Written Answers of 13 January 1997

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year; [9802]

  (2) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment. [9803]

  The Attorney-General
  I refer to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Attorney-General what estimates he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10174]

  The Attorney-General
  I am not responsible for any such bodies.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10175]

  The Attorney-General
  The departments and agencies for which I am responsible are not large users of external consultants. A number of recommendations in the report related to other named Departments. Of those of general application, some were already established working practices in my departments and agencies. Measures taken to implement the remaining recommendations include the introduction of a new internal guidance manual by the Crown Prosecution Service, and arrangements under which departments submit to me plans showing the expected use of external consultants and obtain my approval for proposals involving expenditure of more than £50,000.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Public Appointments
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes have been made to the appointment procedures for non-departmental public bodies within her Department since July 1995; and if she will make a statement. [10152]
  2
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  New procedures have been implemented based on the "Guidance on Appointments to Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies and NHS Bodies" issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in April 1996.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if the appointments of(a) the chairman of the Independent Television Commission, (b) the chairman and deputy chairman of the Broadcasting Standards Commission and (c) the chairman of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission were made on the advice of an independent appointment committee. [10276]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The appointment of the chairman of the Independent Television Commission was made following an executive search exercise and consideration by an advisory panel with independent membership. The appointments of the chairman and deputy chairman of the Broadcasting Standards Commission pre-dated the introduction of the advisory panels that were set up as a result of Lord Nolan's report.

  The Broadcasting Complaints Commission will cease to exist as a separate body on 31 March 1997. In order to ensure continuity, only candidates who were already members of the commission were considered for appointment as its chairman when the previous chairman resigned in September. The decision was made without recourse to an advisory panel.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects to announce the outcome of her Department's review of listed buildings in Buxton. [9843]

  Mr. Sproat
  The draft review for Buxton is currently being considered by my Department with the aim of issuing the revised list in early February.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many buildings have been listed in each category in Sheffield for each of the last three years. [10329]

  Mr. Sproat
  The figures are as follows: in 1994, five buildings—all in grade II; in 1995, 376 buildings—all in grade II. In addition, three buildings were upgraded from grade II to II*. In 1996, three buildings—all grade II. Following a re-survey, a revised list for Sheffield was issued in December 1995; this accounts for the high number of new listings during that year.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what criteria are used by English Heritage to determine which buildings should be listed. [10328]

  Mr. Sproat
  Before recommending a building for listing to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, English Heritage must be satisfied that it is of special architectural or historic interest. The criteria against which buildings are assessed for listing are set out in paragraphs 6.10 to 6.16 of "planning policy guidance note 15: "Planning and the Historic Environment", published jointly by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for National Heritage in September 1994.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many days of leave she plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9821]

  (2) how many days leave she has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave she took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9820]

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given toady by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Legislation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many items of legislation relating to her Department have been repealed since January 1994; how

  Revenue from general admission charges (£000)

  Revenue from temporary exhibition charges (£000)

  Revenue generated from admissions charges as a percentage of total revenue

  British Museum

  —

  102

  0

  Imperial War Museum

  3,049

  243

  15

  National Gallery

  —

  398

  1

  National Maritime Museum

  1,439

  —

  10

  National Museum of Science and Industry

  3,215

  390

  12

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  302

  120

  2

  National Portrait Gallery

  —

  189

  2

  Natural History Museum

  3,297

  —

  8

  Royal Armouries

  52

  —

  1

  Tate Gallery

  203

  1,711

  4

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  1259

  364

  2

  Wallace Collection

  —

  —

  —

  Geffrye Museum

  —

  —

  —

  Horniman Museum

  —

  —

  —

  Museum of London

  289

  —

  2

  Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

  422

  —

  10

  Sir John Soane's Museum

  —

  —

  —

  1 In addition, voluntary entrance donations amounted to £996,000.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she plans to introduce regulations amending the television licence concessionary scheme. [10644]

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she plans to bring forward new consolidated television licensing regulations. [10664]

  Mr. Sproat
  As I indicated on 3 December 1996, in my reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin),Official Report, column 588, the Government intend that new, consolidated television licence fee regulations will come into force from 1 April 1997. In accordance with the Government's undertaking during the passage of the Broadcasting Act 1996, these regulations will include an amendment to address the anomalous situation where the residents of a sheltered housing scheme, which meets all the other qualifying criteria, fail to qualify for concessionary television licences because a small number of units within the scheme were purchased under the right-to-buy provisions before the accommodation was designated as sheltered
  4
  many statutory instruments were introduced during the same period; and how many of the latter were (a) deregulatory and (b) fee orders. [9365]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Bates) on 17 December 1996, Official Report, column 492.

  Museums and Galleries
  Sir Timothy Sainsbury
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what revenue has been raised from admission charges to museums and galleries sponsored by her Department for each institution, broken down to show(a) revenue from (i) general admission charges, (ii) charges for entry to temporary exhibitions and (b) the proportion of total museum revenue accruing from (a) in the last year for which figures are available. [8939]

  Mr. Sproat
  For 1995–96, the information is as follows:

  housing. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce this month details of the changes to be effected in the regulations, which will also bring into force the new licence fees announced on 18 December last year. The regulations themselves will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible thereafter.

