Written Answers of 25 February 1997

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [16571]

  Mr. Howard
  No Ministers or officials from the Home Office have attended a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation he has made of the effectiveness of diversion schemes for young offenders. [16869]

  Mr. Maclean
  A recent evaluation by the Home Office of the Milton Keynes retail theft initiative, which aims to help young offenders convicted of shoplifting resist further offending, showed a reoffending rate of 3 per cent. for first-time offenders attending the scheme, compared with 35 per cent. for first-time offenders dealt with in other ways. Evaluations of motor projects and physically demanding programmes run by probation services are currently under way.

  Interception of Communications
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 February,Official Report, column 215, what foreign organisations are permitted to receive data from the UK Cellnet system under existing interception of communications agreements. [16802]

  Mr. Howard
  The United Kingdom is not a signatory to any international agreements expressly providing for material obtained by the interception of communications to be passed to foreign organisations. On occasion, overseas law enforcement agencies may apply, through Interpol, for information concerning the subscriber to a particular telephone number, and requests may be received from overseas prosecuting or judicial authorities for data to be used in evidence, in which case an application may be made to a court for it to be produced under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990.
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  The response by network operators to requests for data by foreign organisations is governed by their obligations regarding customer confidentiality under the Data Protection Act 1984, the Telecommunications Act 1984 and the terms of their operating licences.

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of the waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16417]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department is committed to using the resources entrusted to it to secure best value for money at the least possible cost to the environment. The "Home Office Green Housekeeping Strategy", published in August 1993, requires that property managers carry out an annual audit against environmental objectives which include waste management. Home Office waste management initiatives currently focus mainly on the recycling of paper, aluminium cans and toner cartridges.

  Environmental guidance material promulgated to the Department's property managers has included the Environmental Agency's "Do-it-Yourself Environmental Performance Checklist", a draft of which was distributed on 9 August 1996, and the Department of the Environment's "Waste Guide", circulated on 4 November 1996.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [16275]

  Mr. Howard
  No central assessment has been made of the presence of hazardous or ozone-depleting substances within the buildings occupied by my Department. However, in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 and asbestos regulations, all managers are required to ensure that appropriate records of hazardous substances are maintained in buildings for which they are responsible. The Home Office continues to provide relevant training for this. Similarly, the Home Office's green housekeeping strategy requires local managers to be alert to the existence of ozone-depleting substances and to any opportunity of phasing these out.

  African National Congress (Office Bombing)
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the progress of the police investigation into the bombing of the London office of the African National Congress in 1982. [16456]

  Mr. Howard
  I understand that the investigation is continuing. This has included interviews with a large number of people in South Africa, and is taking account of the disclosures which continue to be made in South Africa. When it is possible to conclude the police
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  investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service will complete its own review of the evidence and advise the police accordingly.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Brian David Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of street crime in south-east Staffordshire of the introduction of closed circuit television in Tamworth. [17198]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information from the local police indicates that, since the introduction of closed circuit television in Tamworth on 1 January 1996, there has been a 15 per cent. reduction in offences of robbery, and reductions of 59 per cent. in thefts from, and 34 per cent in thefts of, motor vehicles. Overall, crime in the area covered by the cameras has fallen by 29 per cent. Furthermore, overall recorded crime for the whole police sub-division fell by 17 per cent. in 1996 compared with the previous year.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what analysis he has made of the success of the introduction of closed circuit television in reducing street crime in south-east Staffordshire relative to other west midlands areas. [17199]

  Mr. Maclean
  None. Data are not collected in a format which would enable such an analysis to be made.

  Deaths in Custody
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the policy of the Metropolitan police to make available (i) all relevant information which they have and (ii) the relevant Police Complaints Authority report to(a) the coroner conducting an inquest into a death in police custody and (b) the next of kin of the deceased person; in what circumstances such documents are not made available; and if he will make a statement. [17053]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police make all relevant information available, including the Police Complaints Authority report, to the coroner for use at a public inquest into a death in police custody. The investigating officer does not have authority to disclose any documentation or evidential material to the next of kin without the direction of the coroner. However, I understand that the investigating officer will attempt to liaise informally with the next of kin or their legal representatives to keep them informed of the progress of the investigation.

  Electoral Fraud Prevention
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans the Government have to review the format of the absent voter forms to prevent fraud and misappropriation of proxy votes; [17137]

  (2) if he will instruct his Department to collate centrally the number of proxy votes at the next general election; [17135]

  (3) what steps are being taken to monitor the exercising of proxy votes in local government elections; [17139]
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  (4) what systems are in place to monitor the number of people claiming proxy votes in elections; and if he will make a statement; [17138]

  (5) if he will ensure the central collection of statistics on the use of proxy votes at local government elections. [17140]

  Mr. Sackville
  Absent voting application forms were amended in 1994 to ensure that electors indicate clearly whether they are applying to vote by post or proxy, and to ensure that all appointments of a proxy are signed by the elector. These amendments help to prevent fraud. The number of proxies appointed to vote by constituency in the general election will be published in the booklet "Election Expenses", printed by the Stationery Office after the election on the order of the House. Information relating to proxy voting at local government elections is not collected centrally, and there are no plans to do so.

  Arrests and Charges
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) arrests and (b) charges were made by police forces in England and Wales in each of the past five years. [17119]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the number of arrests is given in the table. Data on the number of persons charged are not collected centrally. However, prosecution data are published in the Command Paper "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1995"—table 6A refers. Copies are in the Library.

  Number of persons arrested

  England and Wales

  Year

  Number

  1991

  1,729,121

  1992

  1,733,081

  1993

  1,702,101

  1994

  1,747,804

  1995

  1,708,851

  Sexual Violence
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what resources are being provided annually for tackling the causes of sexual violence; and if he will make a statement; [16634]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to implement a national strategy to combat male sexual violence; [16635]

  (3) if he will provide financial assistance to the zero tolerance of sexual violence towards women media campaign; and if he will make a statement; [16636]

  (4) if he will set up an interdepartmental group on sexual violence against women and children to work in parallel with the interdepartmental group on domestic violence; and if he will make a statement; [16637]

  (5) what proposals he has to ensure the long-term funding of a national network of community-based women's centres providing advice and counselling to the victims of rape and incest; and if he will make a statement. [16658]
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  Mr. Maclean
  Substantial efforts are being devoted to tackling sexual offending in all its forms. The Government's current strategy includes: keeping regularly under review the robust framework of criminal offences which already exists, and moving as necessary to address new problems, for example, stalking; ensuring that the most serious repeat sexual and violent offenders receive life sentences, so that they are not released until it appears safe to do so; reviewing the maximum penalties currently available for sexual offences, with a view to ensuring that these remain adequate for dealing with the most serious instances; strengthening the powers of the police to monitor the movements of sex offenders, and their ability to prevent and detect sex offending; a vigorous crime prevention programme; the development of treatment programmes to help violent offenders, equivalent to the sex offender treatment programmes which have already been running for some time; a study of the reasons for low conviction rates in rape causes.

  Because this strategy consists of a range of different activities, often undertaken alongside other duties, by central Government, the criminal justice agencies, the social services, and the voluntary sector, it is not possible to give any meaningful estimate of the total resources devoted to this area.

  The remit of the interdepartmental group on domestic violence includes all instances of sexual violence that take place in a domestic setting, and we have no plans for any additional interdepartmental groups.

  The Government are also committed to helping the victims of sexual violence. We provide substantial funding—£11.682 million in 1996–97—to the national voluntary organisation Victim Support, which provides practical help and emotional support to all victims of crime and their families.

  There are no plans to fund a national support network specifically to help victims of rape and incest. The zero tolerance campaign, which was launched in Edinburgh, is a local rather than a Government project, although it received some initial financial support from Edinburgh safer cities project, which was then funded by the Scottish Office: there are no plans to make further Government funds available. Where the need arises, we initiate our own national campaigns, such as the domestic violence campaign, which was launched in 1994, and publications such as the "Practical Guide to Crime Prevention".

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the criminal justice compensation scheme tariff system to give greater weight to the long-term emotional trauma suffered by women who are the victims of rape and sexual assault. [16657]

  Mr. Maclean
  We have made clear previously our intention to review the tariff of awards after three years.

  The present tariff was derived from examination of 20,000 awards made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. It broadly reflects. Therefore, the level of damages payable under common law damages. The tariff awards for rape and sexual assault accordingly already include a significant element for the long-term trauma suffered by victims. Where, however, the mental injury is serious and permanent, the tariff provides for
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  £20,000 to be paid. In addition, if there are consequences for the victim's earning capacity and/or cost of medical care, additional compensation may be considered.

  Paedophiles and Sex Offenders
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 January,Official Report, column 267, how many names are contained on each of the lists relating to (a) paedophiles and (b) sex offenders. [17437]

  Mr. Maclean
  The National Criminal Intelligence Service paedophile intelligence database contains details of approximately 25,000 known or suspected paedophiles.

  Numbers of convicted and alleged paedophiles and sex offenders held on the Phoenix database, the microfiche collection of national criminal records, the consultancy service index and "List 99" cannot be identified separately.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the response from the Association of Chief Police Officers on the question of public disclosure of information on sex offenders. [17797]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have today placed a copy of the response in the Library.

  Jersey
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the performance of the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey; and what recent representations he has received on his performance. [17529]

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State has this month received representations from the hon. Member for Great Grimsby. We have full confidence in the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he gave permission for correspondence with his Department relating to the conduct of Senator Stuart Syzret to be published in full by the Jersey states. [17530]

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no objection to this correspondence being referred to in a report to the states of Jersey.

  Roisin McAliskey
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlay the decision to transfer Roisin McAliskey from Northern Ireland to Holloway prison; how many applications for bail have been made on her behalf since she has been in Holloway prison; what representations he has received concerning Ms McAliskey being returned to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [17627]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Roisin McAliskey was arrested in Belfast on the basis of a provisional arrest warrant issued by Bow Street magistrates court on 25 November under section 8 of the Extradition Act 1989. That Act makes no provision for a separate jurisdiction for Northern Ireland.
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  The court of committal under section 9 of the Extradition Act can remand a person in custody only to a prison in England or Wales.

  Applications for bail on Roisin McAliskey's behalf were made in hearings at Bow Street magistrates court on 4, 13 and 20 December 1996, and on 3 and 16 January 1997.

  Several inquiries have been received regarding the possibility of her transfer to prison in Northern Ireland: the powers under which she is detained allow only for her detention in England and Wales.

  Recharging Procedures
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the advantages of changing the law to provide that a person may be charged with the same offence if the previous court case in respect of the same offence had not proceeded to the conclusion and a jury's decision; and if he will make a statement. [17404]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: The law provides that a person cannot be tried for a crime in respect of which he has either been previously convicted or acquitted or could have been convicted on some previous indictment. Its purpose is to provide protection for individuals against repeated prosecutions for the same offence.

  However, a defendant may be prosecuted for the same offence in certain circumstances where previous proceedings have not been concluded: where the accused is discharged at committal proceedings; if the indictment has been quashed following a motion to quash; where the prosecution withdraws the summons in the magistrates court before the accused had pleaded; where an information is dismissed because the prosecutor did not appear before the magistrates court or where the information was so faulty in form and content that the accused could never have been in jeopardy of being convicted on it; where the prosecution serves a notice of discontinuance and if the jury was discharged from giving a verdict.

  Following the recent abandonment of the Whitemoor trial, my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 24 January that he was giving serious consideration to the possibility of legislation to provide for a review on appeal of decisions which bring a case to a final conclusion contrary to the submission of the prosecutor.

  Police Informants
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action has been instituted against individual officers of the Metropolitan police force and the immigration service in relation to the use of Jamaican nationals as informants. [17153]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no discipline cases have been brought against Metropolitan police officers. The immigration service has taken disciplinary action in respect of one immigration officer following an internal inquiry.

TREASURY

  Income Support
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the gross and net disposable average income for a family of two adults and two dependent children including one earner; and what was the combined average income entitlement to income support of such a family in Bristol, and in Great Britain, for each year since 1987. [15397]

  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 Ms Jean Corston, 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 gross and net disposable average income of a family.
  Data from the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) for the average gross normal weekly household income and average net disposable household income in 1993,1994–95 and 1995–96 for Great Britain are shown below in current prices. Data for earlier years could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. The FES is not designed to provide for areas smaller than standard statistical regions, so data for Bristol are not available.
  The FES records receipt of income support, not entitlement. I am advised by DSS statisticians that it is not possible to produce meaningful comparable figures for average income support entitlement. In the particular case of a family consisting of two married or cohabiting adults with two dependent children, there would be no entitlement to income support if one of the adults were working for 16 hours or more.

  Average weekly household income of households consisting of one man, one woman and two dependent children where there is one person who is self employed or a full-time employee

  Great Britain

  Gross income £

  Net disposable income £

  1993

  517

  405

  1994–95

  529

  411

  1995–96

  520

  401

  The figures are subject to sampling variations (which could affect the estimates by up to £30 either way); and have been rounded to the nearest pound.

  Government Borrowing (Scotland)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan of 6 February,Official Report, column 681, what are the projected figures of the Scottish general Government borrowing requirement for each year between 1997–98 and 2001–02. [15688]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 13 February 1997]: Forecasts of the Scottish borrowing requirement are not available.

  Minimum Age Requirements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the minimum age requirements his Department is responsible for enforcing. [15910]
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  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I am aware of no minimum age requirements which are enforced by the Chancellor's departments.

  Pension Plans
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the savings which would accrue in the current year from reduced expenditure on tax relief paid on contributions made to appropriate personal pensions if(a) all and (b) half of those earning under £10,000 per annum who are currently opted out of the state earnings-related pensions scheme into APPs were to rejoin SERPS. [15590]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: The yield from reduced expenditure on tax relief for minimum contributions from the national insurance fund to appropriate personal pensions would be about £30 million for 1996–97 if all holders of APPs with earnings of under £10,000 per annum were to rejoin SERPS, and about half that amount if half of those were to rejoin SERPS.

  Distraint
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers the Commissioners of Taxes have to take a person's money, goods or chattels without a court order. [16104]

  Mr. Jack
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to powers available to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue—the board. The Inland Revenue is able to take tax defaulters' goods or chattels without a court order under its statutory powers of distraint. This is one of the legal processes available to the Inland Revenue to enable it to secure payment of outstanding taxes. Before taking distraint action for the amounts due, the taxpayer will have been sent a final demand giving warning of proceedings, as well as earlier written demands. In addition, the collector of taxes will in most cases have tried to make contact either by telephone or by a personal visit.

  Income Tax (European Union)
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the highest rate of income tax currently levied for each member country of the European Union; and at what level of income, in sterling equivalents, it becomes operative. [16433]

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is provided in the table.

  EU member state

  Highest rate of income tax per cent.

  Level of income at which it becomes operative in £ sterling

  Austria

  50

  32,184

  Belgium

  55

  41,818

  Denmark

  62

  18,021

  Finland

  54–59

  30,114

  France

  56.8

  27,503

  Germany

  53

  37,165

  Greece

  45

  45,872

  Republic of Ireland

  48

  9,564

  Italy

  51

  122,399

  Luxembourg

  50

  22,325

  Netherlands

  60

  28,199

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  EU member state

  Highest rate of income tax per cent.

  Level of income at which it becomes operative in £ sterling

  Portugal

  40

  30,798

  Spain

  56

  52,964

  Sweden

  56

  13,413

  United Kingdom

  40

  25,501

  Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16430]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  An environmental assessment using the Building Research Establishment "tool kit" has been carried out at the offices occupied by HM Treasury at Allington Towers in Victoria with a view to accreditation under ISO 14001. Officials are now considering the recommendations and ways of taking this forward. Extending the assessment to the main building in Parliament street—government offices, Great George street—will not be cost effective, given the proposed redevelopment and the short time we expect to remain in the building in its current configuration. The proposed redevelopment project places an obligation on the private sector partner to ensure that an "excellent" rating under the Building Research Establishment's environmental assessment method system is obtained. We intend to obtain a BREEAM rating for waste management once we reoccupy.

  Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [16283]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  All known asbestos is recorded in an asbestos register and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health—COSHH—registers, and data sheets are also held. Regular health and safety inspections, audits and tours are carried out to ensure compliance with COSHH regulations. All halon fire extinguishers have been replaced and regular checks for chlorofluorocarbon leakage detection are carried out on relevant departmental equipment.

  Unemployment Statistics
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will use the labour force survey as the basis for unemployment statistics. [16662]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Estimates from the labour force survey on the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definition have been published by the Government on a quarterly basis since 1992—since April 1996 by the Office for National Statistics—and are
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  widely used for economic assessment along with the published monthly count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits.

  Profit-related Pay Schemes
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 733, what is the total tax relief granted in respect of the profit-related pay schemes notified to the Inland Revenue (a) between September 1996 and the end of January 1997, (b) in 1996, (c) in 1995 and (d) in 1994. [17201]

  Mr. Jack
  The available information is in the table. This is based on the estimated total amount of profit-related pay which will be received for a profit period by participating employees in each scheme. The information is supplied on the application forms submitted by employers registering their schemes.

  Schemes registered in:

  Estimated cost of income tax relief £ million

  1 September 1996 to 31 January

  1,100

  1997

  1996

  1,650

  1995

  1,000

  1994

  550

  1 These figures are tentative and subject to a wide margin of error.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proportion of(a) lone parents and (b) married women who are currently in work. [15749]

  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 Clelland, 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 proportion of lone parents and married mothers who are in employment.
  The estimates available for Great Britain from the summer 1996 Labour Force Survey are shown in the table below.

  Employment rate1 lone parents and married/cohabiting women with dependent children2 (Great Britain, Summer 1996)

  Per cent.

  All lone parents

  42.3

  Male lone parents

  51.0

  Female lone parents

  41.4

  Married/cohabiting mothers

  66.4

  Notes:

  1Those in employment as a percentage of all those in the relevant population.

  2Children aged 0–15 and 16–18 year olds in full-time education.

  Source:

  ONS, Labour Force Survey.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much mortgage interest relief at source cost in Scotland in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1996; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1996–97. [17224]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: The cost of mortgage interest tax relief in Scotland was estimated to be £260 million in 1995–96. The amount of relief given through MIRAS—mortgage interest relief at source—was £250 million in 1994–95 and £190 million in 1995–96.

  These estimates are based on the regional distribution of the cost of mortgage interest relief from analyses of family expenditure surveys up to 1994. The estimates for 1995–96 are projections based on applying the same regional distribution as in 1994–95 to the total figure for 1995–96. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates below United Kingdom level for 1996–97.

  Fraud
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number and value of fraud cases within(a) Government Departments, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies reported to the Treasury in each of the last five years. [17644]

  Mr. Jack
  The number of value of fraud cases within Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies reported to the Treasury in the last five years are:

  Year

  Number of cases

  Total value £

  1991–92

  287

  1,536,900

  1992–93

  302

  2,108,900

  1993–94

  352

  1,688,500

  1994–95

  408

  2,124,700

  1995–96

  480

  2,848,700

  The data are provided by Departments in line with the requirements of chapter 37 of "Government Accounting" and cover frauds and suspected frauds committed by departmental and agency staff, including cases where staff have colluded with outsiders. The data include NDPB staff frauds where these have been reported by departments. However, complete data on frauds in NDPBs are not held centrally, nor are the data held centrally kept in a form which distinguishes between Departments and agencies. Copies of the Treasury's 1995–96 fraud report were placed in the Library of the House at the same time it was circulated to Departments.

