Written Answers of 29 October 1996

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Crime Risks
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the research he has evaluated to show that, among the elderly, fear of crime by the elderly is greater than the reality of crime. [145]

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest—1996—British crime survey, which is conducted by the Home Office, shows that the risks of crime for the elderly are considerably lower than for younger age groups.

  The elderly tend to rate their chances of victimisation in line with younger age groups, and they are as worried about falling victim to specific crimes. They also exhibit greater anxiety about being out alone after dark.

  Fear of crime is about not just the chances of victimisation but the perceived consequences. Greater anxiety on the part of the elderly about their safety on the streets may be because they see the physical, emotional and financial consequences of victimisation as greater than do the young.

  Mr. Solely
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has evaluated to show the relative risk to(a) young people and (b) senior citizens from (i) violent street crime and (ii) crimes committed by people gaining entry to their homes.[146]

  Mr. Maclean
  According to the latest—1996—British crime survey, which is conducted by the Home Office, a young person aged 16 to 29 is 18 times more likely to be a victim of violence in a street location than a person aged 60 or over.

  The relative risk to young. Households—head aged 16 to 29—of burglary, which covers offences in which there is actual or attempted trespass with the intention of theft, assault or criminal damage, is 2.6 times that for households whose head is aged 60 or over.

  Police Training
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the length of time devoted to dedicated police training for a new constable. [142]

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the police probationer foundation training programme, recruits to the police service in England and Wales, other than the Metropolitan police, spend a total of 15 weeks undergoing formal training at police training centres. In addition, they undergo a further 15 weeks training in their forces which is divided between formal classroom training, operational experience and development under the supervision of experienced tutor constables. During 58
  the remainder of their probation period, constables may be required to attend a minimum of 30 days' further training at their force training school.

  Recruits to the Metropolitan police service spend an initial 18 weeks at the Metropolitan police training school at Hendon, followed by 10 weeks on division undergoing street duty training under the supervision of an experienced officer. During the remainder of the two years' probation, they are required to attend training courses at area training units for a further 28 days.

  Police Constables
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average annual cost of employing a police constable in England. [93]

  Mr. Maclean
  Data on the average annual cost of employing a police constable are not collected centrally. However, the cost of employing a probationer constable in 1996–97 is estimated to be £19,738 outside London and £22,320 in London.

  Drug Abuse Resistance Education
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the desirability of extending the DARE programme to all United Kingdom police forces. [765]

  Mr. Maclean
  No. It is a matter for individual chief officers to decide how to assist schools in drugs prevention work, taking local needs and circumstances into account. Drug abuse resistance education is one of a number of initiatives undertaken by police forces in this field.

  Drug Dealers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ensure the maximum recovery of funds from convicted drug dealers. [245]

  Mr. MacLean
  As recommended by the Home Affairs Committee last year, the working group on confiscation legislation which brings together Government Departments and enforcement agencies has been given the task of examining recovery rates from confiscation orders made against drug traffickers and other criminals, and to make recommendations for improvement. It is expected to report by March 1997.

  PCL Group
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to recover fees from the PCL group after the decision to terminate the contract for transferring pre-1981 criminal records to the national computer's Phoenix database. [861]

  Mr. Maclean
  The contract between the Home Office and PCL was ended by mutual consent. Since then, no sums have been due from PCL.
  59

  Suspects (Interrogation)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify the research referred to in his speech to the Conservative party conference which indicates that the number of suspects refusing to answer questions has nearly halved; and if he will place a copy of the research in the Library. [904]

  Mr. Maclean
  The research to which my right hon. and learned Friend referred is emerging findings from a wider study by the Home Office research and statistics directorate which looked at the implementation of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Data collected from a sample of cases from eight police stations around the country found that during interview suspects responded to questions from the police as follows:

  Per cent.

  1993–94

  1995–96

  All questions answered

  75

  84

  Some questions answered

  align="right">14

  10

  No questions answered

  11

  6

  A report of this study has not yet been published but is currently being prepared with a view to publication next spring, when a copy will be placed in the Library.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Witnesses (Payments)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he proposes to take to prevent payments to witnesses being made in judicial proceedings [1428]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Government have today published a consultation paper, "Payments to Witnesses," which invites comments on the proposal that payments to witnesses by the media, as well as offers of payment and requests for payment, should be prohibited. The Government consider that such payments can constitute a real risk to the administration of justice and that their prevalence justifies serious consideration of what action should be taken. We do not believe that the law in this area is clear or that the matter can be left to media self-regulation alone.

  The paper seeks views, by 31 December 1996, on the proposal that payments, offers of payment and requests for payment should be prohibited, and on specific questions relating to:

  whether the prohibition should take the form of a contempt of court or a criminal offence;

  whether a risk of prejudice to the proceedings need be proved;

  whether an intention to interfere with the course of justice need be proved;

  at what stage the prohibition should begin;

  whether the prohibition should cease at the end of the trial;

  whether there should be any defences.

  60

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Quasi-legislative Material
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to introduce new Crown copyright licensing arrangements for the electronic reproduction of quasi-legislative material. [1496]

  Mr. Freeman
  I am pleased to announce that from 1 November a new generic licence called QLM/3 will be available on a non-exclusive basis to cover the commercial reproduction in electronic and microform formats of Crown copyright quasi-legislative material—material which forms or explains the framework within which legislative provisions are administered and the regulatory practices followed by public servants within that framework. I am placing copies of the licence in the Libraries of the House today.

  These new arrangements will make it significantly easier for publishers to gain rights to reproduce quasi-legislative Crown material in their electronic publications. Holders of the licence, which is renewable after seven years, will be able to reproduce material without seeking prior permission from the Crown and at a standardised royalty rate.

  The Government are the largest producers of information in the country and this licence offers great benefits to the electronic publishing industry—in particular, the legal publishing sector. It will help to create a climate conducive to the growth of commercial electronic information services, both on open and closed networks. This accords both with the Government's aims of increasing the competitiveness of the UK information industry and with its open government objectives of encouraging the widest possible dissemination of official material.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what exceptions there are to the normal arrangements relating to the pay of special advisers. [1497]

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes. Special advisers are normally paid on the salary spine ranging from £20,631 to £71,517. Mr. Norman Blackwell, the head of the Prime Minister's policy unit, is an exception. When he was appointed, he was given the rank of second permanent secretary, according to established precedent.

  Furthermore, Dr. Alan Kemp, special adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister, although paid at the top of the special adviser's spine also receives a payment of 15.9 per cent. of salary in lieu of superannuation.

  These salary arrangements were announced at the time the appointments were made.

TREASURY

  Agency Co-operation
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on co-operation between the Inland Revenue, the Contributions Agency and Customs and Excise since 5 February. [97]
  61
  Mr. Jack
  Progress on closer working between the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise and the Contributions Agency has far exceeded expectations. The wide-ranging programme of practical measures is now delivering real benefits to business. There are currently over 30 projects in hand. Recent measures include:on 7 October 1996 a national employers' telephone helpline opened. It gives general advice, at local call rates, on pay-as-you-earn and national insurance issues, along with advice on VAT registration;
  joint information and advice pages are available on the Internet (www.open.gov.uk/dssca/jw/jw.htm);
  a single notification form and leaflet was introduced in April 1996, which allows new businesses to notify all three Departments that they have started up in business.

  Landfill
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the environmental bodies which have made representations regarding enrolment as appropriate bodies to receive donations from landfill operators; [109]

  (2) how many landfill operators in each Customs and Excise region had registered their liability as landfill operators on 1 September; [111]

  (3) if he will list the landfill operators in the South Yorkshire region who had registered their liability for landfill tax on 1 September; [110]

  (4) if appointments to the regulatory body set up to oversee the operation of the landfill tax will be made by open competition; [108]

  (5) if he will list the members of the regulatory body set up to oversee the operation of the landfill tax already appointed. [112]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I refer the hon. Lady to the letter I sent her on 25 October in reply to questions she tabled at the end of the 1995–96 Session. I have placed a copy of my letter in the Members' Library.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average per capita sum of inheritance tax collected in each of the regions of England. [92]

  Mr. Jack
  I regret that information at regional level is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is provisionally estimated that in 1995–96 the average inheritance tax liability for taxpaying death estates in the United Kingdom was £73,000.

  Inland Revenue (Audits)
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many joint audit visits for large employers and single audit visits pay-as-you-earn and national insurance contributions have been conducted since 6 April. [96]

  Mr. Jack
  Between 6 April and 30 September 1996 the Inland Revenue has conducted 31 joint visits to large employers and 18,083 single visits to check compliance with the regulations relating to PAYE and NICs.
  62

  Shipping (Tax Incentives)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce improved tax incentives for United Kingdom ship owners to invest in new tonnage; and if he will make a statement. [68]

  Mr. Jack
  We have introduced valuable tax measures to promote investment in new tonnage in the form of roll-over relief for capital allowances balancing charges on the sale and purchase of ships. This was extended to groups of companies in last year's Budget and has been warmly welcomed by the UK shipping industry.

  The Government are of course, always willing to consider representations from the shipping industry about any particular difficulties it faces.

  Profit-related Pay
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of tax revenue which has been lost as a result of the introduction of tax relief for profit-related pay in the years 1990 to 1996. [862]

  Mr. Jack
  Estimates of the cost of income tax relief for profit-related pay schemes in 1995–96 and 1996–97 are published in table 1.6 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1996", a copy of which is in the Library. Estimates for other years can be found in earlier editions.

  EDS Ltd.
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the estimate contained in his answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) of 16 October 1995,Official Report, column 7, relating to the savings which will accrue as the result of the contract awarded to EDS Ltd. to provide information technology services for the Inland Revenue. [975]

  Mr. Jack
  At the time of signature of the contract with EDS for the provision of IT services—May 1994—the Inland Revenue estimated that the Department would save £225 million, compared with continuing in-house costs, over the 10 years of the contract. This was based on transfer of work to EDS in two phases in July 1994 and January 1996.

  The latest estimate shows that total savings to the Department are still expected to be of a very similar order—in the range £220 million to £225 million—though precise figures of savings will always still depend on the future level of the Department's information technology requirements.

  Ministerial Visit (China)
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purpose of the Economic Secretary's recent visit to China. [1181]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The principal purpose of the visit was to sign the memorandum of understanding on the exchange of information and mutual assistance in securities and futures matters between the Treasury, the Securities and Investments Board and the China Securities Regulatory Commission. I also took the opportunity to call on the state organisations which are at the forefront in China's economic reform. I was accompanied by Sir
  63
  Andrew Large, chairman of the SIB, co-signatory to the MOU, Ian Salter, the deputy chairman of the London stock exchange and a delegation of senior executives from the financial services sector.

  The memorandum of understanding is a landmark agreement between the United Kingdom and Chinese authorities and is the result of two years' intensive negotiation by the Treasury, the SIB and the London stock exchange. It is of immense importance to our financial services industry in opening the gates to allow it to participate in and contribute to the rapid development of China's financial services sector. In particular, it will allow Chinese companies to list on the London stock exchange. The Chinese authorities have formally recognised London's status as the international financial centre. We are the first European country to receive official Chinese recognition and the first European stock exchange to be selected for listing. The MOU signing ceremony received considerable Chinese press and media coverage.

  We were welcomed extremely warmly by all our Chinese hosts and I have no doubt that this historic agreement will strengthen the increasingly close wider relations between our Government and China. My task in the financial services area was considerably eased by the successful recent visits by the Deputy Prime Minister, the President of the Board of Trade, the Minister for Trade and the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  The memorandum of understanding also has provisions for technical co-operation. My Chinese hosts impressed on me how much they can learn from London, both from a regulatory perspective and from our privatisation experience. The signing of the memorandum will therefore involve us closely in China's future economic development as the development of China's capital markets will play a key role in its economic reforms. The Chinese stressed their specialist training and educational needs and we have considerable expertise in this area.

  In addition to my hosts at the CSRC, I also called on Vice-Minister Wang Chunzheng of the State Planning Commission, Assistant Minister Gao Qiang of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Zhou Zhengqing, the Deputy Secretary General of the State Council, Deputy Governor Chen Yuan of the People's Bank of China and Vice-Minister Wu Jie of the State Commission for Restructuring Economic Systems. I took the opportunity at these meetings to emphasise London's international importance as a financial centre and the range and depth of our expertise to assist with China's economic reforms. I also took the opportunity to lobby on behalf of British banks—more branches and Reminbi (RMB) banking—and insurance companies seeking licences. On the banking front, it now seems certain that a British bank will be able to participate in local Reminbi banking which is a major step forward. The Chinese repeated their assurances that British companies would receive insurance licences in the near future.

  This was a very successful delegation which I believe marks a significant step forward in our relations with China, both on financial services and more widely. We now need to maintain and build on these opportunities.
  64
  Copies of the memorandum of understanding are available in the Libraries of the House.

  School Fee Payment Plans
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the tax position of investors in school fee payment plans with education trusts whose charitable status has recently been under review. [1185]

  Mr. Jack
  The Inland Revenue has decided that, because of advice it gave in the past about the tax treatment of investors in these plans, it will not collect tax on payments made under plans in existence on 20 June 1996. This is subject to the proviso that plans are not changed to increase the benefits which would be payable or replaced by new plans, for example, to provide benefits for a different child.

  In principle, investors will be liable to tax on a proportion of any profits made from the school fee payment schemes. However, the educational trusts aim to eliminate any tax charge by ensuring that any profits are donated to charity. If a tax charge were to arise, tax legislation gives investors the right to recover any tax payable from the scheme.

  This means that the position of people who have invested in these schemes in the past will be safeguarded and they should not be faced with unexpected tax liabilities. I welcome the Revenue's decision and am satisfied with the protection it provides for existing investors.

  UK Tax Havens
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the loss to the Revenue as a result of the residence of(a) United Kingdom citizens and (b) companies in (i) Jersey, (ii) Guernsey and (iii) the Isle of Man. [157]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: The information on which to base such an estimate is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further deregulation proposals he has in respect of the Health and Safety Executive. [655]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In May 1994, the Health and Safety Commission published a report entitled "Review of Health and Safety Regulation". The review was the most cmprehensive examination of health and safety legislation for 20 years. The Government welcomed and accepted in full its recommendations to modernise and simplify health and safety law and to make other changes designed to reduce administrative burdens on business without lowering necessary standards of protection.

  The HSC is now over halfway through its programme of work to implement the recommendations of the report. Details of the activity to be carried out in the present year are set out in the HSC plan of work 1996–97 published last May.
  65

  Water Leaks
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive and the water companies to assess the need for risk assessment on the likelihood of water leaks from company pipes destabilising ground and producing accidents; and if he will make a statement. [443]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None. Works concerned with the repair of leaking pipes are covered by current health and safety legislation which protects the company employees and members of the public. The likelihood of a leaking pipe destabilising the surrounding ground depends on a number of factors, including topography, ground conditions and the force of the leak. The main occurrences are as a result of bursts in mains pipes which are readily visible and are quickly repaired with the necessary safety precautions. All companies have introduced programmes to reduce leakage from their pipes which will also reduce the likelihood of any long-term damage to surrounding ground.