  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects the regulations to take account of the changes in the use of television in recent years, referred to in the answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Hargreaves) on 18 July,Official Report, column 601, to be introduced. [9212]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: As I indicated on 3 December in my reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) Official Report, column 588, the Government intend that new, consolidated television licence fee regulations will come into force from 1 April 1997. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes to announce this month details of the changes to be effected in the regulations and the level of the licence fee also coming into force from 1 April. The regulations themselves will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible thereafter.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the actions her Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10159]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants had 34 recommendations. Six of these relate to other Government Departments—recommendations numbers 4, 5, 7, 10, 19 and 21.

  In respect of the remaining 28, my Department has implemented four in full—recommendations numbers 3, 6, 9 and 20; the rest are to be implemented in the context of a new procurement strategy on which my Department is currently working.

  Staff
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many (a) permanent and (b) non-permanent staff there have been in (i) her Department and (ii) executive agencies of her Department in each year since 1992. [9630]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 18 December 1996]: The number of permanent and non-permanent staff within the Department of National Heritage and agencies since 1992 is shown in the table:

  Permanent

  Non-Permanent

  DNH

  1992–93

  264

  4

  1993–94

  317

  18

  1994–95

  337

  22

  1995–96

  355

  15

  1996–97

  353

  8

  Historic Royal Palaces

  1992–93

  322

  109

  1993–94

  368

  145

  1994–95

  423

  129

  1995–96

  1312

  159

  1996–97

  316

  202

  The Royal Parks

  1993–94

  272

  12

  1994–95

  266

  19

  1995–96

  263

  18

  1996–97

  242

  15

  1 The Historic Royal Palaces figure decreased between 1994–95 and 1995–96 due to contracting out of 70 warding staff at Hampton Court.

  The Royal Parks/Royal Parks Constabulary are unable to provide details of staff for 1992–93 because they did not become an agency until 1993.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list for her Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9483]

  Mr. Sproat
  The current staff in post for the Department of National Heritage is:6

  Full time

  Part time

  Total staff

  Male

  185

  1

  186

  Female

  169

  6

  175

  Total

  354

  7

  361

  National Lottery
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 533, what funds have been allocated to Sheffield-based charities by the National Lottery Charities Board since its inception; if she will identify the charities and voluntary organisations receiving each amount; and if she will make a statement. [10506]

  Mr. Sproat
  Since my hon. Friend's earlier question, the National Lottery Charities Board has awarded grants under its third grants round to almost 2,000 organisations across the United Kingdom. Of these, 30 are based in Sheffield. This means that a total of 88 grants, worth over £6.45 million, have been made by the National Lottery Charities Board since its inception to organisations based in Sheffield. The details of the awards concerned are as follows:

  Grants made by the National Lottery Charities Board to charities and voluntary organisations based in Sheffield

  £

  Abbeydale Youth Project

  50,100

  African Women's Health Group

  64,025

  Ashiana

  9,868

  Awaaz Asian Women's Training Project

  28,000

  Azaardgi—Asian Women's Training Project (Freedom)

  3,276

  Black Action Self-Help-Mentoring Project

  92,812

  Black Justice Project

  78,000

  Black Media Training Trust

  137,299

  Breaking Bounds

  27,218

  Brightside Community Project

  22,760

  Castle Advice Service

  1,220

  Castle Advice Service

  70,184

  Chapelgreen-one-parent-in-need-group (c.o.p.i.n.g)

  1,380

  Cot-Age-Child Safety and Nursery Equipment

  30,757

  Cruse Bereavement Care

  23,459

  DART—Homelink Project

  300,000

  Family Support Group

  2,850

  Firth Park Advice Centre

  135,784

  Firth Park Computer Club

  7,420

  Granville Road Housing Project

  10,000

  Green City Action

  69,714

  Handy Hands Group

  2,500

  Haven House Project

  28,375

  Heeley and District Community Transport Organisation

  24,000

  Heeley Health Project

  103,199

  Herdings Centre Association

  20,000

  Highfield Childrens Playbase

  38,000

  House of Help

  1,860

  Law Centres Federation

  93,097

  Manor Rights and Advice Service

  42,642

  Manor Training and Resource Centre Ltd.

  121,000

  Maypole

  102,000

  McMurphy's

  135,742

  Middlewood Citizens Advice Bureau

  160,223

  Mosborough Citizens Advice Bureau

  85,262

  Network Housing and Care Ltd.

