Written Answers of 24 February 1997

PRIME MINISTER

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost to public funds of the attendance of(a) the Prime Minister, (b) the Deputy Prime Minister and (c) officials from the Cabinet Office at meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in Scotland since 1994; and if he will list the meetings of the Committee which (a) to (c) have attended indicating the cost of their attendance and the names of those who attended. [16560]

  The Prime Minister
  I attended the Scottish Grand Committee meeting on 5 July 1996 in Dumfries and had officials in attendance as necessary. Ministers attend Scottish Grand Committee meetings as part of their normal parliamentary duties and officials do so as part of their normal departmental duties. Expenditure falling to my Department has been limited to travelling costs.

  No other Ministers from the Cabinet Office have had the opportunity to attend a Scottish Grand Committee meeting.

  Business Appointment Rules
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister when applications were received from the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) and Dame Pauline Neville-Jones under the business appointment rules; and when, and on what terms, approvals for their appointment to the Natwest bank were granted. [16948]

  The Prime Minister
  The right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) was not bound to seek the advice of my advisory committee on business appointments before joining the National Westminster bank in October 1995 because the guidelines on the acceptance of appointments outside Government for former Ministers did not come into effect until the start of the 1995–96 Session of Parliament.

  Nevertheless, I understand that Mr. Hurd consulted the chairman of the advisory committee informally before taking up the appointment. Dame Pauline Neville-Jones applied for prior permission, in accordance with the rules on the acceptance of outside appointments by Crown servants, to accept a position with the National Westminster bank after retirement. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on the advice of the advisory committee on business appointments, approved Dame Pauline's application unconditionally on 24 June 1996.

  Intelligence and Security Committee
  Sir Patrick Cormack
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has received the 1996 annual report of the intelligence and security committee in accordance with the Intelligence Services Act 1994. [17513]

  The Prime Minister
  I have received the 1996 annual report of the intelligence and security committee and am presenting it to Parliament today. Copies are also being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. I am grateful to the committee for the valuable work it has undertaken in the preparation of the report. Certain portions of the report contained material which fell within the provisions of section 10 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994; accordingly, after consultation with the committee, these have been deleted from the published version.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Tamils
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Sri Lankan Tamils are in the United Kingdom having been granted political asylum; [16934]

  (2) how many Sri Lankan Tamils are currently seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom. [16904]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The available information is for all Sri Lankan nationals; no distinction is made in statistical records between Tamils and other Sri Lankans.

  During 1996, five nationals of Sri Lanka were granted asylum in the United Kingdom and a further 25 were refused asylum but granted exceptional leave to remain. Information on the number granted asylum in earlier years is given in table 3.1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin, "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, 1995" issue 9/96, a copy of which is in the Library. Information regarding those granted exceptional leave in earlier years is given in table 3.2 of the same publication. It is not known how many of those granted either asylum or exceptional leave have remained in the United Kingdom.

  As at 31 December 1996, an estimated 2,895 Sri Lankan asylum seekers were awaiting an initial decision on their asylum applications.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan Tamils, who are being held in(a) prison and (b) detention centres, are seeking political asylum; and if he will make a statement. [16933]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The available information on all Sri Lankan asylum seekers held in detention, under sole Immigration Acts powers, is given in the table. No distinction is made in statistical records between Tamils and other Sri Lankans.
  3

  Sri Lankan nationals recorded as being detained1, who had sought asylum at some stage, by location of detention as at 31 January-3 February 19972

  Persons detained at

  Category of person

  Her Majesty's prison

  Detention centre

  Total

  Port cases

  3

  3

  6

  Persons subject to enforcement action3

  7

  3

  10

  Total

  10

  6

  16

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

  2 Enforcement cases are as at 31 January and port cases are as at 3 February.

  3 Illegal entrants and persons subject to deportation action.

  Electoral Fraud
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the penalties for electoral fraud where the offence involves the deprivation of a vulnerable elector of his or her vote. [17136]

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Legislation already provides for a range of penalties, up to a maximum of an unlimited fine or a term of imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

  CS Gas
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date the Alsetex CS gas dispenser was approved by the police scientific and development branch at St. Albans for use by Home Office constabularies; and which alternative products were(a) tested and (b) approved; [16679]

  (2) what chemical is used as the solvent in the Alsetex CS gas dispenser approved by the police scientific and development branch. [16680]

  Mr. Maclean
  Decisions about the selection of police protective equipment are a matter for chief police officers. The Association of Police Chief Officers announced its choice of equipment marketed by SAE Alsetex for operational trials of CS sprays on 19 October 1995. It chose this equipment following advice from the police scientific and development branch about a variety of CS spray devices. The solvent used in the Alsetex equipment is methyl isobutyl ketone.

  Firearms Administration Office
  Sir Jerry Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the firearms administration office at New Scotland Yard is to close in 1997; and what steps are being taken to provide alternative arrangements to serve the public. [17450]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that firearms licensing functions currently discharged by the firearms licensing branch at New Scotland Yard will be devolved to each of the five areas of the Metropolitan police district on 1 April 1997. A small team will remain at New Scotland Yard with a policy development remit for firearms licensing.

  Blood Samples (Drug Testing)
  Sir Jerry Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct police forces that when a blood sample is taken after an accident and tested for alcohol that it should also be treated for drugs; and if he will make a statement. [17451]

  Mr. Maclean
  No. The decision on what action to take in each case is a matter for the police officer concerned. In the case of an alleged offence under section 3A or 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a blood sample can be taken with the consent of a medical practitioner and be tested for drugs and alcohol.

  Dai Ichi Kyoto Insurance Company
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date approaches were made to him by Belgian police authorities seeking assistance in their investigations of the Dai Ichi Kyoto insurance company; and what actions and on what dates were taken as a result. [17400]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  It is not the Government's policy to comment on whether requests have been received from overseas authorities for assistance in criminal matters or on the execution of requests.

  Firearms Thefts (Luton)
  Sir Jerry Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received from the chief constable of Bedfordshire regarding the theft of large-calibre pistols from a police station in Luton, Bedfordshire; how many pistols were stolen; and on what date the theft occurred. [17448]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the chief constable of Bedfordshire that 23 guns which were the property of a former firearms dealer were taken from a store at Luton police station.

  None of the guns were pistols, and none were police issue guns. Police have traced all but one of the guns. Their investigations continue and I cannot comment further at this stage.

  New Constituences
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will rank the new parliamentary constituencies by share of the electorate below normal retirement age. [15836]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on ranking the new parliamentary constituencies by share of the electorate below normal retirement age.

  5
  Electoral Registration Officers are responsible for collecting information for electoral registers. However, apart from the number of attainers, no information on the electorate is collected by age. Therefore the requested information can not be provided.
  I regret that I cannot be more helpful.

ENVIRONMENT

  Health and Safety Executive Studies
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new instructions he has given to the Health and Safety Executive concerning the carrying out of studies of over 25 people relating to stress, working hours, fatigue or safety; and which proposed studies by the HSE have been abandoned as a result. [16216]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has given no new instructions to the Health and Safety Executive concerning studies in these areas.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Health and Safety Executive is required to obtain ministerial permission before conducting surveys of more then 25 people; and what recent changes there have been in this respect. [16212]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Health and Safety Executive is required to obtain ministerial permission before conducting surveys of 25 or more people in accordance with the Prime Minister's instructions on the control of statistical surveys, which were issued to all Government Departments in August 1994. This is because the Government need to strike the balance between burdens on businesses and the need to collect information for Government purposes. No recent changes have been made in this respect.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new instructions he has given concerning departmental approval of studies of over 25 people relating to stress, working hours, fatigue or safety. [16215]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has given no new instructions concerning departmental approval of studies in these areas.

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [16179]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In the last three years, my Department has used Addecco Alfred Marks, Manpower and Brook Street employment agencies to recruit temporary typists and secretaries. Since line managers 6
  have the delegation to appoint such staff, information on numbers, costs and length of employment is not held centrally and is not readily available.

  The chief executives of the Department's agencies have been asked to write to the hon. Member about their own arrangements.

  Letter from M. C. Buck to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 18 February 1997:
  I would refer to the above Parliamentary Question concerning the use of employment agencies.
  Please be advised of the following:-

  (1) The names of the agencies

  Alfred Marks (a division of Adia UK Ltd)

  David Chorley Associates

  Dunlop & Baddenoch Ltd

  Reed Personnel Ltd.

  Tobias Recruitment Ltd

  The People Business Ltd

  (2) The number employed by the agencies in work for the Department

  Currently 1

  (3) The total cost of using employment agencies

  Year to 31 March 1994 £51,354/ For temporary staff

  Year to 31 March 1995 £78,158

  Year to 31 March 1996 £73,057

  10 months to 31 January 1997 £37,534 - also includes One permanent

  (4) The median cost paid to the agency per person recruited

  Year to 31 March 1994 nil

  Year to 31 March 1995 nil

  Year to 31 March 1996 nil

  10 months to 31 January 97 £2,484 (Cashier)

  (5) The average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies.

  1 Permanent

  Temporary assignments average two to six months.

  Letter form R. G. Courtney to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 18 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment has asked me to reply on behalf of the Building Research Establishment Executive Agency to your question on the use of private employment agencies.
  The Building Research Establishment has not used any private employment agencies for the recruitment of staff within the last three years.

  Letter from C. J. Shepley to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 18 February 1997:
  I have been asked by Sir Paul Beresford to reply to your question about the use made by the Planning Inspectorate of private employment agencies.
  We have not used private employment agencies to recruit staff on our behalf. We have, however, used agencies such as RAS and PA Consulting to advise us on recruitment methods.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which are the 10 highest spending local councils per head in England. [16157]
  7
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The 10 local authorities within each class of authority with the highest budgeted net revenue expenditure per head are as follows:

  1996–97 Budgeted net revenue expenditure per head1£

  London Boroughs2

  1 Tower Hamlets

  1,449

  2 Hackney

  1,413

  3 Islington

  1,324

  4 Camden

  1,271

  5 Southwark

  1,258

  6 Newham

  1,228

  7 Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,190

  8 Greenwich

  1,153

  9 Haringey

  1,139

  10 Westminster

  1,127

  Metropolitan Districts and Unitary Authorities3

  1 Liverpool

  1,053

  2 Manchester

  1,053

  3 Knowsley

  1,018

  4 Birmingham

  972

  5 Wolverhampton

  940

  6 Middlesborough UA

  915

  7 Hartlepool UA

  913

  8 Sandwell

  910

  9 Gateshead

  901

  10 Salford

  886

  Shire Counties

  1 Northumberland

  680

  2 Lancashire

  659

  3 Durham

  659

  4 Cumbria

  656

  5 Kent

  656

  6 Bedfordshire

  654

  7 Hertfordshire

  651

  8 Northamptonshire

  640

  9 Nottinghamshire

  638

  10 Cheshire

  636

  Shire Districts

  1 Leicester

  203

  2 Luton

  198

  3 Alnwick

  193

  4 Southampton

  180

  5 Harlow

  176

  6 Reading

  175

  7 Hove

  175

  8 Blackburn

  169

  9 Wear Valley

  160

  10 Portsmouth

  160

  Notes:

  1The information has been grouped by the classes of authority which bear responsibility for the same range of functions. Comparisons should therefore not be made between these groups.

  2 City of London excluded.

  3 Isles of Scilly excluded.

  British Waterways
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been Her Majesty's Government's grant in aid to British Waterways in the last 10 years. [16956]
  8
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Grant-in-aid to British Waterways since 1987–88 has been as follows:

  1987–88: £43.0 million

  1988–89: £44.8 million

  1989–90: £47.156 million

  1990–91: £48.3 million

  1991–92: £50.1 million

  1992–93: £51.075 million

  1993–94: £49.3 million

  1994–95: £48.866 million

  1995–96: £49.84 million

  1996–97: £49.8 million

  1997–98: £50.89 million.

  The figure for 1996–97 is currently under review.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 261, how many members of the Future BRE group were also members of the in-house bid team. [17444]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Five.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 261, how many members of the Foundation for the Built Environment have been appointed to date. [17441]

  Mr. Jones
  The Foundation for the Built Environment is a company limited by guarantee the members of which, for the time being, are two members of staff of Ashurst Moms Crisp, legal advisers to the management bid team.

  Stress-related Illness
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's estimate of the number of working days lost as a result of stress-related illness in each of the past 10 years. [17457]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There are no data that provide reliable estimates for work days lost annually from stress-related illness for each of the past 10 years.

  Capital Finance
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to consolidate the local authority capital finance regulations and to provide guidance on the capital finance system. [17514]

  Mr. Curry
  The capital finance regulations, first made in 1990, have become increasingly unwieldy because of successive amendments. I want councils to have the clearest possible guidance and not be tied up with unnecessary red tape, so I am publishing today an updated and simplified version of the regulations consolidating all the changes made in the last six years.

  The document being published is an entirely new text with all the changes set out clearly and simply. It will make it easier for local authorities to make the best use of all the opportunities that we have created for investment, through public-private partnership, in new schools, roads and other amenities for their residents.
  9
  The new regulations also bring into effect changes to the rules on capital receipts to help promote regeneration schemes in areas of need. Following extensive consultation the scheme has been extended to a further 21 wards, bringing the total number of authorities that can benefit to 236.

  The regulations also extend for a further year the concessionary set-aside rate applying to the disposal of bus and airport companies and bring into effect a concession to help local authorities lease, for up to 10 years, private-sector dwellings for the homeless. The regulations incorporate important changes to the private finance initiative regulations made last October, strengthening authorities' powers to enter into partnership deals with the private sector. They make some technical changes concerning specified capital grants, the use of credit approvals by debt-free authorities, grants given by and repayable to English Partnerships, and capital finance arrangements for national parks authorities.

  I am also publishing "A Guide to the Local Government Capital Finance System." This is an informal, user-friendly explanation of the key features of the system which authorities will be able to turn to for day to day guidance.

  Planning Policy
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the revised planning policy guidance note 1; and if he will make a statement about the further action he proposes to take to encourage mixed use development in towns and cities. [17591]

  Mr. Gummer
  I am delighted to publish today the revised "Planning Policy Guidance Note 1"—PPG1—"General Policy and Principles".

  This completes a long process of planning policy reform to strike the right balance between helping sustain economic growth while ensuring the protection of our environment.

  The revised PPG 1:
  reaffirms the role of the planning system in meeting the needs of a growing and competitive economy, in providing for new development, such as housing, and in protecting the natural and built environment;
  restates the limited circumstances in which it is appropriate to use planning obligations to secure development;
  reaffirms the Government's commitment to a plan-led system of land-use planning; and
  emphasises the need to provide services in accordance with the principles of the citizens charter and, in a new section on propriety, advises that elected members should make planning decisions on the basis of an officer's written report.

  The new PPG1 also provides guidance on sustainable development, design and mixed use, three themes which the underpin the Government's approach to the planning system.

  To emphasise the importance of sustainable development and the central role of land use planning in helping to deliver it, we have placed four significant paragraphs at the beginning of PPG1. At the heart of sustainable development is the aim of reconciling economic development with protection and enhancement of the environment. Measures to improve energy
  10
  efficiency, minimise waste, make better use of land and improve transport efficiency may achieve sustainable development by promoting environmentally-friendly economic activity. In other instances, there may be conflict, and the planning system may need to ensure that the achievement of social and economic objectives is not at the expense of important natural resources, and properly respects the cultural heritage.

  We are also producing a good practice guide for local planning authorities to help them take account of sustainable development in exercising their functions, particularly through their development plans. This should be published during the first half of 1997.

  Revised PPG1 places renewed emphasis on the importance of good design, particularly urban design. It reflects our aim of ensuring that to build means to enhance, a theme central to our quality in town and country initiative. It recognises that good design has tremendous benefits: it can help promote sustainable development, improve the quality of the existing environment, attract business and investment and reinforce civic pride and a sense of place.

  The revised design guidance advises that:
  local planning authorities should set out in their development plans design policies against which development proposals are to be assessed;
  applicants for planning permission will be expected to be able to show how their development proposals have taken account of the need for good design;
  it is proper to seek to promote or reinforce local distinctiveness but local planning authorities should not attempt to impose a particular architectural style or taste arbitrarily;
  plan policies and supplementary design guidance should focus on encouraging good design and should avoid stifling responsible innovation;
  generally, planning permission should not be refused on design grounds where the design of proposed development is consistent with relevant design policies or guidance; and
  local planning authorities should focus on broader issues of urban design, and not concern themselves with detailed design matters unless those matters have a significant effect on the character or quality of an area.

  We have commissioned the production of a good practice guide on how the planning system might best promote good design, particularly urban design. It is intended that this, together with PPG1 itself, will provide the framework for planning how design issues should be handled within the planning process.

  I am also pleased to announce that my Department will be sponsoring a national urban design award, as part of the Civic Trust's annual design awards. I believe this will give much deserved recognition to development proposals which take proper account of their context and which demonstrate principles of good urban design. I want the award to help promote innovative design solutions for specific areas—solutions which reflect a real understanding of how to design places for people.

  Mixed-use development is one of the main objectives underlying the Government's approach to the planning system, particularly in town centres. Developments which

  11
  produce a variety of compatible uses on a site or in an area are more sustainable because of the benefits mixed use brings:

  it increases vitality and adds to the variety of building design and form;

  it strengthens the economic base—a good balance of activities supports property values and attracts investors;

  it improves occupation levels and standards of building maintenance;

  it improves security where residents and businesses are in close proximity;

  it reduces travel requirements;

  and it can relieve development pressures on fringe and out-of-town locations, especially for housing, by enhancing opportunities for vacant urban sites.

  We want to encourage local authorities and developers to think more imaginatively about ways of incorporating mixed uses into their proposals and produce lively and successful developments. The planning system has an important role to play and the revised PPG1 advises that:

  local planning authorities should include mixed-use policies and proposals for major schemes in their development plans in consultation with developers and communities;

  local authorities should take a positive and flexible approach to changes of use, the reuse of vacant sites and the application of parking and others standards;

  local planning authorities should be realistic in their approaches to achieving mixed use schemes and about what is likely to be deliverable, and reflect this in the level of prescription they give in plans; and

  there is a role for compact "urban village" type developments in creating the environment people will choose to live in.

  In conjunction with PPG1, I am taking forward a substantial package of other initiatives to inform and encourage more mixed-use development.

  I recently set up a departmental review to consider the constraints on mixed-use development and options for tackling them. The review's findings were informed by internal discussions, meetings with investors, developers, funders, surveying consultants and planners, and a literature review. It also drew on advice from my property advisory group and on the discussions which took place at the symposium on mixed-use development which the Department co-sponsored with Birmingham city council and others last summer. The review identified a broad range of measures to stimulate mixed-use development, some of which we have already implemented.

  We have extended VAT zero-rating to the sale or long lease of new dwellings created by conversion of non-residential buildings. This has made residential schemes more viable in a number of areas formerly dominated by warehousing and offices. We have also extended the permitted development order, to enable space over shops and other high street buildings to be used as a single flat. During the review, we issued guidance to local housing authorities on the benefits of mixed use development, and on integrating other uses into housing redevelopments on cleared sites—circular 17/96—Private Sector Renewal: a Strategic Approach. Earlier this month, our support for English Partnerships' involvement in mixed use developments enabled them to launch the "Making Mixed Use Happen" initiative with the urban villages forum. Under this, English Partnerships will make at least £50 million available for qualifying projects over the next four years.
  12
  We are ensuring a mixed-use perspective in several departmental research projects. These include the pilot one-stop shop development approvals study and the production of good practice guidance on how the planning system might best be used to promote high quality design, particularly urban design, which will complement English Partnerships' "Time for Design" guide. Our research on flats over shops is due for publication next month. It will include recommendations to promote such schemes within wider regeneration strategies with mixed use objectives. Following our research into the impact of the buildings regulations on mixed-use development, we will tackle the mainly minor difficulties of interpretation that were identified when the approved documents are next updated. Other departmental research in 1997–98 will address various issues which can affect the opportunities for mixed use development in town centres and feed into good practice guidance.

  We will be talking to several of the Department's sponsored bodies and to local authorities to see what more can be done to encourage and promote mixed-use schemes by supporting pilot projects, providing sites, using procurement policies and issuing good practice guidance. We will also be carrying out a comprehensive evaluation of local planning authorities' policies on mixed-use development in 1998–99 and will consult local authorities about how best to maintain the momentum of the flats over shops initiatives which we have been supporting in recent years. Additionally, we will be exploring with other Government Departments what action they may be able to take to adjust their own policies and programmes where this will stimulate mixed-use development.

  All in all this is a substantial package of measures which will improve the quality of life and environment in our towns and cities in the years ahead.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Pilot Waste Audit
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's pilot waste audit. [16426]

  Mr. Streeter
  The only waste pilot scheme currently in progress within my Department is being conducted by the Court Service. I have asked Michael Huebner, the chief Executive of the Court Service, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the progress of the Court Service's pilot waste audit.
  The Court Service commenced a waste audit at a major Crown Court centre at the end of last year. Preliminary investigations have been undertaken into waste streams and amounts of paper (and other items) currently recycled and reused. Further investigations into how best to minimise waste at source, and therefore the impact of waste disposal on the environment, are continuing.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment
  13
  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. [16308]

  Mr. Streeter
  My Department, its agencies, and the Northern Ireland Court Service ensure that annual assessments of the presence of hazardous materials are carried out on their behalf in accordance with the requirements of health and safety legislation. When such materials are found, they are removed or made safe as quickly as is practicable. With regard to ozone depleting substances, each body has completed a programme of inspections of all buildings on their estate.

  Within the Court Service there are no halon fire fighting systems, all refrigerants used have an ozone depletion potential of less than 0.05 and all new builds use cavity fill insulation in accordance with BS5617, 5618 and 8208 or use alternative materials. The Lord Chancellor's Department has no halon fire fighting systems, and controls, monitors and removes ozone depleting substances in accordance with the EC protocol. The Northern Ireland Court Service has phased out all halon fire fighting systems and uses the Department of the Environment (NI) Construction Service to ensure that ozone depleting substances in refrigerants and air conditioning are controlled and monitored to comply with regulations.

  The HM Land Registry controls, monitors and replaces all ozone depleting substances as soon as is practicable. The Public Record Office is phasing out all halon fire fighting equipment by March 1997. The Public Trust Office's audit concluded that it complied with all regulations regarding ozone depleting substances.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if legal aid is available for malicious defamation proceedings in the case of a person accused of murder. [16995]

  Mr. Streeter
  Full civil legal aid is not available for defamation actions, although legal advice about defamation is available under the green form advice and assistance scheme.

  Legal aid is available for malicious falsehood actions.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Lord President of the Council 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. [16415]

  Mr. Newton
  The small size of the Privy Council Office, and the fact that it is located within buildings managed by the Cabinet Office, limit the scope for independent initiatives on energy use or waste management. However, my Department seeks to exercise 14
  maximum economy in energy use, and to minimise waste, including through the recycling of paper and other materials.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Lord President of the Council 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. [16280]

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council Office is committed both to complying with the requirements of all health and safety legislation relating to the identification and control of hazardous materials in the workplace, and to minimising the use of ozone-depleting substances.

TREASURY

  Unemployment
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals have not worked since leaving school. [15978]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on how many people have not worked since leaving school.
  According to the summer 1996 Labour Force Survey (LFS) an estimated 1,675,000 people in Great Britain had never had a paid job since leaving school. The breakdown of this estimate by educational and economic status is shown in the attached table. Please note that this breakdown is probably very seasonal.

  People who have not had a paid job since leaving school (GB, Summer 1996, Thousands)

  Not seasonally adjusted

  All (of which:)

  Full-time student (not at school)

  Not full-time student

  All (of which:)

  1,675

  438

  1,237

  ILO unemployed

  346

  68

  279

  Economically inactive

  1,329

  371

  958

  Source: ONS, Labour Force.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the parliamentary constituencies in which the number of people out of work and claiming benefit declined by more than 40 per cent. between December 1991 and December 1996, including in the table for each constituency the total for(a) December 1991 and £(b) December 1996, and the percentage reduction. [15731]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  15
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. William Powell, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on claimant unemployment by parliamentary constituency.
  Information on the numbers of people claimant unemployed by parliamentary constituency and the percentage reduction are available and can be obtained on-line from the Nomis database accessed by the House of Commons Library.

  Unemployment and Inflation
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage change in(a) unemployment and (b) inflation in each of the past 25 years. [16107]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  This information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 25 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the percentage change in unemployment and inflation in each of the past 25 years.
  The unemployment data requested is available from the Nomis database which is accessible in the House of Commons Library.
  The inflation data requested is published in the Retail Prices Index Business Monitor (MM23). A copy of this publication is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total number of electors for each of the new parliamentary constituencies in England for the 1997–98 register of electors effective from 16 February. [16208]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Marshall, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to your recent question asking whether he will list the total number of electors on the 1997–98 Electoral Register, for the new Parliamentary Constituencies in England.
  ONS are preparing a Monitor detailing electors on the 1997–98 Electoral Register by the new Parliamentary Constituencies. This will be published as soon as possible, and certainly by early April 1997. It will be placed in the Library on publication day. The total number of electors on the 1996 Electoral Register for each of the new Parliamentary Constituencies in the UK was published in ONS Monitor EL96/2 on 23 July 1996.
  I hope this reply has been helpful.

  Pensions Mis-selling
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the Securities and Investments Board to oblige insurance companies to discontinue legal action against the alleged victims of pensions mis-selling, pending(a) decisions on what
  16
  compensation is owed to those victims and (b) the conclusion of the legal remedies being pursued by those victims. [16448]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I am not aware of any legal actions by insurance companies against alleged victims of pension mis-selling. The only actions I am aware of are by investors against insurance companies.

  Personal Investment Authority
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors his Department considered in respect of the appointment in 1993 of the present chairman of the Personal Investment Authority; and if he will make a statement. [16445]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Neither the Treasury nor the Securities and Investments Board has any role in the appointment of the chairman of the Personal Investment Authority. As it is a company limited by guarantee, this appointment is a matter for its board.

  Female Employment
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, in descending order, the percentage of women in work in relation to the total work force in each of the EU countries. [16527]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Sir Ralph Howell, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the percentage of women in work as a proportion of the total workforce in each of the EU countries.
  Information for the European Union countries showing the numbers of women in the labour force (equivalent to the workforce) and in employment is published in Table 14 and 18 of the Eurostat publication Labour Force Survey Results 1995. A copy of the publication is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the most recent available figures for perinatal mortality in(a) Bolton, (b) England and (c) the United Kingdom; and what trends there have been in each of those areas during the past five years. [16559]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  This information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Peter Thurnham, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your recent question asking for the Perinatal Mortality Rate for the United Kingdom, England and Bolton for the last five years.
  The figures requested are shown in the table. On 1 October 1992 the legal definition of a stillbirth was altered from a baby born dead after 28 or more completed weeks gestation to one born dead after 24 or more completed weeks gestation. This had the effect of raising the perinatal mortality from 1993 onwards.
  17

  Perinatal mortality rates1 for the United Kingdom, England and Bolton, 1991–1995

  Year

  United Kingdom

  England

  Bolton

  1991

  8.1

  8.0

  11.7

  1992

  7.7

  7.6

  14.9

  1993

  9.0

  8.9

  8.4

  1994

  8.9

  8.8

  12.9

  1995

  8.9

  8.8

  11.5

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

  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Claimant Count
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who took the decision to change the geographical basis of the monthly claimant count conducted by the Office for National Statistics; for what reasons the change took place with effect from April 1996; and if he will carry out back runs based on the 1981 census for each parliamentary constituency. [16777]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to your recent question on the decision to change the geographical basis of the monthly claimant count.
  The decision to move to a 1991 boundary basis for the production of small area claimant count unemployment data was made by the ONS in line with its policy of providing the most up-to-date and relevant information available.
  A full description of the reasons for the change and the effect of the move can be found in Labour Market Trends for July 1996, pages 311–328.
  The ONS is currently assessing the feasibility of providing data from the claimant count for current Parliamentary Constituencies based on boundaries existing at the 1981 Census of Population.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of income tax and national insurance contribution would be paid by a person(a) working full time and earning £8,320 per annum and (b) working 10 hours a week and earning £2,080 per annum. [16766]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]A single person, aged under 65, earning £8,320 per annum, would pay income tax of £860.25 and class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted in rate of £574.08 in 1997–98. A single person working 10 hours a week and earning £2,080 per annum would pay nothing.

