Written Answers of 17 February 1997

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cases of surreptitious recording of telephone conversations and other complaints of surveillance falling outside the scope of the Interception of Communications Act 1985(a) have been brought against the Government and (b) have been drawn to the attention of Ministers; and what steps (i) have been and (ii) are proposed to be taken by the Government in consequence, with special reference to the implementation of compliance measures. [15440]

  Mr. Howard
  The Interception of Communications Act 1985 is concerned only with the interception of communications in the course of transmission by post or by means of a public telecommunications system, and not with other forms of surveillance. I am aware of three cases regarding alleged interception of telephone calls outside the scope of the Act since it came into force. One of these is currently before the European Court of Human Rights and the other two were decided in 1994: one by the Court of Appeal and the other by the House of Lords. Two cases involving police surveillance operations have been drawn to my attention. One is currently before the European Commission on Human Rights and the other was decided by the House of Lords in July 1996. The Police Bill, which is currently before the House, places police operations involving interference with property on a statutory basis.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards exist to protect the privacy of people against interference with private telephone conversations; and what inadequacies in the present law have been identified in research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated. [15432]

  Mr. Howard
  Under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, it is a criminal offence intentionally to intercept a communication in the course of its transmission by means of a public telecommunications system except in obedience to a warrant issued by the Secretary of State or in certain other circumstances described in section 1 of the Act. Section 6 of the Act requires arrangements to be made to ensure that disclosure of material intercepted under warrant is kept to the minimum that is necessary. The legislation is kept under review.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his consent is required before the police intercept calls on mobile phones. [16248]

  Mr. Howard
  The Interception of Communications Act 1985 provides that communications may lawfully be intercepted in the course of their transmission by means of a public telecommunications system only in obedience 356
  to a warrant issued by the Secretary of State or in certain other circumstances specified in section 1(2) and (3) of the Act. This applies equally to mobile and fixed telephone systems.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to review the effectiveness of the current provisions to prevent undue pain and suffering to live animals used in experiments. [14986]

  Mr. Sackville
  The operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is currently being reviewed by the Animal Procedures Committee. I understand that it hopes to submit a first report to my right hon. and learned Friend by the end of July this year.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many lethal dose toxicity tests on animals have been authorised over each of the last five years for which figures are available. [14987]

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of these procedures performed is published annually in "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain". The latest figures available are for the calender year 1995. The figures for acute lethal toxicity are:

  Year

  Number

  1995

  1148,708

  1994

  2116,493

  1993

  2154,880

  1992

  2153,222

  1991

  2131,760

  1 Table 12.

  2 Table 14(8) and 14(9).

  Differences in the way these types of procedures are now classified mean that direct comparison between the 1995 figure and those for earlier years is not possible.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make representations to(a) pharmaceutical and (b) other commercial companies undertaking tests on live animals to move towards alternative methods of testing. [14988]

  Mr. Sackville
  All applicants for project licences, commercial or otherwise, are required by the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to consider the use of non-animal tests, where they are available and where they are consistent with the achievement of the scientific objectives of the project.

  The Home Office is also working with regulatory agencies and with organisations representing commercial interests to encourage the use of alternative methods of testing.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to encourage provision for alternative methods to experimentation on live animals for basic research in toxicity testing and drug development; and if he will make a statement. [14989]

  Mr. Sackville
  Research on alternative methods is funded through the research budget of the Animal Procedures Committee. The Government support the operations of the European centre for the validation of
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  alternative methods in co-ordinating research into alternative methods across all areas of scientific activity which use animals in regulated procedures. This includes methods to reduce the number of animals, to refine the severity of procedures, and to replace animal use.

  Officials meet regulatory agencies and other Government Departments to establish principles for the use of animals in safety testing. In addition, all applicants for project licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are required to consider the use of alternatives where these are available.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations which have received Government grants for research into alternatives to experimentation on live animals indicating in each case the amount of the grant for each of the last five years. [14990]

  Mr. Sackville
  The following organisations have received grants through the Animal Procedures Committee:

  £

  Calendar year 1992

  Fund for Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments, Nottingham

  31,500

  Department of Microbiology, University of Glasgow

  6,785

  Division of Biologics, Porton Down

  14,557

  Department of Microbiology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham

  13,395

  Department of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Ethics, University of Birmingham

  20,075

  ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory and Department of Zoology, University of Nottingham

  44,000

  Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton

  28,750

  Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge

  30,000

  Welsh School of Pharmacy, University of Wales

  31,380

  Department of Toxicology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London

  21,603

  Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Bristol

  35,546

  Royal Veterinary College, London

  32,000

  Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes

  23,763

  Department of Applied Statistics, University of Reading

  41,075

  National Institute for Biomedical Standards and Control, Potters Bar

  33,500

  Calendar year 1993

  Royal Veterinary College, London

  33,314

  ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory and Department of Zoology, University of Nottingham

  44,000

  Biomedical Sciences Division, Kings College, London

  23,645

  Department of Pharmacology, University of Glasgow

  38,000

  Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton

  32,343

  Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge

  45,974

  Department of Toxicology, St. Bartholmews Hospital

  34,304

  Department of Microbiology, University of Glasgow

  3,209

  Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes

  26,010

  Department of Animal Husbandry University of Bristol

  22,780

  Applied Statistics, University of Reading

  41,250

  National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar

  36,000

  Calendar year 1994

  Royal Veterinary College, London

  42,755

  ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory and Department of Zoology, University of Nottingham

  36,000

  Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton

  22,880

  Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol

  25,034

  Department of Toxicology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London

  35,107

  Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes

  22,750

  358

  £

  Department of Applied Statistics, University of Reading

  45,052

  National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar

  39,000

  Calendar year 1995

  Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton

  12,320

  Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol

  13,480

  Department of Toxicology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London

  16,000

  Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes

  25,250

  Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Bristol

  30,000

  Department of Applied Statistics, University of Reading

  16,485

  Royal Veterinary College, London

  11,025

  National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar

  30,000

  Central Public Health Laboratory, London

  16,820

  Department of Surgery, University of Edinburgh

  7,634

  Department of Biological Sciences, Heriot-Watt University

  14,673

  Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh

  13,379

  Department of Pharmacology, University of Glasgow

  5,500

  Calendar year 1996

  Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes

  7,000

  Central Public Health Laboratory, London

  37,820

  Department of Surgery, University of Edinburgh

  8,280

  Department of Biological Sciences, Heriot-Watt University

  27,045

  Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh

  13,379

  Department of Pharmacology, University of Glasgow

  12,830

  Sheffield Hybridomas, University of Sheffield

  13,810

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Cases Review Commission will publish its code of practice. [15596]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The Criminal Cases Review Commission will take on responsibility for considering cases on 31 March 1997. It will then determine in what form to make available information about the way it will carry out its work.

  Obscenity Law
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have taken place under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 for material found on the Internet in the last two years. [15851]

  Mr. Sackville
  Court proceedings data held centrally for offences under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 do not identify the type of medium used.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the interdepartmental working group on obscenity has met; on what dates; and what subjects have that discussed. [156845]

  Mr. Sackville
  The interdepartmental group on obscenity has met seven times so far. The main subjects discussed have been the availability of pornographic material on the Internet and self-regulation by Internet service providers; police enforcement of the law on obscenity and child pornography; the display of indecent publications in newsagents; guidance on the sexual contents of teenage magazines; the international treaties
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  on obscenity; the workings of the Obscene Publications Act 1959; unlicensed sex establishments; satellite pornography; the Home Office research study "Testing obscenity: an international comparison of laws and controls relating to obscene material"; and Lord Halsbury's Bill on obscenity. The group has met on the following dates:

  27 March 1995

  6 June 1995

  21 September 1995

  30 January 1996

  14 May 1996

  26 July 1996

  24 September 1996

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) consultations and (b) discussions are being undertaken on a definition of obscenity to replace that in the Obscene Publications Act 1959. [15846]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government have undertaken no formal consultations or discussions on the definition of obscenity contained in the 1959 Act. We are, however, aware of the concerns expressed in some quarters about

  Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and convicted1 at all courts for offences under (a) the Obscene Publications Act 19592 and (b) the Protection of Children Act 19783 by area, 1980 to 1995

  England and Wales

  Obscene Publications Act 19592

  Protection of Children Act 19783

  Year

  Metropolitan Police Area4

  Other Forces

  England and Wales

  Metropolitan Police Area4

  Other Forces

  England and Wales

  1980

  Prosecutions

  104

  79

  183

  -

  13

  13

  Convictions

  72

  12

  84

  -

  13

  13

  1981

  Prosecutions

  199

  208

  407

  2

  11

  13

  Convictions

  91

  132

  223

  2

  12

  14

  1982

  Prosecutions

  118

  164

  282

  -

  9

  9

  Convictions

  119

  115

  234

  2

  10

  12

  1983

  Prosecutions

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Convictions

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1984

  Prosecutions

  63

  520

  583

  4

  14

  18

  Convictions

  94

  335

  429

  4

  15

  19

  1985

  Prosecutions

  29

  246

  275

  8

  14

  22

  Convictions

  43

  183

  226

  7

  17

  24

  1986

  Prosecutions

  34

  95

  129

  -

  10

  10

  Convictions

  49

  77

  126

  1

  10

  11

  1987

  Prosecutions

  17

  104

  121

  2

  21

  23

  Convictions

  22

  71

  93

  7

  22

  29

  1988

  Prosecutions

  50

  108

  158

  3

  29

  32

  Convictions

  45

  85

  130

  5

  26

  31

  1989

  Prosecutions

  40

  85

  125

  3

  41

  44

  Convictions

  32

  64

  96

  6

  33

  39

  1990

  Prosecutions

  53

  121

  174

  6

  38

  44

  Convictions

  25

  91

  116

  4

  31

  35

  1991

  Prosecutions

  227

  136

  363

  3

  37

  40

  Convictions

  102

  116

  218

  7

  32

  39

  1992

  Prosecutions

  105

  108

  213

  5

  41

  46

  Convictions

  89

  83

  172

  5

  39

  44

  1993

  Prosecutions

  206

  87

  293

  9

  33

  42

  Convictions

  140

  69

  209

  10

  27

  37

  1994

  Prosecutions

  215

  94

  309

  4

  36

  40

  Convictions

  187

  79

  266

  2

  25

  27

  1995

  Prosecutions

  219

  138

  357

  9

  44

  53

  Convictions

  154

  105

  259

  6

  38

  44

  1 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences.

  2 Obscene Publications Act 1959 as amended by the Obscene Publications Act 1964.

  3 Protection of Children Act 1978 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 section 84.

  4 Includes the City of London.

  n/a = Not available.

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  the continuing appropriateness of the test, and undertook to follow up any possible ways forward that might emerge from consideration of Lord Halsbury's Bill on this subject. It is clear that there is as yet no consensus on a workable alternative approach.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements the Government have put in place to monitor the effectiveness of the Internet Watch Foundation in reducing child pornography on the Internet. [15847]

  Mr. Sackville
  Officials have held meetings with the Internet Watch Foundation to discuss its work, and we receive reports from the foundation providing regular updates on its progress.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 in the past 15 years; and how many of these took place in courts outside London; [15848]

  (2) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Protection of Children Act 1978 in the past 15 years; and how many of these took place in courts outside London. [15849]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is given in the table:
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  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items have been seized under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 in the past 15 years. [15850]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Repatriated Prisoners (Sentences)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the sentencing provisions set out in chapter I of part II of the Crime (Sentences) Bill will apply to prisoners who are repatriated to England and Wales from overseas in order to serve the remainder of their sentences. [16640]

  Mr. Maclean
  Prisoners repatriated to England and Wales, whose offences overseas are committed after the commencement of the provisions set out in chapter I of part II of the Crime (Sentences) Bill, will be treated as if the balances to serve here of their overseas sentences were their sentences for the purposes of this jurisdiction, and in particular for the purposes of earned early release and post-release supervision. They will be eligible to earn early release on the balance to serve of their original sentences accordingly. Where the balance to serve is more than 12 months' imprisonment, they will be required to undergo a period of post-release supervision equal to 25 per cent. of the balance to serve in this country or three months, whichever is the greater.

  In calculating the balance of the prisoner's sentence remaining to be served following repatriation here, account will be taken, as at present, of the time the prisoner has spent in prison abroad, including, where applicable, any remand time, with any remission to which he is eligible for that period. Both periods will be deducted from the original sentence.

  In appropriate cases, the resulting balance will be further reduced by a period equal to that of the post-release supervision period which the prisoner will be required to undergo following release from custody. Accordingly, the time to be served in prison by a repatriated prisoner on return here and the required period of supervision, when added together, will not exceed the remaining part of the term of the sentence imposed in the foreign jurisdiction.

  This method of calculating the period to be served in prison will not apply to prisoners repatriated from foreign jurisdiction operating sentencing provisions equivalent to those contained in chapter I of part II of the Crime (Sentences) Bill.

  Prisoners seeking to be repatriated from overseas will continue to receive full information about the way in which their sentences will be administered on their return here. This will enable them to make an informed decision about whether to consent to repatriation.

DEFENCE

  Resolution Class Submarines
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list when(a) HMS Resolution, (b) HMS Revenge,
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  (c) HMS Repulse and (d) HMS Renown were unavailable because they were undergoing docking and essential defects or refit in the last five years. [15716]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Ships Support Agency, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Roger Babington to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 17 February 1997:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the refits and defect rectification periods of Resolution Class submarines during the last five years, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Ships Support Agency.
  Resolution Class submarines were subject to an annual 'programmed' docking between refits. Occasionally operational requirements lead to the submarines being docked at short notice, which are reflected in the table below as 'unprogrammed' dockings. The Total number of dockings, both programmed and unprogrammed, for the four Resolution Class submarines during the last five years is reflected in the table below:

  Programmed

  Unprogrammed

  Resolution

  1992

  46 days

  1993

  35 days

  10 days

  1994

  13 days

  Renown

  1992

  365 days

  1993

  70 days

  31 days

  1994

  17 days

  4 days

  1995

  13 days

  Revenge

  1992

  20 days

  Repulse

  1992

  20 days

  15 days

  1993

  52 days

  5 days

  1994

  8 days

  13 days

  1995

  37 days

  1996

  15 days

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when(a) HMS Resolution, (b) HMS Revenge, (c) HMS Repulse and (d) HMS Renown performed their last patrols. [15714]

  Mr. Soames
  I have decided under exemption 1 of the code of practice on access to government information to continue to withhold details of the strategic submarine operational programme. However, the decommissioning dates of the four Resolution class submarines were:

  HMS Revenge: 25 July 1994

  HMS Resolution: 22 October 1994

  HMS Renown: 24 February 1996

  HMS Repulse: 28 August 1996.

  Military Personnel (Wales)
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are temporarily stationed in Wales for training purposes each year. [16033]

  Mr. Soames
  Statistics are not maintained in a way that would enable this information to be provided except at disproportionate cost. However, the hon. Member may be interested to note the following.
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  The Royal Navy has no major establishments in Wales. There are a number of Reserve training centres which cater for the training of local volunteers, and small numbers of RN personnel undertake elements of resource and initiative training from time to time in some areas of the Principality.

  For the Army, collective training in Wales is conducted at two Army field training centres, Sennybridge and Castlemartin, and five divisional ranges and training areas. Sennybridge and Castlemartin accounted for 389,462 and 80,000 man training days respectively during 1995–96. The infantry training centre at Brecon and the joint service mountain training centre at Tywyn accommodate respectively 2,400 to 2,700 and 1,100 to 1,300 students per year.

  The RAF has approximately 6,200 training places in Wales each year. This includes outdoor activity/leadership training at the RAF resource and initiative training centre at Fairbourne, the joint service adventurous training instructors school at Llanrwst and the joint service hang gliding and paragliding centre at Crickhowell, but excludes detachments at RAF Valley, summer camps and station-organised adventurous training expeditions.

  As their name implies, joint service establishments cater for personnel from more than one service and, indeed, some foreign and Commonwealth training.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are stationed in Wales. [16029]

  Mr. Soames
  On 1 April 1996 there were some 5,400 military personnel stationed in Wales.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters there are for military personnel in Wales. [16030]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently 2,169 married quarters in Wales.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel were recruited in Wales during the last decade. [16031]

  Mr. Soames
  Information about the number of military personnel recruited in Wales during the past 10 year is not available for all three services. Such information that is available about recruitment in Wales is detailed:

  Royal Navy: 529 in the last 5 years

  Army: 10,292 personnel since 1987

  Royal Air Force: 825 from 1991–92-to date.

  The figures for all three services represent personnel recruited through careers offices located in Wales.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of(a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Navy units in each Welsh county. [16032]
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  Mr. Soames
  The information is as follows:

  County

  RAF

  Units Army

  Navy

  Clwyd

  2

  6

  -

  Dyfed

  2

  5

  2

  Gwent

  -

  6

  -

  Gwynedd

  2

  2

  -

  Mid Glamorgan

  -

  3

  -

  Powys

  -

  3

  -

  South Glamorgan

  2

  5

  1

  West Glamorgan

  1

  3

  -

  Note:

  Figures include Reserve Centres and exclude Careers Information Offices.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel give their next of kin as resident in Wales. [16035]

  Mr. Soames
  Departmental records show that as at 14 February 1997 the numbers of service personnel who give their next of kin as resident in Wales are as follows:

  Royal Navy1: 1,341

  Army: 4,662

  Royal Air Force: 1,360

  1 Includes Royal Marines.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average annual number of military discharges in Wales for(a) medical and (b) psychiatric reasons in the past five years. [16036]

  Mr. Soames
  This answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Quantock School
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department intends to send the Office for Standards in Education report on the Quantock school, Somerset, to the parents of service families whose children attend the school; [16118]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the suitability of the Quantock school, Somerset, to remain on the service children education authorities admissible schools list; [16120]

  (3) what recommendations the Service Children's Education Agency has made to his Department in response to the Ofsted report on Quantock school, Taunton; and if he will make a statement. [16122]

  Mr. Soames
  Following the recent Ofsted inspection and report on Quantock school, the Service Children's Education Agency has recommended that copies of the report should be sent to service parents whose children attend the school and that the weaknesses identified in that report should be drawn to the attention of parents, that the school should be removed from the admissible school list and that parents who currently have children at the school should be allowed to place them in other schools if they so wish. Quantock school may be considered for readmission to the admissible list at a later date if it is able to meet the criteria proposed for inclusion on the list.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pupils attending the Quantock school,
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  Somerset, are participants in the service children's boarding school allowance scheme; and at what cost to his Department. [16117]

  Mr. Soames
  The Total number of service children attending Quantock school, and whose parents were in receipt of boarding school allowance, was 48 in the autumn term 1996-the latest term for which detailed statistics are available. Information on how much individual schools have received in BSA payments is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Boarding Schools Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of state for Defence what was the cost to his Department of the service children's boarding schools allowance scheme in the last year for which figures are available. [16119]

  Mr. Soames
  The cost to my Department of boarding school allowance for financial year 1995–96, the last year for which figures are available, was £110.6 million.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the international agreements covering the sale and manufacture of land mines and related equipment, and indicate which have been signed by the United Kingdom. [16004]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Amended protocol II to the United Nations convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or have indiscriminate effects regulates the use and transfer of certain types of mines. This amended protocol was adopted on 3 May 1996. The United Kingdom signed the convention on 10 April 1981. There are no international agreements covering the manufacture of land mines or related equipment.

  Bowman Project
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on awarding the contract for the Bowman project. [15807]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Procurement options for the Bowman production phase are currently being evaluated by the Ministry of Defence. A decision on the way ahead will be announced shortly.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the extra cost of sustaining Clansman during the delay in ordering Bowman. [15808]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The net additional cost of maintaining Clansman in service owing to delays to the Bowman programme is estimated to be some £8 million.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the impact on operational efficiency in the Army of the delay in the Bowman project; and if he will make a statement. [15809]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We expect Bowman to enter service in 2002. Until then, the Clansman family of radios will remain in service and provide a worthwhile, though reducing, capability.

  Firing Ranges (Schools)
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Government policy on the use of school land and premises as locations for armouries and firing ranges. [15884]

  Mr. Soames
  We often work in partnership with schools to promote the benefits of the cadet force movement to young people. Where possible, training facilities, including armouries and ranges, are provided in co-operation with local schools on their premises. This provides a secure and convenient basis for cadet force activities.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost for the construction and provision of a firing range and armoury at Longhill high school, Brighton. [15887]

  Mr. Soames
  The estimated cost for the construction of an armoury and conversion of existing accommodation into a firing range at Longhill high school, Brighton is £95,000.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those schools in the state and local education authority sector which have had provided for them a school armoury and firing ranges by the Minister of Defence. [15886]

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

  Polaris
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 January,Official Report, columns 128–29, for what reasons the operating costs of Polaris (a) fell in the financial year 1984–85, (b) rose in the financial year 1985–86 and (c) fell in the financial year 1988–89. [15722]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of calculations pertaining to the 1980s are no longer available. Annual cost changes would have resulted primarily from the operational and maintenance cycles of individual submarines.

  RAF Bases (Running Costs)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the annual running costs of(a) RAF Marham, (b) RAF Honington and (c) RAF Bruggen in financial years (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96. [15715]

  Mr. Soames
  The annual running costs, including staff costs, utilities, contract services and property management of RAF Marham, RAF Honington and RAF Bruggen in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 were as follows:

  £ million

  Station

  1994–95

  1995–96

  RAF Marham

  62

  64

  RAF Brüggen

  97

  98

  RAF Honington

  31

  30

  Welsh Regiments
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Welsh regiments have been involved in armed conflict since 1987. [16034]

  Mr. Soames
  None. However, a detachment of the Queens Dragoon Guards provided reconnaissance for 7th Armoured Brigade and served as a sub-unit with the 16/5th the Queens Royal Lancers in the Gulf in 1990.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the casualty figures for Welsh regiments in(a) the Gulf war, (b) Cyprus and (c) Northern Ireland since 1967. [16037]

  Mr. Soames
  Casualty figures, defined in terms of those killed in action, including those who died of wounds, for the Welsh regiments are:

  Gulf war: 0

  Cyprus: 3

  Northern Ireland since 1967: 17.