  Privatisation (Administration Costs)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the administration costs for the share offers relating to each privatisation since 1979 broken down by(a) selling and other commissions, (b) marketing, (c) receiving bank costs, (d) advisers' fees, (e) underwriting and (f) other costs; and in each case what was the total cost. [17643]

  Mr. Jack
  The costs of individual sales are included in National Audit Office reports on particular sales. Published reports are available in the Library of the
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  House. In addition, I refer to the replies given to the hon. Member for North-West Durham (Ms Armstrong) on 23 March 1995, Official Report, columns 287–88, and on

  £million

  Commissions and fees

  Marketing costs and printing

  Receiving banks and logistics

  Advisers

  Total

  British Coal (1995)

  1—

  0.6

  2.4

  134

  37

  Genco2 (1995)

  29

  15

  9

  4

  57

  1Cost here are included in the figure for advisers.

  The estimated costs for the Railtrack sale were given in reply to a question from the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 4 June 1996, Official Report, column 1429. The costs of the sale of British Energy will be reported to Parliament in the normal way in due course.

  This information relates to major privatisations. Information on all smaller sales is not collated centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Invoices
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many invoices owed by Government Departments to his Department have been lost in each of the last five years; and what has been the annual sum of money involved. [17523]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury keeps records only of duplicate invoices that have been raised. Duplicates are raised where invoices have been mislaid, lost, are unreadable or have in some way been mutilated; it does not subdivide its records into these categories. The following breakdown shows the number of duplicate invoices raised in the years in question:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Duplicates raised

  1

  9

  40

  9

  1Nil

  Value for year

  £335

  £8,820

  £39,143

  £20,017

  £0

  1To date.

  Single Premium Investment Insurance Bonds
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the rules on the taxation of single premium investment insurance bonds; if he will estimate the yield of such a tax; and if he will make a statement. [17531]

  Mr. Jack
  The Government have no present plans to change the rules on the taxation of single premium investment insurance bonds. In November 1996 the Inland Revenue published a consultation paper containing a package of proposals, including draft clauses, for reforming the way a policy holder's profits from all kinds of long-term life insurances are taxed. No decisions will be taken until after the response to this public consultation has been fully considered and evaluated.

  Young People
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the percentage of 18 to 24-year-olds who are(a) full-time students, (b) in employment, (c) unemployed
  140
  16 May 1995, Official Report, columns 107–108, which contain available information on costs for the major sales. Costs for subsequent major share sales are:

  and (d) in other categories in (i) United Kingdom, (ii) France and (iii) Germany at the latest date for which information is available. [16779]

  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 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 economic and educational status of 18–24 year olds in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
  The attached table gives estimates form the Labour Force Survey for the United Kingdom for spring 1996. Please note that full-time students can be employed, unemployed or economically inactive.
  Comparisons between European Union countries are published in the annual Eurostat publication Labour Force Survey Results. The latest edition is for 1995. Breakdowns by age are given for employment on table 18, unemployment on table 20 and economically inactive on table 22. Table 24 gives rates of participation in education for young people. Unfortunately the tables do not give the precise age group you have specified. This Eurostat publication is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Percentage of 18–24 year olds by economic and educational status (UK, Spring 1996)

  All persons of whom:

  Full time student

  Not full time student

  All persons of whom:

  100.0

  23.6

  76.4

  In employment

  64.7

  8.3

  56.4

  ILO unemployed

  10.5

  0.9

  9.7

  Inactive

  24.8

  14.4

  10.3

  Source

  ONS, Labour Force Survey.

  Income and Expenditure
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the latest available figures for consumer expenditure per head in(a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom; [17090]

  (2) what are the latest available figures for GDP per head in (a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom; [17089]

  (3) what are the latest available figures for personal disposable income per head in (a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom. [17091]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 24 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.
  141
  Letter from Tim Holt to Sir Wyn Roberts, dated 25 February 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to reply to your recent questions on the latest available figures for consumers' expenditure, personal disposable income and GDP per head for Wales and the United Kingdom.
  The latest information available on consumers' expenditure and personal disposable income per head relates to 1994 and was published in the May 1996 issue of Economic Trends. Estimates for 1995 are expected to be published in the June 1997 edition of Economic Trends.
  The latest available figures for GDP per head are for 1995, and were published in January/February 1997 issue of Economic Trends.
  Please note that the consumers' expenditure and personal income figures are consistent with the UK estimates published in the 1995 Blue Book, whilst the later GDP estimates are consistent with the 1996 Blue Book. GDP figures consistent with the 1995 Blue Book were published in the March 1996 edition of Economic Trends.
  Both Economic Trends and the Blue Book are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Unemployment-related Benefit
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) of 14 January,Official Report, columns 202–203, if he will express the number of people who have made at least one claim for unemployment-related benefits since April 1992 as a percentage of the working age population. [17429]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 24 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 25 January 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to reply to your recent question asking how many people have experienced at least one spell of claimant unemployment since April 1992, and express this as a percentage of the working age population.
  Between 1 April 1992 and 9 January 1997, an estimated 10,225,000 claimants in Great Britain experienced at least one spell of claimant unemployment. This represents approximately 27 per cent. of the population who were of working age at sometime over the period.

TRANSPORT

  Air Traffic Control
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement about the preferred bidder for the construction of the new Scottish centre air traffic control facility; when he expects it to become fully operational; and if he will make a statement. [17449]

  Mr. Bowls
  An announcement is intended to be made soon.

  The current expectation is that the centre will become operational in 2001. However, the timetable for the project will have to be finalised as part of the contract negotiations.

  M25 (Widening)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what contracts have been let in respect of works relating to, or implementing the proposal to widen the M25 to 10 and 12 lanes between junctions 12 and 15; and if he will make a statement; [17639]

  (2) when he will respond to the objections lodged during summer 1996 to his plans to widen the M25 to 10 and 12 lanes between junctions 12 and 15; and if he will make a statement; [17641]

  (3) how many hon. Members representing constituencies in Surrey have objected to his proposals to widen the M25 to 10 and 12 lanes between junctions 12 and 15; [17638]

  (4) what plans he has to let contracts before 22 May in respect of works relating to, or implementing, the proposal to widen the M25 to 10 and 12 lanes between junctions 12 and 15; and if he will make a statement. [17640]

  Mr. Watts
  No contracts have been let for the widening of the M25 between junctions 12 and 15 and there are no plans to let any such contracts before 22 May.

  Representations received following publication of the environmental statement for the scheme are under consideration and an announcement will be made by the Secretary of State in due course. No hon. Member representing a constituency in Surrey has objected formally to the widening proposals.

  Bus Working Group
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the work programmes of the four sub-groups of the bus working group. [17077]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: Three sub-groups are currently taking forward the work of the bus working group. The main items which have been considered at recent meetings, and which will be pursued in further discussions as appropriate, are as follows:
  Service provision and quality sub-group: the development of quality partnerships between bus operators and local authorities; strengthening the requirement for operators to demonstrate adequate financial standing; bus headway spacing; amendments to the five-minute rule on changes to registered timetables; encouraging good practice in handling customer complaints, and taking further steps to give a higher profile to bus services and encourage bus use.
  Passenger information sub-group: the development of a "practitioners' manual" on good practice on passenger information to follow up the publication last September of "Better Information for Bus Passengers"; provision of national and local contact points for information on bus services and developments in transport telematics.
  Bus priority sub-group: updating and revising the guidance to local authorities on bus priority measures; "Keeping Buses Moving", the revised version, will be published shortly.

  The sub-group on vehicle quality completed its work programme for the time being when it reported to the full bus working group at the end of 1995.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the bus working group reviews the adequacy of bus operating companies' complaints procedures. [17078]
  143
  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: Steps to promote good practice by bus companies in dealing with customer complaints are already under consideration by the bus working group and its service provision and quality sub-group.

  Rail Franchises
  Mr. Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current investment programmes of the franchised train operating companies by(a) value and (b) equipment. [15708]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answers 17 February 1997]: Rail franchisees are committed to an ambitious and extensive programme of investment both in rolling stock and in stations and other facilities. Their plans for new rolling stock investment, amounting to an estimated overall expenditure of £1.5 billion, include:
  Connex South East's plans to spend up to £400 million on a modern, air conditioned fleet for services in Kent, replacing all their slam door stock during the life of the franchise.
  Virgin Rail's commitment to spend an estimated £250 million to fulfil their commitment to replace Cross-Country's rolling stock fleet, and an estimated £500 million on a new fleet of tilting trains to reduce journey times on the InterCity west coast franchise.
  Great Western's £50 million refurbishment programme for its high speed train fleet, and a potential £20 million development programme to increase fleet flexibility. Great Western is to invest approximately £60 million replacing the entire North West Regional Railways mark 1 fleet.
  Stagecoach's planned £90 million order to replace some of the mark 1 trains in the South West Trains fleet.
  Chiltern's £12 million order for three four car new diesel multiple units to operate a 100 mph express service from London to Birmingham.
  144
  National Express Group's plans to spend in the region of £40 million on a completely new fleet of rolling stock on Gatwick Express by 1999.
  National Express's commitment to spend an estimated £20 million on new air-conditioned rolling stock for Midland Main Line, to run additional stopping services between London and Derby and Nottingham.
  Prism's plans to spend an estimated £100 million on new rolling stock on LTS to replace its existing class 310 and 312 trains with stock.
  MTL's plans to spend £30 million introducing 16 new three car electric multiple units for Regional Railways North East in West Yorkshire.
  National Express plans to invest £100 million for new rolling stock for the ScotRail franchise.

  In general, franchise plans commit operators to providing specified services with new rolling stock by a certain date. Whilst the procurement, cost, financing and accounting treatment of the rolling stock needed are matters for them, it is expected that the new stock will in general be leased, not purchased outright, by franchisees. The commitments on Gatwick Express, LTS and Midland main line are tied to conditional longer franchise terms. In the event of new stock not being delivered by defined dates, these franchises will revert to a seven-year term. Further details of each of the commitments referred to, including when the rolling stock is required to be in service, can be found in individual franchise agreements or plans.

  In addition, franchisees have committed to over £100 million investment in station improvements, including the installation of closed circuit television, improved passenger accommodation and better disabled access.

  The spending commitments given are the best present estimates, and may be subject to change. There are changes in coverage and definition from those quoted for British Rail in previous years.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Deferred Maintenance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Government have taken to monitor the impact of the deferred maintenance provisions enacted under the Pensions Act 1995. [15742]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Department has arranged for the Court Service to record numbers of periodical payments orders made under the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, as amended by section 166 of the Pensions Act 1995, and to conduct a monitoring exercise of the terms of such orders. In addition, the Government are considering carrying out research in the summer to examine the impact of these provisions, although a fuller picture is unlikely to emerge until they have been in place for some time.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery Distributing Bodies
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will publish(a) the names of those (i) groups and (ii) individuals who advise the national lottery and each of its distributing bodies about applications and (b) their duties and terms of reference. [16537]

  Mr. Sproat
  The national lottery distributors consult a wide range of organisations. The main ones are: Adapt Trust, all national governing bodies of sport including the British Olympic Association, area museum councils, Cadw, Central Council for Physical Recreation, Countryside Council for Wales, Disability Action, Disability Scotland, Disability Wales, English Heritage, English Nature, PRISM fund for preservation and restoration of industrial and scientific material, local authorities, local sports councils, London Video Film Development Agency, Museums and Galleries Commission, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales, Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service—Natural Heritage, Northern Ireland Film Council, Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service—Built Heritage, regional arts boards, Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland, Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, Royal Fine Art Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Film Production Fund, British Film Institute, Crafts Council, British Library, Countryside Commission, Theatres Trust, Victoria and Albert Museum/Museums and Galleries Commission purchase grant fund and wildlife trusts.

  The National Lottery Charities Board has a series of regional advisory panels drawn from the voluntary sector for their local knowledge. The board also uses expert advisors on their medical and social research panels, and international grants programme panel.

  In addition, the distributing bodies seeks advice from a very large number of individuals or specialist firms and
  146
  organisations in assessing projects or groups of projects. It would not be practical to identify and list all those, as 12,446 awards have now been made.

  It is for the distributing bodies to determine the duties and the terms of reference for each particular organisation or individual concerned and these will vary accordingly to the nature of the work required.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency associated with her Department. [16966]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department was not responsible for the work in establishing either of the executive agencies now associated with the Department of National Heritage. Prior to the establishment of the Department of National Heritage in April 1992, royal palaces and royal parks were the responsibility of the Department of the Environment.

  Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that(a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from her 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. [17072]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has not had any items of equipment, furniture or information technology material, stolen or unaccounted for in the last 12 months.

  In respect of my agencies, one item valued at £400 has been stolen from the Royal Parks agency. Five items of IT-related furniture and equipment, valued at £1,014, have been stolen from the Historic Royal Palaces agency.

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 253, what is the Millennium Commission's estimate of the number of visitors who will attend the exhibition; and what is the estimated total income which will be generated. [15711]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I have written to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and I will arrange for copies of my reply to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 15 January,Official Report, columns 311–12, if he will list the provisions of the joint declaration and the Basic Law which envisage an elected legislative council for Hong Kong. [17527]
  147
  Mr. Hanley
  Sentence 49 of the joint declaration and its annexes provides that:"The legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be constituted by elections".
  Article 68 of the Basic Law provides that:
  "The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be constituted by election.
  "The method for forming the Legislative Council shall be specified in the light of the actual situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the election of all the members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage."
  "The specific method for forming the Legislative Council and its procedures for voting on bills and motions are prescribed in Annex II: "Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Its Voting Procedures."

  Annex II to the Basic Law describes the planned development in the composition of the HKSAR Legislative Council in its second and third terms, progressing to election of 30 seats by functional constituency and 30 by geographic constituency through direct elections in the third term. It does not specify the level of development after the third term, but does stipulate a mechanism to enable such further development to be made.

  Copies of the joint declaration and the Basic Law have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons the Chinese Government have given for regarding an elected legislative council for Hong Kong as contrary to the joint declaration and the Basic Law; what response the Government have made to the Chinese Government's reasons; and if he will place the communications between the two Governments on this subject in the Library. [17528]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Chinese Government have provided no convincing reasons for replacing the legislature elected openly and fairly in September 1995 by more than 1 million Hong Kong people with a body chosen by a hand-picked group of 400 people.

  The Government gave a full account of Sino-British exchanges on representative government in Hong Kong in its White Paper, "Representative Government in Hong Kong", Cmd 2432 of February 1994.

  The Government's position on the provisional legislature is set out in my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary's statement of 20 December 1996 which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Roisin McAliskey
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from(a) the Government of the Irish Republic and (b) others about
  148
  the detention at HMP Holloway of Ms Roisin McAliskey; and if he will make a statement. [17626]

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Irish Foreign Minister, Mr. Spring, has raised the question of Roisin McAliskey with our ambassador in Dublin. We have also received a number of representations from Irish Members of Parliament, US Congressmen and other individuals.

  Government Hospitality Fund and Lancaster House
  Mr Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for a prior options review of the Government hospitality fund and Lancaster house. [17798]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  In accordance with the Government's "Competing for Quality" initiative, this Department is undertaking a review of the Government hospitality fund-HF-and Lancaster house. The review will consider:

  (i) the functions and key outputs of, and the resources currently employed by, the GHF and Lancaster house;

  (ii) whether these functions are necessary;

  (iii) whether it would be appropriate and feasible to abolish, privatise or contract-out (with or without an in-house bid), some or all of these functions;

  (iv) ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of GHF within the current or restructured arrangements:

  (v) arrangements for departmental supervision; and will make recommendations to Ministers.

  In order to help ensure that all options are considered fully, an interdepartmental advisory group will be established. Interested parties wishing to comment on Government hospitality are invited to write by 17 March to:

  Mr. D. Broad

  FCO

  Room 4.2.5

  1 Palace street

  London

  SW1E 5HE

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Policies (Bournemouth)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the effect of her Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special reference to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14953]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department's policies have been aimed at supporting economic growth and improving the nation's competitiveness and quality of life by raising standards of educational achievement and skill and by promoting an efficient, effective and flexible labour market.

  We are creating new opportunities and acting to raise standards for every child in Bournemouth; extending

  149
  choice and diversity throughout the education system; and ensuring that more power is in the hands of governors and parents.

  Total funding for schools will increase by £833 million in 1997–98; 4.4 per cent. higher than 1996–97 levels.

  The new unitary authority of Bournemouth will receive £49,533 million in 1996–97, an increase of 3.4 per cent. over last year.

  Sound macro-economic policies have led to a continuous fall in unemployment over the last four years by over a million in the United Kingdom, and by 4,481 within the Bournemouth travel-to-work area.

  The Department has provided funding to the Dorset training and enterprise council which has enabled them to offer a full range of training programmes and business services for the people living in Dorset. For 1996–97, the level of funding was £16 million. Dorset TEC has been successful in the modern apprenticeship programme and there are 650 young people in the county currently training to NVQ level 3 or above.

  There are a number of single regeneration budget projects under way in Dorset, including a community focus scheme to develop the areas of Turlin moor in Poole and Boscombe in Bournemouth. This four-year project costing nearly £800,000 aims to raise and sustain the levels of persona, social and economic achievement of those living in these areas and to also reintegrate the two communities into the main urban economy.

  GCSE Grades
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage and how many children (i) sat and (ii) obtained grades A to C for the first time in(a) maths and (b) English language GCSE in England in the latest year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [17155]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: The information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the following table shows the number and percentage of 15-year-old pupils who attempted GCSE and achieved grades A* to C in (1) mathematics and (2) English in England in 1994–95.

  Mathematics

  English

  Number attempted (thousands)

  522.3

  524.3

  Number attempted as a percentage of 15-year-old pupils

  90

  91

  Number achieved grades A* to C (thousands)

  232.5

  291.4

  Number achieved grades A* to C as a percentage of 15-year-old pupils

  40

  50

  Further Education Funding
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date she was informed that the Further Education Funding Council 150
  intended to issue its letter to colleges dated 27 January, indicating the abolition of the demand-led element of further education funding. [17268]

  Mr. Paice
  On 24 January.

  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she had made of the impact of abolishing the demand-led element of funding on the numbers of students in further education. [17269]

  Mr. Paice
  The Government's spending plans are intended to provide for the continuing growth of the further education sector. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I look to the Further Education Funding Council for England to review the options open to it in consultation with the further education sector.

  Skills Shortages
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 13 February,Official Report, columns 266–67, on skills shortages, if she will publish the results of her Department's monitoring of skills shortages surveys. [17649]

  Mr. Paice
  The results have been published in an article entitled "Skill Needs in Britain: 1996 Report" which appears on pages 73 to 76 of the February 1997 edition of "Labour Market Trends".

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 13 February,Official Report, columns 266–67, on skills shortages when (a) the last and (b) the next funded survey of employers' recruitment difficulties will be produced. [17648]

  Mr. Paice
  The last funded survey covering employers' difficulties was published as "Skill Needs in Britain 1996" on 15 January 1997. The next survey is expected to be published in October 1997.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Developing Countries (Aid)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current UN target for aid for developing countries; how many countries currently meet this target; and if he will make a statement. [17286]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  The UN target for official development assistance to developing countries, which are on part 1 of the OECD development assistance committee list, remains at 0.7 per cent. of GNP. Only four countries currently meet it: Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden. In 1995, the United Kingdom development programme accounted for 0.28 per cent. of GNP, slightly above the average for all donors of 0.27 per cent. Among the G7, the UK provides a greater proportion of GNP than the US, Japan and Italy.
  151
  The UK exceeds the UN target of 1 per cent. of GNP for combined official and private sector flows to developing countries, providing 1.38 per cent. of GNP for such assistance—second only to the Netherlands. These substantial resource flows, coupled with the UK's record of support for international debt relief initiatives, represent a significant contribution to reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development in the world's poorest countries.