  Economic Activity
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projections his Department has made for the economic activity rates for men of working age for each year from 1995 to 2006. [16778]
  18
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question about projected activity rates for men of working age.
  Estimated activity rates for 1995 and 1996 and projected rates for each year from 1997 to 2006, relating to all men of working age in Great Britain and using ILO definitions, are published in the February 1997 issue of Labour Market Trends, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Sumitomo Speculation Case
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes in the regulatory structure his Department proposes to make as a result of the Sumitomo metal speculation case. [16916]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]The Securities and Investments Board is responsible for the oversight of the London metal exchange as a recognised investment exchange under the Financial Services Act 1986. The SIB published the report of its review of the London metal exchange on 19 December 1996 and I am placing a copy of that report in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Pound (Purchasing Power)
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the change in the purchasing power of the pound between(a) 1967 and 1996, (b) 1970 and 1975, (c) 1975 and 1980, (d) 1980 and 1990 and (e) 1990 and 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15373]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 11 February 1996]The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter front Tim Holt to Sir Anthony Grant, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the change in the purchasing power of the pound.
  The figures requested are shown in the table, and have been calculated from the Retail Prices Index (PRI). Each figure represents the value that a fixed sum of money has in the last year of the given period, expressed as a percentage of its value in the first year of the period. For example, the amount of goods and services which could be purchased (in the UK) with £1 in 1996 is ten per cent of the amount that £1 could have purchased 29 years earlier in 1967. Similarly, the amount of goods and services which could have been purchased with £1 in 1975 is 54‥ of the amount that could have been purchased five years earlier in 1970.
  It should be borne in mind when making comparisons that the periods covered span different numbers of years.
  19

  Period

  1967–96

  10

  1970–75

  54

  1975–80

  51

  1980–90

  53

  1990–96

  83

  For more information on the method of calculation, you may wish to consult the RPI Business Monitor (MM23), a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Cyclical Social Security (Scotland)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the projected rise in the cost of cyclical social security between 1996–97 and 2001–02 as set out in table 4.6 of general government expenditure of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98"; and if he will make a statement. [15686]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 13 February 1997]Table 4.6 of the 1997–98 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" shows projections for cyclical social security which are consistent with the Government's expectations for the public finances in the medium term. As such, it goes beyond the period covered by the last public expenditure survey for which a detailed analysis of expenditure was carried out.

  Table 5.3 shows that, between 1996–97 and 1999–2000, cyclical social security is expected to rise by roughly £400 million due to four factors. Uprating benefits for the effects of inflation adds £1 billion. Higher case loads and higher average amounts of benefit paid to those under 60 years old claiming income support, particularly the sick and disabled, adds a further £1.2 billion. Although these claimants are not required to seek work, they fall within the definition of cyclical social security. Policy changes announced in the Budget and reducing unemployment over the period will save £1.9 billion in total, largely offsetting the increases.

  Projections for 2000–01 and 2001–02, shown in table 4.6, were not part of the public expenditure survey and were based on simple broad assumptions. Whilst they illustrate the Government's expectations in the medium term, they lack the precision of projections for earlier years. To reflect this, the projections in table 4.6 are rounded to the nearest £1 billion.

  Statistical Services
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and the Government's statistical services have shared a common approach to rounding. [15837]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  It can not be said that there has been any explicit sharing of a common approach to rounding. There is a description of good practice on page 37 of the second edition of "Plain Figures", recently published by The Stationery Office, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. In many respects, the approach taken depends inevitably on the context.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the presence of(a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings for which it is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [16281]

  Mr. Beith
  The buildings on the parliamentary estate have been assessed under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health—COSHH—Regulations 1994. Hazardous substances are recorded and risk assessments are acted upon to minimise hazards. Environmentally friendly products are used whenever possible. A register is kept of the locations on the parliamentary estate where asbestos is known to remain. Ultimately the aim is to remove any materials containing asbestos but this cannot be done all at once, nor is it necessary to do so. Remaining asbestos is sealed and inspected at regular intervals. All equipment containing ozone depleting substances is registered and is inspected quarterly. As this equipment becomes obsolete it is replaced with environmentally friendly alternatives.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members representing Scottish constituencies addressed oral or supplementary questions to Ministers who primarily have responsibility for England in the Session 1995–96. [17274]

  Mr. Newton
  The information, taken from the parliamentary on-line information system database, is set out in the table. The list excludes questions to the Prime Minister, the Northern Ireland, Welsh and Scottish Offices, the National Audit Office, the Public Accounts Commission, the House of Commons Commission, the Church Commissioners and to me in my capacity as Leader of the House of Commons.

  Frequency Member:

  28 Dalyell/Tam

  18 Foulkes/George

  17 Walker/Bill

  16 Gallie/Phil

  14 Campbell/Menzies

  14 Cook/Robin

  13 Strang/Gavin

  12 Canavan/Dennis

  11 Godman/Norman A.

  10 Griffiths/Nigel

  8 Chisholm/Malcolm

  7 Darling/Alistair

  7 Kennedy/Charles

  7 Salmond/Alex

  6 Bruce/Malcolm

  6 Clarke/Tom

  6 Ewing/Margaret

  6 McAvoy/Thomas

  6 McLeish/Henry

  5 Ingram/Adam

  21

  5 Reid/John

  5 Ross/Ernie

  4 Brown/Gordon

  4 Clarke/Eric

  4 Davidson/Ian

  4 Fyfe/Maria

  4 Maclennan/Robert

  3 Bray/Jeremy

  3 Home Robertson/John

  3 Kirkwood/Archy

  3 Marshall/David

  3 Maxton/John

  3 McFall/John

  3 Squire/Rachel

  3 Steel/David

  3 Watson/Mike

  3 Wilson/Brian

  2 Connarty/Michael

  2 Galloway/George

  2 Hughes/Robert

  2 Macdonald/Calum

  2 Monro/Hector

  2 Welsh/Andrew

  1 Cunningham/Roseanna

  1 Galbraith/Sam

  1 Graham/Thomas

  1 Hood/Jimmy

  1 McKelvey/William

  1 Moonie/Lewis

  1 Stewart/Allan

  1 Wallace/James

  1 Worthington/Tony.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the number and percentage of cases completed by the Crown Prosecution Service at magistrates courts that have been(a) discontinued, (b) written off, (c) discharged at committal proceedings, (d) committed for trial, (e) bound over and (f) heard in court; and what was the total proceeded against in each of the 13 CPS areas in England and Wales in each year since 1992. [16238]

  The Attorney-General
  Tables setting out the information sought by the hon. Member would be too extensive to be included in the Official Report and I have placed them in the Libraries of the House. The figures contained in them are exclusive of pre-charge advice work and non-criminal proceedings, and do not include the specialised casework undertaken at CPS headquarters by Central Casework.

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and 22
  competitiveness through an environmental audit of waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16422]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Law Officers' Departments and agencies keep waste management issues under constant review for the buildings they occupy, and have already taken steps to recycle waste, achieve greater energy efficiency and promote the use of environmentally friendly products. Specific waste management measures include the use of "green" bins for the majority of waste paper; the recycling of used toner cartridges and fluorescent tubes; and the dissemination of the Department of the Environment's waste guide to premises managers for implementation. Policies are in place to undertake assessments of environmental performance, including waste management, on all new property acquisitions using BREEAM—the Building Research Establishment environmental assessment method—where it is appropriate to do so. Consideration is also being given to ways of applying the BREEAM approach to buildings currently occupied.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Attorney-General 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. [16278]

  The Solicitor-General
  Assessments are made of hazardous and ozone-depleting substances pursuant to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 and other statutory requirements. Measures taken include the holding of information on materials used by cleaning and building contractors, and the maintenance of asbestos records.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Sixth Forms
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the schools in each metropolitan city which have sixth forms. [16019]

  Mr. Paice
  The latest available list of maintained secondary schools in metropolitan cities which have sixth forms is shown in the following table.

  Maintained secondary schools in metropolitan cities' with sixth forms Position as at January 1996

  LEA Number

  School name

  Birmingham

  330

  Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre

  330

  Lordswood Boys' School

  330

  Lordswood Girls' School

  330

  Sheldon Heath Community School

  330

  Washwood Heath School

  330

  Sir Wilfrid Martineau School

  330

  Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School

  330

  Handsworth Wood Boys' School

  330

  Handsworth Wood Girls' School and Sixth Form Centre

  330

  Broadway School

  330

  Cockshut Hill School

  23

  Maintained secondary schools in metropolitan cities' with sixth forms Position as at January 1996

  LEA Number

  School name

  330

  Swanshurst School

  330

  Bournville School

  330

  Byng Kenrick Central School

  330

  Moseley School

  330

  Sutton Coldfield Girls' School

  330

  John Willmott School

  330

  Arthur Terry School

  330

  Shenley Court School and Sixth Form Centre

  330

  Plantsbrook School

  330

  Frankley Community High School

  330

  St. Paul's School for Girls

  330

  St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School

  330

  Bishop Vesey's Grammar School

  330

  Bishop Walsh School

  330

  St. Edmund Campion RC School

  330

  Archbishop Ilsley RC School

  330

  Baverstock GM School

  330

  Small Heath School

  330

  Handsworth Grammar School

  330

  Great Barr GM School

  330

  King Edward VI Handsworth School

  330

  King Edward VI Five Ways School

  330

  King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls' School

  330

  King Edward VI Camp Hill School (Boys)

  330

  King Edward VI Aston School

  330

  Fairfax School

  330

  George Dixon GM School

  330

  King's Norton Girls' School

  330

  King's Norton Boys' School

  Coventry

  331

  Barr's Hill School and Community College

  331

  Stoke Park School and Community College

  331

  Coundon Court School and Community College

  331

  The Woodlands School

  331

  Caludon Castle School

  331

  Foxford School

  331

  Lyng Hall School

  331

  Tile Hill Wood School

  331

  President Kennedy School and Community College

  331

  Woodway Park School and Community College

  331

  Finham Park School

  331

  Sidney Stringer Community Technology College

  331

  Ernesford Grange School and Community College

  331

  Alderman Callow School and Community College

  331

  Whitley Abbey Comprehensive School

  331

  Bishop Ullathorne RC School

  331

  Cardinal Newman RC School and Community College

  331

  Cardinal Wiseman RC School

  331

  The Coventry Blue Coat CofE School

  Liverpool

  341

  West Derby School

  341

  Holly Lodge Comprehensive School

  341

  Anfield Community Comprehensive School

  341

  Breckfield Community Comprehensive School

  341

  Shorefields Community School

  341

  Fazakerley High School

  341

  The Alsop High School Walton

  341

  The Queen Mary Comprehensive School

  341

  Croxteth Community Comprehensive School

  341

  Broadgreen Comprehensive School

  341

  Childwall Comprehensive School

  341

  Calderstones Comprehensive School

  341

  New Heys Comprehensive School

  341

  Gateacre Community Comprehensive School

  24

  Maintained secondary schools in metropolitan cities1 with sixth forms Position as at January 1996

  LEA Number

  School name

  341

  Lee Manor High School

  341

  Speke Community Comprehensive School

  341

  King David High School

  341

  Archbishop Blanch CofE High School

  341

  Notre Dame High School

  341

  Campion Boys' RC Comprehensive School

  341

  St. Mary's RC Girls' Comprehensive School

  341

  St. John Almond RC High School

  341

  Pope John Paul II RC High School

  341

  St. Julie's High School

  341

  Broughton Hall High School

  341

  Cardinal Heenan High School

  341

  St. John Bosco High School

  341

  De La Salle School

  341

  Archbishop Beck RC High School

  341

  St. Francis Xavier's College

  341

  Our Lady of Fatima High School

  341

  St. Margaret's CofE High School

  341

  St. Hilda's CofE High School

  341

  The Liverpool Blue Coat School

  Manchester

  352

  Parrs Wood High School

  352

  Whalley Range 11–18 High School

  Sheffield

  373

  Silverdale School

  373

  King Egbert School

  373

  Tapton School

  373

  High Storrs School

  373

  King Edward VII School

  373

  Notre Dame RC Comprehensive School

  373

  All Saints' RC School

  Bradford

  380

  Buttershaw Upper School

  380

  Belle Vue Boys' School

  380

  Eccleshill Upper School

  380

  Wyke Manor Upper School

  380

  Rhodesway School

  380

  Bowling Community School

  380

  Tong Upper School

  380

  Belle Vue Girls' School

  380

  Beckfoot Grammar School

  380

  Greenhead Grammar School

  380

  Queensbury School

  380

  Salt Grammar School

  380

  Nab Wood Grammar School

  380

  Carlton Boiling College

  380

  Grange Upper School

  380

  Ilkley Grammar School

  380

  St. Bede's RC Grammar School

  380

  The Holy Family RC School

  380

  St. Joseph's College

  380

  Yorkshire Martyrs Collegiate School

  380

  Bingley Grammar School

  380

  Hanson GM School

  380

  Oakbank School

  380

  Thornton Grammar School

  Leeds

  383

  Lawnswood School

  383

  City of Leeds School

  383

  Allerton High School

  383

  Allerton Grange School

  383

  Carr Manor High School

  383

  Cross Green High School

  383

  Primrose High School

  383

  John Smeaton Community High School

  383

  Temple Moor High School

  25

  Maintained secondary schools in metropolitan cities1 with sixth forms Position as at January 1996

  LEA Number

  School name

  383

  Cockburn High School

  383

  Matthew Murray High School

  383

  Middleton Park High School

  383

  The Merlyn Rees High School

  383

  The Benjamin Gott High School

  383

  Intake High School

  383

  Farnley Park High School

  383

  Wortley High School

  383

  West Leeds High School

  383

  Parklands Girls' High School

  383

  Ralph Thoresby High School

  383

  Roundhay School

  383

  Braim Wood High School for Boys

  383

  Morley High School

  383

  Pudsey Grangefield School

  383

  Rodillian School

  383

  Royds School

  383

  Woodkirk High School

  383

  Benton Park School

  383

  Crawshaw High School

  383

  Guiseley School

  383

  Bruntcliffe High School

  383

  Priesthorpe School

  383

  Wetherby High School

  383

  Garforth Community College

  383

  Brigshaw High School

  383

  Boston Spa Comprehensive School

  383

  Horsforth School

  383

  Prince Henry's Grammar School

  383

  St. Mary's Comprehensive School

  383

  Agnes Stewart CofE High School

  383

  Abbey Grange CofE (GM) High School

  Wakefield

  384

  Hemsworth High School

  384

  Ossett School

  384

  Outwood Grange School

  384

  Minsthorpe Community College

  384

  Freeston High School

  384

  St. Wilfrid's Catholic High School

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  391

  West Denton High School

  391

  Gosforth High School

  391

  Walbottle Campus

  391

  Walker School

  391

  Benfield School

  391

  Blakelaw School

  391

  Kenton School

  391

  Heaton Manor School

  391

  West Gate Community College

  391

  St. Mary's RC Comprehensive School

  391

  St. Cuthbert's High School

  391

  Sacred Heart RC Comprehensive School

  Sunderland

  394

  St. Aidan's RC Comprehensive School

  394

  St. Robert of Newminster RC School

  394

  St. Anthony's Girls' School

  1 Metropolitan cities are boroughs which have city status under section 1 of the local Government Act 1972.

  Primary Schools (Rutland)
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will estimate the total available funding for the financial year 1997–98 for all of Rutland's primary schools if they all chose grant-maintained status. [16842]
  26
  Mr. Robin Squire
  I cannot make such an estimate. Any GM primary school in Rutland in 1997–98 would receive as annual maintenance grant an amount determined by reference to the local education authority's local management of schools—LMS—scheme, with additional money to reflect its additional responsibilities. The precise amounts also depend on the overall budget decisions which the authority makes.

  In addition, GM schools receive special purpose grants and capital grant. Responsibility for determining the amounts of these grants paid to individual schools rests with the Funding Agency for Schools.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much was spent, and how much is available under the SSA to be spent for each of the primary schools in Rutland for (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96, (iii) 1996–97 and (iv) 1997–98; [16838]

  (2) what was the standard spending assessment for education spending on primary schools in Rutland; what was the total actual spending on Rutland's primary schools for (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1996–97; and how much is available under the SSA for 1997–98; [16839]

  (3) what research her Department has conducted into the formula for the education SSA for primary schools in the newly unitary Rutland compared with the pattern of actual spending there in each of the three previous years; what factors have been taken into account for sparsity and special needs; and if she will make a statement. [16840]

  Mr. Squire
  The information is not available in the form in which it has been requested. Neither the total of Leicestershire county council's spending on primary schools nor the education component of the authority's standard spending assessment for the financial years in question can be accurately broken down to the level of individual primary schools in Rutland, primarily due to difficulties in apportioning central spending in support of these schools. I shall write to the hon. Member.

  For 1997–98, the new unitary authority for Rutland is free to decide whether to increase funding for primary schools within the overall increase in its budget requirement permitted by the provisional capping rules. There is no allowance within the education standard spending assessment that is comparable with spending on primary schools.

  The calculation of education standard spending assessments for Rutland and other authorities is based on an objective formula largely driven by pupil numbers. The cost adjustments for sparsity and additional education needs are defined in the "Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997–98", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The formula is, and will continue to be, specifically designed not to reflect actual levels of local authority spending on particular areas and all the factors in the formula are independent of the decisions taken by individual authorities. The formula is kept under annual review, in consultation with the local authority associations.

  List 99
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many names of
  27
  individuals were placed on list 99 in (a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996; and how many of these names were submitted by the independent education sector. [17115]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The following table shows the number of names added to list 99 in each of the last three years for which statistics are available. The table also shows the type of establishment in which these individuals were most recently employed. The Department's statistical record does not distinguish between cases reported by the employer and those reported by the police, or other agency.

  Status of last employer

  Period

  Number of names added to list 99

  Independent school

  Maintained school

  Further education establishment

  1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994

  59

  21

  37

  1

  1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995

  98

  24

  60

  14

  1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996

  81

  26

  55

  0

  Teachers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers took early retirement under the premature retirement arrangements for teachers in each year since 1990. [17120]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The number of teachers granted premature retirement for each year from 1990–91 to 1995–96 is given in the following table.

  1990–91: 11,692

  1991–92: 10,287

  1992–93: 12,214

  1993–94: 12,233

  1994–95: 10,608

  1995–96: 13,055.

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Schools

  6,908

  7,494

  8,299

  7,725

  9,204

  FE and Sixth Form Colleges

  1,882

  3,018

  1,822

  1,894

  2,571

  HE Institutions

  617

  591

  745

  336

  579

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place in the Library the actuarial basis referred to in her Department's letter about changes to entitlement on redundancy within the teachers pension scheme to the secretary of the teachers panel; and if she will estimate(a) the savings to the scheme costs and (b) the extra social security expenditure implied by the changes she proposes. [16944]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I have placed in the Library a note by the Government Actuary, setting out the method of calculation of the actuarial factors which were referred to in the Department's letter of 17 December 1996 to the secretary of the teachers' panel. The Government Actuary

  Education and the Community
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to receive the report from the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority on values in education and the community; and if she will make a statement. [16959]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, expects to receive advice on the final recommendations of the national forum for values in education and the community once the authority has finalised its consultations.

  Teachers Pension Scheme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who had(a) trusteeship duties and (b) fiduciary duties for the teachers' pension scheme before and after the setting up of the Teachers Pensions Agency. [16918]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The teachers' superannuation scheme is an unfunded statutory scheme, which does not have trustees. The Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament for the running of the TSS.

  Fiduciary duties for the moneys coming into and out of the scheme rest with the permanent secretary of the relevant Department. During the existence of the Teachers Pensions Agency from 1992 to 1996, the chief executive of the agency was appointed as an additional accounting officer to support the permanent secretary in his role as principal accounting officer for the Department.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many early pensions or redundancies were financed by the teachers' pension scheme in(a) schools, (b) further education and sixth form colleges and (c) higher education institutions in each of the past five complete years. [16921]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The following table shows the number of premature retirements from the teachers' superannuation scheme for each of the years 1991–92 to 1995–96, for schools—maintained and independent—further education and sixth form colleges, and higher education institutions. Redundancy payments are made by teachers' employers.

  recommends that the employers' contribution rate will be 7.2 per cent., if, as my right hon. Friend has decided, the cost of premature retirement is no longer borne by the scheme, and 8.8 per cent. if it continues to be borne by the scheme. The savings to teachers' employers arising from this difference will be £220 million per annum. It is not possible to say whether there will be extra expenditure on social security as a result of the changes. That will depend on the decisions reached by each individual employer, and the personal circumstances of each teacher who leaves employment. The Government intend premature retirement to continue to be available as a management tool, and has provided funding for that purpose.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will introduce transitional arrangements to dampen the effect of the introduction of the new funding formula on the budget allocation to the Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire training and enterprise council; and if she will make a statement. [16978]

  Mr. Paice
  Initial budget proposals have been modified to some degree in Milton Keynes chamber of commerce, training and enterprise's favour during contract negotiations between the relevant Government office and the eight TECs in the south-east region.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which Government regional offices have not introduced transitional arrangements to dampen the effect on budgets the implementation of the new funding formula for training and enterprise councils; and who is responsible for making such a decision. [16979]

  Mr. Paice
  Government offices are responsible for negotiating contracts with TECs within their allocated regional budgets, and are not required to use a particular funding formula.

  Blakelaw School, Newcastle
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to take a decision on the proposal of Newcastle LEA to close Blakelaw school, Newcastle; if she intends to set down(a) conditions and (b) targets as part of her decision; and if she will inform the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central of her decision. [17253]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend will reach a decision on these statutory proposals as soon as possible. Targets and conditions cannot be part of a decision on this type of proposal. The hon. Member will be informed of her decision as soon as it is made.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the schools receiving money from the assisted places scheme by(a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local education authority. [17123]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I am placing in the Library a list of the 355 schools participating in the assisted places scheme in England in the current academic year 1996–97. The list shows the parliamentary constituency and the local education authority area in which each school is situated.

  Stress-related Illness
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her Department's30
  estimate of the number of working days lost by teachers as a result of stress-related illness in each of the past 10 years. [17456]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  International Labour Organisation Conference
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the Government's policy at the forthcoming ILO conference in respect of the protection of British citizens working(a) within and (b) outside the European Union. [17434]

  Mr. Paice
  The Government will be seeking to ensure that the basic protections of British citizens are taken into account in all discussions.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who will be representing the Government at the ILO conference in Geneva. [17390]

  Mr. Paice
  The United Kingdom will, as in previous years, be sending a tripartite delegation to the ILO conference. The members of that delegation have not yet been appointed.

  School Performance Tables
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 229, what is the total outturn cost of publishing the school performance tables of key stage 2 results for 1996. [16600]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 20 February' 1997]The outturn cost of the key stage 2 performance tables is not yet available. The cost of the 1996 secondary school and 16 to 18 tables, which listed some 5,500 institutions, was £1.4 million. Key stage 2 tables will list some 14,500 schools, but are likely to cost rather less.

  Astra Group
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the timetable for the production of accounts for the Astra Group pension scheme for the year ended 30 April 1994 and subsequent years; if she will investigate the way in which the trustees are carrying out their duties; what assessment she has made of the actuarial valuation made(a) before and (b) after privatisation; and if she will make a statement. [16939]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]Production of the company accounts of the former Astra group, and those of its pension scheme are not matters for this or any Government Department, though the Department of Trade and Industry can confirm the statutory timetables set for production of company accounts.
  31
  The timetable for production of the Astra accounts is a matter to be taken up with the receivers for the Astra group—Arthur Anderson Ltd, or with the current trustees for the pension scheme—Fountain Trustee Ltd.

  It is not appropriate for this Department to investigate the manner in which the trustees of the pension scheme have carried out their duties. If the members of the scheme are concerned that the actions of the trustees, or their advisers, do not comply with legal or professional requirements, then they may consider seeking recourse under a variety of routes.

  As the pension scheme in question was established with effect from the date of the privatisation of the Government skiliscentre involved in the Astra purchase, there was no valuation of the fund by the Government Actuary's department before the transfer. The financing of the pension scheme was entirely a matter for the company and the trustees of the pension scheme in conjunction with their actuarial advisors, who are understood to be Coopers and Lybrand.

  The Secretary of State is unable to comment further on these issues.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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 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. [16189]

  Mr. Sproat
  The information for my Department, and the two agencies for which it is responsible—the Historic Royal Palaces Agency (HRPA) and the Royal Parks Agency (RPA), is as follows:—

  (a) Agencies used in the last three years.

  Josephine Sammons, Manpower, Office Angels, Reinforcements, PRC Employment, Alfred Marks, Montrose Technical Recruitment, Hays Accountancy Personnel, Accountancy Selection, Adecco UK Ltd., Initial Contract Services, Kelly Services, Church Street Recruitment, Montrose, Adia Alfred Marks, Pipco Ltd., Harris Jones Recruitment, Huntley Cartwright, Roberts Associates, MTS Group, Abacus, Masterlock, The Peepul Bureau, Recruit, PD Bureau, and ADIA.

  (b) Number employed by the agencies in work for the Department and its agencies

  Year

  Total

  DNH

  HRPA

  RPA

  1994–95

  79

  21

  48

  10

  1995–96

  126

  22

  87

  17

  1996–97

  148

  20

  123

  5

  Note:

  These figures include successive agency staff filling the same posts.
  32
  (c) Total cost to the Department and its Agencies

  Year

  Total

  DNH

  HRPA

  RPA

  1994–95

  £335,388

  n/a

  £294,388

  £41,000

  1995–96

  £771,892

  £354,102

  £403,790

  £14,000

  1996–971

  £743,420

  £330,000

  £403,420

  £10,000

  1 Estimated costs.

  Median costs are not available.

  (d) Many of these contracts are with the agencies to supply staff, not with individuals; hence no average length of contract is available.

  Crystal Palace Recreation Centre and Stadium
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions she has had with(a) Bromley council and (b) the Central Council for Physical Recreation about the future of Crystal Palace recreation centre and stadium. [16883]

  Mr. Sproat
  None. I refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 19 February,Official Report, column 585. Discussions about the future of facilities at Crystal Palace national sports centre are a matter for the English Sports Council.

  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will ensure that the athletic track and facilities at the Crystal Palace recreation centre will remain fully available for athletes training for Olympic athletics until adequate international class facilities are provided elsewhere in London. [16938]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]An independent feasibility study is being undertaken on behalf of the London borough of Bromley and the English Sports Council to determine the future need for, and uses of, the Crystal Palace national sports centre. This is part of an ongoing commitment by the English Sports Council to ensure the provision of top class facilities for athletes. The lottery sports fund has to date made 32 awards to athletics for the development of new facilities. The total of these awards is £22,399,841.

  While discussions on the future of Crystal Palace national sports centre continue, the English Sports Council recognises that provision needs to be made both for competition and for training in London generally and in south London in particular. It is currently considering where such facilities can best be provided.

  British Broadcasting Corporation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage by what mechanism she ensures that the BBC meets the requirements of its charter with particular reference to political impartiality; and if she will make a statement. [16957]

  Mr. Sproat
  Under the terms of the new charter and agreement, it is for the BBC board of governors to ensure that the corporation is meeting its obligations to the public. Under the agreement, the BBC is required to treat controversial subjects with due accuracy and impartiality, both in the corporation's news services and in the more general field of programmes dealing with matters of public policy or of political or industrial
  33
  controversy. Central to this obligation is the duty on the corporation to draw up a new code of guidance on how it is to meet its obligations of due accuracy and impartiality. The governors have a specific duty to ensure compliance with this code by all BBC employees and programme makers. The code was published on 13 November 1996 as part of the corporation's revised "Producers' Guidelines", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  British Academy of Sport
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she will be announcing the further shortlist for the British Academy of Sport. [16663]

  Mr. Sproat
  I will be announcing the final shortlist on the morning of 25 February and copies of the announcement will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [16579]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Ministers attend Scottish Grand Committee meetings as part of their normal parliamentary duties and officials attend as necessary as part of their normal departmental duties. Expenditure falling to my Department has been limited to travelling costs. The names of Scottish Office Ministers who have attended meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee held in Scotland since December 1994 can be found in the Official Report of each of these meetings.

