Written Answers of 30 October 1996

TREASURY

  Fuel Duty
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from fuel duty in 1995–96; and how much revenue from fuel duty is estimated for each year to 2000 in(a) cash and (b) 1996–97 prices. [134]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In 1995–96 the revenue raised from fuel duty was £15.7 billion. In the 1996 "Summer Economic Forecast" receipts for 1996–97 were forecast to be £17.5 billion. Forecasts for later years are not published.

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in real personal disposable income each year since 1970 in the United Kingdom and each European Union state and in the United States of America and Japan. [1010]

  Mr. Jack
  The change in real personal disposal income each year since 1970 for all OECD countries can be calculated from figures available in various editions of "OECD National Accounts, Vol. II", which are available in the House of Commons Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Workplace Assaults
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were assaulted at work, by industry, for each of the last 10 years; and what plans the Government have to improve the protection of people at work from such attacks. [761]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, amended with effect from 1 April 1996, now require serious injuries to people caused by non-consensual physical acts of violence, and arising out of or in connection with work, to be reported. The figures for such reported incidents will not be available until next year, when they will be published by the Health and Safety Executive.

  The HSE has recently published new guidance for employers on dealing with violence at work, as well as producing sector specific guidance in areas of increased risk—these include retail, the health services, the education sector and banks and building societies.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the number of inspections carried out by Health and Safety Executive inspectors. [659]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following table shows the number of inspections carried out by Health and Safety Executive inspectors in each of the last 10 years.

  Year

  Inspections1

  1986–87

  164,098

  1987–88

  159,641

  1988–89

  159,550

  1989–90

  171,580

  1990–91

  169,346

  1991–922

  175,070

  1992–93

  162,815

  1993–94

  157,032

  1994–95

  147,160

  1995–96

  124,869

  1 Inspections are planned preventive inspections by HSE's inspectorates, and site visits to monitor nuclear site licences by the nuclear safety division. They do not include reactive work such as investigation of accidents and complaints about workplace conditions.

  2 Figures for 1991–92 and beyond include inspections of the railway and offshore industries which became the responsibility of HSE on 3 December 1990 and 1 April 1991 respectively.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the number of enforcement notices issued by(a) the Health and Safety Executive's field operations division inspectorates and (b) local authority inspectors. [470]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The total number of enforcement notices issued by HSE's field operations directorate and local authority inspectors between 1986–87 and 1994–95 is as follows:

  Enforcement notices issued by field operations directorate

  Number of notices issued

  1986–87

  19,374

  1987–88

  111,158

  1988–89

  111,054

  1989–90

  211,857

  1990–91

  212,653

  1991–92

  212,330

  1992–93

  211,825

  1993–94

  210,516

  1994–95

  210,639

  1995–96

  3,48,674

  1 Combined number of notices issued by HM agricultural inspectorate and HM factory inspectorate. Source HSC annual report 1988–89.

  2 Number of notices issued by HSE's field operations division. Source Health and Safety Statistics 1994–95.

  3 Number of Notices issued by HSE's field operations division. Source Health and Safety Commission annual report 1995–96.

  4 Provisional.

  119

  Enforcement notices issued by local authority inspectors

  Number of notices issued

  1986–87

  8,100

  1987–88

  9,520

  1988–89

  10,070

  1989–90

  10,220

  1990–91

  13,030

  1991–92

  21,680

  1992–93

  26,980

  1993–94

  20,660

  1994–95

  11,790

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the number of field inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive, indicating the proportion of them with less than two years experience. [658]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information available is as follows for health and safety inspectors—factory, agricultural, quarries, mines and railways—working from area offices. Nuclear, offshore, and specialist inspectors are excluded, as are inspectors currently assigned to headquarters.

  Year (1 April)

  Inspector numbers

  Proportion with less than two years' experience (per cent.)

  1987

  757.5

  13

  1988

  712.5

  14

  1989

  724

  14

  1990

  750.5

  21

  1991

  789

  24

  1992

  826

  24

  1993

  834

  19

  1994

  841.5

  14

  1995

  783.3

  7

  1996

  807.5

  5

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details, by region, for the amount of funding awarded for each round of SRB funding and give in each case the number of jobs created and directly funded as a result of the SRB programme; and, of those, what percentage of fixed-term contracts have waivers in place in respect of redundancy costs. [39]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The SRB challenge fund provides support for between one to seven years for regeneration schemes by locally based partnerships. Funds awarded by region in the first two bidding rounds of the challenge fund and the number of jobs expected to be created or safeguarded as a result are set out in the table:

  Round 1

  Round 2

  Round 1

  Round 2

  £million

  £million

  Plans: Jobs created/ safeguarded (000s)

  Plans: Jobs created/ safeguarded (000s)

  London

  316.7

  230.0

  55

  39

  South East

  31.8

  78.6

  12

  9

  Eastern

  20.7

  35.3

  4

  9

  South West

  34.1

  37.9

  11

  13

  East Midlands

  55.9

  56.8

  24

  21

  120

  Round 1

  Round 2

  Round 1

  Round 2

  £ million

  £ million

  Plans: Jobs created/ safeguarded (000s)

  Plans: Jobs created/ safeguarded (000s)

  West Midlands

  156.7

  147.1

  37

  40

  Merseyside

  78.0

  87.5

  15

  11

  North West

  143.3

  133.2

  71

  22

  Yorks and the Humber

  202.2

  152.3

  62

  16

  North East

  80.7

  159.9

  11

  20

  It is for the partnerships themselves to determine the terms and conditions of any staff they employ directly. Partnerships have, however, been advised that they should include the waivers referred to in fixed-term contracts as any redundancy costs incurred by them as a result of the absence of such waivers would not be met from the SRB challenge fund. My Department does not collect information about the number of staff directly employed by partnerships on fixed-term contracts.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the cost of rights to claims for unfair dismissal and redundancies in respect of those employed under SRB funding. [81]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The SRB challenge fund provides support for between one to seven years for regeneration schemes by locally based partnerships. It is for the partnerships themselves to determine how many staff they employ and on what terms and conditions.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review his decision to require fixed-term contracts under SRB projects to contain waivers of rights to claims for unfair dismissal and redundancies; and if he will make a statement. [33]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The SRB challenge fund provides support for between one to seven years for regeneration schemes by locally based partnerships. It is for the partnerships themselves to determine the terms and conditions for any staff they employ directly. However, it is Government policy that fixed-term contracts should contain waivers of right to claims for unfair dismissal and redundancy, as provided under section 197 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

  The employee's agreement to the waiver means that protection against unfair dismissal does not apply to a dismissal from employment under a contract for a fixed term of one year or more if the dismissal consists only of the expiry of that term without its being renewed. The waiver does not affect employees' rights to claim for unfair dismissal or redundancy payments in other circumstances.

  Partnerships involved in SRB challenge fund schemes have been advised that any claims for unfair dismissal or redundancy costs incurred by them as the result of the absence of such waivers will not be eligible for grant assistance where staff were employed on fixed-term contracts after the advice was issued to them.
  121
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in respect of fixed-term contracts under SRB contracts. [32]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Following the issue to SRB challenge fund partnerships of advice on waivers by employees on fixed-term contracts, a handful of SRB partnerships have sought further clarification of the costs which will be eligible for grant assistance from the challenge fund.

  Occupational Diseases
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which occupational diseases are not required to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995; and what proportion they constitute of all incidents of occupational disease. [656]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 require reports to be made of diseases listed in schedule 3 to the regulations when a case has been diagnosed in writing by a doctor and the person concerned is currently employed in an associated work activity. Cases not meeting these criteria are not required to be reported. Information on what proportion they constitute of all occupational disease is not available.

  The most recent analysis and discussion of occupational and work-related disease statistics, including reports made under these regulations, can be found in "Health and Safety Statistics 1995/96", published by the Health and Safety Commission, on 23 October 1996, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects all the arrangements for the landfill tax and environmental trusts to be fully developed and in place. [1149]

  Mr. Clappison
  All the arrangements for the landfill tax and environmental trusts have been fully developed and are already in place.

  The primary law on landfill tax is contained in the Finance Act 1996, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 1996. The more detailed implementation aspects of the landfill tax are set out in the Landfill Tax Regulations 1996 (SI 1996 No.1527) which came into force on 1 August 1996. In addition, the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1966 (SI 1996 No.1528), setting out the provisions for exempting from tax waste from clearing historically contaminated land, came into force on 1 August 1996 and the Landfill Tax (Qualifying Material) Order (SI 1996 No.1528), defining the categories of waste to which the lower rate of tax applies, came into force on 1 October 1996.

  Provisions for environmental trusts are contained in the Landfill Tax (Regulations) 1996 (SI 1996 No.1527). On 15 October 1996 the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise approved the Environmental Trust Regulatory Body Limited, trading under the name "ENTRUST" to act as the regulatory body for the
  122
  purposes of the environmental trust scheme. ENTRUST is responsible for enrolling and monitoring the operation of environmental trusts.

  Marine Wild life and Habitats
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what biological and physiological parameters are monitored by his Department, in order to assess the cumulative impacts of discharges from offshore oil and gas installations on marine wildlife and habitats. [504]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department, the Scottish Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food all maintain extensive programmes of marine monitoring, including the impact of human activities on the marine environment. In addition, the three country nature conservation agencies monitor the status of marine habitats and species in the United Kingdom waters. The Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for the overall regulation of the offshore oil and gas industry.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue a consolidation of the 1990 local authority capital finance regulations. [1737]

  Mr. Curry
  A draft consolidation of these regulations is being issued this week to local authorities and other interested parties. A copy is being placed in the House Library. I am inviting comments on the draft by the end of January. The new regulations will come into effect next April and will supersede the 1990 regulations.

  Vacant Offices
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of his Department in respect of the future of(a) 25 Southampton buildings, (b) the Patent Office and (c) the Office of Fair Trading following vacation of these premises. [441]

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

  I have asked the chief executive of the Patent Office to write direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. C. Octon to Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours, dated 30 October 1996:
  I am replying for the Patent Office in the absence of the Chief Executive to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for the Environment about 25 Southampton Buildings.
  The Patent Office is only a minor user of 25 Southampton Buildings and as such has no policy responsibility for the building. That now rests with the Department of National Heritage with which we have made arrangements for the accommodation of our remaining London staff. While these arrangements are helpful the future presence of the Patent Office in London is not totally dependent upon them. If the need arose we would be able to seek appropriate alternatives.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Nursery Vouchers
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what considerations led her to decide not to make it her policy to ensure that every provider accepting Government nursery vouchers registers its under-fives provisions under the Children Act 1989 and associated guidance. [763]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Children Act 1989 requires all day care providers to register with their local authority. Maintained primary and nursery schools and independent schools have always been exempt from the registration

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained (GM) schools in the nursery, primary and secondary sectors: January 1990 to January 1993

  Local education authority area

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  ILEA

  18,525

  81

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Corporation of London

  —

  —

  14

  —

  11

  —

  15

  —

  Camden

  —

  —

  1,196

  —

  1,299

  —

  1,273

  —

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  2,196

  —

  2,234

  —

  2,033

  —

  Hackney

  —

  —

  1,715

  —

  1,604

  —

  1,550

  —

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  —

  1,045

  79

  1,033

  83

  1,024

  88

  Islington

  —

  —

  1,310

  —

  1,338

  —

  1,533

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  —

  689

  41

  795

  42

  696

  45

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  1,453

  —

  1,541

  39

  1,549

  55

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  1,818

  —

  1,411

  —

  1,777

  19

  Southwark

  —

  —

  1,714

  31

  1,695

  34

  1,705

  33

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  2,115

  —

  2,118

  56

  2,232

  59

  Wandsworth

  —

  —

  1,725

  —

  1,730

  186

  1,754

  314

  Westminster

  —

  —

  1,154

  —

  1,147

  —

  1,188

  —

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,325

  —

  1,267

  —

  1,322

  —

  1,353

  —

  Barnet

  2,539

  130

  2,415

  131

  2,595

  139

  2,597

  224

  Bexley

  1,783

  —

  1,745

  —

  1,711

  —

  1,753

  20

  Brent

  2,014

  —

  2,023

  63

  2,032

  64

  2,030

  147

  Bromley

  1,996

  —

  1,958

  58

  1,938

  383

  2,080

  720

  Croydon

  2,551

  —

  2,548

  —

  2,486

  50

  2,397

  57

  Ealing

  2,309

  —

  2,202

  —

  2,143

  —

  2,130

  349

  Enfield

  2,250

  —

  2,264

  —

  2,292

  —

  2,324

  —

  Haringey

  1,618

  —

  1,553

  —

  1,605

  —

  1,589

  —

  Harrow

  1,389

  —

  1,450

  —

  1,570

  —

  1,581

  —

  Havering

  2,079

  —

  2,011

  —

  2,049

  —

  2,009

  —

  Hillingdon

  1,776

  —

  1,754

  60

  1,770

  422

  1,843

  609

  Hounslow

  1,813

  —

  1,928

  —

  1,891

  —

  1,869

  —

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,094

  —

  1,035

  —

  988

  —

  1,051

  60

  Merton

  1,244

  —

  1,311

  —

  1,268

  —

  1,297

  —

  Newham

  2,105

  —

  2,070

  —

  2,039

  45

  1,972

  43

  Redbridge

  1,699

  —

  1,698

  —

  1,796

  —

  1,858

  —

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  987

  —

  1,016

  —

  1,135

  —

  1,029

  —

  Sutton

  1,347

  48

  1,345

  50

  1,299

  152

  1,266

  254

  Waltham Forest

  2,158

  —

  1,917

  —

  1,976

  67

  1,903

  71

  Birmingham

  9,095

  107

  9,125

  165

  9,343

  311

  9,548

  335

  Coventry

  2,820

  —

  2,745

  —

  2,795

  —

  2,752

  —

  Dudley

  2,659

  42

  2,727

  43

  2,781

  43

  2,670

  45

  Sandwell

  2,965

  —

  2,949

  —

  2,921

  50

  2,959

  53

  Solihull

  1,906

  —

  1,860

  —

  1,795

  —

  1,857

  27

  Walsall

  2,845

  —

  2,744

  —

  2,619

  —

  2,575

  154

  Wolverhampton

  2,525

  —

  2,582

  40

  2,636

  122

  2,467

  120

  Knowsley

  1,563

  —

  1,481

  —

  1,398

  —

  1,351

  —

  Liverpool

  4,604

  69

  4,470

  65

  4,221

  69

  4,185

  69

  St. Helens

  1,846

  —

  1,713

  —

  1,656

  —

  1,679

  —

  Sefton

  2,397

  —

  2,433

  —

  2,479

  —

  2,515

  —

  Wirral

  3,031

  —

  3,099

  —

  2,924

  —

  2,963

  —

  Bolton

  2,678

  45

  2,550

  47

  2,496

  50

  2,517

  71

  Bury

  1,515

  —

  1,484

  —

  1,461

  —

  1,467

  —

  Manchester

  4,234

  —

  4,254

  —

  3,974

  —

  4,044

  —

  Oldham

  2,194

  —

  2,196

  —

  2,253

  —

  2,256

  —

  124
  requirement. My right hon. Friend does not consider it necessary or appropriate to remove this exemption, as these other providers are separately covered by education legislation.

