Written Answers of 28 February 1997

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  South Africa
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the importing of South African goods; and what plans he has to assist South African industries to expand their world trade. [17712]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Negotiations are in progress between the European Commission and the South African Government on South Africa's qualified accession to the Lomé convention and on a possible free trade agreement. The British Government are pressing for swift progress on this issue and have made it clear that they support the most liberal agreement possible. Representations in support of a generous line towards South Africa have been received from numerous members of the British public and from interested organisations.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had in the last year to discuss housing and employment problems in South Africa. [17713]

  Dr. Fox
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has not, in the last year, held meetings to address these specific issues. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has, however, had numerous meetings both in Britain and in South Africa, to discuss South Africa's development needs. Housing is not one of the five agreed priorities for the British aid programme, but our high commission in Pretoria has funded projects assisting with housing. The British development division in South Africa is also helping with small enterprise development and job creation.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Voluntary Bodies
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total funding given by central Government Departments to voluntary bodies in the financial year 1994–95; and if she will make a statement. [18467]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Central Government funding of voluntary organisations in 1994–95, including grants from non-departmental public bodies, amounted to £3,453 million. Of this, £2,496 million was payments to housing associations. The remaining £957 million went direct to voluntary organisations to support the provision of services and a wide range of activities and projects, an increase in Government funding of 5 per cent. in cash terms and 3 per cent. in real terms over the level of provision in 1993–94.
  394
  The amount spent by each Department in 1994–95 with comparative figures for 1993–94 was as follows:

  Department

  1994–95 £,000

  1993–94 £,000

  Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

  267

  242

  Crown Prosecution Service

  20

  20

  Ministry of Defence

  18,046

  18,919

  Department for Education and Employment

  Direct

  59,574

  (Education)

  5,908

  (Employment)

  50,057

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  26

  38

  Total—DfEE

  59,600

  56,003

  Department of Environment

  Direct

  40,621

  27,981

  Countryside Commission

  4,000

  4,178

  English Nature

  1,3000

  804

  Housing Corporation

  2,068,000

  2,510,000

  Rural Development Commission

  4,000

  4,744

  Urban Development Corporation

  10,600

  11,036

  Urban Programme

  13,900

  28,306

  English Partnerships

  1,000

  Housing Action Trusts

  565

  625

  Total—DoE

  2,143,986

  2,587,674

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  1,043

  1,011

  Department of Health

  Direct

  52,576

  49,434

  Alcohol and Drug Misuse

  2,400

  2,300

  Health Education Authority

  1,250

  Total—DH

  54,976

  52,984

  Home Office

  Direct

  61,043

  59,205

  Commission for Racial Equality

  4,855

  5,213

  Probation Partnership Funding

  3,582

  2,210

  Total—Home Office

  69,481

  66,628

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  Direct

  163

  183

  Legal Aid Board

  1,074

  942

  Total—LCD

  1,237

  1,125

  Department of National Heritage

  Direct

  18,057

  15,855

  Sports Council

  17,814

  20,219

  Arts Council for Great Britain

  213,661

  Arts Council for England

  172,056

  English Tourist Board

  26

  27

  British Tourist Authority

  3

  3

  Total—DNH

  207,956

  249,764

  Northern Ireland Office

  Direct

  85,662

  85,768

  Housing Associations

  44,879

  49,293

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  626

  728

  Youth Council for Northern Ireland

  1,471

  1,421

  Arts Council for Northern Ireland

  3,318

  3,603

  395

  Department

  1994–95 £,000

  1993–94 £,000

  Northern Ireland Adult Education Centre

  32

  Northern Ireland Museums Council

  Rural Development Commission

  348

  176

  Total—NIO

  136,337

  140,990

  Overseas Development Administration

  185,114

  158,450

  Scottish Office

  Direct grants

  25,582

  24,231

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  1,241

  1,075

  Housing Associations

  268,540

  273,302

  Mental Illness Specific Grant

  8,680

  5,142

  Scottish National Heritage

  3,434

  2,900

  Sports Council for Scotland

  2,082

  1,898

  Urban Programme

  60,460

  48,062

  Scottish Arts Council

  24,477

  Total—Scottish Office

  394,496

  356,610

  Department of Social Security

  18,857

  13,110

  Department of Trade and Industry

  13,888

  14,435

  Department of Transport

  368

  422

  Welsh Office

  13,773

  14,071

  Direct

  148

  285

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  617

  575

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  1,548

  1,603

  Flexible Community Care

  114,556

  122,082

  Housing for Wales (Tia Cymru)

  1,912

  1,645

  Sports Council for Wales

  8,500

  Arts Council for Wales

  397

  398

  Welsh Development Agency

  177

  287

  Welsh Tourist Board

  5,711

  Strategic Development Scheme

  1,706

  (Rural Initiative)

  4,632

  (Urban Programme)

  Total—Welsh Office

  147,339

  147,283

  Total

  Direct grants

  594,655

  539,301

  Indirect Grants (excluding housing)

  362,381

  371,691

  Housing

  2,495,975

  2,954,677

  Total: All expenditure

  3,453,011

  3,865,669

  The 1994–95 figures include some data which have not been collected in past years. In order to provide a year-on-year comparison, similar data have also been obtained for 1993–94 and the figures for 1993–94 contained in the reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 19 July 1995,—Official Report, columns 1445–47 have been updated in the table.

  In the case of indirect grants—payments by Government Departments to intermediary bodies, for distribution by them—end recipients are understood to be voluntary organisations in most but not necessarily all cases; and some of the expenditure may be used by the intermediary body in administering grant applications and payments.

  I am also placing in the Libraries of both Houses reports further analysing Government grants to voluntary organisations in 1994–95 and 1993–94.
  396

  Television Licences (Pensioners)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the cost of providing free television licences for old age pensioners in Wales. [17877]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: I understand that the cost of providing free television licences for all old age pensioners in Wales would be likely to be in the order of £30 million a year.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people(a) were assessed under, (b) failed and (c) passed the habitual residence test in each month since August 1994 in each of the Newham benefit offices broken down by (i) United Kingdom,
  (ii) European Economic Area and (iii) other; [17831]

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown of the habitual residence test in the London borough of Newham since August 1994 for (i) Canning Town, (ii) Plaistow and Stratford benefit offices. [17833]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of income support 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. Tony Banks, dated 27 February 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many people (a) were assessed (b) failed and (c) passed the Habitual Residence Test (HRT) in each month since August 1994 in each of the Newham Benefit offices broken down by (i) United Kingdom, (ii) EEA and (iii) other and; if he will provide a breakdown of the HRT in the London Borough of Newham since August 1994 for (i) Canning Town, (ii) Plaistow and (iii) Stratford benefit offices.
  Benefits Agency (BA) statistics are collated at District level and not routinely by individual office. However the BA District of Newham, which includes the offices at Canning Town, Plaistow and Stratford, do maintain HRT statistics for individual offices to assist in the deployment of staff resources.
  The information is shown in the attached tables. The same level of information may not be available for all benefits and it will not be possible to obtain comparable data for every District.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Stratford office—habitual residence test

  EEA citizens

  UK citizens

  Other citizens

  Income support

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  August 1994

  0

  5

  0

  0

  1

  0

  September 1994

  1

  20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  October 1994

  0

  20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  November 1994

  13

  29

  0

  0

  0

  0

  December 1994

  5

  10

  8

  15

  13

  3

  January 1995

  3

  6

  6

  4

  11

  3

  February 1995

  6

  8

  8

  10

  11

  5

  March 1995

  4

  9

  6

  3

  11

  2

  April 1995

  5

  4

  8

  2

  5

  3

  May 1995

  4

  4

  18

  2

  11

  8

  June 1995

  5

  6

  12

  3

  15

  14

  July 1995

  6

  4

  32

  19

  17

  10

  August 1995

  10

  7

  30

  7

  14

  12

  September 1995

  5

  7

  17

  11

  14

  4

  October 1995

  10

  7

  32

  9

  19

  5

  November 1995

  17

  3

  26

  4

  19

  0

  397

  Stratford office—habitual residence test

  EEA citizens

  UK citizens

  Other citizens

  Income support

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  December 1995

  9

  5

  7

  2

  6

  1

  January 1996

  6

  7

  14

  9

  10

  2

  February 1996

  5

  9

  21

  9

  18

  2

  March 1996

  6

  14

  21

  6

  11

  3

  April 1996

  2

  11

  22

  18

  11

  2

  May 1996

  5

  3

  24

  13

  11

  3

  June 1996

  4

  4

  27

  12

  14

  2

  July 1996

  4

  1

  23

  11

  8

  7

  August 1996

  8

  5

  13

  16

  12

  5

  September 1996

  5

  5

  22

  12

  9

  2

  October 1996

  9

  6

  16

  16

  11

  2

  November 1996

  6

  2

  9

  7

  20

  2

  December 1996

  3

  0

  4

  2

  5

  1

  January 1997

  1

  1

  4

  1

  5

  1

  Data are provisional and may be subject to change.

  Plaistow office—habitual residence test

  EEA citizens

  UK citizens

  Other citizens

  Income support

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  August 1994

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  September 1994

  0

  12

  2

  3

  1

  0

  October 1994

  1

  10

  2

  10

  5

  0

  November 1994

  5

  12

  7

  9

  8

  2

  December 1994

  2

  3

  8

  4

  2

  1

  January 1995

  0

  3

  15

  3

  5

  0

  February 1995

  3

  7

  20

  4

  17

  1

  March 1995

  8

  7

  24

  6

  14

  6

  April 1995

  1

  1

  28

  4

  15

  0

  May 1995

  3

  4

  34

  3

  18

  2

  June 1995

  1

  2

  37

  0

  13

  2

  July 1995

  1

  2

  54

  7

  25

  0

  August 1995

  2

  3

  43

  0

  18

  0

  September 1995

  3

  5

  53

  7

  19

  5

  October 1995

  8

  6

  25

  6

  21

  2

  November 1995

  4

  4

  20

  6

  5

  0

  December 1995

  1

  8

  10

  3

  9

  4

  January 1996

  12

  5

  3

  3

  15

  5

  February 1996

  7

  6

  17

  6

  12

  4

  March 1996

  13

  10

  21

  6

  5

  3

  April 1996

  7

  5

  10

  5

  6

  0

  May 1996

  4

  12

  12

  5

  2

  2

  June 1996

  2

  2

  13

  5

  8

  1

  July 1996

  1

  2

  27

  2

  11

  2

  August 1996

  5

  3

  17

  10

  13

  0

  September 1996

  4

  2

  16

  11

  7

  3

  October 1996

  10

  5

  21

  6

  11

  0

  November 1996

  8

  5

  10

  4

  7

  2

  December 1996

  3

  0

  8

  2

  2

  1

  January 1997

  4

  0

  8

  1

  5

  0

  Data are provisional and may be subject to change.

  Canning Town office—habitual residence test

  EEA citizens

  UK citizens

  Other citizens

  Income support

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  August 1994

  0

  5

  5

  1

  2

  0

  September 1994

  0

  2

  5

  5

  1

  0

  October 1994

  0

  2

  11

  8

  1

  2

  November 1994

  0

  2

  6

  3

  1

  1

  December 1994

  0

  3

  4

  7

  1

  0

  January 1995

  2

  0

  9

  1

  0

  0

  February 1995

  2

  2

  14

  4

  1

  2

  March 1995

  2

  1

  13

  1

  4

  1

  April 1995

  0

  0

  4

  2

  2

  0

  May 1995

  0

  2

  5

  5

  3

  1

  June 1995

  1

  1

  14

  3

  2

  1

  July 1995

  1

  0

  10

  4

  3

  1

  August 1995

  1

  0

  10

  1

  4

  0

  September 1995

  0

  0

  8

  2

  1

  0

  October 1995

  1

  2

  4

  1

  0

  1

  November 1995

  3

  1

  0

  4

  0

  0

  December 1995

  1

  2

  1

  1

  0

  1

  January 1996

  0

  2

  4

  2

  2

  1

  February 1996

  1

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  March 1996

  1

  0

  7

  2

  1

  1

  April 1996

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  May 1996

  6

  2

  7

  1

  1

  2

  398

  Canning Town office—habitual residence test

  EEA citizens

  UK citizens

  Other citizens

  Income support

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  Pass

  Fail

  June 1996

  3

  4

  6

  5

  2

  5

  July 1996

  0

  0

  4

  2

  0

  0

  August 1996

  1

  1

  9

  0

  0

  2

  September 1996

  0

  3

  7

  5

  1

  1

  October 1996

  2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  November 1996

  0

  0

  5

  0

  0

  0

  December 1996

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  January 1997

  1

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  Data are provisional and may be subject to change.

  Housing and Council Tax Benefits
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to allow local authorities to contract out housing benefit and council tax benefit. [18484]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I announced on 12 November 1996,Official Report, column 196, my intention to open consultation with the local authority associations on a proposal to bring forward an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 which would allow contractors to carry out housing and council tax benefit determinations. Existing legislation prevents contractors from making benefit determinations and reduces the efficiency of contracts which local authorities are able to negotiate. Following consultation with the local authority associations, I am laying before Parliament today the Contracting Out (Functions of Local Authorities in relation to Income-related Benefits) Order 1997. The order will allow contractors to carry out the bulk of housing and council tax benefits administration, including benefit determinations. However, some functions relating to claims for central Government subsidy, overpayments, prosecutions, discretionary payments and appeals will be reserved for local authorities.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what requests he has received to make an oral statement to the House on recent developments in relation to sensorineural hearing loss and war pensions; and if he will make a statement. [17895]

  Mr. Lilley
  On 5 December 1996, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord MacKay of Ardbredknish announced to the Central Advisory Committee that he was seeking its views on a package of minor reforms to the war pension system. On the same occasion, he advised the Central Advisory Committee about changes to the handling of cases involving sensorineural hearing loss. Both prompted a substantial number of representations, only two of which suggested that an oral statement would be appropriate.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Selective Cull Scheme
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if producers who have cattle slaughtered under the selective cull scheme will be able to claim suckler cow and beef special premium and hill
  399
  livestock compensatory allowances for those cattle slaughtered in the retention period for those payments; and if he will make a statement. [17397]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: We have been in contact with the European Commission on this point and hope to be able to make an announcement in the near future.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total public expenditure under the CAP paid in the last year to farmers in(a) Devon and (b) Cornwall. [17391]

  Mr. Baldry
  Total public expenditure under the CAP paid to farmers in 1995—the last year for which figures are available—was as follows:

  (a) Devon: £55,005,315

  (b) Cornwall: £30,283,103

  It should be noted that a small proportion of these totals relates to non-CAP schemes funded by the EU and in some cases amounts include an element of national as well as EU funding. Devon and Cornwall farmers also benefit from expenditure on market support measures, even though this is not paid directly to them.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the prior options studies of the Insolvency Service, companies registry and trading standards branches of the Department of Economic Development have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the outcomes. [18507]

  Mr. Ancram
  These studies, which were undertaken by independent consultants, have been completed and Ministers have concluded that, given the size of the organisations involved, agentisation, either on an individual basis, or collectively, would be inappropriate. Ministers have agreed, however, that next steps principles should be applied to the management of the statutory and regulatory functions which all three branches are required to perform.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Juvenile Cases (Legal Aid)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what were(a) the total costs of legal aid in juvenile cases in the youth court and (b) the average cost per case in the latest year for which figures are available. [17284]

  Mr. Streeter
  The total gross cost of legal aid in respect of juvenile cases heard in the youth court during 1995–96 was £16.8 million. The average unit cost of these proceedings was £439.
  400

DEFENCE

  Radiobiological Research Laboratory Alverstoke
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) reports and (b) other publications currently available from the radiobiological research laboratory at Alverstoke. [17901]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 28 February 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your question asking for a list of reports and publications currently available from the Radiobiological Research Laboratory at Alverstoke. In the absence of more specific information I have assumed that your question refers to the former Defence Radiological Protection Service, now known as DERA Radiation Protection Services (DRPS) at Alverstoke. As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) this matter is my responsibility.
  A list of reports and publications which have been issued by DRPS subsequent to the list published in Hansard, 8 December 1993 Col 285, is as follows: This list excludes classified reports and work which is still underway and not yet cleared for publication.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Unclassified DRPS reports and publications

  Marine Environmental Radioactivity Surveys at Nuclear Submarine Berths In the UK 1992, published by HMSO

