Written Answers of 10 February 1997

DEFENCE

  Radio Spectrum
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in releasing two bands of 5 MHz in the 410–430 MHz band for civilian use; and if he will make a statement. [14344]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 October 1996,Official Report, column 782, which should have made it clear that discussions between MOD and the Radiocommunications Agency, DTI identified channels on two bands of 5 MHz in the 410–430 MHz band that can be made available for civilian use by 1997. A large number of channels in the 410–430 MHz band have been released by MOD.

  As recognised in the radio spectrum review stage 3 report, there are military systems in the band 410–430 MHz, which cannot be given up or whose frequencies cannot readily be changed. This being the case there is no possibility, at present, of the complete release of all channels within two bands of 5 MHz in the 410–430 MHz band.

  Royal Yacht
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the basic elements of specification, with special reference to length, breadth, draught, gross tonnage and propulsion, of the proposed replacement for the royal yacht Britannia. [14421]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The outline specification for the new yacht is currently being drawn up. We expect this process to take about a year, following which an invitation to tender, specifying the detailed requirement, will be issued.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many miles members of the royal family have travelled(a) in the royal yacht Britannia and (b) by other modes of transport supported by public funds in each of the past five years. [14638]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The information for royal travel is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits to the United Kingdom of the attendance of the royal yacht Britannia at Cowes; how many days the yacht has attended Cowes in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [14509]
  2
  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 10 February 1997]: In the last 10 years Britannia has spent the following number of days at Cowes:

  Year

  Number of days

  1987

  0

  1988

  6

  1989

  7

  1990

  6

  1991

  7

  1992

  8

  1993

  7

  1994

  9

  1995

  8

  1996

  8

  Britannia's attendance at Cowes has continued the traditional royal patronage of this event, and contributed to the growth of this prestigious international regatta. This in turn benefits the local community around Cowes, in addition to the yachting industry.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the places where the royal yacht has been used to promote British exports and to attract inward investment since 1989, indicating the number of days and dates at each place. [14642]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The information requested is as follows:

  Date

  City

  Country

  Organisation involved/event

  1989

  9 March

  London

  UK

  British Invisible Exports Council (BIEC)

  5 October

  Port Klang

  Malaysia

  BIEC

  1990

  30 October

  Rio de Janeiro

  Brazil

  BIEC

  11 December

  London

  UK

  General Council of British Shipping

  12 December

  London

  UK

  General Council of British Shipping

  1991

  26–27 April

  Belem

  Brazil

  Environmental Seminar hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales

  16 May

  Miami

  USA

  The Motor Industry in Britain

  21 May

  Tampa

  USA

  Anglo-American Aerospace Summit (Non-military)

  13 June

  Lisbon

  Portugal

  Scottish Financial Enterprise/Locate in Scotland

  25 September

  London

  UK

  BIEC

  1992

  2 June

  Civitavecchia

  Italy

  BIEC

  26 June

  Leith

  UK

  Scottish Financial Enterpise/Locate in Scotland

  21 October

  Stockholm

  Sweden

  BIEC

  1993

  25–26 March

  Palm Beach

  USA, Martinique/St. Lucia

  Locate in Scotland/Scottish Office CARITAG— British Overseas Trade Board

  12 May

  London

  UK

  London Forum

  3

  Date

  City

  Country

  Organisation involved/event

  8 October

  Istanbul

  Turkey

  BIEC

  12 October

  Piraeus

  Greece

  Anglo Hellenic Chamber of Commerce

  10 November

  Abu Dhabi

  UAE

  Energy Seminar

  16 November

  Bombay

  India

  Sea Day—Indo British Partnership Initiative

  17 November

  Bombay

  India

  Sea Day—Indo British Partnership Initiative

  17 November

  Bombay

  India

  Seminar

  18 November

  Bombay

  India

  Sea Day—Indo British Partnership Initiative

  18 November

  Bombay

  India

  Seminar; 5 commerical (DTI/FCO) receptions; contract signing ceremonies

  1994

  10–16 February

  New York

  USA

  British Invisibles Sea Day Scotch Whisky Museum of Scotland Reception

  9 May

  Southampton

  UK

  DOT Agency Launch

  23 May

  Pembroke Dock

  UK

  Commercial Reception

  24 May

  Swansea

  UK

  Commercial Reception

  21 June

  Helsinki

  Finland

  British Invisibles Seminar British Invisibles Reception

  22 June

  Helsinki

  Finland

  Trade Reception

  28 June

  London

  UK

  London Dockland Development Corporation

  29 June

  London

  UK

  Lord Mayor Reception KGFS Reception

  18 October

  St. Petersburg

  Russia

  British Invisibles Seminar British Invisibles Reception

  1995

  7 March

  Abidjan

  Ivory Coast

  DTI

  14 March

  Walvis Bay

  Namibia

  FCO

  28 March

  Cape Town

  South Africa

  DTI/British Invisibles/South African British Trade Association

  29 March

  Cape Town

  South Africa

  DTI/Institute of Education

  30 March

  Cape Town

  South Africa

  DTI Seminar

  31 March

  Cape Town

  South Africa

  Africa 95

  20 April

  Tema

  Ghana

  Overseas Development Agency

  21 April

  Tema

  Ghana

  DTI

  25 April

  Dakar

  Senegal

  DTI

  27 June

  Dundee

  UK

  Locate in Scotland

  17 August

  London

  UK

  British Invisibles

  4 October

  Piraeus

  Greece

  British Invisibles

  7 October

  Piraeus

  Greece

  British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce

  8 October

  Piraeus

  Greece

  Britain in Greece Festival

  25 October

  Lisbon

  Portugal

  DTI and FCO

  1996

  19 March

  Savannah

  USA

  Northern Ireland Office

  19 March

  Savannah

  USA

  British Olympic Committee

  1 April

  Boston

  USA

  BBC, Public Radio International and Public Broadcasting WGBH

  1 April

  Boston

  USA

  British Olympic Association

  2 April

  Boston

  USA

  Welsh Tourist Board/British Tourist Authority

  3 April

  Boston

  USA

  British American Business Council

  4

  Date

  City

  Country

  Organisation involved/event

  3 April

  Boston

  USA

  Welsh Development Agency

  15 April

  Toronto

  Canada

  British Invisibles

  16 April

  Toronto

  Canada

  Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Commercial Reception

  17 April

  Toronto

  Canada

  British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce

  18 April

  Toronto

  Canada

  Locate in Scotland

  11 July

  Amsterdam

  The Netherlands

  British Invisibles

  12 July

  Amsterdam

  The Netherlands

  Lunchtime Reception hosted by Her Majesty's Ambassador for winners of the Queen's Awards for Exports.

  Britannia's programme for 1997 includes commercial events between mid-January and August in Malta, Dubai, Doha, Karachi, Bombay, Madras, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, Nagoya, Kobe, Korea and Gibraltar.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many events on the royal yacht Britannia have been sponsored by outside bodies in each of the last five years; if he will list the sponsoring bodies, categorised as in(a) commercial, (b) charitable and (c) other organisations; and if he will make a statement. [14510]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) for the list of sponsored events held aboard Britannia since 1989. Due to the wide variety of organisations represented during individual engagements, it is not possible to categorise the list by groupings.

  Biological Warfare Germs (Southampton)
  Sir James Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the dates in 1977 of the germ warfare tests which involved spraying the city of Southampton with simulants chosen to mimic biological warfare germs; and if he will make a statement. [14599]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Sir James Hill, dated 10 February 1997:

  I have been asked to reply to your question about dates in 1977 when biological defence studies were carried out in Southampton. The chemical Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Potion Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.

  No studies were carried out in Southampton in 1977. Between 1965 and 1966 a series of experiments were conducted at various locations around the Southampton area using the harmless strains of the E.coli MRE 162 organism. These were immobilised on microthreads and contained within boxes which were then exposed to the atmosphere at various locations. No material was released in these experiments. The studies were carried out to determine the survivability of organisms when exposed to the atmosphere and those around Southampton particularly addressed survivability in or near built up city areas.
  5
  The technique for the immobilisation of the organisms was published in the scientific press in 1968 under the title 'A Microthread Technique for Studying the Viability of Microbes in a Simulated Airborne State' K. R. May and H. A. Druett. Journal of General Microbiology (1968) Vol. 51 pages 353–366.

  I hope this information is helpful.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying incidents were received by the Royal Air Force centre at Welshpool in each year since 1992. [14848]

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of complaints about military low flying received by the RAF community relations office (Wales) in each year since August 1993, when the post was established, are as follows:

  Number

  19931

  14

  1994

  169

  1995

  225

  1996

  216

  1 August to December.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effects of budget constraints on the operational effectiveness of the Territorial Army. [14918]

  Mr. Soames
  The Territorial Army continues to make an important contribution to the operational effectiveness of our fighting forces. We are confident that the funding it receives is commensurate with the tasks placed upon it.

  Publicity Material (Languages)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many items and what percentage of armed forces recruitment publicity material is published in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement. [14849]

  Mr. Soames
  The naval service and the Army produce one general information publication in a number of languages, including Welsh, aimed at parents, teachers and opinion formers. In addition, a Welsh language leaflet is produced for the Welsh Guards. Army advertising in regional newspapers and on local radio is also carried out in Welsh. Certain Welsh regiments produce recruiting material in Welsh. Percentage figures are not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of armed forces recruitment and publicity material is printed in the Urdu language. [14851]

  Mr. Soames
  Each service produces one general information publication in a number of Asian languages, including Urdu, aimed at parents, teachers and opinion formers. Percentage figures are not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Gulf War Veterans
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the referrals of the Gulf war veterans to Dr. Kocen at Queen's Square hospital for nervous disorders. [14157]

  Mr. Soames
  Following the disclosure that organophosphate pesticides had been used more widely in the Gulf than previously thought, 10 patients whose case histories suggested that they could have, or had, been exposed to pesticides were invited to return to the medical assessment programme—MAP—for a further assessment and a subsequent examination by Dr. Kocen at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

  Six of these patients have either declined the invitation or failed to attend the MAP; all of these have been offered second appointments. Two patients have been seen by the MAP and by Dr. Kocen. One patient has been seen by the MAP and referred to Dr. Kocen; this patient did not attend for his first appointment with Dr. Kocen and cancelled his second appointment. The remaining patient has been given an appointment for the MAP on 10 February.

  Another 44 veterans, who display certain symptoms which could be consistent with OP pesticide exposure but where there is no indication of exposure, have also been invited to re-attend the MAP, and if clinically appropriate, they will be referred to Dr. Kocen. These patients have all been offered appointments in February or March, except for two patients who have been given appointments in April at their request. Three patients have already been seen by the MAP and one has been referred to Dr. Kocen; the other two did not require further neurological referral.

  Air Incident (Inverness)
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the investigation into the alleged air near-miss incident over Inverness airport on 29 January involving a Tornado jet; and if he will make a statement. [15186]

  Mr. Soames
  This incident is under investigation and a report will be published by the Civil Aviation Authority in due course. Copies of such reports are routinely placed in the Library of the House.

  Army Base Repair Organisation
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1997–98 for the chief executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation. [15412]

  Mr. Soames
  The chief executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation has been set the following key targets for 1997–98:

  1. To deliver a responsive repair service, which matches the needs of the customer both in peace and for operations to the agreed timeliness, quantity and quality criteria and offers value for money.

  2. To remain with ABRO's allocated budget.

  3. To maintain the 1997–98 ratio of labour costs to hours of production at 23 per cent. below the rate of agency launch.

  4. To prepare full and cash costs for the significant base repair programmes by 31 March 1998.

  5. To Include in ABRO accounts, closing balances as at 31 March 1998 for the cost of spare parts held by the agency.

  7

  6. To implement the ABRO system for handling customer feedback and conduct a customer survey.

  7. To achieve ABRO land command support market test vesting day within nine months of final ministerial announcement.

  8. To evaluate and recommend the CFQ strategy for ABRO Donnington to DGES(A) by 30 April 1997.

  Royal Naval College
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the list of those who will serve on Sir Angus Stirling's committee which is to consider the future of the Royal Naval college, Greenwich; and if he will make a statement. [15462]

  Mr. Soames
  The Government decided last September to create a charitable trust to take over the responsibility for protecting the Royal Naval college, Greenwich, ensuring that it will be used in a fitting way to reflect the importance of the college to the nation's heritage and enhancing public access and enjoyment. It subsequently announced that Sir Angus Stirling would be the chairman of the trust.

  We have now agreed that the body known as the Greenwich Foundation for the Royal Naval college should be registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee, with its stated objective as
  "to preserve for the benefit of the nation the Royal Naval College site, buildings and monuments as being of historical, architectural, and artistic importance, and to educate the public thereon".

  Registration is in hand.

  I am also pleased to announce the names of those who have undertaken to serve as trustees of the foundation. They are: Sir Benjamin Bathurst, who retired as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in 1995, Sir David Cooksey, Richard MacCormac, Margaret Richardson, Christopher Swinson, Professor Thomas Kempner, Councillor Len Duvall, leader of the London borough of Greenwich, and Sir Franklin Berman. They will bring a wealth of local, naval, business, financial, heritage, architectural and educational expertise to the foundation.

  The foundation is working closely with Greenwich hospital and with the Royal Navy to achieve a smooth handover of the site. Further to the recommendations of the advisory group, chaired by Dame Jennifer Jenkins, Sir Angus Stirling has already been exploring with the university of Greenwich, the National Maritime museum and other interested parties, the options for the future use of the site in a manner worthy of its historic and architectural status.

HEALTH

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists derive(a) more than 75 per cent. and (b) more than 90 per cent. of their fee income from orthodontic work. [12379]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not available centrally.
  8
  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 January,Official Report, column 161, how many dentists were attached to the dental reference service in each year since 1990. [15137]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Date

  Number of dental reference service dental officers

  31 March 1990

  31

  31 March 1991

  26

  31 March 1992

  29

  31 March 1993

  30

  31 March 1994

  34

  31 March 1995

  37

  31 March 1996

  38

  31 March 1997

  158

  1 Estimate.

  Personal Social Services Records
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information has been obtained by his Department about the policy and procedures adopted by local authorities in respect of access to pre-1989 personal social services records; [13507]

  (2) if he will make a statement on access to pre-1989 personal social services records in respect of each local authority for which information is available. [13502]

  Mr. Burns
  Legislation made in 1987 and 1989 gives people specific rights of access to, respectively, computerised and manual records held on them by social services departments, subject to some exemptions. While there is no statutory right of access to information compiled before these dates, the Department's general policy set out in various guidance from 1987 onwards is that authorities should give access to as much personal information as possible.

  It is the responsibility of each local authority to implement the Department's policy on access to personal social services records and information on practices of individual authorities is not held centrally.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department has given local authorities concerning access to personal records subsequent to, and in the light of, the Graham Gaskin case; [13505]

  (2) what is his Department's policy on access to pre-1989 personal social services records; and how that policy has changed since the 1989 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Graham Gaskin case. [13504]

  Mr. Burns
  Legislation made in 1987 and 1989 gives people specific rights of access to, respectively, computerised and manual records held on them by social services departments, subject to some exemptions. The Department's general policy set out in various guidance from 1987 onwards is that authorities should give access to as much personal information as possible.
  9
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligations there are on local authorities to make public their policies and procedures on access to personal records; and how such matters are monitored by his Department. [13501]

  Mr. Burns
  Guidance to local authorities on access to personal records—local authority circular (89)2—says that authorities should publicise the fact that individuals have the right to information subject to certain safeguards and tell people how to apply for access. Authorities should also consider whether special publicity is needed for people unable to speak English. It is the responsibility of each local authority to implement the Department's policy on access to personal social services records and information on practices of individual authorities is not held centrally.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he or his officials will seek to obtain the views on access to pre-1989 personal social services records of persons currently seeking access to such records. [13503]

  Mr. Burns
  No. We have asked all local authorities to implement the Department's guidance on access to social services records.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department has undertaken in respect of compliance measures following the judgment in Graham Gaskin's case; what were the number and level of officials involved; what time scale was imposed by Ministers for the work; and what steps have been taken by Ministers in consequence of the work. [13506]

  Mr. Burns
  In their White Paper on open government, the Government proposed to create new rights of access to personal information held by Government and other public sector organisations, and to establish an independent review body to consider any cases where access is refused. This would meet the issues raised by the European Court of Human Rights' judgment in the Gaskin case. The Government are still committed to introducing legislation to implement these proposals as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the hospitality budget for(a) his Department and (b) the NHS management executive for each year since 1989. [13755]

  Mr. Horam
  There is no hospitality budget for the Department and its agencies or the national health service executive, which is part of the Department.

  Casualty Units
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many casualty units there were in each year since 1989. [13648]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Casualty unit is not a term used in the national health service. It is a colloquialism which could cover anything from minor injuries unit to a full trauma centre.
  10
  The figures for trusts and directly managed units in England with an accident and emergency department intended to be open 168 hours a week and with medical staff on site are shown in the table. A trust or directly managed unit may consist of a number of hospitals each with its own accident and emergency department.

  Year

  Number

  1991–92

  238

  1992–93

  226

  1993–94

  218

  1994–95

  216

  1995–96

  211

  Before 1991–92 information was collected on an individual site basis. Comparable information for earlier years is not therefore available.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there is compulsory competitive tendering in the national health service. [14346]

  Mr. Horam
  Since 1983 there has been a requirement to market test cleaning, catering and laundry services, at regular intervals, through a competitive tendering process.

  Prostate Brachytherapy
  Sir Julian Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to extend the practice of prostate brachytherapy within the NHS. [14356]

  Mr. Horam
  None. The practice of prostate brachytherapy is a matter for clinical decision in discussion with the patient.

  NHS Trusts
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what instructions he gives to health trusts regarding visits to(a) hospitals and (b) other medical centres, with special reference to when the closure of the hospital or centre is being considered; [14673]

  (2) what steps he proposes to take (a) to make the proceedings of health trusts more accessible to members of the public and (b) to ensure better consultation about the work of health trusts. [14826]

  Mr. Horam
  Visits to trust premises are a matter for local management. Health authorities are however required to consult local interests over any proposal substantially to change services.

