Written Answers of 19 February 1997

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Births
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what decision has been made about whether, in the event of Roisin McAliskey giving birth while in custody, she will be handcuffed to a birthing partner or prison officer while the child is being delivered; [15636]

  (2) if the change in policy whereby a prisoner is not handcuffed or otherwise restrained during labour and birth of her child applies to category A prisoners. [15637]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answers 17 February 1997]: 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. Kevin McNamara, dated 19 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the use of restraints during childbirth.
  The Home Secretary in his statement of 18 January 1996 made it clear that no woman admitted to hospital to give birth would be restrained while in hospital.
  This includes Roisin McAliskey and any other category A prisoners.

  Criminal Record Checks
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in England and Wales, how many criminal record checks were carried out on behalf of(a) local authorities, (b) health bodies, (c) independent schools, (d) grant-maintained schools, (e) further education establishments, (f) voluntary organisations and (g) nursery groups by each police force in England and Wales under the child protection arrangements, pursuant to Home Office circular 47/93 for each year ended 31 March from 1993 to 1996; and in each case how many checks revealed a criminal conviction. [16584]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not available centrally in the form requested. The total number of criminal record checks carried out on behalf of local authorities, statutory health bodies, independent schools, grant-maintained schools and further education establishments under the child protection arrangements outlined in Home Office circular 47/93 for the years ended 31 March 1993 to 31 March 1996, and the number of those checks which revealed a criminal conviction, was as follows:

  Year

  Total number of checks

  Number revealing convictions1

  1993

  654,472

  33,894

  1994

  609,434

  38,162

  548

  Year

  Total number of checks

  Number revealing convictions1

  1995

  607,573

  39,679

  1996

  613,163

  38,809

  1 Not all forces were able to provide details of the number of checks which revealed convictions.

  No figures are available on the number of criminal record checks carried out for voluntary organisations or on people working in nursery groups.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the frequency of checks on individuals under the child protection arrangements, pursuant to Home Office circular 47/93. [16585]

  Mr. Maclean
  Home Office circular 47/93 advises that in the case of agency staff employed by a local authority or health authority a check should be regarded as valid for three years. There is no recommendation that other staff should be rechecked at regular intervals.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of enhanced criminal record checks which will be undertaken in the year to 31 March 1999 under the arrangements to be established under the Police Bill[Lords]. [16587]

  Mr. Maclean
  It was originally estimated that, when the Criminal Records Agency became fully operational, it would issue around 1.3 million enhanced criminal record certificates each year. The Police Bill[Lords], as amended, provides for free checks for volunteers which we expect would increase demand for these certificates.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if payments are made by local education authorities and social services authorities to police forces for criminal record checks. [16590]

  Mr. Maclean
  No.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the unit costs to (i) police authorities and (ii) local authorities of each criminal record check made in respect of child protection, pursuant to Home Office circular 47/93. [16591]

  Mr. Maclean
  There are wide variations in the cost of criminal record checks across police forces. It is estimated that, on average, it costs a police force £6.35 to carry out a criminal record check. It is not possible to break the figures down in order to identify the costs of child protection checks, although these will be higher than the average. Information is not available on the costs incurred by local authorities.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place for checking employees and volunteers working with people under 19 years who are not eligible for checks under arrangements made pursuant to Home Office circulars 47/93 and 92/117; what categories of individual are not covered by the arrangements under these two circulars; and what is the estimated number of individuals in these categories. [16593]
  549
  Mr. Maclean
  There are no formal arrangements for checking employees and volunteers working with people under 19 years of age who are not eligible for checks under the arrangements set out in Home Office circulars 47/93 and 42/94. Home Office circular 42/94 replaced 117/92 which has been cancelled. However, in 1993, the Home Office published a code of practice entitled "Safe from Harm" which offers voluntary organisations that work with children, but are not covered by the terms of the Home Office circulars, guidance on good policy and practice in areas such as recruitment, supervision and management of staff. Copies of "Safe from Hann" are in the Library.

  The main categories of individual not covered by the arrangements set out in the two circulars are employees and volunteers working for voluntary or private child-care organisations.

  It is not known exactly how many individuals are excluded from checking under the current arrangements but it is estimated that about 700,000 extra people would be eligible to apply for the enhanced criminal record certificates proposed in the Police Bill [Lords].

  Road Running
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what liaison he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Secretary of State for National Heritage since 5 December 1996 in respect of ensuring the continued success of road running; and if he will make a statement. [16234]

  Mr. Maclean
  None. The police's approach towards road running races and other events held on the public highway is an operational matter and one for chief officers of police and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Table 1: Outer London

  Outer London

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barking and Dagenham

  279

  143,681

  19.42

  286

  143,681

  19.91

  287

  143,681

  19.97

  Barnet

  Barnet1

  753

  293,564

  25.65

  759.3

  293,564

  25.86

  780.6

  293,564

  26.59

  Golders Green

  West Hendon

  Bexley

  Bexleyheath

  285

  215,615

  13.22

  277.5

  215,615

  12.287

  273

  215,615

  12.66

  Brent

  Wembley

  660

  243,025

  27.16

  623.91

  243,025

  25.67

  620.1

  243,025

  25.52

  Kilburn

  Bromley

  Bromley

  523

  290,609

  18.00

  473.44

  290,609

  16.29

  480.58

  290,609

  16.54

  Orpington

  Croydon

  Croydon

  626

  313,510

  19.97

  597.6

  313.510

  19.06

  579.69

  313.510

  18.49

  South Norwood

  Eating

  Ealing

  604

  275,257

  21.94

  620.28

  275,257

  22.53

  653.01

  275,257

  23.72

  Southall

  Enfield

  Edmonton

  527

  257,417

  20.47

  532

  257,417

  20.67

  549.46

  257,417

  21.35

  Enfield1

  550
  I understand that, because of concerns about the safety of all road users, including race participants, and the inconvenience that can be caused to other road users, the association encourages organisations to undertake such events away from the highway.

  Police (Lancashire)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police there were in Lancashire in(a) 1996 and (b) 1979; [16150]

  (2) how much was spent by his Department on the police in Lancashire in (a) 1996 and (b) 1979. [16149]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information available is set out in the table:

  Lancashire Constabulary

  11979–80

  21996–97

  Police Numbers

  3,089

  3,203

  Expenditure (£ million)3

  37.289

  163.563

  1 Police numbers as at 31 December 1979.

  2 Police numbers as at 30 September 1996.

  3 Expenditure includes police grant, revenue support grant and locally raised taxes.

  Police (London)
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of police officers in London per 10,000 population, by borough using 1991 census data, as at 1 January in each of the last five years. [15968]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is given in the two following tables. Officers based at headquarters and at Heathrow have not been included.
  551

  Table 1: Outer London

  Outer London

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Greenwich

  Greenwich

  569

  207,650

  27.40

  545

  207,650

  26.25

  517.8

  207,650

  24.94

  Plumstead

  Outer London

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barking and Dagenham

  304.6

  143,681

  21.20

  303.2

  143,681

  21.10

  299.85

  143,681

  20.87

  Barnet

  Barnet1

  790.85

  293,564

  26.94

  752.55

  293,564

  25.63

  736.06

  293,564

  25.07

  Golders Green

  West Hendon

  Bexley

  Bexleyheath

  285

  215,615

  13.22

  295.5

  215,615

  13.70

  287.3

  215,615

  13.32

  Brent

  Wembley

  651.98

  243,025

  26.83

  617.74

  243,025

  25.42

  639.86

  243,025

  26.33

  Kilburn

  Bromley

  Bromley

  500.43

  290,609

  17.22

  490.44

  290,609

  16.88

  471.44

  290,609

  16.22

  Orpington

  Croydon

  Croydon

  623.8

  313,510

  19.90

  633.88

  313,510

  20.22

  625.34

  313,510

  19.95

  South Norwood

  Ealing

  Ealing

  643.86

  275,257

  23.39

  660.64

  275,257

  24.00

  645.47

  275,257

  23.45

  Southall

  Enfield

  Edmonton

  543.6

  257,417

  21.12

  545.48

  257,417

  21.19

  553.88

  257,417

  21.52

  Enfield1

  Greenwich

  Greenwich

  573.2

  207,650

  27.60

  623.31

  207,650

  30.02

  622.85

  207,650

  30.00

  Plumstead

  Table 1:Outer London

  Outer London

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Harrow

  Harrow

  288

  200,100

  14.39

  272.2

  200,100

  13.60

  277.2

  200.100

  13.85

  Havering

  Romford

  369

  229,492

  16.08

  366

  229,492

  15.95

  375.01

  229,492

  16.34

  Hillingdon

  Hillingdon

  467

  231,602

  20.16

  453.9

  231,602

  19.60

  443.98

  231,602

  19.17

  Hounslow

  Chiswick

  474

  204,397

  23.19

  451.4

  204,397

  22.08

  482.9

  204,397

  23.63

  Hounslow

  Kingston

  Kingston1

  403

  132,996

  30.30

  375.4

  132,996

  28.23

  395.7

  132,996

  29.75

  Merton

  Wimbledon

  313

  168,470

  18.58

  291.4

  168,470

  17.30

  312

  168,470

  18.52

  552 553

  Outer London

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Redbridge

  Ilford

  555

  226,218

  24.53

  520

  226,218

  22.99

  536.4

  226,218

  23.71

  Barkingside1

  Richmond

  Richmond

  333

  160,732

  20.72

  298

  160,732

  18.54

  321.35

  160,732

  19.99

  Sutton

  Sutton1

  402

  168,880

  23.80

  373.9

  168,880

  22.14

  390

  168,880

  23.09

  Spelthorne

  Spelthorne

  203

  89,987

  22.56

  189.4

  89,987

  21.05

  208.2

  89,987

  23.14

  Waltham Forest

  Chingford

  472

  212,033

  22.26

  461.8

  212,033

  21.78

  473.8

  212,033

  22.35

  Leyton

  Outer London

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Harrow

  Harrow

  272.2

  200,100

  13.60

  293.8

  200,100

  14.68

  283.4

  200,100

  14.6

  Havering

  Romford

  377.17

  229,492

  16.43

  363.49

  229,492

  15.84

  351.05

  229,492

  15.30

  Hillingdon

  Hillingdon

  439.5

  231,602

  18.98

  437

  231,602

  18.87

  418.7

  231,602

  18.08

  Hounslow

  Chiswick

  466.3

  204,397

  22.81

  484.2

  204,397

  23.69

  470

  204,397

  22.99

  Hounslow

  Kingston

  Kingston1

  373.14

  132,996

  28.06

  393.34

  132,996

  29.58

  362.24

  132,996

  27.24

  Merton

  Wimbledon

  354.45

  168,470

  21.04

  334.85

  168,470

  19.88

  325.25

  168,470

  19.31

  Redbridge

  Ilford

  553.89

  226,218

  24.48

  545.1

  226,218

  24.10

  552

  226,218

  24.40

  Barkingside1

  Richmond

  Richmond

  297.45

  160,732

  18.51

  319.85

  160,732

  19.90

  295.85

  160,732

  18.41

  Sutton

  Sutton1

  428.9

  168,880

  25.40

  431.38

  168,880

  25.54

  405.23

  168,880

  24.00

  Spelthorne

  Spelthorne

  199.2

  89,987

  22.14

  199.8

  89,987

  22.20

  198.2

  89,987

  22.03

  Waltham Forest

  Chingford

  487.2

  212,033

  22.98

  463.3

  212,033

  21.85

  477.22

  212,033

  22.51

  Leyton

  Note:

  1 Officer strength shown for these divisions includes provision for policing parts of the borough situated in the counties of Hertfordshire, Surrey or Essex.

  Table 2: Inner London

  Inner London

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Camden

  Hampstead

  749

  170,444

  43.94

  721.7

  170,444

  42.34

  691.7

  170,444

  40.58

  Kentish Town

  Holborn

  554 555

  Table 2: Inner London

  Inner London

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Hackney

  Shoreditch

  651

  181,248

  35.92

  611

  181,248

  33.71

  633

  181,248

  34.92

  Stoke Newington

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Hammersmith

  536

  148,502

  36.09

  541

  148,502

  36.43

  548,33

  148,502

  36.92

  Fulham

  Haringey

  Hornsey

  577

  202,204

  28.54

  561.6

  202,204

  27.77

  561.6

  202,204

  27.77

  Tottenham

  Islington

  Holloway

  599

  164,686

  36.37

  547

  164,686

  33.21

  568.1

  164,686

  34.50

  Islington

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Brompton

  670

  138,394

  48.41

  632

  138,394

  45.67

  655.1

  138,394

  47.34

  Notting Hill

  Lambeth

  Brixton

  988

  244,834

  40.35

  980.5

  244,834

  40.05

  947.4

  244,834

  38.70

  Streatham

  Vauxhall

  Lewisham

  Catford

  598

  230,983

  25.89

  593.6

  230,983

  25.70

  588.4

  230.983

  25.47

  Lewisham

  Newham

  Forest Gate

  595

  212,170

  28.04

  570

  212,170

  26.87

  577.48

  212,170

  27.22

  Plaistow

  Inner London

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Camden

  Hampstead

  703.9

  170,444

  41.30

  698.76

  170,444

  41.00

  681.95

  170,444

  40.41

  Kentish Town

  Holbom

  Hackney

  Shoreditch

  693.18

  181,248

  38.24

  659.54

  181,248

  36.39

  676.04

  181,248

  37.30

  Stoke Newington

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Hammersmith

  545.2

  148,502

  36.71

  533.13

  148,502

  35.90

  561.25

  148,502

  37.79

  Fulham

  Haringey

  Hornsey

  579.95

  202,204

  28.68

  544.6

  202,204

  26.93

  535

  202,204

  26.46

  Tottenham

  Islington

  Holloway

  567.9

  164,686

  34.48

  562

  164,686

  34.13

  569.6

  164,686

  34.59

  Islington

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Brompton

  616.83

  138,394

  44.57

  604.4

  138,394

  43.67

  642.4

  138,394

  46.42

  Notting Hill

  Lambeth

  Brixton

  1,003.05

  244,834

  40.97

  969.81

  244,834

  39.61

  967.3

  244,834

  39.51

  Streatham

  Vauxhall

  Lewisham

  Catford

  598.3

  230,983

  25.90

  642.6

  230,983

  27.82

  626.3

  230,983

  27.11

  Lewisham

  Newham

  Forest Gate

  623.08

  212,170

  29.37

  626.68

  212,170

  29.54

  625.88

  212,170

  29.50

  Plaistow

  556 557

  Inner London

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Southwark

  Southwark

  886

  218,541

  40.54

  816.65

  218,541

  37.37

  849.78

  218,541

  38.88

  Peckham

  Walworth

  Tower Hamlets

  Whitechapel

  722

  161,064

  44.83

  669

  161,064

  41.54

  690

  161,064

  42.84

  Limehouse

  Wandsworth

  Battersea

  719

  252,425

  28.48

  671.6

  252,425

  26.61

  693.3

  252,425

  27.47

  Wandsworth

  Westminster

  Belgravia

  1881

  174,814

  107.60

  1905.85

  174,814

  109.02

  1901.2

  174,814

  108.76

  West End Central

  Charing Cross

  Marylebone

  Paddington

  Total

  19,276.00

  6,765,544

  28.49

  18,589.93

  6,765,544

  27.48

  18,863.17

  6,765,544

  27.88

  Inner London

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Borough and division

  Strength

  Census Population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census Population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Strength

  Census Population

  Number of officers per 10,000 population

  Southwark

  Southwark

  871.47

  218,541

  39.88

  902.86

  218,541

  41.31

  878.16

  218,541

  40.18

  Peckham

  Walworth

  Tower Hamlets

  Whitechapel

  633.7

  161,064

  39.34

  613.7

  161,064

  38.10

  596.4

  161,064

  37.03

  Limehouse

  Wandsworth

  Battersea

  647.78

  252,425

  25.66

  638.18

  252,425

  25.28

  662.28

  252,425

  26.24

  Wandsworth

  Westminster

  Belgravia

  1799.55

  174,814

  102.94

  1714.55

  174,814

  98.08

  1700.66

  174,814

  97.28

  West End Central

  Charring Cross

  Marylebone

  Paddington

  Total

  19,050.61

  6,765,544

  28.16

  18,899.66

  6,765,544

  27.94

  18744.31

  6,765,544

  27.71

  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of police officers as at 1 January in each of the last five years in each police division in London, sub-totalled(a) on an area and (b) on a borough basis and in total. [15967]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is given in two tables, which reflect the restructuring of the Metropolitan Police in 1994 when the number of areas was reduced from eight to five. Officers based at headquarters and at Heathrow have not been included. Copies of these tables have been placed in the Library.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last three years and for 1979 the total number of police officers in each Metropolitan police area; and if he will make a statement. [15227]
  558
  Mr. Maclean
  The information is set out in the table:

  Numbers of Police Officers

  Forces

  May 1979

  September 1994

  September 1995

  September 1996

  Greater Manchester

  6,440

  6,949

  7,026

  6,961

  Merseyside

  4,441

  4,690

  4,536

  4,271

  Northumbria

  3,285

  3,592

  3,611

  3,693

  South Yorkshire

  2,560

  3,029

  3,041

  3,128

  West Midlands

  6,031

  6,981

  7,078

  7,203

  West Yorkshire

  4,739

  5,039

  5,122

  5,154

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost of public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [16950]

  Mr. Howard
  As police authority for the Metropolitan police district. 1 have approved estimates which provide for net revenue expenditure of £1,741.437 million in 1997–98.
  559
  The receiver for the Metropolitan police district is issuing, with my approval, a precept of £57.00 per property in band D of the council tax valuation band for Metropolitan police purposes.

  I have discussed the estimates for the Metropolitan police expenditure in 1997–98 with representatives of the London local authority associations.

  Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current authorised establishment of the Devon and Cornwall constabulary; and what was it in 1992. [16539]

  Mr. Maclean
  It is now for individual chief constables and police authorities to determine the number of officers in a force, having regard to the resources available to them. The Devon and Cornwall constabulary had 2,876 police officers in September 1996 compared to 2,898 in March 1992. The chief constable has estimated that the force will have 2,919 officers by the end of March 1997. Since 1992, the number of constables has increased from 2,197 to 2,248.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Written Questions
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many written questions were tabled by each hon. Member in the(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96 parliamentary Sessions. [15395]

  Mr. Newton
  I have written to the hon. Member with the information requested and arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Total and average cost of ill-health retirements 1990–91 to 1995–96

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Last known local education authority

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  City

  1—

  1—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Camden

  1—

  1—

  269

  26.9

  307

  27.9

  393

  28.0

  879

  35.1

  817

  34.0

  Greenwich

  1—

  1—

  213

  17.8

  514

  30.2

  509

  30.0

  711

  33.8

  748

  34.0

  Hackney

  1—

  1—

  207

  23.0

  234

  33.5

  267

  33.0

  473

  29.5

  550

  37.0

  Hammersmith

  1—

  1—

  222

  27.7

  456

  38.0

  420

  32.0

  856

  30.6

  965

  36.0

  Islington

  1—

  1—

  268

  29.7

  404

  28.9

  349

  32.0

  532

  31.3

  771

  39.0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1—

  1—

  139

  27.8

  132

  26.5

  185

  37.0

  146

  29.1

  555

  37.0

  Lambeth

  1—

  1—

  436

  31.1

  272

  27.2

  679

  31.0

  473

  33.8

  737

  34.0

  Lewisham

  1—

  1—

  492

  24.6

  554

  36.9

  461

  29.0

  529

  33.1

  573

  34.0

  Southwark

  1—

  1—

  319

  24.5

  418

  29.9

  815

  33.0

  428

  32.9

  871

  35.0

  Tower Hamlets

  1—

  1—

  151

  18.8

  337

  28.1

  507

  30.0

  510

  31.8

  342

  24.0

  Wandsworth

  1—

  1—

  382

  29.4

  505

  31.5

  588

  31.0

  771

  32.1

  649

  30.0

  Westminster

  1—

  1—

  246

  22.4

  597

  33.2

  280

  28.0

  743

  37.2

  776

  43.0

  Other ILEA and not known3

  4,504

  22.6

  471

  19.6

  304

  17.9

  359

  17.1

  424

  20.2

  587

  20.2

  Barki ng

  219

  27.4

  292

  32.5

  185

  20.6

  555

  29.0

  492

  28.9

  467

  36.0

  Barnet

  182

  18.2

  367

  24.4

  677

  30.8

  541

  36.0

  983

  33.9

  820

  32.0

  Bexley

  504

  22.9

  252

  22.9

  546

  28.7

  633

  35.0

  543

  31.9

  566

  31.0

  Brent

  232

  23.2

  273

  24.8

  269

  26.9

  326

  30.0

  463

  30.9

  440

  29.0

  Bromley

  540

  22.5

  411

  27.4

  460

  32.8

  588

  28.0

  526

  30.9

  1,017

  35.0

  Croydon

  666

  25.6

  626

  28.5

  526

  23.9

  828

  30.0

  864

  30.9

  1,070

  37.0

  Baling

  499

  21.7

  455

  24.0

  338

  21.1

  349

  27.0

  428

  28.5

  554

  31.0

  Enfield

  387

  20.4

  337

  24.0

  329

  29.9

  394

  36.0

  585

  32.5

  630

  32.0

  Haringey

  100

  16.7

  219

  31.3

  107

  17.9

  264

  33.0

  530

  29.4

  680

  36.0

  Harrow

  351

  22.0

  338

  26.0

  360

  30.0

  529

  29.0

  792

  29.3

  616

  36.0

  Havering

  513

  27.0

  547

  27.4

  600

  30.0

  837

  35.0

  662

  33.1

  1,037

  37.0

  Hillingdon

  500

  25.0

  725

  27.9

  439

  27.4

  181

  26.0

  311

  28.3

  539

  36.0

  Hounslow

  581

  22.3

  354

  27.2

  392

  26.1

  408

  27.0

  760

  31.7

  1,148

  35.0

  Kingston upon Thames

  141

  28.2

  2

  2

  399

  33.2

  312

  26.0

  381

  34.6

  683

  33.0

  Merton

  345

  24.6

  134

  26.7

  245

  40.9

  361

  30.0

  276

  27.6

  263

  33.0

  Newham

  279

  23.3

  267

  20.6

  386

  27.6

  587

  33.0

  566

  25.7

  376

  29.0

  Redbridge

  414

  24.4

  433

  27.0

  219

  31.3

  300

  33.0

  390

  27.8

  236

  30.0

  Richmond upon Thames

  2—

  2—

  214

  23.7

  177

  35.4

  463

  29.0

  413

  27.5

  421

  30.0

  Sutton

  279

  21.4

  236

  29.5

  166

  33.2

  205

  29.0

  365

  30.4

  494

  33.0

  Waltham Forest

  367

  28.2

  370

  24.7

  437

  33.6

  707

  29.0

  510

  26.9

  1,060

  32.0

  Birmingham

  2,018

  23.7

  2.613

  25.4

  3,237

  28.2

  3,862

  30.0

  3.832

  31.4

  4,747

  32.0

  Coventry

  667

  23.8

  1,047

  24.4

  820

  26.5

  1,165

  27.0

  1,198

  29.2

  1,058

  32.0

  Dudley

  351

  21.9

  361

  22.5

  719

  30.0

  589

  29.0

  722

  27.8

  1,311

  35.0

  Strangers' Cafeteria
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what is his latest estimate of the cost of refurbishing the Strangers' Cafeteria, including the cost of relocating other facilities in order to make space for the new facilities. [16614]

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  The current forecast of the final cost of modernising the former Members' and Strangers' Cafeterias, including the cost of relocating displaced facilities and building a new kitchen to service both the Terrace Cafeteria and the Members' Tea Room—in line with recommendations made by the Committee in its First Report of Session 1993–94, which was approved by the House on 12 July 1994—is £6.6 million. This figure is significantly less than the estimate agreed by the Committee in October 1994.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Teachers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the cost to the teachers' superannuation scheme of early retirement on grounds of ill health over the last five years(a) in each local education authority and (b) per teacher in each local education authority. [16100]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The following table shows the total cost and cost per teacher from 1990–91 to 1995–96. The costs in each financial year are made up of the lump sum and annual pension paid in respect of new awards of ill health retirement only. The figures cover all members of the teachers' superannuation scheme.
  561

  Total and average cost of ill-health retirements 1990–91 to 1995–96

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Last known local education authority