  Teachers
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers were(a) employed and (b) employed in grant-maintained schools in each local education authority in England in the most recent year for which figures were available; and what were the figures in the previous six years. [1027]

  Mr. Forth
  The information is given in the following table:
  125

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained (GM) schools in the nursery, primary and secondary sectors: January 1990 to January 1993

  Local education authority area

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  Rochdale

  2,233

  —

  1,934

  —

  1,987

  —

  1,851

  10

  Salford

  2,175

  —

  2,147

  —

  2,052

  —

  2,000

  —

  Stockport

  2,405

  —

  2,340

  —

  2,332

  —

  2,362

  —

  Tameside

  2,010

  45

  2,042

  47

  2,085

  49

  2,036

  49

  Trafford

  1,722

  —

  1,763

  —

  1,611

  —

  1,616

  —

  Wigan

  3,161

  —

  2,972

  —

  3,015

  —

  3,096

  —

  Bamsley

  1,953

  —

  1,760

  —

  1,714

  —

  1,696

  —

  Doncaster

  2,835

  —

  2,753

  —

  2,691

  —

  2,760

  —

  Rotherham

  2,474

  —

  2,522

  —

  2,464

  —

  2,335

  —

  Sheffield

  4,123

  —

  4,043

  —

  3,937

  —

  3,866

  4

  Bradford

  4,952

  —

  5,012

  —

  5,093

  66

  5,004

  66

  Calderdale

  1,859

  —

  1,791

  —

  1,806

  89

  1,827

  96

  Kirklees

  3,761

  59

  3,701

  62

  3,590

  70

  3,632

  71

  Leeds

  6,514

  —

  6,320

  —

  6,300

  —

  6,010

  —

  Wakefield

  2,882

  —

  2,909

  —

  2,748

  —

  2,741

  —

  Gateshead

  1,784

  —

  1,750

  —

  1,731

  —

  1,707

  —

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  2,412

  —

  2,346

  —

  2,285

  —

  2,212

  —

  North Tyneside

  1,896

  —

  1,826

  —

  1,768

  —

  1,765

  —

  South Tyneside

  1,496

  —

  1,410

  —

  1,385

  —

  1,325

  —

  Sunderland

  2,751

  —

  2,681

  —

  2,692

  —

  2,651

  —

  Isles of Scilly

  25

  —

  29

  —

  27

  —

  28

  —

  Avon

  7,282

  —

  7,401

  51

  7,996

  96

  7,612

  99

  Bedfordshire

  4,891

  45

  4,909

  44

  4,959

  51

  4,983

  194

  Berkshire

  5,866

  —

  5,892

  41

  5,892

  360

  6,080

  540

  Buckinghamshire

  5,079

  —

  5,136

  150

  4,973

  217

  5,215

  299

  Cambridge

  5,419

  —

  5,377

  —

  5,419

  10

  5,667

  367

  Cheshire

  7,863

  26

  7,956

  30

  7,968

  34

  8,072

  42

  Cleveland

  5,538

  —

  5,536

  —

  5,546

  —

  5,560

  —

  Cornwall

  3,855

  —

  3,751

  —

  3,697

  —

  3,647

  —

  Cumbria

  4,347

  —

  4,191

  —

  4,154

  102

  4,211

  341

  Derbyshire

  8,411

  —

  8,490

  127

  7,910

  139

  8,098

  285

  Devon

  7,190

  29

  7,133

  31

  7,076

  33

  7,229

  90

  Dorset

  4,604

  —

  4,476

  56

  4,512

  168

  4,389

  374

  Durham

  4,965

  —

  4,845

  —

  5,007

  —

  5,239

  —

  East Sussex

  4,571

  —

  4,524

  —

  4,673

  —

  4,908

  —

  Essex

  12,407

  —

  12,274

  —

  12,251

  205

  12,033

  1,665

  Gloucestershire

  4,213

  —

  4,349

  187

  4,042

  186

  4,090

  828

  Hampshire

  11,675

  —

  11,415

  44

  11,593

  190

  12,037

  394

  Hereford and Worcester

  5,141

  —

  5,413

  —

  5,451

  —

  5,441

  —

  Hertfordshire

  8,530

  —

  8,248

  165

  8,155

  305

  8,280

  411

  Humberside

  7,624

  —

  7,722

  —

  7,680

  4

  7,740

  5

  Isle of Wight

  987

  —

  1,008

  —

  1,021

  —

  997

  —

  Kent

  11,923

  29

  11,674

  30

  11,724

  828

  11,980

  1,709

  Lancashire

  11,756

  46

  11,761

  106

  11,733

  225

  11,922

  281

  Leicestershire

  7,886

  —

  7,764

  21

  7,830

  24

  7,570

  25

  Lincolnshire

  4,612

  105

  4,869

  185

  4,748

  479

  4,808

  935

  Norfolk

  5,840

  —

  5,564

  65

  5,687

  102

  5,791

  474

  North Yorkshire

  5,590

  —

  5,656

  —

  5,803

  —

  5,594

  —

  Northamptonshire

  5,094

  —

  5,337

  39

  5,458

  222

  5,466

  602

  Northumberland

  2,809

  —

  2,736

  —

  2,791

  —

  2,677

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  8,572

  —

  8,383

  —

  8,530

  —

  8,508

  20

  Oxfordshire

  4,167

  —

  4,042

  —

  4,150

  —

  4,206

  —

  Shropshire

  3,671

  —

  3,634

  30

  3,712

  31

  3,563

  31

  Somerset

  3,669

  —

  3,585

  —

  3,558

  34

  3,595

  46

  Staffordshire

  8,681

  —

  8,862

  —

  8,798

  —

  8,357

  55

  Suffolk

  4,911

  —

  4,949

  —

  5,277

  —

  5,276

  —

  Surrey

  6,690

  —

  6,625

  47

  6,511

  276

  6,677

  590

  Warwickshire

  4,005

  —

  3,984

  —

  3,904

  88

  3,961

  206

  West Sussex

  4,935

  —

  4,855

  —

  5,210

  —

  5,319

  —

  Wiltshire

  4,402

  —

  4,513

  —

  4,559

  34

  4,596

  112

  England

  398,542

  906

  394,945

  2,430

  394,874

  7,121

  396,331

  15,353

  1. Exclude sixth form colleges.

  2. All FTEs rounded to whole numbers.

  126 127

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained (GM) schools in the nursery, primary and secondary sector: January 1994 to January 1996

  Local education authority area

  1994

  1995

  1996

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  ILEA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Corporation of London

  14

  —

  16

  —

  15

  —

  Camden

  1,321

  160

  1,346

  165

  1,437

  173

  Greenwich

  1,984

  —

  1,939

  11

  1,981

  13

  Hackney

  1,459

  —

  1,429

  7

  1,401

  7

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  977

  86

  941

  82

  916

  85

  Islington

  1,627

  —

  1,360

  —

  1,374

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  670

  65

  674

  78

  702

  76

  Lambeth

  1,575

  303

  1,680

  390

  1,701

  421

  Lewisham

  1,809

  23

  1,863

  21

  1,892

  22

  Southwark

  1,739

  236

  1,687

  237

  1,751

  243

  Tower Hamlets

  2,309

  57

  2,250

  59

  2,250

  56

  Wandsworth

  1,625

  478

  1,561

  485

  1,572

  474

  Westminster

  1,160

  —

  1,121

  —

  1,145

  —

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,375

  —

  1,446

  —

  1,487

  —

  Barnet

  2,596

  649

  2,638

  720

  2,765

  732

  Bexley

  1,781

  202

  1,836

  261

  1,808

  262

  Brent

  1,962

  595

  1,971

  803

  2,066

  882

  Bromley

  2,179

  745

  2,181

  871

  2,195

  1,034

  Croydon

  2,326

  266

  2,409

  544

  2,518

  562

  Ealing

  2,077

  444

  2,097

  460

  2,119

  463

  Enfield

  2,273

  362

  2,358

  371

  2,412

  376

  Haringey

  1,719

  —

  1,730

  —

  1,894

  —

  Harrow

  1,566

  33

  1,576

  37

  1,561

  40

  Havering

  1,907

  236

  1,891

  249

  1,828

  240

  Hillingdon

  1,814

  875

  1,870

  911

  1,898

  907

  Hounslow

  1,880

  128

  1,890

  134

  1,979

  131

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,066

  202

  1,057

  208

  1,038

  205

  Merton

  1,255

  —

  1,269

  51

  1,215

  54

  Newham

  1,916

  43

  1,968

  44

  2,162

  41

  Redbridge

  1,927

  72

  1,937

  74

  1,984

  76

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,040

  —

  1,052

  —

  1,081

  —

  Sutton

  1,292

  443

  1,354

  452

  1,372

  456

  Waltham Forest

  1,718

  127

  1,706

  140

  1,674

  159

  Birmingham

  9,452

  922

  9,366

  1,087

  9,584

  1,103

  Coventry

  2,747

  —

  2,657

  —

  2,710

  —

  Dudley

  2,534

  303

  2,576

  318

  2,643

  325

  Sandwell

  2,828

  48

  2,689

  109

  2,664

  111

  Solihull

  1,836

  26

  1,845

  25

  1,828

  25

  Walsall

  2,668

  390

  2,560

  465

  2,607

  462

  Wolverhampton

  2,447

  164

  2,377

  166

  2,331

  173

  Knowsley

  1,354

  44

  1,446

  46

  1,429

  48

  Liverpool

  4,191

  147

  4,194

  204

  4,289

  230

  St. Helens

  1,637

  —

  1,635

  —

  1,575

  —

  Sefton

  2,484

  —

  2,546

  —

  2,550

  —

  Wirral

  2,885

  129

  2,927

  132

  3,026

  216

  Bolton

  2,445

  202

  2,467

  202

  2,438

  204

  Bury

  1,395

  10

  1,420

  10

  1,462

  10

  Manchester

  3,631

  —

  3,587

  —

  3,640

  22

  Oldham

  2,215

  —

  2,202

  —

  2,193

  —

  Rochdale

  1,789

  101

  1,819

  189

  1,840

  193

  Salford

  1,802

  27

  1,821

  30

  1,866

  32

  Stockport

  2,170

  —

  2,185

  —

  2,232

  —

  Tameside

  1,791

  137

  1,842

  139

  1,815

  141

  Trafford

  1,621

  192

  1,694

  205

  1,686

  265

  Wigan

  2,728

  —

  2,754

  —

  2,715

  —

  Barnsley

  1,721

  —

  1,704

  —

  1,668

  —

  Doncaster

  2,732

  —

  2,703

  —

  2,654

  70

  Rotherham

  2,403

  —

  2,440

  —

  2,347

  —

  Sheffield

  3,797

  136

  3,719

  182

  3,803

  186

  Bradford

  5,103

  342

  4,779

  400

  4,761

  413

  Calderdale

  1,814

  298

  1,769

  530

  1,780

  607

  Kirklees

  3,443

  77

  3,373

  79

  3,339

  85

  Leeds

  5,839

  75

  5,759

  71

  5,913

  71

  Wakefieled

  2,630

  —

  2,704

  —

  2,711

  —

  Gateshead

  1,759

  —

  1,715

  —

  1,687

  —

  128 129

  Full-time equivalent teachers employed by local education authorities and grant-maintained (GM) schools in the nursery, primary and secondary sector: January 1994 to January 1996

  Local education authority area

  1994

  1995

  1996

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  All schools including GM

  GM only

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,112

  —

  2,104

  —

  2,051

  —

  North Tyneside

  1,649

  —

  1,639

  11

  1,630

  11

  South Tyneside

  1,342

  —

  1,340

  —

  1,320

  —

  Sunderland

  2,744

  —

  2,728

  —

  2,638

  —

  Isles of Scilly

  27

  —

  26

  —

  27

  —

  Avon

  7,504

  107

  7,677

  118

  7,675

  115

  Bedfordshire

  4,808

  586

  5,008

  629

  4,991

  626

  Berkshire

  6,149

  614

  6,171

  729

  6,203

  753

  Buckinghamshire

  5,236

  689

  5,310

  770

  5,291

  740

  Cambridge

  5,501

  1,005

  5,573

  1,029

  5,505

  1,035

  Cheshire

  7,922

  177

  8,013

  185

  8,074

  191

  Cleveland

  5,243

  —

  5,189

  —

  5,207

  —

  Cornwall

  3,561

  —

  3,675

  —

  3,658

  —

  Cumbria

  4,078

  612

  4,016

  849

  4,005

  911

  Derbyshire

  7,861

  1,069

  7,555

  1,185

  7,528

  1,259

  Devon

  7,358

  304

  7,437

  319

  7,454

  379

  Dorset

  4,330

  587

  4,393

  651

  4,397

  663

  Durham

  5,105

  —

  5,117

  —

  5,070

  —

  East Sussex

  4,779

  —

  4,899

  —

  4,904

  —

  Essex

  11,616

  4,407

  11,771

  5,165

  12,237

  5,228

  Gloucestershire

  4,195

  1,234

  4,258

  1,616

  4,259

  1,655

  Hampshire

  11,394

  1,147

  11,871

  1,348

  11,713

  1,277

  Hereford and Worcester

  5,256

  202

  5,329

  207

  5,247

  207

  Hertfordshire

  8,510

  1,256

  8,725

  1,719

  8,707

  1,736

  Humberside

  7,229

  13

  7,394

  19

  7,378

  22

  Isle of Wight

  1,013

  —

  999

  —

  994

  —

  Kent

  12,224

  3,110

  12,552

  3,724

  12,655

  4,085

  Lancashire

  12,051

  455

  12,088

  485

  11,581

  499

  Leicestershire

  7,832

  193

  7,810

  194

  7,711

  187

  Lincolnshire

  4,876

  1,344

  4,877

  1,507

  4,990

  1,612

  Norfolk

  5,808

  706

  5,898

  763

  5,840

  801

  North Yorkshire

  5,844

  —

  5,774

  2

  5,953

  2

  Northamptonshire

  5,376

  767

  5,624

  796

  5,477

  785

  Northumberland

  2,644

  42

  2,672

  45

  2,657

  44

  Nottinghamshire

  8,376

  120

  8,354

  121

  7,920

  154

  Oxfordshire

  4,363

  5

  4,426

  5

  4,155

  4

  Shropshire

  3,352

  243

  3,384

  330

  3,319

  327

  Somerset

  3,653

  49

  3,665

  76

  3,483

  81

  Staffordshire

  8,263

  267

  8,245

  279

  8,343

  283

  Suffolk

  5,391

  —

  5,466

  —

  5,380

  —

  Surrey

  6,206

  816

  6,529

  1,218

  6.938

  1,369

  Warwickshire

  4,017

  311

  4,027

  327

  3,875

  363

  West Sussex

  5,208

  —

  5,230

  17

  5,320

  18

  Wiltshire

  4,604

  759

  4,698

  1,053

  4,602

  1,134

  England

  390,430

  33,794

  392,910

  39,941

  393,334

  41,732

  1. Exclude sixth form colleges.

  2. All FTEs rounded to whole numbers.

  Schools Budget
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list local education authorities in rank order by the proportion of the potential schools budget held back in the most recent year for which figures are available. [1025]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table sets out in rank order, for each LEA in England, the proportion of the potential schools budget not delegated to schools. These figures are derived from LEAs' local management of schools budget statements for 1996–97, incorporating any amendments notified to the Department by 30 September 1996.
  130

  Rank

  Local education authority

  Percentage of PSB not delegated

  1.

  Dudley

  3.9

  2.

  Brent

  5.4

  3.

  Solihull

  5.6

  4.

  Waltham Forest

  6.1

  5.

  Islington

  6.1

  6.

  Sunderland

  6.2

  7.

  Leeds

  6.3

  8.

  Hertfordshire

  6.4

  9.

  Berkshire

  6.5

  10.

  Isles of Scilly

  6.7

  11.

  Rochdale

  6.7

  12.

  Greenwich

  6.9

  13.

