

  Speaking at the invitation of the Worldwide Fund for Nature, I demonstrated that the UK is a world leader both in meeting our existing climate change obligations, and in calling for more robust future targets for international action.

  Speaking at the invitation of Conservative Students, I showed how active engagement in the European Union enables the Government to achieve a number of important environmental aims which we could not expect to achieve by acting alone.

  Finally, I spoke to a meeting of the Conservative political centre on the theme "Town and Townscape—a thousand years of English urban culture". I drew attention to the importance of the town in our history and to the interdependence of urban and rural areas, restated the Government's commitment to strengthening the economy and environmental quality of our existing towns and cities, described how this helped us to realise our sustainable development objectives, and regretted that the official Opposition had signalled their desire to weaken existing support for town centres.

  Text or transcripts of these other speeches are not available.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many answers to(a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40631]

  Mr. Gummer
  This is a matter of public record.

  International Reports
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy regarding the assessment of relevant reports jointly produced by the World Health Organisation, World Meteorological Organisation and United Nationals Environment Programme. [40780]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department of the Environment always takes into account relevant reports prepared by these organisations.

  Green Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many green departmental meetings have been held since 26 July; what matters were(a) discussed and (b) decided; and when the next green ministerial meetings are planned. [40788]

  Mr. Clappison
  Government Departments' green contacts met on 18 September. They discussed and reached agreement on the draft agenda and the papers to be prepared for the next green Ministers meeting, which will be held on 28 October. Some green contacts met on 23 September to discuss the progress of a consultant's study to evaluate "Policy Appraisal and the Environment".
  1054

  Asbestos
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to prohibit the use of asbestos in roof tiles. [41083]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Commission, in conjunction with my Department, will include the scope of asbestos prohibitions when reviewing the legislation. No doubt, asbestos-containing roof tiles will form part of this review. I will respond when this advice is received.

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake an evaluation of the effectiveness and independence of asbestos sampling companies. [41106]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  As part of the Health and Safety Executive's monitoring of the effectiveness of asbestos regulations, the HSE investigates the performances of asbestos sampling companies where appropriate. The Health and Safety Commission's approved codes of practice on asbestos strongly encourage employers to use laboratories that are accredited by the national measurement accreditation service.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to ensure that companies introduce an asbestos control programme in their workplace buildings, along the lines of the Health and Safety Executive booklet, "Managing Asbestos in Workplace Buildings". [41104]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This is being promoted though the "Good Health is Good Business" campaign and by the HSE field inspectors during visits to businesses.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake an evaluation of the safety of asbestos respirators. [41108]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the HSE study "Workplace Effectiveness of Respiratory Protective Equipment for Asbestos Removal Work", published in July 1996.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will assess the advantages of introducing a ban on the use of white asbestos in British industry. [41103]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Many uses of white asbestos are already prohibited. Whether or not the regulations should be extended will be a matter the Health and Safety Commission will consider in its current review of the legislation on asbestos. I will consider its recommendations carefully.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake a study of the best methods of asbestos removal and sealing techniques. [41107]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I do not intend to carry out such a study. The Health and Safety Executive already keeps under review the available techniques for asbestos removal and sealing, and issues guidance as appropriate. For example, HSE inspectors require all those undertaking asbestos removal operations to use controlled wet removal techniques unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so.
  1055
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake an evaluation of the effectiveness of the asbestos licensing scheme. [41105]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 have been subject to two reviews by the Health and Safety Commission. These reviews found that the regulations have been effective and were working well.

  The Health and Safety Commission has also recently completed public consultation on a discussion document which outlined some possible adjustments to the licensing regime. The commission will be considering the results of the consultation, and I will examine any proposals the commission might subsequently make for amendments to legislation.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake an evaluation of the value and purpose of medical examinations for workers who are currently or were previously exposed to asbestos. [41109]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I do not intend to carry out such an evaluation. The Health and Safety Commission keeps under review the need for specific provisions of health and safety legislation. [41109]

  Drought Orders
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many applications for drought orders have been(a) accepted and (b) refused in each of the past 10 years; [40880]

  (2) if he will list the drought (a) orders and (b) permits refused in each of the last 10 years. [40881]

  Mr. Clappison
  The information is as follows:

  Applications received

  Orders made1

  Applications withdrawn

  Orders refused

  1987

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  118

  89

  27

  2

  1990

  69

  65

  4

  —

  1991

  33

  28

  4

  1

  1992

  19

  16

  3

  —

  1993

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1994

  2

  —

  2

  —

  1995

  61

  53

  8

  —

  1996

  46

  40

  5

  1

  1 A considerable number of the orders were made subject to conditions or amendments either at the recommendation of an Inspector (where a hearing was held) or the Environment Agency (formerly the National Rivers Authority).

