Written Answers of 18 February 1997

TREASURY

  Treasury Building (Development)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department made of the presence of(a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances in the Treasury building which might be affected by its planned development with Exchequer Partnership plc; and what plans he has for (i) energy efficiency and (ii) waste management schemes in the development of the building. [13637]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  All known asbestos is recorded in an Asbestos Register and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health—COSHH—registers are also held. Regular health and safety inspections, audit and tours are carried out. All halon fire extinguishers have been replaced and regular checks for CFC leakage detection are carried out on relevant departmental equipment. This information is available to Exchequer Partnership plc.

  So far as the redevelopment project is concerned, Exchequer Partnership will be contractually obliged to ensure that an "excellent" rating under the BREEAM system is obtained. In addition, design and construction will be carried out in accordance with all statutory authority regulations and requirements, including European legislation, statute or subordinate legislation relevant to new building and refurbishment. Exchequer Partnership plc must adhere to the Government's environmental policies.

  Data Collection (Postcodes)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for the collection of data and in formulas for the distribution of grants and awards; and when such usages were last reviewed. [14797]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Postcodes are used extensively by the Office for National Statistics. The Treasury and the Chancellor's other departments and agencies make no use of postcode areas.

  Personal Savings
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number and proportion of households with personal equity plan savings of a value(a) less than £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £20,000, (c) £20,000 to £30,000 and (d) over £30,000. [16018]

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available.

  Investment Income
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average amount of 442
  income tax paid by adult (a) pensioner and (b) non-pensioner taxpayers with annual investment income of (i) less than £50, (ii) £50 to £75, (iii) £75 to £100, (iv) £100 to £125, (v) £125 to £150, (vi) £150 to £175, (vii) £175 to £200, (viii) £200 to £250, (ix) £250 to £300, (x) £300 to £400, (xi) £400 to £500 and (xii) over £500 for the most recent year for which information is available. [15989]

  Mr. Jack
  Available estimates for 1997–98 based on projections from a mixture of statistical sources are given in the table. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates for all of the specified bands of investment income.

  Average amount of income tax paid1

  Range of taxable investment income for 1997–98

  Taxpayers aged under 64

  Taxpayers aged 65 or over

  £

  £

  £

  1–49

  2,350

  900

  50–99

  2,450

  950

  100–499

  3,500

  1,050

  Over 500

  6,100

  2,600

  1Includes income tax paid on all types of income such as earned income, self employment and investment income.

  British Agrochemicals Association
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had with the British Agrochemicals Association Ltd. in the last 12 months; what was the subject of the meetings; and if he will make a statement. [16291]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have had no meetings with it in the last 12 months.

  Personal Pensions (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net present cost in 1996 prices of tax relief on contributions made to appropriate personal pensions since 1988–89 assuming the social discount rate used by his Department. [13840]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 4 February 1997]: The net present cost of income tax relief for the years 1988–89 to 1995–961 in respect of contributions to appropriate personal pensions is given in the table, split between national insurance fund contributions and contributions above this minimum made by employees and employers. The figures are in 1996–97 prices rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion, and have been calculated using the GDP deflator and a real discount rate of 3.75 per cent. in line with that underlying the Government Actuary's report on occupational and personal pension schemes, Cm 3221.

  NIF contributions

  Employee/employer contributions

  Total contributions

  £ billion

  £ billion

  £ billion

  Net present cost of income tax relief paid

  2.0

  2.3

  4.3

  1 The cost of income tax relief for 1995–96 is provisional.

  Financial Advice (Complaints)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the delay in
  443
  the investigation by the investment ombudsman and the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation of a complaint by Mr. Alan Holmes of Gullane, East Lothian, concerning compliance with IMRO rules and the terms of the Financial Services Act 1986 in relation to independent financial advice given to him by IMRO-regulated companies. [15112]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 13 February 1997]: The investment ombudsman's office has been set up by IMRO for the independent investigation of complaints about investment business brought by investors against firms regulated by IMRO. Consistent with the independent status of the ombudsman, his investigations are not subject to Government direction or supervision. The service is provided free to complainants. Before the ombudsman can investigate a complaint, he must be satisfied that it falls within his jurisdiction, and this can take time to determine with complex cases. The case to which the hon. Member refers is complicated, but the ombudsman is dealing with it as quickly as is possible.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are paid by English-based employers and work in Scotland and whose income tax is collected from their English employer. [15992]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: The information is not available.

  Mr. Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax was collected by the Inland Revenue from Scottish-based employers in each of the last five years. [15932]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: During each of the years from 1992–93 onwards the following amounts of income tax and national insurance contributions have been collected under PAYE from Scottish-based employers. It is not possible to identify separately amounts of income tax and national insurance contributions.

  1992–93: £6,448,442,000

  1993–94: £6,865,410,000

  1994–95: £7,466,284,000

  1995–96: £7,984,301,000

  1996–97 (to January 1997): £5,835,077,000.

  Additionally, some employers will have paid income tax on the profits of their business but separate totals are not held for Scottish-based employers.

  Mr. Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the time it would take to introduce an income tax regime to tax people where they live instead of at their employer's pay office. [15933]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: The estimate sought could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of setting up an income tax regime to tax people where they live instead of at their employer's pay office. [15934]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: None.
  444
  Mr. Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are paid by Scottish-based employers and work outside of Scotland and whose income tax is collected from a Scottish employer. [15991]

  Mr. Jack
  The information is not available.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what correspondence Her Majesty's Treasury has had with(a) the British Rail Board vendor unit and (b) bidders for subsidiary companies of the British Rail Board in respect of the surplus on the British Rail pension fund and the privatisation of subsidiary companies; and if he will make a statement. [16040]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: None.

  Savings
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average amount of savings held per household in(a) Post Office accounts, (b) tax-exempt special savings accounts, (c) building society accounts, (d) bank accounts, (e) other accounts, (f) gilts, (g) unit trusts, ((h) stocks and shares, (i) personal equity plans, (j) national savings bonds, (k) save-as-you-earn and (l) premium bonds broken down by gross weekly household income divided into £100 bands. [16017]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Wild Boar
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the change in the number of wild boar in England. [15646]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are no figures available on the numerical trends in wild boar in England. Licences to keep wild boar are issued by local authorities, who maintain central records.

  While there have been sporadic sightings of wild boar in the wild, many of these have not been substantiated and there is no confirmed evidence of the animal breeding in the wild.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government intend to apply the London convention's ban on sea disposal of radioactive wastes to radioactive scale on redundant oil installations; what criteria they will apply in assessing the best practicable environmental option for disposal of radioactive material from oil and gas installations; and how those criteria will differ from the criteria applied to wastes from the civil nuclear industry and radioactive military waste. [15672]

  Mr. Clappison
  The London convention does not prohibit the dumping at sea of wastes or other materials containing "de minimis"—exempt—levels of radioactivity.
  445
  Authorisations for the disposal of radioactive wastes are issued by the environment agencies under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Policy on determining authorisations is set out in the White Paper "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy—Final Conclusions", Cm 2919.

  Packaging Waste
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to help to minimise the effect on small businesses of the producer responsibility for packaging waste directive. [15703]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Following extensive consultation with industry on the draft packaging waste regulations, my rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 18 December,Official Report, columns 614–16, the modifications that we propose to make in the light of the comments and proposals received.

  Among the changes announced were measures to help small businesses. We are proposing a staged approach to the new system, bringing in the largest businesses first, and we have introduced a turnover element to the cut-off threshold which should assist smaller businesses in establishing whether they will be obligated under the regulations. Businesses with a turnover of £5 million or less, and who handle 50 tonnes of packaging or less, will not be obligated in the years 1997 to 1999. With effect from 1 January 2000, the small business threshold applies to those with turnover of £1 million or less or who handle 50 tonnes of packaging or less. In addition, the provision that wholesalers take the selling obligation for small retailers will take effect from 1 January 2000. These changes will mean that the number of businesses obligated in the first few years will be in the region of 4,000 rising to around 9,000 by the year 2000. This compares with a total of over 250,000 businesses who handle packaged goods.

  A further measure which will help small businesses is the development of a ready reckoner or packaging catalogue to ease the collection of data and my Department has now commissioned contractors to this end.

  Local Authority Receipts
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total usable receipts held by each local authority in each year since 1990. [15729]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A list of the usable capital receipts held by each English local authority on 31 March of each year from 1990 to 1996 has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Minimum Age Requirements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15913]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Specific measures to protect the health and safety of young people and the relevant minimum age requirements are listed in annex 3 of the Health and Safety Commission's consultative document,446
  "The Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1996: Proposals to implement the health and safety provisions of the EC Directive on the protection of young people at work". Copies of this document have been placed in the House of Commons Library. No other part of my Department is responsible for enforcing minimum age requirements.

  Outstanding Charges (Northamptonshire)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the arrears of outstanding uncollected(a) domestic rates, (b) business rates, (c) community charge and (d) council tax for each collecting authority in Northamptonshire. [15728]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Estimates of the levels of business rates, community charge and council tax arrears for individual authorities are published regularly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

  The latest information relates to the position at 31 March 1995 and is available in the "Revenue Collection Statistics 1994–95" publication in the Library. Information on the arrears of domestic rates is not available. The latest available figures for the Northamptonshire authorities and the dates to which they relate are as follow:

  £000

  Estimated arrears of:

  Business rates

  Community charges

  Council taxes

  Corby (31 March 1995)

  211

  1,189

  451

  Daventry (31 March 1993)

  475

  1,663

  —

  East Northamptonshire

  —

  —

  —

  Kettering (31 March 1994)

  390

  860

  463

  Northampton

  —

  —

  —

  South Northamptonshire (31 March 1995)

  1,092

  368

  205

  Wellingborough (31 March 1993)

  804

  1,099

  —

  — No information has been published by CIPFA for East Northamptonshire or Northampton since community charge was abolished.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which 10 local councils in England have the highest amounts of uncollected council tax; [16156]

  (2) which local council in (a) the north-west of England and (b) England as a whole has the highest amount of uncollected council tax; [16163]

  (3) which local council in (a) the north-west of England and (b) England as a whole has the lowest amount of uncollected council tax. [16167]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Estimates of the levels of council tax arrears for individual authorities are published regularly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. The latest information relates to the position at 31 March 1995 and is available in the "Revenue Collection Statistics 1994–95" publication in the Library.
  447
  The authorities with the highest amounts of uncollected council tax in England at 31 March 1995 are as follows:

  Council tax arrears(£ million)

  Lambeth

  40.2

  Birmingham

  25.9

  Manchester

  121.6

  Liverpool

  19.3

  Bristol

  18.5

  Camden

  12.4

  Newham

  12.1

  Leeds

  11.2

  Southwark

  10.8

  Sheffield

  9.9

  1Highest in north-west of England.

  Wyre has the lowest amount of council tax arrears in the north-west of England, with a total of £0.6 million uncollected as at 31 March 1995. The Isles of Scilly has the lowest uncollected council tax in England, with a total of £6,000 uncollected as at 31 March 1995. CIPFA does not publish data for all authorities, so the figures above represent only those authorities which have supplied data.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which local council has(a) the north-west of England and (b) England has the lowest council tax rates; [16164]

  (2) which local council in (a) the north-west of England and (b) England as a whole has the highest council tax rates. [16165]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is a follows:

  1996–97 council tax (band D, two adults) for area of billing authority

  Lowest

  £

  Highest

  £

  (a) North West

  Halton

  647

  Liverpool

  1,006

  (b) England

  Westminster

  295

  Liverpool

  1,006

  Willenhall Shopping Precinct
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress with the development of the Willenhall shopping precinct. [15597]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I understand that Bellways Homes Ltd. and English Partnerships are likely to reach agreement this month on the amount of grant required to enable the redevelopment of the Willenhall shopping precinct to proceed.

  Household Growth
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received as part of the consultative process on his Department's Green paper, "Household Growth; Where will we Live," in respect of the imposition of time limits on the period of time for which a developer may retain derelict urban land. [16043]

  Mr. Clappison
  The consultation period on the Green Paper ends on 17 March. None of the responses received to date has specifically covered this issue.
  448
  Mr. Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of new households formed between the current date and 2016 will be occupied by people living alone. [16044]

  Mr. Clappison
  The projected number of households in England at mid-year in 2016 is 23,598,000 a net increase of 3,421,000 on the projected number at mid year 1996. Of this net increase 2,753,000 households or 80 per cent. are projected to be one-person households where a one-person household is defined as someone living alone who does not share either housekeeping or a living room with anyone else.

  Mr. Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of new housing was built on urban or brown field sites in(a) the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available and (b) the previous 12-month period. [16045]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The latest year for which figures are available is 1993. In that year 49 per cent. of new residential development in England was on land that had been previously developed for urban uses. In the previous year the proportion was 47 per cent. These figures were published in the Department's "Land Use Change in England Statistical Bulletin" last year. A new edition of this bulletin, with figures for 1994, will be published in May this year.

  Mr. Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of cohabiting new households, expressed as a percentage of total new projected households, his Department predicts for the years(a) 2000, (b) 2008 and (c) 2016, respectively. [16330]

  Mr. Clappison
  The net increases in the number of households headed by a cohabiting couple in England at mid-year 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 are projected to be 70,000, 122,000, 172,000 and 202,000 higher respectively than those at mid-year 1996, representing 8 per cent., 7 per cent., 7 per cent. and 6 per cent respectively of the net total new households projections on the same basis for these years.

  Show Houses (Taxation)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what recent representations he has received concerning the taxation of show houses for local government purposes; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement; [16204]

  (2) what is his policy on the taxation of show houses; and if he will make a statement. [16205]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Show houses are liable for non-domestic rates. We have received representations from the House Builders Federation and the Manufacturing and Construction Alliance that show houses should, instead, be subject to the council tax. We have agreed to meet both organisations to discuss this matter.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) at which meetings of the Building Research Establishment management board, held(a) prior

  449
  to 8 December 1996, (b) between 8 and 20 December 1996 and (c) since 20 December 1996, members of his Department's BRE privatisation team were present; [16490]

  (2) at which meetings of the Building Research Establishment management board held (a) prior to 8 December 1996, (b) between 8 and 20 December 1996 and (c) since 20 December 1996 members of the in-house bid team were present; [16491]

  (3) which members of the Building Research Establishment management board are also members of the in-house bid team; [16492]

  (4) if he will list the meetings of the Building Research Establishment management board which were attended by members of his Department's BRE privatisation team at which members of the BRE management board who were also involved in the BRE in-house bid team were present. [16541]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  All members of the BRE management board are members of the management bid team. Since the management bid team was authorised to enter the competition for the purchase of BRE, a member of the team of officials established by the Department to transfer BRE to the private sector has attended each meeting of the BRE management board. The meetings were held on 25 November 1996, 20 December 1996 and 27 January 1997.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the occasions during the past three years on which Ministers have met members of the staff of the Building Research Establishment, the names of all those who attended the meetings and the subjects discussed on each occasion. [16493]

  Mr. Jones
  In the past three years, Ministers have visited the Building Research Establishment for the following occasions:Minister for Housing and Planning, 16 May 1994, to open the Conseil International de Bâtiment international conference on the environment.
  Minister for Construction and Planning, 5 February 1996, to see the first use of recycled aggregate in the foundations of the new energy efficiency building.
  Minister for Construction and Planning, 12 June 1996, to seal a time capsule in the new building and to open the new Burn hall.

  Ministers have paid routine visits to BRE, to see at first hand the work BRE does, as follows:
  Secretary of State for the Environment, 17 June 1994
  Minister for Construction and Planning, 30 March 1995
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison), 13 September 1996.

  The Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister for Construction and Planning attended opening events to mark the BRE's 75th anniversary in London on 13 May 1996, and the Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office, the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Robertson), attended the closing events in Glasgow on 3 October 1996.

  On these occasions the Ministers took the opportunity to discuss operations across the establishment with a range of staff. Additionally, Ministers meet members of staff from time to time in the course of normal
  450
  departmental business, and at meetings, seminars and other functions organised by the construction industry and other interests.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received about the possibility of the Building Research Establishment in-house bid team(a) having access to more information than the external bidders and (b) being treated in a different way to the external bidder in relation to meetings with other interested parties. [16489]

  Mr. Jones
  None. The Department has taken all reasonable steps to ensure a level playing field between all bidders.

  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 water quality and integrated pollution control offences, in each month since October 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. [15670]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: I have arranged for the relevant details of prosecutions carried out by the Environment Agency for water pollution and integrated pollution control offences for the period October 1996 to January 1997 to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Beef Waste
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 11 February,Official Report, column 101, if he will list the locations of the (a) incinerators and (b) tyre-burning plant tested for emissions in respect of the burning of cattle carcases; and if he will reconcile the figures for the total number of incineration plants set out in his answer and in the answer from the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of 11 February, Official Report, column 145–46. [16249]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The incinerators are: Rechem, Fawley, Hampshire; Rechem, Pontypool, Gwent; Yorkshire Environmental, Knostrop, Leeds; Yorkshire Environmental, Ashford, Kent; Vetspeed, Royston, Herts. The tyre burning plant is Elm Energy, Wolverhampton.

  The answers given by me and by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture on 11 February related to the questions asked. The Prosper de Mulder rendering plant at Widnes is the subject of an air pollution authorisation from the local authority, Halton borough council. Emissions testing has taken place. The incinerator at Vetspeed, Royston, burns cattle carcases, not rendered remains. The trial incineration of tannery waste at Pontypool, Knostrop, Ashford and Wolverhampton was listed in my reply for completeness, although rendering of tannery waste is not a process which meets the definition of rendering in the Animal By-Products Order 1992 and these incinerators were not, therefore, included in my hon. Friend's reply.

  Waste Disposal at Sea
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions and on what dates have taken place between his Department, MAFF and the DTI regarding(a) a common definition of bulky waste and (b) a policy for its disposal at sea; [15629]

  (2) what is his Department's definition of bulky waste in respect of disposal of waste at sea; [15628]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of potential disposal sites for bulky wastes at sea; and if he will place in the Library copies of (a) studies evaluated by his Department and (b) correspondence between his Department and other bodies on this subject. [15647]

  Mr. Boswell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The London convention of 1972 on dumping of waste at sea refers to containers, scrap metal and other bulky wastes liable to sink to the sea bottom which may present a serious obstacle to fishing or navigation.

  The protocol to the London convention, agreed in November last year, describes bulky wastes as items primarily comprising iron, steel, concrete and similarly unharmful materials for which the primary concern is physical impact.

  The Ospar convention, which will shortly supersede the Oslo convention and whose more stringent controls on dumping at sea are already applied to UK waters, does not refer to bulky wastes. Under Ospar the dumping of all wastes or other matter is prohibited except for specified categories which include inert materials of natural origin—for example, rock—and vessels and aircraft until 2004; offshore installations and pipelines may also be considered for disposal. Each case is considered on its merits and it is UK policy to license disposal at sea only when there is no safe and practicable alternative. The only assessment so far undertaken of potential disposal sites at sea for a bulky waste was conducted by the Scottish Office in relation to the Brent Spar. All the studies included in that assessment have already been placed in the Library.

  Details of the interdepartmental discussions on this topic could be derived only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what procedure his Department follows in determining best practicable environmental options; and what criteria govern the disposal of bulky wastes at sea, in the case of(a) redundant oil and gas installations, (b) radioactive wastes and (c) other wastes; [15649]

  (2) what are the interdepartmental co-ordination and consultation mechanisms used in determining the best practicable environmental options for disposing of bulky wastes at sea, in the case of (a) redundant oil and gas installations, (b) radioactive wastes and (c) other wastes; and by what means public opinion is taken into account. [15653]

  Mr. Boswell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The dumping of waste at sea is subject to the provisions of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and the UK has agreed to abide by guidelines and assessment procedures adopted under relevant international conventions.
  452
  In particular, we apply annex 11 to the recently agreed protocol to the London convention which sets out the considerations that need to be taken into account when conducting an assessment of wastes that may be considered for dumping at sea. These include whether appropriate opportunities exist to re-use, recycle or treat the waste without undue risks to human health or the environment or disproportionate costs; the chemical, physical and biological properties of the waste; the suitability of the proposed dump site; and potential effects on the environment.

  Other Departments and the conservation agencies are consulted on such assessments as appropriate on a case by case basis. In relation to the decommissioning of oil and gas installations, which is the responsibility the Department of Trade and Industry, a wide range of fisheries, amenity and environmental interests are consulted.

WALES

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) for each unitary council and (b) for Wales in 1997 prices for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98 the (a) standard spending assessment, (b) capping limit for spending and (c) spending on care in the community, indicating the percentage change in each case. [15339]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Table 1 gives the standard spending assessments and table 2 the capping limits on spending for 1996–97 and 1997–98 at constant 1997–98 prices. No adjustments have been made for changes in local authority funding arrangements between 1996–97 and 1997–98.

  Outturn expenditure figures for care in the community are not centrally available. Identified allocations for care in the community within authorities standard spending assessments for 1996–97 1997–98 prices, are shown in table 3.

  Table 1: Standard spending assessments

  Council

  1997–98 (£000)

  11996–97 (£000)

  Change (£000)

  Percentage change

  Blaenau Gwent

  65,269

  65,786

  -517

  -0.8

  Bridgend

  110,865

  109,739

  1,125

  1.0

  Caerphilly

  147,190

  147,213

  -23

  0.0

  Cardiff

  250,773

  249,935

  839

  0.3

  Carmarthenshire

  151,724

  151,325

  399

  0.3

  Ceredigion

  61,527

  61,113

  413

  0.7

  Conwy

  92,824

  91,849

  975

  1.1

  Denbighshire

  79,476

  80,126

  -650

  -0.8

  Flintshire

  115,628

  114,810

  819

  0.7

  Gwynedd

  109,516

  108,531

  985

  0.9

  Isle of Anglesey

  61.760

  62,018

  -258

  -0.4

  Merthyr Tydfil

  56584

  56,976

  -393

  -0.7

  Monmouthshire

  65,860

  65,325

  535

  0.8

  Neath Port Talbot

  122,316

  122,860

  -544

  -0.4

  Newport

  118,639

  119,867

  -1,228

  -1.0

  Pembrokeshire

  101,848

  102,438

  -590

  -0.6

  Powys

  119,200

  117,962

  1,239

  1.1

  Rhondda, Cynon Taff

  212,409

  211,228

  1,181

  0.6

  Swansea

  196,438

  197,414

  -976

  -0.5

  Torfaen

  79,336

  79,352

  -17

  0.0

  453

  Table 1: Standard spending assessments

  Council

  1997–98(£000)

  11996–97(£000)

  Change(£000)

  Percentage change

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  95,846

  96,526

  -680

  -0.7

  Wrexham

  100,625

  100,529

  96

  0.1

  All councils

  2,515,652

  2,512,922

  2,730

  0.1

  11996–97 local government revenue settlement estimated at 1997–98 prices.

  Table 2: Capping limits on spending

  Council

  1997–98(£000)

  11996–97(£000)

  Change(£000)

  Percentage change

  Blaenau Gwent

  71,106

  70,955

  151

  0.2

  Bridgend

  117,264

  116,250

  1,015

  0.9

  Caerphilly

  154,611

  154,447

  164

  0.1

  Cardiff

  261,849

  261,232

  617

  0.2

  Carmarthenshire

  159,313

  158,311

  1,002

  0.6

  Ceredigion

  67,642

  67,394

  248

  0.4

  Conwy

  92,824

  91,849

  975

  1.1

  Denbighshire

  84,344

  85,145

  -801

  -0.9

  Flintshire

  120,836

  120,120

  716

  0.6

  Gwynedd

  114,524

  113,639

  884

  0.8

  Isle of Anglesey

  62,582

  62,313

  269

  0.4

  Merthyr Tydfil

  60,122

  59,966

  156

  0.3

  Monmouthshire

  65,860

  65,325

  535

  0.8

  Neath Port Talbot

  132,996

  132,365

  631

  0.5

  Newport

  120,000

  119,867

  134

  0.1

  Pembrokeshire

  103,921

  103,553

  367

  0.4

  Powys

  120,411

  119,196

  1,215

  1.0

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  228,967

  228,261

  706

  0.3

  Swansea

  203,116

  202,013

  1,103

  0.5

  Torfaen

  81,389

  81,256

  132

  0.2

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  97,404

  97,452

  -48

  0.0

  Wrexham

  105,055

  103,414

  1,641

  1.6

  All councils

  2,626,136

  2,614,325

  11,812

  0.5

  11996–97 local government revenue settlement estimated at 1997–98 prices.