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Total cost

  Average cost per retirement

  Sandwell

  510

  24.3

  619

  23.8

  764

  26.3

  1.220

  30.0

  1,462

  31.8

  977

  31.0

  Solihull

  637

  25.5

  413

  23.0

  655

  32.7

  529

  31.0

  962

  34.4

  554

  31.0

  Walsall

  622

  21.4

  498

  23.7

  793

  25.6

  705

  27.0

  1,086

  31.0

  1,360

  33.0

  Woverhampton

  517

  19.1

  757

  31.5

  1,586

  29.4

  1,148

  30.0

  1,400

  32.5

  937

  29.0

  Knowsley

  242

  26.9

  566

  25.7

  509

  30.0

  719

  31.0

  494

  29.0

  694

  29.0

  Liverpool

  1,162

  24.2

  1,599

  25.8

  1,584

  29.3

  2,356

  31.0

  1,819

  30.8

  2,233

  31.0

  St. Helens

  640

  26.7

  475

  25.0

  1,056

  30.2

  1,135

  31.0

  1,043

  30.7

  719

  31.0

  Sefton

  752

  24.3

  745

  24.8

  1,217

  30.4

  1,653

  34.0

  1,385

  33.8

  1,397

  33.0

  Wirral

  665

  20.8

  955

  26.5

  566

  28.3

  975

  31.0

  1,083

  31.9

  1,339

  32.0

  Bolton

  695

  21.1

  794

  27.4

  1,029

  31.2

  1,202

  30.0

  1,167

  30.7

  944

  33.0

  Bury

  302

  20.1

  245

  20.4

  421

  26.3

  472

  25.0

  769

  29.6

  749

  31.0

  Manchester

  1,083

  22.1

  1,386

  27.7

  1,772

  27.3

  1,997

  30.0

  1,786

  29.3

  1,866

  32.0

  Oldham

  328

  21.9

  360

  21.2

  564

  28.2

  1,005

  31.0

  810

  31.2

  931

  32.0

  Rochdale

  522

  23.7

  744

  28.6

  634

  30.2

  1,076

  30.0

  1,269

  32.5

  1.378

  32.0

  Salford

  456

  22.8

  499

  20.8

  553

  26.3

  1,091

  33.0

  728

  28.0

  767

  27.0

  Stockport

  689

  21.5

  915

  23.5

  1,217

  29.7

  1,659

  33.0

  1,455

  29.1

  1,458

  30.0

  Tameside

  491

  25.8

  473

  24.9

  609

  29.0

  689

  30.0

  1,102

  32.4

  937

  30.0

  Trafford

  370

  21.8

  590

  28.1

  830

  29.7

  1,243

  33.0

  927

  28.1

  1,088

  35.0

  Wigan

  272

  18.1

  541

  25.7

  592

  26.9

  1,315

  28.0

  949

  31.6

  1,317

  34.0

  Barnsley

  746

  24.1

  562

  26.8

  666

  31.7

  796

  31.0

  1,241

  35.5

  887

  33.0

  Doncaster

  838

  22.1

  908

  26.7

  649

  26.0

  877

  28.0

  999

  32.2

  975

  31.0

  Rotherham

  361

  20.1

  497

  22.6

  600

  27.3

  839

  31.0

  859

  30.7

  889

  37.0

  Sheffield

  1,014

  21.1

  890

  23.4

  1,144

  27.9

  1,779

  31.0

  1,529

  31.9

  1,705

  30.0

  Bradford

  1,237

  22.5

  1,374

  24.1

  1,181

  26.2

  1.815

  28.0

  1,495

  26.2

  1,796

  31.0

  Calderdale

  655

  25.2

  647

  28.1

  580

  27.6

  815

  33.0

  1,050

  33.9

  838

  31.0

  Kirklees

  1,117

  23.3

  839

  24.7

  1,273

  26.0

  2,341

  33.0

  1.822

  29.4

  1,650

  31.0

  Leeds

  1,491

  22.9

  1,354

  24.2

  1,612

  29.3

  2,701

  30.0

  2,807

  31.5

  3,017

  31.0

  Wakefield

  733

  24.4

  1,313

  26.3

  1,414

  28.9

  1,607

  32.0

  1,393

  29.6

  1,750

  30.0

  Gateshead

  385

  25.6

  338

  26.0

  573

  26.1

  519

  26.0

  639

  29.0

  1,164

  31.0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  409

  22.7

  1,111

  23.6

  708

  24.4

  1,037

  31.0

  1,154

  35.0

  1,190

  33.0

  North Tyneside

  252

  18.0

  446

  26.3

  565

  29.8

  613

  31.0

  529

  27.9

  504

  30.0

  South Tyneside

  481

  22.9

  464

  24.4

  684

  31.1

  734

  32.0

  604

  30.2

  741

  30.0

  Sunderland

  1,329

  22.9

  1,055

  25.1

  1,551

  31.0

  1,676

  35.0

  1,712

  32.3

  1,469

  33.0

  Isles of Scilly

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Avon

  1,760

  23.2

  2,040

  25.8

  1,759

  26.6

  3.010

  29.0

  3,784

  32.6

  3,386

  33.0

  Bedfordshire

  1,490

  23.3

  1,138

  24.7

  1.402

  28.0

  1.705

  30.0

  2,123

  30.8

  1,584

  29.0

  Berkshire

  1,260

  22.9

  1,893

  25.6

  1,981

  31.0

  2,299

  31.0

  2,273

  32.5

  2,452

  33.0

  Buckinghamshire

  1,454

  23.5

  1.131

  26.3

  1,149

  26.7

  1,577

  30.0

  2,141

  31.0

  1,686

  28.0

  Cambridgeshire

  Ml

  20.9

  1,240

  27.6

  1,248

  27.7

  1,191

  31.0

  2,098

  30.9

  1,680

  29.0

  Cheshire

  2,279

  25.3

  2,039

  24.9

  2,230

  29.0

  3.067

  31.0

  3,607

  31.9

  3,625

  33.0

  Cleveland

  1,953

  24.4

  1,923

  25.3

  2,661

  29.6

  3,155

  32.0

  3,113

  31.4

  3,236

  30.0

  Cornwall

  1,632

  23.0

  1,400

  27.5

  1,287

  27.4

  1,384

  31.0

  1,447

  32.2

  2,347

  33.0

  Cumbria

  700

  21.2

  1.285

  25.2

  1,224

  27.8

  1,562

  28.0

  1,519

  30.4

  1,676

  33.0

  Derbyshire

  2,592

  24.5

  2.340

  26.9

  1,887

  27.8

  2,339

  31.0

  2,998

  33.3

  3,079

  34.0

  Devon

  2,677

  23.3

  2,331

  25.3

  2,942

  30.3

  3,535

  32.0

  3,916

  29.9

  4,054

  34.0

  Dorset

  1,591

  23.4

  1,305

  26.1

  2,074

  30.1

  1,563

  31.0

  2,124

  29.9

  2,008

  30.0

  Durham

  1,882

  23.2

  1,681

  25.5

  1,965

  28.5

  2.216

  31.0

  3,136

  34.1

  3,757

  33.0

  East Sussex

  1,330

  22.5

  1,516

  24.1

  1,928

  29.7

  2,476

  31.0

  2,906

  30.3

  2,265

  31.0

  Essex

  3,115

  23.1

  2,664

  24.0

  3,723

  30.0

  4,738

  31.0

  5,249

  30.2

  4,949

  31.0

  Gloucestershire

  848

  21.7

  790

  23.2

  1,147

  29.4

  1,632

  31.0

  1,622

  33.1

  1,902

  30.0

  Hampshire

  3,755

  23.2

  3.782

  26.4

  4,608

  30.1

  5,823

  30.0

  6,861

  31.9

  6.249

  32.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,814

  25.6

  2,131

  25.1

  2,651

  29.1

  3,054

  33.0

  3,990

  33.0

  3,288

  33.0

  Hertfordshire

  1,902

  22.4

  2,334

  26.8

  2,531

  31.3

  2,671

  31.0

  3,796

  31.4

  3,079

  29.0

  Humberside

  1,538

  23.0

  1,843

  25.2

  2,305

  27.1

  1.759

  28.0

  3.966

  31.7

  4,105

  33.0

  Isle of Wight

  169

  24.1

  118

  14.7

  167

  27.8

  442

  28.0

  409

  34.1

  766

  32.0

  Kent

  4,328

  24.0

  3,957

  26.6

  5,073

  30.4

  5,145

  30.0

  5,767

  30.2

  6,187

  32.0

  Lancashire

  4,411

  23.1

  4,342

  26.5

  4.910

  29.6

  7,450

  32.0

  7,266

  33.0

  8,600

  33.0

  Leicestershire

  1,571

  23.4

  2,197

  25.2

  1,916

  29.0

  2.541

  32.0

  3,221

  31.9

  3,376

  31.0

  Lincolnshire

  1,681

  25.1

  1,983

  26.4

  1,469

  31.9

  2.321

  33.0

  2,269

  29.5

  2,029

  33.0

  Norfolk

  1,631

  24.0

  2,128

  25.9

  2,039

  29.6

  2,677

  31.0

  2,466

  31.6

  3,289

  34.0

  North Yorkshire

  1,927

  25.7

  1,535

  25.6

  1,571

  30.8

  2,318

  33.0

  3,103

  34.1

  2,254

  34.0

  Northamptonshire

  1,313

  23.4

  1,232

  24.2

  1,450

  29.6

  2,610

  30.0

  2,809

  33.4

  2,848

  32.0

  Northumberland

  665

  23.7

  747

  29.9

  837

  31.0

  1,236

  32.0

  1,014

  32.7

  1,113

  34.0

  Nottinghamshire

  2,946

  22.7

  2.911

  27.2

  3,681

  30.4

  3,423

  32.0

  4,120

  31.5

  4,318

  33.0

  Oxfordshire

  729

  22.1

  1,196

  28.5

  1,370

  28.0

  1,632

  31.0

  2,353

  32.2

  2,257

  30.0

  Shropshire

  1,260

  23.8

  1,101

  26.2

  1,028

  26.4

  1,656

  29.0

  1,526

  33.2

  1,430

  31.0

  Somerset

  1,261

  26.3

  1.916

  27.8

  1,971

  29.0

  2,413

  32.0

  2,861

  34.9

  3,089

  33.0

  Staffordshire

  2,674

  24.3

  3,127

  27.0

  3,430

  29.3

  3,798

  32.0

  5,024

  33.3

  5,250

  33.0

  Suffolk

  776

  21.0

  869

  24.1

  1,395

  29.7

  1,904

  32.0

  2,471

  32.5

  2,304

  31.0

  Surrey

  2,295

  22.7

  2,197

  25.2

  2,622

  27.3

  3,209

  32.0

  3,126

  31.3

  2,697

  31.0

  Warwickshire

  1,256

  23.3

  897

  25.6

  1,190

  30.5

  1,368

  31.0

  1.751

  30.7

  1,694

  30.0

  West Sussex

  1,550

  22.8

  1,300

  24.5

  1,637

  28.2

  1,666

  31.0

  2.267

  33.3

  1,662

  35.0

  Wiltshire

  1,220

  24.4

  1,669

  27.8

  1,548

  31.6

  2,249

  34.0

  2,112

  30.2

  1,551

  30.0

  1 Not applicable.

  2 Costs based on less than five people are not shown.

  3 Staff who left teaching prior to the abolition of ILEA and have now retired, may still be recorded to ILEA as the last known LEA of employment.

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the private employment agencies used by her Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating(a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for her Department, (c) the total cost to her Department of using employment
  562
  agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16176]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment her
  563
  Department has made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings her Department occupies; and if she will make a statement. [16314]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The DfEE has, through its facilities management and purchasing organisation, arrangements for assessing the presence of both hazardous and ozone-depleting substances. Assessments are carried out in accordance with current regulations and where appropriate, the Department has taken the necessary action either to eliminate their use or minimise the effects of the substances.

  Teachers (Devon Education Authority)
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers are currently employed by the Devon education authority and how many there were in 1992. [16538]

  Mr. Forth
  The numbers of teachers employed by Devon LEA are shown in the table. Staff in grant-maintained schools are excluded.

  Full-time equivalent numbers of teachers in the LEA-maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special education sector.

  January

  Full-time equivalent

  1992

  7,330

  1996

  7,450

  Home Teaching
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) boys and (b) girls of statutory school age are being taught at home; and how many of these have been excluded from maintained schools for behavioural problems. [16434]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the cost to public funds of the attendance of(a) Ministers and (b) officials of her Department at meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in Scotland since December 1994; and if she 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. [16565]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No Ministers from the Department for Education and Employment have attended a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee.

  Skills Shortages
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement about the effect of skills shortages on small firms. [15060]

  Mr. Paice
  In 1994, only 8 per cent. of employers with fewer than 25 employees reported that they had a vacancy which was proving hard to fill. Some 75 per cent. of these employers reported that the vacancies were affecting their 564
  business. More recent surveys of larger employers suggest that there has not been any substantial rise in recruitment difficulties since 1994. A shortage of skills is only one of a number of factors which can lead to recruitment difficulties.

  Teachers' Pension Fund
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the notional amount of money in the teachers' pension fund; and how much notional interest this generates per annum. [16130]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The notional balance of the teachers' superannuation account at 31 March 1994 was £26,666 million, and at 31 March 1995 was £28,440 million. The interest of notional investments credited to the account during this period was £2,023 million. More recent figures are not yet available.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what account is taken of revenue generated by the teachers' pension fund when calculating the fund's expenditure against yearly revenue. [16131]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The teachers' superannuation vote—class IX, vote 2—takes account of expenditure on teachers' pensions and income from employers' and employees' contributions. It does not take account of notional interest generated by the notional investments of the teacher's pension fund. This is recorded in the teachers' superannuation account, which is used by the Government actuary to carry out his quinquennial reviews of the teachers' superannuation scheme.

  "Work and the Family"
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many responses she has received to the consultation paper, "Work and the Family"; when she expects to publish results of the consultation exercise; and when she expects to announce Government proposals. [16207]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I have received 343 responses from a total of 305 organisations and individuals. I expect to be able to make a statement on the Government's proposed way forward in the spring.

  Bradfield House School
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received relating to care arrangements for boys at Bradfield House school, Cullompton, Devon; and what action she has taken in response. [16348]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department has, over the last year, received representations from a number of sources, including Devon social services department, the police and local residents, over the adequacy of arrangements for the care and behaviour of pupils at Bradfield House school. The issues were taken up with the school, as a result of which an agreement was prepared between the school, Devon social services department and the police, for implementing measures to improve behaviour and care.
  565
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Bradfield House school, Cullompton, Devon; [16332]

  (2) when the Office for Standards in Education next intends to inspect Bradfield House school, Cullompton; and if the report will be made public; [16345]

  (3) what measures are being taken to ensure Ofsted and social services reports into Bradfield house school, Cullompton, Devon are made available to those local authorities paying for boys at the school. [16346]

  Mrs. Gillan
  These are matters for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action was taken by her Department in response to the 1994 Ofsted report into Bradfield House school, Cullompton, Devon. [16349]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Following the Ofsted inspection in February 1994, the Department wrote to Bradfield House school requesting that attention be given to a number of serious weaknesses which had been identified. HM Inspectors have undertaken a number of follow-up visits to the school since then and discussions are continuing.

  Teachers (Criminal Record Checks)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers were subject to criminal record checks in the year to 31 March 1996 in England and Wales. [16586]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  School Governors (Criminal Record Checks)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements she has put in place to check the criminal records of school governors. [16592]

  Mrs. Gillan
  School governors are not covered by the present arrangements for criminal record checks because they do not satisfy the criterion of having substantial unsupervised access to children on a regular basis. However, the new arrangements that the Government are proposing in the Police Bill [Lords] will enable criminal record checks to be made on governors and a range of other groups that are not covered at present.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Services
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision he is making for the cost of rail services secured by English passenger transport executives in 1997–98. [16949]

  Mr. Watts
  A special grant report has been laid before the House for the payment of metropolitan railways passenger services grant in 1997–98 to English passenger transport authorities. The main purpose of the MRPSG is to provide support, in 1997–98, to those PTAs for the 566
  local rail services secured by those PTAs' passenger transport executives under the terms of franchise agreements with franchise operators and the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising.

  Road Traffic Reduction Measures
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he made of the relative merits of(a) traffic reduction and (b) congestion reduction measures prior to giving backing to some aspects of the Road Traffic (Reduction) Bill; and if he will make a statement. [16014]

  Mr. Watts
  We believe that any such assessment are for local highway authorities to make, taking local circumstances into account. In practice, strategies for addressing the problems consequent on traffic growth need to encompass a variety of measures to influence demand, improve traffic flow and improve accessibility. The relative balance will depend on specific local circumstances.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made to date by the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment in its examination of the relationship between traffic growth, transport investment and economic growth; when he expects to receive the report of that committee; and if he will make it his policy not to proceed with, or facilitate the progress of, legislation in this area until such time as that report has been received and studied by his Department. [16015]

  Mr. Watts
  The Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment started its examination of the relationship between traffic growth, transport investment and economic growth at the end of last year and is expected to report its findings at the end of 1998.

  Meanwhile, the Government will continue to promote or support such transport legislation as they consider appropriate, taking account of the available evidence.

  Driving Instruction
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated relating to the relative effectiveness of a learner driver learning to drive with a professional instructor or a member of the learner driver's family; [16333]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the research his Department proposes to commission from Surrey university into teaching methods for learner drivers, indicating the (a) cost and (b) duration of contracts and the objectives of the research. [16344]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have commissioned the university of Surrey to compare the effects of formal and informal training of learner drivers. The contract was awarded in August 1995 and is due for completion by August 1998. The estimated cost is £269,000.

  The objectives of the research are: (a) to compare the experience gained and instruction given in the course of (i) professional driving lessons and (ii) practice with friends and relations; (b) to monitor the progress of drivers engaged in learning to drive using each method in isolation and a mix of the two methods; (c) to identify

  567
  differences in the level of skill, performance and situational awareness of the different groups and how this changes over time; and (d) to develop recommendations for driver training and practice.

  Road Contracts
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the forecast Government expenditure for each of the next three decades for each of the design, build, finance and operate road contracts that have been let or are part of the current trunk roads programme; [15451]

  (2) how much is to be paid to the contractor per vehicle or vehicle kilometre in shadow tolls for use of the road for each design, build, finance and operate contract let; [15452]

  (3) what are his Department's forecasts for daily vehicle usage for each of the next three decades for each of the roads covered by a current or planned design, build, finance and operate contract. [15453]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Cynog Dafis, dated 19 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about DBFO road contracts.
  The estimated payments for individual contracts are commercially confidential. However the following figures illustrate by each of the three DBFO tranches, the forecast average annual figure of government expenditure over each of the next three decades:

  £ million

  Tranche

  1997–98 to 2006–07

  2007–08 to 2016–17

  2017–18 to 2026–27

  Tranche 1

  99

  127

  94

  Tranche 1A

  78

  102

  120

  Tranche 21

  126

  201

  205

  Totals

  303

  430

  419

  1 Include M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill and A40 West London Approach DBFOs.

  At cash prices £ million:

  Year

  LU core

  London buses

  Tendered bus division

  London transport buses

  DLR2

  New lines and extensions

  Other

  Total

  1978

  47

  19

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  66

  1979

  65

  35

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100

  1980

  78

  45

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  123

  1981

  91

  56

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  147

  1982

  82

  45

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  127

  1983

  110

  58

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  168

  1984–853

  147

  60

  —

  —

  33

  —

  —

  240

  1985–86

  135

  40

  —

  —

  33

  —

  26

  234

  1986–87

  171

  36

  —

  —

  16

  —

  18

  241

  1987–88

  213

  20

  —

  —

  61

  —

  —

  294

  1988–89

  215

  25

  1

  —

  51

  6

  14

  312

  1989–90

  307

  27

  1

  —

  93

  13

  2

  443

  1990–91

  414

  28

  1

  —

  139

  45

  7

  634

  1991–92

  298

  38

  1

  —

  162

  71

  12

  582

  1992–93

  632

  46

  1

  —

  —

  96

  14

  789

  1993–94

  485

  23

  —

  —

  —

  301

  12

  821

  1994–95

  528

  2

  —

  9

  —

  401

  14

  954

  568

  Please note these figures which are in cash prices will vary according to the usage of the DBFO road and the performance of the DBFO Company. The figures do not include some additional but relatively minor future lump sum payments covering for example archaeological works. Because of their uncertain nature these are extremely difficult to estimate.
  With regard to the other two questions, the amounts paid to the contractor per vehicle or vehicle kilometre and the Department's forecasts for daily vehicle usage over the next three decades, cannot be provided for commercial reasons.

  Road Lighting
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he uses to decide which lengths of motorway are lit. [16228]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 19 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking what criteria he uses to decide which lengths of motorway are lit.
  The decision whether to light in a particular case is taken following consideration of a full appraisal of the proposed scheme. This includes an economic assessment of the capital, maintenance and energy costs set against the potential savings as a result of the reduction in night time personal injury accidents, calculated over the life of the lighting scheme. A full assessment of the environmental factors is taken into account.

  London Transport Finance
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total investment and planned investment by London Transport in(a) London Underground core business, (b) London Buses, (c) tendered bus division, (d) docklands light railway, (e) new lines and extensions, and (f) other matters in each year between 1978 and 1999–2000 in (i) cash prices and (ii) 1996–97 prices. [16026]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information requested is set out in the tables1
  569

  At cash prices £ million

  Year

  LU core

  London buses

  Tendered bus division

  London transport buses

  DLR2

  New lines and extensions

  Other

  Total

  1995–96

  561

  —

  —

  10

  —

  526

  18

  1,115

  1996–974,5,6

  514

  —

  —

  13

  —

  544

  12

  1,083

  1997–985

  Estimates not yet available for these years

  1998–995

  1999–20005

  1 Figures provided by London Transport

  2 Responsibility for the Docklands Light Railway was transferred to the London Docklands Development Corporation from 1992–93 onwards

  3 Fifteen months accounting period.

  4 Estimated outturn

  5 Apportionment of investment at outturn between LT Core business and the JLE will be determined by LT in the light of emerging

  6 Includes Croydon Tramlink

  At 1996–97 prices

  Year

  LU core

  London Buses

  Tendered bus division

  London Transport buses

  DLR1

  New lines and extensions

  Other

  Total

  1978

  144

  58

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  202

  1979

  170

  92

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  262

  1980

  173

  99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  272

  1981

  184

  113

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  297

  1982

  154

  85

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  239

  1983

  198

  105

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  303

  1984–852

  252

  103

  —

  —

  57

  —

  —

  412

  1985–86

  220

  65

  —

  —

  54

  —

  42

  381

  1986–87

  270

  57

  —

  —

  25

  —

  28

  380

  1987–88

  319

  30

  —

  —

  92

  —

  —

  441

  1988–89

  302

  35

  1

  —

  72

  8

  20

  438

  1989–90

  403

  36

  1

  —

  122

  17

  3

  582

  1990–91

  504

  34

  1

  —

  169

  55

  8

  771

  1991–92

  341

  43

  1

  —

  185

  81

  14

  665

  1992–93

  693

  51

  1

  —

  —

  105

  15

  865

  1993–94

  517

  24

  —

  —

  —

  321

  13

  875

  1994–95

  553

  2

  —

  9

  —

  420

  15

  999

  1995–96

  573

  —

  —

  10

  —

  538

  19

  1,140

  1996–973, 4, 5

  514

  —

  —

  13

  —

  544

  12

  1,083

  1997–984

  Estimates not yet available for these years

  1998–994

  1999–20004

  1 Responsibility for the Docklands Light Railway was transferred to the London Docklands Development Corporation from 1992–93 onwards.

  2 15 months accounting period.

  3 Estimated outturn.

  4 Apportionment of investment at outturn between LT Core business and the JLE will be determined by LT in the light of emerging requirements.

  5 Includes Croydon Transport.

  Air Traffic Control Centre (Swanwick)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role Ministers had in the decision to proceed with the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick; and what involvement they have had with the development since. [16336]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament for ensuring that the financial and other controls of the CAA conform to the requirements both of propriety and good financial management.

  Capital investment by the CAA is approved and monitored within the framework set by the White Papers of 1967 (Cmnd 3437) and 1978 (Cmnd 7131). The Department is responsible for, inter alia, ensuring that investment appraisal methods used by the CAA are sound and applied consistently in practice.
  570
  The Department also becomes involved in the approval and scrutiny of specific projects, and exercises a general oversight of the authority's financial control and monitoring procedures.

  This process has been applied to the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the Civil Aviation Authority's additional expenses from the delays in the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick becoming operational; and what contractual recourse the Civil Aviation Authority has to recoup these costs; [16340]

  (2) what compensatory payments the Civil Aviation Authority will be seeking for the late operational completion of the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick and from which companies. [16342]
  571
  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply of 24 June 1996,Official Report column 29, to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody).

