Written Answers of 31 October 1996

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Incitement to Racial Hatred
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Attorney-General how many people have been prosecuted in each of the last five years for incitement to racial hatred. [61]

  The Attorney-General
  For the years 1992 to 1996, I have granted consent to the institution of proceedings for incitement to racial hatred against the following number of defendants:

  1992: 3

  1993: 2

  1994: 2

  1995: 7

  1996: 4 (to date)

  During the last five years, I have declined to give my consent in a total of two cases.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Dual Support Transfer
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what conclusion has been reached on the review of the dual support transfer. [2111]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Following extensive consultations, the Government have decided that, to address the evident concerns of the effect of the dual support transfer on research infrastructure, the contribution to indirect costs in research council grants should be increased from 40 to 45 per cent. of approved staff costs for all grant payments on new and existing grants from 1 April 1997.

  Additionally, the research councils and funding councils have been asked to identify and implement further measures by next April to ensure that the transfer achieves its original intentions. In particular, it is important that those making research grant applications include all eligible direct costs, and that the research councils meet these wherever possible.

  In announcing these measures, I should like to acknowledge the considerable assistance provided by all concerned. As those consulted plainly recognise, the difficult issues raised by the review require a finely balanced judgment to be made. From the consultation, it was clear that the major concern was with departmental infrastructure associated with grant-funded research projects, and hence the Government hope that universities will deploy the increase in the indirect costs contribution to support such infrastructure.
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  I have asked the Government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Robert May, to keep under review these new arrangements and the health of the higher education research base through the Science and Engineering Base Co-ordinating Committee, which he chairs.

  Manufacturing Jobs
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many manufacturing jobs with foreign-owned companies operating in the United Kingdom have been lost in the past 12 months. [315]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  My Department does not collect such information on a systematic basis.

  Outward Trade Missions
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what account he has taken of the size of the chambers of commerce and industry when setting criteria of eligibility in respect of outward trade missions; [41]

  (2) if he will give for each of the last four years and for 1997–98 details of the awards given to outward trade missions; [40]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the implications of the first stage announcement in respect of DTI-supported outward trade missions for north Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement. [42]

  Mr. Nelson
  The size of the organisation seeking support is but one factor in determining its suitability to run a mission supported by the Department. Other criteria which a chamber of commerce, trade association, business link or similar organisation must fulfil is that it is based in the United Kingdom; represents a substantial proportion of the companies in its industry and/or area, and is of good standing; it must have adequate staff and financial resources to recruit and organise an effective group promotion overseas; and show an active and continuing role in export promotion activities.

  All proposals for support are considered on their merits, with account taken of various factors including, for example, the case made for support; how well the proposal meets priorities identified in the country market plan; sponsor's past record. I need also to balance demand against the budget available.

  I am confident that the implications of the recent announcement of the 1997–98 stage 1 mission programme for north Staffordshire and indeed the whole of the west midlands are good. In addition to the three offers to the north Staffordshire chamber, 24 offers have been made to other chambers in the region. As participation is not restricted by membership or geographical location, north Staffordshire-based companies can apply to join any of these missions. They may also apply to join all the others which comprise the existing programme.

  Trade missions are an important promotional tool. Some 151 missions were supported in 1993–94; 149 in 1994–95 and 210 in 1995–96. Support has been offered for 281 to take place in 1996–97, and a further 230 under stage 1 of the 1997–98 programme. Subject to the availability of additional funding, further offers will be announced in the new year.
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  Resale Price Maintenance (Medicines)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received in respect of the proposal of the Office of Fair Trading to abolish resale price maintenance on certain medicines; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement. [482]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 28 October 1996]: The Director General of Fair Trading announced on 18 October that he was seeking leave of the restrictive practices court to apply for a discharge of its 1970 order in respect of resale price maintenance on certain medicines. If leave is given, it will be for the court to decide whether the 1970 order remains in the public interest. The director general is content to receive further information relevant to the preparation of the application for leave. The Secretary of State has no statutory role or discretion in relation to the director general's application nor in relation to the court's consideration of the case. In the period between the announcement and the 29 October 1996, he has received one representation on this matter, which has been passed to the director general.

  Offshore Oil and Gas
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when was the last occasion that a field inspection of an offshore oil or gas installation was undertaken by a Government official in order to confirm the composition of produced water; and if he will list the number of occasions that such inspections have been undertaken in each of the last eight years; [511]

  (2) when was the last occasion that a field inspection of an offshore oil or gas installation was undertaken by a Government official in order to confirm the composition of contamination on drill cuttings; and if he will list the number of occasions that such inspections have been undertaken in each of the last eight years. [512]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answers 30 October 1996]: The last occasion that a field inspection of an offshore oil and gas installation was undertaken by a Government official in order to confirm the composition of produced water was on the 25 of October 1996.

  As the hon. Member was advised earlier this year on 3 July, Official Report, column 457, inspections of offshore installations have been undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry in each of the last eight years, although figures are not available, apart from at disproportionate cost due to the relocation of the office responsible to Aberdeen and the subsequent archiving of files.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the total volumes of unrecovered oil-based drilling muds and of water-based drilling muds that were discharged from offshore oil and gas installations on the UK continental shelf in each of the last eight years. [513]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 30 October 1996]: The total volumes of unrecovered oil-based drilling muds discharged offshore oil and gas installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf for the last eight years are routinely recorded in the "Energy Report", which is published annually and is available in the Library of the House.
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  There is no statutory record of total water-based drilling mud discharged.

  North Sea Oil Rigs
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many environmental inspections have been carried out in respect of North sea oil rigs in each year since 1980; and how many inspectors carried out this work in each of those years. [1016]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 29 October 1996]: Numerous inspections of offshore installations have been undertaken by my inspector in each of the last 16 years, although figures are not available apart from at disproportionate cost due to the relocation of the office responsible to Aberdeen and the subsequent archiving of files. I refer the hon. Member to my reply given earlier this year to the hon. Member for Lewisham and Deptford (Ms Ruddock) on 3 July, Official Report, column 457.

  There were two inspectors until the end of 1989, but, until 1992, 10 safety inspectors also carried out environmental checks. From 1992 to 1994, there was only one inspector but other staff visiting offshore installations carried out environmental checks. The Department now has six inspectors.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much oil was discharged in(a) the United Kingdom sector and (b) the Norwegian sector of the North sea in each year since 1980; and what the figures were for each United Kingdom offshore installation in each of these years. [1017]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 29 October 1996]: The total amount of oil discharged from United Kingdom offshore installations is published annually in the "Energy Report". Copies of this are available in the Library of the House.

  Available figures for discharges of oil (in tonnes) in the Norwegian sector are given below:

  1981: 591

  1982: 1,534

  1983: 1,770

  1984: 3,900

  1985: 3,490

  1986: 2,378

  1987: 1,768

  1988: 2,339

  1989: 1,604

  1990: 1,585.

  The provision of discharge information on an installation basis for the last 16 years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Hong Kong (Power Station Explosion)
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress his Department has made in its inquiry into(a) the cause of the explosion at Castle Peak B power station in Hong Kong in 1992 and (b) the safety of similar power stations in the United Kingdom. [983]
  185
  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 29 October 1996]: The safety of power stations in Hong Kong is a matter for the Hong Kong Government. However, I understand that a police inquiry being conducted in Hong Kong has not yet reached any conclusions and in view of this we cannot tell whether it may have any relevance to the question of safety at power stations.

  The Health and Safety Executive consulted the electricity industry through the Electricity Association's generation safety managers group and asked what action had been taken to avoid a possible read across of the Castle Peak incident to UK power stations. A reply was received from the Electricity Association which detailed the action taken by the five companies that had or operated hydrogen generating plant. I understand that either the design and/or the operation of the plants are different from that at Castle Peak, or that any necessary modifications have been made.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many power stations in the United Kingdom are equipped with hydrogen plants similar to the Hong Kong Castle Peak B plant which exploded; and what steps have been taken to warn them of the possibility of a similar occurrence here. [985]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 29 October 1996]: Five electricity companies operate hydrogen plants in the United Kingdom. The detailed design of the plants is different to that at Castle Peak. While some plant similar to that used at Castle Peak is installed in one United Kingdom power station, detailed consideration of that plant's design by the utility and the manufacturer following the accident confirmed that the plant's design was such not to make it susceptible to the type of incident which occurred at Castle Peak.

  LA Rent arrears1 at end March 1995

  LA vacants2 at 1 April 1995

  Amount (£000)

  Percentage of rent roll

  Number

  Percentage of dwellings

  Council Tax arrears3 (£000)

  Community charge arrears (£000)

  Barking and Dagenham

  942

  2.0

  427

  1.6

  1,440

  1,558

  Barnet

  1,401

  3.8

  124

  0.9

  6,678

  10,281

  Bexley

  505

  2.5

  139

  1.6

  1,679

  2,644

  Brent

  13,750

  29.3

  301

  1.8

  8,892

  26,035

  Bromley

  0

  0.0

  5

  6.3

  1,963

  1,944

  Camden

  8,986

  10.7

  543

  1.8

  12,379

  22,095

  City of London

  256

  4.2

  24

  1.1

  n/a

  n/a

  Croydon

  2,208

  4.7

  265

  1.6

  5,392

  4,246

  Ealing

  10,809

  19.1

  210

  1.3

  n/a

  n/a

  Enfield

  4,037

  9.9

  342

  2.2

  8,815

  8,396

  Greenwich

  14,984

  19.6

  795

  2.5

  6,494

  9,737

  Hackney

  32,675

  31.6

  3,894

  9.8

  4,588

  10,470

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  6,553

  15.1

  343

  2.1

  6,752

  7,186

  Haringey

  20,318

  33.4

  303

  1.5

  n/a

  n/a

  Harrow

  793

  3.6

  108

  1.6

  3,595

  4,787

  Havering

  561

  2.2

  219

  1.6

  1,506

  3,628

  Hillingdon

  933

  2.2

  159

  1.2

  4,857

  6,586

  Hounslow

  2,483

  7.1

  333

  2.0

  4,087

  15,618

  Islington

  16,072

  16

  1,483

  4.0

  n/a

  n/a

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,351

  9.4

  108

  1.4

  4,672

  5,083

  Kingston upon Thames

  507

  3.0

  97

  1.7

  n/a

  n/a

  Lambeth

  19,491

  19.8

  2,176

  5.1

  40,172

  75,423

  Lewisham

  7,482

  9.3

  1,051

  3.0

  n/a

  n/a

  Merton

  1,168

  4.5

  89

  0.9

  3,211

  4,238

  Newham

  7,886

  13.6

  735

  2.8

  12,052

  24,397

  Redbridge

  1,142

  5

  515

  7.6

  n/a

  n/a

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,062

  5.5

  246

  3.2

  1,887

  4,056

  Southwark

  26,160

  20.8

  1,129

  2.1

  10,811

  25,290

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  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account his Department's inquiry into the cause of the explosion at Castle Peak B power station in Hong Kong in 1992 has taken of(a) reports by the Hong Kong Governor's board of inquiry and (b) the investigation by the Hong Kong police into a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. [984]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 29 October 1996]: Investigations by the Hong Kong police are matters for the Hong Kong Government.

  Following a request by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Health and Safety Executive consulted the electricity industry through the Electricity Association's generation safety managers group on what action had been taken to avoid a possible read across of the Castle Peak incident to United Kingdom power stations. This included forwarding to the association a copy of the technical report by the China Light and Power Company which had been prepared on the recommendation of the coroner who investigated the cause of the explosion at Castle Peak B power station.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing (London)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the level of rent arrears, (b) the number of empty council houses and (c) the level of council tax and similar arrears for each London local authority. [238]

  Mr. Clappison
  The latest available information is as follows:
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  LA Rent arrears1 at end March 1995

  LA vacants2 at 1 April 1995

  Amount (£000)

  Percentage of rent roll

  Number

  Percentage of dwellings

  Council Tax arrears3 (£000)

  Community charge arrears (£000)

  Sutton

  1,265

  5.2

  76

  0.8

  1,215

  1,555

  Tower Hamlets

  3,987

  5.5

  1,562

  4.2

  4,156

  5,437

  Waltham Forest

  2,404

  6.6

  465

  2.9

  8,134

  16,656

  Wandsworth

  4,362

  6.7

  508

  2.4

  2,091

  181

  Westminster

  3,100

  6.0

  263

  1.7

  4,110

  67

  1Source:

  Housing Subsidy Claim Form (SCF) returns.

  1Source:

  Housing Investment Programme (HIP1) returns.

  1Source:

  Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). n/a = not available.

  Rough Sleepers Initiative
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hostel places have been provided under the rough sleepers initiative; and what has been their occupancy rate during the past two years. [463]

  Mr. Clappison
  Since the rough sleepers initiative in central London began in 1990, my Department has provided funding for 986 places in nightshelters and hostels. Most of these places were in temporary hostels which have now closed either because the lease on the building has expired or the site has been redeveloped, in some cases to provide hostel accommodation of an improved standard. During 1996–97, my Department is funding 126 places in two nightshelters and two hostels. Occupancy rates exceed 95 per cent. in two of them and are between 85 and 90 per cent. in the other two.

  Under the rough sleepers initiative, my Department also provides funding for an annual programme of winter shelters, open from December to March. In 1994–95, 331 places were provided in seven shelters, with occupancy rates of about 89 per cent. In 1995–96, 315 places were provided in seven shelters with occupancy rates in excess of 89 per cent. My Department hopes to fund an enhanced winter shelter programme in 1996–97, providing up to 450 places in central London and 36 places in Bristol, where the rough sleepers initiative also now operates.

  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he plans to respond to the findings of evaluations of the extent of rough sleeping in 23 areas identified in the Government's strategy paper "Rough Sleepers Initiative—The Next Challenge". [2112]

  Mr. Curry
  The success of the rough sleepers initiative has been clearly demonstrated in central London, where it has been operating since 1990. In that time, the number of people sleeping rough on any night has fallen from estimates of over 1,000 to less than 300.

  On 4 March this year, I announced that the Government would be making £73 million available for a third phase of the initiative from 1996–97 to 1998–99. The interdepartmental strategy paper "Rough Sleepers Initiative—The Next Challenge" set out our plans for continuing the initiative in central London, where the problem is greatest; expanding the initiative to Bristol, where a major rough sleeping problem had been demonstrated; and assisting evaluations of the extent of
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  rough sleeping in 23 other areas where some evidence of a rough sleeping problem existed, with a view to providing further assistance.

  Evaluations of the extent of rough sleeping in 23 areas around the country, undertaken by Shelter on contract to my Department, have now been completed. In total, 375 people were found sleeping rough during single night head counts in all 23 areas. I have considered the findings, along with the range of other information collected as part of each evaluation, including the amount and availability of direct-access hostel provision, the range of existing local services providing help for people sleeping rough, and local authority policies on providing housing for people sleeping rough. From this evidence, I have decided that further assistance should fall into three main categories.

  First, I have decided to create new rough sleepers initiative zones in Brighton, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham, where significant rough sleeping problems have been identified. The local authorities for these areas will be invited to form consortiums of statutory and voluntary sector agencies to develop a local strategy for tackling rough sleeping and to bid for rough sleepers initiative funding, which may be made available for capital projects—such as hostels and permanent accommodation—or revenue projects—such as outreach and resettlement work. I expect the strategies to be based closely on the findings of the evaluations in these areas. The local authorities for Kensington and Chelsea and for Hammersmith and Fulham are being invited to form a single consortium to focus resources on the areas within both boroughs where people sleep rough.

  Additionally, I have decided to expand the area covered by the existing central London rough sleepers initiative zones to include parts of the W1 and W2 postal districts in Westminster. My Department will be discussing the arrangements for this expansion with Westminster city council and the chairmen of the existing central London rough sleepers initiative consortiums.

  Secondly, I have decided to create a new rough sleepers revenue fund to which local voluntary sector agencies can submit applications for funding of projects, such as outreach and resettlement work. Local authorities, working in close consultation with voluntary sector agencies, will be invited to prepare joint statutory and voluntary sector local strategies for tackling rough sleeping and to identify suitable revenue projects for which applications for funding could be sought. Funding

  189
  decisions will be based on the strength of the local strategies and on the value for money offered by applications. Initially, I will be inviting the local authorities for Bath, Bournemouth, Cambridge, Ealing, Exeter, Leicester, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and Richmond upon Thames, where rough sleeping problems have been identified, to prepare and submit such strategies. I expect the strategies to be based closely on the findings of the evaluations in these areas.

  Subsequently, my Department will be publishing guidance for local authorities on evaluating the extent of rough sleeping in their areas and developing strategies for tackling any problems which exist. In the light of responses to this guidance, I will consider inviting other local authorities to prepare strategies and suggest projects which might be considered for grants from the rough sleepers revenue fund.

  Up to £25 million will be available from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1999 to fund the new rough sleepers initiative zones and the rough sleepers revenue fund.

  The Department of Health will also be making available nearly £2 million over the next three years in areas which have been targeted for help under the rough sleepers initiative and the new rough sleepers revenue fund. This help is being made available through the extension of the homeless mentally ill initiative. It will be available to assist local authorities with outreach services and care costs for those people sleeping rough who have mental health problems. One of the primary aims of this additional funding will be to ensure that this vulnerable group is reintroduced to the services which comprise the spectrum of care for mentally ill people.

  Thirdly, my Department will be contacting the local authorities for Barnet, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Gloucester, Norwich, Reading, Tower Hamlets, Tunbridge Wells, Waltham Forest and York to offer advice on the findings of the evaluations and action which they might consider to tackle the relatively minor problems of rough sleeping identified in those areas.

  I am determined that the hard core of people who sleep rough are given every opportunity to get off the streets and into a better life. These further measures demonstrate the Government's commitment to ensuring that there is no necessity for people to sleep rough. Shelter, Homeless Network, Centrepoint, CHAR and Crisis have indicated their willingness to work nationally with Government, local authorities and other voluntary sector agencies to help make it unnecessary for people to sleep rough.

  In addition to these measures to tackle rough sleeping, grants are available from my Department to voluntary sector agencies for the prevention and relief of single homelessness. Some £25 million is being made available through these grants between 1996–97 and 1998–99, under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985.

  Copies of the final report on the evaluation exercise have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on request from my Department.

  Industrial Waste
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's current policy on the import or export of poisonous industrial waste 190
  substances out of, or into, the United Kingdom; what are the latest trends in respect to such trade; and if he will make a statement. [130]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Government's policies on the import and export of hazardous wastes are set out in the United Kingdom management plan for exports and imports of waste. Under the plan, which is legally binding throughout the United Kingdom, all exports of waste for disposal are banned, as are most imports for disposal other than in exceptional cases where wider environmental considerations apply. Exports of waste for recovery to countries within the OECD may continue but, subject to limited exceptions, exports of hazardous waste for recovery to non-OECD countries are banned. Imports of waste for genuine recovery operations may continue.