  Empty Homes (Disposal)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in the disposal of empty homes; and if he will make a statement. [16606]

  Mr. Soames
  The targets for disposal of 1,500 homes by April 1996 and a further 2,500 by the end of summer 1996 was not only achieved but significantly exceeded, as the Total number of disposals reached 5,348 properties.

  Gurkhas
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the result of his Department's review of Gurkha terms and conditions of service; and if he will make a statement. [16554]

  Mr. Soames
  Terms and conditions of service for Gurkhas serving in the British Army are set out in the 1947 tripartite agreement-TPA-between the Governments of Nepal, India and the United Kingdom to enable Gurkha troops to be recruited and employed in the Indian and British Armies on a broadly comparable basis. The last major review of Gurkha terms and conditions of service took place in 1955. Since then, the British Army Gurkhas have been increasingly widely deployed and dispersed. Conditions of service have necessarily been adjusted to take account of local factors, although basic pay and the level of accompanied service have not departed from the guidelines set out in the TPA. Over time, such adjustments have led to significant anomalies. For example, Gurkhas are currently paid markedly different rates, depending on the country in which they serve, their marital status and whether they are accompanied, with a consequent threat to the morale of those on significantly lower incomes.

  Taking advantage of the drawdown in Hong Kong and the relocation of most of the brigade to the UK, the MOD has undertaken a major review to restore fairness and equity across the brigade. As a result, revised terms and conditions of service will be introduced from July 1997. The main elements are set out:
  368
  Basic pay will continue to be set in accordance with the Indian army pay code in line with the requirements of the TPA, but a universal addition to basic pay will be introduced in place of the current anomalous system of allowances. This will standardise Gurkha pay across different geographical areas, and bring Gurkha take-home pay broadly into line with that received by British soldiers. So far as Gurkhas stationed in the United Kingdom are concerned, no soldier will suffer a reduction and many will gain. In Brunei and Nepal, the great majority of soldiers-those who are married unaccompanied ranks-will benefit from the changes. Gurkha married accompanied personnel in Brunei and Nepal will, however, experience a reduction in their take-home pay, which is currently significantly higher than that of other members of the brigade.

  Married accompanied service is to be made available in the United Kingdom. In keeping with the tripartite agreement, which specifies that up to 25 per cent. of Gurkha officers and soldiers will be provided with family accommodation, sergeants and below will be granted one three-year accompanied tour and the more senior ranks will be permanently accompanied. This reflects the basis upon which married accompanied service is available in Brunei and Nepal and was provided to those serving in Hong Kong. Some 450 married quarters will be made available at locations in the United Kingdom where about 2,000 members of the brigade of Gurkhas will be stationed. We expect that under these arrangements some 900 Gurkha dependants, wives and children, will come to the United Kingdom.

  Gurkha parents will have the option of sending their children to school in the UK or of taking advantage of a new Gurkha education allowance to enable them to enjoy the benefits of continuity of education within the Nepali system. We expect that most will choose the latter course, relying on Nepali boarding schools and looking to relatives to provide care and support for the children in their absence. There will be an entitlement of one free flight a year to enable children to be united with their parents in the UK during the long Nepali school holiday.

  The present entitlement of Gurkha soldiers to long leave every three years will remain. This recognises the continuing importance we attach to keeping the Gurkha soldier in touch with his home culture and roots. But the entitlement will be reduced from six to five months to take account of improved internal communications in Nepal.

  We also intend to transfer resettlement training from Nepal to the United Kingdom. This will provide Gurkhas with a much wider choice of training, while ensuring they continue to undertake a reorientation course in Nepal before discharge from the British Army. We intend to retain the Queens Gurkha officer commission for the majority of officers in Gurkha units, but we shall also take the opportunity to introduce a new Gurkha short service commission for a limited number of suitably qualified Gurkha officers to allow them to gain wider employment within the wider British Army.

  I am confident that this package represents a significant improvement over current arrangements while continuing to respect the tripartite agreement. It also recognises and

  369
  gives continued substance to the Gurkhas' position as an integral and valued component of the British Army. I am sure that it will be well received by the brigade.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Sports Council Lottery Fund
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National

  Sports Council Awards

  Year of Award

  Sport

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Total

  Angling

  Total award amount

  £118,923

  £411,139

  £39,850

  £569,912

  Number of awards

  3

  15

  2

  20

  Archery

  Total award amount

  £11,331

  £70,320

  0

  £81,651

  Number of awards

  2

  1

  0

  3

  Athletics

  Total award amount

  £11,487,187

  £9,237,754

  £1,674,900

  £22,399,841

  Number of awards

  11

  18

  3

  32

  Badminton

  Total award amount

  £2,208,929

  £3,084,362

  £555,746

  £5,849,037

  Number of awards

  11

  11

  5

  27

  Basketball

  Total of amount

  £2,213,425

  £7,499,116

  £787,863

  £10,500,404

  Number of awards

  7

  16

  2

  25

  Billiards/snooker

  Total award amount

  £28,857

  £27,469

  0

  £56,326

  Number of awards

  2

  1

  0

  3

  Bobsleigh

  Total award amount

  £62,556

  0

  0

  £62,556

  Number of awards

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Bowls

  Total award amount

  £4,529,712

  £7,999,746

  £832,120

  £13,361,578

  Number of awards

  62

  112

  19

  193

  Boxing

  Total award amount

  £83,304

  £63,240

  0

  £146,544

  Number of awards

  3

  4

  0

  0

  Canoeing

  Total award amount

  £443,969

  £2,221,709

  £222,851

  £2,888,529

  Number of awards

  6

  8

  2

  16

  Caving

  Total award amount

  0

  £18,975

  0

  £18,975

  Number of awards

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Cricket

  Total award amount

  £2,896,489

  £21,393,447

  £4,330,719

  £28,620,655

  Number of awards

  95

  176

  15

  286

  Croquet

  Total award amount

  0

  £14,437

  £35,985

  £50,422

  Number of awards

  0

  2

  1

  3

  Cycling

  Total award amount

  £9,412

  £436,661

  0

  £446,073

  Number of awards

  1

  5

  0

  6

  Disability sport

  Total award amount

  £776,004

  £809,340

  £6,021

  £1,591,365

  Number of awards

  6

  7

  1

  14

  Dragon boat racing

  Total award amount

  0

  £6,621

  0

  £6,621

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Equestrian

  Total award amount

  £529,601

  £1,425,259

  0

  £1,954,860

  Number of awards

  8

  6

  0

  14

  Exercise and fitness

  Total award amount

  £1,554,882

  £2,028,133

  £571,750

  £4,154,765

  Number of awards

  11

  13

  2

  26

  Football

  Total award amount

  £5,259,547

  £19,714,924

  £2,109,239

  £27,083,710

  Number of awards

  97

  171

  18

  286

  Gliding

  Total award amount

  £59,950

  £138,065

  £64,469

  £262,484

  Number of awards

  3

  5

  1

  9

  Golf

  Total award amount

  £428,280

  £2,878,171

  £38,239

  £3,344,690

  Number of awards

  5

  13

  1

  19

  Gymnastics

  Total award amount

  £1,794,507

  £2,979,352

  £94,109

  £4,867,968

  Number of awards

  12

  15

  3

  30

  Hang gliding

  Total award amount

  0

  £13,199

  £4,616

  £17,815

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Hockey

  Total award amount

  £2,934,497

  £11,247,436

  £2,107,468

  £16,289,401

  Number of awards

  20

  38

  6

  64

  Ice skating

  Total award amount

  0

  £12,500,000

  0

  £12,500,000

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Judo

  Total award amount

  £200,000

  £306,972

  0

  £506,972

  Number of awards

  1

  3

  0

  4

  Lacrosse

  Total award amount

  £32,744

  0

  0

  £32,744

  Number of awards

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Motor sports

  Total award amount

  0

  £46,550

  £22,680

  £69,230

  Number of awards

  0

  2

  1

  3

  370
  Heritage how many sports have benefited from awards made by the Sports Council lottery fund; and if she will list them together with the Total value of the awards for each year since the introduction of the national lottery. [13522]

  Mr. Sproat
  Fifty-nine sports have benefited in England from awards made by the lottery sports fund to a Total value of £371,374,314. In 1995, 607 awards were made, Totalling £104,731,747. In 1996, 1,094 awards were made, Totalling £245,722,611. To February 1997, 135 awards have been made, Totalling £20,919,956. Full details are provided in the table:
  371 372

  Sports Council Awards

  Year of Award

  Sport

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Total

  Mountaineering

  Total award amount

  £683,701

  £1,090,853

  £22,445

  £1,796,999

  Number of awards

  4

  10

  2

  16

  Movement and dance

  Total award amount

  £276,000

  £415,216

  0

  £691,216

  Number of awards

  1

  1

  0

  2

  Multi sports

  Total award amount

  £17,135,491

  £50,357,655

  £1,154,154

  £68,647,300

  Number of awards

  34

  63

  5

  102

  Netball

  Total award amount

  £128,144

  £6,535,095

  £109,276

  £6,772,515

  Number of awards

  4

  14

  1

  19

  Orienteering

  Total award amount

  0

  £4,721

  0

  £4,721

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Racketball

  Total award amount

  0

  £45,000

  0

  £45,000

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Rambling

  Total award amount

  £2,070

  £301,023

  £4,324

  £307,417

  Number of awards

  1

  2

  1

  4

  Real tennis

  Total award amount

  £468,913

  0

  0

  £468,913

  Number of awards

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Roller skating

  Total award amount

  0

  0

  £27,950

  £27,950

  Number of awards

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Rowing

  Total award amount

  £1,344,295

  £9,213,810

  £1,533,640

  £12,091,745

  Number of awards

  12

  12

  2

  26

  Rugby league

  Total award amount

  £352,201

  £973,285

  0

  £1,325,486

  Number of awards

  5

  9

  0

  14

  Rugby union

  Total award amount

  £3,791,761

  £5,860,022

  £597,089

  £10,248,872

  Number of awards

  27

  41

  5

  73

  Sailing

  Total award amount

  £8,475,539

  £2,733,339

  £627,475

  £11,836,353

  Number of awards

  21

  43

  7

  71

  Sand and land yachting

  Total award amount

  0

  £47,660

  0

  £47,660

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Shooting

  Total award amount

  £30,400

  £257,935

  0

  £288,335

  Number of awards

  2

  7

  0

  9

  Skateboarding

  Total award amount

  0

  £151,965

  0

  £151,965

  Number of awards

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Skiing

  Total award amount

  0

  £218,360

  0

  £218,360

  Number of awards

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Softball

  Total award amount

  £9,050

  0

  0

  £9,050

  Number of awards

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Squash

  Total award amount

  £1,223,954

  £73,514

  £255,500

  £1,552,968

  Number of awards

  7

  2

  1

  10

  Sub aqua

  Total award amount

  £58,922

  £345,554

  £44,600

  £449,076

  Number of awards

  4

  23

  4

  31

  Surf life saving

  Total award amount

  0

  £49,145

  0

  £49,145

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Surfing

  Total award amount

  0

  0

  £5,845

  £5,845

  Number of awards

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Swimming

  Total award amount

  £24,815,642

  £39,390,893

  £949,005

  £65,155,540

  Number of awards

  23

  39

  6

  68

  Table tennis

  Total award amount

  £806,120

  £3,150,078

  0

  £3,956,198

  Number of awards

  8

  10

  0

  18

  Tennis

  Total award amount

  £5,589,805

  £10,540,508

  £2,090,028

  £18,220,341

  Number of awards

  78

  149

  16

  243

  Trampolining

  Total award amount

  £763,283

  £91,740

  0

  £855,023

  Number of awards

  3

  3

  0

  6

  Tug of war

  Total award amount

  0

  £9,955

  0

  £9,955

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Volleyball

  Total award amount

  0

  £7,046,075

  0

  £7,046,075

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Water skiing

  Total award amount

  £1,112,350

  £26,000

  0

  £1,138,350

  Number of awards

  2

  1

  0

  3

  Weightlifting

  Total award amount

  0

  £196,762

  0

  £196,762

  Number of awards

  0

  7

  0

  7

  Wrestling

  Total award amount

  0

  £24,051

  0

  £24,051

  Number of awards

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Grand Totals

  £104,731,747

  £245,722,611

  £20,919,956

  £371,374,314

  607

  1,094

  135

  1,836

  Data up to and including February 1997 awards.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Towels
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what is the annual cost of(a) purchasing, (b) laundering and (c) distributing the individual hand towels supplied in washrooms throughout the House. [15723]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  (a) Hand towels are purchased when required, in blocks of 5,000, at a cost of £1.09 each. (b) The annual cost of laundering hand towels is £7,300. (c) The staff costs involved in distribution are £3,200 per annum.

  New Parliamentary Building
  Mr Wigley
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what was the original estimate for the cost of building the new building for parliamentary use at Bridge street, Westminster; and what is his latest estimate of this cost. [16436]

  Sir Raymond Powell
  The House of Commons Commission approved the final sketch design estimate in 1993 at the prices then prevailing with an allowance forecasting the possible rate of inflation in construction costs until the work is completed in 2000. Since 1993, instructions have been given to the project team for various changes to the brief and the date when work is to start. These account for the difference between the 1993 forecast of £219 million and the current figure of £225 million.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Armoured Vehicles (Indonesia)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 23 January,Official Report, columns 708–709, if the export licence includes (a) machine guns, (b) automatic cannon and (c) other weapons for installation in Indonesia. [14303]

  Mr. Nelson
  The licences issued to Procurement Services International and Alvis do not list any weapons for installation in Indonesia.

  The Alvis armoured cars licensed for export are equipped with a 90 mm gun and two machine guns as standard. All but two of the other vehicles have either one or two machine guns fitted as standard.

  The licence issued to Procurement Services International is for vehicles which were detailed in my reply of 23 January 1997. None of these vehicles is fitted with machine guns or automatic cannon.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 December,Official Report, column 29, if he will list the types and amounts of ammunition that are included in the export licence granted to Alvis. [14260]

  Mr. Nelson
  Details of goods listed on export licences are a matter between the company and the licensing authority. However, in this case, I can confirm that the 374
  export licence granted to Alvis covers a limited quantity of 90 mm ammunition and phosphorous grenades for acceptance testing and training purposes.

  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 list the types and quantities of ammunition included in the licence for Procurement Services International. [14267]

  Mr. Nelson
  No ammunition was included in the licence issued to Procurement Services International.

  Sellafield
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take to ensure that the nuclear installations inspectorate requires British Nuclear Fuels plc to adhere to appropriate safety regulations in respect of the highly radioactive waste tanks at Sellafield. [15467]

  Mr. Page
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 6 February 1997,Official Report,, column 677.

  I have every confidence that the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate will continue to discharge its statutory responsibilities in the regulation of safety standards throughout the civil nuclear industry.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the expenses and allowances paid to parties and witnesses appearing before industrial tribunals. [16558]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Parties, witnesses and some unpaid representatives appearing before industrial tribunals may claim certain expenses and allowances. These have been reviewed recently by my Department. With effect from 1 April 1997, the following may be paid: travel expenses in excess of £5, including the costs of travel by public transport-standard class-or, if a private motor vehicle is used, a mileage allowance of 15p per mile; loss of earnings-or national insurance benefit which would otherwise be payable-subject to a maximum of £40 per day; an overnight allowance of £64.30 (inner London) or £54.30 (elsewhere) to meet hotel and other costs where a night's absence is unavoidable; and other reasonable expenses, subject to certain limits. Such expenses include interpreters' fees, essential child care costs and expenses incurred in securing locum cover.

  The daily subsistence allowance presently paid to those absent from home for more than five hours is being withdrawn. The Government do not believe the continued payment of such allowances to those involved in essentially private law disputes is justified.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the external financing limit of British Shipbuilders. [16555]

  Mr. Lang
  The external financing limit has been adjusted from-£21 million to-£1 million. The original figure rested on the assumption that agreement would be
  375
  reached this year with regard to a claim for payment to British Shipbuilders of £20 million. The matter has now gone to arbitration and receipt is not now expected in this financial year.

  British Gas
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if British Gas plc will pay stamp duty on demerger. [16594]

  Mr. Lang
  Section 75 of the Finance Act 1986 makes provision for the exemption of demergers from stamp duty if certain criteria are met. The intention of the legislation is to ensure that demergers involving no real change of ownership, as is the case with the British Gas demerger, qualify for relief from the duty. There must be an issue of shares to all shareholders of the transferor company, in this case British Gas plc, and after the transfer of shares, the proportion of shares held by each shareholder in the transferor company must be the same as the proportion of shares held by those shareholders in the transferee company, in this case Centrica plc. Except for the Government's special share, the British Gas demerger meets these requirements. The Government intend to continue to hold a special share in British Gas plc which, after the demerger, will be known as BG plc. In order, therefore, to allow the British Gas demerger to qualify for exemption from stamp duty, prior to the demerger, two ordinary shares, one in BG plc and one in Centrica plc, will be transferred to the Secretary of State and, on the demerger taking effect, a further share in Centrica plc will be issued to the Secretary of State. These arrangements will ensure that the British Gas demerger meets the conditions for this relief.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the British companies involved in(a) the manufacture and (b) the export of land mines and related equipment. [16003]

  Mr. Nelson
  I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement to the hon. Member for Blaneau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 12 February 1997,Official Report, columns 180–81.

TREASURY

  Taxes and National Insurance
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will translate the column headed "Non-North Sea oil taxes and NICs" in table 4A9, page 88 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98", into cash figures at 1997–98 prices. [15253]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 11 February 1997]: The table shows the information requested. However, cash figures for tax receipts over a long run of years-even if measured at constant prices-are of only very limited interest if they are not set in the context of what has happened to national income over the same period. This is why the historical time series for spending, receipts and borrowing in tables 4.A8 and 4.A9 of the 1997–98 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" are all expressed as ratios to gross domestic products.
  376

  Non-North sea taxes and NICs (£ billion, 1997–98 prices)

  Cash figure

  1965–66

  109.1

  1966–67

  107.9

  1967–68

  119.5

  1968–69

  135.1

  1969–70

  142.4

  1970–71

  144.1

  1971–72

  144.3

  1972–73

  143.5

  1973–74

  160.6

  1974–75

  168.2

  1975–76

  174.7

  1976–77

  186.5

  1977–78

  182.6

  1978–79

  180.8

  1979–80

  188.1

  1980–81

  188.6

  1981–82

  195.6

  1982–83

  199.8

  1983–84

  211.8

  1984–85

  216.7

  1985–86

  225.8

  1986–87

  244.6

  1987–88

  257.5

  1988–89

  266.3

  1989–90

  268.3

  1990–91

  253.0

  1991–92

  244.9

  1992–93

  232.3

  1993–94

  234.6

  1994–95

  252.3

  1995–96

  262.1

  1996–97

  268.9

  1997–98

  280.9

  1998–99

  292

  1999–00

  304

  2000–01

  316

  2001–02

  327

  Non-North sea taxes and NICs are rebased to 1997–98 prices using the GDP deflator. Forecasts and projections of the GDP deflator were published in table 3.11 and 5A.1 of the 1996 "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

  Departmental Publicity
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) his Department's budgeted expenditure on (i) advertising, (ii) publicity and (iii) public information campaigns for the period January to March 1997 and (b) the actual expenditure on (1) advertising, (2) publicity and (3) public information campaigns in the period January to March in each of the past five years. [13456]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested. However, I refer to the answers I gave on 14 January 1997 to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe),Official Report, columns 201–202.

  Deaths
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths from(a) influenza, (b) pneumonia and (c) bronchitis occurred during January 1997; and what were the equivalent figures for January (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) 1996. [15215]
  377
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  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. Rhodri Morgan, dated 17 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked the Director of the Office for National Statistics to reply to your recent question on how many deaths occurred from influenza, pneumonia, and bronchitis during January 1997. The Director has asked me to reply in his absence.
  The figures for England and Wales are given in the table below.

  Deaths occurring in January, 1994 to 1997, England and Wales

  Influenza ICD91 487

  Pneumonia ICD91 480–486

  Bronchitis ICD91 466,491

  1994

  28

  6,245

  461

  1995

  29

  6,474

  402

  19962

  105

  8,386

  437

  19972

  255

  10,940

  435

  1 International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision.

  2 Death occurrences for 1996 and 1997 are provisional. Figures for 1997 are the latest available. They will be incomplete due to some January deaths awaiting to be registered and added to the ONS database.

  Dorneywood
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 421, if he will list the dates (a) he and (b) his predecessor have been in residence at Dorneywood since 1993. [15656]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Since 1993, my predecessor and I have resided at Dorneywood on a number of occasions. These stays have not been at the expense of public funds or the taxpayer.

  Profit-related Pay Schemes
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, column 733, how many companies notified the Inland Revenue of their intention of introducing a profit-related pay scheme during (a) the first eight months of 1997, (b) 1996, (c) 1995 and (d) 1994. [15657]

  Mr. Jack
  The available information is in the table.

  Number of applications for registration of profit-related pay schemes1

  1994

  7,200

  1995

  9,500

  1996

  12,800

  1 Rounded to the nearest 100.

  From 1 January to 31 January 1997-the most recent period for which figures are available-the Inland Revenue received about 760 applications.