  Village Pubs (Rate Relief)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will include village pubs as businesses eligible for rate relief. [894]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Village pubs will be eligible for discretionary rate relief under the measures introduced in the Local Government and Rating Bill.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the policies described in "United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste". [1182]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government's policies on exports and imports of waste are set out in "United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste", which was published in 16 May 1996 following a period of public consultation in 1995 which included consultation with Community member states and the European Commission. The plan came into operation on 1 June and reflects the Government's long-standing policy of self sufficiency in waste disposal and the well-established principle of proximity—that waste should be disposed of in, or as close as possible to, the country of origin.

  Since the plan was published, the Government of the Republic of Ireland, through their Department of the Environment, have made a formal request to the Government to allow the continuing export of a limited quantity of specified clinical waste until the end of 1997. This request follows the closure of all but one of the Republic's clinical waste incinerators in recent years as a result of the more demanding emission standards imposed by European legislation. The Government are minded to agree to the request from the Government of the Republic on grounds of public health and safety and in line with the proximity principle. This exemption would be in order to allow the Republic time to bring its own facilities for the environmentally sound disposal of these wastes on stream.
  66
  It has also become apparent that the plan requires clarification on one minor aspect. The plan bans most imports of waste for disposal, but exceptions are made under limited circumstances for mainly chemical wastes moving for high temperature incineration. Since publication of the plan, there have been differences in interpretation of the definition of high temperature incineration. The Government propose therefore to clarify the definition to ensure that only those wastes destined for high temperature incineration in general purpose chemical waste incinerators are permitted in the limited circumstances allowed under the plan.

  My Department has therefore today published, for consultation, details of these proposed changes. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Local Government Pensions
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to consult local government pension interests in England and Wales as part of the proposals for change initiative on new regulations governing the local government pension scheme; and if he will make a statement. [1183]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In July, I announced that regulations would be prepared to give effect to the proposals for change initiative for the local government pension scheme. Today, draft regulations are being circulated for consultation with local government pension interests in England and Wales. The closing date for comments is 10 January 1997.

  The scheme's provisions have been radically recast to provide new, easy-to-read regulations in a more accessible and user-friendly format. These are designed to improve the ease with which local authorities interpreted the scheme's legal provisions and to provide scheme members with a clear set of scheme rules. Many out-of-date regulations have been removed. New opportunities are included for employers to provide optional benefits for scheme members on a share cost basis. In addition, a number of other key improvements and changes are proposed, including an equalisation of future employees' contribution rates.

  Existing scheme members' pension entitlements will remain statutorily protected. Eligible members would be able to benefit from any proposed changes to the scheme's provisions.

  Further consultations will begin shortly covering new provisions for the investment management of local authority pension funds, revised regulations for dispute resolution within the LGPS and measures to ensure a smooth transition from the existing to the new scheme.

  Several regional seminars have been arranged to explain and discuss the proposals with local government and other interested parties as an integral part of the statutory consultation exercise. I know that all LGPS interests will wish to participate fully and ensure that the new scheme regulations will provide a long-term, secure, statutory basis for the LGPS.

  Subject to the outcome of these consultations, it is intended to make and lay the new scheme regulations early in 1997, with them coming into effect on 1 April 1998.
  67

  Housing
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take where a local planning authority proposes to adopt policies on affordable housing in its development plan which are inconsistent with Government guidance. [1184]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I am grateful for the opportunity to clarify the position concerning the provision of affordable housing through the planning system. The Department's policy guidance on affordable housing is set out in PPG3 revised in March 1992 and circular 13/96, published on 8 August 1996.

  PPG1—planning policy guidance 1 March 1992—sets out the position, in paragraph 29, with regard to the need for development plans to avoid conflicts with national or regional policy guidance which are not justified by local circumstances. Guidance on intervention by the Department in the preparation of development plans is set out in paragraphs 4.16 to 4.17 of PPG12—February 1992—and in paragraphs 71 to 76 of the code of practice on development plans—September 1995.

  Where a local planning authority has not yet adopted its local plan or unitary development plan, it will have to have regard to circular 13/96 in preparing its plan—sections 12(6), 31(6) and 36 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. However, where development plans are very close to adoption—for example, where an inquiry into proposed modifications has already been held and no further inquiry is envisaged—it may be appropriate, in order not to delay the plans, for local planning authority to adopt its plan and subsequently to prepare proposals for alterations to the plan having regard to the policy guidance in circular 13/96.

  Local planning authorities should prepare such proposals for alterations expeditiously and agree timetables for alteration with the Government office for the region. In cases where local planning authorities fail to take such action promptly, the Secretary of State may well consider it appropriate to direct them to prepare alterations to their adopted development plans within a specified period—sections 21(1A)(a), 32(2)(a) and 39(1)(a) of the 1990 Act. In relation to affordable housing policies in development plans this approach will constitute a modification of the statement in the last sentence of paragraph 29 of PPG1 which reads;
  "if no such intervention is made, local authorities may take it that the Secretaries of State are content with the plan at the time of adoption and will attach commensurate weight to it in decisions they make on appeals on called-in applications".

  Where plans which include policies which conflict with the guidance in circular 13/96 had been adopted prior to the publication of the circular, the need to have regard to the circular should be taken into account when the plan is reviewed. All local planning authorities will have to take into account the policy guidance in the new circular in determining applications for planning permission—paragraphs 20 and 21 of PPG1.

  Urban Waste Water Treatment
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of advice from the National Rivers Authority on estuary boundaries under the EC urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement. [1186]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Earlier this year, my Department asked the National Rivers Authority—now the Environment Agency—to make recommendations for reconsidering the criteria for determining estuary boundaries for the purposes of the EC urban waste water treatment directive, specifically looking at the Severn, the Humber, and Swansea bay.

  Having considered the agency's recommendations, my Secretary of State, together with the Secretary of State for Wales, has decided on the following:
  to draw the seaward limit of the Severn estuary at a line from Lavenock point through the Holms to Howe Rock on Brean Down;
  to return the seaward limit of the Parrett Estuary to the Clean Rivers (Estuaries and Tidal Waters) Act 1960 boundary, being a line drawn from Howe Rock on Brean Down to Hinckley Point; (the Parrett estuary boundary was considered during the setting of the Severn Estuary boundary in 1994 and the agency considered it appropriate to reconsider it during this exercise).
  similarly, to return the seaward limits of the Humber and of Swansea Bay to the 1960 Act boundaries, being:

  (a) for the Humber, a line drawn from Spurn Head to Donna Nook at TF434029971;

  (b) for Swansea Bay, a line drawn from Mumbles Head to Sker Point.

  These decisions will mean that all sewage discharges of a size greater than 2,000 population equivalent into these newly defined estuarine waters will be required to have secondary treatment.

  The outer boundaries for all other estuaries in England and Wales are to remain the same as those used by the Environment Agency for other purposes. These are also the boundaries established by the Department for UWWTD purposes in 1994.

  Global Temperatures
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates have been made by his Department for 10-year projections in global temperatures in each of the last five years. [497]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: The 1995 second scientific assessment from the intergovernmental panel on climate change suggests that the underlying rise in global average temperature will be about 0.1 to 0.2 deg C over the next decade. The actual temperature changes will be strongly affected by natural variability. The comparable estimate in the first IPCC scientific assessment in 1990 was 0.3 deg C per decade; the 1995 estimate is lower because it has taken into account the cooling effect of aerosols produced by man-made sulphur dioxide emissions.
  69

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Works of Art (Export)
  Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the 1995–96 report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art will be published. [1187]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The reviewing committee's annual report, 1995–96, has been published today, and copies have been laid before Parliament.

  BBC
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations she has received about the BBC's observation of clause 4.4(e) of its agreement with her Department; and if she will make a statement. [499]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: Representations have been received from the Broadcasting Campaign for Scotland. My officials are discussing with the BBC the provision of the information required under clause 4.4(e) of the agreement to ensure that it is made available in the BBC's annual reports or elsewhere as appropriate. Meanwhile, the hon. Member will be aware that the BBC Scotland annual review 1995–96, published on 25 October, includes further information about BBC production in Scotland.

  Football Trust
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the income of the Football Trust in each week since 1 November 1994(a) in total, (b) from pool betting duty and (c) from spot the ball. [500]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: Football Trust weekly income from 1 November 1994 is set out in the table.

  Week Ending

  Total income £

  Pool betting duty £

  Spot the ball £

  November

  4

  733,750

  473,752

  259,998

  11

  724,750

  468,851

  225,899

  18

  758,972

  479,946

  279,026

  25

  730,158

  473,315

  256,843

  December

  2

  703,908

  455,816

  248,092

  9

  694,337

  450,908

  243,429

  16

  675,709

  448,161

  227,548

  23

  696,142

  460,085

  236,057

  30

  1,460,364

  924,477

  535,887

  1995 January

  6

  119,323

  116,368

  2,955

  13

  161,749

  160,420

  1,329

  20

  583,560

  393,654

  189,906

  27

  610,005

  404,662

  205,343

  February

  3

  614,825

  408,250

  206,575

  10

  605,460

  408,357

  197,103

  17

  606,123

  401,609

  204,514

  24

  599,293

  398,305

  200,988

  70

  Week Ending

  Total income £

  Pool betting duty £

  Spot the ball £

  March

  3

  594,043

  398,545

  195,498

  10

  584,063

  389,026

  195,087

  17

  579,733

  386,974

  192,759

  24

  586,984

  386,892

  200,092

  31

  578,654

  381,238

  197,416

  April

  7

  565,827

  369,835

  195,992

  14

  565,397

  372,364

  193,033

  21

  567,903

  375,494

  192,409

  28

  551,028

  363,933

  187,095

  May

  5

  475,885

  349,427

  126,458

  12

  491,057

  354,366

  136,691

  19

  483,546

  354,411

  126,135

  26

  462,926

  336,321

  126,605

  June

  2

  466,731

  335,725

  131,006

  9

  459,213

  328,176

  131,037

  16

  428,790

  311,703

  117,087

  23

  443,163

  321,627

  121,536

  30

  434,357

  313,315

  121,042

  July

  7

  435,190

  312,106

  123,084

  14

  427,861

  309,524

  118,337

  21

  411,226

  297,011

  114,215

  28

  420,019

  304,625

  115,394

  August

  4

  414,367

  299,673

  114,694

  11

  399,916

  289,773

  110,143

  18

  382,969

  279,530

  103,439

  25

  397,699

  289,334

  108,365

  September

  1

  409,326

  299,532

  109,794

  8

  404,044

  297,407

  106,637

  15

  400,544

  295,237

  105,307

  22

  410,667

  302,533

  108,134

  29

  415,098

  306,839

  108,259

  October

  6

  407,116

  300,100

  107,016

  13

  405,738

  297,780

  107,958

  20

  407,511

  298,040

  109,471

  27

  411,044

  301,645

  109,399

  November

  3

  405,125

  295,681

  109,444

  10

  405,849

  298,747

  107,102

  17

  404,842

  294,120

  110,722

  24

  402,318

  293,416

  108,902

  December

  1

  398,331

  289,939

  108,392

  8

  398,049

  289,338

  108,711

  15

  402,164

  293,782

  108,382

  22

  391,445

  283,498

  107,947

  29

  411,405

  300,072

  111,333

  1996 January

  5

  560,091

  401,400

  158,691

  12

  159,265

  130,543

  28,722

  19

  339,522

  250,948

  88,574

  26

  372,567

  270,677

  101,890

  71

  Week Ending

  Total income £

  Pool betting duty £

  Spot the ball £

  February

  2

  369,470

  268,169

  101,301

  9

  376,828

  277,341

  99,487

  16

  367,609

  266,200

  101,409

  23

  368,823

  269,949

  98,874

  March

  1

  366,173

  263,694

  102,479

  8

  367,728

  268,100

  99,628

  15

  358,472

  258,182

  100,290

  22

  358,185

  258,903

  99,282

  29

  367,834

  269,316

  98,518

  April

  5

  349,126

  250,775

  98,351

  12

  355,102

  259,469

  95,633

  19

  382,098

  289,125

  92,973

  26

  335,174

  244,342

  90,832

  May

  3

  348,454

  254,269

  94,185

  10

  341,152

  246,880

  94,272

  17

  349,514

  251,802

  97,712

  24

  375,797

  282,632

  93,165

  31

  368,854

  274,978

  93,876

  June

  7

  368,568

  271,416

  97,152

  14

  354,238

  269,069

  85,165

  21

  361,547

  272,636

  88,911

  28

  353,878

  267,070

  86,808

  July

  5

  356,322

  268,660

  87,662

  12

  350,073

  265,169

  84,904

  19

  344,740

  267,155

  87,585

  26

  344,716

  259,799

  84,917

  August

  2

  339,789

  254,140

  85,649

  9

  341,366

  258,223

  83,143

  16

  323,049

  243,116

  79,933

  23

  324,388

  245,296

  79,092

  30

  344,649

  260,941

  83,708

  September

  6

  347,177

  264,018

  83,159

  13

  343,176

  261,185

  81,991

  20

  360,015

  274,070

  85,945

  27

  346,171

  262,811

  83,360

  October

  4

  354,351

  265,856

  88,495

  11

  352,619

  266,024

  86,595

  18

  354,470

  267,669

  86,801

  25

  355,011

  267,643

  87,368

  Source:

  The Football Trust.

PRIME MINISTER

  European Council (Dublin)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals were put by Her Majesty's Government to the special Heads of Government European Council meeting in Dublin on 5 October; what was the response by the other Governments; and if he will place in the Library copies of all papers discussed at the Council. [231]
  72
  The Prime Minister
  The Dublin European Council on 5 October was informal. There were no papers for discussion or Council conclusions. I set out British priorities for the intergovernmental conference and my belief that the IGC must focus on essential reform to help prepare for further enlargement and to tackle other significant challenges which Europe will face over the next few years.

  Internet
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to open a web site for 10 Downing street. [897]

  The Prime Minister
  My Office will shortly be opening a Downing street World Wide Web site.

  BSE and CJD
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an independent judicial inquiry into bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. [842]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government receive independent expert scientific advice on BSE and CJD from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee. Issues to do with BSE and CJD have recently been examined in detail by the Agriculture and Health Select Committees. I see no need for a judicial inquiry on this issue.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 29 October. [997]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 29 October. [978]

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

SCOTLAND

  Dance and Drama Students
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make financial assistance available to dance and drama students living in Scotland, on a similar basis to the support currently available to students living in England; and if he will make a statement. [976]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The position of Scottish domiciled students attending dance and drama courses is being kept under review as the proposals currently being discussed between the Department for Education and Employment, the Department of National Heritage and the Arts Council of England develop. The Arts Council of England scheme does not come into force until September 1997.
  73

WALES

  Tourism Industry
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what considerations underlie his policy on a minimum wage in respect of the tourism industry. [88]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The determination of pay levels in the tourism industry is not a matter for the Government: it is for the industry to decide what is fair and reasonable and can be afforded. It is our objective to see the greatest growth of the tourism industry and tourism employment, not to see workers priced out of jobs by minimum wages that cannot be afforded.