  The plan, which was published on 16 May 1996 and came into effect on 1 June, provides the means to implement the Government's long-standing policy of self-sufficiency in waste disposal, while preserving legitimate trade in wastes moving for recovery.

  Imports of hazardous waste into the UK for disposal in the period 1988–89 to 1993–94 are as follows:

  Imports (tonnes)

  1988–89

  40,027

  1989–90

  31,918

  1990–91

  44,517

  1991–92

  46,920

  1992–93

  47,018

  1993–94

  67,993

  Some 525 tonnes were exported from Northern Ireland to Finland between 1990–91 and 1991–92. No waste has been exported from the UK for disposal since 1992. More detailed information is available in my Department's digest of environmental statistics No 18 for 1996. The Department did not collect data on shipments for recovery before May 1994. Information on imports and exports of waste for recovery or disposal in more recent years is currently in preparation.

  Castle Cement
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what reasons were given by Castle Cement for its decision to withdraw its appeal against the conditions imposed by the Environment Agency on the operation of the plant; [901]

  (2) whether Castle Cement has undertaken to comply with the conditions set by the Environment Agency relating to the operation of the plant at Clitheroe. [902]

  Mr Clappison
  Castle Cement withdrew its appeal in a letter dated 11 October. I have today placed a copy of that letter in the House Library.

  Also, in answer to the question of whether the company has now undertaken to comply with the conditions of authorisation, the company was, and continues to be, legally obliged to comply with any condition of authorisation pending the outcome of its appeal. Any breach of a condition is a criminal offence.
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  Planning Permission
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the occasions on which he has used discretionary powers to(a) revoke and (b) challenge planning permission for out-of-town or edge-of-town retail developments since 1990, giving the date in each case. [864]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  None. The revocation of any planning permission is rare. Slightly more usual is for my right hon. Friend to call in for his own determination certain planning applications which are required to be referred to him. An application cannot be called in once permission has been granted. An application for retail development in Alnwick, Northumberland, was not referred to my right hon. Friend and was granted permission in 1993, These circumstances will be examined at a local public inquiry and my right hon. Friend will then decide whether to invoke his powers.

  Water Authority Debit
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of regional water authorities' debt written off before privatisation. [1521]

  Mr. Clappison
  Debts to the Exchequer of £5,028 million were written off as part of the capital restructuring of the water industry in England and Wales for privatisation.

  Coastal Zone Management
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue the proposed best practice guide for coastal zone management. [2185]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department of the Environment has today published "Coastal Zone Management—Towards Best Practice". The guide takes a practical look at the main issues which arise in coastal management and it highlights numerous examples of good practice which are at present being used. We have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House, and the guide will be extensively distributed to interested organisations and individuals.

  World Trade Report
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Government to respond to the Environment Committee's report on world trade and the environment. [2293]

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the President of the Board of Trade, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister for Overseas Development and I have today published the Government response to the Environment Committee report on world trade and the environment and have placed copies in the libraries of both Houses.

  The Government wish to take the opportunity presented by the preparation of this document to set out an overview of their evolving approach to trade and the environment.
  192
  This comprises part I of the response; part II contains the detailed response to the Committee's conclusions and recommendations.

  The Government have always held the view that economic development makes a vital contribution to improving environmental standards. An open and non-discriminatory world trading system is crucial to future economic development throughout the world. However, to deliver high environmental standards, economic development must take place within a framework which ensures sustainable development.

  There has been much debate about the impact of trade on the environment; and the impact of environmental controls on trade.

  The challenge for the world community, both at the forthcoming ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation this December in Singapore and more widely, is to move away from the misleading rhetoric of trade versus environment to focus more closely on the principles of sustainable development. The Government are determined to ensure that the European Union takes the lead in promoting these principles.

  Further work on trade and environment will be required both in the WTO and in other forums such as the United Nations Environment Programme. We have identified six topics as the focus of major international effort in the near future:
  multilateral environmental agreements—the most effective response to transboundary and global environmental problems. We support the efforts of the European Union in the WTO to clarify the relationship between trade measures in multilateral environmental agreements and GATT;
  environmental policies based on processes—a wide variety of process controls are employed as part of environmental policy. The WTO needs to consider their relationship with the product-related regime of trade agreements;
  examination of environmental effects—we should like to see more analysis by the WTO of the potential environmental effects of trade proposals as they are developed;
  spreading understanding of environmental principles—there needs to be better understanding among those concerned with trade policy of the principles and concepts underlying environmental laws and policies;
  market access for least developed countries—reinforcing and spreading the benefits of the multilateral trading system is an important way of providing the world's poorest countries with the wealth to tackle environmental issues;
  combating illegal trade in endangered species, chlorofluorocarbons and hazardous wastes.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Liddington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are for the sale of the Housing Corporation's loan portfolios to the private sector to proceed. [2294]

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration announced on 28 November 1995 the Government's decision in principle to sell the loans provided to housing associations by the Housing Corporation, Scottish Homes and Housing for Wales. We subsequently appointed N M Rothschild and Sons Ltd. as the Government's financial advisers for the project and asked them to evaluate the options for selling these loans to the private sector.
  193
  On the basis of Rothchild's advice, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have decided to proceed with the sale of the loans, subject to receiving satisfactory final bids at the conclusion of negotiations. We have asked Rothchilds to make the necessary arrangements for the next stage.

  Due to the different nature of the loans provided by Scottish Homes, separate arrangements will be adopted for the Scottish portfolio. These will take longer than those for the English and Welsh portfolios.

  Housing associations have been most successful in securing private resources to finance social housing projects. The sale of the loans portfolios will be the logical conclusion of our policy of withdrawing from a lending activity which can clearly be funded directly by the private sector. There has already been considerable interest from the private sector in acquiring the portfolios, and I expect a successful conclusion to the sale process.

DEFENCE

  Land Mines
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programme of research he has commissioned into mine clearance and detection. [396]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department has commissioned work by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, including research into detection using hand-held equipment; location and destruction of mines for route clearance; and the remote detection of minefields. DERA's centre for post-conflict battle area clearance technologies and techniques is primarily concerned with work for military purposes, but also undertakes studies of mine clearance funded by other bodies such as the ODA and the EU.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now review all parliamentary answers given in both Houses on the subject of exposure to chemicals of British service personnel serving in the Gulf during Operation Granby since March 1991, and publish correct answers where required. [196]

  Mr. Soames
  When new information came to light that there had been wider use of organophosphate pesticides by British troops during the Gulf war, I wrote immediately to those Members of Parliament who had tabled questions or had inquired of my Department about pesticides to correct the pubic record. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence wrote similarly to the Countess of Mar. Copies of the letters have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed that British troops and military medical staff were exposed to organophosphate pesticides during their service in Operation Granby in the Gulf war; what action he then took; and if he will place in the Library copies of all documentation on organophosphates held by his Department. [232]
  194
  Mr. Soames
  I was first made aware last month that British troops had made wider use of organophosphate pesticides during the Gulf war than we had previously been led to believe. As soon as this information came to light, we commissioned a detailed comprehensive investigation into the use of organophosphate pesticides by British troops. When this investigation is complete, I will make a full report to the House.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to utilize St. Helena for military exercises. [837]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently no plans to utilise St. Helena for military exercises.

  US Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States nuclear weapons are currently situated on the United Kingdom mainland; and if he will make a statement. [1539]

  Mr. Soames
  It has been the practice of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons in specific locations at specific times. All allies remain committed to the maintenance of nuclear forces in Europe as an essential political and military link between the European and North American members of the alliance. The United Kingdom continues to make available facilities for United States' nuclear forces within the UK.

  Overseas Forces
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which there is a United Kingdom military presence. [1478]

  Mr. Soames
  British service personnel are currently providing a UK military presence either on operations or at permanent bases in the following countries:

  Ascension Island

  Belize

  Bosnia-Herzegovina

  Brunei

  Canada

  Croatia

  Cyprus

  Diego Garcia

  Falkland Islands

  Georgia

  Germany

  Gibraltar

  Hong Kong

  Italy

  Kuwait

  Saudi Arabia

  South Georgia

  Turkey

  United Kingdom

  195
  This list does not include countries where loan service personnel and training teams are based, where short-term training exercises are being conducted and where there are minor commitments involving individual service men and women.

  Polaris and Trident
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total defence expenditure on(a) the Polaris and (b) the Trident programmes in 1993–94 and 1994–95. [1477]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  For the years in question, expenditure, in £ million and at outturn prices was:

  1993–94

  1994–95

  (a) Polaris

  103

  65

  (b) Trident

  979

  723

  Armed Forces (Beef)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much British beef(a) in weight and (b) in value, was supplied to the British armed forces in each of the last three years. [1381]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The procurement of food for the Armed Forces is contracted to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. My Department does not specify the source of origin from which NAAFI should obtain beef (or any other meat), but expects it to seek the best market price for the product. The majority of our requirements are for frozen beef which is not readily available from the British market. Records for the last three years are not available, however in the financial year 1995–96 and in the first six months of the current financial year, NAAFI purchased some 690,000 kg of UK beef, including sirloin, forerib, diced mince and a range of manufactured products; these were valued at £1.3 million.

  Army Technical Services Agency
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Army Technical Services Agency at Malvern. [1380]

  Mr. Soames
  On 25 October,Official Report, columns 14–15, I announced that the Army Technical Support Agency collocation would be taken forward as a private finance initiative project. The future of the ATSA at Malvern will depend on the outcome of the PFI solution for ATSA collocation.

PRIME MINISTER

  Queen's Speech
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Vote Office copies of the consolidated press lobby briefing on the Queen's Speech. [833]

  The Prime Minister
  Copies of the background notes have been placed in the Library of the House.
  196

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether (i) the security services and (ii) GCHQ have registered under the Data Protection Act 1984; and if he will make a statement; [151]

  (2) if the intelligence services have registered under the Data Protection Act 1984; and if he will make a statement. [207]

  The Prime Minister
  No. Agencies holding personal data for the purpose of safeguarding national security are exempt from registration under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984. The exemption is kept under review.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 31 October. [996]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 31 October. [997]

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

HEALTH

  NHS Trusts (Severance Payments)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what severance payments were paid to(a) Ms Sue De Gilio of Plymouth Community Services NHS trust and (b) Ms Jenny Parsonage of Thameslink Healthcare Services NHS trust upon their resignations. [453]

  Mr. Malone
  Severance payments for trust staff are a matter for the trusts concerned, taking into account the guidance issued to trusts by the national health service executive in May 1994. The hon. Member may wish to contact Miss Louise Churchill, chairman of Plymouth Community Services NHS trust and Mr. Ron March, chairman of Thameslink Healthcare Services NHS trust for details.

  Schools (Dysentery)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schools which have experienced outbreaks of dysentery in the last year have pupils from families whose water has been cut off. [426]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Cosmetic Surgery
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the results of the study commissioned by his Department from the British Association of Plastic Surgeons on private cosmetic surgery started in July 1995. [421]
  197
  Mr. Horam
  It is for the researchers to publish the report. The information from the study indicated that there was only very small usage of NHS resources in the treatment of the problems of aesthetic surgery carried out in the private sector.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which schemes for the provision of services for psychiatric patients have been approved under the private finance initiative. [1032]

  Mr. Horam
  Seven schemes providing services for psychiatric patients have been approved under the private finance initiative. Four of these schemes have been completed, one is under way and two are negotiating contract signature. They are:Tees health authority: residential accommodation for elderly and mental ill patients. Capital value: £2.0 million. (Completed).
  North Bedfordshire health authority: residential accommodation for elderly severely mentally ill patients. Capital value: £1.4 million. (Completed).
  Brent and Harrow health authority: residential accommodation for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £2.1 million. (Completed).
  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority: residential accommodation for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £1.0 million. (Completed).
  Barnet Health NHS trust: residential accommodation for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £1.5 million. (Under way).
  Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS trust: north west community unit for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £2.5 million. (Approved but not yet under way).
  Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS trust: west central community unit for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £2.5 million. (Approved but not yet under way).

  Mr. David Atkinson:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish his Green Paper on the future management of mental health services; and if he will make a statement. [1063]

  Mr. Burns
  Much progress has been made in developing and implementing policies for the delivery of comprehensive health and social care services to people with mental illness, but concerns are now being expressed that particular structural and organisational barriers may be impeding further progress. We are therefore examining the legal and other structural obstacles which might be inhibiting effective working between agencies and will shortly be issuing a consultation document seeking views on which options for change would be most supported by those working in the mental health field and by service users.

  General Chiropractic Council
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects an announcement on the composition of the General Chiropractic Council. [1064]

  Mr. Horam
  Work on establishing the General Chiropractic Council is proceeding well and we expect to be able to announce its membership shortly.
  198

  Secure Accommodation
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places are available in secure accommodation for juvenile offenders in England arid Wales; how many extra places will be provided during 1996; and if he will make a statement. [856]

  Mr. Burns
  There are presently 309 places available for use in local authority secure units in England arid Wales. A further 40 places are available at Glenthorne youth treatment centre. We are on course to bring into use another 33 places by the end of 1996, making a total of 94 additional places provided during the year. All these places are available not only for young offenders but for children who need help with severe emotional and behavioural problems.

  NHS Cost Inflation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the basis for the current national health service cost inflation; and into which categories of patient care it is applied by district health service by his(a) Department and (b) district health services. [879]

  Mr. Malone
  Estimates of national health service cost inflation are not calculated. A retrospective measure of current inflation in the hospital and community health services—HCHS—sector of the national health service is calculated annually. The inflation measure is calculated as a weighted average of HCHS staff pay inflation and inflation in the purchase of goods and services within HCHS current expenditure.

  The inflation estimate is calculated only at the national level, and is not disaggregated by category of patient care.

  Community Care (Staffordshire)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the extent of the failure of compliance of Staffordshire county council with the requirement in each of the last three years that 85 per cent. of special transitional grant for community care should go to private sector homes; what action Her Majesty's Government are proposing to take as a result; and if he will make a statement. [1050]

  Mr. Burns
  The independent sector condition attached to the special transitional grant required local authorities to spend at least 85 per cent. of the Department of Social Security transfer element of the grant on community care services purchased in the independent sector. The audited figures for 1993–94 show Staffordshire county council expenditure in the independent sector of £6.439 million compared with the minimum requirement of £7.958 million, thus failing the requirement by £1.5 million. The Secretary of State exercised his discretion not to require the repayment of the grant after taking account of the representations made by Staffordshire. In 1994–95, its expenditure in the independent sector amounted to £17.618 million, falling short of the minimum requirement of £18.166 by £0.5 million. No decisions have yet been made on the consequences of this failure. Audited figures for 1995–96 will not be available until 31 December.
  199

  School Health Service
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed by the school health service in each of the past five years. [1101]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 21 May 1996, Official Report columns 87–88. Information for later years is not available centrally.

  Waiting Lists
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients had been waiting for operations in excess of the patients charter waiting time standards at 1 September 1996. [1113]

  Mr. Horam
  The latest information available centrally is for 30 June 1996. This shows that, on that date, seven patients waiting for operations had been waiting more than 18 months from the date they were placed on a waiting list. Also, 109 patients did not receive coronary artery bypass grafts and associated procedures within the 12 months standard set by the patients charter.

  AIDS
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died of AIDS in England and Wales in each year since 1990. [1116]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of deaths in reported AIDS cases by the end of September 1996 are shown in the table. These data are affected by reporting delays and under-reporting. The figures given exclude deaths reported in HIV-infected individuals who either died without reaching the AIDS case definition of whose AIDS status at the time of death has yet to be confirmed.

  Year of death

  England and Wales

  1990

  736

  1991

  892

  1992

  1,013

  1993

  1,192

  1994

  1,236

  1995

  1,130

  Total

  6,199

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died of CJD in England and Wales in each year since 1990. [1117]

  Mr. Horam
  As at 29 October 1996, the number of deaths in confirmed cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in England and Wales, including sporadic, iatrogenic, familial, new-variant CJD and Gertsmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome in each year since 1990 are as follows:200

  Year

  Confirmed deaths

  1990

  27

  1991

  31

  1992

  45

  1993

  38

  1994

  55

  1995

  42

  19961

  29

  1 Up to end of September 1996. Comparable figures for the United Kingdom were published in the chief medical officer's "Update" issue 12, published on 28 October, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Lung Cancer
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients with lung cancer were over 75 in the following years(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96; and what proportion of the total these figures represent. [1118]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is held centrally in the hospital episode system—HES—for diagnosis using specific codes under ICD9 classification, copies of which are available in the Library. The latest year available is 1994–95. Data for the number of finished consultant episodes with primary diagnosis "Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung"—ICD code 162—in NHS hospitals in England are shown in the table:

  Data year

  Total cases

  75 years and over

  Percentage of 75 years and over of total

  1993–94

  57,822

  13,620

  24

  1994–95

  57,823

  13,138

  23

  Episodes where the age of the person was unknown have been allocated pro rata.

  Breast Cancer
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of breast cancer were identified in women of 65 years and over for each year since 1992; and what proportion they represent of all women diagnosed as having breast cancer. [1114]

  Mr. Horam
  Provisional numbers of registrations of breast cancer diagnosed in 1991 in England and Wales were published in the Office for National Statistics "Monitor" MBI 96/1, copies of which are available in the Library. Figures for 1992 and 1993 will be published shortly by the Office for National Statistics and copies will be placed in the Library.

  NHS Health Advisory Service
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decision has been made on the findings of the review of the NHS health advisory service. [2037]

  Mr. Burns
  We have decided to merge the NHS health advisory service, from April 1997, with a consortium led by the Royal College of Psychiatrists research unit and comprising members from the Royal College of Nursing Institute, Office for Public Management and British Geriatrics Society.
  201
  I believe this decision develops and builds on the work of the review team. It is the basis for an up-to-date and proactive advisory service, equipped with a multidisciplinary team able to help organisations improve and develop services.

  Under a separate contract, the work of the drug advisory service will also change. It will take a more active role in alcohol misuse services and it will develop as a resource for health and local authority purchasers of substance misuse services.