  Table 3: Allocations within total standard spending assessments in respect of care in the community

  Council

  1997–98(£000)

  11996–97(£000)

  Change(£000)

  Percentage change

  Blaenau Gwent

  4,240

  3,831

  409

  10.7

  Bridgend

  7,276

  6,526

  750

  11.5

  Caerphilly

  9,148

  8,242

  905

  11.0

  Cardiff

  15,991

  14,385

  1,606

  11.2

  Carmarthenshire

  11,142

  10,031

  1,111

  11.1

  Ceredigion

  4,258

  3,826

  432

  11.3

  Conwy

  7,326

  6,611

  715

  10.8

  Denbighshire

  5,792

  5,271

  521

  9.9

  Flintshire

  7,257

  6,518

  740

  11.4

  Gwynedd

  7,704

  6,937

  767

  11.1

  Isle of Anglesey

  3,987

  3,679

  309

  8.4

  Merthyr Tydfil

  3,821

  3,480

  342

  9.8

  Monmouthshire

  4,540

  4,018

  522

  13.0

  Neath Port Talbot

  8,909

  7,946

  963

  12.1

  Newport

  7,356

  6,681

  675

  10.1

  Pembrokeshire

  6,353

  5,706

  647

  11.3

  Powys

  7,548

  6,818

  730

  10.7

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  15,553

  14,016

  1,538

  11.0

  Swansea

  13,596

  12,328

  1,268

  10.3

  Torfaen

  4,627

  4,167

  459

  11.0

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  5,993

  5,468

  525

  9.6

  Wrexham

  6,793

  6,080

  713

  11.7

  All councils

  169,209

  152,562

  16,647

  10.9

  11996–97 local government revenue settlement estimated at 1997–98 prices.

  Teachers (Redundancy)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to introduce to reduce the number of teacher redundancies. [15834]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Local education authorities and schools are responsible for decisions relating to the employment and deployment of individual schools teachers. The local authority settlement announced recently should enable those local authorities who attach the same high priority to education as my right hon. Friend and Ito have sufficient resources to meet the needs of schools.

  Health Authorities (Allocation of Resources)
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has reached a decision concerning the allocation of resources to health authorities in Wales for 1997–98. [16854]

  Mr. Hague
  I announced on 12 December 1996,Official Report, columns 405–09, that I shall be providing an additional £94 million for the NHS in Wales in 1997–98. This will bring total spending to £2,368 million; £1,658 million of this will fund the hospital, community and family health service.

  Within this amount, the five health authorities, general practitioners and general practitioner fundholders will receive revenue funding of £1,505 million, £52 million or 3.5 per cent. more than in 1996–97 plans. In real terms, this is an overall increase of 1.5 per cent. Within these resources, I have been able to give health authorities £49 million, which represents a 3.5 per cent. cash increase on discretionary purchasing power, and £3 million to cash limited general medical services, which is a 5.6 per cent. cash increase.

  I am expecting health authorities and trusts to continue to generate efficiency savings and in 1997–98 these should amount to at least 2.7 per cent. This will release some £40 million which, together with the new money, will be available to meet inflationary and other pressures, and to increase investment in patient care.

  Health authorities and trusts will also receive £105 million to fund capital development. Included with this is some £9 million of new provision in order to fund the package of urgently needed capital development that I set out in my budget statement. The rationalisation of services between the Cardiff royal infirmary and the university hospital of Wales, the new link road to the hospital site and work on the new cancer centre in north Wales can now begin next year. These developments complement the capital schemes worth £40 million that are currently subject to the private finance initiative and I fully expect to see some successful outcomes in 1997–98. The private finance initiative offers a unique opportunity to bring forward capital developments which are funded outside public expenditure.

  Officials have today informed health authorities and trusts of the provisional allocations to health authorities and trusts' external financing limits. I have placed a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Primary Schools (Hillingdon)
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the relationship between the level of funding and education standards in maintained primary schools in the London borough of Hillingdon. [16235]

  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the relationship between the level of funding and education standards in maintained primary schools in the London borough of Hillingdon. [16237]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There is no simple relationship between levels of funding and education standards.

  Further Education
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will take steps to assist further education colleges running operating deficits to restore their financial health without jeopardising the quality and scope of the education offered. [16102]

  Mr. Paice
  Colleges are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for managing their own financial affairs. The Further Education Funding Council has effective arrangements in place for identifying colleges in financial difficulty and for working with them to recover their financial health.

  School Computers
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the ratio of computers to secondary school pupils in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States of America and (c) Japan in the last five years for which figures are available. [16143]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Comparative data are not readily available. A recent international report by Research Machines on information technology provision in schools, covering countries in the group of 7, indicated that in 1996 the ratio of computers to secondary school pupils in the United Kingdom was one per 8.5 pupils, in the United States of America one per 12 pupils and in Japan about one per 25 pupils.

  School Inspections
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools by local education authority have been deemed by Office for Standards in Education inspectors to be failing to provide a satisfactory standard of education. [16171]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested on the 243 failing schools, as at 31 January 1997, is given in the following table. In addition, I have placed in the Library a coloured map containing the same information.

  For completeness, I should add that 18 schools have already been restored to health as a result of the special measures policy and 12 have closed.
  456

  LEA

  Number of schools

  Corporation of London

  0

  Camden

  1

  Greenwich

  3

  Hackney

  5

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1

  Islington

  2

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  Lambeth

  11

  Lewisham

  4

  Southwark

  4

  Tower Hamlets

  1

  Wandsworth

  3

  Westminster

  1

  Barking

  0

  Barnet

  0

  Bexley

  0

  Brent

  4

  Bromley

  1

  Croydon

  4

  Ealing

  0

  Enfield

  1

  Haringey

  2

  Harrow

  0

  Havering

  1

  Hillingdon

  0

  Hounslow

  1

  Kingston

  0

  Merton

  0

  Newham

  3

  Redbridge

  0

  Richmond

  0

  Sutton

  2

  Waltham Forest

  6

  Birmingham

  6

  Coventry

  1

  Dudley

  0

  Sandwell

  3

  Solihull

  1

  Walsall

  3

  Wolverhampton

  2

  Knowsley

  0

  Liverpool

  6

  St. Helens

  0

  Sefton

  0

  Wirral

  1

  Bolton

  1

  Bury

  1

  Manchester

  4

  Oldham

  1

  Rochdale

  2

  Salford

  2

  Stockport

  1

  Tameside

  0

  Trafford

  0

  Wigan

  1

  Barnsley

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  Sheffield

  5

  102

  Bradford

  8

  Calderdale

  1

  Kirklees

  3

  Leeds

  6

  Wakefield

  0

  Gateshead

  1

  Newcastle

  3

  North Tyneside

  0

  South Tyneside

  0

  Sunderland

  1

  Bath and North East Somerset

  0

  457

  LEA

  Number of schools

  City of Bristol

  0

  North Somerset

  South Gloucestershire

  0

  Hartlepool

  0

  Middlesborough

  1

  Redcar

  0

  Stockton

  1

  Hull

  5

  East Riding

  0

  North East Lincolnshire

  0

  North Lincolnshire

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  York

  0

  Bedfordshire

  1

  Berkshire

  3

  Buckinghamshire

  2

  Cambridgeshire

  3

  Cheshire

  0

  Cornwall

  1

  Cumbria

  3

  Derbyshire

  1

  Devon

  3

  Dorset

  1

  Durham

  0

  East Sussex

  2

  Essex

  6

  Gloucestershire

  3

  Hampshire

  3

  Hereford and Worcester

  2

  Hertfordshire

  5

  Isle of Wight

  0

  Kent

  4

  Lancashire

  14

  Leicestershire

  8

  Lincolnshire

  2

  Norfolk

  8

  Northants

  1

  Northumberland

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  7

  Oxfordshire

  4

  Shropshire

  2

  Somerset

  1

  Staffordshire

  5

  Suffolk

  0

  Surrey

  1

  Warwickshire

  1

  West Sussex

  0

  Wiltshire

  2

  131

  1. Independent

  Colbrook Independent Special School, Shropshire. Talbot Independent Special School, Northumberland.

  2. GM Schools

  Southfields Secondary, Kent 1.

  St Hugh's Secondary, Lincolnshire 1.

  Upbury Manor Secondary, Kent 1.

  Aston St. Peters Primary, Bedfordshire 1.

  Our Lady of Fatima Sec, Liverpool 1.

  Kelsey Park Secondary School, Bromley 1.

  St. Margaret's Special School, Bedfordshire 1.

  Hayes Manor Secondary School, Hillingdon 1.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children of school age, who are the subjects of statements of special educational needs, are being educated in(a) private schools specialising in such children, (b) maintained
  458
  special schools, (c) special units within maintained schools and (d) mainstream classes in maintained schools. [16438]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Schools' returns to the Department showed that in January 1996, 4,992 pupils with statements were educated in non-maintained special schools, 5,810 in independent schools, 87,458 in maintained special schools, 1,826 in pupil referral units, and 127,238 in maintained nursery, primary or secondary schools. Information on whether pupils with statements in mainstream schools are taught in general classes or separately is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) boys and (b) girls of school age are the subjects of statements of special educational needs; and how many of these have (i) special learning difficulties and (ii) behavioural problems. [16435]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Schools' returns to the Department showed that in January 1996 a total of 227,324 pupils had statements. Information by gender, or by type of special educational need, is not collected centrally.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the number and the proportion of eligible parents who have(a) received a voucher application form and (b) returned a voucher application from, in respect of provision for their four-year-old in the summer term 1997. [15958]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The parents/carers of 653,746 eligible children have been sent an application form. Of those, as of 12 February 1997, a total of 511,780—more than 78 per cent.—had returned their forms to the nursery voucher centre.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received from providers in the four areas piloting the nursery voucher scheme, regarding the impact of the voucher scheme on provision for three-year-olds. [15960]

  Mr. Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received representations on a number of aspects of the nursery voucher scheme, including the desirability of extending the scheme to three-year-olds. As the deduction from each local education authority's standard spending assessment is only in respect of existing places for four-year-olds, it should not impact on the provision for three-year-olds.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places for voucher-bearing four-year-olds were provided in(a) the maintained sector, (b) the voluntary sector, (c) the private sector and (d) overall in (i) the first term and (ii) the second term of the nursery voucher pilot scheme. [15955]

  Mr. Squire
  The table provides a breakdown of the number of places provided under the voucher scheme by type of provider for each of the phase 1 local education authority areas in the summer and autumn terms of 1996.
  459

  Number of places provided in the summer and autumn terms

  Norfolk

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Wandsworth

  Westminster

  Total

  Summer term

  Private and voluntary sectors

  3,656

  248

  448

  168

  4,520

  Independent schools

  222

  148

  197

  92

  659

  Grant-maintained schools

  158

  40

  71

  0

  269

  Local authority day nurseries

  0

  40

  35

  49

  124

  Special schools

  21

  0

  4

  0

  25

  LEA-maintained schools

  4,274

  600

  2,043

  832

  7,749

  Total

  8,331

  1,076

  2,798

  1,141

  13,346

  Autumn term

  Private and voluntary sectors

  773

  123

  127

  120

  1,143

  Independent schools

  206

  269

  347

  113

  935

  Grant-maintained schools

  344

  45

  232

  0

  621

  Local authority day nurseries

  0

  23

  6

  29

  58

  Special schools

  18

  0

  8

  0

  26

  LEA-maintained schools

  7,548

  621

  2,040

  886

  11,095

  Total

  8,889

  1,081

  2,760

  1,148

  13,878

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when parents of four-year-olds will receive a nursery voucher in respect of provision in the summer term 1997. [15957]

  Mr. Squire
  The first tranche of nursery education vouchers will arrive with parents from 24 February 1997. Thereafter vouchers will be issued to parents on receipt of a correctly completed application form.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will publish the chief inspector's report on the findings of the inspections carried out up to the end of November, in the pilot phase of the nursery voucher scheme. [15959]

  Mr. Squire
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has published today the chief inspector's overview report on the findings of inspections carried out in the local authority areas participating in phase 1 of the nursery education voucher scheme.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her current estimate of the number and percentage of parents in the four areas piloting the nursery voucher scheme who have seen or heard advertising for the scheme. [15953]

  Mr. Squire
  Research undertaken in March 1996 among a sample of the 16,000 eligible parents in the four phase 1 participating authorities showed that, overall,

  Voucher redemption in summer and autumn terms

  Norfolk

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Wandsworth

  Westminster

  Summer term 1996

  Estimated children

  9,300

  1,650

  3,300

  1,900

  Vouchers issued

  8,914

  1,140

  3,123

  1,395

  Vouchers redeemed (full or part)

  8,331

  1,076

  2,798

  1,141

  Nominal value of unredeemed voucher parts

  £526,251

  £28,859

  £141,913

  £107,589

  Autumn term 1996

  Estimated children

  9,300

  1,650

  3,300

  1,900

  Vouchers issued

  9,128

  1,142

  3,147

  1,469

  Vouchers redeemed (full or part)

  8,889

  1,081

  2,760

  1,148

  Nominal value of unredeemed vouchers parts

  £177,960

  £35,570

  £174,403

  £142,463

  460
  some 38 per cent. claimed to have seen or heard some advertising for the nursery education voucher scheme. The figure rose to 48 per cent. in Norfolk. Given that publicity had to be contained within the participating authorities, this is a very respectable figure.

  No subsequent research of this nature has been undertaken, but it seems reasonable to conclude that with the advent of national advertising for phase 2 a greater proportion of parents in the four phase 1 areas are now aware of the scheme.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many vouchers have been(a) issued and (b) redeemed in respect of (i) term one and (ii) term two of the nursery voucher scheme; and what is the cash value of unredeemed vouchers; [15954]

  (2) in respect of each of the four nursery voucher pilot areas (a) what is the number of eligible four-year-olds, (b) how many applied for a voucher and (c) how many redeemed a voucher in (i) the first term and (ii) the second term, of the pilot phase. [15956]

  Mr. Squire
  The following table provides a breakdown of the estimated number of children eligible for a voucher, and the number of vouchers issued and redeemed for each of the phase 1 local education authority areas in the summer and autumn terms 1996. Unredeemed vouchers do not have a cash value; they represent the potential grant that would have been paid had they been redeemed.

  Grant-maintained Status Applications
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the timetable which governs the process of application for grant-maintained status if a board of school governors recommends that such status should be sought. [16252]

  Mr. Forth
  If the governing body of a school passes a resolution to ballot parents on grant-maintained status, or if it receives a valid petition from parents, it must hold a ballot within 10 weeks. If a majority of those parents who vote are in favour of GM status, the governing body must publish, within four months of the ballot result, statutory proposals for acquiring GM status. There is then a period of two months during which objections to those proposals may be made. My right hon. Friend decides the proposals, taking account of any objections, as soon as possible thereafter.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of schools likely to apply for grant-maintained status within the next six months; and if she will make a statement. [16254]

  Mr. Forth
  There are currently some 50 schools which have published statutory proposals to become grant maintained following a yes vote in parental ballots, and nine more are in the process of balloting parents. Beyond that, the number of schools applying for grant-maintained status depends on parental choice and we do not try to predict it.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools have begun the process of seeking grant-maintained status; in how many of those cases parents voted by a sufficient majority in favour of acquiring such status; in how many of the cases of such affirmative votes applications have so far been received by his Department; in how many of those cases of applications received such status (i) was approved, (ii) was denied and (iii) is still pending; and if she will make a statement. [16251]

  Mr. Forth
  The GM process starts when a school decides to ballot parents on applying for GM status. If parents vote yes, the school publishes statutory proposals to become a grant-maintained school. These are considered by the Secretary of State, who may approve or reject them. The following table gives details of ballots and their outcomes in England since GM legislation was first introduced in 1988.

  (a) Primary

  (b) Secondary

  Number of schools holding ballots

  764

  944

  Yes votes by parents

  566

  702

  Statutory proposals published

  561

  701

  Statutory proposals approved by Secretary of State

  494

  654

  Statutory proposals rejected by Secretary of State

  50

  39

  Statutory proposals under consideration

  17

  8

  Figures exclude special schools and schools established by promoters. Where schools have held more than one ballot, only the outcome of the latest has been included. Where schools have published proposals more than once, only the latest decision has been counted.
  462
  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the grounds upon which an application by a school for grant-maintained status could be refused by the Secretary of State; and in what circumstances under the relevant Act the Secretary of State could defer a decision. [16253]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend considers each application for grant-maintained status on its merits and in the light of the relevant circumstances. The reasons for any decision not to approve GM statutory proposals therefore vary from case to case. The legislation does not make provision for the deferral of decisions on GM applications.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people after claiming jobseeker's allowance for a period of 13 weeks have taken(a) part-time employment of less than 25 hours, (b) temporary employment of less than (i) six months and (ii) 12 months and (c) employment paying less than £3 per hour in each month since 7 October 1996. [16125]

  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 Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the number of people who, after claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for a period of 13 weeks, have taken (a) part-time employment of less than 25 hours, (b) temporary employment of less than (i) 6 months and (ii) 12 months and (c) employment paying less than £3 per hour in each month since 7th October 1996.
  Unfortunately, I cannot provide the information you request as it is not available. The reasons for this are:
  the Employment Service records employment details where jobseekers have been placed into vacancies advertised through Jobcentres, but no details are available for jobseekers finding employment through alternative means. Therefore I cannot identify total numbers for any of the categories you have requested;
  when details of vacancies are taken by the Jobcentre, an indicator is set if the vacancy is temporary but the period of temporary work is not specified;
  vacancies taken by the Jobcentre are classified as part time if the vacancy offers up to 30 hours work per week, but no differentiation is made between part time vacancies on the basis of the number of hours;
  in general, Jobcentres record the average weekly earnings rather than the hourly rate.
  Although the information you have requested is not available, you may find it useful to refer to the Labour Market Trends publication produced by the Office for National Statistics, which provides further Labour Market analysis.
  I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many people have been subject to benefit disqualification as a result of(a) breaking the labour market conditions, (b) failing to complete the jobseeker's allowance agreement, (c) refusing to attend mandatory training courses and (d) failing to act on the jobseeker's direction in each month since 7 October 1996; [16126]
  463
  (2) how many people have been subject to benefit disqualification for refusing to accept a job offer notified by the Employment Service in each month since October 1996. [16127]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about how many people in each month since October 1996 have been subjected to benefit disqualification as a result of breaking the labour market conditions, failing to complete the jobseeker's allowance agreement, refusing to attend mandatory training courses, failing to act on the jobseeker's direction, and refusing to accept a job offer notified by the Employment Service. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Unfortunately information is not available in the form you have requested. The information is not available on a monthly basis but statistics are compiled quarterly. Information about decisions on questions arising on claims for unemployment benefit is contained in a document entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officer's Decisions", which is published quarterly, and includes information on all the main entitlement questions arising on claims.
  The publication for the quarter ending 31 December 1996 will also include decisions given on questions arising on claims for Jobseeker's Allowance. All the main questions will be shown separately, including those relating to the areas referred to above. I expect to publish this analysis by the end of March 1997 and copies will be placed in the Library.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 3 February,Official Report, column 466, what level of TEC reserves is available for discretionary expenditure. [16856]

  Mr. Paice
  The information provided by training and enterprise councils in England about the level of reserves shown in their statutory accounts for 1995–96 show that the total of £260 million comprised £51 million for investment in capital assets, £86 million for working capital and £123 million for discretionary expenditure. Of the sum available for discretionary expenditure, £102 million was earmarked for planned expenditure in 1996–97 and beyond for economic regeneration and other purposes in line with their corporate and business plans.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and which United Kingdom constituencies have higher unemployment rates than(a) Germany and (b) France. [15673]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  464
  Letter from Dennis Roberts to Mr. Peter Bottomley dated 18 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked the director of the Office for National Statistics to reply to your recent question on those parliamentary constituencies with a higher rate of unemployment than Germany and France. The Director has asked me to reply in his absence.
  Unemployment rates by Parliamentary Constituency are not available for either the claimant count or the internationally comparable ILO measure of unemployment derived from the Labour Force Survey.

DEFENCE

  Publicity Material (Languages)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many items of publicity material are produced by his Department in the Urdu language. [14850]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 10 February,Official Report, column 5. Details of any other material produced by my Department in the Urdu language are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Policies (Bournemouth)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effect of his Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special reference to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14954]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Information is not available in the form requested by my hon. Friend. However, my Department publishes data on the destination of MOD equipment expenditure on an annual basis in "UK Defence Statistics". Table 1.9 shows expenditure in each of the standard UK regions. A copy of the latest "UK Defence Statistics" is in the Library of the House. Data are not available at a lower level than that published. My hon. Friend may wish to know, however, that my Department has placed over 550 contracts in the Bournemouth area over the last 12 months worth in total in the region of £40 million.

  Suicides (Armed Services)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many suicides there have been in each of the armed services in each year since 1990. [15387]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 12 February 1997]: The number of coroner verdicts of suicide in each of the armed services, including Gurkhas1, for each year since 1990 are:

  Year

  Navy

  Army1

  RAF

  Total

  1990

  8

  20

  14

  42

  1991

  5

  22

  7

  34

  1992

  6

  19

  5

  30

  1993

  1

  18

  4

  23

  1994

  6

  18

  5

  29

  1995

  1

  15

  2

  18

  1996

  2

  3

  0

  5

  1997

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Information in the table as at 10 February 1997.

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of(a) energy use and (b) waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16423]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This answer can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Royal Yacht
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the role of(a) the Department of Trade and Industry, (b) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (c) the Department of Education and Employment in the design consultations on the replacement for the royal yacht Britannia. [15736]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In view of the trade promotion and representational roles of the royal yacht, officials from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will assist the Ministry of Defence in developing the specification for the new vessel. No Department for Education and Employment participation is currently planned.

  Sensorineural Hearing Loss
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations his Department has had with the Department of Social Security in relation to replies to parliamentary questions from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on the subject of sensorineural hearing loss and war pensions. [15860]

  Mr. Soames
  The administration of the war pension scheme is a matter for the Department of Social Security. On medical matters, the legislation governing that scheme requires the War Pensions Agency to take the advice of a medical advisor appointed by the Secretary of State for that Department. My Department has no part to play in this process; consequently, there has been no need for consultation.