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Civil Aviation Authority(a) originally expected and (b) now expects the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick to be operational. [16337]

  Mr. Bowis
  The original target date set for the centre to enter operation was the end of 1996. The CAA has announced that, in view of problems that have arisen in integrating the software sub-systems of the air traffic management system, the target date for operation is now March 1998.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what procedure was used by the Civil Aviation Authority in commissioning the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick; what checks were carried out on companies bidding for work under the project; and what advice the CAA took in relation to the drafting of the clauses in the contract for the new centre in relation to penalty payments for delays; [16338]

  (2) if he will list the contractors involved in the construction of the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick and the parts of the project which each is responsible for. [16343]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have asked the chairman of the CAA to reply direct to the hon. Member on this matter.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what concerns officials from his Department have expressed to the Civil Aviation Authority about(a) delays and (b) additional costs in commissioning the new control centre at Swanwick; [16341]

  (2) what discussions officials of his Department have had with the Civil Aviation Authority in relation to the final commissioning of the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick and the contractual arrangements governing the costs incurred by the CAA from delays in the facility becoming operational. [16339]

  Mr. Bowls
  Officials from the Department have discussed with the CAA the authority's plans to meet forecast capacity requirements despite the delay. They have likewise discussed the financial implications of the delay, bearing in mind that the additional costs required to complete the new en-route centre will be borne entirely by the project contractor.

TREASURY

  Income Tax (Scotland)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individual income tax payers paid their tax via a Scottish Inland Revenue office in each of the last five years. [15931]

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

  Mr. Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Scottish-based income tax payers have their tax affairs handled by tax offices outside Scotland; and what is the location of the tax offices. [15930]
  572
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: The information is not available. In particular, taxpayer records of employees are grouped by reference to their employers. All the employees of a particular employer will be dealt with by the same tax office, which might be located anywhere in the UK. It is not immediately possible to distinguish those employees living in Scotland from those living in other parts of the UK.

  Commercial Property Rents (Taxation)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make it his policy to suspend the implementation of the proposed changes to the option to tax provisions in relation to the value added tax treatment of commercial property rents; what consultations he has had with developers and landlords of commercial property before the decision to implement those changes; what further plans he has to consult about the impact of those changes; and if he will make a statement. [15377]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 11 February 1997]: I made a statement on the range of possible Report stage amendments during the Standing Committee debate on 11 February. Anti-avoidance measures are not normally discussed before the Budget statement, although on this occasion some general discussions took place between customs and a property sector liaison group. There has since been a series of meetings with the major trade and professional bodies representing the industry.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received concerning the decision to close the option to tax provisions in relation to the value added tax treatment of commercial property rents; and if he will make a statement. [15376]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 11 February 1997]: I have received a variety of different representations on clause 37 in the Finance Bill, and I made a statement on the range of possible Report stage amendments during the Standing Committee debate on 11 February.

  European Union Finance
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the contributions of the United Kingdom to the general budget of the European Community from 1973 to 1996, at 1996 prices, under the headings agricultural and sugar levies, customs duties, gross VAT and GNP contributions, and (b) UK receipts under the headings of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, European regional development fund, European social fund refunds and/or abatements, (c) annual gross and net contributions and/or receipts together with other items and (d) annual percentage of receipts to contributions with, and without, refunds or rebates. [14327]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  573

  UK contributions to the EC budget, 1996 prices

  (£ million)

  Period1

  Agriculture and sugar levels

  Customs duties

  VAT based contributions (net of adjustments)2 3

  GNP based contributions (net of adjustments)3

  Other contributions4

  Adjustments5

  Gross contributions (total)6

  1973

  60

  949

  201

  1,210

  1974

  81

  1,117

  35

  -189

  1,053

  1975

  146

  1,465

  -49

  1,566

  1976

  151

  1,742

  -52

  1,841

  1977

  538

  2,141

  -105

  2,574

  1978

  757

  2,234

  1,865

  -638

  4,219

  1979

  676

  2,374

  2,267

  -963

  4,393

  1980

  585

  1,970

  1,666

  -184

  4,044

  1981

  448

  1,767

  1,972

  277

  4,465

  1982

  586

  1,911

  2,859

  109

  5,465

  1983

  421

  1,950

  3,105

  -78

  5,398

  1984

  456

  2,213

  2,983

  -95

  5,556

  1985

  310

  2,118

  3,193

  605

  238

  6,464

  1986

  388

  1,976

  4,356

  418

  7,138

  1987

  536

  2,142

  5,069

  127

  7,874

  1988

  305

  2.062

  4,272

  875

  -181

  7,334

  1989

  256

  2,181

  4,185

  402

  413

  7,437

  1990

  167

  1,921

  5,125

  637

  7,850

  1991

  233

  1,765

  4,389

  939

  -621

  6,705

  1992

  226

  1,721

  4,810

  1,031

  -350

  7,438

  1993

  213

  1,876

  5,312

  1,721

  -581

  8,541

  1994

  211

  1,885

  4,396

  2,456

  -1,403

  7,545

  1995

  208

  2,067

  4,752

  1,680

  406

  9,113

  19967

  202

  1,989

  4,442

  2,444

  32

  9,109

  Notes:

  1 Breakdown of the UK gross contributions for the years 1975 to 1977, and of EAGGF, ERDF and ESF for years 1984 to 1985, are taken from the ONS (nee CSO) publications "UK Balance of Payments."

  2 Net of article 131 compensation in 1978, 1979, 1980.

  3 Before adjustments in respect of earlier years' contributions.

  4 Treasury advances and inter-governmental agreements.

  5 Budget adjustments and adjustments to VAT and GNP contributions for earlier years. Adjustments for the years up to and including 1977, are taken from The Pink Book, 1984 edition.

  6 Components do not always add to totals in this table as all figures have been rounded independently.

  7 1996 figures are estimates

  The rounding convention used in this table is that of rounding to the nearest whole number.

  The deflator is adjusted to take account of the abolition of domestic rates.

  Sources:

  "Statement on the 1996 EC Budget" CM 3350, and earlier editions.

  CSO "UK Balance of Payments, 1993 and earlier editions.

  HC Deb 11.7.83 c256W.

  UK contributions to the EC budget, 1996 prices

  £ million

  Period1

  Negotiated refunds

  Abatement

  Gross contributions after refunds and abatement

  1973

  1,210

  1974

  1,053

  1975

  1,566

  1976

  1,841

  1977

  2,574

  1978

  4,219

  1979

  4,393

  1980

  224

  3,820

  1981

  1,423

  3,042

  1982

  1,945

  3,520

  1983

  1,464

  3,934

  1984

  916

  4,640

  1985

  100

  -272

  6,092

  1986

  -2,702

  4,436

  1987

  -1,745

  6,128

  1988

  -2,275

  5,058

  1989

  -1,537

  5,900

  1990

  -2,096

  5,754

  1991

  -2,883

  3,821

  574

  UK contributions to the EC budget, 1996 prices

  £ million

  Period1

  Negotiated refunds

  Abatement

  Gross contributions after refunds and abatement

  1992

  -2,076

  5,362

  1993

  -2,716

  5,826

  1994

  -1,811

  5,733

  1995

  -1,237

  7,876

  19962

  -2,412

  6,697

  Notes:

  1 Breakdown of the UK gross contributions for the years 1975 to 1977, and of EAGGF, ERDF and ESF for the years 1984 to 1985, are taken from the ONS (nee CSO) publications "UK Balance of Payments".

  2 1996 figures are estimates.

  The rounding convention used in this table is that of rounding to the nearest whole number.

  The deflator is adjusted to take account of the abolition of domestic rates.

  Sources:

  "Statement on the 1996 EC Budget" CM 3350, and earlier editions.

  CSO "UK Balance of Payments, 1993 and earlier editions.

  HC Deb 11.7.83 c256W.
  575

  UK contributions to the EC budget, 1996 prices

  (£ million)

  Receipts/contributions

  Period1

  EAGGF2

  ERDF

  ESF

  Other3

  Total4

  Net contributions4

  With refunds and abatement Per cent.

  Without refunds or abatement Per cent.

  1973

  421

  107

  528

  682

  44

  44

  1974

  652

  93

  128

  873

  180

  83

  83

  1975

  1,566

  5

  87 '

  165

  1,827

  -256

  117

  117

  1976

  823

  115

  44

  195

  1,177

  664

  64

  64

  1977

  629

  210

  171

  279

  1,289

  1,289

  50

  50

  1978

  1,030

  110

  194

  238

  1,646

  2,572

  39

  39

  1979

  1,015

  194

  238

  356

  1,802

  2,590

  41

  41

  1980

  1,259

  396

  217

  332

  2,204

  1,616

  58

  54

  1981

  1,403

  298

  220

  306

  2,226

  815

  73

  50

  1982

  1,510

  212

  290

  351

  2,363

  1,157

  67

  43

  1983

  1,963

  252

  232

  314

  2,761

  1,174

  70

  51

  1984

  2,346

  319

  491

  347

  3,503

  1,138

  75

  63

  1985

  1,888

  450

  420

  368

  3,125

  2,966

  51

  48

  1986

  2,188

  473

  532

  332

  3,527

  909

  80

  49

  1987

  2,037

  611

  648

  227

  3,524

  2,605

  57

  45

  1988

  1,968

  527

  388

  230

  3,114

  1,944

  62

  42

  1989

  1,751

  462

  541

  64

  2,818

  3,083

  48

  38

  1990

  1,848

  543

  278

  27

  2,696

  3,057

  47

  34

  1991

  2,033

  427

  714

  18

  3,192

  628

  84

  48

  1992

  2,001

  614

  482

  24

  3,121

  2,241

  58

  42

  1993

  2,414

  455

  630

  21

  3,520

  2,305

  60

  41

  1994

  2,413

  638

  337

  26

  3,414

  2,320

  60

  45

  1995

  2,503

  447

  775

  33

  3,757

  4,118

  48

  41

  19965

  3,408

  822

  805

  57

  5,094

  1,603

  76

  56

  Notes:

  1 Breakdown of the UK gross contributions for the years 1975 to 1977, and of EAGGF, ERDF and ESF for the years 1984 to 1985, are taken from the ONS (nee CSO) publications "UK Balance of Payments".

  2 Includes stock depreciation payments.

  3 Excludes own resources refunds after 1988.

  4 Components do not always add to totals in this table as all figures have been rounded independently.

  5 1996 figures are estimates.

  The rounding convention used in this table is that of rounding to the nearest whole number.

  The deflator is adjusted to take account of the abolition of domestic rates.

  Sources:

  "Statement on the 1996 EC Budget" Cm 3350, and earlier editions.

  CSO "UK Balance of Payments, 1993" and earlier editions.

  HC Deb 11.7.83 c256W.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received asserting conflicts of interest in respect of the previous service of the present chairman of the Personal Investment Authority as chief executive of Legal and General Group and in respect of the group's alleged role in mis-selling pensions; and if he will make a statement. [16432]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury has received one such representation recently.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Securities and Investments Board since 25 October 1994 in its inquiries into sales of personal pensions. [16437]

  Mrs. Knight
  I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 18 December 1996,Official Report, column 635.

  British Agrochemicals Association
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from British 576
  Agrochemicals Association Ltd. in the past 12 months; what was the subject of those representations; and if he will make a statement. [16288]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have received no representations from British Agrochemicals Association Ltd. in the past 12 months.

  Blind Person's Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of(a) the annual cost and (b) the numbers gaining from the introduction of an additional personal tax allowance to the value of the blind person's allowance for severely disabled people who pay for personal care with the assistance of payments from their local authority or from the independent living fund. [16097]

  Mr. Jack
  Reliable information is not available.

  Treasury Model
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury model of the economy allows simulated falls in both unemployment and inflation. [15843]
  577
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury model could predict a positive relationship between inflation and unemployment in some circumstances. For example, a cut in indirect taxes or imported raw material prices would tend temporarily to reduce inflation and unemployment. The model is available to the public and a copy is held in the House of Commons Library.

  Financial Services Act Licences
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) individuals and (b) firms have been licensed by each of the regulatory bodies created under the Financial Services Act 1986. [14786]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Details of the number of authorised firms by recognised body which are held on the Securities and Investments Board's central register are reproduced at page 68 of the SIB's annual report 1995–96 which is available in the Library.

  General Government Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the range of proportions of the UK GGBR that Scotland has accounted for on the basis of all studies published by Government Departments adopting methodology published in "Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland 1994–95". [16116]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: Figures published in the 1996 edition of "Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland" show that, excluding North sea taxes and privatisation proceeds, the Scottish deficit was about 18 per cent. of the UK deficit in 1994–95. The 1995 edition of GERS gave the equivalent percentage for 1993–94 at 15 per cent., which the 1996 edition subsequently revised upwards to 16 per cent. The 1992 edition of GERS did not contain an estimate of the Scottish deficit but, had it done so, on the figures available at the time, the equivalent ratio for 1990–91 would have been 51 per cent. The latest available estimate of the ratio in 1990–91 is 54 per cent.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which other EU countries are withdrawing from UNIDO. [16530]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  No other EU countries have yet announced their intention to withdraw.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British private sector consultancy contracts and how much revenue were received from UNIDO purchases and contracts, in the last year for which figures are available. [16534]

  Dr. Fox
  In 1996, UNIDO had 22 contracts with UK consultants. The value to the UK from purchases and contracts in that year was £5 million.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations were held with British staff of UNIDO about the decision to withdraw. [16533]
  578
  Dr. Fox
  None.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has held with EU partners on his decision to withdraw from UNIDO. [16531]

  Dr. Fox
  No formal consultations took place, but EU partners had been aware for some time of UK concerns about UNIDO.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of the United Kingdom's subscription to UNIDO, in the last year for which figures are available. [16535]

  Dr. Fox
  The UK contribution to UNIDO for calendar year 1996 was £4.69 million.

  Micro-finance
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Overseas Development Agency's policy towards micro-finance. [16855]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Micro-finance—savings as well as credit—can be a powerful tool able to benefit large numbers of poor people in a manner which is financially sustainable. Since 1990, we have provided increasing support for projects and institutions engaged in micro-finance, notably through our bilateral programmes in Africa and Asia. Total commitments to date are approximately $100 million and it is a field where we anticipate continuing to deploy significant resources. But experience shows that it is important to assist micro-finance institutions over time to achieve full financial self-sustainability.

  In addition to direct support for micro-finance institutions, the Overseas Development Administration is involved in many other related areas. For example, we are active members of the World bank-based consultative group to assist the poorest; ODA chairs the working group on management information systems and reporting standards for micro-finance institutions. ODA is also the major source of funds for a study by the MicroFinance Network, an association of leading MFIs, on the critical subject of the regulation and supervision of MFI, looking at recent experiences in Latin America, Asia and Africa.

  We are concerned to assess the impact of micro-finance. The results of a major research project on finance against poverty was published last year. Currently ODA is supporting a study, in collaboration with 10 leading UK non-governmental organisations, on the degree to which women are empowered through micro-finance.

  Albania
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in respect of every United Kingdom overseas aid contribution to Albania since 1990 the date it was approved, the value of the aid, United Kingdom expenditure to date and a description of the nature and purpose of the aid project or programme. [16627]
  579
  Dr. Liam Fox
  British overseas aid expenditure in Albania since 1991, the first year that the UK disbursed funds there, totals £5,001,619. The funds have been disbursed through the know-how fund and the ODA's emergency aid department. Since the know-how fund set up its programme for Albania it has focused on the following priority sectors: financial services; public administration and good government; agriculture; and health. The fund has also run projects in the media and education sectors.

  Development assistance projects vary in size of funding from a few hundred pounds to several hundreds of pounds. There are therefore too many to list in full. The following are the projects on which the fund and the ODA have disbursed over £100,000:

  Description

  £

  The Know How Fund

  Farm-land restructuring (November 1992)

  113,053

  Advice on privatising the Rural Commercial Bank (December 1994)

  173,167

  Support in setting up the stock exchange and advice on setting up investment funds (November 1995)

  191,043

  Advice on local Government finance and budgeting (July 1993)

  343,329

  Attachment of British haematologist to Albanian National Blood Transfusion Service (March 1994)

  123,230

  Assistance to Albanian National Health Insurance Institute (September 1995)

  178,108

  Pre-Investment Feasibility Studies since January 1994

  139,841

  Emergency Aid Department

  Feed The Children—Food, medical and educational supplies (September 1991)

  580,000

  Feed the Children—Emergency supplies Tropjoe District purchase of 10-ton vehicle (March 1994)

  300,405

  Feed the Children—Food, hygiene materials, clothing and purchase of 2 trucks, 1 Land Rover, bedding and cooking equipment (March 1995)380,227 WHO donation to joint WHO/UNICEF appeal—polio epidemic (October 1996)

  100,000

  British Red Cross—Purchase, shipment and distribution of wheat flour and miscellaneous relief goods (February 1992)

  287,369

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Albania
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by type and funding the know-how fund projects in Albania since 1992. [16411]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The know-how fund set up its programme for Albania in 1993. Since then, it has focused on the following priority sectors: financial services; public administration and good government; agriculture; and health. The fund has also run projects in the media and education sectors.

  Projects vary in size of funding from a few hundred pounds to several hundreds of pounds. There are therefore too many to list in full. The following are the projects on which the fund has disbursed over £100,000 since 1993:
  580

  Projects

  £

  Farm-land restructuring

  113,053

  Advice on privatising the Rural Commercial bank

  173,167

  Support in setting up the stock exchange and advice on setting up investment funds

  191,043

  Advice on local government finance and budgeting Attachment of British haematologist to Albanian

  343,329

  National Blood Transfusion Service

  123,230

  Assistance to Albanian National Health Insurance Institute

  178,108

  Pre-investment feasibility studies since January 1994

  139,841

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the use of the diplomatic bag to convey party political propaganda to Tirana. [16403]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  None.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Albanian Government officials made Foreign and Commonwealth Office sponsored visits to the United Kingdom in(a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995, (d) 1996 and (e) 1997. [16402]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Visits sponsored by the Department to the UK by Albanian Government officials numbered, in financial years—1993–94, 11 (five visit programmes); 1994–95, 13 (three visit programmes); 1995–96, three (two visit programmes); 1996–97, one.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Albanian government in respect of their detention of(a) opposition leaders and (b) journalists. [16400]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have raised with the Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister our deep concern at reports of arrests and intimidation by the authorities in Tirana. We have also pressed in the European Union for EU ambassadors to express their concern collectively.

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [16419]

  Mr. Hanley
  This Department continually strives to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. We retain the services of consultants who advise on energy efficiency and environmental matters for the UK estate. For example, a recent line analysis of electrical demand in the main building has identified possibilities for additional
  581
  savings on power consumption. Most recently, a report in the management of waste paper has been prepared which will be used to enhance the existing recycling system.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1996,Official Report, columns 643–44, regarding the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing, if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated this within those buildings his Department (a) occupies in the United kingdom and (b) occupies abroad; and if he will make a statement. [16444]

  Mr. Hanley
  Both diplomatic and overseas development wings of the Department retain the services of consultants to advised on energy efficiency and environmental matters concerning buildings occupied in the United Kingdom. The introduction of energy efficient lighting, modern boiler controls and optimisers have all contributed to cutting energy usage and costs. When maintaining, building or refurbishing properties for occupation overseas, the Department encourages consideration of the issues promoted by the Building Research Establishment/environmental assessment method. The Department also provides guidance to all overseas posts to enable compliance with global environmental issues.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [16279]

  Mr. Hanley
  Both wings of this Department maintain registers of hazardous materials—such as asbestos or polychlorinatedbiphenyls—in its buildings in UK and overseas. The chemical treatment programme for legionella is managed by specialists in the field.

  We are careful not to endanger the further depletion of the ozone layer, through a responsible procurement and disposal policy at home and abroad. Improvements in insulation levels and building services design and installation are encouraged. New air-conditioning systems operate with non-chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. Halon fire extinguishers have been withdrawn. Advisory leaflets on CFCs, halon and energy conservation have been issued.

  Banaban People
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation of the Banaban population in Fiji; what compensation has been paid to the Banaban people by Her Majesty's Government since 1981; and what part Her Majesty's Government have played in the environmental rehabilitation of the island of Banaba. [14994]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Banaban community, based principally on the island of Rabi in Fiji, participate fully in Fiji's civil affairs. Its people retain links with their home island, where some still live, which is now part of the Republic of Kiribati. The Banabans enjoy special constitutional safeguards in both Fiji and Kiribati.
  582
  No payments have been made since the ex gratia 14.5 million Australian dollars compensation settlement by the British Phosphate Commission in 1981. Her Majesty's Government have played no part in Banaba's environmental rehabilitation since 1981, as this remains the responsibility of the Kiribati Government.

ENVIRONMENT

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to pages 24 and 29, volume 6 of the appropriation accounts 1995–96, class VII, vote 3—HC ii-VI, Session 1996–97—what factors underlay the reductions in expenditure on(a) environmental protection in industry, with particular reference to the reasons for underbidding in the programme for the promotion of positive environmental management and (b) OECD contribution towards the framework convention on climate change. [15660]

  Mr. Gummer
  The promotion of positive environmental management in industry programme was established in response to a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Business and Environment. It supports intermediaries working to raise awareness of environmental issues among small and medium firms and helps them improve their environmental performance. The programme primarily supports six pilot local initiatives, and expenditure on these was as planned during 1995-96. A small proportion of the budget was set aside for work with other business support organisations, but fewer suitable projects were identified than originally envisaged, leading to expenditure lower than forecast.

  The initial UK allocation for contributions to international climate change organisations was £725,000 for 1995–96. This included an allowance for the UK contribution to the administrative cost of the framework convention on climate change. Negotiations at the first conference of the parties in spring 1995 led to a reduction in the draft convention budget for 1996 and it was also decided that the cost of conference and subsidiary body meetings would be funded form the main UN budget. Hence, actual expenditure in 1995–96 was £224,000 lower than originally estimated.

  Packaging Waste Regulations
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue the statutory guidance regarding the packaging waste regulations. [15574]

  Mr. Gummer
  The Advisory Committee on Packaging, chaired by Sir Peter Parker, is currently developing recommendations to the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on the preparation of statutory guidance on compliance with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations, which are before the House. I understand that the advisory committee hopes to make public its recommendations in the very near future. The agencies will be responsible for issuing statutory guidance once the regulations have been made.
  583

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which 10 local councils in England have the highest budget deficits. [16158]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  All local authorities are required to set balanced budgets, taking into account the amount of financial reserves that they estimate they will use in the year to finance expenditure. The following authorities budgeted to draw down the highest amounts from reserves in 1996–97:

  Budgeted use of reserves 1996–97

  £000s

  City of London

  41,343

  Hampshire

  35,375

  Metropolitan Police Authority

  26,519

  Staffordshire

  21,002

  Berkshire

  18,474

  Cheshire

  18,000

  Birmingham

  17,658

  Kent

  17,088

  Hereford and Worcester

  16,020

  Hertfordshire

  15,410

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the total amount of local authority debt and local authority unused capital receipts in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990 and (iii) the latest year for which figures are available. [16162]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The amounts outstanding at 31 March each year were:

  Total debt £ billion

  Usable capital receipts£ billion

  1985

  31.6

  n/a

  1990

  41.2

  2.4

  1996

  37.6

  1.1

  Source:

  Debt: DOE borrowing and lending surveys and Public Works Loan Board.

  Capital receipts
  capital outturn returns.

  The total debt figures include both long term and short-term borrowing; £4.5 billion of local authority debt, mainly amounts borrowed from the Public Works Loan Board, was commuted by the Government in 1992.

  Figures for the amounts of set-aside capital receipts are not available. These form part of the provision for credit liabilities, which also includes amounts set aside from revenue. It is not possible to give figures for usable capital receipts for years before 1990, when a different capital finance system was in operation.

  Business Improvement Districts
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his assessment of business improvement districts; what measures would be required to introduce similar initiatives in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [16211]
  584
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The research is expected to be completed by late spring. We will consider the results of that research carefully in determining whether this approach could be applied in the UK context.

  Glenn and John Howells
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will assist Kirklees metropolitan borough council in meeting the costs of providing secure accommodation for Glenn and John Howells. [16439]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Local authorities are responsible for decisions on how to accommodate young persons remanded by the courts to local authority accommodation. Provision for these costs is included within the children's personal social services block of the standard spending assessment. This provision is not identified specifically.

  Credit Liabilities
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority the amount set aside as provision for credit liabilities as at 31 March 1996. [16474]

  Mr. Curry
  A list of the provision for credit liabilities at 31 March 1996 for each English local authority has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Planning Policy Guidance (Countryside)
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish the revised planning policy guidance note 7 on the countryside; and if he will make a statement. [16899]

  Mr. Gummer
  I am today publishing revised policy planning guidance note 7 on the countryside.

  This new guidance note carries forward our commitment to a living countryside. It will help to ensure that the countryside is increasingly a place in which communities and businesses can thrive, while maintaining the unique qualities which make the English countryside such an attractive place in which to live and work.