  Knowsley

  6.9

  14.

  Staffordshire

  7.0

  131

  Rank

  Local education authority

  Percentage of PSB not delegated

  15.

  Northamptonshire

  7.1

  16.

  Wigan

  7.1

  17.

  Liverpool

  7.3

  18.

  Suffolk

  7.4

  19.

  Bury

  7.5

  20.

  Bedfordshire

  7.6

  21.

  Wolverhampton

  7.8

  22.

  Havering

  7.9

  23.

  North Tyneside

  8

  24.

  Oxfordshire

  8.0

  25.

  Redbridge

  8.1

  26.

  Bexley

  8.1

  27.

  Shropshire

  8.2

  28.

  Manchester

  8.2

  29.

  Sutton

  8.6

  30.

  Croydon

  8.7

  31.

  Birmingham

  8.7

  32.

  Cumbria

  8.7

  33.

  Richmond

  8.7

  34.

  Cheshire

  8.7

  35.

  Gloucestershire

  8.8

  36.

  Hamrnersmith/Fulham

  8.8

  37.

  Devon

  8.8

  38.

  Norfolk

  8.8

  39.

  Somerset

  8.8

  40.

  Stockport

  8.8

  41.

  Hampshire

  8.9

  42.

  Northumberland

  8.9

  43.

  Coventry

  9.1

  44.

  Kingston

  9.2

  45.

  Oldham

  9.3

  46.

  Bristol

  9.3

  47.

  Wirral

  9.3

  48.

  Kensington/Chelsea

  9.3

  49.

  Salford

  9.4

  50.

  North Yorkshire

  9.5

  51.

  Barking/Dagenham

  9.5

  52.

  Surrey

  9.5

  53.

  Ealing

  9.5

  54.

  Stockton on Tees

  9.6

  55.

  Hereford/Worcester

  9.7

  56.

  Enfield

  9.8

  57.

  Hillingdon

  9.8

  58.

  Essex

  9.9

  59.

  Harrow

  9.9

  60.

  East Sussex

  9.9

  61.

  Hounslow

  10

  62.

  Wiltshire

  10

  63.

  St. Helens

  10.1

  64.

  Walsall

  10.1

  65.

  Tameside

  10.1

  66.

  Corporation of London

  10.1

  67.

  North East Lincolnshire

  10.2

  68.

  Isle of Wight

  10.2

  69.

  Hull

  10.2

  70.

  Warwickshire

  10.2

  71.

  Lewisham

  10.2

  72.

  South Gloucestershire

  10.2

  73.

  Bath and North East Somerset

  10.3

  74.

  Bradford

  10.3

  75.

  Dorset

  10.3

  76.

  Merton

  10.3

  77.

  East Riding

  10.4

  78.

  Rotherham

  10.4

  79.

  North Somerset

  10.4

  80.

  Tower Hamlets

  10.5

  81.

  Cambridgeshire

  10.5

  82.

  Wandsworth

  10.5

  83.

  Barnet

  10.6

  84.

  Westminster

  10.6

  85.

  Hackney

  10.6

  86.

  Sefton

  10.6

  87.

  Southwark

  10.7

  132

  Rank

  Local education authority

  Percentage of PSB not delegated

  88.

  Lincolnshire

  10.7

  89.

  Derbyshire

  10.8

  90.

  West Sussex

  10.8

  91.

  Sandwell

  10.8

  92.

  Calderdale

  10.9

  93.

  Buckinghamshire

  10.9

  94.

  Hartlepool

  10.9

  95.

  Newcastle

  11.0

  96.

  Kirklees

  11.0

  97.

  Kent

  11.0

  98.

  York

  11.0

  99.

  Redcar and Cleveland

  11.1

  100.

  Nottinghamshire

  11.1

  101.

  South Tyneside

  11.1

  102.

  Lancashire

  11.1

  103.

  North Lincolnshire

  11.2

  104.

  Barnsley

  11.3

  105.

  Durham

  11.4

  106.

  Bolton

  11.5

  107.

  Trafford

  11.5

  108.

  Cornwall

  11.7

  109.

  Camden

  11.8

  110.

  Middlesbrough

  12.0

  111.

  Leicestershire

  12.0

  112.

  Doncaster

  12.1

  113.

  Lambeth

  12.6

  114.

  Sheffield

  12.6

  115.

  Wakefield

  12.8

  116.

  Bromley

  13.1

  117.

  Gateshead

  13.2

  118.

  Haringey

  13.6

  119.

  Newham

  14.9

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards exclusions of disruptive pupils from schools; what factors underlay the restrictions on exclusions in the Education Act 1993; and what factors underlie the current legislative proposals. [878]

  Mr. Forth
  It is unacceptable for a minority of ill-behaved pupils to disrupt the education of the majority and undermine standards. Schools must have the right, as a last resort, to exclude severely disruptive pupils. The Department issued detailed guidance to schools and local authorities on "Exclusion from School" in May 1994.

  The Education Act 1993 abolished indefinite exclusion and limited head teachers' power to impose fixed-term exclusions up to a maximum of 15 school days per term. There was clear evidence that indefinite exclusion led to some pupils being left in educational limbo for long periods with nothing being done to get them back into school.

  Our current legislative proposals on exclusions would:
  (a) allow greater flexibility in the use of fixed-term exclusions by substituting a limit of 45 days in a school year - thereby increasing the opportunity for headteachers to make effective arrangements for the reintegration of the excluded pupil; and
  (b) require that, as far as practicable, independent committees hearing appeals against permanent exclusions meet when all the parties are available to attend, that these committees have regard to the discipline policy of the excluding school, and

  133
  that they take account of the interests of other pupils -thereby seeking to ensure that full and balanced consideration is given to each case.

  Surplus School Places
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many surplus school places there were, and what was their cost, in each local education authority in England in the most recent year for which figures are available. [1026]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  For the number of surplus school places in each local education authority, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on Tuesday 19 March 1996,Official Report, columns 113–18. At a national level, the average premises-related cost of maintaining a surplus place is estimated to be £182 a year for a primary school and £303 a year for a secondary school at 1995–96 prices. The actual cost and the scope for realising savings from the removal of surplus places in practice in each local education authority will depend on local circumstances.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people who were disqualified from unemployment benefit, and what percentage of those in dispute with the Employment Service, won the right to benefit on appeal in the last year for which figures are available. [1146]

  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. Ian McCartney, dated 30 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of people who were disqualified from unemployment benefit and what percentage of these won the right to benefit on appeal, in the last year for which figures are available. This falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.
  Unfortunately we do not hold information on the number of successful appeal outcomes. The only information held on appeals is: the number received, the number reviewed and revised by an adjudication officer and the number submitted for determination by a Social Security Appeal Tribunal.
  This information, together with statistics on the number of adjudication officers's decisions, and disallowance rates, is contained in a published document entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions". This provides information on all the main entitlement questions arising on claims, as well as disqualifications. Copies of this document are held in the Library of the House. The latest available information relates to the quarter year ending 30 June 1996.
  I hope this is helpful.

HEALTH

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the extra cost to haemophiliacs arising from the imposition of VAT on drugs; and if he will make a statement. [141]
  134
  Mr. Horam
  There is no extra cost to haemophiliac patients receiving treatment under the national health service arising from the imposition of value added tax on drugs.

  Health Authority Deficits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities and trusts had deficits approved in the financial year 1995–96. [394]

  Mr. Horam
  The latest year for which audited accounts are available is currently 1994–95. The audited information for 1995–96 will not be available until late November.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities and trusts have been given approval to incur deficits in the present financial year; and on what date such approvals were given. [390]

  Mr. Horam
  The forecast financial positions of health authorities and trusts are discussed with the national health service executive regional offices as part of a cycle of planning and regular monitoring reviews. These outturn positions are therefore subject to revision as a result of any action agreed at these reviews. The specific approval of deficits does not therefore arise.

  NHS Trusts (Admissions)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those NHS trusts that on 30 September had restricted admissions for financial reasons. [473]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not held centrally.

  Health Authority Administrative Costs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the administrative cost of running each health authority in 1995–96; and if he will give the percentage of the total funds available that represents. [428]

  Mr. Horam
  The provisional 1995–96 annual accounts for health authorities are not expected to be available until the end of November. The information requested will be placed in the Library when it becomes available.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the reasons for not making the administrative costs of health authorities part of the annual review and for not reporting on such costs in the annual review letter. [427]

  Mr. Horam
  Regional offices determine the content of annual reviews with their health authorities in the light of the most important current issues locally and nationally. Regional offices would discuss a health authority's performance against its cost target in an annual review. Where warranted by poor performance against these targets, or where meeting the targets has significant repercussions on the provision of services, the matter would be included as an issue in the review letter. Health authority costs are published by the national health service executive annually.

  Good Health Channel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a good health channel on television in co-operation with the NHS and cable companies. [738]
  135
  Mr. Horam
  There are no plans at present to establish a health channel. However, the development of the NHSnet, a secure national network developed for the NHS, will offer a number of opportunities to discuss new communications techniques for disseminating information.

  NHS Trusts (Bed Linen)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those NHS trusts in the south-eastern region in which relatives are required to bring in basic items of bed linen for in-patients. [449]

  Mr. Horam
  I am unaware of any case where a national health service trust has asked patients or their relatives to bring in bed linen during a stay in hospital. Basic items of bed linen should always be provided by the NHS for its in-patients.

  Royal Oldham Hospital
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will name the companies invited by the North West regional health authority in 1992 to tender for the contract to construct a waste incinerator at the Royal Oldham hospital. [14]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not held centrally.

  Genetically Engineered Food
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in the United Kingdom who have contracted illnesses as a direct result of eating genetically engineered food in each of the last five years. [1022]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected. However, genetically modified foods undergo rigorous safety assessments by the independent Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and if there were any concern about possible adverse health effects, food safety clearance would not be granted.

  Acute Beds
  Sir George Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of acute beds in NHS hospitals blocked by patients awaiting discharge into retirement or nursing homes within the area of each health authority or board on the most recent date for which figures are available; [844]

  (2) if he will list the number of acute beds in NHS hospitals blocked by patients awaiting discharge into retirement or nursing homes within the area of each local government social services department on the most recent date for which figures are available. [845]

  Mr. Burns
  This information is not available in the form requested.
  136

TRANSPORT

  MV Derbyshire
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what inquiries he has made in respect of possible financial vested interest arising from the outcome of investigations into the sinking of the MV Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [29]

  Mr. Bowis
  If the actions of any of the commercial interests associated with the MV Derbyshire were found to have resulted in the ship's loss, these could give rise to potential liabilities. The possible existence of any such liabilities has no bearing on the conduct of the current investigation into the loss of the ship.

  Helicopter and Aircraft Noise
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to give the Civil Aviation Authority obligations in law to consider environmental factors in areas other than aerodrome licensing. [2]

  Mr. Bowis
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for Defence have given directions to the Civil Aviation Authority under section 72(2) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. These require the CAA to collaborate in ensuring that air navigation services are, subject to securing the safe operation of aircraft, planned, provided and operated so as to take account—among other things—of the need to mitigate as far as possible the environmental impact of civil aircraft operations and, in particular, the disturbance to the public arising from aircraft noise, vibration and pollution.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many levels of service were higher under British Rail than the levels which have been specified in the passenger service requirement set out by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising. [1048]

  Mr. Watts
  The minimum level of service required of British Rail on any route is one train per week. In practice much more extensive services have been provided. All PSRs provide higher levels of service than the minimum required of British Rail.

  A more specified answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Boeing 737 Aircraft
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken by his Department in response to recommendations made by the United States National Transportation Safety Board concerning the rudder and the yaw damper system on Boeing 737 aircraft. [1047]

  Mr. Bowis
  The US National Transportation Safety Board has made a number of recommendations to the US Federal Aviation Administration following the investigation of an accident involving a US-registered Boeing 737. The Civil Aviation Authority is monitoring the situation and will decide on what action, if any, is appropriate in the UK once the FAA has responded.
  137
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Boeing 737 aircraft are registered in the United Kingdom; and if he will list which airlines use them. [1040]

  Mr. Bowls
  There are currently 109 Boeing 737 aircraft on the UK aircraft register. These aircraft are used by the following airlines:

  Air UK

  British Airways

  British Midland Airways

  Easy Jet Airline Company

  GB Airways

  Maersk Air

  Monarch Airlines

  Sabre Airways

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving Boeing 737 aircraft have been recorded in this country in each of the last 10 years. [1046]

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of accidents involving Boeing 737 aircraft in this country in each of the last 10 years is as follows:

  1986: 1

  1987: 0

  1988: 0

  1989: 2

  1990: 2

  1991: 1

  1992: 4

  1993: 7

  1994: 3

  1995: 1

  These figures are based on the International Civil Aviation Organisation definition of accidents and include accidents where aircraft are damaged, or passenger or crew are injured, while aircraft are on the ground at airports. All but two of the accidents listed fall into this category.

  Leyburn to Hawes Railway Service
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the feasibility of reopening the railway from Leyburn to Hawes; and if he will make a statement. [891]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend has received no direct representations on this matter. The Department of the Environment and the Rural development Commission have received a bid from the Wensleydale Railway Association for funds to reopen part of the Wensleydale railway line—between Northallerton and Castle Bolton—under their rural challenge scheme 1996. The bid is currently under consideration. Both Leyburn and Hawes are situated on that line.

  Acton Rail Stations
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies (i) he and (ii) other bodies responsible for planning of public transport made of the advantages of electrifying the half mile of railway between Acton main line station and Action Wells 138
  junction, with particular reference to (a) public transport to and from Heathrow airport, (b) orbital passenger services in London and (c) rail freight movement. [1062]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 29 October 1996]: None. The consultant engaged by the Department to carry out the London airports access study—LASAS—did, in examining various schemes to improve rail access to Heathrow, consider a rail link from Heathrow to the west coast main line, via acton Wells which would have required electrification of this part of the network. Although the WCML link was not one of the schemes shortlised by the LASAS consultants, there is nothing to prevent a promoter from pursuing the proposal if he believes that there is sufficient demand.

  The electrification of this part of the network would be an operational matter for Railtrack, which, as owner of the infrastructure, is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the rail infrastructure.

PRIME MINISTER

  Parliamentary Delegations (Europe)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has nominated a new leader of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union. [1489]

  The Prime Minister
  Following the sudden death earlier this month of Lord Finsberg, who served with great distinction as leader of the United Kingdom delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union from 1987, I have today appointed the hon. Member for Reading, West (Sir A. Durant) as the new leader of the delegation.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  European Parliament
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee if he will make it his policy that information be collected in respect of United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament with regard to(a) attendance at Parliament and Committees, (b) declarations of interests and (c) speeches in Parliament and Committees. [100]

  Mr. Waller
  I have no responsibilities in connection with recording the activities or interests of United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament. The Library does, however, receive documentation about the proceedings of the European Parliament and I have asked the Librarian to write to the hon. Member.

  HOME DEPARTMENT

    Released Prisoners
    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of prisoners released early from each London prison due to the Prison Service miscalculating their release dates. [148]

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

    Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 30 October 1996:
    The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners serving consecutive sentences who were released early from each London prison following the issue of guidance on the application of remand time in sentence calculation.
    The information is set out in the table below.

    Establishment

    Number of prisoners released

    Belmarsh

    2

    Brixton

    0

    Downview

    4

    Feltham

    11

    Highdown

    1

    Hollo way

    0

    Latchmere House

    1

    Pentonville

    7

    Wandsworth

    12

    Wormwood Scrubs

    4

    Total

    42

    Bouncers
    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to regulate or license bouncers or the security companies which employ them. [404]

    Mr. Maclean
    We encourage the regulation of door supervisors through local registration schemes in which training and criminal record checks on door supervisors are a condition of obtaining a local authority entertainment licence. The Government published guidance on the operation of registration schemes in January this year.