  All these figures include some businesses which have previously had a registered scheme and some which have not.

HEALTH

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of fundholding(a) general practitioners and (b) practices by health authority (i) in Total and (ii) as a percentage of all general practitioners and practices. [13245]

  Mr. Malone
  Current year information on the number of fundholding practices and general practitioners is given in the table. These figures are available only as Totals and not as percentages. The corresponding figures, including percentages, are available for 1995–96 and this information is in the Library.

  Numbers of general practitioner fundholders-1996–97

  Health authority

  Practices

  GPs

  Populations covered (percentage)

  Northern and Yorkshire

  East Riding

  46

  180

  66

  North Yorkshire

  67

  295

  69

  Bradford

  41

  165

  60

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  24

  98

  35

  Leeds

  43

  207

  51

  Wakefield

  33

  136

  82

  Tees

  18

  88

  34

  North Cumbria

  19

  96

  48

  County Durham

  40

  154

  50

  Northumberland

  30

  138

  71

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  19

  81

  41

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  24

  96

  35

  Sunderland

  20

  70

  50

  Trent

  Barnsley

  16

  40

  35

  North Debyshire

  54

  180

  91

  South Derbyshire

  65

  240

  79

  Doncaster

  28

  96

  64

  Leicestershire

  60

  238

  50

  Lincolnshire

  61

  217

  66

  North Nottinghamshire

  19

  76

  41

  Nottingham

  27

  80

  26

  Rotherham

  21

  56

  49

  Sheffield

  45

  159

  52

  South Humber

  32

  114

  69

  Anglia and Oxford

  Bedfordshire

  20

  96

  34

  Berkshire

  63

  262

  62

  Buckinghamshire

  57

  249

  71

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  12

  58

  26

  East Norfolk

  37

  183

  55

  Northamptonshire

  34

  148

  50

  North West Anglia

  25

  108

  49

  Oxfordshire

  40

  194

  54

  Suffolk

  25

  136

  37

  North Thames

  Barking and Havering

  49

  111

  62

  Barnet

  26

  69

  39

  Brent and Harrow

  65

  168

  64

  Camden and Islington

  9

  18

  10

  379

  Numbers of general practitioner fundholders-1996–97

  Health authority

  Practices

  GPs

  Populations covered (percentage)

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  61

  130

  38

  East London and The City

  41

  94

  35

  Enfield and Haringey

  18

  55

  27

  East and North Hertfordshire

  43

  201

  76

  West Hertfordshire

  48

  214

  77

  Hillingdon

  22

  67

  51

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  38

  84

  49

  North Essex

  59

  212

  57

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  60

  116

  59

  South Essex

  62

  153

  48

  South Thames

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  56

  197

  52

  West Sussex

  55

  245

  63

  East Surrey

  24

  94

  42

  West Surrey

  45

  232

  67

  Kingston and Richmond

  42

  154

  77

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  18

  61

  18

  Bexley and Greenwich

  36

  110

  54

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  39

  137

  44

  Croydon

  12

  43

  27

  East Kent

  54

  180

  58

  West Kent

  91

  296

  55

  Bromley

  12

  36

  27

  South and West

  Avon

  42

  182

  37

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  18

  96

  32

  South and West Devon

  33

  152

  39

  North and East Devon

  33

  144

  48

  Dorset

  46

  208

  50

  Gloucestershire

  25

  124

  39

  Isle of Wight

  15

  63

  84

  North and Mid Hampshire

  33

  170

  64

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  12

  69

  23

  Somerset

  29

  128

  44

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  38

  160

  54

  Wiltshire

  45

  183

  60

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  108

  283

  49

  Coventry

  32

  79

  54

  Dudley

  25

  70

  45

  Herefordshire

  18

  77

  80

  Worcestershire

  55

  239

  82

  Sandwell

  44

  108

  74

  Shropshire

  19

  97

  45

  Solihull

  21

  114

  82

  South Staffordshire

  43

  144

  55

  North Staffordshire

  48

  124

  55

  Walsall

  35

  72

  53

  380

  Numbers of general practitioner fundholders-1996–97

  Health authority

  Practices

  GPs

  Populations covered (percentage)

  Warwickshire

  59

  220

  84

  Wolverhampton

  18

  49

  39

  North West

  Bury and Rochdale

  62

  170

  81

  East Lancashire

  58

  153

  63

  Liverpool

  40

  110

  48

  Manchester

  20

  64

  25

  Morecambe Bay

  30

  126

  71

  North Cheshire

  19

  85

  52

  North West Lancashire

  35

  121

  50

  Salford and Trafford

  39

  95

  42

  Sefton

  23

  71

  47

  South Cheshire

  62

  283

  75

  South Lancashire

  24

  66

  46

  Stockport

  29

  89

  60

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  38

  100

  56

  West Pennine

  39

  104

  46

  Wigan and Bolton

  45

  126

  44

  Wirral

  28

  94

  49

  Source:

  NHS executive regional offices.

  Senior House Officers (West Midlands)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the main findings of the inquiry of the chairman of the task force into the implementation of proposals in respect of medical senior house officers at the North Staffordshire medical assessment unit; and if he will make a statement. [14313]

  Mr. Malone
  The West Midlands regional task force on junior doctors' hours provides both formal and informal advice to local health authorities and trusts when necessary, as part of their on-going role in helping to ensure compliance with the new deal for junior doctors' hours. The issues raised are a matter for local discussion.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of additional senior medical house officers required in(a) North Staffordshire and (b) the West Midlands. [14314]

  Mr. Malone
  The postgraduate dean, with advice from the West Midlands regional task force on junior doctors' hours, is currently considering numbers of senior house officers in all areas of the west midlands to ensure an appropriate balance of doctors and to help to implement the new deal for junior doctors, hours, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the West Midlands NHS trust the ratio of senior medical house officers to the number of acute medical admissions(a) in day-time hours and (b) out of hours. [14318]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on the number of admissions by time of day is not available centrally.

  Staff Training (North Staffordshire)
  Mr. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit the North Staffordshire NHS trust medical
  381
  assessment unit to congratulate staff on their achievements in respect of the gold standard in training initiatives. [14316]

  Mr. Malone
  We are always pleased to acknowledge the achievements of staff in the national health service. Unfortunately, due to commitments already made, both I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be unable to visit the unit in the foreseeable future. I have undertaken to write to the staff acknowledging their achievement.

  Strokes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the recent publication "Stoke: National Tragedy, National Priority", published by the Stroke Association; and if he will make a statement; [15640]

  (2) what measures he proposes to assist district stroke services. [15642]

  (3) if he will make it his policy to ensure that all people who have had strokes are (a) treated as emergency cases by A and E units and (b) assessed and diagnosed at hospital shortly after admission. [15641]

  Mr. Burns
  We are sure that local health authorities will find the Stroke Association's publication "Stroke: National Tragedy, National Priority" a useful aid to commissioning services for its areas for people who have had a stroke.

  The Department of Health has awarded the Stroke Association a number of grants, under the section 64 general scheme, for projects to enhance the provision of stroke services in primary care. Reducing the death rate from stroke is a target of "The Health of the Nation". This is supported by a number of high-profile campaigns such as promoting physical activity and sensible drinking and encouraging people to stop smoking. The national health service executive has produced recommendations on the provision of rehabilitation services for stroke patients which have been distributed to the NHS to assist local health authorities in making decisions about how to organise their services. Copies of this document-an effective health care bulletin entitled "Stroke Rehabilitation"-are available in the Library.

  Decisions on when and where to refer for treatment are a clinical matter for the patient's doctor. Under the patients charter, patients in an accident and emergency department can expect to be seen immediately and have their need for treatment assessed. In addition, health authorities should set local standards on times patients can expect to wait to receive treatment in accident and emergency departments after their need for treatment has been assessed.

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of junior doctors are working on(a) part-time contracts and (b) flexible training programmes. [15908]

  Mr. Malone
  At 30 September 1995, 3 per cent. of junior doctors were working on part-time contracts. Separate information on flexible training programmes is not collected centrally.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which blood products the blood transfusion service sells to the private sector. [15721]

  Mr. Horam
  The bio products laboratory, which, like the former blood transfusion service, forms part of the National Blood Authority, manufactures a wide variety of blood products, which are sold both to the national health service and to the private sector.

  Dentures
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning the wish of denturists to be allowed to fit false teeth. [16225]

  Mr. Malone
  On several occasions, we have received representations from the Clinical Dental Technicians Associations requesting that the Dentists Act 1984 be amended.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on the waiting list for operations in the north-west of England in 1979. [16160]

  Mr. Horam
  Information in the form requested is not available centrally.

  Abortion
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that general practitioner fundholders who accept funding for abortion services provide those services. [16112]

  Mr. Malone
  The accountability framework for general practitioner fundholding EL (95)54 provides the mechanism for agreeing and reviewing fundholder plans and performance, including for the purchase of terminations of pregnancy.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to review the provision of abortion on the NHS by region. [16113]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the schools offering assisted places in 1995–96 showing for each(a) the number of places offered, (b) the amount of income received and (c) the proportion of the school's intake covered by assisted places. [15490]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The table gives the information requested for the 293 schools participating in the assisted places scheme in England in the academic year 1995–96. Information on the proportion of each school's first year
  383
  intake covered by assisted places is not collected centrally. The table therefore shows Total assisted pupil numbers as a proportion of Total pupils on roll.

  Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year

  School name

  APs offered

  Cost £000s

  Percentage of APs

  Abbey School, Reading

  116

  126

  4.90

  Abingdon School

  107

  314

  11.64

  Ackworth School, Pontefract

  31

  92

  6.06

  Aldenham School, Elstree

  35

  221

  8.26

  Alice Ottley School, Worcester

  90

  333

  12.52

  Alleyn's School, Dulwich

  208

  950

  17.96

  Ardingly College, Haywards Heath

  36

  239

  5.42

  Arnold School, Blackpool

  80

  258

  6.84

  Ashford School, Kent

  60

  149

  6.87

  Ashville College

  22

  93

  2.63

  Austin Friars School

  23

  88

  7.67

  Bancroft's School, Woodford

  80

  312

  8.40

  Barnard Castle School

  30

  81

  4.23

  Bath High School GPDST

  128

  296

  14.67

  Batley Grammar School

  275

  794

  49.73

  Bedales School, Petersfield

  10

  22

  0.62

  Bedford High School

  131

  431

  11.89

  Bedford Modern School

  132

  511

  13.00

  Bedford School

  131

  557

  9.45

  Belevedere School GPDST Liverpool

  185

  512

  27.51

  Berkhamsted School

  28

  113

  3.72

  Berkhamsted School for Girls

  34

  94

  4.68

  Birkenhead High School GPDST

  290

  714

  25.82

  Birkenhead School

  273

  467

  17.64

  Bishop's Stortford College

  55

  338

  8.99

  Blackheath High School GPDST

  108

  323

  15.93

  Bloxham School, Banbury

  26

  160

  7.32

  Bolton School (Boys)

  275

  835

  24.76

  Bolton School (Girls)

  276

  767

  20.59

  Bootham School, York

  35

  153

  9.65

  Bradfield College, Reading

  6

  37

  1.01

  Bradford Girls Grammar

  68

  214

  7.03

  Bradford Grammar School

  238

  689

  20.75

  Brentwood School

  136

  439

  8.84

  Brighton and Hove High School GPDST

  216

  483

  21.76

  Brighton College

  116

  685

  24.95

  Bristol Cathedral School

  151

  424

  28.54

  Bristol Grammar School

  291

  835

  21.96

  Bromley High School GPDST

  145

  322

  12.17

  Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire

  29

  141

  2.38

  Bruton School for Girls

  150

  392

  26.47

  Burgess Hill School for Girls

  34

  122

  4.21

  Bury Grammar School (Boys)

  220

  586

  25.06

  Bury Grammar School (Girls)