  Health Authorities (Manchester)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the funding of health authorities in Manchester in the remaining months of the financial year; which authorities expect a shortfall; and if he will make a statement. [1378]

  Mr. Horam
  All health authorities are expected to remain within their allocated cash limit. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 17 October 1996 Official Report, columns 1104–05, which provided the estimated outturn position for all English health authorities.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Open Prisons
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are applied to assess the suitability of prisoners in an open prison for work carried out in the community as part of their rehabilitation. [1083]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Prisoners who are held in open prisoners are thoroughly assessed to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the public. Open prisons will allocate prisoners to work in the local community only when this is considered to be of benefit to both the community and to the prisoner. Particular attention is always paid to the offences committed by the prisoner and to his or her background as part of this process. The overriding concern in such allocation is always the safety of the public; if such concern exists, the prisoner does not undertake work in the community, and may be transferred to a closed and more secure prison.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures exist to assess a prisoner's suitability for transfer to an open prison; who is responsible for their implementation; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness. [1084]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Determinate sentence prisoners must be reallocated to the lowest security category before their transfer from a closed to an open prison. This involves an assessment of any risk posed to the public by the prisoner, together with the risk of escape or abscond. Such reallocation and transfer will take place only if the staff of the closed prison are satisfied that the prisoner is not a risk to the public and is not likely to escape or abscond. The prisoner will undergo a further risk assessment at the open prison to ensure that he or she is suitable for open conditions.
  202
  The governors of the closed prisons transferring prisoners to open prisons and the governors of the open prisons themselves are responsible for the implementation of these procedures.

  Life sentence prisoners who are considered suitable for open conditions require both a favourable recommendation from the Parole Board and the authority of a Minister, who considers detailed reports on each individual case before making a decision.

  The allocation of all prisoners to open conditions is kept under continual review.

  Prisons
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all(a) planned new prisons and (b) detention centres to be financed through (i) public capital expenditure and (ii) the private finance initiative. [55]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Chris Davies, dated 31 October 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the planned number of new prisons and detention centres to be financed through public capital expenditure and the private finance initiative.
  The Prison Service has plans to build prisons but not detention centres. Currently, it has funding to provide three new prisons and one re-built prison, all of which will be provided under the private finance initiative. These include Fazakerley, Bridgend and the re-built prison at Lowdham Grange. A third new prison is currently the subject of a planning inquiry, which if successful, will be built at Agecroft near Manchester.

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were detained in Birmingham prison during(a) July, (b) August and (c) September; and what were the nationalities of those detained; [1037]

  (2) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were deported from Birmingham prison during (a) July, (b) August and (c) September; and what were the nationalities of those deported. [1038]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The available information on asylum seekers detained in Her Majesty's prison Birmingham is given in the table.

  There were no failed asylum seekers recorded as being deported from Her Majesty's prison Birmingham during each of the months July to September 1996.

  This does not include asylum seekers removed as illegal entrants.
  203

  Asylum seekers detained1 at Her Majesty's prison Birmingham as at 31 July, 4 September and 1 October by nationality

  Nationality

  31 July

  4 September

  1 October

  India

  18

  15

  14

  Nigeria

  —

  —

  6

  Algeria

  5

  5

  4

  Pakistan

  —

  3

  —

  Others2

  4

  3

  2

  Total

  27

  26

  26

  1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. In some cases the asylum application will have been lodged subsequent to the applicant being detained. The figures include asylum applicants detained in after-entry enforcement work and those awaiting removal following refusal of asylum, as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal.

  2 The "Others" category may include nationalities already listed.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to declare a country as one in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [972]

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to declare that any country has undergone a major upheaval such that we would not seek to return people there for the time being.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total number of asylum seekers held in detention at the end of(a) June, (b) July, (c) August and (d) September; in which establishments they were held; what were the nationalities of those detained; what were the gender of those detained; and how many were deported and from which establishments. [1044]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The available information on asylum seekers detained, and on those deported from detention, is given in the tables. The number deported does not include those who are removed as illegal entrants or under port refusal procedures.

  Number1 of asylum detainees deported2 during June, July, August and September

  Number of deported asylum detainees

  June

  11

  July

  6

  August

  7

  September

  3

  1Provisional figures.

  2 Removed under the deport process, including those removed voluntarily prior to the initiation of deportation action.

  Table 1: Number of people recorded as detailed on 17 June, 31 July, 4 September, and I October 19961 who sought asylum at some stage, by gender

  Gender

  As at 27 June

  As at 31 July

  As at 4 September

  As at 1 October

  Male

  720

  716

  727

  783

  Female

  52

  60

  82

  81

  Total

  772

  776

  809

  864

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  204

  Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 27 June, 31 July, 4 September, and 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by location of detention

  As at 27 June

  As at 31 July

  As at 4 September

  As at 1 October

  Prisons

  HMP Rochester

  154

  146

  148

  154

  HMP Haslar

  99

  112

  107

  97

  HMP Birmingham

  37

  27

  26

  26

  HMP Wormwood Scrubs

  12

  6

  11

  14

  HMP Magilligan

  8

  7

  7

  7

  HMP Manchester

  2

  —

  6

  5

  HMP Bristol

  6

  3

  4

  4

  HMP Wandsworth

  4

  6

  2

  3

  HMP Greenock

  5

  5

  6

  3

  HMP Holloway

  —

  —

  —

  2

  HMP Doncaster

  2

  2

  2

  2

  HMP Brixton

  2

  —

  2

  2

  HMP Belmarsh

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Other prison2

  20

  26

  18

  22

  Other Places of Detention

  Campsfield House

  151

  151

  170

  173

  Tinsley House

  45

  68

  96

  119

  Harmondsworth

  102

  89

  82

  91

  Meadvale Buildings

  36

  35

  33

  38

  Police Cells

  27

  33

  35

  33

  Port

  —

  8

  8

  19

  Queens Building

  13

  10

  15

  15

  Dover Harbour

  10

  14

  7

  14

  Manchester Airport

  Detention Suite

  6

  11

  7

  7

  Other Place of Detention2

  31

  17

  17

  12

  Total

  772

  776

  809

  864

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  2 The 'Others' categories may include places of detention already listed.

  Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 27 June, 31 July, 4 September, and 1 October 19961, who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality

  Nationality

  As at 27 June

  As at 31 July

  As at 4 September

  As at 1 October

  Nigeria

  106

  106

  110

  112

  India

  101

  96

  91

  95

  Algeria

  75

  70

  65

  63

  Ghana

  52

  56

  60

  58

  Sri Lanka

  43

  45

  47

  48

  China Peoples Republic of

  32

  35

  39

  44

  Zaire

  38

  43

  48

  44

  Turkey

  35

  39

  47

  42

  Columbia

  15

  11

  10

  35

  Pakistan

  25

  35

  35

  34

  Angola

  16

  16

  18

  23

  Bangladesh

  18

  17

  16

  18

  Romania

  23

  33

  20

  18

  Cyprus

  7

  6

  12

  17

  Gambia

  27

  16

  16

  16

  Israel

  —

  —

  —

  15

  Iran

  11

  9

  11

  13

  Jamaica

  5

  8

  8

  10

  Ethiopia

  6

  8

  9

  9

  Yugoslavia

  9

  6

  12

  9

  Russia

  6

  5

  6

  8

  Sierra Leone

  6

  4

  7

  8

  Uganda

  4

  3

  4

  8

  Kenya

  6

  4

  9

  7

  Liberia

  4

  5

  9

  7

  Lithuania

  5

  4

  4

  7

  Ivory Coast

  6

  7

  7

  6

  Poland

  6

  8

  6

  5

  Somalia

  9

  6

  6

  5

  Equador

  8

  6

  3

  4

  Lebanon

  3

  2

  3

  4

  205

  Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 27 June, 31 July, 4 September, and 1 October 19961, who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality

  Nationality

  As at 27 June

  As at 31 July

  As at 4 September

  As at 1 October

  Sudan

  3

  —

  4

  4

  Tanzania

  4

  4

  3

  4

  Bulgaria

  —

  —

  2

  3

  Egypt

  2

  2

  2

  3

  El Salvador

  —

  —

  3

  3

  Morocco

  2

  —

  —

  3

  Albania

  3

  2

  3

  2

  Nationality Doubtful1

  6

  10

  8

  11

  Others2

  45

  49

  46

  39

  Total

  772

  776

  809

  864

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  2 The 'Others' category may include nationalities already listed.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the number of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by (i) nationality, (ii) gender, (iii) place of detention, (iv) length of detention and (v) immigration status at the time of application. [882]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested on detained asylum seekers is given in the tables.

  Table 1: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender and immigration status

  Gender

  Port

  Illegal entrants

  Subject to deportation order

  Total

  Male

  481

  258

  44

  783

  Female

  62

  14

  5

  81

  Total

  543

  272

  49

  864

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by stage of application and immigration status

  Stage of application

  Port

  Illegal Entrants

  Subject to deportation order

  Total

  Awaiting initial decision

  157

  53

  8

  218

  Awaiting result of appeal

  256

  139

  32

  427

  Awaiting removal after refusal

  130

  80

  9

  219

  Total

  543

  272

  49

  864

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  206

  Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by length of detention and immigration status

  Length

  Port

  Illegal entrants

  Subject to deportation order

  Total

  0–1 Month1

  154

  86

  4

  244

  1–2 Months

  84

  56

  14

  154

  2–6 Months

  196

  95

  20

  311

  6–12 Months

  90

  25

  6

  121

  12 Months +

  19

  10

  5

  34

  Total

  543

  272

  49

  864

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  Table 4: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality and immigration status

  Nationality

  Port

  Illegal entrants

  Subject to deportation order

  Total

  Nigeria

  73

  26

  13

  112

  India

  20

  69

  6

  95

  Algeria

  21

  37

  5

  63

  Ghana

  40

  16

  2

  58

  Sri Lanka

  30

  17

  1

  48

  China Peoples Rep of

  35

  9

  0

  44

  Zaire

  37

  4

  3

  44

  Turkey

  34

  7

  1

  42

  Columbia

  32

  3

  0

  35

  Pakistan

  14

  17

  3

  34

  Angola

  17

  4

  2

  23

  Bangladesh

  9

  8

  1

  18

  Romania

  4

  14

  0

  18

  Cyprus

  17

  0

  0

  17

  Gambia

  13

  1

  2

  16

  Israel

  15

  0

  0

  15

  Iran

  9

  3

  1

  13

  Jamaica

  4

  3

  3

  10

  Ethiopia

  5

  3

  1

  9

  Russia

  3

  5

  0

  8

  Yugoslavia

  5

  4

  0

  9

  Sierra Leone

  5

  2

  1

  8

  Uganda

  6

  1

  1

  8

  Kenya

  5

  2

  0

  7

  Liberia

  7

  0

  0

  7

  Lithuania

  6

  1

  0

  7

  Ivory Coast

  5

  1

  0

  6

  Poland

  3

  2

  0

  5

  Somalia

  5

  0

  0

  5

  Ecuador

  4

  0

  0

  4

  Lebanon

  2

  2

  0

  4

  Sudan

  4

  0

  0

  4

  Tanzania

  4

  0

  0

  4

  Bulgaria

  2

  1

  0

  3

  Egypt

  0

  2

  1

  3

  Morocco

  1

  1

  1

  3

  El Salvador

  3

  0

  0

  3

  Albania

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Other

  31

  7

  1

  39

  Nationality Doubtful

  11

  0

  0

  11

  Total

  543

  272

  49

  864

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  207

  Table 5: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by location of detention and immigration status

  Port

  Illegal entrants

  Subject to deportation order

  Total

  Prisons

  HMP Rochester

  97

  43

  14

  154

  HMP Haslar

  54

  38

  5

  97

  HMP Birmingham

  8

  17

  1

  26

  HMP Wormwood Scrubs

  3

  11

  0

  14

  HMP Magilligan

  0

  7

  0

  7

  HMP Manchester

  0

  5

  0

  5

  HMP Bristol

  0

  4

  0

  4

  HMP Wandsworth

  0

  1

  2

  3

  HMP Greenock

  0

  3

  0

  3

  HMP Holloway

  1

  0

  1

  2

  HMP Doncaster

  0

  2

  0

  2

  HMP Brixton

  0

  2

  0

  2

  HMP Belmarsh

  1

  1

  0

  2

  Other

  13

  5

  4

  22

  Other Places of Detention

  Campsfield House

  116

  48

  9

  173

  Tinsley House

  80

  31

  8

  119

  Harmondsworth

  64

  23

  4

  91

  Meadvale Buildings

  33

  5

  0

  38

  Police Cells

  9

  23

  1

  33

  Port

  19

  0

  0

  19

  Queens Building

  15

  0

  0

  15

  Dover Harbour

  14

  0

  0

  14

  Manchester Airport

  Detention Suite

  4

  3

  0

  7

  Other

  12

  0

  0

  12

  Total

  543

  272

  49

  864

  1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many substantive asylum appeals to immigration appellate authority special adjudicators have been (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed and (iii) withdrawn in 1996 to date. [884]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Provisional information shows that, of the estimated 9,070 substantive asylum appeals determined by special adjudicators between January and September 1996, 3 per cent. were allowed, 81 per cent. were dismissed and 16 per cent. were withdrawn.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications are currently awaiting an initial decision by his Department's asylum directorate; and how many of these applications were made prior to July 1993. [885]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  As at 30 September 1996, there were 60,275 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision, of which an estimated 27,900 were made prior to the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993. Work is currently in hand to revise this estimate.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements his Department has made to expedite initial decisions on asylum applications in those cases where the applicant is detained under Immigration Act powers; and what is the current average time taken by his Department to reach an initial decision in such cases. [887]
  208
  Mr. Kirkhope
  Statistics on the average time taken to decide cases where the applicant is detained are not available. However, all such cases are given priority consideration within the asylum directorate, with many applications being determined within days.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time currently taken by his Department to reach an initial decision on (i) asylum applications submitted prior to implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, (ii) asylum applications submitted since implementation of the 1993 Act and (iii) all asylum applications; [889]

  (2) what is the average time currently taken by the Home Office and the immigration appellate authority to prepare, hear and determine an appeal against a refusal to asylum. [890]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on the times taken at the various stages of the asylum process are given in the table.

  Average times involved in deciding applications for asylum (March-August 1996)

  Months

  Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Pre-act applications)

  44.8

  Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Post-act applications)

  11.6

  Time taken by the Home Office to process an appeal

  1.4

  Time taken by the Immigration Appellate Authority to determine an appeal

  8.1

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to declaring Sri Lanka a country in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 following the upsurge of fighting in September. [974]

  Miss Widdecombe
  We do not believe that the continuing hostilities in Sri Lanka constitute such a fundamental change in the circumstances there as to justify my right hon. and learned Friend declaring that the country has undergone a major upheaval.

  The hostilities since May 1995 have been sporadic and confined largely to the north and east of the country. Most reports suggest that conditions elsewhere in the country remain reasonably safe and normal.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to declaring Afghanistan a country in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 since the capture of Kabul by Taliban. [973]

  Miss Widdecombe
  We do not believe that the recent developments in Afghanistan constitute such a fundamental change in the circumstances as to justify my right hon. and learned Friend declaring that the country has undergone a major upheaval.

  Afghanistan has been in a state of civil unrest for a number of years. The fall of Kabul to Taliban is part of this long-term continuing conflict.
  209
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, having been refused asylum, have (i) been removed and (ii) made a voluntary departure from the United Kingdom in 1996 to date. [886]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Provisional information shows that, during the period January to September 1996, there have been 2,810 removals—including voluntary departures—of persons refused asylum.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum, by persons applying(a) at a port of entry to the United Kingdom and (b) after entry have been decided in 1996 to date; and how many in each category have been granted (i) asylum and (ii) exceptional leave to remain. [888]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Decisions1 on applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, January to September 1996

  Number of principal applicants

  Applied at port

  Applied in-country

  Total

  Asylum applications2

  8,280

  13,240

  21,520

  Decisions3

  10,385

  18,170

  28,550

  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum

  380

  1,185

  1,565

  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain4

  1,430

  2,160

  3,595

  Total refusals

  8,575

  14,820

  23,395

  Refused asylum and ELR after full consideration

  7,610

  13,245

  20,855

  Refused on safe third country grounds5

  965

  50

  1,015

  Refused on non-compliance grounds6

  —

  1,530

  1,530

  1Provisional figures rounded to the nearest five.

  2Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.

  3Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the period.

  4Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review.

  5Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.

  6Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity.

  Deportations
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people deported under Immigration Act powers from the United Kingdom for(a) June, (b) July, (c) August and (d) September; and what were the nationalities of those deported. [1042]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested for June to August is given in the table. Complete data for September are not yet available. The figures do not include people removed as illegal entrants or under port refusal procedures.
  210

  Persons removed1 from the United Kingdom under the deportation process2

  Nationality

  19961

  June

  July

  August

  European Economic Area

  Belgium

  1

  —

  1

  France

  —

  1

  1

  Germany

  —

  1

  1

  Ireland

  2

  —

  —

  Italy

  —

  2

  1

  Netherlands

  2

  1

  1

  Spain

  2

  —

  —

  Other Europe

  Cyprus

  —

  —

  1

  Croatia

  1

  —

  —

  Former Czechoslovakia

  1

  1

  4

  Hungary

  2

  —

  —

  Poland

  12

  19

  13

  Romania

  —

  1

  —

  Russia

  1

  —

  1

  Other former USSR

  —

  5

  —

  Turkey

  1

  6

  2

  Former Yugoslavia

  —

  —

  2

  Americas

  Brazil

  —

  1

  1

  Colombia

  3

  1

  1

  Guyana

  2

  —

  1

  Jamaica

  10

  8

  10

  Trinidad and Tobago

  —

  1

  1

  USA

  2

  1

  2

  Other Americas

  3

  —

  1

  Africa

  Algeria

  2

  —

  1

  Egypt

  2

  —

  —

  Ghana

  10

  19

  25

  Kenya

  1

  2

  3

  Mauritius

  3

  1

  —

  Morocco

  4

  2

  1

  Nigeria

  13

  14

  9

  Sierra Leone

  5

  1

  1

  South Africa

  1

  3

  2

  Sudan

  —

  1

  —

  Tanzania

  —

  —

  1

  Uganda

  1

  1

  —

  Zaire

  —

  1

  —

  Zambia

  2

  3

  3

  Zimbabwe

  2

  3

  2

  Other Africa

  2

  5

  2

  Indian sub-continent

  Bangladesh

  6

  —

  2

  India

  10

  8

  18

  Pakistan

  14

  12

  10

  Middle East

  Iraq

  —

  —

  1

  Israel

  1

  —

  —

  Jordan

  —

  4

  1

  Kuwait

  —

  —

  1

  Saudi Arabia

  1

  —

  —

  Yemen

  1

  —

  —

  Remainder of Asia

  China

  2

  1

  1

  Hong Kong

  3

  2

  1

  Indonesia

  1

  —

  1

  Japan

  —

  1

  —

  Malaysia

  6

  2

  6

  211

  Persons removed1 from the United Kingdom under the deportation process2

  Nationality

  19961

  June

  July

  August

  Philippines

  2

  3

  1

  Sri Lanka

  —

  —

  1

  Thailand

  —

  4

  2

  Other Asia

  —

  —

  1

  Oceania

  Australia

  1

  3

  —

  All nationalities

  141

  145

  142

  1Including voluntary departures after deportation action had been initiated.