  The applications for drought orders which have been refused are as follows:

  South West Water Authority (Burrator Reservoir)(Drought) Order—refused 15 August 1989

  South West Water Authority (River Erme)(Drought) Order—refused 1 September 1989

  South West Water Services Ltd. (River Axe)(Drought) Order—refused 1 July 1991

  North West Water Ltd. (River Lune)(Drought) Order—refused 12 February 1996

  1056
  Powers for the Environment Agency to authorise drought permits came into effect on 1 April 1996. As at 15 October 1996, 12 permits have been authorised and none has been refused.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will request the Environment Agency to investigate the leakage of chlorinated solvents into water sources close to the Atomic Energy Authority's Harwell science and engineering centre in Oxfordshire. [40441]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Environment Agency is carrying out an investigation and remedial works are in hand.

  Confederation for British Industry
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the CBI's environment and health safety group; and what plans he has for further meetings. [40435]

  Mr. Gummer
  I keep in close contact with Roderick Paul, the chairman of the CBI's environment committee, through his membership of the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development. Senior officials from my Department also have regular meetings with the CBI's environment, health and safety group. The most recent meeting took place in August.

  Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution departmental officials make to the global change newsletter of the international geosphere-biosphere programme; and if he will make a statement on the role of the geosphere-biosphere programme in respect of this policy on global climate changes. [40436]

  Mr. Clappison
  The global change newsletter reports research carried out by the international geosphere biosphere programme core programmes to other researchers and the national and international policy community. In general, departmental officials do not contribute to this newsletter. The UK contributes to the international geosphere biosphere programme through its nationally funded research programmes. Policy on climate change draws on a number of international scientific research programmes including those of the IGBP, largely through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's scientific assessments.

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work done to date in the World Trade Organisation's committee on trade and the environment; and what matters are currently on the committee's agenda for forthcoming meetings. [40437]

  Mr. Clappison
  The World Trade Organisation's Committee on Trade and the Environment has carried out analytical work in accordance with the decision on trade and environment adopted by Ministers at Marrakesh on
  1057
  15 April 1994. It is currently preparing its report to Ministers at the conference to be held in Singapore on 9 to 13 December 1996.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department made to the United Kingdom submission on transparency to the intergovernmental conference in July; and if he will make a statement on the impact of the IGC discussions of transparency on his Department's policy. [40439]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 October 1996, column 827.

  Expenditure on publicity and promotions

  £000's

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  DOE (central)

  7,500

  2,700

  14,697

  12,108

  8,878

  7,383

  Planning Inspectorate

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Building research establishment

  230

  385

  286

  324

  244

  287

  QEII conference centre1

  113

  146

  238

  209

  167

  130

  PSA services

  1,760

  1,800

  1,300

  820

  nil

  130

  Total

  9,603

  5,031

  16,521

  13,461

  9,289

  7,800

  1 Figures for publicity for the QEII Conference Centre for 1990–91 to 1993–94 include hospitality.

  Expenditure on hospitality

  £000s

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  DOE(Central)

  62

  56

  92

  68

  76

  73

  Planning Inspectorate

  n/a

  0

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Building Research Establishment

  8

  17

  26

  12

  10

  11

  QEII Conference Centre1

  15

  12

  PSA Services

  44

  98

  133

  50

  2

  0

  Total

  114

  171

  252

  131

  105

  97

  1 Figures for publicity for the QEII Conference Centre for 1990–91 to 1993–94 include hospitality.

  The figures for central publicity and promotional expenditure include value added tax, advertising agency fees where relevant and all other levies as paid.

  Landfill Policy
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been published by the Environment Agency on landfill restoration and post-closure site management. [40658]

  Mr. Clappison
  In August the Environment Agency issued, for public consultation, a draft waste management paper 26E "Landfill Restoration and Post-Closure Management". The deadline for comments on this consultation paper is 18 November. Following this consultation, the Environment Agency will proceed to
  1058

  Campaign for Water Justice
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings he has held in 1996 with representatives of the Campaign for Water Justice.[40646]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friend has held no meetings with representatives of the Campaign for Water Justice to date in 1996.

  Promotional Expenditure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department has spent on(a) publicity, (b) promotions, and (c) hospitality in each of the last six years. [40624]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The total figures for publicity, promotional expenditure and hospitality by my Department in each of the financial years requested are detailed.

  publish waste management paper 26E, which will provide guidance on landfill restoration and post-closure site management.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had recently with(a) his ministerial counterparts and (b) the European Commission concerning the United Kingdom landfill policy; and if he will make a statement. [40789]

  Mr. Clappison
  Recently, the United Kingdom's landfill policy has been discussed in the context of the European Commission's communication on the review of the Community strategy for waste management. The Commission's communication suggests that all waste going to landfill should be pre-treated. There is no sound
  1059
  scientific basis to this approach. Landfill when properly engineered and controlled is a viable waste management option for a range of wastes.

  The United Kingdom favours the disposal of untreated biodegradable waste to landfill, and the use of the biochemical process engineering—bio-reactor—approach to manage landfill sites. This approach is designed to prevent pollution caused by the degradation process, and to provide conditions in the landfill in which stabilisation of the waste in situ is as rapid as possible. The approach is based on research into landfill practices that the Department of the Environment has sponsored for more than 20 years.