  Health Service Staff Contracts
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff employed by NHS trusts or health boards are on local contracts outwith Whitley agreements. [16744]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not held centrally.

  Unfit Housing
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of housing stock in each local authority was designated as unfit for habitation in each year since 1990. [17232]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The term "unfit for habitation" is not used in Scotland. The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 sets out the criteria for a dwelling to meet the tolerable standard, which is the relevant standard in Scotland. Local authority estimates of the number of dwellings which fall below the tolerable standard are published annually in the Scottish Office statistical bulletin housing series, bulletins HSG/1992/4, HSG/1992/7, HSG/1994/6, HSG/1994/8 and HSG/1996/2. These bulletins are available in the House Library. The most recent estimates, for April 1996, are due to be published on 27 February 1997. A copy of the relevant bulletin (HSG/1997/1) will also be placed in the House Library.

  Pesca Schemes (Berwickshire)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the Pesca-funded schemes agreed by the EU for projects located in the Berwickshire area over the past 12 months indicating the title of the project, the amount of funding, the starting date for the scheme, and the date when the funds were made available to the organisers carrying out the schemes; [16986]
  36
  (2) how many Pesca-funded schemes agreed by the EU for projects located in the Berwickshire area over the past 12 months are awaiting payment for work completed; [16987]

  (3) what factors have led to the delay in payment of Pesca funding from the EU for projects agreed in the Berwickshire area over the past 12 months; [16988]

  (4) what steps he proposes to take to ensure payment of outstanding funds to organisations in Berwickshire undertaking Pesca-funded projects. [16989]

  Mr. Kynoch
  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 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.

  The Borders LPG, which incorporates Berwickshire, has a programme allocation of 1.34 mecu—£1,047 million approximately—for the period 1995–99. On receipt of a first claim from the group for expenditure defrayed in 1996, Scottish Office officials will visit the group to ensure that suitable administrative systems are in place, and a first advance of Pesca funds will be released.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were total capital receipts in respect of the right to buy from(a) council tenants, (b) Scottish Homes tenants, (c) new town tenants and (d) other public sector tenants in Scotland in each year from 1979–80 to 1995–96. [17226]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The available information is set out in the table.

  Total capital receipts under the right to buy scheme Scotland 1980–81 to 1995–96

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Period

  Local Authority (£ million)

  Scottish Homes (£ million)

  New Towns (£ million)

  1980–81

  23.49

  15.21

  11.58

  1981–82

  61.22

  17.17

  15.90

  1982–83

  101.28

  18.69

  14.59

  1983–84

  121.21

  30.63

  21.09

  1984–85

  115.58

  34.89

  19.71

  1985–86

  104.37

  25.19

  15.85

  1986–87

  116.33

  22.42

  19.29

  1987–88

  166.27

  43.99

  25.51

  1988–89

  254.03

  79.74

  28.68

  1989–90

  300.63

  61.93

  47.11

  1990–91

  256.71

  30.42

  36.11

  1991–92

  239.17

  32.82

  24.49

  1992–93

  251.41

  32.11

  22.21

  37

  Total capital receipts under the right to buy scheme Scotland 1980–81 to 1995–96

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Period

  Local Authority (£ million)

  Scottish Homes (£ million)

  New Towns (£ million)

  1993–94

  236.97

  38.06

  24.57

  1994–95

  243.42

  34.24

  28.76

  1995–961

  179.45

  24.39

  20.83

  1 Eight local authorities have not yet provided figures for all or part of the year.

  Farm Holdings
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many individual farm units in Scotland outside environmentally sensitive areas are(a) under 40, (b) 41 to 50, (c) 61 to 70, (d) 71 to 80 and (e) over 80 hectares; and what is the total area of farmland outside the ESAs. [17255]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The estimated data are shown in the table:

  Size group (ha)

  Farm units

  Area (ha)

  Under 40

  30,288

  40–49.9

  1,581

  50–59.9

  1,358

  60–69.9

  1,256

  70–79.9

  1,042

  Over 80

  9,651

  Total

  45,176

  4,508,048

  Hospital Beds
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average daily number of hospital beds in general and acute specialties in each health authority in Scotland in(a) 1982, (b) 1990–91, (c) 1991–92 and (d) 1995–96. [17246]

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

  Average available staffed beds in acute specialties1 as at 31 March

  1982

  1991

  1992

  1996

  Argyll and Clyde

  1,394

  1,315

  1,286

  1,140

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1,085

  1,138

  1,152

  971

  Borders

  337

  349

  354

  336

  Dumfries and Galloway

  455

  447

  435

  416

  Fife

  905

  863

  851

  754

  Forth Valley

  771

  625

  605

  573

  Grampian

  1,932

  1,618

  1,640

  1,804

  Greater Glasgow

  5,759

  4,615

  4,194

  3,581

  Highland

  850

  736

  740

  796

  Lanarkshire

  1,917

  1,691

  1,665

  1,526

  Lothian

  3,791

  2,855

  2,659

  2,300

  Orkney

  58

  62

  62

  85

  Shetland

  62

  53

  49

  46

  Grant aided expenditure per pupil 1991–92 to 1995–96

  Primary school teaching staff

  (£s per pupil)

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Borders

  1,126

  1,144

  1,189

  1,216

  1,211

  Central

  987

  1,068

  1,112

  1,137

  1,142

  Dumfries

  1,125

  1,173

  1,226

  1,269

  1,254

  38

  Average available staffed beds in acute specialties1 as at 31 March

  1982

  1991

  1992

  1996

  Tayside

  2,070

  1,862

  1,801

  1,540

  Western Isles

  83

  87

  85

  95

  Scotland

  21,468

  18,317

  17,580

  15,963

  1 Includes acute, supra-area and special categories specialty groups. Excludes obstetrics.

  Class Sizes
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average class size in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and what has been the percentage change since 1992. [17250]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Statistics on class size are collected biennially. The available information is set out in the following table.

  Average class size in publicly funded primary and secondary schools in Scotland

  Sector

  September 1991

  September 1993

  September 1995

  Percentage change 1991–95

  Primary

  24.7

  24.7

  24.8

  0.4

  Secondary

  18.9

  19.3

  19.5

  3.2

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of children were taught in classes of more than 31 pupils in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1994–95 and (e) 1995–96. [17249]

  Mr. Robertson
  Statistics on class size in primary schools are collected biennially. The available information is given in the table. Information on individual class sizes in secondary schools is not collected centrally.

  Pupils in classes of over 31 in primary schools in Scotland

  As at September

  Number

  Percentage of pupils

  1991

  45,079

  10.2

  1993

  47,665

  10.9

  1995

  51,955

  11.8

  Education Spending
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the standard spending assessment per pupil in(a) primary and (b) secondary education in each year from 1991 to 1996 for each local education authority. [17252]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Standard spending assessments do not apply in Scotland. The equivalent figures for Scottish local authorities are grant aided expenditure assessments—GAEs. Information on relevant GAE per pupil is provided in the tables. Only the GAEs for teaching costs differentiate between primary and secondary education.
  39

  Grant aided expenditure per pupil1 1991–92 to 1995–96

  Primary school teaching staff

  (£s per pupil)

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Fife

  1,050

  1,064

  1,105

  1,129

  1,133

  Grampian

  1,058

  1,103

  1,150

  1,177

  1,174

  Highland

  1,136

  1,173

  1,224

  1,259

  1,250

  Lothian

  973

  1,057

  1,100

  1,123

  1,126

  Strathclyde

  957

  1,056

  1,097

  1,121

  1,125

  Tayside

  1,002

  1,093

  1,136

  1,164

  1,165

  Orkney

  1,218

  1,296

  1,359

  1,349

  1,308

  Shetland

  1,218

  1,258

  1,334

  1,353

  1,340

  Western Isles

  1,218

  1,326

  1,390

  1,480

  1,434

  1 Pupil numbers as used in the calculation of the GAE for the year, as shown in the relevant edition of the Green Book.

  Grant aided expenditure per pupil1 1991–92 to 1995–96

  Secondary school teaching staff

  (£s per pupil)

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Borders

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Central

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Dumfries

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Fife

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Grampian

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Highland

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Lothian

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Strathclyde

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Tayside

  1,793

  2,008

  2,052

  2,059

  2,006

  Orkney

  2,185

  2,503

  2,724

  2,777

  2,714

  Shetland

  2,185

  2,503

  2,724

  2,777

  2,714

  Western Isles

  2,185

  2,503

  2,724

  2,777

  2,714

  1 Pupil numbers as used in the calculation of the GAE for the year, as shown in the relevant edition of the Green Book.

  Grant aided expenditure per pupil1 1996–97

  Primary school teaching staff

  Secondary school teaching staff

  Relevant education GAE2 not attributable to either sector

  GAE/PUP1 (£)

  GAE/PUPI (£)

  GAE/PUPI (£)

  Aberdeen

  1,134

  Aberdeen

  2,030

  Aberdeen

  1,050

  Aberdeenshire

  1,253

  Aberdeenshire

  2,030

  Aberdeenshire

  1,081

  Angus

  1,219

  Angus

  2,030

  Angus

  1,069

  Argyll and Bute

  1,311

  Argyll and Bute

  2,030

  Argyll and Bute

  1,142

  Clackmannan

  1,143

  Clackmannan

  2,030

  Clackmannan

  1,112

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,295

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,030

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,112

  Dundee

  1,134

  Dundee

  2,030

  Dundee

  1,112

  East Ayrshire

  1,154

  East Ayrshire

  2,030

  East Ayrshire

  1,114

  East Dunbartonshire

  1,139

  East Dunbartonshire

  2,030

  East Dunbartonshire

  1,059

  East Lothian

  1,175

  East Lothian

  2,030

  East Lothian

  1,089

  East Renfrewshire

  1,134

  East Renfrewshire

  2,030

  East Renfrewshire

  1,074

  Edinburgh

  1,134

  Edinburgh

  2,030

  Edinburgh

  1,123

  Falkirk

  1,154

  Falkirk

  2,030

  Falkirk

  1,071

  Fife

  1,157

  Fife

  2,030

  Fife

  1,099

  Glasgow

  1,134

  Glasgow

  2,030

  Glasgow

  1,321

  Highland

  1,292

  Highland

  2,030

  Highland

  1,134

  Inverclyde

  1,134

  Inverclyde

  2,030

  Inverclyde

  1,144

  Midlothian

  1,165

  Midlothian

  2,030

  Midlothian

  1,066

  Moray

  1,201

  Moray

  2,030

  Moray

  1,084

  North Ayrshire

  1,151

  North Ayrshire

  2,030

  North Ayrshire

  1,127

  North Lanarkshire

  1,139

  North Lanarkshire

  2,030

  North Lanarkshire

  1,103

  Orkney

  1,361

  Orkney

  2,691

  Orkney

  1,260

  Perth and Kinross

  1,231

  Perth and Kinross

  2,030

  Perth and Kinross

  1,101

  Renfrewshire

  1,134

  Renfrewshire

  2,030

  Renfrewshire

  1,110

  Scottish Borders

  1,244

  Scottish Borders

  2,030

  Scottish Borders

  1,073

  Shetland

  1,398

  Shetland

  2,691

  Shetland

  1,251

  South Ayrshire

  1,172

  South Ayrshire

  2,030

  South Ayrshire

  1,097

  40

  Grant aided expenditure per pupil' 1991–92 to 1995–96 Relevant education GAE2 not attributable to either sector

  (£s per pupil)

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Borders

  1,034

  1,069

  1,060

  1,072

  1,070

  Central

  1,015

  1,054

  1,076

  1,082

  1,075

  Dumfries

  1,069

  1,108

  1,092

  1,106

  1,104

  Fife

  1,031

  1,068

  1,093

  1,097

  1,081

  Grampian

  1,021

  1,058

  1,041

  1,058

  1,062

  Highland

  1,068

  1,107

  1,111

  1,120

  1,120

  Lothian

  1,039

  1,090

  1,100

  1,103

  1,091

  Strathclyde

  1,073

  1,120

  1,151

  1,155

  1,140

  Tayside

  1,044

  1,079

  1,090

  1,091

  1,085

  Orkney

  1,194

  1,242

  1,202

  1,211

  1,224

  Shetland

  1,217

  1,249

  1,201

  1,208

  1,215

  Western Isles

  1,239

  1,250

  1,209

  1,166

  1,163

  1 Pupil numbers as used in the calculation of the GAE for the year, as shown in the relevant edition of the Green Book.

  2 Relevant GAE includes: Teachers for deprivation/Ethnic minorities, school transport, school bursaries and school meals.

  41

  Grant aided expenditure per pupil1 1996–97

  Primary school teaching staff

  Secondary school teaching staff

  Relevant education GAE2 not attributable to either sector

  GAE/PUPI (£)

  GAE/PUPI (£)

  GAE/PUPI (£)

  South Lanarkshire

  1,156

  South Lanarkshire

  2,030

  South Lanarkshire

  1,096

  Stirling

  1,207

  Stirling

  2,030

  Stirling

  1,113

  West Dunbartonshire

  1,141

  West Dunbartonshire

  2,030

  West Dunbartonshire

  1,148

  West Lothian

  1,151

  West Lothian

  2,030

  West Lothian

  1,085

  Western Isles

  1,468

  Western Isles

  2,691

  Western Isles

  1,152

  1 Pupil numbers as used in the calculation of the GAE for the year, as shown in the relevant edition of the Green Book.

  2 Relevant GAE includes: Teachers for deprivation/Ethnic Minorities, School Transport, School Bursaries and School Meals.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the spending per pupil in(a) primary and (b) secondary education in each year from 1991 to 1996 for each local education authority. [17251]

  Net current expenditure per pupil (£ at out-turn prices)

  Regional/Islands Council

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Borders

  1,728

  2,744

  1,885

  2,857

  1,935

  2,873

  1,943

  2,941

  Central

  1,606

  2,715

  1,722

  2,801

  1,733

  2,785

  1,724

  2,761

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,644

  2,833

  1,745

  2,957

  1,749

  2,876

  1,719

  2,894

  Fife

  1,631

  2,551

  1,729

  2,636

  1,721

  2,569

  1,752

  2,597

  Grampian

  1,637

  2,882

  1,842

  3,031

  1,805

  2,958

  1,774

  2,862

  Highland

  1,767

  2,797

  1,907

  2,896

  1,970

  2,914

  2,000

  2,975

  Lothian

  1,538

  2,911

  1,659

  3,047

  1,650

  2,963

  1,695

  2,959

  Strathclyde

  1,646

  2,820

  1,763

  2,842

  1,769

  2,769

  1,811

  2,831

  Tayside

  1,538

  2,890

  1,709

  3,036

  1,711

  2,878

  1,766

  2,946

  Orkney

  2,039

  3,657

  2,106

  3,827

  2,560

  3,464

  2,537

  3,576

  Shetland

  1,962

  4,341

  2,382

  4,492

  2,945

  4,948

  2,576

  5,104

  Western Isles

  2,117

  3,680

  2,429

  4,297

  2,390

  4,200

  2,490

  4,405

  Note:

  The figures have been compiled from local authority financial returns.

  Countryside Premium Scheme
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the upper level of the countryside premium scheme, and if he will make a statement. [17257]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Details of payments for the countryside premium scheme were announced on 31 January. There are no plans to introduce any changes, but all elements of the scheme will be kept under review once it has been launched.

  Mrs. Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of farms expected to join the Scottish countryside premium scheme in 1997–98 and 1998–99; and if these figures were made available to the European Commission during his discussions about the introduction of the scheme. [17256]

  Mr. Robertson
  We have made no estimate of the number of farms expected to join the scheme in 1997–98 and 1998–99 but we anticipate a considerable degree of interest.

  Nursery School Pupils
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) three year-olds and (b) four year-olds there were in nursery schools and classes in
  42
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information is given in the table. 1994–95 is the latest financial year for which actual expenditure information is currently available. The figures do not include the cost of home to school transport, school meals, education authority central administration costs and loan charges.

  each education authority; and what percentage these figures represent of all children in those age groups in the authority area. [17248]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested for 1995 is set out in the following table. Figures for 1996 are not yet available. Schools have been allocated to their current education authority.

  Pupils aged three and four in Education Authority nursery schools and classes, as at September 1995

  Aged three1

  Aged four1

  Education authority

  Number

  Percentage of population

  Number

  Percentage of population

  Scotland

  12,634

  19

  35,331

  53

  Aberdeen City

  488

  18

  1,718

  65

  Aberdeenshire

  141

  4

  1,756

  57

  Angus

  92

  6

  816

  58

  Argyll and Bute

  53

  5

  112

  10

  Clackmannanshire

  171

  26

  495

  76

  Dumfries and Galloway

  178

  10

  1,342

  72

  Dundee City

  721

  39

  1,422

  73

  East Ayrshire

  466

  27

  1,094

  65

  East Dunbartonshire

  40

  3

  124

  9

  East Lothian

  340

  27

  897

  77

  East Renfrewshire

  155

  13

  366

  32

  Edinburgh, City of

  1,574

  30

  3,355

  64

  Falkirk

  344

  18

  1,324

  68

  Fife

  775

  17

  3,506

  77

  Glasgow, City of

  3,198

  38

  5,372

  68

  Highland

  130

  5

  705

  26

  Inverclyde

  183

  16

  425

  36

  43

  Pupils aged three and four in Education Authority nursery schools and classes, as at September 1995

  Aged three1

  Aged four1

  Education authority

  Number

  Percentage of population

  Number

  Percentage of population

  Midlothian

  321

  29

  845

  76

  Moray

  42

  3

  659

  57

  North Ayrshire

  150

  8

  325

  18

  North Lanarkshire

  590

  13

  1,430

  33

  Orkney Islands

  41

  15

  160

  60

  Perth and Kinross

  268

  17

  886

  54

  Renfrewshire

  392

  16

  1,071

  45

  Scottish Borders

  37

  3

  524

  40

  Shetland Islands

  91

  26

  197

  57

  South Ayrshire

  128

  9

  454

  34

  South Lanarkshire

  348

  8

  832

  21

  Stirling

  199

  20

  637

  65

  West Dunbartonshire

  428

  33

  887

  70

  West Lothian

  550

  26

  1,595

  78

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Age as at 31 December 1995

  Housing Waiting Lists
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were on each local authority housing waiting list for each year since 1990. [17229]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Information in the form requested is not held centrally.

  Passenger and Cargo Flights (USA)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action Scottish Enterprise is making to encourage direct passenger and cargo flights between Scotland and the United States of America; and if he will make a statement. [17237]

  Cancellations of hospital admission by health board area of treatment: quarters ending 30 June 1994–31 March 1996

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Percentage change between 1994–95 to 1995–96

  June

  September

  December

  March

  June

  September

  December

  March

  Argyll and Clyde

  34

  34

  34

  14

  42

  43

  63

  71

  88.8

  Ayrshire and Arran

  76

  92

  77

  94

  56

  34

  34

  45

  -50.1

  Borders

  52

  29

  21

  37

  50

  41

  17

  46

  10.8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  15

  6

  6

  8

  1

  4

  14

  18

  5.7

  Fife

  99

  93

  98

  125

  79

  89

  129

  197

  19.0

  Forth Valley

  2

  6

  10

  9

  20

  19

  30

  29

  263.0

  Grampian

  234

  255

  206

  247

  232

  306

  259

  194

  5.2

  Greater Glasgow

  316

  313

  335

  303

  350

  406

  355

  510

  27.9

  Highland

  124

  192

  131

  165

  149

  191

  134

  245

  17.5

  Lanarkshire

  36

  40

  30

  52

  40

  57

  61

  86

  54.4

  Lothian

  335

  413

  395

  444

  280

  383

  335

  623

  2.1

  Orkney

  3

  5

  —

  3

  1

  —

  3

  —

  -63.6

  Shetland

  25

  3

  7

  12

  6

  4

  —

  —

  -78.7

  Tayside

  106

  93

  89

  119

  91

  146

  132

  267

  56.3

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  2

  400.0

  Scotland

  1,457

  1,574

  1,440

  1,632

  1,397

  1,723

  1,569

  2,333

  15.1

  Note:

  The figures cover the 7 key specialties of general surgery, ENT surgery, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, urology, gynaecology and plastic surgery, which comprise around 90 per cent. of admissions from waiting lists.

  Hospital Payphones
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct NHS hospital trusts that normal BT callbox charges should apply to all payphones within hospitals. [17394]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. This is a matter for trusts to determine at local level.
  44
  Mr. Kynoch
  The progress made by Scottish Enterprise in promoting direct air links with the United States of America has been greatly assisted by the changes which the Government have introduced to give airports and airlines the freedom of choice to operate scheduled and chartered flights from any Scottish airport wherever it is judged that such flights would be commercially viable. We have also indicated to the United States' Government that we favour the further extension of long-haul cargo liberalisation. The contribution made by Scottish Enterprise to the development of these policies has been invaluable.

  While the establishment of air services is ultimately a commercial matter for the operators, Scottish Enterprise has pursued a range of initiatives designed to promote the expansion of Scotland's direct air links with the USA. I have asked the chairman of Scottish Enterprise to write to the hon. Member.

  Cancelled Operations
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many operations were cancelled on the day of, or after, the patient's admission to hospital in each health authority in Scotland for each quarter in 1994–95 and 1995–96; and what was the percentage change between the two years. [17247]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on cancellations of operations following admission to hospital is not held centrally. Total figures for cancellations of planned admissions for in-patient and day case treatment are in the table. The number of cancellations involved is very small in relation to the total number of admissions.

  Right-to-buy Discounts
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of discounts for right to buy for(a) council tenants, (b) Scottish Homes tenants, (c) new town tenants and (d) other public sector tenants in Scotland in each year from 1979–80 to 1995–96. [17225]
  45
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The available information is set out in the table.

  Total value of discounts under the right to buy scheme <paScotland 1980–81 to 1995–96

  Period

  (a) Local authority (£ million)

  (b) Scottish homes (£ million)

  (c) New towns (£ million)

  1980–81

  19.49

  10.22

  7.98

  1981–82

  50.33

  12.30

  10.71

  1982–93

  82.30

  12.75

  9.42

  1983–84

  96.20

  21.21

  13.35

  1984–85

  97.84

  26.26

  13.84

  1985–86

  98.89

  20.61

  11.21

  1986–87

  111.07

  19.68

  16.79

  1987–88

  196.52

  42.25

  24.10

  1988–89

  317.97

  84.75

  27.97

  1989–90

  402.21

  71.18

  48.37

  1990–91

  356.30

  34.44

  37.76

  1991–92

  319.63

  34.87

  24.54

  1992–93

  327.26

  33.93

  21.56

  1993–94

  299.87

  41.14

  24.55

  1994–95

  306.15

  39.07

  29.27

  1995–961

  226.89

  27.98

  21.42

  1 Eight local authorities have not yet provided figures for all or part of the year.

  Incapable Adults
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in considering the Scottish Law Commission report on incapable adults, Scot Law Corn No. 151. [17534]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  On 18 June of last year, I informed my right hon. Friend that I had been giving careful consideration to the Scottish Law Commission's report on incapable adults. I recognised that the report raises a number of issues which are both important and sensitive, and proposes many changes in the law relating to legal procedures for looking after the property, financial affairs and personal welfare of mentally incapable adults.

  I therefore announced that, before legislating on the basis of the commission's proposals, there should be further consideration. I have today issued a consultation paper and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Medical Negligence Claims
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many outstanding medical negligence

  Mecu/£ million (1 ecu = £0.73)

  Programme

  1995

  1996

  1997

  ERDF

  ESF

  ERDF

  ESF

  ERDF

  ESF

  Highlands and Islands Objective 1

  26.84 (19.59)

  8.7 (6.35)

  28.39 (20.72)

  9.2 (6.72)

  30.87 (31.6)

  9.40 (6.86)

  Western Scotland Objective 2

  73.89 (53.94)

  20.91 (15.26)

  76.18 (55.61)

  22.13 (16.15)

  79 (57.67)

  22.33 (16.3)

  Eastern Scotland Objective 2

  32.08 (23.42)

  8.02 (5.85)

  33.95 (24.78)

  8.02 (5.85)

  35.6 (25.99)

  9.08 (6.63)

  Borders Objective 5b

  3.22 (2.35)

  0.95 (0.69)

  3.73 (2.72)

  1.1 (0.8)

  3.08 (2.25)

  1.1 (0.8)

  Dumfries and Galloway Objective 5b

  5.36 (3.91)

  1.07 (0.78)

  6.2 (4.53)

  1.24 (0.91)

  6.24 (4.56)

  1.25 (0.91)

  46
  claims there are for each health board area; if he will indicate the amount involved; what budget provisions have been made; and if he will make a statement. [17360]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of outstanding medical negligence claims for each health board area is set out in the table:

  Health boards

  Number of cases

  Argyll and Clyde

  131

  Ayrshire and Arran

  68

  Borders

  10

  Dumfries and Galloway

  34

  Fife

  59

  Forth Valley

  69

  Grampian

  81

  Greater Glasgow

  418

  Highland

  72

  Lanarkshire

  140

  Lothian

  222

  Orkney

  2

  Shetland

  6

  Tayside

  117

  Western Isles

  5

  Total

  1,434

  It is not possible to predict the actual amounts as the level of settlement is generally not known until an agreement between the parties has been reached. It is for individual health authorities to determine the annual provision for claims likely to be settled against them in any one year.

  EU Finance
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much EC funding to Scotland(a) in total and (b) by category of funding (i) was provided in 1995–96 and (ii) he estimates will be provided in 1996–97. [13797]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 31 January 1997]The table shows the amount awarded to Scottish structural funds programmes from the European regional development fund—ERDF—and the European social fund—ESF. The data are provided by calendar year, rather than by financial year, as the single programming documents—SPD—allocate resources on an annual basis. New SPDs for the two objective 2 programmes for the period 1997–99 are currently being negotiated with the Commission. The 1997 objective 2 figures are therefore provisional.
  47

  Mecu/£ million (1 ecu = £0.73)

  Programme

  1995

  1996

  1997

  ERDF

  ESF

  ERDF

  ESF

  ERDF

  ESF

  North and West Grampian Objective 5b

  4.4 (3.21)

  0.96 (0.7)

  5.08 (3.71)

  1.11 (0.81)

  5.12(3.74)

  1.11 (0.81)

  Rural Stirling/Upland Tayside Objective 5b

  2.67 (1.95)

  0.79 (0.58)

  3.09 (2.26)

  0.91 (0.66)

  3.11 (2.27)

  0.92 (0.67)

  Further funds are drawn down from ESF under objective 3 and the human resource community initiatives—employment and adapt. These form part of UK-wide programmes, and the single programming documents do not allocate Scottish shares. However, in 1995 and 1996, 66 mecu—£48.18 million—and 77 mecu—£56.21 million—respectively were awarded to Scottish projects.

  Scotland also receives funds from a number of Community initiatives. Initiatives represent some 9 per cent. of the structural funds budget and apply across the Community drawing funds from the ERDF, the ESF, the European agricultural guarantee and guidance fund—EAGGF—guidance section, and the financial instrument for fisheries guidance—FIFG. The table indicates allocations to Scotland, based on the value of Scottish CI programmes and Scotland's share of Great Britain or United Kingdom programmes.