  2Excluding illegal entrants removed.

  3Provisional data.

  Dr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who were convicted of a criminal offence, punishable by a prison sentence, as part of their sentence, were also ordered to be deported; how many deportations were effected; what were the nationalities of those deported; and what were the gender of those deported in each of the years 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and from the first of January this year to date. [1045]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on persons recommended for deportation by a court on those removed from the United Kingdom is given in the tables. The data include persons who did not receive a custodial sentence: five such persons were recommended for deportation in 1995 but further information on these persons and for other years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Table A: Persons recommended for deportation by a court

  Number

  1992

  345

  1993

  310

  1994

  350

  1995

  384

  19961

  207

  1 January to August.

  Table B: Persons removed1 from the United Kingdom under the deportation process following a court recommendation, 1993 onwards2

  Nationality

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996 (January to August3)

  European Economic Area

  Austria

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Belgium

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Denmark

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Finland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  France

  2

  —

  2

  1

  Germany

  —

  —

  2

  3

  Greece

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Iceland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ireland

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Italy

  5

  2

  2

  2

  Luxembourg

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Netherlands

  1

  1

  3

  —

  Norway

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Portugal

  1

  —

  2

  —

  Spain

  1

  1

  6

  —

  Sweden

  —

  —

  —

  —

  212

  Table B: Persons removed1 from the United Kingdom under the deportation process following a court recommendation, 1993 onwards2

  Nationality

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996 (January to August3)

  Other Europe

  Bulgaria

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Cyprus

  2

  —

  1

  —

  Former

  Czechoslovakia

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Hungary

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Malta

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Poland

  —

  7

  1

  3

  Romania

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Russia

  —

  1

  2

  1

  Other former

  USSR

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Switzerland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Turkey

  4

  2

  4

  3

  Former

  Yugoslavia

  —

  2

  1

  —

  Other Europe

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Americas

  Argentina

  1

  3

  —

  —

  Barbados

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Brazil

  5

  —

  4

  —

  Canada

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Chile

  3

  2

  1

  2

  Colombia

  43

  19

  7

  6

  Guyana

  2

  1

  4

  9

  Jamaica

  49

  25

  33

  29

  Mexico

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Peru

  4

  2

  4

  3

  Trinidad and Tobago

  2

  1

  —

  —

  USA

  12

  14

  12

  9

  Venezuela

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Other

  Americas

  7

  1

  6

  1

  Africa

  Algeria

  5

  2

  3

  2

  Angola

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Egypt

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Ethiopia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ghana

  19

  18

  19

  14

  Kenya

  2

  3

  6

  4

  Libya

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mauritius

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Morocco

  3

  1

  1

  1

  Nigeria

  148

  61

  61

  39

  Sierra Leone

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Somalia

  —

  —

  1

  —

  South Africa

  8

  8

  7

  5

  Sudan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tanzania

  3

  —

  2

  2

  Tunisia

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Uganda

  3

  —

  3

  1

  Zaire

  2

  —

  —

  1

  Zambia

  1

  5

  5

  4

  Zimbabwe

  2

  —

  5

  3

  Other Africa

  10

  3

  4

  8

  Indian sub-continent

  Bangladesh

  2

  1

  —

  —

  India

  11

  4

  3

  3

  Pakistan

  23

  8

  13

  5

  Middle East

  Iran

  1

  2

  3

  —

  Iraq

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Israel

  5

  2

  1

  —

  Jordan

  3

  2

  —

  —

  Kuwait

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Lebanon

  3

  —

  1

  —

  Saudi Arabia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  213

  Table B: Persons removed1 from the United Kingdom under the deportation process following a court recommendation, 1993 onwards2

  Nationality

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996 (January to August3)

  Syria

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Yemen

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Other Middle

  East

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Remainder of Asia

  China

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Hong Kong1

  3

  4

  3

  1

  Indonesia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Japan

  —

  —

  3

  —

  Malaysia

  3

  —

  5

  2

  Philippines

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Singapore

  1

  1

  —

  —

  South Korea

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Sri Lanka

  4

  2

  —

  —

  Taiwan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Thailand

  2

  1

  —

  —

  Other Asia

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Oceania

  Australia

  —

  1

  3

  1

  New Zealand

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Other Oceania

  —

  —

  —

  —

  All nationalities of

  whom

  425

  226

  259

  179

  males

  334

  166

  206

  131

  females

  91

  60

  53

  48

  1 Including voluntary departures after deportation action had been initiated.

  2 The only information available for 1992 is that a total of about 510 were removed or departed voluntarily.

  3 Provisional data.

  Custody (Deaths)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the same categories of information in respect of deaths in custody are provided in private and state prisons. [960]

  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. Harry Cohen, dated 31 October 1996:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the categories of information provided in respect of deaths in custody in private prisons and state prisons.
  There is no distinction in the categories of information provided in respect of deaths in custody which occur in privately managed prisons or public sector prisons. It is a contractual requirement that all privately managed prisons report deaths in custody to Prison Service Headquarters in the same way as all other establishments.

WALES

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the inward investment projects into Clwyd from outside Wales since 1980; and if he will make a statement. [212]
  214
  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Development Agency has collected data on inward investment since April 1983. Since then, over 300 projects have been recorded for the country; they promise over 18,000 new jobs, over 5,000 safeguarded jobs, and capital investment of almost £2 billion. Clwyd has been a major beneficiary of Wales's inward investment success.

  I have asked the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to write with a list of projects, and will arrange for a copy of the reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Strategic Development Scheme
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all bids from the former Colwyn borough council, Rhuddlan borough council, Ogwr borough council, and Clwyd county council which received strategic development scheme funding from his Department. [216]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The end of year strategic development scheme approvals for each of the four former local authorities in 1994–95 and 1995–96 are as follows:

  Clwyd County Council

  Project

  Amount

  Capital

  Revenue

  1994–95

  Education and training for special needs, Wrexham

  5,000

  Business units at Wrexham technology park

  106,425

  Build a multi-purpose community centre and landscaping at Caia Park

  114,094

  Construction of alternative access into Denbigh by widening Barkers Well lane

  193,000

  Traffic calming measures, hard and soft landscaping, improved lighting, Caia Park

  150,000

  Conversion of a building at Queensway to workshop and provide training, Caia Park

  30,000

  Barkers Well lane

  51,775

  Corwen business centre

  9,196

  Pensarn community resource team to continue to address problems arising from floods

  173,775

  Appointment of village liaison and development worker, Brymbo

  21,002

  Conversion of a building at Queensway to workshop and provide training in Caia Park

  30,500

  Employment of 2 counsellors to provide enterprise training and business advice for small business start ups

  55,000

  Full time coordinator at WRENEWAL

  9,360

  Rhyl and district benefit advice shop

  65,634

  Caia Park employment project

  47,409

  West Rhyl young peoples project

  42,193

  Employment of county crime prevention coordinator

  41,866

  Rhyl adventure playground community recreation scheme

  17,347

  Business information Network— appointment of development and liaison officer

  5,541

  Education and training for special needs in Wrexham

  83,518

  Rhyl adventure playground

  23,492

  659,490

  616,637

  215

  Clwyd County Council

  Project

  Amount

  Capital

  Revenue

  1995–96

  Construction of suitable alternative access Barkers Well Lane, Denbigh

  223,000

  Construction of new commercial units at Pinfold Industrial Estate, Rhyl—Phase 2

  300,000

  Build a multipurpose community centre and landscaping at Caia Park, Wrexham

  385,906

  Business Unit at Wrexham Technology Park

  5,141

  Traffic calming measures, Caia Park

  54,951

  Caia Park Employment Project

  48,330

  Education and training for special needs in Wrexham

  85,518

  Pensarn community resource team—floods in Towyn

  86,888

  Appointment of a village liaison and development worker

  10,501

  Conversion of a building at Queensway to workshop and provide training, Caia Park

  66,500

  Employment of 2 counsellors to provide enterprise training and business advice for small business start ups

  56,000

  West Rhyl young peoples project

  42,193

  Employment of worker at Rhyl adventure playground

  16,840

  Rhyl and district benefit advice shop

  58,734

  Full time coordinator at WRENEWAL

  22,217

  Employment of county crime prevention coordinator

  39,740

  West Rhyl community strategy

  4,152

  Community strategy for Castle Ward, Flint

  3,000

  968,998

  540,613

  Colwyn Borough Council

  Amount

  Project

  Capital

  Revenue

  1994–95

  Grants for businesses

  40,000

  Llanfairtalhaiarn landscaping

  1,990

  Pensarn coast protection scheme

  25,000

  Coast Protection—Rhos on Sea

  80,000

  146,990

  1995–96

  Colwyn Bay CRA

  151,770

  Environmental Improvements Llanfairtalhaiarn

  1,424

  Town Centre Beach link enhancement

  180,000

  333,194

  Glyndwr District Council

  Project

  Amount

  Capital

  Revenue

  1994–95

  Llangollen to Corwen steam railway

  100,000

  Women's aid support worker

  27,841

  100,000

  27,841

  1995–96

  Link road and parking Corwen Town Centre

  280,000

  Women's aid support worker

  26,956

  280,000

  26,956

  216

  Rhuddlan Borough Council

  Project

  Amount

  Capital

  Revenue

  1994–95

  Refurbishment of Railway Station, Rhyl

  634,470

  Commercial renewal area grants, Rhyl

  24,250

  Cefndy employment park

  15,400

  Fforddlas workshops

  125,880

  Rhuallt community bus

  4,920

  Employment of community development and liaison worker

  20,867

  804,920

  20,867

  1995–96

  Ffordlas Industrial site Rhyl and associated infrastructure

  100,000

  Rhyl Town centre and central promenade security initiative

  232,000

  Refurbish railway station to construct commercial units, Rhyl

  200,000

  Internal commercial renewal grants to 15 business in Rhyl

  100,000

  Provide 150m of ind estate roads and 3ha serviced plots Cefndy road employment park

  200,000

  Employment of community development and liaison worker

  21,416

  Rhyl Town centre and central promenade security initiative

  58,000

  Improvements to East Promenade Rhyl

  1,000,000

  1,832,000

  79,416

  Council Personnel (Declarations of Interest)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines his Department has given to local authorities in Wales on the declaration by elected councillors and senior officers of any interest they may have in(a) the freemasons and (b) other such body; and Amount if he will make a statement. [129]

  Mr. Hague
  Guidance on the conduct of local authority members is set out in Welsh Office circular 23/90. Paragraph 9 of this code refers to membership of the freemasons and other bodies. We may review this guidance in the light of any recommendations made by the Nolan committee.

  The conduct of local government officers is a matter for local authorities to determine.

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  Mr. Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the Cardiff Bay development corporation and of the Welsh development agency concerning the need for a written statement on their roles in the corporation's designated area. [1538]

  Mr. Hague
  None. The Welsh Development Agency does not become involved in development within the corporation's designated area, except with the agreement of the corporation.

  Bulgarian Debt
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority concerning the
  217
  collectability of the outstanding debt owed to Welsh Health Development International by the Bulgarian authorities. [1536]

  Mr. Hague
  None. This matter is being pursued by the authority.

  Public Bodies (Pensions)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those non-departmental public bodies whose staff are employed under civil service terms and conditions, in each case indicating if they have(a) contributory and (b) non-contributory pension schemes. [1537]

  Mr. Hague
  Employees of non-departmental public bodies are not civil servants. The following non-departmental public bodies have terms and conditions of service based upon the old civil service terms and conditions of service.

  Arts Council for Wales: (b)

  Countryside Council for Wales: (b)

  Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales: (b)

  Development Board for Rural Wales: (a)

  Further and Higher Education Funding Council: (b)

  Land Authority for Wales: (a)

  Local Government Boundary Commission: (b)

  National Library of Wales: (a)

  Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments Wales (b)

  Sports Council for Wales: (a)

  Wales Tourist Board: (a)

  Welsh Language Board: (b)

  (a)-Indicates that they have a contributory pension scheme; and,

  (b)-Indicates a non-contributory pension scheme, including a 1.5 per cent. contribution for widows/widower's pension.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Aid Funding
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest estimate of the proportion of GNP of the United Kingdom which will be directed to overseas aid during the current financial year; and what is the Government's medium-term target for this figure. [133]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  International comparisons of overseas aid figures are normally presented in relation to gross national product on a calendar year basis. In 1995, the latest year for which figures are available, UK net official development assistance was 0.28 per cent. of GNP. The figure for 1996 will be published in June 1997.

  No ODA/GNP targets have been set for the future since, as with other areas of Government expenditure. the level of spending on development assistance is dependent on our economic circumstances and other public expenditure priorities. At £2,154 million in 1996297, the UK development assistance programme is substantial and makes a significant contribution to tackling the problems facing the developing world.
  218

  Montserrat
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total aid given to Montserrat in the current year; and if he will make a statement. [86]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  As at 30 September, total aid expenditure in Montserrat since 1 January 1996 has amounted to £7.75 million, comprising £2.8 million in emergency aid, £2.75 million in budgetary assistance, and £2.2 million in development aid.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what relief aid the United Kingdom Government have provided following the volcanic eruptions in Montserrat. [664]

  Dr. Fox
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 17 October, columns 1118–9.

  Police Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the countries in which British police or other bodies provided training for police or security forces in those countries; how long they have been in each country providing such training and what form that training takes for each; what criteria are used to determine whether training is provided, and in what terms of reference are given for the training; what influence countries' human rights records have on determining police or security force training provided by the United Kingdom; if monitoring is carried out after the training to evaluate its impact; and what form that monitoring takes. [442]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Countries whose police and security forces have received training from the FCO diplomatic wing include:

  Police/security force training (DW)

  Belize

  Chile

  Czech Republic

  Costa Rica

  Cyprus

  El Salvador

  Fiji

  Honduras

  Hungary

  India

  Kazakstan

  Kenya

  Lebanon

  Malaysia

  Nicaragua

  Palestinian Authority

  Papua New Guinea

  Paraguay

  Philippines

  Romania

  Singapore

  Slovakia

  Sri Lanka

  219

  Tonga

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Uganda

  Vanuatu

  Malta

  Nepal

  Countries who received aid for in—country police training from ODA in 1994 and 1995 were listed in the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) on 14 May, Official Report, column 385.

  Details of training programmes are not kept centrally and it would involve a disproportionate cost to collate this information for each of the countries referred to above. Training for the police is considered alongside other priorities for assistance in consultation with recipient Governments. Programmes of training are tailored in content and duration to the requirements of the police forces to be assisted. Human rights records are taken into account in the provision of assistance along with other good government and developmental considerations, including poverty, as well as the UK's national interest. The FCO police advisers and other diplomatic, ODA and training staff monitor police projects during implementation. For all aid projects costing above £250,000, a project completion report is prepared providing a preliminary assessment of impact. A selection of projects are also subject to detailed evaluation. An evaluation of a selection of police projects is planned in 1997.

  Zaire and Rwanda
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the need for humanitarian aid in eastern Zaire; and on what occasions embassy staff have visited this area recently. [1161]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The key humanitarian problem in eastern Zaire is lack of access to those remaining in refugee camps and those displaced. Agencies believe that there are sufficient stocks available in region to meet immediate needs. The security situation has prevented visits to the area of conflict but our representative in Bujumbura visited Gatumba camp on the Burundi—Zaire border on 28 October where returnees are arriving. Our embassies in Zaire and Rwanda are also monitoring the situation closely.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the great lakes region. [1218]

  Dr. Fox
  There have been 1.7 million refugees in the region since 1994. The current insecurity in eastern Zaire has served to exacerbate an already critical situation. About 500,000 people have been displaced. Agencies report that they have sufficient stocks in the region to meet immediate needs. Political and security difficulties are restricting their delivery. The Government have supported UN and EU efforts to resolve this. Bilateral approaches have been made to Zaire and Rwanda to help defuse the situation.
  220

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Ferris Wheel
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what exchanges have taken place between the Accommodation and Works Committee and Lambeth borough council concerning the application for planning permission to build a giant ferris wheel by the Thames. [1353]

  Sir Raymond Powell
  The Committee was invited to express its views on the planning application for a ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames. The Committee considered the matter on 22 July, and was of the opinion that the proposal was inappropriate on the grounds that the size, scale and location would be unsuitable given the fine surrounding buildings, would detract from the views of the Palace of Westminster from some angles, and during the lifetime of the temporary structure would be the dominant feature nearly opposite the, by then, newly completed New Parliamentary Building.

  The Committee's views were communicated to Lambeth borough council on 24 July 1996.

  Palace of Westminster (Works)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what are the expected final costs of all works carried out since July in the House of Commons for each room and area improved. [1460]

  Sir Raymond Powell
  In the 12 weeks of the summer recess, the Works Directorate completed another large programme of work. The value of the projets was £17 million and 1,800 contractors' employees were involved with up to 500 on site on some days. For the parliamentary data and video network—PDVN—installation, the magnitude of the task necessitated shift working, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

  Overall, the works were finished on time, but the reconstruction of the Members' and Strangers' Cafeteria is planned to be completed in November 1996 and the contract to repair the roof over the Lords Chamber and the Royal Gallery is planned to continue until October 1998.

  Some of the more significant projects completed since July are as follows:
  Full PDVN cabling at Star Chamber Court Block, Norman Shaw North floors 1 and 2, House of Lords West Front ground and first floors and 1 The Abbey Garden.
  All Members' offices now have connections for colour televisions with the clean feed from the Chamber.
  The Refreshment Department modernisation phase C entailed the new Members' and Strangers' Cafeteria, completion due November 1996, and a new servery and furniture restoration for the Members' Tea Room.
  The Speaker's outer office was renovated.
  The Churchill Room was redecorated and a new fire escape was built.
  Automatic fire detection and new telephone wiring were installed at Star Chamber Court Block and House of Lords West Front.
  Fire precautions were installed, with rewiring and redecoration at the Burma road press offices.
  Security double glazing was fitted in the Members' and Strangers' dining rooms and the Shadow Cabinet Room.