  Basel Convention Amendment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the 1995 amendment to the Basel convention; and if he will make a statement. [40787]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government support the decision, taken at the third conference of the parties to the Basel convention in September 1995, to amend the convention.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made to monitor the committee meeting discussions and reports examined at the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection. [40792]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department studies the reports of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and receives the agendas for committee meetings on a regular basis. Officials from the Department, or the UK permanent representation in Brussels, generally attend these meetings when matters of relevance to the Department are discussed.

  Carbon Dioxide Disposal
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made an assessment of the Joule II project report No. CT92–0031 on the underground disposal of carbon dioxide. [40814]

  Mr. Clappison
  Officials in my Department have considered the Joule II report and have been in touch directly with the British Geological Survey which participated in the study. Our assessment is that underground disposal of CO, from large sources such as power stations is technically feasible, but costly. The process would add an estimated 40 per cent. or more to the cost of electricity, mainly because of the additional capital expenditure needed at power stations, and the cost of the energy required to extract and dispose of the CO2.

  Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons for delay in the adoption and implementation of the convention on prior informed consent for hazardous chemical and pesticide trade. [40793]
  1060
  Mr. Clappison
  The intergovernmental negotiating committee for a legally binding instrument on the prior informed consent procedure has held two meetings and at least two more are likely to be required to reach final agreement on the complicated issues involved. In the meantime, the present voluntary procedure will continue to be operated by the United Nations Environment Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation.

  Construction Products (Fire Testing)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on test procedures for the evaluation of the reaction to fire of construction products. [40748]

  Mr. Clappison
  The test procedures at present in British standards and which are used to determine the reaction to fire properties of construction products for regulatory purposes are likely to be replaced by a set of new harmonised European test methods as part of the process of enabling the single market in such products. Several dozen different test methods are in use throughout the EU and it is proposed that these should be replaced by five new procedures now under development under the auspices of the European Commission and in CEN. the European standards organisation. Fire experts from the UK are taking an active part in this process.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992, in 1996 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in. [41179]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Expenditure on external consultants since 1992, in 1996 prices, is as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure £

  1992–93

  11.4

  1993–94

  11.1

  1994–95

  11.8

  1995–96

  9.2

  It is not feasible precisely to quantify savings achieved by consultants since their work is usually only one of several factors leading to total savings achieved by a particular project.

  Health and Safety Executive (Free Books)
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many free books were distributed by the books division of the health and safety division each year; to which organisations; what proposals he has to introduce charges for these supplies; and what is the projected potential income per year if payment is required. [41128]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Between April 1990 and March 1996 the Health and Safety Executive has issued an average seven million free publications each year. The
  1061
  HSE does not list by category the customers to whom these publications are distributed. The HSE has no plans to charge for such supplies.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the costs to the books division of the Health and Safety Executive for each year since 1991 for supplying bulk supplies of free books and leaflets to organisations with charitable status. [41126]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information is not available.

  Cricket Stadium, Wakefield
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the issuing of an article 14 directive by his Department's Leeds office to the City of Wakefield metropolitan district council for the outline planning application for a new stadium for Yorkshire county cricket club at Wakefield; and if he will make a statement on the application by Leeds city council for a proposed new county cricket ground at Aberford. [40984]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  An article 14 direction was issued to Wakefield metropolitan council on 23 July, preventing the council from granting planning permission for the proposed development at Denby Dale road, Wakefield. The Secretary of State is concerned that planning issues of more than local importance may arise from the proposal and he wishes to consider it having regard to his policy on calling-in planning applications. Further information is awaited from the council to enable the Secretary of State to complete this consideration.

  Leeds city council is considering a planning application for a cricket ground at Parlington near Aberford. Should the council be minded to grant planning consent, I understand that the application will be referred to the Secretary of State as a departure from the development plan.

  Lead
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are estimated to work with lead and its compounds in the United Kingdom. [41123]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive is aware of approximately 18,000 workers working with lead and its compounds. However, this is probably an underestimate.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps have been taken by the Health and Safety Executive to draw attention to the dangers of working with lead, following the ombudsman report into lead poisoning at Stallite Batteries, Yorkshire in 1990. [41122]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  As a direct result of the ombudsman report, the operation of the appointed doctor system has been improved. Guidance for appointed doctors has been updated.
  1062
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) improvement notices, (b) prohibition notices and (c) fines have been issued in each year since the lead regulations became law in 1981; and if he will indicate the average amount for fines. [41125]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Table A gives the number of improvement and prohibition notices issued under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980 by the Health and Safety Executive since 1986. Figures for earlier years are not readily available. Table B gives the number of convictions and average fines for the same years.