  71,570

  Nomad Nomore Community Furniture Store

  134.000

  Norfolk Park Domestic Violence Project

  57,879

  7

  Grant made by the National Lottery Charities Board to charities and voluntary organizations based in Sheffield

  £

  Norfolk Park Women and Childrens Centre

  10,150

  North Sheffield Federation for the Disabled Self-Help Group

  47,844

  Northern Refugee Centre

  123,129

  Osteoporosis 2000

  267,148

  Pakistan Muslim Centre

  121,427

  Playschemes, Activities and Recreation for Kids

  160,008

  Remington Youth and Community Centre

  100,371

  Roshni-Asians Womens Resource Centre

  75,000

  Sadacca

  150,000

  Sharrow Citizens Advice Bureau

  21,758

  Sheffield African Caribbean Mental Health Association

  25,000

  Sheffield Association for People with Cerebral Palsy

  76,475

  Sheffield Association for People with Cerebral Palsy

  24,636

  Sheffield Association for the Voluntary Teaching of

  English

  108,235

  Sheffield Cathedral Breakfast/Archer Project

  69,540

  Sheffield Childrens Centre

  35,000

  Sheffield Chinese Community

  143,586

  Sheffield Citizen Advocacy

  140,563

  Sheffield Citizens Advice Bureaux Debt Support Unit

  68,736

  Sheffield Community Transport

  190,000

  Sheffield Deaf Childrens Society

  53,804

  Sheffield Dial-a-ride

  67,960

  Sheffield Gayphone

  10,828

  Sheffield Gingerbread

  3,116

  Sheffield Law Centre

  7,000

  Sheffield Mencap

  100,246

  Sheffield NASS

  1,654

  Sheffield Newpin

  99,378

  Sheffield Occupational Health Project

  85,555

  Sheffield Out of School Network

  70,318

  Sheffield Reclamation Limited

  19,290

  Sheffield Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassaemia Foundation

  168,358

  Sheffield Women's Aid

  178,125

  Sheffield Womens Cultural Club

  121,288

  Sheffield Young Carers Project

  161,906

  Shiregreen Tranx Self-Help Group

  5,000

  Somali Mental Health Project (SMHP)

  183,207

  Somali Special Needs Scheme

  123,327

  South West Area Sitting Service

  25,250

  Support Dogs

  37,722

  The Ethel Trust

  122,741

  The Flower Estate Dream Scheme

  27,664

  The Ruth Hayman Trust

  11,250

  The Sheffield Club for the Hard of Hearing

  1,000

  Trinity Day Care Trust

  21,000

  Woodcraft Folk—Venturer Camp Committee

  7,007

  Worthwhile Occupational and Recreational Krafts Ltd. (WORK)

  75,000

  Wybourn Youth Trust

  247,833

  Young Carers Support Group

  3,000

  Young Women's Housing Project

  66,996

  Millennium Projects, Wales
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much Millennium Commission grant aid has been offered to projects in Wales to date; how many projects this figure covers; and what is grant aid per head of population in Wales. [7616]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 16 December 1996]: The Millennium Commission has supported eight capital projects in Wales, two capital projects which cover England and Wales, and four
  8
  projects which cover the whole of the UK. Of the eight capital projects supported specifically in Wales, the total grant aid to date is £92,824,028. Of the projects which cover more than one country, £11.2 million has been allocated to Wales, making a total capital projects allocation of £104,024,028. The commission has also offered grant to six millennium award schemes. These grants are allocated in response to applications. Four will cover the whole of the UK and one scheme for £365,134 is specifically targeted at Wales. Thus, the total grant allocation is £104,389,162. Working on the basis that the population of Wales is 2,906,500, grant aid per head is £35.92.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make statutory instruments available on the Internet. [10407]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  With effect from the first printed statutory instrument of 1997, all new statutory instruments will be placed on the Internet within 15 working days of publication in printed form, at the following address: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/stat.htm.

  Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the new Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland has ever been a member of a political party. [10289]

  Mr. Streeter
  Judicial appointments are made on professional and personal merit. The Lord Chancellor does not require candidates for, or holders of, judicial office to declare their political affiliation.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what procedures were followed in appointing the next Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland; in what ways the procedures differ from that for other United Kingdom jurisdictions; and when the appointment was announced. [10287]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor. In England and Wales, the Lord Chief Justice is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, as is the Lord President in Scotland. The appointment of the right hon. Sir Robert Carswell as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland was announced on 29 November 1996, and took effect on 6 January 1997.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which(a) bodies and (b) individuals were consulted about the appointment of the new Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. [10288]

  Mr. Streeter
  In making recommendations to the Queen in respect of senior judicial appointments, the Lord Chancellor has discretion to consult as he thinks fit, and such consultations are confidential.
  9
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the next Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is or has been a member of(a) the Masonic Order, (b) the Orange Order and (c) other societies membership of which must be declared. [10545]

  Mr. Streeter
  Judicial appointments are made on professional and personal merit. The Lord Chancellor does not require candidates for, or holders of, judicial office to declare membership of any lawful organisation.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimates he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10176]

  Mr. Streeter
  The amount spent by the Department's NDPBs during the relevant financial years was as follows:

  1991–92: £128,843

  1992–93: £209,794

  1993–94: £155,947

  1994–95: £110,650

  1995–96: £96,659.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendation contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10177]

  Mr. Streeter
  In response to the Cabinet Office report on the use of external consultants, the Lord Chancellor's Department corporate board issued a policy statement in June 1995 designed to help ensure value for money in the employment of consultants. It set the criteria for their use, operating principles and monitoring arrangements and included a requirement for ministerial approval for contracts where the final cost could exceed £20,000 and for an annual report to the Department's corporate board on the use of consultants. It covered recommendations 1, 2 and 12 of the Cabinet Office report.