  The revised note fulfils key commitments in our rural White Paper by giving greater encouragement to business diversification in the countryside while ensuring that necessary development is of a good quality, complementing and respecting the character of the countryside around it.

  The majority of the over 400 responses to the consultation draft welcomed the revised PPG7's comprehensive coverage of planning in the countryside and felt that it struck a fair and realistic balance between environmental protection and the need to stimulate rural economic activity. There was particular support for its coverage of sustainable development principles; its recognition of the interdependence between urban and rural policies; its acknowledgement of the value of rural strategies and its increased emphasis on good design.

  The new guidance note restates and clarifies policy on protecting from development the best agricultural land as a national resource. This means that we will maintain a stock of the best agricultural land, with its versatility and efficiency for farming, while making it clear that a more flexible approach may be adopted where there is an

  585
  overriding need for development and any alternative land has a recognised, high environmental value or there is little suitable land of lower agricultural quality available.

  In addition, the guidance note clarifies policy on the reuse of rural buildings, allowing greater discrimination in favour of reuse for business rather than residential purposes; it stresses the importance of thoroughly checking the lawfulness of developments to be carried out under agricultural permitted development rights; advises on the possible removal of new buildings which abuse permitted development rights, without placing unnecessary additional burdens on genuine farmers; and advises local planning authorities on the scope for making planning permission conditional on the removal of unused ugly or derelict buildings in certain circumstances.

  I am also pleased to announce today that Charles Nunneley, chairman of the National Trust, has agreed to chair a small working group on the possible introduction of a rural business use class. This proposal, also included in the Rural White Paper, is designed to encourage enterprise in rural areas by giving local planning authorities an additional control, where needed, over the intensification of new businesses. The working party will consider how best to achieve the implementation of this proposal, taking account of the various practical issues and difficulties identified during the recent consultation exercise.

  Thames Barrage Scheme
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of the Thames barrage scheme; and how much of this cost was met by central Government. [16446]

  Mr. Boswell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The total cost of works under the Thames Barrier and Flood Protection Act 1972 was some £700 million, with the Thames barrier itself costing some £450 million and associated downstream works, including a second barrier at Barking, accounting for the remainder. Government grants made under the Act totalled approximatly £540 million.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps she plans to take to ensure the future of the Crystal Palace national sports centre as(a) a venue for national and international sporting events and (b) a training centre for British athletes. [15823]

  Mr. Sproat
  The future of facilities at Crystal Palace national sports centre is, in the first instance, a matter for the London borough of Bromley and the English Sports Council. An independent feasibility study is being undertaken on behalf of the London borough of Bromley and the English Sports Council as one stage in the process to determine the future needs and use of the national sports centre. The English Sports Council has given an assurance that no decisions about long-term investment in the future of the centre will be taken without prior consultation with the relevant sporting governing bodies.

  Sports Council Chairmen
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the contract of(a) the chairman of the United Kingdom Sports Council and (b) the chairman of the English Sports Council, indicating their remuneration. [12638]

  Mr. Sproat
  Lord MacLaurin of Knebworth was appointed chairman-designate of the United Kingdom Sports Council from 1 April 1995. Lord MacLaurin's position as chairman of the United Kingdom Sports Council was formalised from the 19 September 1996 following the issue of letters patent under the great seal granting charters of incorporation to the new council. The appointment will expire in March 1998. Lord MacLaurin has chosen not to draw remuneration for this position.

  Sir Rodney Walker was appointed chairman of the Great Britain Sports Council and chairman-designate of English Sports Council from 1 October 1994. Sir Rodney's position as chairman of the English Sports Council was formalised from the 19 September 1996 following the issue of letters patent under the great seal granting charters of incorporation to the new council. This appointment will expire in September 2001. Sir Rodney receives a non-pensionable remuneration of £21,692 per annum.

  Television Broadcasting
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the cost of the engineering changes to UK transmitters of allowing the removal of power restrictions at the Clermont Carn transmitter in the Republic of Ireland in order to improve RTE coverage in Northern Ireland; and who will pay the costs of such changes. [15821]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Irish Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has given an assurance that RTE has undertaken to bear the engineering costs of UK broadcasters directly attributable to the proposed alterations to the Clermont Carn transmitter. The BBC and Independent Television Commission, which are responsible for television transmission arrangements in the UK, have estimated that the engineering costs of changes to UK transmitters attributable to an increase in the power of transmission from the Clermont Carn transmitter could be in the region of £650,000.

  "Success Through Partnership: A Strategy for Tourism"
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much it cost to(a) print and (b) reprint the document, "Success Through Partnership: A Strategy for Tourism". [16193]

  Mr. Sproat
  The cost of printing "Success through Partnership: A Strategy for Tourism" was £23,040. As originally planned, 1,000 copies were printed and delivered in advance for the launch of the document. A further 28,000 copies were delivered later for subsequent distribution to various organisations.

  Public Libraries Review
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she will publish the public libraries review; and if she will make a statement. [17105]
  587
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government have today published "Reading the Future", the Government's review of public libraries in England.

  Public libraries are a great national asset. The Government are committed to ensuring that the public library system is equipped to face the challenges of the future, of which the single most important one will arise from the impact of information technology. Libraries are likely to be a key element in providing access to electronically stored information. Technology is changing so fast that plans for introducing new systems of technology need to be flexible enough to take account of both the changes and their cost and the need for libraries to play the fullest appropriate role in this revolution. The Government have therefore asked a working group set up by the Library and Information Commission to report by the end of July on how public libraries in England should respond effectively to this challenge.

  The other main issues addressed by the review are:
  that the core book lending and reference services will remain free of charge;
  public libraries should match opening hours to the needs of their users;
  after 2001, the money that currently goes on millennium projects will go to a new Information and Communication Technology Fund, from which libraries should greatly benefit;
  a £3 million contribution over three years from the Wolfson Foundation to the £6 million challenge fund to improve facilities in English public libraries announced in my Department's budget statement;
  that libraries need to take further advantage of the opportunities offered by private sector partnerships, and a more commercially aware management style, including franchising, voluntary contracting-out of operations, and sponsorship;
  libraries will benefit from the new £300 million information and communication technology fund post-2000;
  to raise standards in public libraries, all English library authorities will be required to produce annually a Public Library Plan which will set out how libraries have performed compared with what they achieved the previous year, the standards they set themselves for the latest year, and the standards achieved by other libraries;
  libraries are the focal point at the heart of many communities and service providers should build on that, for example by being more responsive to what local users want; using local volunteers; offering homework facilities for children; and encouraging appreciation of literature among users through activities such as live readings by authors.

  I have today placed copies of the review in the Libraries of both Houses and am arranging for copies to be sent to a wide range of interested parties. Further copies are available on request from my Department.

  UK Sports Council
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she intends to announce the filling of vacancies on the UK Sports Council [17102]

  Mr. Sproat
  Further to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 4 February 1996,Official Report, columns 583–86, I am pleased to announce that my right hon. Friend the
  588
  Secretary of State has appointed Mr. Adrian Moorhouse MBE and Mrs. Judy Simpson as members of the United Kingdom sports council. Mr. Moorhouse had a hugely successful swimming career, including an olympic gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He is now managing director of Lane 4 Management Group. Mrs. Simpson is a former Commonwealth champion in the heptathlon, and is now president of the Women's Sports Foundation. Both appointees are also members of the English Sports Council's national lottery sports panel. I am confident that the skills and experience which Mr. Moorhouse and Mrs. Simpson bring with them will make them a great asset to the new United Kingdom Sports Council.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service Magazine
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total annual cost of producing, printing and distributing "Overview-The Magazine for the Modern Civil Service"; and if he will make a statement. [16294]

  Mr. Freeman
  "Overview—The Magazine for the Modern Civil Service" is published by Public Sector Information, a privately owned company.

  Minimum Age Requirements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15924]

  Mr. Bates
  The Office of Public Service does not enforce any statutory minimum age requirements.

  Engagements
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Friday 31 January. [16335]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I had a number of meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

  Special Educational Needs Tribunals
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reasons Her Majesty's Government recommended to Parliament that presidents of special educational needs tribunals or members of a panel of persons appointed to act as chairs or members of such tribunals should be ineligible to become hon. Members. [16621]

  Mr. Freeman
  The president, chairmen and members of the special educational needs tribunal will be statutorily disqualified from membership of the House of Commons on the ground that these offices require demonstrable political impartiality. This will formalise the current position whereby members of the tribunal are disqualified from holding political office under the terms and conditions governing their appointment.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of Sir Peter Levene's letter to all Departments of 27 July 1995 regarding the appointment of consultants. [15842]

  Mr. Freeman
  The text of Sir Peter Levene's letter of that date, which is concerned primarily with the establishment of ministerial approval limits in the hire of external consultants, has been placed in the Library.

  Bletchley Park
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how and when the Government and the Post Office obtained Bletchley Park; [15674]

  (2) how much was paid, and to whom, from Bletchley Park. [15838]

  Mr. Freeman
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of its framework document to the Property Advisers to the civil Estate under its chief executive, Mr. Neil Borrett. The agency is therefore responding to these questions.

  Letter from N. E. Borrett to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 17 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to respond to your two Questions on Bletchley Park.
  The freehold of the entire site was acquired by the predecessors of the Secretary of State for the Environment (Ministry of Works) assembling a number of parcels of land and buildings by means of nine separate conveyances between the years 1937 and 1964. A substantial portion of the site comprising 26 acres, was sold at privatisation to British Telecom, in 1984 for £2.3 million, leaving a residue of approximately 31.4 acres with the Secretary of State.
  Unfortunately the records and deeds in our possession do not go back to the original conveyances. The property now comprises seven registered titles. However, there is mention in the deeds of Ernest Ingram being the vendor for two parcels, together with SS Holdings on a further parcel. The purchase price for the largest of these three areas amounted to £3,300 in 1952, whilst for the smaller one the consideration was £120 in 1949.
  My understanding is that the land was originally acquired for the government's Code and Cipher school, which subsequently became part of GCHQ after the war.
  Under the "Crichel Down" rules we are not required to offer the land back to former owners where the use has materially changed. Our view is that the use has materially changed and we do not intend to offer back.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Fraud
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list by individual benefit the total amount of money his Department estimates has been saved by detecting fraud in each of the last five years; [14578]

  (2) what were the estimated total savings to public funds accruing from the detection of fraud in each of the last five years. [14581]
  590
  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Year

  Savings recorded by DSS £

  Savings recorded by Local Authorities1£

  Total£

  1991–92

  447m

  n/a

  447m

  1992–93

  558m

  n/a

  558m

  1993–94

  654m

  92m

  746m

  1994–95

  717m

  171m

  888m

  1995–96

  1.2bn2

  224m

  1.4bn

  Notes:

  1 No central records are kept of any local authority savings achieved prior to April 1993.

  2Includes savings from initiatives in the Security and Control Programme.

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £1 million when under £1 billion and to the nearest £100 million when over.

  2. The information is given in terms of Weekly Benefit Savings deriving from activity in the given year, not public expenditure savings which could be accounted for in that year.

  Child Support
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases there were in the most recent year for which figures are available in which benefits were reduced in respect of a parent with care on income support as a result of a pre-Child Support Agency child maintenance agreement. [15609]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available as maintenance which is in payment as a result of a pre-child support arrangement cannot be separately identified.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of severe disablement allowance there are who are aged under 19 years are in education for(a) less than 21 hours per week and (b) more than 21 hours where the extra hours are not suitable for a non-disabled person. [15867]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 9 December 1996,Official Report, column 66, when information about extended payments of housing benefit will be available. [15872]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The figures are currently being processed and will be published in the "Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Summary Statistics—Update Number 2" in March. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Benefits Agency Medical Services
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what customer service standards are
  591
  being discussed with the private sector companies shortlisted for the running of the Benefits Agency medical services. [16498]

  Mr. Burt
  The contract will specify the customer service standards expected of the service supplier. The successful contractor(s) will have a mandatory requirement to meet, as a minimum, the current agency/departmental service standards and any changes which occur to those standards during the life of the contract.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 75, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance sent to the private companies shortlisted to run the Benefits Agency medical services. [16495]

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

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements he proposes to make for independent inspection of the quality standards to be operated by the private companies running the Benefits Agency medical services. [16499]

  Mr. Burt
  The post contract management arrangements set in place by the Department will allow for the involvement of a medical surveillance group which will comprise external experts and acknowledged specialists. The group will participate in monitoring the quality of the medical service provided.

  In addition, the successful contractor(s) will have a mandatory contractual requirement to allow the National Audit Office appropriate access to it(s) records.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Computer Systems (Millennium)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the awareness of business of the millennium compliance of computer systems. [15043]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Those organisations responding to PA Consulting's recent survey appear to have an increased level of awareness of the problem among their senior managers, now at 93 per cent., but only 65 per cent. have carried out a partial audit of their systems and the proportion having completed their audit is 9 per cent.

  Firms (South-east)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many firms are located in the south-east region. [15044]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The south-east—excluding London—had 238,618 VAT-based enterprises at the end of 1995 as compared with 239,763 at the end of 1994 and 239,838 for 1993.

  Business Links (Norfolk)
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on business links in Norfolk. [15045]
  592
  Mr. Page
  Business Link Norfolk and Waveney opened in November 1995 with a hub in Norwich and satellites in King's Lynn and Lowestoft and it has made significant progress in serving the local community. Since November 1995, the BL has handled nearly 20,000 inquiries and its personal business advisers are helping nearly 300 businesses.

  Business Support (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement regarding business support in rural areas. [15046]

  Mr. Page
  Business support in both rural and urban areas is available through the network of business links in England and equivalent organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Telecommunication Services (Suppliers)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the diversity of suppliers of telecommunication services. [15048]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government's policy of progressive liberalisation has led to substantial and growing level of competition in the provision of telecommunications infrastructure, and increased innovation in telecommunication services. As well as having a greater choice than ever before, consumers are also benefiting from better quality of service and lower prices.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new initiatives he has in respect of deregulation. [15049]

  Mr. Page
  My Department is taking a number of new initiatives. For example, we have recently laid two deregulation orders, bringing the total to 10. Seven of these orders have already become law. We have a further six orders in the pipeline and will continue to bring other candidates forward when we can.

  We are striving to remove unnecessary burdens on business through a review of business licences. Consultation is under way on proposals designed to reduce the number of classes of radiocommunication licence from 50 to around 35.

  We have four consultation exercises under way on measures which will ease burdens on business. A further 10 such consultations are complete and the results are being considered.

  When considering deregulation, it is vital to listen to business. Last year, therefore, I wrote to 130 major trade associations for their views on further measures DTI should take. Over 50 per cent. responded and we are now considering the responses in detail.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals there are for future legislation
  593
  under the social chapter; and what assessment he has made of the impact which this legislation would have on businesses in the United Kingdom. [15050]

  Mr. Page
  Issues under discussion include rights for part-time and temporary workers, information and consultation in companies at national level and the reversal of the burden of proof in sex discrimination cases. The Commission is considering future action in other areas, including individual dismissals and sick pay. All these measures would be likely to impose damaging, job-destroying burdens on business if we gave up our opt-out from the social chapter.

  Research and Development (Aerospace)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received about Government assistance for research and development in the British aerospace industry. [15051]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, I and other ministerial colleagues have received representations in recent months in the form of meetings with the Society of British Aerospace Companies and individual aerospace companies, and letters from Members of Parliament and from aerospace companies.

  Petrol Pricing
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last discussed petrol pricing with the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement. [15053]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Neither I nor my current ministerial colleagues have discussed petrol pricing with the Director General of Fair Trading. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Energy set out the Government's position on petrol retailing to the Trade and Industry Select Committee last year.

  Bilateral Trade
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the prospects for bilateral trade and capital investment between(a) the UK and the USA and (b) the UK and Australia; and if he will make a statement. [15054]

  Mr. Lang
  The prospects for bilateral trade and capital investment between the United Kingdom and both overseas markets are excellent. Exports of goods to the United States reached £19.8 billion in 1996 and to Australia £2.5 billion.

  The bilateral investment position is very healthy. The United Kingdom and the United States are each the largest direct investor in the other. Australia is the United Kingdom's third largest destination for outward investment and Australia is one of the top five direct investors in the United Kingdom.

  European Directives (Social Chapter)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many European directives have been agreed under the social chapter to date. [15055]
  594
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Two directives have so far been adopted under the agreement on social policy.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on trends in foreign direct investment into the UK in the past decade. [15056]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  The stock of inward investment in the UK rose from £44.3 billion in 1985 to £144 billion in 1995—the latest year for which comparable figures are available.

  This increase reflects the UK's continuing attractions as a business location, including competitive costs, a skilled and adaptable work force, low corporation tax and an established industrial infrastructure. That is why the UK is the market leader in Europe for investment from the US and Asia Pacific.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what value of inward investment has come to the United Kingdom in each of the past three years; from which principal countries; and if he will make a statement. [15276]

  Mr. Knight
  The value of flow figures for inward investment are only available on a consistent basis up to 1994. The top three sources for 1992–94 were as follows.

  Year

  Flows £ million

  1992

  United States

  3,748

  Germany

  1,261

  Netherlands

  1,135

  Total into United Kingdom

  8,850

  1993

  United States

  5,144

  Netherlands

  1,245

  Australia

  996

  Total into United Kingdom

  9,863

  1994

  United States

  1,873

  Netherlands

  1,691

  France

  665

  Total into United Kingdom

  6,110

  Source:

  International Direct Investment Statistics Yearbook, 1996, OECD.

  Trade Deficit
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was(a) the deficit in trade in goods in 1995 and (b) the total deficit in trade in goods for those months of 1996 for which figures are available. [15057]

  Mr. Lang
  The deficit in trade in goods in 1995 was £11.6 billion. In the first 11 months of 1996, the deficit was £11.7 billion. Overall, the balance of payments current account is close to balance and at its strongest for a decade.

  Post Office
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the report on the future of the Post Office recently published by the Communications Workers Union. [15058]

  Mr. Page
  I understand that the Communications Workers Union report on the future of the Post Office was published only on 17 February and neither my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade nor I have yet had an opportunity to study it.

  Business Links (Sheffield)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on business links in Sheffield. [15059]

  Mr. Page
  The business link is now in its second year of operation and, together with its partner organisations, continues to provide valuable support services to the business community in Sheffield.

  It has dealt with over 6,000 inquiries since opening. Among its staff, it has three personal business advisers and three specialist counsellors advising on exports, design and finance.

  Public Sector Research Establishments
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's prior options review of public sector research establishments. [15047]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced the completion of the 1996 programme of prior options reviews on 29 January 1997. The results are designed to ensure that the bodies are managed as efficiently as possible while ensuring a sound scientific base for the future.

  Departmental Policies (Bournemouth)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [14946]

  Mr. Lang
  Bournemouth has benefited from the increased competitiveness of British industry since 1992, which has been brought by maintaining a stable economy, with low burdens on business and a flexible labour market.

  Since December 1992, unemployment in Bournemouth has fallen by 44 per cent.—around 8 per cent. more than the national average.

  Business Links, Taunton
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the financial reports of business links in Taunton, Somerset; and if he will make a statement; [14863]

  (2) what action he is currently taking in respect of business links in Taunton, Somerset; and if he will make a statement. [14864]
  596
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answers 10 February 1997]: My officials monitor all 89 business links on a regular basis to ensure that public funds are used for the purposes for which they are intended. Where there are particular concerns, my officials will address them with the business link concerned.

  There is currently an audit being undertaken at Business Link Somerset and officials are also discussing some monitoring issues with them.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on gross domestic product per head in(a) the UK and (b) other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. [11787]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  [holding answer 20 January 1997]: In 1995, gross domestic product per head in the UK grew by just over 2 per cent. in real terms, compared with just over 1 per cent. in the OECD as a whole.

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of which sectors of the economy private employment agencies primarily operate in. [16473]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The labour force survey of spring 1996 shows that, of people who describe themselves as agency temps, nearly a third are in banking, finance or business services, a quarter are in manufacturing, over a tenth are in public administration, education and health.

  Engineering Skills and Training
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the extent of mismatch in skills and training in the United Kingdom engineering sector; and if he will make a statement. [16115]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: My Department has drawn on a large number of studies to determine the strategic requirements of British business for engineering skills. It has also had first-hand input from senior representatives of business and industry who were members of the action for engineering steering group and task forces.

  Action for engineering brought together, in an action-oriented forum, employers and training providers to better and meet the skill requirements of industry and commerce. The majority of projects implemented and developed for implementation under action for engineering will address skills shortages through action on the selection, education, training and development of professional engineers and technicians. Outputs from the initiative include: a joint venture company, Setnet, which provides a single point of contact for advice to teachers and industry on school-industry links and curriculum support; better co-ordination of efforts to encourage more of our most able young people to consider engineering as a career, the publication and dissemination of best practice guides on the recruitment and development of technicians and on making better use of engineers; the launch of a training challenge for engineering; and the establishment

  597
  of a master of engineering in business degree aimed at improving the breadth of skills of engineers in, and destined for, the boardroom.

  At the postgraduate level, the research councils are responsible for providing support to help to meet the country's needs, and they are in regular contact with industry and other research users on issues of quantity and quality of supply, in order to develop initiatives such as the engineering doctorate, the integrated graduate development scheme and the research masters. The foresight programme, run by the Office of Science and Technology, is providing further valuable information on skills needs in engineering and other disciplines.

  University Research (Funding)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has in respect of funding for capital equipment for university research; and if he will make a statement. [15378]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 11 February 1997]: There is to be second round of the joint research equipment initiative involving the research councils, funding councils and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. In last year's initiative, public funds of around £25 million were matched by funds from industry and other sponsors to yield a total sum for university equipment of £50 million, with 175 projects supported in over 50 institutions.

  The details of the second round are currently being finalised, but the aim again is to provide some £50 million for equipment in 1997–98 with the help of industry and other sponsors.

  Civil Aviation (Research)
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what projects are currently being funded from CARAD—the civil aviation research and technology programme. [15856]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  [holding answer 18 February 1997]: I regret that the information requested cannot be provided. Some of the projects are supported jointly with the Ministry of Defence and are classified. Release could cause harm in terms of the defence, security and commercial confidence exemptions in the code of practice on access to government information, and would inform competitors about detailed areas of research supported, to the potentially serious detriment of the national research effort. The other projects are carried out by companies whose permission would be required to breach commercial confidentiality. This could be obtained for all projects only at disproportionate cost and would take considerable time. Some projects have been the subject of press publicity. Copies of press releases issued by the Department have been placed in the Library of the House and I have arranged for a copy of the latest CARAD annual report to be placed there.

  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total expenditure under the CARAD programme in each of the past five years. [15853]
  598
  Mr. Knight
  [holding answer 18 February 1997]: Total expenditure under the CARAD programme in each of the five years financial years 1991–92 to 1995–96 is tabulated below.

  £ million

  Financial year

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Gross

  25.6

  26.4

  23.2

  23.9

  24.7

  Receipts1

  -0.2

  -0.1

  -0.2

  -0.5

  -0.2

  Nett

  25.4

  26.3

  23.0

  23.4

  24.5

  1 Residual levies on pre-CARAD projects, and VAT recoveries.

  Albania
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to prevent(a) British citizens, (b) British firms and (c) British-sponsored firms or consultancies from becoming involved in Albanian pyramid selling. [16412]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government cannot prevent people making unwise decisions in other countries. However, the Government have acted vigorously to inform people of the risks of money circulation schemes and to prevent such schemes gaining hold in the United Kingdom. In the past three years, we have successfully applied to the court to wind up over 20 companies where this appears justified in the public interest. We have supported the enactment of the Trading Schemes Act 1996 which brings money circulation schemes within the controls of the Fair Trading Act 1973. We have also made related regulations requiring basic good trading practice in the running of trading schemes.

  Industry Acts Payments (Corby)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount paid under the Industry Acts and subsequent legislation to companies in the Corby area in each year since 1980. [15730]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  Records showing the total amount paid to companies in the Corby travel-to-work area under sections 7 and 8 of the Industrial Development Act (1982), by calender year, for the period 1983 to 1996 are as follows:

  Year

  (£000's)

  1983

  840

  1984

  3,037

  1985

  5,611

  1986

  2,925

  1987

  6,561

  1988

  5,262

  1989

  7,210

  1990

  10,404

  1991

  3,322

  1992

  1,339

  1993

  1,991

  1994

  2,964

  1995

  669

  1996

  1,047

  Total

  53,182

  599
  There are no computerised records for the years 1980 to 1982, and the information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Waste Recycling
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many aluminium can recycling sites there were in the United Kingdom at the latest available date; and how many were located at(a) supermarkets, (b) local authority aluminium can banks, (c) local authority drinks can banks and (d) other facilities. [16202]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 18 February 1997]: In 1994, there were 4,800 aluminium can collection points in the UK. Reliable data relating to their precise location are not yet available.