  Eskmeals and Shoeburyness Ranges
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps have been taken in recent years to reduce the fixed costs of the ranges at(a) Eskmeals and (b) Shoeburyness; [16479]

  (2) what are the fixed costs to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of providing the ranges at (a) Eskmeals and (b) Shoeburyness. [16480]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your questions about the fixed costs of running the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, and the steps which have
  466
  been taken to reduce them, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. I will reply to both questions in this letter.
  The fixed costs of providing accommodation, estate management, security, communications infrastructure and site management, during 1997/8, are expected to be:
  Shoeburyness: £6,397,000
  Eskmeals: £2,138,000
  This cost is before the provision of any staff or costs directly associated with the provision of any staff or costs directly associated with the provision or support of trials capabilities.
  Both ranges have taken steps to reduce their fixed costs. At Eskmeals, savings have been achieved by reducing the numbers of staff, rationalising working practices and reviewing property and estate practices. Similarly, staffing levels and maintenance programmes have been reduced at Shoeburyness. Changes have also been made to the way in which work is done, including the contractorisation of works services.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the test and evaluation work of(a) Eskmeals range and (b) Shoeburyness range is devoted to (i) new weapon procurement and (ii) equipment improvement programmes to enhance existing defence systems. [16481]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your question about the nature of the work done in support of the Ministry of Defence's equipment procurement programme at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible.
  Work on the Eskmeals range is divided in broadly equal parts between new equipment procurement and equipment improvement programmes. At Shoeburyness, typically half of the tasks undertaken involves the proof testing of weapons and munitions. The remainder of the work is in support of new equipment procurement or improvement programmes, but on both ranges the precise balance varies from year to year.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the staff complements of(a) Eskmeals range and (b) Shoeburyness range in each of the past five years in each of the categories (i) contractors, (ii) civil servants and (iii) military staff. [16478]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your question about the staff complements of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible.
  467
  The number of staff working on the ranges, as at 1 April in each of the last 5 years was as follows:

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Eskmeals

  Civil servants

  65

  65

  63

  56

  56

  Military

  12

  12

  11

  9

  8

  Contractors

  174

  173

  170

  148

  140

  Shoeburyness

  Civil servants

  83

  83

  79

  77

  68

  Military

  24

  24

  21

  21

  18

  Contractors

  400

  388

  399

  380

  343

  I hope this is helpful.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what facilities are available at the Eskmeals range that are not available at other ranges of his Department; [16488]

  (2) what proportion of the work of the Shoeburyness range involves overwater recovery; and at what other range facilities in the United Kingdom or overseas this work could take place. [16477]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your questions about the facilities and capabilities at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness and their availability at other ranges, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. I will respond to both of these questions in this letter.
  Although none of the facilities currently available at Eskmeals is directly replicated elsewhere, it would technically be feasible to provide all but one of the capabilities offered by the range on other sites. The firing of ammunition incorporating Depleted Uranium in a contained environment cannot be conducted on any other Ministry of Defence range in the United Kingdom.
  During the current year, over water recovery is forecast to account for some 5% by value of all work undertaken at Shoeburyness. I am only aware of one other facility, in Australia, at which it is possible to carry out comparable over water recovery.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the charges for the use of the Eskmeals and Shoeburyness ranges are set at a level commensurate with recovering the costs of operating those facilities; [16482]

  (2) what increases in the level of charges were set in each of the last five years for the use of (a) Eskmeals and (b) Shoeburyness ranges. [16483]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your questions about the levels of charges and operating costs and increases in charges of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. I will cover both questions in this letter.
  468
  Charges for the use of the ranges are set at a level which should enable the full cost of operating the facilities to be recovered, based upon a predicted level of demand. In the event, a significant reduction in the level of customer demand for the facilities on both ranges has resulted in income falling well short of that required to cover the cost of operating them.
  Information on the level of charges is only available from when DTEO began trading, as part of DERA in 1995. At Eskmeals, the average increase in rates from 1995/6 to 1996/7 was 1.5%. However the basis of charging for the use of facilities at Shoeburyness changed between 1995/6 when, for example, there were five different rates for static trials, and 1996/7 when there were 15. Direct comparisons are not therefore possible.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from members of the public regarding the safety of(a) the Eskmeals and (b) the Shoeburyness ranges. [16476]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 18 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your question about the numbers of representations that have been received from members of the public regarding safety at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) ranges at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible.
  I am not aware of any concerns expressed by members of the public about the safety of operations at either of the ranges since they became part of DERA in 1995.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Army Manning
  Mr. Lamont
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further initiatives he is taking to improve manning in the Army. [16743]

  Mr. Soames
  I am determined to reverse the current levels of undermanning in the armed forces. We shall accelerate our recruiting efforts, which already show a marked improvement in results over previous years. The Army alone will need up to 17,000 recruits per annum over the next few years.

  Numbers are not the only issue, however. Equally important is the need to attract recruits of the right quality to cope with the complexities of modern warfare, and to provide the highest standards of leadership, for which our forces are rightly renowned and which were previously provided under the junior leaders scheme.

  To obtain suitable high quality recruits in sufficient numbers, we propose to supplement our current recruiting methods with a new approach designed to attract school leavers of 16 years and over interested in gaining qualifications and enhanced career opportunities as well as guaranteed employment.

  I have decided, therefore, to open a new Army foundation college in September 1998. It will offer a 42-week Army foundation course for soldiers destined for front line roles, combining military and leadership

  469
  training with vocational education. It will develop key skills in numeracy, communications, information technology, personal skills and problem solving, needed for access to national vocational qualifications.

  When fully established the college will accommodate up to 1,300 students. Its graduates will therefore contribute significantly to resolving the Army's manning difficulties. We are confident that many of them will rise to fill key positions, providing the Army with high quality leadership into the future.

  Following the example of other successful defence projects, such as the recent competition for the new joint services command and staff college, we intend to seek private finance for the college. There is a possible site available at the former army apprentices college at Harrogate, which we shall draw to the attention of bidders, but it would not be appropriate to take a firm decision on location at this stage.

  The new Army foundation college will ensure that the Army is well placed to attract the best young men and women into its ranks. It will offer ambitious young people valuable qualifications and one of the most challenging and worthwhile careers in the country today.

  Publicity
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what promotional and public information campaigns his Department is(a) currently running and (b) planning to run during the next six months; and for each campaign (i) how much it will cost, (1) in total and (2) to his Department, (ii) what agencies or bodies are undertaking the work and (iii) what is its planned duration. [7414]

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  11996–97

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Policy

  116,453

  167,390

  190,406

  259,384

  324,740

  453,000

  Navy

  2—

  538,639

  637,249

  571,312

  590,974

  592,000

  Army

  2—

  2—

  494,000

  831,000

  1,009,000

  586,000

  RAF

  2—

  339,000

  555,000

  615,000

  652,000

  607,000

  1 Forecast.

  2 Information not held centrally.

  We do not publish detailed future plans as approval to commit expenditure is subject to formal endorsement through Ministers and the parliamentary supply system.

  Recruitment

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  11996–97

  Navy3

  2—

  3.583

  3.617

  3.505

  6.912

  6.816

  Army4

  10.995

  8.094

  9.537

  10.893

  22.272

  21.590

  RAF

  3.244

  2.058

  2.256

  3.812

  3.535

  5.108

  1Forecast.

  2Information not held centrally.

  3Includes all costs attributable to marketing the RN/RM as a career.

  4Includes all costs attributable to marketing the Army as a career and expenditure on recruiting and publicity for the Territorial Army.

  We do not publish detailed future plans as approval to commit expenditure is subject to formal endorsement through Ministers and the parliamentary supply system.
  470
  Mr. Soames
  In addition to service recruiting campaigns, which continue throughout the year, my Department sponsors, organises and controls centrally activities aimed at promoting understanding of Defence policy and the armed forces. These have taken the form, principally, of a touring Defence policy exhibition which for a number of years has followed a programme of displays at public events across the country; and in the work of the single service presentation teams which operate throughout the year. During the next six months, it is planned to mount the Defence policy exhibition at the Birmingham international boat and caravan show over nine days in February.

  Excluding manpower, the overall cost of the Defence policy exhibition in 1996–97 is expected to be £453,000, of which the display costs at Birmingham amount to £38,000.

  The costs of the single service presentation teams, primarily service manpower, in 1996–97 are expected to be £1.785 million.

  The costs of service recruitment campaigns in 1996–97 are expected to amount to £33.51 million.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7532]

  Mr. Soames
  Expenditure on the Defence policy exhibition—excluding manpower—service presentation teams and service recruitment advertising in each of the last five years for which information is available was as follows:

SCOTLAND

  Hospital Beds
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds there were in each NHS trust in Scotland in each year from 1994 to 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15896]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The table shows the average daily number of beds staffed and available for the reception of in-patients and day cases.

  Changes in the number of available staffed beds between 1994 and 1996 reflect several developments, including shorter lengths of stay for patients receiving treatment in acute specialties, greater use of day case surgery, and the increase in the number of patients being cared for in the community rather than in hospital.

  NHS hospitals—average available staffed beds by NHS Trust1— years ending 31 March 1994 to 1996

  NHS Trust

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Scotland

  44,185

  42,351

  40,555

  Argyll and Clyde

  Argyll and Bute NHS Trust

  639

  652

  620

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  380

  368

  364

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  428

  408

  405

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,715

  1,651

  1,633

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  523

  513

  500

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust

  1,050

  1,007

  945

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  944

  902

  877

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  699

  667

  586

  Borders

  Borders Community Health Services NHS Trust

  443

  436

  418

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  392

  377

  379

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  160

  454

  469

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Health NHS Trust

  827

  772

  714

  Fife

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,789

  1,615

  1,517

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  419

  474

  439

  Queen Margaret Hospitals NHS Trust

  369

  365

  366

  Forth Valley

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,751

  1,653

  1,525

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  405

  395

  394

  472

  NHS hospitals—average available staffed beds by NHS Trust1— years ending 31 March 1994 to 1996

  NHS Trust

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  442

  456

  429

  Grampian

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,420

  1,418

  1,425

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,789

  2,578

  2,414

  Moray Health Services NHS Trust

  425

  418

  437

  Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust

  1,420

  1,291

  1,263

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  2,775

  2,650

  2,364

  Southern General Hospital NHS Trust

  1,169

  1,065

  1,066

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  943

  859

  784

  The Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  1,035

  943

  918

  The Yorkhill NHS Trust

  414

  421

  397

  West Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust

  1,457

  1,318

  1,303

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  Highland

  Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust

  216

  226

  226

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  886

  847

  788

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  619

  600

  600

  Lanarkshire

  Hairnyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  776

  773

  754

  Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,943

  1,777

  1,689

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  6984

  663

  645

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  652

  643

  645

  Lothian

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  1,130

  1,111

  1,090

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,618

  1,598

  1,533

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  146

  159

  141

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  1,613

  1,599

  1,432

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  981

  1,007

  990

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  825

  815

  814

  Orkney

  Orkney Health Board Unit

  152

  150

  150

  Shetland

  Shetland Hospitals and Community Services Unit

  142

  137

  136

  Tayside

  Angus NHS Trust

  834

  802

  774

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,152

  1,091

  1,032

  473

  NHS hospitals—average available staffed beds by NHS Trust1— years ending 31 March 1994 to 1996

  NHS Trust

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  1,068

  1,061

  1,023

  Pert and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  950

  904

  891

  Western Isles

  Western Isles Health Unit

  266

  265

  250

  1 Composition of trusts is based on services provided during year ending 31 March 1996. Includes directly managed units.

  Timber Products
  Sir Irvine Patrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken to implement the recommendations of the Forest Stewardship Council in respect of standards for the sustainability of timber products. [15485]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Forestry Commission is consulting widely on a draft UK forestry standard and will take account of the Forest Stewardship Council's views.

  Sinclair Gardens, Bishopbriggs
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the date for the public inquiry into the pathway closure at Sinclair gardens in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. [15698]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has not been asked to confirm an order extinguishing the right of way over a path at Sinclair gardens in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. If such a request is made by East Dunbartonshire council consideration will be given to the need for a public inquiry.

  BSE (Cattle Cull)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's search for cattle associated with BSE cases to be culled under the terms of the Florence agreement; how many cattle have been identified so far; what is his latest estimate of the likely total; how many farms are involved; and what is his estimate of the time scale for completing this search and concluding the accelerated cull. [16318]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  On-farm visits to natal herds, in which a confirmed case of BSE was born, started in the week beginning 27 January. So far, the total number of Scottish cattle that have been identified through these visits as having been exposed to the same feed as BSE cases is 286. Of this number, 49 animals have so far been confirmed as exposed by the central veterinary unit, all of which have moved out of the natal herd and need to be traced further. The latest estimate of the number of cattle affected in Great Britain is 90,000 to 100,000, of which around 4,300 may be in Scotland. However, the true number of animals affected can be determined only by on-farm visits.

  Around 300 farms in Scotland have herds in which a confirmed case of BSE was born. Farms which have bought in exposed animals will also be affected. Again, the number of such farms can only be established through the visits to the natal herds, and subsequent tracing visits.
  474
  It is very difficult at this early stage to estimate the length of time it will take to conclude the cull.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kashmir
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to and what reports he has received from the authorities in(a) Kashmir and (b) India concerning the hostage Paul Wells. [16226]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Mr right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the kidnapping of Paul Wells and Keith Mangan with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts during his January visits. We remain deeply troubled that there has been no confirmed news of the two men since August 1995. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made our concern clear and obtained assurances of all possible assistance in finding out what has happened to the men. He has since written to their families. The Foreign Office consular division will keep them fully informed of any developments.

  We are in touch with the Indian authorities, and with the Chief Minister of Kashmir. The diplomatic missions of the UK, USA, Germany and Norway also follow closely the investigation undertaken by the Jammu and Kashmir police.

  Israel
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms of scrutiny the Government propose to put forward to(a) the European Commission and (b) other EU bodies in relation to article 2 of the EU-Israel association agreement; and if he will take steps to ensure these mechanisms are sufficiently transparent to allow assessment of the operation and effect of the human rights clause in the association agreement. [16191]

  Mr. Hanley
  Heads of diplomatic missions of EU member states in Israel and the occupied territories, as in other countries, continually monitor the human rights situation and send regular reports to the EU Presidency, which are seen by all Member State governments. This includes reporting in connection with the association agreements. The EU-Israel association agreement will establish a political dialogue which will allow the EU to raise human rights issues more effectively with the Israeli Government. The association council set up under the agreement will examine any major issues arising under the agreement.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Israel's compliance with articles 1 and 38 of the EU-Israel interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters. [16325]

  Mr. Hanley
  Article 1 of the agreement concerns respect for human rights and democratic principles. We and the EU regularly raise these important matters with the Israeli Government. Article 38 is about the territories to which the agreement applies: as it applies to the territory of the state of Israel, it would not include the
  475
  occupied territories. The question of whether Israel would be in breach of the agreement by certifying goods produced in the occupied territories as produced in Israel is a matter for the Commission.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from Israel in respect of its compliance with articles 1 and 38 of the EU-Israel association agreement once Parliament has ratified that agreement. [16326]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer. Articles 1 and 38 in the interim agreement are equivalent to articles 2 and 83 in the association agreement. We have received no assurances bilaterally from Israel on this agreement, which is between Israel and the EU.

  South Africa
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what travel advice his Department provides for travellers visiting South Africa. [15898]

  Dr Liam Fox
  The current travel advice for South Africa, issued on 7 February 1997, states:Incidents of armed attack, mugging and car hijacking are common, both during daylight hours and at night. The level of violent crime is high, particularly in the Johannesburg area. The murder rate is high and victims in recent months have included a number of foreigners. Care is required in all major cities. Isolated areas should be avoided. Drivers should park in well-lit areas and never pick up strangers. It is inadvisable to wear expensive jewellery or carry cameras when walking in urban areas. The minimum of cash should be carried. Townships and surrounding areas should be avoided.
  If staying in an hotel, seek the advice of the management about which areas should be avoided. Visitors should contact the British High Commission/Consulate for further guidance. British High Commission Pretoria; (012) 342 2200; British Consulate General Johannesburg; (011) 327 0015; British Consulate Cape Town; (021) 253 670; British Consulate Durban; (031) 305 2929; British Consulate East London; (0431) 54 430; British Consulate Port Elizabeth; (041) 55 2423.

  China
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning the treatment of political prisoners. [16327]

  Mr. Hanley
  We regularly raise our concerns on human rights, including the treatment of political prisoners, with the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and through the European Union. My right hon. and learned Friend and Foreign Secretary did so most recently during his talks with Qian Qichen in Singapore on 14 February.

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning Ngawang Choephel's imprisonment in Sangyip. [16328]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 3 February 1997,Official Report, column 504.
  476
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning conditions at Sangyip. [16329]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have not made any specific representations to the Chinese Government concerning conditions at Sangyip prison. However, my right hon. and learned Friend and the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about Tibet with the Chinese Foreign Minister when they met in Singapore on 14 February.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 February. [15113]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 February. [15114]

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

  Residential Properties
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the residential properties which are within his gift.[15709]

  The Prime Minister
  Chevening, Dorneywood and the three flats in Admiralty house.

  Manpower Information Service
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he had made of the national on-line manpower information service report from the university of Durham; and if he will make a statement. [16307]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  NOMIS—national on-line manpower information system—is the Office for National Statistics on-line labour market statistics database run under contract by the university of Durham. It enables users to access electronically via a modem link, a wide range of official labour market statistics.

  NOMIS does not produce reports, but the information that it makes available is widely used for research purposes and under crown copyright is quoted as the source of information.

  There are currently 800 subscribers to NOMIS, including local authorities, academics, research bodies, central Government and the commercial sector.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Belize
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a final decision will be taken by the Overseas Development Administration over
  477
  Britain's contribution to the building of the Belize southern highway project; and what criteria will govern the appraisal of this project. [16194]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We expect to take a decision by June 1997. Project appraisal will be undertaken in accordance with established procedures, which require rigorous examination of economic, environmental, social and technical aspects.

  Regional Political Conference (Great Lakes Region)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the British Government have recently held with(a) the Secretary-General of the United Nations, (b) the United States Government, (c) the Canadian Government and (d)regional Governments regarding the holding of a regional political conference in the great lakes region. [16324]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The UK is in close contact with EU partners, the UN, and with regional states, regarding a regional political conference on the Great Lakes. We fully supported recent statements by the European Union and UN Security Council endorsing such a conference. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development raised the issue during bilateral meetings this year with the Presidents of Uganda and Kenya.

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to facilitate the holding of a regional political conference in the great lakes region. [16323]

  Dr. Fox
  We believe that regional states must take a leading role in efforts to hold an international conference on the great lakes, and have regularly encouraged them to do so. We fully support the appointment of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General and the Organisation for African Unity, Mohamed Sahnoun, who will co-ordinate international and regional efforts towards such a conference, which should be held under UN and OAU auspices. He is planning to visit London soon. The UK will continue to play an active role in the preparations for the conference.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the United Nations inspector-general contained in his report on the international genocide trials in Rwanda. [16322]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  I welcome the recent report by the UN office of internal oversight services into the international tribunal, which has identified areas of serious concern in the management of the tribunal. I commend Secretary-General Annan's announcement that he intends to reform the management of the tribunal.
  478
  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a)representations he has received and (b)discussions he has participated in regarding the management of the international genocide trials in Rwanda. [16321]

  Dr. Fox
  We have received no representations regarding the international criminal tribunal. We fully support UN Secretary-General Annan's intention to address vigorously the reported problems in the management of the tribunal.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  The Buying Agency
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what targets he has set for The Buying Agency. [16683]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have set the agency the following targets for 1997:Financial
  to generate a return on capital employed of 8 per cent.
  to increase sales of the core business by 20 per cent.
  to increase customers of the fuel and energy business by 5 per cent.
  Productivity
  to reduce the cost per £ of savings from the core business to 4.4p.
  to reduce the cost per £ of core business sales to 2.6p.
  Customer satisfaction
  to resolve 95 per cent. of customer complaints in one month.
  to deliver 94 per cent. of direct orders by the due date.
  Internal quality
  to improve the quality of the agency's workplace by achieving the health at work award.
  Environmental
  to set up an environmental management system as described in ISO 14001 standard.

  Ministerial Travel Costs
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the(a) total costs and (b) costs to each Department of (i) ministerial travel expenses (ii) foreign visits and (iii) accommodation costs in respect of (1) foreign visits and (2) other travel associated with ministerial duties in each year since 1992. [16256]

  Mr. Freeman
  The information required is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Privatised Utilities (Information)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidance he has issued to the privatised utility regulators concerning the disclosure of information by the companies which they regulate. [15345]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The right of domestic and smaller commercial consumers of electricity and gas to change supplier can be exercised with a minimum of bureaucracy only if certain specified information about customers can be passed between licensed suppliers. In October, at the request of The Office of Electricity
  479
  Regulation, my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Energy made the Electricity Act 1989 (Disclosure of Information) (Licence Holders) Order 1996 to facilitate this. The Office of Gas Supply has had access to technical advice given by my Department to British Gas about the requirements of section 42 of the Gas Act 1986, as amended. The provisions in the new order and the Gas Act are subject to the normal requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984, which is administered by the Data Protection Registrar.

  Brent Spar
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date his Department was first notified of Shell UK's proposals to dispose of the Brent Spar at sea. [15648]

  Mr. Page
  Consideration of Shell UK's proposals to dispose of the Brent Spar was spread over a period running form August 1991 to December 1994.

  Trade Fair Support Scheme
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations the Government have received from trade associations about the proposed changes to the trade fair support scheme. [15719]

  Mr. Nelson
  As at 14 February 1997 officials and Ministers in my Department had received letters from 40 trade associations on this topic.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons the Government are withdrawing financial support for the trade fair support scheme. [15718]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government will continue to support a substantial number of trade fairs.

  The Government will be supporting core events under trade fair support scheme rules until March 1999. Support will be increasingly available for other fairs through the sector challenge. This will allow industry to propose more flexible and longer-term projects for exploiting the export opportunities that overseas trade fairs offer.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the level of financial support by the Government to the trade fair support scheme in the last three financial years. [15717]

  Mr. Nelson
  The amounts are:

  Year

  £ million

  1994–95

  17.1

  1995–96

  19.9

  1996–97

  118.9

  1Estimate.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the board of Trade if he will meet the British Ceramic Plant and Machinery Manufacturers Association to discuss the changes to the trade fair support scheme. [15720]

  Mr. Nelson
  My Department has met a number of trade associations to discuss the changes and is willing to meet the British Ceramic Plant and Machinery Manufacturers Association.

  Coal
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the prices per tonne in sterling of coal(a) imports and (b) exports for each month from October 1996 to date. [15879]

  Mr. Page
  Import and export data are available to November 1996.

  Average monthly price £ per tonne

  Import

  Export

  October 1996

  36.48

  48.92

  November 1996

  34.13

  51.54

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the tonnage of coal(a) imports and (b) exports for each month from October 1996 to date. [15878]

  Mr. Page
  Import and export data are available to November 1996.

  Thousand tones

  Imports

  Exports

  October 1996

  1,206

  100

  November 1996

  1,941

  115

  Domestic Utility Prices
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in which of the past 25 years the domestic prices of(a) electricity, (b) gas and (c) telephone calls fell in (i) real and (ii) nominal prices. [15835]

  Mr. Page
  The years when a fall in prices have occurred relative to the preceding year are shown in the table. All prices include VAT where appropriate.

  Electricity

  Gas

  Telecoms1

  Real terms

  1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996

  1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1996

  1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996

  Nominal terms

  1987, 1993, 1996

  1987, 1992, 1993

  1977, 1983, 1994, 1995, 1996

  Note:

  1 Telecoms data are for 1994 onwards only.

  Source:

  Retail Prices Index, Office for National Statistics.

  Energy Research Budget
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the research budget for(a) coal, (b) nuclear, (c) gas and oil and (d) renewable energy sources in 1996; and in each case what was the figure as a percentage of his Department's total budget. [15881]
  481
  Mr. Page
  The Department's expenditure plans for these programmes for 1996–97 may be found on page 34 of "Trade and Industry: The Government's Expenditure Plans 1996–97 to 1998–99", Cm 3205, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The Department's overall expenditure plans are summarised on page 8 of the same publication.

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the number of persons employed through private employment agencies for the last five years for which figures are available. [16240]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The labour force survey historical supplement published last year gives the following figures for those working through agencies on a temporary basis.

  Spring 1992: 81,000

  Spring 1993: 91,000

  Spring 1994: 114,000

  Spring 1995: 161,000

  Spring 1996: 201,000

  In addition, employment agencies find permanent fixed period contract, seasonal and other forms of employment for workers which are not included in the above figures.

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of employment agencies that were officially registered for each year that it was a statutory requirement to register. [16239]

  Mr. Taylor
  The licensing of employment agencies under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 commenced in June 1976. The number licensed at the end of each year ending 31 March until licensing ceased on 3 January 1995 is as follows:

  1976–77: 3,991

  1977–78: 5,336

  1978–79: 6,000

  1979–80: 6,760

  1980–81: 6,787

  1981–82: 6,579

  1982–83: 6,618

  1983–84: 7,019

  1984–85: 7,830

  1985–86: 9,000

  1986–87: 10,352

  1987–88: 11,769

  1988–89: 14,137

  1989–90: 16,537

  1990–91: 17,193

  1991–92: 15,644

  1992–93: 14,422

  1993–94: 14,808

  1994–95: 15,202

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the number of employment agencies operating in the United Kingdom for each year since deregulation. [16241]
  482
  Mr. Taylor
  Agencies in Great Britain continue to be regulated under the provisions of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and associated regulations. Similar arrangements apply in Northern Ireland. The licensing requirements were replaced by a power of prohibition on 3 January 1995. Since then there has been no requirement for employment agencies to notify either this Department, or the Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland, of their existence or closure.

  Electricity Cables
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many miles of the National Grid's overhead electricity distribution cables have been relaid underground in each of the past 10 years. [15790]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the company.

  Mink Pelts
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many mink pelts were imported into the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [16413]

  Mr. Nelson
  In 1995 the UK imported 753,000 mink fur skins.

  Employment Protection
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the employment protection legislation which does not apply to people employed by an employment agency rather than the company for which they work. [16472]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Employment protection legislation applies in the same way to all employees, whether they are employed by an employment business or by a company.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the presence of(a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings which his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16276]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department is committed to complying with the requirements of all health and safety legislation relating to the identification and control of hazardous materials in the workplace, and replacing ozone depleting substances with environmentally friendly alternatives. My Department occupies some 220 sites: assessments of the amount of hazardous materials and ozone-depleting substances are held locally. These assessments have not been collated centrally.