  The code of practice on openness states:
  "NHS trusts must hold at least one public meeting a year. An agenda, papers, the accounts and the annual report must be publicly available at least seven days in advance of the meeting. Provision must be made for questions and comments to be put by the public. Public meetings must be held in readily accessible venues and at times when the public are able to attend. Providing the public with access to more frequent general meetings or board meetings is good practice already followed by an increasing number of trusts."

  Health Services (Norfolk)
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons hospital beds in Norfolk are currently being closed. [14824]

  Mr. Horam
  It is for health authorities and trusts locally to calculate the number of beds needed to respond to the needs of patients, taking account of a wide range of factors. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Alston, CBE, chairman of East Norfolk health authority and Mr. John Durance, chairman of North-West Anglia authority, for details of changes in bed provision for that area.

  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been postponed in Norfolk in the last year for which figures are available. [14825]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of operations cancelled in Norfolk can be found in "Information on Cancelled Operations and Breaches of the Patient's Charter Standard". Copies of this document are available in the Library.

  Cancelled Operations (Trent Region)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the annual change in the number of patients in the Trent region who have had operations cancelled(a) on the day they were due to go into hospital and (b) after admission since 1994–95. [15017]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on operations cancelled for non-medical reasons on the day a patient is due to be admitted, or after admission, is available in the Library.

  Deaths at Rotherham District General Hospital, by day and by age

  11995

  Age group

  Monday

  Tuesday

  Wednesday

  Thursday

  Friday

  Saturday

  Sunday

  1

  1

  1

  1

  3

  —

  4

  4

  1–19

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20–39

  2

  —

  3

  5

  4

  4

  1

  40–59

  18

  12

  13

  15

  15

  14

  9

  60–64

  7

  14

  12

  10

  17

  19

  17

  65–69

  22

  16

  22

  22

  21

  20

  15

  70–74

  30

  33

  33

  39

  34

  32

  32

  75–79

  35

  26

  32

  38

  30

  34

  40

  80–84

  33

  30

  45

  30

  38

  27

  30

  85 and over

  39

  33

  33

  36

  45

  27

  25

  All ages

  187

  165

  196

  198

  204

  181

  173

  1 In 1995, there were 53 Sundays and 52 occurrences of each other weekday.

  11996

  Age group

  Monday

  Tuesday

  Wednesday

  Thursday

  Friday

  Saturday

  Sunday

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1–19

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  20–39

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  40–59

  8

  1

  4

  3

  10

  3

  4

  60–64

  9

  3

  1

  6

  2

  4

  4

  65–69

  16

  13

  5

  7

  10

  6

  9

  70–74

  10

  18

  23

  14

  21

  12

  15

  75–79

  21

  18

  9

  17

  19

  24

  12

  80–84

  23

  21

  21

  23

  15

  27

  19

  85 and over

  19

  14

  19

  28

  17

  17

  20

  All ages

  108

  89

  84

  100

  97

  95

  84

  1 During the period covered in this table (January to June), each weekday had 26 occurrences.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department ceased collecting and holding centrally details of total numbers of hospital closures; what is the latest period since 1979 for which such figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [15170]

  Mr. Horam
  Information was collected on hospital closures until 1991. From that time responsibility for local closures has been devolved to health authorities and trusts, taking into account local priorities. A list of those substantial variations in services that have been contested by community health councils is available in the Library.

  Rotherham General Hospital (Deaths)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by age, the number of deaths occurring at Rotherham district general hospital in 1995 and 1996 on(a) Monday, (b) Tuesday, (c) Wednesday, (d) Thursday, (e) Friday, (f) Saturday and (g) Sunday. [14278]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  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. Denis MacShane, dated 10 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked the Director of the Office for National Statistics to reply to your recent question on deaths at Rotherham District General Hospital. The Director has asked me to reply in his absence.
  The data are shown in the attached tables. Figures for 1996 are provisional and relate only to the first two quarters of 1996.

  Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those EU countries with lower perinatal mortality rates than the United Kingdom. [12035]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  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 Tim Holt to Mr. Chris Smith, dated 10 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the European Union (EU) countries which have a lower perinatal mortality rate than the United Kingdom.
  The figures are shown in the attached tables. On 1 October 1992 the legal definition of a stillbirth was altered from a baby born dead after 28 or more completed weeks gestation to one born dead after 24 or more completed weeks gestation. This had the effect of raising the United Kingdom perinatal mortality rate in 1993.
  Within the EU, differences of definition lead to variations in the measurement of perinatal mortality. It includes stillbirths with a minimum gestation period ranging from 22 to 28 weeks according to country.

  Perinatal mortality rates1 (1992)

  Number

  United Kingdom

  7.7

  Spain

  7.3

  Austria

  6.8

  Finland

  5.9

  Denmark

  5.8

  Sweden

  5.8

  Source:

  Eurostat—Demographic statistics 1996.

  Note:

  1 Stillbirths and deaths within the first week of life per 1,000 live and stillbirths.

  Perinatal mortality rates1 (1993)

  Number

  United Kingdom

  9.1

  Ireland

  9.0

  Germany

  7.4

  Spain

  6.6

  Luxembourg

  6.3

  Austria

  6.1

  Sweden

  5.9

  Denmark

  5.4

  Finland

  5.1

  Source:

  Eurostat—Demographic statistics 1996.

  Note:

  1 Stillbirths and deaths within the first week of life per 1,000 live and stillbirths.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Award Presentations
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) on how many occasions she or her Department have approached lottery distribution 14
  boards or grant recipients to arrange for her to make presentations of awards; what were the occasions; and who were the recipients;[14593]

  (2) how many lottery awards she has personally presented; who were the recipients; on what dates the presentations were made; and what sums were involved. [14594]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is central to the role of Ministers that they promote the work of the Department and its associated bodies. The national lottery, and the awards made by the independent distributing bodies, are an important part of that work. It is only right, therefore, they should take the opportunity to draw attention to the excellent work being done by these bodies around the country. This can include involvement in the presentation of lottery awards.

  The Department does not keep records of the occasions when Ministers have been associated with such presentations.

  Lottery Grants
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage is she will provide a regional breakdown of lottery grants in respect of each of the five good causes.[14368]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Awards totalling over £2.8 billion have been made to 18,769 projects throughout the United Kingdom. I have arranged for a regional breakdown to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Draft Pensions Measure
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if the commissioners have received the memorandum "Reasons why the Draft Pensions Measure is not Expedient" from the Parishes Protection Group; and if he will make a statement. [14973]

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners have received this memorandum which has, I understand, been circulated to members of the parliamentary Ecclesiastical Committee. The commissioners do not accept the assertions in the memorandum, and will advise the Ecclesiastical Committee accordingly. I am arranging for a copy of a note setting out the position to be sent to the hon. Member.

  The proposals for the new arrangements for financing clergy pensions come with the support of the Church Commissioners, the Church of England Pensions Board, the Central Board of Finance, the Diocesan Boards of Finance and the General Synod, which gave final approval to the draft measure in November 1996 on an almost unanimous vote. The proposals reflect detailed and prolonged consultations and independent actuarial advice.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Dangerous Driving (Pleas)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many occasions, in the last year for which figures are available, the Crown Prosecution Service acted on the suggestion of a defendant that in exchange for pleading guilty to the charge of careless and inconsiderate driving, proceedings against the defendant on the charge of causing death by dangerous driving would be dropped; [14881]

  (2) if he will list the number of occasions in the past five years on which drivers who have caused a driving-related fatality have been charged with the offence of careless and inconsiderate driving in place of causing death by dangerous driving by the Crown Prosecution Service in order to ensure that a conviction is obtained; [14877]

  (3) how many occasions, in the last year for which figures are available, the Crown Prosecution Service offered defendants the opportunity to enter a guilty plea to the charge of careless and inconsiderate driving in substitution for proceeding against the defendant on the indictment of causing death by dangerous driving. [14880]

  The Attorney-General
  Charges in any particular case should reflect the seriousness of the offending and should give the court adequate sentencing powers. The selection of charges is governed by the evidential and public interest criteria contained in the code for Crown prosecutors; and prosecutors are assisted in relation to offences of the nature mentioned by the hon. Member by the driving offences charging standard adopted in March 1996 by the Crown Prosecution Service in agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Where the Crown Prosecution Service subsequently decides not to pursue all the charges originally preferred, this will usually be because changed circumstances have made it impracticable to proceed or have brought about a revised assessment of the evidential or public interest test.

  Detailed information of the nature sought by the hon. Member is recorded only on individual case files and is not collected or collated centrally. It could therefore be made available only at disproportionate cost.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Ministerial Sub-committee on Health Strategy
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many times a year on average the interdepartmental Cabinet and Ministerial Sub-committee on Health Strategy has met since it was formed. [13376]

  Mr. Freeman
  In accordance with the principle of collective responsibility for Government decisions, including the need to maintain the frankness and candour of internal discussion and advice, details of proceedings of Cabinet committees are not published.

  Manchester City Centre (Rebuilding)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on developments in relation to financial support from the Government for the rebuilding of Manchester city centre following the IRA bombing. [15100]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I was delighted to announce this morning that the Government will give Manchester the funds required to implement the scheme chosen to regenerate Manchester city centre. We shall provide £43 million over the next three years, in addition to £20 million of European funds announced last summer.

  I expect these contributions to unlock very substantial investment by the private sector—around £345 million in total.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners' Brains
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the result of the discussions with the Department of Health on post mortem and pathology guidelines referred to in his answer of 16 April 1996,Official Report, column 362; and if he will make a statement. [14420]

  Mr. Sackville
  Specific discussions about the disposal of body organs removed in the course of a coroner's post mortem await the outcome of a wider assessment of coroners' pathology arrangements, and liaison between the Departments on these matters continues.

  Voluntary Groups
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each voluntary group part or wholly funded by his Department in the last two years for which the information is available and the amount of money received by each group in that period. [14147]

  Mr. Sackville
  Home Office funding of voluntary organisations amounted to £59,204,588 in 1993–94 and to £61,043,280 in 1994–95. I have placed in the Library lists of such organisations funded by the Home Office in each of those two years and the amounts which they received. The lead responsibility within Government in relation to the voluntary sector transferred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage on 1 May 1996.

  Doncaster Prison (Asylum Seekers)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers were held at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster in each month since January 1996; [14596]

  (2) what was the average length of time spent in custody by asylum seekers held at HMP Doncaster during 1996. [14589]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on the number of asylum seekers detained—under sole Immigration Act powers—at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster for selected dates during 1996 is given in the table.
  17
  Estimates for the average length of detention can be obtained only through examination of individual case records and, therefore, the information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Asylum seekers recorded as being detained 2 3 at Her Majesty's prison Doncaster, as at selected dates during 1996

  Detained as at

  Total1

  31 January

  *

  29 February

  *

  29 March

  *

  10 April

  *

  31 May/7 June4

  3

  27 June

  *

  30 July/2 August5

  *

  4 September

  *

  1 October

  *

  5 November

  *

  11 December

  *

  1 * = 1 or 2.2 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.

  3 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 short period, the figures should be used with caution.

  4 Port cases are as at 7 June and In-country cases are as at 31.

  5 Port cases are as at 2 August and In-country cases are as at 30 July.

TREASURY

  Recombinant Factor 8 Blood Products
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to discuss the zero rating for VAT purposes of recombinant factor 8 blood products with the EC Commission. [11206]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None. We are not permitted to extend the scope of our existing VAT zero rates under the terms of the EC sixth VAT directive agreed in 1977 by the then Labour Government.

  North-East Regional Crime Squad
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Luxembourg what representations he has received from Customs and Excise about the role of the north-east regional crime squad in the cases of Rv. Beriman and R v. Charrington and others; and if he will make a statement. [13584]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  HM Customs and Excise tells me that an inquiry was initiated into the conduct of two of the police officers after they had given evidence in the Rv. Beriman trial. Aspects of the R v. Charrington and others case are the subject of an inquiry commissioned by the chief constable of Cleveland.

  Value Added Tax (European Union)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of VAT in each of the member states of the European Union for each of the main commodities and services. [13758]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The table details the standard rate and reduced rates of VAT in each member state of the European Community, with the main items that are subject to those reduced rates. All other goods and services, unless exempt from VAT, are ordinarily subject to the standard rate.
  18

  VAT rates in the European Community (standard rates and reduced rates; and main items subject to reduced rates)

  Member State

  Standard rate (per cent.)

  Reduced rates (per cent.)

  Austria

  20

  10—Food; books and newspapers; public transport

  Belgium

  21

  12—Fuel (coal only); social housing

  6—Food; books and newspapers; public transport; water supplies

  Denmark

  25

  0—Daily newspapers

  Finland

  22

  17—Food

  12—Books; Pharmaceuticals

  6—Public transport

  France

  20

  5.5—Food; books; public transport; Pharmaceuticals

  2.1—Newspapers

  Germany

  15

  7—Food; books and newspapers; local public transport

  Greece

  18

  8—Food; public transport; Pharmaceuticals

  4—Books and newspapers

  Ireland

  21

  12.5—Domestic fuel and power; newspapers; new housing

  2.8—Livestock

  0—Food; books; Pharmaceuticals

  Italy

  19

  16—Certain foods

  10—Certain foods; domestic fuel and power; public transport; Pharmaceuticals

  4—Basic foodstuffs; books and newspapers; certain social housing

  Luxembourg

  15

  12—Fuel (other than gas and electricity)

  6—Fuel (gas and electricity)

  3—Food; books and newspapers; Pharmaceuticals

  Netherlands

  17.5

  6—Food; books and newspapers; public transport; water supplies; Pharmaceuticals

  Portugal

  17

  12—Restaurant services; certain foods

  5—Food; books and newspapers; public transport; water supplies; Pharmaceuticals

  Spain

  16

  7—Food; water supplies; public transport

  4—Basic foodstuffs; books and newspapers; Pharmaceuticals

  Sweden

  25

  12—Food

  6—Newspapers

  19

  VAT rates in the European Community (standard rates and reduced rates; and main items subject to reduced rates)

  Member State

  Standard rate (per cent.)

  Reduced rates (per cent.)

  United Kingdom

  17.5

  8—Domestic fuel and power

  0—Food; books and newspapers; public transport; children's clothes; new housing; water and sewerage services; pharmaceuticals

  Travel Insurance
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the number of people who have taken out travel insurance from(a) an insurance broker and (b) a travel agent in the last month for which figures are available. [13658]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Calculations of revenue changes resulting from the Budget proposal were derived from information on premiums published by the Association of British Insurers.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, columns 234–35, (1) concerning insurance, if he will state (a) the extent of the increase in margins resulting from inflating the price of VAT-exempt insurance supplied in association with vatable goods and services, and (b) the normal margins in (i) the retail and (ii) the tour operating part of the travel industry; and what evidence he has that margins on insurance provided by the travel industry have changed since the introduction of insurance tax, and that such change has resulted from tax avoidance; [14112]

  (2) if he will publish the data which supports his statement that there is a widespread practice of inflating the price of VAT-exempt insurance supplied in association with vatable goods and services; and if he will list (a) the number of instances discovered of price inflating, (b) the number of companies involved in price inflating, (c) the average value of the inflation price compared with the non-inflated price for each company and (d) the inflated price as a proportion of the non-inflated price. [14114]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 3 February 1997]: The practice of inflating the price of VAT-exempt insurance premiums is commonplace in certain industry sectors, including the travel industry, and cases are too numerous to list. A mark-up of 100 per cent. on travel insurance is regularly applied by tour operators and travel agents and mark-ups of this size have been reported in the travel press. The basic pricing structure of the industry—low margin on holiday, high margin on insurances—is not disputed by industry representatives. The result of this pricing policy is that a typical travel insurance policy for a two-week European holiday purchased from a travel agent or tour operators costs about £30. A similar policy can be purchased elsewhere for half that price. There has never been any suggestion that the margins on insurance products provided by the travel industry were materially changed by the introduction of insurance premium tax.
  20
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what external legal advice he took before introducing a differential rate of insurance premium tax; and with which external bodies he consulted on this matter. [11468]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 22 January 1997]: Extensive consultations with industry took place prior to the Budget concerning measures to counter VAT avoidance by various sectors that were misusing the VAT exemption for insurance. However, as is usual with tax-raising Budget measures, no external consultation took place on the insurance premium tax rate changes before the Budget announcement. Since that announcement, Ministers and officials have had numerous meetings with representative bodies for those affected by these changes.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the advantages enjoyed by insurers, brokers and agents over independent travel agencies in respect of rates of insurance premium tax; and if he will make it his policy to impose a common rate of tax in the holiday insurance market. [13342]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 4 February 1997]: I have received a number of representations about the proposal to apply a higher rate of insurance premium tax to travel insurance sold through travel agents. This is an important element of the proposed higher rate which will address, on a wider front, the current VAT loss caused by certain suppliers applying disproportionately high margins to VAT-exempt insurance when sold with vatable goods and services. Since this VAT loss cannot arise when insurance is sold in isolation by insurers or specialist insurance intermediaries, such sales have not been included within the scope of the higher rate.

  Value Added Tax (Isle of Man)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax is paid by the Government of the Isle of Man to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement. [13873]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In normal circumstances, the Government of the Isle of Man do not pay any VAT to the Exchequer, but under the revenue-sharing agreement of the Isle of Man Act 1979, the Isle of Man has contributed the following amounts of net VAT receipts during the past three financial years.

  1993–94: £20,157,399

  1994–95: £24,100,764

  1995–96: £22,481,096.

  Departmental Policies (Bournemouth)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of his Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special reference to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14945]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Bournemouth is sharing fully in the success of the British economy, which is enjoying a combination of low inflation, falling unemployment, low mortgage rates and rising living standards not seen for a
  21
  generation. Claimant unemployment in Bournemouth has halved in the past four years, from 11.9 per cent. of the work force in December 1992 to 5.8 per cent. in December 1996, and is now well below the national average. The Treasury does not provide resources directly to local areas.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the decision of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to decline to allow exemption from landfill tax for all construction sites where contaminated soil is removed; how many such refusals of exemption have so far been indicated; what tax revenues he expects to raise as a result of those decisions; and if he will indicate the legal basis for those decisions. [11366]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 20 January 1997]: In granting the exemption, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise needs to be satisfied that the applicant is carrying out, or intending to carry out, a reclamation of land rather than simply carrying out a construction project. It takes into account the presence of pollutants in the waste, the amount of waste being removed compared with the amount that needs to be removed in order to carry out the construction, and whether all the waste would be removed from an area wider than the actual construction area. Each case is individually considered, bearing in mind all relevant factors.