  Source: Aluminium Can Recycling Association.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the capacity in the United Kingdom for recycling(a) glass, (b) plastics, (c) steel cans, (d) aluminium cans, (e) paper and card, (f) batteries, (g) tyres, (h) vehicles and (i) electrical and electronic equipment, at the latest available date. [16199]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 18 February 1997]: Estimated theoretical capacities for post-consumer materials recycling are as follows:

  Tonnes

  (a)

  900,000

  (b)

  >112,500

  (c)

  240,000

  (d)

  120,000

  (e)

  >4,000,000

  (f)

  >100,000

  (g)

  >200,000

  (h)

  >975,000

  (i)

  >400,000

  Utilisation of these capacities depends upon a number of technical, logistical and commercial factors. Capacity also exists for recovering energy from some of these materials.

  Sources: recycling advisory unit and industry data.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the tonnage of(a) glass, (b) plastics, (c) steel cans, (d) aluminium cans, (e) paper and card, (f) batteries, (g) tyres, (h) vehicles and (i) electrical and electronic equipment, recycled in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [16200]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 18 February 1997]: Tonnages of post-consumer products recycled in 1995 were:

  Tonnes

  (a)

  501,000

  (b)

  112,500

  (c)

  80,000

  (d)

  30,000

  (e)

  4,000,000

  (f)

  100,000

  600

  Tonnes

  (g)

  200,000

  (h)

  975,000

  (i)

  300,0001

  1 Estimate, for "white goods".

  Sources: recycling advisory unit and industry data.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the recycling rate for(a) glass, (b) plastics, (c) steel cans, (d) aluminium cans, (e) paper and card, (f) batteries, (g) tyres, (h) vehicles and (i) electrical and electronic equipment, in the United Kingdom at the latest available date. [16201]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 18 February 1997]: Recycling rates in 1995 for post-consumer waste products were:

  Per cent.

  (a)

  26.5

  (b)

  5.5

  (c)

  16.0

  (d)

  28.0

  (e)

  35.0

  (f)

  (car batteries) 90.0

  (g)

  51.0

  (h)

  75.0

  (i)

  (white goods) 75.0

  Sources: recycling advisory unit and industry data.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the(a) number of aluminium cans produced and consumed, (b) consumption of aluminium cans in tonnes, (c) number of aluminium can banks, (d) number of aluminium cans collected, (e) number of tonnes of aluminium cans collected and (f) aluminium can recycling rate in (i) 1995 and (ii) 1996 in the United Kingdom. [16203]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 18 February 1997]: The information is as follows:

  1995

  1996

  (a)

  7.0 billion produced

  5.3 billion produced

  6.8 billion consumed

  5.1 billion consumed

  (b)

  109,000 tonnes

  84,000 tonnes

  (c)

  4,8000

  Data not yet available

  (d)

  1.9 billion

  Data not yet available

  (e)

  30,000 tonnes

  Data not yet available

  (f)

  28 per cent

  Data not yet available

  Source: Aluminium Can Recycling Association.

  Waste Disposal at Sea
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what are his Department's current proposals for disposal at sea of(a) bulky radioactive wastes and (b) redundant oil or gas installations; [15652]

  (2) what is his Department's role in respect of the disposal of redundant oil and gas installations at sea; and if he will list the current proposals for such disposal under consideration by his Department. [15654]

  Mr. Page
  Any proposals for the removal and disposal of disused offshore oil and gas installations are subject to the approval of the Secretary of State under the terms of the Petroleum Act 1987. Proposals involving disposal at
  601
  sea also require approval under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in English and Welsh waters or from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in Scottish waters. My Department has no proposals for sea disposal under consideration at the present time.

  Questions relating to the disposal of radioactive wastes are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment, and the Secretary of States for Scotland and for Wales.

  Telecommunications
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the outcome of the World Trade Organisation talks on telecommunications; and if he will make a statement. [17104]

  Mr. Lang
  I very much welcome this major success, both for the World Trade Organisation as a promoter of free trade worldwide, and for the United Kingdom, particularly for telecommunications operators, manufacturers and users. The United Kingdom was an active participant in the talks, chairing them throughout the nearly three years they took to complete. My hon. Friend the Minister for Science and Technology attended earlier EU Telecoms Ministers Council Meetings and the final stages of the discussions last week.

  This agreement, which covers 69 countries and over 91 per cent. of the £400 billion world market for telecommunications will create an enormous boost for operators in the United Kingdom, the most open and competitive market for telecommunications in the world, by offering them access to a large number of markets worldwide, and reinforcing the United Kingdom's position as a global telecommunications hub. It will also give added impetus to the spread of liberalisation, which the United Kingdom has pioneered since the early 1980s, within a guaranteed framework of multilateral, enforceable rules. The expected boost to investment, as more countries open their markets to competition, means new orders for equipment and, equally important, software and systems management from which our manufacturers are well placed to benefit. Some estimates point to an additional £20 billion increase in UK telecoms revenues by 2010.

  To British consumers, it will mean cheaper telephone charges, as competition in other markets has the same effect as it has had here in bringing charges closer to cost, and British operators pass these on to consumers here. I expect this to bring us closer to the day when ringing New York will cost little more than ringing another town

  Pension scheme

  Current membership

  Last annual employer (£000s)1

  Income from employee (£000s)

  Annual payments in benefits (£000s) per annum1

  Administration costs (£000s) per annum1

  Health and personal social services (HPSS) superannuation scheme

  36,435

  21,380

  32,235

  85,439

  680

  Belfast corporation transport department

  396

  nil

  nil

  1,100

  13

  Northern Ireland firemen's pension scheme

  1,395

  nil

  1,964

  4,198

  35

  Northern Ireland local government officers superannuation scheme

  27,109

  8,340

  18,705

  43,855

  927

  Ulster transport authority

  216

  nil

  nil

  408

  5

  Teachers superannuation scheme

  35,0002

  40,200

  30,727

  94,754

  450

  602
  in Britain. This also holds major benefits for the British economy as a whole. World-wide, industry and consumers spend more on telecommunications than on oil products. Low telecommunications charges have already made the United Kingdom an attractive location for people to do business and invest—even lower charges will reinforce this.

  Exports (Manufactured Goods)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on trends since the end of the third quarter of 1996 in respect of United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods, with particular reference to(a) electronic equipment, (b) motor parts and components and (c) machine tools. [15178]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  Information on trade with other EU countries to October 1996 is published by HM Customs and Excise in business monitor MM20A. Information on trade with non-EU members to November 1996 is published in business monitor MM20. There is insufficient data since the end of Q3 1996 to assess trends.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department (Debt)
  Ms Short
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the debt currently owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, indicating(a) arrears and current maturities that have rescheduled, (b) arrears and current maturities that have not been rescheduled and (c) future maturities that have not yet fallen due for payment. [16206]

  Mr. Nelson
  At the close of ECGD's last financial year on 31 March 1996 the debt currently owed to the Department amounted to £6,721.3 million. Rescheduled amounts totalled £4,819.1 million and unrescheduled amounts £1,902.2 million.

  Total future maturities which have not yet fallen due for payment amounted to £17,720.3 million.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Sector Pension Schemes
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Northern Ireland public sector pension schemes with their(a) current membership, (b) last annual income from employer and employee contributions, (c) annual expenditure in payments of benefit and (d) administration costs. [14839]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is listed:
  603

  Pension scheme

  Current membership

  Last annual employer (£000s)1

  Income from employee (£000s)

  Annual payments in benefits (£000s) per annum1

  Administration costs (£000s) per annum1

  Principal civil service pension scheme(Northern Ireland)

  29,877

  74,417

  9,289

  84,246

  566

  Police authority pension scheme

  12,100

  nil

  30,580

  44,140

  300

  1 All monetary figures as at 31 March 1996.

  2 Approximately.

  Civil Service
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the staffing and overtime costs of the recent special redundancy and early retirement exercise in the Northern Ireland civil service; how many civil servants of which grade and from which department were given payments; what was the average gratuity and pension awarded; and how many posts were declared redundant. [15726]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Not all of the releases planned under the 1996–97 redundancy and early retirement schemes have yet been processed; therefore the information given relates only to the period 1 April 1996 to 31 January 1997. The number of releases by department and grade are shown in the table.

  Most of the administration costs of the exercise have been subsumed within the normal running costs. The staffing costs therefore relate only to those additional costs which it has been possible to ascertain at other than disproportionate cost.

  The average gratuity includes scheme lump sum, enhanced lump sum, compensation lump sum and commuted lump sum while the average pension is the average annual amount to be paid until the various officers reach the normal retiring age.

  Cost/figures

  Staff costs

  £85,000.00

  Overtime costs

  £39,039.00

  Number of redundancy/early retirement cases processed

  311

  Average gratuity

  £50,362.55

  Average pension payment (annual amount)

  £2,131.26

  Number of posts declared redundant (anticipated in period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997)

  557

  Agri-environment Schemes
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding his Department has allocated in the current year for the operation of agri-environment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the schemes. [15210]

  Mr. Ancram
  Total funding for the operation of agri-environment schemes in Northern Ireland is £5.96 million. Of this, £5,092 million is allocated for payment to farmers, £100,000 for monitoring and evaluation costs and £768,000 in respect of operational costs.

  The agri-environment schemes are subject to periodic review. Approval has recently been received from the EC
  604
  to certain minor changes on payment rates and other provisions of the environmentally sensitive area schemes which resulted from a review in 1996. The changes will be introduced shortly. A fundamental review will be carried out in 1998. The organic aid scheme is presently under review.

  Rural White Paper
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to produce a rural White Paper for Northern Ireland. [17106]

  Mr. Moss
  There are no plans at present to produce a rural White Paper for Northern Ireland. Apart from the range of Government policies covering Northern Ireland as a whole, rural areas are specifically addressed by some 16 existing and policy statements. In addition, there is a series of financial programmes targeted at the economic and social revitalisation of the most disadvantaged rural areas in Northern Ireland through community projects and partnerships with local people. A recently published report commissioned by the Department of Agriculture highlighted the considerable success of the rural development programme since its launch in 1991 and it continues to serve as an effective instrument in tackling the needs of rural areas in Northern Ireland.

  Existing Government policies and programmes for rural areas of Northern Ireland therefore compare very favourably with those in other parts of the UK. My Department will continue to keep abreast of policy developments affecting rural areas on the mainland and, where appropriate, will consider their adoption in Northern Ireland.

  Department of Health and Social Security Services (Maladministration)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the DHSS arrangements for considering financial redress where maladministration has occurred. [17107]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to making its services more responsive to the needs of its customers, operating financial redress where appropriate. Since 1977, the Department has operated arrangements whereby financial redress can be made to a customer who has suffered a financial loss through maladministration. These arrangements mirror those operated by the Department of Social Security. While the arrangements have been updated periodically since then, a major review, covering
  605
  the whole of the United Kingdom, has recently been completed. The review, which took account of the principles contained in the Office of Public Service and Treasury guidance and concerns raised by the GB Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the parliamentary ombudsman for Northern Ireland, has resulted in the production of a revised set of arrangements.

  The revised arrangements provide the basis for a consistent approach to complaints across agencies and offer a more sympathetic attitude to cases where official error has occurred, but no financial loss has been experienced. They also ensure more equitable treatment in the consideration of compensation payments when moneys due are unnecessarily delayed. In line with the remainder of the United Kingdom, the revised arrangements are effective from 1 January 1997. A copy of "Financial Redress for Maladministration",— DHSS(NI), which provides detailed guidance will be placed in the Library.

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets have been set for the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency during 1997–98. [17108]

  Mr. Moss
  For 1997–98, the following targets have been set:

  Target

  Vehicle test appointments

  21 days average waiting time

  Driving test appointments

  38 days average waiting time

  Productivity (vehicle testing)

  18.5 units per man per day

  Productivity (driver testing)

  7.98 units per man per day

  Faulty inspections

  Faulty inspections not to exceed 0.01 per cent. of tests conducted

  Level of complaints about booking arrangements

  Less than 0.20 per cent. of applications received

  Level of complaints about the conduct of tests

  Less than 0.20 per cent. of applications received

  Level of customer satisfaction with booking arrangements

  At least 85 per cent. plus or minus 2 per cent. within the range of sampling error

  Private hospitals and nursing homes

  Acute1

  Mental illness

  Mental handicap

  Category of bed Physical disabilities

  Maternity

  Elderly: General2

  Other2

  Total

  Private hospitals at 31 December

  1982

  236

  18

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  255

  1983

  227

  18

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  246

  1984

  227

  18

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  246

  1985

  227

  18

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  246

  1986

  193

  18

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  212

  1987

  196

  18

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  215

  at 31 March

  1989

  210

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  228

  1990

  250

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  268

  1991

  246

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  264

  1992

  243

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  273

  1993

  239

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  269

  1994

  230

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10

  245

  1995

  251

  67

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  318

  Private nursing homes at 31 December

  1982

  68

  25

  5

  —

  24

  862

  —

  984

  1983

  98

  54

  —

  —

  24

  992

  —

  1,168

  1984

  88

  50

  —

  —

  24

  1,171

  —

  1,333

  1985

  79

  71

  —

  —

  24

  1,727

  —

  1,901

  1986

  28

  203

  —

  —

  24

  2,532

  —

  2,787

  1987

  291

  307

  9

  —

  —

  3,398

  —

  4,005

  606

  Target

  Level of customer satisfaction with test procedures

  At least 92 per cent, plus or minus 2 per cent, within the range of sampling error

  Number of compensation payments for cancelled tests

  Less than 0.2 per cent, of applications received

WALES

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of cases of abuse of mentally ill people in community care in Wales which(a) are currently under investigation and (b) have been reported in each of the last five years; of those investigated, how many and what percentage have resulted in (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction; and if he will make a statement. [12951]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 27 January 1997]: The Welsh Office has made no such estimate.

  Hospital Beds
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each year since 1979 the numbers of(a) registered beds and (b) occupied beds in (i) registered private hospitals or clinics, (ii) registered private nursing homes and (iii) all registered establishments in Wales, showing separately those which were for (1) acute specialties, (2) mental illness, (3) people with learning difficulties, (4) people with physical disabilities, (5) maternity and (6) other purposes. [14545]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information on registered beds is given in the following table. Information on occupied beds is not collected centrally and no information on bed numbers is available before 1982.
  607

  Private hospitals and nursing homes

  Category of bed

  Acute1

  Mental illness

  Mental handicap

  Physical disabilities

  Maternity

  Elderly: General

  Other2

  Total

  at 31 March

  1989

  620

  592

  9

  —

  —

  4,745

  —

  5,966

  1990

  357

  874

  37

  —

  —

  6,491

  —

  7,759

  1991

  51

  1,197

  24

  —

  —

  8,384

  —

  9,656

  1992

  65

  1,280

  162

  409

  —

  8,808

  309

  11,033

  1993

  3

  1,605

  63

  616

  —

  9,607

  228

  12,122

  1994

  67

  1,816

  24

  354

  —

  10,280

  165

  12,706

  1995

  53

  1,974

  27

  645

  —

  10,429

  76

  13,204

  Private hospitals and nursing homes at 31 December

  1982

  304

  43

  5

  —

  25

  862

  —

  1,239

  1983

  325

  72

  —

  —

  25

  992

  —

  1,414

  1984

  315

  —

  —

  25

  1,171

  —

  1,579

  1985

  306

  89

  —

  —

  25

  1,727

  —

  2,147

  1986

  221

  221

  —

  —

  25

  2,532

  —

  2,999

  1987

  487

  325

  9

  —

  1

  3,398

  —

  4,220

  at 31 March

  1989

  830

  610

  9

  —

  —

  4,745

  —

  6,194

  1990

  607

  892

  37

  —

  —

  6,491

  —

  8,027

  1991

  297

  1,215

  24

  —

  —

  8,384

  —

  9,920

  1992

  308

  1,298

  162

  409

  —

  8,808

  321

  11,306

  1993

  242

  1,623

  63

  616

  —

  9,607

  240

  12,391

  1994

  297

  1,821

  24

  354

  —

  10,280

  175

  12,951

  1995

  304

  2,041

  27

  645

  —

  10,429

  76

  13,522

  1Includes other general beds.

  2General elderly beds not classified as acute.

  3Terminal illness.

  Beef Export Ban
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact on(a) farmers' incomes and (b) the economy of Wales of the European ban on UK beef exports. [15479]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Total income from farming in Wales is estimated to have fallen by 4.4 per cent. in 1996. This is due to a range of factors, including BSE. Output from the cattle sector in Wales is estimated to have fallen by just under 23 per cent. in 1996. However, this reduction in output is largely offset by compensation and support measures put in place by the Government. The Department is co-sponsoring an independent study to provide a comprehensive assessment of the economic impact of BSE.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total number of electors for each of the new parliamentary constituencies in Wales for the 1997–98 register of electors effective from 16 February. [16214]

  Mr. Hague
  The Office for National Statistics is preparing a monitor detailing numbers of electors on the 1997 electoral register for each of the new parliamentary constituencies. This will be published by early April 1997 and a copy will be placed in the Library on the day of publication.

  The numbers of electors on the 1996 electoral register for the new parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom were published in July 1996 by ONS in Monitor EL 96/2, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mink Fur Farms
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many mink fur farms there are in Wales by county. [16410]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  There are no mink fur farms in Wales.

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [16578]

  Mr. Hague
  Nil.

  Agri-environment Schemes
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what funding his Department has allocated in the current year for the operation of agri-environment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the schemes. [15208]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Current provision for 1996–97 is £3.32 million. I anticipate that running and monitoring costs for 1996–97 will be £1.98 million and £0.85 million respectively.

SCOTLAND

  NHS Salaries and Wages
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list NHS salaries and wages costs for(a) general and senior manager, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff for the financial years (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96. [14575]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The annual accounts of the health boards and NHS trusts do not detail separately salaries and wages for general and senior managers. This information is included in the costs of administrative and clerical staff as detailed in the table.

  £thousand

  1994–95

  1995–95

  Nurses and midwives

  949,697

  939,844

  Administrative and clerical staff

  251,328

  265,516

  The salaries and wages of student nurses are included in the figure 1994–95 but not 1995–96 as a result of the introduction of Project 2000.

  Basking Sharks
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of(a) the depletion rate of basking sharks over the past five years and (b) the size of the current population around the coastline and islands; and if he will make a statement. [14667]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 12 February 1997]: No estimates are currently available due in part to the basking shark's erratic and highly variable appearances off Scotland's coasts. Scottish Natural Heritage has examined the feasibility of monitoring the distribution and movement of this species and is considering the best way of taking forward research.

  LAW Mining
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the actions taken by the Lanarkshire mining company, LAW Mining, in respect of petitioners against its planning applications to develop opencast mining; and if he will make a statement. [15977]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations about the reported action by LAW mining in respect of petitioners against its planning application. Clearly, it can sometimes be useful for a planning authority in preparing for decision making to take into account the views of applicants, objectors or consultees on representations made by other parties. However, should any party take it upon itself to make an inquiry about any such representation it should, of course, be undertaken in a lawful manner.

  Scottish Prison Service
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the properties owned by the Scottish 610
  Prison Service in (a) Clydesdale, (b) Lanarkshire and (c) Scotland; and if he will list the total valuations in each category; [15902]

  (2) if it is Government policy to sell off Scottish Prison Service property to the highest bidder; what account is taken of the willingness of the sitting tenants to buy; and if he will make a statement; [15899]

  (3) what discount is allowed to Scottish prison officers living in tied accommodation when buying their homes; [15903]

  (4) what consultation there was with sitting tenants, renting property owned by the Scottish Prison Service, concerning the sell-off of houses and garages. [15900]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Jimmy Hood, dated 19 February 1997:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your questions about properties owned by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and various associated matters relating to disposal procedures.
  You asked for information abut properties owned by the SPS in specific parts of Scotland, and for the country as a whole. This infonnation is set out in the table attached. The valuation figures have been provided by the relevant District Valuers.
  You also asked about the policy in relation to selling property to the highest bidder. Government policy is that assets, not required for operational purposes, should be disposed of at the best price possible, with due regard to any special factors, such as the discount sales scheme which operates in relation to staff quarters. The extent of discounts allowed was the subject of one of your further questions. The discount scheme enjoyed by prison officers is equivalent to that operated by local authorities under the "Right to Buy" legislation. Prison officers do not have a statutory right to buy, but, unless there are any limitations on security grounds relating to the sale of the property, officers may purchase quarters at discounts which range from 32 per cent. to 60 per cent. for a house, and 44 per cent. for a flat, depending upon length of tenure.
  You also asked about what consultation there was with sitting tenants, renting property owned by the SPS, concerning the sell-off of houses and garages. When the discounted sales scheme was introduced in 1981, all SPS staff in rented quarters were advised of the conditions under which they were eligible to purchase, and the level of discounts they would receive. The terms of the discount scheme had been agreed with the relevant trade unions. Since then, staff who have continued to occupy SPS quarters have been reminded from time to time of the opportunity to purchase. Quarters are disposed of only to willing tenants who submit an application to purchase.
  As regards garages, where these are occupied by SPS staff who are also renting or have purchased an SPS quarter, tenancies would continue until such time as the tenant either wished to purchase, gave up the garage voluntarily or left the Service. In certain cases, where there has been no interest by SPS staff in renting garages, and no internal or external interest in purchase, vacant garages have been rented to private tenants. In these circumstances, if the siting tenant later wished to purchase, the sale would normally take place at a price determined by the District Valuer. Given the small sums of money involved, it has not been the practice to seek then to advertise the property in an attempt to obtain a higher price. If an outside party expressed an interest in purchasing a garage in private tenancy then, in fairness to the sitting tenant, he/she would be offered first refusal, either at the District Valuer's sale price, or at the amount offered by the other party, whichever was the higher.

  611

  Scottish Prison Service Property1

  Area

  Total value £

  Area sub total £

  Clydesdale Constituency

  2 garages (Hunters Way, Blackwood)

  680

  680

  Lanarkshire (North and South)

  2 houses (Hamilton Drive, Dungavel)

  75,000

  7 garages (Hamilton Drive, Dungavel)

  2,310

  4 houses (The Crescent, Longriggend)

  104,000

  13 garages (The Crescent, Longriggend)

  4,030

  1 staff club (at Longriggend Remand Institution)

  50,000

  10 houses (Burns Place, Shotts)

  316,000

  2 houses (Byron Road, Shotts)

  93,500

  14 garages (Burns Place, Shotts)

  4,620

  9 garages (Byron Road, Shotts)

  2,970

  652,430

  Aberdeenshire

  1 house (Ashgrove Place, Peterhead)

  37,000

  1 house (Bell Avenue)

  37,500

  1 house (Blackhill Crescent, Peterhead)

  40,000

  1 house (MacKenzie Court, Peterhead)

  40,000

  1 house (Seaview Gardens, Peterhead)

  38,000

  14 garages (Brucklay Court, Peterhead)

  35,000

  21 garages (North Site, Peterhead)

  52,500

  29 garages (South Site, Peterhead)

  72,500

  1 staff club (at Peterhead Prison)

  80,000

  432,500

  Angus

  1 house (Woodlands Avenue)

  35,500

  2 garages (Woodlands Avenue)

  400

  1 staff club (at Noranside Prison)

  25,000

  60,900

  Clackmannanshire

  1 house (The Cleaves, Glenochil)

  54,000

  9 garages (Glenochil Village)

  13,500

  30 garages (Woodlea Park, Sauchi, Alloa)

  60,000

  1 staff club (at Glenochil YOI and Prison)

  49,000

  176,500

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1 house (Ashfield Drive, Dumfries)

  38,000

  1 house (Cree Cottage, Penninghame)

  43,000

  81,000

  East Dunbartonshire

  1 house (Meadowburn, Bishopbriggs)

  58,000

  58,000

  Edinburgh, City of

  1 house (Calder Road, Edinburgh)

  62,500

  33 garages (Longstone Gardens, Edinburgh)

  82,500

  1 staff club (at Edinburgh Prison)

  200,000

  345,000

  Falkirk

  4 houses (Blairlodge Avenue, Brightons)

  193,000

  1 house (Polwarth Avenue, Brightons)

  46,000

  1 staff club (at Polmont YOI)

  90,000

  329,000

  Glasgow, City of

  6 houses (Lethamhill Road, Glasgow)

  192,000

  21 garages (Lethamhill Road, Glasgow)

  10,500

  1 staff club (at Barlinnie Prison)

  180,000

  382,500

  Highland

  1 garage (Old Edinburgh Road, Inverness)

  2,750

  2,750

  Perth and Kinross

  2 houses (The Avenue, Castle Huntly)

  84,000

  10 garages (Castle Grove, Castle Huntly)

  4,500

  1 staff club (at Castle Huntly Prison)

  30,000

  17 garages (Mansion Crescent, Perth)

  8,500

  1

  1 staff club (at Perth Prison)

  56,000

  183,000

  612

  Scottish Prison Service Property1

  Area

  Total value £

  Area sub total £

  Stirling

  6 houses (Cornton Cottages, Bridge of Allan)

  292,000

  4 garages (Castle Vale, Bridge of Allan)

  6,000

  298,000

  West Lothian

  1 storage depot (Fauldhouse)

  800,000

  800,000

  Overall Total

  3,802,260

  1Excluding prison establishment themselves.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what training is available to staff within the Scottish Prison Service's estates department in public relations and how to communicate with the general public, and if he will make a statement; [15904]

  (2) how many managers are employed within the Scottish Prison Service's estates department; and what are their grades and salaries; [15905]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Jimmy Hood, dated 19 February 1997:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your questions about Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Estate Department staff.
  You asked about the numbers, grades (expressed in terms of pay bands) and salaries of managers employed with the SPS's Estate Department. The information, relating to the Estates Directorate within the SPS's Headquarters in Edinburgh, is as follows:—

  Head of Estates Directorate
  1 x Band H @ £40k

  Branch Heads
  1 xBandH @ £35k
  2 x Band G @ £30k
  There are no specific courses in "public relations and how to communicate with the general public". Normally mangers and their staff receive training in building, professional and construction matters, and also in administration-related topics, reflecting the range of duties they carry out. Contact with the public in such areas is minimal. It is however my view that all public servants where they do come into contact with the public, should deal with them in a polite, courteous and professional manner. Where a development need is identified, training can be provided.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of electors for each of the new parliamentary constituencies in Scotland for the 1997–98 register of electors effective from 16 February. [16209]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not yet available centrally.