  Conwy Council (Finances)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ask the district auditor to investigate the finances of Conwy council. [215]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The district auditor has already been appointed to Conwy council and will be looking at the finances of the authority as part of the normal audit process.

DEFENCE

  Spending Cuts (Jobs)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the effect on the number of jobs in the defence industry of reducing United Kingdom defence spending to the European average. [351]

  Mr. Portillo
  A reduction in UK defence expenditure to the current NATO European average would involve cuts of more than £4.5 billion per year. This would have a devastating effect on the capability of our armed forces and on jobs in the defence industry.

  Army Bands
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of British Army bands. [362]

  Mr. Soames
  Army bands make a superb contribution to sustaining the morale of service personnel. In addition to providing musical support for state, Army and other service functions, non-service functions, public relations and recruiting, they provide ready-trained in transit medical attendants in time of war.

  Dartmoor National Park
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his Department's environmental policy in relation to the Dartmoor national park. [363]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department is committed to the protection of the natural environment for all its estate, including national parks, by avoiding harm or nuisance while maintaining the operational effectiveness of our armed forces. We conduct our activities in accordance with the Government's overall environment policy.
  74

  Cadet Forces
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of membership of three services cadet forces on the future job prospects of young people. [364]

  Mr. Soames
  Membership of the cadet forces brings immense benefits to the education and development of the young people of this country. I believe that when cadets finish their education and seek jobs, the qualities that they have gained in the cadet forces will be highly valued by their employers.

  RAF St. Athan
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the future prospects for RAF St. Athan. [365]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  RAF St. Athan will continue to provide vital engineering support to the front line.

  Army Strength
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the strength of the Army in 1990; and what will be the strength of the Army under current plans by the end of the decade. [366]

  Mr. Soames
  The total regular strength of the Army in 1990 was 152,800. The manpower planning target for 2000 is presently 115,000. Both figures include trainees, but exclude Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) personnel.

  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the size of the shortfall in the strength of the Army as at 1 October. [376]

  Mr. Soames
  Figures for October are not yet available. The shortfall in the strength of the Army at 1 September 1996 was 5,350.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the total trained strength of the British Army in April 1997. [1061]

  Mr. Soames
  The estimated total trained strength of the British Army at 1 April 1997 is 101,000. This figure includes British and Gurkha trained personnel but excludes trained Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) troops.

  Junior Leaders
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consultations he has had over the issue of junior leaders. [367]

  Mr. Soames
  The Army is considering the possibility of reintroducing some form of junior entry scheme for 16-year-olds, but we must balance the likely benefits against the costs before arriving at the decision.

  Army Recruitment
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the target for Army recruitment for the current year. [368]
  75
  Mr. Soames
  The Army's recruitment targets for 1996–97 are:

  Officers: 820

  Soldiers: 15,100.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce the contract for the defence fixed telecommunications system. [369]

  Mr. Soames
  We currently intend to announce the preferred contractor for the defence fixed telecommunications system in the next few weeks. We expect that the contract will be let in March 1997 subject to the outcome of negotiations with the preferred contractor.

  Trident Programme
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the Trident programme. [370]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Trident programme is proceeding to time and within budget. HMS Vanguard and HMS Victorious are operational. The third submarine of the class, Vigilant, is being commissioned early next month and will enter service in 1998. The fourth vessel, Vengeance, is under construction at VSEL, Barrow in Furness, and will enter service around the turn of the century.

  Small Arms Ammunition
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on defence procurement policy in respect of small arms ammunition. [371]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The procurement of small arms ammunition is designed to meet the armed forces' requirements in a cost-effective manner. In seeking best value for money, competition remains the cornerstone of our policy.

  Defence Spending
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on defence in(a) 1986 and (b) 1990; and what is the estimated amount for the current year. [372]

  Mr. Soames
  Defence spending was £18.4 billion in 1986–87 and £21.7 billion in 1990–91. The planned spending for the current financial year is £21.4 billion.

  Recruitment (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the United Kingdom armed forces is currently recruited from ethnic minorities. [374]

  Mr. Soames
  Approximately 1 per cent. of armed forces personnel are from ethnic minorities.

  Army Training Regiment
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the present and future role of the Army training regiment. [377]
  76
  Mr. Soames
  No changes are planned in respect of the role or location of the Army training regiment at Lichfield, or any of the other four ATRs, Bassingbourn, Pirbright, Winchester and Glencorse.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons a military aircraft passed very low over Doncaster at 7.46 pm on 11 September. [446]

  Mr. Soames
  Since Doncaster is listed for avoidance by low flying military aircraft, the RAF police have been tasked to make inquiries into the alleged overflight. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member when these inquiries are complete.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of purchase of the US designed scatterable mine system due to enter service in 1999; and what on-going maintenance and testing costs will be associated with this system. [395]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The procurement cost of the vehicle launched scatterable anti-tank mine system due to enter service in 1999 is some £90 million. The costs of maintenance and support for its planned 20-year life is estimated at £55 million.

  Procurement
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on guidelines for partnership in Ministry of Defence procurement. [199]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Following discussions between my Department and the Confederation of British Industry, a joint guidance note has been published on "Partnering between MOD and its Suppliers". A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Armed Forces
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the size of the reduction in the armed forces between 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1999 under his Department's current plans; and if he will make a statement. [503]

  Mr. Soames
  The total service strength of the regular armed forces at 1 April 1990 was 314,700. The estimated strength at 1 April 1999 under current plans is 213,500, representing a reduction of 32 per cent. Both figures include Gurkha strengths. The former excludes, however, the then Ulster Defence Regiment and the latter excludes the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) force. The figures include an element for personnel undergoing training.

  Argentinian Beef
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what purchases of Argentinian beef have been made by the British Army to feed Her Majesty's forces in the last year. [788]
  77
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The procurement of food for the armed forces is contracted to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. My Department does not specify the source of origin from which NAAFI should obtain beef—or any other meat—but expects it to seek the best market price for the product. The majority of our requirements are for frozen beef which is not readily available from the British market and I understand that on cost grounds the majority of beef joints have been sourced from South America, predominantly Brazil and Uruguay. NAAFI indicates that in the last year approximately 12 tonnes of frozen beef was sourced from Argentina; this represents less than 1 per cent. of the annual frozen meat requirements for the armed forces. Additionally, a range of beef products including sirloin, foreribs, minced and diced beef are normally procured in the UK along with other meat and poultry produce.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards removing the radioactive material form the nuclear submarines currently docked at the Rosyth naval base; and if he will make a statement. [858]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Of the seven decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines stored afloat at Rosyth, four have completed their defuel, de-equip and lay-up preparation—DDLP—process, one is nearing completion, and two have yet to commence. The DDLP process includes the removal of the spent fuel.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to store decommissioned nuclear submarines in the Holy loch on the Clyde; and if he will make a statement. [859]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We have no plans to store decommissioned nuclear submarines in the Holy loch.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for the out of service nuclear submarines currently docked at the Rosyth naval base; and if he will make a statement; [860]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the sites in the United Kingdom which are appropriate for the storage of decommissioned nuclear submarines; and if he will make a statement. [857]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Government consider that it is appropriate for decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines to be stored safely afloat at the location where they are decommissioned, pending disposal. Decommissioned nuclear submarines are currently stored at Rosyth and Devonport.

  Peacekeeping
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of British forces' contribution to peacekeeping operations worldwide. [979]

  Mr. Soames
  Our continuing contributions to peacekeeping operations around the world represent a substantial commitment, fully consistent with our position as a permanent Security Council member. Over 9,000 ground troops are serving with the NATO implementation force in Bosnia, supported by about 500 air and maritime 78
  personnel offshore and in Italy. Over 400 personnel are engaged in operations under UN command, and some 400 more in support of Security Council resolutions over Iraq.

  Tanks
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the advantages of the leasing of tanks; and if he will make a statement. [1060]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  No consideration has been given to the leasing of tanks under the private finance initiative. However, it is our policy that, subject to considerations of operational effectiveness and value for money, there are no "no go" areas for PFI in the MOD. PFI projects can reach close to the front line and impact directly on operational capability.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Schools Budget
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the current total for the national schools budget; [4]

  (2) what proportion of the national schools budget is currently transmitted to schools; [7]

  (3) what is the average amount currently deducted from the national schools budget by local education authorities; [6]

  (4) what action she will take to reduce the amount of local education authority holdback. [5]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total amount of the general schools budget as recorded in the local management of schools budget statements produced by the local education authorities in England for 1996–97 is £15,383.6 million, exclusive of capital expenditure and capital financing costs. The proportion of this figure delegated to schools through the aggregated schools budget is 79 per cent. The 21 per cent. retained centrally by LEAs amounts to £3,226.4 million, an average of £27.1 million per LEA.

  The Government's plans for requiring a further reduction in "LEA holdback" are set out in chapter 2 of the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools", Cm 3315.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people formerly in receipt of incapacity benefit who have signed on as unemployed during the year April 1995 to April 1996 have(a) been referred to placing, assessment and counselling teams, (b) taken up a place on a job club, (c) taken up a job interview guarantee, (d) taken up a place on a job plan workshop and (e) received assistance from the access to work scheme. [412]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  79
  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 29 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of people formerly in receipt of Incapacity Benefit who have signed on as unemployed during the year April 1995 to April 1996, and how many have subsequently been referred to various employment programmes. This falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.
  I have set out as much of the information you requested as we have available in the attached tables. It is not, however, possible to provide the figures you request for referrals to Placing, Assessment and Counselling Teams (PACTS), as prior to the current financial year these were not counted. Instead I have provided figures for the number of assessments undertaken for people with disabilities.
  It may be helpful if I explain that the purpose of assessment is to help jobseekers identify a realistic work goal, and steps to achieve their goal. Assessment can consist of interviewing and counselling, occupational inventories, work samples and psychological tests, using whatever methods are appropriate to clients' needs. Assessment is delivered by Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs), Occupational Psychologists and other internal and external specialists.
  In addition, the figures for the number of people who have started on Job Interview Guarantee (JIG) in the current financial year, are included in "Numbers of Starting in Other Programmes". Access to Work starts are included in "Numbers starting on specialists programmes" in both financial year.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Summary of activity with ex-IB clients April 1995 to March 1996

  Ex-incapacity benefit claims

  National cumulative

  Number of ex-IB making a claim for period ending 29 March

  40,257

  Number starting on:

  Jobplan

  350

  Jobclub

  497

  JIG

  358

  PWDs1 assessments

  9,380

  PWDs1 Numbers starting on specialist

  programmes2

  455

  1 People with disabilities.

  2 Includes Supported Employment, Rehabilitation starts, Access to Work, Job Introduction.

  Summary of activity with ex-IB clients month ending—April 1996

  Ex-incapacity benefit clients

  National cumulative

  Number of ex-IB making a claim for period ending 26 April 1996

  4,059

  Number starting on:

  Jobplan

  44

  Jobclub

  107

  Other programmes1

  67

  PWDs2—referrals

  1,316

  PWDs2—assessments

  1,149

  PWDs2—starting on specialist programmes3

  100

  1 Other programmes—BSS, Restart, Workwise, Jobsearch Plus, Job Search Seminar, Job Review Workshop, Job Interview Guarantee.

  2 People with disabilities.

  3 Includes Supported Employment, Rehabilitation starts, Access to Work, Job Introduction.

  80

  Access to Work Scheme
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her latest estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the number receiving assistance through the access to work scheme; and of these how many are (i) unemployed; (ii) employees and (iii) self-employed. [414]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 29 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the estimated cost and numbers receiving assistance through Access to Work, and the numbers who are unemployed, employed and self-employed. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  For the period April to September 1996, £6.5m has been spent and a further £6m is already committed to be spent. During this period we helped 1,452 new beneficiaries of whom 666 were unemployed, 701 were employed and 85 were self employed. About 4,200 others continue to receive help agreed before April.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the cost of removing the employer and self-employed contributions payable under the access to work scheme. [415]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 29 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the estimated cost of removing the cost sharing element of Access to Work. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  It is too early to say what expenditure on Access to Work will be this year and consequently what would be the effect of returning to a situation in which the Employment Service paid all approved costs.
  However, the demand for Access to Work in 1995–96 was such that, in spite of restrictions from December 1995 on the help given to employed and self-employed people, expenditure exceeded the budget by some £6 million. Growth on this scale indicated that expenditure in 1996–97 would have exceeded the budget available leading to restrictions again having to be imposed on applications. Employed and self-employed people have been eligible for help since 1 June, and the introduction of cost sharing means that this year's allocation of £19 million will ensure that help continues to be available to those who most need it.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Jobfinder's Grant
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the cost of extending and jobfinder's grant to people receiving severe disablement allowance, incapacity benefit and income support at the time of their application. [413]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  81
  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 29 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the cost of extending Jobfinder's Grant to people receiving Severe Disablement Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Income Support. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Based on client information supplied by the Benefits Agency, and assuming a similar take up to that of our current target group, the maximum additional cost would be £14.3 million.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  School Equipment Survey
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reasons she has not published the results of the survey conducted by an Office for Standards in Education inspector into the link between the provision of books and equipment in schools and effective teaching; and if she will make a statement. [144]

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

  Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total payment by the Further Education Funding Council to the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute in 1995–96; which courses were supported by the Further Education Funding Council; and what is the current estimate of likely grant by the Further Education Funding Council in 1996–97. [85]

  Mr. Paice
  In 1995–96 the Further Education Funding Council paid Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute recurrent funding of £125,992. The institute's recurrent funding for 1996–97 has yet to be finalised, but is likely to be around the same level as in 1995–96. Details of the courses for which the institute is funded are a matter for the FEFC. I am therefore asking the council's chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the provision in the national curriculum which enables the teaching of(a) citizenship, (b) social skills and (c) parenting; and if she will make a statement. [399]

  Mrs. Gillan
  There is scope for schools to cover citizenship, social skills and parenting under section 1 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Citizenship can also be covered in religious education, and within national curriculum subjects such as history and English; and social skills and parenthood can be covered in sex education, provision for which is enshrined in sections 352 and 403 to 405 of the Education Act 1993.