  Table A: Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980 Enforcement notices issued by HSE's field operations division inspectorates 1986–87 to 1995–961

  Year

  Improvement Notice

  Prohibition Notice

  Total

  1986–87

  64

  50

  114

  1987–88

  39

  23

  62

  1988–89

  41

  17

  58

  1989–90

  65

  8

  73

  1990–91

  75

  7

  82

  1991–92

  60

  33

  93

  1992–93

  42

  1

  43

  1993–94

  53

  11

  64

  1994–95

  56

  9

  65

  1995–961

  32

  3

  35

  Total

  527

  162

  689

  1 Provisional figures.

  Table B: Proceedings instituted by HSE's field operations division under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980

  Year

  Convictions

  Average fine (£)

  1986–87

  12

  135

  1987–88

  7

  457

  1988–89

  7

  507

  1989–90

  8

  275

  1990–91

  10

  1

  1991–92

  9

  1,022

  1992–93

  2

  1,000

  1993–94

  1

  450

  1994–95

  0

  0

  1995–96

  0

  0

  Planning Policy
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what priority he attaches to the achievement of sustainable patterns of development and the maintenance of long-term green belt boundaries as set out in PPG13 and PPG2 when he considers local plans as they relate to the green belt; and if he will make a statement. [41056]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The fundamental aim of green belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl. Green belts can assist in moving towards more sustainable patterns of development. Their boundaries should be altered only in exceptional circumstances. PPG2 advises on the possible need to safeguard land for longer-term development needs, taking account of sustainable development, and on relating such land to public transport infrastructure.
  1063
  The Secretary of State examines development plans carefully to identify whether their scope reflects national and regional planning guidance and whether there are conflicts which do not appear to be justified by local circumstances. If necessary, he will make a formal intervention.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that adopted local plans comply with Government policy as expressed in the most recent planning policy guidance notes; and if he will make a statement. [41057]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires that where, in making a determination under the planning Acts, regard is to be had to the development plan, a planning decision shall be made in accordance with the adopted or approved plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The Secretary of State expects local planning authorities to keep their local plans under review to ensure they remain up to date and appropriate documents for taking decisions on land use in their area. Where new or revised government policy is issued after a local plan has been adopted, local planning authorities are expected to consider such policies when the plan is reviewed. However, expressions of Government planning policy, for example in planning policy guidance notes or circulars, are capable of being a material consideration which must also be taken into account, where relevant, by the local authority in taking decisions on planning applications.

  Occupational Injuries
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many serious injuries at work, involving three or more days absence from work, occurred in each of the last five years. [41133]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 required responsible persons—principally, employers and self-employed people—in most industries to report to the health and safety enforcing authorities work-related accidents to employees or self-employed people resulting in: death, major injury as defined in the regulations; or incapacity to do normal work for more than three days. Similar, but separate reporting requirements applied to the railway and offshore industries.

  The total number of accidents reported for all industries in each of the last five years are as follows:

  Injuries to workers1 reported to enforcing authorities 1991–92 to 1995–963

  Year

  Fatal

  Major4

  Over three days5

  Total

  1991–92

  368

  18,698

  154,338

  173,404

  1992–93

  339

  18,053

  143,283

  161,675

  1993–94

  296

  17,979

  137,459

  155,734

  1994–95

  272

  18,354

  142,218

  160,844

  1995–96:

  256

  17,571

  132,359

  150,186

  1 Includes employees, trainees and self-employed persons.

  2 Provisional.

  3 Years commencing 1 April.

  4 Injuries that result in hospitalisation for more than 24 hours.

  5 Any injury resulting in incapacity to perform normal work for more than three days.

  1064

  Animal Remains, Penistone
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the result of the examination by Doncaster museum of the remains of a body of an animal found on land at Flouch, near Penistone, South Yorkshire in August; and if he will make a statement. [40966]

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

  New Buildings and Premises
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure on new buildings and premises by his Department and its agencies; and if he will indicate the square footage of new office space purchased or newly rented in each of the last five years. [41145]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Planning Inquiries
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures should be adopted when new Government guidance is issued following the close of a local planning inquiry but before the adoption of that plan; how the public and participants in the inquiry are to be kept informed and involved; and if he will make a statement. [41058]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  If new Government guidance is issued following the close of a local plan inquiry, but before the planning inspector issues his report, that new guidance will be taken into account by the inspector in making his recommendations. In considering the inspector's recommendations, the local planning authority will decide what formal modifications need to be made to the plan. If new guidance is issued after the inspector's report has been received by the local authority, then the authority will need to decide how it intends to take on board the new guidance through formal modifications to the plan. The processes involved in making modifications to the plan, and in keeping the public and participants in the inquiry informed, are detailed in the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations 1991, and in the code of practice on development plans, issued by my Department as a booklet, "Development Plans: What you need to know". However, planning policy guidance note 12, paragraph 4.19 makes it clear that where new information becomes available at a late stage in the plan adoption process, and modification would only delay implementation of proposals not affected by the new information, it may be preferable to adopt the plan and start an early review.