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years
  613
  for which figures are available, indicating (a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16183]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The Scottish Office and its agencies make minimal use of private employment agencies to provide staff with particular skills at short notice. Statistics are not held centrally either on the numbers employed through private employment agencies or on the median costs.

  The following tables do, however, give the figures for total expenditure in each of the last three years, along with an estimate of the average length of contract.

  Private employment agencies

  Name

  Total cost for year (£)

  Average length of contract (weeks)

  1994

  ASA International

  Clyde Marine

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  Office Personnel

  Pertemps Caledonian

  53,787

  4.6

  1995

  Accountancy Personnel

  Clyde Marine

  Hays Accountancy

  Pertemps Caledonian

  64,962

  17.75

  1996

  ASA International

  Clyde Marine

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  Humber Shipping Services

  Reed Staffing

  Sealife Crewing Services

  Seamariner Ltd.

  Pertemps Caledonian

  86,893

  16.5

  Royal Yacht
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the costs incurred by(a) Locate in Scotland and (b) Scottish Financial Enterprise in the promotional use of the royal yacht in the past seven years. [15626]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The total cost to Locate in Scotland of using the royal yacht for promotional purposes during the past seven years was £23,596.

  Scottish Financial Enterprise is a private sector organisation and questions relating to the costs incurred by it in connection with its use of the royal yacht are a matter for it.

  Homeless People
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State of Scotland how many homeless people there were in each Scottish constituency in each year between 1992 and 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15892]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The available information relates to local authorities and not to parliamentary constituencies.

  Mink Fur Farms
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mink fur farms there are in Scotland by county. [16408]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  There are no mink fur farms in operation in Scotland.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department had made of the presence of(a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16310]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Department recognises that it has an important part to play in using products which do not contain either hazardous materials or ozone-depleting substances and has had green housekeeping strategies in place since 1992. Within the Scottish Office, core estate goods that contain chlorofluorocarbons in any application are not purchased and the use of ozone-depleting substances has been phased out. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 are fully implemented in the procurement, storage, use, and disposal of chemically based products.

  Agri-environment Schemes
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total budget for(a) environmentally sensitive areas and (b) the Scottish countryside premium scheme, over each of the next three years. [15213]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The overall planned provision for the Scottish agri-environment programme is £9.235 million for 1997–98, £13.468 million for 1998–99 and £15.7 million for 1999–2000. This excludes running costs for the schemes, since this information is not collected separately.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding his Department has allocated in the current year for the operation of agri-environment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the schemes. [15211]

  Mr. Robertson
  The overall financial provision for the Scottish agri-environment programme for 1996–97 is £9.248 million. This includes monitoring costs for environmentally sensitive areas but excludes running costs for the schemes, since this information is not collected separately.
  615
  All aspects of the operation of the schemes are kept under review. Following completion of a programme of biennial reviews, substantial increases in payment rates and ceilings for environmentally sensitive areas were implemented last year. In addition, the new countryside premium scheme, which we plan to launch in the spring, will provide a comprehensive menu of conservation options previously only available to farmers and crofters in environmentally sensitive areas.

  Pesca Funding
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the disbursement of Pesca funding to local authorities in Scotland in respect of approved projects; when these funds were received from the EU authorities; when he proposes to distribute the money; if he will list the projects and authorities concerned, indicating the amounts of Pesca funding due; and what are the reasons for delays in that distribution. [15792]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Pesca community initiative operates on a UK basis and the Scottish Office receives its share of funds from the European Commission via the

  Pesca (UK programme)—Objective 1 sub-programme

  Local Pesca group

  Allocation in MECU (1995–99)

  Approximate value in £s

  Lead organisation and telephone number

  1. Argyll

  0.676

  528,122

  Argyll and the Islands Enterprise—01546 602281

  2. Caithness and Sutherland

  0.860

  671,872

  Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise—01847 896115

  3. Lochaber

  0.189

  147.655

  Locaber Ltd.—01397 874638

  4. Orkney

  0.286

  223,436

  Orkney Enterprise—01856 874638

  5. Wester Ross

  0.218

  170,312

  Ross and Cromarty Enterprise—01349 853666

  6. Shetland

  0.442

  345,311

  Shetland Enterprise—01595 693177

  7. Skye and Lochalsh

  0.297

  232,030

  Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise—01478 612841

  8. Western Isles

  0.608

  474,998

  Western Isles Enterprise—01851 703703

  Total

  3.576

  2,793,736

  Regional Projects

  0.387

  302,342

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise—01463 234171

  Management

  0.398

  310,936

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise—01463 234171

  Total

  4.361

  3,407,014

  Non-objective 1 sub-programme

  Local Pesca group

  Allocation in MECU (1995–1999)

  Allocation in sterling (1995–1999)

  Lead organisation and telephone number

  1. Grampian

  8.149

  6,366,374

  Aberdeenshire Council—01224 682222

  2. Tayside/Fife

  1.34

  1,046,870

  Fife council—01592 414141

  3. South West Scotland

  1.34

  1,046,870

  Dumfries and Galloway Council—01387 260070

  4. Borders

  1.34

  1,046,870

  Scottish Borders Council—01835 824000

  Total

  12.169

  9,506,983

  Consultants
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on consultants' reports over the past five years. [16494]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Expenditure over the past five years by the Scottish Office and its associated agencies on external consultants including management consultants has been:

  1991–92: £10,836,000

  1992–93: £4,370,000

  1993–94: £5,383,000

  1994–95: £4,079,000

  1995–96: £5,440,000

  616
  Department for Education and Employment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Trade and Industry respectively. The first instalments of all funds were received by November 1996.

  Pesca is delivered in eligible areas in Scotland through local Pesca groups—LPGs. The Scottish Office has approved a business plan for each LPG detailing the budget and criteria for selecting individual projects at local level. Each LPG has begun to implement its business plan and approve projects. Detailed lists of projects will be provided in annual reports from the LPGs for collation by the Scottish Office and transmission to the European Commission in June 1997.

  The table lists the LPGs, each group's allocation and the lead organisation and telephone number.

  The need to establish administrative arrangements which achieved the greatest delegation of responsibility to local areas while ensuring proper accountability delayed the operation of Pesca in Scotland. It is to the credit of all concerned that we now have an acceptable balance. The Scottish sub-programmes are now operating ahead of most of the rest of the UK. By the end of this financial year, the Scottish Office will have disbursed all due Pesca funds.

HEALTH

  Lariam
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, with dates, the changes made between 1990 and 1997 in the product data sheet issued to patients with the drug Lariam, describing use and possible side-effects; and what were the reasons for the changes. [15193]

  Mr. Malone
  The changes that have been made to the product information for Lariam—mefloquine—between 1990 and 1997 have been placed in the Library. The reasons for the changes are that new evidence has become available to the marketing authorisation holder and to the Medicines Control Agency. The sources of the
  617
  information include suspected adverse reactions received through spontaneous adverse reaction reporting schemes and clinical studies on efficacy or safety of the product.

  Copies of data sheets that have been included in the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry data sheet compendium between 1990 and 1996, along with the current data sheet and the patient information leaflets for the same period, have been placed in the Library.

  NHS Trusts (Lease Cars)
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of NHS trust chairmen and non-executive directors with lease cars on 31 December(a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [16242]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the different arrangements applying to(a) Crown and (b) lease cars provided to members of boards of NHS trusts. [16236]

  Mr. Malone
  Under the terms of section 24 of the general Whitley council handbook, national health service employers may offer Crown cars to employees where they deem it to be in the interests of the service. The Whitley council scheme does not apply to chairmen and non-executive directors. They may be provided with lease cars when this represents value for money when compared with other methods of funding their travel on NHS business. However, they must make a personal contribution for any private use equivalent to the full amount of the taxable benefit.

  NHS Medical Services
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral statement on 11 February,Official Report, column 156, concerning the size of the current Red Book contract for the delivery of NHS general medical services, what opportunities will be offered by his proposed amendment to the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill [Lords] which are not possible under a current Red Book contract. [16023]

  Mr. Malone
  The National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill will permit those who work in the NHS to shape services to reflect local needs and circumstances rather than work solely to the national terms of service.

  Hospitals (Lancashire)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many capital spending projects are(a) under way and (b) planned at hospitals in Lancashire. [16144]

  Mr. Horam
  As at 31 December 1996, there were 10 schemes under way in the North West region. A further 10 projects are planned. Details for Lancashire are not available separately.

  Abortion
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will embody the British Medical Association guidelines on conscientious objection to abortion in a departmental circular to GPs. [16095]
  618
  Mr. Horam
  In 1991 the general medical services council of the British Medical Association issued guidance to general practitioners through local medical committees, reminding them of their objections under their terms of service. The guidance remains extant, and GPs who have a conscientious objection to abortion should refer the patient to another doctor as soon as possible.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will direct regional health executives not to employ criteria for NHS abortions which are not provided for in the Abortion Act 1967. [16096]

  Mr. Horam
  The Abortion Act 1967 as amended sets out the grounds on which abortion may lawfully be carried out. The criteria health authorities use when deciding on the level of abortion services are not covered by the Act.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement of the Abortion Law Reform Association report on "NHS Abortion Services". [16161]

  Mr. Horam
  The Abortion Law Reform Association report has indicted that where the conditions of the Abortion Act 1967 as amended are met there is an overall national improvement in access to abortion services.

  Any specific service issues are a matter for local health authorities and should be brought up with them in the first instance.

  Dentists
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists worked in the NHS in the north-west of England(a) at the latest available date and (b) in 1979. [16169]

  Mr. Malone
  The table shows the number of general dental service dentists at 30 September 1979 and 1995 in north-west England.

  General Dental Service: number of demists by family health services authority at 30 September north-west England

  1979

  1995

  North-west England

  1,511

  2,083

  Cheshire

  241

  319

  Liverpool

  123

  152

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  75

  95

  Sefton

  77

  93

  Wirral

  89

  121

  Lancashire

  284

  442

  Bolton

  53

  79

  Bury

  43

  58

  Manchester

  136

  167

  Oldham

  42

  67

  Rochdale

  45

  58

  Salford

  49

  67

  Stockport

  91

  108

  619

  General Dental Service: number of dentists by family health
  services authority at 30 September north-west England

  1979

  1995

  Tameside

  46

  73

  Trafford

  62

  87

  Wigan

  55

  97

  1. The figures represent the number of dentists (principals) on the family health services authority list and their assistants and vocational trainees.

  2. Some dentists have contracts with more than one family health services authority. These dentists have been counted only once.

  3. Excludes salaried, hospital, and community dentists.

  Hospitals (North-west)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients were treated in hospitals in the north-west in(a) 1995 and (b) 1979; [16147]

  (2) how many patients were treated at hospitals in the north-west in 1979. [16159]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the number of patients treated is not collected centrally. In-patient activity is recorded in terms of finished consultant episodes. The latest year for which information is available is 1995–96, and the information is contained in "Ordinary and day case admissions: England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Prior to 1988–89, data were collected on a different basis. Information for 1979 is not available in the form requested for the North-west region.

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating(a) the names of the agencies, (b) the number employed by the agencies in work for this Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16184]

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

  Figures are not available to provide the median cost paid to each agency and the average length of contracts, but agency staff are used only to cover short-term absences.

  Agencies used

  1994

  Stag Services

  Accounts Temps

  Adecco Alfred Marks

  Adia

  Badenock and Clarke

  Challoner and James

  Josephine Sammon

  Headway

  Kelly

  Link Up Group

  Manpower

  620

  Office Angels

  Reed Personnel

  Susan Hamilton

  Talentmark Ltd.

  Task Force Pro Libra

  Total numbers: 211

  Total costs: £688,655

  1995

  Accounts Temps

  Adecco Alfred Marks

  Adia

  Badenock and Clarke

  Challoner James

  Josephine Sammon

  Headway

  Kelly

  Link Up Group

  Manpower

  Office Angels

  Reed Personnel

  Susan Hamilton

  Talentmark Ltd.

  Task Force Pro Libra

  Angela Mortimer

  Headway Recruitment

  Pax Services Ltd.

  Premium Employment

  The Library Association

  The Staff Agency

  Total numbers: 345

  Total costs: £973,423

  1996

  Accounts Temps

  Adecco Alfred Marks

  Adia

  Badenock and Clarke

  Challoner James

  Josephine Sammon

  Headway

  Kelly

  Link Up Group

  Manpower

  Office Angels

  Reed Personnel

  Susan Hamilton

  Talentmark Ltd.

  Task Force Pro Libra

  Angela Mortimer

  Headway Recruitment

  Pax Services Ltd.

  Premium Employment

  The Library Association

  The Staff Agency

  Accountancy Addition

  Accountancy Solution

  Brook St. Bureau

  621

  Career Girl

  Per Temps

  Select Appointments

  Total numbers: 265

  Total costs: £910,877

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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) Ministers and (b) officials have attended indicating the cost of attendance and the names of those who attended. [16575]

  Mr. Horam
  No Ministers or officials from the Department of Health have attended a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee.

  National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisations have proposed amendments to the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill[Lords] to his Department. [15814]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department has held discussions with a number of organisations, including representatives of primary care professionals, about the provisions of the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill, including discussions about how the Bill might be amended in ways to meet their particular concerns. However, amendments may be proposed only through hon. Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with(a) unions representing medical workers, (b) NHS trusts, (c) medical insurance companies and (d) the British Medical Association regarding the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill [Lords].[15815]

  Mr. Malone
  The Bill follows wide consultations with all those with an interest in primary care, including national health service trusts, general practitioners, dentists, nurses and other health professionals and their representatives. The range and variety of consultation is outlined in the annex to "Primary Care: The Future", published on 10 June 1996, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Discussions about the Bill and its proposals between officials and representatives of the professions are continuing. Officials have had a preliminary meeting with a representative of the Medical Defence Union, at its request, to discuss the arrangements for indemnity under the proposals.

  Cases of definite and probable sporadic CJD by age at death (1988 to 1991)

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Age range

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  0 to 20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  21 to 30

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  31 to 40

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  41 to 50

  1

  0

  0

  l

  2

  0

  1

  0

  51 to 60

  4

  3

  5

  2

  9

  2

  9

  1

  622
  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the status of the family doctor service within the NHS; [15828]

  (2) what plans he has to propose amendments to the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill [Lords].[15816]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the opening statement on Second Reading of the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill on 11 February,Official Report, at columns 146–158.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  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 multiple sclerosis and on his plans for extending it. [15865]

  Mr. Malone
  The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. In addition to work specifically on multiple sclerosis, the MRC also undertakes work under the broader headings of auto-immune disorders, diseases of the central nervous system, and neurodegenerative diseases, all of which underpin research into MS. Results of Government-funded research are made freely and widely available.

  Cancer Research
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of cancer research funded by the Government and on his plans for extending it. [15866]

  Mr. Malone
  The Government's commitment to prevention of ill health caused by cancer is set out in "The Health of the Nation". The national health service research and development programme's research and development priorities in cancer is an example of the Government's commitment to encourage research into the causes, prevention, early detection and treatment of all cancers. In 1995–96, the Government spent some £25 million on research into cancer. Results of Government-funded research are made freely and widely available.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many CJD cases designated(a) definite and (b) probable by his Department in the years 1988 to 1995 fell in the age range of (i) 0 to 20, (ii) 21 to 30, (iii) 31 to 40, (iv) 41 to 50, (v) 51 to 60, (vi) 61 to 70 and (vii) over 70 years at the time of death. [16128]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is given in the table.
  623

  Cases of definite and probable sporadic CJD by age at death (1988 to 1991)

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Age range

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  61 to 70

  5

  4

  5

  4

  10

  0

  13

  3

  70+

  1

  2

  6

  5

  2

  0

  4

  1

  Total

  112

  9

  16

  12

  24

  2

  27

  5

  1Including one case age unknown.

  Cases of definite and probable sporadic CJD by age at death (1992 to 1995)

  Age range

  1992

  1995

  1994

  1995

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  Definite

  Probable

  0 to 20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  0

  21 to 30

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  0

  31 to 40

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  41 to 50

  2

  0

  1

  0

  4

  1

  0

  0

  51 to 60

  6

  1

  6

  0

  8

  0

  8

  0

  61 to 70

  17

  3

  14

  4

  15

  4

  13

  1

  70+

  12

  3

  10

  3

  19

  2

  9

  3

  Total

  37

  7

  31

  7

  46

  7

  33

  4

  1New variant CJD cases.

  Diprosone
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the reasons for the proposed inclusion of Diprosone on the list of drugs to be excluded from prescription. [16132]

  Mr. Malone
  A decision on whether to include Diprosone on the list of drugs to be excluded from prescription by general practitioners has been deferred pending the receipt of further advice from the advisory committee on national health service drugs.

  Travel Vaccines
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reviews the Government are currently conducting in relation to travel vaccines; when the results of this review are expected to be published; what body is carrying out the review; and what representations have been received about the review. [16331]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health, as part of a continuing internal review of the current arrangements for travel vaccines, is seeking to resolve the anomalies which exist at present. We shall consult interested bodies once we have proposals to present.

  General Practitioners (Computers)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide figures comparable to those in his answer of 2 April 1996,Official Report, columns 175–76, for the reimbursement of the costs of the computerisation in general practice and the numbers of fundholding and non-fundholding practices and general practitioners in 1995–96; if the figures given for the reimbursement of the costs of computerization include the expenditure on computers to support general practitioner fundholding reported in table 13 of his Departmental report published in March 1996; and if he will make a statement. [16628]

  Mr. Malone
  The total amount directly reimbursed to general practitioners from public funds towards the costs of computerization in the financial year 1995–96 was
  624
  £64 million1. Information on the apportionment of these costs between fundholders and other GPs is not available centrally.

  The figures previously provided to the hon. Member on 2 April, Official Report, columns 175–76, include reimbursements for the costs of computers to support GP fundholding as shown in table 13 of the departmental report published in March 1996.

  The related figures for the number of fundholding and non-fundholding practices and general practitioners for 1995–96 are as follows2

  England—April 1995

  Total

  Fundholding

  Non-fundholding

  Unrestricted principals

  26,647

  10,456

  16,191

  Practices

  9,063

  2,613

  6,450

  Source:

  1The annual financial returns of the family health services authority (provisional data).

  2Enhanced GP census.

  Criminal Record Checks
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the procedures are for criminal record checks through the voluntary organisations consultancy service, pursuant to arrangements made under Home Office circular 47/93; and which organisation or categories of organisation are eligible for such checks. [16588]

  Mr. Burns
  The procedures for criminal record checks through the voluntary organisations consultancy service are set out in Home Office circular 42/94, copies of which are available in the Library. Checks are available to all major national voluntary child care providers.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many checks were made under the arrangements for criminal record checks through the voluntary
  625
  organizations consultancy service, pursuant to arrangements made under Home Office circular 117/92. [16589]

  Mr. Burns
  The current arrangements for criminal record checks through the voluntary organisations consultancy service are set out in Home Office circular 42/94. In the year 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996, 8,857 checks were carried out for the VOCS by police forces in England and Wales.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the current research projects into meningitis (a) to which his Department has provided funds and (b) which other Government agencies have funded; and what proposals he has to increase the level and range of such research projects. [15372]

  Mr. Horam
  [holding answer 11 February 1997]: The Department of Health supports a number of research projects into meningitis through both the policy research programme and the National Health Service Executive. The PRP commissioned a two-year clinical trial of candidate meningococcal vaccines in 1993 at a total cost of £198,528. More research is needed before their suitability for widespread use can be considered. The Department is currently working with the Public Health Laboratory Service, the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control and the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research to take this work forward. We also collaborate internationally in this area, for example the UK and Dutch health departments are working together to accelerate the development of group B meningococcal vaccines.

  Since 1993, the NHS Executive has supported a number of meningitis-related research projects worth £220,000. This includes a current study: neurodevelopmental examination at nine years of age of children who suffered neonatal meningitis. This is funded through North Thames regional office at a cost of £80,000.

  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The MRC received its grant in aid from the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. Current projects receiving support from the MRC are listed as follows:

  MRC-supported meningitis research

  Indirect Support

  Project grants

  1. Dr. D. J. Maskell, Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London—The molecular genetics of lipid A-KDO biosynthesis by Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis.

  2. Professor J. E. Heckels, Department of Molecular Microbiology, University of Southampton—Antigens from meningococcal outer membrane proteins as vaccine candidates.

  3. Dr. D. Ala'Aldeen, Dr. I. Todd and Professor S. P. Boriello, Department of Microbiology, University of Nottingham—Identification of T-cell epitopes involved in protective immunity to meningococcal infection.

  4. Professor J. R. Saunders, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Liverpool—Pilin variation and glycosylation in modulating pilus mediated adherence of Neisseria meningitidis to human cells.

  626

  5. Dr. H. Palmer, Institute of Infections and Immunity, University of Nottingham—Development of a pig model for meningococcal meningitis.

  Strategic project grant
  Professor S. P. Boriello, Department of Microbiology, University of Nottingham—Clinical research Initiative in bacterial infections: determinants of tissue damage is bacterial infections.

  Programme grant
  Professor E. R. Moxon, Molecular Infectious Diseases Group, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford—Molecular basis of Haemophilus influenza pathogenicity.

  Infrastructure grant
  Professor P. S. Watt and Professor S. T. Holgate—Mucosal Immunology—A Protein engineering laboratory for studies on vaccine design and asthma research.

  Direct support
  MRC Laboratories, The Gambia—An efficacy study of the Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) polysaccaride-protein conjugate vaccine, PRP-T in The Gambia.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Franchising Advisory Group
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 January,Official Report, column 11, on the Franchising Advisory Committee, what were the dates of the two occasions on which the committee met; which organisations were represented at the meetings; when the members of the committee were advised of the decision to discontinue the committee; and what are the more effective mechanisms for communications and consultation which have been developed by the Legal Aid Board. [15494]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Franchising Advisory Committee met on 11 February 1994 and 14 October 1994. The organisations represented were: the Advice Services Alliance, Legal Aid Practitioners' Group, the Law Society and the National Consumer Council. The committee was informed in January 1997 of the board's decision to disband it.

  Since October 1994, the board has held regular meetings of franchise liaison user groups. To date, 156 meetings have been held at various locations throughout England and Wales. At national level the board has met with the Advice Services Alliance on 13 occasions, the Legal Aid Practitioners' Group on five occasions and the Law Society on 12 occasions at which franchise issues have been raised. Those meetings are to continue.

  Queen's Counsel (Selection)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what costs were incurred by the Lord Chancellor's Department in conducting the procedure for selecting Queen's Counsel for 1996. [15482]

  Mr. Streeter
  The departmental expenditure apportionable to the procedure for selecting Queen's Counsel in 1996 is estimated to be £81,202.