  221
  Enabling works were begun for air conditioning of the Committee Rooms.
  As part of the heating modernisation, steam and calorifier plant was replaced.
  Electrical distribution boards were renewed.
  The following lifts were modernised with disabled facilities: lift at the south-east corner of the Commons Chamber, lift at the south-west corner of the Commons Chamber, lift at the back of Speaker's Chair, lift at Sovereign's entrance and lift at Law Lords' corridor.
  The following works of art were restored: two fresco paintings off Central Lobby, a fresco painting in House of Lords Chamber and 35 oil paintings.
  The following lavatories were refurbished: Upper Committee Corridor South, opposite Committee Room 7, Commons Court Block—second floor. Lavatory facilities for the disabled were provided at the ground floor of 7 Millbank and the Lower Waiting Hall.
  The cash machines corridor was refurbished.
  The second phase of overhaul of the carriage gates was carried out.
  At Nonnan Shaw South external painting and roof repairs were completed.
  Work began on the roof repairs above the Lords Chamber and the Royal Gallery. Completion is due October 1998.
  Repairs were carried out to the supporting structure of the Princes Chamber ceiling.
  In the Library cellars, improved storage was provided.
  Asbestos was removed from plant rooms.
  In addition. two projects were planned for completion during the prorogation period. They are an improved sales counter at the Speaker's bookstall and the new pulpit on the main Committee Corridor.

  There were also many more small projects, and with the very tight timetable, this demanding programme has fully stretched the House's technical staff and their contractors. The PDVN project and the building maintenance carried out under the same contracts in Lords and Commons areas were particularly challenging. The following statistics indicate the work involved in the PDVN contract:
  PDVN was taken to 454 desk positions, and there were 1,780 new telephone outlets, 912 data outlets and 1,910 new power outlets.
  This entailed: 359 of cable, 3.1 of metal trunking, 2.7 of water pipe and 24 tonnes of new Welsh slate for floors supported by 7.3 tonnes of new steel joists; 67,000 man hours were worked on the project.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Teachers (Vetting)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures her Department takes to ensure that grant-maintained and independent schools meet their statutory obligation to check list 99 before confirming appointments of teaching staff. [1367]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department's circulars 9/93 and 11/95, which were sent to all schools, remind schools that they have a legal obligation not to employ people on list 99 who are barred from working with children. The Department provides a service to grant-maintained and independent schools of checks against list 99 and criminal 222
  background checks. Checks are also run by the Department when appointments are notified for the purpose of the teachers' superannuation scheme and on the annual survey of independent school staff.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Privy Council
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what criteria are used to select individuals for membership of the Privy Council. [903]

  Mr. Newton
  Appointment to the Privy Council is an exercise of the prerogative. Appointments are made by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. A range of factors are taken into account. Those appointed mostly comprise Ministers, other parliamentarians and members of the judiciary.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Access to Justice
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has made for the implementation of Lord Woolf's final report on access to justice. [2184]

  Mr. Streeter
  I have today placed in the Library a copy of the Lord Chancellor's strategy for implementing Lord Woolf s recommendations. The strategy proposes that the major elements of the reforms, the fast track, the multi-track and the new costs regime, will be in place by October 1998. The new civil procedure rules to underpin these changes will also be in place in time for implementation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Angola
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Lusaka protocol in Angola; and if he will make a statement. [1220]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The implementation of the Lusaka protocol was reviewed by the United Nations Security Council on 11 October. We and other council members expressed deep concern at the lack of significant progress in implementing the peace process. Both parties, but especially UNITA, were urged to fulfil their commitments to the Lusaka protocol. The United Nations Secretary-General will report further to the Security Council on 20 November.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the United Nations' plans for the future role of UNAVEM III, the United Nations Angola verification mission; and if he will make a statement. [1219]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The UN Secretary-General currently plans to begin reducing UNAVEM III military forces by the end of December 1996 in the expectation that the mission will be completed as planned by February
  223
  1997. Such an outcome will, however, depend on the willingness of the Angolan parties to honour their commitment to the peace process. The Secretary-General will submit detailed recommendations on the future role of the UN in Angola by 20 November 1996.

  Rwanda and Zaire
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of the Rwandan authorities with regard to the security situation in the great lakes region. [1215]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The Rwandan Government earlier denied any involvement of their forces in the conflict in eastern Zaire. There has been sporadic shelling across the Zaire-Rwanda border, in response to which the Rwandan Government on 30 October announced that they had sent troops into Bukavu. We have urged the Rwandans to withdraw immediately.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the security situation in the great lakes region of Africa. [1213]

  Dr. Fox
  The security situation in the great lakes is complex. There are long-standing ethnic tensions in eastern Zaire between Zairean peoples and those of Rwandan origin, aggravated by the influx of Rwandan and Burundi refugees. Recent violent clashes result from a backlash by Zairean Tutsis against attacks by the Zairean armed forces and extremist Hutus. The Rwandan Foreign Minister assured my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development on 31 October that Rwandan forces who entered Zaire on 29 October have now withdrawn. Meanwhile, an insurgency by extremist Hutus continues in Burundi.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the UN is taking to prevent the conflict in eastern Zaire spreading throughout the great lakes region. [1216]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The UN Secretary-General sent Assistant Secretary-General Ibrahima Fall on a good offices mission to Zaire to assess the situation. He has now appointed a special envoy to visit the region with a humanitarian-political-military team. A special representative will be appointed after the special envoy's mission.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has recently received regarding the security and humanitarian situation in Zaire; and if he will make a statement. [1212]

  Dr. Fox
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the security and humanitarian situation with the Zairean Prime Minister on 22 October. My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker met the Rwandan Foreign Minister on 31 October. We are urging restraint and dialogue to resolve the situation. We remain in close touch with other regional Governments, with UN and EU partners, as well as with the humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organisations involved. Aid agencies believe there are sufficient stocks available in the region to meet immediate needs.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign 224
  and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has participated in recently (a) in the UN and (b) within the EU concerning the situation in Zaire. [1214]

  Dr. Fox
  The General Affairs Council discussed Zaire on 28 October and issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and urgent dialogue to resolve the crisis in eastern Zaire. The Un Security Council conducts regular discussions on the situation there.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the Government have made to the UN Secretary-General's call for an emergency mission to go to Zaire. [1217]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The UK has expressed its support in the Security Council for an emergency mission to go to Zaire.

  Albania
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress in negotiations with the Albanian Government regarding an outstanding claim for compensation arising from the Corfu incident and the return of the Albanian gold. [849]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The Secretary-General of the tripartite gold commission met in London on 29 October with representatives of the Government of Albania to conclude the transfer of gold from the tripartite gold commission to Albania. At the same time, the Government of Albania settled the British Government's claim for compensation for the Corfu channel incident.

  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 Egypt. [1098]

  Mr. Hanley
  The violence some Egyptian Christians have suffered at the hands of Islamic extremists is a cause for concern. The Egyptian authorities are trying to suppress such violence. Our embassy in Cairo is following developments closely.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to prevent human rights abuses in China. [1096]

  Mr. Hanley
  We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in China. We regularly express our concerns to the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and in conjunction with our European Union partners. We shall continue to use our bilateral exchanges, for example on legal reform, to promote a more enlightened approach by the Chinese authorities.

  Copex Fair (Indonesian Representatives)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if representatives of the Indonesian Government will be present at the contingency and operational procurement exhibition—COPEX—fair in Esher, on 5, 6 and 7 November. [420]
  225
  Mr. Hanley
  The Copex trade fair is a private event. We do not know whether any representatives of the Indonesian Government will attend it.

  EU Foreign Affairs Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the agenda and outcome of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 28 October in Luxembourg. [1533]

  Mr. David Davis
  The A points in document 10968/96, the texts of which will be placed in the House as soon as they are available, were approved. They include draft conclusions on the EU regional approach to developing relations with the countries of the former Yugoslavia and a common position introducing a ban on visas for senior members of the Burmese regime and on high-level bilateral visits to Burma.

  The Council noted the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament in document 9600/96. A copy of the document will be placed in the House as soon as it is available.

  The Council reached political agreement on a regulation and joint action to counter unacceptable extraterritorial effects of US trade legislation affecting European companies trading with Cuba, Iran and Libya.

  After discussion, the Council agreed conclusions on preparations for the world trade ministerial meeting in Singapore in December. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade emphasised that the Singapore meeting should give a boost to trade liberalisation.

  Commissioner Mann, Vice-President of the European Commission, gave a short report to the GAC on the state of play in the association agreement negotiations with Egypt and how the Commission hoped to take negotiations forward. This was subsequently discussed at a meeting of the EC-Egypt co-operation council.

  After discussion, the Council agreed conclusions announcing the mandate and appointment of Ambassador Miguel Angel Moratinos as the European Union's special envoy to the middle east peace process.

  The presidency gave a progress report to the GAC on the European Union observatory to discuss racism and xenophobia. The presidency will produce a draft statute to clarify discussion of the legal base.

  The Council agreed that a joint action should be prepared for adoption at or before the 25 November General Affairs Council on support for the democratic process in Zaire, covering establishment of an EU electoral unit and a contribution to the UN trust fund. The Council also issued a statement reiterating the Union's grave concern at the escalation of fighting in eastern Zaire and its potential to worsen further the already serious humanitarian situation existing in the region, calling for an immediate ceasefire, and restating its view that a regional conference on peace, security and stability in the great lakes region under the auspices of the UN and the Organisation and African Unity, has a central role to play in the establishment of a settlement.
  226
  The Council had an exchange of views on the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit to be held in Lisbon on 2–3 December, in the perspective of which it adopted "EU Guidelines".

  On the morning of 28 October, I signed the EC-Korea trade and co-operation agreement on behalf of the UK.

  In the margins, there were discussions on the location of the plant variety office and Turkey, both of which will be discussed at the November General Affairs Council, and under any other business there was a brief discussion on the results of the recent EU-southern Africa development community ministerial in Windhoek, and a request from Greece for the Commission to consider humanitarian aid to Bulgaria.

  In addition, the presidency, on behalf of the Union, published a declaration on the situation in Afghanistan.

  At a ministerial session of the Intergovernmental Conference Ministers discussed the external action of the EU, focusing on common foreign and security policy—CFSP—issues, security and defence, and external economic relations. On CFSP, Ministers exchanged views on a number of practical and institutional questions. On security and defence, Ministers discussed a range of institutional issues. On external economic relations, Ministers considered options designed to ensure that the EU is able to act decisively to promote its interests in external economic forums.

  The Ministerial was preceded by an exchange of views with the presidency and representatives of the European Parliament.

  BP (Colombia)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the allegations made in the European Parliament on 24 October relating to BP's activities in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [1211]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We are aware of the allegations. We are not aware of any evidence which gives substance to them.

  EU Council
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will detail forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for November; and if he will list major European Union events for the next six months. [2113]

  Mr. David Davis
  This calender is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

  European calendar: November 1996 to April 1997

  Venue

  Event

  November 1996

  4 to 5

  Brussels

  K4 Committee

  7 to 9

  Cork

  Rural Development Conference

  11

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  11 to 15

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  12

  Brussels

  Health Council

  14

  Brussels

  Industry Council

  14 to 15

  Dublin

  Political Committee

  227

  European calendar: November 1996 to April 1997

  Venue

  Event

  18 to 19

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  19

  Brussels

  Budget Council

  21

  Brussels

  Education Council

  22

  Brussels

  Development Council

  22

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  25

  Brussels

  Consumer Council

  25 to 26

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  26

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  27 to 28

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  28

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  28 to 29

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  December 1996

  2

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  2

  Brussels

  Social Affairs Council

  3

  Brussels

  Energy Council

  5

  Brussels

  Research Council

  6

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  9 to 10

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  9 to 13

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  12 to 13

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  13 to 14

  Dublin

  European Council

  16

  Brussels

  Culture Council

  16 to 17

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  17

  Brussels

  K4 Committee

  19 to 20

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  January 1997

  1

  Dutch Presidency begins

  7

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  13 to 17

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  20 to 21

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  20 to 21

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  27

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council (t.b.c.)

  29 to 30

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  31

  Amsterdam

  Transport Council (Informal)

  February 1997

  1

  Amsterdam

  Transport Council (Informal)

  1 to 2

  Brussels

  Economic Affairs Council (Informal)

  5 to 6

  Noordwijk

  Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)

  14 to 15

  Rotterdam

  Social Affairs Council (Informal)

  17

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  17 to 18

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  17 to 21

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  24 to 25

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  28

  Amsterdam

  Development Aid Council (Informal)

  March 1997

  1 to 2

  Amsterdam

  Development Aid Council (Informal)

  3

  Rotterdam

  Education Council (Informal)

  3 to 4

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  6

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  10

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  10 to 14

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  11 to 12

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  15 to 16

  Apeldoorn

  Gymnich (Informal)

  17

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  17 to 19

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  18 to 19

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  24 to 25

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  April 1997

  *4 to 6

  Noordwijk

  Ecofin Council (Informal)

  *7 to 10

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  *10

  Luxembourg

  Consumer Council

  *14 to 15

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  *17

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  *18 to 20

  Amsterdam

  Environment Council (Informal)

  *21 to 22

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  *23

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  228

  European calendar: November 1996 to April 1997

  Venue

  Event

  *24

  Luxembourg

  Industry Council

  *24 to 25

  Luxembourg

  ACP/EU

  *25

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  *29

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  Subject: monthly forecast of business for November 1996

  1. The following Councils are scheduled:

  11 November: Ecofin Council

  12 November: Health Council

  14 November: Industry Council

  18 November: Agriculture Council

  19 November: Agriculture Council

  19 November: Budget Council

  21 November: Education Council

  22 November: Development Council

  22 November: Fisheries Council

  25 November: Consumer Council

  25 November: General Affairs Council

  26 November: General Affairs Council

  26 November: Internal Market Council

  28 November: Telecommunications Council

  28 November: Justice and Home Affairs Council

  29 November: Justice and Home Affairs Council

  2. The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  11 November: Ecofin Council

  Approval of the provisional agenda.

  Approval of the list of "A" points.

  Preparation of the European Council:

  Recommendations of the Council based on Article 109 J.

  Preparation of Stage 3 of EMU:

  Report by the Council to the European Council on relations between the Euro area and non-participating member states.

  Commission report on the development of tax systems in the European Union.

  SEM 2000 Commission presentation of report of personal representatives group.

  Other business.

  12 November: Health Concil

  Adoption of the agenda.

  Adoption of the list of "A" points.

  Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council creating a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the European Community.

  EU—US task force on communicable diseases.

  Strategy towards blood safety and self-sufficiency in the European Community: draft resolution.

  Reduction of smoking in the European Community: draft resolution.

  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE): draft conclusions.

  Integration of health protection requirements in Community policies: draft resolution.

  European health card.

  Other business:

  Rapid introduction of important new medicinal products (requested by Netherlands delegation).

  14 November: Industry Council

  229

  At this stage, all of the below would seem likely to be discussed.

  EC merger regulation.

  Presidency paper on state aids.

  Bench marking.

  Communication on competitiveness of chemicals industry.

  Communication on competitiveness of automotive industry.

  Communication on competitiveness of textiles industry.

  Third SME multi-annual programme (1997–2000)—particularly its budget.

  Resolution on realising the full potential of SMEs, including very small and micro enterprises.

  18–19 November: Agriculture Council

  Beef and cereals package.

  Reform of the tobacco sector.

  Reform of the olive oil sector.

  Durum wheat (possible item).

  Plant health—solidarity and responsibility (possible item).

  BSE (possible item).

  Veterinary and Phytosanitary Agency (possible item).

  19 November: Budget Council

  1997 Budget

  Legal base (possible item).

  21 November: Educational Council (provisional agenda)

  School effectiveness: discussion document and Council conclusions. This will be the topic for the open debate.

  Lifelong learning: discussion document and Council conclusions.

  Local community development through education: council conclusions.

  Quality of higher education: Presentation of recommendation.

  Paedophilia conclusions-declaration.

  Green Paper on obstacles to mobility: presentation by the Commission.

  Quality Assessment of first and second level education systems: oral report from the Commission.

  SOCRATES: information from the Commission.

  European Commission white paper: Commission report on five thematic conferences.

  Transferability of grants: Information on commission proposal for a Council recommendation.

  TEMPUS II (Information—Decision depending on timeframe): Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 93/246/EEC of 29 April 1993 adopting the second phase of the trans-European co-operation scheme for higher education (TEMPUS II) (1994–1998).

  Learning in the information society: information from the Commission.

  Meeting with the Education Ministers of the countries of central and eastern Europe (the Council will adjourn its formal business at 1200 to have the formal part of the structured dialogue until 1300. This will continue over lunch and the Council will reconvene formally at approximately 1500 to conclude its business).

  22 November: Fisheries Council

  Multi-annual guidance programme IV.

  Fish prices.

  Autonomous tariff quotas.

  22 November: Development Council (provisional agenda)

  First ministerial exchange of views on ACP/EU relations post Lome IV (Commission green paper).

  Further exchange of views on relief, rehabilitation and development.

  Resolution on human and social development.

  230

  Adoption of a common position on the regulation on north-south co-operation in the fight against drugs.

  Adoption of a common position on the regulation on aid for population policies and programmes.

  Approval after EP second reading of the regulations on rehabilitation and construction in developing countries, Refugees in Asia and Latin America, environmental measures in developing countries and HIV/AIDS-related operations in developing countries.

  Horizon 2000—coherence, complementarity and co-ordination.

  25 November: Consumer Council

  Draft directive on injunctions (access to justice).

  Action plan on access to justice.

  Directive on consumer credit (on formula used for APR).

  Discussion of green paper on "Financial services: meeting consumers' expectations".

  Discussion of green paper on "Commercial Communications".

  Presidency paper on vulnerable groups.

  Commission presentation on consumer guarantees.

  There will also be an open debate on consumers and the information society.

  25–26 November: General Affairs Council

  Agenda not yet known.

  26 November: Internal Market Council

  Agenda not yet known.

  28 November: Telecommunications Council

  Directive on the application of open network provision to voice telephony and on universal service for telecommunications in a competitive environment: Common position.

  Directive on common rules for the development of Community postal services and the improvement of the quality of service: Common position (possible item).

  Decision regarding the definition and implementation of Community Policy in the field of communications and postal services: adoption.

  Illegal material on the Internet: conclusions/recommendations (possible item).

  Communication on numbering: presentation (possible item).

  Directive on the approximation of the laws of member states concerning the connected telecommunications equipment, including the mutual recognition of their conformity and applicability: presentation (possible item).

  28–29 November: Justice and Home Affairs Council

  Agenda not yet known.

SCOTLAND

  Children's Clubs (Police Advice)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what record is kept of police officers offering advice or assistance in their personal capacity to the organisers of children's clubs; and if he will make a statement. [195]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is no central requirement for clubs or police officers to keep such records.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to make alterations to the system under which decisions relating to both the aggregate level and distribution between councils of grant-aided expenditure, Government-supported
  231
  expenditure and aggregate external finance are taken with particular reference to the delegation of such decisions to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; and if he will make a statement. [206]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend is statutorily obliged to consult the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about both the aggregate level of the local government finance settlement and its distribution among councils, but there is absolutely no question of decisions on those matters having been delegated to the convention as the hon. Member appears to suggest.