  Pupils (Expenditure)
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent per(a) primary and (b) secondary school pupil in each of
  82
  the local education authorities in England in the most recent year for which figures are available, at constant prices. [964]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table sets out for each local education authority in England the net institutional expenditure per pupil in LEA-maintained(a) pre-primary/primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

  Net institutional expenditure 1994–95 (at 1995–96 per pupil prices)

  Pre-primary and primary £

  Secondary £

  Corporation of London

  3,723

  0

  Camden

  2,107

  2,857

  Greenwich

  2,077

  2,839

  Hackney

  2,303

  3,214

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,542

  3,396

  Islington

  2,105

  2,722

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,455

  3,408

  Lambeth

  2,635

  3,874

  Lewisham

  2,148

  2,742

  Southwark

  1,944

  2,746

  Tower Hamlets

  2,450

  3,272

  Wandsworth

  2,323

  3,127

  Westminster

  2,499

  2,894

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,937

  2,410

  Barnet

  1,805

  2,473

  Bexley

  1,573

  2,286

  Brent

  1,760

  2,082

  Bromley

  1,673

  2,285

  Croydon

  1,767

  2,217

  Ealing

  2,016

  2,516

  Enfield

  1,804

  2,416

  Haringey

  2,356

  3,058

  Harrow

  2,092

  2,661

  Havering

  1,756

  2,632

  Hillingdon

  1,820

  2,688

  Hounslow

  1,977

  2,644

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,772

  2,579

  Merton

  1,978

  2,728

  Newham

  1,752

  2,686

  Redbridge

  1,719

  2,615

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,930

  2,431

  Sutton

  1,905

  2,575

  Waltham Forest

  1,835

  2,453

  Birmingham

  1,763

  2,413

  Coventry

  1,746

  2,477

  Dudley

  1,614

  2,259

  Sandwell

  1,706

  2,298

  Solihull

  1,643

  2,279

  Walsall

  1,704

  2,370

  Wolverhampton

  1,688

  2,397

  Knowsley

  1,613

  2,281

  Liverpool

  1,673

  2,666

  St. Helens

  1,558

  2,301

  Sefton

  1,523

  2,281

  Wirral

  1,605

  2,350

  Bolton

  1,685

  2,316

  Bury

  1,528

  2,081

  Manchester

  1,596

  2,494

  Oldham

  1,660

  2,349

  Rochdale

  1,590

  2,279

  Salford

  1,543

  2,203

  Stockport

  1,604

  2,204

  Tameside

  1,482

  2,095

  Trafford

  1,513

  2,375

  Wigan

  1,509

  2,182

  Barnsley

  1,587

  2,153

  Doncaster

  1,478

  2,074

  Rotherham

  1,761

  2,274

  83

  Net institutional expenditure 1994–95 (at 1995–96 per pupil prices)

  Pre-primary and primary £

  Secondary £

  Sheffield

  1,651

  2,161

  Bradford

  1,722

  2,090

  Calderdale

  1,691

  2,155

  Kirklees

  1,646

  2,311

  Leeds

  1,685

  2,276

  Wakefield

  1,629

  2,095

  Gateshead

  1,678

  2,311

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,700

  2,370

  North Tyneside

  1,675

  2,197

  South Tyneside

  1,662

  2,112

  Sunderland

  1,615

  2,193

  Isles of Scilly

  2,530

  4,592

  Avon

  1,652

  2,392

  Bedfordshire

  1,715

  2,284

  Berkshire

  1,669

  2,292

  Buckinghamshire

  1,676

  2,311

  Cambridgeshire

  1,578

  2,213

  Cheshire

  1,566

  2,229

  Cleveland

  1,541

  2,225

  Cornwall

  1,654

  2,256

  Cumbria

  1,578

  2,083

  Derbyshire

  1,634

  2,345

  Devon

  1,592

  2,256

  Dorset

  1,547

  2,111

  Durham

  1,799

  2,174

  East Sussex

  1,733

  2,416

  Essex

  1,776

  2,377

  Gloucestershire

  1,305

  1,984

  Hampshire

  1,685

  2,230

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,682

  2,113

  Hertfordshire

  1,759

  2,319

  Humberside

  1,692

  2,360

  Isle of Wight

  1,646

  2,079

  Kent

  1,593

  2,331

  Lancashire

  1,701

  2,402

  Leicestershire

  1,651

  2,329

  Lincolnshire

  1,626

  2,441

  Norfolk

  1,639

  2,399

  North Yorkshire

  1,615

  2,233

  Northamptonshire

  1,657

  2,320

  Northumberland

  1,565

  1,991

  Nottinghamshire

  1,733

  2,454

  Oxfordshire

  1,720

  2,340

  Shropshire

  1,644

  2,472

  Somerset

  1,701

  2,164

  Staffordshire

  1,603

  2,155

  Suffolk

  1,731

  2,235

  Surrey

  1,786

  2,288

  Warwickshire

  1,705

  2,405

  West Sussex

  1,709

  2,294

  Wiltshire

  1,585

  2,176

  England

  1,702

  2,325

  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent per pupil in Staffordshire(a) in primary schools and (b) in secondary schools in each of the past 25 years, at constant prices. [966]

  Mr. Squire
  The following table shows net institutional expenditure in Staffordshire local education authority schools on(a) pre-primary and primary pupils combined, and on (b) secondary pupils from 1974–75 to 1994–95,
  84
  the latest year for which figures are available. Equivalent figures prior to 1974–75 are not readily available centrally.

  Staffordshire county council: unit costs (1995–96 prices)

  Pre-primary/primary £

  Secondary £

  1974–75

  1,223

  1,985

  1975–76

  1,230

  2,050

  1976–77

  1,249

  1,991

  1977–78

  1,193

  1,868

  1978–79

  1,206

  1,861

  1979–80

  1,221

  1,821

  1980–81

  1,211

  1,676

  1981–82

  1,281

  1,748

  1982–83

  1,307

  1,746

  1983–84

  1,352

  1,802

  1984–85

  1,316

  1,803

  1985–86

  1,308

  1,861

  1986–87

  1,373

  2,015

  1987–88

  1,448

  2,159

  1988–89

  1,473

  2,273

  1989–90

  1,483

  2,296

  1990–91

  1,496

  2,225

  1991–92

  1,561

  2,285

  1992–93

  1,570

  2,242

  1993–94

  1,599

  2,166

  1994–95

  1,603

  2,155

  Teachers' Salaries
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of the total schools budget was spent on teachers' salaries in each of the local education authorities in England in the most recent year for which figures are available. [968]

  Mr. Forth
  The following table sets out for each LEA in England the expenditure on teaching staff in LEA-maintained pre-primary/primary schools and secondary schools as a percentage of the net institutional expenditure in those schools for 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available.

  Teaching staff cost as a percentage of net institutional expenditure 1994–95

  LEA

  A Teaching staff £000

  B Net institutional expenditure £000

  C A as a percentage of B Percentage

  Corporation of London

  393

  761

  52

  Camden

  29,917

  45,558

  66

  Greenwich

  53,005

  80,022

  66

  Hackney

  41,934

  61,450

  68

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  23,059

  39,150

  59

  Islington

  38,116

  52,089

  73

  Kensington and Chelsea

  15,183

  23,007

  66

  Lambeth

  32,828

  53,789

  61

  Lewisham

  42,569

  70,570

  60

  Southwark

  36,489

  56,949

  64

  Tower Hamlets

  59,528

  88,642

  67

  Wandsworth

  26,992

  44,548

  61

  Westminster

  28,869

  43,775

  66

  Barking and Dagenham

  36,039

  53,302

  68

  Barnet

  42,769

  62,711

  68

  Bexley

  38,929

  54,468

  71

  Brent

  29,345

  41,212

  71

  Bromley

  33,921

  47,754

  71

  85

  Teaching staff cost as a percentage of net institutional expenditure 1994–95

  LEA

  A Teaching i staff, £000

  B Net institutional expenditure £000

  C A as a percentage of B Percentage

  Croydon

  43,465

  64,026

  68

  Ealing

  44,293

  64,574

  69

  Enfield

  50,372

  70,250

  72

  Haringey

  48,504

  73,236

  66

  Harrow

  38,516

  59,215

  65

  Havering

  41,685

  62,394

  67

  Hillingdon

  22,931

  34,801

  66

  Hounslow

  45,911

  68,433

  67

  Kingston upon Thames

  20,298

  29,873

  68

  Merton

  32,443

  46,150

  70

  Newham

  54,294

  80,446

  67

  Redbridge

  47,835

  69,003

  69

  Richmond upon Thames

  26,801

  37,968

  71

  Sutton

  22,582

  34,667

  65

  Waltham Forest

  41,086

  57,824

  71

  Birmingham

  198,844

  299,100

  66

  Coventry

  64,666

  96,065

  67

  Dudley

  51,962

  74,189

  70

  Sand well

  61,672

  89,880

  69

  Solihull

  43,536

  61,279

  71

  Walsall

  52,699

  74,372

  71

  Wolverhampton

  51,229

  72,576

  71

  Knowsley

  32,247

  47,919

  67

  Liverpool

  97,870

  152,282

  64

  St. Helens

  37,573

  52,318

  72

  Sefton

  57,912

  82,687

  70

  Wirral

  67,920

  92,474

  73

  Bolton

  54,024

  76,381

  71

  Bury

  33,456

  46,422

  72

  Manchester

  84,064

  125,365

  67

  Oldham

  54,550

  77,015

  71

  Rochdale

  39,411

  56,766

  69

  Salford

  43,716

  60,604

  72

  Stockport

  52,705

  75,189

  70

  Tameside

  38,424

  55,637

  69

  Trafford

  35,487

  50,174

  71

  Wigan

  63,890

  84,938

  75

  Barnsley

  39,215

  58,590

  67

  Doncaster

  59,991

  85,219

  70

  Rotherham

  56,690

  82,386

  69

  Sheffield

  85,920

  120,770

  71

  Bradford

  105,450

  147,243

  72

  Calderdale

  32,136

  45,139

  71

  Kirklees

  79,714

  112,252

  71

  Leeds

  143,744

  203,594

  71

  Wakefield

  61,905

  88,147

  70

  Gateshead

  39,741

  55,454

  72

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  51,410

  76,706

  67

  North Tyneside

  39,621

  56,391

  70

  South Tyneside

  31,667

  45,120

  70

  Sunderland

  64,497

  88,081

  73

  Isles of Scilly

  599

  951

  63

  Avon

  174,342

  254,603

  68

  Bedfordshire

  103,541

  150,184

  69

  Berkshire

  130,566

  184,166

  71

  Buckinghamshire

  107,443

  158,336

  68

  Cambridgeshire

  97,683

  143,907

  68

  Cheshire

  185,568

  269,048

  69

  Cleveland

  122,215

  171,315

  71

  Cornwall

  88,972

  127,950

  70

  Cumbria

  78,726

  104,588

  75

  Derbyshire

  158,169

  223,232

  71

  Devon

  175,942

  246,307

  71

  Dorset

  95,134

  132,396

  72

  86

  Teaching staff cost as a percentage of net institutional expenditure 1994–95

  LEA

  A Teaching staff £000

  B Net institutional expenditure £000

  C as a percentage of B Percentage

  Durham

  119,452

  178,267

  67

  East Sussex

  116,325

  168,822

  69

  Essex

  167,327

  255,501

  65

  Gloucestershire

  60,327

  73,307

  82

  Hampshire

  245,280

  357,815

  69

  Hereford and Worcester

  125,440

  172,534

  73

  Hertfordshire

  172,389

  247,053

  70

  Humberside

  178,187

  267,171

  67

  Isle of Wight

  24,097

  33,036

  73

  Kent

  210,551

  307,126

  69

  Lancashire

  284,712

  401,335

  71

  Leicestershire

  186,023

  257,849

  72

  Lincolnshire

  81,304

  118,453

  69

  Norfolk

  125,026

  170,808

  73

  North Yorkshire

  138,451

  189,737

  73

  Northamptonshire

  106,705

  158,309

  67

  Northumberland

  62,743

  87,257

  72

  Nottinghamshire

  201,726

  298,237

  68

  Oxfordshire

  104,125

  151,317

  69

  Shropshire

  76,006

  102,278

  71

  Somerset

  82,380

  119,087

  69

  Staffordshire

  191,671

  285,103

  67

  Suffolk

  132,302

  179,721

  74

  Surrey

  134,714

  195,405

  69

  Warwickshire

  88,426

  125,563

  70

  West Sussex

  126,221

  180,190

  70

  Wiltshire

  81,587

  116,953

  70

  Total

  8,543,883

  12,311,558

  69

  Education Expenditure (Staffordshire)
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent in total on education in Staffordshire in each of the past 25 years, at constant prices. [965]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows expenditure by Staffordshire local education authority figures are available. These figures have not been adjusted for any changes of function.

  Staffordshire county council: gross education expenditure

  (1995–96 prices) £ million

  1970–71

  275.35

  1971–72

  291.34

  1972–73

  309.92

  1973–74

  333.83

  1974–75

  470.28

  1975–76

  483.36

  1976–77

  489.46

  1977–78

  470.36

  1978–79

  480.65

  1979–80

  470.35

  1980–81

  478.59

  1981–82

  486.32

  1982–83

  475.39

  1983–84

  480.80

  1984–85

  468.42

  1985–86

  459.04

  1986–87

  479.57

  1987–88

  492.50

  87

  Staffordshire county council: gross education expenditure

  (1995–96 prices) £ million

  1988–89

  502.03

  1989–90

  476.73

  1990–91

  485.20

  1991–92

  490.03

  1992–93

  534.49

  1993–94

  422.37

  1994–95

  419.82

  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent in total on school education in Staffordshire in each of the past 25 years, at constant prices. [967]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows expenditure on pre-primary/primary and secondary education by Staffordshire local education authority from 1970–71 to 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available. These figures have not been adjusted for any changes of function.

  Staffordshire county council: expenditure on school education

  (1995–96 prices) £ million

  1970–71

  162.87

  1971–72

  172.68

  1972–73

  183.43

  1973–74

  199.27

  1974–75

  295.87

  1975–76

  302.13

  1976–77

  305.25

  1977–78

  290.23

  1978–79

  293.44

  1979–80

  288.70

  1980–81

  300.29

  1981–82

  304.77

  1982–83

  297.55

  1983–84

  300.07

  1984–85

  288.90

  1985–86

  286.02

  1986–87

  294.82

  1987–88

  304.27

  1988–89

  306.12

  1989–90

  314.16

  1990–91

  317.58

  1991–92

  308.52

  1992–93

  369.04

  1993–94

  303.01

  1994–95

  309.66

  Higher Education Institutions
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those higher education institutions which do not have cash reserves to cover 30 days of total expenditure. [790]

  Mr. Forth
  No. The information requested is commercially sensitive and, if published, could damage the financial health of individual universities and colleges.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, by higher education institution, reductions in(a) academic and (b) non-academic staff in 1996. [791]
  88
  Mr. Forth
  The higher education statistics agency collects data on academic and non-academic staff in higher education institutions. Information for 1995–96 is not yet available.