  Aid Contributions
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much United Kingdom overseas aid is devoted to each of the 10 countries his Department estimates to be the poorest in the world. [17435]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  In 1995–96, the UK provided over £175 million in bilateral development assistance to the world's 10 poorest countries, as defined by GNP per capita in the 1996 world development report. This figure, which represents about 13 per cent. of the bilateral assistance programme, breaks down as follows—figures rounded up/down:

  £ million

  Uganda

  39.98

  Malawi

  35.71

  Tanzania

  29.72

  Ethiopia

  25.72

  Mozambique

  22.03

  Rwanda

  11.95

  Sierra Leone

  8.69

  Burundi

  0.79

  Madagascar

  0.64

  Chad

  0.11

  Total

  175.60

  These countries also benefit from the UK's substantial contributions to the multilateral development institutions. Imputed UK share of multilateral disbursements to the countries listed totalled over £163 million in 1994, the last year for which figures are available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Pollution
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the cost of incremental damage per tonne emitted of(a) benzene, (b) 1.3 butadiene, (c) carbon monoxide and (d) carbon dioxide. [17122]

  Mr. Clappison
  (a) Benzene, (b) 1.3 butadiene and (c) carbon monoxide are three of the air pollutants covered by the forthcoming UK national air quality strategy. No robust data are currently available for computing, in precise terms, the incremental damage per tonne emitted for each of the three pollutants. There has been much less work by academics on these three pollutants than for other pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and fine particles. However, a programme of work is being put in place to improve on the current information on costs and benefits, including information
  152
  on incremental damage costs per tonne of pollutant emitted, for the first review of the national air quality strategy in 1999.

  On (d) carbon dioxide, the UK has taken a very active part in the work of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. At the end of 1995, the report of the IPCC working group three was published, which reviewed and consolidated all the relevant literature on the economic and social dimensions of climate change. The marginal or incremental damages per tonne of CO, emitted were estimated to lie between $5 and $125. This range of marginal damage estimate is associated with an aggregated monetised damage due to climate change of 1.5 to 2 per cent. of world gross national product. There will be future work to refine these estimates.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what evaluation his Department has made of the levels of(a) sulphur dioxide emissions and (b) nitrogen oxide emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum coke in power stations; [17189] (2) what studies his Department has (a) made and (b) commissioned into petroleum coke fuels; what assessment it has made of the environmental effects of petroleum coke burned in United States power plants; and which EU regulations cover emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum coke. [17188]

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department has not made or commissioned any studies on petroleum coke burning, since regulation of such burning is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. I understand that the agency has examined National Power's recent application to carry out limited trial burning of petroleum coke at Drax power station and that, having concluded that emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide will be within currently authorised limits for Drax, the agency has authorised the trial. I further understand that the Environment Agency spoke with its US counterparts in deciding whether to authorise the trials, to confirm that it had properly considered all relevant issues, and that the agency will be closely monitoring the trial results from Drax.

  Whilst they do not explicitly refer to petroleum coke, the EU air framework and large combustion plant directives (84/360/EC and 88/609/EC) govern the processes which involve its burning. These directives are given effect in England and Wales through the industrial pollution control regimes introduced by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, under which the Environment Agency regulates Drax. The recently adopted directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (96/61/EC), which must be implemented in EU member states by 31 October 1999, will also goven the processes which burn petroleum coke. Once implemented, 96/61/EC will have the effect of repealing 84/360/EC.

  UN Environment Programme
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) for what reasons the United Kingdom has decided to withhold its contribution to the UN Environment Programme's budget; [17222]

  (2) if he will make a statement on (a) the matters discussed at and (b) the outcome of the recent annual meeting of the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi. [17223]
  153
  Mr. Gummer
  The Government's main objective at the governing council was to secure decisions which would help to restore confidence in the United Nations Environment Programme. We believe that UNEP needs a governing structure which provides the organisation with political guidance and a mandate which gives it a clear direction. Although satisfactory decisions were reached on the budgets for 1996–97 and 1998–99, the programme of work for 1998–99, and on chemicals, oceans, and biosafety, the governing council failed to reach agreement on reform of UNEP's governing structure and on a review of its mandate. Agreement on these issues is essential if UNEP is to re-establish itself as the key environmental institution in the UN system and to reverse the sharp decline in its funding.

  Satisfactory proposals on the governing structure and on UNEP's mandate were proposed by the president of the governing council and gathered a wide measure of support from developed and developing countries, but were resisted by some members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives. The governing council was suspended and I took the view that we should suspend our voluntary contribution to the environment fund until these issues are resolved. The United States and Spain took the same view. The Government are now actively seeking ways of resolving this problem with EU partners, other members of the governing council and the UNEP executive director.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have been undertaken in the past year by the drinking water inspectorate in respect of alleged breaches by water companies of the legal standards for drinking water. [17190]

  Mr. Gummer
  The standards for drinking water quality in England and Wales are set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, as amended. These incorporate all the requirements of the European Community directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (80/778/EEC) and some national standards. Many of the health-related standards are based on lifetime exposure and generally include wide safety margins.

  Compliance by the water companies with the requirements of the regulations is monitored by the drinking water inspectorate, which carries out an annual technical audit of each company. As part of the technical audit process, the inspectorate examines each water company's water quality test results for each treatment works, service reservoir and water supply zone and checks them against the standards. Each failure to meet the standards is assessed by the inspectorate. If necessary, the inspectorate will initiate enforcement action against a company and the company will provide a legally binding undertaking to carry out remedial work as quickly as possible. The inspectorate has taken more than 2,000 enforcement actions against water companies since it was formed in 1990. There is an improvement programme in place, costing over £3 billion since 1989, and at a result drinking water quality is higher than ever before. In 1995, nearly 3.2 million tests on drinking water were carried out and 99.5 per cent. of them met the standards.
  154
  Water companies can be prosecuted under section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 for supplying water unfit for human consumption and under regulation 28 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 for breaches of the regulations relating to the use of products, processes or substances in contact with drinking water. In both circumstances there is provision for a statutory defence of due diligence. Water unfit for human consumption is different from water marginally failing to meet the standards and relates to water that is unhealthy or unpalatable as a result of an incident.

  Water companies are required to report to the drinking water inspectorate incidents which affect or threaten to affect adversely drinking water quality. All such incidents are investigated by the inspectorate. Most are found to be minor and there have been only a very few instances in which water unfit for human consumption may have been supplied and in most of those there were no grounds for prosecution.

  In the past year, Thames Water Utilities Ltd. was prosecuted for supplying water unfit for human consumption to an area of south-west London. Previously, in 1995, Severn Trent Water Ltd. was prosecuted for supplying water unfit for human consumption and Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig was prosecuted for an offence under regulation 28 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. A prosecution of South West Water Services Ltd. for allegedly supplying water unfit for human consumption is before the court at the moment.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the environmental hazard associated with organophosphates. [16984]

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department has commissioned a number of research projects into the environmental impact of pesticides and veterinary medicines. This work includes consideration of organophosphate compounds and covers the development of environmental quality standards, impact on headwater streams, the transport of pesticides colloids, indirect effects on farmland birds, and the impact of sea-lice treatments on sea loch ecology. All research is evaluated during and upon completion of the work.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many pensioner households not on income support or other means-tested benefits have made use of the home energy efficiency scheme since the 75 per cent. charge was introduced; [17307]

  (2) how many pensioner households have benefited from the home energy efficiency scheme since its inception. [17308]

  Mr. Clappison
  A total of 784,803 grants were paid to householders aged 60 or more between 1 April 1994 and 31 January 1997, the latest date for which data are available. Information is not available for the period between 1 January 1991 and 31 March 1994 because age was not then an eligibility criterion. At 31 January 1997,
  155
  2,995 grants had been paid at the 25 per cent. rate, introduced on 1 April 1996 to focus the scheme more on the most needy households.

  Building Regulations (Charges)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached following consultations on the proposed Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [17905]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Responses to the consultation have demonstrated marked differences of view. The local authorities are seeking significantly greater flexibility in fee setting than would be possible within the constraints imposed by the regulation-making power in the Building Act 1984. On the other hand, developers, approved inspectors and others are concerned that even the flexibility proposed in these draft regulations would not offer them sufficient safeguards.

  I have therefore decided not to proceed with the making of the draft regulations on which I consulted. Instead, I propose to institute a broader review which can take account of the roles for private and public sector bodies in building control, and the consequential arrangements for paying for the services provided. Further details of this review will be announced in due course.

  It is Government policy that the fees charged by local authorities for their building control work should fully cover the expenditure incurred. These fees were last revised in October 1994. In parallel with the review referred to above, I therefore propose to consult shortly on a review of these fees, any revisions from which would take effect as soon as possible thereafter.

  Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on designating nitrate-sensitive areas required under the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement. [17906]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Following advice from the Environment Agency, we have identified particular stretches of the rivers Waveney, Blackwater and Great Ouse as sensitive areas on the basis of elevated nitrate levels under the terms of the urban waste treatment directive. The Environment Agency will set nitrogen reduction requirements in the discharge consents of eight sewage treatment works which discharge into the three sensitive areas. The requirements will come into effect by the end of 1998 in accordance with the directive. I have today placed in the Library of the House a map of the three sensitive areas and a list of the eight sewage treatment works, all of which are owned by Anglian Water Services. The map and the list will also be available for inspection at the Environment Agency's headquarters and its main regional offices.

  Modelling work by the Environment Agency has indicated that the eight sewage treatment works contribute less than 5 per cent. of the observed elevated nitrate levels in the three rivers. Identification of these sensitive areas implements the part of the urban waste water treatment directive which seeks to control nitrate levels in surface waters intended for the abstraction of drinking water.
  156
  The nitrogen reduction measures to be implemented under this directive will contribute to our overall aim to reduce nitrate pollution at the abstraction points on these three rivers. They will complement measures already being taken to reduce nitrate pollution from agriculture and other diffuse sources.

  The effect of this package of measures in the three rivers will be influenced by the crops grown, soil type, previous agricultural practices and by local weather conditions, particularly rainfall, in each of their catchments. The Environment Agency will continue to monitor nitrate concentrations in these rivers for the purpose of identifying whether additional measures are required.

PRIME MINISTER

  Government Policy (Lichfield)
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of Her Majesty's Government's policies on people and businesses in Lichfield. [15774]

  The Prime Minister
  The people and businesses of Lichfield are benefiting fully from the Government's policies. The UK is enjoying a stronger recovery than any other large European economy, the longest run of low inflation for nearly 50 years, and mortgage rates at their lowest levels for a generation. This year the UK is on course to have the fastest growth in the G7 group of leading industrial nations. It should come as no surprise that, in the past four years, unemployment in Lichfield has more than halved.

  Albania
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Prime Minister what official gifts he has received from the Albanian President. [16475]

  The Prime Minister
  Gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity are dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". The details are not made public.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 February. [16138]

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

  Cardiff European Council
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Prime Minister what the dates will be for the 1998 Cardiff European Council. [17887]

  The Prime Minister
  The dates will be 15 and 16 June 1998.

SCOTLAND

  Police Officers
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers there are currently per 10,000 population. [17235]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  On 30 June 1996, there were 28.2 police officers per 10,000 population in Scotland.

  Recorded Offences
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recorded offences there were in(a)1979, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1995 and (e) the first six months of 1996. [17234]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: For statistical purposes the Scottish Office Home Department draws a distinction between crimes and offences. The information requested for both crimes and offences is set out in the table. Information for 1996 is not yet available.

  Crimes and offences recorded by the police, Scotland

  Crimes

  Offences

  1979

  346,680

  327,275

  1991

  592,774

  427,883

  1992

  589,562

  433,896

  1995

  502,802

  451,869

  Full details of the classification of crimes and offences can be found in the annexe to the Scottish Office statistical bulletin "Recorded Crime in Scotland 1995".

  Conviction Rates
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the conviction rates for(a) 1979,(b)1991, (c) 1992 and (d) 1995. [17236]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: The number of persons with a charge proved as a percentage of the number of persons called to court in Scotland for the years 1979, 1991, 1992 and 1994 is 95 per cent., 90 per cent., and 89 per cent. respectively. Information for 1995 will be published in March.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 430, what information the Scottish Legal Aid Board collates on the number of fee earners and fees per fee earner per firm. [16980]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: The Scottish Legal Aid Board installed computer software in spring 1996 to make it possible for the solicitor acting in each case and the fees paid for each case to be identified. However, the procedure in solicitors' firms varies. In some, legal aid certificates are issued in the name of a senior partner rather than in the name of the solicitor actually handling the case. Moreover, some routine work, such as precognitions, may be handled by another solicitor in the firm. Thus, in the absence of detailed information
  158
  concerning the activities of individuals, it is not possible for the board to identify accurately the earnings of "fee earners" in each case.

  Mortgage Repossession Orders
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mortgage repossession orders there were for each court district for each quarter since the first quarter of 1991. [17233]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: Figures in relation to repossession of property by mortgage lenders have been collected by the courts only since a revised system of collecting civil judicial statistics was instituted on 1 January 1994. The figures for 1994 and 1995 and provisional figures for 1996 are shown in the following tables. Not all lenders who are granted decrees actually enforce them.

  Decrees granted in mortgage lender actions

  1994

  Totals

  Ql

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Aberdeen

  0

  0

  1

  14

  15

  Airdrie

  37

  20

  25

  22

  104

  Alloa

  0

  5

  1

  6

  12

  Ayr

  16

  8

  0

  15

  39

  Arbroath

  5

  5

  2

  8

  20

  Banff

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Campbeltown

  3

  2

  0

  2

  7

  Cupar

  13

  7

  7

  6

  33

  Dingwall

  2

  2

  4

  7

  15

  Dornoch

  0

  2

  0

  1

  3

  Dumbarton

  13

  11

  10

  11

  45

  Dumfries

  11

  4

  8

  3

  26

  Dundee

  25

  17

  17

  7

  66

  Dunfermline

  28

  28

  22

  17

  95

  Dunoon

  0

  3

  9

  3

  15

  Duns

  1

  2

  0

  5

  8

  Edinburgh

  2

  31

  123

  85

  241

  Elgin

  8

  8

  5

  7

  28

  Falkirk

  24

  13

  7

  23

  67

  Forfar

  5

  2

  2

  0

  9

  Fort William

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Glasgow

  51

  125

  139

  159

  474

  Greenock

  0

  3

  0

  0

  3

  Haddington

  23

  13

  13

  9

  58

  Hamilton

  7

  38

  30

  32

  107

  Inverness

  3

  0

  4

  15

  22

  Jedburgh

  3

  0

  3

  5

  11

  Kilmarnock

  9

  9

  16

  54

  88

  Kirkcaldy

  12

  0

  25

  15

  52

  Kirkcudbright

  1

  3

  1

  6

  11

  Kirkwall

  0

  0

  3

  2

  5

  Lanark

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lerwick

  1

  0

  1

  0

  2

  Linlithgow

  32

  22

  19

  18

  91

  Lochmaddy

  1

  0

  0

  1

  2

  Oban

  3

  0

  3

  2

  8

  Paisley

  51

  56

  41

  53

  201

  Peebles

  3

  3

  3

  1

  10

  Perth

  0

  7

  23

  13

  43

  Peterhead

  16

  12

  12

  8

  48

  Portree

  1

  1

  1

  1

  4

  Rothesay

  1

  1

  2

  0

  4

  Selkirk

  6

  3

  5

  4

  18

  Stirling

  3

  11

  10

  9

  33

  Stonehaven

  8

  5

  2

  4

  19

  Stornoway

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stranraer

  5

  3

  4

  5

  17

  Tain

  1

  0

  1

  2

  4

  Wick

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Totals

  434

  487

  604

  660

  2,185

  159

  Decrees granted in mortgage lender actions

  1995

  Totals

  Ql

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Aberdeen

  5

  5

  24

  56

  90

  Airdrie

  22

  26

  29

  27

  104

  Alloa

  7

  9

  9

  11

  36

  Arbroath

  0

  3

  4

  0

  7

  Ayr

  37

  26

  25

  17

  105

  Banff

  1

  5

  5

  6

  17

  Campbeltown

  1

  3

  2

  5

  11

  Cupar

  11

  7

  8

  6

  32

  Dingwall

  4

  4

  5

  13

  26

  Dornoch

  1

  1

  1

  1

  4

  Dumbarton

  36

  26

  36

  27

  125

  Dumfries

  16

  16

  10

  16

  58

  Dundee

  28

  13

  16

  34

  91

  Dunfermline

  24

  26

  39

  33

  122

  Dunoon

  5

  8

  1

  0

  14

  Duns

  2

  1

  5

  2

  10

  Edinburgh

  111

  72

  125

  109

  417

  Elgin

  7

  9

  5

  9

  30

  Falkirk

  29

  29

  25

  25

  108

  Forfar

  2

  1

  0

  5

  8

  Fort William

  4

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Glasgow

  155

  178

  176

  175

  684

  Greenock

  0

  1

  1

  6

  8

  Haddington

  13

  5

  27

  18

  63

  Hamilton

  44

  60

  50

  67

  221

  Inverness

  13

  17

  13

  17

  60

  Jedburgh

  5

  6

  7

  2

  20

  Kilmarnock

  43

  42

  50

  57

  192

  Kirkcaldy

  23

  45

  27

  31

  126

  Kirkcudbright

  1

  2

  5

  3

  11

  Kirkwall

  0

  1

  3

  0

  4

  Lanark

  9

  12

  10

  16

  47

  Lerwick

  1

  0

  2

  1

  4

  Linlithgow

  45

  43

  51

  39

  178

  Lochmaddy

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Oban

  2

  2

  3

  0

  7

  Paisley

  21

  36

  81

  78

  196

  Peebles

  2

  2

  1

  4

  9

  Perth

  8

  22

  25

  19

  74

  Peterhead

  4

  11

  9

  11

  35

  Portree

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Rothsay

  0

  2

  0

  2

  4

  Selkirk

  2

  5

  6

  3

  16

  Stirling

  6

  11

  11

  9

  37

  Stonehaven

  8

  5

  8

  9

  30

  Stomoway

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Stranraer

  3

  6

  7

  4

  20

  Tain

  2

  0

  3

  2

  7

  Wick

  0

  4

  6

  0

  10

  Totals

  763

  810

  937

  976

  3,486

  f

  Decrees granted in mortgage lender actions

  1996

  Totals

  Ql

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Aberdeen

  51

  54

  46

  46

  197

  Airdrie

  36

  26

  37

  37

  136

  Alloa

  13

  5

  7

  6

  31

  Total capital receipts: 1990–91 to 1995–961,2

  £000s

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  31995–96

  Total Scotland

  441,153

  435,542

  455,690

  472,843

  604,744

  565,035

  Borders

  2,650

  554

  2,026

  912

  887

  2,135

  Central

  5,354

  3,893

  10,020

  2,489

  26,470

  16,634

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,487

  1,473

  1,333

  1,632

  3,049

  26,471

  Fife

  2,023

  4,404

  3,664

  3,343

  4,167

  6,048

  Grampian

  15,857

  16,448

  18,283

  22,944

  45,280

  36,329

  Highland

  1,149

  732

  1,678

  731

  3,867

  1,419

  160

  Decrees granted in mortgage lender actions

  1996

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Totals

  Ayr

  27

  15

  25

  28

  95

  Arbroath

  0

  0

  4

  10

  14

  Banff

  5

  4

  3

  2

  14

  Campbeltown

  1

  2

  1

  3

  7

  Cupar

  18

  12

  14

  8

  52

  Dingwall

  3

  10

  1

  0

  14

  Dornoch

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Dumbarton

  31

  31

  23

  16

  101

  Dumfries

  13

  23

  7

  11

  54

  Dundee

  41

  46

  40

  31

  158

  Dunfermline

  39

  31

  32

  30

  132

  Dunoon

  0

  0

  8

  5

  13

  Duns

  4

  5

  5

  2

  16

  Edinburgh

  133

  122

  139

  98

  492

  Elgin

  14

  17

  14

  11

  56

  Falkirk

  40

  25

  38

  36

  139

  Forfar

  7

  10

  5

  5

  27

  Fort William

  0

  2

  2

  2

  6

  Glasgow

  241

  211

  230

  175

  857

  Greenock

  16

  15

  14

  5

  50

  Haddington

  23

  24

  18

  16

  81

  Hamilton

  53

  81

  76

  42

  252

  Inverness

  21

  16

  13

  10

  60

  Jedburgh

  3

  9

  2

  7

  21

  Kilmarnock

  66

  60

  50

  38

  214

  Kirkcaldy

  40

  38

  36

  37

  151

  Kirkcudbright

  7

  4

  5

  2

  18

  Kirkwall

  5

  3

  4

  0

  12

  Lanark

  24

  10

  16

  8

  58

  Lerwick

  2

  0

  0

  1

  3

  Linlithgow

  71

  54

  37

  43

  205

  Lochmaddy

  1

  2

  1

  3

  7

  Oban

  8

  2

  2

  0

  12

  Paisley

  85

  44

  2

  39

  170

  Peebles

  3

  1

  4

  2

  10

  Perth

  33

  23

  29

  21

  106

  Peterhead

  17

  22

  15

  10

  64

  Portree

  3

  2

  1

  2

  8

  Rothesay

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Selkirk

  3

  5

  3

  4

  15

  Stirling

  11

  9

  7

  4

  31

  Stonehaven

  15

  11

  8

  5

  39

  Stornoway

  9

  2

  1

  1

  13

  Stranraer

  2

  8

  5

  5

  20

  Tain

  4

  4

  4

  1

  13

  Wick

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Totals

  1,242

  1,101

  1,036

  870

  4,249

  Capital Receipts
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of Scotland what were the total and usable capital receipts for each local authority in each year since 1990. [17231]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: Total capital receipts for each local authority in t he years from 1990–91 to 1995–96 are shown in the table in those years, capital receipts were usable in full.
  161