  255

  642

  22.42

  Canford School, Wimborne

  35

  268

  6.97

  Carmel College, Wallingford

  110

  567

  41.41

  Casterton School, Cumbria

  58

  202

  12.07

  Caterham School

  144

  546

  19.72

  Central Newcastle High School GPDST

  136

  333

  14.08

  Charterhouse, near Godalming

  10

  68

  1.11

  Cheadle Hulme School

  149

  421

  13.80

  Cheltenham Ladies' College

  35

  207

  3.92

  Chigwell School

  76

  382

  10.57

  Christ's Hospital

  41

  263

  5.10

  Churcher's College, Petersfield

  143

  490

  17.18

  384

  Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year

  School name

  APs offered

  Cost £000s

  Percentage of APs

  City of London Freemen's School, Ashtead

  24

  60

  1.66

  City of London School

  151

  679

  16.17

  City of London School for Girls

  148

  480

  19.79

  Clifton College, Bristol

  70

  418

  6.16

  Clifton High School, Bristol

  62

  215

  7.97

  Colfe's School, London SE12

  221

  650

  19.82

  Colston's Collegiate School, Bristol

  101

  470

  14.76

  Colston's Girls School

  178

  568

  36.85

  Coventry School, Bablake

  150

  586

  21.61

  Coventry School, King Henry VIII

  147

  268

  9.49

  Cranleigh School

  46

  218

  4.89

  Croham Hurst School, Croydon

  35

  116

  7.23

  Croydon High School GPDST

  143

  364

  11.33

  Culford School, Bury St. Edmunds

  51

  254

  7.83

  Dame Alice Harpur School

  132

  456

  15.40

  Dame Allan's Boys School, Newcastle

  191

  291

  24.83

  Dame Allan's Girls School

  150

  397

  31.60

  Dauntsey's School, Devizes

  70

  362

  11.15

  Denstone College, Uttoxeter

  119

  653

  40.27

  Derby High School

  30

  98

  5.26

  Douai School, Reading

  35

  168

  17.33

  Dover College

  27

  141

  11.30

  Downe House School, Newbury

  34

  141

  3.59

  Dulwich College

  304

  1,340

  19.67

  Durham School

  50

  274

  11.21

  Edgbaston C of E College for Girls

  35

  120

  12.08

  Edgehill College, Bideford

  144

  641

  31.84

  Ellesmere College

  22

  134

  6.01

  Eltham College, London SE9

  126

  495

  15.42

  Emanuel School, London SW11

  338

  1,178

  41.29

  Epsom College

  39

  147

  4.03

  Exeter School

  170

  551

  20.78

  Farnborough Hill School

  244

  450

  27.62

  Felsted School, Dunmow

  63

  383

  9.32

  Forest School, London E17

  157

  524

  10.62

  Framlingham College

  23

  124

  2.99

  Francis Holland School, London NW1

  34

  105

  11.64

  Friends School, Saffron Walden

  106

  496

  26.42

  Giggleswick School, Settle

  30

  121

  5.84

  Godolphin and Latymer School, London W6

  191

  734

  24.69

  Godolphin School, Salisbury

  35

  150

  7.19

  Gresham's School, Norfolk

  10

  85

  1.52

  Guildford High School for Girls

  35

  125

  4.34

  Haberdashers' Aske's School

  253

  855

  17.56

  Haberdashers' Aske's Schools for Girls

  150

  376

  11.24

  Haileybury and Imperial Service College

  35

  173

  5.12

  Hampton School

  219

  686

  22.05

  Harrogate Ladies' College

  31

  119

  8.04

  Headington School, Oxford

  35

  101

  3.91

  Heathfield School GPDST

  21

  43

  3.16

  Hereford Cathedral School

  245

  877

  38.26

  Highgate School

  40

  186

  3.36

  Hipperholme Grammar School

  25

  67

  7.81

  Holy Child School

  30

  135

  10.68

  Hulme Grammar, Boys, Oldham

  220

  620

  26.13

  385

  Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year

  School name

  APs offered

  Cost £000s

  Percentage of APs

  Hulme Grammar, Girls, Oldham

  220

  533

  29.91

  Hurstpierpoint College, Hassocks

  28

  195

  7.92

  Hymers College, Hull

  199

  417

  16.97

  Ipswich High School GPDST

  178

  299

  17.68

  Ispwich School

  80

  301

  10.35

  James Allen's Girls School

  180

  708

  15.71

  John Lyon School, Harrow

  118

  433

  21.36

  Kent College, Canterbury

  88

  396

  17.31

  Kimbolton School, Cambridge

  41

  165

  5.62

  King Edward VI High School, Birmingham

  185

  396

  25.87

  King Edward VI School, Southampton

  245

  737

  23.92

  King Edward VII School, Lytham

  244

  576

  47.05

  King Edward's School at Bath

  113

  320

  12.65

  King Edward's School, Birmingham

  300

  783

  28.12

  King Edward's School, Witley

  88

  330

  12.98

  King's College School, Wimbledon

  60

  222

  3.82

  King's High School for Girls, Warwick

  210

  340

  24.96

  King's School, Bruton

  31

  186

  9.06

  King's School, Chester

  122

  234

  14.80

  King's School, Macclesfield

  216

  670

  14.87

  King's School, Rochester

  66

  283

  9.68

  King's School, Tynemouth

  38

  118

  4.24

  King's School, Worcester

  203

  731

  18.52

  Kingsley School

  30

  88

  4.69

  Kingston Grammar School

  179

  631

  28.24

  Kingswood School, Bath

  47

  181

  9.67

  Kirkham Grammar School

  80

  247

  10.93

  La Sagesse Convent School, Newcastle

  181

  536

  35.08

  Lady Eleanor Holies School, Hampton

  85

  170

  5.48

  Latymer Upper School, London W6

  339

  836

  22.47

  Laxton School

  35

  20

  4.02

  Leeds Girls High School

  118

  257

  8.80

  Leeds Grammar School

  240

  579

  15.68

  Leicester Grammar School

  53

  172

  8.91

  Leighton Park School, Reading

  29

  194

  7.65

  Leys School, Cambridge

  37

  266

  9.29

  Liverpool College

  195

  775

  19.65

  Lord Wandsworth College, Basingstoke

  81

  492

  17.12

  Loreto Convent Grammar School, Altrincham

  96

  95

  4.76

  Loughborough Grammar

  130

  345

  13.27

  Loughborough High School

  104

  231

  17.77

  Magdalen College School,

  Oxford

  145

  375

  24.37

  Malvern College

  113

  725

  13.49

  Manchester Grammar School

  290

  816

  18.57

  Manchester High School

  185

  566

  19.71

  Marist Convent Senior School, Ascot

  35

  80

  6.65

  Maynard School, Exeter

  185

  573

  31.92

  Merchant Taylors' Girls, Liverpool

  206

  623

  22.50

  Merchant Taylors', Liverpool

  231

  691

  26.65

  Merchant Taylors' Northwood

  100

  406

  11.46

  Mill Hill School

  88

  412

  14.45

  Monkton Combe School, Bath

  41

  268

  12.81

  386

  Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year

  School name

  APs offered

  Cost £000s

  Percentage of APs

  Mount Carmel School, Cheshire

  35

  109

  6.38

  Mount School, York

  35

  180

  10.90

  Mount St. Mary's College, Near Sheffield

  71

  309

  24.57

  Newcastle Under Lyme School, Staffordshire

  474

  964

  30.05

  Newcastle Upon Tyne Church High School

  35

  78

  5.24

  North London Collegiate School, Edgware

  100

  304

  9.23

  Northampton High School

  208

  564

  19.11

  Norwich High School GPDST

  220

  461

  19.60

  Norwich School

  118

  351

  13.59

  Notting Hill and Ealing High GPDST

  136

  344

  14.66

  Nottingham Girls High School GPDST

  220

  529

  17.91

  Nottingham High School

  185

  498

  21.01

  Oakham School, Rutland

  33

  160

  3.25

  Old Palace School, Croydon

  255

  682

  28.30

  Oxford High School GPDST

  144

  130

  8.55

  Pangbourne College, Reading

  30

  202

  8.29

  Perse School for Boys, Cambridge

  66

  128

  6.17

  Perse School for Girls

  114

  252

  11.94

  Plymouth College

  226

  810

  22.83

  Pocklington School, near York

  160

  615

  21.36

  Polam Hall School, Darlington

  59

  148

  11.32

  Portsmouth Grammar School

  221

  492

  14.95

  Portsmouth High School GPDST

  175

  337

  18.54

  Prior Park College, Bath

  33

  116

  6.19

  Putney High School GPDST

  148

  290

  11.89

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Blackburn

  275

  848

  25.05

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Wakefield

  177

  420

  19.15

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital School, Bristol

  185

  614

  33.97

  Queen Mary School, Lytham

  269

  607

  33.43

  Queen's College Taunton

  70

  312

  9.38

  Queen's College, London W1

  80

  381

  21.31

  Queen's School, Chester

  81

  152

  9.15

  Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire

  82

  362

  16.29

  Red Maids' College, Bristol

  185

  584

  30.72

  Redland High School, Bristol

  102

  342

  15.96

  Reed's School, Cobham

  32

  198

  9.40

  Reigate Grammar School

  115

  361

  12.59

  Rendcomb College, Cirencester

  35

  196

  14.16

  Repton School near Derby

  63

  429

  11.62

  Rossall School, Fleetwood

  50

  223

  7.24

  Royal Grammar School, Guildford

  145

  493

  14.34

  Royal Grammar School, Newcastle

  375

  480

  20.28

  Royal Grammar School, Worcester

  298

  914

  29.09

  Ryde School

  24

  99

  3.65

  Salesian College, Farnborough

  130

  173

  17.02

  Scarborough College

  44

  181

  11.80

  Sedbergh School

  34

  286

  9.88

  Sevenoaks School, Kent

  41

  153

  3.30

  Sheffield High School, GPDST

  122

  280

  12.44

  Shrewsbury High School GPDST

  102

  255

  15.22

  387

  Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year

  School name

  APs offered

  Cost £000s

  Percentage of APs

  Silcoates School Sir William Perkins's

  18

  82

  3.02

  School, Chertsey

  115

  205

  14.33

  Solihull School

  45

  103

  4.32

  South Hampstead High School GPDST

  80

  245

  8.19

  St. Albans High School for Girls

  80

  172

  7.98

  St. Albans School

  150

  479

  21.22

  St. Ambrose College, Altrincham

  109

  136

  6.20

  St. Bede's College, Manchester

  220

  770

  18.18

  St. Bees School, Cumbria

  77

  438

  25.77

  St. Benedict's School, Ealing

  81

  309

  13.13

  St. Catherine's School, Bramley

  62

  137

  4.91

  St. Dunstan's College, Catford

  185

  646

  19.35

  St. Edmund's College, Ware

  80

  383

  15.27

  St. Edward's College, Liverpool

  396

  1,237

  35.70

  St. Felix School, Southwold

  36

  180

  16.83

  St. George's College, Weybridge

  40

  216

  7.50

  St. Helen and St. Katherine, Abingdon

  114

  198

  15.19

  St. Helen's School, Northwood

  53

  189

  5.42

  St. John's College, Southsea

  202

  603

  28.43

  St. John's School, Leatherhead

  22

  111

  5.32

  St. Joseph's College, Ipswich

  81

  294

  11.48

  St. Joseph's College, Stoke-on Trent

  30

  94

  6.29

  St. Joseph's Convent, Reading

  150

  470

  38.18

  St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate

  36

  209

  9.84

  St. Margaret's School, Bushey

  31

  134

  7.49

  St. Margaret's School, Exeter

  36

  128

  8.43

  St. Mary and St. Anne

  32

  183

  10.88

  St. Mary's College, Crosby

  283

  859

  30.60

  St. Mary's Hall, Brighton

  73

  387

  17.68

  St. Mary's School, Cambridge

  145

  333

  21.36

  St. Maurs Convent, Weybridge

  79

  237

  11.39

  St. Paul's Girls School, Hammersmith

  80

  312

  11.57

  St. Paul's School, Barnes

  99

  455

  6.54

  St. Peter's School, York

  149

  480

  14.23

  St. Swithun's School, Winchester

  6

  19

  0.46

  Stafford Independent Grammar School

  30

  97

  10.10

  Stamford High School

  114

  336

  12.00

  Stamford School

  110

  208

  9.72

  Stockport Grammar School

  290

  687

  20.47

  388

  Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year

  School name

  APs offered

  Cost £000s

  Percentage of APs

  Stonyhurst College, near Blackburn

  38

  215

  9.51

  Stowe School, near Buckingham

  6

  48

  1.10

  Streatham Hill and Clapham High GPDST

  178

  518

  24.62

  Surbiton High School

  35

  120

  3.74

  Sutton High School GPDST

  92

  212

  9.33

  Sutton Valence School, near Maidstone

  78

  428

  26.71

  Sydenham High School GPDST

  136

  428

  19.35

  Talbot Heath School, Bournemouth

  179

  525

  24.47

  Taunton School

  52

  312

  5.62

  Teesside High School

  30

  73

  4.55

  Tonbridge School

  6

  29

  0.74

  Tormead School, Guildford

  35

  104

  4.50

  Trent College, Derbyshire

  136

  608

  19.57

  Trinity School of John Whitgift, Croydon

  150

  549

  17.49

  Truro High School

  80

  273

  18.68

  Truro School

  110

  481

  15.27

  University College School, London NW3

  80

  348

  8.44

  Ursuline Convent School, Kent

  35

  147

  8.56

  Ursuline High School, Ilford

  150

  489

  39.89

  Wakefield High School

  160

  390

  13.66

  Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks

  88

  207

  10.20

  Warwick School

  170

  464

  14.12

  Wellingborough School

  70

  277

  8.58

  Wellington College, Berkshire

  44

  263

  5.08

  Wellington School, Somerset

  241

  812

  30.21

  Wells Cathedral School

  78

  322

  9.81

  West Buckland School, Barnstaple

  85

  368

  15.22

  Westholme School, Blackburn

  37

  125

  3.66

  Westminster School

  64

  362

  9.24

  Whitgift School, Croydon

  114

  459

  10.27

  William Hulme Grammar School

  220

  747

  28.57

  Wimbledon High School GPDST

  80

  227

  8.98

  Winchester College

  25

  142

  3.13

  Wisbech Grammar School

  339

  1,287

  52.46

  Withington Girls School, Manchester

  111

  217

  14.31

  Wolverhampton Grammar School

  314

  947

  37.50

  Woodbridge School, Suffolk

  127

  592

  25.10

  Woodhouse Grove School, Bradford

  149

  476

  16.90

  Worksop College, Nottingham

  27

  131

  8.04

  Wrekin College

  15

  75

  5.81

  Wycliffe College, Stonehouse

  43

  309

  6.39

  Yarm School

  53

  203

  10.79

  Attendance Database (Bolton)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will disseminate nationally as a model of good practice the pupil attendance database established by Bolton education authority; and if she will make a statement on(a) the correlation between the database and the child benefit register and (b) access by the local education authority to information concerning families claiming housing benefit. [15644]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Following a series of contacts with the local authority associations and other interested parties on issues raised by the West case, the Department has issued a consultative letter on tightening up procedures

  Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Corporation of London

  1,766

  2

  0.1

  1,773

  2

  0.1

  1,795

  5

  0.3

  Camden

  25,475

  480

  1.9

  26,649

  525

  2.0

  27,541

  609

  2.2

  Greenwich

  37,411

  1,069

  2.9

  38,085

  1,092

  2.9

  38,182

  1,122

  2.9

  Hackney

  27,411

  887

  3.2

  28,194

  866

  3.1

  28,246

  898

  3.2

  Hammersmith

  19,181

  583

  3.0

  19,352

  554

  2.9

  19,601

  573

  2.9

  Islington

  22,688

  559

  2.5

  23,537

  598

  2.5

  23,295

  639

  2.7

  Kensington and Chelsea

  20,136

  151

  0.7

  29,387

  188

  0.9

  20,365

  207

  1.0

  Lambeth

  27,534

  1,107

  4.0

  27,885

  930

  3.3

  28,366

  856

  3.0

  Lewisham

  34,047

  640

  1.9

  34,697

  667

  1.9

  35,046

  827

  2.4

  Southwark

  34,630

  633

  1.8

  35,750

  680

  1.9

  36,788

  730

  2.0

  Tower Hamlets

  31.194

  546

  1.8

  32,286

  612

  1.9

  33,841

  753

  2.2

  Wandsworth

  30,379

  1,097

  3.6

  31,217

  968

  3.1

  32,304

  1,094

  3.4

  Westminster

  21,836

  219

  1.0

  22,185

  340

  1.5

  22,616

  336

  1.5

  Barking

  23,673

  304

  1.3

  24,695

  333

  1.3

  25,373

  358

  1.4

  Barnet

  47,418

  550

  1.2

  48,411

  557

  1.2

  48,850

  666

  1.4

  Bexley

  32,920

  569

  1.7

  33,583

  671

  2.0

  34,112

  743

  2.2

  Brent

  34,150

  400

  1.2

  35,266

  435

  1.2

  37,168

  580

  1.6

  Bromley

  40,735

  775

  1.9

  41,574

  783

  1.9

  43,202

  876

  2.0

  Croydon

  48,228

  846

  1.8

  49,335

  854

  1.7

  50,660

  799

  1.6

  Ealing

  45,108

  670

  1.5

  45,615

  745

  1.6

  45,378

  919

  2.0

  Enfield

  39,867

  257

  0.6

  40,969

  191

  0.5

  42,479

  278

  0.7

  Haringey

  29,297

  243

  0.8

  30,359

  346

  1.1

  31,106

  451

  1.4

  Harrow

  31,131

  397

  1.3

  31,445

  458

  1.5

  31,983

  518

  1.6

  Havering

  35,864

  490

  1.4

  35,349

  591

  1.7

  35,353

  617

  1.7

  Hillingdon

  36,103

  552

  1.5

  36,625

  542

  1.5

  37,753

  532

  1.4

  Hounslow

  33,215

  999

  3.0

  33,787

  964

  2.9

  34,493

  1,023

  3.0

  Kingston upon Thames

  20,793

  348

  1.7

  21,129

  405

  1.9

  21,623

  407

  1.9

  Merton

  24,486

  403

  1.6

  25,197

  448

  1.8

  25,980

  491

  1.9

  Newham

  38,303

  688

  1.8

  39,095

  705

  1.8

  40,266

  729

  1.8

  Redbridge

  35,249

  288

  0.8

  36,557

  481

  1.3

  38,043

  540

  1.4

  Richmond upon Thames

  23,933

  346

  1.4

  24,326

  386

  1.6

  25,040

  443

  1.8

  Sutton

  24,988

  533

  2.1

  25,597

  580

  2.3

  26.232

  584

  2.2

  Waltham Forest

  31,972

  659

  2.1

  32,505

  827

  2.5

  33,357

  851

  2.6

  Birmingham

  177,519

  3,098

  1.7

  179,886

  3,125

  1.7

  182,760

  3,608

  2.0

  Coventry

  50,777

  934

  1.8

  51,459

  930

  1.8

  52,194

  988

  1.9

  Dudley

  45,369

  840

  1.9

  45,707

  805

  1.8

  46,472

  845

  1.8

  Sandwell

  49,757

  735

  1.5

  50,548

  731

  1.4

  51,203

  697

  1.4

  390
  governing the transfer of pupil records and reports. My right hon. Friend will consider whether there is a case for disseminating any particular model of database, or any other example of good practice, in the light of the outcomes of that consultation.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were(a) the number and (b) the percentage of children with statements of special need (i) in each local education authority area in England and (ii) in Total, in each year since 1992. [15481]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is shown in the table and is taken from the Department's statistical bulletin 12/97.
  391

  Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Solihull

  34,475

  509

  1.5

  35,359

  607

  1.7

  36,329

  643

  1.8

  Walsall

  47,751

  807

  1.7

  48,443

  895

  1.8

  49,300

  1,039

  2.1

  Wolverhampton

  42,885

  811

  1.9

  43,169

  853

  2.0

  44,517

  991

  2.2

  Knowsley

  27,885

  704

  2.5

  771

  28,213

  2.7

  848

  28,566

  3.0

  Liverpool

  83,463

  1,777

  2.1

  1,817

  84,471

  2.2

  2,073

  85,654

  2.4

  St. Helens

  30,327

  744

  2.5

  776

  30,282

  2.6

  965

  30,364

  3.2

  Sefton

  49,475

  1,093

  2.2

  1,110

  49,859

  2.2

  1,195

  50,388

  2.4

  Wirral

  56,863

  1,177

  2.1

  1,255

  57,386

  2.2

  1,482

  58,175

  2.5

  Bolton

  46,458

  677

  1.5

  642

  46,825

  1.4

  811

  47,480

  1.7

  Bury

  28,777

  720

  2.5

  796

  29,182

  2.7

  892

  29,854

  3.0

  Manchester

  74,651

  969

  1.3

  75,588

  815

  1.1

  76,543

  1,071

  1.4

  Oldham

  41,687

  793

  1.9

  42,416

  897

  2.1

  42,913

  869

  2.0

  Rochdale

  35,451

  787

  2.2

  35,454

  621

  1.8

  35,977

  751

  2,1

  Salford

  36,879

  377

  1.0

  37,211

  485

  1.3

  37,883

  477

  1.3

  Stockport

  45,908

  1,264

  2.8

  46,790

  1,427

  3.0

  47,414

  1,462

  3.1

  Tameside

  35,403

  692

  2.0

  35,959

  778

  2.2

  36,722

  976

  2.7

  Trafford

  34,026

  700

  2.1

  34,926

  673

  1.9

  35,665

  698

  2.0

  Wigan

  49,508

  1,252

  2.5

  49,506

  885

  1.8

  49,944

  1,465

  2.9

  Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Corporation of London

  1,833

  2

  0.1

  1,839

  0

  0.0

  1,827

  2

  0.1

  Camden

  27,996

  684

  2.4

  28,535

  837

  2.9

  29,127

  955

  3.3

  Greenwich

  38,267

  1,157

  3.0

  38,454

  1,369

  3.6

  39,021

  1,391

  3.6

  Hackney

  28,414

  881

  3.1

  29,818

  877

  2.9

  29,841

  865

  2.9

  Hammersmith

  19,692

  581

  3.0

  20,136

  662

  3.3

  19,965

  703

  3.5

  Islington

  24,051

  752

  3.1

  24,832

  827

  3.3

  25,183

  887

  3.5

  Kensington and Chelsea

  20,455

  202

  1.0

  20,619

  242

  1.2

  21,028

  258

  1.2

  Lambeth

  28,283

  818

  2.9

  28,633

  848

  3.0

  28,782

  835

  2.9

  Lewisham

  35,623

  919

  26

  36,265

  1,050

  2.9

  36,270

  1,090

  3.0

  Southwark

  38,533

  785

  2.0

  38,766

  929

  2.4

  38,888

  1,029

  2.6

  Tower Hamlets

  35,086

  901

  2.6

  35,974

  1,089

  3.0

  36,712

  1,252

  3.4

  Wandsworth

  33,050

  1,148

  3.5

  33,941

  1,220

  3.6

  35,037

  1,288

  3.7

  Westminster

  22,850

  289

  1.3

  23,075

  373

  1.6

  23,036

  403

  1.7

  Barking

  26,030

  445

  1.7

  27,382

  559

  2.0

  27,817

  630

  2.3

  Barnet

  49,514

  748

  1.5

  50,722

  915

  1.8

  51,193

  972

  1.9

  Bexley

  35,060

  787

  2.2

  36,700

  858

  2.3

  37,709

  857

  2.3

  Brent

  37,744

  685

  1.8

  38,388

  736

  1.9

  38,752

  892

  2.3

  Bromley

  45,256

  1,029

  2.3

  46,504

  1,221

  2.6

  47,589

  1,426

  3.0

  Croydon

  51,859

  818

  1.6

  53,711

  864

  1.6

  54,940

  905

  1.6

  Ealing

  45,567

  1,034

  2.5

  46,642

  755

  1.6

  47,841

  876

  1.8

  Enfield

  43,419

  382

  0.9

  44,555

  666

  1.5

  45,903

  904

  2.0

  Haringey

  32,043

  539

  1.7

  33,312

  627

  1.9

  34,406

  821

  2.4

  Harrow

  32,592

  649

  2.0

  32,900

  643

  2.0

  33,255

  810

  2.4

  Havering

  35,935

  729

  2.0

  36,330

  810

  2.2

  36,421

  971

  2.7

  Hillingdon

  38,578

  888

  2.3

  39,672

  1,135

  2.9

  40,781

  1,207

  3.0

  Hounslow

  35,220

  1,034

  2.9

  35,801

  1,012

  2.8

  36,188

  1,007

  2.8

  Kingston upon Thames

  22,205

  473

  2.1

  22,641

  507

  2.2

  23,100

  551

  2.4

  Merton

  26,619

  573

  2.2

  27,000

  551

  2.0

  27,512

  708

  2.6

  Newham

  41,028

  381

  2.0

  43,588

  990

  2.3

  44,625

  1,121

  2.5

  Redbridge

  39,140

  617

  1.6

  39,554

  676

  1.7

  40,978

  718

  1.8

  Richmond upon Thames

  25,663

  434

  1.7

  26,121

  497

  1.9

  26,778

  482

  1.8

  Sutton

  27,040

  662

  2.4

  27,806

  694

  2.5

  28,460

  763

  2.7

  Waltham Forest

  34,218

  862

  2.5

  34,990

  986

  2.8

  35,859

  1,117

  3.1

  Birmingham

  184,475

  3,954

  2.1

  186,688

  4,327

  2.3

  189,079

  4,475

  2.4

  Coventry

  52,680

  1,049

  2.0

  53,180

  1,084

  2.0

  53,453

  1,152

  2.2

  Dudley

  48,735

  863

  1.8

  49,475

  923

  1.9

  50,313

  971

  1.9

  Sandwell

  51,927

  710

  1.4

  52,869

  814

  1.5

  53,244

  961

  1.8

  Solihull

  37,119

  693

  1.9

  38,268

  746

  1.9

  39,145

  775

  2.0

  Walsall

  49,932

  1,122

  2.2

  50,357

  1,294

  2.6

  50,637

  1,369

  2.7

  Wolverhampton

  44,826

  1,034

  2.3

  45,245

  1,095

  2.4

  45,477

  1,089

  2.4

  Knowsley

  837

  28,723

  2.9

  910

  30,225

  3.0

  30,281

  963

  3.2

  Liverpool

  2,276

  87,701

  2.6

  2,512

  87,081

  2.9

  87,467

  2,494

  2.9

  392 393

  Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  St. Helens

  1,211

  30,601

  4.0

  1,430

  30,786

  4.6

  30,933

  1,399

  4.5

  Sefton

  1,384

  51,020

  2.7

  1,468

  51,960

  2.8

  52,279

  1,495

  2.9

  Wirral

  1,487

  58,859

  2.5

  1,570

  59,244

  2.7

  59,599

  1,808

  3.0

  Bolton

  899

  48,334

  1.9

  1,054

  49,081

  2.1

  49,768

  1,234

  2.5

  Bury

  967

  30,557

  3.2

  1,042

  31,188

  3.3

  31,882

  1,041

  3.3

  Manchester

  76,854

  1,156

  1.5

  77,449

  1,523

  2.0

  77,328

  1,798

  2.3

  Oldham

  43,513

  615

  1.4

  43,941

  607

  1.4

  44,198

  628

  1.4

  Rochdale

  36,542

  759

  2.1

  36,958

  876

  2.4

  37,420

  832

  2.2

  Salford

  38,550

  666

  1.7

  39,602

  723

  1.8

  40,006

  668

  1.7

  Stockport

  48,201

  1,545

  3.2

  48,917

  1,536

  3.1

  48,550

  1,464

  3.0

  Tameside

  37,600

  949

  2.5

  38,308

  1,034

  2.7

  38,803

  1,048

  2.7

  Trafford

  36,701

  716

  2.0

  37,662

  742

  2.0

  38,663

  795

  2.1

  Wigan

  50,621

  1,719

  3.4

  51,015

  1,933

  3.8

  51,321

  2,112

  4.1

  Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Barnsley

  33,700

  432

  1.3

  33,752

  491

  1.5

  34,221

  632

  1.8

  Doncaster

  50,812

  1,122

  2.2

  51,675

  1,198

  2.3

  52,278

  1,298

  2.5

  Rotherham

  42,518

  909

  2.1

  42,848

  1,095

  2.6

  43,587

  1,172

  2.7

  Sheffield

  72,638

  1,384

  1.9

  73,447

  1,473

  2.0

  74,487

  1,503

  2.0

  Bradford

  88,304

  1,155

  1.3

  89,861

  1,123

  1.2

  92,063

  1,317

  1.4

  Calderdale

  33,261

  454

  1.4

  33,679

  456

  1.4

  34,345

  506

  1.5

  Kirklees

  63,122

  1,347

  2.1

  63,628

  1,455

  2.3

  64,240

  1,583

  2.5

  Leeds

  111,961

  2,837

  2.5

  113,725

  2,861

  2.5

  115,990

  2,997

  2.6

  Wakefield

  53,083

  751

  1.4

  53,687

  848

  1.6

  54,520

  806

  1.5

  Gateshead

  30,972

  439

  1.4

  31,225

  452

  1.4

  31,711

  440

  1.4

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  45,610

  1,081

  2.4

  46,011

  1,136

  2.5

  46,367

  1,097

  2.4

  North Tyneside

  31,963

  806

  2.5

  32,257

  893

  2.8

  32,620

  954

  2.9

  South Tyneside

  25,280

  485

  1.9

  25,682

  553

  2.2

  26,125

  564

  2.2

  Sunderland

  50,765

  994

  2.0

  51,122

  1,080

  2.1

  51,762

  1,194

  2.3

  Isles of Scilly

  285

  0

  0.0

  285

  0

  0.0

  282

  1

  0.4

  Avon

  146,887

  3,188

  2.2

  149,357

  3,253

  2.2

  151,664

  3,559

  2.3

  Bedfordshire

  91,734

  1,656

  1.8

  93,252

  1,777

  1.9

  95,048

  2,100

  2.2

  Berkshire

  126,551

  2,430

  1.9

  127,448

  2,897

  2.3

  128,493

  3,190

  2.5

  Buckinghamshire

  105,522

  2,901

  2.7

  106,681

  2,969

  2.8

  108,659

  3,371

  3.1

  Cambridgeshire

  104,505

  1,821

  1.7

  106,076

  1,751

  1.7

  107,607

  1,893

  1.8

  Cheshire

  159,960

  3,815

  2.4

  160,405

  3,969

  2.5

  162,217

  4,215

  2.6

  Cleveland

  102,308

  2,239

  2.2

  103,767

  2,181

  2.1

  104,718

  2,278

  2.2

  Cornwall

  70,717

  1,887

  2.7

  71,254

  2,076

  2.9

  72,407

  2,463

  3.4

  Cumbria

  76,692

  1,866

  2.4

  77,123

  2,038

  2.6

  77,872

  2,592

  3.3

  Derbyshire

  147,040

  3,972

  2.7

  147,790

  3,758

  2.5

  149,862

  4,429

  3.0

  Devon

  147,151

  4,686

  3.2

  148,708

  5,116

  3.4

  151,459

  5,037

  3.3

  Dorset

  92,913

  1,898

  2.0

  93,682

  2,029

  2.2

  95,282

  2,203

  2.3

  Durham

  96,845

  1,576

  1.6

  98,148

  1,782

  1.8

  99,214

  2,070

  2.1

  East Sussex

  94,797

  2,292

  2.4

  96,091

  2,358

  2.5

  98,284

  2,696

  2.7

  Essex

  228,740

  4,432

  1.9

  229,755

  4,234

  1.8

  231,780

  4,623

  2.0

  Gloucestershire

  83,136

  1,234

  1.5

  83,643

  1,558

  1.9

  85,011

  1,814

  2.1

  Hampshire

  224,906

  5,947

  2.6

  226,686

  6,072

  2.7

  230,973

  6,810

  2.9

  Hereford and Worcester

  106,503

  1,374

  1.3

  107,057

  1,430

  1.3

  107,726

  1,977

  1.8

  Hertfordshire

  167,789

  3,474

  2.1

  169,753

  3,639

  2.1

  172,273

  3,963

  2.3

  Humberside

  141,629

  2,010

  1.4

  143,028

  2,206

  1.5

  145,645

  2,450

  1.7

  Isle of Wight

  18,759

  382

  2.0

  18,800

  391

  2.1

  19,005

  409

  2.2

  Kent

  243,963

  5,045

  2.1

  247,446

  5,533

  2.2

  251,214

  5,975

  2.4

  Lancashire

  223,285

  5,208

  2.3

  224,843

  5,779

  2.6

  227,866

  6,460

  2.8

  Leicestershire

  144,845

  2,305

  1.6

  146,193

  2,634

  1.8

  148,013

  2,973

  2.0

  Lincolnshire

  88,905

  2,123

  2.4

  2,323

  89,967

  2.6

  2,567

  91,813

  2.8

  Norfolk

  107,913

  2,786

  2.6

  108,875

  2,818

  2.6

  110,573

  3,121

  2.8

  North Yorkshire

  108,553

  2,156

  2.0

  109,866

  2,222

  2.0

  112,214

  2,356

  2.1

  Northamptonshire

  100,293

  1,656

  1.7

  101,669

  1,737

  1.7

  103,060

  1,817

  1.8

  Northumberland

  50,315

  946

  1.9

  51,228

  977

  1.9

  52,155

  1,093

  2.1

  Nottinghamshire

  159,394

  2,192

  1.4

  160,785

  2,051

  1.3

  163,363

  1,988

  1.2

  Oxfordshire

  87,580

  974

  1.1

  88,403

  1,074

  1.2

  89,774

  1,294

  1.4

  Shropshire

  65,741

  1,906

  2.9

  65,656

  2,099

  3.2

  67,169

  2,187

  3.3

  394 395

  Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Somerset

  71,507

  1,541

  2.2

  72,253

  1,597

  2.2

  73,260

  1,751

  2.4

  Staffordshire

  165,583

  3,078

  1.9

  167,633

  3,043

  1.8

  170,542

  3,751

  2.2

  Suffolk

  98,480

  2,416

  2.5

  99,680

  2,819

  2.8

  100,542

  3,069

  3.1

  Surrey

  152,032

  4,130

  2.7

  152,303

  4,414

  2.9

  153,063

  4,705

  3.1

  Warwickshire

  77,507

  1,478

  1.9

  78,020

  1,430

  1.8

  79,107

  1,609

  2.0

  West Sussex

  100,917

  1,526

  1.5

  102,568

  1,629

  1.6

  104,485

  2,069

  2.0

  Wiltshire

  84,017

  2,736

  3.3

  85,328

  2,964

  3.5

  87,914

  3,138

  3.6

  England

  7,536,603

  153,228

  2.0

  7,626,159

  160,759

  2.1

  7,748,678

  178,029

  2.3

  Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1994 to 1996, January each year

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Barnsley

  34,639

  786

  2.3

  35,096

  996

  2.8

  35,313

  1,054

  3.0

  Doncaster

  52,987

  1,507

  2.8

  53,620

  1,931

  3.6

  53,806

  2,470

  4.6

  Rotherham

  44,425

  1,284

  2.9

  45,375

  1,374

  3.0

  45,998

  1,463

  3.2

  Sheffield

  75,538

  1,635

  2.2

  76,604

  1,761

  2.3

  77,529

  1,848

  2.4

  Bradford

  93,499

  1,577

  1.7

  94,595

  1,639

  1.7

  94,884

  2,076

  2.2

  Calderdale

  34,734

  591

  1.7

  35,383

  679

  1.9

  35,726

  821

  2.3

  Kirklees

  65,795

  1,952

  3.0

  66,532

  2,113

  3.2

  66,928

  2,244

  3.4

  Leeds

  119,443

  3,295

  2.8

  121,193

  3,510

  2.9

  121,807

  3,896

  3.2

  Wakefield

  55,456

  1,117

  2.0

  56,730

  1,244

  2.2

  57,304

  1,458

  2.5

  Gateshead

  32,033

  511

  1.6

  32,378

  588

  1.8

  32,695

  653

  2.0

  Newcastle

  upon Tyne

  46,507

  1,241

  2.7

  46,901

  1,259

  2.7

  46,843

  1,260

  2.7

  North

  Tyneside

  32,814

  994

  3.0

  33,309

  1,035

  3.1

  33,294

  1,015

  3.0

  South Tyneside

  26,455

  569

  2.2

  26,980

  656

  2.4

  27,084

  713

  2.6

  Sunderland

  52,442

  1,327

  2.5

  52,511

  1,561

  3.0

  52,657

  1,785

  3.4

  Isles of Scilly

  291

  0

  0.0

  283

  4

  1.4

  265

  4

  1.5

  Aaron

  153,705

  3,805

  2.5

  155,145

  4,341

  2.8

  156,555

  4,817

  3.1

  Bedfordshire

  97,196

  2,513

  2.6

  98,333

  2,425

  2.5

  99,269

  2,736

  2.8

  Berkshire

  130,925

  3,371

  2.6

  132,885

  3,591

  2.7

  134,615

  3,849

  2.9

  Buckinghamshire

  110,372

  3,592

  3.3

  112,555

  3,336

  3.0

  114,247

  3,703

  3.2

  Cambridgeshire

  109,051

  2,273

  2.1

  110,671

  2,718

  2.5

  111,848

  3,060

  2.7

  Cheshire

  164,329

  4,630

  2.8

  166,375

  5,140

  3.1

  167,965

  5,354

  3.2

  Cleveland

  105,780

  2,360

  2.2

  106,710

  2,524

  2.4

  107,342

  2,744

  2.6

  Cornwall

  72,718

  2,759

  3.8

  73,548

  2,908

  4.0

  74,256

  3,113

  4.2

  Cumbria

  78,464

  3,070

  3.9

  79,292

  3,205

  4.0

  80,636

  3,222

  4.0

  Derbyshire

  151,995

  4,810

  3.2

  154,152

  5,251

  3.4

  156,541

  5,360

  3.4

  Devon

  153,703

  5,317

  3.5

  156,946

  5,338

  3.4

  158,983

  5,497

  3.5

  Dorset

  97,002

  2,419

  2.5

  98,982

  2,470

  2.5

  100,601

  2,477

  2.5

  Durham

  100,307

  2,486

  2.5

  101,089

  2,942

  2.9

  101,447

  3,264

  3.2

  East Sussex

  100,729

  3,106

  3.1

  102,771

  3,534

  3.4

  104,728

  3,619

  3.5

  Essex

  235,028

  5,208

  2.2

  240,015

  5,492

  2.3

  244,362

  5,536

  2.3

  Gloucestershire

  86,389

  2,157

  2.5

  88,238

  2,282

  2.6

  89,539

  2,481

  2.8

  Hampshire

  241,202

  7,374

  3.1

  244,391

  7,739

  3.2

  247,911

  7,454

  3.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  109,605

  2,121

  1.9

  111,176

  2,608

  2.3

  111,720

  3,110

  2.8

  Hertfordshire

  175,448

  4,231

  2.4

  179,547

  4,599

  2.6

  183,009

  4,881

  2.7

  Humberside

  147,616

  2,719

  1.8

  149,402

  3,222

  2.2

  151,089

  3,352

  2.2

  Isle of Wight

  19,173

  313

  1.6

  19,415

  487

  2.5

  19,581

  594

  3.0

  Kent

  255,085

  6,513

  2.6

  259,604

  7,256

  2.8

  262,785

  7,844

  3.0

  Lancashire

  231,773

  7,183

  3.1

  235,187

  7,815

  3.3

  237,413

  8,472

  3.6

  Leicestershire

  150,601

  3,274

  2.2

  152,673

  3,683

  2.4

  154,219

  4,291

  2.8

  Lincolnshire

  2,820

  93,475

  3.0

  3,048

  95,993

  3.2

  97,785

  3,180

  3.3

  Norfolk

  111,581

  3,589

  3.2

  113,356

  3,759

  3.3

  114,012

  4,368

  3.8

  North Yorkshire

  113,893

  2,508

  2.2

  116,138

  2,616

  2.3

  117,701

  2,787

  2.4

  Northamptonshire

  104,885

  2,117

  2.0

  106,641

  2,316

  2.2

  108,468

  2,561

  2.4

  Northumberland

  52,469

  1,211

  2.3

  52,820

  1,155

  2.2

  53,001

  1,416

  2.7

  Nottinghamshire

  166,054

  1,896

  1.1

  168,405

  1,932

  1.1

  170,543

  2,011

  1.2

  Oxfordshire

  91,819

  1,646

  1.8

  94,184

  1,875

  2.0

  95,946

  2,157

  2.2

  Shropshire

  68,547

  2,288

  3.3

  69,875

  2,449

  3.5

  70,881

  2,662

  3.8

  Somerset

  74,611

  1,876

  2.5

  75,761

  1,974

  2.6

  76,605

  2,234

  2.9

  Staffordshire

  172,827

  3,806

  2.2

  175,101

  4,543

  2.6

  177,041

  4,864

  2.7

  Suffolk

  101,885

  3,149

  3.1

  103,934

  3,049

  2.9

  104,967

  3,473

  3.3

  Surrey

  156,433

  4,669

  3.0

  162,758

  5,074

  3.1

  166,114

  5,156

  3.1

  Warwickshire

  80,023

  1,773

  2.2

  81,038

  1,771

  2.2

  81,933

  2,006

  2.4

  396 397

  Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1994 to 1996, January each year

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  Total pupils

  Pupils with statements

  Percentage

  West Sussex

  106,535

  2,409

  2.3

  108,797

  2,598

  2.4

  110,297

  3,129

  2.8

  Wiltshire

  89,610

  2,845

  3.2

  91,732

  2,624

  2.9

  93,774

  2,463

  2.6

  England

  7,882,835

  194,541

  2.5

  8,017,830

  211,307

  2.6

  8,116,532

  227,324

  2.8

  1. Figures are taken from schools' returns under the annual schools census. They include all nursery, primary, middle, secondary and special schools, city technology colleges and pupil referral units; including maintained, grant-maintained, non-maintained and independent schools.

  2. The table shows numbers and percentages of pupils educated in schools in each LEA area. For any particular LEA, this will include pupils with statements placed by other LEAs, and exclude such pupils placed by the LEA in other areas.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many appeal hearings have been considered by the special educational needs tribunal(a) in respect of each local education authority in England and (b) in Total, in each year since the tribunal began operating. [15480]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The tribunal maintains records of the number of appeals registered-and decisions issued-rather than the number of appeal hearings.

  The number of appeals registered for individual LEAs is set out in the table: 1,092 appeals against decisions by English LEAs were registered in 1994–95 and 1,551 in 1995–96. Some 40 per cent. of all appeals registered to date have been withdrawn before a hearing.

  Appeals registered from 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1996

  1994–95 Number of appeals

  1995–96 Number of appeals

  Avon1

  18

  38

  Barking and Dagenham

  1

  5

  Barnet

  23

  25

  Barnsley

  2

  4

  Bedfordshire

  20

  29

  Berkshire

  20

  27

  Bexley

  15

  20

  Birmingham

  8

  5

  Bolton

  4

  3

  Bradford

  3

  17

  Brent

  7

  13

  Bromley

  1

  7

  Buckinghamshire

  6

  15

  Bury

  5

  11

  Calderdale

  4

  3

  Cambridge

  6

  20

  Camden

  7

  25

  Cheshire

  40

  34

  City of London

  0

  0

  Cleveland1

  0

  1

  Cornwall

  5

  13

  Coventry

  2

  1

  Croydon

  5

  6

  Cumbria

  30

  37

  Derbyshire

  4

  5

  Devon

  13

  19

  Doncaster

  5

  Dorset

  22

  18

  Dudley

  13

  14

  Durham

  0

  8

  Ealing

  22

  37

  East Sussex

  51

  61

  Enfield

  7

  6

  Essex

  44

  72

  Gateshead

  0

  1

  Gloucestershire

  18

  10

  Greenwich

  12

  20

  Hackney

  5

  8

  398

  Appeals registered from 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1996

  1994–95 Number of appeals

  1995–96 Number of appeals

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  3

  9

  Hampshire

  62

  52

  Haringey

  10

  10

  Harrow

  12

  6

  Havering

  2

  12

  Hereford and Worcester

  5

  26

  Hertfordshire

  20

  34

  Hillingdon

  7

  3

  Hounslow

  6

  7

  Humberside1

  58

  53

  Isle of Wight

  0

  3

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  Islington

  6

  6

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4

  5

  Kent

  38

  56

  Kingston upon Thames

  3

  13

  Kirklees

  5

  8

  Knowsley

  1

  0

  Lambeth

  6

  10

  Lancashire

  15

  20

  Leeds

  9

  22

  Leicestershire

  6

  26

  Lewisham

  5

  25

  Lincolnshire

  8

  19

  Liverpool

  7

  14

  Manchester

  6

  20

  Merton

  23

  13

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  3

  7

  Newham

  9

  12

  Norfolk

  18

  16

  North Tyneside

  4

  9

  North Yorkshire1

  10

  11

  Northamptonshire

  11

  12

  Northumberland

  2

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  11

  23

  Oldham

  1

  0

  Oxfordshire

  7

  8

  Redbridge

  14

  13

  Richmond upon Thames

  12

  14

  Rochdale

  0

  9

  Rotherham

  3

  3

  Salford

  1

  2

  Sandwell

  0

  4

  Sefton

  13

  11

  Sheffield

  4

  12

  Shropshire

  3

  6

  Solihull

  7

  14

  Somerset

  7

  18

  South Tyneside

  1

  0

  Southwark

  7

  4

  St. Helens

  1

  4

  Staffordshire

  23

  25

  Stockport

  6

  3

  Suffolk

  15

  20

  Sunderland

  4

  6

  Surrey

  25

  38

  Sutton

  0

  4

  399

  Appeals registered from 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1996

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Tameside

  1

  2

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  0

  Trafford

  3

  4

  Wakefield

  4

  10

  Walsall

  5

  7

  Waltham Forest

  6

  9

  Wandsworth

  23

  17

  Warwickshire

  10

  13

  West Sussex

  22

  33

  Westminster

  3

  4

  Wigan

  2

  0

  Wiltshire

  3

  8

  Wirral

  10

  18

  Wolverhampton

  1

  2

  1 These figures include appeals registered against the new authorities created on 1 April 1996.

  Employment Directions (EU)
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the directions relating to employment in force in the EU and indicate which are issued under the social chapter. [15990]

  Mr. Paice
  Fourteen directives relating to employment are currently in force in the EU. There are a number of other directives on health and safety at work.

  Directives falling within the policy responsibilities of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment:
  Council directive 75/117/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women.
  Council directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions.
  Council directive 86/613/EEC on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in a self-employed capacity, and on the protection of self-employed women during pregnancy and motherhood.
  Directives falling within the policy responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade:
  Council directive 75/129/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to collective redundancies.
  Council directive 77/187/EEC on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to the safeguarding of employees' rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of businesses.
  Council directive 80/987/EEC on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer.
  Council directive 91/533/EEC on an employer's obligation to inform employees of the conditions applicable to the contract or employment relationship.
  Council directive 92/56/EEC amending directive 75/129/EEC on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to collective redundancies.
  Council directive 92/85/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage the safety and health of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding-this directive includes provisions related to employment.
  Council directive 94/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time.
  400
  Council directive 94/33/EC on the protection of young people at work.
  *Council directive 94/45/EC on the establishment of a European works council or a procedure in community-scale undertakings and community-scale groups of undertakings, for the purposes of informing and consulting employees.
  *Council directive 96/34/EC on the framework agreement on parental leave concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC.
  Council directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services.

  Directives marked with an asterisk have been ' promulgated under the agreement on social policy, known as the social chapter, and are not, therefore, applicable to the UK.

  Jobmatch Scheme
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the estimated annual cost of the national jobmatch scheme for under-25-year-olds. [15800]

  Mr. Forth
  In 1997–98, the jobmatch scheme will offer 4,000 opportunities at a cost of some £4.8 million

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of(a) the costs and (b) the numbers gaining if the jobmatch scheme for under-25-year-olds was available to those (i) unemployed for one year and (ii) unemployed for 26 weeks; and what is her estimate of the cost of reinstating bonus payments after 26 weeks in work. [15801]

  Mr. Forth
  To extend the availability of the jobmatch scheme to people under 25 who have been unemployed for one year would require some 10,000 opportunities at a cost of about £12 million; to extend it to those unemployed for 26 weeks would require up to 19,000 opportunities at a cost of some £23 million. To reinstate the additional payments in 1997–98 for young people unemployed for two years would cost about £300,000.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if Employment Service advisers will be authorised to issue a jobseeker's direction to a claimant aged 18 to 24 years directing him to apply for a part-time vacancy under the jobmatch scheme. [16124]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 17 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about whether Employment Service Advisers have the authority to issue Jobseeker's Directions to 18 to 24 year old jobseekers for a part-time vacancy under Jobmatch. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  It may be helpful if I explain that the purpose of a Jobseeker's Direction is to make sure that jobseekers who may not be properly or effectively looking for work undertake a specific job search activity which will put them in a better position to find a job. A Jobseeker's Direction can fall into one of four categories:- those which underpin active jobsearch; referral to Employment Service (ES) programmes; other referrals to non ES programmes (eg Training for Work); and a personal direction related to behaviour/appearance. A Direction will only be given if the jobseeker has gone through the usual advisory interview process,

  401
  and has not been influenced or persuaded to undertake a particular activity which is reasonable and will improve their chances of finding work.
  It follows that an ES adviser would be able to issue a Jobseeker's Direction to a jobseeker aged 18–24, who has been employed for two years or more to apply for a part-time vacancy, which would qualify them for Jobmatch.
  I hope this clarifies the position.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many unemployed people receiving the jobseeker's allowance are involved in self-build schemes; how many have been refused the jobseeker's allowance because they have been deemed unavailable for work while involved in self-build schemes; and what is her estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers who are aged (i) under 25 years and (ii) over 25 years from deeming availability during a period on a self-build project. [15830]

  Mr. Forth
  The Employment Service does not collect specific information about unemployed people who receive JSA and who participate in self-build schemes. It is not possible, therefore, to provide any of the estimates requested.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of(a) the costs and (b) the numbers of under-25-year-olds gaining from (i) the abolition of the 16-hour rule for the jobseeker's allowance, (ii) introducing part-time availability for work to those undertaking part-time study under the 16-hour rule and (iii) removing the requirement on those in part-time study to give up a course if suitable work is available until such time as the course has ended. [15803]

  Mr. Forth
  We have made no such estimates. The evaluation of the workskill pilots, which we plan to introduce on 7 April 1997, is intended to provide some information of this kind.

  Bridging Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people claimed the bridging allowance during 1995–96; what was the average period during which payments were made; and how many claims were refused, by reason for refusal. [15802]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 17 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the number of young people claiming bridging allowance during 1995–96.
  The Employment Service does not hold figures on the number of claims for Youth Training Bridging Allowance (YTBA) by young people; the average period during which payment is made; how many claims are refused or the reason for refusal.
  402
  The Employment Service does, however, record the Total number of young people in receipt of YTBA. In the period April 1995 to March 1996 the Total was 41,815.
  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

  School Uniforms
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which metropolitan cities have banned school uniforms from local education authority schools; when bans were originally enforced; and if she will make a statement. [16020]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Information about school uniform policies is not collected centrally. School governing bodies are free to decide for themselves whether their schools should have a uniform.

  Teacher (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures are in place for auditing the cost to the teachers superannuation scheme of early retirements though ill health and for monitoring the causes of variations between local education authorities in the numbers of early retirements through ill health. [16099]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The teachers superannuation scheme is subject to an actuarial inquiry every five years, carried out by the Government Actuary's Department. Its report deals with the finances of the scheme and makes recommendations on the Total contributions payable by teachers and employers which will meet the cost of benefits-including early retirements-debited to the teachers superannuation account.

  We do not monitor the causes of variations between local authorities in the numbers of early retirements through ill health; each application is assessed on an individual basis.

  Quantock School
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of Education and Employment what action her Department has taken in response to the recent Office for Standards in Education report on Quantock school, Somerset; and if she will make a statement. [16121]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Officials have written to the school about the weaknesses identified in the recently published Ofsted report and have sought firm commitments within two months on remedial action. We will consider what further steps may be necessary in the light of the response.

TRANSPORT

  Minimum Age Requirements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15922]

  Mr. Bowis
  I will write to the hon. Member when the information he requests is available and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current estimate of the average number of people each week driving with illegal levels of alcohol; and what were the equivalent figures in 1987. [15841]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available in this form as drivers are tested only following an accident, or on suspicion of having consumed alcohol or of having committed a traffic offence in a moving vehicle.