  Investigations to determine the response of the DRPS Passive Radon Monitor

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle, November 1993

  Quality Assurance Check of Canberra Emergency Systems

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—February 1994

  The Decontamination of Radium and Promethium Luminised P-11 Compasses

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—April 1994

  Compendium of Parliamentary Questions and Answers for 1992 and 1993

  CR39 Neutron Dosimetry Low Energy Neutron Response—Planar and Isotropic Neutron Dosimeters (March 1994)

  Dosimetry Statistics 1993

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—July 1994

  DRPS Radiological Survey at RAF Carlisle

  Marine Environmental Radiation Surveys at Nuclear Submarine Berths—1993, published by HMSO

  RAF Greenham Common Environmental Monitoring Report

  DRPS Radiological Survey at Purfleet Ranges

  DRPS Radiological Survey at RAF Sculthorpe

  Comparison of the Neutron Calibration Facilities at Berkeley Technology Centre and the Defence Radiological Protection Service

  CR39 Neutron Dosimetry—An Investigation into the Effect of Changing the Offset Parameter on the Autoscan 60 Reader on the Response and Signal to Noise Ratio of the DRPS CR39 Planar Neutron Dosimeter

  CR39 Neutron Dosimetry—The Effect of Changing Chemical Processing Parameters on the Response of the DRPS Neutron Dosimeter

  CR39 Neutron Dosimeters—Identification of CR39 Elements with Spuriously High Background Track Density Readings Prior to Use

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—February 1995

  RAF Upper Heyford—Radiation Monitoring Report

  401

  Dosimetry Statistics 1994

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—May 1995

  Royal Arsenal East Woolwich Radiological Survey

  DRPS Support to RAF Carlisle—May 1995

  DRPS Support to RAF Carlisle—August 1995

  DRPS Support to RAF Carlisle—September 1995

  Marine Environmental Radioactivity Surveys at Nuclear Submarine Berths in the UK 1994, published by HMSO

  Radio Frequency Monitoring Survey of the Kirkcudbright EMLF Facility

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—October 1995

  Personnel Radiation Hazard (RADHAZ) Survey of the Watchman Radar—HMS Cambridge

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—November 1995

  Measurement of Tritium in Air Concentration at Donnington Garrison

  Requirements for Setting Up a Facility at No. 16 MU (RAF Stafford) for Packing Equipment for Shipment to Drigg

  The Handling and Use of 20 mm DS, Linked MK 149 Rounds for the Mk15 Weapons System (Phalanx)

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—January 1996

  DRPS Survey of RAF Quedgeley (Sites 2 and 4)

  Radiological Survey of No. 3 and No. 4 Sites 14 MU RAF Carlisle

  Charm 3 Ammunition Container Assembly Radiation Trial

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—March 1996

  DRPS Survey of RAF Scampton

  DRPS Survey of RAF Finningley Radiological Survey of RM Coypool

  The following reports were issued after DRPS joined DERA (1 April 1996)

  DRPS Survey at IPTM Halton

  DRPS Survey of RAF North Luffenham Technical Site

  DRPS Survey at RAFH Halton

  CHARM 3 Ammunition in Tank Radiation Trial

  The use of Ionising Radiation Sources in the Ministry of Defence

  Radiological Survey of ABRO Old Dalby

  Rapier 2000 Repair Facility Radiation Trial

  Radiological Surveys of Ditton Park, Slough

  DRPS Survey of RAF North Luffenham EOD Enclave Area

  RAF North Luffenham Land Quality Assessment Radioactive Contamination Issues

  Radiological Survey of HMS Daedalus

  DRPS Survey of RAF Alconbury and RAF Upwood

  Land Quality Survey at ABRO Ashford

  232Th Survey at ABRO Donnington

  Land Quality Survey of ABRO Old Dalby

  Radiological Survey of OSU Weyhill

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle—May 1996

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle£June 1996

  Radiological Survey of Royal Marines Barracks Seaton

  Dosimetry Statistics 1995

  RAF Greenham Common Environmental Monitoring Report (amended)

  Radiological Survey of ABRO Aldershot

  RAF Swanton Morley Land Quality Assessment Radioactive Contamination Issues

  Radiological Survey of RNSD Spring Quarry

  Land Quality Survey at Ashford Site

  Intrusive Site Investigation, Rowcroft and Templar Barracks, Ashford

  402

  DRPS Support to MOD Compensation Scheme

  Radiological Safety Assessment of Radiography at NAML

  DRPS Support to RAF Carlisle

  RAF Norton Disney LQA

  RAF Lordsbridge LQA

  RAF Chilmark—Ham Cross Site LQA

  RAF Chilmark—Lady Down Site

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle Decontamination

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle Decontamination

  RAF Chilmark LQA—Radiation Monitoring in Buildings

  RAF Little Heath—DRPS Survey

  RAF Barnham—DRPS Survey

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle Decontamination

  RAF Carlisle No. 9 Site—Preliminary Radioactive Contamination Survey

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle Decontamination

  RAF Riseley LQA

  RAF Quedgley—Radioactivity Survey No. 6 Site

  DRPS Laboratory Support to RAF Carlisle Decontamination

  Marine Environmental Radioactivity Surveys at Nuclear Submarine Berths, 1995,

  Defence Costs Studies
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each of his Department's defence cost studies; what were the estimated savings accruing from the implementation of proposals contained in each study; and what is his current estimate of how much each proposal will save. [18114]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on 26 November 1996,Official Report, columns 196–97.

  Nuclear Tests (Compensation)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy in respect of claims that former service personnel who participated in the nuclear tests programme in Australia and the south Pacific have developed(a) leukaemia, excluding chronic lymphatic and (b) multiple myeloma as a result of those tests; and if he will make a statement. [17953]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department's policy is based on the conclusions of the studies by the National Radiological Protection Board. The second report concluded that the excess of leukaemia in test participants compared with controls in the period two to 25 years after the tests is likely to be a chance finding, although the possibility that test participation may have caused a small risk of developing leukaemia in the early years after the tests cannot be completely ruled out. It also concluded that data available from the additional follow-up since 1988 did not support the suggestion from the previous report that participants may have experienced a small hazard of multiple myeloma, which also appeared to be a chance finding.

  The general conclusion of the NRPB studies was that participation in the nuclear weapon testing programme had not had a detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life nor on their risk of developing cancer or other diseases.
  403
  These findings provide no grounds for claims for compensation and no such claims have been made against my Department.

  Law of Armed Conflict
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the revision of the manual of military law of armed conflict currently planned by Her Majesty's Government are part of a concerted NATO revision. [18101]

  Mr. Soames
  No. However, the authors have been in informal consultations with other nations which are working on similar projects including some NATO countries.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the planned new joint service manual on the law of armed conflict to replace part III of the manual of military law will be published; what consultations will be held on its revision; and if he is prepared to accept representations on it. [18091]

  Mr. Soames
  A text for a draft joint service manual was prepared some years ago but held in abeyance pending decisions on the ratification by the UK of the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions of 1949. That text is currently being updated to take into account recent developments in the field although no final date can be given as yet for its completion. The draft is being prepared by service officers, assisted by an eminent academic consultant, and the final text will be subject to comment both within the Ministry of Defence and other interested Departments prior to publication. There are no plans for public consultation or comment. Once published, it will be available to the public and subject to regular update and amendment.

  Family Quarters (Rents)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial assistance his Department plans to provide for service personnel to assist with increases in rents for family quarters; and if he will make a statement. [17948]

  Mr. Soames
  We do not propose to introduce any additional financial assistance to compensate for the rises in service accommodation charges.

  The Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommends levels of pay and charges broadly comparable to those in the civilian sector. The level of accommodation charge is based on the costs of comparable housing, less an abatement to take account of the relative disadvantages of living in service accommodation. Taking account of the increases in pay due to come into effect on 1 April and 1 December 1997, no personnel will experience a net decrease in pay as a result of the increases in accommodation charges.

  Scots Guardsmen Fisher and Wright
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representation he has received from General Sir David Scott-Barrett of the Scots Guards regarding Scots Guardsmen Fisher and Wright. [18208]
  404
  Mr. Soames
  My right hon. Friend has received one representation direct from General Scott-Barrett. He and I have received a number of others from hon. Members about the case of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright.

  Aircraft Crashes (Investigations)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's aircraft crashes which are still under investigation. [18112]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  10 January 1996: 2 RAF Tornado F3s

  23 January 1996: RAF Jaguar GR1B

  13 February 1996: RAF Hawk T1

  19 February 1996: RAF Harrier GR7

  23 February 1996: RAF Tornado GR1

  26 February 1996: RAF Tornado GR1

  26 February 1996: RN Harrier T4N

  26 May 1996: RAF Hawk T1

  24 July 1996: RAF Jaguar GR1A

  18 September 1996: RAF Jaguar T2A

  28 September 1996: MOD(PE) Tornado F3

  9 January 1997: RAF Harrier GR7

  15 February 1997: RAF Puma HC1

  Empty Homes (Disposal)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 367, what were the total receipts for the sale of the empty homes by the end of summer 1996. [18113]

  Mr. Soames
  Of the 5,348 disposals, 2,373 formed part of the service families married quarter sale to Annington Homes and the value of surplus homes cannot be separately identified. A total of 2,687 were sold through the normal processes but receipts information is not held centrally and therefore it has not been possible to collate cost data in the time available: I will write to the hon. Member. Two hundred and fifteen houses were demolished as surplus or as part of the demolition and rebuild programme and thus did not attract receipts. Seventy-three houses were leased pending later sale.

  The above figures cover the 18-month period to 30 September 1996 and include the Annington Homes sales for which contracts were exchanged on 24 September 1996.

  A1 Bilad Building
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his staff work from the A1 Bilad building, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; if his Department is the owner of the building; and which organisation is responsible for its security arrangements. [17238]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: The building mentioned is not owned by my Department. I am withholding information on the security arrangements under exemption 4(f) of the code of practice on access to government information 1997.
  405

TREASURY

  Income Tax (Recovery of Interest)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to stop computer-generated claims for interest on tax payments received under self-assessment after 31 January where the cost of recovering the interest exceeds the interest; and if he will make a statement. [17182]

  Mr. Jack
  Self-assessment statements of account were not, and will not, be issued solely to advise taxpayers of small amounts of interest due.

  Repair and Maintenance (VAT)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the gross sum collected per annum by HM Customs and Excise in respect of the VAT levied on the repair and maintenance of private dwellings. [17082]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: Statistics on the VAT collected on repairs and maintenance of private dwellings are not directly available. The gross VAT liability in 1995 in respect of repairs, maintenance and alterations carried out by contractors on private sector housing is estimated at £1.2 billion.

  Inland Revenue (Corruption)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the former head of the Inland Revenue special investigations unit(a) was arrested for corrupt practices and (b) requested information relating to the tax returns made by a right hon. Member. [17367]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: Mr. Michael Allcock, the former head of the Inland Revenue's London special office 2 was arrested on suspicion of corruption on 27 July 1993.

  With reference to the second part of the hon. Member's question, the rules on taxpayer confidentiality prevent the disclosure of any information relating to the tax affairs of any particular taxpayer or taxpayers.

  Vehicle and Fuel Taxation
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent environmental considerations informed the scale of increase in vehicle fuel taxation in his last budget. [17361]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Government's policy on fuel duties is an important part of their overall environmental policy. The policy of successive UK Governments has been to charge duty on road fuels at rates which will not only raise sufficient revenue but also take account of the need to conserve finite stocks of fossil fuels a protect the general environment.

  A commitment to raise road fuel duties by an average of at least 5 per cent. each year in real terms was announced in the 1993 Budget. The aim of these tax rises is to encourage fuel efficiency and to help to control harmful pollution. This will help to reach the Rio convention commitment by returning emissions of carbon
  406
  dioxide and other greenhouse gases—methane, nitrous oxide—to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. As a result, pollution from vehicles is already coming down.

  In order to encourage the use of high-mileage vehicles in our towns and cities and of more environmentally friendly fuels, two measures were announced: the duty rate of ultra-low sulphur diesel will be reduced by 1p per litre relative to ordinary diesel, when the necessary international agreement is attained. Ultra-low sulphur diesel is cleaner than ordinary diesel, but is slightly more expensive to produce. This measure will encourage the use of ultra-low sulphur diesel. We also announced 25 per cent. reduction in the duty on road fuel gases. This means the duty rate for gas used as road fuel is now 21.13 pence per kilogram—approximately 1.5 litres—compared with 41.68p per litre for leaded petrol and 36.86p per litre for unleaded petrol and diesel road fuel.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and what is the estimated yield in 1996–97 from (i) petrol duty, (ii) derv duty, (iii) vehicle excise duty, (iv) VAT on petrol and derv rates and (v) VAT on vehicle sales. [17515]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  £ billions

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97 (forecast)

  petrol duty

  9.6

  10.1

  —

  derv duty

  4.4

  5.3

  —

  Total fuel duties

  14.0

  5.3

  117.4

  VED

  3.8

  4.0

  4.3

  VAT on fuel duties

  2.5

  2.7

  3.0

  VAT on vehicle sales

  3.4

  3.6

  2n/a

  1 Petrol and derv forecast receipts are not published separately.

  2 Separate forecasts of VAT on vehicle sales are not available.

  Local Tax Offices
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of local tax offices are meeting their performance targets for dealing with(a) personal callers, (b) telephone calls, (c) repayment claims and (d) correspondence. [17890]

  Mr. Jack
  The Inland Revenue does not publish its performance against annual targets until results covering the full period are available and appropriate validation and checking of figures has been carried out.

  Based on latest provisional figures, most local tax offices are currently on course to meet or exceed their annual targets for personal callers and telephone calls, but are unlikely to achieve their correspondence targets. The claims target applies only to specialist repayment offices, which are on course to meet or exceed this target.

  Weatherguard, Halbeath, Fife
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in respect of the action by Customs and Excise against Weatherguard, Halbeath, Fife, in 1992–93(a) the date and location of the seizure of jackets, (b) the number of jackets seized, (c) their country of manufacture and the manufacturer, (d) the

  407
  haulier involved, (e) the date of the alleged criminal act, (f) the fine charged against the company, (g) the date when the fine was paid and (h) the intended destination of the jackets. [17262]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: The Commissioners of Customs and Excise owe a duty of confidence to the trader in this case and cannot release the information requested.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue consequences of raising the basic rate of income tax in Wales to 25p in the pound. [17869]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: The latest available information is for 1994–95. The full-year yield of increasing the basic rate of tax by 1p under the 1994–95 tax regime and at 1994–95 income levels is £70 million.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate of the revenue raised by a 50 per cent. tax rate on incomes of £40,000 plus per annum in Wales. [17867]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: The latest available information is for 1994–95. The full-year yield under the 1994–95 tax regime and at 1994–95 income levels of introducing a new rate of 50 per cent. on taxable incomes above £40,000 is £30 million. The yield does not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of the new rate of tax.

  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue consequences of raising income tax thresholds in Wales so that 30,000 people would be removed from income tax liability. [17871]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: The latest available information is for 1994–95. The full-year cost under the 1994–95 tax regime and at 1994–95 income levels of increasing non-aged and aged personal allowances by £330 is £70 million—this would have taken 30,000 taxpayers out of income tax.

  Mr. Lamont
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the changes in the basic top rates of income tax over the last 30 years. [18144]

  Mr. Jack
  Tables 1.5 and 1.10 of the 1996–97 "Tax Benefit Reference Manual" gives income tax rates for years 1967–68 to 1996–97, a copy of which can be found in the Library.

  Proposed rates for 1997–98 are as follows:

  £ per annul

  Taxable income

  Rate of income tax percentage

  Up to 4,100

  20

  4,101–26,100

  23

  Over 26,101

  40

  408

  European Funds (Republic of Ireland)
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net transfer of European funds to the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years. [17875]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: The European Court of Auditors annual reports indicate that the net benefits to the Republic of Ireland from the EC budget, for the years 1991 to 1995, the last five years for which information is available, are as listed in the table:

  Year

  Million ecu

  £ million1

  1991

  2357.3

  1650.3

  1992

  2140.1

  1571.3

  1993

  2371.9

  1846.6

  1994

  1752.0

  1355.6

  1995

  1886.9

  1545.2

  1 Converted from ecu to £ using the average annual exchange rate listed in the Annual White Paper, "Statement on the Community Budget".