  Total capital receipts: 1990–91 to 1995–961,2

  £000s

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  11995–96

  Lothian

  6,920

  11,906

  10,552

  10,264

  25,196

  9,741

  Strathclyde

  17,354

  11,855

  25,487

  14,729

  51,288

  40,681

  Tayside

  5,102

  7,725

  3,432

  3,767

  5,004

  2,996

  Orkney

  1,458

  3,122

  1,432

  1,410

  4,157

  2,385

  Shetland

  797

  1,017

  1,070

  1,364

  3,297

  1,715

  Western Isles

  1,458

  1,518

  2,128

  1,860

  1,421

  3,998

  Berwickshire

  1,481

  872

  1,125

  1,283

  1,131

  677

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1,083

  1,126

  1,411

  1,271

  1,408

  1,034

  Roxburgh

  1,528

  1,595

  1,596

  2,028

  2,481

  758

  Tweeddale

  394

  466

  565

  928

  1,545

  1,618

  Clackmannan

  3,368

  4,704

  4,678

  3,974

  5,558

  5,550

  Falkirk

  13,528

  13,896

  14,184

  12,817

  13,744

  10,008

  Stirling

  7,367

  8,441

  10,196

  10,963

  10,751

  13,002

  Annandale and Eskdale

  2,221

  2,034

  2,344

  2,806

  2,750

  1,795

  Nithsdale

  2,123

  4,213

  4,638

  2,833

  2,808

  3,197

  Stewartry

  706

  1,010

  1,127

  1,479

  1,609

  1,121

  Wigtown

  1,423

  1,354

  2,429

  2,542

  2,467

  2,287

  Dunfermline

  8,148

  7,202

  6,501

  7,365

  8,049

  6,454

  Kirkcaldy

  7,670

  7,745

  8,468

  7,524

  7,843

  7,648

  North East Fife

  2,529

  4,150

  3,024

  3,489

  4,343

  2,620

  Aberdeen

  11,903

  15,578

  22,951

  21,903

  21,854

  21,684

  Banff and Buchan

  3,445

  4,563

  5,834

  5,502

  5,583

  5,105

  Gordon

  2,685

  4,249

  4,658

  6,689

  7,783

  6,886

  Kincardine and Deeside

  1,790

  1,990

  2,978

  3,566

  3,048

  3,571

  Moray

  6,492

  5,083

  4,620

  12,604

  8,329

  5,392

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  413

  815

  548

  1,224

  851

  966

  Caithness

  641

  679

  1,000

  1,064

  2,270

  1,335

  Inverness

  3,847

  2,816

  5,078

  3,557

  4,259

  3,583

  Lochaber

  1,871

  1,341

  2,305

  2,399

  2,141

  1,755

  Nairn

  367

  453

  472

  595

  787

  562

  Ross and Cromarty

  2,442

  3,907

  3,768

  3,811

  3,175

  3,070

  Skye and Lochalsh

  477

  479

  417

  730

  482

  581

  Sutherland

  410

  840

  884

  832

  1,110

  658

  East Lothian

  7,391

  8,755

  8,148

  8,037

  18,402

  5,927

  Edinburgh

  57,031

  72,234

  45,265

  69,214

  39,954

  38,653

  Midlothian

  6,007

  4,319

  4,268

  3,812

  5,310

  3,305

  West Lothian

  7,055

  6,713

  8,403

  8,834

  9,551

  12,762

  Argyll and Bute

  3,290

  4,250

  4,095

  4,144

  5,601

  4,199

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  2,040

  1,553

  976

  984

  865

  1,057

  Clydebank

  7,935

  5,533

  6,471

  4,543

  3,021

  1,957

  Clydesdale

  2,237

  2,325

  2,464

  2,849

  3,085

  4,132

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  1.143

  1,418

  1,536

  1,429

  1,381

  1,388

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  2,063

  2,078

  2,584

  3,103

  3,745

  2,930

  Cunninghame

  7,324

  7,624

  6,661

  6,765

  7,128

  6,843

  Dumbarton

  5,153

  3,579

  5,773

  5,292

  6,573

  4,107

  East Kilbride

  1,710

  1,488

  1,806

  1,329

  9,762

  12,346

  Eastwood

  1,326

  476

  869

  751

  720

  584

  Glasgow

  72,271

  47,701

  48,915

  52,644

  53,468

  72,465

  Hamilton

  10,605

  8,179

  14,077

  9,592

  14,867

  13,638

  Inverclyde

  5,720

  4,894

  8,925

  12,539

  11,215

  26,572

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  4,566

  4,443

  4,685

  4,002

  4,333

  4,722

  Kyle and Carrick

  6,939

  7,377

  7,734

  11,173

  10,698

  8,360

  Monklands

  11,404

  12,507

  11,878

  10,512

  21,619

  12,494

  Motherwell

  14,965

  12,424

  11,909

  12,511

  19,031

  11,835

  Renfrew

  15,156

  16,539

  16,649

  13,353

  16,480

  21,712

  Strathkelvin

  4,922

  6,828

  6,281

  5,492

  5,342

  4,974

  Angus

  3,555

  4,250

  4,068

  4,166

  5,080

  4,881

  Dundee

  20,251

  14,741

  14,007

  12,117

  15,975

  11,690

  Perth and Kinross

  6,395

  5,989

  7,489

  9,276

  7,386

  7,020

  Lothian and Borders Fire

  30

  5

  97

  33

  18

  3

  Highland and Islands Fire

  8

  40

  23

  11

  3

  10

  Lothian and Borders Police

  562

  870

  637

  2,980

  1,624

  835

  Northern Police

  138

  162

  93

  133

  265

  165

  Notes:

  1 These figures cover receipts on all services, including housing.

  2 Receipts of the joint police and tire boards are provided separately. The regional totals of those areas not operating a joint board include police and fire service receipts.

  3 Figures for 1995–96 are provisional as they are still subject to audit.

  Source:

  Capital payment and receipts returns provided to LGF statistics unit by local authorities.
  162

  Publicity
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total expenditure of his Department and its agencies on publicity for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1997–98; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (i) advertising and (ii) press and public relations. [14298]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 February 1997]: Details of expenditure by my Department, including the agencies—Historic Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, Scottish Office Pensions Agency, Student Awards Agency for Scotland—on advertising and publications for the year 1995–96, and estimated expenditure for the year 1996–97, is as follows. Publicity is defined as advertising, publications and exhibitions:

  1995–96 £

  Advertising

  Fire prevention

  266,000

  Crime prevention

  295,000

  Road safety

  370,000

  Right to buy

  168,000

  Electoral registration

  57,000

  Organ donors

  36,000

  Children's panels

  88,000

  GP call out

  129,000

  NHS prescription charges

  20,000

  The Scottish Office

  1,429,000

  The Scottish Office agencies: promoting

  Historic Scotland properties

  293,000

  Total advertising expenditure by The Scottish

  Office and the agencies

  1,722,000

  Publications/exhibitions (Projects costing over £5,000)

  Crime prevention

  7,180

  Business rates appeals

  5,800

  Patients charter

  5,300

  "Don't make it easy for the thief

  27,840

  Water and sewerage

  45,100

  Transitional arrangements of revaluation

  9,410

  Holiday crime

  14,460

  "Eggvert"

  11,760

  Neighbourhood watch

  6,590

  Scottish Office road safety plan

  12,710

  Sports policy documents

  5,430

  Housebreaking

  5,330

  School board election

  6,890

  Bullying

  31,620

  NHS annual report

  23,630

  "Frances the Firefly"

  9,200

  Fire prevention

  6,260

  Building control

  9,810

  Government expenditure and revenue

  6,330

  Fire action plan

  22,950

  Business crime reduction strategy

  14,380

  What to do after a death

  9,810

  Organ donor cards

  10,250

  Organ donor leaflets

  27,100

  Crime prevention

  7,050

  Holiday crime

  13,670

  Organ donor leaflets

  24,190

  NHS complaints

  6,180

  Family guide

  21,990

  Medical and dental practices complaints

  8,050

  Pre-school education initiative

  11,600

  Drugs and solvents misuse magazine

  7,180

  164

  1995–96 £

  Fire action plan

  14,900

  Expenditure on publications/exhibitions costing over £5,000

  449,950

  Expenditure on publications/exhibitions under £5,000

  340,690

  Total expenditure on publications/exhibitions by The Scottish Office

  790,640

  Total expenditure on publications/exhibitions by The Scottish Office agencies (promotional/public information material)

  265,290

  Total publications/exhibitions expenditure

  1,055,930

  Summary of expenditure

  Total advertising expenditure by The Scottish Office and the agencies

  1,722,000

  Total publications/exhibitions expenditure

  1,055,930

  Total expenditure by The Scottish Office and me agencies on publicity

  2,777,930

  1996–97 £

  Advertising

  Fire prevention

  238,000

  Crime prevention

  228,000

  Road safety

  316,000

  Right to buy

  228,000

  Electoral registration

  63,000

  Organ donors

  42,000

  Children's panels

  82,000

  Food safety

  536,000

  Severe weather warning

  118,000

  Pre-school education initiative

  950,000

  The Scottish Office

  2,801,000

  The Scottish Office agencies: promoting Historic Scotland properties

  279,000

  Total advertising expenditure by The Scottish

  Office and the agencies

  3,080,000

  Publications/exhibitions (amounts invoiced to 28 January 1997 for projects costing over £5,000)

  Pre 5 quality

  5,550

  CCTV

  6,690

  Speedwatch

  20,090

  PFI

  5,400

  NADICS

  7,250

  The Scottish Office annual report

  7,260

  Translation, pre-school education

  16,680

  Art in partnership

  6,920

  Cot death

  5,810

  Diet action plan

  80,660

  "Teaching in Scotland" recruitment

  9,880

  Curriculum for pre-school children

  8,840

  Government expenditure and revenue

  5,400

  Crime prevention

  6,600

  NHS annual report

  20,250

  Violent crime

  98,870

  Pre-school education initiative

  9,810

  Expenditure on publications/exhibitions costing over £5,000

  322,000

  Expenditure on publications/exhibitions under £5,000

  236,090

  Estimated expenditure for remainder of the financial year

  512,000

  Total expenditure on publications/exhibitions by The Scottish Office

  1,070,090

  165

  1996–97 £

  Total expenditure on publications/exhibitions by The Scottish Office agencies (promotional/public information material

  232,670

  Total publications/exhibitions expenditure

  1,302,760

  Summary of expenditure

  Total advertising expenditure by The Scottish Office and the agencies

  3,080,000

  Total publications/exhibitions expenditure

  1,302,760

  Total expenditure by The Scottish Office and the agencies on publicity

  4,382,760

  Running costs for the press and public relations function of the Scottish Office information directorate, the press office of Historic Scotland and the communications branch of the Scottish Prison Service are:

  1995–96: £1,694,000

  1996–97: £1,723,000.

  The estimated expenditure by my Department, including the agencies, on publicity for 1997–98 is £4.7 million of which £3.5 million is for advertising. The estimate for the departmental running costs of the Scottish Office information directorate, the press office of Historic Scotland and the communications branch of the Scottish Prison Service is £1.645 million.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. [16174]

  Mr. Bates
  This answer covers the Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and its executive agencies, and the Central Office of Information. The responsibility for using employment agencies has been delegated to line-managers. Consequently, some of the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The details available are as follows:

  1994–95

  (a) the Department used Josephine Sammons Ltd., Alfred Marks, Office Angels, Parkside Recruitment, Genesis Recruitment, Wise Employment, Reed Employment Services, Professional Recruitment, Blue Arrow, Library Association, Manpower, Personnel People, Service Service, Yare Executive Services, Michael Page, Mac Recruitment, Centre Girl, and Computer People;

  (b) figures not available;

  (c) figures not available;

  Other details are not available.

  166

  1995–96

  (a) the Department used Josephine Sammons Ltd., Alfred Marks, Forrest Recruitment, Forward Recruitment, Computer People, Link Recruitment, Wilmington Agency, Hays Accountancy, Office Angels, Parkside Recruitment, Accountancy Personnel, Professional Recruitment, Blue Arrow, Robert Walters Associates, Reed Employment Services, Zenith Accountancy, Michael Page, ORS, Kelly Industrial Services, Plan Personnel, Securicor Recruitment Services, Staff Reinforcement, HMS Personnel Services, Manpower, Personnel People, Service Service, and Yare Executive Services;

  (b) figures not available;

  (c) the Department spent £411,795.63 on employment agencies;

  Other details are not available.

  1996–97 (to date)

  (a) The Department used Josephine Sammons Ltd., Alfred Marks, Forrest Recruitment, Forward Recruitment, Computer People, Link Recruitment, Wilmington Agency, Office Angels, Parkside Recruitment, Genesis Recruitment, Professional Recruitment, Hays Accountancy, Robert Walters Associates, Reed Employment Services, Zenith Accountancy, Michael Page, ORS, Kelly Industrial Services, Plan Personnel, Securicor Recruitment Services, Staff Reinforcement, HMS Personnel Services, Brook Street, Connections, PSD Contracts, Chase Employment Agency, Albany Personnel, The Best Connection, Myriad Computer Services, Paragon, Manpower, and Service Service.

  (b) figures not available;

  (c) The Department has spent £1,081,315.09 on employment agencies;

  Other details are not available.

  Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [17075]

  Mr. Bates
  The information requested from Cabinet Office, its agencies and the Central Office of Information is as follows:

  Information technology equipment

  Non information technology equipment and furniture

  Value £

  Number of items

  Value £

  Number of items

  Cabinet Office and its agencies Stolen

  123,805

  11

  2,353

  12

  Unaccounted for

  Nil

  3,960

  5

  Central Office of Information Stolen

  216,193

  18

  78

  1

  Unaccounted for

  188

  2

  171

  7

  1 Includes one personal computer and modem costing £7,500.

  2 The result of a single theft of processors and memory chips.

  Legislation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1996,Official Report, column 492, when he expects his analysis of new regulations introduced since 1995 will be (a) completed and (b) available. [16937]
  167
  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]: During 1996 Departments introduced 388 orders which affect business. Of these, 160 were deregulatory orders which contributed to the repeal or amendment of approximately 500 existing regulations during the year.

  The total number of fee and local provision orders was 130. I understand that the total number of orders which have no effect on business, such as road closure and commencement orders, was 2,903.

  Also, pursuant to the answer on 17 December, I have placed in the House Libraries the latest list of over 1,000 regulations that have been repealed or amended since 1993 under the Government's deregulation initiative. I have also sent a copy to the hon. Member.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Northern Ireland Grand Committee
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many representations he has received and from whom concerning an extension of the role and powers of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee. [17125]

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked about this on a number of occasions during questions on my weekly business statement.

  Travel Expenses
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is his estimate of the total cost to public funds for the present financial year of travel by hon. Members(a) between their homes, constituencies and Parliament and (b) on other journeys for journeys by (i) car, (ii) rail and (iii) air. [16623]

  Mr. Newton
  The information as provided by the Fees Office is set out in the table.

  1996–97

  Estimated cost of travel between, home, constituency and Parliament1

  Estimated cost of other journeys2

  Car

  6,283,000.00

  147,000.00

  Rail

  993,000,00

  38,000.00

  Air

  856,000.00

  38,000.00

  Average domestic gas prices within the EU, including all taxes

  Country1

  Pence/k Wh2

  National currency/k Wh3 (cash terms)

  National currency/k Wh3,4(real terms)

  Real change 1986–1995 (per cent.)

  1986 (a)

  1995 (b)

  1986 (c)

  1995 (d)

  1986(e)

  1995 (f)

  (e) to (f)

  Finland

  0.852

  0.970

  0.063

  0.067

  0.080

  0.061

  -23.57

  Luxembourg5

  1.763

  1.625

  1.154

  0.756

  1.254

  0.658

  -47.51

  UK

  1.433

  1.791

  1.433

  1.791

  1.818

  1.493

  -17.89

  Netherlands

  1.922

  1.963

  0.069

  0.050

  0.072

  0.044

  -38.08

  Austria

  2.773

  2.507

  0.620

  0.399

  0.686

  0.337

  -50.87

  Ireland5

  3.252

  2.581

  0.036

  0.025

  0.040

  0.022

  -44.31

  Germany

  2.192

  2.600

  0.070

  0.059

  0.077

  0.049

  -35.91

  Belgium5

  2.147

  2.656

  1.405

  1.236

  1.540

  1.095

  -28.87

  France

  2.669

  2.728

  0.271

  0.215

  0.305

  0.192

  -36.89

  Spain

  3.172

  3.322

  6.512

  6.536

  8.370

  5.016

  -40.08

  Italy

  2.041

  3.635

  44.611

  93.456

  57.862

  73.12

  +26.38

  Denmark

  2,890

  3.768

  0.343

  0.333

  0.397

  0.303

  -23.59

  168
  1The estimated costs for travel between Home, constituency and Parliament does not include expenditure of £40,000 in respect of public road transport and rail season tickets but includes travel within the constituency.

  2 The estimated costs of other journeys excludes estimated expenditure of £250,000 in respect of European travel which is based on travel and subsistence costs combined.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Privatisation (Utilities)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent prices for(a) electricity and (b) gas have fallen in real terms for residential users since privatisation; and what have been the trends in prices in other EU countries over the same period. [16903]

  Mr. Page
  Annual average domestic electricity prices fell by 2.5 per cent. in real terms—9.5 per cent. excluding VAT—between privatisation, in 1990, and 1996. In addition, domestic customers received a discount of £50 during 1996 following the privatisation of the National Grid Company. Between privatisation, in 1986 and 1996 annual average domestic gas prices fell by 20 per cent. in real terms—26 per cent. excluding VAT. Further, domestic gas consumers in the south-west, who have switched supplier following the introduction of competition, will see additional reductions of up to 20 per cent. over the first full year of competition.