  Deaths at Work
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deaths at work occurred in each of the last five years; how many cases the Health
  1065
  and Safety Executive has referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration of manslaughter charges; how many prosecutions took place; and how many were successful. [41132]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The number of deaths at work reported to all enforcing authorities, including local authorities, in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Deaths at work

  1991–92

  473

  1992–93

  452

  1993–94

  403

  1994–95

  376

  1995–961

  338

  1 Provisional.

  The number of cases investigated by the Health and Safety Executive which have been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service since April 1992 for consideration of possible manslaughter charges, and the outcome, is as follows:

  Year1

  Number of cases referred to CPS

  Prosecutions for manslaughter started by CPS

  Guilty verdicts

  1992–93

  12

  2

  —

  1993–94

  5

  1

  1

  1994–95

  12

  4

  1

  1995–96

  9

  2

  1

  1996–97

  2

  —

  —

  Totals

  40

  9

  3

  1 Information for previous years is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of his Department's liaison with the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of compensation to English Partnerships relating to the clean-up of contaminated land used for coal extraction. [40962]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I hope that an announcement can he made shortly.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sentences in cases where companies were found guilty under health and safety law following the death at work of an employee, involved imprisonment; and how many resulted in fines of(a) less than £5,000, (b) £5.000 to £10,000, (c) £10,000 to £50,000 and (d) more than £50,000. [41134]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Of the three cases in which people have been sent to prison following convictions under health and safety at work law, none followed a work-related death.

  The other information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.
  1066

  Housing Association Statistics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing association houses were built in each South Yorkshire local authority in each of the last four years. [40965]

  Mr. Clappison
  Estimates of dwellings completed by housing associations in each local authority area in England are shown in the publication "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for the years 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 are in issue numbers 109, 110, 117 and 118 respectively.

  While these figures cover newly built accommodation, housing associations have also provided additional social lettings by the rehabilitation of existing properties and the various home incentive schemes, whose relative importance has been growing with the greater emphasis being placed on making more effective use of existing stock.

  Display Screen Equipment Regulations
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he estimates he will publish the results of the review of the display screen equipment regulations; and if he will make a statement. [40849]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The results of the review of the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 are still being considered. As soon as this is completed, I hope the Health and Safety Commission will be able to publish the report.

  Sewerage Systems
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the terms of reference of the committee reviewing the current revision of water byelaws and regulations with particular reference to setting standards for the construction and maintenance of sewerage systems. [40882]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Water Regulations Advisory Committee's terms of reference are to advise the Secretary of State for the Environment on the requirements for plumbing installations and fittings to be included in water regulations made under powers in section 74 of the Water Industry Act 1991 and on other technical matters connected with the regulations.

  As provided for under section 74, the regulations will deal with contamination, waste, undue consumption and misuse of water in premises; they will not set standards for the construction and maintenance of sewerage systems.

  The extension of the current water byelaws, membership of the committee and a timetable of meetings was announced by departmental press release on 14 October. Copies of the press release are available in the House Library.
  1067

  Development (Outer London)
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the conditions for permitted development in respect of a bungalow in an outer-London borough. [40941]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Householders may make certain types of minor changes to their dwellings without needing to apply for planning permission. These "permitted developments" are prescribed in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. For a bungalow in outer London the following developments, among others, would be permitted:

  (i) the extension of the dwelling, providing the enlargement does not exceed 70 cubic metres at 15 per cent. (whichever is the greater) and providing in any case that the volume of the original house is not increased by more than 115 cubic metres;

  (ii) the addition or alteration of a roof, providing the altered roof slope does not face a highway, and providing the addition does not increase the overall height of the dwelling nor add more than 50 cu m to the volume of the house. (Any additional volume created by a roof extension counts against the total volume limits of (i) above).

  I am sending an extract of the general permitted development order and a booklet describing its contents to my hon. Friend.

  1991 Census
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment when the findings of the analysis of the 1991 census commissioned from Newcastle university will be available. [40956]

  Mr. Curry
  This. is being published today. Copies of the report "Urban Trends in England: Latest Evidence from the 1991 Census" have been lodged in the Library of the House.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what finances he has made available to authorities that have been or are to be reorganised on 1 April 1995–96, and 1997 for reoganisation costs incurred by them in 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [40955]

  Mr. Curry
  On 26 April I invited authorities that have been or are to be reorganised on or before 1 April 1997 to submit outturn figures of the amount of expenditure they incurred on transitional costs of reorganisation in 1995–96. On the basis, inter alia, of the information provided by the authorities, I have decided the amounts of supplementary credit approvals to allocate towards such costs in 1995–96. I have given priority to authorities that were reorganised on or before 1 April 1996.

  The amounts are as follows:

  SCAs: £000 rounded

  Authority

  1995–96

  Isle of Wight

  Isle of Wight Council

  1,536

  1068

  SCAs: £000 rounded

  Authority

  1995–96

  Cleveland

  Cleveland County Council

  3,169

  Hartlepool Borough Council

  3,200

  Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

  2,891

  Middlesborough Borough Council

  2,160

  Stockton on Tees Borough Council

  2,947

  Avon

  Avon County Council

  2,910

  Bristol City Council

  2,719

  North Somerset District Council

  3,197

  Bath and North East Somerset Council

  1,769

  Bath City Council

  299

  Wansdyke District Council

  715

  South Gloucestershire Council

  1,790

  Kingswood Borough Council

  438

  Northavon District Council

  484

  Humberside

  Humberside County Council

  2,900

  Hull City Council

  3,080

  East Riding of Yorkshire Council

  1,200

  Beverley Borough Council

  800

  Boothferry Borough Council

  90

  East Yorkshire Borough Council

  864

  Holdemess Borough Council

  500

  North Lincolnshire Council

  1,898

  Glanford Borough Council

  468

  Scunthorpe Borough Council

  626

  North East Lincolnshire DC

  1,634

  Cleethorpes Borough Council

  394

  Great Grimsby

  922

  North Yorkshire

  North Yorkshire County Council

  1,400

  Ryedale District Council

  —

  Selby District Council

  685

  York District Council

  2,996

  York City Council

  550

  Total

  51,231

  In addition, £200,000 has been issued, and distributed by the Home Office, for the reorganisation costs of combined fire authorities. 2