  Public Finance Initiative
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown by project of PFI schemes identified in table 5.5 of the Red Book. [18126]

  Mr. Jack
  Table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–8", the Red Book, is derived from returns made by Departments as part of the pre-Budget expenditure round. Although the Treasury publishes these figures, ultimate responsibility for each departmental figure remains with individual Departments. Detailed questions on table 5.5 should therefore be directed towards the relevant Department.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the past 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. [16182]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have asked directors of the Department's executive agencies to reply to the hon. Member separately.

  For the headquarters of the Department, excluding agencies and the Government offices, it is not possible to provide information in the form requested. Temporary staff are recruited from employment agencies to cover, usually, short-term secretarial and administrative support duties. Data on the average length of temporary staff recruited from agencies, the numbers employed and the median cost paid to agencies per person employed are not available.
  409
  However, the agencies most commonly used in the past three years are Alfred Marks, Brook Street, Manpower, Josephine Summers and Kelly. The total cost to the Department for agency staff in the past three financial years is as follows;

  1994–95 £0.4 million

  1995–96: £1.3 million

  1996–97 (April—January) £2.1 million

  Expenditure in 1996–97 is not directly comparable with previous years, which do not take account of the machinery of government changes announced in July 1995.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 28 February 1997:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about the use made by The Insolvency Service of private employment agencies.
  I should first explain that The Service undertakes its own recruitment of permanent and many of its casual staff, and does not use the services of employment agencies for that purpose. It does however take on temporary staff from agencies, usually to cover a short-term need for example to assist in the completion of a specific project or to cover for the temporary absence of permanent staff. In addition, The Service has taken on accountancy and legal staff on short term contracts through agencies to support its investigative role.
  The total cost to The Service of agency staff in each of the last two years has been—

  1994–95: £476,700

  1995–96: £2,650,400

  The information held by The Service on its agency staff is not maintained in a form which would enable it to provide the further details you have asked for except at disproportionate cost.

  Letter from Iain MacGregor to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 28 February 1997:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to answer the question on behalf of the Chief Executive of NWML who is on business away from the office. The answer is set out below.

  Year

  Agency (a)

  Numbers (b)

  Total cost (c)

  Length of contract (d)1

  Employment agencies

  1993–94

  Reed Employment

  1

  2—

  14 months

  1994–95

  Reed Employment

  1

  2

  4 months

  1995–96

  Reed Employment

  1

  2—

  4 months

  1996–97

  Walch Employment Ltd.

  1

  2—

  3 months

  Recruitment agencies

  1995–96

  Capita Recruitment Services

  1

  1,983

  Permanent

  1996–97

  Draft Personnel Ltd.

  1

  2,645

  Permanent

  1 We are unable to provide an average length of contract because two recruits remain members of staff.

  2 Because of the nature of payments to Employment Agencies we are unable to extract the information at reasonable cost.

  Letter from J. C. Octon To Mr. Mike Hall, dated 28 February 1997:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive I am replying for the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question to the President of the Board of Trade about the use of private employment agencies.
  The Patent Office operates in a competitive international market and has operated a policy of employing agency staff to minimise the risk to its permanent staff of redundancy consequent on fluctuations in demand. The agencies it has used to supply temporary staff are: Reed Employment, Securicor Recruitment Services Ltd., Western Staff Services, Acorn Recruitment, Manpower Employment Agency, Kelter International Ltd., Brook
  410
  Street, Meridian Business Support, Kelly Services and Select Appointments PD Bureau—London. The monthly average number of agency staff employed in the last three years has been 1994: 30, 1995: 50 and 1996: 42 and the total annual cost £323,958, £539,689 and £495,240 respectively. The average hourly rate paid to the agencies for the staff supplied was around £4.20 in 1994, £4.50 in 1995 and £4.80 in 1996. The average length of employment for agency staff has been in the range 3.5 to 4 months. The Patent Office also employs a small number of specialist IT practitioners employed normally through specialist companies. The figures given above exclude such staff.

  Letter from John Holden to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 28 February 1997:
  You recently asked the President of the Board of Trade for information about the use of private employment agencies within his Department and Agencies. I am responding as Chief Executive of Companies House Executive Agency.
  The following table gives names of agencies used over the last three years, the numbers of people from each agency, length of contract and the cost per hour.

  Year

  Agency name

  Length of contract

  Number employed

  Cost per hour £

  1994

  Jobwise

  5 weeks

  1

  6.85

  1994–95

  Target

  13 weeks

  1

  6.50

  1995

  Office Angels

  3 weeks

  2

  7.35

  1996

  Office Angels

  2–3 weeks

  2

  8.25

  1996

  Pertemps

  12–17 weeks

  5

  26.30

  1 Average.

  2 Average 7

  The total cost to the Agency for the years 1995–96 was £20,580; the average cost per person recruited is £6.90 per hour; contract periods average 5–6 weeks per person.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Mike Hall, dated 28 February 1997:
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, 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.
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to the above PQ.
  Over the past three years the RA has used the following private employment agencies:

  1994–95

  Accountancy Personnel

  Adeeko/ADIA Ltd (Alfred Marks)

  Arena Staff Agency

  Manpower plc

  Reed Staffing Services Ltd

  1995–96

  Adeeko/ADIA Ltd (Alfred Marks)

  Badenoch and Clark

  EGB

  Manpower plc

  Nextep Ltd

  Office Angels

  Professional Recruitment Solutions

  Reed Staffing Services Ltd

  1996–97

  Adeeko/ADIA Ltd (Alfred Marks)

  Badenoch and Clark

  411

  London Staff Bureau

  Manpower plc

  Nextep Ltd

  Office Angels

  RJC (UK) Ltd.

  The total cost to the Radiocommunications Agency of using the employment agencies in the last three years was:

  1994–95: £64,322.05

  1995–96: £498,456.14

  1996–97 (April—January): £277,809.17.

  I am sorry that it is not possible to identify for each of the years the number of employment agency staff, the average length of contract for persons recruited from agencies and the median cost paid to agencies per person employed.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to(a) EDS, (b) Andersens, (c) BMI, (d) Capita and (e) Sema since 1992 and the broad function to be carried out by the contractor, and the value of the contract in each case. [17608]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The following information is held centrally on contracts awarded to the companies in question:

  Company

  Number of contracts awarded since 1992

  EDS

  0

  Andersens

  2

  BMI

  0

  Capita

  6

  Sema

  4

  All the above contracts relate to external consultancy and their total value is £512,613; commercial sensitivity prevents the disclosure of individual contract values.

  Information on other contracts could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The above information does not include contracts let by the Department's executive agencies, and I have asked the chief executives to reply separately to this question.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about contracts awarded to EDS, Andersens, BMI, Capita and Sema by The Insolvency Service since 1992.
  The Insolvency Service awarded a contract by competitive tender to Capita Managed Services Limited in November 1995 for the collection of costs awarded by the courts against directors who are disqualified under section 6 of Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. Capita's fees are based on a percentage of what they collect: it is thus not possible to say what fees will be earned by them in the three year period the contract runs.
  No contracts have been awarded by The Insolvency Service to EDS, Andersens, BMI and Sema since 1992.
  412
  Letter from J. C. Octon to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  In the absence of the Chief Executive on official business abroad I am replying for the Patent Office to your Parliamentary Question to the President of the Board of Trade about contracts placed with various named contractors. The Patent Office has awarded no contracts to any of the companies listed in the period since 1992.

  Letter from Dr. Seton Bennett to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 28 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 question about contracts awarded to five companies.
  The Agency employed Capita Recruitment last year to recruit a member of staff. We paid them at their normal commercial rate.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  Mr John Taylor, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs, has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your Question about Agency contracts with certain firms.
  Since 1992 the Agency has contracted with:

  EDS Defence Ltd.,—investigation into increasing the usage and improving the quality of service available on shared channel private mobile radio services in the UK—£69,525;

  EDS Defence Ltd.,—study into PMR channel usage—£62,000; and

  Sema Group Systems Ltd.,—development and documentation of project management standards—£ 15,150.

  The Agency has also bought some IT equipment from GCAT (Govnerment IT/IS Catalogue) which Electronic Data Systems Ltd., (and ICL) operate on behalf of CCTA.

  Letter from John Holden to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  You recently asked the President of the Board of Trade about contracts awarded since 1992 to EDS, Andersens, BMI, Capita and Sema. I am replying in respect of Companies House Executive Agency.
  Companies House has awarded one contract which meets these criteria. On 1 July 1996 Capita Managed Services Ltd., was awarded a contract to operate a telephone enquiry service and a service involving the acceptance and fulfilment of orders for company searches for delivering by post or fax. The contract is for a 3 year period, and an approximate annual value of £800,000.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what terms the chief executive of Unipart was retained by his Department in connection with an initiative intended to improve the image of privatisation. [17396]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 24 February 1997]: John Neill, the chief executive of the Unipart group of companies, was one of four chief executives and company chairmen who accepted my invitation to speak at a DTI conference— "Privatisation: Setting Enterprise Free"—on 5 December 1996, the main purpose of which was to help British companies to secure privatisation business in other countries. Mr. Neill delivered a speech setting out his personal view on how the privatisation of Unipart had enabled the company to improve its performance. Like all speakers, he gave his services free of charge.
  413

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Carttiss
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to improve the arrangements for attracting inward investment into the eastern region; and if he will make a statement. [18558]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  The attraction of inward investment is a major UK success story and the Government intend to maintain this excellent record. In England, there are already eight regional development organisations working in partnership with my Department's own Invest in Britain Bureau to attract inward investment.

  I consider it important for an RDO to be established in the east of England because the region has some unique strengths that could help it to win business in a very competitive environment. I have been impressed, too, by the strength of the public and private sector partnership that has got the East of England Investment Agency under way so quickly.

  I am therefore announcing today a £505,000 grant, which will help the East of England Investment Agency to be launched formally in 1997–98 and hit the ground running. It is proof of our continuing commitment to the encouragement of inward investment.

  The many global companies already operating in the east of England are a clear endorsement of the advantages of doing business here and I have no doubt that the East of England Investment Agency will play a key role in maximising those benefits for the regional economy.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  St. Helenians
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current upper age limit for St. Helenians coming to work in the United Kingdom under the training and work experience scheme. [17477]

  Mrs. Gillan
  No upper age limit is applied to St. Helenians wishing to undertake training or work experience in the United Kingdom.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the contracts awarded by her Department to(a) EDS, (b) Andersens, (c) BMI, (d) Capita and (e) Sema since 1992, and the broad function to be carried out by the contractor and the value of the contract in each case. [17599]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The list of contracts awarded by the Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service is as follows:

  EDS

  Costs £

  The Government catalogue of IT supplies

  207,000

  Software supply to Students Loan Company (1989–95)

  13,000,000

  IT Human Factors risk analysis

  5,000

  Andersens

  Systems analysis on Employment Services Payments project

  296,000

  414

  EDS

  Costs£

  Interface development between ES systems and NUBS2

  77,500

  Cobol programming support

  £33,500

  Systems design on Employment Services Payments system

  350,000

  Job Seekers Allowance project, implementation risk analysis

  88,000

  Job Seekers Allowance project, expert implementation assistance

  12,245,000

  Supply and support Optical Character Recognition system for the 1993 Census of employment

  4,000,000

  BMI

  There are no contracts recorded with a company called BMI

  Capita

  Consultancy on market testing of payroll

  25,000

  Nursery Vouchers pilot scheme

  450,000

  Nursery Vouchers national implementation

  15,000,000

  Contractorisation of Teachers Pensions Agency

  72,000,000

  Sema

  Ingres database design work

  31,800

  Database design work

  £44,400

  Job Seekers Allowance, expert implementation assistance

  12,500

  Information exchange and dissemination study

  57,000

  Human resource management systems feasibility study

  4,750

  1 Per annum.

  Nursery Schools
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of(a) four-year-olds and (b) rising fives attended (i) local education authority nursery schools and (ii) pre-primary classes in each metropolitan district in the most recent period for which figures are available. [17900]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department does not publish information on percentages or participation rates of four-year-olds or rising fives by local education authority area. Participation rates of children under five in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools by local education authority area in England in January 1996 will be published in a statistical bulletin on 28 February and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received in the last six months relating to the introduction of nursery school vouchers, from (i) local education authorities, (ii) teaching bodies, (iii) nursery schools, (iv) parents, (v) parents representative bodies and (vi) others; and if she will make a statement. [17710]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received representations from a variety of sources about the nursery education voucher scheme.

  Schools (Staff Checks)
  Mr. Jaimeson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment her Department has made as to whether(a) the Bradfield House school, Cullompton, and (b) the Quantock school, Taunton, have made the legally required checks on the suitability of staff to work with children. [17933]
  415
  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: Ofsted and social services departments, in the course of their inspections, examine schools' observance of the legal requirements in this area. The Department received a social services department report in December 1996 which drew attention to shortcomings in Bradfield House school's staff recruitment and vetting procedures. An agreement has been prepared between the school, Devon SSD and the police for implementing measures to improve these procedures. Advice about Quantock school, Tauton, confirms that the correct procedures are followed.

  New Nursery Classes
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals to open new nursery classes in primary/infant schools she has received but has not yet approved and in each case when she received the proposal and how many places are involved. [17896]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following table shows proposals for new nursery classes received in the Department but not yet decided, when the proposals were published and the number of full-time equivalent places involved.

  Outstanding Nursery Proposals

  LEA

  School name

  Publication date

  Number of FTE places

  County schools

  Cheshire

  Woodlands County Infant School

  14 November 1996

  13

  Coventry

  St. Christopher Primary

  6 December 1996

  26

  Coventry

  John Shelton Primary School

  6 December 1996

  26

  Coventry

  Alderman Harris Primary

  6 December 1996

  26

  Coventry

  Allesley Primary

  13 February 1997

  26

  Coventry

  Ernesford Grange Primary

  6 February 1997

  26

  Coventry

  Ravensdale Primary

  6 February 1997

  26

  Devon

  North Prospect County Primary School

  24 January 1997

  26

  Devon

  Newton Abbot Decoy Primary

  24 January 1997

  26

  Devon

  Ladysmith First School

  24 January 1997

  26

  Devon

  Sherwell Valley Primary School

  31 January 1997

  26

  Devon

  Eggbuckland Vale Primary School

  31 January 1997

  26

  Essex

  Kings Ford County Infant School

  6 June 1996

  26

  Essex

  Northlands County Primary School

  6 June 1996

  26

  Essex

  Hazelmere Infant School

  4 June 1996

  26

  Essex

  Montgomery Infant School

  6 June 1996

  26

  Hertfordshire

  Priors Wood

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Panshanger

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Abel Smith JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Killigrew Infant School

  21 June 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  Goldfield Infant School

  21 June 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  Leavesden Green JMI School

  21 June 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  Grove Road Primary School

  22 November 1996

  26

  Hertfordshire

  Eastbury Farm JMI School

  22 November 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  Woodside JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  416

  Outstanding Nursery Proposals

  LEA

  School name

  Publication date

  Number of FTE places

  Hertfordshire

  Mayfield Infant School

  22 November 1996

  25

  Hertfordshire

  Holy Rood Infant VA School

  22 November 1996

  30

  Hertfordshire

  Wheatcroft JMI School

  6 December 1996

  22.5

  Hertfordshire

  Cassiobury Infants School

  6 December 1996

  30

  Hertfordshire

  Springmead JMI School

  6 December 1996

  30

  Hertfordshire

  Kimpton JMI School

  6 December 1996

  11.5

  Hertfordshire

  Templewood JMI School

  6 December 1996

  30

  Hertfordshire

  Abbots Langley School

  22 November 1996

  26

  Hertfordshire

  Fairfields JMI School

  22 November 1996

  17

  Hertfordshire

  Gade Valley JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Hollybush JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Micklem JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Mill Mead JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Millbrook JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Russell JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Sheredes JMI School

  22 November 1996

  18

  Hertfordshire

  The Reddings JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Ryde JMI School