  Domestic electricity prices in the UK are among the lowest in the European Union on a common sterling basis. Between 1990 and 1995, the latest year for which full data are available, the movement in real domestic electricity prices in the EU has varied from a 27 per cent. fall to a 15 per cent. increase—a 27 per cent. fall to a 9 per cent. rise excluding taxes. In this period, UK prices rose by around 0.5 per cent. but fell in 1996 by 3 per cent. Domestic gas prices in the UK were the lowest of major EU competitors in 1995, only Luxembourg and Finland had lower prices. Movements in real domestic gas prices in the EU between 1986 and 1995 have varied from a 51 per cent. fall to a 26 per cent. rise—falls of 51 to 18 per cent. excluding tax.

  Detailed data including taxes are provided in the tables.

  Source:Retail price index; Office for National Statistics. International Energy Agency.
  169

  Average domestic gas prices within the EU, including all taxes

  Country1

  Pence/k Wh2

  National currency/k Wh3 (cash terms)

  National currency/k Wh3,4 (real terms)

  /tea/ change 1986–1995 (per cent.)

  1986(a)

  1995(b)

  1986(c)

  1995(d)

  1986(e)

  1995(f)

  (e)to(f)

  Greece

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Sweden

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  1Countries ranked in ascending order by 1995 price in pence/k Wh.

  2 Prices converted to pence/k Wh using average exchange rates for 1986 and 1995.

  3urrencies used are as follows: Austria (Schillings). Belgium (Belgian Francs), Denmark (Crowns), Finland (Finnish Marks), France (French Francs), Germany (Marks), Greece (Drachmae), Ireland (Irish Pounds), Italy (Lire), Luxembourg (Luxembourg Francs), Netherlands (Guilders), Portugal (Escudos), Spain (Pesetas), Sweden (Swedish Crowns), UK (Pence).

  4Prices have been converted to real terms by deflating national currency data (columns C and D) by each countries GDP deflator at market prices.

  5 GDP deflator not available. All items consumer price indices used to deflate to real terms instead. n/a denotes not applicable. There is no or only very limited gas supply in Greece, Portugal and Sweden.

  Source:

  International Energy Agency.

  Average domestic electricity prices within the EU, including all taxes

  Country1

  Pence/k Wh2

  National currency/kWh3 (cash terms)

  National currency/kWh3,4 (cash terms)

  Real change 1990–95 (per cent.)

  1990(a)

  1995(b)

  1990(c)

  1995(d)

  1995(e)

  1990(f)

  (e) to (f)

  Sweden

  4.934

  5.984

  0.520

  0.674

  0.520

  0.568

  +9.29

  Finland

  5.780

  6.888

  0.393

  0.475

  0.393

  0.432

  +9.88

  Greece5

  6.636

  7.209

  18.736

  26.346

  18.736

  13.729

  -26.72

  UK

  6.670

  8.060

  6.670

  8.060

  6.670

  6.717

  +0.70

  Ireland5

  7.500

  8.371

  0.081

  0.082

  0.081

  0.073

  -9.80

  Netherlands

  6.583

  8.610

  0.213

  0.218

  0.213

  0.195

  -8.58

  Luxembourg5

  6.965

  9.267

  4.140

  4.310

  4.140

  3.754

  -9.32

  France

  8.434

  10.563

  0.817

  0.832

  0.817

  0.745

  -8.82

  Italy

  8.809

  10.723

  187.90

  275.70

  187.90

  215.73

  +14.81

  Austria6

  8.745

  10.882

  1.770

  1.900

  1.770

  1.641

  -7.30

  Portugal

  8.268

  11.448

  20.976

  27.090

  20.976

  18.242

  -13.03

  Belgium5,6

  9.576

  11.502

  5.692

  5.880

  5.692

  5.288

  -7.10

  Spain

  10.676

  12.366

  19.354

  24.325

  19.354

  18.668

  -3.54

  Germany

  9.204

  12.960

  0.265

  0.293

  0.265

  0.245

  -7.56

  Denmark

  9.242

  13.221

  1.018

  1.169

  1.018

  1.065

  +4.64

  Notes:

  1 Countries ranked in ascending order by 1995 price in pence/kWh.

  2 Prices converted to pence/kWh using average exchange rates for 1990 and 1995.

  3Currencies used are as follows: Austria (Schillings), Belgium (Belgian Francs), Denmark (Crowns), Finland (Finnish Marks), France (French Francs), Germany (Marks), Greece (Drachmae), Ireland (Irish Pounds), Italy (Lire), Luxembourg (Luxembourg Francs), Netherlands (Guilders), Portugal (Escudos), Spain (Pesetas), Sweden (Swedish Crowns), UK (Pence).

  4Prices have been converted to real terms by deflating national currency data (Columns C and D) by each country's GDP deflator at market prices.

  5 GDP deflator not available. All items consumer price indices used to deflate to real terms instead.

  61995 data not available. 1994 data used instead.

  Source:

  International Energy Agency.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16962]

  Mr. Lang
  No executive agencies have been established by my Department since 1992. The Employment Tribunals Service will be launched as an agency in 1997–98. The costs of establishing the ETS are not separately identifiable, and for the most part will be met from within existing budgets for financial and strategic planning in this area.

  Companies House
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the lease on the Companies House premises in London is due to expire; what its proposed new location is; how many staff will be employed at the new location and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [17298]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have asked the chief executive of Companies House to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from John Holden to Mr. Nick Harvey, dated 25 February 1997:
  You recently tabled a question regarding the future of Companies House's premises in London. I have been asked to reply to you direct.

  171
  Companies House's lease on the property in City Road, London has a break at the landlord's option in December 1999. There is a requirement that parties give notice of any intention to break the lease by December 1998. Our present understanding is that the landlord will wish to exercise the break, and that we therefore need to plan to vacate the premises by then. No decisions have yet been made about a new location and the options are being reviewed as part of the planning process. We envisage that there will be at least one site in London which is readily accessible to users of Companies House services.
  Decisions about premises and staffing are bound up with our plans to move to new, electronic services for our customers which will mean, eventually, that we will not need to accommodate a microfiche library in London. However, we will only take this step once we are confident that we have a satisfactory set of alternative products to offer our customers. We do expect to be in this position before the end of 1999 and that we will therefore occupy a much smaller site in London.
  There were 72 permanent and 15 casual staff in the London office in March 1996 (full time equivalents); 25 of the permanent staff will reach retirement age between now and the year 2000. Our internal plans, which we have disclosed to staff and are discussing with them, include figures on possible staffing requirements once we have introduced the new technologies. However, these figures are indicative only and may well change as our plans are implemented. Our provisional planning assumption is that there will be a requirement for around 12 staff in London by the year 2000. However, I must stress that it is particularly difficult for me to be precise about the likely impact on staffing and related costs at the London office at this stage, since we have not yet established the nature of the presence which we will need in London beyond the turn of the century. One of the key uncertainties at present is how many users of our services will have switched to the on-line methods of information delivery we will be offering, and will, therefore, not need to make use of a physical presence.
  If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Metrication Regulations (Prosecutions)
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions have been brought against traders since October 1995 for failure to comply with metrication regulations. [17180]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Enforcement of the metrication provisions of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and the Prices Act 1974 is the responsibility of local authority trading standards departments. To the best knowledge of the Department, there have thus far been no prosecutions of traders for failing to observe the requirements of the metrication regulations.

  Assistance to Business (West Midlands)
  Mr. Brian David Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support his Department currently gives to businesses located in the west midlands. [17194]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department provides a wide variety of business support measures which are available to west midlands enterprises, including regional selective assistance in assisted areas, the small firms merit award for research and technology, support for products under research, overseas trade services and subsidised services from business links.

  The Department has targeted its support measures towards small and medium-sized enterprises. Increasingly these measures are being designed with and delivered through local and sectoral partnerships. This is
  172
  demonstrated by the recent introduction of local competitiveness challenge and sectoral challenge schemes.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was(a) the number of applications made for regional selective assistance, (b) the number approved,
  (c) the total financial value of the approved applications and (d) the average time taken to process and approve the applications since 1992 in each constituency in the west midlands. [17196]

  Mr. Taylor
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of applications for regional selective assistance by parliamentary constituency in the West Midlands region since January 1992

  Constituency

  Number of applications

  Aldridge-Brownhills

  53

  Birmingham Edgbaston

  5

  Birmingham Erdington

  34

  Birmingham Hall Green

  3

  Birmingham Hodge Hill

  14

  Birmingham Ladywood

  81

  Birmingham Northfield

  8

  Birmingham Perry Barr

  16

  Birmingham Selly Oak

  14

  Birmingham Small Healh

  102

  Birmingham Sparkbrook

  65

  Birmingham Yardley

  37

  Bromsgrove

  23

  Cannock and Burnt wood

  43

  Coventry North East

  32

  Coventry North West

  15

  Coventry South East

  24

  Coventry South West

  13

  Dudley East

  60

  Dudley West

  60

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  45

  Hereford

  3

  Ludlow

  9

  Meriden

  10

  Mid Staffordshire

  5

  Mid Worcestershire

  44

  North Warwickshire

  43

  Nuneaton

  23

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  3

  Solihull

  10

  South East Staffordshire

  39

  South Staffordshire

  22

  Stratford-on-Avon

  10

  Sutton Coldfield

  11

  The Wrekin

  32

  Unassigned

  31

  Walsall North

  42

  Walsall South

  62

  Warley East

  52

  Warley West

  50

  West Bromwich East

  14

  West Bromwich West

  73

  Wolverhampton North East

  35

  Wolverhampton South East

  77

  Wolverhampton South West

  21

  Wyre Forest

  17

  Total

  1,485

  173

  Number of applications for regional selective assistance approved and the value of offers by parliamentary constituency in the West Midlands since 1 January 1992

  Constituency

  Number of offers

  Value of offers £

  Aldridge-Brownhills

  39

  1,235,500

  Birmingham Edgbaston

  5

  459,500

  Birmingham Erdington

  22

  3,474,500

  Birmingham Hall Green

  2

  38,000

  Birmingham Hodge Hill

  10

  6,597,000

  Birmingham Ladywood

  56

  5,026,500

  Birmingham Northfield

  7

  2,634,000

  Birmingham Perry Barr

  12

  756,000

  Birmingham Selly Oak

  11

  2,002,000

  Birmingham Small Heath

  79

  6,120,400

  Birmingham Sparkbrook

  51

  8,013,500

  Birmingham Yardley

  31

  1,959,000

  Bromsgrove

  14

  1,540,000

  Cannock and Burntwood

  32

  1,349,100

  Coventry North East

  27

  1,995,000

  Coventry North West

  12

  11,246,000

  Coventry South East

  20

  2,347,000

  Coventy South West

  14

  575,000

  Dudley East

  48

  2,039,500

  Dudley West

  53

  2,054,500

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  38

  1,021,000

  Hereford

  3

  57,000

  Ludlow

  6

  785,000

  Meriden

  7

  462,000

  Mid Staffordshire

  5

  107,500

  Mid Worcestershire

  33

  1,052,000

  North Warwickshire

  25

  769,000

  Nuneaton

  18

  3,180,000

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  2

  1,225,000

  Solihull

  8

  1,445,000

  South East Staffordshire

  29

  1,628,500

  South Staffordshire

  18

  885,500

  Stratford on Avon

  3

  59,500

  Sutton Coldfield

  9

  2,169,000

  The Wrekin

  18

  2,619,000

  Walsall North

  32

  921,000

  Walsall South

  47

  2,345,500

  Warley East

  39

  2,629,000

  Warley West

  36

  3,408,500

  West Bromwich East

  13

  762,000

  West Bromwich West

  51

  3,546,500

  Wolverhampton North East

  26

  5,439,000

  Wolverhampton South East

  64

  4,824,000

  Wolverhampton South West

  15

  2,150,000

  Wyre Forest

  11

  617,000

  Total

  105,569,500

  105,5569,500

  Information on the average time taken to process and approve applications for regional selective assistance by parliamentary constituency in the west midlands could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following table shows performance in the west midlands assisted area as a whole since 1 April 1996 against the speed of service targets set out in the RSA application form.

  Size of application

  Working days to decide (target)

  Number of applications decided

  Number decided within deadline/ per cent.

  Less than £25,000

  25

  71

  64/71

  90.14

  £25,000 to £99,999

  35

  99

  94/99

  94.94

  £100,000 to £249,000

  45

  24

  21/24

  87.5

  £250,000 to £2 million

  60

  21

  20/21

  95.23

  174
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the value of grants awarded to(a) inward investors, (b) existing indigenous British companies and (c) new indigenous companies since 1992 for each constituency in the west midlands. [17195]

  Mr. Taylor
  The value of regional selective assistance offers made to foreign-owned companies in the west
  midlands since 1 January 1992 by parliamentary constituency is as follows:

  Constituency

  Value of offers £

  Aldridge-Brownhills

  135,000

  Birmingham Edgbaston

  12,000

  Birmingham Erdington

  2,030,000

  Birmingham Hodge Hill

  260,000

  Birmingham Ladywood

  830,000

  Birmingham Northfield

  950,000

  Birmingham Perry Barr

  250,000

  Birmingham Selly Oak

  965,000

  Birmingham Small Heath

  2,000,000

  Birmingham Sparkbrook

  4,740,000

  Birmingham Yardley

  240,000

  Cannock and Burnt wood

  345,000

  Coventry North East

  80,000

  Coventry North West

  8,970,000

  Coventry South East

  1,390,000

  Coventry South West

  45,000

  Dudley East

  315,000

  Dudley West

  570,000

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  65,000

  Ludlow

  500,000

  Mid Worcestershire

  185,000

  Nuneaton

  2,250,000

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  1,200,000

  Solihull

  900,000

  South East Staffordshire

  1,010,000

  Sutton Coldfield

  1,370,000

  The Wrekin

  1,050,000

  Walsall North

  270,000

  Walsall South

  1,870,000

  Warley East

  1,040,000

  Warley West

  2,282,000

  West Bromwich West

  517,500

  Wolverhampton North East

  3,400,000

  Wolverhampton South East

  815,000

  Wolverhampton South West

  1,725,000

  Wyre Forest

  90,000

  Total

  44,666,500

  The value of regional selective assistance offers made to UK-owned companies in the west midlands since 1 January 1992 by parliamentary constituency is as follows:

  Constituency

  Value of offers £

  Aldridge-Brownhills

  1,150,500

  Birmingham Edgbaston

  447,500

  Birmingham Erdington

  1,499,500

  Birmingham Hall Green

  20,000

  Birmingham Hodge Hill

  6,107,000

  Birmingham Ladywood

  3,932,500

  Birmingham Northfield

  1,684,000

  Birmingham Perry Barr

  506,000

  Birmingham Selly Oak

  1,037,000

  Birmingham Small Heath

  3,870,400

  Birmingham Sparkbrook

  3,593,500

  Birmingham Yardley

  1,809,000

  Bromsgrove

  1,525,000

  175

  Constituency

  Value of offers £

  Cannock and Burntwood

  1,004,100

  Coventry North East

  1,915,000

  Coventry North West

  2,151,000

  Coventry South East

  947,000

  Coventry South West

  464,000

  Dudley East

  1,669,500

  Dudley West

  1,466500

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  956,000

  Hereford

  57,000

  Ludlow

  285,000

  Meriden

  462,000

  Mid Staffordshire

  107,500

  Mid Worcestershire

  855,000

  North Warwickshire

  769,000

  Nuneaton

  930,000

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  25,000

  Solihull

  515,000

  South East Staffordshire

  593,500

  South Staffordshire

  873,500

  Stratford on Avon

  59,500

  Sutton Coldfield

  799,000

  The Wrekin

  1,569,000

  Walsall North

  646,000

  Walsall South

  1,280,500

  Warley East

  1,589,000

  Warley West

  1,876,500

  West Bromwich East

  762,000

  West Bromwich West

  2,454,000

  Wolverhampton North East

  1,946,000

  Wolverhampton South East

  3,762,000

  Wolverhampton South West

  425,000

  Wyre Forest

  527,000

  Total

  60,903,000

  The value of offers to UK-owned companies in the west midlands by parliamentary constituency since 1 January 1992 includes the following in respect of start-up companies:

  Constituency

  Value of offers £

  Aldridge-Brownhills

  185,000

  Birmingham Hodge Hill

  7,000

  Birmingham Ladywood

  1,089,000

  Birmingham Small Heath

  132,000

  Birmingham Sparkbrook

  60,000

  Birmingham Yardley

  164,000

  Bromsgrove

  175,000

  Cannock and Burntwood

  22,000

  Coventry North East

  20,000

  Coventry South East

  17,000

  Coventry South West

  5,000

  Dudley East

  151,000

  Dudley West

  123,000

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  34,000

  Meriden

  15,000

  North Warwickshire

  295,000

  Nuneaton

  499,000

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  25,000

  Solihull

  15,000

  South-east Staffordshire

  124,000

  South Staffordshire

  127,000

  The Wrekin

  48,000

  Walsall North

  22,000

  Walsall South

  130,000

  Warley East

  125,000

  Warley West

  45,000

  West Bromwich East

  40,000

  West Bromwich West

  480,000

  Wolverhampton North East

  101,000

  176

  1996–97

  Value (£)

  Wolverhampton South East

  629,000

  Wolverhampton south West

  111,000

  Total

  5,017,500

  Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [17066]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Details of equipment stolen or otherwise unaccounted for from the Department during the last 12 months are as follows. All incidents involving losses exceeding £5,000 are listed individually, to the nearest £1,000.

  1996–97

  Value (£)

  IT equipment incidents

  34

  375,000

  Other equipment incidents

  1

  3,000

  Items over £5,000, as follows:

  Irreparable damage to personal computers

  60,000

  Theft of:

  Memory SIMMs

  20,000

  File Server

  100,000

  Memory SIMMs

  16,000

  Memory SIMMs

  7,000

  Theft of personal computers

  5,000

  File server

  100,000

  Theft of PC

  10,000

  Medical Research
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines exist for the procedures to be adopted by the Medical Research Council when it seeks contributions to research work from individuals who might benefit from the outcome of that research. [17144]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  External sponsors of research may frequently stand to benefit from the outcome of that research whether they be commercial organisations or Government Departments. The MRC finance guide, which is distributed to all unit directors, contains broad guidelines on seeking and managing external funding. The MRC's policy is to accept external funding only under explicit terms of contract which protect the council's independence. In particular, the council will not carry out research with external funding unless it fits clearly within its mission. Under its terms of contract, the council retains freedom to publish results, and there are restrictions on the use of results, and of the council's name, without prior consent.

  Workplace Bullying
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is his Department's estimate of the number of working days per year lost as a result of workplace bullying; [17459]
  177
  (2) what is his Department's estimate of the annual cost of working days lost as a result of bullying in the workplace. [17458]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: Workplace bullying is an imprecise concept and therefore difficult to define. Legal remedies exist to deal with some forms of unreasonable behaviour in the workplace. It is impossible to estimate the number and cost of working days lost as a result of workplace bullying.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department is taking to tackle workplace bullying. [17467]

  Mr. Taylor
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: The Government would always encourage employers to ensure their employees are treated with due consideration. Legal remedies exist to deal with particular instances of unreasonable behaviour in the workplace.