  Schools (Religious Sects)
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those independent schools run by religious sects that have applied for grant-maintained status. [792]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The following is a list of all the independent schools whose proposals to join the grant-maintained sector are currently under consideration:

  Loreto RC grammar school, Altrincham, Cheshire;

  St. Ambrose RC secondary school, Trafford;

  Torah Temimah Jewish primary school, Brent;

  Mount St. Mary's RC independent convent school, Exeter;

  Virgo Fidelis RC convent school, Croydon;

  Menorah Foundation Jewish primary school, Barnet;

  John Loughborough school, Haringey (Seventh Day Adventist).

  Student Governors
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those further education colleges that have no student governor. [793]

  Mr. Paice
  This information is not held by the Department. It is for individual college corporations to determine whether to appoint a student governor.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sudan
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking(a) directly and (b) through international agencies, to help relieve the position in the Sudan; and if he will make a statement on Government contacts with different factions in that country. [131]

  Mr. Hanley
  The UK has given over £100 million of humanitarian assistance to Sudan and Sudanese refugees since 1991. This aid is disbursed through non-governmental organisations and the UN's Operation Lifeline Sudan. Officials in London, Khartoum and Nairobi are in regular touch with the parties to the civil war and other Sudanese groups.

  Montserrat
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Montserrat in respect of the recent volcanic eruptions; and if he will make a statement on the Montserrat Government's advice to local inhabitants. [665]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Montserrat experienced its latest volcanic eruption on 17 and 18 September 1996 affecting most southern parts of the island, which has been evacuated since April 1996 for all but essential business. There were no injuries. Scientists have warned that there
  89
  could be further explosions; however, they continue to believe that the north of Montserrat is safe from volcanic activity. We remain committed to helping the people of Montserrat, and to giving the highest priority to the safety of the islanders. The Governor, British administrators, and scientific experts continue to work closely with the Government of Montserrat on a comprehensive warning system, on the regular reviewing of areas deemed to be unsafe, and on associated contingency planning.

  The Government of Montserrat have advised local inhabitants to remain alert for scientific reports which are issued twice daily and for announcements from the civilian authorities.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to require the Benefits Agency to revise the Benefits Agency code of practice regarding the structure of interviews and the range and type of questions to be put to unemployed people during interviews connected with the jobseeker's allowance. [472]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mrs. Ann Clwyd, dated 29 October 1996:
  Your question to the Secretary of State for Social Security regarding the structure of interviews and the range and type of questions to be put to unemployed people under Jobseeker's Allowance has been passed to me for reply, as these are issues which are the responsibility of the Employment Service.
  In response to the first part of your question, about the Benefits Agency Code of Practice (BA COP). I understand that BA have no plans to include specific guidance on interviewing unemployed people within it.
  However, it may be helpful if I explain that as part of the work undertaken for the introduction of JSA, we in the Employment Service (ES) have produced a full set of procedural guidance for all our people, as they will be responsible for most of the interviewing connected with the Jobseeker's Allowance. This includes guidance on all aspects of the interviewing policy which is to be adopted. I have arranged for copies of these particular volumes to be sent to you at the House.
  I hope this is helpful.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cattle Slaughter Scheme
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the proposal by the EU Commission to reduce the payment rate for animals under the slaughter scheme which was agreed to by the beef management Committee. [193]
  90
  Mr. Baldry
  Copies of the Commission regulation, EC No. 1974/96 of 15 October 1996, which will reduce the rate of payment from 1 ecu to 0.9 ecu per kg liveweight on eligible animals slaughtered under the over-30 month scheme, have been placed in the Library.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the level of use of organophosphates in a(a) sheep dips and (b) fanning in general in each year since 1970. [1018]

  Mrs Browning
  The Ministry does not hold this information for sheep dips. Figures for the use of organophosphate agricultural pesticides in Great Britain are available from 1975 but, up to 1993, only as the average of several years. The figures are:

  1975 to 1979: 618 tonnes annually

  1980 to 1983: 622 tonnes annually

  1984 to 1989: 617 tonnes annually

  1990 to 1993: 512 tonnes annually

  1994: 703 tonnes

  1995: 241 tonnes.

  Fishing Catches
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of fish have been landed in each of the last three years in Brixham; what is the estimated value of the catch; and if he will make a statement; [1070]

  Mr. Baldry
  The quantity and value of recorded landings by UK registered and licensed vessels into Brixham for the last three years are:

  Year

  Quantity (thousand tonnes liveweight)

  Value (£ million)

  1993

  9.0

  13.8

  1994

  9.2

  14.8

  1995

  10.3

  17.7

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) beam trawlers and (b) other fishing vessels have been decommissioned in each of the last three years (i) nationally and (ii) in Brixham, south Devon; and how many fishing vessels he expects to be decommissioned in 1997. [1069]

  Mr. Baldry
  A total of 436 vessels were decommissioned under the 1993, 1994 and 1995 decommissioning schemes. Eighteen of these were beam trawlers. Fourteen vessels with Brixham as their administrative port have been decommissioned, none of which was a beam trawler. Definitive results for the 1996 scheme are not yet available as applicants have until 30 November to decommission their vessels. Decommissioning is an entirely voluntary scheme and I am unable to estimate the number of vessels which might be decommissioned under the 1997 scheme.
  91

  Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) sheep and (b) pigs were rejected as unfit to travel prior to export in each of July, August and September; and if he will make a statement. [798]

  Mrs. Browning
  Animals rejected as unfit for transport prior to export:

  July

  August

  September

  Sheep

  379

  574

  607

  Pigs

  62

  27

  42

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments of live lambs and sheep have been exported since 5 July to each of the following destinations as declared under the terms of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994,(a) Loker in Belgium, (b) Zuilichem in the Netherlands, (c) Elst in the Netherlands, (d) Morkhoven in Belgium and (e) Pervijze in Belgium; and how many animals in total have been exported to each of the above destinations since 5 July. [797]

  Mrs. Browning
  Information gathered by the Ministry's staff monitoring exports at Dover during July, August and September shows:

  Animals

  Consignments

  Loker

  56,286

  110

  Zuilichem

  74,172

  111

  Elst

  5,158

  8

  Morkhoven

  21,874

  38

  Pervijze

  5,782

  7

  Fishing Methods
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to have available for publication the results of the experiment his Department is conducting into trialing old fishing methods using the restored fishing smack Excelsior; and if he will make a statement. [177]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Excelsior trials have been postponed because she is undergoing a refit.

  Plaice Quota
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from his officials about the fishing industry at Lowestoft about how long the 1996 plaice quota will last; and what steps he is taking to swap quotas elsewhere for plaice quota for Lowestoft until the end of 1996. [178]

  Mr. Baldry
  Quota allocations for North sea plaice and other stocks are issued annually to individual groups within the fleet, including fish producers' organisations, which are responsible for managing these allocations on behalf of their members. The rate of quota uptake will vary between different groups,92
  reflecting factors such as the availability of fish and commercial decisions by the groups and their members. As at 24 October 1996, the Lowestoft Fish Producers' Organisation had taken 87.5 per cent. of its North sea plaice allocation for 1996, compared with 80.1 per cent. for the UK as a whole. It is open to the Lowestoft PO to seek to swap quota with other groups in order to obtain additional plaice, should the PO judge this to be necessary.

  Mr. Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on why 360 tonnes of North sea plaice received from Norway in September were swapped with the Netherlands for other species; what consultations were undertaken with the fishing industry; and how the swap was administered under the 1996 quota management rules. [179]

  Mr. Baldry
  Earlier this year, the Commission secured an extra 1,250 tonnes of North sea plaice from Norway in exchange for 10,000 tonnes of EU blue whiting from areas Vb, VI and VII. The UK share of the extra plaice was some 360 tonnes. After careful consideration, and having regard to the 1996 quota management rules, it was decided to use the additional plaice to acquire a range of other stocks from the Netherlands. Specific consultation with the fishing industry was not necessary. The stocks obtained have been distributed proportionately to industry except for North area sole which is being allocated to the under-10m fleet in order to ensure that the fishery remains open into the autumn, having been closed for the first three months of 1996.

HEALTH

  Health Authority Chairmen (Credit Cards)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chairmen of NHS health authorities have been provided with regional corporate credit cards since 1993. [444]

  Mr. Malone
  Three chairmen of the former regional health authorities are known to have been issued with corporate credit cards by their authorities.

  NHS Dentists' Pay
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what location the administration of NHS dentists' pay is handled. [448]

  Mr. Malone
  National health service dentists' fees in England are administered and paid by the Dental Practice Board, Eastbourne.

  Northern and Yorkshire Region
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arbitration on contracts between purchasers and providers has taken place in the Northern and Yorkshire health region since 1 April; which authorities and trusts were involved; when the arbitration guidance was issued and to which financial year it referred. [458]
  93
  Mr. Malone
  One formal contract arbitration has taken place in Northern and Yorkshire region since 1 April 1996, between Leeds health authority and United Leeds Teaching Hospitals national health service trust.

  For 1996–97, NHS executive Northern and Yorkshire sent guidance on contract arbitration to all health authorities and trusts in the Northern and Yorkshire region on 16 February 1996.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will amend the conditions for free prescriptions to include haemophiliacs whose spouses are in employment; and if he will make a statement. [140]

  Mr. Malone
  There are no plans to extend the groups entitled to free prescriptions to include any other group on the basis of either medical condition or income.

  NHS Hospitality
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what authority members of NHS health authorities may provide themselves with free meals when attending meetings. [429]

  Mr. Horam
  National health service bodies are required to develop their own guidelines on the use of hospitality budgets, to ensure that such spending is not excessive and justifiable to the public and auditors.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek to persuade the Royal College of Psychiatrists to act on the recommendation of the inquiry into the care and aftercare of Miss Sharon Campbell, Cm 440, 1988, and publish a document on good practice for discharge and aftercare procedures, after seeking a consensus with bodies representing nursing, social work, general practitioners, psychology and occupational therapy. [1030]

  Mr. Burns
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply the then Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis), gave on 11 June 1996,Official Report, columns 109–10.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of their total budget is spent on mental health by each health authority. [263]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Arachnoiditis
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research the NHS is undertaking into the causes of arachnoiditis. [795]

  Mr. Horam
  No such research has been commissioned centrally.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Arachnoiditis Trust about the difficulties that sufferers from arachnoiditis experience in seeking information about their condition from health authorities. [794]
  94
  Mr. Horam
  None.

  Social Workers
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many approved social workers have been registered for each of the last seven years. [260]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is not held centrally. The Department collected partial information for September 1993, which indicated there were then around 4,750 approved social workers in England. Data for England and Wales for 1994 and 1995 are given in the 1995 edition of the "Social Services Workforce Analysis" published by the Local Government Management Board on the basis of surveys it conducted. Copies of this document will be placed in the Library.

  Supervised Discharges
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on(a) supervised discharge and (b) supervision registers. [261]

  Mr. Burns
  Centrally held statistical returns on supervised discharge are incomplete and publication at this stage would be misleading. The number of people on supervision registers is about 3,500.

  NHS Funding
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the percentage capitation target according to the weighted capitation allocation formula of each health authority. [262]

  Mr. Horam
  A table showing final 1996–97 health authority distance from targets in percentage terms has been placed in the Library.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implications for his policy on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease of the latest medical findings of Professor John Collinge. [841]

  Mr. Horam
  There are no implications for our policy on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Professor Collinge's latest findings.

  Professor Collinge has provided the first experimental evidence to support the view that there may be a link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease—nvCJD. All the measures we have taken since 1989 to protect public health have been taken on the assumption that exposure to BSE could cause disease in humans and these latest findings do not change that.

  Challenge Fund
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health authorities which received challenge fund money, giving the amount. [264]

  Mr. Burns
  The table shows all health authorities which have been awarded funds.
  95

  Health authorities who have been awarded funds from the challenge fund

  £ thousand

  Avon

  Out of Hours Crisis Service

  350

  Inner City Day Resource Service

  120

  Barnet

  Dual Registered Home

  224

  Birmingham

  Afro Caribbean CMHT project

  305

  Assertive Outreach team

  105

  Brent and Harrow

  Crisis Intervention Service (Brent)

  114

  Crisis Intervention Service (Harrow)

  114

  Harefield Lodge Rehabilitation Service

  75

  Camden and Islington

  Crisis Support Service

  167

  Psychiatric Liaison Service

  99

  East London and Newham

  Community services package

  692

  City

  Enhancing Forensic Services

  177

  East Sussex

  Rapid Response Service

  162

  Home Support Service

  67

  Isle of Wight

  Crisis Intervention Service (+ 24 hour beds)

  305

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  High Support Housing

  705

  Low Secure Move-on

  331

  Haven Care

  382

  Leeds

  24-hour support accommodation

  136

  Assertive outreach team

  158

  Community Rehabilitation Unit

  160

  Leicestershire

  Respecified 24 hour unit

  20

  Supported accommodation

  25

  Structured activity scheme

  50

  Community integration scheme

  45

  Information officer

  10

  Liverpool

  Home Support scheme

  166

  CMHT extended service

  179

  Extended Day Hospital

  130

  Manchester

  North Manchester community services

  150

  Central Manchester intensive community service

  180

  South Manchester community services

  250

  Asian services

  25

  Cancelled Operations
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library figures by health authority of the number of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to hospital and the number of those patients not readmitted within a month for the first quarter of 1995–96. [265]
  96
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled in(a) each district health authority and (b) each region on the day of or day after admission to hospital; and how many of those patients were not readmitted within a month, for the first quarter of 1996. [981]

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled on the day of admission or after admission to hospital by each health authority in each of the first two quarters of 1996 and in each quarter of 1995 and 1994. [1127]

  Mr. Horam
  The latest information has been placed in the Library.

  Ian Greer Associates
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital trusts have made payments to Ian Greer Associates; and what was the value of these payments. [1121]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

TRANSPORT

  Helicopter and Aircraft Noise
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the redress in law available to people who are disturbed by low-flying helicopters in the early hours of the morning when the helicopters were operating under permission issued by the Civil Aviation Authority for filming purposes. [3]

  Mr. Bowis
  Under section 76 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, no action may lie in respect of trespass or nuisance because of overflight, provided that the conditions referred to in section 76(1) have been duly complied with. Subsection (2) sets out the circumstances under which damages in respect of material loss or damage may be recoverable. Legislation similar to section 76 has been in force since the early days of aviation, and comparable laws exist in other countries.

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make changes to section 76 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. [1]

  Mr. Bowis
  No.