  22 November 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  Studlands Rise JMI School

  22 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Aycliff Drive JMI School

  14 February 1997

  21

  Hertfordshire

  Boxmoor JMI School

  14 February 1997

  15

  Hertfordshire

  Lordship Farm JMI School

  14 February 1997

  26

  Hertfordshire

  Westfield JMI School

  14 February 1997

  13

  Kent

  Parkside County Primary School

  19 December 1996

  26

  Kingston upon Thames

  Robin Hood Primary School

  31 January 1997

  26

  Liverpool

  Walton St. Mary's JMI School

  3 October 1996

  30

  Liverpool

  Belle Vale County JMI School

  11 October 1996

  30

  Redbridge

  Highlands Primary School

  16 January 1997

  26

  Voluntary aided schools

  Barnsley

  Ellis CE Junior and Infant School

  19 July 1996

  26

  Camden

  St. Mary's CE Primary School

  15 November 1996

  26

  Coventry

  All Souls RC (VA) Primary School

  10 October 1996

  26

  Croydon

  St. Joseph's Infant

  26 July 1996

  26

  Croydon

  St. Chad's RC Primary

  7 August 1996

  26

  Hertfordshire

  Broxbourne

  22 November 1996

  17.5

  Hertfordshire

  Nash Mills JMI School

  7 June 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  St. Dominic's RC Primary School

  7 June 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  St. Michael's JMI School

  7 June 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  St. John's RC JMI VA School

  11 November 1996

  13

  Hertfordshire

  St. Nicholas JMI VA School

  11 November 1996

  15

  Hertfordshire

  St. Joseph's RC JMI VA School

  7 February 1997

  21

  Hertfordshire

  Park Street JMI VA School

  14 February 1997

  13

  Hertfordshire

  St. Andrew's CE JMI VA School

  14 February 1997

  13

  Leeds

  Christ The King RC Primary

  29 November 1996

  26

  Liverpool

  St. Lawrence's CE VA Primary School

  3 October 1996

  30

  Redbridge

  SS Peter and Paul's RC Primary

  14 March 1996

  26

  Wandsworth

  Roehampton CE Primary School

  13 December 1996

  26

  Wandsworth

  Sacred Heart RC Primary School

  24 October 1996

  26

  York

  New Earswick Undenominational Primary

  3 December 1996

  26

  417

  Outstanding Nursery Proposals

  LEA

  School name

  Publication date

  Number of FTE places

  Voluntary controlled schools

  Bexley

  Foster's Primary

  7 November 1996

  26

  Cheshire

  St. Mary's CE (VC) Primary School

  18 December 1996

  13

  Cumbria

  Coniston Coe (VC) Primary School

  13 December 1996

  13

  Devon

  Great Torrington Bluecoat VC Infants' School

  6 January 1997

  26

  Devon

  Brixham C of E VC Infants' School

  6 January 1997

  26

  Hertfordshire

  St. John's Infants School

  21 June 1996

  26

  Hertfordshire

  Weston JMI School

  6 December 1996

  10

  Hertfordshire

  Wormley JMI School

  6 December 1996

  24

  Hertfordshire

  High Wych JMI VC School

  14 January 1997

  13

  Grant maintained schools

  Birmingham

  Walmley Infant GM School

  4 October 1996

  52

  Birmingham

  The Deanery CE GM Primary

  13 September 1996

  32

  Croydon

  Atwood Primary

  23 December 1996

  26

  Essex

  Upshire GM Primary School

  9 November 1995

  26

  Essex

  Waltham Holy Cross GM Infant School

  10 November 1995

  26

  Essex

  Coppins Green Primary

  31 October 1996

  26

  Essex

  Rochford Primary

  20 September 1996

  26

  Gloucestershire

  Sevenbanks GM Primary

  19 June 1996

  26

  Hertfordshire

  St. Mary's Catholic GM Primary

  9 February 1996

  13

  Hertfordshrie

  St. Catherine Of Siena Catholic Primary School

  20 December 1996

  26

  Lincolnshire

  William Hildyard CE GM Primary School

  19 December 1996

  13

  Rochdale

  Healey GM Primary School

  10 January 1997

  26

  Staffordshire

  Hollinsclough CE (GM) Primary

  4 January 1997

  14

  Surrey

  Hawkedale GM First School

  24 October 1996

  26

  Surrey

  Godstone Village School

  30 January 1997

  20

  Wiltshire

  St. Edmunds RC GM Primary

  14 December 1995

  34

  Teachers' Pensions
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the cost to public funds of the teachers' early retirement scheme for each of the last five years. [14062]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 3 February 1997]: The estimated total cost to public funds, for the last five years for which data are available, is given in the following table, split between the extra cost of premature retirement to the teachers' superannuation scheme, and the expenditure incurred by public sector teachers' employers on enhancements to teachers' pensions. These are the extra costs within each financial year of pensions payable to all teachers who then or previously retired prematurely.

  Year

  Cost to TSS (£ million)1

  Expenditure on enhancement (£ million)2

  Total

  1990–91

  130

  60

  190

  1991–92

  150

  80

  230

  1992–93

  180

  90

  270

  418

  Year

  Cost to TSS (£ million)1

  Expenditure on enhancement (£ million)2

  Total

  1993–94

  210

  110

  320

  1994–95

  230

  110

  340

  1 Estimated from data supplied by teachers' pensions.

  2 Derived from RO1 data, and estimates for further and higher education derived from data supplied by teachers' pensions.

TRANSPORT

  MV Braer
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current estimate of the costs incurred by his Department and agencies for which his Department is responsible in the clearing up operation which followed the grounding of the MV Braer on Shetland in January 1993. [17698]

  Mr. Bowis
  The marine pollution control unit, part of my Department's Coastguard agency, incurred costs of some £2.6 million in the clean-up operation following the grounding of the MV Braer. The Government have consistently said that their claim in respect of these costs and those incurred by the Scottish Office should be at the back of the queue for compensation.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress made in(a) building the Birmignham northern relief road and (b) developing the A628 Woodhead route. [17748]

  Mr. Watts
  The Birmingham northern relief road has been the subject of a lengthy public inquiry and the inspector's report is awaited.

  The A57/A628 Mottram-Tinwistle bypass remains in the roads programme and a preferred route exists for it. The next stage will be the appointment of consultants to prepare the scheme for the publication of draft orders and of the environmental statement.

  London Underground
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the loans which have been made to London Underground since 1967 indicating the dates on which the loans were repaid and those debts that remain outstanding. [18118]

  Mr. Bowis
  London Underground Ltd. did not exist as a separate business until 1984. The Department is not aware of any loans having been made to LUL.

  Rolling Stock Leasing Companies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons a clawback clause was not included in the contractual agreements used for the sale of the rolling stock leasing companies. [18158]

  Mr. Watts
  A proceeds clawback mechanism was rejected because it would almost certainly have led potential purchasers—most particularly venture capitalists
  419
  who offered the best bids for two of the three companies— either to withdraw altogether or at least to reduce their bids significantly.

  Additionally, such a clawback mechanism would have been complex, difficult to police and would have run counter to the policy of establishing a clean break.

  Railfreight Distribution
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the sale of Railfreight Distribution. [18157]

  Mr. Watts
  The British Railways Board has selected English Welsh and Scottish Railway as the preferred purchaser of Railfreight Distribution. The board is aiming to exchange contracts very shortly.

  National Bus Company
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sums have accrued to Her Majesty's Government as a result of the clawback clause written into the sale of the National Bus Company. [18243]

  Mr. Watts
  To date, a total of £8,055 million has been received in respect of mortgage charges placed on former National Bus Company properties under the clawback arrangement.

  Train Operating Companies (Redundancy Payments)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the public service obligation payments made by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to the train operating companies includes payments to cover the costs of staff redundancies. [18156]

  Mr. Watts
  The franchising director makes payments under the franchise agreement to private operators, which purchase the rail services in the franchise agreement. It is for the operators to manage the services and the costs, including any redundancy costs.

  The franchising director also makes payments under section 52 of the Railways Act 1993 to British Railways Board-owned operators for the provision of services prior to franchising. The calculation of grants to the BRB is based on the operator's projected costs after deducting forecast revenue and includes any redundancy costs.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 1042, what factors led him to conclude that it was doubtful that the Libyan Government would deliver the suspects for trial in The Hague under a Scottish judge under Scottish rules of evidence. [18209]

  The Prime Minister
  The Libyan Government may have said they accept the holding of the Lockerbie trial in a third country, and a trial in The Hague is one such proposal. But they have not said that they will ensure the appearance of the accused at any such trial. Despite agreeing in 1993 that a trial in Scotland would be fair, they have argued that they cannot compel the accused to 420
  stand trial there, or in the United States, in the absence of a bilateral extradition agreement with either country. The same Libyan argument would apply to The Hague, there being no extradition agreement between Libya and the Netherlands.

  I conclude, after five years of Libyan prevarication over delivering the suspects for trial in Scotland, that it is extremely doubtful that they would surrender them for trial in a third country.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the contracts awarded by(a) the diplomatic wing of his Department and (b) ODA to (i) EDS, (ii) Andersens, (iii) BMI, (iv) Capita and (v) Sema since 1992 and the broad function to be carried out by the contractor and the value of the contract in each case. [17602]

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is in the table.

  Diplomatic wing, FCO

  (a) (i) EDS

  We have placed 33 contracts with EDS since 1992 for IT systems integration services, individual values (£) as follows:

  1. 8,114

  2. 17,881

  3. 604

  4. 3,376

  5. 80,760

  6. 13,832

  7. 4,682

  8. 4,682

  9. 4,682

  10. 82,746

  11. 8,788

  12. 72,950

  13. 7,562

  14. 9,265

  15. 11,950

  16. 2,100

  17. 8,200

  18. 58,990

  19. 1,254

  20. 35,726

  21. 11,000

  22. 4,885

  23. 4,500

  24. 54,000

  25. 4,720

  26. 17,881

  27. 9,992

  28. 1,900

  29. 7,000

  30. 7,500

  31. 2,400

  421

  32. 2,380

  33. 3,080

  (ii) Andersens—nil.

  (iii) BMI—nil.

  (iv) CAPITA

  Thirty-nine contracts (the more recent deriving from a frameworked agreement advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities in 1995 for skills in benchmarking, process re-engineering, market testing, change management, strategic planning support and other services) have been placed since 1992 for management consultancy services. Individual values (£) as follows:

  1. 7,815

  2. 1,921

  3. 1,692

  4. 7,590

  5. 9,502

  6. 214,360

  7. 23,100

  8. 8,328

  9. 16,440

  10. 33,413

  11. 8,955

  12. 10,448

  13. 465

  14. 320

  15. 6,643

  16. 12,800

  17. 10,000

  18. 10,809

  19. 14,226

  20. 36,556

  21. 14,990

  22. 1,428

  23. 10,285

  24. 300

  25. 2,445

  26. 2,445

  27. 285

  28. 27,000

  29. 50,760

  30. 17,100

  31. 13,700

  32. 13,700

  33. 23,280

  34. 14,535

  35. 27,740

  36. 40,904

  37. 19,619

  38. 9,141

  39. 85,100

  (v) SEMA

  We have placed 6 contracts with Sema since 1992, individual values (£) as follows:

  1. 76,359

  2. 11,550

  3. 15,466

  4. 74,973

  5. 47,000

  6. 4,180

  422

  Aid wing, FCO

  (b) (i) EDS—nil.

  (ii) ANDERSENS.

  Two contracts placed with Anderson Consulting since 1992,
  individual values (£) as follows:

  1. 46,000.

  2. 1.330,000.

  (iii) BMI—nil.

  (iv) CAPITA.

  Two contracts placed with Capital since 1992, individual values
  (£) as follows:

  1.29,050.

  2. 81,058

  (v) SEMA—nil.

  Embassies and High Commissions
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria govern the circumstances in which United Kingdom embassies and high commissions are staffed by personnel not from his Department or the Department of Trade and Industry; and if he will list those posts which are permanently staffed by such officials. [17707]

  Mr. Hanley
  FCO and DTI staff are chosen to fill overseas vacancies on the basis of their suitability, using open, competitive boarding procedures. When specialist knowledge or expertise is needed, officers from other Government Departments are, on occasions, also invited to bid.

  Service attaché and support posts are permanently staffed by Ministry of Defence personnel. A proportion of entry clearance manager and officer posts are permanently staffed by members of HM immigration service. On the basis of available information, there are currently 371 MOD staff serving in 74 missions and 87 immigration service staff in 33 missions

  In addition, there is a small number of specialist posts—for example, drug and airline liaison officers—some of which are wholly or partially funded by other Government Departments or external bodies, and filled permanently by their staff. No definitive list is currently available. One is being compiled and will be sent to the hon. Member at a later date.

  UK MISSIONS IN WHICH CERTAIN POSTS ARE PERMANENTLY STAFFED BY MOD

  Abu Dhabi

  Accra

  Amman

  Ankara

  Athens

  Bahrain

  Bangkok

  Beirut

  Belgrade

  Berne

  Bogota

  Bonn

  Brasilia

  Bratislava

  Bridgetown

  BMATT Bridgetown

  423

  Brussels Embassy

  Brussels, UKDEL NATO and WEU

  Bucharest

  Budapest

  Cairo

  Canberra

  Caracas

  Colombo

  Copenhagen

  Damascus

  Dhaka

  Doha

  Dubai

  Dublin

  Guatemala

  Hague

  Harare

  Helsinki

  Islamabad

  Jakarta

  Kampala

  Katmandu

  Kiev

  Kingston

  Kinshasa

  Kuala Lumpur

  Kuwait

  Lisbon

  Madrid

  Manila

  Mexico City

  Moscow

  Muscat

  Nairobi

  New Delhi

  Nicosia

  Oslo

  Ottawa

  Paris

  Peking

  Prague

  Pretoria

  Rabat

  Riga

  Riyadh

  Rome

  Santiago

  Seoul

  Singapore

  Sofia

  Stockholm

  Tel Aviv

  Tokyo

  Vienna

  Warsaw

  Washington

  Wellington

  Zagreb

  424
  UK missions in which certain posts are permanently staffed by members of HM immigration service

  Abuja

  Accra

  Addis Ababa

  Amman

  Bankok

  Banjul

  Bombay

  Cairo

  Casablanca

  Colombo

  Dar Es Salaam

  Dhaka

  Dubai

  Dusseldorf

  Islamabad

  Istanbul

  Kampala

  Karachi

  Khartoum

  Kiev

  Kingston

  Kuwait

  Lagos

  Lusaka

  Madras

  Manila

  Moscow

  Nairobi

  New Delhi

  Paris

  Peking

  Sana'a

  St. Petersburg

  Metin Goktepe
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a British official attended the hearing on 6 February of the judicial investigation into the death of the Turkish journalist Metin Goktepe; and if he will make a statement. [17856]

  Mr. David Davis
  No British official was able to attend the Goktepe trial on 6 February. But we continue to follow this case closely, and we hope to be able to send an observer to attend the next session of the trial on 11 April.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish Government about the alleged use of torture by police officers on witnesses of Metin Goktepe's death on 8 January. [17852]

  Mr. David Davis
  Our embassy in Ankara has raised a number of aspects about the Goktepe trial with the Turkish authorities. These include reports that police officers used torture on witnesses. We will continue to follow this case closely.
  425

  Seals (Russia)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 November 1996,Official Report, column 76, on the use of seals by the Russian authorities, if the information on research activities has now been provided. [17909]

  Mr. Hanley
  Despite repeated approaches from our embassy in Moscow, the Russian authorities have still not provided information on research activities on seals. Our embassy was most recently advised by the Russians on 31 January that the information was not yet available. We continue to press for this.

  EU Information Offices
  Mr. Lamont
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many EU information offices there are; what are their running costs; and what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to reduce the number of offices. [18078]

  Mr. David Davis
  We believe that the public should have ready access to factual information about the EU so that the debate on these important issues is as informed as possible.

  Information about EU policy is available from Government Departments, public libraries and other information providers, including Commission representations in member states and third countries.

  European Council
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 24 February. [17960]

  Mr. David Davis
  Twenty-three of the 25 A points in document 6052/97, the text of which will be placed in the House as soon as it is available, were approved. They included the decision to sign an interim association agreement and joint statement on political dialogue with the PLO. Denmark entered waiting reserves on two points; an EU/Mexico agreement on control of precursors and maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin.

  The Council noted the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament listed on documents 5091/97 and 5094/97. Copies of these documents will also be placed in the House as soon as they are available.

  The Commission and presidency gave an oral presentation to the Council on the preparations of the second meeting of Foreign Ministers within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, which will be held in Malta on 15 and 16 April. The Council underlined the importance of the Malta meeting as an opportunity to take stock of progress and to set priorities for the future. The Council welcomed the signature of the EC-PLO interim association agreement, which was signed by Yasser Arafat for the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, the Commission and the presidency. The Council underlined its determination to conclude the negotiations with Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon as soon as possible.
  426
  The Council was unable to agree a common position for the political declaration on the structured dialogue with Cyprus. The structure dialogue meeting was therefore postponed, but the association council was held as planned.