  Other actions taken are as follows:
  The implications of recommendations 8, 11 to 18, 22 to 25 and 26 to 31 are dealt with by way of central guidance. The Department's procurement manual will be amended to reflect these recommendations.
  Arrangements are in place to review the central guidance periodically and the internal assurance division has included the use of external consultants in its audit programme (recommendation 33).
  Expenditure on consultants is identified separately in the departmental accounts (recommendation 3).
  Arrangements are in place which require a business case and senior management authority for consultancy projects costing more than £10,000 (recommendation 6).
  There are centres of expertise in the purchasing of consultancy skills. Each centre keeps under review, in consultation with managers, the contracts typically used for the employment of consultants (recommendations 9 and 20 to 21).
  Although the DTI database for the use of consultants is not available, the LCD is establishing its own (recommendation 10).
  10
  The LCD's procurement services division submitted its first annual report to the corporate board, which was approved on 3 October 1996 (recommendation 32).
  Although recommendations, 5, 7, 10, 19 and 34 are supported, they are not for the LCD to implement.

  Legal Services
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the average length of time that cases were before the legal services ombudsman before an investigating officer was appointed in each of the last three years. [10445]

  Mr. Streeter
  The legal services ombudsman considers that cases are properly before him only when he is satisfied that the matter falls within his jurisdiction and he has obtained the case file from the relevant professional body. The average interval from receipt of the professional body file to allocation to an investigating officer is:

  1994 four to five months

  1995 five to six months

  1996 six to seven months.

  Green Form Scheme
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of(a) the population of and (b) households in England and Wales were eligible for (i) civil legal aid and (ii) legal advice and assistance under the green form scheme, in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [10438]

  Mr. Streeter
  We have no reliable means of estimating the percentage of the population eligible for civil legal aid. The most recent estimates of the percentage of households eligible for civil legal aid in each of the five years up to 1996–97 are:

  Financial year

  Percentage

  1992–93

  53

  1993–94

  48

  1994–95

  50

  1995–96

  50

  1996–97

  48

  We do not collect information on eligibility for legal advice and assistance under the green form scheme.

  Ernest Saunders
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the amount of legal aid paid to Mr. Ernest Saunders in the cases resulting from the Guinness affair. [10485]

  Mr. Streeter
  The sum of £1,286,234 was paid to Mr. Saunders' legal representatives for work done in relation to the Crown court proceedings resulting from investigations into the takeover by Guinness of the Distillers Group. A further amount of £296,111 was paid in relation to proceedings in the Court of Appeal. Legal aid is not available for proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights.

  The total amount paid in legal aid in relation to R v. Saunders is therefore £1,582,345.

  Transaction Criteria
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list(a) the areas in which transaction criteria have been published and the date of publication and (b) the areas in which transaction criteria are still being developed and the expected date of publication. [10436]

  Mr. Streeter
  Transaction criteria were published, ahead of the introduction of the Legal Aid Board's franchising scheme, in July 1994, in the nine franchised areas of work, as follows: family matrimonial, personal injury, employment, debt, contract, housing, immigration, welfare benefits, criminal litigation. I am informed by the chief executive that the Legal Aid Board is currently looking at areas where the scope of transaction criteria might be extended.

  Transaction criteria have recently been drafted to extend the audit scope within the welfare benefits and housing categories. It is expected that these will be published in April 1997, ahead of implementation.

  Franchising Advisory Committee
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions the franchising advisory Committee has met; when it plans to meet next; and if he will make a statement. [10435]

  Mr. Streeter
  The franchising advisory committee—FAC—was established to facilitate communication and consultation with the legal profession and its representative bodies during the early development of the Legal Aid Board's franchising scheme following its introduction in August 1994. I am informed by the board's chief executive that the committee met on two occasions. In December 1996, the Legal Aid Board decided that the committee should be discontinued, as more effective mechanisms for communication and consultation had been developed. Members of the FAC have been informed of this decision.

  Emergency Legal Aid
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions the decision to grant an emergency legal aid certificate by a solicitor's practice with devolved powers under a legal aid franchise has subsequently been overruled by a legal aid area office in each of the last five years. [10437]

  Mr. Streeter
  The number of occasions on which a legal aid area office has overruled the decision of a franchised solicitor to use their desolved powers to grant emergency civil legal aid is given below. Also given is the number of occasions on which the terms of the grant decisions was amended by the area office.