    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has(a) commissioned, (b) undertaken and (c) completed on possible links between doormen and bouncers and the sale of drugs to young people at pubs, clubs and fast food outlets. [406]

    Mr. Sackville
    No such research has been commissioned by the Home Office. But we have been informed by the police and other agencies that drug dealers often target clubs and similar venues frequented by young people and that staff, particularly those on the door, can condone or be a part of organised drug dealing carried out on the premises.
    140
    My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 8 October a proposal to make possible the revocation of public entertainment licences and closure of premises, with immediate effect, in cases where there is clear evidence of a serious problem relating to the supply or consumption of controlled drugs on or near the premises.

    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the subject of regulating doormen and bouncers. [405]

    Mr. Maclean
    Over the past 12 months, we have received a total of eight representations specifically calling for the regulation of door supervisors.

    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Nottinghamshire on the sale of drugs by doormen and bouncers to young people. [407]

    Mr. Maclean
    No. It is an operational matter for individual chief officers how they deal with such problems. Nottinghamshire constabulary, like other forces, is committed to effective action to fight drug misuse and drug-related crime.

    Drug Abuse Resistance Education
    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in the level of youth cautions in Mansfield since the introduction of the DARE—drug abuse resistance education—programme; and if he will make a statement. [764]

    Mr. Maclean
    The police force's area is the smallest geographical unit for statistics on cautioning available centrally. The readily available information is given in the table.

    Persons aged 10 to 13 cautioned in the Nottinghamshire police force area, by type of offence, sex and period

    Type of offence1

    Indictable

    Summary

    Period

    Males

    Females

    Males

    Females

    1994

    January-March

    210

    130

    44

    6

    April-June

    188

    119

    81

    3

    July-September

    176

    87

    45

    3

    October-December

    218

    127

    57

    8

    19952

    January-March

    183

    130

    65

    5

    April-June

    220

    120

    106

    18

    July-September

    172

    63

    59

    20

    October-December3

    190

    85

    66

    13

    1 Excluding motoring offences.

    2 Provisional.

    3 Nottinghamshire Constabulary have been running a pilot of the drug abuse resistance education programme across all nine of its divisions since September 1995.

    Hizb-ut-Tahrir
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will instruct the police to take action to limit the activities of Hizb-ut-Tahrir; [63]

    (2) what action he has taken against the Hizb-ut-Tahrir organisation. [62]
    141
    Mr. Kirkhope
    Enforcement of the law is an operational matter for chief officers of police. The Government have sought to ensure that the police have full powers to deal with racially motivated crime.

    Closed Circuit Television
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is (i) the purchase cost of a closed circuit television camera, (ii) the annual cost of running it in a fully monitored system and (iii) the average amount his Department is providing in grant per camera in the current year. [143]

    Mr. MacLean
    The Government do not collect systematic data on the costs of closed circuit television systems or hardware. The purchase cost of CCTV cameras varies widely according to their specification and their operational requirements. Running costs also vary widely for the same reason. Most of the costs associated with CCTV systems are taken up by cabling and monitoring arrangements.

    The last CCTV challenge competition disbursed £17,138,047 to 259 winning partnerships. If all the schemes go ahead as planned, this will help to fund 3,277 cameras. The total cost of all the schemes is £40,156,993. Using these figures, the cost per camera is £12,254, to which the Government have contributed £5,230 per camera.

    Motor Cycle Theft
    Mr. Spellar
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to reduce the theft of motor cycles. [204]

    Mr. Maclean
    The Government are well aware of the misery suffered by the victims of motor cycle theft and is tackling this problem through a multi-agency approach as part of its overall vehicle crime reduction strategy.

    One of the key ways in which the Government are trying to reduce theft is by educating motor cycle owners on the need to take practical security precautions. The Home Office security advice leaflet specifically for motor cyclists is entitled "Putting the Brakes on Bike Theft" and it offers basic security advice on locking up, parking and parts marking. We shall be revising this leaflet shortly and will be looking to the motor cycle organisations for advice on the main messages which need to be conveyed.

    Advice for motor cycle owners is also included in the Home Office's crime prevention handbook "Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention". The Home Office has received requests for over 2 million copies of this booklet.

    The Home Office is represented on the Motorcycle Theft Action Group on which members of the motor cycle industry and all others with an interest in crime reduction also sit. The group's work is aimed at achieving a co-ordinated and effective approach to tackling motor cycle theft.

    Home Office research into the theft of motor cycles during the 12-month period October 1994 to September 1995 was presented to the group, and the findings are being used by members to target vulnerable areas and focus initiatives where they are most needed.

    Prisons (Costs)
    Mr. Chris Davies
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average annual cost of keeping a person detained in prison. [15]

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

    Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr Chris Davies, dated 30 October 1996:
    The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average annual cost of keeping a person detained in prison.
    In 1995–96 the net operating cost was £24,200 per place.

    Child Murders
    Mr. Soley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of child murders by strangers in each year since 1966. [150]

    Mr. Maclean
    The available information was published in table 4A of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1994". A copy of this publication is in the Library.

    Police Costs
    Mr. William O'Brien
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidelines are issued by his Department for the recovery of costs by a police force employing personnel to carry out routine checks in the area of a neighbouring police area; and if he will make a statement; [99]

    (2) what (a) protocols and (b) guidelines govern the deployment of county police force resources in the area of a metropolitan police force to carry out routine checks on civilian drivers; and if he will make a statement. [98]

    Mr. Maclean
    Guidance on the financial arrangements for mutual aid between police forces is contained in Home Office circular No. 38/89, a copy of which is in the Library. There is no central guidance on the deployment of officers of one force to assist another. This is a matter for the chief officers concerned.

    Fireworks
    Mr. Chris Davies
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted in 1995 for offences in connection with the misuse of fireworks. [94]

    Mr. Maclean
    The information requested is not available centrally.

    Prisons (Repair and Maintenance)
    Mr. Beith
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent circulars have been issued to prison works departments in respect of the buying in of materials for repair and maintenance work. [666]

    Miss Widdecombe
    Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
    143
    Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr A. J. Beith, dated 30 October 1996:
    The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about whether any recent circulars have been issued to prison works departments in respect of the buying in of materials for repairs and maintenance work.
    I recently issued a note to governors introducing a freeze on discretionary expenditure and stating that expenditure should only be incurred in respect of essential items of work. This included expenditure on maintenance and minor works other than work which is already contractually committed, mandatory/statutory items, health and safety items, emergency work and work to prevent loss of places or core facilities. It has been necessary to introduce this freeze on discretionary expenditure because of recent financial pressures but we will keep the position under review.

    Crimes (Rehabilitation Periods)
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the rehabilitation periods for each criminal offence or category of offences listed in his paper "On the Record". [152]

    Mr. Maclean
    The White Paper "On the Record", Cm 3308, sets out the proposed new arrangements for access to criminal records. It does not list categories of criminal offences. Annexe A to the White Paper sets out the categories of occupations or posts which are exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and which it is intended will be eligible for full criminal record vetting checks.

    It is not possible to list the rehabilitation periods for individual offences. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 relates to sentences rather than to offences, and provides that after varying periods of time specified in the Act, offenders are regarded as having become rehabilitated and their conviction(s) spent. The key determinant of when a conviction becomes spent is the type of sentence passed in each case, not the offence itself. When a conviction becomes spent, it does not have to be disclosed other than in certain specified circumstances. Sentences of over two and half years imprisonment can never become spent.

    Asylum Seekers
    Mr. John Marshall
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of claims for asylum for each month in(a) 1995 and (b) in 1996. [239]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    The information requested is in the table.

    Number of applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by month, January 1995–September 1996

    Month of application

    Number of applications

    1995

    January

    3,570

    February

    3,030

    March

    3,310

    April

    2,810

    May

    3,450

    June

    3,630

    July

    3,415

    August

    3,890

    September

    4,020

    October

    4,595

    144

    Number of applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by month, January 1995–September 1996

    Month of application

    Number of applications

    November

    4,715

    December

    3,540

    1996

    January

    3,310

    February

    2,850

    March

    3,145

    April

    2,070

    May

    1,755

    June

    1,730

    July

    2,515

    August

    2,140

    September

    2,010

    1 Figures rounded to the nearest five.

    Prisons (Building Costs)
    Mr. Chris Davies
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the projected cost through the private finance initiative of(a) building all new prisons and detention centres and (b) payments made to the private sector for all new prisons and detention centres for the first five years of their existence. [53]

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

    Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Chris Davies, dated 30 October 1996:
    The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about projected costs of building new prisons and detention centres through the private finance initiative and payments made to the private sector for all new prisons and detention centres for the first five years of their existence.
    Under the Private Finance Initiative the Prison Service will be paying for the building and operation of new prisons as a single package. The cost of the total service (net present value) over 25 years for the three new prisons either under construction or where construction is expected to commence shortly, is £643 million, comprising £247m for Fazakerley; £266m for Bridgend; and £130m for Lowdham Grange. While we are unable to provide information about building costs only, the estimated values of the contractors' overall project costs are £77m each for Fazakerley and Bridgend and £37m for Lowdham Grange.
    The anticipated payments for the first five years of their operation are estimated as follows:

    £ million

    1997–98

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    2001–02

    Fazakerley

    1.75

    24.95

    25.70

    26.05

    26.05

    Bridgend

    1.75

    22.75

    24.95

    25.65

    25.65

    Lowdham Grange

    0.70

    13.75

    12.50

    12.55

    12.55

    Total

    4.20

    61.45

    63.15

    64.25

    64.25

    The 1997–98 estimated payments are based on the following opening dates: Fazakerley, December 1997; Bridgend, December 1997; and Lowdham Grange, January 1998. The estimated payments for 1998–99 have been re-priced up to 2000–01. The costs stated for 2001–02 are at 2000–01 prices as the year 2001–02 is outside the PES period.
    145

    Firearms
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifiable offences were recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been used in Wales in 1993 and 1994; and if he will make a statement. [46]

    Mr. Maclean
    The information requested is published annually in table 3.1(A) of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary tables". A copy of this publication is in the Library.

    Murders
    Mr. Soley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics he has collated on the proportion of murders which are committed by people who are known to their victims since 1980. [147]

    Mr. Maclean
    Statistics on the proportion of homicide offences which are committed by people who are known to their victims are contained in the following table:

    Proportion of offences currently recorded as homicide in England and Wales where a suspect has been identified who was known to the victim

    Year

    Percentage of all currently recorded homicides

    1980

    64

    1981

    75

    1982

    73

    1983

    74

    1984

    76

    1985

    73

    1986

    67

    1987

    65

    1988

    66

    1989

    67

    1990

    67

    1991

    68

    1992

    69

    1993

    66

    1994

    63

    Figures as at 4 August 1995.

    Home Safety
    Ms Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued in respect of home safety work undertaken by local authorities. [35]

    Mr. Maclean
    The Home Office does not issue guidance on home safety work undertaken by local authorities. On fire safety, however, the Home Office works closely with fire brigades and other publicly funded bodies to promote community fire safety, and produces for their use a range of publicity and information leaflets giving specific advice on fire safety in the home. Similar advice leaflets on home security and crime prevention are also produced by the Home Office and are circulated widely.

    Fire Authorities
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the standard spending assessment for each fire authority in England and the actual spend for 1995–96. [893]
    146
    Mr. Sackville
    The fire standard spending assessments for 1995–96 are set out in the Local Government Finance Report (England) which was published on 30 January 1995. Particulars of actual spending in respect of each brigade for that year are not yet held centrally.

    Fire Fighters
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retained fire fighters there are in each fire authority in England; and what was the number in 1992. [895]

    Mr. Sackville
    Information on the position in each fire authority at 1 January 1996 has been placed in the Library. The equivalent figures for 1 January 1992 were published in the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales for 1991, Cm 2008—appendix 4 on page 55.

    Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act
    Mr. Henderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total amount of liability incurred by all carriers under the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act 1987: how much of that total liability has been paid; how much has been waived; and how much is outstanding. [883]

    Mr. Kirkhope
    A total of £97.59 million has been incurred by carriers since the Act came into force. Of that sum, £59.17 million has been paid, £20.74 million waived, and £17.68 million is currently outstanding.

    Donations (Political Parties)
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions are imposed by each member state of the EU on donations to political parties from foreign sources ineligible to vote in their elections. [896]

    Mr. Sackville
    Information on the practice in other member states of the European Union with regard to donations of this kind is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In the United Kingdom, there are no restrictions on political parties receiving such donations, but each of the major political parties has adopted a voluntary code of practice which prohibits acceptance of donations from foreign Governments or rulers.

    Magic Mushrooms
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances magic mushrooms are classed as illegal drugs. [990]

    Mr. Sackville
    The magic mushroom—psilocybe semilanceata—is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but it contains the substance psilocin and its derivative psilocybin, both of which are class A controlled drugs. Under the 1971 Act, any preparation or other product containing psilocin or psilocybin is also a class A controlled drug.
    147
    Persons have been held by the courts to be in possession of controlled drugs where they have in some way altered the natural state of the mushroom—for example, by drying—so as to constitute a preparation or other product.

    Blakenhurst Prison
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with United Kingdom Detention Services concerning the contracts with Her Majesty's prison, Blakenhurst. [256]

    Miss Widdecombe
    [holding answer 28 October 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

    Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 30 October 1996.
    The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the contract held by United kingdom Detention Services (UKDS) for the operation of Blakenhurst prison.
    The Prison Service has one contract with UKDS for the operation of Blakenhurst prison. As part of the ongoing management of that contract, there has been and continues to be regular contact with UKDS in discussion and correspondence on a broad range of issues.

  SCOTLAND

    Offshore Oil and Gas
    Ms Ruddock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what biological and physiological parameters are monitored by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department, in order for the Department of the Environment to assess the cumulative impacts of discharges from offshore oil and gas installations on marine wildlife and habitats. [505]

    Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
    The Scottish Office marine laboratory in Aberdeen has a wide-ranging programme of environmental monitoring in the seas around Scotland. This includes monitoring of offshore oil and gas operations designed to establish the distribution and concentration of contaminants, mainly hydrocarbons, in sediments and water. The biological effects of operational discharges, including possible cumulative effects, are also under continuing study. The marine laboratory publishes all its findings in a series of reports. The annual review describes the full range of scientific activities of the laboratory and the recently published report on "Environmental Monitoring of the Seas around Scotland 1970–1993" contains data associated with offshore operations. I have placed copies of these documents in the House of Commons Library.

    Compulsory Purchase Orders
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the minimum, maximum and average times taken to reach a decision on compulsory purchase orders during each of the past five years. [249]

    Mr. Kynoch
    [holding answer 28 October 1996]: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  WALES

    Beef Industry
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will implement a temporary guaranteed price system to restore confidence in the beef industry in Wales. [25]

    Mr. Jonathan Evans
    The Government have committed £2.5 billion to various measures to support the beef industry. We have no plans to introduce a price guarantee which would do nothing to support the industry in the medium to longer term.

    Casualty Animals
    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received relating to the reluctance of contractors to pick up bulls as casualty animals; and if he will make a statement. [467]

    Mr. Jonathan Evans
    None.

    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take to alleviate problems arising from casualty stock via the over-30-months scheme; and if he will make a statement. [26]

    Mr. Evans
    The Intervention Board executive agency has allocated additional slots at designated abattoirs for casualty animals.