  It is not possible in the time available to break down the number of refusals by reason. As at 6 January 1997, the total number of applications refused was 83. Applications that are not eligible for the exemption do not raise additional landfill tax revenue. The potential landfill tax payable if wastes arising from refused applications are landfilled amounted to £35,595,713 as at 6 January 1997. The legal basis for decisions to refuse an application for exemption is failure to meet the qualifying provisions contained in sections 43A and 43B of the Finance Act 1996 as inserted by article 3 of the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1996 (SI 1996 No. 1529).

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have so for been received for landfill tax exemption certificates; in how many of those cases such a certificate(a) has been granted, (b) has been refused and (c) is still under consideration; and in how many cases of refusals applicants have lodged, or indicated an intention to lodge, an appeal. [13598]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 30 January 1997]: HM Customs and Excise has received 542 applications for landfill tax exemption certificates. Certificates have been granted for 153 applications, refused for 92 applications, and 297 applications are still under consideration. An applicant who wants customs to reconsider a refusal must ask in writing for a formal review within 45 days of the refusal. Customs has received five such requests. Applicants who initially voice their dissatisfaction with a decision may choose not to take the matter any further, and customs does not record informal indications that an appeal is being considered.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 23 January,Official Report, column 685, if his statement that eligibility for
  22
  exemption from landfill tax of construction sites where land is contaminated was never intended to be automatic is consistent with Her Majesty's Government's previous statements on these matters; what recent representations he has received on this point; and if he will make a statement. [13596]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 30 January 1997]: It was, and remains, the Government's intention that all waste arising from the reclamation of contaminated land, where the reclamation qualifies for exemption under the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1996, should be exempt from Landfill tax. Waste arising from construction after the land has been reclaimed is not exempt, nor was it ever intended that it should be. I understand the Building Employers Confederation is in correspondence with HM Customs and Excise on some issues of interpretation of the dividing line between reclamation and construction.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the legal case Pepper v. Hart for the interpretation of the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1996 in the context of previous correspondence with the construction industry; and if he will make a statement. [13597]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 30 January 1997]: I understand that the Building Employers Confederation, in correspondence with HM Customs and Excise, has quoted Pepper v. Hart in questioning customs' interpretation of the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1996. Pepper v. Hart establishes that statements made by a Minister or other promoter of a Bill with, if necessary, such other parliamentary material as was necessary to understand such statements and their effects, may be relied upon to interpret a statutory provision which is ambiguous, obscure or which leads to absurdity. The case did not concern interpretation of a statutory instrument. In Pickstone v. Freemans—PLC (1989) AC 66—the House of Lords, in construing a statutory instrument, had regard to what was said by the Minister who initiated the debate on the regulations. Neither Pepper v. Hart nor Pickstone v. Freemans considered whether correspondence from a Minister prior to the introduction of the relevant legislation could be relied upon. Such correspondence does not constitute parliamentary material.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what method the overseas trade statistics listing exports of live farm animals by species have been derived for(a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995 and (d) 1996. [13551]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 31 January 1997]: Overseas trade statistics for exports from the United Kingdom to countries outside the European Community are compiled from customs declarations made to HM Customs and Excise by exporters and their agents.

  Overseas trade statistics for dispatches from the United Kingdom to other members of the European Community are compiled from returns sent by traders and their agents to the tariff and statistical office of HM Customs and Excise through the Intrastat system. The Intrastat system was established in 1993.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will arrange for the number of electors in each constituency to be placed in the Library following the publication of the final electoral registers on 16 February. [14252]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: 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. Harry Barnes, dated 10 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to reply to your recent question on when the number of electors on the 1997 Electoral Register will be placed in the Library. The Director has asked me to reply in his absence.
  ONS are preparing a Monitor detailing electors on the 1997 Electoral Register by the new Parliamentary Constituencies. This will be published by early April 1997 and will be placed in the Library on publication date.

  Nationalised Industries
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the 1995–96 outturn figure for the external financing requirements of each of the nationalised industries. [14513]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The 1995–96 outturn figure for the external financing requirements of each nationalised industry was given in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" published on 26 November last year. The latest figure will be published in "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses" on 20 March.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlay the differences in hisestimate for the first year revenue yield from the 50 per cent. rate of income tax on taxable incomes as between his answers of 1 November 1996,Official Report, column 279, and 28 January, Official Report, column 143. [14490]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The main factor affecting the change in estimated yields is that the answer of 28 January refers to 1997–98 income levels whereas the answer of 1 November 1996 refers to 1996–97 income levels. Earnings are estimated to grow between the two years, which increases the number of taxpayers affected and therefore increases the yield.

  Dorneywood
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the running costs of Dorneywood in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14618]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: Dorneywood is financed and administered by the Dorneywood Trust, a private trust for which I am not responsible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Prime Minister how many people are employed by his Department to provide advice on the application of equal opportunities, and at what cost, in the last year for which figures are available. [14463]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General, Office of the Public Service, on 7 February,Official Report, columns 734–35.

  Travel Costs
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, column 609, concerning travel costs, for what reasons comparable data for 1983 to 1987 are not available; and if he will make a statement. [15169]

  The Prime Minister
  Comparable data for 1983 to 1987 are not available because it is departmental policy, which accords with the guidance in "Government Accounting" and the requirements of the National Audit Office, to destroy financial records after five years.

  Ministerial Incomes
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Prime Minister how his salary compares in percentage terms, after adjusting for inflation, with that of the Prime Minister of 30 years ago; what is the corresponding figure for Cabinet Ministers; and how much average real incomes for the population as a whole have increased in percentage terms over the same period. [15018]

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is as follows:

  Prime Minister's salary: decrease 48.3 per cent.

  Cabinet Minister's salary: decrease 36 per cent.

  Average earnings: increase 66.7 per cent.

  All percentages are adjusted for inflation and are taken between December 1970—the earliest for which average earnings information is available—and December 1996.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide a breakdown of the spending by the Cabinet Office on external advice in relation to the Scott inquiry, indicating how much has been spent on legal advice and from whom it was obtained. [14533]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: No payments have been made by the Cabinet Office for external advice, including legal advice, in relation to the Scott inquiry.

  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of salaries since 1992 paid to persons in the Cabinet Office employed on a part-time or full-time basis in any capacity relating to the Scott inquiry. [14532]
  25
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The direct salary cost of officials within the Cabinet Office wholly employed on matters relating to the Scott inquiry from December 1992 to September 1996 was approximately £554,500. Since October 1996, no officials within the Cabinet Office have been wholly employed on Scott inquiry-related matters, although some officials have inevitably been involved on an occasional basis as part of their normal duties; the direct salary cost of their involvement is unquantifiable.

  Ministerial Visits (Latin America)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list by country the ministerial visits made to Latin America by his Government in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [14854]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: Visits made by Ministers to Latin America were as follows:

  Month

  Country

  Minister

  1995

  January

  Brazil

  Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Portillo)

  February

  Brazil Panama Colombia

  Minister of State Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Davis)

  March

  Uruguay

  Baroness Trumpington

  May

  Argentina

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Welsh Office(Mr. Richards)

  Brazil Mexico

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Hunt)

  Peru Colombia

  Minister of Trade (Mr. Needham)

  July

  Argentina

  Baroness Trumpington

  Peru

  Minister of Defence (Earl Howe)

  September

  Mexico

  Minister of State, Department for National Heritage (Lord Inglewood)

  Mexico

  Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir Nicholas Bonsor)

  Peru Argentina Brazil Chile

  Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr Gummer)

  Venezuela

  Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser)

  Argentina Brazil

  Minister of State for Education(Lord Henley)

  Cuba

  Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Mr. Taylor)

  November

  Peru Colombia

  Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir Nicholas Bonsor)

  Colombia

  Minister of Health (Mr. Sackville)

  26

  Month

  Country

  Minister

  1996

  January

  Argentina Brazil

  Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Clarke)

  Guatemala

  Lord Chesham

  February

  Brazil Chile Mexico

  Minister for Trade (Mr. Nelson)

  March

  Colombia Venezuela

  Minister of Trade at the Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser)

  Brazil

  Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Gummer)

  April

  Mexico Bilivia Brazil

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Rifkind)

  May

  Peru Chile

  The Lord Chancellor

  Mexico

  Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser)

  Venezuela Guatemala

  Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir Nicholas Bonsor)

  June

  Chile Colombia

  Secretary of State for Education (Mrs. Shephard)

  Argentina Brazil

  Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser)

  Belize

  Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir Nicholas Bonsor)

  August

  Ecuador Brazil Uruguay Paraguay

  Lord President of the Council (Mr. Newton)

  September

  Argentina Brazil Mexico Peru

  Minister of State for Agriculture (Mr. Baldry)

  Colombia Costa Rica Bolivia Peru

  Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Gummer)

  Cuba

  Minister of State at the Home Office (Mr. Sackville)

  Brazil

  Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Mr. Arbuthnot)

  Mexico

  Minister of State at the Department for Education and Employment (Lord Henley)

  October

  Mexico

  President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lang)

  November

  Argentina

  Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Gummer)

  Argentina Brazil

  Minister for Trade (Mr. Nelson)

  Bolivia Peru

  Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser)

  27

  Month

  Country

  Minister

  December

  Chile

  Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Portillo)

  Guatemala

  Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir Nicholas Bonsor)

  Chequers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many(a) full time, (b) part-time and (c) temporary staff have been employed at Chequers in each of the last five years; if he will list their principal duties; and if he will make a statement; [14978]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 524, what percentage of the total budget for the running costs of Chequers has been made up by the annual grant from public funds in each of the past five years; [14977]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 524, if he will list the dates he has been in residence at Chequers for each of the past two years; and if he will make a statement; [14974]

  (4) what uses Chequers has been put to for the periods when he has not been in residence; and if he will make a statement. [14975]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: I have nothing further to add to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member on 4 February, Official Report, column 524.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 4 February,Official Report, column 524, if he will list the independent trustees of Chequers. [14976]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: In accordance with the Chequers Estate Act 1958 the trustees are:
  The Lord Privy Seal, the right hon. the Lord Cranbourne DL, chairman
  Sir Ralph Verney Bt KBE DL JP, the Prime Minister's appointee
  The Lord Camoys DL, appointee of the Secretary of State for the Environment
  Ms J C Lomas, Public Trustee ex officio
  C Nunneley Esq, chairman of the National Trust ex officio.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Legislative Timetable
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what estimate he has made of the number of hours(a) on the Floor of the House and (b) in Committee needed to complete the Government business already announced in this Session. [13377]

  Mr. Newton
  The number of variables involved would make any such estimate merely speculative.

  Parliament (Dissolution)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what functions he discharges in relation to the dissolution of Parliament. [13378]

  Mr. Newton
  In my capacity as Lord President, I would expect to attend the meeting of the Privy Council at which the proclamation dissolving Parliament is signed.

  Prime Minister's Question Time
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to change the format of Prime Minister's Question Time. [13380]

  Mr. Newton
  My position remains as set out in my speech in the debate on parliamentary procedure on 11 July 1996,Official Report, columns 631–71.

  Undelivered Speeches
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce a procedure to allow hon. Members who have attended a debate but not been able to speak to have their speeches printed in the Official Report. [13381]

  Mr. Newton
  I have no plans to do so.

  Parliamentary Proceedings
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what steps he is taking to increase the opportunities for Back Benchers to initiate proceedings in the House. [13382]

  Mr. Newton
  The introduction of Wednesday morning sittings as part of the Jopling reforms has substantially increased the number of occasions on which Back Benchers can initiate debates on subjects of their choice. I have no current plans for further changes.

  Points of Order
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to review parliamentary procedures relating to points of order. [13383]

  Mr. Newton
  None; but the hon. Gentleman may wish to draw any concerns or suggestions he has to the attention of the Procedure Committee.

  Divisions
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will take measures to limit the length of time permitted for Divisions; and if he will make a statement. [13709]

  Mr. Newton
  Standing Order No. 37(3) provides that "at least eight minutes" must elapse between the calling of the Divisions and the locking of the doors into the Division Lobbies. I do not believe that this period could be shortened without causing significant inconvenience to Members based in 7 Millbank, and I therefore have no proposals to change the Standing Order.

SCOTLAND

  Ministerial Meetings
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings of the Council of Minsters have been attended as participants by Scottish Office Ministers in each year since 1992; how many of these attendances related to agriculture and fisheries; and what was the total number of meetings held by the Council of Ministers in that period. [14225]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Scottish Office Ministers' attendance

  8

  8

  8

  7

  15

  of which related to agriculture and fisheries

  7

  6

  5

  5

  13

  Total number of meetings held by the Council of Ministers in that period1

  87

  94

  92

  81

  88

  1 The information for 1992 to 1994 is contained in the 40th, 41st and 42nd "Review of the Council Work", in the secretary general's report, which forms the foreword in each of the reviews. The summary of Councils held between 1995 and 1996 is as yet unpublished but is obtainable from the press office of the Council of the European Union.

  Water and Sewerage Charges
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to achieve full equalisation of water and sewerage rate charges across the north of Scotland area. [15206]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The annual charges for water and sewerage services are a matter for the North of Scotland Water Authority, subject to approval from the Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council. I understand that

  Remuneration and reimbursement payment to dispensing doctor 1990–91 to 1995–96

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Number of prescriptions (000s)

  1,570

  1,662

  1,731

  1,828

  1,891

  1,882

  £000

  Value of ingredients before discount

  8,579

  9,904

  11,131

  12,383

  13,463

  13,992

  Value of ingredients after discount

  8,221

  9,457

  10,701

  11,872

  12,880

  13,421

  On cost allowances

  892

  1,029

  1,169

  1,300

  1,414

  1,469

  Dispensing fees

  1,386

  1,471

  1,536

  1,613

  1,723

  1,711

  Container allowances

  60

  63

  66

  69

  72

  72

  Reimbursement of value added tax

  1,242

  1,666

  1,884

  2,090

  2,267

  2,361

  Total value of payment

  11,799

  13,686

  15,356

  16,945

  18,355

  19,034

  Source

  Prescription Pricing Division, Common Services Agency.
  30
  progress with harmonisation of charges to domestic customers has been made in 1996–97 and that the authority expects to make further progress over the next few years.

  Psychotic Diseases
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate how many people in Scotland were registered suffers of(a) Alzheimer's disease, (b) schizophrenia and (c) other psychotic diseases in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14662]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: Information on the number of mentally ill people with a particular diagnosis is not collected centrally. We estimated that there were around 60,000 people in Scotland with a diagnosis of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, in 1994.

  Doctors' Disbursements
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the payments made(a) to dispensing doctors for prescriptions dispensed and items personally administered and (b) to non-dispensing doctors for items personally administered, by the Prescription Pricing Authority in Scotland, broken down by (i) net ingredient cost, (ii) discounted cost, (iii) VAT, (iv) oxygen etcetera, (v) container allowance, (vi) dispensing fees, and (vii) on cost and in total in each year since 1990–91. [14143]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The payments made to dispensing doctors by way of remuneration and reimbursement in respect of their dispensing activities are set out in the table. The total value of remuneration for the supply of oxygen is less than £1,000 in any year.

  The personal administration scheme does not apply in Scotland and no payments to GPs are authorised by the prescription pricing division of the Common Services Agency other than those mentioned in the table or for the supply of oxygen.
  31
  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the evidence submitted to the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body regarding disbursements to doctors in Scotland. [14144]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As the Health Department's evidence to the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body was made available to the "Health Service Journal" in October 1996, there are no plans to publish it.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Armoured Vehicles (Indonesia)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the amount and types of plastic bullets and tear gas products which were licensed for export to Indonesia in each year since 1990. [14264]

  Mr. Nelson
  Since 1991—the period from which records are readily available—there have been no exports of tear gas products and only one export—in 1992—of 10,000 rounds of 9 mm inert plastic training cartridge cases to Indonesia.

  I must point out, however, that the computer records cannot always identify individual items on an export licence application if they are part of a larger export.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer of 23 January,Official Report, columns 708–709, on the export of armoured vehicles to Indonesia, what was the monetary value of the vehicles and associated equipment covered by the export licence. [14113]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 3 February 1997]: This is a commercial matter between the exporter and the Indonesian Government.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answers of 9 December,Official Report, columns 29–30, and 23 January, columns 708–709, in respect of exports to Indonesia if he will place a list of the associated equipment in the Library; how many categories of equipment as detailed in the export control regulations are included in the export licences; and if he will list the categories in each licence. [14266]

  Mr. Nelson
  No. Such detailed lists are a commercial matter between the company, the Indonesian Government and the licensing authority. However, the licensability of the Alvis applications was determined under ML6 and ML3 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994.

  Licensability for the Procurement Services International application was determined under ML6 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 December,Official Report, columns 29–30, if he will place a copy of the export licence in the Library. [14261]

  Mr. Nelson
  No; the licence itself is a matter between the company and the licensing authority.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 23 January,Official Report, columns 708–709, if he will list the
  32
  communications and surveillance equipment installed in the eight Tactica command and communications vehicles. [14265]

  Mr. Nelson
  Detailed lists of this kind are a commercial matter between the company and the Indonesian Government and disclosed only to the licensing authority.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 23 January,Official Report, columns 708–709, if he will list the design and deployment descriptions of each of the armoured vehicles. [14304]

  Mr. Nelson
  The design is a matter for the company. Information on the vehicles that is in the public domain can be found in the "British Defence Equipment Catalogue".

  Deployment will be a matter for the Indonesian Government.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 23 January,Official Report, columns 708–709, relating to the training of Indonesian personnel in the use of water cannon or armoured vehicles, if he will identify the company. [14262]

  Mr. Nelson
  The hon. Member's original question related to the Tactica family. The company concerned is the supplier of the vehicles, Procurement Services International Ltd.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade under which category the marker dye used in the Tactica water cannon is controlled within the United Kingdom strategic export control system; and if the licence granted for the Tactica covers such products when licences have previously been granted for the export of marker dye to Indonesia. [14263]

  Mr. Nelson
  Detailed lists of this kind are a commercial matter between the company and the Indonesian Government and disclosed only to the licensing authority.