  On 29 November 1995 I announced that I had considered carefully the bids submitted by authorities that are to be reorganised in 1997, but that, in my view, none of the bids established a sufficiently strong case to justify an allocation of SCA for 1995–96, Official Report, column 734. I have taken the same view following consideration of outturn bids submitted by these authorities. I have, however, issued capitalisation directions for the net eligible revenue expenditure incurred.

  Sheffield and Tinsley Canal
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals in respect of the Sheffield and Tinsley canal. [40957]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Under the provisions of the Transport Act 1968, I have today made an order to upgrade the Sheffield and Tinsley canal from a remainder to cruising waterway.
  1069
  British Waterways, which manages the canal, has in partnership with Sheffield city council and Sheffield development corporation, restored it to cruising standard. Reclassification is widely supported by local authorities, the boating industry and waterway user groups and will play an important part in regenerating the surrounding area. Significant public and private investment has already been committed to the area, and I am sure that upgrading the canal will boost investor confidence and help secure future investment.

  European Week for Health and Safety
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums from public funds were allocated for promoting European week for Health and Safety., and if he will make a statement. [40850]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The European Week for Safety and Health was aimed to encourage organisations themselves to raise awareness about hazards in the workplace and to be more effective in managing health and safety. In the UK we especially encouraged participation in the "Good Health is Good Business" campaign. I am extremely pleased that over 10,000 UK organisations registered an interest in participating in the European week. The Health and Safety Executive supported the week at a cost of £50,000.

  Storm Damage (Torbay)
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide financial assistance to Torbay borough council under the Bellwin scheme for the costs incurred in dealing with exceptional storms in January 1996. [41218]

  Mr. Curry
  I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified given the exceptional nature of the storms between 20 and 24 January 1996. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to cover 85 per cent. of eligible costs which are above a threshold, and which have been incurred by Torbay borough council in dealing with the aftermath of those storms.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine how local needs are defined by housing associations seeking planning permission; and what advice his Department currently issues as to how these should be defined. [41199]

  Mr. Clappison
  Housing associations do not themselves define local housing needs. The responsibility to define and prioritise local housing needs rests with the local authority, in consultation with housing associations, the Housing Corporation, Government regional offices, local developers and other with an interest.

  The Department provides guidance each year to local authorities on how to prepare their housing strategy and housing investment programme bid. The Housing Corporation also issues a national policy statement each
  1070
  year, containing details of the investment strategy for the next bidding round. Each August, the Housing Corporation publishes regional policy statements, containing details of the agreed local housing needs and priorities. Housing associations are invited to prepare schemes to meet these needs, and to submit them to the corporation for funding from the approved development programme.

  Once a scheme is approved, it is for the association to seek planning permission in the normal way.

  Commission for the New Towns
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Commission for the New Towns will be wound up; and what are its remaining powers. [41235]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration on 15 May 1996,Official Report, columns 489–90. A decision on the future of the Commission for the New Towns will be made in due course. In the meantime, it continues with all its normal activities.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what programme has been set for the Commission for the New Towns at Basildon. [41229]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Commission for the New Towns continues to dispose of the remaining new town land holdings and other assets at a rate consistent with maximising receipts and securing value for money, while also disengaging from its remaining liabilities. This applies to all towns where it is involved, including Basildon.

  Castle Cement
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what test results are on the public register for kiln 6 at Castle Cement's Ribblesdale plant at Clitheroe when burning coal only or coal and cemfuel. [41236]

  Mr. Clappison
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—now the Environment Agency—carried out tests in respect of kiln 5 at Ribblesdale plant. Since kiln 6 is a similar kiln, the inspectorate did not consider it necessary to carry out tests for that kiln also. There are therefore no test results in the public register in relation to kiln 6, but all test results for kiln 5 are in the register.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much pet coke has been burnt in kilns at Ribblesdale—Castle Cement, Clitheroe—in each year since 1990; and in which kilns. [41237]

  Mr. Clappison
  No pet coke has been burnt at the Ribblesdale plant since 1990.

  Community Alarm Schemes
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to resolve uncertainties about the statutory powers available to local authorities to provide community alarm schemes for their residents; and if he will make a statement. [41241]
  1071
  Mr. Curry
  Community alarm schemes have become an increasingly common way to help vulnerable people to feel more secure in their own homes. Such schemes enable people in distress to summon assistance quickly and can be used to help the elderly to remain in their own homes, or support disabled people living in sheltered housing. They can also be useful in tackling crimes such as repeat burglary, domestic violence or racial harassment.