  For several years, male drivers have been asked, in surveys conducted before the Department's Christmas drink-drive campaigns, if at any time in the previous week they had driven after having drunk six or more units of alcohol. In 1987, 7 per cent. admitted to doing this; by 1995, the latest year for which the figure is available, this had fallen to 4 per cent. The effect of consuming six units varies between individuals and circumstances and so this cannot be closely aligned with the legal limit. It does, however, give some indication of the trend.

  MV Derbyshire
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 68, what financial arrangements have been made with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Discovery Channel; who will have editorial control over the programme; and if he will make a statement. [16039]

  Mr. Bowis
  This is a matter for negotiation between Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Discovery Channel.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Prosecution Guidelines
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Attorney-General's guidelines on the prosecution of offences were last reviewed; and if he will make a statement. [14437]

  The Attorney-General
  The Attorney-General's criteria for prosecution issued in 1983 were superseded in 1986 by the code for Crown prosecutors. This was last amended in 1994 to clarify the realistic prospect of conviction test and the public interest factors in favour of prosecution. The fundamental principles have remained unchanged throughout.

  Asil Nadir
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the current position on the prosecution of Asil Nadir. [14431]

  The Solicitor-General
  Asil Nadir stands indicted before the central criminal court on 13 counts of theft. The Crown is ready to proceed. Mr. Nadir should return to the country forthwith.

  Government Property Lawyers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the work of the Government property lawyers. [14438]

  The Attorney-General
  The Government Property Lawyers is an executive agency of the Treasury Solicitor's Department. It provides conveyancing and comprehensive lands advisory services to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies in England and Wales. The conveyancing services include purchases of land and properties, sales of surplus land, leases of office buildings and various other land transactions. Further information about the work of the agency is obtainable from the annual report and accounts 1995–96, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Albania
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for democracy in Albania; and if he will make a statement. [15780]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  There has been significant progress in democracy in Albania in recent years. However, Council of Europe reports make it clear that deficiencies remain. We continue to press the Albanian Government both bilaterally and through the EU for improvements in democratic practices and for the involvement of all parties in the process of constitutional reform.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements exist to ensure that payments from the know-how fund and other aid funds to Albania are used effectively and are not subject to any corrupt practices; and if he will make a statement. [15784]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The know-how fund provides support for Albania by funding the costs of British expertise, or know-how, for specific projects. The fund closely monitors and evaluates all its projects, both as they are running and after they are complete. In this way, it can ensure that the projects are correctly and cost-effectively implemented and have achieved their objectives. The fund also employs independent consultants to assess the success and impact of the projects it funds.

  Other British aid funds to Albania come from the emergency aid department of the Overseas Development Administration. In 1996–97 its support has so far consisted of a single grant of £100,000 to a World Health Organisation programme for prevention of poliomyelitis. This programme was evaluated in January 1997 by an EMAD staff member and found to be satisfactory.

  For EC programmes, to which we also contribute, there are separate procedures, agreed by the member states, for ensuring that funds are correctly spent.
  405
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Albanian authorities about the conduct of the Albanian police in dealing with recent public protests; and if he will make a statement. [15778]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We are appalled by the violence used by both police and demonstrators in Vlora. We have made clear our views to the Albanian authorities.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the(a) role and (b) profits of United Kingdom consultancy firms in Albania; and if he will make a statement. [15779]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  There are a number of UK consultancies active in Albania, working under contract to a variety of organisations. We do not hold information on their respective profits.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the contribution of smuggling to the Albanian economy; and if he will make a statement. [15781]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  There are no reliable estimates of the effect of smuggling on the Albanian economy. Our aim is to see a prosperous and stable Albania. We therefore strongly support the work of the International Monetary Fund, which has implemented an economic reform programme in Albania.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the level of pyramid selling in Albania; when he expects that problem to be resolved; and what contribution Her Majesty's Government are making to resolving the problem. [15783]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Albanian media reports suggest that 50 to 70 per cent. of the population may have invested money in pyramid schemes. The problem is therefore unlikely to be resolved quickly. The United Kingdom has offered technical expertise through the UK know-how fund to help the Albanian Government. With our EU partners, we are considering whether there is a role for the EU.

  European Institutions (Running Costs)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his current estimate of the annual running costs of(a) the European Commission, (b) the European Parliament, (c) the European Court of Justice and (d) other EU institutions. [15727]

  Mr. David Davis
  The running costs of EU institutions in 1995, 1996 and 1997 are as follows:

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Commission

  2,538.6

  2,696.7

  2,798.1

  Parliament

  832.1

  802.7

  887.2

  Council

  306.2

  307.0

  320.3

  Court of Justice

  112.9

  169.7

  123.1

  Court of Auditors

  50.0

  56.2

  57.7

  Economic and Social Committee

  25.0

  27.6

  27.9

  Committee of the Regions

  10.5

  16.1

  15.6

  406

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Joint organisational structure (supports the Economic and Social Committee of the Regions)

  49.8

  52.6

  53.8

  All figures are commitments in mecu and are rounded to the nearest 0.1 mecu. The 1995 figures are taken from the Court of Auditors annual report concerning the financial year 1995. The 1996 and 1997 figures have been taken from the general budget of the European Union for these years.

  UN Rapid Deployment Brigade
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the joint appeal by the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands for the creation of a UN rapid deployment brigade; and if he will make a statement. [15825]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We welcome this initiative. We are, however, concerned that earmarking specific troops for the proposed force would place restrictions on our ability to provide the most appropriate UK contribution in a particular UN operation. We would also be concerned about the possible effect on our other operational responsibilities.

  We support the UN Secretary-General's standby force planning arrangements, under which UN member states declare the forces and assets they are prepared to provide on a case-by-case basis. We have provided the UN secretariat with detailed information on UK forces we might make available, and have encouraged others to do the same.

  Sudan
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to assist the combatant parties in Sudan to reach a negotiated settlement which provides for self-determination for the southern population; what measures he has taken to date to assist the peace process;
  and if he will make a statement. [15794]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have fully supported the peace initiative of the intergovernmental authority for development. The declaration of principles produced under that initiative included the right of self-determination for southern Sudan. In our frequent contacts with the parties, we continue to urge a negotiated end to the war.

  Israel
  Sir Cyril Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of Israel's compliance with the EU-Israel association agreement. [16110]

  Mr. Hanley
  The EU-Israel association agreement is not yet in force. When it is in force, the association committee to be established under article 70 and to be made up of officials representing both parties will be responsible for the implementation of the agreement. Any major issues arising under the agreement will be examined by the association council to be established
  407
  under article 67 with representatives from both parties which will meet at ministerial level. It has the power to take decisions binding on the parties for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the agreement.

  Sir Cyril Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance of the Israeli authorities with the EU's Dublin declaration relating to the immediate lifting of the blockade in Palestine. [16123]

  Mr. Hanley
  There has been some increase in the number of permits available for Palestinians to work in Israel. We will continue to press for freer passage for Palestinian goods. We welcome the parties' renewed commitment to tackle outstanding issues from the interim agreement, such as the opening of Gaza airport and the construction of Gaza port. With our full backing, the EU special envoy to the peace process has begun a constructive dialogue with both sides on how to remove the remaining problems.

  China
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the Government of China concerning their contributions to global warming; and if he will make a statement. [15946]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We are in regular discussion with all countries, including China, which are part of the negotiating process to mitigate climate change under the framework convention on climate change. We have urged all countries to contribute to a successful outcome to the third conference of the parties at Kyoto in December, and have proposed that developed countries should take the lead by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 5 to 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorism
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been(a) murdered and (b) injured in (i) Roman Catholic and (ii) Protestant places of worship by terrorists in Northern Ireland since 1968. [13848]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information regarding murders is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The information requested on injuries is not available.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) Roman Catholic maintained schools, (b) Roman Catholic churches, (c) controlled schools, (d) Protestant church properties and (e) Orange halls have been attacked in each year since 1968 in Northern Ireland. [13846]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is not held in precisely the format requested and is not available for the full period requested.

  The information that is available is as follows:
  (a), (c) Attacks on School Property

  1994: 23

  408

  1995: 39

  1996: 60.

  (b), (d) Attacks on Church Property

  1994: 20

  1995: 52

  1996: 53.

  (e) Attacks on Orange Halls

  1990: 6

  1991: 11

  1992: 17

  1993: 12

  1994: 8

  1995: 42

  1996: 32.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) Roman Catholic churches and (b) Protestant churches have closed in each year since 1968 because of terrorist attack in Northern Ireland. [13847]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is not available.

  Newcastle Disease
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any of the birds involved in the recent outbreak of Newcastle disease had been given the vaccine prior to contamination; and if he will make a statement. [13606]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 31 January 1997]: None of the birds involved in the recent outbreak of Newcastle disease in Northern Ireland had been given vaccine prior to becoming infected with the disease.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of(a) chickens and (b) turkeys on farms in Northern Ireland are currently vaccinated against Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement. [13603]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 31 January 1997]: Vaccination of poultry against Newcastle disease is normally prohibited in Northern Ireland.

  Following an outbreak of the disease on a broiler production unit near Lurgan, County Armagh on 7 February 1997, ring vaccination has been carried out by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland within a 10 km zone of the infected premises: 52,000 chickens-0.35 per cent. of chickens in Northern Ireland-and 2,000 turkeys-0.50 per cent. of turkeys on farms in Northern Ireland-were vaccinated.

  Arthur Andersen
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current status of his Department's litigation against Arthur Andersen over the demise of DeLorean Motors. [14811]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Department of Economic Development legal action against Arthur Andersen and Company in the US remains. The judge in the case has decided, following a hearing in New York on 28 and 29 October 1996, to dismiss the Department's
  409
  federal law claims and transfer the common law claims to state court. The Department is considering whether to appeal this judgment.

  Gun Laws
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters he has received concerning the proposed changes in gun laws; how many and what proportion(a) favoured and (b) did not favour the complete banning of handguns; and if he will make a statement about the time scale for his proposals as regards the law in Northern Ireland. [14837]

  Sir John Wheeler
  To date a Total of 96 letters has been received about the possible implications for Northern Ireland of the Government's proposals for firearms reform in Great Britain following Lord Cullen's report. Of these, two-2.8 per cent.-were in favour of and 90–93.75 per cent.-were opposed to a Total ban on handguns. A further four letters were received which were of a simple inquiry nature. The Secretary of State has yet to decide what reforms he would like to see introduced but, on current plans, it remains his intention to have the amending legislation in place during the latter part of the 1997–98 parliamentary Session.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which projects have been given private finance initiative approval; which projects have been authorised to seek PFI funding; which projects are being considered as suitable for PH funding; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the PFI in Northern Ireland. [15321]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The private finance initiative in Northern Ireland is beginning to gather momentum. NI Departments and the Northern Ireland Office are committed to making the maximum use of private finance opportunities, and have appointed appropriate personnel to advance the initiative as effectively as possible within their own programmes. Projects approved under the private finance initiative to date include a contract energy services scheme at Holywell hospital, car parking facilities at the Royal group of hospitals, and leasing of medical and other equipment. All capital projects are required to consider private finance solutions, details of projects which are currently under consideration for PFI are given in the table.

  Project

  Bangor and Kinnegar sewerage treatment works

  Design, build, finance and operate

  Hydro electric project

  Hydro electric scheme

  Westlink urban motorway

  Design, build, finance and operate

  Motorway emergency telephone system

  Replace and operate system

  Strangford ferry

  Replace ferry

  Holywood road, social security office

  Government office accommodation

  Hydebank

  Government office accommodation

  DVTA vehicle testing project

  Vehicle testing and information technology

  Land registry IT system

  Computerisation

  Planning service IT system

  Computerisation

  Antrim bus station/library

  Bus station/library

  Ulsterbus/Citybus

  Bus replacement

  410

  Project

  Northern Ireland railways

  Class 80 rolling stock replacement

  Ulster folk and transport museum

  Visitors centre

  North west institute of further and higher education

  Additional teaching accommodation

  Belfast institute of further and higher education

  Additional teaching accommodation

  St. Genevieve's high school

  New accommodation

  Drumglass high school

  New accommodation

  Wellington college

  Refurbishment

  Balmoral high school

  Refurbishment

  Ulster hospital

  Extension/refurbishment

  Downe hospital

  New block/refurbishment

  Belfast city hospital

  New renal dialysis facilities

  Belfast city hospital

  Car park facilities on site

  Causeway hospital

  Contract energy services

  Daisy Hill hospital

  Renal dialysis facilities

  Craigavon area hospital

  Contract energy services

  Clinical waste disposal

  Development of clinical waste facility

  Royal group of hospitals

  Theatres and intensive care equipment

  T and EA IT system

  Computerisation

  In addition to the projects listed on the table, the Department of Education is also undertaking a market sounding study of its schools estate in order to assess the wider potential for PFI in respect of more than 100 high-priority schools projects.

  Farm and Countryside Enhancement Scheme
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what payments have been made in respect of each of the approved applications for the farm and countryside enhancement scheme. [15468]

  [Mr. Ancram: None of the applications received has been approved and no payments have been made under the farm and countryside enhancement scheme.

  Health Clinic Facilities (Armagh)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what public funds are involved in the proposed purchase of Thompson's egg store, Dobbin street, Armagh, to provide additional health clinic facilities; and if he will make a statement; [15471]

  (2) what plans he has to sell the doctors' health clinic at Dobbin street, Armagh; and if he will make a statement. [15472]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subjects in these questions has been delegated to Health Estates under its chief executive, Mr. R. H. Browne. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from R. H. Browne to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 14 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State regarding plans to sell the health centre at Dobbin Street Lane, Armagh and the use of public funds in the purchase of Thompson's Egg Store, Armagh.
  Whilst no formal approach has been made, it is understood that the general practitioners who operate from the health centre are interested in buying the property. In the event of an approach being received from the general practitioners, the property would be offered to them at a price negotiated by the Valuation and Lands Agency. The sale would be conditional upon a lease-back arrangement in respect of the accommodation occupied by staff of Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust.

  411
  As regards Thompson's Egg Store, I am not aware of any proposal, involving public funds, to purchase the store for the provision of additional health facilities.
  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Queen's University (Student Intake)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children progressed from each(a) controlled, (b) maintained and (c) other schools to Queen's university in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) 1996. [15473]

  Mr. Ancram
  The last educational institutions attended by Northern Ireland domiciled first year full-time undergraduate students aged under 21 were as follows:

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Controlled schools

  449

  461

  n/a

  Maintained schools

  128

  113

  n/a

  Other schools

  1,281

  1,390

  n/a

  FE/unknown/other

  362

  377

  n/a

  Total

  2,220

  2,341

  -

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students went to Queen's university from(a) Northern Ireland, (b) Great Britain, (c) the Republic of Ireland and (d) elsewhere in each of the last three years. [15474]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information for full-time undergraduate students is as follows:

  Domicile

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Northern Ireland

  2,557

  2,494

  2,642

  Great Britain

  68

  52

  104

  Republic of Ireland

  201

  200

  275

  Elsewhere

  157

  171

  241

  Total

  2,983

  2,917

  3,262

  Union Flag
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Union flag was not flown at the Department of Agriculture, the Mall, Armagh city on 6 February; if a Union flag has been provided for this public building; if a schedule of dates for flying the Union flag has been advised to the staff; if the person responsible was prepared to carry out this duty; and if he will make a statement. [15573]

  Mr. Ancram
  I regret that the Union flag was not flown on the day of Her Majesty's accession. This building was completely refurbished recently and reoccupied by new staff who were unable to trace the original flag which had been moved to another location. A flag has been ordered, a list of dates for flying the flag provided and arrangements are now in place to have a person responsible for carrying out this duty.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Union flag was not flown at the Department of Agriculture, 2 Newry road, Armagh city on 6 February; if a Union flag has been provided for this public building; if the schedule of dates for flying the 412
  Union flag has been advised to the staff; if the person responsible was prepared to carry out this duty; and if he will make a statement. [15572]

  Mr. Ancram
  I regret that the Union flag was not flown on the day of Her Majesty's accession due to an oversight. A Union flag is available for the building and a list of dates had been advised. The person responsible is prepared to carry out the duty and steps have been taken to ensure that the mistake is not repeated.

  Raising School Standards Initiative
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the schools which(a) have participated and (b) are participating in the raising school standards initiative; and if he will make a statement. [16006]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information has been placed in the Library.

WALES

  Job Creation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made to define specific targets for the Welsh Development Agency and other bodies involved in the creation of new jobs in Wales, to secure a larger number of job opportunities in the western parts. [14451]

  Mr. Hague
  I have already announced that I will be setting new and far more demanding targets for jobs outside the eastern M4 and A55 corridors.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of jobs created by inward investment since 1979. [14458]

  Mr. Hague
  Since April 1983, when the Welsh Development Agency began a database of investment into Wales, more than 59,000 new jobs have been promised by overseas-generated projects.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been(a) created and (b) safeguarded since 1992; and what estimate he has made of the number of jobs to be created in the next financial year as a result of Government policies to assist (i) employment creation and (ii) inward investment. [14459]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested. On the basis of projects involving regional selective assistance since April 1992, firms have forecast some 43,000 new jobs to be created and 19,800 safeguarded. Of these, more than 22,500 new jobs and 12,600 safeguarded jobs involve overseas-owned firms.

  Hospital Admissions (Suspension)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh hospitals have had to suspend non-emergency admissions in the past three months. [14452]
  413
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I understand that 15 Welsh hospitals have closed at different times to non-emergency admissions since the beginning of November.

  I have been impressed by the way in which health authorities and trusts have worked together to minimise the impact of medical emergency admissions on elective cases. This is a significant improvement over previous years.

  Job Insecurity
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of job insecurity in Wales. [14453]

  Mr. Hague
  In spring 1996, according to the labour force survey, 8.3 per cent. of Welsh employees were in temporary employment.

  Activity Centres (Safety)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the implementation of the Activity Centres (Young Person's Safety) Act 1995 in Wales. [14454]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  During the transitional period for inspecting and licensing existing providers, Tourism Quality Services Ltd., the designated licensing authority, will be carrying out inspections of all operators on Wales falling within the scope of the Act. Good progress is being made and Tourism Quality Services is on course to complete its inspections by 1 October.

  Roads Expenditure
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on(a) motorways and (b) major trunk roads in Wales in each of the past five years, at constant prices. [14456]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Separate figures for motorways and major trunk roads are not available. Total expenditure on motorways and trunk roads in Wales in each of the past five years at 1995–96 prices was:

  £ million

  1991–92

  151.0

  1992–93

  188.0

  1993–94

  208.2

  1994–95

  199.4

  1995–96

  193.8

  Devolved Government
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received on the introduction of devolved government in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [14457]

  Mr. Hague
  Eleven since the beginning of January 1996, the majority being against the creation of a Welsh Assembly.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent measures he has taken to reduce unemployment in Wales. [14455]
  414
  Mr. Hague
  I have set-and continue to set-challenging job creation targets for the various Government agencies in Wales. These targets are being met or exceeded.

  Technical Advice
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the(a) individuals and their relevant work establishment and (b) organisations which were sent copies of each of the draft technical advice notes which his Department has published for consultation; if he will list those which have submitted responses to date; and if he will make a statement; [15239]

  (2) if he will list the (a) individuals and their relevant work establishment and (b) organisations who were sent copies of each of the technical advice notes which his Department has now published; if he will list those that submitted responses; and if he will make a statement. [15240]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The following lists have been placed in the Library of the House:

  1. Planning Guidance (Wales), Technical Advice Notes (Wales). Recipients of consultation.

  2. Planning Guidance (Wales), Technical Advice Notes (Wales). Recipients (1) of published advice notes. There have been no responses to the published documents.

  3. Respondents to the public consultation versions of the published advice notes 1–8.

  4. Respondents to date, to the public consultation exercise on advice notes 9–23. This public consultation exercise ends on 21 February 1997.

  5. Consultees on advice notes on "Planning and the Historic Environment: Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas" and "Planning and the Historic Environment: Archaeology" (2).

  (ii) Respondents to the consultation.

  (iii) Recipients of the published circulars (1).

  Note:

  (1) Those to whom copies were sent by the Welsh Office.

  (2) These advice notes were published by Cadw as circulars.

  St. Asaph Business Park
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the original targets set for(a) the number of units, (b) the acreage of land and (c) the number of jobs created in respect of the St. Asaph business park; what percentage of these targets have been met; what has been the cost of the business park; and what funding has been received from European grant aid. [16109]

  Mr. Hague
  This is an operational matter for the Welsh Development Agency. I have asked the agency's acting chief executive to write to the hon. Member with the details requested and I shall arrange for a copy of the reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) of 3 February,Official Report,

  415
  columns 517–18, what part of the additional expenditure under the (a) industry and (b) other sub-heads expenditure in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99 will count towards the eligible expenditure of the Welsh Development Agency under its (1) approved and (2) proposed financial limits. [16198]

  Mr. Hague
  The planned additional expenditure that will count towards the eligible expenditure of the Welsh Development Agency shown in the table that I provided on 3 February 1997,Official Report, columns 517–18, is as follows:

  1997–98 £ million Cash prices

  1998–99 £ million Cash prices

  Industry

  44.7

  82.4

  It is expected that there will be sufficient headroom for the 1997–98 provision to be accommodated within the current financial limit. However, the limit will need to be raised to accommodate the 1998–99 provision.

  Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [14446]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Government intend to bring the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 into force on 1 April 1997. The implementation of the Act will be monitored as part of the Department's general monitoring of community care.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Pollution
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list(a) the location of and (b) the number of fish killed in each of the (i) category 1 and (ii) category 2 pollution incidents caused by each of the water and sewerage companies in 1995; [14979]

  (2) how many fish were killed in (a) category 1 and (b) category 2 pollution incidents caused by the water and sewerage companies in each year from 1989 to 1995. [14980]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 10 February 1997]: I have arranged for the relevant details of category 1 and 2 water pollution incidents which occurred in 1995 and were attributed by the Environment Agency to water and sewerage companies in each agency region to be placed in the Libraries of the House. Data are not available on the numbers of fish killed as a result of incidents that took place before 1995.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new documentation will be considered 416
  in the extended period of evaluation announced on 5 February, in respect of the Nirex application to contract a rock characterisation facility at Longlands farm, Gosforth, in Cumbria; if he proposes the inspector at the public inquiry on the RCF should review this new documentation; and if he will make a statement. [15448]

  Mr. Gummer
  Before reaching a decision on the planning appeal concerning this application I am considering the evidence brought to my attention which is relevant. I am also considering how any relevant evidence should be reviewed.

  Commission for the New Towns (Corby)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Total sum realised by the sale of assets by the Commission for the New Towns in Corby for each year since 1979–80. [15733]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Commission for the New Towns took over from the Corby new town development corporation in 1980. The Total sum realised by the sale of assets in Corby each year since then is as follows:

  Year

  Amount £ million

  1980–81

  0.913

  1981–82

  0.557

  1982–83

  5.723

  1983–84

  2.495

  1984–85

  1.470

  1985–86

  1.772

  1986–87

  4.220

  1987–88

  10.249

  1988–89

  17.410

  1989–90

  38.087

  1990–91

  7.541

  1991–92

  2.498

  1992–93

  0.558

  1993–94

  0.368

  1994–95

  9.507

  1995–96

  1.943

  Total

  105.311

  Local Authority Employees (Northamptonshire)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by each local authority in Northamptonshire(a) full time and (b) part time in each year since 1992. [15732]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information is given in the table.

  The levels of employment in individual authorities are not directly comparable because of variations in population structure, social characteristics, hours worked by part-time staff, and the extent to which they use private firms and contractors or act as agents for other authorities.
  417

  Numbers employed directly by local authorities in Northamptonshire: (excluding Law and Order) At June of each year

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Authority

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Northamptonshire2

  8,911

  10,262

  7,640

  9,707

  1-

  1-

  7,247

  10,088

  1-

  1-

  Corby

  613

  133

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  527

  130

  505

  114

  Daventry

  315

  86

  312

  89

  344

  96

  311

  128

  315

  111

  East Northamptonshire

  203

  57

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  Kettering

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  1-

  365

  190

  363

  235

  Northamptonshire

  1,518

  151

  1,429

  255

  1,396

  180

  1,351

  299

  1,343

  311

  South

  Northampton

  342

  43

  336

  74

  334

  63

  294

  109

  267

  53

  Wellingborough

  383

  119

  346

  116

  339

  112

  325

  111

  308

  108

  Source:

  Joint Staffing Watch.

  1996 figures are provisional.

  1 Data not available.

  2 In making comparisons between years it should be noted that staffing levels within county councils have been affected by (a) the removal of further education institutions from the local authority sector and (b) local authorities taking on responsibility for Community Care. Both these changes took place from April 1993.

  Environment Agency (Prosecutions)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the prosecutions carried out in England and Wales by the Environment Agency for waste offences, in each month since 1 April 1996, indicating(a) the person or company prosecuted, (b) the date and outcome of the prosecution, (c) the nature of the offence and (d) the penalty imposed. [15671]

  Mr. Clappison
  Data relating to prosecutions by the Environment Agency for waste offences are not yet held centrally, although detailed records are held at a local level.

  The agency does, of course, recognise the need to collate and manage its data effectively and has already taken significant steps towards drawing up a coherent national policy on data management, addressing the many disparate data collection and information systems inherited by the agency on 1 April 1996. It is also considering a number of policy options that will enable information relating to all of its enforcement activities to be made fully available. As I said in my answer of 16 October 1996, Official Report, columns 1045–46, when data on waste offences are centrally available I will write to the hon. Member about it.

  Global Warming
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums were provided to institutions and research bodies in connection with research and information on global warming in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what amount is planned to be spent in the coming year. [15945]

  Mr. Clappison
  In 1996–97, the Department of Environment is providing about £14.5 million to institutions and research bodies for research and information specifically related to climate change. A similar amount is likely to be spent in the coming financial year.
  418
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his Department's current estimates of global temperature rises over the 1951 to 1980 average; and if he will list the sources of research from which the estimates are drawn. [15947]

  Mr. Clappison
  The global temperature in 1996 was 0.265 deg. C above the 1951 to 1980 average; this was the eighth warmest year since instrumental records began in 1860.

  The global temperature in 1995 was 0.425 deg. C above the 1951 to 1980 average; this was the warmest year since instrumental records began.

  These data are compiled from observations made at more than 1,000 land meteorological stations and a similar number of ships and buoys around the world; analysis of the data is undertaken by the UK Meteorological Office, which supplied those statistics.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have been held within the European Council on the European contribution to global warming; and if he will make a statement. [15944]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Environment Council regularly discusses climate change issues, including the sources and scale of European greenhouse gas emissions and the action which should be taken under the framework convention on climate change to counter the threat of climate change.

  Factory Shop Complex (Ashford)
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the next stage of the proposed factory shop complex in Ashford. [15707]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We are considering the representations made on this matter and hope to issue our decision as soon as possible.

  Estate Action Schemes
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the forecast level of local authority
  419
  matching funding contribution required by the Department of the Environemnt in 1997–98 and the next two financial years to fund estate action schemes. [15888]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The phasing of estate action grant by scheme in 1997–98 and the next two years-and hence the phasing of local authorities' required contributions to schemes-is currently being finalised. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the requested figures are available.

  Local Government Finance
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answers of 13 January,Official Report, columns 98–100, and 11 December 1996, Official Report, columns 213–14, if he will now update the answers based on the final local government financial settlement for 1997–98. [15952]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have place in the Library a table for standard spending assessment plus police grant for all local authorities and a table showing the adjustments made to the 1996–97 amounts.

  The remaining tables, for Total standard spending and aggregate exchequer finance for the main local authority groups, Total external support for individual authorities, and for regional analyses, will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each individual local authority and class of local authority in England at 31 March 1996(a) the Total value of fixed assets, (b) the long-term and temporary external debt outstanding and (c) the value of fixed assets net of Total external debt ranked by the value of fixed assets net of external debt. [15852]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have today placed the information requested in the Library of the House.

  Climate Change Convention
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to submit a report to the United Nations, setting out the United Kingdom's progress in meeting its commitments under the UN framework convention on climate change; and if he will make a statement. [16443]

  Mr. Gummer
  I intend to publish, tomorrow, the United Kingdom's second report under the framework convention on climate change, "Climate Change, the UK Programme", copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Rough Sleeping
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage local authorities to assess levels of rough sleeping in their areas and to develop strategies to tackle any problem that they identify. [16303]

  Mr. Curry
  Under the rough sleepers initiative, my Department has encouraged and assisted head counts of people sleeping rough in a number of areas. Following the Government's announcement in March 1996 that they would continue the rough sleepers initiative in central 420
  London and extend it to Bristol, my Department commissioned Shelter to co-ordinate evaluations of the level of rough sleeping in 23 areas where some evidence of a problem had been mentioned in consultation with local authorities and other statutory and voluntary sector agencies. The evaluations were conducted during June and July 1996 and Shelter's report to the Department informed the Government's decisions, announced on 31 October, Official Report, column 187, to expand the rough sleepers initiative in London and extend it to Brighton; and to offer financial support from a new rough sleepers revenue fund for strategies to tackle rough sleeping in 10 other areas.

  As part of that announcement, I said that the Department would publish guidance to help all local authorities to assess the extent of rough sleeping in their areas and to develop effective strategies to help people sleeping rough. I am pleased to announce publication today of that guidance, which is being made available free to all housing authorities and voluntary sector agencies working with people sleeping rough. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  My Department's housing strategies guidance to local authorities advises them that they should aim to make it unnecessary for anyone to sleep rough within their area and that they should aim to provide a strategic framework of assistance covering all the agencies involved in meeting the needs of single homeless people, including people sleeping rough. That guidance advises local authorities to consider undertaking a count of rough sleepers to assist in assessing local needs. I hope that local authorities for areas in which rough sleeping problems exist will make use of the more detailed guidance published today. The Government will consider extending funding under the rough sleepers initiative and the rough sleepers revenue fund to areas where the guidance has been followed, where major rough sleeping problems have been demonstrated and where local authorities take a lead in developing joint statutory and voluntary sector strategies to tackle rough sleeping.

  Minerals Compensation Regulations
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the results of public consultation on new minerals compensation regulations; and if he will make a statement. [16305]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Public consultation on the new minerals compensation regulations closed on 24 January. Thirty-three responses were received by my Department. A summary of the key points has been placed in the House Library together with the Government response. The regulations have been laid before Parliament today and are subject to approval by affirmative resolution in both Houses.

  I am also making available in the Library a monitoring report, published in October 1996, which shows how the compliance costs associated with the minerals reforms introduced by the Environment Act 1995 have been assessed.

  Estates Renewal Challenge Fund
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the allocation for the 1997–98 round of the estates renewal challenge fund. [16304]
  421
  Mr. Curry
  I shall be announcing allocations for the 1997–98 round of the estates renewal challenge fund tomorrow and shall place copies of the press notice detailing the successful authorities in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the Health and Safety Commission's recommendations relating to the future of the regulatory regime for asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [16442]

  Mr. Gummer
  I have written to the Health and Safety Commission welcoming and accepting its timely advice on a range of asbestos issues. It has recommended that we maintain our existing policy, to work with our EU partners to extend the ban on asbestos to all types of asbestos, with a limited number of exceptions for genuinely essential uses where safe and effective substitutes cannot be found at affordable cost.

  The HSC has also said that, in the light of responses to its May 1996 discussion document "The future of the lead and asbestos regulations", it has asked the Health and Safety Executive to consider and develop, where appropriate, proposals for some changes to the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987. It plans to publish a consultative document in 1998. This represents a progressive yet sensible approach to this difficult subject, and I welcome the initiative.

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for the development of the local authority role in waste recycling. [16556]

  Mr. Gummer
  A review group on the local authority role in recycling was established last year, comprising members from local government, from private sector producers, waste disposal operators and users of recycled waste, from community groups, and from central government. Its report has now been finalised and submitted to me and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. It contains a number of proposals, including for local authorities to work together to produce municipal waste management strategies, and emphasises the importance of an integrated approach to waste management. I and my right hon. Friend are today issuing the report for consultation, and will consider its recommendations in the light of comments received. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Local authorities have a vital role to play in helping to achieve the goal of sustainable development. I welcome the group's report as a positive contribution to the development of that role, and am grateful to its members for the time and effort they have put into the group's work.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the White Paper on sustainable development will be published; and if he will make a statement. [16557]
  422
  Mr. Gummer
  We will publish "This Common Inheritance: UK Annual Report 1997" tomorrow, Tuesday 18 February 1997. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  The White Paper reports progress during 1966 in meeting the commitments we made in previous White Papers and in the 1994 UK sustainable development strategy, as well as making commitments for future action. In particular, it highlights our new priorities for the year ahead and brings together the key quantified targets already agreed by Government or under consideration.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to change the 1996–97 cash limits and running cost limits for which he is responsible. [14301]

  Mr. Gummer
  [pursuant to his answer, 31 January 1997, c. 389]: The Department of the Environment/European regional development fund non-voted cash limit was incorrectly shown as being reduced by £4,995,000 from £183,295,000 to £178,300,000. This should have shown the DOE/ERDF non-voted cash limit as being reduced by £4,965,000 from £182,782,000 to £177,817,000. This reflects transfers of £4,518,000 to sections M and N on vote 2-regeneration and countryside and wildlife-and £447,000 to the Department of Transport.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioner Incomes
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of the 25p age addition to the retirement pension 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. [14281]

  Mr. Heald
  The 25p age addition to the retirement pension was first introduced in September 1971. In 1997–98 it would be worth £1.70 if uprated by prices and £3.80 if uprated by average earnings1. The estimated costs are in the table2

  Age addition in 1997–98

  Uprated by prices to £1.70

  Uprated by earnings to £3.80

  Gross cost

  £180 million

  £440 million

  Net cost

  £110 million

  £260 million

  1 The uprated value of the age addition has been calculated by assuming that it was uprated each time Retirement Pension was uprated and all calculations were rounded to the nearest 5p at each uprating date. The upratings have been calculated using either the Average Earnings Index (whole economy unadjusted) as published by the Office for National Statistics or the Retail Prices Index (all items) as appropriate.

  2All costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million. The gross costs of uprating were estimated by the Government Actuary's Department. The costs net of the impact on income-related benefits have been calculated using offset ratios of 42 per cent.

  National Insurance
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 28 January,Official Report, columns 191–92, if he will list (a) Total expenditure on national insurance benefits, including administration but not including incentives to personal

  (A) National Insurance Benefit expenditure and administration cost1 (£ billion)

  (B) Total National Insurance Fund receipts1 2 £ billion)

  (C) Column B-Column A1

  (D) Percentage of Column B over Column A

  1979–80

  32.6

  34.1

  1.6

  104.8

  1980–81

  33.6

  34.7

  1.1

  103.3

  1981–82

  35.5

  33.7

  -1.8

  95.0

  1982–83

  35.7

  35.8

  0.1

  100.3

  1983–84

  36.1

  37.2

  1.2

  103.2

  1984–85

  36.4

  37.2

  0.8

  102.2

  1985–86

  36.8

  37.4

  0.6

  101.6

  1986–87

  38.3

  39.2

  0.9

  102.4

  1987–88

  37.6

  40.1

  2.6

  106.8

  1988–89

  36.2

  41.1

  4.9

  113.6

  1989–90

  35.8

  39.2

  3.3

  109.3

  1990–91

  36.5

  41.1

  4.6

  112.5

  1991–92

  39.5

  38.9

  -0.7

  98.3

  1992–93

  40.4

  38.4

  -2.0

  95.0

  1993–94

  41.9

  46.4

  4.5

  110.8

  1994–95

  41.7

  46.4

  4.7

  111.3

  Notes:

  1 Figures have been independently rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion.

  2 Excludes income from National Insurance contributions allocated to the National Health Service. Includes Treasury Supplement from 1979–80 to 1988–89 inclusive and Treasury Grant for 1993–94 to 1994–95.

  Source:

  National Insurance Fund Accounts.

  Social Security Appeals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 23 January,Official Report, column 721, how many of the 51 notices issued by the clerk to the social security appeal tribunal covering the Newport, Gwent, area in the week commencing 9 December 1996 resulted in requests for oral hearings by (a) the claimant only, (b) the adjudication officer only and (c) both the claimant and the adjudication officer; and how many of those requests were made within 10 days of receipt of the notice. [15735]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for the independent tribunal service.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if a consistent policy or practice has been specified for the various departments of social security offices as regards the procedure for issuing national insurance numbers; if he will set out the criteria that have to be fulfilled to obtain a national insurance number; and if he will publish procedural(a) guidelines or (b) advice he has issued. [16222]

  Mr. Heald
  The Department of Social Security has a corporate policy and guidance for staff on allocation and registration of national insurance numbers.

  Most young people who live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, and for whom child benefit is in payment, are automatically registered for NI and issued with a plastic NINO card shortly before they reach 16.
  424
  pensions, (b) Total receipts of the national insurance funds, (c) the amount of the surplus over receipts and (d) the percentage of (b) and (a) in each year from 1979–80 to 1995, at 1995–96 prices. [14274]

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

  In other circumstances, most usually for people entering this country from abroad, a person applies to be registered by calling into their social security office, taking with them acceptable evidence of identity, and completing an application for NINO allocation and registration.

  Thorough checks are made to ensure that the person does not already have a NINO and their identity is established in accordance with the departmental guidance outlined in the "Evidence of Identity Handbook", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Disabled Ex-service Personnel
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled ex-service personnel are registered in Wales. [16038]

  Mr. Heald
  As at 31 March 1996, the latest date on which figures are available, a Total of 22,123 ex-service men and women resident in Wales were receiving war disablement pensions.

  Rent Allowances
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the forecast level of growth in expenditure on rent allowances in cash and real terms over the next three years expressed as(a) Total rent allowances and (b) private rented sector allowances excluding

  425
  registered social landlords; and what is the forecast for changes in the level of investment in local authority and registered social landlord housing stock over the same period. [15889]

  Rent allowance expenditure forecasts

  £ million

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Total change

  Cash terms

  5,378

  5,749

  6,285

  7,029

  -

  Change

  -

  370

  536

  744

  1,651

  Percentage

  -

  7

  9

  12

  31

  Real 1996–97 prices

  5,486

  5,749

  6,162

  6,756

  -

  Change

  -

  263

  413

  594

  1,270

  Percentage change

  -

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Source:

  DSS rent allowance expenditure forecasts. Cash data based on figures contained in the Social Security Departmental Report "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1996– to 1998–99". Real figures have been based on cash figures adjusted by the GDP deflator.

  Public housing investment

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Cash terms

  Local authority

  775

  499

  436

  Housing corporation

  1,075

  692

  635

  Total

  1,850

  1,191

  1,071

  Real 1996–97 prices

  Local authority

  775

  489

  419

  Housing corporation

  1,075

  678

  610

  Total

  1,850

  1,168

  1,029

  Note:

  1. The forecast showing a split between private rented sector allowances and registered social landlords is not available.

  Source:

  Department of the Environment projected public expenditure provision for local authorities' credit approvals for housing. Real figures have been based on cash figures adjusted by the GDP deflator.

  Child Support
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends that existing clients of the Child Support Agency will be invited to consider making an application for a variation of their maintenance assessment under the new departures scheme. [16608]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Two hundred and seventy-three thousand of the Child Support Agency's clients have already been invited to apply for a variation of their maintenance assessment under the new departures scheme. The agency expects to be in a position to contact all remaining clients to invite them to apply by April of this year.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sheep Dips
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the outcome of the review of organophosphorus sheep dips carried out by the Veterinary Products Committee; and if he will make a statement. [16274]
  426
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table:

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The VPC has carefully and thoroughly examined the effectiveness of the certificate of competence scheme and other issues relating to the use of OP sheep dips. It confirmed earlier advice that, provided that they are used safely and in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions, there is no scientific justification for withdrawing OP sheep dips from the market.

  The VPC recommended that the certificate of competence should apply to the use of OP sheep dips as well as their purchase. This objective will be achieved by strengthening measures to secure compliance with existing statutory duties. New guidance will be issued by the Health and Safety Executive which will explain and emphasise the duties placed on farmers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and the linked codes of practice to train and instruct their dippers and to maintain their competence. The guidance will contain information about the certificate of competence scheme operated by the National Proficiency Tests Council and will commend certification as a structured approach to these duties and as valuable evidence that adequate training had been given and competence achieved.

  The VPC had found some evidence to suggest that a small minority of veterinarians were occasionally supplying OP sheep dips to clients who did not hold a certificate of competence. We will be asking the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to make a clear reference to the undesirability of this practice in its guide to professional conduct.

  We also accept the VPC's advice that the reclassification of OP sheep dips from pharmacy and merchants list to prescription-only status would be unnecessary as it would not improve the protection of human safety and, if it deterred farmers from using OP dips prophylactically, it could lead to increased levels of ectoparasitic diseases in sheep.

  Officials at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will examine the current labelling requirements for OP sheep dip products and will submit proposals to the VPC, the objective of which will be to make the information simpler to follow.
  427
  The VPC has advised that, in order to improve controls over the disposal of sheep dips, including both OPs and synthetic pyrethroids, there should be a mechanism whereby farmers should notify the water regulators-the environment agencies-that they are using dips and of their proposed methods of disposal. We accept this advice, and the Government are considering what improvements should be made to existing mechanisms for control over the disposal of sheep dips. Any eventual proposals will be subject to public consultation.

  The VPC has advised that further basic research into OPs should be carried out, and we accept this advice. We shall be seeking to establish research projects with the further help of the VPC's sub-committee, the medical and scientific panel.

  The VPC has suggested that a review of non-OP sheep dips should be conducted to consider whether existing controls on OP dips should be extended to these products. We have asked the VPC to proceed with this review, not least because dips in which the active ingredient is a synthetic pyrethroid are intrinsically hazardous to aquatic life and great care is needed in their use and disposal.

  In addition, we have asked the VPC to review the safety of veterinary medicines other than sheep dips which have an organophosphate as the active ingredient.

  I would like to thank Professor Aitken, his predecessor Professor Sir James Armour, and the committee for the care and diligence with which they have considered these important issues and all the information put to them, and for their clear advice.

  The report setting out the VPC's recommendations to the licensing authority-Agriculture and Health Ministers-is today being placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is currently being undertaken or financed by his Department into the treatment of sheep dip waste in the context of its disposal in an environmentally safe manner; what recent representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [16007]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Ministry has commissioned no research into the treatment of sheep dip waste and we have received no recent representations on this matter. No veterinary medicine is authorised for use unless it meets stringent statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. Safety includes risk to the environment. Applications for marketing authorisations must be supported by information to satisfy the statutory criteria, including details of relevant research. Product labels include warnings about the safe disposal of sheep dips and guidance is available from the agriculture Departments.