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16420]
  483
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My departmental policy has been to concentrate on larger sites in implementing environmental audits. My Department uses the Building Research Establishment environmental assessment method—BREEAM—when undertaking large building refurbishments. Following refurbishment of the No.1 Victoria street headquarters building a BREEAM assessment rating of "very good" was achieved.

  Wherever possible, my Department uses the DIY environmental performance checklist, produced for premises managers by the Environment Agency and within the DTI headquarters estate. My Department has implemented an environmental management audit system, which is aimed at assessing and recording the estates impact on the environment. By 1998, my Department will have reduced its impact on the external environment by moving from 25 per cent. to 75 per cent. waste recycling.

  Airbus
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total expenditure to date on launch aid for the Airbus A330/340 aircraft; and when he expects repayments to begin. [15855]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  Total launch aid of £447.1 million has been granted for the Airbus A330/340 aircraft. Based on current estimates of aircraft sales, I expect repayments to begin in early 1998.

  Nuclear Contamination
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the claims against (i) his Department and (ii) the nuclear generating companies for nuclear contamination for each year since 1980; what is the value of each(a) claim and (b) settlement; and how many are currently outstanding. [15951]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Claims for compensation against alleged nuclear contamination have to be lodged in accordance with the terms of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. Three claims have been made against the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under section 16(3), all in 1991–92. None was successful and no cases are currently outstanding.

  The nuclear industry operate a voluntary compensation scheme for radiation linked diseases, an industry/trade union "no fault" voluntary scheme, which covers the entire industry—both civilian and, more recently, military—rather than just the power generators themselves. Between its inception in 1982 and the end of 1996, this scheme paid out £3.25 million in compensation in a total of 73 cases out of around 650 claims.

  To protect the identity of individual claimants, more detailed data on these claims and settlements cannot be made available.

  Nuclear Waste Transport
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the costs of security for, and escorting of, the transport of nuclear waste by(a) rail and (b) road for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [15950]
  484
  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Ensuring the safety and security of nuclear materials, including nuclear waste, during transportation whether by rail or road is the top priority for the owners of this material and the carriers. It is not possible to separate out the security costs from the overall costs of transportation, which are a matter for the owners.

  There are no costs specifically incurred in the escorting of nuclear waste.

  Digital Broadcasting
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what extra resources will be made available to the Office of Telecommunications as a direct result of its responsibility for regulating access to digital broadcasting networks; what plans he has to meet the additional costs involved by a levy on broadcasters; and if he will make a statement. [16028]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The level of resources available to Office of Telecommunications is a matter for the Treasury. However, Oftel's cash limit increased to £10.4 million for 1997–98, compared to £9.1 million for 1996–97. This increase was partly in recognition of increasing enforcement responsibilities, including in relation to digital broadcasting. The allocation of resources within this total is a matter for the director general and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member. Oftel is funded by licence fees paid to the Government. The supply of conditional access to digital televisions is regulated by Oftel through a class licence granted by the Secretary of State under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1994. The licence contains provisions to allow the Director General of Telecommunications to set licence fees payable by operators of conditional access systems authorised by the licence. The director general will set fees for any licensee to reflect the level of enforcement activity required by the general nature of the activity involved and by any particular licensee. Accordingly, the costs of enforcement will be borne by the conditional access operators and there are no plans for a general levy on broadcasters for this purpose.

  Engineering Policy Unit
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the aims and objectives of his Department's engineering policy unit; and if he will make a statement. [16114]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The mission of my Department's engineering policy unit is to promote the better development and use of engineering skills to improve the competitiveness of UK industry. It has strategic responsibility for stimulating innovation and encouraging best management practice in the selection, education, training, recruitment, employment and development of engineers and technicians. It is the single point of contact for matters pertaining to all the engineering institutions and is responsible for transdepartmental engineering human resource policy matters.
  485
  The engineering policy unit has developed, enabled and supported the hugely successful "action for engineering" initiative, which has brought together some 125 representatives from industry, business, the professional institutions, academia, Government and charities in a steering group and six task forces to take co-ordinated action to increase substantially the influence, involvement and achievement of professional engineers and technicians for the benefit of British industry. With my Department's support, action for engineering has implemented or developed 32 projects for members of the engineering community to take forward.

  The engineering policy unit has also supported the strategic development of the Year of Engineering Success.

  The unit has been instrumental in fostering a new spirit of collaboration and cooperation within the engineering community and seeks to maintain a dynamic dialogue between the educators and trainers of engineers on the
  486
  one hand and employers of engineers on the other. It ensures that the needs of industry are reflected in Government policy and supply side initiatives on engineering education and training.

  Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will make an announcement on the composition of the Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee. [16111]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: We expect soon to be in a position to make an announcement about the appointment of the chairman of the Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee. A subsequent announcement will be made about the other members of the committee, who will be selected following consultations with the newly appointed chairman. The committee will be in place before the chemical weapons convention comes into effect on 29 April 1997.

TRANSPORT

  Departmental Policies (Bournemouth)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect of his Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special references to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14948]

  Mr. Watts
  Since 1994–95, my Department has provided more than £2 million of funding for the Bournemouth and Poole transport packages, which consist of junction improvements, park and ride, road safety schemes, and improved cycling and walking facilities. In 1997–98, Bournemouth will receive £200,000 for its share of the package funding. As from 1 April when Bournemouth becomes a unitary authority, total Department of Transport funding for 1997–98 will be £564,000.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 27 November 1996,Official Report, columns 273–76, what is his current estimate of the (a) gross and (b) net proceeds of sale of companies previously owned by British Rail. [15402]

  Mr. Watts
  Total gross proceeds of those companies, which were previously owned by British Rail and which have been sold pursuant to the Railways Act 1993, are £5.35 billion. This includes dividends of some £800

  Number over five minutes late (BR)

  p10 1995–96

  p11 1995–96

  p12 1995–96

  p13 1995–96

  p1 1996–97

  p2 1996–97

  p3 1996–97

  p4 1996–97

  p5 1996–97

  p6 1996–97

  p7 1996–97

  p8 1996–97

  p9 1996–97

  Chiltern

  40

  62

  79

  41

  35

  38

  102

  45

  franchised

  Great Eastern

  544

  441

  399

  137

  113

  129

  256

  153

  127

  138

  156

  276

  453

  Isle of Wight

  data not available

  London Tilbury and Southend

  160

  160

  157

  133

  74

  107

  franchised

  Northampton Lines

  143

  155

  250

  176

  211

  84

  162

  104

  86

  118

  103

  193

  181

  North London Lines

  data not available

  Kent Coast

  490

  410

  464

  328

  134

  102

  237

  175

  200

  169

  225

  franchised

  Kentlink

  838

  762

  903

  597

  314

  263

  559

  381

  302

  361

  506

  franchised

  South London Lines

  404

  333

  324

  266

  193

  206

  franchised

  Sussex Coast

  186

  180

  220

  145

  101

  82

  franchised

  Solent and Wessex (main line)

  141

  140

  franchised

  South Western Lines (suburban)

  301

  216

  franchised

  Thames

  94

  99

  109

  83

  47

  61

  114

  69

  114

  55

  109

  franchised

  Thameslink

  171

  203

  160

  200

  72

  75

  146

  181

  107

  88

  164

  183

  219

  Great Northern

  334

  286

  417

  227

  138

  172

  170

  123

  121

  246

  227

  396

  328

  West Anglia

  177

  128

  181

  73

  52

  41

  101

  114

  68

  50

  43

  331

  151

  North London Orbital

  data not available

  Watford Locals

  73

  73

  110

  87

  86

  54

  45

  45

  48

  25

  33

  87

  87

  Percentage over 5 minutes late (BR)

  p10 1995–96

  p11 1995–96

  p12 1995–96

  p13 1995–96

  p1 1996–97

  p2 1996–97

  p3 1996–97

  p4 1996–97

  p5 1996–97

  p6 1996–97

  p7 1996–97

  p8 1996–97

  p9 1996–97

  Chiltern

  4.8

  5.8

  7.8

  3.8

  3.6

  3.7

  10.0

  4.2

  franchised

  Great Eastern

  24.4

  15.9

  14.8

  4.9

  4.5

  4.9

  9.8

  5.6

  4.7

  5.3

  5.7

  10.0

  16.5

  Isle of Wight

  data not available

  London Tilbury and Southend

  13.8

  9.4

  9.8

  7.8

  4.8

  6.6

  franchised

  488
  million and £50 million paid before the sales of rolling stock leasing companies and BR infrastructure companies; proceeds still to be realised from the sale of Railtrack plc; and gross proceeds of sales completed after 27 November 1996. Vendors' costs of sales up to 31 March 1996 are estimated to be £51.66 million. As completion accounts and costs of sales for a number of sales in the current year have yet to be finalised, an estimate of net proceeds is not available.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current estimate of the cost of departmental staff working on rail privatisation; and what sums his Department has spent on bought in services in this connection. [15401]

  Mr. Watts
  My current estimate of the cost of departmental staff working on rail privatisation in 1996–97 is £2.1 million; the cost of services bought in in connection with rail privatisation in 1996–97 is £5.8 million, exclusive of VAT.

  Rail Services (Punctuality and Reliability)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the number and (b) the percentage of trains, which arrived more than five minutes later during peak hours on each of the former Network SouthEast lines in each four week period since December 1995. [15962]

  Mr. Watts
  Information for the number of franchised services which arrived more than five minutes late during the peaks is not currently available. Available information for British Rail services and for the percentage of franchised services which arrived more than five minutes late during the peaks is in the tables.
  489

  Percentage over 5 minutes late (BR)

  p10 1995–96

  p11 1995–96

  p12 1995–96

  p13 1995–96

  p1 1996–97

  p2 1996–97

  p3 1996–97

  p4 1996–97

  p5 1996–97

  p6 1996–97

  p7 1996–97

  p8 1996–97

  p9 1996–97

  Northampton Lines

  18.3

  13.5

  27.7

  20.9

  24.6

  7.7

  14.6

  8.9

  8.2

  11.4

  8.7

  16.9

  16.4

  North London Lines

  data not available

  Kent Coast

  24.4

  20.7

  19.7

  13.1

  6.0

  4.3

  10.3

  7.3

  8.4

  7.3

  9.4

  franchised

  Kentlink

  22.4

  21.0

  19.9

  12.9

  7.7

  6.0

  12.7

  8.2

  6.5

  8.2

  10.9

  franchised

  South London Lines

  15.1

  8.7

  8.5

  6.9

  5.6

  5.6

  franchised

  Sussex Coast

  18.9

  12.8

  15.5

  10.2

  7.9

  6.1

  franchised

  Solent and Wessex (train line)

  14.6

  10.3

  franchised

  South Western Lines (Suburban)

  11.9

  5.9

  franchised

  Thames

  8.0

  6.7

  7.6

  5.5

  3.5

  4.3

  8.1

  4.8

  7.7

  3.9

  7.4

  franchised

  Thameslink

  18.1

  16.7

  13.9

  18.1

  6.8

  6.4

  12.6

  15.9

  9.3

  7.6

  13.3

  17.8

  17.9

  Great Northern

  18.9

  13.3

  20.7

  10.9

  7.1

  8.3

  8.3

  5.6

  5.5

  11.9

  10.7

  18.9

  15.2

  West Anglia

  10.0

  6.1

  9.1

  3.5

  2.7

  2.0

  5.1

  5.4

  3.2

  2.5

  2.0

  15.6

  7.1

  North London Orbital

  Data not available

  Watford Locals

  14.7

  10.9

  16.7

  16.2

  10.8

  8.9

  7.1

  6.7

  7.4

  4.2

  4.9

  12.9

  13.1

  Percentage of franchised peak services arriving more than five minutes late

  1995–96 percentage

  1996–97 percentage

  Train operator

  Route group

  P12

  P13

  P1

  P2

  P3

  P4

  P5

  P6

  P7

  P8

  P9

  P10

  South West Trains

  Main Line

  17

  6.3

  6.1

  5

  8

  6.2

  8.5

  8.7

  6.9

  20.6

  19.4

  10.6

  Suburban

  11.8

  4.4

  4.1

  4.2

  8.1

  5.6

  8.1

  5.4

  4.3

  13.3

  15.2

  8.8

  Connex South Central

  South London Lines

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5.9

  5.3

  4.3

  4.2

  6.8

  16

  22.4

  10.5

  Sussex Coast

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10.2

  7.2

  9

  9

  8.1

  11.7

  12.5

  14.3

  LTS Rail

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6.3

  6

  4.2

  5.2

  5.5

  6.1

  6.6

  5.4

  Chiltern

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5.4

  3.8

  7.7

  11

  6.9

  3.5

  South Eastern

  Kent Link

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20.2

  21.4

  18.8

  Kent Coast

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  23.7

  24.1

  19.7

  Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8.7

  8.7

  9.3

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the number and (b) the percentage of trains cancelled on each of the former Network SouthEast lines in each four week period since December 1995. [15963]

  Trains cancelled (BR)

  p10 1995–96

  p11 1995–96

  p12 1995–96

  p13 1995–96

  p1 1996–97

  p2 1996–97

  p3 1996–97

  p4 1996–97

  p5 1996–97

  p6 1996–97

  p7 1996–97

  p8 1996–97

  p9 1996–97

  Chiltern

  17

  17

  35

  5

  12

  15

  33

  15

  franchised

  Great Eastern

  64

  121

  150

  44

  43

  25

  131

  29

  32

  23

  54

  33

  93

  Isle of Wight

  8

  5

  23

  8

  2

  20

  19

  10

  2

  13

  3

  franchised

  London Tilbury and Southend

  201

  68

  95

  83

  57

  47

  franchised

  Northampton Lines

  38

  20

  36

  32

  20

  11

  43

  21

  52

  20

  23

  124

  21

  North London Lines

  data not available

  Kent Coast

  103

  83

  131

  96

  71

  47

  89

  45

  51

  51

  118

  franchised

  Kentlink

  174

  178

  267

  259

  163

  128

  245

  134

  115

  175

  202

  —

  —

  South London Lines

  63

  80

  107

  67

  38

  49

  franchised

  Sussex Coast

  44

  55

  105

  33

  24

  54

  franchised

  Solent and Wessex (main line)

  52

  46

  franchised

  South Western Lines (suburban)

  157

  66

  franchised

  Thames

  221

  352

  321

  159

  132

  37

  133

  91

  106

  97

  108

  franchised

  Thameslink

  116

  90

  84

  45

  28

  28

  70

  175

  79

  47

  66

  64

  79

  Great Northern

  174

  80

  138

  62

  144

  42

  54

  48

  51

  159

  221

  222

  50

  West Anglia

  203

  104

  114

  52

  33

  33

  251

  81

  26

  48

  38

  82

  63

  North London Orbital

  528

  290

  708

  393

  230

  170

  192

  211

  237

  86

  193

  95

  138

  Watford Locals

  65

  41

  76

  37

  17

  13

  59

  67

  81

  90

  20

  56

  55

  Percentage cancelled (BR)

  p10 1995–96

  p11 1995–96

  p12 1995–96

  p13 1995–96

  p1 1996–97

  p2 1996–97

  P3 1996–97

  p4 1996–97

  p5 1996–97

  p6 1996–97

  p7 1996–97

  p8 1996–97

  p9 1996–97

  Chiltern

  0.5

  0.4

  0.8

  0.1

  0.3

  0.4

  0.8

  0.3

  franchised

  Great Eastern

  0.6

  0.9

  1.1

  0.3

  0.3

  0.2

  0.8

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.4

  0.2

  0.7

  Isle of Wight

  0.5

  0.3

  1.4

  0.5

  0.1

  1.1

  1.1

  0.6

  0.1

  0.7

  0.2

  franchised

  London Tilbury and Southend

  3.6

  1.0

  1.4

  1.2

  1.0

  0.7

  franchised

  Northampton Lines

  1.3

  0.5

  1.1

  1.1

  0.7

  0.3

  1.0

  0.5

  1.3

  0.5

  0.5

  2.8

  0.5

  North London Lines

  data not available

  Kent Coast

  1.0

  0.8

  1.0

  0.7

  0.6

  0.4

  0.7

  0.3

  0.4

  0.4

  0.9

  franchised

  Kentlink

  1.0

  1.1

  1.3

  1.2

  0.9

  0.6

  1.1

  0.6

  0.5

  0.8

  0.9

  franchised

  South London Lines

  0.5

  0.5

  0.6

  0.4

  0.2

  0.3

  franchised

  Sussex Coast

  0.5

  0.4

  0.8

  0.3

  0.2

  0.4

  franchised

  Solent and Wessex (main line)

  0.6

  0.4

  franchised

  ':

  South Western Lines (suburban)

  1.2

  0.4

  franchised

  Thames

  1.8

  2.3

  2.1

  1.0

  0.9

  0.3

  0.9

  0.6

  0.7

  0.7

  0.7

  franchised

  Thameslink

  2.5

  1.6

  1.6

  0.8

  0.6

  0.5

  1.3

  3.1

  1.4

  0.9

  1.2

  1.3

  1.4

  Great Northern

  2.3

  0.9

  1.6

  0.7

  1.8

  0.5

  0.6

  0.5

  0.6

  1.9

  2.4

  2.4

  0.5

  West Anglia

  2.4

  1.0

  1.2

  0.5

  0.4

  0.3

  2.6

  0.8

  0.3

  0.5

  0.4

  0.8

  0.6

  North London Orbital

  10.3

  4.5

  14.8

  6.1

  4.0

  2.8

  3.2

  3.3

  3.7

  1.7

  3.5

  2.0

  3.2

  Watford Locals

  2.8

  1.3

  2.5

  1.5

  0.6

  0.5

  2.2

  2.4

  2.9

  3.5

  0.7

  2.0

  2.0

  490
  Mr. Watts
  Information for the number of franchised services cancelled is not currently available. Available information for British Rail services and for the percentage of franchised services cancelled is in the tables.
  491

  Percentage of franchised services cancelled

  1995–96 percentage

  1996–97 percentage

  Train operator

  Route Group

  P12

  P13

  P1

  P2

  P3

  P4

  P5

  P6

  P7

  P8

  P9

  P10

  South West Trains

  Main Line

  0.9

  0.2

  0.4

  0.4

  0.2

  0.4

  1

  0.3

  0.3

  0.6

  0.5

  1

  Suburban

  1.3

  0.4

  0.4

  0.3

  0.8

  0.4

  0.7

  0.4

  0.2

  1.4

  0.4

  1.4

  Connex South Central

  South London Lines

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  0.3

  0.3

  0.4

  0.4

  0.5

  0.4

  0.9

  Sussex Coast

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.3

  0.2

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  0.9

  0.8

  3

  LTS Rail

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1.5

  1.3

  0.9

  0.9

  0.8

  0.6

  0.6

  2.6

  Chiltern

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.2

  0.3

  0.8

  0.6

  0.4

  0.2

  South Eastern

  Kent Link

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.5

  0.8

  0.9

  Kent Coast

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1.3

  1.4

  Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.7

  0.7

  1.3

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the terms of the passengers charter which apply to all train operating companies. [15966]

  Mr. Watts
  The British Rail passengers charter applies to train operating companies while they remain under the control of the British Railways Board. All franchise operators must publish their own passengers charters which must include provisions at least as favourable to passengers as those provided under British Rail's charter.

  Franchise operators' passengers charters are annexed to the franchise agreement, and copies are in the Library of the House.

  Freight Facilities Grants
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a)the total budget for the current year allocated to freight facilities grants, (b)the amount spent so far and (c)the estimated year-end spending. [16231]

  Mr. Watts
  The information is as follows:

  (a) £5,423,000

  (b) £923,528

  (c) £3,604,700.

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what virement there was of the unspent budgets for freight facilities grants for the years 1994–95 and 1995–96; and what this surplus was spent on. [16457]

  Mr. Watts
  Unspent freight facilities grant provision in 1994–95 and 1995–96 served to offset spending pressures generally elsewhere on the administration and transport services vote. An overall surplus arising on the vote in each year was surrendered to the Consolidated Fund.

  Trans-Pennine Road
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from business and commercial organisations concerning the possibility of a second major trans-Pennine road supplementing the M62. [16224]

  Mr. Watts
  I am not aware of any recent business or commercial representations concerning the possibility of a second major trans-Pennine road supplementing the M62.

  Road Lighting
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice and guidance he has issued to 492
  local authorities concerning their road lighting policies, with particular reference to the effect of those policies on the countryside and tranquil areas. [16229]

  Mr. Watts
  The Highways Agency publishes road lighting standards and advice, including measures for the limitation of environmental intrusion, for use on motorway and all-purpose trunk roads. In particular the booklet "Road Lighting and the Environment", held in the House of Commons Library, describes how the environmental impacts of road lighting can be reduced and problems resolved. It is for local highway authorities to decide the extent to which they use this advice.

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of(a) energy use and (b)waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16425]

  Mr. Bowis
  My Department sets targets to improve energy and waste management efficiency and cost effectiveness by environmental audit and other means. Progress is reported in the annual working environment report.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the presence of(a)hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings which his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16282]

  Mr. Bowis
  My Department publishes an assessment in its annual working environment report. A copy is in the House of Commons Library and on the Department's Internet site—http://www.open.gov.ulddot/dothome.htm.

  Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to consult(a)local authorities, (b)industry bodies and (c) representatives of the unemployed about the impact upon regeneration

  493
  projects of those aspects of the Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill which are supported by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [16013]

  Mr. Watts
  We have made it clear that, in deciding whether to set traffic reduction targets, local authorities would need the flexibility to take into account traffic growth consequent on regeneration projects, so that these objectives do not conflict, and that the Bill would need to be amended to this effect in order to secure our support. We would want to consult a wide range of bodies in drawing up guidance to local authorities on this point.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the administrative and operational impact upon local authorities of the responsibility for implementing those provisions of the Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill which are supported by his Department. [16011]

  Mr. Watts
  We shall be discussing detailed implementation of the Bill's requirements with local authorities. The approach we support would result in little if any additional administrative or operational impact above the activities local authorities should already undertake in compiling their transport capital investment strategies.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for planning policy and procedure of the implementation of those provisions of the Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill which are supported by his Department. [16012]

  Mr. Watts
  The process of setting traffic targets would need to dovetail with local land use plans, which in turn would need to reflect local authorities' traffic forecasts. We would intend to issue guidance on this area.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to undertake a compliance cost assessment of the Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill; and if he will make a statement. [16009]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill will not impose a cost on business; there is no need, therefore, for a compliance cost assessment.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from(a) the Confederation of British Industry, (b) the British Roads Federation and (c) other industry bodies, in connection with the impact on the economy of acceptance of the principles of the Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill; what was the thrust of those representations; what response he intends to make to them; and what plans he has to consult with industry bodies prior to proceeding with, or facilitating the progress of, any legislation to impose restrictions on road traffic. [16010]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: We have received representations from the CBI, BRF, other bodies and a large number of individuals. The vast majority of these representations have been in support of the principle underlying the Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill: that local authorities should have a clear vision of the pattern of road traffic growth in their areas, and establish targets as part of their strategy for addressing that growth. Our response to these representations is to
  494
  indicate the Government's position, which I explained in my speech on the Bill's Second Reading. Subject to the Bill completing its remaining stages we plan to consult a wide range of bodies on the mechanics and process of its implementation.

  Marine Pollution (Sea Empress Incident)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library(a) a copy of the plans and inventories of equipment and (b) a list of the expertise which is currently available to the marine pollution control unit and the Coastguard Agency; and if he will indicate how the availability of equipment and expertise to those bodies has changed in the past five years; [16258]

  (2) what advice or guidance was given by the marine pollution control unit to Milford Haven Port Authority on its contingency plans for dealing with oil tanker casualties and major oil spillages prior to the Sea Empress disaster on 15 February 1996; [16257]

  (3) what (a) arrangements and (b) memoranda of understanding exist between the marine pollution control unit and other departments or public bodies in Wales; and if he will place copies in the Library; [16259]

  (4) how many staff were employed by the marine pollution control unit in each year from 1986 to 1996. [16261]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the Marine Pollution Control Unit.