  Exports (Indonesia)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what basis his Department seeks assurances in respect of strategic exports to Indonesia; which categories of equipment are covered; and what factors determine which categories(a) require and (b) do not require assurances. [12566]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government have in the past sought and received from the Indonesian authorities general assurances that British-supplied military equipment will not be used against civilians in Indonesia or East Timor.

  Export licence applications are considered on their merits, taking account of all relevant factors on a case-by case-basis. On occasion, we seek assurances from the Government concerned, but this is not on the basis of pre-determined categories of equipment or factors.

  Nanotechnology
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of Board of Trade what plans his Department has to develop a formal programme for nanotechnology research; and if he will make a statement. [14972]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: Nanotechnology is an enabling technology which may impact the advancement of a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines and industrial sectors in the future. It is essential for each of these disciplines and sectors to be able to prioritise its own research into all enabling technologies, including nanotechnology, to best suit its own objectives. This is indicated by the conclusions of the foresight panels, over half of which identified nanotechnology-related topics as research priorities.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the(a) financing and (b) progress of nanotechnology research in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) Japan, (iii) the USA, (iv) Germany and (v) other countries; and if he will make a statement. [14970]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: Two studies were conducted by the National Physical Laboratory for the DTI in 1986, and lead to the formation of the national initiative on nanotechnology, which stimulated research in the field.

  The current position on nanotechnology research is concisely summarised in section 3 of the Office of Science and Technology's report "Making it in Miniature" of October 1996, which is available to Members in the Library of the House.

  In the UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council—the major funding body in this sector—is about to review its portfolio of nanotechnology research, and will identify any actions necessary as a result.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the laboratories researching nanotechnology in the United Kingdom, and if he will make a statement. [14966]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: At least 47 publicly funded institutions have received research grants which are related to nanotechnology.

  Examples of major academic centres for nanotechnology research include:
  Central microstructure facility at Rutherford Appleton laboratory, which is part of the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils;
  Nanoscale physics research laboratories at Birmingham university and at Cranfield university;
  Microelectronics fabrication centres at the universities of Sheffield and of Surrey;
  National surface science laboratory at Sheffield Hallam university;
  Nanoelectronics research centre at university of Glasgow;
  IRC in semiconductor materials at Imperial college of Science, Technology and Medicine;
  IRC in surface science at Liverpool university;
  Self-organising molecular systems research at Leeds university;
  34
  Semiconductors growth research centre at Nottingham university;
  Microelectronics centre at Southampton university.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the possible effects of exclusion of nanotechnology from the United Kingdom foresight project; and if he will make a statement. [14971]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: It is incorrect to say that nanotechnology has been excluded from the United Kingdom foresight programme. Several generic priorities relevant to nanotechnology have been identified under foresight with more than half of the foresight panels identifying subjects which fall under nanotechnology-related topics as research priorities.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) under what circumstances his Department provides grants for laboratories undertaking nanotechnology research; how much his Department has awarded in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [14967]

  (2) if he will estimate his Department's budget for nanotechnology research in each of the last five years and the projected figure for the forthcoming year; and if he will make a statement. [14968]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answers 7 February 1997]: Grants for nanotechnology research are available through the normal research grant system administered by the research councils; through foresight challenge; and through relevant Link programmes.

  Funding is dependent on scientific quality, as judged by peer review mechanisms.

  The total value of departmental funding for nanotechnology-related research over the last five years is in excess of £135 million. The major component of this is from the EPSRC as shown:

  EPSRC: value of research grants Starting in each year £ million

  1992–93

  12.9

  1993–94

  33.1

  1994–95

  40.8

  1995–96

  19.9

  1996–97

  22.5

  Post Office (Privatisation)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of privatising the Post Office. [14236]

  Mr. Page
  The Government's views on the future structure of the Post Office were set out in our Green Paper "The Future of Postal Services" published in June 1994, and in my predecessor's statement to the House on 11 May 1995,Official Report, columns 885–86.

  Coal Mines (Public Safety)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his responsibilities for public safety in respect of the opening up of former mine shafts and adits. [14323]

  Mr. Page
  The responsibility for making safe any collapse in an abandoned coal mine shaft or adit is generally a matter for the Coal Authority.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people are employed by his Department to provide advice on the application of equal opportunities; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [14477]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department's approach to equal opportunities ensures that, as far as is possible, all officials involved in policy formulation and in providing advice to other staff take full account of the DTI's equal opportunities policies. Five members of staff are directly involved in implementing equal opportunities policies and procedures, although they are also engaged in other activities as well. The salary costs attributed to the equal opportunities work of these staff will be £76,855 in 1996–97.

  The above excludes the DTI's executive agencies. The chief executives have delegated responsibility for equal opportunities in their agencies.

  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to make the United Kingdom's initial declaration to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. [14386]

  Mr. Nelson
  The United Kingdom, in accordance with the requirements of the chemical weapons convention, will submit its initial declaration to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons no later than 30 days after the convention comes into effect on 29 April 1997.

  Rom Data
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade further to paragraph 2 of his statement, "Events Surrounding the Collapse of Rom Data" placed in the Library on 19 February 1996, when he expects

  Company

  Inspectors

  Accountant inspectors costs (including support staff and VAT) £000

  Legal inspectors costs (including support staff and VAT) £000

  Total cost of inspection to date (including disbursements) £000

  Guinness plc

  Mr. D. Donaldson QC Mr. I Watt FCA

  2,397

  634

  3,031

  Wace UK Holdings Ltd. Tinsley Robor plc European Colour plc

  Mr. A. Robertshaw Mr. C. Mayhew J (both departmental officers1)

  —

  —

  14

  Mirror Group Newspapers plc

  Sir R. J. L. Thomas Mr. R. Turner FCA

  6,589

  1,650

  8,239

  36
  to make further information public; and when he expects the Department's disciplinary procedure will be completed. [14391]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The Department has completed its internal inquiries which have confirmed that there were failings in the handling of the case. The appropriate action has been taken in respect of the small number of staff whose work fell below the standard expected and the outcome has been reported to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

  Regulatory Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many individuals and firms have been licensed by each of the regulatory bodies created under the Insolvency Act 1986. [14792]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Only individuals may be authorised to act as insolvency practitioners under the Insolvency Act 1986. The bodies currently recognised by the Secretary of State, together with the numbers of their members they have authorised to act, are as follows:

  Number

  Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

  834

  Insolvency Practitioners Association

  279

  The Law Society

  183

  Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

  167

  Chartered Association of Certified Accountants

  123

  Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

  68

  The Law Society of Scotland

  23

  In addition, the Secretary of State has authorised 133 practitioners.

  Companies (Investigations)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list(a) the cost of each of the investigations being currently carried out under the Companies Acts and (b) the amounts which have been paid to each of the inspectors and the basis on which they have been paid. [14912]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The table covers all current Companies Act inspections where the inspection has been announced. The basis on which payments are made to inspectors was set out by my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton), the then Minister of Corporate Affairs, in his answer to the hon. Member on 20 July 1993,Official Report, columns 131–34.
  37

  Company

  Inspectors

  Accountant inspectors costs (including support staff and VAT) £000

  Legal inspectors costs (including support staff and VAT) £000

  Total cost of inspection to date (including disbursements) £000

  Chancery plc

  Mr. R. Chandler ACA Mr. A. Fausset (departmental officer1)

  605

  —

  605

  Queens Moat Houses plc

  Mr. P. Phillips QC Mr. A. Burn FCA

  2,455

  763

  3,218

  1 Excludes departmental staff costs.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is(a) the cost of each of the investigations being currently carried out under the Financial Services Act 1986, (b) the amounts which have been paid to each of the inspectors and (c) the basis on which they have been paid. [14914]

  Mr. Taylor
  Inspections carried out under the Financial Services Act are not announced and are confidential. The table lists the costs—excluding departmental staff costs—of all current Financial Services Act inspections as at the end of January 1997. The basis on which payments are made to inspectors was set out by my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton, the then Minister of Corporate Affairs, in his answer to the hon. Member on 20 July 1993,Official Report, columns 131–34.

  £000

  Accountant inspectors costs (including support staff and VAT)

  Legal inspectors costs (including support staff and VAT)

  Total cost of inspections to date (including disbursements)

  1,550

  330

  1,912

  Auditors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the president of the Board of Trade how many auditors in each year since

  Company

  Inspectors

  Date of publication

  Accountant inspectors costs (including support staff and VAT) £000

  Legal inspectors costs (including support staff and VAT)Total £000

  £000

  Norton Group plc

  R. McCombe QC J. Heywood FCA

  11 March 1993

  824

  155

  997

  Astra Holdings plc

  C. P. F. Rimer QC J. White FCA

  7 June 1993

  1,885

  424

  2,310

  London United Investments plc

  W. M. Gage QC

  23 September 1993

  1,882

  400

  2,283

  C. R. Driver and Co. Ltd (in liquidation)

  A. H. Gilroy FCA

  The Bestwood plc

  G. Moss QC

  20 January 1994

  2,523

  202

  2,726

  Atlanta Fund Managers Ltd

  J. Venning FCA

  Atlantic Computers plc

  E. W. Hamilton QC

  21 July 1994

  4,704

  1,860

  6,565

  Atlantic Computers Systems plc

  J.A. Scott OBE FCA

  Consolidated Gold Fields plc

  R. L. Heslop QC R. P. G. Lewis FCA

  29 September 1994

  3,467

  386

  3,853

  James Ferguson Holdings plc

  L. D. Ziman Solicitor

  6 July 1995

  4,553

  1,882

  6,435

  Barlow Clowes Gilt Managers Ltd

  W. M. Hoffman

  38
  1990 have filed a statement stating that they have resigned, have been removed, or have not sought reappointment. [14785]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This information could not be retrieved from Companies House records except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to implement the European Union's fifth directive in respect of placing a requirement on plc auditors to owe a duty of care. [14789]

  Mr. Taylor
  The proposed fifth directive has not been adopted by the European Union.

  DTI Inspectors' Reports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the cost of DTI inspectors' reports which have been published since 1990 and the amounts paid to the accountant and lawyer inspectors(a) in total and (b) in each case. [14812]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton), the then Minister of Corporate Affairs, gave on 24 February 1993,Official Report, columns 601–604. The additional information requested by the hon. Member is set out in the table:

  Supervisory Bodies (Money Laundering)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what responsibilities the recognised supervisory bodies have in respect of monitoring compliance by auditors with regulations governing money laundering. [14842]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Auditing is not covered by the money laundering regulations. Therefore, the recognised professional bodies cannot enforce compliance by auditors. However, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has set out what it considers the relevant requirements to be, within its ethical guidance for members in practice. Departure from such guidance would constitute evidence of professional misconduct.

  Further, the Auditing Practices Board is currently preparing a practice note to assist auditors in complying with the relevant requirements, including the application of auditing standards, in relation to money laundering.

  Land Mines
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria he applies in respect of the granting of export licences relating to land mines; and if he will make a statement. [15216]
  40
  Mr. Nelson
  The UK prohibits the export of all types of anti-personnel mines to all destinations.

WALES

  Teachers, Clwyd
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the teachers in the former Clwyd local education authority who retired in each of the last five years were under 60 years of age. [14672]

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

  School teachers in the former Clwyd LEA retiring before the age of 60 as a percentage of all teachers retiring1

  Percentage

  1991–92

  71.6

  1992–93

  70.6

  1993–94

  60.1

  1994–95

  61.3

  1995–96

  55.1

  1 Includes grant-maintained and independent school staff who are in the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (TSS). Excludes those returning to non pensionable occasional service for years 1991–92 and 1992–93. Data not available for 1993–94 onwards.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are employed by his Department to provide advice on the application of equal opportunities; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [14471]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry has a variety of staff involved in providing advice and information on equal opportunities, including trainers, personnel officers and legal advisors. In addition, there are staff with specific responsibility for advice in equal opportunity matters including an equal opportunities unit, and a network of agency, regional and local equal opportunity officers, for whom equal opportunities are only a portion of their responsibilities. The number of staff with such specific responsibility is therefore expressed below as full-time equivalents.

  The number of full-time equivalents in the Ministry and its executive agencies with specific responsibility for equal opportunities policy, advice and implementation including the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, case work and monitoring is 16.8.

  The estimated annual cost of salaries, earnings-related national insurance contributions and superannuation for these individuals for the current financial year is £356,300.

  Nitrates
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 355, what assessment he has made of the compliance with the labelling, compositional and packaging requirements of ammonium nitrate currently dispatched from the port of Tilbury. [14363]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Fertilisers Regulations 1991, as amended, are primarily measures to protect the purchaser, and offences relate mainly to selling or having in possession with a view to sale. Enforcement is the responsibility of local authorities. The Ministry has not assessed the level of compliance of ammonium nitrate fertiliser passing through Tilbury.

  Policy Initiatives (Funding)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to which policy initiative he has devoted most funding in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on progress with each initiative. [14669]

  Mr. Boswell
  Details of funding for the Ministry's various policy programmes can be found in its annual departmental reports to Parliament.

  Animal Movements Computer System
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Animo—animal movements—computer system to(a) commence operating and (b) be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on its objectives. [14858]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Animo computer system became fully operational in Great Britain in November 1993. Its objective is to provide a means of sending a computerised message from the member state from which animals or animal products are consigned to the member state of destination.

  Rabies
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what methods or eradication will be used to control an outbreak of rabies in the urban community; [14859]

  (2) what controls over pet movements will be introduced in the event of a rabies outbreak in (a) an urban area and (b) a country area; [14860]

  (3) what controls over (a) lorry movements and (b) the movement of people will be introduced in the event of an outbreak of rabies in Great Britain. [14861]

  Mrs. Browning
  This would depend on the nature and location of the outbreak. The powers to deal with an outbreak are contained in the Rabies (Control) Order 1974—SI 1974/2212. The provisions which may be applied is an infected area—or a zone of an infected area—are set out in schedule 3 to the order.

  Genetic Engineering
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of the digestion process on genes in respect of his consideration of(a) the importation of genetically modified maize and (b) section 16 of the European directive. [14487]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: In considering the safety of Ciba-Geigy's maize, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes was satisfied that processing for food and animal feed use, with the action of digestive enzymes, would result in the substantial degradation of the DNA. However, it did not consider that the digestive process alone would be sufficient to avoid a small but finite risk arising from the transfer of an antibiotic gene in the maize to micro-organisms in the gut of animals if the maize was fed in an unprocessed form. This risk was examined by three EC scientific committees but not thought to be significant enough to warrant a ban on genetically modified maize imports into the Community.
  43
  I am not aware of any new data that would justify invoking article 16 of directive 90/220/EEC in respect of this material.

  Newcastle Disease
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, 1996 Fisheries and Food (1) what is the average value of the birds involved in the recent(a) Ross on Wye and (b) Sussex outbreaks of Newcastle disease; [14617]

  (2) what is the total amount of compensation that will be paid by his Department as a result of the recent (a) Ross on Wye and (b) Sussex outbreaks of Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement. [14616]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: This information is not yet available.

  Compensation Payments (Diseased Animals)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount paid as compensation for(a) poultry, (b) cattle and (c) other animals as a result of the slaughter of diseased or suspected diseased animals in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14615]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: The total amount paid as compensation for the slaughter of diseased or suspected diseased animals in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Disease

  £

  Poultry

  1992

  Avian Influenza

  6,202

  Salmonella

  897,918

  Total

  904,120

  1993

  Salmonella

  2,130,586

  1994

  Salmonella

  358,910

  1995

  Salmonella

  398,174

  1996

  Newcastle disease

  7,346

  Salmonella

  120,799

  Total

  128,145

  Cattle

  1992

  BSE

  29,211,594

  Brucellosis

  116,512

  Bovine tuberculosis

  683,831

  Total

  30,011,937

  1993

  BSE

  38,054,040

  Brucellosis

  22,657

  Bovine tuberculosis

  2,100,082

  Total

  40,176,779

  1994

  BSE

  25,382,456

  Brucellosis

  48,538

  Bovine tuberculosis

  2,020,773

  Total

  27,451,767

  44

  Disease

  £

  1995

  BSE

  11,057,384

  Brucellosis

  12,750

  Bovine tuberculosis

  1,988,820

  1996

  Total BSE

  13,058,954 6,956,362

  Brucellosis

  13,359

  Bovine tuberculosis

  2,283,512

  Total

  9,253,233

  OTHER ANIMALS

  Deer

  1992

  Bovine tuberculosis

  250

  Droplix
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has evaluated of the effects of Droplix on(a) cats and (b) their owners. [14856]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: All data associated with applications for marketing authorisations for veterinary medicinal products, including all relevant research information, are very carefully assessed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. No veterinary medicine is authorised for use unless it meets stringent statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy, and the Government are advised on this by the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee. Safety includes the health and welfare of the animal and the safety of the user of the product. Details of data submitted in support of particular products are subject to the confidentiality requirements of section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will immediately suspend the licence of the organophosphate-based flea killer Droplix. [14855]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has carefully monitored the withdrawal from the market by the marketing authorisation holder of the defective batches number 21–42 of Droplix Cat and 17–27 of Droplix Dog. The VMD continues to monitor the situation very closely and there is no reason to suspend the marketing authorisation.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  "Going GM" Conferences
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many "Going GM" conferences for head teachers and governors have been held to date; and what was the cost to her Department of(a) each conference and (b) the total programme of conferences. [14683]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has held 80 "Going GM" conferences since the programme began in 1992, at a total cost of some £1.1 million. The available information on costs for each conference is given in the table.
  45