  After lengthy discussion of the draft agreements on humane standards for leghold traps, the Council concluded that the Commission should renew its contacts with the Russian, Canadian and US authorities with a view to adapting the draft agreements to reflect a number of Council recommendations. The Commission undertook to report on the results of its further contacts, hopefully before the end of March and in any case before the Environment Council in June 1997.

  The Council noted, without debate, the Commission's report on the state of play on the US Helms-Burton Act. The Council expressed regret that the latest bilateral contacts with the USA had not produced an outcome sufficient for the EU to suspend its action in the World Trade Organisation, but underlined its willingness to seek an overall bilateral settlement and in that case to halt or suspend the panel procedure. The Commission gave a report on the successful outcome of the WTO telecoms negotiations in Geneva on 15 February.

  The Commission reported that all outstanding obstacles to South Africa's qualified accession to Lomé had been resolved in its 17 to 18 February talks with South Africa. The Council conclusions reiterated the importance of strengthening the relationship between the European Union and the Republic of South Africa through the establishment of a long-term framework of co-operation that will assist South Africa during and beyond its current transitional phase. The Council noted the resumption of negotiations in January 1997 and will consider taking advantage of the facilitating clause of article 364 of the revised Lomé IV convention, which would allow early accession without further ratification. The Council recalled its commitment that the qualified accession of South Africa to the Lomé convention will not negatively affect the interests of the current ACP membership.

  The Council discussed the overseas countries and territories mid-term review but was unable to reach agreement. The Council concluded that it would return to this at a future meeting.

  The Council called for an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian purposes in the Great Lakes region and reaffirmed the European Union's support for regional efforts to find a political solution and for the democratisation process in Zaire, noting the appointment of the Portuguese nominee, Mr. Vasconcelos, as head of the electoral unit in Kinshasa. It also asked for the Political Committee to examine the scope for a regional arms embargo. The Council welcomed the five point plan contained in UN Security Council resolution 1097 and the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Sahnoun as UN-Organisation of African Unity special representative to the Great Lakes region. It supported the efforts of African leaders, in particular President Mandela and welcomed their decision to hold a regional summit on 12 March in Nairobi.

  The Council discussed the economic situation in the Balkans, in particular the difficulties of the countries in transition in south eastern Europe and noted the measures

  427
  already taken by the European Commission to alleviate the consequences of the current crisis in Bulgaria. The Council agreed to follow the situation closely.

  The Council had an exchange of views on Albania and the possibilities for the Union to contribute to a solution to the present crisis. The Council agreed that a joint senior officials' mission with the European Commission would deliver a message reporting its concerns to the Albanian Government and the Opposition leadership.

  The Council discussed the situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in light of the fact-finding mission carried out by the presidency and the Commission in Belgrade on 20 February 1997. While acknowledging that the results of the elections of 17 November 1996 have been implemented, the council reiterated the need to implement the remaining parts of the Gonzalez report; the opening of a dialogue with the opposition on free access to the media and reform of the electorial law. The Council expressed concern about the situation in Kosovo and called upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to co-operate in the early implementation of a visit to the region by the special representative of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe chairman-in-office, Mr. Van der Stoel, and the chairman of the working group on ethnic and national communities and minorities, Ambassador Lutz. The Council agreed to return to these issues at its next session.

  The Council underlined the importance of implementing the decision on Brcko and expressed its full support for the high representative in this context. Recalling the importance of the regional approach, the Council welcomed the European Commission's report on the practical application of conditionality and called for relevant Council bodies to continue to examine this principle in preparation for further discussion at the next General Affairs Council.

  The Council noted the report of the fact-finding mission to Belarus and agreed with its recommendations. It asked the head of the mission, Mr Kosto, to pass the report's contents to Mr Lukashenko, President of Belarus.

  The Council discussed human rights in China and reaffirmed its willingness to continue a dialogue with China on this issue. The Council hoped progress would be achieved. Meanwhile, it invited the presidency to continue and intensify, in close co-operation with others, consultations and preparations already underway for the possible tabling of a resolution on human rights in China in the UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva. A decision will be taken in the light of the development of the situation.

  Under any other business, the Commission's paper on preferential trade agreements was raised. The Council noted this for discussion at the March General Affairs Council.

  The 10th ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference was held on the afternoon of Monday 24 February, preceded as usual by an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament. Discussion focused on the presidency's text on justice and home affairs. I made it clear that the real requirement was to provide for more efficient practical co-operation against, for example, criminals, drugs, illegal immigration and terrorism: there was no added value in institutional change
  428
  that simply extended the role of Community institutions and procedures in the third pillar. I emphasised the practical progress that had been made in the third pillar during the last five years, and the need to build on this.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Medical Examinations (Video-recording)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances video-recording occurs of prisoners undergoing examination in medical facilities within Her Majesty's prisons. [16356]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the circumstances in which video recording of prisoners undergoing medical examination may occur in prison in England and Wales.
  It is not our normal practice to permit the video recording of prisoners undergoing medical examination. Exceptionally video recordings have been made during psychotherapeutic sessions to assist the therapeutic process. These recordings were made by the psychiatrist with the knowledge and consent of the individual prisoners concerned.

  Whitemoor Prison (Escape)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which account relating to the escape of six prisoners from Whitemoor prison on the evening of 9 September 1994 has been logged as the official account; [17126]

  (2) how many different accounts have been given by prison officers relating to the escape of six prisoners from Whitemoor prison; and if he will make a statement; [17127]

  (3) at what time the escape at Whitemoor prison on 9 September 1994 commenced; and at what time the video taped recordings of the escape began; [17128]

  (4) in whose custody is the video tape from camera 27 recording part of the escape of six prisoners from Whitemoor prison on 9 September 1994; and if he will make a statement; [17129]

  (5) if the assistant governor of Whitemoor prison entered the control room at 20:15 hours on 9 September 1994; [17130]

  (6) why the second officer in the control room of Whitemoor prison on the evening of 9 September 1994 during the escape of six prisoners was not called to give evidence to (a) the police and (b) the Woodcock inquiry team. [17131]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answers 25 February 1997]: The circumstances surrounding the escape from Her Majesty's prison Whitemoor on 9 September 1994 were the subject of a full inquiry by Sir John Woodcock. He was asked to report his conclusions and make recommendations on any action that should be taken to avoid any recurrence. The report of Sir John Woodcock's

  429
  inquiry was published on 19 December 1994 and a copy is available in the Library. The actual escape and the shooting of a prison officer were the subject of a separate criminal investigation by the Cambridgeshire constabulary.

  I understand that neither Sir John Woodcock nor the Cambridgeshire constabulary was able to establish the precise time at which the escape began. However, it appears that staff in the emergency control room became aware of the escape at about 8:09pm and that video recording of the camera footage was manually activated shortly afterwards. The duty governor entered the emergency control room at approximately 8:15pm. I understand that none of the three video recorders in operation in the emergency control room that evening recorded images from camera 27.

  The conduct of the Woodcock inquiry and of the police investigation are matters for Sir John Woodcock and the Cambridgeshire constabulary respectively. However, I understand that all five members of staff in the emergency control room at the time of the escape were interviewed by the Cambridgeshire constabulary.

  Belmarsh Prison (Books and Periodicals)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons prisoners held in the special secure unit at HM prison Belmarsh have been informed that from 1 March they will not be allowed to receive books, magazines and newspapers. [17912]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Keven McNarmara, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisoners held in the special secure unit at Belmarsh prison.
  Prisoners in the special secure unit (SSU) at Belmarsh will not be prevented from receiving books, newspapers and magazines from 1 March. The change in procedure from 1 March, which applies to all prisoners at Belmarsh and not just those in the SSU, involves a restriction on the volume of combustible material held by prisoners in cells, and a restriction on the source through which prisoners may acquire newspapers and magazines.
  These changes have been introduced to (a) reduce the risk of fire from accumulated material in cells; (b) improved security and the checking of incoming mail; and (c) speed up the distribution of publications to prisoners.
  Prisoners were informed of these changes on 5 February and supplied with details of an authorised newsagent with whom they can place orders. The procedures also allow for the supply of magazines or newspapers from overseas for foreign nationals.

  Metropolitan Police Manpower
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's analysis supporting his oral answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 1036, that more than 800 extra constables have been made available to Metropolitan police divisions for operational duties since 1992; and what functions have been taken into account in compiling the figures. [17894]
  430
  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: The figure which I used in my oral answer was derived from the data set out below.

  Actual number of uniformed constables posted to division:

  1 April 1992: 13,441

  31 January 1997: 14,257

  Increase: 816.

  The 1992 figure excludes officers on court duty who appeared on divisional strength, but are now assigned to headquarters.

  Roisin McAliskey
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Roisin McAliskey's(a) father and (b) mother will be able to be present at her confinement. [17911]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the attendance of Ms Roisin McAliskey's father and mother at her confinement.
  Women prisoners are permitted to be accompanied by a birthing partner during their confinement. This policy applies equally to Roisin McAliskey as to other prisoners.
  Ms McAliskey has asked for two close relatives to be present. This has been agreed subject to the policy of the hospital in which she will give birth.

  Policing (London)
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of policing levels in London; which areas he has assessed as being(a) over-policed and (b) under-policed; and if he will make a statement. [16221]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The deployment of officers across London, in order to meet the agreed objectives set in the annual policing plan and to use police resources most effectively to combat crime in the capital, is a matter for the Commissioner and his senior officers. My right hon. and learned Friend and I regularly meet the Commissioner to discuss, among other matters, the performance of the Metropolitan police. I look forward to seeing the Commissioner's annual report on the Metropolitan police's performance during 1996–97.

  My assessment is that policing levels in London continue to improve. Since 1979, the Government have approved increases in Metropolitan police spending worth nearly 90 per cent. in real terms. The settlement for 1997–98 provides an extra £55 million over the 1996–97 allocation. This represents a 3.4 per cent. increase. The Commissioner, in welcoming the settlement, said that it would enable him to increase officer strength during 1997 to at leat 27,400. He then aims to hold that level to the end of the financial year. Latest nationally published statistics from the Audit Commission show spending on policing in the Metropolitan police district of £211 per head of population, compared with the national average

  431
  of £100. The figure in Surrey is around £105 per head of population. Audit Commission statistics also show that the number of police officers available for ordinary duty per 1,000 per population is 3.5 in the Metropolitan police district, well above the national average of 2.1.

  There are now around 4,500 more police officers in the Metropolitan police than there were in 1979. This is an increase of 20 per cent. More uniformed constables are now deployed to divisions than at the time of the last election. Moreover, a higher proportion of their time is spent on street duties: 35 per cent. compared to 32 per cent. in 1992 and 26 per cent. in 1984. The Commissioner's restructuring exercise has slimmed down headquarters staffing levels, releasing hundreds of officers for front-line duties.

  The Metropolitan police's operational performance continues to improve. The number of recorded notifiable offences has fallen by over 10 per cent. since 1992–93. Successful campaigns to target burglars, Operation Bumblebee, and street robbery, Operation Eagle Eye, have been complemented by Operation Crackdown, targeting the illegal supply and demand for drugs. These three offences, which impact so seriously on the quality of life for Londoners, feature as three of the six objectives in the agreed policing plan for 1996–97. The inclusion of drugs as an agreed objective for 1996–97 is a direct response to the Government White Paper, "Tackling Drugs Together". Figures from the Metropolitan police show that homicides are now at their lowest level since 1981. There were 132 murders in the capital in 1996—down 25 per cent. since 1991. Domestic burglary has fallen by 20 per cent. since 1991 and the overall clear-up rate has risen from one in six in 1991 to nearly one in four in the 12 months to November 1996. Moreover, the results from Operation Eagle eye indicate a slowing down in the growth of street robbery and an increase in the detection rate from 10 per cent. to 19 per cent. The latest Audit Commission report also shows that Londoners enjoy the best emergency response from their police of any major city in the country.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) police constables in the Metropolitan police were (i) budgeted for and (ii) in post in March of each year since 1992; and what are the (1) numbers budgeted for and (2) estimated numbers in post for March 1997. [16217]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 17 February 1997]: The information requested is given in the table. The Commissioner, in welcoming the settlement for 1997–98, said that it would enable him to increase officer strength during 1997 to 27,400. He will then aim to maintain that level for the rest of the financial year.

  Police establishment at 31 March1

  Actual strength at 31 March

  Year

  Total

  Constables

  Total

  Constables

  1992

  28,471

  21,495

  28,484

  21,142

  1993

  28,308

  21,388

  28,290

  21,031

  1994

  28,274

  21,463

  28,135

  21,208

  1995

  28,099

  21,316

  27,945

  21,433

  1996

  1—

  1—

  27,834

  21,588

  1997 March2

  1—

  1—

  27,185

  20,989

  1997

  September2

  1—

  1—

  27,400

  21,190

  432
  1 The police establishment provided up to 31 March 1995 was that set annually by the Home Secretary. Since 1 April 1995, the settlement for all police forces has been based on the new national funding formula covering total resources. Police establishments are no longer set centrally.

  2 Estimated.

  Young Offenders
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons aged under 18 years were charged with a criminal offence in 1996 in(a) England and (b) Wales. [17697]

  Mr. Maclean
  Data on the number of people charged are not collected centrally.

  However, 1995 the latest available prosecution data for indictable offences by age and area are published in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1995 Supplementary Volume 3"—tables S3.3(B) and S3.3(C).

  Copies are available in the Library.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [16798]

  Mr. Howard
  The number of questions answered by the Home Office in each Session since 1982–83 is:

  Session

  Written

  Oral (including supplementaries)

  Total

  1982–83

  1,471

  260

  1,731

  1983–84

  3,512

  431

  3,943

  1984–85

  3,092

  367

  3,459

  1985–86

  3,466

  325

  3,791

  1986–87

  2,005

  223

  2,228

  1987–88

  3,846

  414

  4,260

  1988–89

  3,549

  274

  3,823

  1989–90

  3,252

  212

  3,464

  1990–91

  2,245

  238

  2,483

  1991–92

  1,351

  134

  1,485

  1992–93

  4,345

  361

  4,706

  1993–94

  3,348

  267

  3,615

  1994–95

  3,187

  278

  3,465

  1995–96

  2,831

  217

  3,048

  Figures for 1979–80 and 1981–82 are not available.

  The remainder of the information requested by the hon. Member could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  EU Citizens (Employment Applications)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his target period for dealing with European Union citizens' applications to register as exercising their economic rights by working in the United Kingdom; and to what extent the target is being met. [18089]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Targets are set for the issue of residence permits to European Economic Area nationals under the provisions of the various European Community rights of residence directives. Performance against the
  433
  targets is published in the annual report of the immigration and nationality directorate. Performance in 1995–96 was as follows:

  Completion target1

  Performance

  60 per cent. in 1 month

  35 per cent.

  80 per cent. in 2 months

  63 per cent.

  100 per cent. in 6 months

  94 per cent.

  1 From date of receipt of application.

  Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [17068]

  Mr. Howard
  The cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that have been reported as stolen or are otherwise unaccounted for in 1996–97 are:

  Equipment/furniture

  Value £

  25 items below £5,000

  13,046

  Information technology equipment

  27 items below £5,000

  31,488

  Items stolen costing £5,000 or more

  5 vehicles stolen (in separate incidents)

  47,203

  1 portable personnel computer

  5,400

  Total value of losses

  97,137

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16975]

  Mr. Howard
  The Home Office has set up two executive agencies since April 1992: the Prison Service and the Fire Service College.

  Much of the work involved in establishing these agencies was absorbed within the normal duties of officials and the costs were not separately recorded. A dedicated unit was, however, established in the Prison Service to prepare for agency status. Its estimated salary cost was £220,000.

  Police Officers (Secondment to Department)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving police officers are currently on secondment to his Department. [17623]

  Mr. Maclean
  The most recent figures relate to October 1996, when there were 682 police officers seconded to the Home Office, comprising two chief constables, nine assistant chief constables, two commanders, 71 superintendents, 52 chief inspectors, 90 inspectors, 237 sergeants and 219 police constables, of 434
  whom 50 per cent. are in the national directorate of police training and a further 30 per cent. in the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

  Prisons (Rule 43)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prison inmates were on rule 43 at their own request on 17 February. [17588]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many (a) male and (b) female prison inmates were on Rule 43 at their own request on 17 February.
  The latest available information is for 31 January 1997. On that day there were 758 males and 18 females held on Prison Rule 43 or Young Offender Institution Rule 46 for their own interest or protection.