  Mecu (£s) (1 ecu = £0.73)

  Community initiatives

  1995

  1996

  1997

  ERDF

  9.020 (6.58)

  26.65 (19.45)

  23.557 (17.2)

  ESF

  2.336 (1.71)

  6.805(4.97)

  5.96 (4.36)

  EAGGF-Guidance

  0.568 (0.41)

  0.736(0.54)

  0.736 (0.54)

  FIFG

  0.586 (0.43)

  0.888(0.65)

  1.005 (0.73)

  Scotland receives funding from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, and from the financial instrument for fisheries guidance in addition to that indicated above. Figures are available only in sterling for actual and estimated expenditure for the financial years 1995–96 and 1996–97, and is not therefore directly comparable with the annual allocations contained in SPDs. The following table shows all of the EC spending on CAP on-farm schemes, the funding of marketing and processing schemes, FIFG expenditure, and reimbursed contributions for hill livestock compensatory allowances. It includes expenditure through EAGGF and FIFG in objective 1 and 5b areas.

  £ million

  Fund

  1995–96

  1996–97 (estimated)

  EAGGF-Guarantee

  347

  426

  EAGGF-Guidance

  12

  12

  FIFG

  5

  4

  Scottish farmers also benefit significantly from market support arrangements administered by the Intervention Board executive agency. However, expenditure in Scotland is not separately identified, and details are not therefore available.
  48
  There is also direct spending by the Commission in Scotland in other areas such as research and development and the arts. However, figures are not held centrally.

  Sheep Dip Waste
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is held by his Department on the work of the Scotland and Northern Ireland forum for environmental research; what assessment he has made of the research proposed by that body into the treatment of sheep dip waste in the context of its disposal in an environmentally safe manner; what funding is available to that body for projects of this kind; and if he will make a statement. [16008]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]The Scottish Office, along with the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, are members of the Scotland and Northern Ireland forum for environmental research. As members, the Scottish Office is aware of the forum's activities, including details of its research programme. The forum has a current project to develop environmental quality standards for sheep dip products. Any assessment would have to await the completion of the project. The forum has a budget of £0.5 million per annum.

TRANSPORT

  Drivers (Drugs)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to make information available to motorists on the effect that(a) prescribed and (b) non-prescribed drugs may have on their driving capability. [169301

  Mr. Bowis
  We give advice under the 'Highway Code' which states:"You MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicines. When taking prescribed medicines, ask your doctor if it is safe to drive. When taking other medicines, ask a pharmacist".

  Drivers should heed the advice of their doctor or pharmacist and comply with the information provided by the drug company. The packaging of all prescription drugs which affect the central nervous system is required by law to carry warnings advising patients not to drive. For non-prescribed drugs, the only products likely to affect driving capability in recommended doses are anti-histamines and the packaging is labelled accordingly in these cases.

  We shall consider any further action in the light of findings from the survey of drugs in road fatalities that we are currently undertaking.

  Road Accidents (Drugs)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statistics are collated on the link between road traffic accidents and(a) prescribed, (b) non-prescribed and (c) illegal drugs. [16929]

  Mr. Bowis
  National statistics on the link between road traffic accidents and drugs are not collected on a routine basis.

  A large study by the Transport Research Laboratory—1,273 casualties-which reported in 1989 showed that, in fatal accidents to all road users, the incidence of alcohol, at any level—35 per cent.—was over six times higher than that of prescription drugs—5.5 per cent. Illegal drugs, such as cannabis, were present in lower proportions—2.9 per cent. of cases.

  We recently began a further three-year survey of drugs in road fatalities to update our knowledge in this area.

  South West Trains
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters his Department has received in 1997 to date on the subject of South West Trains; and if he will make a statement. [16681]

  Mr. Watts
  My Department and the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising received 38 representations between 1 January and 19 February 1997 relating to various aspects of South West Trains' business. The franchisee's obligations under the franchise agreement are a matter for the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising.

  Marine Pollution
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what additional claims he expects on the international oil pollution compensation fund from the private sector relating to the Sea Empress disaster, which are not accounted for by the expenditure of the marine pollution control unit; [17462]

  (2) what is his estimate of the claim made by the advisers on the international oil pollution compensation fund relating to the Sea Empress disaster; [17453]

  (3) how much has been spent to date on the Sea Empress clean up operation by (a)the marine pollution control unit. (b)local authorities and (c) private organisations. [17461]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department's high and low estimate of likely compensation claims are as follows:

  Likely claims (£ million)

  Low

  High

  Clean-up operations (Marine Pollution Control Unit)

  10

  10

  Clean-up operations (local authorities)

  8

  8

  Clean-up operations (voluntary organisations, oil industry and others)

  5

  5

  Preventative measures (including salvage costs)

  0

  7

  Fishing Industry

  8

  10

  Tourist Industry

  3

  9

  Total

  34

  49

  50
  It is estimated that about £22 million has been spent to date on clean-up operations: consisting of £10 million by the MPCU, £7 million by local authorities and £5 million by others.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the basis of the claim on the international oil pollution compensation fund by the advisers involved in Sea Empress salvage operation. [17460]

  Mr. Bowis
  No claim has yet been made to the international oil pollution compensation fund in respect of the salvage operation of the Sea Empress. The timing of any such claim may relate to the salvage award made under the contract between the shipowner and the salvors. Salvage operations may in some circumstances be eligible for compensation by the IOPC fund, but only to the extent that the purpose of the operations is to prevent pollution.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the royal train has been used since 1 May 1996. [17283]

  Mr. Watts
  Between 1 May 1996 and 21 February 1997, the royal train was used on 25 occasions.

  Lorry Weights
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to publish the responses to his consultation document on maximum lorry weights. [17270]

  Mr. Watts
  Publication of the content of the responses, apart from those from people who have said they do not want their replies divulged, will be for consideration when a decision on the consultation is announced.

  Driving Prohibitions (Scotoma)
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce a driving test for people currently prohibited from driving due to the condition scotoma. [16664]

  Mr. Bowis
  A driving test would not be an accurate test of fitness to drive safely in those suffering from a scotoma: it could not reproduce the emergency situations where the effect of a scotoma could have serious road safety consequences. The present clinical test, approved by the Royal College of Ophthalmologist, provides an objective assessment of the visual fitness to drive safely. It also means that a uniform standard can be applied to all drivers.

  British Rail
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Rail employees have(a) been made redundant and (b) had their employment terminated for reasons other than disciplinary reasons; and how much has been paid out in redundancy and other severance payments (i) in total and (ii) in York since the Railways Act 1993 came into force. [16641]
  51
  Mr. Watts
  The information requested is set out in the table. It is available only for financial years:

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97(40 weeks)

  Totals

  BR employees redundant

  6,322

  3,568

  1,405

  11,295

  Terminated for other reasons1

  7,585

  3,673

  1,446

  12,704

  Redundancy and other severance payments (£000s)

  141

  92

  30

  263

  1 Includes those who retired, left due to ill-health, resigned, and deaths in service.

  Separate details relating to British Rail employees based in York are not available.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of privatisation of all the York-based British Rail businesses which have been sold or franchised since 18 June 1996, the number of employees in each business at the time of privatisation and the amount of money received or paid out by the Government to transfer the business into the private sector. [16619]

  Mr. Watts
  The following British Rail businesses, whose headquarters were based in York, have been sold or franchised since 18 June 1996.

  Business sold/franchised

  Date of sold/franchise awarded

  Number of employees at date of sale/franchise award

  Money received/subsidy granted (£ million)1

  Regional Railways North East Franchise

  7 February 1997

  Approximately 3,000

  Subsidy of 224.5 in year 1 declining to 145.6 in 2003/4

  1 Franchises are awarded as contracts to run passenger train services in return for the payment of support, where necessary, and may not generate receipts.

  BREL (Asbestos-related Diseases)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many claims from former employees of the British Rail Engineering Ltd. York carriageworks for compensation for contracting an asbestos-related disease have been(a) settled and (b) submitted since 14 October 1996; what is the average amount of compensation per case paid to date in final settlements; which body will be responsible for considering other claims in the future; and what financial provision will be made by his Department to enable compensation to be paid. [16618]

  Mr. Watts
  Since 14 October 1996, there have been two claims settled and two claims submitted by former BREL York employees for compensation for contracting an asbestos-related disease. The average amount of compensation per case settled to date is £36,818.

  A single, industry-owned, claims-handling agency, Railway Claims Ltd., has handled compensation matters for the railway industry since April 1994 and will consider future claims.

  In accordance with a minute laid before the House on 7 June 1996, the Government will ensure that adequate funds will continue to be made available to meet any
  52
  financial obligations arising from the British Railways Board's present or future liabilities, or liabilities arising out of past transactions, events and circumstances.

  Criminal Offences (Railway Stations)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of notifiable(a) violence against the person, (b) sexual, (c) robbery, (d) property and (e) criminal damage offences committed (i) at railway stations, (ii) in the vicinity of railway stations, (iii) at London underground stations and (iv) in the vicinity of London underground stations in each of the past five years. [16878]

  Mr. Watts
  The first two tables show the number of notifiable offences recorded by the British transport police, in the categories requested, at railway stations, in England and Wales, and London underground stations during 1995 and 1996. The third table shows crime figures at railway stations in Scotland in the nearest equivalent categories. The force does not keep records of crimes within the vicinity of railway or London underground stations. Figures for previous years are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Railway stations (England and Wales)

  1995

  1996

  Violence against the person

  1,795

  1,827

  Sexual offences

  671

  364

  Robbery

  1,626

  1,750

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  32,994

  30,511

  Criminal damage

  13,212

  12,074

  London underground stations

  1995

  1996

  Violence against the person

  387

  416

  Sexual offences

  268

  224

  Robbery

  535

  620

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  12,230

  9,359

  Criminal damage

  1,436

  1,351

  Railway stations (Scotland)

  1995

  1996

  Crimes of violence (of which robbery)

  199

  182

  Crimes of indecency

  32

  33

  Crimes of dishonesty

  3,224

  2,673

  Fire-raising, malicious mischief etc.

  1,477

  1,501

  Supertram, Sheffield
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on current progress in respect of the supertram in Sheffield. [16960]

  Mr. Watts
  Privatisation of South Yorkshire supertram is a matter for South Yorkshire passenger transport executive, which I understand is continuing to make progress towards a sale. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Government, Housing and Regeneration announced the issuing of £20 million in supplementary credit approval on 14 February,Official Report, column 319. I understand that South Yorkshire passenger

  53
  transport authority is in contact with officials of the Department of the Environment about the practicalities of issuing this credit approval, and other financial matters.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16963]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Non-information technology items

  Theft, fraud and arson

  Number of items

  Other causes

  Number of items

  Items at £5,000 or more

  Amount

  Details

  £31,265

  80

  £13,364

  37

  Nil

  Nil

  Information technology items

  Theft, fraud and arson

  Number of items

  Other causes

  Number of items

  Items at £5,000 or more

  Amount

  Details

  £54,999

  43

  Nil

  Nil

  1

  Lap-top computer—stolen from office

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the possible contribution which the conversion of diesel and petrol engines to run on road fuel gases could make to achieving reductions in emissions of SO2 PH10, NO2, and O3. [17121]

  Mr. Bowis
  An assessment of the potential of road fuel gases to reduce pollutant emissions can be found in the "Alternative Road Transport Fuels—A Preliminary Life Cycle Study for the UK, Volumes 1 and 2". This was produced by the energy technology support unit on behalf of the Departments of Transport and of Trade and Industry and published by HMSO in 1996 (ISBN 0 11 515410–8/0 11 515411–6). Copies are available in the House Library. A further study quantifying the viability and benefits of vehicles running on alternative fuels compared with petrol and diesel will be published later this year.

  A406-A13 Bridge
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, column 61, what assessment he has made of the need for a bridge to carry the A406 over the A13 at Bedston to facilitate access to the millennium festival. [17042]

  Mr. Bowis
  None, but I understand that consultants working for Millennium Central Ltd. are undertaking some preliminary investigations.

  Emergency Towing Vessels
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the English coast in each direction is covered by the emergency towing vessel stationed at Dover. [17302]

  Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that(a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies during the past 12 months, listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information technology material separately. [17065]

  Mr. Bowis
  The equipment is as follows:

  Mr. John Bowis
  The emergency towing vessel based in the Dover strait covers an area which extends from Harwich in the north of the Thames estuary to the Greenwich meridian in the English channel.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated time which the emergency towing vessel stationed at Falmouth is expected to take to travel to the north Devon coast. [17301]

  Mr. Bowis
  The emergency towing vessel is not stationed at Falmouth, but spends nearly all of its time at sea, patrolling as far west as the Portland bill and as far north as Pembroke.

  Road Markings and Signposting
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve road markings and signposting; and if he will make a statement. [17363]

  Mr. Watts
  The placing and maintenance of road signs and markings is the responsibility of the traffic authority—in England, the local traffic authority for local roads, and the Highways Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport for trunk roads and motorways. The signs and markings used are required to conform with regulations, principally the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994, made jointly by the Secretaries of State for Transport, for Scotland and for Wales, or to be specially authorised by the Secretary of State. My Department is currently preparing a statutory instrument to amend the TSRGD to include new sign designs in response to changing traffic management needs and techniques. Work is also in hand to update the joint guidance published by the three Departments on the correct design and use of signs.

  Motorways
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many kilometres of motorway are currently(a) open,

  55
  (b)under construction and (c)planned in England (i) as new motorway and (ii) as existing motorway being widened. [17266]

  Mr. Watts
  The figures for trunk road are as follows:Motorways currently

  (a) open: 2,725 km

  (b) under construction: 108 km

  (c) planned in England

  (i) as new motorway: 67 km

  (ii) as existing motorway being widened: 313 km

  In addition, there are about 50 kms of non trunk motorways.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Minimum Age Requirements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15914]

  Mr. Hanley
  The only minimum age requirement enforced by this Department is the minimum age for the secret intelligence services, which is 21 years.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when(a) the British high commissioner and (b) his officials last visited the Jaffna area of Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement., [16935]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Our high commissioner last visited Jaffna on 31 October 1996. Officials from the high commission, including the deputy high commissioner, visited on 28–29 January this year.

  Colombia
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the activities of the BP company in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [16661]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We have received three letters from human rights organisations and members of the public about the activities of BP in Colombia. Two questions have been tabled in the European Parliament. No reliable evidence has been put forward to substantiate the allegations made against BP.

  Rio Summit
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers attended the Rio summit in 1992. [16825]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, then Secretary of State for the Environment, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State for Overseas Development and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Department, then Minister of State for Environmental Protection, attended the Rio summit in 1992.

  Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that(a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies during the past 12 months, listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information technology material separately. [17070]

  Mr. Hanley
  The following items of equipment have been reported stolen or unaccounted for in the past 12 months:

  1996–97

  £

  Stolen

  20 general items

  2,576

  5 IT items (laptop PC, printers and modem)

  3,995

  Unaccounted for

  1 item (answerphone)

  35

  Total

  6,606

  Indonesia
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations and what reports he has received about the recent incidents in West Kalimantan in which Indonesian soldiers are reported to have killed a number of Dayak people; and if he will make a statement. [17043]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have received reports from the British embassy in Jakarta and other sources about the recent clashes between Dayak and Madurese communities in West Kalimantan, but we do not have full details of the incidents or of the number of casualties sustained. We have received a number of expressions of concern about these events. We are monitoring the situation.

  Albania
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which political parties and political organisations in Albania have received assistance from the Westminster Foundation. [17200]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 19 February,Official Report, column 580.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department estimates that it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16974]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have not established any executive agencies since April 1992.

  European Ideal (Promotion Costs)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been
  57
  spent in Britain in each year since 1992 by (a)the European information office and (b)the European Commission office in London on promotion of the European ideal. [17052]

  Mr. David Davis
  There is no European information office in the UK. Expenditure by the European Commission's representation in the UK is intended to explain the meaning and purpose of policies decided by the EU Council of Ministers, for instance the single market.

  Ceuta and Melilla
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Spanish Foreign Minister about the status of Ceuta and Melilla. [17109]

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions with his Spanish counterpart on matters of mutual concern. Ceuta and Melilla have not been discussed recently.

  Latin America
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he has in the co-ordination of Government policy towards Latin America. [15520]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary is responsible for the co-ordination of the foreign policy aspects of the United Kingdom's relations with Latin America.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he has in co-ordinating Her Majesty's Government's follow-up to the links into Latin America conference on 10 February. [15534]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary is responsible for this Department's role in taking forward the interest generated by the conference both in the UK and in Latin America. In his closing speech at the conference he made clear our commitment to forging a new alliance with Latin America. Officials are already working with the Department of Trade and Industry to develop and implement a follow-up strategy to this end.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the extent of reform at UNESCO. [15551]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  None. The UK observer to UNESCO continues to monitor closely the extent of reform in the organisation.

  Qatar
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates; and names of Ministers, and the names and function of officials who have visited Qatar in the last three years. [16919]
  58
  Mr. Hanley
  I visited Qatar on 16–17 October 1996. Other Ministers who have made visits to Qatar in the last three years are:

  1994

  29–30 May: My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  1995

  20–21 March: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, then Minister of State for Defence Procurement.

  9–11 September: My hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement.

  1996

  17–20 May: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Energy

  14–15 June: My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement.

  27–28 October: My right hon., Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  17 November: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  —1997

  14–16 February: My hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement.

  There have been numerous contacts and visits by officials to Qatar over this period. We have an embassy in Doha, and that naturally necessitates many official movements.

  European Parliament (Costs)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament share of the European Parliament's costs relative to the costs of the House of Commons in the latest year for which figures are available. [16981]

  Mr. David Davis
  The total budgeted cost of the European Parliament in 1997 is 887.2 million ecu or £657.9 million.

  The UK's contribution to the 1996 EU budget represented 13.6 per cent. of the total.

  UK Members of the European Parliament make up 87 out of a total of 626 MEPs.

  The estimated total cost of the House of Commons in 1996–97 is £236.4 million.

  Exact comparisons are difficult since both functions and basis of costings are different.

  Mohammed Sagheer
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a decision to be taken on the application, reference B9995, made by Mohammed Sagheer to the post in Islamabad to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [17398]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from me as soon as possible.

  Morwenstowe Interception Station
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what classification and status the Morwenstowe interception station at Bude, in Cornwall, has been given; at what cost it was built; who paid for it; who owns the radomes and equipment; who owns the land; what flags it flies; how many personnel work there, and from which organisations; and if he will identify the name, nationality and employer of its base commander. [17421]

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 5 November 1996,Official Report, column 418. The land on which Morwenstowe is situated is owned by Her Majesty's Government.

  Millennium Club
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times in the last three years, he has addressed the Millennium club in his official capacity; and if he will list the names of those present and the companies they represented on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [15694]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 13 February 1997]None in his official capacity.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to improve the competitiveness of small businesses. [15519]

  Mr. Page
  I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Government recognise the vital contribution made to the economy by small businesses and are working hard to improve competitiveness by creating a favourable economic climate, reducing administrative and regulatory burdens on business and providing direct assistance where required.

  Of crucial importance to improving the competitiveness of smaller businesses is the network of business links. Each outlet provides a single point of access to a wide range of high-quality integrated business support services.

  Flows of UK outward direct investment to EU, USA and rest of the world (RoW): 1984–95 (percent of total)

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  EU

  0

  29

  19

  12

  27

  28

  50

  42

  46

  36

  43

  37

  USA

  48

  37

  64

  66

  50

  54

  1

  24

  13

  44

  25

  40

  RoW

  52

  34

  17

  22

  23

  18

  49

  34

  41

  20

  32

  23

  Source:

  Business Monitor: MA4.

  Private Shareholders
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the number of private shareholders in(a) Northern Electric and
  60
  Another important measure to help improve competitiveness has been to simplify the range of business support offered by the Government. This includes the introduction of two challenge funds; one to provide support on a sector basis and one to help address problems at a local level. The DTI as part of the simplification process has announced a radical shake-up of its schemes reducing the total number from 140 to around 25.

  There is regular contact between the Department and the small firms representative organisations in order to take into account the views and concerns of small businesses. An example is the recent "Your Business Matters" consultation.

  We have established a small business ministers' group with representation across 17 Whitehall Departments. The group is playing a key role in promoting small firms competitiveness throughout all areas of Government policy.

  Century Date Change (Computers)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice and assistance is available through training and education councils to businesses in respect of the millennium compliance of computer systems; and if he will make a statement. [15824]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My Department has sent information packs on the century date change problem to all business links in England—in which training and enterprise councils are partners—and their counterparts in Scotland and Wales. The pack includes a description of the problem, frequently asked questions and guidance on what businesses should do to address the problem. The business links were also invited to respond if they required further assistance in disseminating the information. In February 1997, a senior official from the communications and information industries directorate was seconded to the Confederation of British Industry, the Computer Software Science Association, DTI-led Taskforce 2000 with the specific responsibility of supporting the business links in this awareness and information dissemination activity.

  Overseas Investment
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage of the total direct investment overseas made by United Kingdom companies in(a) other European Union countries and (b) the United States of America in each year from 1984 to date. [17146]

  Mr. Nelson
  Following is the information:

  (b) Northumbrian Water Group at (i) the date the privatisation share offers were taken up and (ii) currently. [16920]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the companies concerned.

  Helms-Burton Amendment
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on EU discussions with the US on the Helms-Burton amendment. [16999]

  Mr. Nelson
  Sir Leon Brittan and Commission staff have held, and will continue to hold, discussions with the US Administration with a view to securing suspension or repeal of the Helms-Burton legislation. This objective is fully shared by the British Government. Meanwhile, the World Trade Organisation has established a panel to investigate the EU claim that the Helms-Burton provisions are in breach of US obligations in the WTO.

  Electricity Cables
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what requirements have been placed upon the electricity distribution companies to bury power lines currently carried overhead on pylons. [15789]

  Mr. Page
  No requirements have been placed.

  Research
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names and locations of each of the overseas-based companies which have established research and development operations in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [17365]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  Research and development investments notified to my Department's Invest In Britain Bureau during the period are as follows:

  Inward investment R and D projects (1985–1996)

  Year

  Company name

  Region

  1985

  Speciality Cable

  South East

  1985

  Digital Equipment

  South East

  1985

  Ford Motor Company

  South East

  1985

  Genetic Int.

  South East

  1985

  Data General

  South East

  1985

  Honda UK

  South West

  1985

  Systime

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1986

  Ceramic Development

  East Midlands

  1986

  Pye TMC Ltd.

  Scotland

  1986

  Avantek

  South East

  1986

  IN Energy Services

  Wales

  1986

  Texaco Ltd.

  Wales

  1986

  Pilkington Reinforcements

  Wales

  1986

  Sepehrtech

  West Midlands

  1986

  Telemecanique Electrique

  West Midlands

  1986

  IBM UK Ltd.

  West Midlands

  1986

  Buehler UK

  West Midlands

  1986

  Brain Power Ltd.

  West Midlands

  1986

  Digital Equipment Company

  West Midlands

  1987

  Siemens plc

  North West

  1987

  BBN Labs.

  Scotland

  1987

  Bell Northern

  South East

  1987

  McDonnell Douglas

  South East

  1987

  SRI Int.

  South East

  1987

  Ensinger Ltd.

  Wales

  1987

  Calgary Pain Treatment

  Wales

  1987

  Aqua Norse

  Wales

  1987

  Amercoeur Energy

  Wales

  1987

  Lynchgate Associates

  Wales

  1987

  Lynchgate Associates

  Wales

  1987

  Ontario Corporation

  Wales

  1987

  Van Leer Vacuum

  Wales

  1987

  Texaco (UK)

  Wales

  1988

  Roberts Labs.

  South East

  62

  Inward investment R and D projects (1985–1996)

  Year

  Company name

  Region

  1988

  University of Michigan

  South East

  1988

  Convatec Inste Biology

  Wales

  1989

  Northumbria Biologicals

  London

  1989

  Steriseal and Nomeq

  West Midlands

  1989

  Istel Ltd.

  West Midlands

  1989

  HS Systems UK

  West Midlands

  1990

  Nissan UK

  London

  1990

  Nissan

  London

  1990

  Kobe Steel

  South East

  1990

  Sandoz Products

  South East

  1990

  Fairford Animation

  South West

  1990

  Bakelite Polymers

  West Midlands

  1991

  Rank Xerox

  Eastern

  1991

  Nissan Europe

  Eastern

  1991

  NSK/RHP European Research

  East Midlands

  1991

  Komatsu

  London

  1991

  GPT Ltd.

  London

  1991

  Softlab

  North West

  1992

  Rhone-Poulanc Roper

  South East

  1992

  Southern Glasshouse

  South East

  1992

  Zeon Chemicals

  Wales

  1993

  Group Lotus

  Eastern

  1993

  Alkeremese Europe

  Eastern

  1993

  Dante Ltd.

  Eastern

  1993

  Nortalc Milling

  London

  1993

  Petrolite Ltd.

  North West

  1993

  Clintrials Ltd.

  South East

  1993

  Calsonic Int. Europe

  Wales

  1993

  SP Tyres

  West Midlands

  1993

  Cable Data Int.

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1993

  Plant Science Ltd.

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1994

  Cybereye

  London

  1994

  Shell Research

  North West

  1994

  Xilinx Development

  Scotland

  1994

  Rand Information

  South East

  1994

  Daewoo

  South East

  1994

  Warwick Chemicals

  Wales

  1994

  Mascotech

  West Midlands

  1994

  Compower Ltd.

  West Midlands

  1994

  Cross Products UK

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1995

  Hewlett Packard

  Eastern

  1995

  Knoll Pharmaceuticals

  East Midlands

  1995

  Fisons

  East Midlands

  1995

  Astra Charnwood

  East Midlands

  1995

  Microvoice Apps.

  London

  1995

  Gallup Organisation

  London

  1995

  Datek

  London

  1995

  Pico (UK)

  London

  1995

  Harris Labs.

  Northern Ireland

  1995

  Sharp Labs.

  South East

  1995

  IBM Labs.

  South East

  1995

  Daewoo—Worthing

  South East

  1995

  Invertron Simulated Systems

  South East

  1995

  Daewoo UK Ltd.

  South East

  1995

  4 Front Grp.

  South East

  1995

  Ericsson Ltd.

  South East

  1995

  Rover Grp.

  West Midlands

  1995

  Fluent Europe

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1995

  SCO

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Source:

  IBB Database.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Brian David Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the 10 largest industrial or commercial developments in(a) England and (b) the west midlands which resulted from inward investment since

  63
  1992; and in each case what estimate he has made of the number of jobs created and the average cost to public funds of each of these jobs. [17193]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  According to figures notified to my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau and the Government office for the west midlands the 10 largest publicly quotable industrial or commercial development in(a) England and (b) the west midlands are as follows:

  Top ten investments in England by new jobs

  Year

  Company

  Country

  Number of new jobs

  Region

  1994

  Samsung

  Korea

  3,200

  North East

  1994

  Honda

  Japan

  2,000

  South West

  1995

  Siemens

  Germany

  1,800

  North East

  1996

  QVC

  US

  1,616

  North West

  1995

  Jaguar

  US

  1,210

  West Midlands

  1995

  Toyota

  Japan

  1,000

  East Midlands

  1995

  Nortel

  Canada

  916

  South West

  1993

  MBNA

  US

  822

  North West

  1997

  Nissan

  Japan

  800

  North East

  1995

  Epson

  Japan

  800

  West Midlands

  Top ten inward investments into the West Midlands by new jobs.

  Year

  Company

  Country

  Number of new jobs

  1995

  Jaguar

  US

  1,210

  1995

  Epson

  Japan

  800

  1992

  Heller Machine Tools

  Germany

  508

  1997

  Calvins Barbeque UK

  US

  500

  1995

  Makita Manufacturing

  Japan

  500

  1994

  Sun Valley Poultry Ltd.

  US

  450

  1995

  Cable Midlands

  US

  400

  1995

  Callow and Maddox

  US

  255

  1995

  SP Tyres (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  250

  1997

  Edscha

  Germany

  200

  Inward investment includes takeovers, expansions and joint ventures as well as new greenfield projects. Information on the average cost to public funds for each new job in these tables is not held centrally and could be given only at a disproportionate cost. Not all of the projects in these tables were eligible for such assistance.