  In the light of concerns that have been expressed, in particular by the Audit Commission and the Association of District Councils, about the statutory basis on which local authorities may operate such schemes, we have today published a consultation paper - entitled "Local Authorities and Community Alarm Schemes"—and this paper examines the present statutory framework and outlines the Government's preliminary view that local authorities' role in the provision of community alarms should be extended to allow them to provide, and charge for, this service to anyone resident in their area. If the Government were to conclude in the light of comments that this wider role should be given to local authorities, their intention would be to legislate to this effect at the next convenient opportunity.

  I have arranged for copies of the consultation paper to be placed in the Library of the House. Copies are being sent to the local authority associations, individual local authorities and other interested parties, all of which are being invited to respond by 16 January 1997.

  Enterprise Zones (Easington)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the timetable for the transfer of the non-operational land designated enterprise zones at Dowdon and Fox Cover situated in the Easington district to English Partnerships: and if he will make a statement. [41222]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I hope that an announcement can be made shortly.

  Special Areas of Conservation
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be sending further candidate special areas of conservation to the European Commission under the EC habitats directive. [41277]

  Mr. Gummer
  I indicated in my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) on 9 January 1996,Official Report, column 7, that further candidate special areas of conservation would be sent to the European Commission once points raised in public consultation had been considered and satisfactorily resolved. A further list of 44 sites was sent to the Commission on 14 October.

  Consideration continues to be given to the remaining sites considered.
  1072
  The list of sites sent to the Commission is as follows:

  Country

  Achmore Bog

  Scotland

  Beinn Dearg

  Scotland

  Beinn a'Ghlo

  Scotland

  Beinn Iadain and Beinn na h' Uamha

  Scotland

  Ben Alder and Aonach Beag

  Scotland

  Ben Heasgamich

  Scotland

  Ben Lawers

  Scotland

  Ben Lui

  Scotland

  Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast

  England/Scotland

  Border Mires, Kielder-Butterburn

  England

  Chesil and the Fleet

  England

  Claish Moss and Kentra Moss

  Scotland

  Coalburn Moss

  Scotland

  Creag Meagaidh

  Scotland

  Dumess

  Scotland

  Essex Estuaries

  England

  Fal and Helford

  England

  Flanders Mosses

  Scotland

  Loch Eport Lagoons

  Scotland

  Loch Maddy

  Scotland

  Loch of Stenness

  Scotland

  Loch Roag Lagoons

  Scotland

  Loch Sunart Woodlands

  Scotland

  Meall na Samnha

  Scotland

  Moidach More

  Scotland

  Monach Islands

  Scotland

  Moray Firth (marine)

  Scotland

  Morecambe Bay

  England

  Mousa

  Scotland

  North Harris

  Scotland

  North Rona

  Scotland

  North Uist Machair

  Scotland

  Papa Stour

  Scotland

  Plymouth Sound and Estuaries

  England

  Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons

  England

  Solway Firth

  England/Scotland

  Solway Mosses (part)

  England

  Sound of Arisaig

  Scotland

  South Uist Machair

  Scotland

  St. Kilda

  Scotland

  Thanet Coast

  England

  The Vadills

  Scotland

  The Wash and North Norfolk Coast

  England

  Usk Bat Sites/Safleoedd Ystlumod Wysg

  Wales

  Central Heating
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the percentage of dwellings with central heating for each constituency in the United Kingdom. [41283]

  Mr. Clappison
  Information is not available in this precise form. The 1991 census parliamentary constituency monitors provide figures for the number of households with and without central heating and copies are held in the Library.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what capacity of electricity used in his Department's buildings is generated in a combined heat and power plant; and what plans he has to increase that capacity. [41320]
  1073
  Mr. Clappison
  This Government are committed to CHP and has recently published a national strategy which has been well received.

  My Department's new headquarters buildings will both have CHP systems each with a capacity of 480 kW. In addition, the Whitehall district heating scheme, which covers a wide range of government buildings, will have a new CHP system from next autumn with a capacity of 4,500kW.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish draft regulations for the protection of important hedgerows; and if he will make a statement. [41278]

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government will issue for consultation on 21 October draft regulations for the protection of important hedgerows in England and Wales, under section 97 of the Environment Act 1995. The regulations are to be introduced jointly by the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales.

  The Government are keen, during this consultation, to hear from a wide range of people and organisation, that may be affected by, or have an interest in, these proposals—before the detailed arrangements are finalised.

  The criteria for determining whether a hedgerow is important are based on a study undertaken by ADAS to develop a hedgerow evaluation system. The report will be published at the same time as the draft regulations.

  Copies of the draft regulations and ADAS report will be placed in the House Library.