  Publicity
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was his Department's expenditure on contractors to provide publicity and news services for each agency and non-departmental public body in each year since 1979–80; [15368]

  (2) what was his Department's expenditure on staff employed full-time and part-time in each agency and non-departmental public body to provide (a) publicity and (b) work on press and media in each year since 1979–80. [15369]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 11 February 1997]: For the agencies, responsibility for expenditure on these areas and for staff resources devoted to them lies with the chief executives. I have asked them to reply direct. The information requested in respect of my Department's non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 25 February 1997:
  You asked the President of the Board of Trade two questions about the Department of Trade and Industry's expenditure on contractors to provide publicity and news services; and on staff employed to provide publicity and work on press and media. I am replying in relation to The Insolvency Service.
  Official Receivers have a statutory obligation to advertise each compulsory corporate and personal insolvency in the London Gazette and one other newspaper; but this is not a Departmental expense as it is funded by the estate of the insolvent company/individual.
  Generally publicity material for The Insolvency Service is provided via the Department's central press office. This includes all press releases and notice of publication of for example the Insolvency General Annual Report and The Service's Agency Annual Report and Accounts. The Central Office of Information deals with publicity for Company Directors Disqualification matters.
  Costs charged to The Insolvency Service for the last two years have been:

  1994/95: Nil

  1995/96: £34,996.

  Figures for earlier years could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
  178
  The 1996/97 figures will not be available until the end of the current financial year.
  There are no staff employed full-time or part-time specifically to provide publicity and or to work on press and media issues. Any such work falls within general staff duties.

  Letter from John Holden to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 25 February 1997:
  You recently asked the President of the Board of Trade about expenditure on publicity and news services. I am replying in respect of Companies House Executive Agency.
  External expenditure on publicity, including paid advertising, for each of the financial years since 1991–92 is set out below:

  1991–92: £332,000

  1992–93: £445,000

  1993–94: £307,000

  1994–95: £367,000

  1995–96: £353,000.

  These figures include the costs of various campaigns to encourage companies and their directors to meet their obligations to file promptly at Companies House.
  The staff effort devoted to publicity and press media activities has been approximately 3 full-time equivalents throughout the period. However this includes effort devoted to activities such as preparation of the Companies House Annual Report and Accounts, which currently derives from a statutory requirement, and other related matters. This is equivalent to a financial cost of some £75,000 a year.
  I regret that information about earlier years is only available at disproportionate cost.

  Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 25 February 1997:
  I am replying for the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Questions to the President of the Board of Trade on the use of contractors for publicity and news services and on the cost of civil service staff employed on such activities.
  Publicity press and media relations are part of the Patent Office's work on marketing and information. This work ranges from a Central Enquiry Unit which responds to questions from intellectual property specialists and the general public to a programme of Roadshows around Britain aimed at stimulating interest in patents and trade marks. In line with Government policy much of the specialised work connected with marketing and publicity is contracted out to the private sector. In 1995 the Patent Office's marketing and information work was reorganised and the expenditure on this activity in 1995/96 and subsequent years was as follows:

  Contracted out £

  Total budget including civil service staff costs £

  1995–96

  338,000

  1,012,000

  1996–97

  309,000

  948,000

  1997–981

  294,000

  935,000

  1 Planned.

  I regret that figures for 1979/80 onwards could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However the figures would not be directly comparable because of various reorganisations that have taken place in that time.

  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 25 February 1997 The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your questions about expenditure on contractors and employed staff providing publicity and news services.

  179
  This Agency does not employ contractors to provide these services, neither are there any full-time or part-time staff employed solely for such work. Three full-time staff have publicity activities included in their job descriptions among other responsibilities. It is therefore not possible to separate the cost associated with publicity and media work.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 25 February 1997:
  The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Corporate and Consumer Affairs, John Taylor, MP, has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency, to your two questions concerning expenditure by contractors, and staff employment, in respect of publicity and news services since 1979–80.
  I am unable to supply any information before the inception of the Agency on 1st April 1990, prior to which the work of this Agency was undertaken by a Division of the Department of Trade and Industry.
  PQ 96/1170 - To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what was his Department's expenditure on contracts to provide publicity and news services for each Agency and non-departmental public body in each year since 1979–80.
  I am unable to provide a detailed breakdown with respect to the individual amounts spent by contractors on behalf of publicity and news services for the Agency since 1990, but I have listed below the total Agency expenditures for these combined items in each financial year. It is the Agency's policy to retain contractors to provide the bulk of the Agency's requirements for publicity and I can confirm that the majority of the expenditure shown was incurred by contractors on behalf of the Agency.

  Publicity and news service expenditure

  Financial year

  £

  1990–91

  140,511

  1991–92

  188,695

  1992–93

  228,123

  1993–94

  188,706

  1994–95

  211,634

  1995–96

  369,732

  PQ96/1176 - To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what was his Department's expenditure on staff employed full-time and part-time in each Agency and non-departmental public body to provide a) publicity and b) work on press and media in each year since 1979–80.
  From 1 April 1990 until December 1993, the Agency employed one member of staff on publicity matters, which was increased to two members of staff from January 1994. I am unable to provide a breakdown of staff salaries for the period, but the current costs are in the region £44,000.

  Mr. Y. Habanako
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to seek the extradition of Mr. Y. Habanako; and if he will make a statement. [16915]

  The Attorney-General
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]: I have been asked to reply.

  I take the hon. Member's question to refer to Mr. Y. Hamanaka who is at present in custody in Japan having pleaded guilty to fraud and forgery. The Serious Fraud Office is also investigating suspected offences in relation to Sumitomo Corporation. The question of charges and possible extradition does not arise until that investigation has been completed.

HEALTH

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16972]

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

  Lariam
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has considered the advice against the use of Lariam by aircrews contained in the Civil Aviation Authority's United Kingdom information circular of January 1995 in relation to the use of the drug by other visitors to overseas countries; and if he will make a statement. [17181]

  Mr. Malone
  Lariam is not recommended for people such as pilots and aircrews because of the possible side effects of dizziness and loss of fine precision movement, as advised by the manufacturer. This information was considered and included in the United Kingdom Health Departments' 1995 publication "Health Information for Overseas Travel", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Residential Homes (Coventry)
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 February,Official Report, column 161, if he will investigate Coventry's half-way house pilot scheme to determine whether the allocation of patients to residential and nursing care home placements under the scheme is impartial, as between the profit and non-profit sector. [17054]

  Mr. Burns
  The placement of patients leaving the Coventry half-way house pilot scheme will be arranged in accordance with current national guidelines for the discharge of patients from national health service care and placements in residential accommodation. The scheme is due to end in May, when a full evaluation, including the views of patients, their families, carers and local general practitioners, will be carried out by Coventry health authority, the community health council and the Coventry department of social services.

  Dissolved NHS Trusts (Financial Arrangements)
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial arrangements are being made in respect of NHS trusts dissolved on 1 April 1996. [17889]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The national health service trusts dissolved on 1 April 1996 were reconfigured with parts, or all, of other trusts or directly managed units. I propose to create new originating debt for six new trusts equal to the net assets transferred to them and to remit the outstanding originating debt of the dissolved trusts.

  These operations involve no overall loss to the Exchequer. Her Majesty's Treasury has today presented a minute to the House giving the particulars and circumstances of the proposed remission which it has approved in principle.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding was provided(a) for the current year and (b) for each of the previous five years for increasing awareness of the early symptoms of meningitis; [16655]

  (2) what funds are available to local community-based groups that provide advice and counselling to victims of meningitis and their families and to groups which help to increase awareness of the symptoms of meningitis; and if he will make a statement; [16652]

  (3) if he will institute a programme of awareness amongst child minders, pre-school playgroups, nurseries, schools and places of further and higher education regarding identifying the early symptoms of meningitis and providing appropriate immediate treatment. [16653]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health takes meningitis very seriously and recognises that appropriate awareness of the disease and parental alertness remain the best general protection. Meningococcal infections peak with most cases in children under one year; there is a second, smaller, peak in later teenagers. Information is, therefore, targeted in these areas. Health visitors provide new parents with the Health Education Authority's leaflet "A Guide to Childhood Immunisations", which includes advice on recognising the signs and symptoms of meningitis. Advice on recognising meningitis can also be found in the HEA's "Birth to Five" book which is issued to all first-time parents.

  The Department of Health and the National Meningitis Trust collaborated in providing an information leaflet for parents of small children and teenagers. Public information leaflets on meningitis and septicaemia were sent to all general practitioners to be made available to the public. The HEA has also produced a leaflet and

  Public health laboratory service meningococcal reference unit isolates of neisseria meningitidis by age group

  Age group

  Year

  under 5

  5 to 14

  15 to 24

  25+

  Not known

  Total

  1988

  672

  161

  260

  178

  83

  1,354

  1989

  665

  165

  272

  197

  54

  1,353

  1990

  745

  169

  283

  231

  70

  1,498

  1991

  716

  155

  232

  187

  108

  1,398

  1992

  687

  159

  229

  165

  61

  1,301

  1993

  670

  161

  189

  210

  68

  1,298

  1994

  591

  134

  184

  171

  48

  1,128

  1995

  707

  195

  300

  237

  18

  1,457

  1996

  647

  183

  336

  270

  56

  1,492

  Meningococcal infections; deaths by age groups

  age group

  Year

  under 5

  5 to 14

  15 to 24

  25+

  Total

  1988

  88

  21

  28

  37

  174

  1989

  97

  20

  41

  45

  203

  1990

  93

  15

  24

  37

  169

  1991

  92

  18

  34

  26

  170

  1992

  72

  15

  31

  44

  162

  1993

  81

  20

  23

  49

  173

  1994

  77

  8

  24

  41

  150

  1995

  88

  19

  46

  43

  196

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics Mortality Statistics: Cause, Series DH2.
  182
  accompanying poster, "Look out for your mate", targeted at students which has been very widely distributed to colleges and universities. The chief medical officer held a press briefing for journalists last year to raise further public, professional and media awareness of meningitis. The chief medical officer also wrote to all doctors in January giving up-to-date advice on the early diagnosis of suspected cases of meningococcal infection and on the need for antibiotic treatment and urgent referral to hospital.

  The Department of Health provides funding in a number of ways, for example to the National Meningitis Trust and the Meningitis Research Foundation to support their valuable information, advisory and support work. These organisations are also active in raising public awareness immediately prior to and during the winter peak and in providing support to those who have experienced meningitis. Through the Department's section 64 scheme, the National Meningitis Trust was awarded £15,000 in 1996–97 and the Meningitis Research Foundation was awarded £19,840 in 1996–97. Both are national organisations with local community branches.

  The costs of preparing, printing and distributing leaflets and posters such as "A Guide to Childhood Immunisations", which is updated annually, are produced each year, and more than 1 million "Look out for your mate" leaflets and 9,300 posters have been distributed since October 1996.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people by age group suffered from meningitis during the past 10 years; how many of those cases resulted in fatalities or contributed to death; and of he will make a statement. [16654]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of isolates of Neisseria meningitidis and number of deaths by age group are given in the tables. The information is available only from 1988; for deaths, data are to 1995.

  Human Growth Hormone Treatment
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring for Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease he has undertaken among patients who have received human growth hormone treatment; and if he will make a statement. [17259]

  Mr. Horam
  The monitoring of patients treated with human growth hormone has, since 1992, been undertaken by the human pituitary growth hormone follow-up unit at the Institute of Child Health, London.

  Ms Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England and Wales(a) before 1 July 1977 and (b) after 1 July 1997 have (i) received human growth hormone treatment, (ii) died as a result of human growth hormone treatment, and (iii) been diagnosed as ill as a result of human growth hormone treatment; and how many court actions have been raised, or are currently pending, as a result of death or illness following such treatment. [17260]

  Mr. Horam
  The available information covers the whole of the United Kingdom.

  (i). The number who received human growth hormone treatment

  Number

  Up to 31 December 1976

  641

  1 January 1977 to 31 December 1977

  138

  Since 1 January 1978

  1,122

  The data are available by calendar year only.

  (ii) The number of human hormone patients who have died of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease: 20

  (iii) The number of human growth hormone patients with the symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease: two

  (iv) Number of court actions: one

  (v) Number of court actions pending (including appeals): two

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

  Mr. Horam
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1997, c. 543–46]: I regret that one of the figures provided in my previous reply was incorrect.

  The figure for unqualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff with ages not known in 1989 should have read 1,140, not 8,950.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Punishment Attacks
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been(a) prosecuted and (b) sentenced for paramilitary punishment attacks in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [8335]
  184
  Sir John Wheeler
  These crimes are brutal, unjust and have no place in a civilised society. It is not possible to provide figures in precisely the form requested as there is no specific offence of carrying out a "punishment attack". However, the RUC statistics indicate that between 1994 and 1996, 62 people were charged with what appears to be punishment beating-related offences, as follows:

  Republican

  Loyalist

  1994

  2

  6

  1995

  25

  9

  1996

  8

  12

  To date, five convictions have been served as follows:

  Republican

  Loyalist

  1994

  1

  4

  1995

  0

  0

  1996

  0

  0

  However, cases against a further 26 persons are pending.

  Republican

  Loyalist

  1994

  1

  0

  1995

  8

  7

  1996

  0

  10

  Despite all the RUC's efforts, groups of terrorist thugs continue to attack those within their own communities whom they wish to intimidate, including those accused of alleged anti-social behaviour and assisting the security forces. In recent months, these attacks have increased in ferocity and many young men and women have been left with horrific injuries and will bear the scars for the rest of their lives.

  Such attacks are against all concepts of justice and human rights. They are carried out by those who are most keen on their own rights, but are happy to deny similar rights and to play the part of judge, jury and executioner when it comes to dealing with others. The RUC is the only legitimate law enforcement agency in Northern Ireland, and the Government urge anyone who knows anything about these brutal attacks to tell the police. They also incur substantial costs to the community in NHS, compensation claims and other costs.

  Housing Executive Waiting List
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in west Belfast are currently registered with A1 status on the Housing Executive waiting list. [16454]

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, whose chief executive has advised me that there are 401 people in west Belfast with A1 status on the waiting list.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16968]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is not available as the establishment of next steps agencies follows from an administrative process involving wide consideration of various aspects of proposals for agencification. There is therefore no unique cost attributable to agencification.

  Nature Reserves, Historic Buildings and Country Parks
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for the contracting out of the management and maintenance of(a) national nature reserves, (b) historic buildings and (c) country parks in Northern Ireland; and whom he has consulted on these proposals. [17388]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its chief executive, Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 24 February 1997:
  As Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service, I am responsible for operational aspects of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's work heritage properties.
  I am therefore responding to the Parliamentary Question which you put down in the House of Commons:

  "to ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proposals he has for the contracting out of the management and maintenance of:—

  (a) National Nature Reserves,

  (b) Historic Buildings, and

  (c) Country Parks in Northern Ireland, and with whom he has consulted on these proposals."

  The Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland has begun a 3-year programme to assess the opportunities to disengage from direct management of its nature reserves, historic properties and country parks. Each property will be assessed individually and its management will be contracted out if a competent body is able to undertake the necessary work efficiently, effectively and economically. All 26 district councils and relevant voluntary conservation bodies have been approached.

DEFENCE

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used in the choice of the senior researcher appointed by his Department to investigate the psychological aspects of Gulf war syndrome; and if he will list the other short listed candidates indicating their qualifications. [16993]

  Mr. Soames
  Professor Simon Wessely and Professor Anthony David of Kings' college school of medicine and dentistry, London, are conducting a controlled epidemiological and clinical study into the effect of Gulf war service on service men and women of the UK armed forces. This study is being fully funded by the US 186
  Department of Defence; it was one of 12 studies announced by the US Government in June 1996 following an exhaustive, independent peer review. The main objective of the study is to determine whether service in the Gulf war, and factors specific to the Gulf deployment, are associated with an increase in physical or psychological morbidity. This study will be closely co-ordinated with those announced last December, being undertaken Dr. Doyle and Professor Cherry, which are being funded by my Department.

  Defence Medical Services Organisation
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the restructuring of the Defence Medical Services Organisation. [17904]

  Mr. Soames
  The Defence Medical Services Organisation is established primarily to provide care for service personnel deployed on operations. This is a vital task. To provide this capability, the DMSO must comprise peacetime structures and a recognised training base which can produce uniformed medical personnel with the right skills and in sufficient numbers to meet forecast operational demands. That peacetime structure can also make a significant contribution to the provision of secondary medical care for all service personnel and, in certain circumstances, for their dependants, to facilitate effective training, it works closely with the NHS.

  Since 1984, there has been a series of separate studies into the Defence Medical Services Organisation, aimed at rationalising an area which was consuming over 2 per cent. of the defence budget and adapting them to the changing strategic environment. This work culminated in the defence costs study in 1994, which recommended major restructuring of the DMSO to enable it to provide sufficient rapidly deployable units, primarily manned by regular personnel, to support forces deployed on operations, and a more efficient and cost-effective support structure, including establishing a number of agencies to provide secondary medical care and recognised training for medical personnel.

  These necessary changes have meant major upheavals for the DMSO which, naturally, not all those involved have welcomed. The DMSO was suffering from some shortages of personnel—particularly anaesthetists, orthopaedic surgeons and intensive care nurses, mirroring shortages in the NHS—and we are striving to improve this situation. We have established all the key elements of the new organisations and we are now focusing on achieving the right balance in their relationships with the NHS and their function as military units in the light of experience with the operation of the new structure.

  Three regular field hospitals of 200 beds have now been established with permanent command and administrative staff. The clinical staff to support the field hospitals will be drawn from the Defence Secondary Care Agency. There are currently gaps in some specialities which we look to fill, as we did in the Gulf and in Bosnia in other specialisations, by volunteer reservists under the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. We have provided the proper level of medical support to British troops on operational deployment in the Gulf, Bosnia and elsewhere.
  187
  Defence planning to reflect the changing strategic circumstances has already evolved further since 1994. We have therefore set up a study team to examine whether these new circumstances, together with recent changes in medical practice, require further changes to our detailed assumptions for the provision of medical support to the front line. This should report by the middle of the year.

  We continue to improve our holdings of medical equipment and supplies. Two sets of containerised modular operating theatres are now in use in Bosnia. We intend to purchase more of those in the future; the next will be delivered later this year. We also plan to improve medical facilities in RFA Argus for its role as a hospital ship.

  At the time of the restructuring of the DMSO—which involved the closure of three service hospitals and the concentration of medical facilities at the Royal hospital, Haslar and in three Ministry of Defence hospital units at Derriford, Frimley Park and Peterborough—waiting lists increased. They have now been substantially reduced through robust management action by the new Defence Secondary Care Agency. There is also a programme of improvements at the Royal hospital, Haslar. Most of the enhancements to the clinical facilities should be completed by June 1997, with the remaining programme of capital works—for health and safety—completed over the next two years.

  Work to align terms of service for medical personnel in each of the three services and so produce a more cohesive DMSO is well in hand. The first measures will be implemented in April. Naval and Army medical and dental officers will be allowed to extend their

  Costs of decommissioning and lay-up of nuclear submarines

  £ million

  Financial year

  Project

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Total

  Warspite

  1.6

  9.6

  —

  0.1

  —

  —

  —

  11.3

  Conqueror

  —

  4.7

  5.7

  —

  0.2

  —

  —

  10.6

  Courageous

  —

  —

  9.9

  0.9

  —

  —

  —

  10.8

  Churchill

  9.0

  2.2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11.2

  Swiftsure

  —

  1.6

  9.9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11.5

  Revenge

  —

  —

  8.2

  6.5

  4.0

  —

  —

  18.7

  Resolution1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.3

  2.1

  13.8

  16.2

  Total at outturn prices

  10.6

  18.1

  33.7

  7.5

  4.5

  2.1

  13.8

  90.3

  1. Valiant, Renown and Repulse have not yet completed their de-fuelling, de-equipping and layup preparations (DDLP) so are not included in this table.