  Year

  Overruled decisions

  Amended decisions

  August 1994 to March 1995

  62

  61

  April 1995 to March 1996

  197

  185

  April 1996 to December 1996

  365

  261

  Franchising was introduced in August 1994.

  Magistrates Courts Committees
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from Coventry and Solihull magistrates in respect of the proposed amalgamation of Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry magistrates courts committees; and if he will abandon the project. [10745]

  Mr. Streeter
  I have received 145 individual representations and a petition from Coventry magistrates and 36 individual representations from Solihull magistrates on this subject. A decision on the way forward will be made after consideration of all the representations received.

  Probate Districts
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the running costs of each probate district and the income generated for the latest year for which figures are available. [10798]

  Mr. Streeter
  The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the running costs of and income generated by each Probate District.
  The following table details the running costs of each district for the financial year 1995–1996 and the fees recovered for the calendar year 1995:

  Probate district

  Fees recovered (calendar year 1995)

  Running costs (financial year 1995–96)

  Birmingham

  3,097,675

  333,404

  Brighton

  4,091,954

  356,055

  Bristol

  3,349,502

  400,071

  Ipswich

  3,368,046

  351,956

  Leeds

  2,739,697

  369,301

  Liverpool

  2,454,852

  332,946

  Manchester

  2,834,928

  380,594

  Newcastle

  2,609,140

  386,457

  Oxford

  3,613,422

  331,746

  Wales

  1,611,637

  394,952

  Winchester

  4,617,840

  337,002

  London (PRFD)

  25,417,488

  25,864,191

  1 This figure includes fees received from the Record Keeper's Department (which provides copies of wills and grants).

  2 This figure is the overall running cost of the Principal Registry of the Family Division in London which houses the Family Proceedings Department and the PRFD Secretariat as well as the Probate Department.

  Additionally, £2,996,597 was paid for probate accommodation centrally during the financial year 1995–96.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9807]
  13
  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9806]

  Mr. Freeman
  Ministers are required to be available for Government business at all times. Subject to this overall requirement they may take leave as and when Government business permits.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9805]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9804]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9809]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and Summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9808]

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) when each Department produced its(a) initial report on progress and achievements and (b) final report on formulating an action plan in response to paragraph 31, page 9 of the efficiency unit's report. "The Government's Use of External Consultants", August 1994; [9993]

  (2) what assessments have been made on the use of external consultants since the August 1994 efficiency unit report reviews. [9995]

  Mr. Freeman
  All Departments have taken action to implement the recommendations of the scrutiny. Action plans were received from all Departments shortly after publication of the scrutiny report and all Departments have carried out, or have programmes in place to carry out, implementation as described in those plans. As part of the continuing initiative to improve value derived from expenditure on consultancy, the Prime Minister's adviser on efficiency, at the end of 1995, conducted as assessment of the processes Departments use to subject related expenditure to ministerial approval. The efficiency unit continues to monitor Departments' expenditure on consultants.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what form advice and guidance is issued to(a) individual Government Departments and (b) non-departmental public bodies on the use of external consultants. [9983]
  14
  Mr. Freeman
  Comprehensive and relevant advice and guidance on good practice is contained in the efficiency unit's scrutiny, "The Government's Use of External Consultants" (HMSO: August 1994); this is available to all Departments and non-departmental public bodies. Many Departments have produced and issued their own guidance in light of the report.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will update his estimate of the 20 most used external consultant firms as contained in the efficiency unit's report "The Government's Use of External Consultants", August 1994. [9994]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10190]

  Mr. Freeman
  No money has been spent on external consultants by my Department's non-departmental public bodies in the last five years.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report "The Government's Use of External Consultants". [10191]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Cabinet Office has acted on the 34 recommendations contained in the report. In implementing the recommendations it has improved its management and control of the use of consultants, including monitoring expenditure and value gained. Guidance on buying and using external consultancy has been circulated to staff.

  Ministerial Resignations
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those Ministers who have resigned from Government office since the 1992 general election, indicating from which ministerial position they resigned, how much severance was paid following their resignation and the date in each case on which payment was made. [10277]

  Mr. Freeman
  Ministers and Government office holders who have resigned since the 1992 general election are as listed. Unless otherwise noted, each was paid a severance payment in accordance with the terms of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

  Under the Act, payments are made no less than three weeks after the date of resignation. The actual dates on which payments were made by Departments were not held centrally before February 1994. However, the dates of payments made after February 1994 are as listed.