  Vehicle Registration Office (Stoke-on-Trent)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for people in north Staffordshire of the closure of the Stoke-on-Trent vehicle registration office; and if he will reconsider his decision. [43]

  Mr. Bowis
  The decision to close Stoke-on-Trent vehicle registration office was taken following a detailed review of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's need for local offices. It was concluded that future needs could be met by a network of 41 offices giving customers an accessible local service within about 30 miles. This reduction will enable the agency to make significant efficiency savings on running costs.
  97
  It also takes account of a reduction in work load which will accrue from a project which enable dealers to register and licence new cars without having to visit a vehicle registration office so frequently.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the average daily number of takeoffs and landings at Heathrow airport in the first nine months of 1996; what was the average daily number of night flights in the same period; and what were the corresponding figures for the first nine months of 1995. [87]

  Mr Bowis
  I understand from National Air Traffic Services that the average daily number of takeoffs and landings at Heathrow airport in the first nine months of 1996 was 1,210 (605 arrivals and departures each) compared with 1,198 (599 arrivals and departures each) in 1995. The average daily number of night flights (2300 to 0700 hours local time) in the time period was .51 (43 arrivals and eight departures) in 1996, compared with 54 (45 arrivals and nine departures) in 1995. Of these, 15 (14 arrivals and one departure) were in the night quota period (2300 to 0600), compared with 16 (15 arrivals arid one departure) in 1995.

  Shipping Register
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of ships on the British register for each of the last 10 years. [24]

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of United Kingdom registered trading vessels of 500 gross tons and over for the last 10 years are listed in table 3.5 of "Merchant Fleet Statistics 1995". The information is as follows:

  United Kingdom registered trading vessels 500 gross tons or over 31 December 1986 to 31 December 1995

  Tonnage in thousand

  Number

  Gross tonnage

  Deadweight tonnage

  1986

  482

  7,024

  10,349

  1987

  410

  4,877

  6,234

  1988

  375

  4,532

  5,619

  1989

  361

  4,236

  5,193

  1990

  337

  3,697

  4,213

  1991

  321

  3,433

  3,812

  1992

  291

  3,329

  3,749

  1993

  273

  3,327

  3,722

  1994

  282

  3,637

  3,889

  1995

  271

  3,729

  3,981

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has undertaken to increase the number of ships on the British register; and if he will make a statement. [23]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government have adopted a range of targeted measures to improve the attractiveness of the Red Ensign. These have included: simplification of registration and other technical procedures; provision of substantial assistance for seafarer training; liberalisation of outdated officer nationality requirements; and the introduction of roll-over tax relief for replacing aging tonnage.
  98

  Highways Agency Staff
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior staff in the Highways Agency have taken early retirement in each of the last five years. [58]

  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 29 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking how many senior staff in the Highways Agency have taken early retirement in each of the last five years.
  The numbers are as follows:

  1992: Nil

  1993: Nil

  1994: 2

  1995: 7

  1996: 2.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the original budget for the Jubilee line extension; and what is his Department's latest estimate of the cost. [201]

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1993, the budget for the construction of the Jubilee line extension, together with the upgrading of the existing Jubilee line, was approximately £2.1 billion at outturn prices.

  I understand that London Transport now estimates that the final outturn cost will be approximately £2.6 billion.

  These figures include the impact of inflation.

  Driving Tests
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State [or Transport what action he is taking to reduce the waiting times for driving tests. [18]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Driving Standards Agency has recruited some 170 contract examiners and delayed the planned retirement of existing examiners. The agency has targeted those centres where demand is greatest and has made more tests available on Saturday and weekday evenings.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the current incidence of impersonation in respect of driving test. [17]

  Mr. Bowis
  Since 1 January 1996, some 150 cases of possible candidate impersonation at the practical driving test have been reported to the police, although none of these cases has yet resulted in conviction. There have been no reported cases of suspected impersonations at the driving theory test.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take further action to enforce legislation that ensures that candidates undertaking driving tests are allowed to do so only after producing a signed driving licence. [16]
  99
  Mr. Bowis
  Driving test candidates are required to present their signed driving licence at the beginning of their theory or practical driving test. When the licence is unsigned, the candidate must sign it before the test starts. From 1 March 1997, candidates will be required to produce photographic identification with their licence at both theory and practical tests.

  Motorways (Slow Vehicles)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what speed vehicles are classified as slow moving on motorways; and if he will make a statement. [835]

  Mr. Watts
  As there is no minimum speed limit on motorways, there is no specified speed at which vehicles are classified as slow moving. However, vehicles must be able to attain a speed of 25 mph when unladen and not drawing a trailer before being permitted to use motorways. Motorists may be prosecuted if they drive in an inconsiderate, careless or dangerous manner.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued to the police for cautioning drivers on motorways for travelling too slowly. [834]

  Mr. Watts
  None. Individual chief officers of police are responsible for the policing of motorways in their respective areas.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for transport what is his policy regarding the release of information relating to matters affecting rail safety which are of public concern. [115]

  Mr. Watts
  The Department of Transport, the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate's policy is to make information on railway safety available, in line with the code of practice on access to Government information.

  Comprehensive information on railway safety is published in Her Majesty's railway inspectorate's annual report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway passengers riding in(a) mark I carriages and (b) carriages of later design and manufacture were killed in train accidents as defined by Her Majesty's chief inspector of railways in 1986 and in each year since then. [762]

  Mr. Watts
  The number of passengers killed, in mark I rolling stock and carriages of later design, in train accidents since 1986 is set out in the following table:

  Mark I

  Later design

  1986

  8

  —

  1987

  3

  —

  1988

  34

  —

  1989

  6

  —

  1990

  0

  —

  1991

  4

  —

  1992

  0

  —

  100

  Mark I

  Later design

  1993

  0

  —

  1994

  3

  —

  1995

  0

  1

  Total

  58

  1

  Working Hours
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will lift the exemptions relating to transport workers to allow them to comply with EC regulations limiting the working week to 48 hours; and if he will make a statement. [21]

  Mr. Watts
  Article 1(3) of the working time directive states that the directive shall apply to all sectors of activity"with the exception of air, rail, road, sea, inland waterway and lake transport, sea fishing, other work at sea and the activities of doctors in training."

  The European Commission is considering bringing forward proposals for working time controls in the sectors excluded from the directive. However, the Government are challenging the directive in the European Court of Justice on the ground that it is not a genuine health and safety measure and should not, therefore, have been adopted under article 118A of the treaty, and remain opposed to any extension of its provisions to the excluded sectors.

  Traffic Growth
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the latest available figures for the average daily traffic flow and the annual rate of traffic growth for(a) motorways, (b) urban non-motorway trunk roads, (c) rural non-motorway trunk roads, (d) urban principal roads, (e) rural principal roads, (f) urban classified roads, (g) rural classified roads, (h) urban unclassified roads and (i) rural unclassified roads. [241]

  Mr. Watts
  The estimated average daily motor vehicle flow, measured in thousand vehicles per day, for Great Britain in 1995 is:

  Motorway: 60.9

  Trunk built-up: 19.2

  Trunk non-built-up: 15.5

  Principal built-up: 15.0

  Principal non-built-up: 7.2

  Minor: 1.4.

  The estimated annual rate of traffic growth in 1995 for Great Britain by road class is:

  Motorway: 6.3 per cent.

  Trunk built-up: 9.5 per cent.

  Trunk non-built-up: 2.5 per cent.

  Principal built-up: -0.2 per cent.

  Principal non-built-up: 1.9 per cent.

  Minor: 1.6 per cent.

  Source:
  National Traffic Census.

  The figures provided have been derived from the national traffic census, the results of which are published in the transport statistics report "Road Traffic Statistics Great Britain: 1996 Edition".
  101
  For the purposes of the national traffic census, the terms built-up/non-built-up are used for the urban/rural distinction. Built-up roads are defined as those with a speed limit of 40 mph or less.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the amount spent on(a) lawyers, (b) accountants, (c) consultants and (d) other professionals in consultation relating to privatisation of National Air Traffic Services in the last three months. [12]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Transport spent about £4,000, plus VAT, on legal fees in connection with this issue, with no expenditure under the other sub-headings. In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority spent approximately £125,000, plus VAT, on other consultants.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of a two-centre air-traffic control strategy. [59]

  Mr. Bowis
  In air traffic control matters, the Government are advised by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is the competent national body. The strategy of concentrating en route air traffic control services on two main centres was drawn up by National Air Traffic Services, now a wholly owned subsidiary of the CAA, early in the 1990s and the Government have supported the policy since then. The CAA is now reviewing the assumptions underlying the two-centre strategy in the light of technological and other developments and we await its recommendations.

  Traffic Congestion Maps
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now update the maps of current congestion, and projection of future congestion which were placed in the Library in February and include detailed forecasts of congestion for trunk roads in London, and key links on the motorway network in and around the capital. [1072]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Olner),Official Report, columns 1100–101.

  Trust Ports (Privatisation)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the amount spent by his Department on(a) accountants, (b) consultants,(c) lawyers and (d) other professionals in relation to the privatisation of the trust ports. [69]

  Mr. Bowis
  Spending for the six trust ports already privatised under the Ports Act 1991 and the spending to date on the prospective privatisation of the ports of Tyne and Ipswich, are as follows:

  £

  (a) accountants

  1,101,768

  (b) consultants

  nothing in addition to sums shown for a, c and d

  (c) lawyers

  8,817

  (d) other professionals

  38,295

  102

  Electric Power-assisted Bicycles
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he made of the impact of departmental proposals for relaxing the definitions of vehicles to exclude electric power-assisted bicycles on the figures for(a) fatalities and (b) injuries from road accidents; and what account he took of studies conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory (i) on his behalf and (ii) for any other agency or body. [1013]

  Mr. Bowis
  Road accidents involving electric power-assisted bicycles are currently collected in the road accident data reporting system, but are not separately identifiable from bicycles in general. Accidents involving electric power-assisted bicycles will continue to be collected even if there is a change of vehicle definition. The Department has received the Transport Research Laboratory report which is being considered by a working group of Government Department and manufacturing representatives. After consideration by the working group, any restrictions proposed will be taken into account.

  Strategic Rail Network
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent his Department will be involved in future decisions about the development of the strategic rail network, with special reference to the use of the Tonbridge-Redhill-Clapham route for freight between London and the channel tunnel and the upgrading of the west coast main line to accommodate piggyback traffic. [1049]

  Mr. Watts
  Once Railfreight Distribution—the channel tunnel freight business—is in the private sector, the privatisation of BR's freight operations will have been completed and it will be for Railtrack, in consultation with the freight train operating companies, to weigh up the opportunities for further investment in the network. The Government will continue to consider applications for freight grants on their merits, including any related to piggyback traffic. Decisions on future investment in the network south of London to accommodate channel tunnel freight trains will be a matter for Railtrack and the new owners of RFD.

  M66
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the delay in starting work on the final contract for construction of the M66 motorway resulting from the engineering difficulties encountered with building the A62 bridge. [969]

  Mr. Watts
  None.

  M65-M6 Link
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the M65-M6 link is due to be completed; and what estimate he has made of traffic flows at Colne on completion of the link. [892]

  Mr. Watts
  The Blackburn southern bypass is expected to be complete in November 1997. It is expected that traffic on the M65 will rise by just over 10 per cent. when
  103
  the road is complete. It is possible that this increase will extend to the east of Blackburn, but no specific estimates for traffic flows at Colne have been made.

  Buses
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what current proposals from the European Commission purport to change the standards that apply to buses. [200]

  Mr. Bowis
  There are no current European Commission proposals affecting the standards that apply to UK buses, but we expect a Commission proposal for a type approval directive shortly.

  Transport policy and programme submissions 1997–98 Local authority bid for local transport capital expenditure