  Prisons (Drug Testing)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list each organisation short-listed for the contract to perform mandatory drug testing, indicating the interval each proposes between a mandatory drug test being carried out and the prison authorities being informed of the result, and the proposed cost per test; [17492]

  (2) when is the next round of tendering for drug testing in prisons scheduled to take place. [17494]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the organisations short-listed for the contract to perform mandatory drug testing, their proposed costs and turnaround times, and when the next round of tendering for the drug testing contract will take place.
  The organisations which were short-listed in 1995 for the mandatory drug testing contract were:
  The Laboratory of the Government Chemist
  The Forensic Science Service
  The tendering specification required that screening results should be communicated to individual prisons within two days of receipt of samples by the contractor. Both those short-listed confirmed their ability to meet such a timetable. Prices submitted by bidders must be treated as commercially restricted.
  The contract was awarded to the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in December 1995. This has a review date of 1 April 1997, with provision for extension for up to a further two years. No decision has yet been taken about when the next tendering exercise will be held.
  435
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average interval between a mandatory drug test being carried out and the prison authorities being informed of the test result; [17491]

  (2) if he will list each organisation which carried out drug testing for the Prison Service before the contract to perform mandatory drug testing was awarded; what was (a) the average length of time between a drug test being carried out and the prison authorities being informed of the result for each organisation and (b) the cost per test. [17493]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about which organisations carried out drug testing for the Prison Service prior to the award of the present contract, the interval between a mandatory drug test being carried out and the prison authorities being informed of the result, and the cost per test.
  Prior to the award of a contract to the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in December 1995, all laboratory urine analysis for the mandatory drug testing programme was carried out by two companies: Medscreen and Scientifics.
  The average length of time between a prisoner's sample being taken at the establishment and the screening test taking place at the laboratory is estimated as four days for Scientifics, four days for Medscreen and seven days for LGC. It is important to note that establishments may store samples in a refrigerator for up to seven days awaiting a sufficient number to justify calling out a courier. The Prison Service requirement is that the interval between receipt of the sample at the laboratory and notifying the outcome of the screening test to the prison should be no more than two working days; in the majority of cases that is met.
  It would be inappropriate to disclose the costs of testing; to do so would be likely to prejudice a future tendering competition.

  Prisoners (Birth)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners gave birth in each year since 1992(a) by the prison in which each woman was held immediately prior to giving birth and (b) in total. [17498]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of women prisoners who have given birth each year since 1992.
  Information collected about births was not recorded by individual prison establishment before 1994–95.
  The tables attached summarise the numbers of babies born to women prisoners (a) in each year since 1994 by individual prisons and (b) in each year since 1991–92 in total.
  436

  Table 1: Number of babies born to women prisoners by prison

  Prison

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Askham Grange

  13

  112

  Holloway

  31

  32

  Low Newton

  1

  1

  New Hall

  2

  7

  Risley

  5

  4

  Styal

  11

  8

  Total

  63

  64

  1 Includes a set of twins.

  Table 2: Number of babies born to women prisoners in total

  Number

  1991–92

  56

  1992–93

  29

  1993–94

  56

  1994–95

  63

  1995–96

  64

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners gave birth in each year since 1992 while in prison; and in which establishments these births occurred. [17499]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of women prisoners who have given birth while in prison in each year since 1992.
  It is very rare for a woman prisoner to give birth in prison. The normal practice is to move the prisoner to a National Health Service hospital when she is in labour.
  The most recent case of a woman giving birth in prison was at Risley prison on 23 February 1997 and prior to that at Styal prison in 1993.

  New Prisons (Construction)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new prisons are at present under construction; where they are sited; and when they are due to be commissioned. [17586]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about new prisons.
  There are three new prisons under construction using the Private Finance Initiative, as follows:

  Name of prison

  Location

  Type

  Number of places

  Planned opening date

  HMP Altcourse

  Liverpool

  Category B local

  600

  January 1998

  HMP Lowdham

  Nottingham

  Category B training

  500

  February 1998

  Grange HMP Parc

  Bridgend

  Category B local

  800

  November 1997

  437

  Prisoners (Restraints)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners were put under restraint in each year since 1992 (i) by prison (ii) by prison type, and (iii) in total. [17497]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners put under restraint in each year since 1992.
  This information is not collected centrally. It could only be made available at disproportionate cost.

  Number of babies held in each prison in each year since 1992, and the average amount of time they were held in each prison

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Number of babies held each year

  Average amount of time they were held

  Number of babies held each year

  Average amount of time they were held

  Number of babies held each year

  Average amount of time they were held

  Number of babies held each year

  Average amount of time they were held

  Number of babies held each year

  Average amount off time they were held

  Number of babies held up to 24 February 1997

  Average amount of time they were held

  Styal mother and baby unit

  20

  12 months

  27

  12 months

  22

  9 months

  25

  8 months

  26

  9 months

  4

  2—

  Holloway mother and

  Figures not collected baby unit until January 1993

  25

  5 months

  48

  6 months

  40

  6 months

  29

  5 months

  9

  2—

  Askham Grange mother and baby unit

  29

  5 months

  32

  6 months

  32

  8 months

  42

  5 months

  38

  5 months

  5

  2—

  New Hall mother and baby unit (Unit opened May 1995)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  120

  3 months

  18

  4 months

  2

  2—

  Total

  49

  84

  102

  127

  111

  20

  1May to December 1995.

  2Average length of stay for 1997 not yet available.

  Police Custody Deaths
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the results of the Police Complaints Authority analysis into deaths in police custody which occurred during 1994; and if he will make a statement on his plans for a further two-year study. [17522]

  Mr. Maclean
  The data collected by the Police Complaints Authority into deaths in police custody during 1994 are incomplete but have been provided to the Home Office police research group which has recently commenced an in-depth study of deaths in police custody. This work will analyse available records of all such deaths from 1990 to the most recent. It is anticipated that the results from this research will be published late in 1997.

  Prison Visitors (Searches)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons seeking to visit a prison inmate during 1996 were(a) on being searched, found in possession of illegal drugs and (b) subsequently charged with an offence; and if he will make a statement. [17585]
  438

  Prisons (Babies)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many babies have been held in each prison in each year since 1992; and what was the average amount of time they were held in each prison. [17495]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of babies which have been held in each prison in each year since 1992; and the average amount of time they were held in prison. The information you have requested is given in the attached table.

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of persons seeking to visit a prison inmate during 1996 who were (a) on being searched, found in possession of illegal drugs and (b) subsequently charged with an offence.
  A total of 1312 visitors to prisoners during 1996 were reported to the police because they were suspected of being in possession of illegal drugs. Figures on the number of prisoners who were subsequently charged with a criminal offence are not recorded by the Prison Service centrally.

  London Prisons (Drug Finds)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug finds were made in each of the London prisons during 1996. [17587]
  439
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 28 February 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of drug finds made in each of the London prisons during 1996.
  The number of drug finds reported to Prison Service Headquarters for the London prisons during 1996 were:

  Number

  Belmarsh

  10

  Brixton

  92

  Feltham

  309

  Holloway

  103

  Pentonville

  95

  Wandsworth

  160

  Wormwood Scrubs

  193

HEALTH

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral statement of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns), of 10 February,Official Report, column 119, on Department of Health and Medical Research Council funding of multiple sclerosis over the last six years, if he will reconcile that statement with the answer to the hon. Member for

  "Cold related conditions" in December and January—main diagnosis.

  Estimated number of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs), ordinary admissions and day cases combined, NHS hospitals, England

  Pneumonia

  Influenza

  Bronchitis

  Hypothermia

  Total1

  December 1989

  13,469

  2,327

  2,147

  216

  18,159

  January 1990

  7,684

  413

  1,370

  136

  9,603

  December 1990

  8,418

  150

  1,183

  239

  9,989

  January 1991

  7,778

  213

  1,162

  262

  9,415

  December 1991

  9,404

  188

  1,302

  205

  11,098

  January 1992

  8,759

  337

  1,108

  171

  10,375

  December 1992

  7,425

  80

  1,021

  239

  8,766

  January 1993

  7,973

  88

  1,110

  151

  9,322

  December 1993

  10,023

  401

  1,301

  202

  11,927

  January 1994

  8,018

  108

  1,115

  159

  9,399

  December 1994

  9,197

  83

  1,270

  195

  10,745

  January 1995

  8,842

  140

  1,237

  218

  10,437

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES):

  ICD9 code 480–486 (Pneumonia); 487 (Influenza); 490–491 (Bronchitis); 991.6 (Hypothermia).

  1 Some totals do not add up because of rounding.
  440
  Pendle of 10 December 1996, Official Report, column 151, setting out Department of Health and MRC funding on MS. [15897]

  Mr. Burns
  [holding answer 14 February 1997]: I regret that, due to a clerical error, the figure quoted in the oral statement on 10 February 1997 at column 119 should have been just over £1 million and not the figure of £2 million used.

  The hon. Member may be interested to know that the Medical Research Council also spent £6,280,000 in 1995–96 on research under the broader headings of autoimmune disorders and diseases of the central nervous system and is providing £4.9 million in core and capital building funding, and £1,840,000 for on-going research, for the MRC interdisciplinary centre in brain repair, Cambridge which carries out work on neurodegenerative diseases in a multidisciplinary environment.

  Cold-related Illnesses
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what have been the excess winter treatment rates for cold-relates illnesses by general practitioners in each of the past 10 years. [17471]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received hospital treatment as(a) in-patients and (b) out-patients for cold-related illnesses for December 1996 and January 1997; and what were the figures for the same period in each of the last 10 years. [17383]

  Mr. Horam
  For the purpose of this question, "cold related conditions" have been defined as pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis and hypothermia. The information available for in-patients is shown in the table and covers the period 1989–90 to 1994–95. Data for out-patients are not available centrally.
  441
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received treatment by NHS doctors for cold-related illnesses for the period December 1996 and January 1997; and what were the figures for the same months in each of the last 10 years. [17393]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the information in the replies given to him today on cold-related illnesses.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the excess winter hospital treatment rates for cold-related illnesses for(a) in-patients and (b) out-patients in each of the last 10 years. [17380]

  Mr. Horam
  Data in the form of excess winter treatment rates are not available centrally.

  Nursing and Midwifery Students
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pre-registration nursing and midwifery students who commenced training as initial entrants by means of(a) salaried student places (b) Project 2000 and (c) undergraduate study (i) qualified and (ii) registered with the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in each of the last five years. [17677]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for England for the information that is available on the numbers entering training and qualifying, and to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for the information that is available on the numbers of qualified nurses who registered with the council.

  Second-level Registered Nurses
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current number of second-level registered nurses; and how many are undertaking training to convert to first-level registration. [17678]

  Mr. Horam
  There were 34,470 whole-time equivalent second level nursing midwifery and health visiting staff employed by the national health service hospital and community health services in England as at 30 September 1995—the latest available figures.

  The number of second level registered nurses undertaking training to convert to first level registration is not centrally available. I refer the hon. Member to the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting who record information relating to student nurse numbers.

  NHS Non-clinical Managers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of non-clinical managers in the NHS earning over £30,000 per year were women in each year since 1991. [17679]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not available centrally. In September 1995, 50.9 per cent. of administrative managers employed by the hospital and community health services in England were female.
  442

  Mental Health
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on mental health in(a) the acute and (b) the community sector in each health authority area in each of the last three years. [17682]

  Mr. Burns
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Emergency Patients
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency patients were transported more than 50 miles to receive hospital treatment in each of the last 18 months; and how many subsequently died. [17684]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Sir Harold Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of new variant CJD have occurred in each year since 1990, broken down by age groups and local authority areas. [17801]

  Mr. Horam
  The total number of definite and probable cases of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease which have occurred since 1990 is 16, of which three died in 1995, 10 died in 1996 and three are still alive. The age range at death is from 19 to 50. The release of detailed data on the age and geographical location of the cases would, given the small numbers involved, put at risk the confidentiality of patients and their families. Cases of nvCJD have been found throughout the United Kingdom, and the distribution of cases of nvCJD by geographical location does not suggest a significant excess in any particular area.

  Forest Healthcare Trust
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rate of return on assets has been produced by the Forest Healthcare trust in each year since its establishment. [18083]

  Mr. Horam
  The rates of return of Forest Healthcare national health service trust are as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1992–93

  10.7

  1993–94

  4.5

  1994–95

  5.8

  1995–96

  2.9

  Ecstasy
  Mr. Bernard Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of drugs about the dangers of taking the drug known as Ecstasy; and if he will make a statement. [18598]

  Mr. Burns
  The Government have received advice from the council on this matter.
  443
  The council takes the view that the unpredictability of the effects of taking Ecstasy—MDMA—including the possibility of death, means that there is cause for serious concern about the risks involved.

  The council advises that, in contrast to the desired effects of the drug, there have also been regular reports of serious short-term effects. First-ever epileptic fits, panic attacks, paranoid states and confusional episodes are well known and often seen in some accident and emergency departments. These short-term disorders are potentially serious, although they are usually amenable to treatment.

  The council reports that long-term effects which have been observed include permanent visual changes, depression and panic attacks. Some individuals will be at risk of developing psychotic illness.

  Post mortems on some individuals who have died in circumstances associated with the drug have suggested direct damage to the liver and heart. The deaths which have occurred have been unpredictable and sporadic and seen usually to have been brought on either by hypothermia—overheating—and the complications which follow or, very rarely, through excessive water consumption which has led to acute water intoxication.

  The council advises that other similar drugs such as MDA or MDEA may well carry similar or greater risks. Misuse of Ecstasy in combination with other drugs or alcohol will have a tendency to increase the risks. The risks of dehydration and overheating are likely to be exaggerated by high ambient temperatures and crowding.

  The council advises that Ecstasy tablet seized in this country have not contained other harmful substances. The harmful effects are as a result of MDMA itself.

  The Department, through the Health Education Authority, is using the advice of the council to inform its drug prevention campaign, as part of the Government's drugs strategy, "Tackling Drugs Together". The advice will also be used to inform the forthcoming advice to local authorities on improving the health and safety of young people at clubs and similar venues.

  Disabled Parents
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued, and what funding his Department provides to meet the needs of disabled parents. [18124]

  Mr. Burns
  Social services departments are empowered to provide services for disabled parents as disabled people through a range of welfare legislation, including under section 17(1)(a) of the Children Act 1989. "The Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations" volume II, paragraph 2.5 refers to that. Apart from this, the Department of Health has not produced specific guidance on the welfare legislation's application to disabled parents, but believes that the provisions are available to social services departments to use as appropriate, taking account of local and individual circumstances and priorities.

  The total resources provided for social services in England will increase by a further 4 per cent. next year to £7.7 billion, 73 per cent. more in real terms than in 1990–
  444
  91. It is for local authorities to manage and to decide on the allocation of these substantial resources in accordance with local circumstances and their own priorities.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to commission research into the numbers of disabled parents. [18120]

  Mr. Burns
  The Department of Health, through its research and development programme, is funding the research initiative, "Supporting Parents: How to Mobilise Supports to Promote Better Parenting", with a local budget of £2.5 million. One of the funded projects, which will begin work in May 1988, is "Parenting and Disability: The Role of Formal and Informal Supports". This will look fully at the types and amounts of both formal and informal support that is needed to support disabled people in their role as parents.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics he collates on the number of disabled parents(a) nationally and (b) in each local authority. [18125]

  Mr. Burns
  Routine statistics are not collected from local authorities on this topic. However, information on the presence of long-standing illness or disability within households is included in the "Health Survey for England".

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for the treatment of glaucoma were issued in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what was the net ingredient cost for each year. [16601]

  Mr. Malone
  The table provides information on the number of prescriptions dispensed, and their net ingredient cost. The rate of growth is in line with the rates for other medicines for conditions associated in particular with elderly people.

  Number of prescription items dispensed and net ingredient cost of drugs used in the treatment of glaucoma: England 1991 to 1995

  England

  Year

  Prescription items (millions)

  Net ingredient cost (£ millions)

  1991

  2.9

  21.7

  1992

  3.1

  23.2

  1993

  3.3

  24.5

  1994

  3.4

  25.4

  1995

  3.5

  26.3

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

  2. The drugs used in the treatment of glaucoma are those preparations in the British National Formulary (BNF) [issue 28, September 19941 therapeutic group 11.6—treatment of glaucoma. Some of these drugs may have been prescribed for other conditions.