    Cattle Cull
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to remove the backlog in the cattle culling scheme; and if he will make a statement. [27]

    Mr. Jonathan Evans
    The Government have provided an additional £16.6 million to enable the backlog to be cleared by Christmas. We are on target for a throughput of 55,000 animals a week under the scheme.

    Mr. Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will restore the compensation rate in the cattle culling scheme of 1 ecu/83.3p/kg. [28]

    Mr. Evans
    This is a matter for the EU Beef Management Committee.

    Grant-maintained Schools
    Mr. Richards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all capital and current expenditure on each grant-maintained school in each year since incorporation. [213]

    Mr. Jonathan Evans
    The information is set out in the following tables.
    149

    Capital and current expenditure on grant-maintained schools

    School

    1991–92

    1992–93

    1993–94

    Current

    Capital

    Current

    Capital

    Current

    Capital

    Bryn Elian

    —

    —

    —

    —

    485,753

    6,285

    Derwen

    —

    —

    —

    —

    187,104

    8,447

    Eirias

    —

    —

    —

    —

    1,437,715

    18,655

    Emrys Ap Iwan

    —

    —

    675,534

    7,695

    2,572,873

    1,502,114

    Maelor

    —

    —

    —

    —

    1,299,960

    776,172

    Pen-y-Bryn

    —

    —

    —

    —

    262,174

    9,228

    Brynmawr

    —

    —

    786,883

    156,068

    1,357,858

    1,440,649

    Cwmcarn

    517,899

    —

    857,744

    60,944

    911,486

    405,620

    St. Albans

    —

    —

    —

    —

    411,915

    5,610

    Caergeiliog

    —

    —

    —

    —

    435,543

    15,360

    Llanerfyl

    —

    —

    —

    —

    66,572

    6,837

    Mary Imm.

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    St. Cyres

    —

    —

    —

    —

    808,996

    9,610

    Stanwell

    —

    —

    —

    —

    2,222,422

    1,159,664

    Bishop Vaughan

    583,235

    —

    2,220,813

    292,260

    2,523,603

    827,650

    Our Lady and St. Michael's

    —

    —

    —

    —

    128,140

    3,850

    1994–95

    1995–96

    School

    Current

    Capital

    Current

    Capital

    Bryn Elian

    1,732,891

    206,362

    1,877,757

    1,081,488

    Derwen

    266,160

    102,787

    274,091

    881,548

    Eirias

    2,388,784

    373,047

    2,613,405

    819,437

    Emrys Ap Iwan

    2,600,799

    414,467

    3,032,015

    289,606

    Maelor

    1,256,667

    488,972

    1,339,382

    214,604

    Pen-y-Bryn

    407,051

    77,024

    455,242

    152,397

    Brynmawr

    1,393,197

    792,903

    1,484,537

    325,191

    Cwmcarn

    956,162

    341,197

    1,074,650

    27,895

    St. Albans

    1,448,247

    643,674

    1,510,876

    44,795

    Caergeiliog

    409,665

    301,131

    440,645

    101,376

    Llanerfyl

    76,979

    63,217

    76,254

    56,673

    Mary Imm.

    1,472,931

    42,429

    1,490,579

    36,900

    St. Cyres

    3,192,764

    458,758

    2,975,336

    635,539

    Stanwell

    2,474,180

    2,119,709

    2,511,062

    598,389

    Bishop Vaughan

    2,416,363

    683,754

    2,716,334

    515,345

    Our Lady and St. Michael's

    376,413

    239,847

    394,915

    190,503

    Disabled People (Grant Aid)
    Mr. Richards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all bids made in the former county of Clwyd which received grant aid for the disabled. [217]

    Mr. Jonathan Evans
    The support for people with disabilities grant scheme gave funding to projects supporting people with physical and sensory disabilities in 1994–95 and 1995–96. A list of all such bids approved for the former county of Clwyd under this scheme during these years has been placed in the Library of the House.

  DUCHY OF LANCASTER

    Compliance Cost Assessments
    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those compliance cost assessments published during the latest six-month period. [1738]

    Mr. Freeman
    Since April 1993, the Government have required Departments to prepare and publish compliance cost assessments with all proposed legislation presented to Parliament to assess the impact on business costs.
    150
    This includes a special test of the impact on small businesses. Since January 1996, the responsible Minister has had to certify that he has seen the compliance cost assessment and is satisfied that the regulatory proposal strikes an appropriate balance between cost and benefit.

    I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing 105 CCAs published between 1 January 1996 and 30 June 1996 plus three CCAs published between 1 July 1995 and 31 December 1995 which were omitted from the previous Command Paper. Copies of the CCAs listed are available in the House Libraries. This is the fifth such Command Paper and further papers listing CCAs published in the preceding six-month period will be published at six-monthly intervals.

    Government Policy
    Mrs. Bridget Prentice
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation his Department has had with Conservative central office concerning the co-ordination and presentation of Government policy. [905]

    The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Lady to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) on 21 March 1996, Official Report, column 277.

  TRADE AND INDUSTRY

    Computers (Century Date Change)
    Mr. David Atkinson
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's estimate of the cost to business to enable computer systems to be millennium compliant. [451]

    Mr. Ian Taylor
    I have made no such estimate. The figure will be more substantial the later industry leaves its remedial action plan.

    Mr. Atkinson
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress report made to him in September of the joint task force referred to in his answer of 24 July 1996,Official Report, column 476, on the effect of the century date change of computer systems. [1134]
    151
    Mr. Taylor
    The task force has made good progress towards its objective of achieving 100 per cent. awareness and commitment from main board level executives by end March 1997. The issue is receiving considerable attention from the news media but there is still considerable work to be done ensuring all firms check their systems and take the necessary action soon. The CBI and some trade associations are actively involved in alerting their members.

    Task Force 2000
    Mr. David Atkinson
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total budget for his Department's task force 2000; what is his Department's contribution to it; and what progress has been made to date to obtain the balance from the private sector. [450]

    Mr. Ian Taylor
    Task force 2000 was set up by the private sector, not by the Department although with its encouragement. Its budget and funding are matters for them as it is for the private sector to address the date change problem from its own resources. The Department has offered initial funding of up to £170,000 as seed corn and task force directors are negotiating with private sector companies for further funds. The task force's objective is to raise awareness of the year 2000 problem, and has already received sponsorship for a London conference.

    Wage Levels
    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what statutory provisions govern the objectives of sustaining a living and just level of wages. [236]

    Mr. John M. Taylor
    Pay is a matter to be determined between employers and employees in light of their particular circumstances without Government intervention. Statutory wage fixing undermines competitiveness, distorts the labour market and costs jobs.

    Coal-burning Power Stations
    Mr. Meacher
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many coal-burning power stations are operating in(a) each European Union state, (b) the United States of America and (c) Japan; and what percentage is equipped with flue gas desulphurisation. [1011]

    Mr. Page
    The power stations operating in each European Union state and in the United States of America and Japan, and the percentage that are equipped with flue gas desulphurisation units, are shown in the table.

    Country

    Total number of coal-fired units1

    Number of units with flue gas desulphurisation1

    Percentage with flue gas desulphurisation

    Austria

    11

    11

    100.00

    Belgium

    25

    0.0

    0.0

    Canada

    69

    0

    0.0

    Denmark

    33

    9

    27.3

    Finland

    32

    13

    40.6

    France

    37

    4

    10.8

    Germany

    288

    201

    69.8

    Greece

    18

    0

    0.0

    Ireland

    8

    0

    0.0

    Italy

    39

    8

    20.5

    Netherlands

    9

    8

    88.9

    Portugal

    9

    2

    22.2

    Spain

    40

    4

    10.0

    152

    Country

    Total number of coal-fired units1

    Number of units with flue gas desulphurisation1

    Percentage with flue gas desulphurisation

    Sweden

    29

    17

    58.6

    United Kingdom

    108

    10

    9.3

    Total European

    755

    287

    38.0

    USA

    1,175

    244

    20.8

    Japan

    95

    52

    54.7

    Source:
    WA Coal Research Database (1996).

    Note:
    1A coal-fired power station comprises one or more electricity generating units.

    Launch Aid
    Mr. Ingram
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total level of support paid to industry under the launch aid programme since its inception. [992]

    Mr. Greg Knight
    Under the Civil Aviation Act 1982, launch aid may be allocated to the UK aerospace industry for the design and development of civil aeronautics projects. Launch aid had been allocated to the industry under previous legislation. A total of £968.1 million was allocated between the 1961–62 and 1995–96 financial years. Earlier figures are not readily available.

    Mr. Ingram
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the total receipts from the launch aid programme since its inception. [993]

    Mr. Knight
    A total of £597.7 million was received by Government between the 1961–62 and 1995–96 financial years in repayment of launch aid for civil aeronautics projects.

    Mr. Ingram
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the last project supported by his Department under the launch aid programme; when this took place; and what was the level of the support. [991]

    Mr. Knight
    In 1995–96 Short Brothers plc of Belfast was allocated launch aid of £16.4 million towards its contribution to the Learjet 45 executive jet. This project is still current and a further £1.32 million of remains to be allocated to the company.

    Human Genetics Advisory Committee
    Mr. Ingram
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce the membership of the Human Genetics Advisory Committee. [906]

    Mr. Ian Taylor
    We will make an announcement as soon as possible when consents have been forthcoming from candidates.

    Offshore Oil and Gas Installations
    Ms Ruddock
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what are the dates or estimated dates(a) on which he proposes to announce the call for nominations in relation to the blocks to be offered in the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration, (b) between which he proposes to conduct the consultation for the nomination of blocks to be offered in the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration, (c) on which he proposes to announce which blocks are to be offered in the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration, and (d) on which he proposes to announce the winning bids in relation to the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration; [514]

    (2) if an environmental impact assessment will be required of applicants in relation to the 18 offshore licensing round for UK oil and gas exploration; [515]

    (3) what further rounds are planned for UK offshore oil and gas exploration licensing; and over what period he intends to conduct each of those rounds. [516]

    Mr. Page
    No decisions have been taken about the timing and scope of the 18th round of offshore licensing nor any subsequent rounds.

    I hope that it will be possible, however, to hold a round in 1997 and further rounds at regular intervals thereafter in order to ensure that the United Kingdom continental shelf remains an attractive investment location for oil and gas companies until well into the next century.

    Decisions about the need for environmental impact assessments in relation to an 18th round will take account of relevant legislation, international obligations and the advice provided to me by statutory and other advisers during the consultation process preceding the offer of blocks.

    Ms Ruddock
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action is taken by Government Departments to ensure that the level of use and discharge of chemicals in water and in drilling muds from offshore oil and gas installations remains within agreed limits for each installation. [509]

    Mr. Page
    The discharge of chemicals from offshore installations is currently regulated by a voluntary scheme. This scheme will be replaced by an internationally agreed mandatory scheme in the near future which will also regulate use of chemicals.

    I refer the hon. Member to my previous replies to similar questions on 4 June 1996, Official Report, columns 307–8 and 3 July 1996, Official Report, column 458.

    Ms Ruddock
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what regulatory action is undertaken by the Government to ensure that the cumulative effects of discharges to the environment from offshore oil and gas installations are maintained below levels which cause damage to marine wildlife and habitats. [508]

    Mr. Page
    Exemptions from the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act are given to offshore installations at levels which are agreed in international fora as not likely to cause cumulative damage to marine wildlife and habitats.
    154
    I refer the hon. Member to my previous replies to similar questions on 4 June 1996, Official Report columns 307–8 and 3 July 1996, Official Report, column 458.

    Ms Ruddock
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements are in place for Government officials to undertake field inspections to assess the quality and quantity of polluting discharges other than oil spills and produced water from offshore oil and gas installations. [510]

    Mr. Page
    My officials make use of transport systems provided by the industry in order to undertake field inspections to assess the quality and quantity of polluting discharges. It is understood that this practice mirrors that undertaken in other nations.

    Ms Ruddock
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what cumulative impacts of discharges from offshore oil and gas installations on marine wildlife and habitats are taken into account when agreeing limits for the discharge and use of chemicals for each installation. [507]

    Mr. Page
    My Department is advised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department on the impacts of discharges to the marine environment. I refer the hon. Member to the replies given today by my hon. Friends, the Parliamentary Under Secretaries at MAFF and the Scottish Office to her questions on this topic.

    Arms Embargo (Argentina)
    Mr. Tony Lloyd
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reason the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Amber Valley (Mr. Oppenheim), omitted the reassessments of arms embargos against Argentina since January 1991 in his answer of 13 June 1996,Official Report, column 263. [787]

    Mr. Lang
    [holding answer 28 October 1996]: In his answer, my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley stated that the policy on the application of the embargo on defence sales is kept under regular review. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, told the House on 24 October 1996, Official Report, column 141, should the Government decide to implement any relaxation of the embargo, this will be announced to Parliament.

    Enterprise Britain Initiative
    Mr. Hoon
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the constituencies to be visited under the enterprise Britain initiative; and what is the estimated cost of the exercise. [70]

    Mr. Lang
    [holding answer 28 October 1996]: The detailed programme is currently being arranged. The cost will depend on the number and size of the events.

    Mr. Hoon
    To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the cost to those attending enterprise Britain events. [163]

    Mr. Lang
    [holding answer 28 October 1996]There will be no charge for those attending the events.

  NATIONAL HERITAGE

    British Library
    Mr. Campbell-Savours
    To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her estimate of the proportion of internationally available scientific literature and patent collections available in conditions of open access at each of the British library's reading rooms. [459]

    Mr. Sproat
    The British library's science reference and information service acquires some 1 million patent specifications annually, which it estimates to constitute some 99 per cent. of the world's published output of such specifications. Sixty-one per cent. of the material held by the science reference and information service in this category is available either on open access, or is accessible to those users holding a vault pass. Of the total estimated 81,000 scientific periodicals published world-wide, the British library estimates that the science reference and information service currently receives 20,000 research titles. Material in English published during the last 10 years, and material published in other languages during the last two to three years, is held on open access, representing some 26 per cent. of the total research periodicals held by the science reference and information service. It is not possible to estimate the total number of scientific monographs published throughout the world. The science reference and information service receives some 4,500 new scientific monograph titles at research level published in the UK each year through legal deposit, and acquires foreign titles in line with the acquisition funds available.

    Mr. Campbell-Savours
    To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the total value of properties which have been sold from the British library estate. [440]

    Mr. Sproat
    The library sold its freehold in 14 Store street, London WC1, for £5.5 million on 19 August 1991. I understand that no other property held by the British library has been sold.

    Mr. Campbell-Savours
    To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what leaseback arrangements have been registered in the use of properties in the British library estate. [439]

    Mr. Sproat
    None.

    Mr. Campbell-Savours
    To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the total number of voluntary and compulsory redundancies at each of the branches of the British library in the last five years. [460]

    Mr. Sproat
    No British library staff have been subject to either voluntary or compulsory redundancy prior to March 1996. Forty-nine employees of the British library accepted the terms of a voluntary redundancy programme which was offered in March 1996, 13 of whom have already left the library's employment and a further 12 of whom will do so during the remainder of the present financial year.

    Mr. Campbell-Savours
    To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimates she has of the value of the two British library related assets in Tooks court, London WC2. [438]
    156
    Mr. Sproat
    The premises at 25 Southampton buildings, London WC2, adjoin Tooks court, and house part of the British library's science reference and information service. The property, part of which is leased by the British library, was valued at £6 million as at 13 November 1995.