  Authority

  (a) Maj h1

  (b) maj n2

  (c) sm rds3

  (d) sm bdg4

  (e) maj t5

  (f) mw pk6

  (g) mw npk7

  (h) mw lss8

  (i) total9

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  1,038

  0

  0

  975

  0

  2,013

  Barking

  0

  0

  226

  167

  0

  0

  565

  500

  1,458

  Barnet

  0

  0

  500

  420

  0

  0

  1,254

  1,365

  3,539

  Bexley

  4,386

  0

  3,100

  675

  0

  0

  3,002

  800

  11,963

  Brent

  0

  0

  1,123

  1,852

  0

  500

  6,545

  2,750

  12,770

  Bromley

  400

  15

  680

  310

  0

  13,807

  937

  250

  16,399

  Camden

  0

  0

  2,090

  3,540

  0

  0

  2,739

  1,128

  9,497

  Croydon

  0

  0

  1,622

  325

  0

  400

  2,923

  1,293

  6,563

  Ealing

  50

  0

  183

  200

  0

  1,220

  1,560

  600

  3,813

  Enfield

  694

  0

  2,876

  2,675

  0

  0

  809

  1,059

  8,113

  Greenwich

  8,171

  0

  627

  717

  0

  0

  1,625

  803

  11,943

  Hackney

  0

  0

  497

  1,631

  0

  0

  632

  809

  3,596

  Hammersmith

  0

  0

  955

  1,195

  0

  1,791

  1,400

  700

  6,041

  Haringey

  1,360

  0

  597

  1,405

  0

  0

  2,526

  425

  6,313

  Harrow

  4,697

  0

  570

  1,150

  0

  0

  1,402

  350

  8,169

  Havering

  0

  0

  148

  1,492

  0

  0

  2,138

  438

  4,216

  Hillingdon

  893

  0

  394

  1,720

  0

  0

  784

  412

  4,173

  Hounslow

  990

  0

  1,595

  1,805

  0

  450

  2,435

  723

  7,998

  Islington

  0

  0

  1,671

  733

  0

  0

  5,638

  943

  8,985

  Kensington

  1,140

  0

  301

  746

  0

  0

  1,904

  640

  4,731

  Kingston

  11,733

  0

  1,000

  5,736

  0

  0

  1,414

  384

  20,267

  Lambeth

  400

  0

  1,829

  814

  0

  0

  3,725

  390

  7,158

  Lewisham

  0

  0

  885

  802

  0

  0

  3,118

  750

  5,555

  Merton

  44

  0

  200

  180

  0

  0

  3,358

  1,080

  4,862

  Newham

  860

  1,559

  837

  4,714

  0

  0

  1,717

  810

  10,497

  Redbridge

  0

  0

  954

  150

  0

  0

  1,882

  545

  3,531

  Richmond

  0

  0

  805

  285

  0

  2,265

  977

  288

  4,620

  Southwark

  269

  0

  1,500

  1,405

  0

  0

  1,759

  500

  5,433

  Sutton

  400

  0

  215

  1,400

  0

  0

  2,819

  1,010

  5,844

  Tower Hamlets

  995

  0

  0

  17

  0

  0

  2,576

  564

  4,152

  Waltham FOrest

  842

  0

  400

  1,221

  0

  450

  1,375

  650

  4,938

  Wandsworth

  0

  0

  400

  975

  0

  0

  4,834

  1,145

  7,354

  Westminster

  1,000

  2,047

  282

  5,986

  0

  0

  2,854

  813

  12,982

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  900

  560

  0

  0

  3,200

  420

  5,080

  Bath and North East Somerset

  1,857

  0

  1,176

  1,636

  1,270

  2,057

  0

  202

  8,198

  Bristol

  3,412

  0

  550

  2,307

  250

  3,158

  0

  485

  10,162

  North Somerset

  1,258

  0

  760

  474

  0

  1,543

  0

  358

  4,393

  South Gloucestershire

  9,510

  0

  730

  548

  250

  2,678

  0

  345

  14,061

  Hartlepool

  3,308

  0

  470

  45

  0

  453

  0

  90

  4,366

  Middlesbrough

  0

  0

  337

  1,050

  0

  2,110

  0

  670

  4,167

  Redcar and Cleveland

  3,047

  0

  1,312

  680

  0

  1,815

  0

  315

  7,169

  Stockton

  7,549

  0

  794

  702

  0

  796

  0

  200

  10,041

  East Riding

  1,243

  0

  2,301

  692

  0

  200

  896

  258

  5,590

  Hull

  3,090

  430

  300

  1,000

  0

  2,590

  0

  400

  7,810

  North East Lincoln

  6,020

  0

  1,500

  250

  0

  0

  1,396

  309

  9,448

  North Lincoln

  0

  0

  1,050

  848

  0

  0

  660

  146

  2,704

  York

  977

  0

  510

  344

  0

  1,025

  0

  200

  3,056

  Luton

  1,762

  0

  588

  460

  2,300

  1,465

  0

  1,000

  7,575

  Milton Keynes

  238

  0

  500

  424

  0

  0

  1,407

  300

  2,869

  Derby

  0

  0

  286

  411

  0

  1,345

  150

  324

  2,516

  Bournemouth

  0

  0

  75

  297

  0

  1,290

  307

  312

  2,281

  Poole

  0

  0

  300

  135

  0

  1,590

  300

  95

  2,420

  Darlington

  0

  2,280

  200

  270

  0

  537

  120

  180

  3,587

  Brighton and Hove

  1,810

  0

  1,180

  695

  0

  1,570

  280

  597

  6,132

  Portsmouth

  0

  0

  1,390

  1,647

  0

  1,173

  102

  427

  4,739

  104

  Local Transport Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each eligible local authority in England the bids made for local transport capital expenditure approval under the categories(a) major highway schemes eligible for transport supplementary grant, (b) major highway scheme not TSG eligible, (c) structural maintenance on carriageways, (d) structural maintenance on bridges, (e) major public transport projects, (f) minor works: packages, (g) minor works: non packages, (h) minor works: local safety schemes and (i) total bids. [242]

  Mr. Watts
  The bids for 1997–98 are given in the table.
  105

  Transport policy and programme submissions 1997–98 Local authority bid for local transport capital expenditure

  Authority

  (a) Maj h1

  (b) maj n2

  (c) sm rds3

  (d) sm bdg4

  (e) maj t5

  (f) mw pk6

  (g) mw npk7

  (h) mw lss8

  (i) total9

  South Hampton

  2,506

  1,100

  1,750

  1,296

  0

  2,555

  0

  250

  9,457

  Leicester City

  0

  0

  450

  1,733

  0

  0

  0

  755

  2,938

  Rutland

  184

  0

  202

  142

  0

  0

  177

  74

  779

  Stoke on Trent

  1,200

  0

  2,100

  1,000

  0

  2,350

  0

  500

  7,150

  Thamesdown

  0

  0

  516

  612

  0

  1,627

  703

  397

  3,855

  Bolton

  0

  0

  1,215

  3,299

  0

  1,380

  0

  527

  6,421

  Bury

  0

  0

  1,050

  1,450

  0

  2,133

  30

  378

  5,041

  Manchester

  6,415

  0

  2,041

  3,461

  0

  9,563

  1,897

  1,450

  24,827

  Oldham

  2,000

  0

  1,478

  2,505

  0

  1,794

  0

  814

  8,591

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  726

  1,078

  0

  1,220

  0

  281

  3,305

  Salford

  9,045

  0

  1,526

  1,399

  0

  2,055

  0

  873

  14,898

  Stockport

  2,436

  0

  1,906

  3,143

  0

  1,631

  0

  814

  9,930

  Tameside

  2,130

  0

  1,305

  1,065

  0

  1,679

  0

  350

  6,529

  Trafford

  10,747

  0

  914

  1,671

  0

  1,110

  2,000

  414

  16,856

  Wigan

  700

  0

  1,260

  823

  0

  2,778

  0

  230

  5,691

  Knowsley

  3,200

  0

  4,150

  398

  0

  2,990

  0

  400

  11,138

  Liverpool

  1,900

  0

  2,083

  1,947

  0

  4,900

  0

  1,259

  12,089

  St. Helens

  1,623

  0

  350

  1,353

  0

  2,019

  0

  200

  5,545

  Sefton

  2,500

  0

  542

  1,235

  0

  3,064

  0

  470

  7,811

  Wirral

  270

  0

  594

  935

  0

  2,545

  0

  600

  4,944

  Barnsley

  17,411

  0

  2,025

  1,637

  0

  2,156

  808

  400

  24,437

  Doncaster

  9,313

  0

  1,304

  999

  450

  2,990

  0

  640

  15,696

  Rotherham

  850

  0

  1,370

  1,489

  0

  970

  1,597

  185

  6,461

  Sheffield

  5,972

  0

  3,925

  5,188

  150

  4,685

  6,270

  510

  26,700

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  955

  1,132

  0

  1,320

  0

  400

  3,807

  Newcastle

  8,957

  0

  2,503

  3,103

  0

  2,304

  0

  300

  17,167

  North Tyneside

  1,070

  0

  1,500

  692

  0

  1,926

  2,520

  300

  8,008

  South Tyneside

  100

  0

  353

  1,279

  0

  1,091

  0

  398

  3,221

  Sunderland

  850

  0

  2,485

  900

  100

  1,860

  43

  777

  7,015

  Birmingham

  8,420

  1,748

  3,948

  3,980

  0

  0

  0

  0

  18,096

  Coventry

  5,241

  0

  520

  500

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6,261

  Dudley

  20,200

  0

  1,718

  1,970

  0

  0

  0

  0

  23,888

  Sandwell

  1,703

  0

  2,104

  4,117

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7,924

  Solihull

  400

  0

  300

  155

  0

  0

  0

  0

  855

  Walsall

  2,558

  0

  3,060

  3,780

  0

  0

  0

  0

  9,938

  Wolverhampton

  6,228

  0

  4,508

  3,729

  0

  0

  0

  0

  14,465

  Bradford

  2,940

  0

  2,500

  9,513

  0

  3,883

  0

  1,000

  19,836

  Calderdale

  100

  0

  3,655

  1,713

  796

  1,437

  150

  350

  8,201

  Kirklees

  1,800

  0

  3,898

  1,400

  50

  1,986

  0

  1,005

  10,139

  Leeds

  21,009

  0

  3,000

  4,732

  0

  5,353

  8,313

  1,375

  43,782

  Wakefield

  4,278

  8

  2,026

  1,800

  0

  1,741

  2,610

  615

  13,078

  West Midland Joint

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  36,051

  0

  4,629

  40,680

  Bedfordshire

  3,400

  0

  1,537

  3,248

  10

  3,151

  1,635

  1,245

  14,226

  Berkshire

  5,591

  0

  2,105

  2,201

  0

  3,008

  4,154

  1,984

  19,043

  Buckinghamshire

  12,937

  0

  1,600

  1,985

  0

  590

  3,115

  931

  21,158

  Cambridgeshire

  3,650

  0

  3,990

  5,315

  0

  4,020

  2,385

  3,200

  22,560

  Cheshire

  19,349

  1,735

  8,990

  7,657

  0

  793

  2,900

  1,190

  42,614

  Cornwall

  6,326

  0

  3,219

  4,120

  0

  788

  3,107

  1,143

  18,703

  Cumbria

  2,320

  0

  2,500

  2,500

  0

  1,105

  2,170

  500

  11,095

  Derbyshire

  210

  0

  1,903

  2,081

  5,903

  315

  3,551

  1,706

  15,669

  Devon

  3,011

  1,249

  6,055

  6,260

  0

  4,744

  5,993

  1,717

  29,029

  Dorset

  5,110

  0

  670

  2,133

  0

  180

  3,463

  29

  11,585

  Durham

  2,869

  2,524

  1,930

  4,140

  0

  1,559

  2,691

  930

  16,643

  East Sussex

  10,632

  0

  3,015

  3,283

  0

  1,040

  3,199

  596

  21,765

  Essex

  5,749

  182

  5,500

  5,794

  0

  6,546

  7,736

  4,074

  35,581

  Gloucestershire

  -667

  0

  3,317

  2,924

  0

  2,866

  1,892

  1,071

  11,403

  Hampshire

  12,490

  1,110

  8,669

  2,375

  0

  3,499

  2,590

  2,000

  32,733

  Herefordshire/Worcestershire

  13,628

  0

  4,050

  2,432

  0

  1,813

  2,703

  589

  25,215

  Hertfordshire

  5,763

  0

  5,000

  4,750

  0

  2,932

  6,675

  2,500

  27,620

  Kent

  89,250

  1,000

  10,000

  5,945

  0

  2,087

  4,392

  1,956

  114,630

  Lancashire

  5,641

  300

  3,600

  3,606

  1,187

  4,602

  4,146

  2,732

  25,814

  Leicestershire

  6,115

  0

  2,160

  743

  3,243

  5,920

  1,597

  1,124

  20,902

  Lincolnshire

  5,844

  0

  3,150

  3,573

  0

  1,300

  4,396

  750

  19,013

  Norfolk

  3,688

  22

  11,026

  7,166

  0

  6,639

  3,787

  2,472

  34,800

  Northamptonshire

  1,318

  31

  4,200

  2,140

  0

  1,135

  1,350

  1,500

  11,674

  Northumberland

  3,800

  0

  5,000

  5,000

  0

  0

  2,335

  1,000

  17,135

  North Yorkshire

  7,118

  0

  9,713

  6,600

  0

  842

  3,167

  1,884

  29,324

  Nottinghamshire

  3,553

  166

  3,749

  4,429

  4,353

  3,989

  2,579

  1,550

  24,368

  Oxfordshire

  1,426

  0

  2,185

  1,701

  0

  2,842

  2,315

  2,801

  13,270

  Shropshire

  6,281

  0

  3,859

  2,208

  0

  2,702

  2,145

  551

  17,746

  Somerset

  4,676

  870

  2,750

  4,371

  0

  30

  3,160

  992

  16,849

  Staffordshire

  17,914

  0

  6,970

  5,000

  0

  2,547

  5,144

  800

  38,375

  Suffolk

  1,395

  800

  5,000

  5,000

  0

  5,600

  6,611

  1,380

  25,786

  Surrey

  8,210

  0

  10,319

  7,555

  0

  2,636

  5,090

  9,469

  43,279

  Warwickshire

  579

  0

  3,190

  4,566

  0

  1,631

  2,090

  1,601

  13,657

  West Sussex

  1,844

  2,138

  2,121

  757

  0

  868

  3,986

  1,179

  12,893

  106 107

  Transport policy and programme submissions 1997–98 Local authority bid for local transport capital expenditure

  Authority

  (a) Maj h1

  (b) maj n2

  (c) sm rds3

  (d) sm bdg4

  (e) maj t5

  (f) mw pk6

  (g) mw npk7

  (h) mw lss8

  (i) total9

  Wiltshire

  1,638

  0

  2,962

  3,240

  0

  3,314

  1,572

  1,008

  13,734

  Greater Manchester PTE

  0

  0

  0

  0

  16,467

  13,730

  0

  0

  30,197

  Mersey PTE

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6,225

  17,903

  5,289

  0

  29,417

  South Yorkshire PTE

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1,15

  0

  1,150

  Tyne and Wear PTE

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2,207

  1,965

  740

  0

  4,912

  West Midlands PTE

  0

  0

  0

  0

  48,581

  0

  0

  0

  48,581

  West Yorkshire PTE

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5,000

  2,170

  330

  0

  7,500

  Totals

  533,289

  21,314

  276,090

  284,007

  98,792

  288,825

  237,440

  116,624

  1,856,381

  1 maj h = Bid for major highway schemes eligible for TSG.

  2 maj n = Bid for major highway schemes not eligible for TSG.

  3 sm rds = Bid for structural maintenance on carriageways.

  4 sm bdg = Bid for assessment, strengthening and other structural maintenance on bridges.

  5 maj t = Bid for major public transport projects.

  6 mw pk = Bid for minor works: packages (highways and public transport).

  7 mw npk = Bid for minor works: non-package (highways and public transport).

  8 mw lss = Bid for minor works: local safety schemes.

  9 total = Total bids.

  New En Route Centre, Swanwick
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what compensation will be payable to the Civil Aviation Authority by the NERC contractors as a result of the delays to the project to build the new en route centre at Swanwick; and if he will make a statement; [171]

  (2) what is his assessment of the level of risk associated with the remedial measures proposed by the contractors on the new en route centre at Swanwick; and what are his contingency plans should the project fail. [169]

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when and at what level of functionality the Civil Aviation Authority will determine what penalties are to be levied on the NERC contractor. [250]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: I refer the hon. Members to my hon. Friend's reply of 24 June 1996, Official Report, column 29, to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody).
  108
  Mr. Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list hon. Members, senior officials and journalists who have visited the NERC in the last 18 months; and who invited them. [251]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: I have asked the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the costs of upgrading and keeping in service the London air traffic control centre, including its military cell, until the new en route centre at Swanwick becomes operational; and if these costs will be borne by the NERC contractors. [168]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 18 October 1996]: The NERC contractors are liable only for additional costs required to complete the Swanwick centre. The total cost to National Air Traffic Services of the delay in opening this centre will be in the order of £15 million; this includes the costs of upgrading the London air traffic control centre, but does not include the cost of the military cell as this is not due to move to NERC in the first phase.
  109

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Industrial Tribunals
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give for each industrial tribunal region for each of the last three years the number of successful claims for(a) unfair dismissal and (b) redundancies from those employed under the single regeneration budget programme; and if he will give details of the awards made. [34]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is given in the tables.

  Number of successful claims for (i) unfair dismissal; and (ii) redundancy payment 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996

  Region

  Unfair dismissal

  Redundancy payment

  Bedford

  300

  118

  Birmingham

  228

  120

  Bristol

  251

  195

  Cardiff

  216

  212

  Leeds

  420

  186

  London North

  509

  214

  London South

  411

  181

  Manchester

  695

  244

  Newcastle

  228

  113

  Nottingham

  200

  124

  Southampton

  345

  156

  Breakdown of financial awards for unfair dismissal 1993–1994

  Award in pounds

  Basic

  Per cent.

  Basic and compensatory

  Per cent.

  Compensatory

  Per cent.