  Location

  Number

  Date

  Hotel costs

  Leeds

  1

  16 November 1992

  6,202

  Bolton

  2

  12 December 1992

  6,873

  Sheffield

  3

  15 January 1993

  8,164

  Manchester

  4

  30 January 1993

  7,734

  Newcastle

  5

  10 February 1993

  8,539

  Newcastle

  6

  11 February 1993

  8,539

  Leicester

  7

  15 February 1993

  4,306

  Nottingham

  8

  1 March 1993

  7,751

  Taunton

  9

  8 March 1993

  3,491

  Birmingham

  10

  10 March 1993

  8,512

  Nottingham

  11

  29 March 1993

  7,378

  Daventry

  12

  26 April 1993

  4,150

  Haydock

  13

  30 April 1993

  2,858

  Maidstone

  14

  4 May 1993

  7,894

  St. Albans

  15

  7 May 1993

  9,772

  Heathrow

  16

  13 May 1993

  10,077

  Sandown

  17

  19 May 1993

  8,019

  Watford

  18

  27 May 1993

  6,876

  Bournemouth

  19

  18 June 1993

  6,669

  Cheltenham

  20

  28 June 1993

  6,263

  Exeter

  21

  13 July 1993

  7,638

  Maidstone

  22

  23 September 1993

  4,473

  Bristol

  23

  7 October 1993

  8,908

  Cambridge

  24

  5 November 1993

  9,240

  Cambridge

  25

  2 December 1993

  9,156

  Darlington

  26

  3 February 1994

  5,392

  Manchester

  27

  18 February 1994

  8,236

  Newcastle

  28

  4 March 1994

  6,392

  Huddersfield

  29

  14 March 1994

  7,645

  Harrogate

  30

  27 April 1994

  10,454

  Stratford

  31

  28 June 1994

  7,747

  Hinckley

  32

  5 July 1994

  4,720

  Stoke

  33

  13 July 1994

  3,859

  Warrington

  34

  24 September 1994

  4,723

  Penrith

  35

  27 September 1994

  3,554

  London

  36

  1 November 1994

  6,404

  Newquay

  37

  21 November 1994

  3,522

  Manchester

  38

  5 December 1994

  9,273

  Swindon

  39

  27 January 1995

  5,446

  Gatwick

  40

  23 February 1995

  7,113

  Norwich

  41

  1 March 1995

  3,662

  London

  42

  10 March 1995

  7,327

  Bournemouth

  43

  14 March 1995

  7,044

  Cambridge

  44

  12 May 1995

  3,660

  Bournemouth

  45

  19 May 1995

  6,072

  Bristol

  46

  5 June 1995

  7,951

  Newcastle

  47

  9 June 1995

  4,046

  Scarborough

  48

  22 June 1995

  4,011

  Milton Keynes

  49

  11 July 1995

  6,365

  Leyland

  50

  29 September 1995

  5,401

  Haydock

  51

  2 October 1995

  5,892

  Reading

  52

  9 October 1995

  6,320

  Maidstone

  53

  20 October 1995

  7,779

  Bristol

  54

  30 October 1995

  8,010

  Birmingham

  55

  10 November 1995

  5,767

  Leicester

  56

  13 November 1995

  6,112

  Stoke

  57

  4 December 1995

  8,846

  Barnsley

  58

  15 January 1996

  5,589

  Hinckley

  59

  19 January 1996

  7,194

  Leicester

  60

  25 January 1996

  6,208

  Elstree

  61

  29 January 1996

  5,893

  Croydon

  62

  5 February 1996

  6,424

  Torquay

  63

  29 February 1996

  11,208

  Huddersfield

  64

  13 March 1996

  4,738

  Huddersfield

  65

  14 March 1996

  4,833

  Penrith

  66

  30 April 1996

  4,177

  Swindon

  67

  14 May 1996

  7,448

  Norwich

  68

  23 May 1996

  4,165

  Stourport

  69

  10 June 1996

  4,676

  Milton Keynes

  70

  17 June 1996

  6,551

  Basingstoke

  71

  1 July 1996

  6,760

  Basingstoke

  72

  8 July 1996

  5,155

  Maidstone

  73

  10 October 1996

  5,218

  Gatwick

  74

  11 October 1996

  6,000

  46 47

  Location

  Number

  Date

  Hotel costs

  Warrington

  75

  21 October 1996

  6,103

  Selby

  76

  15 November 1996

  5,000

  Derby

  77

  25 November 1996

  6,729

  Cambridge 1

  78

  3 December 1996

  7,122

  Cambridge 2

  79

  20 January 1997

  4,500

  Plymouth

  80

  28 January 1997

  3,500

  Total

  513,415

  Costs listed are those attributable to specific conferences. In addition, there are two contracts: one for conference organisation and support services which for the 80 conferences has totalled an estimated £526,000, the other for certain categories of mailings which has totalled an estimated £78,000.

  The costs for the two most recent conferences are estimated pending receipt of an invoice.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many representations her Department received from head teachers registering complaints in respect of invitations to attend "Going GM" conferences. [14684]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has identified some 10 complaints from head teachers in respect of invitations to attend "Going GM" conferences in the last two years. During this period, 41 conferences were held and all head teachers in local education authority schools have been invited to at least one. The information in respect of earlier conferences is not readily available.

  "Coalition for Citizenship"
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the report "Coalition for Citizenship". [14688]

  Percentage of day pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more GCSE grade A* to C

  England 1995–96

  Percentage of day pupils known to be eligible for free school meals1

  Local education authority area

  County/controlled schools

  Voluntary aided schools

  Grant maintained schools 2

  Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving five or more GCSEs grades A* to C3

  Corporation of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Camden

  43.0

  34.8

  15.2

  43.0

  Greenwich

  43.0

  32.8

  —

  29.1

  Hackney

  63.8

  52.6

  —

  25.7

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  54.3

  30.9

  —

  35.3

  Islington

  56.3

  44.2

  —

  22.4

  Kensington and Chelsea

  55.5

  36.5

  22.5

  46.7

  Lambeth

  53.8

  41.5

  42.0

  25.1

  Lewisham

  43.7

  34.3

  —

  30.0

  Southwark

  55.8

  41.5

  45.6

  24.6

  Tower Hamlets

  69.6

  55.0

  —

  23.9

  Wandsworth

  39.9

  30.0

  33.9

  32.8

  Westminster

  49.9

  39.2

  —

  33.0

  Barking

  27.8

  21.9

  —

  27.1

  Barnet

  23.0

  17.4

  11.8

  53.4

  Bexley

  17.2

  12.8

  10.3

  46.8

  Brent

  31.5

  30.8

  28.2

  35.1

  Bromley

  20.5

  17.9

  12.4

  50.3

  Croydon

  29.9

  14.4

  17.4

  38.8

  Ealing

  30.1

  16.6

  27.4

  346

  Enfield

  26.2

  12.0

  18.3

  41.0

  Haringey

  47.4

  29.5

  —

  28.5

  Harrow

  14.5

  6.6

  —

  53.5

  Havering

  16.6

  6.7

  6.5

  44.1

  Hillingdon

  17.4

  41

  140

  40.9

  Hounslow

  28.3

  17.9

  —

  42.3

  Kingston upon Thames

  10.6

  6.6

  10.0

  59.9

  48
  Mrs. Gillan
  The recently formed "Coalition for Citizenship" is a group of organisations concerned with education for citizenship. I am not aware that it has produced a report. Its constituent organisations provide information, advice and support to schools in relation to citizenship and personal and social education.

  GCSE Scores
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list (i) by local education authority in England the percentage of pupils in(a) maintained schools, (b) voluntary-aided and (c) grant-maintained schools entitled to free school meals and (ii) the average proportion of pupils in all schools excluding the independent sector in each authority, gaining five or more GCSEs at grades A to C. [14903]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  49

  Percentage of day pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more GCSE grade A* to C

  England 1995–96

  Percentage of day pupils known to be eligible for free school meals1

  Local education authority area

  County/controlled schools

  Voluntary aided schools

  Grant maintained schools 2

  Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving five or more GCSEs grades A* to C3

  Merton

  25.7

  15.0

  —

  38.3

  Newham

  43.1

  29.5

  —

  27.9

  Redbridge

  21.2

  8.8

  —

  50.8

  Richmond upon Thames

  16.1

  15.8

  —

  52.2

  Sutton

  17.7

  8.9

  4.5

  56.4

  Waltham Forest

  38.2

  20.5

  16.1

  33.4

  Birmingham

  41.7

  32.6

  21.1

  32.9

  Coventry

  25.3

  23.4

  —

  38.0

  Dudley

  19.1

  25.2

  14.4

  44.9

  Sandwell

  29.1

  21.3

  —

  26.5

  Solihull

  15.3

  14.8

  —

  49.6

  Walsall

  30.7

  19.4

  10.2

  32.2

  Wolverhampton

  28.2

  22.5

  23.5

  30.2

  Knowsley

  53.3

  47.6

  —

  23.6

  Liverpool

  47.0

  41.6

  21.7

  27.6

  St. Helens

  30.2

  26.0

  —

  40.9

  Sefton

  23.7

  26.7

  —

  44.0

  Wirral

  31.9

  31.9

  6.4

  44.4

  Bolton

  23.8

  17.6

  11.3

  41.9

  Bury

  18.5

  14.5

  —

  48.5

  Manchester

  50.8

  42.2

  —

  27.0

  Oldham

  30.5

  19.4

  —

  33.3

  Rochdale

  36.0

  23.4

  22.6

  35.4

  Salford

  36.8

  29.9

  —

  30.1

  Stockport

  18.9

  15.4

  —

  49.0

  Tameside

  27.7

  18.1

  11.1

  35.4

  Trafford

  22.2

  17.7

  50

  48.6

  Wigan

  22.8

  17.4

  —

  43.9

  Barnsley

  26.9

  18.5

  —

  28.2

  Doncaster

  28.7

  17.4

  —

  33.5

  Rotherham

  24.0

  20.7

  —

  36.2

  Sheffield

  29.0

  28.0

  16.3

  37.2

  Bradford

  32.7

  20.3

  18.9

  28.9

  Calderdale

  26.5

  18.4

  10.7

  39.7

  Kirklees

  24.2

  16.7

  —

  38.4

  Leeds

  23.6

  19.7

  —

  36.6

  Wakefield

  21.5

  14.4

  —

  35.3

  Gateshead

  28.4

  25.8

  —

  36.6

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  37.7

  29.6

  —

  32.7

  North Tyneside

  23.5

  22.5

  —

  41.1

  South Tyneside

  37.2

  30.8

  —

  35.2

  Sunderland

  29.9

  17.1

  —

  31.7

  Isles of Scilly

  7.6

  —

  —

  73.1

  Bath and North-east Somerset

  14.8

  13.9

  —

  47.4

  City of Bristol

  28.9

  22.3

  —

  30.9

  North Somerset

  13.6

  10.0

  —

  52.5

  South Gloucestershire

  12.9

  10.2

  —

  44.7

  Hartlepool

  34.7

  21.7

  —

  31.9

  Middlesbrough

  39.6

  29.5

  —

  26.9

  Redcar and Cleveland

  29.7

  25.6

  —

  37.6

  Stockton on Tees

  27.8

  19.2

  —

  37.2

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  33.3

  20.9

  —

  22.8

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  11.3

  7.6

  6.1

  43.6

  North-east Lincolnshire

  24.8

  22.6

  —

  32.4

  North Lincolnshire

  19.1

  14.1

  —

  32.4

  North Yorkshire

  10.3

  5.5

  —

  53.0

  York

  14.9

  12.9

  —

  47.7

  Bedfordshire

  20.8

  16.7

  13.2

  42.7

  Berkshire

  12.8

  9.1

  10.6

  48.8

  Buckinghamshire

  10.4

  3.6

  10.0

  50.5

  Cambridgeshire

  16.2

  17.1

  13.2

  46.7

  Cheshire

  16.0

  16.5

  11.8

  49.3

  Cornwall

  20.4

  16.5

  —

  46.7

  Cumbria

  18.4

  16.3

  8.9

  44.2

  Derbyshire

  19.2

  14.2

  11.1

  42.0

  Devon

  18.4

  15.5

  10.2

  44.2

  50 51

  Percentage of day pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more GCSE grade A* to C

  England 1995–96

  Percentage of day pupils known to be eligible for free school meals1

  Local education authority area

  County/controlled schools

  Voluntary aided schools

  Grant maintained schools

  Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving five or more GCSEs grades A* to C

  Dorset

  11.5

  6.5

  8.8

  49.3

  Durham

  23.3

  16.3

  —

  36.2

  East Sussex

  21.1

  19.5

  —

  43.3

  Essex

  19.5

  11.5

  12.7

  43.1

  Gloucestershire

  16.2

  9.0

  9.2

  50.2

  Hampshire

  15.1

  11.4

  9.9

  46.5

  Hereford and Worcester

  11.3

  7.0

  6.7

  44.6

  Hertfordshire

  14.1

  8.9

  9.6

  49.3

  Isle of Wight

  21.7

  19.9

  —

  44.5

  Kent

  19.0

  16.9

  13.8

  43.7

  Lancashire

  26.4

  17.8

  8.1

  42.6

  Leicestershire

  16.6

  9.6

  12.5

  39.7

  Lincolnshire

  10.2

  5.5

  10.0

  44.5

  Norfolk

  15.6

  13.5

  13.6

  41.9

  Northamptonshire

  13.2

  14.9

  14.1

  43.5

  Northumberland

  17.4

  11.6

  —

  46.1

  Nottinghamshire

  25.3

  15.5

  29.4

  36.4

  Oxfordshire

  11.2

  11.0

  —

  45.7

  Shropshire

  16.3

  14.8

  14.5

  48.0

  Somerset

  12.2

  9.9

  11.6

  50.0

  Staffordshire

  18.0

  14.2

  13.7

  40.9

  Suffolk

  15.5

  10.9

  —

  47.0

  Surrey

  11.6

  8.0

  7.4

  50.5

  Warwickshire

  12.2

  10.6

  9.4

  43.7

  West Sussex

  12.8

  10.1

  —

  50.7

  Wiltshire

  13.9

  12.0

  9.6

  48.3

  England

  22.6

  20.0

  13.5

  44.5

  1 Position on the annual schools' census date in January.

  2 Schools operating as GM on the annual schools' census date in January.

  3 Including maintained schools and city technology colleges. Columns have been left blank where they would have contained two schools or fewer, in line with normal pupil confidentiality.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the percentage of 16-year-olds passing five or more GCSEs at grade C or higher in Derbyshire in each year since 1992. [15162]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The percentage of 15-year-old1 pupils in maintained schools passing five or more GCSEs at grade C or higher in Derbyshire in each year since 1992 is:

  Percentage

  1992

  36.1

  1993

  37.8

  1994

  40.9

  1995

  39.8

  1996

  42.0

  1 Age at beginning of the academic year.

  Skills Research
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research her Department has undertaken to identify the skills required by industry in the past two years. [14694]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department commissions an annual survey of employers which asks about changing skill requirements and recruitment difficulties. In 1995 and 1996, it was published by Public Attitude Surveys Ltd. as the "Skill Needs In Britain" survey. The Department is also funding in-depth studies into changing skill 52
  requirements within specific occupations. There are in the process of being published by the Institute for Employment Studies under the banner "Skills Review".

  Jobseeker's Allowance (Sanctions)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will publish the first analysis of adjudication officers' decisions relating to benefit sanctions against people not meeting the terms and conditions of the jobseeker's agreement and jobseeker's direction; if the published information will provide a breakdown of the specific reasons for benefit sanctions; and what the practice will be for the continuing release of such information. [15134]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 10 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the publication of the analysis of adjudication officers' decisions on questions arising on claims for Jobseeker's Allowance. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Information about decisions on questions arising on claims for unemployment benefit is contained in a document entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions". This document, which is

  53
  published quarterly, provides information on all the main entitlement questions arising on claims, as well as those which might be regarded as sanctions.
  The publication for the quarter ending 31 December 1996 will also include decision given on questions arising on claim for Jobseeker's Allowance. All the main questions will be shown separately, including those relating to the Jobseeker's Agreement and Jobseeker's Directions. I expect to publish this analysis by the end of March 1997.
  The analysis will continue to be published quarterly and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
  I hope this clarifies the situation.

  Teachers (Early Retirement)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers in Kirklees retired before the age of 60 years, other than for reasons for health or disability in each of the past six years. [14621]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Teachers from the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sector in Kirklees, who took premature retirement on the grounds other than ill health or disability from 1990–91 to 1995–96, are shown in the table:

  Financial year

  Number of premature retirements1

  1990–91

  101

  1991–92

  101

  1992–93

  74

  1993–94

  76

  1994–95

  78

  1995–96 (provisional)

  90

  1 Excludes those last recorded in sixth form colleges.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent in each year from 1990 to 1996 on the teachers' early retirement scheme in respect of retirements on grounds of ill health; and what was the number of(a) male and (b) female teachers covered in each year, broken down in respect of (i) class teachers and (ii) head teachers in (1) England and (2) Wales. [15157]

  Mrs. Gillan
  This question requires calculations which could not be carried out in the time available. I will reply as soon as possible.

  School Buildings (Kirklees)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total amount of Kirklees metropolitan council's education budget, within the standard spending assessment formula, available for the repair and maintenance of school buildings in each of the past 10 financial years. [14620]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The amount made available for the repair and maintenance of school buildings from within Kirklees local education authority's total budget in each of the past 10 years was a matter for the LEA to determine in the light of its own priorities. No component of the SSA allocation is designated for repairs and maintenance, or any other specific aspect of education.

  Quick Corporation
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the industrial tribunal ruling against the Quick Corporation on 21 January; and if she will amend the employment regulations in the light of it. [14395]

  Mrs. Gillan
  It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the ruling of an independent industrial tribunal in any particular case. I see no reason to consider amendment of the Race Relations Act 1976 as a result of the ruling.

  Surplus Places
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 4 February,Official Report, column 556, concerning comments by education authorities on changes in the capacity of schools and places occupied in them, what steps she is taking to ensure that these comments on capacity are made on a basis comparable to that adopted in 1994. [14982]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The annual collection of data on surplus places is governed by the Education (Information as to Provision of Education) (England) Regulations 1994—SI 1994 No. 1256. Local education authorities and the Funding Agency for Schools are required to make a return which includes information on the more open enrolment capacity of each school correct at the third Thursday in January of that year. LEAs and the FAS also provide a commentary which gives them an opportunity to record any possible changes to the capacity of schools, whether as a result of places being filled as pupil numbers rise, or removed, or new places built.