  Albania
  Mr MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has had with(a) the Albanian commercial office, (b) VEFA Holdings and (c) Anglo-Adriatic Holdings in the last five years. [16401]

  Mr. Nelson
  Officials from this Department had discussions on a number of occasions with the Albanian commercial office on matters relating to furthering trade and investment opportunities for UK companies in Albania. However, the Department had no contact with the Albanian commercial office in 1996 and I understand that it may have ceased operating early that year.

  The Department has had no discussion with either VEFA Holdings or Anglo-Adriatic Holdings in the last five years.

  Single Market Compliance Unit
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many cases are currently being pursued by his Department's single market compliance unit. [17110]

  Mr. Nelson
  The single market compliance unit was relaunched as Action Single Market on 28 March 1996, incorporating the Department of Trade and Industry's European state aids complaints work into the more general single market trade barriers work carried out by the SMCU. Action Single Market is currently pursuing 70 complaints against other single market countries, including eight state aids cases.

  Breakfast Tours
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost to date to public funds of his breakfast tours; what are the projected future costs; and if he will indicate the dates and locations of each event and the ministers involved. [16913]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]The 15 events held to date are estimated to cost approximately £78,000. The dates and locations of these events and the Ministers involved are given in the table. The future costs of the programme will depend on the number of events and the attendance.

  Dates

  Ministers

  Location

  11 November 1996

  Mr. Lang, Mr. Page

  Luton

  11 November 1996

  Mr. Knight

  Lincoln

  18 November 1996

  Mr. Lang, Mr. Curry, Mr. Kirkhope

  Leeds

  18 November 1996

  Sir George Young, Mr. Ian Taylor

  Southampton

  2 December 1996

  Mr. Knight, Mr. Jack

  Norwich

  9 December 1996

  Mr. Curry, Mr. Paice

  Ipswich

  9 December 1996

  Mr. Jack, Mr. John Taylor

  Birkenhead

  16 December 1996

  Sir George Young, Mr. John Taylor

  Leicester

  16 December 1996

  Mr. Waldegrave, Dr. Fox

  Bath

  20 January 1997

  Mr. Waldegrave, Mr. Streeter

  Exeter

  27 January 1997

  Mr. Forth, Mr. Ian Taylor

  Crawley

  3 February 1997

  Mr. Alistair Burt, Mr. John Taylor

  Bolton

  3 February 1997

  Mr. Waldegrave, Mr. Ian Taylor

  Ashford

  17 February 1997

  Mr. Knight, Mr. Kirkhope

  Grantham

  17 February 1997

  Mr. Lang, Mr. Page

  Birmingham

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Ecclesiastical Heritage
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the Church Commissioners' role in the Church of England's submission to Her Majesty's Government in regard to the ecclesiastical heritage. [15557]

  Mr Alison
  The Church Commissioners were fully involved with and support the Church of England's submission to Her Majesty's Government in respect of the ecclesiastical heritage.

  Bishops' Cars
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many bishops(a) are and (b) are not provided with a car and chauffeur; at what annual cost; and if he will make a statement. [15560]

  Mr. Alison
  At 31 December last, 104 bishops were provided with cars. Thirty-one bishops employ chauffeurs, of whom 10 are part-time or combine the post with other duties. Nine bishops use their own cars and are paid a mileage allowance. The net cost of car purchase in 1995 was £378,000. The cost of chauffeurs' salaries in 1995 was £334,000. From 1997, new cars will be acquired under a leasing arrangement which is expected to produce significant savings.

  Clergy Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the difference in the value of clergy pensions under the new pension scheme and its predecessor. [15561]

  Mr. Alison
  The current pension scheme provides a full service pension—payable on retirement at or after age 65 years with 37 or more years of pensionable service—of two thirds the previous year's national minimum stipend. The resulting figure is thus £8,533 per annum in 1996–97. Under the new future service pension fund which is to take effect—subject to parliamentary approval—from 1 January 1998, there will be no change to the bases of calculating benefits. Post-retirement increases will, however, be documented by reference to limited price indexation. This will provide a stronger guarantee for scheme members than the present legislation, under which all increases in the levels of benefits are at the discretion of the Commissioners. The past service scheme regulations will be amended to bring them into line. The object under both schemes will, however, continue to be to maintain post-retirement increases in pensions in line with stipend increases.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr Martyn Jones
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he had made of the presence of(a) hazardous

  £ million

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  19961

  Payments and allocations to stipends

  35.5

  38.1

  41.6

  47.0

  58.9

  62.5

  59.8

  58.0

  54.1

  41.7

  32.6

  1 The 1996 figure is an estimate based on unaudited outturn figures.

HEALTH

  Orthodontists
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many orthodontists there are in each health authority in England. [14241]

  Mr. Malone
  There is no strict definition of an orthodontist. Information is available on the number of general dental principals who submitted at least 100 66
  materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings the Commissioners occupy; and if he will make a statement. [16316]

  Mr. Alison
  The Commissioners comply in full with the requirements of COSHH—Control of Substances Hazardous to Health—legislation that is designed to ensure that no hazardous materials or dangerous substances are present in places of work. All new equipment purchased is free from chlorofluorocarbons. The cleaning contractors employed by the Commissioners purchase on a preferential basis materials from those companies manufacturing and packaging products which have no deleterious effect on the atmosphere.

  Bishops (Expenses)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the procedure for approving and monitoring bishops'(a) capital and (b) revenue expenses. [10951]

  Mr. Alison
  The Commissioners' spending on episcopal housing and expenses—both capital and revenue—is subject to close budgetary control. Budgets follow detailed consultation each year with the bishops and, in the case of episcopal housing, with See house surveyors-architects. The See house budgets are the minimum the Commissioners feel is consistent with the proper maintenance of those properties. Working expenses budgets aim to enable the bishops effectively to perform their duties. After initial consideration by the Bishoprics Committee the budgets are recommended to both the General Purposes Committee and the Board of Governors for approval.

  Expenditure is closely monitored, including a quarterly audit of those official expenses met directly by the bishops themselves. The Bishoprics Committee receives quarterly reports outlining the capital and revenue position and separate reports on items of major expenditure.

  Clergy Salaries
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what has been the Church Commissioners' expenditure on clergy salaries in each year since 1986. [10950]

  Mr. Alison
  In each year since 1986, the Commissioners' expenditure on clergy stipends has been as follows:

  orthodontics appliance claims in a one-year period. The latest published data is for 1994–95 and is given by Family Health Services Authority. This information has been placed in the Library.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answers of 14 January,Official Report, column 220, and 20 January, Official Report, column 490, and to his oral statement of 5 February,

  67
  Official Report, column 1030, what factors determined whether his Department was able to disclose the whereabouts, by county or postal district, of the dental practices. [15189]

  Mr. Malone
  Details of individuals are withheld when their release could lead to an unwarranted invasion of privacy by identification of that individual. To release such information would be in breach of the open government code of conduct. The decision to release information, for example about location of practices, relies on a judgment about whether the totality of information which would then be available about the individual would make identification likely.

  Minimum Age Requirements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15915]

  Mr. Horam
  This Department sets out the following age requirements in primary legislation:under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, section 18, children may not in general be employed under the age of 13. Restrictions also apply to hours worked by children up to the minimum school leaving age. Street trading under the age of 16 is also prohibited under section 20 of the Act as amended, but children of 14 or over can be employed by their parents. These requirements are enforced by local authorities; and
  an application for a licence to set up a nurses agency may be refused by a local authority under section 2(3)(a) of the Nurses Agencies Act 1957 if the applicant, or licence holder, is under 21.

  NHS Funding (North-West)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much money was spent on the NHS in the north-west in 1979; [16146]

  (2) how much money has been spent on the NHS in the north-west for each year since 1992. [16145]

  Mr. Horam
  Figures for 1979 are not available. The table gives details from 1992–93 to 1995–96.

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Total revenue expenditure (£ million)

  3,592

  3,785

  14,149

  4,388

  1 Includes Cumbria FHSA.

  Tropical Diseases
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent during each of the last five years on provision of travel vaccinations. [16266]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is not collected in the form requested. The net ingredient costs in England for vaccines which may be given for the purposes of travel 68
  are given in the table. Some of the vaccines in this group will have been prescribed for reasons other than travel. The costs do not include dispensing costs. Information on the costs of administration of these vaccines by general practitioners is not held centrally.

  The net ingredient cost for vaccines administered for travel1: 1991–1995

  England

  Year

  Total cost (£ million)

  1991

  7.3

  1992

  16.5

  1993

  29.1

  1994

  40.5

  1995

  47.0

  1 The travel vaccines are those preparations in the British National Formulary Issue 28, September 1994, section 14.6—International travel: BCG, cholera, diphtheria, hepatitis A, meningococcal A and C, normal immunoglobulin, poliomyelitis, typhoid, typhoid-paratyphoid A and B and yellow fever. Some of these vaccines will have been prescribed for reasons other than travel.

  Notes

  1. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.

  2. The net ingredient costs refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the impact of introducing charges for travel vaccines on(a) the number of cases of travellers returning to the UK infected with disease and (b) the number of people receiving vaccinations before travelling abroad. [16268]

  Mr. Horam
  People do not have to pay for all travel vaccines and this policy has not changed. Travellers have always had to pay a prescription charge or the full cost for some vaccines. Free advice on appropriate measures to protect health when travelling abroad, including advice on immunisation and malaria prophylaxis, is available under the national health service.

  The Department of Health keeps under review all available information on imported infectious diseases and the risk to travellers and this is taken into account in formulating policy on travel vaccines.

  Private Patients
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private patients as(a) in-patients and (b) day cases in NHS pay beds received treatment in each specialty in 1995–96; and how many have received such treatment so far in 1996–97. [16646]

  Mr. Horam
  Information for 1995–96 and 1996–97 is not yet available.
  69
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many admissions to NHS hospitals in England there were of patients from(a) non-NHS hospitals, (b) private nursing homes and (c) private health care or residential institutions in each year from 1985–86 to 1995–96. [16649]

  Mr. Horam
  The information that is available relates to the years 1989–90 to 1994–95 and is for the total number of admissions to national health service hospitals in England from non-NHS hospitals, private nursing homes, private health care or private residential institutions.

  Year

  Number of admissions to NHS hospitals in England from other non-NHS hospitals, nursing homes, health care or residential institutions

  1989–90

  41,192

  1990–91

  39,766

  1991–92

  36,535

  1992–93

  32,225

  1993–94

  30,612

  1994–95

  24,124

  Note:

  Data is grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private patients in NHS pay beds underwent surgery or day surgery(a) in total and (b) under each chapter of the OPCS operation short list in 1995–96. [16660]

  Mr. Horam
  Information for 1995–96 is not yet available.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many out-patient consultations with private patients were held in NHS hospitals(a) in total and (b) in each surgical and non-surgical specialty in 1990–91 and each subsequent year. [16615]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is contained in the statistical publication. "Outpatients and ward attenders, England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Attention Deficit Disorder
  Mr. Wigley
  to ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the relationship between attention deficit disorder and learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement. [16622]

  Mr. Burns
  There is no specific research being undertaken into the relationship between attention deficit disorder and learning difficulties but research on learning difficulties is included in the current National Health Service research and development programme.

  National Health Service Executive
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual budget for the NHS Executive in 1997–98; and how many people he estimates it will employ in that year. [16645]
  70
  Mr. Horam
  The National Health Service Executive's provisional annual budget for 1997–98 is £107.5 million. This is £9.5 million less than in 1996–97. Precise staffing figures will emerge as part of the detailed business planning round for 1997–98, which is now under way.

  Breast Implants
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breast implants have been carried out in each year since 1985 on the national health service; and how many have leaked. [16902]

  Mr. Horam
  The available data on the number of primary operations carried out in national health service hospitals covering the years 1989–90 to 1994–95 are shown in the table. Information on the number of implants that have leaked is not available centrally.

  Year

  Total

  1989–90

  3,080

  1990–91

  3,342

  1991–92

  4,300

  1992–93

  5,360

  1993–94

  4,781

  1994–95

  5,478

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics, Operation Code B30 and B31.

  Children (Policy Co-ordination)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the co-ordination of Government policies relating to children. [15529]

  Mr. Burns
  There are many mechanisms—formal and informal—already in place to facilitate co-ordination between Government Departments on policies for children. We believe these work well, especially as they have been recently expanded by the forming of the children services strategy group which was established by the Department.

  Ashworth Hospital
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the date of the report which was made by the suspended chief executive of Ashworth hospital into her investigation of the allegations made by Stephen Daggett; when it was sent to the chair and chief executive of the High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board; and what action was taken on that report. [16923]

  Mr. Burns
  The chief executive of Ashworth hospital wrote to the chief executive of the High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board on 5 February 1997.

  The action taken subsequently is covered in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House of 10 February 1997, Official Report, columns 21–30.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the grounds for the suspension of the chief executive of Ashworth hospital; and what ministerial involvement there was in the decision. [16924]
  71
  Mr. Burns
  The decision to suspend the chief executive of Ashworth hospital by the chairman of Ashworth Hospital Authority followed serious allegations concerning the personality disorder unit at Ashworth hospital.

  Accident and Emergency Units (Assaults)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults on nurses in accident and emergency departments have been reported in each year since 1992. [16927]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Waiting Times
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many health authorities have extended maximum waiting times from 12 to 18 months; [16926]

  (2) how many people admitted to hospital as emergencies during 1995 and 1996 were already on hospital waiting lists for elective treatments. [16928]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Strokes
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incidence of stroke and the priority which his Department attaches to addressing this condition. [17094]

  Mr. Horam
  The Government are clearly committed to reducing the incidence of stroke and stroke mortality. "The Health of the Nation" strategy includes specific targets to reduce deaths from stroke by 40 per cent. by the year 2000. Since the strategy was launched in 1992, death rates have fallen by 14.3 per cent. in the 65 to 74s and by 8.5 per cent. in the under-65s. Data on the precise incidence of stroke is not collected centrally.

  Efforts to achieve the targets are supported by a number of high profile campaigns, for example, promoting physical activity, sensible drinking and encouraging people to stop smoking. The National Health Service Executive has also produced recommendations on the provision of rehabilitation services for stroke patients which have been distributed to all local health authorities. Copies of this document, "Effective Health Care—Stroke Rehabilitation", March 1992, have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning measures to improve the prevention, treatment and care of stroke; and if he will make a statement. [17092]

  Mr. Horam
  We received a copy of "Stroke: National Tragedy, National Priority—An Agenda for action in stroke prevention, treatment and care" produced by the Stroke Association when I spoke at the launch of the document on 13 February. We are sure that local health authorities will find the document useful when discussing 72
  the commissioning of health services for their areas for people who have had a stroke.

  Physical inactivity is a major cause of ill health, including stroke. In particular, physically inactive people have up to three times the risk of stroke than active people. The Government are addressing this concern through a major three-year physical activity campaign called "Active for Life". The campaign, which is administered by the Health Education Authority at a total cost of £9 million, informs people of the significance of maintaining 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on at least five times a week as a means of reducing the risk of stroke.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns), gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 17 February 1997, Official Report, column 381 about the treatment and care of people who have had a stroke.

  Mr. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is Department is(a) currently funding and (b) evaluating into the effect on the incidence of stroke of salt levels in bread and other common foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement. [17093]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health has not commissioned and is not evaluating research into the effect on the incidence of stroke of salt levels in bread and other common foodstuffs.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the Chief Medical Officer to discuss with the faculty of public health medicine the possibility of convening a seminar to assess the evidence of linkage between sodium, blood pressure and stroke and to identify feasible research to clarify inconsistencies in the existing evidence.

  Antibiotics (Subscribing)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics he has collated on changes in the average aggregate prescribing of antibiotics in each of the past five years. [16997]

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

  Number of prescription items dispensed for antibiotics and annual percentage change, 1991 to 1995

  England

  Year

  Prescription items (millions)

  Annual percentage change

  1991

  43.7

  —

  1992

  43.4

  -1

  1993

  47.7

  10

  1994

  45.8

  -4

  1995

  49.4

  8

  Notes:

  1. Antibiotics are those preparations in the British National Formulary, issue 28, September 1994, therapeutic group 5.1—antibacterial drugs.

  The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.

  Overdoses
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of overdoses of over-the-counter drugs which have occurred in those aged(a) under 16 years and (b) over 16 years in each of the last five years; how many and what percentage resulted in death; and if he will make a statement. [17151]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of(a) sporadic, (b) iatrogenic, (c) familial, (d) Gerst-Straussler syndrome and (e) new variant CJD have been recorded in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [17152]

  Mr. Horam
  Updated figures of deaths in definite and probably cases of all types of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are published monthly by the Department of Health.

  Copies of the latest press release dated 3 February 1997 have been placed in the Library.

  Since the figures were published, a further case of nvCJD has been diagnosed in a patient who is still alive.

  Stress-related Illness
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's estimate of the number of working days lost in the health service as a result of stress-related illness in each of the past 10 years. [17469]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Influenza Vaccinations
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with the medical profession in relation to the inclusion in the contract for general practitioners of the vaccination of specified target groups against influenza. [17447]

  Mr. Horam
  We have had no recent representations from the medical profession on this issue. General practitioners already immunise at risk groups against influenza as part of the general medical services.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what pilot projects he has instituted into the efficacy of mass influenza vaccination of target groups in terms of reduced incidence of(a) influenza and (b) complications arising from influenza; [17445]

  (2) if he will give figures for the use of influenza vaccine in each of the past five years; what guidelines he has issued in relation to the specifying of target groups for influenza vaccinations; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of these targets; and if he will make a statement. [17446]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of doses of influenza vaccine supplied to general practitioners and health authorities in England and Wales are as follows:74

  Year

  Doses

  1992–93

  4,678,000

  1993–94

  5,692,000

  1994–95

  6,114,000

  1995–96

  5,964,000

  1996–97

  16,226,000

  1 Provisional.

  Broadly, influenza immunisation is recommended for people with underlying diseases which put them at risk of serious illness should they develop influenza. This includes people with chronic respiratory disease such as chronic bronchitis and asthma, chronic heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes and diseases or treatment which suppress the immune system. Immunisation is also recommended for all people in long-term residential care, where influenza can spread very rapidly and cause great disruption.

  Every year the Chief Medical Officer issues guidance to doctors about influenza. This includes information about the expected strain, the vaccine available and which patients should be given the vaccine. Further information is available in the memorandum, "Immunisation against Infectious Disease". The Department of Health has produced a leaflet for patients about immunisation against influenza which was made available through doctors' surgeries and post offices.

  The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation keeps its recommendations for influenza immunisation policy under review. Several recent studies, some funded by the Department of Health, have demonstrated the efficacy of influenza vaccine in reducing influenza and its complications in the target groups.

  Hospital Payphones (Charges)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct NHS hospital trusts that normal BT call-box charges should apply to all payphones within hospitals. [17395]

  Mr. Horam
  This is a matter for local management.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fundholders there were in each health authority in England in each of the past five years. [17463]

  Mr. Malone
  For current year information on the number of fundholding general practitioners in each health authority, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 17 February 1997 at columns 378–80. The corresponding figures for previous years will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Gastroschisis
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the possible link between incidences of gastroschisis and pollution and other environmental factors. [17277]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Rwanda
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation has been made by Her Majesty's Government of the joint aid agencies report, "Joint Evaluation of Emergency Assistance to Rwanda"; and what subsequent change of policy has been(a) evaluated and (b) decided arising from that report. [15553]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We have reviewed the findings of the Rwanda evaluation and are pursuing lessons learnt in consultation with other aid donors, for many of the recommendations require wider discussion and broad consensus. We have also initiated a review of our own humanitarian aid policy particularly in relation to multilateral agencies, in order to seek improvements in international systems for the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance.

  Overseas Aid Budget (United Nations Target)
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the overseas aid budget and the UN target for development expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product. [15548]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others concerning the development assistance budget, many of which have referred to the UN 0.7 per cent. ODA-GNP target.

  Iraq
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding assistance for children in Iraq. [15554]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  After considering various representations and proposals, ODA spent £1.7 million in 1996 on activities which directly benefited children in Iraq. ODA is ready to provide further funding in 1997. To alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people caused by Saddam Hussein the UN adopted Security Council resolution 986—which the United Kingdom co-sponsored—in April 1995; we are pleased it is now being implemented after long delays by Saddam Hussein.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what advice was given to the Minister by his officials and officials from other Departments, before the approval of the national police training project in Indonesia; and if he will place a copy of the documentary record of such advice in the Library; [17227]

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of the documents referred to in (a) paragraph 40, on the benefits of the aid project and (b) appendix 3, paragraph 3.4 on seeking further Indonesian purchasers of United Kingdom defence equipment, of the NAO report, Aid to Indonesia, (HC101 of Session 1996–97). [17228]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  I will write to the hon. Member.
  76
  Mrs. Clywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures were followed in order to obtain ministerial approval for the national police training project in Indonesia; on what date the project was approved by the Minister; which Minister approved the project; what meetings took place between the Minister and his officials, and officials from other Departments in relation to the approval of the project; who attended those meetings; and if he will place copies of(a) the minutes and (b) other documentary records of the meetings in the Library. [17145]

  Dr. Fox
  As stated in paragraph 39 of the National Audit Office report, "Aid to Indonesia" (HC 101 of Session 1996–97), the national police management training project in Indonesia was approved by the head of eastern Asia department of the Overseas Development Administration. In September 1982 the right hon. Sir Neil Marten, the then Minister for Overseas Development, approved the project in principle. This was on the basis of a submission by the head of EAD. No meetings took place between the Minister and officials to discuss the project.

  I will write to the hon. Member about the release of this document.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Beef Imports (Irish Republic)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of beef imported from the Irish Republic is derived from cattle under 30 months of age. [14771]

  Mrs. Browning
  Statistics on imports of beef are not collected by age of cattle. It is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.

  However, the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption of all meat derived from bovines which, at the time of slaughter, were more than 30 months old. This measure applied to bovines slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996, whether in the UK or overseas, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in those third countries specifically excluded by the regulations and listed in the schedule to the regulations. This list of countries is confined to those where the Government are satisfied that we can import beef without risk. It does not include the Republic of Ireland.

  Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many(a) sheep, (b) calves and (c) pigs were exported from the United Kingdom in each month of 1996 for (i) slaughter, (ii) further fattening and (iii) breeding; [13543]

  (2) how many piglets of less than 12 weeks of age were exported for production or breeding during 1996; [14605]

  (3) how many pigs were exported for slaughter during 1996. [14606]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 31 January 1997]This information can be provided in the detail requested only at disproportionate cost. Figures for exports of sheep
  77
  and cattle are given in the table. The information was gathered from internal Ministry sources. Most of the animals were exported for slaughter or further fattening.

  1996

  Sheep

  Cattle

  January

  57,300

  35,500

  February

  24,200

  20,000

  March

  20,000

  12,600

  April

  300

  0

  May

  68

  0

  June

  2,500

  0

  July

  152,500

  0

  August

  127,300

  0

  September

  131,200

  0

  October

  121,500

  0

  November

  93,000

  0

  December

  75,500

  0

  £000s

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  (a) Poultry

  —

  —

  —

  4

  1,237

  1,779

  1,709

  (b) Cattle

  1,819

  682

  372

  1,463

  4,797

  12,440

  27,699

  (c) Others

  —

  458

  277

  —

  169

  116

  8

  Total

  1,819

  1,140

  649

  1,467

  6,203

  14,335

  29,416

  Minimum Age Requirements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15925]

  Mr. Boswell
  Details of minimum age requirements enforced by my Department are given in the table.

  Legislation

  Minimum age requirement

  Agricultural Wages

  19 years for adult rate of pay;

  Act 1948

  18 years for flexible working contract;

  19 years for higher rates of pay depending on qualifications.

  Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended)

  Anyone using an agricultural pesticide is required to hold a certificate of competence unless they were born on or before 31 December 1964; or are using it under the direct personal supervision of a person who holds such a certificate; are applying the pesticide on their own land or land belonging to their employer; or the pesticide is being used for a non-agricultural purpose.

  Schedule 1 to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995

  Licensing of slaughtermen: 18 years for applicants for either a certificate of competence (required to be presented with an application for a registered licence) or a provisional licence (Regulation 4(3), Sections 4(2)(c) and 7(1)(b) respectively refer).

  Veterinary Surgeons Act 1996, Schedule 3

  Allows exemptions from restrictions on the practice of veterinary surgery by: persons under 17 years old undergoing instruction in animal husbandry, provided the instruction is given by a registered veterinary surgeon and at a recognised institution unqualified people aged 18 or over carrying out specified minor operations.

  78
  These figures remain provisional and subject to amendment.

  Figures on the export of pigs are incomplete. I will write to the hon. Member when we have more information.

  Diseased Animals (Compensation)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount paid as compensation for(a) poultry, (b) cattle and (c) other animals as a result of the slaughter of diseased or suspected diseased animals in each year from 1985 to 1991; and if he will make a statement. [15713]

  Mrs. Browning
  The information requested on slaughter compensation is as follows:

  Legislation

  Minimum age requirement

  Veterinary Surgeon's (Exemption) Order 1962)1962/2557) The Lead in Food Regulations 1979 (S.I 1979 No. 1254) as amended by The Lead in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1985 (S.I 1985 No. 912)

  Relating to the performance of minor treatment, tests or operations by a person aged under 18 years. (Article 4) Whilst not strictly a minimum age requirement, these regulations contain specific maximum limits for lead in food for infants

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring takes place by his Department of the use of external consultants by non-departmental public bodies. [16762]

  Mr. Boswell
  Non-departmental public bodies are established to operate at arm's length from government, often under specific statutory powers. An NDPB's governing board is responsible for the management and control of the body's functions.

  Sponsoring divisions within the Ministry are responsible for monitoring the performance of the NDPBs they sponsor, and ensuring that they operate within the framework of controls set out in the Treasury and Cabinet Office guidance "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments".

  BSE
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the breakdown of his estimate of the cost of the BSE crisis to date in his speech to the annual conference of the National Farmers Union of 5 February; [15487]
  79
  (2) what sums have been provided to cover the costs of the BSE crisis for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000. [19196]

  Mr. Baldry
  This Government have committed £3.5 billion on BSE-related expenditure for the years 1996–97 to 1999–2000, as follows:

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–1999

  1999–2000

  Over-30-months scheme

  700

  350

  330

  330

  Selective cull

  20

  160

  —

  —

  Intervention

  190

  290

  190

  100

  Calf slaughter premium

  50

  60

  50

  50

  Disposal chain

  210

  60

  —

  —

  EC-funded beef support measures

  160

  —

  —

  —

  Agriculture departments' costs

  70

  70

  70

  70

  Other measures

  50

  90

  —

  —

  Savings on exports refunds

  -80

  -70

  -60

  -60

  Total

  1,370

  1,010

  580

  490

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations of the landfill sites where(a) beef and (b) beef-related products bought by the Intervention Board under the beef stocks transfer scheme and the beef and beef products (storage and disposal services) scheme were disposed of. [16848]

  Mr. Baldry
  No stocks of beef or beef products collected under the beef stocks transfer scheme or beef and beef products (storage and disposal services) scheme have been disposed of yet.

  Genetically Modified Maize
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the European countries which have imposed an import ban on non-labelled Ciba Geigy's GM maize; and if he will make a statement. [17149]

  Mrs. Browning
  Luxembourg and Austria have both announced import bans on GM maize.

  Such action is illegal under Community law unless new information showing a safety hazard can be produced that was not considered prior to the Community marketing authorisation being issued. No such information has been provided by either country to date and the Commission has therefore indicated its intention to take early action to force the removal of both bans.

  Food Safety (Charities)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from voluntary bodies relating to the application of food safety regulations to food provided 80
  for fund raising at charitable functions; if he will list the organisations concerned; and if he will make a statement. [16172]

  Mrs. Browning
  A recent public consultation on food safety regulations of particular interest to voluntary bodies was undertaken last year by the Department of Health on amendments to the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991. All responses from voluntary bodies have been placed in the Department of Health's library, where they can be examined.