  2. It is not possible to provide costs of HMS Dreadnought's DD and LP; the information insofar as it is available could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  3. Average annual maintenance costs of decommissioned nuclear submarines are £50,000 and ten yearly dockings are approximately £3 million.

  4. Financial year 1993–94 costs for HMS Warspite spread into years financial year 1992–93.1 HMS Resolution's DD and LP completed January 1997. Final costs are not yet available.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service (Charges)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Attorney-General how many charges were received by the Crown Prosecution Service from each of the police forces in England and Wales in each of the past five years; and how many of these were(a) discontinued and (b) withdrawn or otherwise not proceeded with during the same period in respect of each force. [17118]
  188
  short-service commissions in line with current RAF policy to enable them to complete their clinical training in uniform, and there will be a common return of service for that training.

  Young officers are being attracted into the DMSO on cadet schemes, and there are early and encouraging signs that an increasing number of them are prolonging their service to take advantage of the improved facilities and opportunities offered by the new structure. We are determined to build on this, and to provide the armed forces with the medical support appropriate to their needs.

  Nuclear-powered Submarines
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of the decommissioning and lay-up of nuclear-powered submarines in each of the past 15 years. [16561]

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

  Letter from R. V. Babington to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 25 February 1997:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the costs of decommissioning and laying up of nuclear powered submarines in each of the last fifteen years, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Ships Support Agency.
  The cost details on the attached table relate to the period 1990/91 to 1996/97 exclusively; prior to that date only HMS DREADNOUGHT underwent decommissioning and lay-up, in 1982/83, and it is not possible to provide costs for this vessel.

  The Attorney-General
  Cases discontinued by the CPS fell from 193,110, or 13.3 per cent. of completed cases in magistrates courts, in 1992 to 153,274, or 12 per cent. of completed cases, in 1996.

  Tables providing detailed information about the outcome of cases conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the past five years were placed in the Library of the House as part of my written answer yesterday to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox), Official Report, 24 February 1997, column 22. The Crown

  189
  Prosecution Service records the outcome of proceedings by numbers of defendants rather than charges, and statistics are maintained for CPS areas which correspond to the police forces as shown on a new table which, to assist the hon. Member, I have added to the tables in the Library.

  List of police forces served by each CPS area

  CPS area

  Police force

  North

  Cumbria

  Durham

  Northumbria

  Cleveland

  Yorkshire

  North Yorkshire

  West Yorkshire

  Mersey/Lancashire

  Lancashire

  Merseyside

  Humber

  Humberside

  Lincolnshire

  South Yorkshire

  North West

  Cheshire

  Greater Manchester

  East Midlands

  Derbyshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Leicestershire

  Northamptonshire

  Wales

  North Wales

  Dyfed-Powys

  South Wales

  Gwent

  Midlands

  Staffordshire

  West Midlands

  Warwickshire

  Anglia

  Bedfordshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Hertfordshire

  Essex

  Norfolk

  Suffolk

  Severn/Thames

  West Mercia

  Gloucestershire

  Wiltshire

  Thames Valley

  South West

  Avon and Somerset

  Devon and Cornwall

  Dorset

  South East

  Hampshire

  Surrey

  Sussex

  Kent

  London

  City of London

  Metropolitan

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Certified Herds Scheme
  Mr. French
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to submit proposals for a United Kingdom certified herds scheme to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement. [17888]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have, today, submitted to the Commission papers that explain how the UK has fulfilled the pre-conditions laid down under the Florence agreement, our proposals for a UK export certified herds scheme and the scientific basis for that scheme. A copy of these papers has been placed in the Library. I have urged the Commission to ensure that the consultation procedure laid down in the Florence agreement is initiated immediately so that we can resume exports of meat from animals in export certified herds as quickly as possible. I have also written to my counterparts in other member states to explain how we have implemented the BSE eradication programme in the UK and to seek a constructive contribution to the discussion of our proposals.

  Illegal Animal Imports
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals were reported as illegally landed in the United Kingdom in 1996. [15638]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Notices were served on 554 consignments in 1996 for offences against animal health legislation governing the importation of live animals into the United Kingdom. Information on the numbers of animals involved could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  BSE
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current cost per animal of the incineration process for cattle diagnosed as suffering from BSE. [16243]

  Mr. Baldry
  The current costs of having cattle suspected of showing clinical signs of BSE incinerated in one of the nine plants currently contracted to the Department ranges from £105 to £135 per beast.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations govern the disposal to landfill of cattle carcases with specified bovine material removed. [16232]

  Mr. Baldry
  The landfilling of controlled waste is subject to the waste management licensing provisions of part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. Waste management licences contain appropriate terms and conditions. Among other matters, these will specify the types and quantities of waste which may be disposed of the in each site. The Environment Agency is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the licensing system. Landfill site operators are also subject to the duty of care provisions in section 34 of the 1990 Act and the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991.
  191
  It is relevant that all cattle suspected of displaying clinical signs of BSE are slaughtered and their carcase sent for direct incineration and that cattle slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme are either incinerated or rendered and destroyed.

  The Animal By-Products Order 1992 and the Specified Bovine Material (No. 3) Order 1996 are also relevant.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of meat and bonemeal in storage from the over-30-months scheme; what is the cost of storage; and what plans he has for its disposal. [16195]

  Mr. Baldry
  The total amount of meat and bonemeal held in storage following the rendering of carcases under the over-30-months scheme was 168,100 tonnes as at 17 February 1997 and the cost to the Intervention Board executive agency is estimated to be about £60,000 per week.

  The Government are actively pursuing a number of options for the disposal of meat and bonemeal arising from the OTMS. The Intervention Board recently agreed a contract with a high-temperature incineration company, ReChem, to burn MBM at its Fawley plant and has an exercise under way for further incineration facilities from which additional MBM disposal capacity is expected to emerge. Combustion trials have been carried out at PowerGen's test facilities at Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottinghamshire, and at National Power's test facilities at Didcot, Oxfordshire, to establish the feasibility of burning MBM in power stations. These trials have been monitored by the Environment Agency and the results will be placed on the public register. The test results are being fully evaluated, and full weight will be given to the protection of human health and of the environment before any decisions are reached.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many carcases are in storage under the over-30-months scheme awaiting rendering and final disposal; and what is the current weekly cost of storage. [16245]

  Mr. Baldry
  As at 16 February 1997, the carcases of some 208,000 animals slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme were being held in cold storage awaiting disposal at an average cost of some £270,000 a week.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle carcases were incinerated in 1996. [16246]

  Mr. Baldry
  A total of some 52,000 cattle were incinerated in 1996 by this Department or the Intervention Board executive agency, of which about 81 per cent. were animals purchased under the over-30-months scheme and about 19 per cent. BSE suspects.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each county the number of carcases slaughtered as a result of the BSE crisis currently in cold storage and awaiting disposal; and if he will make a statement. [16528]
  192
  Mr. Baldry
  As at 16 February 1997, the number of carcases of animals slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme and held in cold storage by county is as follows:

  County

  Carcases

  England

  Avon

  10,100

  Cambridgeshire

  3,300

  Devon

  2,700

  Greater Manchester

  3,800

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,300

  Humberside

  7,900

  Kent

  34,200

  Lancashire

  7,100

  Lincolnshire

  27,400

  London

  1,400

  Shropshire

  8,600

  South Yorkshire

  2,700

  Staffordshire

  800

  Tyneside

  1,600

  Total England

  112,900

  Wales

  Ynys

  3,500

  South Glamorgan

  2,600

  Newport, South Wales

  3,900

  Total Wales

  10,000

  Scotland

  Border Region

  2,300

  Dumfries and Galloway

  9,100

  Grampian Region

  2,600

  Highland Region

  17,800

  Strathclyde

  2,700

  Total Scotland

  34,500

  Northern Ireland

  County Armagh

  27,000

  County Down

  8,600

  County Fermanagh

  5,800

  County Tyrone

  9,200

  Total Northern Ireland

  50,600

  Total United Kingdom

  208,000

  Disposal of this material will be completed at a pace determined by control requirements and the availability of rendering and incineration capacity.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which locations in the past 10 years(a) cattle infected with BSE, (b) rendered meat and bonemeal, (c) cattle carcases slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme, (d) specified bovine material and (e) ash from incinerated cattle, have been landfilled. [16847]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 11 February 1997, Official Report, columns 143–45.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an assessment of the relative safety of(a) landfilling and (b) incineration as methods of disposal of cattle waste, under the BSE eradication schemes; and if he will make a statement. [16849]
  193
  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: Cattle suspected of displaying clinical signs of BSE are disposed of by direct incineration in plants contracted to MAFF, which are subject to authorisation by the Environment Agency or relevant local authority under part I of the Environment Protection Act 1990. Cattle slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme are incinerated, or rendered and destroyed in accordance with the requirements of Commission regulation 716/96/EEC. Specified bovine material is also removed from cattle slaughtered for human consumption and consigned for rendering or direct incineration.

  The independent Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee has considered the current and proposed methods of dealing with waste material from the slaughter of cattle, including landfill and incineration, and concluded that these are safe. A news release reporting its conclusions was issued by MAFF on 7 June 1996 and a copy is available in the Library.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the quantity of rendered meat and bonemeal presently stored in Britain under the BSE eradication programme; [16896]

  (2) if he will list the tonnage of (a) cattle carcases, (b) rendered meat and bonemeal and (c) tallow by location of storage. [16898]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: I have provided the information requested on the number of carcases in cold storage by location in the answer given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) today.

  Returns of meat and bonemeal and tallow delivered to store continue to be collated. However, as at 17 February 1997, these indicate that there were some 168,100 tonnes of rendered meat and bonemeal—130,600 tonnes Great Britain—and 101,800 tonnes of tallow in store in the UK from animals slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme, as is shown in the table:

  County

  Meat and bonemeal (Tonnes)

  Tallow (Tonnes)

  England

  Devon

  41,500

  —

  Essex

  —

  30,400

  Lancashire

  58,000

  —

  Merseyside

  5,500

  71,400

  Total England

  105,000

  101,800

  Scotland

  Fife

  4,000

  —

  Midlothian

  21,600

  —

  Total Scotland

  25,600

  —

  Northern Ireland

  County Antrim

  29,600

  —

  County Tyrone

  7,900

  —

  Total Northern Ireland

  37,500

  —

  Total UK

  168,100

  101,800

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the level 194
  of infective units (a) per gram and (b) per tonne, found in rendered meat and bonemeal under the BSE eradication programme. [16897]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: No tests have been conducted to ascertain the level of infective units in the rendered meat and bonemeal produced under the over-30-months scheme. This is because the only way of achieving this would be to inject groups of mice with a number of samples of different dilutions of each sample to be tested. These tests would take two years and would be extremely expensive.

  The independent Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee has concluded that there was no epidemiological evidence to suggest that the handling of MBM presented a risk to any of those engaged in the related trades. The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens has also considered the health risks associated with the handling of MBM and has issued generic guidance for all occupational groups, including those involved in storage. The Intervention Board executive agency has drawn the guidelines to the attention of storekeepers storing MBM.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many questions were tabled for reply by his Department in each Session since 1979–80; in how many instances in each year the reply has been that providing the information involved disproportionate cost; and in how many instances in each year questions have been given the reply that the information was not available centrally. [16784]

  Mr. Boswell
  A list of the number of written and oral parliamentary questions answered by the Department in the Sessions 1982–83 to 1995–96, as supplied by the parliamentary on-line information service unit, has been placed in the Library. Figures for 1979–80 to 1981–82 are not available. The rest of the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost but is a matter of public record.

  Quarantine
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the date by which owners of quarantine kennels must indicate whether they will agree to abide by the voluntary code of practice on welfare standards in quarantine premises. [16691]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]: Owners of quarantine kennels who have not so far indicated this may indicate at any time that they will agree to comply with the voluntary code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises. We intend to publish a list of quarantine owners who have agreed to abide by the code of practice when inspection of their quarantine premises has been completed.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the food safety aspects of manufacturing practices in the canning industry; and what guidelines his Department issues to the industry. [16985]
  195
  Mrs. Browning
  In 1993 the Department funded detailed modelling of heat penetration into cans under different heating environments and heating times. As a result, a number of technical notes to be used for guidance by canneries were published. The Department also funded a review of canning operations which resulted in the book "Guidelines for the Safe Production of Heat Preserved Foods", which was published by the Department of Health in 1994. In 1994–95, the Department commissioned surveillance of the technical expertise and the application of good manufacturing practices in UK canneries. In response to this survey, which was published in 1996, the Department of Health has been in discussion with local authorities to ensure that they have appropriate technical support to enable them to assess the safety of canneries.

  Warfarin-based Rodenticides
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department has taken to alert users and manufacturers of warfarin-based rodenticides to the danger these products present to barn owls and other raptors. [17113]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government work closely with manufacturers and trade associations to achieve an effective means of pest control while at the same time seeking to ensure the safety to wildlife. Promotion of the safe use of rodenticides, including those based on warfarin, is an on-going process and includes a campaign against illegal poisoning of wildlife, supported by industry and wildlife organisations and articles specifically on the safe use of rodenticides for trade journals and presentations to industry.

  The statutory labelling requirements for all rodenticides make clear to users the means by which secondary risks posed by rodenticide products must be minimised. Guidance to users on the protection of wildlife is also contained in the code of practice for the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings.

  Renderers (Compensation)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist compensating renderers for the non-recovery of meat and bonemeal products. [17041]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government are providing temporary financial assistance to the rendering industry as part of our package of measures designed to maintain essential links in the meat supply and disposal chain in the aftermath of the BSE crisis.

  During 1996–97, rendering companies are receiving support estimated to total about £100 million. This is based on loss of income by comparison with 1995–96, with adjustments to take broad account of renderers' actual levels of throughput and costs this year.

  We are currently consulting on proposals for delivering support, amounting to up to £59 million, during 1997–98. The disposal chain now has to come to terms with the changed value of animal by-products. At the same time we want to inject greater competition and market choice into the chain. We therefore intend that support should be phased out during 1997–98. Copies of our consultation papers are available in the Library.

  Antibiotic-resistant Micro-organisms
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (1) what measures were taken and on what dates to publicise the request from the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food for information concerning the risks to human of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; and if he will make a statement: [16952]

  (2) if he will list the (a) names and (b) employers of the members of (i) the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food and (ii) the working group set up by the committee to assess the risks to humans of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; and if he will make a statement; [16954]

  (3) when the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food announced that it had set up a working group to assess the risks to humans of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; what were the date and method by which requests for information were first publicised; what was the last date on which responses could be sent to the secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [16953]

  Mr. Horam
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food's working group on microbial antibiotic resistance in relation to food safety has sought objective scientific information by writing to industry, academia and a wide range of interested organisations including those in medicine. The fist mailing exercise was on 5 and 6 December 1996 and responses were requested by 17 January 1997. There have been two further mailings since, on 27 January and 14 February 1997, and over 2,000 letters have been sent. Specimen copies of the letters have been placed in the Library. Another similar exercise is planned for this week and the secretariat will be asked for responses by 10 April. The secretariat will accept responses from previous mailings up to this date.

  The ACMSF announced that it was setting up the working group in its press release of 25 January 1996. Copies are in the Library. Information on the ACMSF and working group members and their employers is as follows:

  Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food

  Membership

  Chairman

  Professor D. L. Georgala

  Independent scientific consultant. Retired Director of the Institute of Food Research

  Members

  Mrs. F. Anderson

  Nurse tutor and consumer representative

  Mr. D. Boon

  London Borough of Croydon

  Mr. D. Clarke

  Granada Purchasing Ltd.

  Dr. R. J. Gilbert

  Central Public Health Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory Service

  Dr. A. M. Johnston

  Royal Veterinary College University of London

  Dr. M. J. Painter

  North West Infection Control and Surveillance Unit, Public Health Laboratory Service

  Professor S. R. Palmer

  Public Health Laboratory Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit)

  197

  Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food

  Membership

  Dr. T. Roberts

  Retired Head of Microbiology, Institute of Food Research

  Ms B Saunders

  Consumer Consultant

  Dr. N. A. Simmons

  Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust; Honorary Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, the London Hospital Medical College

  Dr. W. C. S. Smith

  University of Aberdeen and Honorary Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Grampian Health Board

  Mr. R. Southgate

  Northern Foods plc

  Dr. G. Spriegel

  J. Sainsbury plc

  Dr. M. Stringer

  Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association

  Dr. T. Wilson

  Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Belfast City Hospital

  Working Group on Microbiological Antibiotic Resistance in Relation to Food Safety

  Membership

  Chairman

  Professor D. L. Georgala

  Independent scientific consultant. Retired Director of the Institute of Food Research

  Vice Chairman

  Dr. G. Spriegel

  J Sainsbury plc

  Members

  Mr. J. A. R. Dewhirst

  Farmer; member of the East Yorks National Farmers' Union Pigs Committee and Farm Animal Welfare Council; Vice Chairman of the British Pig Association; UK Chairman of the European Pig Producers' Organisation

  Professor A. T. Hart

  Department of Medical Microbiology and Genito-Urinary Medicine, Royal Liverpool Univeristy Hospital

  Dr. A. M. Johnston

  Royal Veterinary College, University of London

  Dr. L. Piddock

  Department of Infection, University of Birmingham

  Ms B Saunders

  Consumer consultant

  Dr. N. A. Simmons

  Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust; Honorary Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, the London Hospital College

  Dr. D. J. Taylor

  Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow Veterinary School

  Dr. P. Wall

  Consultant Epidemiologist, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits (Parents)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what liaison he has with the Department of Education and Employment to co-ordinate benefit payments with the needs of parents with children at school. [15750]
  198
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  We regularly discuss issues of mutual interest with the Department for Education and Employment.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he intends to take to prevent parents making fraudulent submissions to the CSA. [15751]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The Child Support Agency already requires a high level of verification of information provided by parents. Also the departures system, introduced in December last year, allows the agency to deal with cases where there is an allegation of misrepresentation of circumstances. Nevertheless, we are actively considering whether to make it an offence to give a false statement to the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of staff who have resigned from the Child Support Agency as a result of stress. [15758]

  Mr. Mitchell
  Figures are available only for the past two years. During this period 15 members of staff, out of a total of some 6,000 in post, have resigned from the Child Support Agency citing stress of some type as a reason.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average administrative cost of delivering a girocheque to the parent with care with particular reference to the average number of weeks between assessments. [15760]

  Mr. Mitchell
  In cases where the Child Support Agency collects maintenance, it is transferred to the parent with care by automated credit transfer wherever possible. When computer-produced girocheques are used, the average cost of production and posting is 50p. The frequency of maintenance assessments has no bearing on this cost.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a monthly breakdown of the amount of uncollected maintenance owing to the Child Support Agency collection service since 1994 showing the amount attributable to(a) type A interim assessments and (b) other assessments. [15608]

  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 24 February 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about uncollected maintenance.
  I am unable to provide you with the exact information you have requested. An enhancement to our systems provided information on interim maintenance assessments outstanding and full maintenance assessment debt from January 1997. This showed £585,514,053 outstanding related to interim maintenance assessments; of this amount it is estimated that £193 million is as a result of interim maintenance assessments imposed prior to April 1995. £448,903,181 related to full maintenance assessment debt; approximately £271 million of this amount is currently the subject of agreement for repayment by instalments, which are closely monitored by the Agency. This leaves approximately £178 million of full maintenance assessment debt to be pursued.