  Health and Safety Prosecutions
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases, where companies were found guilty under health and safety law following the serious injury at work of an employee, resulted in fines of(a) less than £5,000.(b) £5,000 to £10,000, (c) £ 10,000 to £50,000 and (d) more than £50,000. [41135]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) households, (b) pensioners and (c) families with children (i) presented and (ii) were accepted as homeless in (1) Doncaster, (2) Mexborough and (3) South Yorkshire in each year since 1979. [40963]

  Mr. Clappison
  The available data on households dealt with under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985 are set out in the tables. The figures for acceptances of households with children or a vulnerable household member could be provided only at disproportionate cost for South Yorkshire for the years before 1991, other than those given for Doncaster. Separate figures for Mexborough are not available.
  1074

  Households accepted for re-housing

  Doncaster

  Of which households with:

  Year

  Applications/ enquiries1

  Total

  vulnerable member due to old age

  Children

  1979

  n/a

  366

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  n/a

  294

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  n/a

  326

  n/a

  n/a

  1982

  2747

  438

  219

  204

  1983

  1,008

  321

  28

  202

  1984

  1,245

  312

  22

  169

  1985

  1,023

  320

  24

  183

  1986

  939

  295

  21

  163

  1987

  711

  285

  15

  133

  1988

  1,472

  368

  46

  155

  1989

  1,581

  554

  32

  369

  1990

  2,012

  1,386

  58

  676

  1991

  2,111

  425

  24

  219

  1992

  1,707

  534

  211

  2164

  1993

  2,142

  692

  28

  489

  1994

  1,743

  449

  35

  235

  1995

  1,803

  336

  21

  159

  1 The data collected from authorities has, since April 1991, included a request for the number of applications or enquiries First recorded during the quarter. The data provided is not reported on a consistent basis across authorities as it reflects differing local administrative practices and cannot, therefore, be used to produce national or regional totals of applications/enquiries. The available figures prior to April 1991 are not comparable with later data as they have a narrower coverage—they cover only the number of cases in which enquiries carried out by the authority were completed during the year.

  2 Data for 2 quarters only.

  Households accepted for re-housing

  South Yorkshire1

  Of which households with:

  Year

  Total

  vulnerable member due to old age

  Children

  1979

  810

  —

  —

  1980

  840

  —

  —

  1981

  940

  —

  —

  1982

  1,720

  —

  —

  1983

  1,130

  —

  —

  1984

  830

  —

  —

  1985

  n/a

  —

  —

  1986

  n/a

  —

  —

  1987

  n/a

  —

  —

  1988

  2,800

  —

  —

  1989

  3,400

  —

  —

  1990

  4,010

  —

  —

  1991

  3,040

  80

  1,720

  1992

  2,900

  70

  1,660

  1993

  3,090

  8O

  2,040

  1994

  2,340

  70

  1,460

  1995

  2,070

  60

  1,270

  1 The data collected from authorities has, since April 1991, included a request for the number of applications or enquiries first recorded during the quarter. The data provided is not reported on a consistent basis across authorities as it reflects differing local administrative practices and cannot, therefore, be used to produce national or regional totals of applications/enquiries. The available figures prior to April 1991 are not comparable with later data as they have a narrower coverage—they cover only the number of cases in which enquiries carried out by the authority were completed during the year.

  2 Data for 2 quarters only.

  1075

  Flooding (Folkestone)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide financial assistance to Shepway district council under the Bellwin scheme for the costs incurred in dealing with the extensive flooding in Folkestone on 12 August. [41282]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified given the exceptional nature of the floods in Folkestone on 12 August. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1076
  1989. Grant will be paid to cover 85 per cent. of eligible costs which are above a threshold and which have been incurred by Shepway district council in dealing with those floods.

  Uranium Particles
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been commissioned or undertaken by his Department into the nephrotoxicity of inhalation of uranium particles. [40807]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Council of Ministers: Statistical Data
  Council of Ministers: Statistical Data
  European Commission Documents 1995
  European Commission Documents 1995
  NATO Enlargement: Costs
  NATO Enlargement: Costs
  London Transport Buses
  London Transport Buses
  School Libraries: Survey
  School Libraries: Survey
  Social Affairs Council, 24th September
  Social Affairs Council, 24th September
  Student Loans Company: Annual Report and Accounts
  Student Loans Company: Annual Report and Accounts
  Royal Travel: Funding
  Royal Travel: Funding
  Foetal Sentience: All-Party Pro-Life Group Report
  Foetal Sentience: All-Party Pro-Life Group Report
  Council of Europe Human Rights and Biomedicine Convention
  Council of Europe Human Rights and Biomedicine Convention
  Judges: Performance Monitoring and Appraisal
  Judges: Performance Monitoring and Appraisal
  Released Prisoners: Housing Prospects
  Released Prisoners: Housing Prospects
  Intervention Board: Performance and Targets
  Intervention Board: Performance and Targets
  Fisheries Council, 14th October
  Fisheries Council, 14th October
  New Coins
  New Coins
  Population Statistics
  Population Statistics
  London Fire Service
  London Fire Service
  Stalking
  Stalking
  Firearms: Homicides and Injuries
  Firearms: Homicides and Injuries
  Mr. David Fields
  Mr. David Fields
  Foam Filled Furniture Associated Deaths
  Foam Filled Furniture Associated Deaths
  Burglar Alarms
  Burglar Alarms
  Firearms-related Deaths
  Firearms-related Deaths