  (16258)
  A broad outline of the expertise that can be called upon is contained in the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping (NCP), a copy of which is in the House of Commons library. The NCP also contains summaries of the counter pollution equipment owned by the Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU), listed in an appendix. The equipment and expertise available to the MPCU is under continuous review and is frequently augmented. For example, in the last five years the Chemical Strike Team has been strengthened, new equipment has been purchased for at-sea and shoreline clean-up operations, a new aerial contract has come into operation, a new operations room in the Agency's headquarters in Southampton has been commissioned and call off contracts and framework agreements have been set up to facilitate speedy access to supplementary expertise and equipment during a major incident. A database of available equipment has also been set up and is regularly updated.

  (16257)
  Under the current voluntary arrangements, Milford Haven Port Authority sent the MPCU a copy of their 'Anti-oil Pollution Plan' revised in June 1992. The MPCU suggested a number of changes to the document. Following the grounding of the oil tanker BORGA at the entrance to Milford Haven in October 1995, the MPCU held a meeting with the Port Authority and suggested further amendments to the contingency plans.

  (16259)
  The current arrangements with public bodies in Wales are fully covered in the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping. The MPCU and Environment Agency are currently discussing a Memorandum of Understanding to replace the present one which was agreed between the MPCU and the National Rivers Authority. The environmental agencies, including the Countryside Council for Wales, are involved in these discussions.
  495
  (16261)
  Staff in Post figures for MPCU from 1986 to 1996 are as follows:

  1986 to 1994: 13

  1994: 9.5

  1994: 10.5

  1996: 12.5.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if inspectors of the marine accident investigation branch have interviewed the staff of Smit Tak who were involved in or associated with the Sea Empress salvage operation. [16262]

  Mr. Bowis
  Yes.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the marine accidents investigation branch inquiry report into the Sea Empress. [16260]

  Mr. Bowis
  Subject to the completion of the consultation process required by the accident investigation regulations, the chief inspector expects to submit his final report to the Secretary of State next month. The report will then be published as soon as possible.

  Trunk Roads (Land Use Planning)
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made on the proposal in the Transport Green Paper "Transport: The Way Forward," to integrate trunk road and land use planning. [16783]

  Sir George Young
  Following consultation with local authorities, business groups and environmental groups, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have decided together that trunk road planning in England will now be subject to review under the regional planning guidance—RPG—system, which sets out strategic policies for land use and development and gives guidance on the transport strategy and priorities for each region. Our Departments are publishing today a consultation draft of the planning policy guidance which will bring the new system into effect. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  There was strong support for our proposal. It is clear that increased regional input and local consultation at the outset of planning trunk roads will encourage a more focused approach and help to promote an agreed way forward. The proposed new guidance will allow local authorities, for the first time, to include trunk roads in their review of the transport strategy and priorities for their region when advising on RPG.

  My right hon. Friend and I shall expect the local authorities to consult widely in preparing their advice to us on RPG. This will give an opportunity for local authorities, business, transport industries, environmental groups and the general public to make fuller contributions to the development of the regional transport strategy, in keeping with our policy on sustainable development. The aim is to obtain as much consensus as possible.

  Through this process, the local authorities will be able to propose changes to the broad priorities for trunk road schemes, comment on the need for individual schemes
  496
  and propose that alternatives be considered, for example traffic management measures or public transport improvements.

  Trunk roads are an essential part of the country's infrastructure and final decisions on the DOT road programme will remain my responsibility. I shall continue to take account of vital national, commercial and economic interests alongside the regional advice.

  Buses (Wheelchair Access)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new buses have been licensed in each of the last five years; and how many of these were imported. [16487]

  Mr. Bowis
  Investment by the bus industry in new vehicles has increased substantially in each of the last five years. The figures for newly registered buses and coaches' taxed for use as public service vehicles for the years in question are as follows:

  1992: 3,051

  1993: 3,643

  1994: 4,202

  1995: 5,214

  1996: 6,477.

  1Figures up to June 1995 are for all class 35—Hackney—vehicles with more than eight seats. Since June 1995 they are for all vehicles in class 34—buses.

  The figure for 1996 includes 3,411 imported vehicles. Information cannot be supplied on the number of imported vehicles in the figures for 1992–95 as the statistics available on registration of imported vehicles in those years do not distinguish between buses and taxis and hire cars for public use, which were also included in class 35—Hackney vehicles.

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many new buses, licensed in each of the last five years, have allowed wheelchair users access in safety and without too much difficulty; [16485]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of buses currently being used by bus operators meet the criteria set out in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to ensure that public buses enable a wheelchair user to alight in safety and without too much difficulty; [16484]

  (3) which designs of buses currently under construction he has approved as providing access for disabled people such that a wheelchair user can get on a bus in safety and without too much difficulty. [16486]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information about the accessibility of vehicles is not currently recorded.

  The detailed specification for the bus accessibility regulations that we are bringing forward under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is under discussion with the bus industry and our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. We intend to consult on our proposals shortly.

  A growing number of operators are already investing in low floor buses which provide much easier access to all passengers, including those with disabilities. Some are also fitting the buses with ramps to enable wheelchair users to gain easy access.

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to public funds of the attendance of(a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department at meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in Scotland since December 1994; and if he will list the meetings of the Committee which (a) and (b) have attended, indicating the cost of attendance and the names of those who attended. [16568]

  Sir George Young
  No Ministers or officials from my Department have attended meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in Scotland since December 1994.

  Bedford-Bletchley-Bicester Railway Line
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have been held with Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire city councils on the upgrading and passenger use of the Bedford-Bletchley-Bicester line; and if he will make a statement. [15994]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: Officials from the Government offices for the eastern region and the south-east are represented on the steering group running the feasibility study into the reopening of the Oxford-Bletchley-Bedford-Cambridge route to passenger traffic. My Department held discussions with the consultants advising the consortium of local authorities concerned in December 1996.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the volume of freight traffic on the Bletchley to Bicester line in each year since 1993; and if he will make a statement. [15995]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: Statistical records are not kept of the tonnages of freight traffic over individual sections of railway.

  The Bicester to Claydon Junction stretch of this line is currently used for the carriage of waste to a landfill site. Five trains a week operate in each direction on this section of the line.

  The Claydon Junction to Bletchley stretch of the line has not been used since before 1993.

  North London Railway Line
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received on breaches of the service agreement on the Barking to Gospel Oak branch of the North London line; and if he will make a statement. [15996]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: None. Services between Gospel Oak and Barking are provided by North London Railways Ltd. The Franchising Director announced on 7 February 1997 that he had awarded the NLR franchise to National Express Group plc but it has not yet started. Franchised services are expected to start soon, following which any breach of the franchise agreement would be a matter for the Franchising Director.

  Nuclear Waste Transport
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much nuclear waste was transported by 498
  (a) road and (b) rail in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994, (iii) 1995 and (iv) 1996; and what estimate he has made of the amount in each case to be transported in 1997. [15948]

  Mr. Watts
  [holing answer 17 February 1997]: Information of the kind requested is not routinely held within the Department and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Vaccine Damage (Compensation)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have received lump sum payments due to vaccine damage in each of the last]0 years. [15331]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is only available to the UK as a whole. The number of persons who have received lump sum payments due to vaccine damage for each of the last 10 years is as follows:

  1986–87: 17

  1987–88: 10

  1988–89: 3

  1989–90: 3

  1990–91: 1

  1991–92: 7

  1992–93: 13

  1993–94: 4

  1994–95: 6

  1995–96: 6.

  Queen's University (Student Intake)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the students beginning courses at Queen's University from Northern Ireland were perceived to be(a) Protestant, (b) Roman Catholic and (c) of other religions in each of the last three years. [15475]

  Mr. Ancram
  Reliable information is not available owing to the high level of non-response to the community background question.

  Livestock (Notifiable Diseases)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of cases of each notifiable disease in livestock reported in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [15493]

  Mr. Ancram
  The table lists the number of cases of each notifiable disease in livestock reported in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years:

  Disease

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  BSE

  333

  487

  363

  170

  82

  Sheep scab

  59

  48

  71

  57

  45

  Warble fly

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  499

  Disease

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Johnes disease

  13

  6

  11

  46

  32

  Scrapie

  5

  4

  5

  2

  8

  Aujesky's1

  —

  9

  8

  5

  8

  Transmissible gastro-enteritis/porcine respiratory corona virus

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Porcine reproduction and respiratory syndrome

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Newcastle disease

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Salmonella (in breeding poultry)

  6

  1

  2

  6

  5

  Jaagiekte

  1

  —

  1

  4

  2

  1 Only became notifiable in Northern Ireland in February 1993.

  Union Flag
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Union flag was not flown on 6 February at the offices of the Southern area health board, the Mall, Armagh city; what proposals there are to provide a new Union flag for this building; if the 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. [15571]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Armagh and Dungannon health and social services trust has advised that failure to fly the Union flag on 6 February was an oversight on its part. Action has been taken to purchase a new Union flag. The schedule of the dates for flying the Union flag has been advised to staff and the person responsible for carrying out this duty has no difficulty in fulfilling it. However, there is no requirement for the trusts to fly the Union flag on these dates, and it is at the discretion of each organisation whether the flag should be flown on those buildings occupied by their staff.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Union flag was not flown on 6 February at the headquarters of the Southern area health board, Tower hill, Armagh city; if a Union flag has been provided for this public building; if the 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. [15570]

  Mr. Moss
  A letter was sent to all health and social services boards on 18 November 1966 advising them of the days in 1997 on which the Union flag should be flown on central Government buildings. There is, however no requirement for the boards to fly the Union flag on these dates. It is at the discretion of each organisation whether the flag should be flown on those buildings occupied by their staff. A Union flag has been provided for the headquarters for the Southern health and social services board, Tower hill, Armagh. However, the Southern health 500
  and social services board decided to use its discretion and not fly the Union flag on its headquarters building at Tower hill on 6 February 1997.

  Integrated Schools
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the integrated schools in Northern Ireland, with the pupil numbers and percentages of those pupils who are Roman Catholic and Protestant. [15820]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:

  School name

  Enrolment (1995–96)

  Roman Catholic per cent.

  Protestant per cent.

  A. Integrated Primary Schools

  Forge Integrated Primary School, Belfast

  205

  46

  33

  Carhill Integrated Primary, Garvagh

  49

  57

  43

  Portaferry Integrated Primary, Portaferry

  54

  33

  54

  All Children's Integrated Primary, Newcastle

  167

  65

  20

  Hazelwood Integrated Primary, Newtownabbey

  348

  47

  31

  Cranmore Integrated Primary, Belfast

  100

  38

  35

  Enniskillen Integrated Primary, Enniskillen

  191

  49

  35

  Omagh Integrated Primary, Omagh

  154

  58

  34

  Oakgrove Integrated Primary, Londonderry

  295

  53

  30

  Mill Strand Integrated Primary, Portrush

  192

  29

  31

  Braidside Integrated Primary, Ballymena

  171

  20

  27

  Corran Integrated Primary, Larne

  111

  48

  38

  Acorn Integrated Primary, Carrickfergus

  123

  37

  58

  Lough View Integrated Primary, Belfast

  93

  39

  48

  Cedar Integrated Primary, Crossgar

  26

  35

  42

  Bridge Integrated Primary, Banbridge

  277

  51

  42

  Portadown Integrated Primary, Portadown

  202

  51

  30

  Windmill Integrated Primary, Dungannon

  158

  47

  45

  Saints and Scholars Integrated Primary, Armagh

  117

  59

  38

  Hilden Integrated Primary, Lisburn2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rathenraw Integrated Primary, Lisburn2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  B. Integrated Secondary Schools1

  Brownlow College, Craigavon

  302

  22

  68

  Hazelwood College, Newtownabbey

  639

  56

  21

  Oakgrove College, Londonderry

  404

  67

  30

  Erne Integrated College, Enniskillen

  155

  65

  26

  Drumragh Integrated College, Omagh

  85

  71

  29

  Lagan College, Belfast

  933

  44

  46

  Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle

  131

  76

  19

  Newbridge Integrated College, Loughbrickland

  74

  77

  23

  Armagh-South Tyrone Integrated College, Dungannon

  60

  70

  25

  Slemish Integrated College, Ballymena2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North Coast Integrated College, Coleraine2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent. as the total enrolment includes pupils in other categories, ie "other Christian"; "Non-Christian" or "No Religion".

  2 These schools opened in 1996–97 and school census data for that year is not yet available.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of (i) Northern Ireland civil service and (ii) general service posts(a) requiring and (b) not requiring a degree were filled in each of the last five years. [15818]

  Year

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  (i) Northern Ireland civil service

  (a) Posts filled requiring a degree

  132 (8.5 per cent.)

  36(5.7 per cent.)

  40(7.4 per cent.)

  117(15.4 per cent.)

  110(12.5 per cent.)

  (b) Posts filled not requiring a degree

  1,422(91.5 per cent.)

  597(94.3 per cent.)

  500(92.6 per cent.)

  643(84.6 per cent.)

  768(87.5 per cent.)

  Total number of posts filled

  1,554

  633

  540

  760

  898

  (ii)General service

  (a) Posts filled requiring a degree

  1,422 (91.5 per cent.)

  597 (94.3 per cent.)

  500 (92.6 per cent.)

  643 (84.6 per cent.)

  768 (87.5 per cent.)

  Total number of posts filled

  1,554

  633

  540

  760

  898

  (ii) General service

  (a) Posts filled requiring a degree

  6 (0.5 per cent)

  6 (1.5 per cent.)

  1 (0.5 per cent.)

  6 (1 per cent.)

  33 (4.6 per cent.)

  (b) Posts filled requiring a degree

  1,114 (99.5 per cent.)

  405 (98.5 per cent.)

  196 (99.5 per cent.)

  545 (99.5 per cent.)

  677 (95.4 per cent.)

  Total number of posts filled

  1,120

  411

  197

  551

  710

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those planning applications, by type, which have been granted for building on green belt sites in the Lisburn district council area since 1 January 1990 and the reasons for the permissions; and if he will make a statement about his policy on residential development in the Aghanahough townland. [15822]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 18 February 1997:
  Mr Moss has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of planning permissions granted on green belt sites in the Lisburn Borough Council area since 1990, and the Department's policy on residential development in the Aghanahough townland.
  A total of 750 planning permissions have been granted on green belt sites in the Lisburn Borough Council area since 1990. I hope you will appreciate that to, categorise these permissions by type and provide reasons for approval on each case, would involve a manual retrieval and scrutiny of each of the planning files involved and could only be carried out at disproportionate cost. If, however, there are any specific cases on which you require detailed reasons for approval, I would, of course, be happy to have these investigated.
  The townland of Aghanahough lies partly within the development limits of Lisburn, and partly within the green belt. As regards the Department's policy for residential development within the development limit, this is set out in the Lisburn Area Plan 1982–1997, adopted in 1985, and the Lisburn Area Plan Preliminary Proposals, published in March 1996. Detailed planning policies for housing development within the green belt, are set out in the area plans referred to, and also, in the
  502
  Sir John Wheeler
  The proportions of permanent, non-industrial posts filled in the Northern Ireland civil service and in the general service in each of the last five years, for which a degree was required, and for which a degree was not required, are set out in the following table:

  Department's publication "A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland" published in September 1993. A copy of each publication is available in the House of Commons Library.
  I do hope this is helpful.

  Cattle Slaughter Scheme
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's search for cattle associated with BSE cases to be culled under the terms of the Florence agreement; how many cattle have been identified so far; what is his latest estimate of the likely total; how many farms are involved; and what is his estimate of the time scale for completing this search and concluding the accelerated cull. [16319]

  Mr. Ancram
  At 7 February 1997 Department of Agriculture veterinary service staff had visited 121 natal herds, in which a confirmed case of BSE was born, and identified 721 animals to be culled. A further two natal herds remain to be visited. Approximately 700 animals born in the same cohort groups have moved out of the natal herds and at 10 February, 507 of these animals in 410 herds had been traced. It is anticipated that tracing and valuation of all such animals will be completed in four to six weeks. In total approximately 1,400 Northern Ireland cattle on 670 farms will be traced and identified under the selective cull. Slaughtering is expected to start at the beginning of March and it should take around six to eight weeks to complete the cull of home-bred cattle.

  There are about 5,400 cattle imported from Great Britain, some of which may have to be slaughtered under the cull. While these animals are separately identified on the Northern Ireland animal health computer, and their herds of origin known, manual tracing of their movements in Great Britain will be necessary.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Security Appeals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the statutory basis of the statement in leaflet NI 246 that an appellant who has not opted for an oral hearing of a social security appeal within 10 days of being asked to decide has a right to change his or her mind at any time. [11088]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Regulation 22(1) of the adjudication regulations provides for the clerk to direct an appellant to notify him if he wishes an oral hearing of that appeal to be held. Regulation 22(1A) requires the appellant to provide his reply to this direction in writing within 10 days or such other period as the clerk or tribunal chairman may decide. Regulation 22(1B) requires an oral hearing to be held if the appellant has replied in accordance with Regulation 22(1A). Regulation 22(1C) allows the chairman to hold an oral hearing, whether the appellant or any other party to the appeal has so requested or not, if he is satisfied that an oral hearing is necessary to enable the tribunal to reach a decision.

  Regulation 22(1A) and 22(1B) therefore provide for an oral hearing in all cases where the appellant has requested one within 10 days. The clerk or the chairman may allow longer than 10 days. No end date is specified by the regulations and I am advised that this period may extend up to the point that the decision on the appeal is issued by the tribunal. Therefore, if an appellant has not elected in the first instance for an oral hearing, or opted to have his appeal heard on the papers, he may still request an oral hearing at any time up to the point that the decision is issued. In those circumstances, the chairman may order an oral hearing.

  Departmental leaflets, including the NI 246, are not a complete and authoritative statement of the law. They are written in plain English and are intended to provide sufficient information and advice in language that will be understood by the majority of the population. Some representations have been received about the content and format of the new NI 246, and these will be taken into account before the leaflet is next reprinted. Current plans are for a reprint during April 1997.

  Incomes
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the mean and (b) the median income for (i) single men aged 65 to 74, (ii) single men aged 75 and over, (iii) single women aged 65 to 74, (iv) single women aged 75 and over, (v) pensioner couples aged 65 to 74 and (vi) pensioner couples aged 75 years and over, (1) for 1979 in 1994–95 prices and (2) for 1994–95. [12991]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.

  Mean income £

  Median income £

  Single men aged 65 to 74

  1979

  93.20

  76.90

  1994–95

  125.50

  103.40

  504

  Mean income £

  Median income £

  Single women aged 75 and over

  1979

  79.90

  70.20

  1994–95

  148.10

  103.80

  Single women aged 65–74

  1979

  73.40

  66.60

  1994–95

  122.10

  97.50

  Single women aged 75 and over

  1979

  71.10

  66.50

  1994–95

  108.40

  95.70

  Pensioner couples aged 65–74

  1979

  153.60

  127.00

  1994–95

  225.80

  185.00

  Pensioner couples aged 75 and over

  1979

  125.00

  107.00

  1994–95

  217.00

  169.00

  Notes:

  1. All figures are given in 1994–95 prices and rounded to the nearest 10p.

  2. A pensioner couple is defined as a couple where the man, defined as the head, is over the state pension age. The age ranges quoted for pensioner couples are for the age of the head of the couple.

  Source:

  Pensioners' Incomes Series 1979 and 1994–95.

  Benefit Upratings
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the cost in 1997–98 of uprating (1) the £3,000 lower capital limit for income support for(a) pensioners and (b) all recipients of income support to (i) £8,000 and (ii) £16,000 and (2) the £8,000 upper capital limit for income support for (A) pensioners, (B) all recipients of income support to (x) £16,000 and (y) £20,000; [14288]

  (2) if he will estimate the number of pensioners who would become eligible for income support if (a) the £3,000 capital limit was increased to (i) £8,000, (ii) £16,000 and (iii) £10,000 and (b) the £8,000 upper capital limit was increased to (i) £16,000 and (ii) £20,000. [14290]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table. The table also shows the number of pensioners who would become eligible for income support if these changes were made.

  Cost in 1997–98 £ million

  Lower limit £

  Upper limit £

  If applied to all claimants

  If applied to all claimants aged 60 or over

  Number of claimants aged 60 or over becoming entitled to income support

  3,000

  16,000

  50

  40

  20,000

  3,000

  20,000

  50

  40

  20,000

  8,000

  16,000

  200

  170

  135,000

  8,000

  20,000

  210

  170

  135,000

  10,000

  16,000

  240

  200

  160,000

  505

  Cost in 1997–98 £ million

  Lower limit £

  Upper limit £

  If applied to all claimants

  If applied to all claimants aged 60 or over

  Number of claimants aged 60 or over becoming entitled to income support

  10,000

  20,000

  250

  210

  165,000

  16,000

  20,000

  310

  260

  210,000

  1. Estimated using the 1994–95 family resources survey, uprated to 1997–98 case loads and benefit levels.

  2. Estimates assume that the combinations will include an upper and lower capital limit.

  3. Estimates exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes.

  4. Estimates include consequential costs in housing benefit and council tax benefit from new income support claimants being "passported" onto these benefits.

  5. Estimates for all claimants include the costs of introducing the same capital limits in jobseeker's allowance.

  6. Adjustments to these estimates are made using the May 1995 income support quarterly statistical inquiry and the May 1995 housing benefit-council tax benefit management information system.

  7. Cost estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million, claimants to the nearest 5,000.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost in 1997–98 of reducing the assumed income from savings for(a) pensioners and (b) all recipients of income support, with savings between £3,000 and £8,000, to (i) £1 a week for every £500 over £3,000 and (ii) £1 a week for every £1,000 over £3,000. [14289]

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

  cost in income support and jobseeker's allowance in 1997–98 (£ million)

  Tariff income rule

  Pensioners

  All claimants

  £1 for every £500 above the lower capital limit

  20

  30

  £1 for every £1,000 above the lower capital limit

  40

  50

  1. Estimated using the 1994–95 family resources survey, uprated to 1997–98 case loads and benefit levels.

  2. Estimates exclude cases in residential care and nursing homes.

  3. Estimates include consequential costs in housing benefit and council tax benefit from new income support claimants being "passported" onto these benefits.

  4. Estimates for all claimants include the costs of introducing the same capital limits in jobseeker's allowance.

  5. Adjustments to these estimates are made using the May 1995 income support quarterly statistical inquiry and the May 1995 housing benefit-council tax benefit management information system.

  6. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost in 1997–98 of increasing all capital limits for income-related benefits for pensioner couples to one and a half times their current limits. [14291]

  Mr. Evans
  The estimated cost if all capital limits for income-related benefits for pensioner couples are 506
  increased to one and a half times their current limits is £30 million in 1997–98.

  Notes:

  1. This is estimated using the 1994–95 family resources survey, uprated to 1997–98 case loads and benefit levels.

  2. The estimate excludes cases in residential care and nursing homes.

  3. The estimate covers income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit and family credit.

  4. Adjustments to this estimate are made using the May 1995 income support quarterly statistical inquiry and the May 1995 housing benefit-council tax benefit management information system.

  5. The estimate is rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of benefit fraud in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the likely savings which will accrue from the initiative "Spotlight on Benefit Cheats". [14696]

  Mr. Heald
  The overall annual level of detected and undetected benefit fraud is currently estimated at approximately £4 billion.

  Phase I of the spotlight campaigns, which ran from April to September 1996, generated more than £44 million in benefit savings. Phase II, which ran during November 1996, has generated £40.4 million. Phase III began on 3 February 1997.

  Earnings Top-up
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of the earnings top-up during its piloting stage; and if he will estimate the annual costs of a national scheme. [15073]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The earnings top-up pilot is expected to cost a total of £65 million over three years. Two benefit rates—scheme A and scheme B—will test how different amounts of earnings top-up influence the decision to take up and remain in work. Present estimates indicate that the annual cost of a national scheme will be £265 million—scheme A—and £595 million—scheme B—at 1996–97 prices. These estimates would be subject to review as information on the effects of the benefit are collected and analysed during the pilot.