  1–99

  83

  4.44

  18

  0.87

  26

  1.06

  100–149

  90

  4.81

  27

  1.01

  47

  1.92

  150–199

  91

  4.87

  39

  1.45

  60

  2.46

  200–299

  173

  9.26

  88

  3.32

  108

  4.42

  300–399

  185

  10.43

  85

  3.17

  82

  3.36

  400–499

  189

  10.11

  86

  3.17

  75

  3.07

  500–749

  292

  15.61

  176

  6.56

  172

  7.04

  750–999

  184

  9.84

  148

  3.32

  122

  4.99

  1,000–1,499

  181

  9.67

  217

  8.84

  219

  8.96

  1,500–1,999

  118

  6.31

  165

  6.15

  187

  6.84

  2,000–2,499

  72

  3.85

  179

  8.88

  145

  5.94

  2,500–2,999

  62

  2.78

  155

  5.78

  149

  6.1

  3,000–3,999

  78

  4.17

  242

  9.03

  195

  7.98

  4,000–4,999

  44

  2.35

  188

  7.01

  147

  6.02

  5,000–5,999

  18

  0.96

  138

  5.15

  138

  5.65

  6,000–6,999

  10

  0.63

  131

  4.88

  105

  4.3

  7,000–7,999

  0

  0

  98

  3.66

  63

  3.4

  8,000–8,999

  0

  0

  81

  3.02

  80

  3.27

  9,000 and over

  0

  0

  400

  14.73

  323

  13.22

  Total

  1,870

  100

  2,681

  100

  2,443

  100

  1994–1995

  Award in pounds

  Basic

  Per cent.

  Basic and compensatory

  Per cent.

  Compensatory

  Per cent.

  1–99

  72

  4.65

  8

  0.38

  17

  0.9

  100–149

  57

  3.68

  18

  0.85

  35

  1.85

  150–199

  59

  3.81

  20

  0.94

  30

  1.59

  200–299

  117

  7.56

  68

  3.2

  83

  4.4

  300–399

  108

  6.98

  52

  2.45

  62

  3.29

  40–499

  131

  8.47

  54

  2.54

  61

  3.23

  500–749

  263

  17

  146

  6.87

  148

  7.84

  110

  1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

  Region

  Unfair dismissal

  Redundancy payment

  Bedford

  365

  163

  Birmingham

  346

  180

  Bristol

  243

  164

  Cardiff

  194

  249

  Leeds

  428

  171

  London North

  509

  190

  London South

  499

  207

  Manchester

  729

  352

  Newcastle

  249

  183

  Nottingham

  271

  166

  Southampton

  376

  218

  1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994

  Region

  Unfair dismissal

  Redundancy payment

  Bedford

  504

  302

  Birmingham

  529

  230

  Bristol

  381

  267

  Cardiff

  276

  253

  London North

  469

  243

  London South

  703

  238

  Manchester

  814

  376

  Newcastle

  379

  201

  Nottingham

  430

  217

  Southampton

  455

  217

  111

  1994–1995

  Award in pounds

  Basic

  Per cent.

  Basic and compensatory

  Per cent.

  Compensatory

  Per cent.

  750–999

  161

  10.41

  119

  5.6

  107

  5.67

  1,000–1,499

  204

  13.19

  210

  9.89

  168

  8.9

  1,500–1,999

  117

  7.56

  153

  7.2

  134

  7.1

  2,000–2,499

  55

  3.56

  131

  6.17

  121

  6.41

  2,500–2,999

  51

  3.3

  129

  6.07

  84

  4.45

  3,000–3,999

  58

  3.75

  182

  8.57

  165

  8.74

  4,000–4,999

  30

  1.94

  159

  7.49

  128

  6.78

  5,000–5,999

  24

  1.55

  111

  5.23

  96

  5.09

  6,000–6,999

  9

  0.58

  93

  4.38

  69

  3.66

  7,000–7,999

  3

  0.19

  68

  3.2

  61

  3.23

  8,000–8,999

  3

  0.19

  62

  2.92

  42

  2.23

  9,000 and over

  25

  1.61

  341

  16.05

  276

  14.64

  Total

  1,547

  100

  2,124

  100

  1,887

  100

  1995–1996

  Award in pounds

  Basic

  Per cent.

  Basic and compensatory

  Per cent.

  Compensatory

  Per cent.

  1–99

  61

  4.47

  12

  0.66

  21

  1.39

  100–149

  62

  4.54

  20

  1.14

  22

  1.45

  150–199

  56

  4.1

  28

  1.59

  36

  2.37

  200–299

  130

  9.52

  57

  3.24

  70

  4.62

  300–399

  108

  7.91

  45

  2.56

  39

  2.57

  400–499

  100

  7.32

  35

  1.99

  54

  3.56

  500–749

  202

  14.79

  120

  6.82

  116

  7.65

  750–999

  154

  11.27

  108

  6.14

  97

  6.4

  1,000–1,499

  172

  12.59

  205

  11.65

  159

  10.49

  1,500–1,999

  105

  7.69

  147

  8.35

  126

  8.31

  2,000–2,499

  57

  4.17

  130

  7.39

  108

  7.12

  2,500–2,999

  32

  2.34

  84

  4.77

  65

  4.29

  3,000–3,999

  53

  3.88

  161

  9.15

  126

  8.31

  4,000–4,999

  46

  3.37

  104

  5.91

  78

  5.15

  5,000–5,999

  23

  1.68

  104

  5.91

  75

  4.95

  6,000–6,999

  4

  0.29

  72

  4.09

  52

  3.43

  7,000–7,999

  1

  0.07

  50

  2.84

  44

  2.9

  8,000–8,999

  0

  0

  44

  2.5

  38

  2.51

  9,000 and over

  0

  0

  234

  13.3

  190

  12.53

  Total

  1,366

  100

  1,760

  100

  1,516

  100

  Domestic Accidents
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to require local authorities to liaise with other authorities and the voluntary sector to reduce accidents in the home; and if he will make a statement. [36]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There are no plans to require local authorities to liaise with other authorities and the voluntary sector. However, my Department makes a wide range of free home safety literature available to local authorities, and now also encourages them to carry forward home safety initiatives via a newsletter outlining the Department's home safety. My Department also provides a grant in aid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which is used to support four regional home safety officers who work closely with accident prevention staff in local authorities.

  Fireworks
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the deregulation of fireworks; and if he will make a statement. [80]
  112
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department receives many representations each firework season on many issues associated with fireworks including the availability of fireworks to the general public, the great variety and power of fireworks now available, the inappropriate use of fireworks and sales to the under-16s. For these reasons, I announced on 28 March 1996 that a review of the statutory and voluntary controls of fireworks would be undertaken. A discussion document was issued on 31 July and comments invited by 11 October. These are now being analysed.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidance he has introduced in respect of fireworks and firework safety; and if he will make a statement. [31]

  Mr. Taylor
  My Department has provided 5 million safety advice leaflets aimed at those buying fireworks, distributed to the point of sale with the help of the fireworks industry, backed up by 5,000 posters at sites throughout the country. In addition, we have circulated thousands of leaflets to help display organisers and make shopkeepers aware of the law on selling fireworks. Finally, television publicity has been produced and a video on firework safety made available to primary schools on request.
  113
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions relate to the sale of category 4 display fireworks; and if he will make a statement. [30]

  Mr. Taylor
  British standard 7114:1988 makes it clear that category 4 fireworks are not suitable for use by the general public and should carry a warning to that effect. The General Product Safety Regulations 1994, for which BS 7114 is a relevant standard for assessing the safety of fireworks, make it an offence to supply products, such as category 4 fireworks, to persons in whose hands they are likely to be unsafe.

  Mahogany
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many cubic metres of Brazilian mahogany have been imported into the United Kingdom since the listing of the product in appendix III of the convention on international trade in endangered species. [828]

  Mr. Nelson
  Brazilian mahogany—Swietenia macrophylla—was listed in appendix III of CITES on 16 November 1995. Between then and 25 October 1996, CITES imports permits received and verified by HM Customs and Excise indicate that 10,141 cu m have been imported into the UK.

  Wirral Business Link
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the nature of the financial irregularities in respect of the sacking of the managing director of Wirral business link. [1059]

  Mr. Page
  Business links are independent organisations not owned by Government. The decision in relation to the dismissal of the chief executive of Wirral business link is a matter for its board of directors. I have, though, asked the board of directors to keep me closely informed of developments.

  Ms Eagle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the sacking of the managing director of Wirral business link; and what were the reasons for this action. [1058]

  Mr. Page
  Business links are independent organisations not owned by Government. The personnel arrangements in Wirral Business Link are a matter for the board of directors.

  Coal Production
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total production of coal in the United Kingdom from(a) deep mines (b) opencast mining for each quarter since the first quarter of 1992; and what forecasts relating to production his Department has evaluated. [877]

  Mr. Page
  The information requested is given as follows:

  "UK coal production: deep-mined

  Thousand tones

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Quarter 1

  18,404

  15,515

  8,870

  8,397

  9,006

  Quarter 2

  16,484

  11,852

  7,734

  8,637

  8,721

  114

  UK coal production: deep-mined

  Thousand tonnes

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  15 129

  11,527

  7,290

  8,674

  —

  Quarter 4

  15,783

  11,563

  7,960

  9,442

  —

  Total

  65,800

  50,457

  31,854

  35,150

  —

  UK coal production: opencast

  Thousand tonnes

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Quarter 1

  4,819

  4,475

  3,693

  3,938

  4,319

  Quarter 2

  4,743

  4,053

  4,114

  4,173

  4,021

  Quarter 3

  4,242

  4,073

  4,329

  4,070

  —

  Quarter 4

  4,384

  4,406

  4,669

  4,188

  —

  Total

  18,187

  17,006

  16,804

  16,369

  —

  Source:

  Energy Trends.

  The Department of Trade and Industry does not make forecasts of coal production. However, Energy Paper 65, "Energy Projections for the UK" which was published by my Department in March 1995, suggested that by the year 2000 solid fuel demand would be around half its 1990 level. Although the report did not split this demand between imports and domestic production, most of the demand is expected to be met by domestic production.

  Cosmetics Testing
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations have been received by the Minister for Consumer Affairs relating to the recent campaign by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals against cosmetics testing on animals; and if he will make a statement. [796]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  So far, I have received 2,100 representations to which my officials are responding.

  I have written to the RSPCA informing it that the Government are fully committed to the cessation of animal testing, and fully support the use of non-animal alternatives, wherever possible.

  Fishermen (Redundancy)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many fishermen have been made redundant in each of the last three years(a) nationally and (b) in Brixharn, south Devon; and what have been the equivalent figures as a percentage of total work force in other major industrial sectors. [1068]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Statistical tables of redundancies, including by industry, are published regularly in Labour Market Trends, formerly the Employment Gazette, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information specific to the Brixharn area is not, however, available.

  Outward Investment
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the volume of United Kingdom outward investment in each year since 1979; and what percentage change this represented in each year. [479]
  115
  Mr. Greg Knight
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: Information on the volume of United Kingdom outward investment is not available. The level of outward investment, by value, is given in current prices in the following table.

  United Kingdom outward investment

  Value (£ million, current prices)

  Percentage change on previous year

  Direct

  Portfolio

  Total

  Direct

  Portfolio

  Total

  1979

  5,889

  887

  6,776

  —

  —

  —

  1980

  4,867

  3,310

  8,177

  -17.4

  273.2

  20.7

  1981

  6,005

  4,467

  10,472

  23.4

  35.0

  28.1

  1982

  4,091

  7,565

  11,656

  -31.9

  69.4

  11.3

  1983

  5,417

  7,350

  12,767

  32.4

  -2.8

  9.5

  1984

  6,042

  9,755

  15,797

  11.5

  32.7

  23.7

  1985

  8,430

  16,754

  25,184

  39.5

  71.7

  59.4

  1986

  11,649

  22,288

  33,937

  38.2

  33.0

  34.8

  1987

  19,147

  -5,324

  13,823

  64.4

  n/a

  -59.3

  1988

  20,863

  11,209

  32,072

  9.0

  n/a

  132.0

  1989

  21,503

  36,524

  58,027

  3.1

  225.8

  80.9

  1990

  10,490

  17,206

  27,696

  -51.2

  -52.9

  -52.3

  1991

  9,056

  29,157

  38,213

  -13.7

  69.5

  38.0

  1992

  10,850

  27,346

  38,196

  19.8

  -6.2

  0.0

  1993

  17,026

  84,828

  101,854

  56.9

  210.2

  166.7

  1994

  18,363

  -17,968

  395

  7.9

  n/a

  -99.6

  1995

  25,546

  40,327

  65,873

  39.1

  n/a

  16576.7

  Source:

  United Kingdom Balance of Payments, The Pink Book, Office for National Statistics.

  Defence Diversification (Scotland)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what public expenditure has been invested in defence diversification in Scotland and the United Kingdom in the current year. [373]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  In the UK, defence diversification is addressed specifically through the European Community initiative, Konver. One hundred and thirty-six mecu, £113 million, from the European structural funds has been allocated to the UK and Gibraltar Konver II programme, which runs until 1999, having recently been extended by two years.
  116
  Up to the end of September, some £16.6 million in structural funds grants were approved in the UK this year, of this, £4.3 million is for Scotland. This figure will be fully matched by national public expenditure.

  Scientific Institutions
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the future of United Kingdom public sector scientific institutions. [480]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: The Government's policy on the future of the public sector research establishments was set out in the Government response to the multi-departmental scrutiny of public sector research establishments, Cm 2991, which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade presented to the Library of the House in September 1995. This detailed a range of measures to ensure that the research establishments are able to respond to the changing needs of their customers, and to maintain the reputation for excellence for which they are renowned.

  The measures include a programme of prior options reviews of research establishments. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced the timetable for these reviews in January 1996, and the initial results in May 1996. Further announcements will be made as decisions are taken. The intention is that the major part of the work should be completed by the end of December 1996.

  Defence Exports (Indonesia)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what mechanisms the Government have put in place to ensure that defence and defence-related goods are not exported from the United Kingdom to Indonesia. [375]

  Mr. Lang
  The export of military, paramilitary, police and security goods is controlled under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended, and as such require an export licence. Export licence applications are subject to careful scrutiny against established criteria and internationally agreed guidelines to which we are committed, together with other Government Departments.

  These guidelines were placed in the Library of the House in July this year.

  Dependent Territories: Banking Secrecy
  Dependent Territories: Banking Secrecy
  Eurostar and Channel Tunnel: Security
  Eurostar and Channel Tunnel: Security
  Seat Belts
  Seat Belts
  Waste Exports and Imports: Policy Changes
  Waste Exports and Imports: Policy Changes
  Questions on EU Spending: Currency Unit
  Questions on EU Spending: Currency Unit
  Church Repairs: VAT
  Church Repairs: VAT
  Payments to Witnesses: Consultation Paper
  Payments to Witnesses: Consultation Paper
  MEPs' Expenses
  MEPs' Expenses