    National Lottery
    Mr. Barnes
    To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will list the total amounts of the lottery funding awards to date in respect of each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales, indicating for each the amounts awarded in the last quarter for which figures are available and listing constituencies in descending rank order by total amounts; [519]

    (2) if she will list the total amounts of the lottery funding awards to date in respect of each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland indicating for each the amounts awarded in the last quarter for which figures are available and listing constituencies in descending rank order by total amounts; [987]

    (3) if she will list the total amounts of lottery funding awards to date in respect of each parliamentary constituency in Scotland indicating for each the amounts awarded in the last quarter for which figures are available and listing the constituencies in descending rank order by total amounts. [988]

    Mr. Sproat
    A full list of all awards up to 30 September, broken down by each parliamentary constituency, has been placed in the House of Commons Library today, on computer disc. The Secretary of State wrote to all members of the House on 18 October with an update of awards made in their constituencies during the last quarter. At present, the figures cannot be ranked as requested without disproportionate costs.

  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Housing Council (Visit to Japan)
    Mr. John D. Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors led to the visit to Japan by members of the Northern Ireland Housing Council; what is the estimated cost of the visit; and if he will make a statement. [47]

    Mr. Moss
    This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chief executive has advised me that the Northern Ireland Housing Council was represented at the International Federation for Housing and Planning congress in Japan by its chairman. The congress was a follow-up to the highly successful IFHP congress held in Belfast in September 1995 which the Housing Council was instrumental in bringing to Northern Ireland. The IFHP congress provides an opportunity for the exchange of information and experience on housing and planning issues and also the development of international housing contacts. The estimated cost of attendance is approximately £3,000.

    Drumcree Incident
    Mr. McGrady
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost
    157
    of the damage to property caused by the incident at Drumcree and subsequent events during July and August 1996. [139]

    Sir John Wheeler
    Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive, Mr Denis Stanley. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

    Letter from D. A. Stanley to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 29 October 1996:
    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question regarding the estimated cost of damage to property caused by the incident at Drumcree and subsequent events during July and August 1996.
    The Agency estimates that criminal damage amount to £20 million occurred throughout Northern Ireland during the period 9–14 July. Claims with an estimated value of £9 million have been received for incidents for the period of 15 July onwards. These estimates are based on the Agency's loss adjusters' current valuation of individual claims and may, of course, change as the claims proceed to settlement.

    Harbours
    Mr. John D. Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the last financial year what was the contribution of each of the harbours at(a) Portavogie, (b) Ardglass and (c) Kilkeel to the income of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority; and what was the capital expenditure by the authority at each of these fishing ports in the same financial year. [45]

    Mr. Ancram
    The following table provides details of the authority's income and expenditure in 1995–96:

    Ardglass £

    Kilkeel £

    Portavogie £

    Operating income

    101,109

    311,421

    235,292

    Capital works expenditure

    315,692

    548,111

    154,526

    Mr. McGrady
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims were made for compensation as a result of (i) damage to property and (ii) injury to persons as a result of the incident at Drumcree and subsequent events in July and August 1996. [138]

    Sir John Wheeler
    Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Denis Stanley. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

    Letter from D. A. Stanley to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 29 October 1996:
    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question regarding the number of claims made for compensation in respect of damage to property and injury to persons as a result of the incident at Drumcree and subsequent events during July and August 1996.
    The Agency has received a total of 2,665 criminal damage claims and 2,431 criminal injury claims for incidents that occurred during the months of July and August. Prior to July, the number of criminal damage claims being received each month was around 100 and the number of criminal injury claims was around 900 each month. Therefore 2,465 additional criminal damage claims and 631 additional criminal injury claims have been received so far for the months of July and August.

    Portavogie Harbour
    Mr. John D. Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the production of ice at Portavogie harbour; how many reports he has received of fishing boats from Portavogie going to Ardglass harbour to get ice because of inadequate production; what plans there are to increase ice production at Portavogie harbour; and if he will make a statement. [48]

    Mr. Ancram
    On 19 September 1996, the compressor on the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority's main ice plant at Portavogie broke down and had to be replaced. Only a small amount of ice was available for the Portavogie fleet during the rest of that week. Two Portavogie boats obtained ice from the authority's new plant at Ardglass, and the authority organised the delivery of ice from Ardglass to the other Portavogie boats. Ice production was back to normal on 25 September. The authority has commissioned the Sea Fish Industry Authority to undertake an in-depth assessment of the ice production and storage needs at Portavogie, and to advise on the various options by which these can best be met.

    Casualty Animals
    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received relating to the reluctance of contractors to pick up bulls as casualty animals; and if he will make a statement. [466]

    Mr. Ancram
    No such representations have been received.

    Children
    Ms Mowlam
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children in Northern Ireland will be aged(a) three and (b) four in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) 1999. [1176]

    Sir John Wheeler
    Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Statistics and Research Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Edgar Jardine. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

    Letter from E. F. Jardine to Ms Majorie Mowlam, dated 30 October 1996:
    You recently tabled a parliamentary question asking the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children in Northern Ireland will be aged (a) three and (b) four in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) 1999. I have been asked to reply in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
    Projections of the population of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom are produced by the Government Actuary's Department (London). The information requested is shown in the table below. The figures represent the projection for the age group in question at the mid-year period (30 June).

    Year

    3-year-olds

    4-year-olds

    1996

    25,015

    26,279

    1997

    24,545

    25,015

    1998

    24,233

    24,535

    1999

    23,884

    24,219

    I trust this information is sufficient and if I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

    Social Security Agency
    Mr. Thomason
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Social Security Agency for the current financial year. [1811]

    Mr. Moss
    I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 30 April 1996,Official Report, columns 455–56. However, contrary to that answer, there is no secondary target for unemployment benefit claims clearance of 85 per cent. in 53 days, but only a single target of 75 per cent. in 12 days.

    Electoral Officer's Report
    Mr. Thomason
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the report of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland of 1995–96. [1812]

    Sir Patrick Mayhew
    The Chief Electoral Officer's annual report has been laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  SOCIAL SECURITY

    Disability Survey
    Mr. Thurnham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to receive the results of the disability survey being carried out by his Department; and when he will publish the survey. [126]

    Mr. Burt
    We expect to receive the data from the disability survey in summer 1997, shortly after completion of field work. The disability survey is a follow-up to the family resources survey and analysis will require data from the two surveys to be merged; we expect to have a combined dataset by the end of 1997. Plans are currently being made for the analysis of this large and complex dataset, but no date for publication has been decided as yet. Details will be included in the Department's research programme announcement next year.

    Audit Commission (Fraud Investigations)
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what new powers his legislative proposals to counter fraud will provide to the Audit Commission which would avoid the use of powers specified in sections 28 and 29 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982; what legal advice he has taken concerning the use of these powers by the Audit Commission with respect to its current fraud activities; and what limitations on the commission's work in this area were indicated by that advice. [210]

    Mr. Heald
    We shall be bringing forward legislative proposals to counter fraud shortly.

    Voluntary Unemployment Deductions
    Mr. Alan Howarth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the numbers of people who have received a voluntary unemployment deduction in the current financial year; and what is the total amount of money deducted. [416]
    160
    Mr. Roger Evans
    The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

    As at November 1995 it is estimated that some 30,000 income support claimants had a deduction from their income support payment for voluntary unemployment. The estimated average amount being deducted was £16.08 per week which equates to £25.3 million per year.

    Notes:

    1. Rates of deduction for voluntary unemployment are at 20 per cent. or 40 per cent. of the personal allowance.

    2 Sample size 5 per cent.

    3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

    4. The average amount deducted for voluntary unemployment was estimated using the deduction amount recorded on the income support computer system.

    5. In a small number of cases, the amount to be deducted was greater than the award of income support. In such cases the latter was used as the "actual" amount deducted.

    6. The total amount of money deducted was estimated by multiplying the average weekly deduction by the number of cases with a deduction by 52. This figure was then rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.

    Source:
    Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry November 1995.

    Incapacity Benefit (Medical Tests)
    Mr. Burden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social
    Security if he will publish evaluation studies of the standards of medical tests conducted on claimants for incapacity benefit seen by doctors of the Benefits Agency medical service. [757]

    Mr. Burt
    The performance of Benefits Agency medical service doctors is continuously monitored under local management arrangements to ensure that agreed standards of medical advice are maintained. A major study looking at the consistency of application of the all work test was recently carried out, and a report is being prepared for publication.

    War Pensions (Mustard Gas)
    Mr. Livingstone
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the outcome of his Department's investigation started in 1986 into whether casualties contaminated by mustard gas at Bari harbour, Italy, in 1943 should be awarded back-dated war pensions; and if he will make a statement. [743]

    Mr. Heald
    This investigation was undertaken following the exceptional decision to backdate the payment of war disablement pension to an individual who had been exposed to mustard gas while serving in the Royal Navy at Ban harbour in 1943. He had claimed a war pension in 1983 and contended that he would have claimed earlier had he been aware of the precise nature of the substance with which he had been contaminated.

    The purpose of the special exercise was to identify other casualties of the incident in order to establish whether similar action was appropriate in their cases. A press notice announcing the exercise was issued and as a result of this 87 new claims for war pension were received, of which 33 were successful. In addition, 97 claims which had been made previously were reviewed. In total, of the 184 claims, 105 were successful.
    161
    The exercise confirmed that all but one were aware at the time of the incident that they had been exposed to mustard gas.

    Benefit Fraud
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements he plans to make in respect of measures to counter fraud to ensure that claimants do not suffer damage or distress as a result of the matching of personal data which(a) are inaccurate, irrelevant or out of date or (b) relate to other individuals with the same or similar names; and if he will make a statement. [208]

    Mr. Heald
    The Department has considerable experience in matching data held on different computer systems. The detailed criteria to be matched in each exercise are tightly defined to ensure that they are relevant to the benefit concerned and could not properly belong to more than one individual. Where anomalies are revealed, they are fully checked to eliminate inaccuracies before any further investigation is carried out. All data matching activities are conducted under secure conditions to ensure confidentiality.

    Social Fund
    Mr. Timms
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications to the social fund were turned down on the grounds of ability to pay in 1995–96 in(a) Great Britain, (b) east London and (c) Newham; and what percentage of the total applying this figure represented in each case. [982]

    Mr. Roger Evans
    The administration of the social fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Stephen Timms, dated 29 October 1996:
    The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many applications to the Social Fund were turned down on the grounds of ability to pay in 1995–96 in (a) Great Britain, (b) East London and (c) Newham; and what percentage of the total applying this figure represented in each case.
    The information for East London and Newham is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
    I have provided at Annex A the national information.
    I hope you find this reply helpful.

    Annex A: number of refusals on the grounds of inability to repay and as a percentage of all applications for the period April 1995 to March 1996

    Inability to repay

    Percentage of total applications

    National

    10,411

    0.4

    Figures are provisional and subject to change.

    Income Support
    Mr. French
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to align the rules for calculating earnings, provided for by the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1978, with the rules used to calculate earnings in the income support scheme. [1341]
    162
    Mr. Roger Evans
    I have today laid the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 before Parliament. The regulations will align, as far as possible, the rules for calculating a person's earnings for the purposes of contributory benefits, non-contributory benefits, increases for dependants and benefits for industrial injuries—except industrial injuries and diseases, old cases—with the rules used in the income support scheme. The change will remove a number of inconsistencies between benefits and reduce complexity in the social security scheme. In a small number of cases the changes may result in either benefit loss or gain.

    War Widows Pension
    Mr. Ainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make it his policy that widows of Japanese prisoners of war will not have their pensions reduced because their late husbands may have died from smoking-related illnesses; [907]

    (2) how many widows have been affected by changes in the regulations controlling the level of pensions for widows of Japanese prisoners of war; [908]

    (3) how many widows of Japanese prisoners of war are currently receiving pensions; how many are receiving pensions which (a) have and (b) have not been reduced by the change in regulations related to death due to smoking-related illnesses; and how many are receiving a reduced pension as a result of those changes. [909]

    Mr. Heald
    Contrary to news reports, there has been no change in rules regarding pensions for war widows whose husbands died of smoking-related diseases.

    A war widow's pension may be awarded where the late husband's death was due to, or is substantially hastened by, any service in the armed forces. There is no automatic entitlement to a war widow's pension because the late husband was a war pensioner.

    The war pensions scheme was never intended to compensate for the effects of a personal habit such as smoking. Policy on this has not changed. Over more than 40 years that has been the policy of successive Governments; it has applied to all those who served in the armed forces, including those who were prisoners of the Japanese during world war two.

    The law does however provide for awards in respect of smoking-related conditions where there was a severely disabling mental condition—itself attributable to service and assessed for war pension purposes at a minimum of 50 per cent.—which rendered the late husband incapable of exercising personal choice and prevented him giving up the habit.

    Additionally, if there was more than one cause of death, one being smoking related and the other not smoking related but still linked to service, a war widow's pension will still be payable.

    Information on the numbers of war widows pensions in payment to the widows of former prisoners of the Japanese is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
    163

    Female Workers
    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to produce a report on female workers similar to the one entitled "Male Earnings Mobility in the Lifetime Labour Market Database". [1129]

    Mr. Burt
    Analyses of earnings movements among women will be undertaken as part of the Department's current programme of work from the lifetime labour market database. Analyses of female earners were previously hindered by a lack of comprehensive data identifying women who take a career break to look after children; this problem has been largely removed in the most recent version of the lifetime labour market database.

    Invalidity and Incapacity Benefit
    Mr. Burden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people (i) claimed and (ii) received(a) sickness benefit for each year since 1990, (b) invalidity benefit for each year since 1990, (c) incapacity benefit short-term lower rate since its introduction, (d) incapacity benefit short-term higher rate since its introduction and (e) incapacity benefit long-term rate with invalidity allowance but without additional pension since its introduction. [744]

    Mr. Burt
    The information is in the tables.

    Table A: sickness and invalidity benefit

    Date

    Sickness benefit

    Invalidity benefit

    Claimants

    Beneficiaries

    Claimants

    Beneficiaries

    31 March 1990

    309,000

    103,000

    1,209,000

    1,209,000

    30 March 1991

    372,000

    110,000

    1,306,000

    1,306,000

    4 April 1992

    458,000

    138,000

    1,439,000

    1,439,000

    3 April 1993

    534,000

    147,000

    1,580,000

    1,580,000

    2 April 1994

    568,000

    127,000

    1,681,000

    1,681,000

    12 April 1995

    639,000

    127,000

    1,767,000

    1,767,000

    Source:
    I per cent. sample of all sickness and invalidity benefit claimants at date specified.

    Table B: incapacity benefit (IB)

    Claimants at 31 May 1996

    Beneficiaries at 31 May 1996

    IB short term lower

    711,000

    117,000

    IB short term higher

    106,000

    105,000

    IB long term

    1,580,000

    1,572,000

    IB long term with invalidity allowance and no additional pension

    n/a

    141,000

    IB long term with invalidity allowance and additional pension

    n/a

    395,000

    Source:

    5 per cent. sample from the incapacity benefit computer system. Excludes a small number of cases not held on the system.

    Mr. Burden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate his Department has made of the savings accruing from the abolition of the additional invalidity benefit; [732]

    (2) what factors underlay the abolition of the additional invalidity benefit following the introduction of incapacity benefit in April 1995. [730]
    164
    Mr. Burt
    The additional pension component of invalidity benefit was abolished because it was poorly targeted and did not represent value for money for the taxpayer. As additional pension was earnings-related, those with the highest earnings prior to receipt of benefit gained most and were also more likely to be in receipt of other income such as an occupational pension. The cost of additional pension was projected to rise to almost £2 billion by the year 2000–01.