  Earnings Disregards
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the numbers gaining and (b) the cost of assessing, earnings and earnings limits over a quarterly period in respect of (i) the weekly disregards in income-related benefits, and (ii) the weekly earnings limits applicable to contributory and non-contributory benefits. [15076]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information requested is not available.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the numbers gaining and (b) the cost of treating a student loan as capital in claims for (i) income support and (ii) jobseeker's allowance. [15080]
  507
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons the Child Support Agency has reduced the range of statistical information it makes available. [15120]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Miss Liz Lynne, dated 17 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the provision by the Child Support Agency of statistical information.
  I am unclear why you should have the impression that the range of statistical information available has been reduced. If anything, the reverse is true, with more statistical information on the Agency's work now available than was previously the case, and with enhancements to the Child Support Computer System making more specific data available.
  Although now published quarterly rather than monthly, the House of Commons Library Report produced by the Agency carries the same data as before, The Quarterly Statistical Summary produced by the Analytical Services Department now draws information from a larger sample, thereby improving the quality of the results, and contains more information than earlier editions. Monthly statistics on the Agency's performance against Charter Standards are to be displayed in our offices.
  As you will be aware, the Government has published a code of practice on access to Government information. The Agency is committed to the principles of this code, and will make information readily available whenever this is possible.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedures are in place at the Child Support Agency to ensure that all complaints by clients are counted; and what instructions are given to staff regarding the definition, recognition, registration and counting of complaints. [15086]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Miss Liz Lynne, dated 17 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about complaints tot he Child Support Agency.
  The new CSA Charter advises clients how to complain if they are dissatisfied with the service they have received from the Agency. Each of our offices has a Customer Service Manager to whom clients can speak or write to about a complaint.
  Systems are in place for defining, recording, recognising, registering and counting client's complaints across the Agency and the information is collated and monitored on a monthly basis. Where there have been vexatious complaint campaigns orchestrated by organisations who oppose the implementation of Child Support legislation, staff have been instructed not to register these as bona fide complaints.
  Improving the handling of client's complaints is one of the key priorities for the Child Support Agency. During 1996, the Agency set up a review of its internal procedures for dealing with complaints in order to bring them into line with the Citizen's Charter Complaints Taskforce recommendations.
  508
  As a result, a number of improvements have been identified including the revision of training for all staff involved in dealing with client's complaints and the introduction of a new Complaints Guide which sets out the Agency's policy and procedures for the speedy and effective handling of client's complaints. The revised arrangements are currently being piloted in one of our Agency business units and will be fully evaluated prior to adoption Agency-Wide.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Benefits (Expenditure)
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of annual social security expenditure on each benefit. 1150741

  Mr. Burt
  Detailed breakdowns of total expenditure figures are made available in the Social Security departmental report. This will be published in March 1997.

  Income Support
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the number gaining and (b) the cost of extending payments of income support to those under age 19 years who qualify by virtue of being in relevant education to a period beyond their 19th birthday which is (i) the date of the end of the course and (ii) the terminal date. [15078]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available.

  Income Support (Child Maintenance)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have lost entitlement to income support benefit as a result of child maintenance payments to them resulting from action taken by the Child Support Agency as recorded by form 646 during the months of October, November and December 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15942]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mrs. Margaret Beckett, dated 17 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security regarding cessation of Income Support as a result of Child Support Agency action on form 646.
  The form used to notify the Benefits Agency of the amount and the commencement date of regular child maintenance is form CSA 676(A). This form has a tear-off facility to allow the Benefits Agency to inform the Child Support Agency of the outcome of the reassessment of Income Support, including cases where Income Support ceases.
  In such cases, where the absent parent is to make payments of maintenance via the Child Support Agency, the Benefits Agency contacts the Agency to ensure that maintenance payments have started before payments of Income Support cease. In cases where the absent parent is to pay maintenance directly to the parent with care any failure to pay the agreed amount of maintenance is reported to the Benefits Agency and the Child Support Agency.

  509
  The number of cases where the Benefits Agency has notified the Agency that Income Support has ceased is as follows:

  October 1996: 147

  November 1996: 153

  December 1996: 95

  I hope this is helpful.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, (1) pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, columns 635–36, what steps he has taken to investigate the reasons for his Department's medical advisers' delay in providing advice relating to the additive nature of age-related hearing loss; and when sensorineural hearing loss was introduced for war pension purposes; [15857]

  (2) on what date the medical opinion on which his Department based its policy relating to sensorineural hearing loss for the purposes of war pensions prior to March 1996 was received; and from whom. [15862]

  Mr. Heald
  The war pensions scheme has no list of prescribed conditions. It has always been possible for a claim to be made for any disablement, including noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss.

  Prior to 1996, the assessment of noise-induced hearing loss claims was based on advice from departmental medical officers given in December 1992. The approach taken following that advice was investigated during 1995 and 1996. The medical adviser who undertook the investigation concluded that, from 1 March 1996, there could no longer be any doubt that the general medical opinion was that age and noise-related hearing loss were no more than additive.

  The 1995–96 investigation did not include an examination of whether the advice given by previous medical advisers in 1992 was reasonable at the time it was given. This question was investigated following the statement by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf s and the Royal British Legion's medical experts that the fact that noise and age-related hearing loss were no more than additive had been known for 30 years. That investigation has revealed that the advice given in 1992 was not scientifically based.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what medical conditions, in respect of which war pensions are payable, are not recompensed for deterioration; and what assessment he has made of the methods of evaluation of deterioration in respect of each such condition. [15858]

  Mr. Heald
  A war pension may be awarded for any condition which is attributable to or aggravated by service. Any subsequent deterioration of that condition may also be compensated, providing the deterioration is due to service. Deterioration wholly unconnected with service cannot be compensated for under the war pensions scheme. Each case is considered on its individual circumstances and merits.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the changes in medical opinion of which his Department's advisers informed Ministers relating to noise-induced hearing loss in the last five years. [15859]
  510
  Mr. Heald
  The only occasion in the past five years on which Ministers have been advised of a change in medical opinion on noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss was in October 1996 when Ministers were advised that it had been shown beyond reasonable doubt that the effects of noise and age-related hearing loss were no more than additive.

  Mr. Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, column 635, on the open letter sent to the Minister of State, Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish, on sensorineural hearing loss and war pensions, what reply he has sent to the letter; if he will publish that reply; and if he will make a statement. [15861]

  Mr. Heald
  In response to the letter from Professors Lutman and Davies, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish the Minister of State, has arranged to meet the Royal British Legion and its medical advisors on 12 March to discuss any remaining differences.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to disregard income from a personal pension for people with reserved rights who have a spouse living in the family home. [16741]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Regulations are being amended with effect from 7 April 1997 so that 50 per cent. of the income from a personal pension or retirement annuity contract will be disregarded where a resident of a residential care or nursing home with preserved rights to income support, or income-based jobseeker's allowance, passes at least half of their pension or annuity income to a spouse living at home. A similar disregard for occupational pensions was introduced in April 1996.

  Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the implementation of the recommendations by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council concerning chronic bronchitis and emphysema. [16742]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in November 1996 that the Government would implement, in full, the recommendations made by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to change the qualifying conditions for the award of disablement benefit for chronic bronchitis and emphysema—Cm 3240. Good progress has been made in the meantime, and I can now announce that we will be able to bring the changes into operation from 9 April. These changes will make it more straightforward for coal miners who are disabled by these diseases to qualify for benefit, and easier to administer the scheme.

  The Benefits Agency has undertaken extensive planning to implement these changes efficiently and as soon as practicable. Arrangements are in hand to publicise the change locally in a way that will target the communities most affected and use the means most likely to reach the people concerned.
  511
  People making claims under the new arrangements are advised to do so from the beginning of April, but not before. We expect a relatively small number of Benefits Agency offices to receive a large number of claims over a short period of time. Inevitably, this work will take some time to process, however, arrangements will be put in place to inform people who claim of progress from written acknowledgment of the claim through to decision and, where appropriate, payment. Successful claims made at the right time will be paid with effect from 9 April.

  A new edition of leaflet N 17 "People who have worked underground in a coal mine for 20 years" will be available in English and Welsh in social security offices from April. Revised claim forms will also be available.

  The Benefits Agency is contacting mining organisations, GPs and citizen advice bureaux in mining areas to ensure that everyone is informed. Administration of claims will be simplified wherever possible.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farm Tenancies
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of farm business tenancies entered into to date. [15491]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My Department is currently analysing data on the uptake of farm business tenancies under a new annual survey of tenanted land. This survey was launched in October last year and the results are expected to be published in March 1997.

  BSE
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total cost to public funds of the BSE crisis in Britain since 20 March 1996 broken down by category; and what proportion of this total he estimates will be recovered from the European Community. [15489]

  Mrs. Browning
  For details of the cost of the BSE crisis, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 3 February 1997,Official Report, column 513. The proportion of this cost to be recovered from the EU is estimated at approximately 45 per cent.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total amount paid in compensation to the beef industry in Britain for price damage since 20 March 1996. [15488]

  Mr. Baldry
  Compensation is not paid to the beef industry for price damage. For details of expenditure on BSE eradication and compensation schemes, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Palriamentary Secretary on 3 February 1997,Official Report, column 513.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle have been slaughtered to date under the over-30 months scheme; and what is the average amount per cow paid in compensation to farmers. [15486]
  512
  Mr. Baldry
  More than 1.25 million cattle have now been slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme. For an average cull cow weighing 560 kg, the amount paid to producers, depending on the date on which the animal was slaughtered, is:

  £

  3 May 1996 to 30 June 1996

  479.64

  1 July 1996 to 20 October 1996

  466.93

  21 October 1996 to 31 October 1996

  420.22

  1 November 1996 to 31 January 1997

  408.18

  1 February 1997 to

  387.18

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on(a) farmers' incomes and (b) the economy of rural areas of the European ban on beef exports. [15478]

  Mr. Boswell
  The European Union ban on exports of UK beef, together with the fall in consumption on the UK market, is estimated to have reduced the value of UK cattle sales by approximately £800 million in 1996. However, this reduction in revenue has been largely offset by measures put in place by the Government to assist the industry.

  The Ministry is commissioning an independent study to provide a comprehensive assessment of the economic impact of BSE across the whole UK economy and within particular regions.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for a further selective cull based on the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee's report on maternal transmission. [15882]

  Mr. Baldry
  SEAC has asked for more work to be done regarding the study on maternal transmission before making final recommendations to the Government. We shall consider the implications for the selective cull once we have SEAC's advice.

  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of confirmed cases of BSE in each month in 1995 to 1996. [15873]

  Mrs. Browning
  The following table shows the monthly breakdown of confirmed BSE cases for 1995 to 1996:

  1995

  1996

  January

  1,720

  920

  February

  2,035

  1,192

  March

  1,629

  847

  April

  1,173

  592

  May

  1,403

  629

  June

  1,232

  1,026

  July

  1,266

  801

  August

  1,094

  541

  September

  956

  655

  October

  1,054

  673

  November

  1,107

  594

  December

  784

  268

  513
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the number of carcases of slaughtered cattle currently in container ships awaiting disposal. [16529]

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Rabies
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the reliability of blood tests for rabies antibodies subsequent to vaccination. [15639]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974, as amended in particular by the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) (Amendment) Order 1994, dogs and cats which are the subject of a commercial transaction may be imported into the United Kingdom from another EU member state provided that they have, inter alia, been tested for antibodies using a"serological test carried out in accordance with World Health Organisation specifications".

  The test commonly used by laboratories throughout the EU is the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test. This test is based on a World Health Organisation specification, but has undergone a number of modifications over the years in different laboratories. A revised protocol which should overcome problems with test result variability has now been submitted for ratification following a detailed collaborative study between a number of EU laboratories.

  Waste Disposal at Sea
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's definition of bulky waste in respect of disposal at sea. [15627]

  Mr. Boswell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today in response to his question to the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Newcastle Disease
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 43, when he expects the information on birds involved in outbreaks of Newcastle disease and the total amount of compensation paid to be available. [15724]

  Mrs Browning
  The total amount of compensation to be paid as a result of the recent outbreaks of Newcastle disease is dependant on information to be supplied by the claimants involved and our consideration of their claims. The claims will be processed as quickly as possible.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations his Department has received since 1 January 1996, relating to application forms allegedly 514
  completed and sent, but not received by his Department for (a) sheep annual premium and (b) other grants administered by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [16168]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be extracted locally only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Escort Services
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what procedures exist to monitor the number of hours worked in one session of work by drivers employed by firms contracted to carry out prison escort services; [15153]

  (2) what checks are carried out on the (a) health and (b) character of drivers employed by firms contracted to carry out prison escort services; and what procedures are used to monitor these factors; [15151]

  (3) what limits are placed on the number of hours worked per shift by drivers employed by firms contracted to carry out prison escort services. [15150]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about drivers employed by private sector companies who are responsible for escorting prisoners.
  Most prisoner movements under escort are to and from court and are now virtually all undertaken by specialist court escort contractors.
  The contracts require full compliance with the provisions of relevant Road Traffic and Road Safety legislation. Each company is required to hold an Operator's Licence and its procedures and records are subject to inspection by the Department of Transport. There is no additional routine inspection by court escort monitors of the hours worked by drivers or of their shift patterns although such records must be made available on request.
  The health of drivers is primarily a matter for the contractor, both on recruitment and subsequently, although again there is an overriding requirement to comply with all relevant legislation. Drivers of the larger vehicles must hold Passenger Carrying Vehicle Licences (PCVs).
  Drivers employed by companies contracted to provide a court escort service must be certificated as Prisoner Custody Officers under the Criminal Justice Act 1991. This involves such enquiries as are deemed necessary into the background and character of each applicant. Without such certification employment cannot commence. The provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act do not apply.
  There are also contracts issued for the provision of vehicles and drivers for the transportation of prisoners for other purposes. These too reflect the need to comply with all appropriate legislation.
  515
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each current contract for prison escort services indicating(a) the company, (b) the value of the contract, (c) its area of operation and (d) its duration. [15152]

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

  Area

  Contractor

  Start

  Final phase

  End1

  Value2£ million

  1

  South Wales and south-west England

  Reliance custodial services

  1 April 1996

  1 October 1996

  30 September 2003

  60

  2

  South and south-east England

  Premier prison services

  6 May 1996

  1 November 1996

  31 October 2003

  61

  3

  London Metropolitan

  Securicor custodial services

  1 June 1994

  26 June 1995

  30 June 1999

  392

  4

  East Anglia

  Group 4 court services

  1 July 1995

  1 January 1996

  31 December 2000

  42

  5

  West Midlands and central Wales

  Group 4 court services

  3 June 1996

  2 December 1996

  1 December 2003

  51

  6

  North Wales and north-west England

  Group 4 court services

  7 August 1995

  5 February 1996

  4 February 2001

  65

  7

  East Midlands and Humberside

  Group 4 court services

  5 April 1993

  —4

  4 April 1998

  545

  8

  North England

  Group 4 court services

  7 April 1997

  7 July 1998

  6 July 2004

  649

  Notes:

  1 This is the end date for the contract, however, all contracts include options for an extension up to a maximum duration of 14 years.

  2 The value is the estimated total value for the initial duration of the contract based on first year prices.

  3 The value of the Securicor contract for area 3 takes account of a re-resourcing activity which took place before the end of phase 1.

  4 The area 7 contract was not phased in, full operation commenced on the start date.

  5 Area 7 was the first contract and included a facility for the resource levels to be reassessed after implementation. The value takes account of this re-resourcing exercise.

  6 The area 8 contract includes a non mandatory option for establishments to utilise the contract for external movements. The value detailed above includes an estimated cost for external movements.

  Criminal Records
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the voluntary sector regarding proposals in the Police Bill[Lords] to charge volunteers for access to criminal record checks; and if he will make a statement. [15149]

  Mr. Maclean
  We have received many representations from the voluntary sector about the charging of fees for criminal record checks.

  In response to these representations, my right hon. and learned Friend announced to the House, during Second Reading of the Police Bill [Lords] on 12 February, that we shall seek to amend the Bill to introduce an order-making power to enable free checks to be provided for specific groups, such as volunteers, when the money could be made available to cover the costs.

  Prison Medical Service
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the expenditure on the prison medical service from each year since 1990(a) in

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Estimated expenditure £ million (1994–95 prices)

  54.764

  58.217

  58.403

  58.215

  59.269

  Average per inmate

  0.00123

  0.00129

  0.00133

  0.00127

  0.00120

  516
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the costs and duration of contracts for prison escort services.
  The information requested is shown in the table attached. This relates only to those contracts for the movement of prisoners to and from court. Contracts for the provision of vehicles and drivers for other prisoner movements under the escort of prison officers are let locally by each establishment and details could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

  cash terms, (b) in standard price terms based on the current year and (c) in cash and standard prices per head of the prison population; and what is the planned expenditure for future years under the same headings. [15234]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about expenditure on the prison medical service each year since 1990 and how much we plan to spend in future years.
  Expenditure on health care has been devolved to prison establishments. Governors allocate appropriate resources from within their establishment budgets, to ensure that health care is delivered to prisoners in accordance with set standards. For this reason it is not possible accurately to differentiate health care staff costs from the overall Prison Service budget nor to forecast precise future expenditure. Estimated expenditure for health care for the years 1990/91–1994/95 (the last year for which such an estimate was made) are set out in the attached table. The figures given are at 1994/95 prices.

  Prison Deaths
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many self-inflicted deaths occurred in HM prisons in each year from 1990 to 1993(a) in total and (b) per head of the prison population. [15393]

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

  Letter form Richard Tilt to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of self inflicted deaths at prison establishments in each year from 1990 to 1993.
  The figures on self inflicted deaths are given below. Self inflicted deaths do not necessarily conclude with a verdict of suicide.

  Calendar year

  Total self inflicted deaths

  Average population

  Rate of self inflicted deaths per 100,000 population

  1990

  50

  44,975

  111

  1991

  42

  44,809

  94

  1992

  41

  44,719

  92

  1993

  47

  44,552

  105

  Surveillance Equipment
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for warrants for the interception of telephone calls have been(a) submitted, (b) approved by officials in the Home Office, (c) signed by the Secretary of State and (d) cancelled or revoked after issue for each year since the introduction of the Interception of Communications Act 1985; and what other information he collects to assess (i) the extent and need for warrants and (ii) the time taken by officials and the Secretary of State to carry out these functions. [15436]

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the annexes to the reports of the interception of communications commissioner for 1989 and 1995 Cm 1063 and 3254, copies of which are in the Library. Together, these provide figures for the number of warrants issued by the Secretary of State during each of the years from 1985 to 1995 and the number in force at the end of each year. Warrants are cancelled when they are no longer considered necessary. None have been quashed under section 7(5) of the Act. The information requested at(a) and (b) is not available.

  The extent and need for warrants is manifest in the detailed cases which are presented in support of the applications. One grade 7, one higher executive officer, two executive officers, one administrative officer and one typist are engaged on case work under the 1985 Act. Member of the senior civil service are also involved in the consideration of applications and I, or in my absence another Secretary of State, personally consider and decide upon applications submitted to my office.

  Belmarsh Prison
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about conditions in the special secure unit at Her Majesty's prison, Belmarsh; and if he will make a statement. [15242]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Chris Mullin, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what representations have been received about conditions in the Special Secure Unit (SSU) at Belmarsh.
  The Prison Service answers many queries from Members of Parliament, prisoners and the general public about conditions in the SSU at Belmarsh prison. The four main issues raised relate to time out of cell, alleged discrimination, visiting arrangements and medical treatment.

  Learmont Inquiry
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the outstanding recommendations made in the report of the Learmont inquiry. [15970]

  Miss Widdecombe
  On 24 July 1996, I published an interim progress report which contained details of the conclusions reached and actions taken or planned by the Director General of the Prison Service in response to 100 of Sir John Learmont's recommendations.

  On 15 January 1997, the director general announced the implementation of a further 11 recommendations. Details were given in a report which was placed in the Library.

  Of the remaining 16 recommendations, 11 are the subject of a cost-benefit analysis to determine their operational effectiveness and value for money, and five are subject to further review or evaluation of pilot schemes.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) unconvicted remand prisoners and (b) convicted but unsentenced remand prisoners had been held for (i) less than six months; (ii) between six and 12 months, (iii) between one year and three years and (iv) over three years since first reception into the Prison Service for each month since January 1995. [15984]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many (a) unconvicted remand prisoners and (b) convicted but unsentenced remand prisoners had been held for (i) less than six months; (ii) between six and twelve months; (iii) between one year and three years and (iv) over three years since first reception into the Prison Service for each month since January 1995.

  519
  The information requested is not available on a monthly basis, nor at the level of detail requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average amount of time spent in prison by(a) unconvicted remand prisoners and (b) convicted but unsentenced prisoners in each month since January 1995. [15985]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 18 February 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what was the average amount of time spent in prison by (a) unconvicted remand prisoners and (b) convicted unsentenced prisoners in each month since January 1995.

  The information requested is contained in the attached table.

  Untried

  Convicted unsentenced

  1995

  January

  58

  37

  February

  54

  34

  March

  53

  33

  April

  66

  37

  May

  55

  30

  June

  53

  34

  July

  54

  32

  August

  53

  32

  September

  53

  34

  October

  53

  34

  November

  51

  33

  December

  62

  37

  1996

  January

  50

  31

  February

  51

  33

  March

  58

  36

  April

  49

  34

  May

  47

  34

  June

  57

  35

  July

  48

  31

  August

  54

  37

  September

  51

  37

  October

  50

  40

  November

  54

  46

  December

  57

  57

  Average days in custody are subject to wide variation because of the small populations on which they are based. All values are provisional.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of CCTV schemes in each city in South Yorkshire which are currently in operation; and what assessment he has made of the effect of each scheme on crime rates. [15704]

  Mr. Maclean
  In the two Home Office closed circuit television challenge competitions which have so far been held, six schemes in South Yorkshire have been awarded grants. They are:Grimethorpe village, Barnsley (awarded £116,000);
  Scawsby community centre, Brodsworth (£4,250);
  The community and educational campus, Dinnington (£72,500);
  520
  Balby Street school, Doncaster (£5,000);
  Clifton Comprehensive and Coleridge junior and infant schools, Rotherham (£37,850); and
  Lower Don industrial area, Sheffield (£53,000).

  Grimethorpe village and the community and educational campus are not yet operational. The local police report that the other four schemes have all had a significant impact on crime.

  Although information about CCTV systems in which the Home Office has no involvement is not collected systematically, we are aware that town centre CCTV systems are operational in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. The local police report that these schemes have also resulted in significant reductions in crime.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the timetable of events, with dates, connected with the successful application for funding the installation of CCTV in Dartford town centre, by the Dartford borough council; what sums were awarded to the borough council; and when the project was completed. [15864]

  Mr. Maclean
  A bid from a partnership led by Dartford borough council for funds to install closed circuit television in Dartford town centre was submitted in the first CCTV challenge competition in January 1995. Some £50,000 was awarded in March 1995. The first phase of the system—12 cameras—became operational in July 1996. The second phase—a further nine cameras—became operational in September 1996.

  Court Adjournments
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve liaison between the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, defence solicitors, the courts and the probation service, with particular reference to reducing the number of court adjournments. [15788]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have taken many steps to improve liaison between all agencies within the criminal justice system, both nationally and locally. The work of the inter-agency trials issues group includes considering specific criminal justice system matters involving relations between the police, prosecution, courts and others. A total of 42 local inter-agency groups support the work of TIG.

  The Criminal Justice Consultative Council, chaired by Lord Justice Rose and comprising members of all criminal justice agencies and the legal professions, also promotes better understanding, co-operation and co-ordination in the criminal justice system. Its work is underpinned at local level by 23 area criminal justice liaison committees.

  Following discussion at a recent CJCC meeting, the Magistrates Association and the Justices Clerks Society issued a joint statement on speedier sentencing of young offenders. It deals specifically with multiple offending and guides that courts should sentence for the offences before it rather than wait for all further alleged offences to come to trial.

  Prison Population
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average yearly prison population since 1987. [15982]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to HM Prison Service dated 18 February 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what was the average yearly population since 1987.

  The average prison population in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for each year since 1987 was as follows:

  1987: 48,426

  1988: 48,872

  1989: 48,500

  1990: 44,975

  1991: 44,809

  1992: 44,719

  1993: 44,552

  1994: 48,621

  1995: 50,962

  1996: 55,281.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the prison population for each month since January 1995; [15981]

  (2) how many (a) unconvicted remand prisoners and (b) convicted but unsentenced remand prisoners there were in each month since January 1995. [15983]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr George Howarth, dated 18 February 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions asking if he will list the prison population for each month since January 1995: and also, how many (a) unconvicted remand prisoners and (b) convicted but unsentenced remand prisoners there were in each months since January 1995.

  The information requested is contained in the attached table.