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers under the countryside stewardship scheme have received total payments per annum of(a) under £6,000 and (b) £6,000 to £10,000, (c) £10,000 to £20,000 and (d) over £20,000 in (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1996–97. [17258]

  Mr. Boswell
  This information could currently be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [16567]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No Ministers or officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have attended a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee.

  Fish Food
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if mechanically recovered meat from the non-specified bovine offal obtained from calves may be used in the manufacture of fish food. [16998]

  Mrs. Browning
  Mechanically recovered meat does not originate from offal. It is made from the residual meat left on bones.

  Animal Feed Labelling
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations his Department has made regarding the labelling of animal feed contents; and if he will make a statement. [17150]

  Mrs. Browning
  The declaration of compound feed ingredients, either by specific name or category of ingredient, has been a compulsory requirement of EU law since 1991, implemented in Great Britain by the Feeding Stuffs Regulations. Although most feed compounders originally chose to declare by category, the vast majority have switched over the last year to full ingredient listing.

  The UK is supporting a Commission proposal which will delete the category "land animal products", and thus require any animal material to be separately identified.
  81

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  National Audit Office
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what proposals exist for further review of the National Audit Office's powers. [15556]

  Sir Terence Higgins
  The Nolan Committee has made various suggestions for the development of the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the NAO. In the White Paper on the governance of public bodies published last week the Government proposed certain extensions to the Comptroller and Auditor General's work including the CAG's right to inspect all non-departmental public bodies and associated companies; and the examination of compliance with codes of conduct.

  The Government, however, did not take up earlier recommendations made by the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts and my predecessor for the CAG to carry out the full financial audit of all executive non-departmental public bodies. Nor did they provide for the CAG to have the right to inspect the books of those housing associations and certain other bodies which are funded by central Government or a guaranteed right of access to all private contractors of Government Departments and agencies.

  I understand that the Labour party has also put forward proposals concerning the future remit of the CAG and the NAO, but the Commission has not received these.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Departmental Publicity
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) his Department's budgeted expenditure on (i) advertising, (ii) publicity and (iii) public information campaigns for the period January to March 1997 and (b) the actual expenditure on (1) advertising, (2) publicity and (3) public information campaigns in the period January to March in each of the past five years. [13469]

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

  Expenditure from 1991–1997

  Publicity excluding advertising £

  Advertising £

  1991–1992

  2,729,753.00

  4,834,813.00

  1992–1993

  15,058,691.00

  4,452,277.00

  1993–1994

  12,368,615.00

  5,964,988.00

  1994–1995

  16,457.606.00

  3,597,308.00

  1995–1996

  13,702,205.00

  6,383,467.00

  1996–19971

  11,262,567.00

  3,937,476.00

  January-March, 19971

  5,513,229.00

  1,387,580.00

  Notes:

  Figures are estimated.

  1. The table shows the overall expenditure by this Department and its agencies on publicity and advertising since 1991–92.

  2. We do not make any distinction between publicity and advertising and public information campaigns.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Child Support Agency cases are overdue for their two-year review. [15087]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 20 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency maintenance assessment reviews.
  I am unable to answer your question in precisely the form as you have requested. The starting point of the periodic review process is the automated issue of the Periodic Review Form by the Child Support Computer System. This currently takes place every two years after a maintenance assessment has been completed. The Agency reassesses cases where forms are returned and all information is provided. We estimate we will complete over 41,000 periodic reviews during 1996/97.
  In many cases the periodic review will not result in a revised assessment, because relevant changes in circumstances are generally reported promptly to the Agency by either the parent with care or the absent parent. Once a change of circumstances is reported, a review of the assessment is carried out, so many cases awaiting their periodic review are in fact continuing on up to date information.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the basis of the calculation of the benefit savings figure under the headings(a) maintenance exceeds rate of benefit and (b) resulting from pre-CSA assessment paid through agency collection service to Secretary of State, in the accounts drawn up by the Child Support Agency. [15605]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 20 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the calculation of benefit savings.
  In your question you have referred to "accounts" and I have assumed that you are requesting further explanation of two categories in my previous answer of 21 January 1997, ie Maintenance Exceeds Rate of Benefit (known as maintenance cessations), and Resulting from Pre-CSA Assessments; Paid Through Agency Collection Service (known as Liable Relatives Collection Office (LRCO) receipts).
  Maintenance cessations benefit savings are recorded where the amount of maintenance paid to the parent with care exceeds the amount of Income Support entitlement and benefit therefore ceases. Such savings come from two types of cases; cases where Income Support is no longer payable before a maintenance assessment is completed, usually as a result of the absent parent agreeing to make a voluntary payment (details of which are collected by Agency field offices), and cases where Income Support is no longer payable after a maintenance assessment has been completed (details of which are collected by the Child Support Agency Centres).
  Benefit savings take account of the Income Support that would otherwise have been in payment. This is calculated by using the last weekly payment of Income Support multiplied by 51 weeks. Departmental statisticians have confirmed that this is a safe figure to use.
  The calculation of benefit savings attributable to LRCO receipts is a simple process. These receipts represent maintenance payments (voluntary payments and court orders) diverted to the Department

  83
  under pre-April 1993 arrangements and collected by the Agency. They are recorded and are counted towards the Agency's benefit savings total.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many payment accounts at the Child Support Agency collection service were(a) pre-CSA arrangements and (b) CSA assessments at the end of each month since April 1994. [15606]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 20 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency accounts.
  The Child Support collection service holds only those cases where a maintenance assessment has been made. Maintenance arrangements made prior to the inception of the Agency (Pre CSA Arrangements) are not paid via this service. Pre CSA Arrangements are paid direct between parents, via the courts or via the Agency's Liable Relatives Collection Office (LRCO) where the parent with care is in receipt of benefit and the payment is due to the Secretary of State.
  The number of cases using the Child Support collection service and the number using the LRCO system are available from April 1995 only. The attached tables detail the number of payment accounts that were live on each system at the end of each month from April 1995 to date.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Live accounts within Child Support Collection Service

  1995–96

  1996–97

  April

  175,113

  209,134

  May

  177,048

  211,670

  June

  179,893

  213,744

  July

  183,058

  215,736

  August

  188,477

  219,979

  September

  192,528

  222,104

  October

  196,670

  224,913

  November

  201,142

  227,373

  December

  202,762

  230,316

  January

  205,193

  Not yet available

  February

  207,640

  Not yet available

  March

  207,465

  Not yet available

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total publicity and advertising budget for the Child Support Agency, and what proportion of this was spent on posters in the last year. [15658]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 20 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency publicity and advertising budget and what proportion has been spent on posters in the last year.
  The 1996/97 budget for publicity and advertising is £643,695.
  At 31 January 1997, the Agency has spent £450,977 on publicity and advertising. Of this, 15% has been spent on posters.
  I hope this is helpful.
  84
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the sums collected by the Child Support Agency collection service for each month since April 1994 showing(a) the amount which is recovered by his Department to offset benefit money which has already been paid out, (b) the amount which produces a saving against current income support payments and (c) the amount which produces a saving against current family credit payments. [15607]

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 20 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about benefit savings.
  In my reply to you of 20 January 1997, Official Report, (Han. Ref: Vol 288, Col 567), I gave a breakdown of all benefit savings collected from 1 April 1994 up to 30 November 1996. This updated the information given in response to your previous questions on this subject. The details you have now requested are contained in that reply.
  I assume that the information that you require at part (a) of your question refers to cases where maintenance is paid through the Agency and the full Income Support payment continues. Details of these cases are shown in the previous responses under the headings "Resulting from pre-CSA Assessments: Paid Through Agency Collection Service to SoS" and "Resulting from CSA Assessments: Paid Through Agency Collection Service to SoS".
  The amount producing a saving against current Income Support payments where maintenance passes from the absent parent to the parent with care, and Income Support is reduced to take account of this, is shown under the headings "Resulting from, CSA and pre-CSA Assessments: Paid Direct by Absent Parent to Parent With Care", and "Resulting from CSA Assessments: Deductions from Absent Parent's IS Payments".
  The amount producing a saving against current Family Credit payments is included under the heading "Reductions in Family Credit or Disability Working Allowance resulting from CSA Assessments". Data for this category is obtained by a computer scan. Family Credit accounts for the bulk of the saving recorded, but to isolate the Family Credit elements from the Disability Working Allowance elements to obtain an exact figure would involve disproportionate cost.
  Figures are now available to 30 December 1996, and are shown in the table attached.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Benefit savings update 1996–97 (£ million)

  Category of benefit savings

  December 1996

  1996–97 YTD

  Resulting from pre-CSA assessments:

  Paid through Agency collection service to SoS

  0.02

  0.51

  Resulting from CSA and pre-CSA assessments:

  Paid direct by absent parent to parent with care

  9.03

  85.89

  Resulting from CSA assessments:

  Paid through Agency collection service to SoS

  7.87

  69.76

  Deductions from absent parent's I S payments

  0.29

  3.52

  Income Support claim cessations:

  Maintenance exceeds rate of benefit

  0.53

  4.45

  Income Support claim withdrawn within four weeks of CSA action

  10.19

  115.19

  85

  Benefit savings update 1996–97 (£ million)

  Category of benefit savings

  December 1996

  1996–97 YTD

  Reductions in Family Credit or Disability Working Allowance resulting from CSA assessments

  2.70

  35.49

  Housing Benefit/Council Tax reductions resulting from CSA assessments

  3.49

  39.53

  Total

  34.12

  354.34

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his policy towards Benefits Agency officials(a) visiting demonstrations on road works sites for benefit purposes and (b) denying benefit payments to persons believed to be, or known to be, occupying land in the area of road construction; how this policy has changed in the past two years; what new guidance he has issued since 1 January 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15928]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 20 February 1996:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will make a statement on his policy towards Benefits Agency (BA) officials (a) visiting demonstrations on road works sites for benefit purposes and (b) denying benefit payments to persons believed to be, or known to be, occupying land in the area of road construction; how this policy has changed in the past two years; what new guidance he has issued since 1st January 1996; and if he will make a statement.
  The BA does not routinely visit demonstrations on road work sites for benefit purposes. The Agency has a policy of visiting to protect public funds and ensure customers receive their correct entitlement. Where certain criteria are met, a visit is made before Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) is awarded, which are listed at appendix A. Visits are also made when customers in receipt of these benefits meet certain criteria, which are listed at appendix B.
  The Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) customers must be available for work and seek it actively, and the same rules applied for several years before the introduction of JSA. The JSA rules require customers to be immediately willing and able to take up work of at least 40 hours a week, at times which give them reasonable prospects of securing employment. They must also take realistic steps to look for work each week. Full guidance on the conditions was issued for the introduction of JSA in October 1996. Jobcentre staff apply them rigorously to all JSA customers, including those known or believed to be protesting by occupying a building site.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Appendix A

  Unexplained background to claim or claim incomplete

  Number of children inconsistent with child benefit declared

  Jobseeker/Customer has no National Insurance number

  Recent separation

  No Fixed Abode

  Request to backdate claim more than one month

  Habitual Residence Test

  Known at risk address

  Customer may be living together as husband and wife with another person who has not been declared as their partner

  Random Local Selection—up to 20 per cent. of activity

  86

  Guidance exists on the meaning of each criteria

  Appendix B

  Lone parent in receipt of Income Support (IS)

  Jobseeker in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)

  Customer incapable/unavailable for work

  Pensioners over 60 years and 3 months but less than 65 years and 4 months

  Customer/Jobseeker or partner self-employed prior to claiming IS/JSA

  Customer/Jobseeker or partner currently self-employed

  Customer/Jobseeker or partner is an employed earner

  Customer/Jobseeker or partner has other income

  Customer or partner aged 67–69 in receipt of IS

  Local selection

  Benefit Expenditure
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the increase in benefit expenditure in real terms since 1979.[15980]

  Mr. Burt
  Social Security benefit expenditure has increased by 88 per cent. in real terms since 1979.

  Source:

  March 1996 Social Security departmental report and earlier equivalents.

  Carer Premium
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women currently receive the carer premium with (i) income support, (ii) housing benefit and (iii) council tax benefit. [15798]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Benefit

  Male recipients

  Female recipients

  Total recipients

  Income support1

  92,000

  68,000

  159,000

  Housing benefit2

  —

  —

  87,000

  Council tax benefit2

  —

  —

  116,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures as at February 1996.

  2. Figures as at May 1995.

  3. All numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand, and totals may not sum.

  4. It is not possible to identify the sex of those people whose housing benefit and council tax benefit assessments include the carer premium.

  5. The figures given for income support represent the sex of the claimant who is a member of a benefit unit for which there is entitlement to the carer premium. The benefit unit may be a single person or a couple, and the claimant may or may not be the carer.

  6. People in receipt of housing benefit whose assessment includes a carer premium, can also be in receipt of council tax benefit. There is therefore some overlap in the figures for these benefits.

  Sources:

  1 The income support figures are from the May 1995 and February 1996 "Quarterly Statistical Enquiry".

  The latest housing benefit and council tax benefit figures are from the May 1995 housing benefit management information system annual 1 per cent. enquiry.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the annual cost and (b) the numbers gaining if the extended housing benefit scheme were to be introduced for people in receipt of (i) incapacity benefits and (ii) invalid care allowance within 26 weeks of starting a job. [15871]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  The cost of extending the scheme in a full year to people who received incapacity benefit within 26 weeks of starting a job is estimated to be in the region of £4 million with around 25,000 people affected1.

  Information does not exist to provide a relief estimate for ex-invalid care allowance recipients.

  Note:

  1 This estimate applies only to individuals registering as unemployed after leaving incapacity benefit and is based on data from March 1995 to February 1996.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of(a) local authority and (b) housing association tenants (i) not in receipt and (ii) in receipt of housing benefit in each district of Northamptonshire. [15777]

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

  Local authority tenancies

  Local authority

  Total tenancies

  Non-housing benefit tenants

  Housing benefit tenants

  Corby

  7,240

  3,250

  3,980

  Daventry

  3,760

  1,700

  2,070

  East Northants

  4,120

  1,730

  2,390

  Kettering

  4,690

  1,540

  3,150

  Northampton

  15,040

  5,050

  9,990

  South Northants

  3,500

  1,500

  2,000

  Wellingborough

  5,650

  2,470

  3,180

  Housing association tenancies

  Local authority

  Total tenancies

  Non-housing benefit tenants

  Housing benefit tenants

  Corby

  500

  140

  350

  Daventry

  320

  10

  300

  East Northants

  620

  160

  460

  Kettering

  590

  150

  440

  Northampton South

  1,630

  640

  990

  South Northants

  210

  40

  160

  Wellingborough

  680

  230

  460

  Note:

  Totals may not sum due to rounding to the nearest 10.

  Sources:

  1. Local authority tenancies—Department of Environment annual housing investment programme (HIP1) returns as at 1 April 1996.

  2. Housing association tenancies—Housing Corporation's annual HAR10/1 returns as at 31 March 1996.

  3. Housing benefit management information system, 100 per cent. quarterly stock count enquiry for housing benefit-Council Tax Benefit recipients with and without income support, for each local authority in Northamptonshire taken at the end of May 1996.

  Earnings Limits
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the annual cost and (b) the numbers gaining if the earnings limits for (i) incapacity benefit, (ii) severe disablement allowance and (iii) invalid care allowance, were raised to the lower earning limit for 1997–98. [15870]

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

  It is estimated that 5,000 invalid care allowance claimants would benefit each year if the ICA earnings limit were raised to the lower earnings limit at an annual cost of £5 million.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on sample data which may be unrepresentative.

  2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 5,000 (claimants) and £5 million (expenditure).

  Source:

  "Family Resources Survey 1994–95".

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the annual cost and (b) the numbers gaining if people could qualify for disability working allowance by virtue of having been in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits (i) six months before the disability working allowance claim and (ii) a year before the disability working allowance claim. [15799]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information required to make such an estimate is not available.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers gaining from a full disregard of spouse earnings in disability working allowance claims. [16667]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 9 December 1996,Official Report, column 67.

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [16187]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Unfunded Pension Liabilities
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what actions he has taken to implement the recommendations contained in paragraphs(a) 14,

  89
  (b) 15 and (c) 16 of the First report of the Social Security Committee relating to unfunded pension liabilities in the European Union, HC23, Session 1996–97. [16024]

  Mr. Heald
  The Government published their response to the Committee's report on 20 December 1996 (Cm 3519) setting out the actions it is taking to implement the recommendations.

  Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate (i) the number of(a) employees and (b) self-employed workers who are not making any contribution to private or occupational pensions and (ii) the proportion of this group which is not contributing to (1) state earnings-related pensions or (2) the basic state pension in their own right. [16922]

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

  Information on private pension membership from the 1994 general household survey suggests that approximately 6.6 million employees and 1.6 million self-employed people were not current members of occupational or personal pension schemes. It is not possible to identify how many of these were not contributing to SERPS or to the basic state retirement pension.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate(a) the number of contributors to (i) company or occupational final salary schemes, (ii) company or occupational money purchase schemes, (iii) group personal pensions and (iv) personal pensions in 1992 and currently and (b) in each date and category the median size of annual contributions from both company and individual contributors. [16931]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  The 1991 Government Actuary's survey of occupational pension schemes estimated that there were 9.8 million members of defined-benefit occupational schemes, of whom 8.4 million were in contributory schemes; and 0.9 million members of defined-contribution occupational schemes, of whom 0.7 million were in contributory schemes—although 0.2 million of them were in schemes which required them to contribute only the national insurance contracted-out rebate.

  The number of contributors to group personal pensions is not known but it is estimated that there may be in the region of half a million members of such schemes at present.

  Inland Revenue data indicate that in 1992–93 there were a total of around 10.8 million personal pension arrangements qualifying for income tax relief, including group personal pensions, retirement annuity contracts and free-standing additional voluntary contributions arrangements. It is not possible to say how many individual pension holders this represents, since one person may hold several arrangements, nor how many of
  90
  the arrangements actually received contributions in the year. The number of such arrangements in 1994–95 was 11.7 million.

  Total employee and employer contributions to occupational pension schemes in 1991 were estimated to be £8 billion and £17.6 billion respectively; a division between defined-benefit and defined-contribution schemes is not available. Individual contributions to the personal pension arrangements identified above were estimated to total £4.7 billion in 1992–93; employer contributions were estimated to be £0.7 billion. Estimates for 1994–95 are £5.6 billion for individual contributions and £0.6 billion for employer contributions.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will calculate the total reduction in future expenditure on the state earnings-related pension scheme at net present value, arising from membership of appropriate personal pensions, assuming the social discount rate used by his Department. [13842]

  Mr. Heald
  [holding answer 4 February 1997]For the years 1987–88 to 1994–95, the latest period for which certified figures are available, £7.2 billion at net present value has been saved in future payments of the state earnings-related pension scheme. This figure has been calculated using the GDP deflator and a social discount rate of 3.75 per cent. consistent with the Government Actuary's review of contracting out terms (Cm 3221).

  Appeal Tribunals
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many notices issued by the clerks to each of the social security appeal tribunals covering the London boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth between 21 October and 21 December 1996, directing the parties to notify him if they wished an oral hearing to be heard, have resulted in requests for oral hearings by(a) the claimant only, (b) the adjudication officer only and (c) both the claimant and the adjudication officer; and how many of those requests were made within 10 days of receipt of the direction. [16925]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for the Independent Tribunal Service.

WALES

  Local Government Legislation
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the legislation for which his Department has been responsible which affects(a) local government finance and (b) other local government responsibilities in the present Parliament. [15831]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 is the only legislation since April 1992 affecting local government in Wales for which the Department has been responsible.

  Overgrazing
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what progress has been made by the Welsh Office Agricultural Department in addressing cases of overgrazing in Wales identified by(a) wildlife trusts and (b) others; [17245]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the effects of large-scale overgrazing in the Welsh uplands on biodiversity in Wales, indicating the evidence which underlies his assessment. [17244]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department's policy is to seek to enforce the overgrazing conditions which attach to the payment of livestock production subsidies. These conditions are intended to prevent land being grazed with too many livestock so that the growth, quality or diversity of the vegetation is adversely affected. Late last year all producers claiming sheep and beef production subsidies were sent a copy of a booklet, "Your Livestock and Your Landscape", which describes how to recognise and deal with overgrazing and inappropriate supplementary feeding. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

  ADAS is currently considering a number of potential overgrazing cases which my Department has referred to it for technical advice before deciding how to proceed. In considering the handling of such cases, the representations of wildlife trusts and others are taken into account.

  Blood Service
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the Welsh blood service has contributed to the Welsh bone marrow registry for each year since 1986. [17076]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide an annual grant to the Welsh blood service to employ a nurse recruitment officer to develop and maintain the bone marrow donor recruitment programme in Wales. [17087]

  Mr. Jones
  Health authorities are funded to commission appropriate activities by the Welsh blood service. This is, therefore, a matter for them to consider.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of

  Number and percentage of 15-year-olds1 entered and achieving GCSE grade A* to C by subject, 1996

  15-year-olds entered for GCSE

  15-year-olds achieving GCSE grade A* to C

  Number

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage2

  Mathematics

  31,851

  86

  14,994

  40

  English Language

  32,049

  86

  17,328

  47

  1 Age as at 31 August 1995.

  2 As a percentage of the total number of 15-year-olds at school in Wales in January 1996.

  92
  safeguards preventing multiple pharmacies transferring prescriptions handed in at one pharmacy branch to another branch to maximise payment for additional professional services; and if he will make a statement. [17080]

  Mr. Hague
  The Welsh Office is represented on the efficiency scrutiny on prescription fraud, which has the task of recommending measures to reduce the risk of prescription fraud. The scrutiny team is due to complete its work by the end of March.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what statistics he has collated in respect of the average aggregate prescribing of antibiotics in each of the past five years. [16996]

  Mr. Hague
  The number of prescription items, for antibacterial drugs, dispensed in each of the past five years is given in the following table:

  Prescription items for antibacterial drugs

  Prescription items dispensed (thousands)

  1991–92

  2,937

  1992–93

  2,927

  1993–94

  3,118

  1994–95

  3,159

  1995–96

  3,160

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to health authorities to prevent pharmacies with branches in more than one health authority area transferring prescriptions handed in at one pharmacy for processing at a pharmacy in another health authority area with a view to maximising the payment of the professional allowance for processing prescriptions. [17081]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  GCSE Examinations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage and how many children(a) sat and (b) obtained grades A to C first time in (i) maths and (ii) English language GCSE in Wales in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [17154]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information is not collected centrally on the number of children achieving GCSEs at their first attempt. The following table shows the number and percentage of 15-year-old pupils at school in Wales, who entered and who achieved A* to C in (i) maths and (ii) English Language in 1996.

  Fundholders
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the average(a) management and (b) computer costs for a general practitioner fundholding practice in each health authority in Wales in each of the past five years. [17454]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The following payments were made by family health services authorities in respect of general practitioner fundholding practice management allowances in the past five years. Figures include preparatory payments to GPs who will become fundholders in the next financial year, which cannot be separately identified to allow the calculation of an average management allowance.

  £'000s

  FHSA

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–95

  Clwyd

  179

  440

  569

  609

  1,003

  Dyfed

  31

  148

  325

  515

  936

  Gwent

  63

  286

  499

  609

  1,072

  Gwynedd

  0

  17

  122

  232

  332

  Mid Glamorgan

  120

  181

  245

  345

  715

  Powys

  16

  103

  210

  300

  538

  South Glamorgan

  33

  85

  288

  471

  829

  West Glamorgan

  76

  362

  645

  716

  1,038

  Figures for general practitioners computer costs are not held centrally.

  Source

  Family health services receipts and payments returns 1991–92 to 1995–96.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioner fundholders there were in each health authority in Wales in each of the past five [17464]

  Administrative costs of District Health Authorities in Wales

  £000

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Clwyd

  12,406

  14,011

  2,444

  1,933

  1,816

  East Dyfed

  7,686

  8,569

  3,668

  1,784

  1,733

  Pembrokeshire

  3,327

  169

  186

  147

  0

  Gwent

  12,691

  14,279

  4,591

  1,596

  1,513

  Gwynedd

  6,616

  8,237

  9,693

  1,057

  992

  Mid Glamorgan

  14,212

  8,944

  13,297

  8,434

  8,549

  Powys

  3,016

  3,683

  667

  540

  700

  South Glamorgan

  20,952

  24,299

  21,596

  21,478

  2,269

  West Glamorgan

  10,662

  11,729

  11,158

  7,516

  6,680

  Source:

  Financial returns from district health authorities.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of cases of BSE in Northern Ireland to date; and what percentage this represents of the total for the United Kingdom. [16247]
  94
  Mr. Jones
  The information is given in the following tables.

  Number of fundholding practices at 31 March

  Health authorities prior to 1 April 1996

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Clwyd

  10

  18

  20

  21

  Dyfed

  2

  6

  17

  21

  4

  13

  16

  21

  Gwynedd

  0

  1

  9

  11

  Mid Glamorgan

  4

  7

  8

  11

  Powys

  1

  5

  7

  12

  South Glamorgan

  1

  4

  18

  24

  West Glamorgan

  4

  20

  22

  25

  Total

  26

  74

  117

  146

  Number of fundholding practices at 31 January

  Health authorities prior to 1 April 1996

  1996–97

  Bro Taf

  41

  Dyfed Powys

  49

  Gwent

  41

  Morgannwg

  35

  North Wales

  44

  Total

  210

  Health Authority Costs
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the administrative costs of each health authority in Wales in each of the last five years. [17466]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is contained in the following table. Information on the five new health authorities for 1996–97 is not yet available. A reorganisation between East Dyfed and Pembrokeshire district health authorities began in 1992–93 and concluded in 1994–95.

  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 1,746 cases of BSE have occurred in Northern Ireland up to 7 February 1997. This represents 1.04 per cent. of the total cases for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the cattle herds in Northern Ireland,(a) remain unaffected by BSE and (b) would qualify for a United Kingdom certified herds scheme. [16210]
  95
  Mr. Ancram
  Approximately 97 per cent. of herds in Northern Ireland remain unaffected by BSE. These herds would qualify for a United Kingdom certified herds scheme as drafted at present.

  Farm and Countryside Enhancement Scheme
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were received in respect of the farm and countryside enhancement scheme; and of these how many were approved. [15469]

  Mr. Ancram
  A total of 4,144 applications were received under the farm and countryside enhancement scheme. None have been approved as no farms have yet been visited. A total of 2,532 were accepted before closure.

  Schools (Newtownards)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the present enrolments at(a) Scrabo high school and (b) Movilla high school in Newtownards; and what is the maximum enrolment that could be accommodated in the existing buildings at each of those schools. [16106]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are currently 283 pupils at Scrabo high school and 858 pupils at Movilla high school, in Newtownards. Scrabo high school can accommodate 515 pupils, whereas Movilla high school can accommodate 900 pupils.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are for a new integrated secondary school in Newtownards; if such proposals have been considered by the South Eastern education and library board; if a site for such a school has been identified; and if he will make a statement. [16105]

  Mr. Ancram
  The South-eastern education and library board published a development proposal for a new integrated secondary school in the North Down area on 10 September 1996. The board formally objected to the proposal on 5 November 1996. My Department was advised on 9 December 1996 by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education that a site had been identified for the proposed school in Newtownards.