  General Schools Budget
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, in descending order, the proportion of the general schools budget not delegated to schools for each shire county education authority in the most recent year for which figures are available. [15161]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table gives the information requested and is derived from the local management of schools budget statements for 1996–97 produced by local education authority under section 122 of the Education Act 1996, formerly section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Local education authority

  Percentage of general schools budget not delegated

  Warwickshire

  33.4

  Cambridgeshire

  32.4

  Buckinghamshire

  31.4

  Cornwall

  30.2

  Oxfordshire

  29.5

  Derbyshire

  29.3

  Shropshire

  28.8

  Surrey

  28.0

  55

  Local education authority

  Percentage of general schools budget not delegated

  Norfolk

  28.0

  Dorset

  27.0

  Lancashire

  26.9

  Gloucestershire

  26.7

  Wiltshire

  26.5

  Bedfordshire

  26.4

  Cumbria

  26.1

  Nottinghamshire

  26.1

  Durham

  25.9

  East Sussex

  25.8

  Kent

  25.6

  Northamptonshire

  25.1

  Hereford/Worcester

  25.0

  Lincolnshire

  24.9

  Northumberland

  24.7

  Essex

  24.5

  Devon

  24.4

  Leicestershire

  23.8

  Isle of Wight

  23.6

  Berkshire

  23.2

  Hampshire

  23.1

  Cheshire

  23.0

  West Sussex

  22.6

  Straffordshire

  22.5

  Somerset

  22.1

  Hertfordshire

  20.9

  North Yorkshire

  20.8

  Suffolk

  20.6

  Part-time Study Rules
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place in the Library the evaluation report commissioned by her Department into the effectiveness of the part-time study rules for claimants in force before the introduction of jobseeker's allowance. [15103]

  Mr. Forth
  There will be two reports. One will be based on a survey of unemployed claimants; the other will be a qualitative report. Both will be placed in the Library.

  Computer Crime
  Mr. Derek Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on how many occasions in each of the last five years computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers in her Department. [14540]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The available relevant figures are shown in the table:

  Year

  Number of illegal accesses

  1993–94

  6

  1994–95

  37

  1995–96

  19

  1996–97 (to date)

  30

  56
  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many cases of computer hacking, fraud and theft, including theft of computer chips, her Department has recorded in the last five years. [14541]

  Mr. Squire
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The available relevant figures are shown in the tables:

  (a) Table 1: Computer hacking

  Year

  Number of illegal accesses

  1993–94

  6

  1994–95

  37

  1995–96

  19

  1996–97 (to date)

  30

  (b) Table 2: Computer fraud and theft

  Year

  Fraud

  Theft

  Number

  £000

  Number

  £000

  1991–92

  18

  246

  n/a

  n/a

  1992–93

  13

  51

  n/a

  n/a

  1993–94

  11

  88

  105

  343

  1994–95

  8

  78

  89

  321

  1995–96

  2

  200

  221

  1,475

  1996–97 (to date)

  2

  n/k

  84

  316

  n/k = not known.

  n/a = not available.

  Modern Languages Examinations
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many candidates took(a) A-level French, (b) A-level German, (c) A-level Spanish, (d) A-level Portuguese, (e) GCSE French, (f) GCSE German, (g) GCSE Spanish and (h) GCSE Portuguese in (i) 1995 and (ii) 1996. [14853]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: The numbers of candidates in England in 1995 who took A-level and GCSE in the specified languages are as follows. The information for 1996 is not yet available.

  Number of candidates

  (a) A-level French

  24,648

  (b) A-level German

  9,915

  (c) A-Level Spanish

  4,262

  (d) A-level Portuguese

  121

  (e) GCSE French

  326,824

  (f) GCSE German

  125,417

  (g) GCSE Spanish

  38,503

  (h) GCSE Portuguese

  337

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Zaire
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Zaire. [15212]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not visited Zaire during his time as Foreign Secretary.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid the United Kingdom currently gives Zaire; and if he will make a statement. [15205]

  Dr. Fox
  Britain's bilateral assistance programme to Zaire along with those of major donors including the European Commission, were suspended in 1992 following concerns about economic and human rights issues. Donors have, however, continued to provide humanitarian assistance to Zaire.

  In November, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a commitment of £10 million following the large-scale refugee movements in the Kivu region. This commitment included an allocation of £4 million to support UN and non-governmental organisation relief in eastern Zaire and countries neighbouring Rwanda. The European Commission provided 3.7 mecu to Zaire in 1996—the United Kingdom share of this is £0.48 million.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  UN Embargoes
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to apply future United Nations embargoes to the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, at the same time as they are applied to the United Kingdom. [14957]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Government's policy is to apply future United Nations embargoes to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, at the same time as they are applied to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Nations embargoes are currently in force. [14959]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  There are four United Nations arms embargoes in force against Somalia, Liberia, Angola and Rwanda. In addition, the full economic sanctions regime against Iraq and the partial regime against Libya also include arms embargoes.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates on which orders came into effect for implementing United Nations embargoes in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the Isle of Man since 1979. [14958]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development, in another place, on 30 January,Official Report, House of Lords, columns 108-109, in which she listed the dates of the implementation of United Nations arms embargoes in the United Kingdom. The
  58
  embargoes on Libya, Iraq, and Angola came into force in the Isle of Man on the same date as in the United Kingdom. The arms embargoes in Liberia, Rwanda and Somalia—but not former Yugoslavia, on which the embargo has been lifted—came into force in the Isle of Man on 21 December 1996. The only other embargoes imposed by the United Nations since 1979 were on Haiti, the former Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The embargo on Haiti and the FRY came into force in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man on 20 July 1993 and the 5 June 1992 respectively. The arms embargo on the former Yugoslavia came into force in the UK on 22 July 1993.

  Former Prisoners of War (Japan)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government plan to provide to the action taken by the Association of British Civilian Internees against the Japanese Government; and what measures he has taken to ensure that the 1951 peace treaty does not obstruct the case. [14782]

  Mr. Hanley
  Successive British Governments have accepted that the question of compensation was settled legally by the 1951 San Francisco peace treaty. Although we cannot become involved in legal proceedings, our embassy has provided practical assistance to former prisoners of war and civilian internees when they visited Japan, and we have repeatedly drawn the attention of Japanese Ministers to the claims of the former prisoners.

  Conventional Forces in Europe
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining the proposals tabled by NATO in Vienna on the modernisation of the conventional armed forces in Europe. [14777]

  Mr. David Davis
  NATO is committed to adapting the conventional forces in Europe treaty to the changing European security environment. Our aim is to improve the security of all parties to the treaty by agreeing lower overall equipment limits; enhanced provisions for information exchange and verification; and measures to prevent destabilising concentration of forces in any region. NATO is drawing up a set of proposals to meet these objectives, which it hopes shortly to table in Vienna.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the limits set out in the conventional armed forces in Europe treaty, with particular reference to the impact of changes in the former Soviet Union. [14776]

  Mr. Davis
  When the Warsaw pact was dissolved, its limits for weapons holdings under the CFE treaty were divided between its former members under the Oslo agreement of 1992. The former Soviet Union's limits were later divided between the relevant successor states under the Tashkent agreement of 1992. During negotiations to adapt the CFE treaty, we and our NATO allies are committed to completing the process of updating the bloc-to-bloc structure of the treaty.

  China
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will(a) call on the Government of China to cease their action against unregistered Christian churches and (b) have this issue specifically raised at the forthcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. [14813]

  Mr. Hanley
  Restrictions on religious activity in China and persecution of those who practise outside the official church framework are causes for great concern. We and our EU partners continue to urge the Chinese authorities to regard freedom of worship as fulfilling a basic human need, not as a threat. In the light of this and other concerns, we and our EU partners are giving careful consideration to our position at the 1997 United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will call on the Government of China to release Bishop Zeng Jingmu from prison in Jiangxi province and to ensure he receives adequate medical treatment. [14816]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 November 1996,Official Report, column 292.

  Turkey
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government plan to take to encourage the Government of Turkey to release Melek Akyol and Soner Onder. [14787]

  Mr. David Davis
  Our officials in Ankara raised Mr. Onder's case with the Turkish authorities before his trial, and reminded them of the widespread concern about his sentence. We last raised the case of Melek Akyol in September 1996. We will continue to monitor both cases.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account Her Majesty's Government will take of the Turkish Government's treatment of its Christian minorities, with special reference to Syriacs and Armenians, in assessing its policy on Turkey's admission into the European Union. [14788]

  Mr. Davis
  The broad criteria for membership of the European Union were set out in the Copenhagen conclusions of 1993. They include the"stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities".

  All countries wishing to join the EU, including Turkey, will need to meet these criteria.

  Arms Supplies (Rwanda)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 December,Official Report, columns 636–37, by what means the United Nations special commission on arms supplies to Rwanda conveyed its opinion on the co-operation received from the United Kingdom Government to his Department. [14962]
  60
  Mr. David Davis
  The chairman of the commission of inquiry into arms flows to Rwanda wrote to the United Kingdom permanent representative to the United Nations on 17 December to convey his appreciation for the co-operation extended to the commission by HM Customs and Excise and the Ministry of Defence. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial contribution Her Majesty's Government have made towards the running costs of the United Nations special commission on arms supplies to Rwanda. [14960]

  Mr. Davis
  The United Nations commission of inquiry into arms flows to Rwanda has been allocated $1,578,200 from the UN regular budget since its inception in 1995. The United Kingdom contributes 5.32 per cent, to the regular budget and has therefore contributed approximately £84,000.

  Falkland Islands (Oil Revenues)
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter from the Falkland Island councillors addressed to the then Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd), and dated 8 December 1994, concerning oil revenues. [14894]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Copies of this letter have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Iran
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to express concern about the death of the Rev. Mohammed Bagher Yusefi in Iran in 1996 at this year's session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission; and what further action Her Majesty's Government will be taking to communicate concern to the Iranian Government about the deaths of Iranian Church leaders in the last three years. [14904]

  Mr. Hanley
  We were deeply concerned by the death of Mr. Yusefi and have recently raised his case with the Iranians. We take a very serious view of human rights abuses in Iran. We are still, with EU partners, preparing our position for this year's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. We will continue to press for tough resolutions and statements on Iran through EU and UN machinery until clear evidence of improved Iranian behaviour emerges.

  Consul (Krakow)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to appoint a consul located in the city of Krakow. [14309]

  Mr. Hanley
  The appointment of an honorary consul in Krakow was approved in principle but the candidate was unable to take up the post. It is now our intention to make an appointment by the end of 1997.

TRANSPORT

  Light Rapid Transit Systems
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the criteria he applies in assessing financial support for light rapid transit systems. [13352]

  Mr. Watts
  To qualify for funding through section 56 grant, a light rail scheme must be shown to be able to operate at a profit, and the benefits of the system to non-users must be greater than the funding gap.

  Crime (London Underground)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to tackle crime and its causes on the London Underground. [13360]

  Mr. Bowis
  Recorded crime on the underground has fallen in six of the last seven years as a result of measures taken by London Transport, The british transport police, local authorities and the Government. I have established and chair a secure stations national steering group which will be promoting safety measures for passengers and staff at rail and underground stations.

  Road Improvements (Thames Gateway)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his current priorities are for road improvements in the Thames gateway area. [13361]

  Mr. Bowis
  The "Transport Strategy for London" and the "Thames Gateway Planning Framework" outline road improvements for the Thames gateway area. Major priorities are improvements to the A13, trunk roads in north-west Kent and the proposed package of east Thames crossings.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many former British Rail train operating companies are now in private hands. [13362]

  Mr. Watts
  Eighteen franchises are now being operated by private sector franchisees.

  European Transport Network
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet his European Union counterparts to discuss support for regional transport systems feeding into the European network. [13363]

  Sir George Young
  I have no plans to do so, but my noble Friend the Viscount Goschen, who is the designated Minister for European transport matters, plans to attend the European Transport Council meeting to be held on 11 and 12 March.

  Dartford-Thurrock Toll Crossing
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has held in respect of future charges on the Dartford-Thurrock toll crossing. [13364]

  Mr. Watts
  None.

  Dorchester Relief Road
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the limit of Government support for roads funded by private finance initiatives sponsored by local councils; and what account he will take of this limit in determining whether to support a bid to build the Dorchester relief road under the private finance initiative. [13365]

  Mr. Watts
  The regulations for local authority PFI enable authorities to build any self-financing schemes which meet specified risk transfer tests. For schemes where local authorities will be purchasers of design, build, finance and operate services, assistance with future payments can be given through a notional credit approval. The Treasury has agreed to initial resources of £200 million for notional credit approvals to English local authority PFI schemes in 1997–98.

  This includes £35 million for transport projects in 1997–98. I stress that this is an initial and provisional figure. Provisional quotas may be redistributed if local authorities have more success in some project areas than others in generating acceptable PFI projects.

  A number of highway authorities, including Dorset county council, have expressed their interest in developing DBFO schemes. If satisfactory business cases are proposed, the Department of Transport will seek Treasury agreement to the notional credit approvals which may be required.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of journeys are made by public transport in(a) Britain and (b) the rest of the European Union. [13366]

  Sir George Young
  The information available for the rest of the EU suggests that travel by car accounted for 84 per cent, of passenger kilometres in 1994, compared to 16 per cent, for bus and rail travel. Equivalent figures for Great Britain are 89 per cent, and 11 per cent, respectively.

  Railway Infrastructure (Investment)
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to encourage investment in the railway infrastructure. [13367]

  Mr. Watts
  Privatisation of Railtrack, the rail infrastructure provider, has freed rail investment from the constraints of public sector funding. Investment can now be planned and made in response to commercial need. Railtrack has every incentive to invest in the rail network because of the contractual matrix set up between it and the rail operators—including a challenging performance regime.
  63
  Railtrack is due to publish its network management statement shortly which will contain detailed plans of how Railtrack intends to spend money. Progress will be monitored closely by the Rail Regulator.

  Trackside Litter
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in establishing who is responsible for clearing litter from the sides of railway track; and if he will make a statement on the current extent of trackside litter. [13368]

  Mr. Watts
  Where station leases have been granted by Railtrack, train operating companies are responsible for litter collection on these stations and for a distance of 110 yds from the ends of the platforms. Railtrack is responsible for cleaning the tracks and embankments— beyond stations—and for the major stations it operates. My Department and the Department of the Environment intend to make orders which will make it clear who has the statutory responsibility for litter clearance. The current extent of trackside litter is a matter for train operators and Railtrack.

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received from the Highways Agency in respect of the backlog in road maintenance. [13369]

  Mr. Watts
  The trunk road network is in a good condition, as confirmed by the latest national road maintenance condition survey. Only 3.9 per cent, of motorways and 7.3 per cent, of all-purpose trunk roads have less than zero residual life. The target agreed in 1991 was for the proportion of trunk roads with less than zero residual life to be between 7 and 8 per cent.

  Car Use
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the growth in(a) the number of cars and (b) the number of passenger car miles travelled by 2010. [13370]

  Sir George Young
  Based on the national road traffic forecasts published in 1989, and with no changes in policy, my Department estimates the number of cars in Great Britain will increase from about 22 million in 1997 by between 19 and 27 per cent, by 2010 and that the number of passenger car miles travelled will increase by between 21 and 32 per cent, by 2010.

  Traffic Congestion (Costs)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the costs to British businesses of traffic congestion. [13372]

  Sir George Young
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Callaghan) on 25 November 1996,Official Report, column 13.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Services
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the time scale for introducing through rail services from the channel runnel to Yorkshire and the north-east of England. [13373]

  Mr. Watts
  I understand from Eurostar (UK) Ltd. that it intends to begin its international service along the east coast main line in early July.

  Lorry Weights
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses he has had to the consultation on lorry weight proposals. [13371]

  Mr. Watts
  To date, my Department has received 62 formal responses to the consultation document on lorry weights.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations and from whom he has received to date in his consultations on the introduction of 44-tonne lorries; and if he will list whether they are for or against their introduction. [13553]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 31 January 1997]: To date, there have been 26 formal responses to the consultation document. Those in favour of 44 tonnes came from: Forest Enterprise, Co-operative Union Ltd., West Sussex county council, Cumbria county council, Tees Valley joint strategy unit, Kent county council, Warwickshire county council, Commercial Motor Magazine, Food and Drink Federation, T. Brady and Son Ltd., Magnox Electric pic, CAIB UK Ltd., Transport Resources International and Westward Commercial Vehicles Ltd., as well as two members of the public.

  Those against came from the hon. Members for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) and for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Deva), South Norfolk council, Liverpool John Moores university, GMB, the Chiltern Society, the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, Great Yarmouth borough council and one member of the public.

  The Institute of Trading Standards Administration has made a formal response but expressed no opinion.

  In addition, several right hon. and hon. Members have recently written about correspondence from their constituents on the subject.

  The consultation period closes on 14 February.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many spot checks were undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate on the noise levels emitted by heavy goods vehicles during the last year for which figures are available. [15349]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Vehicle Inspectorate does not carry out such checks.

  Data Collection (Postcodes)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use his Department and its agencies make
  65
  of postcode areas for the collection of data and in formulas for the distribution of grants and awards; and when such usages were last reviewed. [14796]

  Mr. Bowis
  My Department collects postcode information as part of a number of statistical surveys, and in the case of the national travel survey uses postcode areas as an aid to sampling. My Department makes no grants or awards on the basis of postcode area.

  Motor Cycles (Provisional Licence Ban)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department took to advertise the provisional licence ban for motor cycle riders which commenced on 1 January. [14911]

  Mr. Bowis
  On 1 January we advised all the registered keepers of learner-size motor cycles and mopeds, the group of existing riders who were most likely to be affected, of the new compulsory basic training rules. It is not possible to identify how many of those had already undertaken training or who held full entitlement to ride, and were therefore unaffected personally. Informing all registered keepers served to pass the message to learners who might use those machines.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of motor cycle riders affected by the provisional licence ban which commenced on 1 January. [14917]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) on 21 January 1997,Official Report, columns 561–62.

  Rail Routeing Guides
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 4 February,Official Report,

  New motor vehicles 1992–96 Great Britain (in thousands)

  Year

  Private and light goods

  Motor cycles scooters and mopeds

  Other vehicles

  All vehicles

  Of which body type cars

  Percentage company cars

  1992

  1694.4

  65.6

  141.8

  1901.8

  1599.1

  52

  1993

  1853.4

  58.4

  162.2

  2074

  1776.5

  51

  1994

  1991.7

  64.6

  192.7

  2249

  1906.4

  52

  1995

  2024

  68.9

  213.6

  2306.5

  1938.1

  53

  1996

  2093.3

  89.6

  227.2

  2410.1

  2018.3

  52

  Source:

  DVLA

  New motor vehicles in Northern Ireland (in thousands)

  Year

  All vehicles

  1992

  40

  1993

  44

  1994

  49

  1995

  50

  1996

  n/a

  Note:

  n/a = not available.