  Dairy Products
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage the manufacture of cheese by farmers who process milk from their own herds or flocks into milk products. [14991]
  428
  Mr. Baldry
  The decision by farmers whether to process milk from their own herds or flocks into milk products is a commercial one. However, by deregulating the milk market, the Government have encouraged conditions for competition and initiative to flourish.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek a modification of the existing milk quota system to encourage the production of specialist and traditional dairy products by means of a producer-processor's milk quota allowance for small producers to allow the first tranche of milk quota to be used at double its face value. [14992]

  Mr. Baldry
  Substantive discussions on the future of the milk quota regime are due to begin later this year in Brussels. The Government have already signalled their preferred approach. We wish to free the whole of the dairy industry, including specialist and traditional producers, from the restrictions of the quota system. This would be achieved through a combination of progressive price cuts and relaxation of production controls. We do not believe that the introduction of a producer-processor allowance for small producers is a negotiable way forward. It would add to the complexity of administering and enforcing the quota system and increase the costs of the dairy regime.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance he proposes for producer-processors and specialist dairy products to mitigate the compliance costs of the milk and food hygiene directives. [14993]

  Mr. Baldry
  The compliance cost assessment for the Diary Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1995 was placed in the Libraries of the House on 28 April 1995. It indicated that small businesses would incur minimal extra costs resulting from implementation of the milk hygiene directive. The Compliance Cost Assessment for the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995, placed in the Library of the House on 12 July 1995, estimated that the only identifiable cost for businesses arising from implementation of the food hygiene directive related to the new requirement to train and/or instruct food handlers. In the circumstances I have no plans for assistance.

  Beef (Intervention Stocks)
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much British beef has been bought into intervention since 1 March 1996; and what has been the Total cost to public funds. [15477]

  Mr. Baldry
  Since 1 March 1996, the amount of beef taken into intervention and paid for in the UK is 70,107 tonnes at a cost to public funds of £128 million. In addition, contracts have been awarded for a further 8,036 tonnes of beef only some of which has been delivered to store and none of which is yet due for payment.

SCOTLAND

  Departmental Publicity
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide(a) his Department's budgeted expenditure on (i) advertising, (ii) publicity and (iii) public information campaigns for the period January

  429
  to March 1997 and (b) the actual expenditure on (1) advertising, (2) publicity and (3) public information campaigns in the period January to March in each of the past five years. [13462]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 February 1997]: All expenditure by my Department on publicity is in support of public information campaigns. Advertising forms part of publicity.

  Details of estimated expenditure by my Department for the period January to March 1997 are:

  Advertising £

  Publications/exhibitions £

  Total publicity £

  Violent crime

  102,000

  Organ donors

  42,000

  Young driver

  20,000

  Fire action plan

  164,000

  Severe weather

  warning

  35,000

  Pre-school

  vouchers

  950,000

  Total

  1,313,000

  512,000

  1,825,000

  Details of actual expenditure for the same period in each of the past five financial years are set out in the table:

  Advertising £

  Publications/exhibitions £

  Total publicity £

  January to March 1996

  291,000

  425,500

  716,500

  January to March 1995

  330,500

  574,000

  904,500

  January to March 1994

  494,000

  1379,000

  873,000

  January to March 1993

  297,500

  1557,500

  855,000

  January to March 1992

  216,000

  1329,500

  545,500

  1 These figures do not include publications/exhibition expenditure by Historic Scotland. Details for these years are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [14470]

  Rank order

  Advice and assistance £

  Civil £

  Criminal £

  Total £

  Ross Harper and Murphy

  1

  885,312

  790,251

  2,025,745

  3,701,308

  More and Co.

  2

  147,558

  4,916

  1,715,638

  1,868,112

  Bruce Short and Co.

  3

  269,936

  38,452

  1,471,055

  1,779,443

  Ian McCarry

  4

  191,109

  17,848

  1,273,538

  1,482,495

  430
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are four full-time equivalent-23 members of staff-employed in the application of equal opportunities policies in the Scottish Office. The Total staff cost is £86,546.

  Scots Pines, Loch Fleet
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between officials from his Department, officials from Scottish Natural Heritage and representatives of the Sutherland estates concerning the proposed felling of Scots pines at Loch Fleet, near Golspie; and if he will make 4statement. [14481]

  Mr. Kynoch
  There have been several discussions involving officials from the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage and representatives of the Sutherland estates about the management of Scots pines at Loch Fleet. Scottish Natural Heritage is currently negotiating the terms of a proposed management agreement with the Sutherland estates.

  Computer Crime
  Mr. Derek Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in each of the last five years computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers in his Department. [14546]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The Scottish Office is not aware of any such incidents.

  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of computer hacking, fraud and theft, including theft of computer chips, his Department has recorded in the last five years. [14547]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The Scottish Office is unaware of any cases of computer hacking or fraud in the last five years. There have been 49 unexplained disappearances of computer equipment recorded during this time, seven of which involved computer chips.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the 20 firms earning most from civil and criminal legal aid for the year to 31 March 1996; and if he will indicate the number of fee earners per firm and the fees per fee earner. [15356]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information on payments to firms in respect of advice and assistance and civil and criminal legal aid is set out in the table and includes outlays, payments to advocates and VAT. Information on the number of fee earners and fees per fee earner is not available.
  431

  Rank order

  Advice and assistance £

  Civil £

  Criminal £

  Total £

  Blair and Bryden

  5

  357,405

  367,440

  655,725

  1,380,570

  Gordon Thomson and Co.

  6

  303,231

  34,184

  985,998

  1,323,413

  George Mathers and Co.

  7

  269,343

  132,117

  870,109

  1,271,569

  Drummond Miller

  8

  240,517

  923,995

  106,510

  1,271,022'

  Gilfedder and McInnes

  9

  146,295

  0

  1,078,586

  1,233,881

  Gallen and Co.

  10

  236,680

  148,411

  847,881

  1,232,972

  Grady and Co.

  11

  111,699

  0

  1,049,307

  1,161,006

  Adams

  12

  67,963

  0

  1,038,048

  1,106,011

  Robert Kerr

  13

  95,979

  0

  985,573

  1,081,552

  McKay and Norwell

  14

  139,010

  217,006

  656,609

  1,012,625

  Livingstone Brown

  15

  235,161

  102,043

  669,038

  1,006,242

  J. C. Hughes and Co.

  16

  67,303

  0

  877,700

  945,003

  Turnbull McCarron

  17

  218,450

  67,343

  625,396

  911,189

  Sinclairs

  18

  81,180

  532

  763,323

  845,035

  Milligan Telford and Morrow

  19

  72,473

  29,176

  733,594

  835,243

  Trainor Alston

  20

  239,036

  192,627

  381,460

  813,123

  Total

  26,261,814

  M80 Extension
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate a public local inquiry into his Department's decision on the route of the M80 motorway extension between Stepps and Haggs; and if he will make a statement. [15810]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Drafts of the necessary statutory schemes and orders, including the compulsory purchase order, will be published later this

  Name

  Position

  Current term expires

  Occupation

  Remuneration per annum £

  Magnus Magnusson KBE

  Chairman

  31 March 1999

  Broadcaster

  36,070

  Professor T. Christopher Smout CBE

  Deputy Chairman

  31 March 1998

  Director, Institute of Environmental History, St. Andrew's University

  15,538

  Roy Dennis OBE

  -

  31 March 1997

  Land use consultant

  6,474

  Alan Blackshaw OBE

  -

  31 March 1997

  Management and Environmental consultant

  6,474

  Barbara Kelly CBE

  Chairman, South West Region

  31 March 1998

  Partner in dairy business

  15,538

  Professor Seaton Baxter

  Chairman, North East Region

  31 March 1998

  Professor and reader at Robert Gordon's University

  15,538

  Professor Roger Wheater OBE

  -

  31 March 1998

  Director, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

  6,474

  Nan Burnett OBE

  Chairman, South East Region

  31 March 1999

  Farmer

  15,538

  Councillor Peter Peacock

  -

  31 March 1999

  Convenor, Highland Council

  6,474

  Professor Fred Last

  -

  31 March 1999

  Retired Scientist

  6,474

  Bill Ritchie

  Chairman, North West Region

  31 March 2000

  Crofter, fisherman, countryside ranger

  15,538

  David Laird

  -

  31 March 2000

  Estate factor, Solicitor

  6,474

  M74
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many entrance and exit junctions there will be on the M74 motorway when it is completed. [16197]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are two junctions on the M74 between the Maryville interchange and the present end of the motorway at Fullarton road interchange. South Lanarkshire and City of Glasgow councils have planning permission to construct an extension to the motorway form Fullarton road
  432
  year, and the public response to the proposals will be taken into account in any decision as to the need for a public local inquiry.

  Scottish Natural Heritage
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names and occupations of the executive members of Scottish Natural Heritage, indicating their remuneration and the dates upon which their terms of office will end. [15625]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The information for SNH board members is set out in the table.

  interchange to an interchange with the M8 at the Kingston bridge, which would create a Total of seven intermediate junctions between Maryville and Kingston bridge.

  Nurses
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses were employed by each NHS trust in each year from 1994–96; and if he will make a statement. [16016]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information, which is not yet available centrally for 1996, is set out in the tables:
  433

  Nursing staff 1 employed in each NHS trust, in the Scottish health service; by headcount and whole time equivalent: at 30 September 1994

  30 September 1994

  30 September 1995

  Headcount

  Whole-time Equivalent

  Headcount

  Whole-time Equivalent

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,178

  1,770.8

  2,208

  1,789.3

  Angus NHS Trust

  1,162

  960.9

  1,143

  946.2

  Argyll and Bute Unit2

  821

  670.7

  813

  657.4

  Ayshire and Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust

  1,468

  1,268.2

  1,482

  1,273.2

  Borders Community Health Services2

  699

  571.5

  719

  580.5

  Borders General Hospital Acute Unit2

  548

  446.7

  560

  457.5

  Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust

  356

  281.4

  386

  306.8

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,119

  1,858.8

  2,002

  1,747.1

  Dumbarton Unit2

  768

  579.0

  -

  -

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  854

  672.0

  873

  687.7

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Services Unit2

  1,273

  1,011.9

  1,216

  995.0

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,527

  1,357.2

  1,528

  1,355.7

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,895

  1,521.8

  1,900

  1,539.7

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  1,464

  1,142.5

  1,450

  1,124.6

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,216

  1,822.9

  2,333

  1,928.3

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  404

  305.1

  463

  359.7

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  684

  546.7

  692

  557.1

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,055

  1,736.0

  2,022

  1,715.3

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School Unit2

  11

  10.0

  11

  10.0

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust

  2,116

  1,705.8

  2,265

  1,881.7

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,322

  2,770.3

  3,176

  2,627.2

  Greater Glasgow Care for the Elderly Unit

  816

  637.8

  -

  -

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  3,924

  3,468.5

  3,714

  3,281.5

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospital NHS Trust

  1,032

  815.5

  1,040

  829.8

  Highland Community NHS Trust

  1,278

  1,080.3

  1,260

  1,068.9

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  581

  468.9

  598

  478.6

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  836

  654.2

  821

  638.5

  Lanarkshire Community and Priority Services Unit2

  2,364

  1,983.4

  2,352

  1,962.8

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  983

  787.5

  980

  796.4

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  -

  -

  753

  568.0

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospital NHS Trust

  1,083

  888.2

  1,113

  925.6

  Moray Health Services NHS Trust

  640

  522.7

  702

  574.7

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  1,405

  1,131.5

  1,435

  1,164.5

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,420

  1,189.7

  1,460

  1,236.3

  Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  716

  606.5

  742

  634.4

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  898

  713.7

  932

  747.9

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,981

  1,658.4

  1,972

  1,642.0

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  905

  728.7

  911

  745.2

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  2,535

  2,125.8

  2,453

  2,062.1

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  817

  692.5

  758

  642.8

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  1,410

  1,168.6

  1,641

  1,356.0

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  720

  571.0

  746

  592.8

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  1,173

  931.8

  1,212

  974.2

  The Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,291

  1,033.8

  1,404

  1,120.5

  The Yorkhill NHS Trust

  968

  805.3

  988

  821.4

  West Glasgow Hospital University NHS Trust

  1,530

  1,302.7

  1,784

  1,511.0

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  1,392

  1,160.0

  1,427

  1,190.2

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,106

  873.8

  1,136

  903.8

  Notes

  1 Excludes bank and agency nurses, nurse teachers, nurses in training and P2000 students.

  2 Directly managed units which became NHS trusts on either 1 April or 1 October 1995.

  Source

  National Manpower Statistics from payroll ISD Scotland.

  Prison Officers
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison officers, by grade, there were(a) in Scotland and (b) in each prison in Scotland in each year from 1990–96; and if he will make a statement. [15890]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 17 February 1997:
  434
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question regarding the number of prison officers, by grade, in Scotland and in each prison in Scotland in each year from 1990–96.
  The Scottish Prison Service introduced a new staffing structure on 1 April 1995. This resulted in the abolition of the previous grading system, and the introduction of new pay bandings covering operational, administrative and support staff. At the same time nursing, works, and administrative functions were civilianised.
  An accurate comparison of post-April 1995 figures for "prison officer" numbers with those prior to that date is not possible. The attached table shows in Total and for each establishment the Total number of Basic Grade Officers, Senior Officers, and Principal Officers at 31 March for each year from 1990–94. A subdivision by grade cannot be obtained from the current database.
  435
  The table also shows the current Total, with figures for 1995 and 1996, of operational staff posts in those pay bands which from 1 April 1995 are broadly comparable to the grades described above.

  Scottish prison service-prison officer grades or equivalent from 1990–97

  Establishment

  11990

  11991

  11992

  11993

  11994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Aberdeen

  100

  112

  116

  127

  129

  106

  108

  124

  Barlinnie

  491

  476

  449

  516

  496

  418

  389

  448

  Castle Huntly

  50

  62

  70

  74

  71

  59

  43

  55

  Cornton Vale

  176

  167

  169

  179

  177

  158

  152

  173

  Dumfries

  107

  120

  141

  136

  141

  129

  120

  128

  Dungavel

  49

  56

  61

  67

  71

  54

  39

  56

  Edinburgh

  349

  344

  358

  397

  399

  339

  331

  361

  Friarton

  49

  44

  49

  51

  48

  37

  34

  41

  Glenochil

  356

  374

  389

  410

  415

  348

  319

  371

  Greenock

  123

  136

  144

  155

  160

  134

  122

  142

  Inverness

  86

  82

  79

  88

  88

  77

  81

  84

  Longriggend

  143

  141

  154

  159

  158

  137

  141

  145

  Low Moss

  112

  119

  130

  142

  147

  134

  116

  127

  Noranside

  50

  54

  68

  65

  70

  55

  43

  52

  Penninghame

  27

  29

  32

  33

  35

  25

  20

  30

  Perth

  310

  329

  360

  370

  379

  319

  307

  317

  Peterhead

  265

  250

  232

  246

  236

  193

  187

  216

  Polmont

  229

  248

  277

  294

  292

  256

  234

  258

  Shotts

  332

  348

  394

  395

  407

  388

  331

  358

  Total

  3,404

  3,491

  3,672

  3,904

  3,919

  3,366

  3,117

  3,486

  1 Includes approximately 600 officers in the nursing, works and administration functions which are not included from 1995 onwards.

  Toll Bridges (Revenue)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was raised(a) by each toll bridge and (b) in Total from toll bridge in Scotland in

  Tolls levied

  £ thousands

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Forth road bridge

  7,149

  7,284

  7,660

  7,810

  8,143

  8,390

  Tay road bridge

  2,128

  2,182

  2,904

  2,896

  2,921

  3,052

  Erskine bridge1

  2,646

  2,814

  3,624

  4,034

  4,070

  4,248

  Skye bridge

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  2398

  Totals

  11,923

  12,280

  14,188

  14,740

  15,134

  16,088

  1 Figures for tolls levied on Erskine bridge are for financial years which begin on 1 April of the year given.

  2 This figure covers the period from the opening of the bridge on 16 October 1995 to 31 December 1995.

  Prisoners
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners there were in(a) Scotland and (b) each prison in Scotland in each year from 1990–96; and if he will make a statement. [16005]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of this question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  11996

  Scotland2 3

  4,723

  4,838

  5,256

  5,636

  5,583

  5,624

  5,861

  Aberdeen

  135

  137

  148

  149

  163

  170

  176

  Barlinnie4

  835

  843

  918

  1,006

  1,118

  1,158

  1,176

  Castle Huntly

  112

  112

  110

  102

  68

  60

  106

  Cornton Vale

  133

  139

  155

  167

  172

  170

  176

  Dumfries

  125

  122

  133

  134

  127

  133

  141

  Dungavel

  129

  136

  126

  121

  113

  113

  94

  436
  It should be noted that the 1990–94 figures include in each year approximately 600 "officers" in the subsequently civilianised nursing, works and administrative functions which are excluded from the 1995, 1996 and 1997 figures.

  each year from 1990 to 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15894]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on toll revenue, to the most recent year for which comprehensive figures are available, is set out in the table:

  Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 17 February 1997:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the average daily prison population in each establishment from 1990.
  I enclose a table which provides the information requested for the calendar years 1990–96.
  437

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  11996

  Edinburgh

  498

  509

  537

  669

  646

  645

  695

  Friarton

  62

  64

  67

  65

  74

  68

  69

  Glenochil

  528

  605

  605

  561

  504

  505

  550

  Greenock

  167

  189

  217

  246

  239

  236

  239

  Inverness

  94

  101

  108

  111

  109

  110

  126

  Longriggend

  203

  164

  179

  180

  190

  185

  164

  Low Moss

  274

  294

  336

  355

  378

  359

  346

  Noranside

  104

  110

  116

  128

  126

  127

  127

  Penninghame

  64

  68

  70

  65

  54

  57

  53

  Perth

  402

  375

  425

  451

  457

  471

  454

  Peterhead4

  117

  128

  175

  208

  210

  201

  201

  Polmont

  360

  333

  425

  439

  372

  405

  465

  Shotts4

  385

  410

  405

  481

  463

  447

  462

  Shotts NIC

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  6

  39

  1 Data for 1996 are provisional.

  2 Components may not add to Totals due to rounding.

  3 Excludes those prisoners held in legalised police cells.

  4 The figures for the former Barlinnie special unit and the current Peterhead and Shotts units are included in the figures for the main establishments.

  General Practitioner Practices
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioner practices there were in(a) each constituency in Scotland, (b) each region of Scotland and (c) Scotland as a whole in each year from 1990 to 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15891]

  Number of general medical practitioner practices by health board in Scotland: at 1 October

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  11996

  Scotland

  1,102

  1,090

  1,082

  1,077

  1,079

  1,074

  1,066

  Argyll and Clyde

  108

  107

  106

  105

  105

  105

  103

  Ayrshire and Arran

  66

  66

  64

  64

  63

  64

  64

  Borders

  24

  24

  24

  23

  23

  23

  23

  Dumfries and Galloway

  36

  35

  35

  36

  36

  36

  36

  Fife

  62

  62

  61

  61

  63

  63

  62

  Forth Valley

  55

  55

  56

  55

  55

  54

  55

  Grampian

  93

  91

  90

  90

  89

  89

  90

  Greater Glasgow

  229

  227

  225

  223

  223

  223

  220

  Highland

  75

  74

  75

  75

  75

  75

  75

  Lanarkshire

  92

  91

  92

  92

  93

  93

  95

  Lothian

  139

  136

  137

  136

  136

  132

  128

  Orkney

  15

  15

  15

  15

  15

  15

  15

  Shetland

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Tayside

  83

  82

  77

  77

  78

  77

  75

  Western Isles

  15

  15

  15

  15

  15

  15

  15

  1 Provisional.

  Hospitals
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals there were in each region of Scotland in(a) 1979, (b) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15895]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is in the table.

  NHS hospitals1-number within health board areas as at 31 March

  1979

  1983

  1987

  1992

  1996

  Scotland

  344

  334

  306

  283

  269

  Argyll and Clyde

  43

  37

  30

  28

  20

  Ayrshire and Arran

  19

  19

  15

  15

  Borders

  15

  17

  16

  10

  9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  13

  13

  13

  21

  26

  Fife

  17

  18

  18

  15

  12

  438
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is not possible to show the information requested by constituency, as individual practices may have surgeries in more than one constituency. The available information is shown in the table. Region has been defined as health board.

  The changes in the number of hospitals since 1979 reflect changes in the pattern of service provision. There has been substantial investment in new and redeveloped hospitals over this period, and in some cases a single new large hospital has replaced several smaller and old hospitals. Concentration of services on a single site enables better use to be made of expensive diagnostic and treatment facilities, and offers patients access to a better standard of care and treatment.
  439

  NHS hospitals1-number within health board areas as at 31 March

  1979

  1983

  1987

  1992

  1996

  Forth Valley

  13

  13

  13

  11

  16

  Grampian

  44

  42

  44

  40

  36

  Greater Glasgow

  45

  44

  39

  35

  28

  Highland

  24

  23

  21

  19

  20

  Lanarkshire

  25

  24

  23

  22

  20

  Lothian

  44

  45

  35

  30

  32

  Orkney

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Shetland

  3

  3

  2

  2

  2

  Tayside

  33

  29

  27

  28

  27

  Western Isles

  4

  5

  5

  5

  4

  1 Hospitals open for the reception of inpatients and day cases.

  Sewerage Charges
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will grant relief to domestic customers in respect of sewerage charges in 1997–98. [166071

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Yes. I have set aside £59.7 million for this purpose. This sum represents a saving to an average band D household of around £36 in 440
  1997–98. This relief, first introduced in 1996, is a transitional arrangement which will be phased out by April 1999. We shall pay grant to water authorities to compensate for the charge income they will forgo in 1997–98. Of this, £18.2 million will be available to the East authority, £14.9 million to the North authority and £26.6 million to the West authority. The necessary order is being laid before Parliament.

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