  Cullen Inquiry
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officers of Central Scotland police intimated a willingness to give evidence to the Cullen inquiry and subsequently declined to do so; and if he will make a statement. [90]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland appointed Lord Cullen on 21 March 1996 to be a tribunal for the purposes of this inquiry in virtue of section 1 of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921.

  Under the provisions of the Act, Lord Cullen had the power to call witnesses and require them to appear at the inquiry. There was, therefore, no question of anyone intimating a willingness to give evidence to the inquiry and subsequently declining to do so.

  Police (Freemasons)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what records are kept which show to which masonic lodges police officers belong; and if he will make a statement. [237]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No such records are kept by the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the policy of the Central Scotland police in respect of officers being members of the masonic order. [89]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no information about any such policy, which would be a matter for the chief constable.

  Casualty Animals
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [464]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  None.

  Thomas Hamilton
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions Thomas Hamilton was found in possession of firearms, other than those included on his firearms certificate; and if he will make a statement. [95]
  232
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Lord Cullen's report of the public inquiry into the shootings at Dunblane primary school mentions no such occasions. In particular, I refer the hon. Member to chapter 6 of the report, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Ex-prisoners (Employment)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what percentage of ex-prisoners in Scotland have entered(a) paid employment, (b) full-time training and (c) full-time education within six months of being released from prison in each year since 1990; [1472]

  (2) what percentage of ex-offenders in Scotland who received non-custodial sentences have entered (a) paid employment, (b) full-time training and (c) full-time education within six months of completing their sentence in each year since 1990; [1473]

  (3) what is the total number and percentage of ex-offenders in Scotland who have entered employment within six months of completion of their sentence in each year since 1990. [1474]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria are used by his Department in assessing requests for additional section 94 consents made by local authorities. [1379]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Additional section 94 consent is dependent on the availability of uncommitted resources for local authority capital spending. If resources are available, decisions are taken by Ministers in light of the submissions from local authorities and the relative needs and priorities of the councils seeking assistance.

  Re-offenders
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number and percentage of re-offenders in Scotland in each year since 1990; and if he will provide a breakdown of these figures by category of crime. [1475]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information is not available in the form requested. The Scottish Office publication "Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, 1994" contains some information on those persons convicted on more than one occasion in the period 1989–1994.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Relations
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will contract out to the private sector media and public relations work currently undertaken by the Government Information Service. [850]

  Mr. Freeman
  Decisions on how media and PR campaigns are carried out are for Departments to make.
  233

TRANSPORT

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of(a) the restructuring costs and (b) other costs relating to the letting of the west coast main line rail franchise. [1371]

  Mr. Watts
  The costs incurred by the franchising director to date on letting the InterCity West Coast franchise are £2.2 million. Any restructuring of the business will be the responsibility of the franchisee.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates have been made of(a) the total costs of consultants, (b) the costs of lawyers' fees, (c) the costs of accountants' fees, (d) the costs of management consultants' fees and (e) the costs of publicity, in the letting of the west coast main line rail franchise. [1370]

  Mr. Watts
  The costs of consultants' fees incurred by the franchising director on letting the InterCity West Coast franchise are:

  Lawyers: £0.33 million

  Accountants: £1.23 million

  Management consultants: £0.28 million

  Total consultants costs: £2.20 million

  Apart from costs incurred at the time a franchise is awarded, costs on publicity are incurred for franchising generally and cannot be attributed to individual franchise sales.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs have been incurred to date on the bidding process in preparation for letting the west coast main line rail franchise, broken down by category. [1369]

  Mr. Watts
  The costs incurred to date by the franchising director on letting the InterCity West Coast franchise are:

  £ million

  Legal

  0.33

  Financial adviser

  0.23

  Accountant

  1.23

  Management consultants

  0.28

  Engineering

  0.13

  Total

  2.20

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the value of liabilities to be written off as part of the letting of the west coast mainline rail franchise. [1372]

  Mr. Watts
  The franchising director has written off no liabilities as part of franchising InterCity West Coast

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the expenditure on operation of the west coast mainline(a) in each year since 1993–94, (b) in the year up to the issuing of the first pre-qualification document by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and (c) in the time since preparation for letting the franchise began. [1373]
  234
  Mr. Watts
  In 1993–94, the InterCity West Coast business was part of the InterCity division of BR and it is not possible to identify the operating costs of InterCity West Coast separately.

  On 1 April 1994 the InterCity division was split in preparation for franchising and InterCity West Coast established as a separate business. From that dale, responsibility for funding BR passenger operations has been the responsibility of the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising. Since then, BR has received support for passenger rail services to cover those costs of running the business that are not met from passenger revenue or other income. Opraf has paid the following sums to BR to cover the budgeted deficits of InterCity West Coast.

  £ million

  1994–95

  99.05

  1995–96

  84.69

  1996–971

  92.53

  Total

  276.27

  1 Annual total.

  In 1994–95, BR received £67 million of the support for InterCity West Coast by 14 December 1994 when the first pre-qualification document was issued.

  From 1 April 1994 to date, Opraf has paid BR £233 million in respect of InterCity West Coast.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of services projected in the passenger service requirement for InterCity West Coast between Watford junction and Milton Keynes. [1468]

  Mr. Watts
  There is no requirement for services to call at Watford or Milton Keynes in the InterCity West Coast draft passenger service requirement. The draft passenger service requirement for North London Railways includes a specification safeguarding regular services between London, Watford, Milton Keynes and stations on the route to Birmingham. In drawing up the draft passenger service requirement for InterCity West Coast, the franchising director has taken the view that the operator should have the commercial flexibility to determine the number of InterCity services calling at these stations. The consultation period on the draft passenger service requirement for InterCity West Coast ends on 20 November.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of consultants' fees relating to the preparation for letting the west coast main line franchise(a) for each year since 1993 and (b) to date. [1368]

  Mr. Watts
  The costs of consultants' fees incurred by the franchising director on letting the InterCity West Coast franchise are:

  1993–94 £0.00 million

  1994–95 £0.26 million

  1995–96 £0.30 million

  1996–97 £1.64 million

  Total £2.20 million

  235
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the projected number of services listed in the passenger service requirement for the InterCity west coast main line for services between London Euston and Crewe. [1519]

  Mr. Watts
  The draft passenger service requirement for InterCity West Coast specifies that the operator must provide an hourly service in each direction Mondays to Saturdays. On Sundays there must be an hourly service between Crewe and London Euston, and 14 trains between London Euston and Crewe. The consultation period on the draft passenger service requirement ends on 20 November.

  Departmental Parking
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many car parking spaces(a) were available at the Department of Transport's former premises at 2 Marsham street and (b) are available at the Department's current premises at Great Minster house. [1375]

  Mr. Bowis
  Approximately 64 car parking spaces within 2 Marsham street were allocated to the Department of Transport on a permanent basis in 1995. The number of car parking spaces available in Great Minster house is 23.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the annual cost per annum of car parking spaces at the Department of Transport's current premises of Great Minster house. [1377]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman on 28 October Official Report, column 44.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of car parking spaces at the Department of Transport's former premises at 2 Marsham street, on the basis of central London charges, for each year since 1979, in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms. [1376]

  Mr. Bowis
  Prior to leaving 2 Marsham street in June 1996, the cost of car parking was £192,000 per annum based on central London commercial rates. Information for earlier years is not available.

  National Bus Company Pension Scheme
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the findings of the Pensions Ombudsman in respect of the National Bus Company employees: superannuation scheme; and what measures he proposes to return the £168 million plus interest received by his Department from the scheme prior to the sale of the Company. [1086]

  Mr. Watts
  The pensions ombudsman has issued his final determination on a complaint against the trustees of one of the pension funds—the bus employer superannuation trust—of the former National Bus Company. The trustees, to whom the determination is directed, are in touch with my Department about it. My Department is considering the determination and taking legal advice before replying to the trustees. It may be necessary and appropriate to ask the courts to make a ruling on the complex issues involved.
  236

  Rail Deregulation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department has to issue deregulation orders in respect of initiatives involving(a) level crossings, (b) the introduction of new railway stock, (c) tramways and (d) railway heritage. [1432]

  Mr. Watts
  There are no plans to use order-making powers to further initiatives in these areas.

  Rail Franchising Director
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many official cars are operated by the office of the Rail Franchising Director; and if he will indicate the total expenditure for those vehicles since Opraf was established. [1467]

  Mr. Watts
  Opraf leases one car from the Government car service. The net costs are as follows:

  £

  1993–94

  16,510

  1994–95

  46,254

  1995–96

  45,527

  1996–971

  23,793

  Total

  132,084

  1 To date.

  Watford Junction Rail Incident
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what action has been taken by the British Railways Board to investigate the reason for a London to Manchester train on 10 July overshooting Watford Junction station; [123]

  (2) what failures in approved safety procedures have been identified by the British Railways Board to explain the reason for a London-Manchester train overshooting Watford Junction station on 10 July; [119]

  (3) if all train staff specifically involved in the incident on 10 July when a London-Manchester train overshot Watford Junction station have been asked to offer evidence to an internal inquiry under the auspices of the British Railways Board; [117]

  (4) if he will instruct the British Railways Board to publish the fully details of the incident on 10 July when a Euston-Manchester train overshot Watford Junction station; [113]

  (5) if he has requested information from the British Railways Board about the incident on 10 July when a Euston-Manchester express train overshot Watford Junction station; [121]

  (6) what defect reports on (a) the trainset and (b) the locomotive which overran Watford Junction station on 10 July were made on the previous day; and what action was taken; [116]

  (7) what action has been taken by the British Railways Board following the incident on 10 July when a London-Manchester train overshot Watford Junction Station; [120]
  237
  (8) if the results of the British Railways Board internal inquiry into the incident on 10 July when a London-Manchester train overshot Watford Junction station have been made available to the train staff involved; [118]

  (9) what explanation has been provided to him by the British Railways Board for the failure of a London-Manchester train on 10 July to stop at Watford Junction station; [91]

  (10) what instructions he has given to the British Railways Board about making known full details of the incident on 10 July when a Euston-Manchester train overshot Watford Junction station; [114]

  (11) on what date the Health and Safety Executive was notified by his Department about the incident on 10 July when an express train overshot Watford Junction station by five miles; [662]

  (12) what action has been taken by the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the reasons for a London to Manchester train on 10 July overshooting Watford Junction station; [101]

  (13) what recommendations have been made by the Health and Safety Executive following the incident on 10 July when a London to Manchester train overshot Watford Junction station. [103]

  Mr. Watts
  The incident on 10 July was reported to the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate by Railtrack within two hours of it occurring. HSE inspecting officers immediately started an independent investigation as to the cause. The train in question was operated by a British Railways Board subsidiary company, InterCity West Coast Ltd., which held an inquiry into technical aspects following an agreement with Railtrack.

  As part of its investigation, the HSE has confirmed that the cause of the incident was the brake failure due to a hose blanking cap known as a "top hat" becoming trapped in a brake hose coupling. The "top hat" was able to spin on its axis causing an intermittent failure. The train's braking system was tested at the InterCity depot in Wembley, Middlesex before its journey to Euston, and was tested again immediately before the train's departure from Euston to Manchester. No defects were found. The blockage of the brake coupling hose which caused the brake failure must therefore have developed during the journey.

  How the railways' internal inquiry is held, whom it chooses to interview, and to whom the results are made available, are matters for the railway companies involved. The Secretary of State for Transport has no statutory powers to request details of, or to instruct any railway company to make public, the findings of its internal inquiries into any incident. The HSE as the independent safety regulator does have power to require such details, and the Health and Safety Commission advises the Secretary of State for Transport. The HSE is continuing its discussions with the train operating company.

  I understand from the HSE that:

  (a) a check has been made of other rolling stock to see if any similar potential obstructions exist;

  (b) suppliers of brake coupling hoses have now dispensed with the use of top hat" blanking pieces and are using alternative means of preventing ingress of dirt during storage; and

  238

  (c) procedures in depots have been improved to ensure that brake hose couplings are properly checked for any potential obstruction on fitment.

  The HSE will not conclude its investigation until it has reviewed the railway's internal report and satisfied itself that issues have been properly resolved.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the implications of the Financial Services Act 1986 for the making of a full public statement by the British Railways Board to explain why on 10 July a London to Manchester train overshot Watford Junction station by five miles. [102]

  Mr. Watts
  The Financial Services Act 1986 requires that any public statement to be issued in the United Kingdom which might constitute an investment advertisement, as defined in the Act, should first be approved by a person authorised under the Act. Until the rail franchising process is completed, British Rail will require its staff to follow guidelines aimed at ensuring that any public statements they make comply with the terms of the Act.

  Rail Privatisation
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of legal fees incurred by Her Majesty's Government in relation to the privatisation of Railtrack for legal advice and work provided by solicitors in private practice; and what was the average(a) daily and (b) hourly rate contracted for the advice. [852]

  Mr. Watts
  Government expenditure to date on legal fees in relation to the privatisation of Railtrack is £3.9 million, excluding VAT. Information about contracted daily and hourly rates is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if all trains currently operated by privatised train operating companies have complied in full with the safety case required by the Health and Safety Executive. [661]

  Mr. Watts
  I am advised by the Health and Safety Executive that it has no evidence that trains operated by privatised train operating companies are not in compliance with safety case obligations.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those companies on the pre-qualified bidders' list for railway franchises. [1471]

  Mr. Watts
  No. This information is commercially confidential.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the hourly rates paid to(a) Samuel Montague, (b) Kleinwort Benson, (c) KPMG, (d) Coopers and Lybrand and (e) Linklaters and Paines by the office of the rail franchising director for work undertaken in relation to rail privatisation. [1511]

  Mr. Watts
  No. It is not the Government's policy to divulge the hourly fee rates for their advisers.
  239

  Railway Rolling Stock
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway rolling stock leases involving mark I passenger carriages are currently in existence; and in respect of each lease, what is the name of the rolling stock company owning the vehicles, what is the name of the train operating company leasing them, how many mark I vehicles are covered by that lease and what is the date to which the train operating company is committed to leasing these mark I vehicles. [760]

  Mr. Watts
  The latest figures held centrally show the position as at 31 March 1995 and these are attached. The rolling stock companies were privatised last year and the current position is a matter for them.

  Summary of Mark 1 Rolling Stock on lease as at 31 March 1995. All leases commenced 1 April 1994

  Vehicle class

  Units on lease as at 31 March 1995

  Lease length

  ROSCO—Angel Train Contracts

  101 (Heritage)

  54 vehicles to RRNW

  3 years

  1 two car unit to RR SW and W

  4 years

  22 vehicles to ScotRail

  4 years

  117 (Heritage)

  3 two car units and spare vehicle to RRSW and W

  4 years

  21 vehicles to ScotRail

  4 years

  6 vehicles to RRCentral

  14 months

  11 two car units to North London Railways

  4 years

  121 (Heritage)

  3 vehicles to North London Railways

  4 years

  1 vehicle to North London Railways

  14 months

  303

  43 three car units to ScotRail

  4 years

  2 three car units to ScotRail

  18 months

  305

  6 three car units to RRNW

  3 years

  9 three car units to RRNW

  16 months

  5 four car units to ScotRail

  4 years

  308

  21 three car units to RRNE

  3 years

  309

  8 four car units to RRNW

  6 years

  421

  73 four car units to Network South Cen.

  8 years

  5 four car units to Network South Cen.

  4 years

  2 four car units to Network South Cen.

  19 months

  4 four car units to Network South Cen.

  14 months

  423

  66 four car units to South Eastern

  10 years

  ROSCO—Porterbrook Leasing

  205

  1 two car unit to South Eastern

  5 years

  10 three car units to Network South Central

  4 years

  207

  4 two car units to South Eastern

  5 years

  411

  35 four car units to South Eastern

  i

  71 four car units to South Eastern

  5 years

  412

  7 four car units to South West Trains

  5 years

  422

  15 four car units to Network South Central

  4 years

  423

  35 four car units leased to Network South Central

  8 years

  4 four car units leased to Network South Central

  4 years

  240

  Summary of Mark 1 Rolling Stock on lease as at 31 March 1995. All leases commenced 1 April 1994

  Vehicle class

  Units on lease as at 31 March 1995

  Lease length

  8 four car units leased to Network South Central

  14 months

  ROSCO—Eversholt Train Leasing Company

  302

  28 four car units to London Tilbury and Southend

  2 years

  304

  6 three car units to Regional Railways Central

  2 years

  4 four car units to Regional Railways North West

  19 months

  421

  34 four car units to South West Trains

  8 years

  21 four car units to South Eastern

  6 years

  423

  44 four car units to South West Trains

  8 years

  33 four car units to South West Trains

  4 years

  Mk1 coaches

  12 to Regional Railways North West

  6 years

  Mk1 catering

  4 to Anglia

  2 years

  3 to Anglia

  3 years

  Motorail

  4 side loaders to Inter City West Coast

  1 year

  41 GUVs to Inter City West Coast

  1 year

  6 GUVs to Cross Country Trains

  14 months

  Brake Guards Vans

  3 to Great Western

  4 years

  19 to Inter City West Coast

  1 year

  5 to Cross Country Trains

  14 months

  1 Extendable to 5 years at 2 months notice.

  2Expired 31 October 1995.

  Vehicles (Illegal Operators)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date his Department issued draft legislative proposals to allow the vehicles of illegal operators to be impounded. [1518]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have not yet done so.

  Traffic Congestion
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now update the maps of current congestion and projections of future congestion referred to in his answer of 26 February,Official Report, column 320, and include detailed forecasts of congestion for trunk roads in the south west of England and in particular for key links on the motorway network in the region. [1081]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 17 October to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Olner),Official Report, columns 1100–01. [1101]

  Airport Security Staff
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals there are to extend the vetting of(a) in-house and (b) contract security staff at airports in the United Kingdom by permitting access to the police national computer; and if he will make a statement.[1028]

  Mr. Bowis
  Ministers agreed in August of this year that all security staff working at UK airports, whether in-house or contractors, should be subject to formal counter-terrorist checks against Government records,
  241
  including criminal records held by the police. This is additional to the existing requirement for references to be obtained.