  Chancel Repairs
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the Government's estimate of the cost of compensating the Church of England for abolishing the chancel repairing liability. [15683]

  Mr. Streeter
  No such estimate has been prepared because the Law Commission report on this subject made no recommendation for compensation, a position which the Church of England and the Church in Wales are content to adopt.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the arrangements for those carrying out property searches to discover whether a particular property is affected by liability for chancel repairs. [15681]

  Mr. Streeter
  Searches may be carried out in the tithe records now held at the Public Records Office.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions his Department has had with the Church of England in the last year regarding liability for chancel repairs. [15685]

  Mr. Streeter
  There has been one exchange of letters between my Department and the general secretary of the General Synod of the Church of England.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many representations the Government have received in the last year on the Law Commission report No. 152, "Property Law: Liability for Chancel Repairs". [15684]

  Mr. Streeter
  Apart from discussions within Government, my Department has corresponded with three bodies and two individual Members of Parliament.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in respect of chancel repairing liabilities on properties, how many(a) properties and (b) hectares are affected; how many parishes benefit; if he will list those parishes; and by how much the Church of England benefited in each of the last 10 years. [15680]

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

  Tithes
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date tithes were abolished; and what has been the total paid in compensation by the Government to the Church of England. [15682]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Tithe Act 1836 made provision for the conversion of existing tithes into tithe rent charges. Those were converted into tithe redemption annuities by the Tithe Act 1936, and ceased to be payable in 1977. Figures on compensation are not held centrally.

  Bradfield House School, Devon
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many boys from 628
  Bradfield house school, Cullompton, Devon appeared before the Cullompton juvenile court; and what percentage of total cases this constituted in 1996. [16347]

  Mr. Streeter
  I have been informed by the court that, out of 52 appearances before the Cullompton Youth Court in 1996, Bradfield house school was given as the defendant's address in 15 cases. That represents 29 per cent. of all appearances. In some instances, a defendant may have appeared on more than one occasion.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the(a) 20 solicitors firms and (b) barristers who have received the largest sums of money from the legal aid scheme for each year for which information is available. [8700]

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, which firms of solicitors received more than £500,000 from the legal aid fund in 1995–96; how much they each received; and what sum they have received in 1996–97. [12309]

  Mr. Streeter
  [holding answer 29 January 1997): It has not proved possible to provide all the information in the form requested. I have therefore written to the hon. Members and placed a copy of the letters in the Library.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 17 February; and if he will make a statement. [16858]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office, represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture Council in Brussels on 17 February.

  The main business of the Council was to consider the Commission's proposed regulations establishing a system of identification and registration of cattle, together with a linked proposal on the labelling of beef and beef products. The importance to the United Kingdom of early progress on the setting up of an EU-wide animal identification and registration system was emphasised in the Council discussions, subject to the proposal being technically sound and workable. However, my noble Friend expressed reservations about the practicability of the proposed funding arrangements. The presidency informed the Council that further work would continue urgently on these proposals with a view to the Council being in a position to reach agreement if possible at its March meeting.

  Prompted by discussion papers tabled by the Italian and United Kingdom Governments, the Council held a wide-ranging debate on the future of the Common Market organisation in milk and milk products, in particular the future of the EU milk quota regime. The United Kingdom pressed for early progress on reforming the milk regime in view of World Trade Organisation and budgetary constraints, as well as the prospect of future EU enlargement. In the light of the Council discussion, the

  629
  European Commission undertook to bring forward shortly a detailed analysis of the milk sector and ideas for possible changes to the milk quota regime.

  The Council held a brief discussion on the situation in the beef and veal sector, in particular on the early marketing and calf processing schemes. My noble Friend took the opportunity to press for a reduction in the rates of payment under the calf processing scheme which, at their present levels, risked creating distortions in the market.

  The Agriculture Commissioner presented reports to the Council on options for reform of the EU market regimes for tobacco and olive oil. Legislative proposals will be made to the Council in the near future on changes to the tobacco regime. The Council will consider in detail the options for reforming the olive oil regime at its forthcoming meetings.

  BSE
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to impose a ban on all beef and beef products, originating in countries which(a) cannot demonstrate a total absence of BSE in their cattle herds and (b) have not instituted a complete ban on specified bovine material and the use of animal protein in animal rations. [14769]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Fresh Meat (Beef Control) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption of all bovine meat derived from bovines which at the time of slaughter were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to cattle slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996 whether in the United Kingdom or overseas, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in specific third countries set out in the regulations. This list of countries is confined to those where the Government 630
  are satisfied that we can import beef without risk because they are free of BSE. Other countries, including all other member states, are covered by the 30-month rule.

  The Government do not believe that it is necessary to go beyond this and institute a wider ban on the basis proposed by the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) in order to protect public health. Those member states which have endemic BSE already have controls in place to remove bovine offals which are similar in nature to those in this country. The Government have strongly supported European Commission proposals to introduce controls on bovine offals on a Community-wide basis which were discussed by the Council in December and rejected. We are pressing the Commission to introduce revised proposals shortly.

  The European Community already has a prohibition on the use of mammalian protein in ruminant rations, with certain exceptions. The United Kingdom law goes further and covers mammalian meat and bonemeal in all farm animal rations but neither European Community nor UK law prohibits the use of all animal protein in animal rations. In particular exceptions are made for mammalian proteins such as milk and there are no prohibitions on fish or avian proteins in any animal feed nor any scientific basis on which to justify such action.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many responses he has received to the consultation document, "Proposal for a UK Certified Herds Scheme"; from what source; and if his Department will publish a summary of those responses. [15874]

  Mr. Baldry
  Forty eight replies were received in the UK to the consultation document, "Proposal for a UK Certified Herds Scheme". A list of those who responded and copies of their responses can be examined at the libraries of the Agricultural Departments.
  631
  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress in discussions with the European Commission on the introduction of a UK certified herds scheme. [15876]

  Mr. Baldry
  We have been working closely with the Commission on our proposals for an export certified herds scheme and intend formally to submit those proposals shortly. Thereafter, the proposals will be subject to the process laid down in the Florence agreement, which includes: consultation with the Scientific Veterinary Committee, the Multi Disciplinary Scientific Committee and, where appropriate, other relevant scientific committees, in tandem with discussions in the Standing Veterinary Committee. In the light of those discussions, the Commission will take a decision using established procedures and will subsequently fix the date when exports can effectively resume following a successful outcome of a Community inspection.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response his Department has made to the criticisms by the National Farmers Union of the proposed certified herds scheme. [15875]

  Mr. Baldry
  We are finalising our proposals for an export certified herds scheme in the light of comments made on our consultation document from the National Farmers Union and others.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is the Government's policy to press for a lifting of the European ban first on certified herds in Northern Ireland. [15877]

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the full statement by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster during the debate on the BSE crisis,Official Report, columns 708–13. My right hon. Friend made it clear that the export certified herds scheme we will put forward to the Commission applies to the whole United Kingdom but that Northern Ireland, with its computerised cattle tracing system and low incidence of BSE, would derive immediate and significant benefit from our proposals.

  ADAS (Sale)
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the sale of ADAS has been agreed. [17133]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are pleased to announce, that following independent financial advice from PA Strategy Partners Ltd., we have selected the management and employee buy-out—MEBO—team led by the current chief executive, Phillip Needham, as the preferred bidder for ADAS.

  The deal which has been agreed meets all the objectives which I announced on 4 November 1966, Official Report, column 313. The overall net present value to the taxpayer
  632
  of the MEBO bid is some £23.5 million, made up of the consideration for the business, savings flowing from the pricing structure for future services for MAFF and the Welsh Office, and rents for the properties occupied by ADAS.

  We expect to exchange contracts on the sale very shortly. Completion will be subject to the requirement to inform and consult appropriate representatives of ADAS employees under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (as amended).

  Agri-environment Schemes
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what funding his Department has allocated in the current year for the operation of agri-environment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the schemes. [15209]

  Mr. Boswell
  The 1995 public expenditure survey provision allocated a total of £76.3 million to the operation of agri-environment schemes in England for 1996–97. Of this total, £60.6 million was for payments to land managers, £12.5 million was for running costs and £3.2 million was for monitoring costs.

  The agri-environment programme provides a wide range of voluntary incentive schemes to encourage environmentally beneficial fanning practices. The Ministry carries out a monitoring programme to measure the success of each scheme and the detailed results of these are published. Schemes will normally be evaluated and reviewed every five years to assess the extent to which policy objectives are being achieved and the efficiency with which schemes are being administered. For example, the five stage I environmentally sensitive areas underwent their second five-yearly policy review in 1996. Results of a comprehensive programme of environmental monitoring have shown the schemes to be successful. A public consultation exercise detailing proposals for improvements to the scheme was conducted as part of the review and, as a result, several new tiers and options have recently been introduced.

  The schemes are kept under review and consultation arrangements have recently been expanded at both national and local level to ensure that we get the best out of our schemes.

  The Agriculture Select Committee is nearing the conclusion of its inquiry into the Ministry's agri-environment schemes and I look forward to receipt of its report.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his statement in European Standing Committee A on 12 February,Official Report, column 2, what is the approximate annual production in

  633
  the European Union of raw tobacco and its cost to the common agricultural policy in (i) ecus and (ii) pounds sterling; and what are the annual figures for the three most recent years for which figures are available for (a) quantities of tobacco consumed within the European Union and (b) the tonnage exported to each of the principal export destinations. [16022]

  Mr. Baldry
  The latest figures available on EU tobacco production are for the 1994 harvest when 337,091 tonnes were produced. The current annual cost of the tobacco regime is approximately 1 billion ecus or £750 million'. For the three most recent years for which figures are available, the quantities of tobacco consumed within the European Union and the tonnages exported to principal destinations were as follows:

  tonnes

  1993

  1994

  1995

  EU consumption2

  497,789

  560,434

  485,297

  Total EU exports

  195,882

  192,362

  272,179

  Principal export destinations:

  Russia

  32,832

  9,449

  19,024

  USA

  26,021

  19,370

  21,188

  Algeria

  15,553

  14,645

  17,791

  Egypt

  14,415

  38,933

  13,564

  Romania

  14,370

  7,067

  3,689

  Switzerland

  8,860

  11,704

  12,117

  Japan

  8,597

  8,208

  9,583

  Poland

  7,259

  9,321

  12,359

  Hungary

  4,653

  2,727

  80,204

  South Africa

  944

  1,863

  13,864

  Source:

  Eurostat.

  Notes:

  1Using an exchange rate of 1 ecu = £0.7493.

  2Consumption, based on production and imports minus exports.

  Cattle Cull
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the total costs incurred to date for slaughter, rendering incineration and storage of carcases under the over-30-months scheme. [16244]

  Mr. Baldry
  As at 31 January 1997, the following amounts had been paid:

  £ million

  Slaughter

  65.6

  Rendering

  42.1

  Incineration

  5.4

  Storage of carcases

  11.6

  BSE (Chickens)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what measures he has taken to prevent the spread of BSE to chickens; [16135]

  (2) what action he has taken to investigate whether BSE (a) can and (b) has spread to chickens. [16136]
  634
  Mrs. Browning
  There is no scientific evidence to suggest that chickens are susceptible to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. In experimental attempts to establish disease, BSE has not been transmitted to poultry either by oral exposure or by direct inoculation into the brain. Challenged birds survived to five years post-inoculation. Further tests have been carried out on tissues from these chickens by inoculation into further chickens and into mice to see if any infectivity can be detected. These are now eight months post-inoculation without evidence of transmission. I am aware of the recent press reports suggesting that TSEs have been identified in chickens. My Department has been informed by the researcher who holds the material in question that no pathological examination of brain tissue has yet been carried out. My Department has informed him that if on examination a TSE is suspected, he is under a legal obligation to surrender the material to a veterinary inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture for further analyses.

  The feeding of mammalian meat and bonemeal to all farm animals, which includes poultry, has been banned since 29 March 1996. This ban was put in place to prevent the accidental feeding of ruminants with feed intended for pigs and poultry, which prior to 29 March could legally have contained meat and bonemeal.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the(a) number and (b) species of the zoo animals in which spongiform encephalopathy has been confirmed between 1988 and the present time. [16129]

  Mrs. Browning
  The following table gives the number of confirmed transmissible spongiform encephalopathy cases in animals kept in zoological collections in Great Britain as at 1 February 19971

  Confirmed cases shown by year of clinical onset or year of confirmation

  Species

  1986

  Nyala

  1987

  Gemsbok

  1988

  1—

  1989

  Oryx (Arabian) Kudu, Eland

  1990

  Kudu

  1991

  Eland(3), Kudu

  1992

  Puma, Kudu(3), Cheetah, Oryx (scimitar horned)

  1993

  Cheetah2

  1994

  Ocelot, Eland

  1995

  Puma(2), Eland, Tiger(2)

  1996

  Ocelot, Bison

  It is not possible to provide the data by date of confirmation or to give details of suspect cases which were not subsequently confirmed as central records are not compiled in this way. Furthermore, there was no statutory requirement to report diagnosis of a spongiform encephalopathy other than BSE or scrapie until November 1994. MAFF would not therefore have been informed of suspect cases for which laboratory examination proved to be negative. To provide the information in the way requested could be done only at disproportionate costs.

  1Two cases in Ankole cows were recorded in the BSE statistics for cattle for 1991.

  2Two further cheetahs were confirmed in foreign zoos, having been born and infected in a British zoo.

  635
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of spongiform encephalopathy have been(a) suspected and (b) confirmed in each of the last 10 years, broken down by species. [16223]

  Mrs. Browning
  The following table gives the number of suspected and confirmed cases of BSE in Great Britain as at 7 February 1996. The cases before 21 June 1988 are recorded by date of clinical onset of disease and the cases thereafter are recorded by date of restriction:

  Year

  Suspected3

  Confirmed4

  1986

  2—

  7

  1987

  2—

  435

  1988

  2,516

  2,469

  1989

  8,447

  7,137

  1990

  17,323

  14,181

  1991

  30,009

  525,032

  1992

  44,846

  36,682

  1993

  42,931

  34,370

  1994

  30,261

  23,944

  1995

  17,946

  14,298

  1996

  10,688

  17,323

  1Incomplete data.

  2BSE not a notifiable disease prior to 21 June 1988, details of suspect cases not available.

  3Suspects restricted—only cases showing clinical signs suspicious of BSE are placed under restriction. Some suspects reported by owners will not on close examination justify service of restriction. No central records are kept of such cases.

  4BSE confirmed—The figures are significantly in arrears of restriction as there will inevitably be a delay in examining the brains, and some animals placed under restriction in 1996 will not yet have been slaughtered.

  5Includes two Ankole cows in zoos recorded as normal BSE cases.

  The following table gives the number of suspected and confirmed cases of scrapie in Great Britain as at 18 February 1997.

  Year

  Suspected

  Confirmed

  1986

  1—

  156

  1987

  1—

  179

  1988

  1—

  215

  1989

  1—

  246

  1990

  1—

  2348

  1991

  1—

  2989

  1992

  1—

  2666

  1993

  492

  327

  1994

  291

  199

  1995

  220

  163

  1996

  2339

  209

  1997

  135

  —

  1Details of suspect cases unavailable. Scrapie became a notifiable disease on 1 January 1993.

  2Figures are distorted because payments were offered for cases between October 1990 and August 1992 when brain pools were being assembled for rendering experiments.

  3Some results due.

  4All results due.

  The following list gives the number of confirmed cases of feline spongiform encephalopathy by year of confirmation in Great Britain as at 1 February 1997:

  1990: 12

  1991: 12

  1992: 10

  1993: 11

  1994: 16

  1995: 8

  1996: 6

  636
  Information on cases in other species is recorded in the answer to the hon. Member's other question about zoo animals.

  British Agrochemicals Association Ltd.
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what meetings he has had with the British Agrochemicals Association Ltd. in the past 12 months; what was the subject of the meetings; and if he will make a statement; [16289]

  (2) what representations he has received from British Agrochemicals Association Ltd. in the past 12 months; what was the subject of those representations; and if he will make a statement. [16286]

  Mrs. Browning
  British Agrochemicals Association Ltd. has not sought a meeting with my right hon. Friend or other MAFF Ministers in the last 12 months but the association is frequently in contact with our officials to discuss issues relating to the regulation of pesticides.

  In addition, the association has made formal representations to the Department on a number of issues including: updating of UK regulations on pesticides and European legislation on plant protection products; clarification of the arrangements for the authorisation of adjuvants; EC proposals for maximum residue levels in food; enforcement of maximum residue levels in protected lettuce; review of standards for the approval of amateur pesticides; the 1997–98 fees and charges structure and application arrangements operated by the Pesticides Safety Directorate; revision of the code of practice for the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings; revision of the code of practice for suppliers of pesticides of agriculture, horticulture and forestry; labelling and risk management strategies for pesticides and terrestrial non-target arthropods; pesticide label phrases regarding the risk to honeybees; and a proposed MAFF booklet on pesticides in integrated farming.

  Pesticides and Fertilisers
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the total amount of(a) pesticides and (b) fertilisers sold each year for the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [16293]

  Mrs. Browning
  The current and constant price series given in the table show estimates of sales of pesticides and fertilisers for agricultural use in the UK. The constant price series are valued at the prices of pesticides and fertiliser in 1990. This is the best guide to changes in volumes as different types of fertiliser and pesticide are weighted according to their relative values in 1990.

  Value of UK purchases for agricultural use

  Current prices, £ million

  Constant 1990 prices, £ million

  (a) Pesticides

  (b) Fertilisers and lime

  (a) Pesticides

  (b) Fertilisers and lime

  1987

  360

  788

  429

  825

  1988

  440

  745

  506

  753

  1989

  482

  781

  530

  801

  1990

  459

  807

  459

  807

  1991

  440

  776

  399

  794

  1992

  428

  675

  375

  729

  1993

  449

  615

  386

  693

  637

  Value of UK purchases for agricultural use

  Current prices, £ million

  Constant 1990 prices, £ million

  (a) Pesticides

  (b) Fertilisers and lime

  (a) Pesticides

  (b) Fertilisers and lime

  1994

  443

  715

  365

  765

  1995

  443

  777

  377

  747

  19961

  459

  823

  372

  716

  1 Provisional.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [16320]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 18 February 1997]The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has responsibility for conducting the cull throughout Great Britain. The reply is therefore on a Great Britain-wide basis.

  On-farm visits to natal herds in which a confirmed case of BSE was born started in the week beginning 27 January. The total number of cattle that have been identified through these visits as having been exposed to the same feed as BSE cases is 4,439. Of this number, 199 animals have so far been confirmed as exposed by the central veterinary unit: 71 of these are still in the natal herd; 128 have moved and need to be traced further. The latest estimate of the number of cattle affected in Great Britain is 90,000 to 100,000. However, the true number of animals affected can be determined only by on-farm visits.

  There are natal herds in over 7,000 farms in Great Britain. Farms which have bought in exposed animals will also be affected. Again, the number of such farms can be established only through visits to the natal herds and subsequent tracing visits.

  It is very difficult at this early stage to estimate the length of time it will take to conclude the cull.

  Organophosphates (Animal Health)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what current long-term research Her Majesty's Government have commissioned on organophosphates and animal health; and if he will make a statement. [15425]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 12 February 1997]: There are no current long-term Government commissioned research projects on organophosphates and animal health.

  The Government have, however, awarded £500,000 to the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh for research into the possible long-term human health effects of organophosphorus sheep dips. The results of that study are expected in 1999.

DEFENCE

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 October,Official Report, column 924, on the discovery of mustard gas during the Gulf war, when he intends to send the letter to the hon. Member; and if he will list the reasons for the delay in writing. [14916]

  Mr. Soames
  I have written today.

  Departmental Expenditure (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the annual expenditure by his Department in Wales on(a) employment of service staff, (b) employment of civilian staff and (c) procurement. [16271]

  Mr. Soames
  The estimate of expenditure in the current financial year on employment in Wales of(a) service personnel pay is £118.69 million and (b) civilian staff is £96,773 million. Figures for the current financial year for Defence procurement in Wales are not available. The latest for which figures are available is 1994–95 when the total was £50 million, exclusive of VAT. This does not include expenditure by the armed forces for the provision of local services, for which figures are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many collisions involving low-flying military aircraft have occurred over the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [16133]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of collisions involving low-flying military aircraft over the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years is as follows:

  1987: 2

  1988: 1

  1989: nil

  1990: 1

  1991: 1

  1992: nil

  1993: 1

  1994: nil

  1995: nil

  1996: nil

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the automatic low flying flight planning enquiry and notification system—ALFENS—was not introduced in mid-1992; when he now expects the system to come into operation; and what penalties have been incurred by the contractors as a result of the delays. [16134]

  Mr. Soames
  As explained in detail to the House of Commons Defence Committee (HC314, Session 1993–4, pages 15–17), the original time scale for the introduction of ALFENS in mid-1992 was based on the best information available to National Air Traffic Services, which let the contract and manage it on behalf of the MOD, at an early stage of the procurement process. This
  639
  date was not achieved due chiefly to delays caused by changes to the scope and complexity of the project and a number of problems with the submission and evaluation of tenders. We hope to see ALFENS in use by this summer. The contractors have carried out additional work at their own expense to rectify faults in the system.

  Naval Movements (Ayrshire)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployments of naval vessels off the coast of Ayrshire and naval aircraft in Ayrshire on 31 January, indicating what types and numbers of craft were involved, the reasons for their deployment and the costs of the deployments. [16334]

  Mr. Soames
  There were two separate training activities which involved naval vessels being off the Ayrshire coast on 31 January. The first was UK mine counter measures group training consisting of four Hunt class MCM vessels. The second involved the NATO standing naval force channel conducting training independent of the UK group and this included the use of one UK MCM vessel with one coastal survey vessel in support. MCM operations off the Ayrshire coast are part of normal Royal Navy activity and all costs were fully contained within the annual training budget. No additional costs were incurred.

  Agency

  Number supplied

  Contract period

  Cost £

  Profession

  Office Angels

  1

  12 months

  1,500

  Typist

  Kellock Ltd.

  3

  12 months

  50,612

  Clerical

  Corinth Medical

  1

  12 months

  Nurse

  Select Appts

  1

  12 months

  Stores

  Reed Staffing

  1

  Not known

  11,000

  Nurse

  Barkers Personnel

  5

  Various

  3,580.72

  Typist

  HMR Employment

  2

  12 months

  14,000

  Nurse

  Fleet Industrial

  1

  4 weeks

  1,358

  Chef

  Actionline

  1

  3 months

  1,910

  Typist

  Brook Street

  28

  weekly

  24,219

  Industrial

  Index Recruitment

  Stirling Rec

  P and D Employment

  7

  weekly

  7,638

  Industrial

  P and D Driving

  2

  3 weeks

  1,568

  Drivers

  Barkers Personnel

  2

  3 weeks

  1,347

  Typist

  Reed Employment

  4

  2 weeks

  1,375

  Clerical

  Stirling Rec

  1

  11 weeks

  2,926

  Clerical

  Stirling Rec

  2

  28 weeks

  15,245

  Clerical

  Hays Accountancy

  3

  13 weeks

  12,437

  Accountants

  Involve (BDT)

  2

  3 months

  14,000

  Lecturers

  BNA

  1

  6.5 weeks

  3,650

  Nurse

  Crown Nursing

  1

  29 weeks

  14,150

  Nurse

  ADECCO UK

  1

  10 weeks

  6,800

  Safety Officer

  ADECCO UK

  1

  6 weeks

  7,800

  Technical

  ADECCO UK

  1

  3 weeks

  2,900

  Lecturer

  Reed Employment

  1

  12 months

  7,000

  Typist

  Reed Employment

  1

  3 months

  5,000

  Typist

  Bucks and Berks

  1

  6 months

  6,500

  Typist

  Bucks and Berks

  1

  5.5 months

  5,500

  Clerical

  Reed Employment

  1

  12 months

  14,000

  Clerical

  Reed Employment

  4

  10 weeks

  7,542

  Typist

  Personnel Select

  1

  2 weeks

  561

  Typist

  Crown Nursing

  2

  11 weeks

  18,505

  Nurse

  Battleway

  1

  13 weeks

  2,915

  Labourer

  I hope this information is helpful.

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating(a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16175]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information on employment agencies used by MOD is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is my Department's policy to use agencies on the following circumstances: to provide staff as an interim measure where directly employed labour cannot be provided; to assist recruitment authorities on all or part of the recruitment selection process, but most recruitment is undertaken in house.

  Information, where available, in respect of defence agencies is a matter for the chief executive concerned, who will be writing to the hon. Member separately.