  Name

  Position

  Date of payment

  The right hon. Tom King MP

  Secretary of State, Defence

  1—

  The right hon. Kenneth Baker MP

  Secretary of State, Home Office

  1—

  The right hon. Peter Brooke MP

  Secretary of State, Northern Ireland

  1—

  15

  Name

  Position

  Date of payment

  The right hon. the Lord Waddington QC

  Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords

  1—

  The right hon. Alan Clark MP

  Minister of State, Defence

  1—

  Michael Fallon MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Education and Science

  1—

  Alan Howarth CBE MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Education and Science

  1—

  The hon. Colin Moynihan MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Energy

  1—

  David Trippier MP

  Minister of State, Environment

  1—

  Baroness Hooper

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Health

  1—

  The right hon. Angela Rumbold CBE MP

  Minister of State, Home Office

  1—

  The right hon. The Lord Belstead

  Minister of State, Northern Ireland

  1—

  The right hon. Tim Renton MP

  Minister for the Arts

  1—

  Lord Reay

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Trade and Industry

  1—

  Christopher Chope OBE MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Transport

  1—

  Lord Brabazon of Tara

  Minister of State, Transport

  1—

  The hon. Francis Maude MP

  Financial Secretary to the Treasury

  1—

  John Maples MP

  Economic Secretary to the Treasury

  1—

  Nicholas Bennett MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  1—

  Lord Cavendish

  Lord in Waiting

  1—

  The right hon. David Mellor QC MP

  Secretary of State, National Heritage

  1—

  Nigel Forman MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Education and Science

  1—

  The right hon. Norman Lamont MP

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  1—

  The right hon. Archibald Hamilton MP

  Minister of State, Defence

  1—

  Edward Leigh MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Trade and Industry

  1—

  Robert Jackson MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Office of Public Service and Science

  1—

  Kenneth Carlisle MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Transport

  1—

  The right hon. Tristan Garel-Jones MP

  Minister of State, Foreign Office

  1—

  Michael Mates MP

  Minister of State, Northern Ireland

  1—

  The right hon. Lord Hesketh

  Chief Whip, House of Lords

  1—

  Timothy Yeo MP

  Minister of State, Environment

  8 February 1994

  The right hon. The Earl of Caithness

  Minister of State, Transport

  11 February 1994

  Michael Brown MP

  Assistant Government Whip

  7 June 1994

  The right hon. The Lord Wakeham

  Lord Privy Seal

  20 July 1994

  The right hon. John MacGregor OBE MP

  Secretary of State, Transport

  14 July 1994

  The right hon. Peter Brooke CH MP

  Secretary of State, National Heritage

  23 August 1994

  The right hon. John Patten MP

  Secretary of State, Education

  10 August 1994

  The right hon. Sir Wyn Roberts MP

  Minister of State, Welsh Office

  15 August 1994

  The right hon. Peter Lloyd

  Minister of State, Home

  20 July 1994

  16

  Name

  Position

  Date of payment

  MP

  Office

  The right hon. Nicholas Scott MBE MP

  Minister of State, Social Security

  20 July 1994

  The right hon. Sir John Cope MP

  Paymaster General

  12 August 1994

  The hon. Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  2 September 1994

  Robert Key MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Transport

  14 July 1994

  Sir Irvine Patnick OBE MP

  Lord Commissioner

  12 August 1994

  The Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne

  Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords

  12 August 1994

  The Viscount St Davids

  Lord in Waiting

  12 August 1994

  Lord Annaly

  Lord in Waiting

  12 August 1994

  Patrick McLoughlin MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Trade and Industry

  23 August 1994

  The right hon. Timothy Sainsbury MP

  Minister of State, Trade and Industry

  31 August 1994

  Timothy Smith MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland

  29 November 1994

  Neil Hamilton MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Trade and Industry

  28 November 1994

  The Earl of Arran

  Captain of the Queen's Bodyguards of the Yeoman of the Guard

  14 February 1995

  Allan Stewart MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Scottish Office

  28 February 1995

  Charles Wardle MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Trade and Industry

  7 March 1995

  Robert Hughes MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Office of Public Service and Science

  31 March 1995

  Thomas Dawson QC

  Solicitor General for Scotland

  31 May 1995

  The right hon. John Redwood MP

  Secretary of State, Wales

  18 July 1995

  The right hon. Jonathan Aitken MP

  Chief Secretary to the Treasury

  28 July 1995

  The right hon. David Hunt MBE MP

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  28 July 1995

  The right hon. Douglas Hurd CBE MP

  Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Not eligible (over 65)

  The right hon. Richard Ryder OBE MP

  Parliamentary Secretary, HM Treasury (Chief Whip)

  28 July 1995

  The right hon. Richard Needham MP

  Minister of State, Trade and Industry

  31 July 1995

  The right hon. Robert Atkins MP

  Minister of State, Environment

  28 July 1995

  The right hon. The Viscount Ullswater

  Minister of State, Environment

  31 July 1995

  Sir Hector Monro DL MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Scottish Office

  Not eligible (over 65)

  The Viscount Astor

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, National Heritage

  31 July 1995

  David Lightbown MP

  Comptroller of Her Majesty's Household

  28 July 1995

  Sydney Chapman MP

  Vice-Chairman of Her Majesty's Household

  28 July 1995

  Nicholas Baker MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office

  11 November 1995

  The right hon. The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry QC

  Lord Advocate

  30 November 1995

  Roderick Richards MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Welsh Office