  Rail Franchises
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each rail franchise(a) the

  £ Million

  Cost of advisors

  1995–96 Budgeted passenger revenue

  Support paid to BR prior to franchising1

  Support paid at franchising (Year 1)

  Year 2

  Year 3

  Year 4

  Year 5

  Year 6

  Gatwick Express

  2.14

  31.00

  nil

  -4.53

  -6.17

  -7.85

  -9.66

  -10.48

  -11.24

  South Eastern Trains

  2.19

  241.90

  138.92

  125.40

  97.67

  64.99

  52.78

  42.12

  35.99

  LTS

  1.94

  54.30

  34.50

  29.61

  26.61

  24.00

  22.53

  21.15

  19.85

  Midland Main Line

  1.90

  83.20

  16.76

  17.48

  7.31

  1.92

  -0.78

  0.66

  -2.61

  Great Western

  2.44

  197.00

  60.83

  61.93

  56.63

  51.97

  46.10

  40.54

  37.15

  Thames3

  1.05

  59.90

  43.80

  40.32

  33.25

  24.11

  16.54

  13.28

  7.43

  Cardiff Railway

  1.46

  6.70

  22.20

  21.50

  19.85

  17.63

  16.64

  15.37

  14.61

  South Wales and West

  1.64

  48.80

  84.80

  80.78

  70.94

  60.52

  55.86

  50.04

  46.27

  InterCity East Coast

  2.33

  268.60

  74.74

  66.39

  52.75

  33.73

  14.49

  5.30

  1.80

  Chiltern

  2.04

  28.30

  18.56

  16.64

  13.00

  11.86

  8.60

  5.57

  4.12

  Network South Central

  2.15

  178.50

  101.99

  86.67

  70.58

  49.97

  44.89

  41.67

  36.08

  South West Trains

  2.26

  273.60

  85.43

  62.72

  60.66

  58.38

  53.41

  48.75

  43.60

  Island Line

  0.31

  1.00

  2.56

  2.01

  1.92

  1.84

  1.79

  1.75

  2—

  Total

  23.85

  1,472.80

  685.09

  606.92

  505.00

  393.07

  324.76

  274.30

  233.66

  Savings on BR Support

  —

  —

  —

  78.17

  180.09

  292.02

  360.33

  410.79

  448.87

  Cumulative

  —

  —

  —

  78.17

  258.27

  550.29

  910.62

  1,321.41

  1,770.28

  £ million

  Year 7

  Year 8

  Year 9

  Year 10

  Year 11

  Year 12

  Year 13

  Year 14

  Year 15

  Gatwick Express

  -11.72

  -13.05

  -14.40

  -15.87

  -16.37

  -17.88

  -19.41

  -21.03

  -22.65

  South Eastern Trains

  26.83

  26.83

  18.69

  18.66

  12.52

  9.48

  5.69

  0.00

  -2.78

  LTS

  18.64

  17.49

  16.42

  15.42

  14.47

  13.58

  12.75

  11.37

  11.24

  Midland Main Line

  -4.41

  -6.22

  -8.13

  -10.05

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Great Western

  35.23

  33.60

  32.60

  31.60

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Thames3

  3.74

  0.00

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Cardiff Railway

  13.93

  13.26

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  South Wales and West

  42.88

  38.14

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  InterCity East Coast

  0.00

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Chiltern

  2.87

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Network SouthCentral

  34.64

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  South West Trains

  40.27

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Island Line

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  202.90

  110.05

  45.17

  39.76

  10.62

  5.18

  -0.97

  -9.06

  -14.19

  Savings on BR Support

  479.65

  291.78

  205.84

  211.25

  182.80

  168.24

  174.38

  182.48

  187.81

  Cumulative savings

  2,249.91

  2,541.67

  2,747.51

  2,958.76

  3,121.57

  3,289.80

  3,464.20

  3,646.67

  3,834.29

  1 Figures are for 1996–97 except for SWT and GW where the figures are for 1995–96.

  2 Not covered by the franchise.

  3The Year 1 franchise payment is the full year equivalent of the contractual amount to allow for accurate comparisons.

  Franchise years are not the same as financial years.

  Therefore there is an overlap between the amount paid to BR and the franchise payment year 1.

  Payments to the Franchising Director appear as negative amounts.

  All payments are real amounts.

  242
  cost of advisers, (b) the training operating companies' passenger revenue in 1995–96, (c) the subsidy paid by the franchising director prior to privatisation, (d) the subsidy paid at the date the franchise was let and (e) the projected subsidy for each of the last two years of the franchise. [1513]

  Mr. Watts
  The information is provided in the tables.
  243

  Air Traffic Control
  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Civil Aviation Authority has not appointed a preferred bidder for the new Scottish centre air traffic control project. [1169]

  Mr. Bowis
  Decisions on the tenders for the new Scottish centre project are contingent on the review of the two-centre strategy for provision of air traffic control services currently being carried out by the CAA's subsidiary company, National Air Traffic Services Ltd. That review is not yet complete.

  Northolt Station
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety of Northolt station for its users; and if he will make a statement. [961]

  Mr. Bowis
  London Underground Ltd. is responsible for the safe operation of its stations. Following its normal procedures, I understand that it has assessed the safety of Northolt station and instigated the appropriate level of inspections to monitor the condition of the structures.

  Air Accident Reports
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each air accident investigation report published in the last five years those recommendations that have yet to be implemented. [1436]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Civil Aviation Authority's progress report 1996 (CAP 666) lists the action taken in response to recommendations addressed to the CAA and the Department in 1995 and to earlier recommendations which have action outstanding.
  244

  HGVs and PSVs
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many presentations to magistrates on the enforcement of heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles have been made by(a) the traffic area network unit and (b) traffic commissioner's offices in each of the last 12 months. [1517]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Transport's programme of road traffic presentations to magistrates is co-ordinated by the traffic area network unit in consultation with the local traffic commissioner and the vehicle inspectorate. A total of 22 presentations has been arranged so far in response to requests from local magistrates associations. The number held in each of the last twelve months is as follows:

  November 1995: 1

  December 1995: 0

  January 1996: 1

  February 1996: 0

  March 1996: 2

  April 1996: 1

  May 1996: 0

  June 1996: 0

  July 1996: 2

  August 1996: 0

  September 1996: 1

  October 1996: 2

  Fatal Road Accidents
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number and proportion of fatal road accidents involving heavy lorries in the most recent year for which figures are available. [1498]

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1995, there were 530 reported fatal road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles, accounting for 16 per cent. of all fatal road accidents.
  245

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) under what statutory powers he has placed the Benefits Agency out to tender; [408]

  (2) if he will list the functions of the Benefits Agency which are to be contracted out. [409]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The Benefits Agency has not been put out to tender.

  On 19 July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced proposals for three initiatives involving greater collaboration with the private sector as the next stage of the Department's drive to review and improve the delivery of social security.

  Those concerning the Benefits Agency include, first, an invitation to the private sector to submit proposals for taking over the operation of the child benefit centre in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

  The second initiative will involve three private companies—or consortiums—appointed following open competition to work in conjunction with the Benefits Agency in running benefit delivery in three of its 13 areas—Yorkshire, West Country and East London and Anglia directorates—for 12 months. All three companies will assist the Benefits Agency with the development of new business processes and information technology. They will be invited during the 12-month period to submit proposals for any elements of the agency's business which could be run differently, including the possibility of further parts of the operation being run by the private sector.

  In addition, the functions of the Benefits Agency medical services will be contracted out. A contract is expected to be awarded in April 1997.

  The award of contracts under these proposals will be in compliance with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 and the Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993.

  Invalidity and Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants received all forms of(a) invalidity benefit for each year since 1990 and (b) incapacity benefit for (i) 1995 and (ii) 1996. [733]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.

  Benefit

  Number of beneficiaries

  Invalidity benefit at 31 March 1990

  1,209,000

  Invalidity benefit at 30 March 1991

  1,306,000

  Invalidity benefit at 4 April 1992

  1,439,000

  Invalidity benefit at 3 April 1993

  1,508,000

  Invalidity benefit at 2 April 1994

  1,681,000

  Invalidity benefit at 12 April 1995

  1,767,000

  Incapacity benefit short-term higher rate and long-term rate at 31 May 1995

  1,721,000

  246

  Benefit

  Number of beneficiaries

  Incapacity benefit short-term higher rate and long-term rate at 31 May 1996

  1.677,000

  11.Figures for invalidity benefit are taken from a 1 per cent. sample of all claimants at the specified date.

  22. Figures for incapacity benefit are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the computer system at the specified date and exclude a small number of cases not held on the system.

  33. When incapacity benefit was introduced on 13 April 1995 it replaced sickness benefit and invalidity benefit.

  44. The information for incapacity benefit provides the numbers of recipients of short-term higher rate and long-term rate which are the direct equivalent of invalidity benefit in order to provide comparable figures.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the level of benefit fraud in the Bolton area; and what targets have been set for the anti-fraud team in Bolton. [125]

  Mr. Heald
  Reliable estimates of benefit fraud and incorrectness are derived from the benefit review programme, which is looking at all the major benefits over a five-year period. For example, it was announced in July 1995 that the benefit review of income support and unemployment benefit estimated 9.7 per cent. of claims to be fraudulent, representing an annual value of £1.4 billion. However, review results are statistically valid only on a national basis, and levels of fraud can not be derived for individual geographical areas.

  In 1995–96 benefit savings from fraud investigation and initiatives under the security and control programme for the Bolton area amounted to £6,165,825.82.

  Following the merger of the benefit fraud investigation teams serving Bolton and Wigan, a savings target has not been set separately for the Bolton area for 1996–97. The savings target for the area covering both the Bolton and Wigan areas for fraud investigation and initiatives under the security and control programme for 1996–97 is £9,423,363.

  Benefit Appeals
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals against a decision that the claimant is capable of work have been(a) lodged and (b) decided during the year April 1995 to April 1996; and of those decided, how many were found in the claimant's favour. [418]

  Mr. Burt
  As at 31 March 1996, 40,665 appeals against a decision that a claimant was capable of work following an examination under the all-work test had been lodged. Of these, 7,671 had been heard and 3,549 were revised in favour of the appellant.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of claimants receiving income support as a result of the rejection of their claim for incapacity benefit. [728]
  247
  Mr. Burt
  As at 31 August 1996, 113,0001 incapacity benefit recipients had been found capable of work following an examination under the all work-test. Of these, it is estimated that around 37,0002 will become newly entitled to income support.

  Notes:
  1. Source: 100 per cent. count of cases on the incapacity benefit computer system. Excludes a small number of cases not held on the system.
  2. Estimate based on family expenditure survey data, rounded to nearest 1,000 cases.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) IB50 questionnaires were (i) issued and (ii) returned and (b) how many examinations for the all-work test were (1) scheduled and (2) took place during the year April 1995 to April 1996. [411]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested as information on the return of questionnaires is not routinely collected. However, a recent sampling exercise indicated that 93 per cent. of questionnaires are returned within six weeks. The available information is in the table.

  Number

  Questionnaires issued (13 April 1995 to 31 March 1996)

  1,317,715

  IB examinations scheduled (13 April 1995 to 31 March 1996)

  683,760

  IB examinations conducted (13 April to 31 March 1996)

  434,817

  Notes:

  Figures for examinations scheduled and conducted include a small number of examinations for the own occupation test and all-work test examinations for severe disablement allowance claimants.

  Source:

  Benefits Agency medical services.

  Out-of-hours Service
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what funds have been(a) made available and (b) expended on maintaining the out-of-hours service since the completion of the consultation exercise; and when he plans to announce a decision on the service. [124]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Peter Thurnham, dated 30 October 1996:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what funds have been (a) made available and (b) expended on maintaining the Out of Hours Service (OOHS) since the completion of the consultation exercise; and when he plans to announce a decision on the service.
  The consultation stage of the review of the OOHS took place during August 1996. The total budget allocated to budget holders for the administration of the OOHS for the financial year 1996/97 is £1.834m, of which £1m was issued on 10 October to enable managers to continue the service pending the results of the review.
  The amount expended on maintaining the Out of Hours Service during this financial year is not separately identified by all budget holders and could only by obtained at a disproportionate cost.
  248
  The review of the OOHS is currently under way and as part of this review, the Benefits Agency has sought the views of all interested parties including social services. Those views will be taken into account in reaching the final decision. No decisions have yet been made about the OOHS. I am unable to confirm when an announcement will be made though it is hoped this will be before the end of the year.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Child Support Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what measures he has put in place to ensure that confidentiality is not breached by Post Office staff opening letters to the Child Support Agency; [66]

  (2) what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that Post Office staff opening letters to the Child Support Agency are not allowed to read them; [56]

  (3) what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that Post Office staff involved with the Child Support Agency in a private capacity are precluded from opening letters to the Child Support Agency at work. [57]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 30 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about confidentiality safeguards regarding the opening of Child Support Agency post.
  Client confidentiality is of the utmost importance to the Agency, and safeguarding information was an important consideration for the Agency before taking the decision to contract out its post opening requirements to the Royal Mail.
  All Royal Mail staff are required to sign the Official Secrets Act, just as are staff employed by the Child Support Agency. The sorting service provided by Royal Mail is identical to the procedure previously undertaken by Agency staff.
  Mail for the Agency is opened in a separate, secure room at each Royal Mail delivery office. The office is kept locked and staff are required to sign on entry to the room. The postal workers who open Agency post sign a confidentiality agreement relating to this work. The mail opening is continually supervised by a manager and monitored by close-circuit TV. After being opened, the mail is sorted into individual office addresses nominated by the Agency and then put in sealed pouches ready for delivery to Agency offices. The volumes involved and the large scale use of machinery in the process makes the reading of individual letters and forms an impractical proposition.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints he has received from people using the Child Support Agency relating to breaches of confidentiality in each of the last five years. [65]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 30 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about breaches of confidentiality relating to the Child Support Agency.

  249
  It is not possible to answer your Question in precisely the form that you have requested, as statistics on the number of complaints are not recorded by category.
  However, any apparent breach of confidentiality by Agency staff (whether it emerges via a complaint or our internal checks) is treated very seriously and thoroughly investigated. All staff are made aware of the importance of this aspect of the Agency's work. Since its launch in 1993, the Agency has handled over 1.7 million cases: the total number of confidentiality breaches resulting in disciplinary action is 47. The table below shows a yearly breakdown of this figure. The vast majority of cases were the result of human error, e.g. wrongly directing mail. In one case confidentiality was breached knowingly: this led to the dismissal of the person involved.

  Year

  Number of confidentiality breaches

  1993–94

  0

  1994–95

  4

  1995–96

  28

  1996 to date

  15

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he undertook before giving permission for Post Office staff to open letters from people writing to the Child Support Agency. [67]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 30 October 1996:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security regarding consultations about the opening of Child Support Agency post.
  Following a feasibility study, the Agency decided to contract out its post opening requirements to the Royal Mail. The Agency ran a six month pilot exercise to test procedures and issues such as security and client confidentiality.
  Full consultations were undertaken with local and national Agency Trade Union representatives before this decision was taken; Agency staff and managers involved in post opening duties were also fully consulted.
  I hope this is helpful.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of Stare for Social Security what is his estimate of the annual cost to the Exchequer of raising the starting point for paying employee national insurance contributions to the weekly earnings equivalent of the annual sum of £3,765; and what is his estimate of the number of individuals who would cease to be liable to pay employee national insurance contributions if such a change were made. [815]

  Mr. Heald
  The estimated loss in revenue from employee national insurance contributions would be some £775 million in a full year. On average, about 0.8 million employees in any week would no longer be liable to pay contributions.

  Source:
  Government Actuary's Department.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the additional revenue yield in a full year which would result from extending 250
  employers national insurance contributions to all fringe benefits currently liable to income tax only; and if he will make a statement. [648]

  Mr. Heald
  An estimated £250 million would be raised by extending employer national insurance contributions to taxable benefits in kind.

  Source:
  Inland Revenue.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the revenue lost to the Exchequer in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1995–96, (d) 1996–97 and (e) 1997–98 from the avoidance of employers national insurance contributions by companies who have paid annual bonuses in benefits in kind as opposed to cash; and if he will make a statement. [649]

  Mr. Heald
  Information is not available. Not all payment practices using benefits in kind are aimed solely or largely at unfair avoidance of national insurance contributions, and employers are not required to identify bonus payments, annual or otherwise, separately from other payments.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the revenue yield from employers national insurance contributions on fringe benefits in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1992–93, (c)1995–96, (d) 1996–97 and (e) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [650]

  Mr. Heald
  The main benefits in kind provided by employers are cars and fuel and class IA contributions are charged on them.

  Information regarding receipts from employer's class IA national insurance contributions—NICs—is in the table.

  £ millions

  Year

  Employers1 class 1A NICs (including NHS contribution)

  1990–91

  1—

  1992–93

  470

  1995–96

  2469

  1996–97

  2476

  1997–98

  2491

  Notes:

  1Class 1A came into operation from April 1991.

  2 Figures are estimated.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  A number of other payments in kind have been brought into class I NICs—paid by employers and employees—including certain share payments, options, assets, gilts and certain life assurance policies. No separate figures are available for the yield from these sources.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change the law on the liability of employers to pay national insurance. [319]

  Mr. Heald
  We plan to legislate to minor pay-as-you-earn settlement agreements in national insurance contributions at the earliest suitable opportunity. We remain committed to aligning further the rules for tax and NICs in the future except where there are clear reasons why they should differ.
  251

TREASURY

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what efforts are being made by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to stamp out the illegal trade in endangered species of flora and fauna. [325]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise plays a key enforcement role in the United Kingdoms long-standing obligations under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This entails not only monitoring and regulating legitimate trade with third countries but seizing unlawful goods and, where appropriate, prosecuting those engaged in illegal trading.

  Tax Rebates
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that formerly unemployed people who have paid too much tax receive their full tax rebate. [326]

  Mr. Jack
  Existing procedures ensure that any tax overpaid would be repaid in the normal way.

  Single Currency
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him on the criteria for joining the European single currency. [327]

  Mr. Clarke
  The Government's economic policy objectives of permanently low inflation and sound public finances are fully consistent with the Maastricht convergence criteria. These criteria make economic sense in their own right, and are essential for economic success with or without EMU.

  The precise interpretation of the criteria will be for the Council of Ministers to decide in early 1998, when the decision is taken on which countries have qualified to join the single currency.

  Inflation
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the prospects for inflation into the next decade. [329]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The prospects are excellent. In recent years we have enjoyed the lowest inflation rate for almost half a century, and the Government are determined that it should remain low.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average rate of inflation(a) between March 1974 and May 1979 and (b) since May 1979; and if he will make a statement. [995]

  Mrs. Knight
  The average rate of year-on-year inflation measured by the retail prices index all items excluding mortgage interest payments was 16 per cent. between March 1974 and May 1979. The average rate since May 1979 has been 6.3 per cent. Since the Government's inflation target rate was set in October 1992, the average rate has been 2.8 per cent.
  252

  Personal Taxation
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest available figures for total personal taxation as a percentage of the total tax take; what was the equivalent figure in 1978–79; and if he will make a statement. [330]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Total personal taxation was 69½ per cent. of total non-North sea taxes and national insurance contributions in both 1978–79 and 1995–96.