    Estimates for net savings from the abolition of AP are in the table.

    Year

    Net savings (£ million)

    1995–96

    105

    1996–97

    275

    1997–98

    425

    1. Estimates are in cash terms and based on Government Actuary Department forecasts and family expenditure data.

    2. Savings are net of any income-related benefit offsets.

    Mr. Burden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the annual cost to his Department of incapacity benefit for each of the five years before its abolition. [731]

    Mr. Burt
    The information is in the table.

    £ million

    Year

    Expenditure

    Sickness benefit (SB)

    Invalidity benefit (IVB)

    Administration costs (SB and IVB)

    Total

    1990–91

    216

    4,431

    208

    5,071

    1991–92

    274

    5,485

    275

    6,034

    1992–93

    364

    6,210

    322

    6,896

    1993–94

    365

    7,068

    359

    7,792

    1994–95

    342

    7,705

    347

    8,394

    1. All figures except for sickness benefit and invalidity benefit expenditure for 1994–95 are from successive departmental reports.

    2. Expenditure figures for sickness benefit and invalidity benefit in 1994―95 are from the national insurance fund accounts and supersede those in the current departmental report.

    3. Sickness and invalidity benefits were replaced by incapacity benefit from 13 April 1995.

  FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

    Middle East Peace Process
    Sir Robert Hicks
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the United Kingdom and its EU partners are taking to persuade Israel to implement the Oslo accords as they relate to Hebron. [698]

    Mrs. Jane Kennedy
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Foreign Minister of Israel to discuss developments in the peace process. [700]

    Mr. Hanley
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary is due to visit Israel and Gaza on 3 November. We have made it clear on a number of occasions that implementation of those provisions of the interim agreement which relate to Hebron is an essential and urgent step in the middle east peace process.
    165
    Mr. Canavan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the middle east peace process. [711]

    Mr. Hanley
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in the House today to the hon. Member for lElmet (Mr. Batiste).

    Taiwan
    Mr. Michael Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy with regard to the formal independence of Taiwan. [699]

    Mr. Hanley
    It is our view that the status of Taiwan is a matter for the Chinese Government and authorities in Taiwan to resolve between themselves.

    Mr. Pawsey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Taiwan and Hong Kong with the Chinese Government. [704]

    Mr. Hanley
    I discussed Taiwan with Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yingfan on 2 September in Peking.

    My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Hong Kong with the Vice-Premier Qian Qichen on 26 September in New York.

    Mrs. Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Taiwan. [707]

    Mr. Hanley
    We enjoy good commercial and cultural relations with Taiwan. We see great potential for the promotion of UK exports and inward investment; the attraction of tourism and educational links.

    NATO
    Mr Harry Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the accession of Poland and other states to the EU and NATO. [701]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    We are firmly committed to the enlargement of the European Union and NATO.

    Mr. Wareing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart in respect of NATO plans for expansion into central and eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement. [710]

    Mr. David Davis
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has met the Russian Foreign Minister three times in the past five months. He has explained to Mr. Primakov NATO's response to the central Europeans' strong bids for membership, along with NATO's wish for a new relationship with Russia.

    Dr. Goodson-Wickes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the enlargement of NATO. [713]

    Mr. Davis
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary is in frequent contact with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to ensure that all aspects of NATO enlargement have been properly addressed.

    English Language
    Mr. Renton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes to take in order to encourage the use, understanding and teaching of the English language abroad. [706]

    Mr. Hanley
    Our language is a great national asset and we continue to encourage the use, understanding arid teaching of British English abroad through the medium of British organisations, goods and services. We have first-class institutions engaged in English language teaching and training, and activities of the British Council, BBC World Service, educational institutions, publishers and suppliers all serve to promote our long-term political, economic and commercial interests worldwide. The British Council-led English 2000 project, launched last year, brings all sectors together to promote the teaching and use of English into the next century.

    BBC World Service
    Mrs. Maddock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that next year's funding for the BBC World Service will be adequate to prevent reduction in the level or number of language services. [708]

    Mr. Kirkwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future financial arrangements for the World Service. [719]

    Mr. Hanley
    Funding for the BBC World Service will be determined following the current public expenditure survey round.

    Dependent Territories (Government Employees)
    Dr. Marek
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which dependent territories where personnel issues are reserved for the decision of the Governor, Government employees of any category have to resign if they become pregnant. [709]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    No Government employees in any of the dependent territories are required to resign on becoming pregnant. However, in Bermuda personnel issues are not reserved to the Governor, who is obliged to act in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission.

    Economic and Monetary Union
    Mr. Jon Owen Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on issues relating to economic and monetary union. [712]

    Mr. David Davis
    No FCO official is assigned exclusively to EMU, which is dealt with alongside other EU policy issues. It bears on the responsibilities of a number of FCO departments, including European Union department (internal), economic relations department and economic advisers.

    Independence
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries have gained independence from the United Kingdom since 1966; and if he will make a statement. [714]

    Dr. Liam Fox
    Since 1966, the United Kingdom Parliament has granted independence to 24 countries. The last was Brunei in 1984.

    Monetary Gold (Restitution)
    Mr. Rooker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will initiate a new discussion in the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold and claimant countries regarding the residue of gold and its possible distribution to individuals. [715]

    Mr. David Davis
    The tripartite commission, at our request, has already discussed this subject: it is now being considered by the member Governments—the UK, France and the US.

    Afghanistan
    Mr. Robathan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan. [716]

    Dr. Liam Fox
    The situation in Afghanistan is still very fluid. We are concerned about the escalation in fighting over the last month. We urge all parties to cooperate fully with the efforts of the UN special mission to Afghanistan to find a peaceful settlement.

    Intergovernmental Conference
    Mr. David Shaw
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his most recent discussions at the IGC about employment matters with his counterparts in the European Union. [717]

    Mr. David Davis
    Employment was one of the subjects discussed at the ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on 1 October.

    Royal Family (Overseas Visits)
    Mr. Tony Banks
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to his Department arising from visits abroad by members of the royal family in 1995–96. [718]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    The total cost, to this Department, of official visits overseas by members of the royal family in 1995–96 was £440,092.47.

    Argentina
    Mr. Austin-Walker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had recently with the Government of Argentina; and if he will make a statement. [720]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Argentine Foreign Minster in New York on 25 September. They had a very positive discussion covering a number of bilateral issues.

    Gibraltar
    Mr. Ian Bruce
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Spanish Government in respect of failures to keep traffic flowing freely on the Gibraltar-Spanish border. [721]

    Mr. David Davis
    The delays have improved recently but traffic is still not flowing freely. There are at times extended delays. This is unacceptable. We have taken this up vigorously with the Spanish authorities to remind them of their obligations. We will continue to do so.

    United Nations Charter
    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state for each of articles 1 and 2 of the charter of the United Nations the relevant articles of the treaties of the European Union which incorporate its stated objectives. [235]

    Mr. David Davis
    The objectives of the European Union and the European Communities are not comparable with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The objectives of the European Union are described in the preamble to the treaty on European Union and its opening articles, in particular articles A, B and F. The objectives of the European Communities are likewise set out in the preambles to the treaties establishing them and in their opening articles, in particular articles 2 and 3 of the EC treaty, articles 2 and 3 of the European Coal and Steel Community treaty, and articles 1 and 2 of the Euratom treaty.

    Northern Cyprus
    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the occupied area of northern Cyprus during his forthcoming visit to the Republic of Cyprus. [962]

    Mr. David Davis
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary will hold talks with President Klerides and also with Mr. Denktas in his capacity as leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. Timings and venues for the talks are to be arranged.

    International Criminal Court
    Sir David Knox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the preparatory committee of the United Nations General Assembly on the establishment of an international criminal court, indicating whether Her Majesty's Government will provide financial support to help to create such an institution. [963]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    We have participated actively in the work of the preparatory committee. While much has been achieved, an enormous amount remains to be done. We therefore supported the recommendation of the preparatory committee at its last session that up to nine more weeks were required for further preparatory work. We also believe that we should set a date in 1998 for a conference to consider the statute of such a court. At the next session of the General Assembly, we shall need to review the progress made by the preparatory committee in its sessions in 1997.
    169
    The preparatory process is founded out of the UN regular budget to which we contribute.

    Turkey (Human Rights)
    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to prevent human rights abuses against Christians in Turkey. [1097]

    Mr. David Davis
    We remain concerned about the human rights situation in Turkey and its effect on all people, including the Christian minorities. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Turkish authorities. Our embassy officials also pay regular visits to Christian communities in Turkey. The next visit is planned for November.

    Sri Lanka
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet representatives of the Government of Sri Lanka to discuss the situation of the Tamil community. [266]

    Dr. Liam Fox
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular meetings with representatives of the Sri Lankan Government to discuss the ethnic conflict. Most recently, he saw the Sri Lanka Foreign Minister in London on 14 October.

    United Nations (Payment of Dues)
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the United Kingdom Government to that of the USA concerning payment of dues to the United Nations. [702]

    Sir Nicholas Bonsor
    We firmly believe that all UN member states, including the US, must pay their UN dues promptly, in full and without conditions. We take every opportunity to urge the US to pay its UN dues, including its arrears, in accordance with its legal obligation to do so. The EU proposals for UN financial reform include penalties for member states that fail to pay their dues.

    Western Sahara
    Mr. Fatchett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the future role of the United Nations in the Western Sahara. [801]

    Mr. Hanley
    We support the UN Secretary—General and the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara—MINURSO—the UN operation in the region, in their efforts to bring about an end to this long—running conflict.

    Sudan
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimates he has assessed relating to the numbers of Sudanese civilians that have been killed as a result of warfare since 1991, indicating where possible, the ethnic group of casualties. [678]
    170
    Mr. Hanley
    No detailed figures are available. But the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Sudan suggested in his most recent report, February 1996, that 1.2 million people had died since 1983 as a result of the Sudan civil war.

    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs what measures his Department intends to take to encourage the Government of Sudan to(a) conduct a referendum on the independence of southern Sudan and (b) bring about a ceasefire; and what discussions are planned with the Government of Sudan. [679]

    Mr. Hanley
    We continue to make clear to the Government of Sudan that we look to them to move towards a negotiated end to the civil war by declaring a ceasefire and that its continuing prosecution of the civil war stands in the way of an improvement in bilateral relations with the UK. The British ambassador in Khartoum sees members of the Government there frequently. The need for an end to the civil war is always high on the agenda.

    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department intends to take to encourage the Government of Sudan to repatriate the Sudanese who have been displaced by civil war. [680]

    Mr. Hanley
    The return of Sudanese displaced by the civil war to their local regions is not possible while the civil war continues.

    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British diplomats have visited the Nuer lands of Upper Nile state in southern Sudan since Dr. Riek Machar signed the "political charter" with the Sudan Government in April 1996 to assess popular support and the support of traditional leaders (i) for him and (ii) for his signing of the charter; and what were those assessments. [994]

    Mr. Hanley
    The embassy has an active programme of visits to all parts of Sudan but has not visited the Nuer lands since July 1995.

    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will conduct a review of British Government policy towards the Sudan. [986]

    Mr. Hanley
    We keep British policy towards Sudan, and, in particular, what we can usefully do to help the situation in the south, under constant review.

  DEFENCE

    Porton Down
    Mr. Livingstone
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, aims to take to reply to letters from individuals who took part in the service volunteers programme at the establishment when they request details of their experiments. [741]
    171
    Mr. Arbuthnot
    This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 30 October 1996:
    I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the length of time taken to respond to letters from those who took part in studies at Porton Down. The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
    Staff at Porton Down aim to reply to all letters from former volunteers within 10 days. Where this is not possible, we seek to send an interim reply inside this timescale.

    Mr. Livingstone
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals took part in the service volunteers programme at the chemical and biological defence establishment during (a) 1994 and (b) 1995. [726]

    Mr. Soames
    This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 30 October 1996:
    As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the former Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE), I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the numbers of volunteers who participated in the service volunteer programme at Porton Down in 1994 and 1995.
    The volunteer records show that ninety six individuals came to Porton Down to take part in the volunteer programme in 1994 and fifty eight in 1995.
    I hope this information is helpful.

    Mr. Livingstone
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, has provided relevant extracts from(a) technical reports and (b) original laboratory data to the War Pensions Agency in response to individuals making disablement claims arising out of experiments at Porton Down as indicated in his answer of 22 July, Official Report, columns 87–88. [742]

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 30 October 1996:
    I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the provision of technical reports and original laboratory data to the War Pensions Agency when dealing with claims form former volunteers at Porton Down. The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
    It is normal practice in dealing with requests from the War Pensions Agency for CBD Sector to provide confirmation of attendance and a short explanation of the tests undertaken. This includes details of any exposure to chemicals, the believed purpose of the study, an outline of the experimental methods used (where they are known) and any reaction of the individual to the study noted in the remaining records. Only on one occasion in recent years have
    172
    additional details of a volunteer's experiences been provided through release of photocopies of the laboratory record books or copies of technical reports discussing the type of study conducted.
    I hope this information is helpful.

    Mr. Livingstone
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical and biological establishment's assessment of the effect on human health in(a) the short term and (b) the long term of one-off exposure to the chemical agent CN; and what research has been done by the chemical and biological defence establishment to reach this assessment. [725]

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 30 October 1996:
    I have been asked to reply to your question concerning Porton Down's assessment of the effects on human health of exposure to the chemical agent CN. The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
    Short term exposure to chloroacteophenone (CN) causes a burning sensation in the throat, eyes and nose within seconds of exposure. These effects are accompanied by excessive lachrymation, a running nose and a stinging sensation of the skin. In the majority of cases these symptoms resolve themselves spontaneously within around 30 minutes of the end of the exposure.
    Exposure to high concentrations can cause long term clinical effects, namely, damage to the eye and a dermatitis of the skin. This dermatitis involves reddening, swelling and in severe cases ulceration.
    The eye effects were observed following studies of the exposure of experimental animals to riot control agents and further information was obtained from case reports from the United States following the widespread use of CN during Civil Rights Riots in the late 1960s. Information regarding the skin effects from exposure to CN and CS was obtained through limited volunteer studies carried out at Porton in the late 1960s. A copy of a technical report produced from these studies was sent to you with my letter of 21st October 1996.
    I hope this information is helpful.

    Mr. Livingstone
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical and biological defence establishment's assessment of whether short-term exposure to mustard gas causes(a) chronic conjunctivitis or (b) pigmentation abnormalities of the skin; and what research has been carried out by the establishment at Porton Down to reach this assessment. [740]

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 30 October 1996:
    I have been asked to reply to your question concerning Porton Down's assessment of the effects of short-term exposure to mustard gas. The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
    2,2—(bis-chloroethyl) sulphide, commonly called mustard gas, is a member of the class of chemical warfare agents called vesicants. These agents affect the skin, lungs and eyes of individuals who are exposed to either the liquid or the vapour, although the effects are more severe from exposure to the liquid.

    173
    Chronic conjunctivitis has generally been observed to occur after exposure of the eyes to mustard vapour or liquid. It can persist for several days, depending on the dose of agent, although complete healing usually follows except where very high doses are involved, in which case scarring of the conjunctiva and permanent damage may occur.
    Similarly, de-pigmentation may occur in healed skin following exposure to mustard gas agent on a sufficient scale to cause blistering.
    Information on mustard agent injuries used to produce Porton Down's assessment of the effect of exposure to the agent is taken from numerous sources. The best description of the effects continue to be the first hand accounts from First World War casualties. In the 1930s and early 1940s studies were conducted at Porton Down involving animals and service volunteers which provided considerable data. This information has been subsequently updated by the observations made by medical personnel involved in the clinical management of casualties from the Iran-Iraq war who were treated in London between 1984–988.
    I hope this information is helpful.