  199
  A further system enhancement is currently being developed which will provide monthly information on category A interim maintenance assessments and other assessments for the financial year 1997/98.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Income Support
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are dependent on income support currently; and how many were dependent on the equivalent benefit in 1978. [15754]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There were 9.8 million people living in families receiving income support in February 1996. In November 1978 there were 4.6 million people living in families receiving supplementary benefit.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers include claimants, their partners and dependants.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. Sample size 1978 supplementary pension cases one in 200.

  4. 1978 supplementary allowance cases one in 50.

  5. 1996 income support cases 5 per cent.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1996.

  Supplementary Benefit Statistics Annual Enquiry 1978.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated number of people receiving income support; and what was the number in equivalent benefit terms, in 1979. [15764]

  Mr. Evans
  There were 5.71 million income support recipients in February 1996. In November 1979 there were 2.855 million supplementary benefit recipients.

  Notes

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. Sample size 1979 supplementary pension cases one in 200.

  3. 1979 supplementary allowance cases one in 50.

  4. 1996 income support cases 5 per cent.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1996.

  Supplementary Benefit Statistics Annual Enquiry 1979.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of the £8,000 upper capital limit for income support in 1997–98 if it had been uprated by (i) prices and (ii) earnings since its introduction. [14284]

  Mr. Evans
  The £8,000 capital limit for income support would be worth (i) £10,704.40 if uprated by prices, and (ii) £11,410.30 if uprated by average earnings.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of the £3,000 capital limit for income support in 1997–98 if it had been uprated by (i) prices and (ii) earnings since its introduction. [14283]

  Mr. Evans
  The £3,000 capital limit would be worth (i) £4,421.40 if uprated by prices, and (ii) £5,111.65 if uprated by average earnings.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost in 1997–98 of uprating(a) the £3,000 capital limit and (b) the £8,000 capital limit for income support for (i) pensioners and
  200
  (ii) all recipients of income support to the level it would have been in 1997–98 if it had been uprated with prices since introduction. [14287]

  Mr. Evans
  The estimated costs in 1997–98 if the lower and upper capital limits in income support had been uprated each year since their introduction in line with prices are (i) £50 million if only pensioners are included and (ii) £60 million if it is applied to all income support and jobseeker's allowance recipients.

  Notes:

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

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

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

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

  5. Adjustments to these estimates are made using the May 1995 income support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and the May 1995 housing benefit/council tax benefit management information system.

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

  Lone Parents (Employment Schemes)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will develop pilot schemes to involve the private sector in helping lone parents into work. [15755]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Up to 100,000 lone parents on income support will be offered help to get back into work under the parent plus scheme, which will be piloted in 12 areas over three years starting in April. Parent plus will involve both public and private sector teams in competing to find the best ways of helping lone parents to reduce their dependency on benefits.

  In Preston, Wiltshire, Northamptonshire and Manchester the private sector have been invited to tender to provide innovative services to help get lone parents into work. Contracts will be issued to successful tenderers by the beginning of April and will stipulate that payment will be dependent on how many lone parents are helped into jobs. This will be the first time that private enterprise has been harnessed in this way to help people into work.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the procedures for the payment of child benefit in respect of children over 16 years of age in full-time education. [15756]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  If a child chooses to stay on in full-time education after 16, parents can continue to receive child benefit worth £560 per year towards the cost of maintaining him until education finishes or his 19th birthday, whichever is sooner.

  Withdrawal of child benefit for this age group would involve the complex procedures of means testing, with the parents of many 16 to I 8-year-olds unable to gain any help.

  Housing Benefit
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will act on the advice of the Social Security Advisory Committee on his proposals on housing benefit for single people under 60 years. [15757]
  201
  Mr. Roger Evans
  We expect to receive the Social Security Advisory Committee's report on our proposals regarding housing benefit for single people aged under 60 years later this month. We shall consider the committee's findings and recommendations carefully before taking final decisions.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce a guaranteed minimum income for pensioners above current income support levels; and if he will makes a statement. [15759]

  Mr. Heald
  We have no plans to introduce a guaranteed minimum income for pensioners which, if set at 5 per cent. above current income support levels, would cost an estimated £2 billion per year.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has evaluated into the extent of poverty among the population over retirement age. [15761]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  We conduct and evaluate many different pieces of research into the incomes of pensioners and other groups. These show that pensioners' average incomes have risen by 60 per cent. in real terms since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the level of pensioners' incomes. [15753]

  Mr. Heald
  Since 1979, pensioners' average incomes have increased by 60 per cent. in real terms.

  Personal Pension Charges
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps the Government have taken to assess the impact of personal pension charges on individuals' future pension entitlements. [15762]

  Mr. Heald
  The level of charges was considered by the Government Actuary in his report on contracting-out terms, Cm 3221.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current average waiting time for a tribunal hearing for those who have appealed after loss of benefit following an all-work test. [15763]

  Mr. Burt
  It currently takes an average of 21 weeks from the time an incapacity benefit appeal is lodged to the date of the tribunal hearing. During this time the appellant can claim unemployment benefits, or income support if they choose not to register for employment, without affecting their appeal.

  Regulations on appeals processes were introduced last October to reduce waiting times.

  National Insurance
  Sir Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his estimate of the total national insurance yield would be if the employer's contribution were increased by 1 per cent. [15765]
  202
  Mr. Heald
  If each rate of employer's national insurance contributions was increased by 1 per cent. from April 1997, the additional yield for 1997–98 would be approximately £3.25 billion.

  State Retirement Pension
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the extra cost to public funds if pensions had been linked to earnings rather than prices since 1983. [15766]

  Mr. Heald
  The extra cost to public funds of uprating contributory basic retirement pension by the higher of earnings or prices since 1983 is estimated to be £7.9 billion in 1997–98.

  Note:

  All costs are rounded to the nearest 0.1 billion.

  Source:

  The gross costs of uprating were estimated by the Government Actuary's Department.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the level of basic state pension which would allow payment from the age of 60 years at no additional cost to taxpayers. [15826]

  Mr. Heald
  The payment of basic state retirement pension from age 60 at no additional cost to the national insurance fund would mean reducing the basic state pension for a single person by £20 a week to around £40 a week. People retiring at 60 would remain on this decremented rate for the remainder of their lives.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is his policy to retain the basic state pension as a universal contributory benefit; and if he will make a statement. [15827]

  Mr. Heald
  We consider the basic state retirement pension to be the cornerstone of income in retirement. We remain committed to protecting the value of state pensions and they will be increased in line with prices from April at a gross cost of £730 million.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing a state pension age of 60 years. [16137]

  Mr. Heald
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave him on 10 December 1996,Official Report, column 176.

  Pensions and Benefits (Earnings Link)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the savings to his Department in each year since 1980 in constant prices of ending the link between state retirement pensions and average earnings. [16781]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
  203

  Year

  Extra gross cost (£ billion)

  1980–81

  0.2

  1981–82

  0.6

  1982–83

  1.0

  1983–84

  0.9

  1984–85

  1.8

  1985–86

  2.0

  1986–87

  3.1

  1987–88

  4.5

  1988–89

  5.5

  1989–90

  6.2

  1990–91

  6.9

  1991–92

  7.3

  1992–93

  8.5

  1993–94

  9.2

  1994–95

  9.2

  1995–96

  9.9

  1996–97

  10.1

  1997–98

  10.9

  Notes:

  1. The table shows the extra costs to the national insurance fund that would have arisen from uprating contributory basic retirement pension by the higher of earnings or prices in each year since 1980–81

  2. Gross costs are in 1997–98 prices, rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion. The estimates cover contributory basic retirement pension only and do not include any linked benefits or other benefits paid to pople over pension age.

  Costs net of any income-related benefits are not available.

  Source:

  Cash estimates were provided by the Government Actuary's Department and uprated to 1997–98 prices.

  Benefits Agency Medical Service
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he plans to take to ensure that the chairman and board members of each of the companies contracting for the Benefits Agency medical service are fit and proper people to undertake such a public function; if he will promulgate a code of conduct for staff; and if he will publish the advice he gives on the values and standards of probity and accountability he expects them to observe. [17164]

  Mr. Burt
  The companies chosen to negotiate with the Department for the provision of the medical service were shortlisted according to EC procurement regulations. The criteria applied included integrity, capacity to provide the services, financial and economic standing.

  All shortlisted companies confirmed that none of the circumstances described in article 29 of directive 92/50/EEC—UK Public Service Contracts Regulations 1993, regulation 14—applied.

  The successful contractor will be required to ensure that the staff undertaking delivery of the medical service must conform to present published principles of public service.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to publish a performance review of the companies' efficiency strategies and financial plans of the companies running the Benefits Agency medical service. [17162]

  Mr. Burt
  There are no such plans.
  204
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) who will be the accounting officer for private sector companies contracting for the Benefits Agency medical service; [17176]

  (2) what plans he has to ensure that the private companies which will run the Benefits Agency medical service are accountable to Parliament for the functions that they perform. [17156]

  Mr. Burt
  The contracting out of the Benefits Agency Medical Service will not change the nature of accountability in respect of its functions and finances. Ministers will remain accountable to Parliament and the chief executive of the Benefits Agency will continue to act as accounting officer.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what methods he intends to use to follow up audit recommendations and requirements in respect of the private sector companies taking over the functions of the Benefits Agency medical service; and if the Comptroller and Auditor General will have a right of access to contractors; [17178]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the role of the National Audit Office in relation to private companies contracting for the provision of medical services to the Benefits Agency. [17436]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 23 January,Official Report, columns 721–22.

  Any audit recommendations will be followed up in line with departmental practice. In line with all Government contracts, full audit access provisions will be contained within the contract or contracts. The Comptroller and Auditor General will also have full right of access.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what computer systems he will require to be used by companies contracting to provide medical services to the Benefits Agency in order to secure the confidentiality of the health records of benefit claimants; [17165]

  (2) if the companies contracting for the Benefits Agency medical service which have other databases deriving from other contracts to provide public services will be able to match the information between databases used in the performance of these functions; and what principles concerning the transfer of information will apply. [17172]

  Mr. Burt
  There will be no requirement to use specific computer systems. However, the successful contractor(s) will have a mandatory requirement to take measures to ensure the confidentiality, correct use and security of all data held or transmitted electronically. They must ensure that any data passed to them by the Department or by a third party, in relation to, or revealed during the course of the contract, are used only for the purpose of delivering the medical service by the appropriate personnel, and that the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984 are complied with.

  All data obtained during the course of the contract will remain in the ownership of the Department.
  205
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what system of penalties for under-performance will be in place for contractors providing medical services for the Benefits Agency; [17167]

  (2) what default procedure will be incorporated into contracts for the provision of medical services for the Benefits Agency for the notification of unsatisfactory performance. [17168]

  Mr. Burt
  In line with standard practice for Government contracts, a breach of contract including unsatisfactory performance or under-performance would result in a lower level of payment to the contractor(s). Continual unsatisfactory performance will entitle the Department to damages and may result in termination of the contract.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if copies of contracts agreed with public sector companies for the provision of medical services to the Benefits Agency will be placed in the Library. [17169]

  Mr. Burt
  Copies of the contract(s) will not be placed in the Library as to do so would prejudice the effective conduct of contractual activities between the Department and the successful contractor(s). However, when the contract(s) are awarded, information regarding the services and targets for output performance that form part of the contract, the criteria for the award and the overall contract value will be published in the line with existing Government and EC procurement guidelines.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social security who will evaluate the bids by contractors for the Benefits Agency medical service; and by what criteria. [17158]

  Mr. Burt
  The project team taking forward the contractorisation process responsible for carrying out the evaluation.

  Evaluation of the bids will be based on financial risk and qualitative criteria which will be signed off by the appropriate authority within the Benefits Agency in line with best practice. Recommendations will then be put forward to the project steering group prior to submission to the Benefits Agency management team. The final decision will rest with Ministers.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library the financial memorandums setting out the terms and conditions attached to the funding of the Benefits Agency medial service following its contractorisation. [17160]

  Mr. Burt
  There will be no financial memoranda. Funding for the medical service provided by the successful contractor(s) will be provided by the Department.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if directors and other staff of the companies contracting for the Benefits Agency medical service will be required to declare any relevant interests; and where such information will be published. [17163]

  Mr. Burt
  A formal declaration of interest will not be requested. However, staff will be required to sign a confidentiality undertaking and comply with any requirements regarding security of information and conflicts of interest.
  206
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what standards of service he will require companies contracting to provide medical services for the Benefits Agency to achieve; and if he will list each area where a higher standard than that currently in force will apply. [17179]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 19 February,Official Report, columns 590–91.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has for a code of practice covering(a) public access to information on, and (b) regular publication of key information from, private companies contracting for the Benefits Agency medical services. [17171]

  (2) what statistics concerning the activity and performance of the companies contracting for the Benefits Agency medical service he intends to publish. [17161]

  Mr. Burt
  The successful contractors will have a mandatory contractual requirement to comply with legislation and policies which apply to this Department, including the open government code of practice on access to government information.

  The arrangements for the provision and publication of statistical information are currently being developed as part of the system for contract monitoring.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what requirements of confidentiality he intends to include in(a) the contracts of employment and (b) the contracts for sessional staff working for the private contractors which will be operating the Benefits Agency medical service. [17173]

  Mr. Burt
  There will be no change to the current rules governing confidentiality of information.

  Anyone working for, or on behalf of, the successful contractors will be subject to the provisions of section 123 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 which makes it a criminal offence to disclose information acquired in the course of employment without lawful authority.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what mechanism he intends to establish for complaints against private companies running the Benefits Agency medical service. [17174]

  Mr. Burt
  The successful contractors will be subject to a mandatory contractual requirement to ensure that there is an effective procedure in place for all complaints received. The contract will not specify a mechanism for handling complaints. However, an effective procedure for handling all complaints will be a mandatory requirement.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will lay before Parliament the accounts of the private companies contracting for the Benefits Agency medical service in respect of this work. [17175]

  Mr. Burt
  No. The accounts of the shortlisted private sector companies, with the exception of Andersen Consulting, are available at Companies House. As a partnership, Andersen Consulting are not obliged to file accounts with Companies House. However, their
  207
  corporate report which was considered as part of the evaluation process to choose the shortlisted companies is available on request.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what audit requirements he intends to impose on the contractors taking over the Benefits Agency medical service; in what respects these will differ from the statutory requirements of audit in the private sector; and if he will list the specifications on which audit of the contractors will be based. [17177]

  Mr. Burt
  In line with standard practice for Government contracts, the contract(s) will include audit requirements which will be contained within the contract and will give the Department, and its statutory auditors, audit access provisions over and above the statutory requirements. The audit of the contractors will be based on the audit specifications contained in the contract.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance measurement systems will be included in contracts to provide medical services for the Benefits Agency. [17166]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 10 February,Official Report, column 75.

  The performance of the successful contractors will be monitored rigorously. The system by which performance will be monitored is under discussion with the shortlisted contractors and the users of the present medical service.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the auditing of the Benefits Agency's performance of its responsibility to ensure that its obligations are met by the companies with which it contacts for medical services. [17170]

  Mr. Burt
  Contract management procedures will be set in place to ensure that companies meet their obligations under the contract. There will be regular reviews with the suppliers of the medical service.

  Contract management will be subject to normal audit requirements.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what specifications and operating instructions he will give to the private contractors which will run the Benefits Agency medical service; and what are the minimum standards which he will require. [17157]

  Mr. Burt
  The successful service providers will have to meet a minimum set of mandatory requirements which will be as stringent as existing standards for the provision of the medical service.

  Disability Payments
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of raising the level of invalid care allowance to the level of(a) the jobseeker's allowance and (b) long-term incapacity benefit for each of the years 1997–98 and 1998–99. [17095]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table.
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  £ Million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Jobseeker's allowance (25 and over rate)

  £130

  £140

  Long-term incapacity benefit

  £270

  £300

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are in cash prices rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  2. Estimates take account of offsetting savings in income-related benefits.

  3. The estimates compare invalid care allowance with the 25 and over rate of jobseeker's allowance.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) lone parents, (b) couples with children and (c) single people who receive (i) family credit and (ii) disability working allowance and are employed are (1) earning below the lower earnings limit, (2) earning below the tax threshold and (3) paying income tax. [17097]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is in tables:

  Level of earnings of family credit recipients shown by family type as at 31 August 1996

  Level of earnings

  Family type

  Below lower earnings limit

  Below tax threshold

  Paying income tax

  Lone parents

  78,000

  149,000

  164,000

  Couples

  80,000

  135,000

  258,000

  1. Couples and single people without children are not eligible to receive Family Credit.

  2. Sample size is 5 per cent.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  Level of earnings of disability working allowance recipients shown by family type as at 31 July 1996

  Family type

  Level of earnings

  Below lower earnings limit

  Below tax threshold

  Paying income tax

  Lone parents

  413

  692

  604

  Couples with children

  1,042

  1,512

  1,400

  Single people without children

  1,646

  2,394

  2,823

  Couples without children

  504

  674

  461

  1. Sample size is 100 per cent.

  2. Figures are not rounded.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what internal guidelines are used by his Department on the manner of responding to parliamentary questions. [17159]

  Mr. Burt
  A copy of the internal guidance used by officials preparing replies to parliamentary questions has been placed in the Library. Departmental officials also use the guidance recently published in annexe C to the Public Service Committee's first special report, Session 1996–97, HC67.

  State Earnings-related Pensions Scheme
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of(a) the impact on the revenue of the national insurance fund and (b) the savings in the current financial year from reduced expenditure on national insurance rebates and incentives

  209
  paid on contributions made to APPs if (i) all and (ii) half of those have opted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme into appropriate personal pensions and earn under £10,000 per annum were to rejoin SERPS. [15593]

  Mr. Heald
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: The net present value of the additional expenditure on SERPS in future years would be approximately £120 million at current prices if all those with earnings less than £10,000 were to rejoin SERPS for 1996–97 and £60 million if half of those with earnings less than £10,000 rejoined.

  The savings on national insurance rebates and incentives for 1996–97 is estimated to be around £240 million if all those with earnings less than £10,000 were to rejoin SERPS and £120 million if half of those with earnings less than £10,000 rejoined.

  Notes

  1. A discount rate of 3.75 per cent. has been used to calculate the net present value of future expenditure. This discount rate is consistent with the Government Actuary's review of contracting out.

  Disability Benefit Unit
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what responsibility the director of the disability benefit unit has for replying to letters from hon Members; for what reasons the hon. Member for Walsall, North was told in a letter of 31 January (ref. J9627090C) that the official correspondence section would be replying to him; and if he will make a statement about the internal organisation of the disability benefit unit. [16977]
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  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The administration of disability living allowance 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 Winnick, dated 24 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what responsibility the Director of the Disability Benefit Unit has for replying to letters form honourable Members; for what reasons the honourable Member for Walsall North was told in a letter of 31st January (ref. J9627090C) that the official correspondence section would be replying to him; and if he will make a statement about the internal organisation of the Disability Benefit Unit (DBU).
  Can I first of all explain that as you copied me your letter of 28 January to the Director of Disability Benefits, I arranged for the issues raised to be investigated and replied personally on 20 February. Therefore the acknowledgement letter of 31 January from the Disability Benefits Director should have advised you that I would be responding. I apologise for any confusion this may have caused.
  As I explained in this letter, much of the correspondence received by the Disability Benefits Director relates to the operational handling of individual cases. The Director has arranged for all issues arising from correspondence to be investigated by front line managers within the 11 Disability Benefit Centres and also the DBU. I should stress, however, the Director remains fully responsible for all replies and will, of course, respond personally if a customer remains dissatisfied,
  The Agency issues guidance to managers on how to deal with official correspondence, including that from Members of Parliament. We are currently reviewing this guidance and will consider the processes in place at the DBU as part of this review.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

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