  28 June 1996

  David Heathcoat-Amory MP

  Paymaster General

  19 August 1996

  17

  Name

  Position

  Date of payment

  Steven Norris MP

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Transport

  25 September 1996

  The right hon. Tim Eggar MP

  Minister of State, Trade and Industry

  25 September 1996

  David Willetts MP

  Paymaster General

  7 January 1996

  1 Not available.

  Business Appointment Rules
  Mr. Derek Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to monitor the effectiveness of the business appointment rules and the way in which they are followed in individual Departments. [9780]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Cabinet Office—Office of Public Service—continually monitors the general effectiveness of the rules as part of its consideration of the cases which Departments and agencies are required to refer to it under the rules. The chairman and deputy chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments review a sample of these cases annually.

  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the business appointment rules; and if he will make a statement. [9884]

  Mr. Freeman
  The business appointment rules for Crown servants are at chapter 4.3 annexes A and B of the "Civil Service Management Code", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Government Policy Reviews
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which reviews of Government policies have been undertaken by the Cabinet Office in each of the last five years. [9996]

  Mr. Freeman
  The process of policy review is continuous and integral to much of the work of Cabinet Office. The Cabinet secretariat supports the work of the Cabinet and its Committees in all areas of Government policy. The Office of Public Service has policy responsibility for: the citizens charter programme; deregulation initiative; competitiveness agenda; efficiency scrutiny programme; co-ordination of the market testing 18
  programme and the next steps executive agencies programme; and development of an inter-departmental strategy for information technology. OPS also has responsibility for a number of civil service management, personnel and organisational issues.

  Several Cabinet Office reviews of Government policies have culminated in the publication of a White Paper, including:

  "Realizing our Potential; Strategy for Science, Technology and Engineering"—Cm. 2250

  "The Citizen's Charter: 1st Report"—Cm. 2101

  "The Citizen's Charter: 2nd Report"—Cm. 2540

  "The Citizen's Charter: Facts and Figures"—Cm. 2970

  "The Citizen's Charter: 5 years on"—Cm. 3370

  "The Civil Service: Continuity and Change"—Cm. 2672

  "The Civil Service: Taking forward Continuity and Change"—Cm. 2748

  "Development and Training for Civil Servants"—Cm. 3321

  "Open Government" White Paper—Cm. 2290

  "Government Response: 1st Report to the Committee for Standards in Public Life"—Cm. 2931

  "Competitiveness: Creating the enterprise centre of Europe"—Cm. 3300

  "government.direct—A prospectus for the Electronic Delivery of Government Services"—Cm. 3438

  The Government's "Guide to Market Testing"—ISBN 011430078 x.

PRIME MINISTER

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what estimates he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years; [10170]

  (2) if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10171]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the replies given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

TREASURY

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 November,Official Report, column 570, about the total amount spent by local government, what was the total amount spent by local government in 1979 at current prices. [5902]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In the financial year 1979–80 the total amount spent by local government, by national accounts definitions, and adjusted to 1996–97 prices was £68 billion.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 November,Official Report, column 570, about local government funding, what was the figure for 1995–96 at current prices. [5903]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As set out in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98" (HC 90), total central Government support to local authorities in the United Kingdom in 1995–96, including credit approvals, was £61,815 million; in 1996–97 prices this is equivalent to £63,360 million.

  Computers
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect which the century date change for computer systems will have on the introduction of a single currency; what discussions he has had with his European Union colleagues on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [6664]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  In assessing the implications of the century date change, the Treasury has made no assessment of the effect on the introduction of the single currency. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has not had any discussions with colleagues in the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers—ECOFIN—on this matter.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the reasons for the delay in the delivery of his letter dated 31 October concerning the European Monetary Institute report on economic and monetary union to the Select Committee on European Legislation; and if he will make a statement on his Department's liaison with the Committee. [6805]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The letter in question was misdirected as a result of an administrative error. I shall ensure that the correct procedures are followed in future.

  The European Legislation Committee published a report on 9 December entitled "European Documents on
  20
  Economic and Monetary Union: The Scrutiny Process". Paragraph 29 of its report said—
  "we acknowledge the Chancellor's punctilious approach to the requirements of scrutiny in this case as in many others. Timely information, often exceeding the strict requirements of the scrutiny process, and good explanatory memoranda, have made our task easier."

  Nuclear Power Stations (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost savings to the Treasury from changing the time scale over which nuclear power stations are to be decommissioned. [8048]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There are no plans to change the time scale over which nuclear power stations are decommissioned and therefore no estimates of cost savings have been produced.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (i), he, (ii) his Ministers and (iii) his officials have had regarding changing the time scale over which nuclear power stations are to be decommissioned. [8049]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The time scale for decommissioning nuclear power stations was addressed in the White Paper, "The Prospects for Nuclear Power in the UK" (Cm 2860) published in May 1995. The financial effects of different decommissioning strategies were considered prior to the privatisation of British Energy. Since then this issue has not been the subject of discussions by me, by my ministerial colleagues or by my officials.