  The Government are committed to low taxation and a tax system that raises revenue in ways that do least damage to the economy and encourage enterprise. Government tax reforms since 1979, particularly the switch from direct to indirect taxation, have allowed people to keep more of the money they earn to spend or save as they choose. By sharpening work incentives and encouraging wealth creation, the Government have laid the foundation for sustained long-term improvement in general living standards.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his forecast for investment through private finance projects over the next three years. [332]

  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of agreements announced under the private finance initiative to date. [333]

  Mr. Jack
  The latest available forecasts can be found in table 6.4 of the "1996–97 Financial Statement and Budget Report", and showed that the Government forecast private sector capital investment of £1.9 million in 1996–97, £2.6 million in 1997–98, and £2.8 million in 1998–99 at the time of the last Budget. The latest projections for the three years from 1997–98 will be published in the next "Financial Statement and Budget Report", on 26 November. Just over £7 billion worth of deals have been agreed to date.

  Taxation (Cigarettes)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the tax levied on cigarettes. [334]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement.

  Poor Families
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what method he consults the views of poor families prior to reaching decisions on tax and other measures to be included in the Finance Bill. [335]

  Mr. Jack
  We receive many letters from all sections of the community, including those who are less well off, setting out their ideas for the forthcoming Budget. All representations are looked at carefully and inform the final Budget decisions.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, at the latest possible date, is the figure for the PSBR. [336]
  253
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The PSBR in September was £3.4 billion. The PSBR in the first half of 1996–97 was £16.1 billion, compared with £20.1 billion in the first half of 1995–96. The summer economic forecast projected a PSBR of £26.9 billion in 1996–97 as a whole.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current stage of the public sector borrowing requirement. [337]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The PSBR in the first half of 1996–97 was £16.1 billion, compared with £20.1 billion in the first half of 1995–96. The summer economic forecast projected a PSBR of £26.9 billion in 1996–97 as a whole, a decline of nearly £5 billion compared with the PSBR in 1995–96.

  Incomes
  Mr. Evenett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the income of a family on average earnings(a) in April 1992 and (b) in April 1997. [324]

  Mr. Jack
  Real take-home pay for a one-earner family on average earnings was £292 per week in 1991–92 and is expected to rise to £305 per week in 1996–97. That is a total rise of around £700 a year. The 1996–97 income of a family on average earnings is up £700 a year after the effects of tax and inflation when compared to that of 1991–92.

  Scottish Economy
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the business community in Scotland to discuss recent trends in the Scottish economy. [328]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  My right hon. and learned Friend keeps in regular touch with representatives of the business community from all parts of the UK, including Scotland. His last meeting with Scottish business men and women was on Tuesday 29 October.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mrs. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of mortgage interest tax relief in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [805]

  Mr. Jack
  The estimated total cost of mortgage interest relief in 1996–97 is £2.3 billion. This estimate is provisional. It is based on the assumption, by convention, of no change from the current estimated average building society interest rate of 6.5 per cent. The cost of the relief in 1997–98 would depend on future interest rates and the future distribution of the number and value of outstanding mortgages.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the full-year cost of reducing the income tax rate on the existing 20 per cent. band to(a) 15 per cent., and (b) 10 per cent. [806]

  Mr. Jack
  The estimated full-year cost at 1997–98 income levels of reducing the income tax rate on the existing 20 per cent. band to 15 per cent. is about 254
  £4.5 billion and to 10 per cent. is about £9 billion. The estimates assume that the income tax rate on savings and dividend income is reduced to 15 and 10 per cent. and that the estimates take account of the effects of the change on receipts of advanced corporation tax and on consequential liability to mainstream corporation tax.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the full year cost per person of raising the standard rate of income tax by 1p in the pound for(a) each adult in the United Kingdom and (b) each income tax payer in the United Kingdom. [813]

  Mr. Jack
  The average tax increase at 1996–97 income levels of increasing the basic rate of income tax by 1p is about £35 for each adult—aged 18 and over—and about £63 for every income tax payer in the United Kingdom.

  Profit-related Pay Tax Relief
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of the tax relief on profit-related pay in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement; [807]

  (2) how many individuals are participating in profit-related pay schemes qualifying for tax relief; and what is his estimate of the number of such individuals who pay income tax at the top marginal income tax rate of 40 per cent. [808]

  Mr. Jack
  Available estimates of the cost of income tax relief for profit-related pay schemes in 1995–96 and 1996–97, and the number of participants up to the end of March 1996, are published in table 1.6 and table 6.3 respectively of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1996", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Reliable information on the number of participants at each marginal rate is not available.

  Ecus (Minting)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to further regulate the minting of ecus by local authorities. [320]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  No changes are needed. The Coinage Act 1971 sets out clearly that only the Royal Mint may issue coins in the United Kingdom.

  Government Procurement
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in improving value for money in Government procurement. [1986]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  A report by the Treasury's procurement group on progress made in Government procurement is published today.
  255
  The main developments in the procurement field in 1995–96 were the publications of the Government's procurement strategy: "Setting New Standards" (Cm 2840) and the efficiency scrutiny: "Construction Procurement in Government". These set a framework for Departments to develop forward-looking and challenging objectives.

  The report provides an overview of the progress made by departments in implementing both the strategy and scrutiny—in particular:
  progress in developing (and implementing) procurement change programmes—designed to integrate procurement into all non-pay, non-transfer expenditure;
  the development of best practice guidance for handling all aspects of large service and private finance initiative contracts;
  the establishment of interdepartmental networks where Departments collaborate to share ideas on achieving value for money;
  in the construction area: the establishment of eight interdepartmental working groups to implement the scrutiny's recommendations;
  the introduction of a benchmarking programme: and
  the establishment of an external advisory panel to the central unit on procurement to provide continuity of advice, being ideas to public procurement and ensure rapid assimilation of best private sector practice.

  The report also records that, in 1994–95, Departments achieved value-for-money improvements of some £112 million on a total spend of £3.2 billion—3.4 per cent.

  The main message of the report is that, although significant progress has been made, much remains to be done.

  Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Paymaster Agency
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for that part of the Paymaster agency which is to remain in the public sector. [2110]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The then Paymaster General announced on 15 July 1996,Official Report, columns 372–73, that the Government were accepting the recommendations of a prior options review concerning the privatisation of the Paymaster agency. He acknowledged that a small part of the agency's banking business must stay in the public sector.

  This element, which will maintain the formal title of the Office of HM Paymaster General—OPG—will be separated from the agency on 1 November, when the present head of the National Investment and Loans Office—NILO—will be appointed assistant paymaster general and become responsible for the management of the Paymaster General's accounts at the Bank of England. The OPG will remain a separate statutory body within NILO, will manage the future contract for the provision of banking services once the agency is privatised next spring, and will ensure the protection of market-sensitive data.
  256

  Drug-related Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent calculation of the numbers of people who have died in each of the past five years as a result of using(a) cocaine, (b) ketamine, (c) khat, (d) amphetamines, (e) magic mushrooms, (i) solvents and (g) glue. [989]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 30 October 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from John Fox to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 31 October 1996:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked the Director of the ONS to reply to your recent question asking for the numbers of people who have died in each of the past five years as a result of using (a) cocaine, (b) ketamine, (c) khat, (d) amphetamines, (e) magic mushrooms, (f) solvents and (g) glue.
  The Director has asked me to respond in his absence.
  The numbers of deaths in 1991 and 1992 as a result of using cocaine, ketamine, khat, amphetamines, magic mushrooms*, solvents and glue are published in Table 10 of "Mortality statistics: injury and poisoning, England and Wales", Series DH4, nos 17 and 18, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.
  The information for 1993, 1994 and 1995 could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  VAT Refunds
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Custom and Excise implementation of a three-year limit for VAT refunds for local authorities. [789]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 29 October 1996]: The three-year cap on VAT refunds will apply to local authorities in the same way as to other VAT-registered bodies. Refunds of tax made to local authorities that are not VAT registered, on their non-business activities, will be unaffected.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the population served by each of the hospital trusts within the Eastern area health and social services board; and what is the capital expenditure proposed for this year and each of the next three years in each hospital trust. [64]

  Mr. Moss
  Under the Government's reforms it is the responsibility of purchasers, boards and GP fundholders, to secure services for the population. Trust can provide only services in line with contracts agreed with purchasers. The catchments of hospital trusts are dictated by the combination of contracts agreed with purchasers.

  Capital expenditure approved for each trust in the Eastern Board area for 1996–97 is as follows:

  257

  General capital £

  Major projects £

  Belfast city hospital trust

  1,376,000

  —

  Down lisburn trust

  1,005,000

  —

  Green park trust

  171,000

  —

  Mater hospital trust

  95,000

  —

  Royal group of hospitals trust

  2,064,000

  8,236,000

  Ulster north down and ards hospital trust

  912,000

  —

  My Department aims to maintain a broadly similar level of general capital expenditure in each trust over the next three years. Funding for other major projects will be dependent on the overall level of funding and the outcome of the tests for private finance now required by Government.

  Parades
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has the total cost of policing the parades which took place in Northern Ireland from 1 April to 30 September 1996. [137]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The policing of marches and demonstrations is part of normal police duties and as such separate costings for these activities are not held centrally. Where the public order situation demands, it may be necessary to incur additional costs, and it is a matter of public record that the additional costs arising from the marches and demonstrations in July and August amounted to some 13 million.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many walks to services and special occasions held by lodges under the auspices of the Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland were held on dates other than 12 July during the last three years for which figures are available. [105]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The RUC does not record statistics on walks to services or parades held by specific organisations. It does, however, keep statistics under the broad generic headings of loyalist, nationalist and other groups. The figures for loyalist parades which include marches held under the auspices of the Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland are as follows:

  1994–2057: (excluding 12 July)

  1995–2034: (excluding 12 July)

  1996–1895: (up to 30 September, excluding 12 July).

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many parades took place in Northern Ireland from 1 April to 30 September 1996. [135]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The total number of parades which took place between those dates is 2,603.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many walks or processions, under the auspices of lodges in the Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland, were held in Northern Ireland on 12 July for the last three years for which figures are available. [104]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The RUC does not record statistics on walks or processions held by specific organisation. It 258
  does, however, keep statistics under the broad generic headings of loyalist, nationalist and other groups. The figures for loyalist parades on 12 July, the overwhelming majority of which are likely to have been held under the auspices of the Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland, are as follows:

  12.07.94: 463

  12.07.95: 547

  12.07.96: 304.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list (i) the location and (ii) the organisers of each parade which took place in Northern Ireland from 1 April to 30 September 1996. [136]

  Sir John Wheeler
  It is not practical to identify the individual or group which organised each of the 2,603 parades which took place during this period. The location of each parade is recorded by RUC sub-division. The table sets out a breakdown of the number of parades in each sub-division identified by the general term loyalist, nationalist and others.

  Summary of parades 1 April 1996 to 30 September 1996

  Sub-division

  Loyalist

  Nationalist

  Other

  Total

  Musgrave Street

  44

  2

  15

  61

  Mountpottinger

  24

  2

  l

  27

  Donegall Pass

  34

  1

  3

  38

  Dunmurry

  11

  0

  4

  15

  Grosvenor Road

  0

  3

  0

  3

  Lisburn

  61

  0

  11

  72

  Woodbourne

  4

  1

  0

  5

  North Queen Street

  27

  6

  2

  35

  Antrim Road

  3

  4

  0

  7

  Antrim

  68

  6

  7

  81

  Newtownabbey

  35

  0

  3

  38

  Carrickfergus

  40

  0

  7

  47

  Tennent Street

  31

  0

  4

  35

  Bangor

  30

  0

  9

  39

  Strandtown

  21

  0

  6

  27

  Castlereagh

  9

  0

  2

  11

  Newtownards

  69

  0

  8

  77

  Downpatrick

  56

  3

  15

  74

  Newcastle

  49

  7

  8

  64

  Armagh

  166

  8

  19

  193

  Newry

  60

  17

  7

  84

  Portadown

  42

  5

  7

  54

  Lurgan

  74

  6

  7

  87

  Banbridge

  115

  1

  12

  128

  Cookstown

  64

  15

  5

  84

  Dungannon

  133

  2

  11

  146

  Enniskillen

  88

  1

  11

  100

  Lisnaskea

  102

  1

  6

  109

  Omagh

  117

  7

  6

  130

  Strand Road

  12

  5

  6

  23

  Strabane

  56

  3

  7

  66

  Waterside

  17

  0

  5

  22

  Coleraine

  109

  1

  20

  130

  Limavady

  59

  6

  5

  70

  Magherafelt

  99

  17

  7

  123

  Ballymena

  77

  3

  19

  99

  Ballymoney

  152

  2

  8

  162

  Larne

  34

  2

  1

  37

  Total

  2,192

  137

  247

  2,603

  Motor Cyclists (Licensing)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to change the system of licensing motor cyclists; if he will make
  259
  a statement on the Al licence; what are the EU requirements in this area; and if he will make a statement. [244]

  Mr. Moss
  The second EC directive on the driving licence requires member states to have two motor cycle driving licence categories and associated tests. Category A will give entitlement to drive any motor cycle with a power output up to 25kW or a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kW/kg. Passing the category A test will also confer entitlement to drive larger motor cycles after two years. A sub-category (Al) will give entitlement to drive a light motor cycle up to 125cc, with a power output of 11 kW. The minimum age for driving motor cycles will remain 17.

  In implementing the directive in Northern Ireland, it is proposed that the existing category A test—which allows a person to take a motor cycle test in a vehicle up to 250cc—will continue until 1 July 1997 on which date learner motor cyclists will be restricted to vehicles of up to 125cc in line with current arrangements in GB. It is also proposed to introduce the sub-category Al test along with other provisions of the directive on 1 January 1997.

  Primary Health Care
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop research and development for primary health care in Northern Ireland. [107]

  Mr. Moss
  The imminent appointment of the first director of research and development for the health and personnel social services as head of a new office of R and D, and plans radically to revise funding mechanisms in line with Great Britain developments emanating from the Culyer report are designed to ensure that R and D in primary care receives equitable access to available funds for R and D.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums were spent on research and development for primary health care in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available. [106]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of Health and Social Services currently provides support for research and development in the health and social services in Northern Ireland via a variety of mechanisms. Departmental funds are not reserved for specific areas of research, but are available for application across all priority areas.

  During 1995–96, the Department provided £75,000 in direct support of R and D in the area of primary health care.

  In addition to this, indirect support for primary health care was further provided through the provision of research funds to the four core-funded research units at the Queen's university of Belfast. The units undertake a broad portfolio of research, comprising issues directly and indirectly associated with primary health care: for example, a primary concern for the drug utilisation research unit is the prescribing of drugs by general medical practitioners. Figures for expenditure by the units on specific research projects are not available centrally.
  260

  Casualty Animals
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representation he has received relating to problems associated with the payment by farmers for the collection and removal of casualty animals; and if he will make a statement. [462]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have received a number of representations from producers expressing concern about charges made for the collection and disposal of animals slaughtered on farm. Charges are generally higher for animals entering the over-30-month scheme than those applied to casualty animals before its introduction. The reasons for the increases are that there is now no residual value for the collectors in the hides or in the trimmings while their costs have actually increased as a result of the generally longer distances travelled to incineration sites. Against this, producers receive the full compensation rate under the OMTS rather than, as previously, a salvage value taking account of unusable parts of the carcass.

  Beef Imports
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries which export beef and beef products to the United Kingdom; and what measures are in place to ensure all imported products conform with current public health criteria. [211]

  Mrs. Browning
  In 1996, beef—including beef carcass meat, bovine offal and preparations of beef meat and bovine offal—originating from the following countries has been exported to the United Kingdom.

  Argentina

  Australia

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Canada

  Mauritius

  Namibia

  New Zealand

  Paraguay

  Romania

  Swaziland

  USA

  Uruguay

  Zimbabwe.

  Separate information is not available for exports of beef products into the United Kingdom. However, meat products—which may or may not have contained beef—originating from the following countries have been exported to the United Kingdom.

  Argentina

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Canada

  Croatia

  Hong Kong

  Hungary

  New Zealand

  Norway

  261

  Poland

  Singapore

  Thailand

  USA.

  Note:
  This information, as recorded in overseas trade statistics, is provisional.

  Separate information covering imports from other member states is not readily available.

  All consignments of fresh meat imported into the UK, whether from other member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council directive 64/433/EEC (as amended). In the case of meat products the harmonised rules are laid down in Council directive 77/99 (as amended).

  Community rules require that all imports of third country animal products enter the Community through approved border inspection posts where they are subject to official checks to verify compliance with public and animal health import conditions.
  262
  For imports from other member states, the member state of origin is responsible for ensuring that exported goods comply with Community rules. Those receiving such goods are also required to check and report any discrepancies to the competent authority in the member state of destination.

  Aquatic Environment Monitoring
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what biological and physiological parameters are monitored by his 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. [506]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 30 October 1996]: Through the Directorate of Fisheries Research, the Department contributes to the extensive national monitoring programme which seeks, among other things, to identify any harmful effects of human activities on the marine environment. The monitoring includes chemical analysis, incorporating measurements of hydrocarbons in water and sediments, and biological effects testing. Aquatic environment monitoring reports which detail the monitoring programme and its findings are issued annually and are available in the Library of the House.

  UN Centre for Human Rights: Funding
  UN Centre for Human Rights: Funding
  ODA Programmes and Sustainable Development
  ODA Programmes and Sustainable Development
  Overseas Aid Tying Policy Review
  Overseas Aid Tying Policy Review
  Indonesia: NAO Report on Aid Contributions
  Indonesia: NAO Report on Aid Contributions
  World Food Summit
  World Food Summit
  China: World Bank Population Advice
  China: World Bank Population Advice
  Mr. Vanunu: Solitary Confinement
  Mr. Vanunu: Solitary Confinement
  IPPF Annual Report
  IPPF Annual Report
  Indigenous People: UN Declaration
  Indigenous People: UN Declaration
  Crown Copyright Material: Republication
  Crown Copyright Material: Republication
  Admiral Sir Peter Abbott: Speech
  Admiral Sir Peter Abbott: Speech
  Public Record Office
  Public Record Office
  Woolf Report Recommendations: Implementation
  Woolf Report Recommendations: Implementation
  Coastal Zone Management
  Coastal Zone Management
  Landfill of Waste Directive
  Landfill of Waste Directive
  Hazardous Wastes: Basel Convention
  Hazardous Wastes: Basel Convention
  Counter-terrorism Legislation: Lord Lloyd's Report
  Counter-terrorism Legislation: Lord Lloyd's Report
  AIDS Deaths
  AIDS Deaths
  NHS Health Advisory Service
  NHS Health Advisory Service
  MOX Fuel
  MOX Fuel