  Letter from C. A. Gordon to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as the Deputy Chief Executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation.
  This Agency came into being on 1 April 1996 and I am therefore quoting figures from that date. Details of this Agency's use of private employment agencies are listed below:

  641
  Letter from Mr. S. R. Hill to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  1. I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of employment agencies as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation (NARO).
  2. Attached is a summary of the statistics for this Agency.
  Parliamentary Question no 3243H—Agency Staff

  1. Agencies used in the last 3 years are:

  Barker Personnel Services

  Brook Street

  J M Recruitment

  Wise Employment

  2. Numbers employed by the Agencies in NARO Fleetlands Division:

  Barker Personnel Services: 1

  Brook Street: 2

  J M Recruitment: 6

  Wise Employment: 1

  3. Costs over the last 3 years are:

  Agency

  1994–95£

  1995–96£

  1996–97£

  Median cost (total cost divided by number of people£

  Barker Personnel Services

  13,500

  15,500

  18,000

  15,666

  Brook Street

  nil

  3,000

  9,000

  3,000

  J M Recruitment

  nil

  nil

  12,000

  2,000

  Wise Employment

  Nil

  nil

  200

  200

  4. The average length of contracts is as follows:

  Barker Personnel Services: 1 year

  Brook Street: 5 months

  J M Recruitment: 1 month

  Wise Employment: 1 week

  Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him to list the private employment agencies used by the department and its agencies in each of the last three years. For the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) this matter falls within my responsibilities as Chief Executive.
  I have enclosed the details you requested on a separate sheet. It should be noted that the number of staff engaged through employment agencies was unusually high in 1995–96 and 1996–97 because of the need temporarily to replace vital skills lost during the rundown of ABRO Old Dalby, which closed at the end of December 1996.

  ABRO: Use of employment agencies

  a. Agencies used1

  b. Numbers of posts filled

  c. Cost2£

  1994–95

  Turner Charles Ltd., Staff UK, British Nursing Corporation

  5

  96,955

  1995–96

  Turner Charles Ltd., Staff UK, British Nursing Corporation, Kelly Services, Matchmaker Personnel

  30

  205,514

  1996–97

  642

  ABRO: Use of employment agencies

  a. Agencies used1

  b. Numbers of posts filled

  c. Cost2£

  Turner Charles Ltd., Omega Personnel, Dargue Staff, Select Appointments, Partners Employment, Mitrem Employment Service, Personnel Placements, British Nursing Co-op Ltd., Kelly Services, Matchmaker Personnel

  37

  210,117

  The average length of contract is 1 year 4 months.

  1 The individual fees for companies are not given as they are commercially confidential.

  2 It is not clear what is meant by the median cost paid to the employment agency. The employment agencies are paid an hourly rate for staff supplied.

  Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about dealings with private employment agencies over the past three years as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency.
  We make only limited use of contract staff from private employment agencies, usually to deal with surges in our workload. Unfortunately, our records are not kept in a form which would permit a precise answer to your question without incurring undue expense. However, I hope the following information will meet your needs:

  Agency

  Total expenditure £

  1994–951

  Manpower

  32,300.64

  Josephine Sammons

  4,347.93

  Total cost for year

  36,648.57

  1995–962

  Manpower

  30,630.98

  Josephine Sammons

  2,533.86

  Total cost for year

  33,164.84

  1996–973

  Manpower

  13,603.88

  JM Recruitment

  3,639.34

  Total cost for year

  17,243.22

  1 Approximately four people were recruited during the year with an estimated median cost per week of £230.

  2 Approximately eight people were recruited during the year with an estimated median cost per week of £230.

  3 Approximately six people were recruited during the year with an estimated median cost per week of £250.

  Letter from Julian Hunt to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about staff supplied by private employment agencies, as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.
  The Meteorological Office use agencies only rarely and the information you requested is given below:
  1996

  (a) Manpower

  Josephine Sammons Employment Agency

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  (b) 8

  643

  (c) £40,800 median £425 per week

  (d) 112 weeks

  1995

  (a) Manpower

  (b) 2

  (c) £9,120

  (d) 3 months

  1994

  Nil

  I hope this gives you the information you require.

  Letter from John Trewby to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 18 February 1997:
  I am replying as the Chief Executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency to your question to the Minister of State for Defence Procurement about private employment agencies.
  The Naval Bases and Supply Agency launched in December 1996 and is formed from a number of management areas within the MOD. Information such as you have requested was not previously held on a consistent basis, the attached charts give the information which is available.

  Private employment agencies used by NBSA

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  J. M. Recruitment

  Number of staff employed

  14

  19

  21

  Total cost to the NBSA

  £16,176

  £81,373

  £63,211

  Median cost per person

  £1,155

  £4,282

  £3,010

  Average length of contract

  1 month

  4 months

  3 months

  Manpower

  Number of staff employed

  1

  3

  1

  Total cost to the NBSA

  £884

  £13,200

  £7,263

  Median cost per person

  £884

  £4,400

  £7,263

  Average length of contract

  3 weeks

  4 months

  6 months

  Brook Street

  Number of staff employed

  1

  nil

  nil

  Total cost to the NBSA

  £162

  nil

  nil

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  nil

  Average length of contract

  1 week

  nil

  nil

  SMS

  Number of staff employed

  95

  100

  139

  Total cost to the NBSA

  £40,150

  £42,485

  £68,932

  Median cost per person

  £432

  £425

  £496

  Average length of contract

  2 weeks

  2 weeks

  2 weeks

  Crown Nursing Agency

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  5

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £7,712

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £1,542

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  3 days

  TAV

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  3

  nil

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  £12,320

  nil

  Median cost per person

  nil

  £4,106

  nil

  Average length of contract

  nil

  4 months

  nil

  HMS

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  3

  nil

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  £14,960

  nil

  Median cost per person

  nil

  £4,987

  nil

  Average length of contract

  nil

  4 months

  nil

  Ross Campbell Associates

  Number of staff employed

  1

  1

  4

  Total cost to the NBSA

  £2,000

  £6,950

  £21,250

  Median cost per person

  £2,000

  £6,950

  £5,312

  Average length of contract

  8 weeks

  30 weeks

  16 weeks

  Search Recruitment

  Selection

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  3

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £12,800

  644

  Private employment agencies used by NBSA

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £4,254

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  14 weeks

  South Hams Nursing

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  3

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £10,680

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £3,560

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  3 months

  Drake International

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  15

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £32,400

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £2,160

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  4 months

  AYS

  Number of staff employed

  45

  75

  83

  Total cost to the NBSA

  £83,830

  £147,790

  £289,010

  Median cost per person

  £1,863

  £1,970

  £3,482

  Average length of contract

  3 months

  4 months

  6 months

  Alfred Marks

  Number of staff employed

  92

  88

  97

  Total cost to the NBSA

  £141,790

  £206,300

  £319,200

  Median cost per person

  £1,541

  £2,344

  £3,290

  Average length of contract

  3 months

  4 months

  6 months

  Saltash Transport

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  216

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £16,790

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £77

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  3 days

  Ross Campbell Consultants

  Number of staff employed

  Not available

  2

  3

  Total cost to the NBSA

  Not available

  £2,900

  £1,879

  Median cost per person

  Not available

  £1,450

  £626

  Average length of contract

  Not available

  5 weeks

  2 weeks

  Search Consultants

  Number of staff employed

  Not available

  7

  3

  Total cost to the NBSA

  Not available

  £10,997

  £6,237

  Median cost per person

  Not available

  £1,571

  £2,079

  Average length of contract

  Not available

  2 months

  2 months

  Fife Nursing Services Ltd.

  Number of staff employed

  Not available

  4

  7

  Total cost to the NBSA

  Not available

  £2,303

  £3,246

  Median cost per person

  Not available

  £575

  £463

  Average length of contract

  Not available

  1 week

  1 week

  Office Helpline

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  5

  14

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  £13,339

  £44,410

  Median cost per person

  nil

  £2,667

  £3,172

  Average length of contract

  nil

  10 weeks

  19 weeks

  Workforce

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  27

  32

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  £71,398

  £79,459

  Median cost per person

  nil

  £2,644

  £2,483

  Average length of contract

  nil

  10 weeks

  19 weeks

  Kellock

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  1

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £6,242

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £6,242

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  10 weeks

  Reed Staffing

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  1

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £16,029

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £16,029

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  20 weeks

  Medic International

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  1

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £6,900

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £6,900

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  20 weeks

  645

  Private employment agencies used by NBSA

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  CSOHS Agency

  Number of staff employed

  nil

  nil

  1

  Total cost to the NBSA

  nil

  nil

  £21,538

  Median cost per person

  nil

  nil

  £21,538

  Average length of contract

  nil

  nil

  23 sessions (medical practitioner)

  Letter from Graham Jones to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, by his Department and its agencies, in each of the last three years for which figures are available, as these matters fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment Defence Agency. Specifically, you asked for: the names of the agencies; the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department; the total cost to the Department of using employment agencies; the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited; and the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies.
  During the last 3 years the Royal Air Force Signals Engineering Establishment has used 5 private employment agencies—Piper Group Ltd, RSD Technology Ltd, Turner Charles Ltd, Inter Europe Technical Services Ltd, Escom Technical Services—to provide professional engineering staff to fill vacancies in the personnel establishment until full-time civil servants are recruited.
  In 1994 these agencies supplied 38 personnel on an average contract length of 8½ months. The total cost was £957,486, with a median cost per agency of:

  Piper Group Ltd: £26,274

  RSD Technology Ltd: £25,636.

  Turner Charles Ltd: £30,856.

  Employment agencies used by the RAF MGDA

  Agency name

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  1996–97 £

  Total cost £

  Numbers employed

  Average length of contract (where known)

  Michael Page

  39,250

  70,819

  23,521

  133,590

  2

  —

  Doyle Clutton

  56,055

  50,969

  0

  107,024

  4

  2 years

  Accountancy Personnel

  0

  0

  27,642

  27,642

  1

  2 years

  Read Catering

  0

  0

  48,447

  48,447

  Average 2

  —

  Paul Mitchell Associates (Leicester)

  6,063

  8,470

  0

  14,533

  1

  5 months

  ACI (Huntington)

  0

  1,855

  0

  1,855

  1

  11 months

  BNA (Peterborough)

  0

  47

  1,173

  1,820

  1

  —

  Golden Key (Stamford)

  0

  0

  962

  962

  1

  —

  Blue Arrow Personnel Services

  0

  0

  28,154

  28,154

  1

  8 months

  Hayes Accountancy Personnel

  0

  54,027

  41,572

  95,599

  3

  12 months

  Wynnwith Eng. Ltd.

  0

  1307,000

  1,500

  308,500

  not available

  —

  ORS Recruitment

  0

  0

  9,000

  9,000

  1

  6 months 18 months

  MPI Aviation Ltd.1

  o

  0

  717,670

  717,670

  Average 53

  call-off contract

  MPI Aviation Ltd.

  0

  0

  23,520

  23,520

  4

  4 months

  Total cost

  101,368

  493,187

  923,761

  1This relates to the provision of agency manpower to meat fluctuating task levels.

  Letter from Peter Foxton to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to the recent questions you tabled to the Secretary of State for Defence for those matters that fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Supply and Distribution Agency (ABSDA). You asked about the use being made of private employment agencies to recruit staff for employment within Defence Agencies, ABSDA has only been in existence since

  646

  Inter Europe Technical Services Ltd: £7,596.

  In 1995 these agencies supplied 52 personnel on an average contract length of 8¾ months. The total cost was £1,003,425, with a median cost per agency of:

  Piper Group Ltd: £26,641.

  RSD Technology Ltd: £25,996.

  Turner Charles Ltd: £11,412.

  Inter Europe Technical Services Ltd: £2,809.

  Escom Technical Services: £6,364.

  In 1996 these agencies supplied 58 personnel on an average contract length of 7.45 months. The total cost was £1,310,206, with a median cost per agency of:

  Piper Group Ltd: £28,781.

  RSD Technology Ltd: £29,722.

  Turner Charles Ltd: £19,896.

  Inter Europe Technical Services Ltd: £11,711.

  Escom Technical Services: £24,877.

  Letter from Richard Kyle to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES USED BY THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MAINTENANCE GROUP DEFENCE AGENCY
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning private employment agencies used by his Department's Agencies because this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Maintenance Group Defence Agency.
  The information readily available is given in the table at Annex A. As a number of the agency staffs are provided through call-off contract arrangements to cover manpower shortages or peak production periods, the information on median costs and contract periods for individual staff cannot easily be discerned, and is therefore not provided.

  April 1995 and in that time there has only been one occasion where private employment agencies have been requested to recruit staff, and that was in 1996. The Occupational Health and Safety Bureau was tasked to provide a Grade E Nurse as a temporary measure due to difficulties in recruiting full time personnel.
  Recruitment and Assessment Services (RAS), a government agency, were requested in August 1996 to seek candidates for the position of Chief Executive of ABSDA on the retirement of the

  647
  incumbent. Between the selection procedure and my appointment RAS were privatised. Therefore, you may wish to consider RAS a private employment agency.
  The total cost, for both appointments, was £30,289. The length of contract was four months for the Nurse and three years for my tenure of office.
  I trust I have answered your questions satisfactorily.

  Letter from D. L. Burden to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies by the Ministry of Defence and its Agencies, in so far as it applies to the Army Personnel Centre as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of that Agency.
  I should explain that the Army Personnel Centre (APC) formed as an agency on 2 December 1996 and received delegated personnel management responsibility for civilian staff in the APC in Glasgow from 9 December 1996. I can confirm that the APC in Glasgow has not engaged private employment agency staff.
  In addition to the staff employed in the APC at Glasgow I also have residual responsibility for staff at a number of sites in England currently involved in APC business. For the provision of civilian staff at Directorate of 'A' Information Systems (Army), Worthy Down, the now vacated sties (Earls Court and Stanmore) in London and the closing sites (Ashton-Under-Lyne, Leicester, Chester, York and Exeter) in England, I was and remain reliant on the respective Civilian Personnel Management Authorities (CPMAs) responsible for recruitment and management of staff within those areas. I envisage that the individual CPMAs will submit responses for collation centrally and, to avoid the risk of duplication, the data on private employment agency staff who have been employed to support the business of the APC at the closing sites would be incorporated into the MOD—collated return.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from John Prince to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA).
  ATSA launched in October 1995 and, to date, have used 2 private employment agencies, as follows:

  Agency

  Number of employed

  Total cost£

  Contract length

  October 1995 to March 1996

  Job Spot

  1

  2,800

  8 weeks

  April 1996 to February 1997

  Job Spot

  1

  23,500

  44 weeks

  List Design Group

  1

  7,800

  20 weeks

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  Your recent question asked for information about private employment agencies used by the Ministry of Defence and its Agencies including numbers of staff employed from employment agencies, the cost of staff thus employed and the cost paid to the agency and contract duration. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
  I am afraid that this information is not held centrally in DERA as all our business sectors are empowered to recruit their own staff. The information you request could therefore only be collected at disproportionate cost.
  648
  All recruitment of permanent staff in DERA is through fair and open competition in accordance with Civil Service procedures. Where private employment agencies are used it is either to complement other methods of advertising for staff or to meet short term temporary requirement.
  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.

  Letter from T. McG. Brown to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt. Hon Michael Portillo MP, regarding the use of private employment agencies within the MOD. As Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency (DPCSA) I am responsible for recruitment and employment of staff within my Agency and I am therefore providing the details you have requested in respect of my Agency.
  The four employment agencies shown below have supplied temporary staff to DPCSA during the period from 1st January 1994 to 31st December 1996. The total number of staff used from each agency during this period, the average length of contract, the cost per hour (inclusive of VAT) and the type of employee supplied is also shown.

  Number supplied

  Contract period

  Cost (£/hour)

  Employee type

  Bond

  Accountancy

  1

  3 months

  20

  Accountant

  Hays

  Accountancy

  Personnel

  1

  5 months

  25

  Accountant

  Manpower plc

  32

  4 days

  7–8

  Drivers

  Josephine

  Sammons

  Limited

  10

  4 months

  7–8

  Clerical staff

  The overall cost of using these staff is not separately identified. However most of these staff were used during 1996/97 and current expenditure on temporary staff is approximately £45,000 per year. The overall cost of employing temporary staff is comparable with the cost of equivalent permanent staff.
  The agencies listed above are used to recruit temporary staff on a short term basis while permanent staff are being recruited. All permanent staff are recruited from other areas of the MOD or directly by DPCSA via press advertisements, which are also sent to local Job Centres. No permanent staff are recruited from private employment agencies.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Letter from Ron Smith to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies by Defence Agencies as this matter, in respect of the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA), falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the DSCA.
  I regret, that the information requested, is not held in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Letter from Alan Bush to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, about the use of private employment agencies, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Acting Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Executive Agency (DTMX).
  A private employment agency has been used only once by DTMX in the last 3 years. We employed the Recruitment and Assessment Services, Basingstoke, at a total cost of £14,822, to engage direct from Industry the Commercial Business Adviser to DTMX. The individual concerned is employed on a contract of 2 years duration.

  649
  Letter from Malcolm Westgate to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies. This matter falls to me as Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency.
  My organisation acquired Agency status in October 1994. The information you seek is given below, for the period October 1994 to December 1996.

  1. Names of agencies used, and numbers employed by each agency in each year.

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Josephine Sammons

  3

  3

  4

  Manpower Services

  1

  1

  0

  Alfred Marks Western Systems

  1

  1

  1

  2. Cost of using employment agencies.

  1994: £14,414.67

  1995: £47,743.20

  1996: £35,278.96

  3. The median cost per person recruited was £264.

  4. The length of the contracts ranged from 2 weeks to 2 years. The average length was 8 months.

  Letter from John Clarke to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  You recently asked the Secretary of State for Defence a Parliamentary Question relating to the use by the MOD and its Agencies of private employment agencies in each of the last 3 years. As this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office I have been asked to reply to you.
  No private employment agencies were used in the years 1994 and 1995. On 1st April 1996 the UK Hydrographic Agency became a Trading Fund Agency solely reliant for its funding on revenue from the sale of its products and services. It was therefore necessary to build up very rapidly a more commercial awareness in the Agency and for that reason a number of Interim Managers were employed through private employment agencies. In addition, one agency supplied a temporary employee to cover for short term absence. Details of these are:

  Agency name

  Numbers employed

  Median cost per person recruited £

  Ashton Penney

  3

  58,044

  Barton Interim Management

  1

  92,277

  Parity Solutions

  1

  12,740

  Eurolink Group plc

  1

  9,800

  Western Staff Services

  1

  472.11

  Harrison Willis Ltd.

  1

  26,892.53

  The total cost to the UK Hydrographic Agency of using employment agencies in 1996 was £316,315.64p. This amount included charges in respect of salaries paid to the recruits by the agencies but does not include VAT. The average length of contract was 19.4 weeks.
  I hope this information has been helpful.

  650
  Letter from Gordon Wilson to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the use of private employment agencies.
  The information you require in respect of this Agency is as follows:

  Agency

  Numbers employed

  Cost £

  Average cost per employee

  Average length of contract

  1993–94

  ACE

  Recruitment

  1

  2,375

  2,375

  15 weeks

  BNA

  1

  553

  553

  2 weeks

  CMS Employment

  1

  825

  825

  6 weeks

  Barclays Comm Svcs

  1

  1,795

  1,795

  12 weeks

  5,548

  1994–95

  BNA

  1

  1,314

  1,314

  5 weeks

  CMS Employment

  1

  1,361

  1,361

  12 weeks

  Byers Exec Svcs

  1

  288

  288

  2 weeks

  Night Force

  1

  141

  141

  2 days

  3,104

  1995–96

  BNA

  1

  8,295

  8,295

  22 weeks

  Night Force

  1

  183

  183

  2 days

  8,478

  Letter from Alan Pollard to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about use of private employment agencies. As Chief Executive, this falls within my area of responsibility for the Logistic Information Systems Agency (LISA).
  The Agency was formed in November 1994 and assumed full responsibility for personnel recruitment in April 1996. During 1996, the Agency incurred expenditure of £830.76 + VAT to the Paterson Recruitment Agency of Bicester in recruiting one Administrative Assistant on a permanent basis. In recent weeks I have authorised expenditure amounting to £33763.62 to the Recruitment & Assessment Services for the coordination of a campaign to recruit up to 60 Higher Executive Officers and Executive Officers on a permanent basis. The recruitment process is ongoing with results yet to be promulgated.
  Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Letter from Stephen Campion to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies as this matter falls within the area of responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency, who is currently away from the office on official duties.
  The answers to your questions are that since the Agency was established in March 1996:

  (a) No permanent staff have been recruited through private employment services.

  (b) A total of 4 industrial and 6 non-industrial casual staff have been recruited through one private agency.

  (c) The costs of (b) above are £82,586.47 with the median cost paid to the agency being approximately £8,300.

  (d) The average casual/temporary contract for these staff is 3 months (industrial) and 6 months (non-industrial).

  651
  Letter from Philip Wildman to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Military Survey Agency.
  The breakdown of the employment agencies and the costs are below. The median cost paid to each agency per person recruited in 1996–97 is £31,480 with an average length of contract of one year.

  Ser

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Numbers 1996–97

  1.

  Reed Staffing

  Reed Staffing

  Reed Staffing

  3.5

  2.

  1Forward

  1MTS 1Forward

  50

  3.

  Corporate

  Recruitment Corporate Services

  Recruitment Corporate Services

  4.

  Services Group

  Group Manpower

  Group Manpower

  5.

  plc

  plc

  1

  6.

  F I Recruitment

  1

  7.

  Alfred Marks

  8.

  Pertemp

  9.

  £623,460

  £673,230

  £699,596

  55.5

  1MTS, Forward recruitment and Corporate Services Group are now one company. Figures include part-time contract staff.

  Letter from Walter Boreham to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about private employment agencies, as this falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.
  During the last three financial years I have used Belle Personnel, Key Personnel, Manpower Plc and Josephine Salmons employment agencies, who provided a total of 8 persons, at a cost of some £51,000.
  I do not use the services of employment agencies to recruit permanent staff but rather to provide personnel to fill short term vacancies.

  Letter from John McAnally to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question, about the use of employment agencies in each of the past three years, in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA).
  I am afraid that it is not possible to provide you with the information in the format requested. The NRTA was created from the Flag Officer Training and Recruiting (FOTR) Command area on 1 April 1995 and, therefore, has not been in existence for three years, however, the following information has been compiled from the combined FOTR and NRTA use of employment agencies since 1994:

  (a) Agencies Used:

  South Hams Nursing Agency

  Crown Nursing Agency

  Personnel Selection

  Primary Management

  Alfred Marks

  AYS Recruitment Agency

  Manpower plc

  Office Angels

  (b) Total Number of Personnel Employed: 92

  (c) Total Cost: £172,908 (Median Cost Per Person: £407.17)

  (d) Average Length of Contract:½months.

  652
  You may be interested to note that, wherever possible, a competitive tendering process is used to identify the most cost-effective employment agency. In cases where there may be an ongoing requirement for agency personnel (e.g., Nurses), the negotiation of a longer term contract (say, for three years) is likely to result in more competitive prices than would be the case in ad hoc arrangements.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Letter from A. J. Stables to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Royal Air Force Training Group Defence Agency. The names of the agencies which have ben used are as follows:

  Alfred Marks

  Anaesthetists Agency

  Angela Shaw Associates

  Beaver Employment

  Blue Arrow Catering Services

  Brook Street Bureau plc

  Defcon Security Services

  Gibson Oliff Recruitment

  Hamlin Nursing Agency

  Hayes Accountancy Personnel

  Jenrick Ltd.

  Pertemps

  Toner Graham

  Travail

  The total number of private agency staff employed over the last 3 years was 109; 29 of them were employed during financial year 1994–95, 32 in 1995–96 and 48 in 1996–97. The costs during these years were approximately £102K, £132.5K and £147.7K respectively; a total of £382.2K over the period. The median cost paid to the agencies per employee was approximately £3.5K. As far as can be determined from the information available, the average length of contract per person was just over 7.5 weeks.

  I am sending a copy of this letter to my Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

  Letter from Roger Babington to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 19 February 1997:
  I am replying in part to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of private employment agencies, as this is related to my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Ships Support Agency.
  The Ships Support Agency was launched on 11 December 1996 and since that time has used two employment agencies, the details of which are provided below:

  1.

  (a) Ross Campbell Consultants Limited

  (b) Two people employed

  (c) Total cost £3,552, cost per employee £1,776

  (d) Average contract length of employees ten months

  2.

  (a) Alfred Marks (At Your Service)

  (b) Three people employed

  (c) Total cost £8,086, cost per employee £2,695

  (d) Average contract length of employees 5.5 months

  (The cost per employee is the exact cost to the Department and not the median).

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [16287]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The assessment and recording of hazardous substances used in construction is covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1995. The Construction (Design and 654
  Management) Regulations 1994 requires information regarding any hazardous materials incorporated within the fabric of any new structure to be recorded in the health and safety file for that structure.

  The presence of any hazardous materials, such as asbestos, in existing buildings is recorded in the appropriate register its location is noted and its condition monitored.

  Measures are in place to restrict the use of ozone-depleting substances in the construction of MOD buildings.

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