  I have decided not to approve the development proposal as I was not satisfied, on the information available, that the school had the potential to sustain a reasonable religious balance between Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils within an overall long-term enrolment of 500.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total number of electors for each of the new parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland for the 1997–98 register of electors effective from 16 February. [16213]

  Mr. Ancram
  The chief electoral officer of Northern Ireland has provided the figures shown in the table which show the total eligible electorate for each of the new parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland. The figures shown in brackets represent those 17-year-olds who are registered, and who may or may not be able to vote depending upon whether their 18th birthday falls before or after polling day.1997 Register of Electors for Northern Ireland Total Eligible Parliamentary Electorate by Constituency as first published day.
  96

  1997 Register of Electors for Northern Ireland Total Eligible Parliamentary Electorate by Constituency as first published

  Parliamentary constituencies

  Electorate

  Belfast East

  62,278 (670)

  Belfast North

  65,193 (773)

  Belfast South

  63,948 (639)

  Belfast West

  62,523 (926)

  East Antrim

  59,591 (788)

  East Londonderry

  59,625 (997)

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  65,547 (1,189)

  Foyle

  68,574 (1,197)

  Lagan Valley

  72,025 (1,004)

  Mid Ulster

  59,814(1,228)

  North Antrim

  73,354 (1,184)

  North Down

  63,723 (895)

  Newry and Armagh

  71,685 (1,297)

  South Antrim

  70,288 (1,097)

  South Down

  70,931 (1,351)

  Strangford

  70,742 (957)

  Upper Bann

  71,293(1,123)

  West Tyrone

  59,064 (1,125)

  Total Electorate

  1,190,198 (18,440)

  Road Accidents (Comber and Dundonald)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many accidents have been reported in each of the past five years along the Comber Road, Dundonald and the Belfast road, Comber; how many persons were injured or killed as a result of these accidents; and what proposals there are to improve road safety along these roads. [16094]

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

  Letter to Mr. John D. Taylor from W. J. McCoubrey, dated 20 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your recently tabled PQ about accidents on the Comber Road, Dundonald and the Belfast Road, Comber and proposals to improve road safety on this route.
  As you are aware, the RUC are responsible for accident statistics and they have provided the following information in respect of road traffic injury accidents on the Comber—Belfast road (from the Upper Newtownards Road junction, Dundonald to the Killinchy Road/Killinchy Street junction, Comber):-

  Year

  Accidents

  Persons killed

  Seriously injured

  Slightly injured

  1992

  20

  0

  11

  30

  1993

  15

  1

  1

  25

  1994

  24

  0

  14

  28

  1995

  22

  1

  3

  29

  1996

  24

  0

  2

  40

  Roads Service intends to carry out a scheme to realign a 350 metre section of carriageway at Barnhill along this route. This work is expected to commence in early summer. A scheme to realign a further section of carriageway between Millmount Road and Peartree Hill is also being considered. This proposal is at a very early stage and no decision has been made as to its position in the minor works programme.
  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Social Security
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many people are waiting for an appeal to a tribunal on their claim for(a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance; [16452]

  (2) how many people in Belfast, West were in receipt of incapacity benefit in February 1996; [16459]

  (3) what percentage of decisions on incapacity benefit have been reversed following an appeal to a tribunal; [16463]

  (4) many of the claims for incapacity benefit have been disallowed since its introduction; [16461]

  (5) how many people in the constituency of Belfast, West applied for disability living allowance in each of the calendar years 1994, 1995 and 1996; [16465]

  (6) how many people in Belfast, West are currently awaiting a review decision regarding a claim for disability living allowance; [16450]

  (7) how many people in Belfast, West applied to the social fund for assistance in each year from 1993 to 1996; [16453]

  (8) how many people in Northern Ireland have made claims for incapacity benefit since April 1996; [16460]

  (9) how many people in the constituency of Belfast, West were awarded (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) 1996; [16449]

  (10) what (a) percentage and (b) number of people who were disallowed incapacity benefit between January 1996 and January 1997, appealed against the decision; [16464]

  (11) what is the average length of time a claimant already has to wait before receiving a decision on their application for incapacity benefit; [16462]

  (12) how many claimants in Belfast, West are currently in receipt of incapacity benefit; [16458]

  (13) how many people in the constituency of Belfast, West applied for attendance allowance in the calendar years 1994, 1995 and 1996; [16466]

  (14) how many people in Belfast, West are waiting for a review decision regarding their claim for attendance allowance. [16451]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subjects has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie and I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.

  Letter to Dr. Joe Hendron from Gerry Kennan, dated 20 February 1997.
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and the Social Fund. As Mr. Wylie is presently away on business, I am replying on his behalf.
  Ref: 16449
  Information on the number of people who were awarded Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance in the Parliamentary constituency of Belfast West is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, as shown
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  below, information is held on the number of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance recipients at specific dates during the years in question, although limited to 1996 for the latter.

  Date

  Number of recipients

  Disability living allowance

  November 1994

  7,835

  November 1995

  9,491

  November 1996

  10,702

  Attendance allowance

  February 1996

  3,624

  November 1996

  4,330

  No records are maintained on the number of people in the Parliamentary constituency of Belfast West who are awaiting a review of a decision regarding their claim for Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. This information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. [16452]
  The number of outstanding appeals regarding claims for Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance is shown in the table below. The figures include submissions being prepared by the Agency, submissions which have been forwarded to the Independent Tribunal Service for hearings to be arranged and appeals where a tribunal decision has been given but not yet implemented.

  Benefit type

  Appeals outstanding (14 February 1997

  Disability living allowance

  1,188

  Attendance allowance

  62

  Ref: 16453

  Information on the number of people in the Parliamentary constituency of Belfast West who applied to the Social Fund in each year from 1993 to 1996 cannot be given in the format requested as areas covered by the relevant Social Security Offices overlap with other constituencies.

  Ref. 16458
  The most recent information available is for week ending 30 November 1996 which shows that 5,011 people in the Parliamentary constituency of Belfast West were claiming Incapacity Benefit.
  Ref: 16459
  The number of people in the Parliamentary constituency of Belfast West who were in receipt of Incapacity Benefit on 28 February 1996 was 4,965.
  Ref. 16460
  Since April 1996, 54,542 claims have been made to Incapacity Benefit in Northern Ireland.
  Ref.: 16561
  The number of Incapacity Benefit claims which have been disallowed from its introduction in April 1995 is 30,700. This figure, however, does not include the number of claims disallowed before 1 April 1996 because of deficient National Insurance contributions or late claim. To obtain this information would generate disproportionate costs.
  Ref: 16462
  The average clearance time for Incapacity Benefit claims for January 1997 is 6.69 days. The average clearance time is measured from the date the claim is received until either entitlement is determined, the claim is withdrawn. or is otherwise closed.
  Ref: 16463
  Unfortunately, the information in relation to the percentage of Incapacity Benefit decisions which were reversed by a Social Security Appeal Tribunal is not held in the format requested and to

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  obtain it would involve disproportionate costs. However, this information is held by the Independent Tribunal Service, Cleaver House, and I have sent them a copy of your question.
  Ref. 16464
  From 1 January 1996 to 31 January 1997 a total of 23,778 Incapacity Benefit claims have been disallowed. The figure does not include the number of claims disallowed before 1 April 1996 because of deficient national insurance contributions or late claim and to obtain this information would generate disproportionate costs. The total number of appeals received for the same period was 6,428 which equates to 27% of claims disallowed.
  Ref: 16465, 16466
  The figures for the number of people in the Parliamentary constituency of Belfast West who applied for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance in 1994, 1995 and 1996 are not maintained on a constituency basis.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Electoral Abuse
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he plans to take to counter electoral abuse in the forthcoming elections in Northern Ireland. [16467]

  Mr. Ancram
  As the hon. Gentleman is aware, countering electoral abuse at election time involves participation by a number of groups on a number of different fronts. My Department has already issued to all households in Northern Ireland a document reminding voters about specified identity documents. This serves to remind people to safeguard the integrity of their own documents. In the meantime, the chief electoral officer is in contact with the Royal Ulster Constabulary to ensure maximum awareness of the criminal offence of any voters being in possession of identity documents for the purposes of impersonation. The chief electoral officer and his staff will be particularly vigilant with postal and proxy vote applications and will pass to the RUC any evidence of abuse for investigation. The parties themselves will need to select and brief carefully those people they chose to act as their polling agents as these people have a particularly important role to pay in identifying abuse actually at the polling stations.

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [16431]

  Mr. Moss
  The central Government estate in Northern Ireland achieved a 13 per cent. improvement in energy efficiency by 31 March 1996 (against the Government target of 15 per cent.). This compares very favourably with other parts of the central Government estate in the UK.

  This has been achieved by measures such as the promotion of energy efficiency through an inter-departmental committee; energy audits; staff
  100
  Waste management strategies are included in the green housekeeping action plans for all Government Departments in Northern Ireland. The strategies cover such issues as the disposal of waste paper and the recycling of other materials. The steps taken include a centralised contract for the disposal of waste paper, a Northern Ireland-wide procedure for the collection and disposal of confidential waste and recycling schemes for aluminium cans and toner cartridges.

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [16577]

  Sir John Wheeler
  No Ministers or officials from the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments have attended a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee.

  Ulster College of Arts
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary for State for Northern Ireland what are the basic qualifications required for entrance into the Ulster college of arts; and what procedures ensure that the required standard for entrance is met. [17086]

  Mr. Ancram
  The university of Ulster's faculty of art and design (which subsumed the Ulster college) offers a comprehensive range of courses at different levels, the entrance requirements for which are set out in detail in the university's prospectus. Admission criteria are established and reviewed annually by the faculty and the central university authorities.

  Irish and Ulster-Scots
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on the promotion and support of(a) Irish and (b) Ulster-Scots cultural activities excluding the Irish language expenditure, identified in his answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 57, in each of the past five years. [17084]

  Mr. Ancram
  Other than projects with a distinct language dimension, it is not possible to categorise objectively cultural activities which receive support as Irish or Ulster-Scots.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the promotion and teaching of the Irish language in English-medium schools cost in 1995–96, broken down by(a) teacher costs, (b) teaching materials, (c) inspectorate and examination costs, (d) teacher training, and (e) overhead costs. [17083]

  Mr. Ancram
  Teaching of the Irish language is an integral part of the curriculum in many schools. The breakdown of financial information in the form requested is not available.
  101
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed in each of the last five years by direct and indirect Government funding on the promotion and teaching of(a) the Irish language and (b) the Ulster-Scots language. [17085]

  Mr. Ancram
  The primary purpose of funding projects with an Irish language or Ulster-Scots language dimension is not employment creation. The information requested is not collated centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Newcastle Disease
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the areas in Northern Ireland currently affected by Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement. [17148]

  Mr. Ancram
  Newcastle disease outbreaks have currently been confirmed in the Lurgan, Dungannon, Larne, Coagh, Newtownards, mid-Antrim, Randalstown and Cloughmills areas of Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how many(a) farms and (b) birds have been infected with Newcastle disease in the recent outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [17147]

  Mr. Ancram
  At 20 February 1997 there was a total of nine premises in Northern Ireland infected with Newcastle disease. Approximately 356,000 birds have been slaughtered on these infected premises.

DEFENCE

  Army Tanks
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many tanks the British Army had at its disposal in(a) 1967, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1990 and (e) currently. [14004]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of Army tank holdings are not available in the form requested across the period concerned.

  Holdings of main battle tanks, excluding armoured reconnaissance vehicles and armoured vehicles Royal Engineers for the years 1967, 1970, 1980, 1990, and currently total 694, 658, 640, 699, and 388 respectively.

  These figures exclude tanks held by training and research establishments, in store as the war maintenance reserve or awaiting disposal.

  The size of the tank force has reduced sharply since the end of the cold war as the threat of massive conventional attack on our continental allies has all but disappeared and our emphasis has shifted towards rapid deployment in response to local or regional crises. However, the smaller tank force today benefits from the greater military effectiveness of the modern Challenger 1 tanks now in service and will be enhanced still further by the introduction to regimental service of Challenger 2.

  Departmental Publicity
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide(a) his Department's
  102
  budgeted expenditure on (i) advertising, (ii) publicity and (iii) public information campaigns for the period January to March 1997 and (b) the actual expenditure on (1) advertising, (2) publicity and (3) public information campaigns in the period January to March in each of the past five years. [13465]

  Mr. Soames
  The information is not available in the form requested. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 February,Official Report, column 685, and 18 February, Official Report, column 469–70.

  Ocean Wave 97
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the places to be visited by Ocean Wave 97, (b) the dates of the visit in each case, (c) which UK companies are using the visits to promote their business, and (d) the cost of the tour; and if all costs are being paid for by his Department. [15244]

  Mr. Soames
  The Royal Navy's Ocean Wave 97 deployment got underway on 13 January. Ships have already made visits to ports in France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, and Israel, and to Gibraltar and Djibouti. Diplomatic clearances have been granted by host authorities for visits to Turkey, India, the Maldives, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, South Korea, New Zealand, Malta and Corfu. On current plans two ships will detach temporarily from the task group to be in Hong Kong in June when the territory is handed back to China. The full Ocean Wave 97 programme has still to be finalised, and is subject to change, but we hope that in addition during the seven-month deployment, ships from the task group will be able to visit ports in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Russian, the Philippines, Australia, and South Africa.

  Ocean Wave 97 demonstrates the UK's continued commitment to the Asia-Pacific region after the handover of Hong Kong. It underlines our interest in promoting regional peace and stability, protecting the freedom of international trade, and supporting co-operation and joint working between military forces in the Asia-Pacific region.

  The activities and exercises conducted during major Royal Navy deployments such as Ocean Wave, which take place every three to four years, are an important contributor to building up the operational capability which the Commander in Chief Fleet is tasked to deliver. Participating units benefit from the opportunity to train and develop the seamanship and warfare operational skills and tactics of an integrated force. Such interactive training is achievable only when a number of diverse assets are deployed together over a prolonged period. Ocean Wave will also develop the Royal Navy's interoperability with other nations. The task group has already participated in exercises involving the French, Spanish, Dutch and Egyptian navies, and a number of other exercises are planned for later in the deployment. Two of the largest of these will be Exercise Setia Kawan with the Royal Brunei armed forces; and Exercise Flying Fish with our five power defence arrangements—FPDA—partners, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore, which will be the first ever joint air-maritime FPDA exercise.
  103
  The costs of such major deployments are taken into account in cyclical programming. The ships, aircraft, and personnel involved in Ocean Wave would be fully engaged in other activities anyway, and the directly attributable extra costs of the deployment are thus estimated at about £5.5 million. The main elements of this are port and harbour dues, Suez canal transit fees, operational support, additional fuel, and some air travel.

  As is usual a deployment of this type, the Royal Navy is pleased to be able to help in the promotion of the UK's wider interests. To this end it will be participating in a number of Defence industry days. UK companies which will participate in Defence industry days, and defence exhibitions associated with Ocean Wave 97, include the following:

  AGI Aeronautical and General Instruments, UK

  Aircraft Materials

  Arran Fire and Safety

  Avon Inflatables Ltd.

  Avon Polymer Products

  Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd.

  BAe Dynamics

  BAe SEMA, UK

  BAe Systems and Equipment

  Barr and Stroud Ltd.

  Basys Marine

  BNEA

  British Aerospace Defence Ltd.

  Brown Brothers,

  SG Brown

  Caley Ocean Systems

  Chelsea Instruments

  Chernikeef Logs

  Clarke Chapman Marine

  Cogent Defence Systems

  Colebrand

  DERA

  Divex

  DML

  Du Pont (UK) Ltd.

  EDS Ltd.

  Fairey Hydraulics

  Ferranti Technologies Ltd.

  Flagship Training Ltd.

  Francis Searchlights (1990) Ltd.

  J&S Franklin Ltd.

  FR Aviation

  Gearing and Watson

  GEC Alsthom-Paxman Diesels Ltd.

  GEC Marconi Avionics Ltd.

  GEC Marconi Materials Technology

  GEC Marconi Projects

  GEC Marconi Radar and Defence Systems

  GEC Marconi S31

  GEC Marconi Underwater Weapons

  GEC Marine

  GKN Westland Helicopters

  Graseby

  Hale Hamilton Valves

  104

  Howden Airdynamics Group Ltd.

  HydroMarine

  Hunting Engineering

  Irvin Aerospace

  Island Plastics Industries Ltd.

  Jane's

  JJB Consultancy

  KaMeWa UK

  Kelvin Hughes Ltd.

  T. W. Kempton (Corporate Clothing) Ltd.

  Kidde Fire Protection

  Leyland Trucks

  Mara Engineering

  Marine Acoustics

  Marine Data

  Maritime Defence

  Matra Marconi Space

  Meggitt Avionics

  Mitchell Bearings

  ML Holdings

  MSI Defence

  Neptune Sonar

  Park Air Electronics

  Pain Wessex

  Pearson Engineering Ltd.

  Permali Gloucester

  Pilatus Britten Norman

  Pilkington PE Ltd.

  Pilkington Thorn Optronics

  Polaris International

  Power Magnetics

  Pyser-SGI Ltd.

  Racal Acoustics

  Racal Thorn

  Redifon MEL/SPT

  Remploy Textile Group

  Rolls Royce Anstey

  Rolls Royce Bristol

  Rolls Royce Specialist Engines

  Royal Military College of Science

  RTK Marine

  Shorts Missile Systems Ltd.

  Siemens Plessey

  Simrad Optronics Ltd.

  Slingsby Aviation

  Slingsby Engineering

  Strachan and Henshaw

  Tebbutt and Hall Ltd.

  Thompson Valves

  Thomson Marconi Sonar Ltd.

  Thomson-Thorn Missile Electronics

  Thorn Automation

  W. and J. Tod

  UK Safety Group Ltd.

  Ultra Electronics, Command and Control

  Ultra Electronics, Electrics Division

  Ultra Electronics, Ocean Systems

  Ultra Electronics, Sonar and Communications

  105

  UK Hydrographic Office

  Varivane

  Vickers PLC

  Vickers Propulsion Technology UK

  Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd.

  Worcester Controls

  Yarrows Shipbuilders

  This list is subject to change as some of the events are still some way off. Companies participating in defence industry events on-board RN ships make a contribution towards the cost.

  In addition to these defence-related companies, a number of other UK non-defence-related companies will be mounting commercial events in various locations, to coincide with Ocean Wave ship visits.

  Albanian Military Personnel (Visits)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Albanian military personnel who have visited the United Kingdom since 1992. [16405]

  Mr. Soames
  The Albanian Minister of Defence, Mr. Safet Zhulali, visited the United Kingdom in 1995, accompanied by three military officers. Eleven representatives of the Albanian Ministry of Defence have been identified as having attended seminars or training courses in the United Kingdom under MOD auspices since 1992. It is not currently our practice to make public the names of such visitors, though as announced on 28 January by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,Official Report, columns 140–41, we are reviewing this.

  Royal Navy
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to enhance the capability of the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [16605]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14 January to the hon. Member for Castlepoint (Dr. Spink),Official Report, column 223.

  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 nad 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
  (pursuant to his reply 19 February, column 640): I regret that there was an error in the reply sent on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Meterological Office. I have asked the Chief Executive to write again to the hon. Member with the correct information.
  106
  Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 24 February 1997:
  I regret that my letter to you of 19 February contained a typographical error. The figure for 1996 at d. should read 12 rather than 112 weeks.
  My apologies for this mistake.

  Army Careers Information Offices (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of each Army careers information office functioning in Yorkshire since 1990, indicating the dates on which they were open, their running costs and the total number of annual recruits. [16650]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is set out in the tables. Details of running costs are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Office

  Year opened

  Barnsley

  1975

  The ACI0 closed in February 1995; it re-opened in May 1996.

  Bradford

  1959

  Doncaster

  1961

  Halifax

  1990

  The ACI0 was destroyed by an IRA bomb in February 1990. The office re-located to the local TA centre.

  Huddersfield

  1906

  Leeds

  1995

  AC10 closed 1995. Now opened as a Tti-Service Armed Forces Careers Office.

  Scarborough

  1992

  Sheffield

  1964

  Shared site with the Royal Navy.

  Wakefield

  1958

  York

  1972

  The total number of recruits annually since 1990 is:

  1990–1991: 1,612

  1991–1992: 1,176

  1992–1993: 1,118

  1993–1994: 643

  1994–1995: 1,169

  1995–1996: 913

  1996–19971: 1,231.

  Figure for Financial Year 1996–97 is an estimate based on performance to date.

  Regimental Museums
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the outcome of his Department's review of funding for regimental museums; and if he will ensure that his Department's funding for the museum of the Royal Dragoon Guards and Prince of Wales's Own Regiment in York will be maintained in future years at a sufficient level to allow the joint museum to remain in a city centre location. [16647]

  Mr. Soames
  The Government are fully aware of the important contribution made by regimental and corps museums to preserving the identity, history and traditions of their associated regiments and to maintaining the public profile of the Army in many parts of the UK. Nevertheless, as part of the Government's determination to reduce expenditure in the defence support area, and to concentrate it on the front line, the contribution my
  107
  Department makes to the funding of regimental and corps museums will be reduced by a little under 13 per cent. from April 1998. We are currently consulting with museum trustees about how these adjustments should best be achieved. A panel drawn from people with wide experience in museum management is to review the allocation of funds and recommend where the savings should fall. The future funding of all museums, including the museum of the Royal Dragoon Guards and Prince of Wales's Own Regiment in York, will be considered as part of this review. It would be premature to form a view as to what impact there might be on particular museums until the panel has reported.

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [16574]

  Mr. Soames
  Ministers attended Scottish Grand Committee meetings as part of their normal parliamentary duties and officials do so as part of their normal departmental duties. Expenditure falling to this Department has been limited to travelling costs. My right hon. Friend attended the Scottish Grand Committee meeting on 25 November 1996 in Cupar, Fife and had officials in attendance as necessary.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the analysis of the amount of low-flying activity in each low-flying area referred to in his letter to the hon. Member of 2 August 1996. [16872]

  Mr. Soames
  As my noble Friend, the Under Secretary of State for Defence, advised the hon. Member in his letter of 10 January 1997, we shall publish the results as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of daytime low-flying movements over the United Kingdom in each year between 1994 and 1996. [16823]

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of daytime low-flying movements booked into the United Kingdom low flying system in each year between 1994 and 1996 are as follows:

  1994: 225,101

  1995: 226,315

  1996: 208.646.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many night low-flying movements were booked into night low-flying area 2B in each year since 1989. [16821]
  108
  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of low flying movements booked into night low flying sector 2B in each year since 1989 are as follows:

  1989: 2251

  1990: 462

  1991: 290

  1992: 467

  1993: 427

  1994: 303

  1995: 651

  1996: 497

  1 1 June to 31 December. Night low flying sector 2B was established on I June 1989.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying movements were booked into(a) low-flying area 13 and (b) low-flying area 16 in 1996. [16875]

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of low-flying movements booked into low-flying areas 13 and 16 in 1996 were 4,744 and 16,896 respectively.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many night low-flying movements were booked into the Spadeadam range operating area in each year since 1989; [16801]

  (2) what was the total number of night low-flying movements over the United Kingdom in each year from 1989 to 1996. [16822]

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

  Apache Helicopters (Weapons Firing)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the locations of range facilities for practice firing of(a) cannon, (b) CRV7 and (c) Hellfire weapons by Apache helicopters. [16882]

  Mr. Soames
  No decisions have yet been taken as to the locations of range facilities for the practice firing of these weapons systems.

  Army Field Training Area
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the designation, Army field training centre, came into effect; if he will list the current AFTCs and the date of designation of each; and what is the relationship between the definition of an AFTC and the former principal training area category. [16874]

  Mr. Soames
  The designation Army field training centre was introduced in April 1991 to reflect the increased importance of these training areas following structural reorganisation of the Army under "Options for Change". The current list of AFTCs and their designation dates is as follows:

  1st April 1991: Salisbury Plain, Stanford, Cinque Ports, Otterbum, Sennybridge, Warcop.

  1st April 1994: Catterick.

  1st April 1995: Castlemartin.

  Galloway Training Area
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many man-days of training have been conducted in the Galloway training area in each of the last five years. [16873]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Number of man training days

  1992–93

  11,709

  1993–94

  10,461

  1994–95

  19,302

  1995–96

  23,027

  1996–97

  147,846

  1 Figures available for period April to December 1996 only; these have been calculated on a different basis from those given for the preceding years and now include training undertaken by the reserve forces, cadets and the other two services.

  Nuclear Forces
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the defence budget was spent on maintaining and operating British nuclear forces in financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [16884]

  Mr. Soames
  Running costs for Trident and Polaris ballistic missile submarines constituted around 1 per cent. of the defence budget in each of financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Danger Areas
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what activities are authorised in danger area D402C; and on what date the area was established. [16819]

  Mr. Soames
  The only activity authorised in danger area D402C is occasional bomb disposal. The danger area was brought into activity in January 1996.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many days in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996 the danger area designated EGD512A was active; if he will list the weapons which are authorised for use within EGD512A; and what is the expected change in the nature and frequency of use of EGD512A following the development of firing facilities at Otterburn. [16829]

  Mr. Soames
  Danger area EGD512A was in use for two days in 1995–96 and has been active for four days to date in 1996–97. All artillery gun systems are unauthorised to use the danger area. No significant change in use is anticipated.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions over the last two years(a) danger area D402A and (b) danger area D402B have been activated above 3,000 ft; to what height they were activated in each case; and what procedures are in place for the safe transit of aircraft on airway B2 when such activations take place. [16820]

  Mr. Soames
  Over the last two years, Danger Areas D402A and B have been activated above the normal maximum height of 3,000 ft for weapons firing trials work. Notice to Airmen—NOTAM—warnings of range activity occurred on 10 occasions covering a total period of 28 days, although four of these NOTAMs, covering a110
  total of six days, were cancelled due to weather. Activation dates, times and maximum heights were as follows:

  Date

  Time

  Maximum Height

  Danger Areas D402A and B—NOTAM

  0900–1700 hours

  Up to 23,000 feet

  NOTAM cancelled

  Details

  1 July 1995

  3 to 17 July 1995

  0900–1900 hours

  Up to 13,000 feet

  22 July 1995

  0900–1600 hours

  Up to 20,000 feet

  19 to 20 August 1995

  0900–1600 hours

  Up to 5,000 feet

  NOTAM cancelled

  2 to 3 September 1995

  0930–1800 hours

  Up to 23,000 feet

  NOTAM cancelled

  8 May 1996

  1000–1400 hours

  Up to 7,000 feet

  1 to 2 February 1997

  1100–1500 hours

  Up to 5,000 feet

  Danger Areas D402A only—Activation Details

  2 November 1996

  1000–1600 hours

  Up to 17,000 feet

  16 November 1996

  0900–1400 hours

  Up to 17,000 feet

  NOTAM cancelled

  18 to 19 January 1997

  1200–1600 hours

  Up to 5,000 feet

  When danger areas are active, Airway Blue 2 is closed by NOTAM action, although, when safe to do so, the danger area controlling authority, West Freugh approach radar, may, when requested, approve aircraft to use this airway.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the weapon types which have been authorised for discharge in(a) danger area D411 and (b) danger area D509 in the last 10 years; what records his Department collates of the number and type of weapons fired; and if he will make a statement on efforts made to recover unexploded ordnance from the seabed in these areas. [16826]

  Mr. Soames
  Danger area D411, in the Portpatrick area, is used for trials of Sonobuoy equipment. No weapons have been authorised for discharge in this area over the last 10 years.

  Danger area D509, in the Campbletown area, is used for anti-air and surface weapon training. My Department does not hold records detailing the specific weapons authorised for discharge in danger area D509 over the last 10 years, nor are records collated indicating the number and types of weapons fired. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the following weapon types are known to have been used routinely within this area:

  7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun and a variety of small arms

  20mm ADEN air to surface cannon

  20 & 30mm Oerlikon guns

  40mm Bofors 40/60 guns

  In addition, the following weapon types have been used on an occasional basis within danger area D509:

  20mm DCN guns

  20mm Giat cannon

  40mm Oerlikon 40/70 guns.

  As a matter of routine during training and exercises, inert projectiles would be fired by the weapons detailed above: residue deposited on the sea-bed would not. therefore, be explosive.
  111
  In accordance with our usual practice, my Department has made no effort to recover unexploded ordnance from the sea-bed in danger areas D411 and D509. As a general principle, scientific advice indicates that unexploded ordnance on the seabed presents no significant risk to safety, human health or the marine environment, if left undisturbed.