  Source.

  DVLNI.

  Marine Safety Agency
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proposed increase in the Marine Safety Agency survey fees; what factors underlie the scale 66
  column 569 on rail routeing guides, if he will ensure that a copy of (a) the current routeing guide and (b) the revised guide is placed in the Library. [14783]

  Mr. Watts
  The introductory version of the routeing guide is being reviewed and amended on a regular basis during the introductory period. However, I will ask the Association of Train Operating Companies to ensure that a copy of the current and finalised routeing guide is placed in the Library.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account his Department has taken of the presence of otters at Rack marsh on the River Lambourn in determining the route of the Newbury bypass; and if he will make a statement. [15131]

  Mr. Watts
  The Highways Agency was aware that otters were expected to migrate back to this area and worked with the Environment Agency over measurers to encourage their return with some success. In support of this work, and in line with our commitment to protect wildlife, the Highways Agency will be incorporating otter crossings through the bypass embankment at various suitable locations. The Highways Agency will continue to liaise with the Environment Agency on this matter.

  Motor Vehicles
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new private motor vehicles have been licensed in the United Kingdom in the last five years. [15180]

  Mr. Bowis
  Figures given in the table show new registrations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for private vehicles over the period 1992–1996. No breakdown is available for the Northern Ireland figures.

  of increase; with whom he has consulted on the matter; and what arrangements he has made in respect of disseminating information relating to the increase. [14697]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 7 February 1997]: I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Elliot Morley, dated 10 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the changes to Marine Safety Agency's survey fees. The survey fee rate was increased from £45 to £60 per hour on 1 February 1997. The overriding reason for agreeing this increase is that the fees generated by the merchant and fishing vessel survey service have not been covering the full operating cost, and this situation has to be corrected.

  67
  Before making the increase 55 organisations were consulted and 14 replied with comments. The change was promulgated by way of a Press Notice on 7 January 1997. A copy of the Press Notice is enclosed.

  Marine Safety Agency fees change
  On 1 February 1997, the Marine Safety Agency (MSA) will be changing some of its fees. The main change is that the hourly rate charged by the MSA will increase from £45 to £60. The following changes to fees charged by the MSA will also come into force on that date.
  Maximum fees for tonnage measurement performed by the authorised measuring authorities will no longer be set by the MSA. The fees will be set by the measuring authorities.
  Current fees for Safe Manning Certificate will be replaced with a revised range of fees reflecting more accurately the work involve.
  Charges will be introduced for follow-up inspections of UK registered ships detained abroad.
  All work performed on or after 1 February will be charged at the new rate.
  The overriding reason for the increases is that the merchant and fishing vessel survey service has been making a large annual loss, which has to be borne by the taxpayer.
  The fee increases will bring the service back into line with normal Government policy that users pay the cost of the service provided.
  The new fees will be listed in a Statutory Instrument, the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 1997, covering all of MSA's statutory fees. This will be available from branches of the Stationery Office.

  Notes of editors

  Marine survey fee hourly rate
  Government policy requires that the fees for services provided by Government should be set at a level to recover the full cost of those services, to ensure that no subsidy is provided or supplementary taxation levied. A recent review of the fees set by the Marine Safety Agency revealed that only the marginal costs of the services were being recovered with the result that the taxpayer was subsidising the services. In order to rectify the situation we needed to increase the hourly survey fee rate from £45 to 60 to bring income in line with costs. The new rate will not recover any of the past losses. Whilst the increase is significant we believe that it is still competitive against rates charged by the Classification Societies, particularly as it is inclusive of UK travelling expenses.
  The Marine Safety Agency (MSA) went out to consultation with the shipping industry on 9 September about proposed changes to the MSA fees. Six weeks were allowed for consultation and responses were received from 15 organisations. Concern was expressed by the industry, particularly the fishing industry, about the scale of the increases. However, Ministers have noted that the taxpayer is subsidising the service in excess of £1 million per annum and this is the overriding reason for agreeing the increase.

  Fees for detention of UK ships: follow up actions
  It has been proposed that MSA should carry out follow-up inspections of UK registered ships detained abroad. The Chamber of Shipping had been consulted and commented favourably on the proposal. The intention is that these ships will be inspected on return to the UK wherever possible, but inspection may need to be undertaken overseas if the ship does not return to the UK within a reasonable period following the detention. These inspections will be charged for at the new rate of £60 per hour.

  Tonnage measurement
  It has been agreed that the fees for tonnage measurement by delegated measuring authorities be deleted from the Fees Regulations and left for the authorities to set individually as happens on all other delegated work apart from radio survey. Any residual work done by the Marine Safety Agency will be charged at £60 per hour. This change was proposed under the deregulation initiative on the basis that reasonable competition exists between the delegated authorities.

  68
  Safe manning certificates
  The charges for Safe Manning Certificates are presently at fixed rates even where similar work has been undertaken on a sister ship or only an amended certificate is required. The new fees moved to a fairer basis of charging as follows:

  £

  a) Certificate for a passenger ship

  540

  b) Certificates for other vessels: 350kw and over under 350kw

  300 180

  c) Technical amendments e.g. involving manning changes

  180

  d) Certificates for sister ships were manning requirements are identical to those for which a Safe Manning Certificate has previously been issued.

  60

  For further information please contact:

  Miss Sarah Lay

  Bay 2–23

  Marine Safety Agency

  Spring Place

  105 Commercial Road

  Southampton

  S015 1EG

  Tel: 01703 329257

  Fax: 01703 329289

  All Press Enquiries please contact:

  Miss Annette Bowman

  Bay 3–30

  Marine Safety Agency

  Spring Place

  Commercial Road

  Southampton

  SO15 1EG

  Tel: 01703 329403

  Tel: 01703 329122.

  MV Derbyshire
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if media representatives have been invited to be present on phase II of the expedition to the motor vessel Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [15158]

  Mr. Bowis
  Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is discussing with the Discovery Channel the possibility of making a scientific and technical programme about the Derbyshire expedition.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names and expertise of the assessors taking part in phase II of the expedition to the MV Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [15159]

  Mr. Bowis
  The assessors taking part in phase 2 of the return expedition to the wreck of the MV Derbyshire are Robin Williams, an independent consulting naval architect, who will act as chief scientist; Professor Douglas Faulkner; John Elder, professor and former head of the department of naval architecture and ocean engineering at Glasgow university; and Dr. Remo Torchio, a naval architect who is a consultant to RINA, the Italian classification society.

  Rail Tickets
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints have been received by the Office of the Rail Regulator regarding the lack of impartial advice on ticket sales. [14493]

  Mr. Watts
  Since 1 April 1996, the Rail Regulator has received two specific complaints about the lack of impartial advice on ticket sales.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff will be involved in the proposed survey of rail ticket outlets by the Rail Regulator following his report into impartial ticket sales. [14495]

  Mr. Watts
  The Rail Regulator has employed a professional market research organisation to carry out the survey of rail ticket outlets. The number of staff involved in the survey is a matter for it.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research was undertaken in the form of anonymous purchase of rail tickets by Rail Regulator staff prior to the publication of the recent report into impartial ticket sales. [14494]

  Mr. Watts
  The Rail Regulator employed consultants to test the capabilities of station ticket offices in 1995, when all train operating companies were owned and controlled by the British Railways Board.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations will be included in the proposed survey of rail ticket outlets by the Rail Regulator following his report into impartial ticket sales. [14496]

  Mr. Watts
  Some 613 stations are included in the Rail Regulator's survey of rail ticket outlets.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Rail Regulator will give advance warning to train operating companies before undertaking the survey of rail ticket outlets. [14400]

  Mr. Watts
  The Rail Regulator has given advance warning of his intention to carry out surveys of rail ticket outlets. No prior warning is being given about the details of the surveys.

  Channel Tunnel Fire
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the investigations into the channel tunnel fire to be completed. [14492]

  Mr. Watts
  The channel tunnel fire has raised a number of complex issues. A judicial inquiry into the cause of the fire is being carried out by the French authorities; I have no information on its timetable. Eurotunnel is carrying out its own investigation, the timetable for which is a matter for the company. The inquiry by the independent Channel Tunnel Safety Authority is proceeding as quickly as possible, but until it has progressed further and has been given access to evidence currently held for the French judicial inquiry, the authority is not able to forecast when its inquiry will be completed.
  70
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the distance between the freight train involved in the recent fire in the channel tunnel and the passenger service immediately behind was at the time that the freight train stopped in the tunnel. [14429]

  Mr. Watts
  Three investigations, including a judicial inquiry, are under way into the channel tunnel fire. Until all the facts have been established, it could be prejudicial to release partial information.

  Overloaded Aircraft
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, columns 487–88, how many aircraft have been found to be overloaded in each of the last two years. [14427]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Road Fatalities
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what percentage of fatalities on United Kingdom roads were due to drink-driving offences in the last year for which figures are available; [14920]

  (2) what percentage of fatalities on United Kingdom roads were due simply to errors of judgment committed by sober drivers in the last year for which figures are available; [14921]

  (3) how many driving-related fatalities occurred in the last year for which figures are available. [14874]

  Mr. Bowis
  Latest provisional estimates indicate that, in 1995, there were 580 fatalities in drink drive accidents accounting for 16 per cent, of all fatalities on public roads in Great Britain. On these same roads, there is no evidence available to assess the effect of driver error on fatalities in road accidents. However, research indicates that errors of judgment by road users, whether sober or not, is a contributory factor in about 95 per cent, of road accidents. In 1995, there were 3,590 fatalities in road accidents involving motorised vehicles.

  Aviation Standards (Thailand)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the International Civil Aviation Organisation to complete its assessment of Thailand's ability to meet international aviation standards; and what advice he has given to UK passengers regarding the safety of airlines registered in Thailand. [14426]

  Mr. Bowis
  The International Civil Aviation Organisation safety assessment of Thailand is complete and a report is awaited. We continue to issue permits for Thai-registered aircraft to operate services to the UK. Where we have concerns about the safety standards of an airline, we pursue this through aircraft ramp checks and direct consultation with the national aviation authority concerned. If these investigations show that there is a failure to meet international minimum safety standards, we will take action to refuse, vary, suspend or revoke as appropriate these operating permits. To date, my
  71
  Department has not asked for a ramp check to be conducted on any Thai-registered aircraft operating to the UK.

  Air Operating Licences
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if applications have been made by(a) Air Operations Europe and (b) Air Operations International for an air operating licence. [14428]

  Mr. Bowis
  No.

  Vehicles (Pollution)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to decrease pollution caused by road vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [13710]

  Mr. Bowis
  More stringent emission standards have been introduced for new and existing vehicles, the most recent of which further reduced permitted emissions from passenger cars from 1 January 1997. As a result of these measures, pollution from road vehicles is forecast to decline until well into the next decade. Further improvements, which are currently being discussed with our EC partners with a view to implementation from 2000, are aimed at sustaining this decline against the forecast growth in traffic.

  Fiscal measures are also encouraging the use of cleaner fuels. Lower tax rates are being applied to unleaded petrol and road fuel gases. It is also proposed to reduce the duty level on ultra low sulphur diesel from May 1997. The Government are currently consulting on the introduction of an incentive of up to £500 for lorries meeting stringent emission standards.

  Rail Link (London)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce the conclusions of his Department's examination in 1996 of the proposal for a link line to be created to combine the underground and BR line services of the Bakerloo line north of Harrow and Wealdstone station with the British Rail Euston to Watford facility. [13843]

  Mr. Bowis
  The promotion of new rail projects in London is the responsibility of the transport operators—London Transport, Railtrack and the train operating companies.

  I understand that London Transport has, from time to time, reviewed the proposal to reintroduce Bakerloo line services between Harrow and Wealdstone and Watford junction, most recently in the light of both the proposed Croxley rail link project and the recent franchising of North London Railways, but that its initial indications are that there remains insufficient demand to justify the additional costs involved. London Transport will, however, continue to work closely with the new franchisee to investigate ways of developing the route.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Claims Statistics
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for state welfare benefits and pensions falling under the responsibility of his Department and its executive agencies were being(a) paid and (b) processed at 31 July 1996. [11296]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Benefit and pensions in payment and awaiting processing at 31 July 1996

  Benefit pension

  Claims in payment

  Claims outstanding awaiting processing

  Attendance Allowance

  1,280,932

  33,127

  Child Benefit

  16,968,700

  12,888

  Child's Special Allowance

  255

  Not applicable

  Council Tax Benefit3

  5,661,000

  160,000

  Disability Living Allowance

  1,764,895

  65,853

  Disability Working Allowance

  9,848

  1,176

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

  4237,208

  30,157

  Family Credit

  678,648

  45,314

  Guardians Allowance

  52,147

  57

  Housing Benefit1

  4,779,000

  170,000

  Incapacity Benefit

  1,945,480

  26,773

  Income Support

  63,988,964

  72,490

  Industrial Death Benefit

  720,035

  Not available

  Invalid Care Allowance

  344,041

  4,521

  Maternity Allowance

  19,688

  3,008

  One Parent Benefit

  1993,500

  3,761

  Retirement Pension

  89,722,000

  40,544

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  359,929

  23,981

  Unemployment Benefit

  9398,000

  Not available

  War Disablement Pensions

  10267,167

  39,614

  War Widows Pension

  59,578

  1,224

  Widows Benefit

  8290,740

  2,720

  1 As at 31 December 1995. Based on 1 per cent sample.

  2 As at 31 December 1995. This allowance was withdrawn in 1987.

  3 Figures relating to claims in payment are taken from the Quarterly 100 per cent. count taken on the last day of May 1996 (rounded to the nearest thousand). Figures relating to claims outstanding awaiting processing are taken from the Annual Administrative Return 1994–95 and relate to number of claims outstanding as at 28 February 1995 (rounded to the nearest ten thousand). Figures for Council Tax Benefit include second adult rebate cases.

  4 As at 1 April 1995 Figures are collected for the number of assessments, a recipient may have more than one assessment.

  5 As at 6 January 1996.

  6As at 31 May 1996.

  7 As at 31 December 1995 and is an estimated figure.

  8 As at 31 March 1996. Based on a 5 per cent scan of the Retirement Pension Computer System.

  9 As at 9 May 1996. Based on a 5 per cent. sample.

  10 Includes request for review.

  1. For the benefits and pensions being processed at 31 July data have been provided for the claims outstanding.

  2. The Department publishes statistical information annually. Not all statistics are collected monthly.

  3. Data on the number of Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit recipients are collected quarterly at the end of February, May, August and November. Similarly Unemployment Benefit statistics were collected quarterly.

  4. Figures for Retirement Pension and Widows Benefit recipients are collected twice a year at the end of March and the end of September. Figures for Industrial Disablement Benefits, are collected annually at the end of March. Child Benefit, One Parent Benefit, Guardians Allowance and Child's Special Allowance are collected annually at the end of December.

  5. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much is being spent in the current financial year on the publicity campaign to tackle benefit frauds, broken down by parliamentary constituency. [13819]

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

  The publicity cost of the "Spotlight on Benefit Cheats" campaign this financial year has been £2.5 million. The

  Social fund—capital disregards

  Capital disregard

  Date introduced

  Uprated by prices1

  Uprated by earnings2

  Maternity/funeral payments

  £500

  April 1987

  £760.50

  £918.40

  Budgeting loans and community care grants

  £500

  April 1988

  £736.85

  £851.90

  Budgeting loans, community care grants and maternity-funeral payments for applicants aged 60 and over

  £1000

  April 1990

  £1,338.05

  £1,426.30

  1 The Retail Prices Index (all items) less rent, local taxes and mortgage interest payments, and the Average Earnings Index (Whole economy unadjusted) as published by the Office of National Statistics, have been used in this table. All calculations are rounded to the nearest 5p at each uprating date.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of the widow's payment in 1997–98 if it had been uprated by(a) prices and (b) earnings since its introduction. [14279]

  Mr. Heald
  The widow's payment of £1,000 was introduced in April 1988. From April 1997, the payment would be £1,504.15 if it had been uprated in line with prices and £1,703.95 if it had been uprated by average earnings.

  Source:

  Retail Prices Index (all items) and the Average Earnings Index (Whole Economy), as published by the Office of National Statistics.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) single pensioners, (b) pensioner couples and (c) all pensioner units were dependent on state benefits for at least 75 per cent, of their income in the latest year for which figures are available. [14269]

  Mr. Heald
  In 1994–95, the latest date of which figures are available, 60 per cent, of single pensioners were dependent on state benefits for at least 75 per cent, of their gross income; the figure for pensioner couples was 37 per cent. For all pensioner units, the average across single pensioners and pensioner couples, 51 per cent, received at least 75 per cent, of their gross income from state benefits.

  Source:

  The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994–95.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of the £10 Christmas bonus in 1997–98 if it had been uprated by(a) prices and (b) earnings since its introduction; and if he will estimate how much it would cost to increase it to these levels. [14282]
  74
  publicity cost of the national benefit fraud hotline has been £476,000 so far, with a further £500,000 expected before the end of this financial year.

  Benefit Upratings
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of(a) £500 and (b) £1,000 capital limits for social fund payments in 1997–98 if they had been uprated by (i) prices and (ii) earnings since their introduction. [14280]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table:

  Mr. Heald
  The £10 Christmas bonus would be £68.35 in December 1997 if it had been uprated in line with prices since its introduction in 1972. It is estimated that the additional cost would be around £800 million.

  If the increase had been in line with average earnings, the bonus would be £115.45. The additional cost would be around £1.4 billion.

  Source:

  Retail Prices Index (all terms) and the Average Earnings Index (Whole Economy), as published by the Office of National Statistics.