  Prison population in England and Wales1, each month since January 1995

  Total

  Untried

  Convicted unsentenced

  995

  January

  49,542

  9,025

  3,498

  February

  50,571

  8,666

  3,180

  March

  51,594

  8,239

  3,009

  April

  50,787

  8,259

  2,671

  May

  50,643

  8,455

  2,727

  June

  51,084

  7,950

  3,106

  July

  51,279

  8,147

  2,793

  August

  51,265

  8,396

  2,912

  September

  52,286

  8,162

  3,016

  October

  52,027

  8,433

  3,068

  November

  52,540

  8,337

  3,047

  December

  49,949

  8,155

  2,421

  1996

  January

  51,947

  8,345

  3,196

  February

  53,178

  8,223

  3,228

  522

  Prison population in England and Wales1, each month since January 1995

  Total

  Untried

  Convicted unsentenced

  March

  53.740

  7,933

  3,079

  April

  54,202

  8,153

  3,266

  May

  54,513

  8,209

  3,110

  June

  55,256

  8,432

  3,136

  July

  56,141

  8,379

  3,182

  August

  55,537

  8,398

  3,280

  September

  56,628

  8,523

  3,440

  October

  57,764

  8,630

  3,524

  November

  58,126

  8,687

  3,460

  December

  56,351

  8,579

  2,956

  1Figures include those held in police cells. This ended in June 1995.

  Fire Service (Lancashire)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were working in the fire service in Lancashire in(a) 1996 and (b) 1979. [16155]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the staffing of fire brigades is published in the annual reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of fire services. The reports in question are for 1978 (Cm 7605, page 55) and 1995–96 (Cm 3493, page 14) —copies of which are in the Library.

  Police Computer Systems
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to harmonise computer systems throughout police forces in England and Wales. [15786]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend launched the national strategy for police information systems—NSPIS—in November 1994. A principal aim of this blueprint agreed with the police service is the development of common, compatible computer systems for use by all police forces. Such systems will make a significant contribution to operational effectiveness, reduce police paperwork and provide better value for money. The first NSPIS application—vehicle procedures—is now available. Other systems currently being developed within the strategy are for:

  Custody

  Case preparation

  Command and control

  Crime reporting

  Management information

  Large major inquiries (HOLMES)

  National legal database.

  Mandatory Drug Tests
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mandatory drug tests were carried out on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; and how many tests were performed in total in each month since weekend testing began. [15975]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  523
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 18 February 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of mandatory drug tests carried out on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

  Mandatory drug testing (MDT) data are not held in a form which allows us readily to provide the information requested.

  In addition, a number of errors have come to light concerning the MDT data. Independent research has been commissioned to investigate these errors and it may take a little while before we are able to provide detailed figures, in which we have full confidence.

  However, I should like to stress that we do not anticipate the effect of these errors to be particularly large on the overall statistics. Bearing in mind these commetns we can give an estimate for random mandatory drug tests carried out on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Around 6,100 such tests were conducted in the period between 1 April 1996 and 31 October 1996, out of an estimated total of 32,000 random tests undertaken.

  Court Cases (Bail)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that if a person appears before a court in England or Wales(a) the police and (b) the court will be made aware of outstanding (i) bail and (ii) breaches of bail in another court. [15785]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government recognise the importance of accurate and timely information about bail to enable the police and the courts to make appropriate decisions. The inter-agency bail issues steering group, which we reconvened last summer, is examining what practical steps can be taken to improve information flows. Under the group's direction, work is nearing completion on an assessment of the impact of the changes made by the bail process project, which we set up to assess and enhance the flow of information between the criminal justice agencies. The results will be published in due course.

  A30-A303 Roadworks
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the costs to date to(a) the Devon and Cornwall police and (b) other police authorities of policing the road construction on the A30-A303 between Exeter and Honiton. [15927]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the chief constable that Devon and Cornwall constabulary's costs to date are estimated to be in the region of £750,000. No costs have been incurred by other police authorities.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received reporting trespass on(a) privately owned land and (b) publicly owned land in the vicinity of the A30-A303 Exeter-Honiton road works. [15929]

  Mr. Maclean
  None.

  Police (Information Technology)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the efficiency of the police through the use of information technology. [15787]

  Mr. Maclean
  Part IV of the Police Bill contains provisions to establish the police information technology organisation as an executive non-departmental public 524
  body. This new independent tripartite framework will lead to the improved delivery of cost-effective, responsive and timely information technology services to the police.

  PITO is responsible for promoting the delivery of national police information services and taking forward the national strategy for police information systems—NSPIS—by co-ordinating the development of local information technology systems. Local computer applications being developed under NSPIS, enhancements to the police national computer and major projects to provide the next generation of automated fingerprint identification and radio systems are amongst the PITO programmes which will improve efficiency and ensure that information technology is fully harnessed in the fight against crime.

  Serious Criminal Offences
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his current estimate of the average number of people each week involved for the first time in a serious criminal offence; and what was the equivalent figure in 1987. [15839]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information routinely available centrally relates to the number convicted of a standard list offence for the first time.

  The latest available figures are for 1994, when the estimated weekly average for such convictions was 2,300. The equivalent figure for 1987 was 2,900.

  Offences included in the "standard list" are given in appendices 4 and 5 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1995" (Cm 3421).

  These include all indictable and some of the more serious summary offences.

  Prisoners (Report and Health)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the report by Sir Donald Acheson on the health of prisoners to be published. [15702]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Chris Smith, dated 18 February 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the report by Sir Donald Acheson on the health of prisoners.

  The Prison Service asked Sir Donald Acheson to examine what effect, if any, the regime in the Special Secure Units at Belmarsh, Full Sutton and Whitemoor, might have on the health of prisoners held there and to report any findings to the Director of Security. Sir Donald presented his report in June 1996.

  The report was commissioned internally and was not intended for publication. We have however provided copies on request and I attach a copy for your information.

  The Prison Service has considered the report and taken careful note of its findings and recommendations (which are essentially based on what might result from a prolonged period of detention in an SSU rather than findings of present harm). We have made a number of amendments to procedures and will ensure that the general health of prisoners detained in SSUs is reviewed at regular intervals.

  Crime Prevention (Lancashire)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures of crime prevention have been initiated by his Department in Lancashire since 1992. [16148]

  Mr. Maclean
  Apart from the benefit it has derived from the wide variety of national initiatives designed to promote crime prevention, Lancashire has received £464,000 in specific funding for closed circuit television systems.

  Police Numbers (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of police officers per thousand people in each of the last two years in West Yorkshire. [16042]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information, based on police strengths as at 30 September and the latest population figure (June 1995), is as follows:

  Police officers per 1,000 of population

  1995

  2.43

  1996

  2.45

  Prevention of Terrorism Legislation
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report from Mr. J. J. Rowe QC on the operation in 1996 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989; and if he will make a statement. [16841]

  Mr. Howard
  I have today arranged for copies of Mr. Rowe's report to be placed in the Library. Mr. Rowe recommends that the legislation should be renewed in its entirety for a further 12 months. This is also the Government's view and a draft order to give effect to this is being laid before the House today.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has in respect of enforced subject access under the Data Protection Act 1984. [16853]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government recognise the objections in principle to enforced subject access. However, this problem cannot be resolved through the Police Bill because the practice affects not only police records but many social security records and possibly others. Therefore, we intend to include a general solution in the legislation giving effect to the data protection directive. We will first consult employers' organisations and others likely to be affected.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the number of convictions for(a) violent crime, (b) car crime, (c) serious crime and (d) in total, in each year since 1979 for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [13202]
  526
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 30 January 1997]: The information is given in the table.

  Number of offenders convicted, at all courts, for certain crimes 1979 to 1995

  England and Wales

  Offence description

  Year

  Violent Crime1

  Car Crime2

  Serious Crime3

  Total Crime4

  1979

  60,581

  45,739

  412,346

  1,898,152

  1980

  65,123

  48,330

  455,425

  2,211,707

  1981

  62,901

  47,067

  464,562

  2,104,629

  1982

  63,876

  46,661

  475,131

  2,031,043

  1983

  62,833

  41,280

  461,023

  2,095,529

  1984

  58,496

  37,651

  449,449

  1,962,996

  1985

  58,564

  37,821

  443,936

  1,910,917

  1986

  53,201

  35,048

  384,209

  1,894,209

  1987

  58,925

  35,214

  5397,053

  51,605,281

  1988

  65,450

  32,735

  5396,694

  51,604,903

  1989

  70,890

  29,836

  5348,833

  51,583,530

  1990

  69,215

  30,252

  5352,057

  51,562,663

  1991

  63,599

  30,472

  5346,808

  5519,904

  1992

  61,596

  24,914

  5330,710

  51,528,419

  1993

  57,335

  22,091

  307,584

  1,425,314

  1994

  58,408

  21,612

  314,148

  51,424,623

  1995

  57,464

  20,149

  302,177

  51,429,709

  1 Includes the indictable offence groups of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery and the summary offences of common assault.

  2 Includes the indictable offences of theft from a vehicle. theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking and the summary offences of stealing and unauthorised taking of a conveyance and aggravated vehicle taking.

  3 Taken as all indictable offences.

  4 Taken as all indictable, summary non motoring and summary motoring offences.

  5 Includes allowance for known shortfalls in the data. It is not possible to produce estimates for the more detailed offence categories.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers on hunger strike at Her Majesty's prison, Rochester have been detained longer than two months. [15580]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 13 February 1977]: On 14 February 1997, the total number of detainees taking part in the protest at Rochester was six, of whom five have sought asylum at some stage. All have been detained for longer than two months.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hunger strikers at Her Majesty's prison, Rochester have alleged torture in their applications for asylum; and how many of these have had access to independent medical assessment of their allegations. [15581]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 13 February 1997]: Such information is not readily available but any such allegations would have been considered very carefully by both the Home Office and, if an appeal had been heard, by independent adjudicators. The Prison Service affords detainees at Rochester and their legal advisers the facilities to obtain independent medical assessments and advice.

  Prison Service Annual Report
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the annual report of the Prison Service agency for 1995–96. [15507]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the publication date of the Annual Report of the Prison Service Agency 1995–96.
  The preparation of the Annual Report is now in its final stages. Arrangements for printing and distributing will be made soon and I expect it to be published shortly.

  Prison Service Capacity
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have taken place to the Prison Service agency's month by month forecast of planned(a) in-use certified normal accommodation and (b) operational capacity for 12 months ahead, as it existed in October 1996; and to what extent each such change has been due to (i) cancellations or delays of projects because of difficulties in obtaining planning consents and (ii) other reasons, indicating the reasons in each case. [15509]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Sir Ivan Lawrence dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning what changes have taken place to the Prison Service Agency's month by month forecast of planned (a) in-use certified normal accommodation (b) operational capacity for 12 months ahead, as it existed in October 1996; and to what extent each such change has been due to (i) cancellations or delays of projects because of difficulties in obtaining planning consents and (ii) other reasons, indicating the reasons in each case.
  The Prison Service building and refurbishment programme at existing prisons is running to plan and not being held up by planning delays. We are also looking for sites for temporary prisons to provide about 800 places as a short term measure.
  Our preferred option was to use RAF Finningley, near Doncaster. A notice of the proposed development was lodged with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council but the council has objected to the proposal. I am therefore looking at other possible options.

  Table 2: Establishments where main changes have occurred

  Establishment

  Planned date of change

  In use change

  Operational capacity change

  Reason for change

  Chelmsford

  October 1996 (actual)

  198

  None

  New wings

  Kirkham

  December 1996 (actual)

  80

  80

  New RTUs

  Swansea

  December 1996 (actual)

  99

  120

  Return from refurbishment

  Haverigg

  December 1996 (actual)

  80

  80

  New RTUs

  Doncaster

  December 1996 (actual)

  None

  100

  Contingency Increase

  Hull

  January 1997 (actual)

  113

  113

  New wing

  Stocken

  February 1997

  40

  40

  New RTUs

  Ashwell

  February 1997

  40

  40

  New RTUs

  Littlehey

  February 1997

  40

  40

  New RTUs

  Lewes

  February 1997

  174

  162

  Return from refurbishment

  Nottingham

  February 1997

  177

  177

  New building

  528
  The Prison Service took possession of a floating prison, which is currently berthed in New York. on 31 January 1997. An application for planning consent was considered by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council on 6 February. The council rejected the application which has now been referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment and it is hoped that a decision will be reached by mid-March.

  A proposed development for a former leisure facility at Heysham, was submitted on 20 December 1996 under Environment Circular Instruction 18/84, for a change of use to a prison. The planning application has yet to be determined.

  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the outturn or planned(a) in-use certified normal accommodation and (b) operational capacity for the prison estate for each month from October 1996 to September 1997; and if he will list the establishments in which the main changes have occurred or are planned to occur over that period, with the number of places involved in each case. [15508]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning the outturn and planned in-use certified normal accommodation (CNA) and operational capacity for the prison estate, indicating at which establishment main changes have or are expected to occur.
  The monthly in-use CNA and operational capacity figures for the whole prison estate are listed in the attached table 1. The figures from October 1996 to January 1997 are recorded actuals with subsequent months being forecasted figures.
  The reasons for the main changes to in-use CNA and operational capacity are detailed in the attached table 2.

  Table 1: In use CNA and operation capacity for the prison estate

  Date

  In-use CAN

  Operational capacity

  October 1996

  53,500

  59,000

  November 1996

  54,000

  59,600

  December 1996

  54,000

  59,800

  January 1997

  54,200

  60,000

  February 1997

  55,000

  60,300

  March 997

  55,200

  60,500

  April 1997

  56,000

  61,200

  May 1997

  56,500

  61,300

  June 1997

  57,100

  61,900

  July 1997

  57,200

  62,100

  August 1997

  57,600

  62,400

  September 1997

  57,900

  62,600

  529

  Table 2: Establishments where main changes have occurred

  Establishment

  Planned date of change

  In use change

  Operational capacity change

  Reason for change

  Kirklevington

  March/April 1997

  80

  80

  New RTUs

  Temporary accommodation

  April 1997

  400

  400

  —

  Glen Parva

  April 1997

  120

  None

  Return from refurbishment

  Preston

  May 1997

  156

  220

  Return from refurbishment

  Liverpool

  May 1997

  111

  182

  Return from refurbishment

  Holme House

  June 1997

  120

  120

  New houseblocks

  Garth

  June 1997

  120

  120

  New houseblocks

  Temporary accommodation

  July 1997

  400

  400

  —

  Wetherby

  July/August 1997

  120

  120

  New houseblocks

  Elmley

  July/August 1997

  120

  120

  New houseblocks

  Brixton

  August 1997

  150

  150

  Return from refurbishment

  New Hall

  August 1997

  120

  120

  New houseblocks

  Prison Service Funding
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the overall target reduction in operating costs for the Prison Service agency per baseline certified normal accommodation place over the four years 1995–96 to 1999–2000 implicit in the November 1996 announcements on funding for the Prison Service(a) excluding extra funds for implementing the Woodcock report and for mandatory drug testing and (b) including such funds. [15510]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question asking about target reductions in cost per place.
  The figures are in real terms, i.e. adjusted for inflation and are also adjusted to ensure like for like comparison over a period of years, by stripping out the funds transferred to the Prison Service previously held elsewhere (e.g. payments to local authorities under Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act) and also by stripping out both the cost and the places associated with design, construct, manage and finance (DCMF) contract prisons (because payments to contractors include a capital element, and they are therefore not comparable with the current cost per place of public sector prisons).
  On this basis, the reduction in real terms of cost per place, comparing provision for 1999–2000 and outturn for 1995–96, is 5.5% excluding new money to complete implementation of the Woodcock proposals. Including this money the comparison becomes 5.9%.
  The figures for the period 1996–97 to 1999–2000 are the ones which we will now be using in our future plans. Comparing provision for 1999–2000 with provision for 1996–97, the reduction is 4.9% or excluding new money for Woodcock, 5.3%.

  Absconding Prisoners
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of(a) absconds from open conditions and (b) temporary leave failures for the Prison Service for 1992–93, and for each subsequent year. [15512]

  Miss Widdeombe
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  530
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Sir Ivan Lawrence dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what were the numbers of (a) absconds from open conditions and (b) temporary leave failures for the Prison Service for 1992–93, and for each subsequent year.
  The information requested is attached.

  Absconds from open conditions1

  Number

  1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  1,432

  1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994

  1,403

  1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

  1,192

  1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996

  947

  1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997

  886

  1The above figures include absconds from establishments which have both an open and closed element.

  Temporary release failures1

  Number

  1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993

  3,378

  1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994

  2,740

  1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

  1,825

  1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996

  438

  1 April 1996 to 31 January 1997

  220

  1The above are prisoners who failed to return and were reported to the police as unlawfully at large.

  Prison Service (Early Retirement)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are now expected to leave the Prison Service as a result of the voluntary early retirement and severance scheme. [15513]

  Miss Widdecome
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the Prison Service voluntary early retirement and severance scheme.
  1090 members of staff have accepted offers of early retirement or severance. We are awaiting replies to offers that have been made to a further 57 staff.

  Prisons (Staffing Levels)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the staff to inmate ratio for the Prison Service in 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990 and in each subsequent year. [15514]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Prison Service staff: prisoner ratios.
  The ratios are as follows:

  Year

  Staff

  Prisoner

  1970

  1

  2.47

  1975

  1

  2.02

  1980

  1

  2.30

  1985

  1

  2.02

  19901

  1

  1.40

  1991

  1

  1.40

  1992

  1

  1.31

  1993

  1

  1.17

  1994

  1

  1.24

  1995

  1

  1.26

  1996

  1

  1.33

  1 The fall reflects the change in prison officer working practices and the reduction in their hours worked.

  Prison Officer Kettleborough (Injuries)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Prison Officer Kettleborough has applied to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board for compensation in respect of injuries during the Whitemoor escape. [15594]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: It is not the practice of either the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board or the new Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to disclose details about individual applications.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the nature of the gunshot wound suffered by Prison Officer Kettleborough at the time of the Whitemoor escape; and for how long he remained in hospital. [15595]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the gun shot wound suffered by a prison officer during the escape from Whitemoor in September 1994.
  The officer received a graze and severe bruising to his lower abdomen. He was treated at hospital, but not admitted.

  Crime Clear-up Rates
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the crime clear-up rates for each police force in England in the most recent year for which figures are available. [16220]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The latest information relates to 1995 and is published in table 2.11 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1995" (Cm 3421), a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Policing (London)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much an average band D council tax payer in London paid towards policing costs in 1996–97; and if he will estimate(a) the cost for 1997–98 and (b) the percentage change. [16218]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: For 1996–97, the receiver for the Metropolitan police district issued a precept of £49.84 per property in council tax band D for Metropolitan police purposes. The budget proposals for 1997–98, which the receiver has submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend for approval, would require a precept of £57.00 per property in council tax band D. This would be an increase of 14.4 per cent.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police constables there were in London in each division and area in each of the years from 1992 to 1997. [16219]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The information requested is given in the following two tables. Owing to restructuring in the Metropolitan police in 1994, when the number of areas was reduced from eight to five, valid comparisons of area police strength cannot be made between the two tables. Figures for January 1995 appear in both tables as some officers were still in the process of being transferred from the old to the new restructured areas.

  The number of constables in the Metropolitan police will increase during 1997 as a result of the 3.4 per cent. funding increase for the Metropolitan police for 1997–98 over their 1996–97 allocation.