  445
  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients(a) by region and (b) nationally received hospital in-patient or day care treatment for glaucoma in each of the last five years. [16602]

  Finished consultant episodes—Glaucoma, England

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Northern RHA

  1,241

  1,295

  1,502

  1,879

  1,518

  Yorkshire RHA

  1,193

  1,527

  1,662

  2,123

  1,854

  Trent RHA

  1,822

  1,869

  1,895

  2,214

  2,049

  East Anglian RHA

  953

  911

  839

  1,031

  1,148

  North-west Thames RHA

  746

  1,099

  1,116

  1,152

  934

  North-east Thames RHA

  673

  703

  646

  904

  2,928

  South-east Thames RHA

  1,113

  1,397

  1,987

  1,871

  1,584

  South-west Thames RHA

  847

  1,072

  1,186

  1,271

  1,126

  Wessex RHA

  1,192

  1,296

  1,345

  1,581

  1,416

  Oxford RHA

  809

  860

  1,003

  1,304

  1,572

  South Western RHA

  1,437

  1,553

  1,668

  1,983

  1,998

  West Midlands RHA

  1,897

  2,144

  2,511

  2,372

  2,538

  Mersey RHA

  828

  1,074

  1,071

  1,446

  1,462

  North Western RHA

  1,928

  2,275

  2,894

  3,131

  2,999

  SHAS

  794

  894

  1,416

  1,616

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England total

  17,474

  19,967

  22,941

  25,880

  25,125

  Notes:

  Figures include ordinary admissions and day cases in NHS hospitals, are rounded and may not total.

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

  Finished consultant episodes are defined as the period that a patient spends under the continuous care of a specific consultant in a specific health care provider (which may be in more than one hospital within that health care provider).

  Special Health Authorities (SHAs) were abolished on 1 April 1994.

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

  Operations (Cancellations)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library figures(a) by district health authority, (b) by regional health authority and (c) in total, of the number of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to hospital and the number of those patients who were not readmitted within a month for the third quarter of 1996–97. [16603]

  Mr. Horam
  The information will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Nurses (Training)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pre-registration nursing and midwifery students who commenced training as initial entrants by means of(a) salaried student places, (b) Project 2000 and (c) undergraduate study gave up their training in (i) the first year, (ii) the second year and (iii) the third year, in each of the last five years. [16604]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 20 February at column 703.

  Long-term Care (Legislation)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about his proposed draft Bill for long-term care; what conclusions he has now reached concerning the financial aspects of his proposals; and when he intends to publish the draft Bill. [16982]

  Mr. Burns
  A policy statement to follow up the consultation paper, "A New Partnership for Care in Old Age", and a draft Bill will be published shortly.
  446
  Mr. Horam
  The latest available information for finished consultant episodes is set out in the table. Information on numbers of patients is not available centrally.

  Buckinghamshire Health Authority
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the funding of Buckinghamshire health authority over the last three years. [18229]

  Mr. Horam
  The final cash limits for Buckinghamshire district health authority for the last three years are as follows.

  £000

  1993–94

  190,475

  1994–95

  196,860

  1995–96

  202,365

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reasons for his decision that Buckinghamshire health authority's deficit should be recouped by 31 March 1998 rather than the date originally planned. [18228]

  Mr. Malone
  All health authorities must remain within their allocated annual cash limit. However, a health authority might report in its accruals accounts a deficit position. In this situation it must agree a recovery plan with the national health service executive regional office to regain financial equilibrium. The plan could be reassessed to take account of changed circumstances.

  Health Authority Finance
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in rank order health authorities in England showing in each case the amount in both cash
  447
  and percentage terms by which that authority's planned funding for 1997–98 exceeds or falls below its capitation target; and if he will make a statement. [18227]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many investigations are proceeding into allegations of transfer of prescriptions by multiple pharmacies from the pharmacy branch which received them for processing at another branch(a) in the same health authority and (b) in another health authority to maximise the professional practice allowance. [18121]

  Mr. Malone
  Comprehensive information about such cases is not held centrally. Cases may be investigated by both health authorities and the Prescription Pricing Authority fraud investigation unit. Enquiries made of the PPA fraud investigation unit indicate that no current investigations are known to be underway.

WALES

  Pupil Exclusions (Clwyd)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the(a) permanent and (b) temporary pupils exclusions in the former local education authority of Clwyd for the years 1993 to 1996; and if he will make a statement. [16951]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Returns from the former Clwyd county council show that, in the academic year 1994–95, there were 81 permanent exclusions from maintained schools in the authority. In 1995–96, a total of 101 permanent exclusions were reported by Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy unitary authorities. Information in respect of earlier years and fixed term exclusions is not available centrally.

  High Technology Companies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many high technology companies have been attracted to Wales since 1992 giving their locations; and if he will make a statement. [17502]

  Mr. Hague
  Since January 1992, over 800 inward investment projects have been attracted to Wales promising over 40,000 new jobs, over 26,000 safeguarded jobs and capital investment of over £6.8 billion. The projects cover a wide range of activities which might be defined as high technology and include projects by the following companies:

  Company

  Destination

  General Electric

  Nantgarw

  Angrisense

  Treforest

  Surface Technology Systems

  Imperial Park

  Polyclonal Antibodies

  Llandysul

  Nimbus Records

  Cwmbran

  Xidex

  Brynmawr

  Bayer Diagnostic

  Bridgend

  Align-Rite

  Bridgend

  British Aerospace

  Broughton

  British Airways

  Rhoose

  448

  Company

  Destination

  Ford

  Bridgend

  Perkin Elmer

  Llantrisant

  Newport Wafer-Fab

  Newport

  LG

  Imperial Park

  ASAT

  Crumlin

  Northern Telecom

  Newport

  Raytheon

  Broughton

  Hoya

  Wrexham

  Pilkington Micronics

  Deeside

  Unemployment (Clywd)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many long-term unemployed men and women there are in(a) Wales and (b) in the area covered by the former county of Clywd. [17504]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Long-term unemployment, January 19971

  Male

  Female

  Clwyd

  3,024

  650

  Wales

  26,568

  4,931

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics.

  1 Claimant unemployed for 52 weeks or over. These figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many unemployed people there currently are in Wales aged 24 years and under. [17505]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In January 1997, there were 27,894 people in Wales on the claimant unemployment count aged 24 and under. This figure is not seasonally adjusted.

  River Dee Estuary
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the impact upon the(a) Deeside communities and (b) the River Dee estuary environment of proposed construction of a power station. [17506]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Any developer of a power station with a generating capacity in excess of 50 mw is required to supply an environmental impact assessment in support of its application. The assessment needs to include an analysis of the effects upon the local communities and environment.

  Aerospace and Air Passenger Transport Industries
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of the number of jobs connected with the aerospace and air passenger transport industries in Wales. [17503]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  According to the latest annual employment survey there were 48,000 employees in the aerospace and air transport industries' in Wales in September 1995.

  11992 standard industrial classification, classes 35.30, 62.10–62.20, 63.11 and 63.23.
  449

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 24 February,Official Report, columns 91–92, if he will seek out the procedure for a health authority investigation of allegations of transfer of prescriptions from one branch of a multiple pharmacy in another health authority area for processing in another branch in the area of the first health authority for the purpose of making a fraudulent claim for the professional practice allowances for community pharmacies; what provisions govern the obtaining of evidence from individual patients named on the prescription forms; and what assessment he has made of the ways in which the investigation procedure could be simplified. [18128]

  Mr. Hague
  The detailed procedure would be a matter for the health authority or authorities concerned, in accordance with their own fraud policies. They are required at an appropriate stage in their investigation to notify their statutory auditors and the police. I have been advised that the same duty of confidence applies to prescription forms as to other kinds of medical record.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the Bro Taf and Gwent health authorities about adjustment to their respective budgets for 1996–97 for prescription items arising from investigations into the transfer of prescriptions from a Gwent branch of a multiple pharmacy for processing at a cardiff branch of the same pharmacy; [18122]

  (2) what representations he has received from the chairman of the Bro Taf health authority and the Prescription Pricing Service about the cost of carrying out investigations into the alleged fraudulent transfer of prescriptions handed in at a Gwent branch of a multiple pharmacy to a Cardiff branch of the same pharmacy. [18115]

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nursery places are available in total for pre-school children in the Cardiff area. [18230]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information is not available in the form requested. In January, there were an estimated 6,119 pupils aged under five in maintained and independent schools in the area now covered by Cardiff local education authority. In addition, at 31 March 1996, there were 4,601 places at local authority day nurseries, registered day nurseries and registered playgroups.

  NHS (Private Finance Initiative)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each scheme proposed under the private finance initiative in the Welsh NHS according to the stage it has reached. [18111]

  Mr. Hague
  There are 27 proposals for capital schemes, above individual NHS trusts' delegated capital spending limits, for which trusts are developing business cases. Of those, the following table shows schemes for which outline business case approval has been given and the relevant trust is testing for private sector interest within the private finance initiative.
  450

  Trust scheme

  PFI position

  Glan y Mor/local general hospital Baglan

  Advert places in OJEC

  Powys Healthcare/Bronllys— Mid Wales Merger and Newtown hospital

  Invitation to negotiate issued

  East Glamorgan/Staff Residences for the new district general hospital at Ynys y Plwm

  Invitation to negotiate issued

  Gwynedd Community/Porthmadog community hospital

  Invitation to negotiate issued

  Velindre/radiotherapy equipment replacement

  Invitation to negotiate issued

  Glan Hafren/Chepstow neighbourhood hospital

  Preferred private sector partner selected

  Gwent Community/Nevill Hall mental health development

  Preferred private sector partner selected

  Nevill Hall/day surgery unit

  Preferred private sector partner selected

  University hospital for Wales/multi-storey car park and slip road

  Contracts signed and under construction

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nursery vouchers have been distributed to parents in the Cardiff area, to date. [18155]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  More than 85 per cent. of parents in Wales have already completed and returned their application forms for vouchers and the nursery voucher centre is starting to issue vouchers to them today. Figures relating to specific areas are not yet available.

SCOTLAND

  Paedophiles
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with relevant individuals and bodies on the subject of the notification to statutory and other bodies of the whereabouts of paedophiles. [18215]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The crime and punishment White Paper, Cm 3302, published in June 1996 described our proposed arrangements for sex offenders to register with the police. That White Paper was widely circulated and attracted comments from a considerable number of bodies and it was debated by the Scottish Grand Committee at its sitting in Perth on 17 June 1996, when the hon. Member opened for the Opposition.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for compulsory treatment for paedophile offenders(a) within and (b) outwith prison. [18211]

  Mr. Forsyth
  Where an offender is not given a custodial sentence, the courts may require him, as part of a programme of probation supervision, to participate in treatment programmes. Work with offenders given a custodial sentence is carried out in a number of prisons, including Peterhead, Shotts and Barlinnie. The aims of sex offender treatment programmes are to get prisoners to accept personal responsibility for their actions, to address
  451
  the consequences of their behaviour for their victims, and to develop strategies to exercise self-control and avoid situations likely to lead to reoffending. Such programmes can be effective only if prisoners are willing to engage constructively. Prison staff strongly encourage and challenge prisoners to participate. Progression through the prison system is also dependent on addressing offending behaviour.

  Offenders released from prison on licence or where a supervised release order is in force may be required, as a condition of their licence or order, to participate in treatment programmes. Failure to comply with any such condition could result in an offender's return to custody. Measures further to strengthen supervised release orders, so that they will normally be mandatory in the most serious cases of sexual abuse and will last for up to 10 years, are contained in the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill and were debated by the Committee in which the hon. Member took part.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for(a) giving more assistance to the victims of paedophiles and (b) providing them with more information about the whereabouts of their abusers. [18214]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The crime and punishment White Paper, Cm 3302, published in June 1996, outlined a range of measures to support the victims of crime, including the victims of sexual abuse. Some of those measures are already in place and others are being developed. A victims steering group has been established to advise on the development of policy and good practice towards all crime victims. The group's operations were discussed in the Committee considering the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill, in which the hon. Member took part. In addition, as was announced last month, a scheme will come into effect on 1 April 1997 which will enable the victims of serious violent and sexual crimes, if they so wish, to be told of the release of their assailants from prison.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to establish a national paedophile register in Scotland. [18226]

  Mr. Forsyth
  The Government's plans have been clear for some time and will, subject to parliamentary approval, soon be implemented. The crime and punishment White Paper, Cm 3302, published in June 1996, noted that the Scottish Criminal Record Office already acts as a register of convicted sex offenders. That includes paedophiles. The White Paper committed the Government to require convicted sex offenders to notify the police of any change of address, so that the register can be kept fully up to date. The Sex Offenders Bill, now before the House, fulfils that commitment, as the hon. Member must be aware from his own involvement on the Committee of the Bill.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that statistical information on child abuse in Scotland is compiled and published. [18217]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest information about child abuse cases reported under local authority child protection procedures is available in statistical bulletin 452
  No. SWK/CP/1996/2, published by the Scottish Office in October 1996. The bulletin was placed in the Libraries of both Houses and a copy was sent to the hon. Member.

  Mr. William Duff
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to recover NHS payments made to William Duff between 1991 and 1995. [12458]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 24 January 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already directed Greater Glasgow health board to recover the sum of £75,000 from Mr. Duff following the report of the NHS tribunal and other such directions will be following. Consideration is being given to whether any payments which were made to Mr. Duff can be recovered within the terms of the regulations.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will draw on the sums relating to outstanding fee claims withheld from Mr. William Duff to compensate his former patients. [12724]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no statutory power to draw upon sums relating to outstanding fee claims for the purpose of payment of compensation.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total earnings in fees from the NHS by Mr. William Duff in each year from the time he began practising in the Greater Glasgow health board area. [12725]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: The information requested is listed in the table:

  Gross NHS general dental services item of service fees paid to Mr. William Duff 1988 to 1995

  Gross earnings

  £

  Year ending December 1988

  162,000

  Year ending December 1989

  258,000

  Year ending December 1990

  319,000

  Year ending December 1991

  373,000

  Year ending December 1992

  313,000

  Year ending December 1993

  268,000

  Year ending December 1994

  266,000

  Year ending December 1995

  1,000

  Total

  1,900

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date Greater Glasgow health board commenced its investigation of the fees claimed by Mr. William Duff. [12726]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: Greater Glasgow health board commenced its investigation into fees claimed by Mr. Duff on 14 April 1993 when it received the first of 27 referrals from the Scottish Dental Practice Board.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of the patients of Mr. William Duff who were interviewed by dental referral officers have received remedial treatment; [12727]
  453
  (2) how many patients of Mr. William Duff had been told in advance what treatment was being prescribed. [12730]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: This information is not held centrally.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of patients who have had unnecessary treatment carried out by Mr. William Duff; how many of these have had their complaint upheld and received compensation in full; how many have been refused compensation on the grounds of their being time barred; and if he will review these cases. [12728]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: The total number of patients who have received unnecessary treatment is not available. The national health service tribunal found that in 24 cases which were the subject of referrals to Greater Glasgow health board by the Scottish dental practice division, Mr. Duff had provided unnecessary treatment. In a further two cases where complaints were considered by the health board and which were the subject of appeals to my right hon. Friend, Mr. Duff was held to have provided such treatment.