  Kirkcudbright Range
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the training area category of Kirkcudbright range when it is transferred to the Army; and what plans he has to develop Kirkcudbright as an army field training centre. [16831]

  Mr. Soames
  The Kirkcudbright training area will be a district training asset administered by Army headquarters, Scotland. There are no plans at present to develop Kirkcudbright as an Army field training centre.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for provision of facilities for non-infantry units at the Kirkcudbright range; if he will list the types of non-infantry training to be authorised there; and on what date such training is scheduled to start. [16876]

  Mr. Soames
  Apart from continued use of the existing demolition area by the Royal Engineers no specific facilities will be provided for use by non-infantry units. The area will also be used by the Royal Artillery for the firing of the multiple launch rocket system. No other non-infantry training has been authorised.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the provision of infantry training facilities at the Kirkcudbright range; if he will list the type of infantry training to be authorised there; what will be the maximum number of infantry personnel using the area at any one time; and on what date infantry training is scheduled to start. [16877]

  Mr. Soames
  Infantry dry tactical training has been conducted at Kirkcudbright since September 1995. We now plan to develop the infantry ranges to accommodate the live firing of small arms and support weapons as well. The maximum number of infantry personnel using the range at any one time will be approximately 500.

  Live Fire Training
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current arrangements for live firing training for missile-equipped helicopters in the Army Air Corps; and what assessment he has made of the advantages of combining Army Air Corps live fire training with RAF armament practice camp facilities. [16835]

  Mr. Soames
  Live firing training for missile equipped Army Air Corps helicopters is undertaken on Salisbury Plain training area and at Otterburn. Consideration has been given to conducting Army Air Corps live firing at RAF armament practice camps, but the conclusion reached was that this would be neither practical nor cost effective.

  Military Aircraft (Flying Hours)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total number of hours flown by each aircraft type in military service in each year since 1990; and what are the funded hours for each type in 1997. [16803]

  Mr. Soames
  I have placed a table detailing the available information in the Library of the House.

  Inflatable Targets
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many inflatable targets were deployed to Goose bay, Canada, during the 1996 training season; to how many locations the targets were deployed; what was the total cost of(a) deploying (b) operating and (c) supporting the targets; what contribution to repayment of those costs will be made by (i) the Canadian authorities and (ii) other allied air forces training at Goose bay; and what conclusions have been reached concerning the future deployment of inflatable targets at Goose bay. [16808]

  Mr. Soames
  Six inflatable targets were deployed to Goose bay, Canada, during the 1996 training season. It is not possible to provide the cost information requested as the deployment was not undertaken as a stand alone activity and costs were, therefore, not recorded separately. As this was a national deployment, no financial contribution was sought from the Canadian authorities or other allied air forces at Goose bay. Consideration is currently being given to locating inflatable targets at Goose bay on a permanent basis to meet UK training requirements.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the(a) statutory and (b) service regulatory provisions for (i) consultations with, and (ii) notification of, owners of adjoining land when inflatable targets for simulated air-to-ground attack are deployed on private land. [16809]

  Mr. Soames
  The Department maintains standing instructions on the deployment of forces and equipment, including inflatable targets, on private land. These instructions are complied with at all times, and deployments are only undertaken with the prior authorisation of the land owner. Adjoining land owners are not formally notified but the local police are consulted.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations, dates of deployment and nature of the training for each deployment on private land of inflatable targets in the last five years; and if his Department holds training licence agreements with each of the locations. [16810]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of such deployments are not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, deployments on private land are undertaken only with the agreement of the appropriate land owner.

  Training (Stranraer)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations, acreage, and types of training allowed under each training licence for ground forces training within 25 miles of Stranraer. [16811]
  113
  Mr. Soames
  Within 25 miles of Stranraer, military ground forces training takes place at the Galloway training area and Castle Kennedy airfield. Only a very small percentage of the 67,617 ha of the Galloway training area lies within 25 miles of Stranraer and since 1 January 1987 use has been regulated by a licence granted by the Forestry Commission. The area is used mainly for low level tactical infantry training, orienteering, medical training, map reading, adventure training and very occasional parachute jumps.

  Castle Kennedy, which extends to 370 ha, is regularised under an ongoing licence from Stair estate and is used for low level tactical infantry training, first aid, bivouacking, signals and driver training. In addition to these specific training licences, military units can apply to use other Stair estate, Forestry Commission or private land on a one off basis by separate individual agreement with the landlord concerned.

  Tornado GR.1 Fleet
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Royal Air Force Tornado GR.1 fleet are to be repainted in grey camouflage scheme; and what proportion have been repainted. [16814]

  Mr. Soames
  All Tornado interdictor strike—GR.1 and GR.4—aircraft are to be painted in the grey camouflage scheme at the time of their next scheduled respray. So far the new paint scheme has been applied to 41 aircraft.

  Nuclear-powered Hunter-killer Submarines
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average annual running cost of a nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine in each of the last five years. [16815]

  Mr. Soames
  The average annual operating costs for Swiftsure and Trafalgar class SSNs over the period 1992–3 to 1994–5 were broadly as follows (at mid-year prices):

  Swiftsure (£ million)

  Trafalgar (£ million)

  1992–93

  19.1

  11.1

  1993–94

  18.9

  13.1

  1994–95

  24.8

  19.3

  Figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 are not available.

  Nuclear Fuel Rods (Sellafield)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent in each of the last five years storing spent nuclear submarine fuel rods at Sellafield. [16817]

  Mr. Soames
  The cost of storage of spent submarine reactor fuel at BNFL Sellafield in each of the last five years, from 1992 to 1996 inclusive, is £0.6 million, £1.1 million, £1.6 million, £2.6 million and £2.3 million respectively.

  Army Mechanised Training
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Army mechanised training in the Spadeadam area. [16833]
  114
  Mr. Soames
  It is expected that individual Army units, including mechanised units, will continue to make some limited use of the facilities at RAF Spadeadam.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates, locations and types of equipment used in deployments of electronic warfare threat simulator equipment outside the Spadeadam range boundaries since December 1994. [16818]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  Location

  Type of equipment

  1995

  1996

  Dumfries

  Skyguard

  20–21 November

  —

  South Wales

  Skyguard

  8–12 May

  —

  JETS

  8–12 January

  —

  Aberporth

  Skyguard

  15–21 January

  —

  6–10 February

  —

  13–17 March

  —

  Brownside

  Skyguard

  3–7 April

  —

  JETS

  18–22 September

  —

  T43

  3–7 April

  —

  18–22 September

  —

  Brunton

  Skyguard

  10–14 July

  —

  T43

  19–20 July

  —

  Otterburn

  Skyguard

  19–21 July

  1–5 September

  2–6 September

  JETS

  2–6 September

  T43

  10–14 July

  —

  Deployments in the low flying monitoring role or for public relations are excluded from the table.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the US-owned equipment withdrawn by the United States of America, (b) the new US-owned equipment installed and (c) the new United Kingdom-owned equipment installed at the Spadeadam range over the last three years. [16824]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The US-owned equipment withdrawn consists of:

  AN-MSR T4 TRAINS (Threat Reaction Analysis System); and

  AN-MST-T1(V) Mini-MUTES (Multiple Threat Emitter System) systems.

  (b) No new US-owned equipment has been installed.

  (c) Two additional UK-owned Skyguard Radars have been declared operational.

  Nimrod Aircrew
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date crew resource management training was introduced for Nimrod aircrew. [16800]

  Mr. Soames
  This training was introduced from 27 March 1996.

  Nimrod Aircraft Crash (Canada)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for State for Defence if the air display manoeuvres carried out by the Nimrod aircraft which crashed in Canada in September 1995 had been(a) reviewed and (b) authorised by (i) the station commander of RAF Kinloss and (ii) the Nimrod standards evaluation personnel. [16828]

  Mr. Soames
  The Nimrod display sequence had been reviewed and authorised by both the station commander at RAF Kinloss and air officer commanding No. 18 group.
  115
  It should be noted that the accident was caused by the pilot, who made an error of judgment in modifying one of the manoeuvres after the display sequence had been authorised, and this led the aircraft to stall at a height and attitude from which recovery was impossible. Nimrod standards evaluation personnel have no responsibility for either reviewing or authorising display flying.

  Kielder Forest (Training Licence Agreement)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes made to the training licence agreement for Kielder forest in the last five years. [16832]

  Mr. Soames
  The training licence at Kielder forest was last renewed in 1993 when the maximum number of major exercises permitted in any one year increased from one to three and the definition of major exercise was changed from "more than 250 men" to "more than 350 but less than 1,200 men". The maximum number of permitted days of military training and the periods during the year when training could take place, remained unchanged. The licence is currently being reviewed on similar terms and conditions.

  RAF Debriefing Systems
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact on the locations and scheduling of air combat training of the acquisition of rangeless airborne instrumentation debriefing systems for the RAF. [16836]

  Mr. Soames
  The planned acquisition of the rangeless airborne instrumented debriefing system—RAIDS—is not expected in itself to generate an increase in air combat training above current levels, but would be used to debrief all forms of tactical training. However, our withdrawal from the air weapons training installation at Decimomannu, Sardinia, has been prompted in part by our decision to procure such a system and a small increase in air training conducted in UK airspace will occur as a result. As now, much of this training will be conducted over the sea.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans to acquire rangeless airborne instrumentation debriefing systems for the RAF; and if such systems will incorporate a capability to record and debrief low-level air-to-ground attacks. [16837]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the late hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 13 January 1997,Official Report, column 124. It is planned that RAIDS would provide a recording and debriefing capability across the entire range of RAF fast jet training requirements, including low-level air-to-ground attacks.

  Tornado Aircraft
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests have been conduced on the visibility of Tornado aircraft in the grey camouflage scheme; and if he will make a statement. [16813]
  116
  Mr. Soames
  A trial comparing the conspicuity of the Tornado aircraft in a dark camouflage grey scheme with the grey and green disruptive pattern was undertaken in 1994. Dark camouflage grey was recommended as the camouflage scheme for the Tornado GR1.

  RAF Spadeadam (Aircraft Training)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if aircraft carrying out training at RAF Spadeadam at low level are permitted to carry out evasive manoeuvring to counter electronic threats ranged against them when outside the boundaries of(a) low flying area 13 and (b) Spadeadam area of intense aerial activity. [16816]

  Mr. Soames
  Aircraft are permitted to carry out evasive manoeuvres outside these areas, subject to normal flying regulations.

  Training Areas (Definition)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the current categories of training area other than army field training centres; and if he will provide a definition of each category. [16830]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Arms training area: used primarily to meet the specialist training requirements of a particular arms branch.

  (b) Major district training area: provides significant training facilities for use by all units, although priority is normally given to units located within the district divisional boundary.

  (c) Minor district training area: provides facilities primarily for training at sub-unit level.

  (d) Unit training area: suitable for individual and low level training and usually located within or near a unit's barracks.

  Army Helicopters (Missile Firing)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the ranges and training areas where tube-launched optically steered wire guided missile firing from Army helicopters is(a) authorised and (b) conducted. [16834]

  Mr. Soames
  TOW missile firing from Army helicopters is authorised on the following UK ranges:

  Benbecula

  Cape Wrath

  Castlemartin

  Dartmoor

  Holbeach

  Otterburn

  Salisbury Plain

  Shoeburyness.

  Of the above, TOW missile firing is at present conducted only at Cape Wrath, Otterburn and Salisbury plain.

  Naval Bases (Running Costs)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average running cost of(a) Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Coulport and (b) Clyde Submarine Base, Faslane, in each of the past five years. [16812]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency. I have asked the chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  £ million

  Running costs of:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97 forecast

  RNAD Coulport

  54.119

  58.797

  62.010

  59.372

  52.005

  HM Naval Base Clyde

  89.322

  107.465

  113.219

  121.544

  142.745

  I shall add that these figures reflect the impact of considerable changes over the last five years, which include the greater disaggregation of costs to Basic Level Budgets, the Defence Costs Studies which relocated Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland to HMNB Clyde, the migration of other tasks located at Rosyth to the Clyde and the reduction of the Polaris task at Coulport.

  Quantock School
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pupils are being financed by the Service Children's Education agency in years 12 and 13 at Quantock school, Taunton; and how much is being paid for each child. [16909]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]There is currently one pupil whose parents are in receipt of boarding school allowance in the sixth form at Quantock school. The cost to public funds is £2,350 per term.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 11 February,Official Report, columns 125–6, if he will set out the basis of his estimate for the total cost of the nuclear programme; and if he will list for each year the sum in 1997 prices represented by that estimate. [17051]

  Mr. Soames
  The estimate given by my right hon. Friend was in response to a question about Trident rather than the defence nuclear programme at large. Pursuant to that answer, and in response to the present question, procurement of the Trident system will have absorbed less than 2½ per cent. of defence spending during the years in question. It is still too early to make a detailed assessment of the operating costs of Trident but our best estimate remains some £6 billion over the life of the system.

  As to future overall costs of the nuclear programme, I have decided not to disclose these under exemption I to the code of practice on access to Government information, which covers information whose disclosure would harm national security or defence.
  118
  Letter from John Trewby to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 24 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the running costs of Royal Naval Armament Depot (RNAD) Coulport and HM Naval Base Clyde as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency.
  The information requested is as follows, expressed at 1996–97 price levels:

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16973]

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

  Korean War (Medals)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel who took part in the Korean war are still waiting to be awarded a Korean war medal; and if he will make a statement. [16961]

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

  United States Bases
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for determining, and what criteria govern, whether the United Kingdom Government renews the United States security of tenure at Menwith Hill station. [17381]

  Mr. Soames
  The Secretary of State for Defence retains the Crown freehold of RAF Menwith Hill and the site has been made available to United States authorities by Her Majesty's Government under arrangements that exist for our mutual defence. Though it is not our practice to comment on the precise details of such arrangements, I can say that there are no plans, nor is there any requirement, to renew the arrangements at RAF Menwith Hill.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom bases, occupied by United States forces in the United Kingdom, are due to have their leases or security of tenure agreements renewed(a) in 1997, (b) in the next five years and (c) in the next 10 years; and if he will name them. [17424]

  Mr. Soames
  None.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the legal status of the United States security of tenure relating to the Menwith Hill station; and if he will make a statement. [17420]
  119
  Mr. Soames
  RAF Menwith Hill is made available for the use of US forces in accordance with the NATO status of forces agreement of 1951 and other administrative agreements which are confidential between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America. This includes the security of tenure arrangement which applies solely to RAF Menwith Hill.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes of administration at Menwith Hill station since 1967. [17439]

  Mr. Soames
  There has been one change in administration at RAF Menwith Hill since 1967. Executive management of RAF Menwith Hill was assumed by the US Army on 8 August 1995.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the new radomes recently built for the United Sates Air Force at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk, cost; who paid for them; what are the US Air Force's proposals in respect of a new near-space facility within this compound; and if he will make a statement. [17425]

  Mr. Soames
  The near space tracking facility at RAF Feltwell became operational on 30 September 1966. There are currently no plans for further expansion. The US authorities are responsible for funding infrastructure costs at the site and as such questions concerning the facility are a matter for them.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many security of tenure or lease agreements have been made with the United States Government relating to bases in the United Kingdom since 1967. [17419]

  Mr. Soames
  None. Bases are made available to the United States authorities by Her Majesty's Government under arrangements that exist for our mutual defence.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the US Navy will withdraw from RAF Edzell; and what alternative role and function the base will assume. [17422]

  Mr. Soames
  The US Navy will withdraw from RAF Edzell by summer of 1997. It is expected that the site will be offered for sale on the open market. My Department has recently appointed property agents to prepare a disposal and marketing strategy as the base has a wide range of possible alternative uses. It is therefore not known at present what alternative role and function the base will assume.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those security of tenure or lease agreements made with the United States Government relating to bases in the United Kingdom which are currently in force. [17389]

  Mr. Soames
  There is one security of tenure agreement applicable solely to RAF Menwith Hill. No leases have ever been granted to the US authorities.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which US Department of Defence agency employs the base commander at Menwith Hill station. [17440]

  Mr. Soames
  The base commander at RAF Menwith Hill is employed by the United States Army.

  Prisoners of War
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete his review of deductions from the pay of prisoners of war; and if he will make a statement. [17501]

  Mr. Soames
  As I said during the debate on 15 January,Official Report, column 255, we hope to complete the review of deductions from the pay of officer prisoners of war and protected personnel by the end of March.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) of 17 February,Official Report, column 365, if he will list the types of mines and specified conventional weapons which are prohibited or restricted by the UN protocol as amended on 3 May 1996. [17243]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In summary, amended protocol II of the UN weaponry convention contains the following relevant prohibitions and restrictions.

  It prohibits the use and transfer of:
  land mines, booby-traps or other devices which are designed or of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering;
  non-detectable anti-personnel land mines;
  mines, booby-traps or other devices which employ a mechanism or device specifically designed to detonate the munition by the presence of commonly available mine detectors;
  self-deactivating mines equipped with an anti-handling device that is designed in such a manner that the anti-handling device is capable of functioning after the mine has ceased to be capable of functioning.

  It places restrictions on the use and transfer of:
  land mines, including anti-personnel land mines and remotely delivered land mines.
  It also places restrictions on the use of:
  booby traps;
  other devices (these are defined as "manually-emplaced munitions and devices including improvised explosive devices designed to kill, injure or damage and which are actuated manually, by remote control or automatically after a lapse of time").

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last purchased(a) land mines and (b) related equipment. [16002]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]My Department placed an order for anti-tank mines as part of the Shielder vehicle-launched scatterable mine system in December 1995; deliveries of the system are due to begin in 1998–99. Deliveries were completed in 1996 of the multiple-launch rocket system phase 2 AT-2 rocket dispensing anti-tank mines. My Department last placed an order for anti-personnel mines in 1991.

  In 1996 my Department also placed orders for a number of mine-related equipments: mine detection and clearance systems for use in Bosnia; battery packs for fuses for existing anti-tank Barmine systems; inert land mines for training purposes; and the Mineplough system for fitting to engineer tanks and main battle tanks.

  Nuclear Contamination (Damages)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what claims have been made by serving military personnel, former serving personnel, civilian staff and relatives for damages in relation to nuclear contamination for each year since 1980; how many have been settled and at what cost; and how many are outstanding. [15949]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]Since 1980, 365 claims for damages for nuclear contamination have been made by past and present MOD employees and their relatives. Of these claims 83 are outstanding, one has been settled for £193,000 and the remainder have been repudiated. The yearly breakdown of claims received since 1980 is as detailed:

  Nuclear contamination claims received since 1980

  Year

  Civilian

  Service

  Total

  1980

  11

  3

  14

  1981

  2

  14

  16

  1982

  8

  2

  10

  1983

  11

  34

  45

  1984

  8

  19

  27

  1985

  5

  4

  9

  1986

  4

  5

  9

  1987

  4

  8

  12

  1988

  7

  21

  28

  1989

  4

  7

  11

  1990

  3

  5

  8

  1991

  14

  9

  23

  1992

  9

  9

  18

  1993

  25

  7

  32

  1994

  23

  8

  31

  1995

  34

  8

  42

  1996

  23

  5

  28

  1997

  1

  1

  2

  Total

  196

  169

  365

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what claims have been made by civilians against his Department for nuclear contamination for each year since 1980; how many of these have been settled and how many are outstanding; and what is the value of the(a) claims and (b) settlements. [15943]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]Claims from 196 civilians and their relatives have been made since 1980. Of these, one has been settled for £193,000. Of the remaining cases, 78 are outstanding and the rest have been repudiated. Information regarding the value of the claims is not available. The yearly breakdown is as detailed.

  Nuclear contamination claims received from civilians since 1980

  Year

  Number

  1980

  11

  1981

  2

  1982

  8

  1983

  11

  1984

  8

  1985

  5

  1986

  4

  1987

  4

  1988

  7

  1989

  4

  1990

  3

  1991

  14

  1992

  9

  122

  Nuclear contamination claims received from civilians since 1980

  Year

  Number

  1993

  25

  1994

  23

  1995

  34

  1996

  23

  1997

  1

  Total

  196

  Firing Ranges (Schools)
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1984 the Ministry of Defence has used the Crown land and Crown development orders to enable it to construct(a) a school armoury and (b) a firing range on land used primarily for educational purposes. [15885]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]Since 1984, my Department has submitted planning consultation document DoE circular 18/84 four times in respect of school armouries and 15 times in respect of firing ranges on land used primarily for educational purposes.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Local Government
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultations he has had in his role as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on local government, in respect of the proper functioning of local government. [15533]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The Government published a White Paper on 4 November, setting out a programme of action to strengthen local democracy, promote local authorities' local leadership role and further improve relations between central and local government.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he next intends to meet leaders of district and borough councils to discuss his responsibilities for local government. [15535]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I have no such plans. Responsibility for local government lies with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for the territorial Departments.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what efforts are being made to introduce deregulation initiatives into the rural economy. [15536]

  Mr. Freeman
  Many of our deregulatory measures are of benefit to the rural economy. Specific examples include deregulation of the milk and potato markets which are worth on average nearly £6 billion per annum and consultation on a proposal to allow greater flexibility in re-designating rural buildings for business rather than residential purposes.
  123
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he next intends to meet leaders of British industry to discuss deregulation; and if he will make a statement. [15541]

  Mr. Freeman
  I regularly meet leaders of British industry to discuss how deregulation can continue to benefit business and our economy.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he last met EU Ministers to discuss deregulation. [15544]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have regular meetings and other contacts with European Ministers to discuss and promote regulatory reform.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements are in place to ensure the periodic review of deregulation measures. [15518]

  Mr. Freeman
  I regularly review our deregulation programme with interested parties and welcome constructive contributions from all sources.

  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the presentation of Government policy in relation to the deregulation initiative. [15543]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been pleased with the warm response to my series of deregulation seminars, the green card on business rights and the new booklet, "Cutting Red Tape". This booklet includes several case studies of individual businesses which have benefited from deregulation. Copies have been placed in the House Libraries.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to increase the number of next steps agencies. [15537]

  Mr. Bates
  We have already reached the original estimate of 75 per cent. of the civil service operating on next steps lines. Preparation is in hand for launching another 14 agencies in April followed by at least another dozen over the coming year. I have placed a list in the Library.

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement concerning the financial viability of the millennium exhibition at the Greenwich peninsula site. [15538]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Millennium Commission has agreed an indicative budget as a basis on which a grant of £200 million could be made. The commission has a target of £150 million for sponsorship and the balance will be raised from receipts and commercial income. I have every confidence that the operating company, Millennium Central—of which I am sole shareholder—will deliver on time an exhibition of which the nation can be proud.
  124
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what priorities he has given in his plans for the millennium exhibition at Greenwich to the provision of facilities for visiting the site by river. [15542]

  Mr. Freeman
  River-based transport forms an important part of the transport strategy for the exhibition. We expect some 14 per cent. of the visitors will want to arrive by river boat and there will be sufficient new pier capacity on the site to cope with this demand. The operating company is consulting boat operators, the Port of London authority and other river interests to ensure that the Thames is able to play its full part in the millennium exhibition experience.

  Government Policy Co-ordination
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new proposals he has to co-ordinate the presentation of Government policy. [15539]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I seek every opportunity to explain the benefits this country is gaining from the whole range of this Government's policies.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the Minister without Portfolio to discuss the co-ordination of Government policies. [15524]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend is a member of the Ministerial Committee on Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy, which I chair. The committee meets on a regular basis.

  Political Adviser
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on(a) the role and (b) the length of tenure of his political adviser. [15540]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  My special adviser adds a political dimension to the advice available to me from civil servants. She also liaises with Conservative central office over any political engagements I undertake. She has been my special adviser for six years.

  Corporate Governance
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance he has issued to departments and non-departmental public bodies on the subject of corporate governance and the role of non-executive directors. [17079]

  Mr. Freeman
  Guidance on the role of non-executive directors entitled "A Guide to Non-Executive Directorships for Civil Servants" was issued by the then Office of Public Service and Science to Departments in January 1993.

  General guidance on the corporate governance of non-departmental public bodies is contained in the Treasury and Office of Public Service publication "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments", substantially revised in 1996.

  Revised "Guidance on Codes of Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies" was published earlier this month as an annex to the Government's White Paper "The Governance of Public Bodies: A Progress Report",

  125
  Cm 3557. The guidance covers areas such as the corporate and individual responsibilities of board members, strategic planning and control, and handling conflicts of interest.

  Copies of all these documents are available in the House Libraries.

  Civil Service Pay
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the average increase in rates of pay for civil servants in each year since 1989. [17124]

  Mr. Freeman
  The average annual increases based on a weighted average of the headline pay settlements for the main groups of staff in each year are as follows:

  1989–90: 7.0 per cent.

  1990–91: 8.3 per cent.

  1991–92: 7.4 per cent.

  1992–93: 4.1 per cent.

  1993–94: 1.0 per cent.

  1994–95: 2.2 per cent.

  1995–96: 2.6 per cent.

  1996–97: 3.2 per cent. (provisional).

  From 1994–95 responsibility for determining pay was increasingly delegated to Departments and agencies and the 1996–97 figure is based solely on departmental and agency settlements.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the cost of additional regional staff for the Central Office of Information in the(a) current and (b) next financial year; and in which offices they are located. [17239]

  Mr. Freeman
  The number of staff in the Central Office of Information regional offices varies from year to year in line with demand. It is therefore difficult to say with any exactitude which staff are additional and which are replacements. However, total staff numbers rose in 126
  1996–97 from 85 to 90. They are expected to fall to 88 in 1997–98. Total salary costs for each of the years in question are:

  1995–96: £2.3 million

  1996–971: £2.4 million

  1997–981: £2.4 million.

  1 Forecast.

  Manpower numbers in each region (full time equivalents) are:

  1995–96

  1996–971

  1997–981

  Directorate

  5

  5

  5

  Cambridge

  9

  10

  9

  London and South East

  9

  10

  7

  Newcastle

  8

  8

  10

  Manchester

  12

  12

  12

  Liverpool

  1

  1

  1

  Leeds

  10

  9

  9

  Birmingham

  13

  14

  15

  Bristol

  10

  11

  11

  Cardiff

  1

  1

  1

  Plymouth

  —

  1

  1

  Nottingham

  7

  8

  7

  Total

  85

  90

  88

  1 Forecast.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what were the total cost of and whole-time equivalent staff numbers in the Central Office of Information in each year since 1993–94; and what are the projections for 1997–98. [17240]

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested from the Central Office of Information is as follows:

  Staff numbers (whole-time equivalent)

  Cost1(£000)

  1993–94

  543

  15,260

  1994–95

  499

  14,548

  1995–96

  456

  13,607

  1996–972

  402

  20,017

  1997–982

  300

  9,900

  1 Includes early severance costs.

  2 Forecast.

  Mr. Mordechai Vanunu
  Mr. Mordechai Vanunu
  Indonesia: Water Cannon
  Indonesia: Water Cannon
  US Regional Airspace Initiative
  US Regional Airspace Initiative
  Human Rights Protection in Hong Kong and the UK
  Human Rights Protection in Hong Kong and the UK
  Single Currency: Asset Pooling
  Single Currency: Asset Pooling
  Basking Shark: Norwegian Catches
  Basking Shark: Norwegian Catches
  Lindane
  Lindane
  Breast Feeding
  Breast Feeding
  Ivermectin
  Ivermectin
  Prisons: Nomination of Visiting Ministers
  Prisons: Nomination of Visiting Ministers
  Asylum Seekers: Right to Bail
  Asylum Seekers: Right to Bail
  Prison Inspection Reports
  Prison Inspection Reports
  Royal Yacht: EU Procurement Rules
  Royal Yacht: EU Procurement Rules
  Defence Secondary Care Agency
  Defence Secondary Care Agency
  Eurofighter
  Eurofighter
  Royal Navy: Joint Strike Fighter
  Royal Navy: Joint Strike Fighter
  Reserve Forces: Medical Officers
  Reserve Forces: Medical Officers