  Benefits Agency Medical Services
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services now includes(a) disablement questions assessed by adjudicating medical authorities, (b) the assessment of war pensions, (c) medical boards, (d) medical appeal tribunals, (e) adjudication of disability living allowance claims and (f) adjudication of incapacity benefit claims. [14396]

  Mr. Burt
  The contractorisation of the work of the Benefits Agency medical services includes disablement questions assessed by adjudicating medical authorities and medical boards. It does not include the assessment of war pensions or medical appeal tribunals. The adjudication of disability living allowance claims and incapacity benefit is undertaken by lay staff, who are advised by Benefits Agency medical services but are not bound by their advice.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if(a) employees and (b) fee-paid doctors working for the private contractors who will be running the Benefits Agency medical services will be eligible to sit as (i) members of disability appeal tribunals, (ii) members of medical appeal tribunals and (iii) medical assessors on social security appeal tribunals for all work test appeals. [14397]
  75
  Mr. Roger Evans
  Appointments to appeal tribunals are a matter for the president of the independent tribunal service, His Honour Judge Keith Bassingthwaighte, and I have communicated the contents of the question to him.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements he has made to ensure confidentiality of information during site visits by private sector companies in connection with their interest in running the Benefits Agency medical services. [14398]

  Mr. Burt
  The project team taking forward the contractorisation of Benefits Agency medical services will facilitate and chaperone all site visits by shortlisted private sector companies, and will ensure confidentiality is maintained.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 November 1996,Official Report, column 89, when he expects to discuss targets and performance indicators with private sector companies contracting for the Benefits Agency medical services. [14399]

  Mr. Burt
  During the negotiation phase of the procurement, which runs from 20 November 1996 to 1 May 1997, targets and performance indicators will be amongst a wide range of issues discussed with the shortlisted private sector companies.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board on the implications of the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services. [14401]

  Mr. Burt
  One of the statutory functions of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board is to advise on matters referred to it by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Although there is no legal requirement to consult the board, its views have been sought on this issue by way of presentations made by the project team taking forward the contractorisation and by discussion with the Department's chief medical adviser, and have helped to inform the development of proposals.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects contracts for the Benefits Agency medical services to be(a) awarded and (b) implemented. [14402]

  Mr. Burt
  The timetable for the contractorisation of Benefits Agency medical services has recently been extended and it is now anticipated that the contract or contracts will be let by June 1997.

  Following award of the contract or contracts, there will be a period of transition during which contractors must demonstrate their capability to deliver the service before a formal hand-over can take place.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance on the assessment of disability benefits he intends to circulate to the contractors who will be running the Benefits Agency medical services. [14403]

  Mr. Burt
  The shortlisted private sector companies have been supplied with detailed guidance on medical issues. The successful contractor or contractors will have a mandatory requirement to adhere to the guidance and to consult the Department before altering existing guides or introducing new guides.

  DSS Charge Programme
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which DSS offices in Scotland have been designated(a) core, (b) flexible and (c) surplus under the DSS change programme. [14827]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  The proposed transfer of responsibility for the DSS estate aims to improve value for money, increase ability to match accommodation to changing operational needs and bring in private sector expertise in managing estates, leaving the Department to concentrate on its core business.

  The Department has reviewed its future estates needs and, for the purpose of the procurement, categorised its accommodation in three ways: core means an expected continued need for accommodation over the full 20-year duration of the proposed contract; flexible means that the agency will be able, but not committed to, vacate such property over a period of years should that reflect operational needs, which does not mean a formal decision to leave the accommodation at any particular time; and surplus means it is not required from the start of the contract. The agency is currently paying for a considerable amount of unoccupied space.

  Any proposed office closures continue to be subject to the normal consultation process, including ministerial approval.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals would be affected if the employee limit on national insurance contributions were removed; and what is his estimate of the total extra amount that they would have to pay. [14868]

  Mr. Heald
  It is estimated that in any one week in 1996–97 an average of 3.2 million employees have earnings above the national insurance upper earnings limit.

  If the limit was removed, it is estimated that the employees affected would pay an extra £3.3 billion in contributions in a full year1.

  Notes:

  1Assumes that the current 10 per cent, contribution rate would apply to earnings above the Upper Earnings Limit.

  Back-to-work Bonus
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have established a back-to-work bonus; how many of these qualified for a cash payment; and what is the average level of(a) bonuses and (b) cash payments broken down to show (i) jobseeker's allowance claimants and (ii) income support claimants. [15102]
  77
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table:

  Back to work bonus statistics1

  Jobseeker's allowance2 claimants

  Income support claimants

  All claimants

  Claimants with an accrued bonus at the end of January 19973

  58,000

  61,000

  119,000

  Bonus payments made from October 1996 to January 19974

  2,000

  1,000

  3,000

  Estimated average bonus payment5

  £88.44

  £78.81

  £85.34

  Notes:

  1 Provisional data based on claims held on the Income Support Computer System (ISCS) and Jobseeker's Allowance Payment System (JSAPS). No clerically processed claims included. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2 Claims recorded on JSAPS and claims flagged as unemployed on ISCS.

  3Live claims on ISCS and JSAPS with a bonus accrual plus claims which have ended with a bonus accrual but no bonus payment has been made (claimants who return to benefit within 12 weeks and have not claimed a bonus retain the amount accrued during the previous claim).

  4Claims authorised for payment recorded on JSAPS and ISCS.

  5Based on total amount authorised for payment recorded on ISCS and JSAPS.

  Information on amounts of bonus accrued by claimants still on benefit will be available from the Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries. Figures for November 1996 are expected to be published in the summer.

  Source:

  Back to Work Bonus management information statistics.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications have been made for extended payments of housing benefit and council tax benefit; and how many of these have been successful in each standard region broken down to show(a) the numbers of registered unemployed, (b) those in receipt of a training allowance, (c) lone parents, (d) carers and (e) the duration of benefit claim. [15104]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the formal requested.

  However, information on the number of applications for extended payments of housing and council tax benefits and the number successful are being processed and will be published in the "Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Summary Statistics—Update Number 2" in March. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Information broken down by client group will become available in late 1998.

  Disability Benefit
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the annual savings to his Department in constant prices of ending the link between disability benefit and average earnings. [1417]
  78
  Mr. Burt
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 November 1996, c. 90]: The link between invalidity benefit and earnings was broken in 1980 to ensure that long-term provision of benefit based on incapacity should be sustainable.

  The additional costs which would have been incurred had invalidity benefit been increased by the higher of average earnings or prices are set out in the table:

  Year

  Additional cost 1996–97 price £ million

  1980–81

  5

  1981–82

  35

  1982–83

  55

  1983–84

  65

  1984–85

  145

  1985–86

  175

  1986–87

  300

  1987–88

  450

  1988–89

  595

  1989–90

  730

  1990–91

  855

  1991–92

  985

  1992–93

  1,235

  1993–94

  1,420

  1994–95

  1,520

  1. Estimates cover Invalidity Pension and adult dependency increases only.

  2. Estimates rounded to nearest £5 million.

  3. Estimates converted to 1996–97 prices using the GDP deflator.

  4. Offsetting costs estimated using Family Expenditure Survey data.

  Invalidity Payments
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 90, what have been the annual savings to his Department in constant prices of ending the link between average earnings and (a) invalidity allowance, (b) attendance allowance, (c) non-contributory invalidity pensions and its successor benefit and (d) invalidity care allowance. [7049]

  Mr. Burt
  [pursuant to his reply, 4 December 1996, c. 714–15]: The information is set out in the table:

  Net savings derived from uprating in line with growth in prices only from 1980 as compared to uprating in line with the higher of the growth in prices or average earnings

  £ million

  Year

  Invalidity Allowance (IVA)

  Attendance Attendance(AA)

  NCIP/Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)

  Invalid Care Allowance(ICA)

  1980–81

  1—

  20

  1—

  1—

  1981–82

  5

  25

  5

  1—

  1982–83

  5

  55

  5

  1—

  1983–84

  5

  90

  5

  1—

  1984–85

  15

  110

  10

  1—

  1985–86

  15

  150

  10

  1—

  1986–87

  20

  220

  20

  15

  1987–88

  30

  305

  25

  30

  1988–89

  35

  360

  30

  30

  1989–90

  45

  420

  40

  30

  1990–91

  50

  465

  50

  35

  1991–92

  55

  615

  60

  50

  79

  Net savings derived from uprating in line with growth in prices only from 1980 as compared to uprating in line with the higher of the growth in prices or average earnings

  £ million

  Year

  Invalidity Allowance (IVA)

  Attendance Allowance (AA)

  NClP/Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)

  Invalid Care Allowance (ICA)

  1992–93

  65

  840

  75

  60

  1993–94

  75

  1,010

  85

  75

  1994–95

  80

  1,185

  95

  95

  1 Denotes negligible savings.

  1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  2. Estimates converted to 1996–97 prices using GDP deflator.

  3. Estimates for Invalidity Allowance exclude savings from individuals not currently entitled to it since it is entirely offset against additional pension, but who might become entitled if the earnings uprating was restored.

  4. Estimates take account of offsetting costs in the income related benefits.

  5. It is estimated that Attendance Allowance is Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (Care) highest and middle rate. The lowest rate of Disability Living Allowance (Care) has been excluded from the calculation as it was introduced in 1992 and was therefore, never linked.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish for each local authority in England the total sums allocated for social housing investment in 1997–98 under(a) the Housing Corporation's approved development plan, (b) local authority basic credit approvals, (c) local authority specific capital grants, (d) estate action and (e) other programmes. [13788]

  Mr. Curry
  I have arranged for a table giving the data requested on authorities' approved development programme, housing investment programme and estate action allocations for 1997–98 to be placed in the Library. The table also includes provisional 1997–98 allocations for capital challenge for investment in authorities own stock, housing action trusts and the 1997–98 allocations from round 1 of the estates renewal challenge fund. Allocations for 1997–98 from the second round of the estates renewal challenge fund and under the cash incentives scheme have not yet been finalised.

  Some of the resources allocated through the single regeneration budget challenge fund and city challenge will be used for investment in social housing but this element is not separately identified in the allocations made.

  Planning Applications (Teesside)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the planning applications made to Teesside development corporation which have been opposed by(a) Stockton borough council and (b) Cleveland county council and the number of jobs expected to be created by each project listed. [14600]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Of the planning applications considered by the Teesside development corporation, since it was established in 1987, 14 were opposed by either Cleveland county council or Stockton borough 80
  council. Of these, 12 were approved by the corporation and have led to the creation of an estimated 3,480 jobs, with a further 500 expected to be provided in due course. Two applications were not approved.

  These applications, and the estimated numbers of jobs created by each project are as follows.

  OPPOSED BY STOCKTON BOROUGH COUNCIL:

  Approved

  Teesside Retail Park1—1,735 jobs

  H. J. Banks Waste Disposal, Port Clarence—8 jobs

  Comcast, Preston Farm—1,000 jobs

  Croft and Blackburn—67 jobs

  Soccer Sensations, Preston Farm—3 jobs

  Stevenson Mazda Dealership, Preston Farm—20 jobs

  Preston Farm Business Park—167 jobs

  Teesside Retail Park, Phase II—100 jobs forecast Rowing Course, Teesdale—no jobs forecast

  Not approved

  Wimpey Homes1 Preston Farm

  Fenland Village1 Cowpen Bewley

  OPPOSED BY CLEVELAND COUNTY COUNCIL

  Approved

  ASDA and non-food retail, Hartlepool Marina—370 jobs

  Jacksons Landing Retail Outlet—110 jobs

  ASDA, Middlesbrough Dock—400 jobs forecast

  1Also objected to by Cleveland County Council

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the rock characterisation facilities at(a) Dounreay and (b) Sellafield. [13711]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A public inquiry has been held into the appeal by UK Nirex against Cumbria county council's refusal of planning permission for a rock characterisation facility at Longland's farm, near Sellafield. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce his decision as soon as practicable. Neither I nor my right hon. Friend is aware of any planning proposals for a rock characterisation at Dounreay.

  Blight
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the implementation of the findings of the interdepartmental working group on blight; and what proposals he has to implement its findings in respect of payment of compensation. [14570]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  When the interdepartmental working group on blight submits its final report, I shall consider any recommendations it makes with other Ministers concerned, including the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Compulsory Purchase
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to simplify the existing legislation regarding compulsory acquisition and compensation; [14574]
  81
  (2) what plans his Department has to review the compulsory purchase compensation procedure. [14571]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department is responsible for two major reviews which impact upon compulsory purchase and compensation. Firstly, we commissioned the City university to conduct research into the operation of the compulsory purchase procedures. Its final report was presented to the Department this week. Secondly, the interdepartmental working group on blight is currently looking at a range of issues which, while focused on generalised blight arising during the various stages of major infrastructure project development, also include how the current compensation code may affect popular perceptions surrounding proposals for new works.

  I will look carefully at both reports and consider any case which may be made for changes to existing law and practice.

  Climate Change Convention
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made at the Geneva conference reviewing the climate change convention. [14865]

  Mr. Gummer
  In Geneva, I urged others to follow the UK lead in meeting current commitments; strongly supported the view that the findings of the intergovernmental panel on climate change constituted a clear scientific basis for urgent further action at the widest possible level; and reiterated my call for developed countries to agree, at the third conference in Japan in December, to aim to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to between 5 and 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

  My address to the conference, together with a copy of the conference ministerial declaration, which addressed most of the same key issues, is available in the Library of the House.

  Oil Discharges (North Sea)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of changes in the figures for oil discharges into the North sea prepared by the Oslo-Paris commissions. [14867]

  Mr. Gummer
  These figures are not yet available. The draft reports on oil discharges into the North sea are still being considered by the Oslo and Paris commissions.

  Voluntary Purchase Grant
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of Sate for the Environment how many tenants have received a voluntary purchase grant. [15166]

  Mr. Curry
  Purchase grants are paid by the Housing Corporation to registered social landlords to meet the cost of discounts to help tenants buy their homes. Grants are paid to the landlord after a tenant has completed the purchase. By the end of January eight grants had been paid. The process of purchase and grant payment typically takes some months, and other tenants intending to buy will not yet have reached the stage where grant is paid.

  Tenants' Rights
  Mr. Austin Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on how many occasions the Housing Corporation has intervened to ensure that a housing association complied with the tenant's guarantee; and if he will list the associations concerned and the year in which the Housing Corporation intervened; [15168]

  (2) how many tenants have exercised the tenant's guarantee in each year since it was introduced. [15167]

  Mr. Curry
  The tenant's guarantee contains statutory guidance on the management of accommodation by registered social landlords—RSLs. It includes the statutory rights that their tenants, leaseholders and residents should enjoy. Landlords are required to comply with the tenant's guarantee as part of the Housing Corporation's overall performance standards for housing management. Failures attributable to non-compliance with the tenant's guarantee are not separately identified. The corporation may intervene if landlords do not comply with the overall standards. The corporation's annual regulation report 1995–96, a copy of which will be placed in the Library, provides information about the number of RSLs that failed to meet the overall standards and the various measures taken by the corporation.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenants exercised their rights under the rent-to-mortgage scheme in each year since its introduction. [15165]

  Mr. Curry
  Latest information on rent-to-mortgage activity in England since the introduction of the scheme in October 1993 is given in the table.

  Claims

  Acceptances

  Sales

  October 1993—March 1994

  152

  19

  —

  1994–95

  738

  89

  12

  1995–96

  408

  41

  8

  April—September 1996

  176

  15

  3

  The figures to March 1994 and for all sales are of reported activity only as no estimates were made for non-responding authorities in either grouping; the figures cover around 90 per cent. of authorities.

  Chorley Borough Council (Tenders)
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require Chorley borough council to invite new tenders for its landscaping and ground maintenance work; and if he will make a statement. [15217]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  On 10 July 1996 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State served a notice upon Chorley borough council, setting out his view that the authority had acted anti-competitively during a competition for grounds maintenance work. My right hon. Friend has given careful consideration to the authority's response to the notice.

  It is my right hon. Friend's view that, in its method of calculating prospective redundancy costs if the contract were awarded to an external contractor, Chorley borough council acted in contravention of the regulations and statutory guidance.
  83
  My right hon. Friend also considers that the authority has contravened the guidance by not informing contractors that the costs associated with the termination of leases would be taken into account in the tender evaluation. He has, therefore, today given the authority a direction which requires it to re-tender grounds maintenance work by 10 November 1997. The council must seek his consent if, at the end of the re-tendering process, it plans to assign the work to its direct services organisation.

  Landscape Protection
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what guidance he has given local planning authorities to protect(a) the quality and (b) the character of the local landscape in their area; [15185]

  (2) what plans he has to exclude local landscape designations from reviews of local authority development plans to take account of recommendations relating to countryside character recently put forward by countryside agencies. [15187]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  "Planning Policy Guidance Note 7" on the countryside and the rural economy refers to statutory and local designations. We are now preparing a revised version of PPG7, taking account of comments 84
  received during consultation on a revised draft last year, including comments on the character of the countryside and local landscape designations.

  Housing Corporation Loan Portfolios
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the sale of the Housing Corporation's loan portfolios to the private sector. [15235]

  Mr. Curry
  I announced on 31 October 1996,Official Report, columns 192–93, the Government's decision in principle to sell the loans provided to housing associations by the Housing Corporation and Housing for Wales, subject to satisfactory final bids from the private sector for the portfolios.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are happy to announce today that following further negotiations we have chosen NatWest Markets as the preferred bidder for both the English and the Welsh portfolios.

  NatWest is one of the leading private lenders to housing associations, with a strong track record in this area. Once we have completed the final negotiations on the sale, I expect a successful transfer of these loans into the private sector, and a positive on-going relationship between housing associations and their new lender.

  Bahrain: Shaikh al-Jamri
  Bahrain: Shaikh al-Jamri
  Bosnia: Human Rights Report
  Bosnia: Human Rights Report
  Turkey and Bosnia: Military Relations
  Turkey and Bosnia: Military Relations
  NATO Enlargement: Alterations to Treaties
  NATO Enlargement: Alterations to Treaties
  NATO and EU Enlargement: Linkage
  NATO and EU Enlargement: Linkage
  NATO Enlargement: Costs
  NATO Enlargement: Costs
  Turkey: Order for Battle Tanks
  Turkey: Order for Battle Tanks
  Continental Shelf
  Continental Shelf
  "Bloody Sunday": Release of Records
  "Bloody Sunday": Release of Records
  Cormorants
  Cormorants
  Listening Devices and Confessionals
  Listening Devices and Confessionals
  Asylum Seekers
  Asylum Seekers
  Prisons: Census of Religious Affiliation
  Prisons: Census of Religious Affiliation
  Prison Rules and Young Offender Institution Rules: Consolidated Edition
  Prison Rules and Young Offender Institution Rules: Consolidated Edition
  Income Tax Thresholds
  Income Tax Thresholds
  "Britannia"
  "Britannia"
  Longer Term Road Schemes
  Longer Term Road Schemes