    Mr. Livingstone
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the chemical and biological defence establishment published its annual report for 1995–96. [727]

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 30 October 1996:
    I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the publication date of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's annual report.
    On 1 April 1995 the former Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment became part of the new Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. The DERA annual report, which includes a section on the activities of the enlarged CBDE division, was laid before the House on 16 July 1996.
    I have arranged for a copy of this year's annual report to be sent to you under separate cover which I hope you will find helpful.

    Land Mines
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the(a) designed maximum timed life and (b) self-destruct reliability of scatterable mine systems due to enter service with the armed forces in 1999. [392]

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    The designed maximum timed life of the land mines for the vehicle launched scatterable anti-tank mine system which is due to enter service with the Army in 1999 is classified. The design aim for the self destruct reliability of these anti-tank mines is 99.9 per cent. Testing to date has demonstrated that this is being met. Additionally, mine detonation relies on a short-life battery and any mine that fails to self-destruct will deactivate within a further short time.

    Departmental Property
    Mr. Spellar
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the terms of reference for agents undertaking the sale of his Department's property. [205]

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    The terms of reference for agents undertaking the sale of my Department's property depend upon the particular circumstances of the sale in question. The details of the sales contract are negotiated with the relevant agent.
    174

    Pilots and Navigators
    Mr. Allason
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will examine the reintroduction of senior non-commissioned officers as pilots and navigators on transport aircraft and helicopters; and if he will assess the performance of their equivalents in the Army Air Corps. [836]

    Mr. Soames
    The Royal Air Force has no plans to extend the role of airmen (aircrew), who are non-commissioned officers, to encompass the role of pilots or navigators.

    Personnel Training (Bermuda)
    Mr. Allason
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will scrap the policy of charging the Bermuda Government for the training of personnel. [838]

    Mr. Soames
    No. It is our policy to recover the costs of providing training for outside customers, except in cases where the benefit to the United Kingdom is such that a subsidy can be justified.

    Recruitment
    Mr. Allason
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the recruitment of British dependent territory citizens on British forces. [839]

    Mr. Soames
    No specific assessment of the effect of recruitment of British dependent territory citizens on British armed forces has been made.

    Bermuda Regiment
    Mr. Allason
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to incorporate the Bermuda Regiment into the British Army's order of battle. [840]

    Mr. Soames
    There are no plans to incorporate the Bermuda Regiment into the Army's order of battle.

    Merchant Vessels
    Ms Glenda Jackson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of merchant vessels chartered for use in military exercises or operations involving United Kingdom forces, the flag nationality of those vessels, and the total cost of these charters, over the past five years. [1029]

    Mr. Soames
    During the past five years—1992 to September 1996—143 vessels have been chartered for exercise/operations. These were:

    Nationality

    Number

    Danish

    49

    German

    18

    Norwegian

    16

    Swedish

    12

    Spanish

    7

    Ukrainian

    6

    Maltese

    5

    Swiss

    4

    Panamanian

    3

    Bahamian

    3

    Finnish

    3

    175

    Nationality

    Number

    Italian

    3

    Dutch

    2

    Greek

    2

    Luxembourg

    2

    Polish

    2

    French

    1

    Swiss

    1

    Cypriot

    1

    Dutch

    1

    Liberian

    1

    British

    1

    The total cost of chartering these vessels was £42,816,794.

    Pregnancy Dismissal Cases (Legal Fees)
    Ms Short
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of legal fees incurred by Her Majesty's Government in relation to the armed services pregnancy dismissal cases defended by his Department in respect of legal advice and work, separately identifying advocacy provided by lawyers in private practice; and what was the average(a) daily and (b) hourly rate contracted for the advice and work. [851]

    Mr. Soames
    The total cost of legal fees to date in the armed forces pregnancy dismissal litigation, including disbursements and VAT, is £6.8 million, the majority of which—£6.3 million—has been paid to the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Barristers in private practice have been used as advocates in the 360 cases which have proceeded to an industrial tribunal—7 per cent., of all cases—but their fees cannot be separately identified in the overall figure of £1.9 million, including VAT, which the Treasury Solicitor's Department has disbursed in respect of counsel's fees. It is not possible to calculate a meaningful average daily or hourly rate for the variety of advice given and work done.

    Proof and Experimental Station, Inchterf
    Mr. Tom Clarke
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future use he is considering for the former proof and experimental station at Inchterf, Auchenreoch; and if he will preclude its use as (i) a private shooting range or (ii) an explosives testing ground. [853]

    Mr. Soames
    The former proof and experimental station at Inchterf has been marketed on the basis of a planning brief agreed with the local authority. This does not envisage the site being used as an explosive testing ground nor as a private shooting range. We are not aware that any of those who have expressed interest in the site intend to use it for those purposes.

    Air Traffic Movements (Northolt)
    Sir Michael Shersby
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what were the number of military air traffic movements at RAF Northolt in(a) 1989 and (b) 1994; and if he will estimate the number of such movements for the year ending 31 December 1996; [855]

    (2) what was the total number of civilian air traffic movements at RAF Northolt in (a) 1989 and (b) 1994; and if he will estimate the number for the year ending 31 December 1996. [854]
    176
    Mr. Soames
    The following table provides the information requested on military and civilian movements at RAF Northolt. The 1996 estimate for military movements includes those by civil aircraft on Government business, such as MOD charters.

    1989

    1994

    19961

    Military

    9,500

    7,319

    8,450

    Civilian

    5,600

    5,425

    6,450

    1 Estimate.

    RAF Fast Jets (Maintenance)
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve quality control in the maintenance of RAF fast jets by contractors. [898]

    Mr. Soames
    The MOD aims to place full responsibility on its contractors for the quality of the products and services which they supply. It is MOD policy to place contracts only with those suppliers who have been assessed by an accredited body to an appropriate quality management standard.

    Computer Hacking, Fraud and Theft
    Mr. George
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of computer hacking, fraud and theft, including theft of computer chips, his Department has recorded in the last five years. [800]

    Mr. Soames
    Consolidated records of computer hacking, computer fraud and computer theft have only been maintained across the Department since 1 April 1995. Since that date 152 known cases of theft of computers or computer equipment, including two cases of chip theft, have been recorded and there have been no reported instances of computer fraud.

    In respect of hacking I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 17 June 1996, Official Report, column 364.

    These figures do not include cases under current active investigation or sub judice.

    Computers
    Mr. George
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many computers are held by(a) the Ministry of Defence and (b) the individual services. [799]

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Beef Purchases
    Mr. Ainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much non-United Kingdom produced beef was purchased by his Department in 1995–96; and how much has been purchased in the current financial year; [910]

    (2) if he will list the countries which have supplied beef to his Department in the financial years (a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97 indicating the amounts and value. [911]
    177
    Mr. Arbuthnot
    The procurement of food for the armed forces is contracted to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes NAAFI. My Department does not specify the source of origin from which NAAFI should obtain beef or any other meat, but expects them 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.

    In the financial year 1995–96 and in the first six months of the current financial year NAAFI purchased some 1.45M kg of non UK beef, valued at £5.2 million. This was sourced primarily from South America, New Zealand and Australia.

    Argentine Destroyers
    Mr. Tony Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the security threat posed by Argentine destroyers, with particular reference to those equipped with bomb-proof casing. [673]

    Mr. Soames
    [holding answer 28 October 1996]: We continue to monitor all developments which may affect our security interests in the South Atlantic. We are satisfied that the forces we maintain there, supported as necessary by reinforcements, are capable of meeting our commitment to the security of the Falkland Islands and other dependencies.

  AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

    Vessels Safety Grants Scheme
    Mr. Beith
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will extend the vessel safety grants scheme to fishing boats under 12 m prior to the extension of the marine safety code to these vessels in 1997. [663]

    Mr. Baldry
    The Marine Safety Agency is developing a safety code for fishing vessels under 12 m and consultations with the industry on its requirements are in progress. I am informed that the MSA intends to publish the code early in 1997 and to bring it into force in 1998. But until the requirements of the code have been agreed and the costs of implementation calculated it will not be possible to reach decisions on any extension of the current safety grant scheme to fishing vessels under 12 m.

    Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy
    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what Government guidelines exist to assist veterinary staff and surgeons in diagnosing feline spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement. [455]

    Mrs. Browning
    The clinical signs and pathological lesions associated with feline spongiform encephalopathy have been published in the veterinary and scientific press in considerable detail. The first confirmation was announced in The Veterinary Record on 19 May 1990, and included details of clinical signs that would enable veterinary surgeons to identify possible cases. The signs are not dissimilar to rabies which, being a notifiable disease, veterinary surgeons would automatically report to
    178
    the divisional veterinary manager. Moreover, the clinical signs of FSE are in fact similar to those seen in cattle with BSE, a condition with which most veterinary practitioners and all MAFF veterinary officers are fully familiar.

    Advice was given directly to such practitioners that, subject to the elimination of rabies as a cause of disease, a free post mortem examination for FSE was available through the veterinary investigation service of MAFF. Since November 1994 the diagnosis of any transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in the laboratory, other than those produced by experimental means in the course of research, has been officially notifiable.

    Mr. Jones
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what Government procedures exist for(a) encouraging the reporting of and (b) collating data relating to feline spongiform encephalopathy; if he will indicate the date of inception for each procedure; if he will list those procedures which no longer operate; and if he will make a statement. [465]

    Mrs. Browning
    The Spongiform Encephalopathy (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 1994 makes suspicion of spongiform encephalopathies in species other than cattle, sheep and goats following laboratory examination notifiable. Nevertheless, from May 1990 when the first confirmation of feline spongiforrn encephalopathy was announced, MAFF encouraged the veterinary profession to report suspicion of any cases to the local divisional veterinary manager. This was done by publication of a letter from the Chief Veterinary Officer in The Veterinary Record, as well as by local communication between DVMs and veterinary surgeons. A free diagnostic service was offered through the veterinary investigation service where a differential diagnosis was not required. Not all presentations of cases were directly through veterinary practitioners. Some were identified after referral to university veterinary departments. While the majority of cases have subsequently confirmed by examination of brain tissue at the central veterinary laboratory, the diagnosis of veterinary pathologists with experience of FSE is usually accepted as definitive.

    Following confirmation, a veterinary officer of the Ministry carries out an epidemiological investigation, where possible, involving the veterinary surgeon, the current owner, and if appropriate previous owners. As with cattle, this involves full details of the animal's medical and feeding history. Details of all confirmed cases are held centrally to allow further analysis and interpretation.

    Pet Food
    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what data his Department collates on the quantity of mammalian meat and bonemeal used in pet food; which manufacturers of pet food use mammalian meat and bonemeal in pet food; and if he will make a statement. [422]

    Mrs. Browning
    This Department does not collate data on the quantity of mammalian meat and bonemeal used in pet food, nor does it have any information on which pet food manufacturers use such material.

    Bovine Livestock Feeds
    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all known ingredients of(a) cattle cake and (b) bovine livestock feeds; and if he will make a statement. [474]

    Mrs. Browning
    It is not feasible to provide an exhaustive list of the ingredients of either cattle cake or bovine livestock feeds. However, the Feeding Stuffs Regulations 1995 list the main raw materials used in compound feeds in the European Union as well as permitted additives and protein sources. A copy of these regulations has been deposited in the House of Commons Library.

    Genetic Engineering
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the percentage of the total United Kingdom quantity of(a) grains, (b) pulses and (c) vegetables grown using genetic engineering which have been exported abroad in each of the last five years. [1019]

    Mrs. Browning
    There have been no exports of genetically modified grains, pulses or vegetables from the United Kingdom in the last five years.

    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requirements there are on(a) manufacturers and (b) retailers to indicate the use of genetically engineered ingredients on the labels of food products; and if he will make a statement. [1021]

    Mrs. Browning
    The need for genetically modified foods to be labelled is assessed by the Food Advisory Committee on a case by case basis as part of the approval process for their use.

    In line with the latest draft of the EC Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulation, which is expected to be adopted shortly, compulsory labelling is normally required when there is a significant difference in the composition, nutritional value or intended use of a food compared to its conventionally produced equivalent, or if it is likely to give rise to ethical concerns or contain an unexpected allergen. Labelling is also required if any live genetically modified organisms are likely to be present in the food as consumed.

    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the (i) quantity and (ii) percentage of(a) grains, (b) pulses and (c) vegetables grown using genetic engineering which have been imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [1023]

    Mrs. Browning
    The only food from a genetically modified crop imported into the United Kingdom in the past five years is a tomato paste that went on sale in February this year. A total of 900,000 cans have been imported from the USA to date.

    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the percentage of soya products on sale in the United Kingdom which contain genetically engineered beans in each of the last five years. [1020]
    180
    Mrs. Browning
    No soya products sold in the United Kingdom in the last five years have contained genetically modified beans.

    Casualty Cows (Slaughtering)
    Mr. Ainger
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many casualty dairy cows were slaughtered in each month of 1995 and 1996. [912]

    Mrs. Browning
    The number of casualty cattle handled under the over thirty months scheme are as follows for each month since the scheme began on 13 May 1996:

    Number

    May

    3,775

    June

    8,749

    July

    13,446

    August

    12,658

    September

    15,363

    October (up to 28 October)

    12,793

    These figures do not differentiate between dairy and beef cattle.

    The Ministry does not hold central records of the number of dairy cows slaughtered as casualties.

    Beef Imports
    Mr. Ainger
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef and of what value was imported into the United Kingdom in each month of 1995 and 1996 to date. [863]

    Mr. Baldry
    Imports of beef1 into the United Kingdom during 1995 and 1996, as recorded in the overseas trade statistics, are as follows:

    Year

    Month

    £ million

    Tonnes (thousand)

    1995

    1

    34

    15

    1995

    2

    35

    15

    1995

    3

    43

    20

    1995

    4

    42

    17

    1995

    5

    54

    24

    1995

    6

    68

    28

    1995

    7

    62

    26

    1995

    8

    55

    22

    1995

    9

    69

    26

    1995

    10

    60

    24

    1995

    11

    44

    19

    1995

    12

    39

    17

    1996

    1

    38

    16

    1996

    2

    31

    13

    1996

    3

    34

    14

    1996

    4

    43

    20

    1996

    5

    44

    20

    1996

    6

    44

    20

    All figures are provisional. Branch C, Statistics (Commodities and Food) Division, Economics and Statistics Group.

    1 Beef includes the following; beef carcass meat, bovine offal and preparations of beef meat and bovine offal.

  Northern Ireland: Rivers Agency
  Northern Ireland: Rivers Agency
  Climate Change: Impact Assessment
  Climate Change: Impact Assessment
  Company Directors: Disqualifications
  Company Directors: Disqualifications
  EC: Unauthorised Expenditure
  EC: Unauthorised Expenditure
  World Food Summit
  World Food Summit
  UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
  UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
  Kenyan Elections: UK Assistance
  Kenyan Elections: UK Assistance
  Crown Agents Foundation
  Crown Agents Foundation
  Shock and Awe Concept
  Shock and Awe Concept
  NATO: Counter-Proliferation
  NATO: Counter-Proliferation
  NATO: CFE Treaty
  NATO: CFE Treaty
  NATO: Deployment of Nuclear Weapons
  NATO: Deployment of Nuclear Weapons
  NATO: Security Guarantees
  NATO: Security Guarantees
  NATO: Enlargement
  NATO: Enlargement
  Nobel Peace Prize Awards and Policy on East Timor
  Nobel Peace Prize Awards and Policy on East Timor