  Metropolitan police constable strength

  7 January 1992 total

  4 January 1993 total

  7 January 1994 total

  3 January 1995 total

  1. Area HQ

  388

  398

  403.6

  3

  Tottenham

  232

  229

  228

  —

  Hornsey

  219

  206.6

  213.6

  —

  Ponders End

  222

  218

  232

  —

  Enfield

  192

  202

  202.46

  —

  Holloway

  211

  200

  212.6

  —

  Islington

  256

  224

  235.5

  —

  Leyton

  180

  179.4

  180.4

  —

  Ilford

  202

  192

  201

  —

  Chingford

  192

  184.4

  189.4

  —

  Barkingside

  218

  202

  210.4

  —

  Total

  2,512

  2,435.4

  2,508.96

  3

  2. Area HQ

  368

  362

  310.4

  289

  Hackney

  277

  260

  258

  —

  Stoke Newington

  242

  223

  247

  —

  Bethnal Green

  156

  138

  136

  —

  Leman Street

  155

  148

  149

  —

  Limehouse

  245

  220

  239

  —

  533

  Metropolitan police constable strength

  7 January 1992 total

  4 January 1993 total

  7 January 1994 total

  3 January 1995 total

  Havering

  293

  283

  293.01

  —

  Dagenham

  222

  231

  232

  —

  Plaistow

  233

  226

  242.8

  —

  West Ham

  241

  227

  214.68

  —

  Total

  2,432

  2,318

  2,321.89

  289

  3 .Area HQ

  357

  345.6

  340.5

  10

  Southwark

  248

  224

  239.53

  —

  Peckham

  239

  232.9

  245.5

  —

  Walworth

  212

  189

  199

  —

  Catford

  211

  223

  204.6

  —

  Lewisham

  266

  249.6

  264.8

  —

  Orpington

  187

  164.44

  165.58

  —

  Bromley

  225

  205

  203

  —

  Greenwich

  223

  208

  197.8

  —

  Plumstead

  224

  223

  211

  —

  Bexleyheath

  227

  216.5

  214.6

  —

  Total

  2,619

  2,481.04

  2,485.91

  10

  4. Area HQ

  296

  286

  275

  184

  Brixton

  231

  232

  240

  —

  Kennington

  132

  130

  130.6

  —

  Clapham

  175

  177.5

  155.9

  —

  Streatham

  222

  208

  204.8

  —

  Wimbledon

  249

  229.4

  251

  —

  Croydon

  250

  222

  221

  —

  South

  Norwood

  239

  246.6

  236.19

  —

  Epsom

  319

  292.5

  303.5

  —

  Total

  2,113

  2,024

  2,017.99

  184

  5. Area HQ

  378

  373.4

  371.68

  60

  Wandsworth

  173

  157

  165

  —

  Battersea

  195

  167

  167.8

  —

  Tooting

  177

  179

  192.5

  —

  Hounslow

  215

  202

  214.2

  —

  Chiswick

  152

  141.4

  158.7

  —

  Twickenham

  251

  218

  244.95

  —

  Spelthorne

  151

  140.4

  158.2

  —

  Kingston

  319

  294.4

  312.7

  —

  Total

  2,011

  1,872.6

  1,985.73

  60

  6. Area HQ

  311

  287.6

  281.1

  270

  Heathrow

  366

  362.55

  348.94

  —

  Ealing

  274

  260.58

  281.23

  —

  Southall

  200

  215.7

  219.78

  —

  Hayes

  161

  —

  —

  —

  Uxbridge

  193

  —

  —

  —

  Hillingdon

  —

  347.9

  347.98

  —

  Chelsea

  149

  135

  153

  —

  Kensington

  179

  163

  168.1

  —

  Notting Hill

  174

  172

  181

  —

  Hammersmith

  273

  266

  261.33

  —

  Fulham

  139

  147

  158

  —

  Total

  2,419

  2,357.33

  2,400.46

  270

  7. Area HQ

  368

  362.4

  350.1

  310

  West Hendon

  188

  184

  193.6

  —

  Hampstead

  206

  196

  174

  —

  Kentish

  Town

  220

  203

  199

  —

  Holborn

  161

  156.7

  150.7

  —

  Harrow

  223

  207.2

  220.2

  —

  Wembley

  204

  181.91

  197.7

  —

  Kilbum

  313

  298

  286

  —

  Barnet

  219

  226

  239.4

  —

  Golders Green

  160

  160.3

  162.6

  —

  Total

  2,262

  2,175.51

  2,173.3

  310

  8. Area HQ

  355

  383

  376

  355

  West End Central

  175

  270

  249

  —

  Vine Street

  106

  —

  —

  —

  Charing Cross

  275

  313.4

  347.3

  —

  534

  Metropolitan police constable strength

  7 January 1992 total

  4 January 1993 total

  7 January 1994 total

  3 January 1995 total

  Paddington

  219

  217

  219

  —

  Maryleborne

  192

  204

  204.4

  —

  Harrow Road

  173

  172

  174

  —

  Belgravia

  258

  254.8

  261.5

  —

  Total

  1,753

  1,814.2

  1,831.2

  355

  Total areas

  18,121

  17,478.08

  17,725.44

  1,481

  Metropolitan police constable strength

  3 January 1995

  8 January 1996

  2 January 1997

  1. Area Central HQ

  15

  543

  449.6

  Belgravia

  252.55

  249.15

  248.26

  Notting Hill

  192

  184

  199.6

  Brompton

  290.83

  302.4

  313.2

  West End Central

  246

  247

  239

  Charing Cross

  318.9

  317.1

  324.7

  Marylebone

  200.1

  265.9

  260.7

  Paddington Green

  367.6

  280.6

  279

  Fulham

  167

  170.73

  179.73

  Hammersmith

  258.2

  251.4

  270.66

  Total

  2,308.18

  2,811.28

  2,764.45

  2. Area NW HQ

  42

  504.98

  522.18

  Hampstead

  170

  172

  165.15

  Kentish Town

  211.7

  220.86

  221

  Holborn

  170.2

  166.1

  157.8

  Holloway

  212.6

  211.9

  200.9

  Islington

  238.5

  234.1

  250.7

  Harrow

  218.2

  233.8

  225.4

  Wembley

  209.7

  208.6

  218.6

  Kilburn

  307.88

  289.14

  294.26

  Barnet

  250

  235.3

  220.26

  Golders Green

  163.1

  169.9

  172.15

  West Hendon

  198

  196.6

  183.9

  Ealing

  276.93

  289.68

  283.28

  Southall

  226.68

  231.96

  228.3

  Hornsey

  224.95

  218.6

  208.3

  Tottenham

  232

  217

  215.1

  Total

  3,352.44

  3,800.52

  3,767.28

  3. Area NE HQ

  323.8

  685

  651.5

  Shoreditch and Hackney

  268.68

  260.6

  257.8

  Stoke Newington

  283.5

  269.94

  271.24

  Limehouse

  230

  220.4

  216.4

  Whitechapel

  265.7

  265.7

  264.4

  Barkingside

  234.4

  230.5

  232.8

  Chingford

  193.8

  188.3

  189.5

  Ilford

  202.49

  203

  203.6

  Leyton

  195.4

  185

  193.92

  Havering

  297.57

  287.09

  287.05

  Forest Gate

  247.28

  255.68

  253.48

  Dagenham

  243.6

  244.2

  243.45

  Plaistow

  256.8

  250

  257.4

  Edmonton

  213.2

  208.38

  210.78

  Enfield

  222

  222.7

  232.7

  Total

  3,678.22

  3,976.49

  3,966.02

  4. Area SE HQ

  362

  509

  488.75

  Southwark

  228.12

  246.08

  245.88

  Peckham

  242.6

  259.63

  247.03

  Walworth

  219

  227.4

  212.5

  Catford

  205.7

  240.8

  239.7

  Lewi sham

  271.8

  279.8

  264.6

  Bromley and Orpington

  396.43

  395.44

  374.44

  Plumstead

  249.5

  276.95

  261.35

  Greenwich

  213.7

  235.96

  249.1

  Bexleyheath

  228

  238.5

  228.3

  Croydon

  237.5

  231.3

  230.36

  535

  Metropolitan police constable strength

  3 January 1995

  8 January 1996

  2 January 1997

  South Norwood

  260.8

  274.78

  263.58

  Epsom

  345.3

  348.78

  324.63

  Total

  3460.45

  3764.42

  3630.22

  5. Area SW HQ

  344.4

  573.2

  569.56

  Heathrow

  346.39

  335.19

  313.99

  Brixton

  254.75

  249.1

  257.9

  Streatham

  215.9

  221.01

  221.61

  Vauxhall

  332.1

  300.9

  297.24

  Chiswick

  152.7

  155.5

  152.5

  Hounslow

  204.6

  209.7

  209.7

  Spelthome

  148.2

  152.2

  151.6

  Twickenham

  228.65

  251.65

  234.85

  Kingston

  293.44

  311.94

  285.84

  Battersea

  228.8

  227.8

  243.9

  Wandsworth

  269.98

  283.48

  283.48

  Hillingdon

  351

  352.5

  335.2

  Wimbledon

  288.45

  265.85

  259.25

  Total

  3659.36

  3890.02

  3816.62

  Total areas

  16458.65

  18242.73

  17944.59

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Travel and Accommodation Expenses
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what were the total costs, in respect of hon. members' (i) travel and (ii) accommodation(a) between Parliament and home or constituency, (b) on approved visits to the European Parliament, (c) on Select Committee visits and (d) on visits associated with other parliamentary duties in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [16255]

  Mr. Newton
  This information as provided by the Fees Office is set out in the table below. There is no specific provision for accommodation costs when travelling between Parliament and home or constituency. Costs of visits to the European Parliament are recorded in total, and are not differentiated as between travel and subsistence. Information in respect of Select Committees, parliamentary delegations, and other Committee costs, is a matter for the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed (Mr. Beith) on behalf of the House of Commons Commission.

  Year

  Cost of travel between Parliament, home, and constituency (a)

  Cost of approved visits European Parliament (b)

  Visits associated with other parliamentary duties (d)

  1992–93

  6,865,405

  29,939

  146,220

  1993–94

  7,422,321

  50,503

  166,732

  1994–95

  7,693,378

  45,704

  187,914

  1995–96

  7,544,154

  54,428

  207,574

  1996–971

  5,796,850

  38,147

  195,828

  1 Part-year-April to December inclusive.

  Written Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, of the written parliamentary questions in the past 12 years for which the costs of answering have already been 536
  calculated, which were the 10 questions which cost most to answer; and which hon. Members asked those questions. [16250]

  Mr. Newton
  Records are not kept in a form which makes it practicable to provide the information requested.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Lord President of the Council 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. [14475]

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council Office has a staff of fewer than 40. None is exclusively devoted to personnel management duties, and no meaningful cost figure can be calculated for staff effort devoted to equal opportunities issues.

HEALTH

  Private Beds
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of private beds currently available in national health trust hospitals. [14737]

  Mr. Horam
  This information has not been collected since 1991.

  Projected Deficits (Cornwall)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the projected deficits of the NHS in Cornwall in the coming financial year. [14738]

  Mr. Malone
  National health service bodies are currently developing their financial plans for 1997–98 and will submit these to the NHS executive in April.

  Worcester District General Hospital
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the private finance initiative scheme to build a new Worcester district general hospital. [14739]

  Mr. Horam
  Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS trust is currently negotiating with their preferred private sector partner prior to submitting the full business case for the proposed private finance initiative scheme.

  New Hospitals
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals have opened in the last three years. [14740]

  Mr. Horam
  Twenty-five major hospital developments have been completed in the NHS during the last three years at a total cost of nearly £700 million.

  New Hospitals and Hospital Extensions
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals or hospital extensions have been considered under the private finance initiative; for how many of these private finance has been forthcoming; and what is his estimate of the average delay caused for those hospitals considered under the private finance initiative but which subsequently go ahead on the basis of public funds alone. [14741]

  Mr. Horam
  Full business cases recommending the use of private finance have been submitted for the provision of 25 new hospitals or hospital extensions each with a capital value of more than £1 million. Fourteen of these private finance schemes have reached contract signature. None of these 25 new hospitals or hospital extensions has subsequently gone ahead on the basis of public funding alone.

  Health Service Administrators
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the number of administrators in the health service since the abolition of the regional health authorities. [14742]

  Mr. Malone
  This information will not be centrally available until later this year. The Government are determined to tackle unnecessary bureaucracy and to secure maximum improvements in health care. The simplification and streamlining of national health service management through the merger of district health authorities and family health services authorities, the abolition of regional health authorities, the reduction in the running costs of the Department of Health and the measures announced in October 1995 to reduce trust management costs and health authority running costs reflect the Government's determination to achieve this aim. In all these measures will release some £300 million for direct patient care.

  Hospital and Community Services (Normanton)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effects of the revised funding formulae for the Wakefield health authority on provision of hospital and community services in 1997–98 in the Normanton constituency. [14743]

  Mr. Horam
  Wakefield health authority, which includes the hon. Member's constituency, has a net increase in its allocation targets.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints he has received in the last 12 months about operations being cancelled within 24 hours of appointment. [14745]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available centrally.

  Social Respite for Carers
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote the provision of social respite for carers. [14746]
  538
  Mr. Burns
  Informal carers make a key contribution to the aims of community care by enabling many people to be cared for in their own homes. Promoting effective support for carers is one of our major priorities.

  Local authorities receive very substantial resources for community care provision. They are expected to provide an appropriate range of respite and other support services to meet local needs. They have a built-in incentive to do so: failure to support carers in this way would be likely to lead to greater demand for more costly long-term residential care placements.

  Our commitment to promoting effective support for carers is underwritten by on-going monitoring and development work, in particular by the social services inspectorate. This has enabled us to provide authorities with informed, practical guidance on assessing and meeting the needs for local respite care services in the most effective way.

  Health Service Managers
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many managers there were in the NHS(a) in 1989 and (b) at the latest available date. [14747]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy) on 3 December 1996,Official Report column 787. Information for 1996 will be centrally available later this year.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to meet the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee. [14748]

  Mr. Horam
  We have no plans to meet the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, but look forward to continuing to receive regular advice from it.

  Electro-convulsive Therapy
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to modify the rules, regulations and guidelines concerning the use of electro-convulsive therapy in the treatment of persons suffering from mental illness. [14749]

  Mr. Burns
  There are no current proposals to make any changes to the rules or regulations concerning the use of electro-convulsive therapy. The question of guidelines on the use of ECT is a matter for professional clinicians who administer it. In 1995 the Royal College of Psychiatrists' special committee on ECT published a practical set of guidelines for psychiatrists who prescribe and administer ECT.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how many appointments to boards, trusts and other guangos he is responsible. [14751]

  Mr. Malone
  The Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1996" lists health bodies to which appointments are made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Copies are available in the Library. In
  539
  addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also makes 138 appointments to boards of hospital special trustees.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the South and West region in the past 12 months have had their operations cancelled(a) on the day they were due to go into hospital and (b) after admission. [14752]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is available in the Library on operations cancelled for non-medical reasons on the day a patient is due to be admitted, or after admission, and who are not given a new date within one month of the cancellation.

  Heart Attack Deaths
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made towards reaching the "Health of the Nation" target relating to deaths from heart attack. [14753]

  Mr. Horam
  Progress towards the "Health of the Nation" targets to reduce deaths from coronary heart disease is encouraging. The latest data show that between 1989–90–91 and 1993–94–95, death rates fell by 19.2 per cent. for people aged under 65 and by 12.5 per cent. for people aged 65 to 74.

  Health Service Internal Market
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the cost of the internal market in the NHS. [14754]

  Mr. Horam
  The national health service internal market has greatly increased the responsiveness of the NHS, fostering innovation, responsiveness and efficiency. The introduction of the NHS internal market has consequently yielded a substantial net benefit both to patients and to taxpayers.

  Prescribable Products
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received as a result of his consultation on products prescribable by general practitioners. [14755]

  Mr. Malone
  We have received about 200 representations in response to consultation on recommended changes to the list of products which general practitioners may not prescribe at national health service expense.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the British Dental Association concerning(a) the effectiveness of its oversight of the profession and (b) its protection of patients from extensive and unnecessary treatment. [14756]

  Mr. Malone
  None. These are matters for the General Dental Council.

  NHS Staff Salaries
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to NHS trusts about limits on staff salaries. [14736]

  Mr. Dorrell
  None.

  NHS Supplies
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to ensure that the contract price for a specific product or service quoted to an individual hospital trust is the same price as that tendered and successfully accepted for a national contract with NHS Supplies. [15699]

  Mr. Horam
  Individual national health service trusts make their own purchasing decisions and are responsible for ensuring that they achieve maximum value for money from their procurement. These decisions are not monitored centrally but are subject to audit scrutiny.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures NHS Supplies are required to follow before accepting a tender for contract; and on what grounds they may award a contract to an offer which is not the lowest tendered price. [15700]

  Mr. Horam
  The procedures followed by National Health Service Supplies staff are laid down in its standing orders and other supplementary guidance. It is also subject to all normal public procurement rules, as well as relevant European Community directives and World Trade Organisation agreements.

  NHS supplies aim is to ensure that the NHS receives the best possible value for money from supplies contracts. NHS Supplies awards a contract to the lowest bidder unless this demonstrably offers inferior value for money when compared to other bids.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the cost savings generated by NHS Supplies. [15701]

  Mr. Horam
  Between October 1992 and April 1996 National Health Service Supplies achieved purchasing savings of some £264 million for the NHS.

  Smoking and Conception Terminations
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his current estimate of the average numbers of people each week involved in(a) taking up smoking and (b) contributing to a conception that is terminated; and what were the equivalent figures in 1987. [15840]

  Mr. Horam
  No returns are made centrally which would provide the information required.

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the additional cost of the payment of 100 per cent. rather than 50 per cent. of the basic salary for junior doctors by the regional postgraduate dean. [15906]
  541
  Mr. Malone
  There would be no additional cost. Junior doctors' basic salaries are paid in full from national health service funds.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the additional cost would be of paying junior doctors on part-time contracts or in flexible training posts the standard hourly rate for the first 40 hours of work in the week, rather than the first 20 hours. [15909]

  Mr. Malone
  Given the diverse range of working patterns junior doctors on part-time contracts undertake, it is not possible to identify the additional cost that would be incurred by paying the standard hourly rate for additional hours worked.

  Arachnoiditis
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to commission research into arachnoiditis; and if he will make a statement. [15979]

  Mr. Horam
  There are no plans to commission research into arachnoiditis centrally.

  Prescription Drugs
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of abolishing charges currently made for prescription drugs used to treat(a) epilepsy and (b) long-term depression. [15791]

  Mr. Malone
  People suffering from epilepsy who require continuous anti-convulsive therapy are exempt from prescription charges.

  On the basis of a charge for a prescription item of £5.50 and the number of prescription items dispensed in 1995 for preparations in the British National Formulary, issue 28, September 1994, therapeutic group 4.3.1–4.3.3, some of which may have been prescribed for conditions other than long-term depression, it is estimated that about £8 million in charges would be lost annually in England to the national health service.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many asylum seekers have been given assistance under the National Assistance Act 1948 or Children Act 1989 by local authorities in each month since October 1996; and how much money has been allocated to local authorities for each month since October 1996 for this assistance. [15805]

  Mr. Burns
  Information on numbers being supported is not collected centrally.

  The 1996–97 special grants for unaccompanied children and families with children will be allocated and paid to individual local authorities by the end of March. A special grant for adults being supported under the National Assistance Act was laid before Parliament on 11 February.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fundholders there are in(a) the north-west and (b) England. [16192]
  542
  Mr. Malone
  There are currently 1,857 general practitioner fundholders in the north-west region and 13,423 in England as a whole, with more preparing to join next year.

  Dentures
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the entitlement of denturists and clinical dental technicians to practise legally in the United Kingdom in the direct supply of dentures to patients. [16021]

  Mr. Malone
  On 12 June last year, I announced in the House the Government's proposal to amend the Dentists Act 1984 following the General Dental Council's recommendation to set up new classes of dental auxiliaries and expand the range of work that they can do, including the legalisation of clinical dental technicians. As a first step it is intended to publish a consultation Bill on amendments to the Dentists Act.

  Hospital Wards
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his forecast of when there will be more single-sex than mixed-sex wards; what cost is involved; and if he will make a statement. [15115]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the number of single-sex and mixed-sex wards is not collected centrally. As announced last month, we are taking forward a programme of work to ensure that patients charter standards on this issue are fully met. As a first step, we have asked health authorities to agree challenging local targets with trusts for achieving charter objectives on privacy and dignity and to report back to the national health service executive by the end of February.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of research funded by the Government into Alzheimer's disease and on his plans for extending it. [15863]

  Mr. Burns
  The Government's commitment to the health and well-being of all mentally ill people is set out by the inclusion of mental health as one of five key areas in our Health of the Nation strategy. The Medical Research Council, the Department's policy research programme and the national health service research and development programme are all undertaking work into dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. For example, the policy research programme is contributing almost £1 million to the Medical Research Council's cognitive and aging study. Results of Government-funded research are made freely and widely available.

  Bradford Hospitals Trust (Accidents to Patients)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many falls of elderly patients in the care of Bradford Hospitals Trust have been recorded. [16046]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Bradford Hospitals national health service trust.

  NHS Funding (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the allocation that Yorkshire health authorities would have received from the national health service under the previous funding formula; and what is the current allocation. [16041]

  Mr. Horam
  The national weighted capitation formula is used to provide a calculation of each health authority's fair share of available resources, known as its weighted capitation target. Changes in the calculated target inform the allocations process, they do not direct it. Changes in targets do not lead to immediate and corresponding changes in actual allocations.

  The table shows the effect of the new formula on targets for health authorities in Yorkshire in 1997–98.

  Health authority

  Total formula changes 1997–98 £000s

  Bradford

  +2,043

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  +1,234

  East Riding

  +620

  NHS Hospital community health services (HCHS) nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (excluding agency and learners1) by age in England as at 30 September 1987 to 19952

  whole-time equivalents

  Under 30 years

  30 to 39 years

  40 to 49 years

  50 years and over

  Age not known

  Total

  1987

  All NMHV staff

  106,280

  80,840

  84,180

  57,270

  4,770

  333,340

  Qualified

  80,490

  63,460

  56,210

  35,450

  3,740

  239,360

  Unqualified

  25,790

  17,370

  27,970

  21,810

  1,030

  93,980

  1988

  All NMHV staff

  104,150

  81,900

  85,360

  59,420

  4,070

  334,910

  Qualified

  79,460

  65,070

  57,600

  36,670

  3,130

  241,920

  Unqualified

  24,690

  16,830

  27,760

  22,760

  950

  92,980

  1989

  All NMHV staff

  100,080

  84,100

  86,060

  61,850

  4,400

  336,500

  Qualified

  76,830

  67,440

  59,340

  38,210

  3,270

  244,610

  Unqualified

  23,250

  16,670

  27,190

  23,640

  8,950

  91,890

  1990

  All NMHV staff

  95,550

  86,370

  86,380

  63,630

  4,590

  336,520

  Qualified

  71,550

  69,130

  59,340

  39,030

  3,280

  242,340

  Unqualified

  21,580

  16,500

  28,700

  24,430

  1,190

  90,400

  Other

  2,420

  740

  340

  160

  120

  3,780

  1991

  All NMHV staff

  95,440

  89,370

  86,520

  62,470

  11,070

  344,860

  Qualified

  69,380

  70,960

  59,530

  37,860

  5,530

  243,250

  Unqualified

  20,640

  16,840

  26,200

  24,330

  2,530

  90,550

  Other

  5,420

  1,570

  780

  280

  3,010

  11,050

  1992

  All NMHV staff

  88,410

  93,830

  87,900

  63,600

  10,310

  344,050

  Qualified

  66,170

  75,360

  61,260

  38,300

  5,490

  246,570

  Unqualified

  19,600

  17,400

  25,970

  24,960

  2,920

  90,850

  Other

  2,640

  1,070

  670

  340

  1,910

  6,630

  1993

  All NMHV staff

  80,120

  95,830

  86,440

  62,610

  15,420

  340,420

  Qualified

  59,320

  76,680

  60,170

  36,840

  8,840

  241,850

  Unqualified

  18,790

  17,760

  25,150

  25,160

  5,090

  91,950

  Other

  2,000

  1,400

  1,120

  610

  1,490

  6,620

  1994

  All NMHV staff

  76,720

  100,170

  85,650

  61,970

  13,090

  337,600

  Qualified

  55,870

  79,610

  59,610

  35,840

  7,860

  238,780

  544

  Health authority

  Total formula changes 1997–98 £000s

  Leeds

  +1,597

  North Yorkshire

  -2,970

  Wakefield

  +351

  Barnsley

  +475

  Doncaster

  +171

  Rotherham

  +161

  Sheffield

  +1,605

  Total

  +5,287

  Nurses
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses in England were aged(a) between 20 and 30, (b) between 31 and 40, (c) between 41 and 50, and (d) over 50 years in each year from 1987–88 to 1995–96. [12690]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 27 January 1997]: The information is not available in the form requested. The ages of nurses employed by the national health service in England are shown in the table.
  545

  NHS Hospital community health services (HCHS) nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (excluding agency and learners1) by age in England as at 30 September 1987 to 19952

  whole-time equivalents

  Under 30 years

  30 to 39 years

  40 to 49 years

  50 years and over

  Age not known

  Total

  Unqualified

  18,790

  18,740

  24,680

  25,340

  5,010

  92,550

  Other

  2,060

  1,820

  1,370

  800

  220

  6,270

  19952

  All NMHV staff

  70,430

  102,050

  82,940

  58,890

  16,130

  330,440

  Qualified

  54,380

  84,170

  61,730

  36,860

  9,690

  246,820

  Unqualified

  15,870

  17,660

  21,020

  21,930

  6,440

  82,910

  Other

  180

  220

  190

  100

  10

  710

  Learners' not included in the above

  1987

  64,570

  1990

  58,840

  1993

  21,040

  1988

  62,940

  1991

  47,340

  1994

  11,080

  1989

  62,100

  1992

  34,740

  21995

  7,180

  Notes:

  1 Learners are nurses on traditional nurse training courses and are directly employed by the NHS HCHS. Project 2000 training was introduced in 1989 and has gradually replaced traditional pre-registration nurse training. Project 2000 students are funded by bursaries, they are supernumary not employees and thus excluded from the count of NHS HCHS nursing staff. There were about 33,000 Project 2000 students in September 1995.

  2 Figures for 1995 are based on a new classification for non-medical staff known as "new occupation codes". These codes replaced the old "payscale" based classification used in earlier years. Figures for 1995 are, therefore, not directly comparable with earlier years.

  Figures exclude General Medical Service practice nurses—numbering 9,970 in 1995.

  Source:

  Department of Health's annual non-medical workforce census.

  Anaesthetics (Organophosphate Exposure)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the possible dangers arising out of the use of Suxamethonium and similar anaesthetics on patients who have been exposed to orgnaophosphates, with particular reference to (i) agricultural workers, (ii) pet owners and (iii) Gulf war veterans: and if he will make a statement. [14152]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 5 February 1997]: The Department of Health has not commissioned research into the use of Suxamethonium use in agricultural workers, pet owners or Gulf war veterans exposed to organophosphate pesticides.

  The available research into the side-effects of Suxamethonium and related anaesthetics, as for all
  546
  marketed medicines, was assessed at the time of granting the marketing authorisation and continues to be evaluated by the Medicines Control Agency whenever new information emerges.

  Suxamethonium and related anaesthetics are contra-indicated for use in patients known to have low serum levels of pseudocholinesterase—the enzyme which breaks down this type of medicine. Most often low levels of pseudocholinesterase are due to an inherited structural abnormality of the enzyme but another cause of low pseudocholinesterase activity is acute organophosphorus insecticide poisoning. There is a specific warning in the product information, produced by the manufacturer and authorised by the licensing authority, which contra-indicates use in those patients who have poisoning with an organophosphorus insecticide.

  European Parliament: Members' Salaries
  European Parliament: Members' Salaries
  Occupied Territories: Human Rights
  Occupied Territories: Human Rights
  Occupied Territories: Illegal Settlements
  Occupied Territories: Illegal Settlements
  Occupied Territories: Demolition of Palestinian Houses
  Occupied Territories: Demolition of Palestinian Houses
  Israel: Compensation for Expropriated Land
  Israel: Compensation for Expropriated Land
  Gaza: Students' Access to Tertiary Education
  Gaza: Students' Access to Tertiary Education
  NATO Enlargement
  NATO Enlargement
  Reza Barzegar Massoumi: Conviction
  Reza Barzegar Massoumi: Conviction
  Atrush Camp, Northern Iraq
  Atrush Camp, Northern Iraq
  Turkey: Use of Torture
  Turkey: Use of Torture
  Globe Theatre
  Globe Theatre
  Art Trade: Self-regulation
  Art Trade: Self-regulation
  Lorry Weights: Proposed Increase
  Lorry Weights: Proposed Increase
  Construction Contracts
  Construction Contracts
  BSE and Organophosphates
  BSE and Organophosphates
  Organophosphorus Sheep Dips: VPC Review
  Organophosphorus Sheep Dips: VPC Review
  Tri-Service Defence Medical Training Organisation
  Tri-Service Defence Medical Training Organisation
  Army Foundation College
  Army Foundation College
  Data Protection Legislation: Enforced Subject Access
  Data Protection Legislation: Enforced Subject Access
  Prevention of Terrorism(Temporary Provisions) Act 1989: Report
  Prevention of Terrorism(Temporary Provisions) Act 1989: Report
  Ashworth Hospital: Health Advisory Service Review
  Ashworth Hospital: Health Advisory Service Review