  In one of the latter cases my right hon. Friend has directed that a sum be recovered from Mr. Duff for payment to the complainant to meet the cost of remedial treatment, and this has been set at the maximum contribution payable towards a course of NHS dental treatment. A similar direction is under consideration in the other case. In a total of 14 cases, complaints against Mr. Duff have not been considered by the health board's dental service committee because of the lateness of the complaint. In these circumstances, the question of compensation does not arise. There are no provisions whereby the cases which have been determined can be reviewed.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Dental Practice Board called in regional dental officers to investigate the claims for treatment submitted by Mr. William Duff; and if he will publish their report. [12729]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: Inspections of Mr. William Duff's patients were first undertaken by regional dental officers on 25 August 1986. On 12 December 1990, Mr. Duff was referred to a dental service committee by Greater Glasgow health board on the grounds that he had not employed a proper degree of skills and attention in respect of a patient. On that occasion, Mr. Duff was found not to be in breach of his NHS terms and conditions of service. In view of the confidentiality relating to health records, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State cannot publish the reports compiled by regional dental officers.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total level of fines imposed upon Mr. William Duff for breach of professional codes of practice; and what plans he has to impose further penalties. [12731]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: In response to the report on Mr. Duff's performance by the national health service tribunal dated 6 February 1996 my right hon. Friend directed Greater Glasgow health board to recover £75,000
  454
  from Mr. Duff by withholding from remuneration or otherwise. The board has also been directed to recover from Mr. Duff up to the maximum contribution towards the cost of a NHS course of dental treatment, at present £325, in the case of one patient. A further direction is under consideration in another case.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will order an investigation into the handling of the case of Mr. William Duff by Greater Glasgow health board. [12732]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans for such an investigation. Mr. Duff was the subject of an inquiry and report by the national health service tribunal which directed that his name should be removed from the dental list of Greater Glasgow health board and not included in the corresponding list of any other health board. My right hon. Friend drew the matter to the attention of the General Dental Council which has now barred Mr. Duff from practising dentistry. In addition, appeals in subsequent cases concerning Mr. Duff which were the subject of investigation by the health board's dental service committee have been determined by my right hon. Friend.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide financial support to Greater Glasgow health board to organise a helpline for ex-patients of William Duff. [13950]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: Greater Glasgow health board has no plans to organise a helpline for ex-patients of William Duff. The number of requests for information received from this source would not justify such an initiative.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reply to the questions from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill of 24 and 28 January, relating to Mr. William Duff. [17392]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I replied to the hon. Member's questions today.

  Dental Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average current charge for(a) a crown and (b) root treatment. [12623]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1997]: Patient charges for crowns range from £36.24 to £74.32, depending on the particular tooth, the material used, whether a post is required and whether the crown is free standing or part of a bridge. Patient charges for root treatment range from £18.12 to £43.52. These charges are net of any ancillary treatment.

  NHS general dental services are provided free or with partial relief to certain categories of adults and they are also provided free to children.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the limit on the number of patients any one NHS dentist can have registered with his practice. [14032]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: Patients are registered under NHS continuing care and capitation arrangements with an individual dentist and not with a dental practice. There is

  455
  no statutory limit on the number of patients a dentist may accept under these arrangements. At 31 March 1996, there was an average of 1,412 patients registered per dentist in Scotland.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the limit on compensation to patients for mistreatment by dental practitioners. [14033]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: There is no statutory provision for such compensation, although the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) (Scotland) Regulations, as they apply to complaints made before 1 April 1996, provide for the recovery from a dentist and payment to a person of expenses which, by reason of the dentist's failure to comply with his terms of service, that person reasonably and necessarily incurs in obtaining further treatment. Any such treatment should be obtained under the national health service. The maximum patient contribution for a course of NHS treatment is currently £325.

  Since 1 April 1996, the procedures for dealing with complaints and discipline have been separated following the recommendations of the review committee on NHS complaints procedures charged by Professor Alan Wilson. The regulations now deal only with discipline and any question of payment to a person by way of reimbursement of the remedial treatment or compensation would be a matter for consideration as part of the non-statutory complaints procedure.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what safeguards exist to prevent a dentist from falsifying a patient or guardian's signature on forms authorising treatment for under-16s. [14035]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1997]: No routine practical mechanism exists at present for verifying signatures on dental payment claim forms but ad hoc checks are undertaken by the Common Services Agency's dental practice division.

  Ministerial Visits
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the overseas visits of Ministers, indicating if they were accompanied by officials and the costs involved, in each of the past five years. [16500]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 February 1997]: Ministers are always accompanied on overseas visits by at least one official. Costs of visits prior to 1995 are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Since 1992, Scottish Office Ministers have attended 28 Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Councils in Brussels or Luxembourg. The total costs of attendance at Councils in 1995 and 1996 was £34,861.70. Figures for 1997 are not yet available. In addition, Ministers also undertook the following visits to promote or represent Scotland's interests abroad:

  Date

  Place

  Minister

  Cost (£)

  1992

  —

  20–23 June

  Thessalonika

  Allan Stewart

  —

  12–19 September

  Japan

  Allan Stewart

  —

  12–19 September

  Boston

  Secretary of State

  —

  456

  Date

  Place

  Minister

  Cost (£)

  1993

  12 February

  Munich

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  —

  25–27 March

  Florida

  Secretary of State

  —

  6–8 June

  Madrid

  Allan Stewart

  —

  17–18 June

  Lille

  Allan Stewart

  —

  17–23 September

  Jedda and Dubai

  Allan Stewart

  —

  2–9 October

  USA

  Allan Stewart

  —

  5–15 October

  New York and

  Lord James

  —

  Hong Kong

  Douglas-Hamilton

  1994

  17 February

  Oslo

  Sir Hector Monro

  —

  18 March

  Holland

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  —

  26–29 May

  Crete

  Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

  —

  2–5 June

  Corfu

  Allan Stewart

  —

  8–10 June

  Golansk

  Allan Stewart

  —

  14–15 June

  Munich

  Allan Stewart

  —

  21–26 August

  Canada

  Sir Hector Monro

  —

  8–9 September

  Brussels

  Secretary of State

  —

  24 September to 2 October

  USA

  Secretary of State

  —

  24 September to 2 October

  Japan

  Allan Stewart

  —

  24 October

  Paris

  Sir Hector Monro

  —

  1995

  15–17 March

  Rome

  Secretary of State

  1,942,80

  20–21 March

  Brussels

  Secretary of State

  1,956

  26–31 August

  Taiwan

  George Kynoch

  14,508

  15–19 September

  Helsinki

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  2,309.13

  24–30 September

  Boston

  George Kynoch

  8,294

  4–5 October

  Cologne

  Earl of Lindsay

  2,017.66

  8–10 October

  Stockholm

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  3,029.81

  17 October

  Brussels

  Raymond Robertson

  748.50

  1–3 November

  Washington

  Earl of Lindsay

  7,162

  7–9 November

  Oslo and Tromso

  Raymond Robertson

  2,582.40

  8–10 November

  Toronto and Ottawa

  Earl of Lindsay

  7,246.83

  24 November

  Madrid

  George Kynoch

  982

  20–22 December

  Brussels

  Raymond Robertson

  1,748.50

  1996

  5–March

  Brussels

  Raymond Robertson

  748.50

  8–11 March

  USA

  Earl of Lindsay

  10,309.10

  17–19 April

  USA and Canada

  Secretary of State

  14,379.94

  24 April

  Brussels

  Raymond Robertson

  1,094.26

  15–17 May

  Cannes

  Earl of Lindsay

  4,872.72

  22–30 May

  Japan/Korea

  Secretary of State

  30,400.90

  7 June

  Bremen

  Raymond Robertson

  1,265.73

  27 August to 2 September

  Atlanta

  Raymond Robertson

  7,246.50

  5–8 October

  Lativa

  Raymond Robertson

  1,272

  22 October

  Paris

  Earl of Lindsay

  1,199.54

  25–27 November

  Oslo

  Raymond Robertson

  1,433.86

  2–3 December

  Denmark

  Earl of Lindsay

  1,177.60

  18–19 December

  Dublin

  Earl of Lindsay

  923.30

  Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [17071]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Six items of equipment with a total estimated value of £250 and 17 items of information technology equipment, and some accessory pieces, with a total value of approximately
  457
  £15,000 have been reported missing over the last 12 months. No items of information technology or other equipment valued at £5,000 or more have been reported missing.

  Sleep Disorders
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made of the need for a Scottish centre for the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders; what funding he has provided since 1992 for such a service; and if he will make a statement; [17996]

  (2) what plans he has to ensure continued provision for a national diagnosis and management centre for sleep disorders; and if he will make a statement; [17997]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the implications of the closure of the sleep laboratory at the royal infirmary of Edinburgh; [18002]

  (4) what is the current availability of continuous positive airways pressure units and accessories in the NHS in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [18004]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  I am glad to confirm that the royal infirmary of Edinburgh NHS trust will not be closing its sleep laboratory. I am pleased that the laboratory has secured sufficient funding of £530,000 to enable it to continue in operation after 1 April 1997.

  The assessment of need for sleep disorder services is a matter for health boards to determine. A Scottish needs assessment programme report on obstructive sleep apnoea and allied disorders is to be published shortly. In the light of the report, health boards, other purchasers and interested providers will wish to assess the appropriate level of sleep disorder services required and how best to deliver care locally and nationally, for patients across the length and breadth of Scotland.

  The current availability of continuous positive airways

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  England

  Housing corporation net approved development programme

  1,154

  1,639

  2,306

  1,795

  1,487

  1,149

  1,030

  Housing annual capital guidelines

  1,396

  1,345

  1,290

  1,378

  1,038

  994

  943

  Estate action

  180

  268

  348

  357

  373

  316

  257

  Cash incentive scheme1

  —

  —

  31

  —

  30

  60

  60

  Estates renewal challenge fund

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30

  Other local authority2

  121

  187

  80

  45

  39

  30

  30

  Management and maintenance allowances for local authority stock

  2,955

  3,070

  3,206

  3,266

  3,298

  3,324

  3,364

  Housing action trusts

  —

  10

  27

  78

  92

  93

  88

  London

  Housing corporation approved development programme

  n/a

  612

  701

  690

  553

  443

  416

  Housing annual capital guidelines

  473

  451

  454

  474

  355

  321

  299

  Estate action

  33

  58

  86

  85

  98

  88

  87

  Cash incentive scheme1

  —

  —

  21

  —

  16

  33

  34

  Estates renewal challenge fund

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  Other local authority2

  86

  100

  8

  3

  12

  10

  10

  Management and maintenance allowances for local authority stock

  772

  820

  857

  912

  940

  958

  960

  Housing action trusts

  —

  —

  12

  34

  43

  47

  38

  West Midlands

  Housing corporation approved development programme

  n/a

  112

  154

  162

  134

  100

  88

  Housing annual capital guidelines

  122

  120

  120

  130

  101

  102

  100

  Estate action

  25

  35

  41

  47

  49

  41

  25

  Cash incentive scheme1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  4

  Estates renewal challenge fund

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  458
  pressure units and accessories in the NHS in Scotland is a matter for health boards and providers and information is not held centrally. Sleep disorder services at the royal infirmary's sleep laboratory were purchased on a national basis until 31 March 1996 when the purchasing of services was devolved to health boards. Funding from 1991–92 to 1995–96 is set out in the list.

  1991–92: £50,000

  1992–93: £55,000

  1993–94: £296,000

  1994–95: £287,000

  1995–96: £519,000

ENVIRONMENT

  Social Housing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much the Government spent on(a) new social housing and (b) maintenance of social housing in (i) England, (ii) the west midlands and (iii) London between 1990 and 1996; [16551]

  (2) how much the Government spent on (a) new social housing and (b) maintenance of social housing between 1990 and 1996; and what were the equivalent figures for other OECD countries. [16550]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 20 February 1997]: The available information on allocations for expenditure on social housing stock made by the government for the years 1990–91 to 1996–97 is set out in the table. Some of the resources allocated through the single regeneration budget challenge fund and city challenge will be used for investment in social housing but this element is not separately identified in the allocations made. Corresponding figures on a comparable basis for other OECD countries are not available.
  459

  £ million

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Other local authority2

  3

  5

  7

  5

  4

  3

  3

  Management and maintenance allowances for local authority stock

  207

  214

  225

  229

  231

  240

  249

  Housing action trusts

  —

  —

  —

  2

  6

  11

  14

  1 Resources were provided for cash incentives schemes in 1990–91 and 1991–92 but within a package of measures directed at homelessness which are included in the 'other local authority' row.

  2 Covers special programmes for homelessness, rural housing, energy efficiency, New Town defective dwellings, flats over shops and the Housing Partnership Fund.

  Equipment and Furniture
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [17067]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  During the 12 months from 1 February 1996 to 31 January 1997, 217 items of equipment and furniture have been stolen from this Department and its agencies with a total value of £200,013; this includes 174 items of IT equipment with a total value of £183,314, with one item being valued at £5,000 or more—a portable computer valued at £5,126. There is also one item of IT equipment valued at £300 that is unaccounted for.

  Landfill Directive
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the proposed European directive on landfill; and what meetings he has had with industrial and other non-governmental bodies to discuss the proposed directive. [17518]

  Mr. Clappison
  The European Commission has not yet published its draft proposals for a landfill directive. When it does so, we shall consult widely about what is being proposed with industrial and other non-governmental bodies.

  Landfill Sites (Methane)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the proportion of methane produced at landfill sites that can be captured for energy conversion over the entire period that methane will be produced. [17519]

  Mr. Clappison
  The quantity of methane gas which can be collected from a landfill site over its lifetime depends on a wide range of site specific details. However, for the purpose of investigations into landfill gas emissions, a gas extraction efficiency of 70 per cent. over the lifetime of the waste has been assumed. This is based on available published information resulting from field studies.

  It is further estimated that, in 1994, 28 per cent. of extracted methane was burnt in landfill gas energy recovery schemes the remainder being flared.
  460

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the proportion of organic compostable waste currently disposed of via landfill, incineration, anaerobic digestion and composting, and other disposal routes by the water industry and the agriculture, food processing, commercial and other industrial sectors; and how he predicts these disposal routes will change, following the introduction of the landfill tax. [17521]

  Mr. Clappison
  This information is not available. The Environment Agency's national waste survey and research is expected to improve data quality. We expect that one of the effects of the landfill tax will be to reduce the proportion of waste going to landfill.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for curbing greenhouse gas emissions from landfill sites. [17512]

  Mr. Clappison
  The waste strategy for England and Wales includes targets both for the reduction of waste going to landfill and measures to increase the proportion of organic (degradable) content in municipal solid waste (MSW) which is diverted from landfill to other forms of treatment.

  Additionally guidance to regulators drafting and enforcing waste management licences for landfill sites—set out in waste management paper 4—advises that the most satisfactory control option is the installation of whole-site landfill gas collection at new sites receiving biodegradable wastes and also for existing sites if the site has significant remaining capacity and if significant gas production is likely.

  As a result of these measures it is anticipated that landfill gas emissions will fall from the 1990 estimate of 1.89 mte to 1.54 mte in 2000.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to(a) EDS, (b) Andersens, (c) BMI, (d) Capita and (e) Sema since 1992 and the broad function to be carried out by the contractor and the value of the contract in each case. [17606]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following contracts were held in 1995–96 by Electronic Data Systems:
  461

  Scope of work

  Value£ thousand

  Quality assurance on HMIP assessment of Nirex

  358

  The following contracts were let to Capita during 1996–97:

  Scope of work

  Value £ thousand

  Evaluation of estate action

  431

  Recruitment services

  312

  Evaluation of housing action trusts

  249

  Monitoring funding on special needs housing

  186

  Use of private sector finance in local authority housing

  85

  Housing investment programme: review of present process

  49

  Developing framework on codes of practice for standards in homes in multiple occupation

  31

  Legal and financial advice on rundown of Bristol development corporation

  27

  2 x training seminars

  0.6

  2 x services

  0.9

  Further information on years preceding 1999–97 is obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the report by British Nuclear Fuels' Director of Health, Safety and the Environment on the reprocessing and high level waste storage at Sellafield presented to a conference at Drogheda on 11 and 12 January. [17263]

  Mr. Gummer
  None.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum allowed for local 462
  authority credit approvals for housing investment in 1996–97; what were the figures in current prices for each of the preceding three years; and if he will make a statement on his Department's current assessment of future needs. [17290]

  Mr. Curry
  The sum allowed for local authority credit approvals for housing in 1996–97 in England is £789 million. The figures for the preceding three years at current prices are:

  1995–96: £869 million

  1994–95: £893 million

  1993–94: £1,014 million

  The Department takes its figures for the need for repairs to local authority housing from the English house condition survey. The 1996 survey will give us an up-to-date picture of the need for investment in the local authority stock. We expect to publish results later this year.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the office of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Sir P. Beresford),(a) received the letter dated 24 January concerning stage II of the Avon ring road from the hon. Member for Kingswood and (b) forwarded this letter to the Minister of State for Transport. [18116]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The hon. Member's letter dated 24 January was received in my private office on 30 January 1997. It was then passed to Department of the Environment officials in the Government office for the south-west on 4 February and was forwarded to regional transport officials on the following day to consider whether the issues raised were more appropriate to the Department of Transport. Once this became apparent, officials notified the Department of Transport centrally, on 21 February. I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay. I have asked my hon. Friend the Minister of State to reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

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