  Taxation Statistics
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of earnings of a married couple with two children and with one earner on average male earnings is estimated to have been paid(a) in income tax, (b) in income tax and national insurance and (c) in total direct and indirect tax in (i) 1978–79 and (ii) 1992–93; and what the corresponding figures are expected to be in 1997–98. [9499]

  Mr. Jack
  I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr, Darling),Official Report, 11 December 1996, column 190–202 and to the "Tax Benefit Reference Manual", a copy of which has been placed with the House of Commons Library.

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9493]
  21
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To total number of current Treasury staff in post is as follows:

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Full-time

  524

  353

  877

  Part-time

  0

  39

  39

  Total

  524

  392

  916

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9817]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9816]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has given today.

  Insurance Premium Tax
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy towards disparities in the insurance premium tax applying to(a) travel agents and (b) insurance dealers; and what representations he has received from (i) representatives of the travel industry and (ii) consumers on his Budget measures relating to insurance premium tax. [10147]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Under Finance Bill proposals, with effect from 1 April 1997, all travel insurance sold through a travel agent, unless supplied free of charge, will be liable to insurance premium tax—IPT—at 17.5 per cent. As with the other insurances affected by this higher rate of IPT—primarily mechanical breakdown insurance on motor vehicles and domestic appliances and insurances sold with television and car hire—this tax measure addresses the VAT revenue currently lost through the disproportionately high margins often applied to ancillary sales of VAT exempt insurance by suppliers of taxable goods and services in these sectors. Those who practise such pricing policies, regardless of whether their prime

  Shares of gross incomes before tax (per cent.)

  Group of taxpayers

  Top 1 per cent.

  Top 5 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  1996–97

  9

  20

  30

  43

  3

  1997–98

  9

  20

  30

  43

  3

  Amount of gross incomes before tax (£ billion)

  Top 1 per cent.

  Top 5 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  Bottom 10 per cent.

  All taxpayers

  1996–97

  37.1

  87.0

  127.7

  183.9

  12.4

  425.6

  1997–98

  39.2

  91.6

  134.5

  193.8

  13.2

  448.1

  22
  motivation is commercial or fiscal, have a tax advantage and can distort the market. In the travel sector most travel insurance is sold by travel agents and tour operators despite their charging significantly higher prices than direct insurers. The current pricing and marketing arrangements indicate, therefore, that although insurance purchased direct from an insurer will be subject to IPT at 4 per cent., this tax differential is unlikely to have any significant effect.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom in 1995; and what percentage of European Community gross domestic product it comprised in that year. [9777]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Peter Shore, dated 13 January 1997.
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on what was the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom in 1995; and what percentage of the European Community Gross Domestic Product it comprised in that year.
  The latest information for UK gross domestic product as published on 21 November in Table A2 of the ONS First Release UK output, income and expenditure shows that gross domestic product at current market prices for 1995 was £700,575 million.
  International comparisons of GDP for the UK and the European Community are shown in the OECD publication Main Economic Indicators which is available in the House of Commons Library. The latest available issue shows that at current prices and exchange rates expressed in billions of dollars, the UK accounted for 13.1 per cent. of the total gross domestic product of the European Community.

  Taxation
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) of 27 March 1995,Official Report, columns 427–30, relating to taxation by giving figures for (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [10225]

  Mr. Jack
  Provisional estimates are given in the table.
  23

  Average amount of gross income before tax (£ per year)

  Group of taxpayers

  Top 1 Per cent.

  Top 5 Per cent.

  Top 10 Per cent.

  Bottom 70 Per cent.

  Bottom 10 Per cent.

  All taxpayers

  1996–97

  144,900

  68,000

  49,900

  10,300

  4,800

  16,600

  1997–98

  152,900

  71,600

  52,600

  10,800

  5,200

  17,500

  Shares of total income tax liability (per cent.)

  Group of taxpayers

  Top 1 Per cent.

  Top 5 Per cent.

  Top 10 Per cent.

  Bottom 70 Per cent.

  Bottom 10 Per cent.

  1996–97

  17

  35

  45

  28

  1—

  1997–98

  18

  35

  46

  28

  1—

  1 Less than 0.5 per cent.

  Amount of total income tax liability (£ billion)

  Group of taxpayers

  Top 1 Per cent.

  Top 5 Per cent.

  Top 10 Per cent.

  Bottom 70 Per cent.

  Bottom 10 Per cent.

  All taxpayers

  1996–97

  12.6

  25.2

  33.0

  20.6

  0.2

  72.7

  1997–98

  13.3

  26.4

  34.5

  21.0

  0.3

  74.7

  Public Bodies (Christmas Cards)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of public money spent by public bodies on sending unsigned Christmas cards in 1996; what assessment he has made of the benefits of sending such cards; and if he will make a statement. [10515]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  None; none; and no.

  Oil and Gas Revenues
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cumulative total for Government revenues from oil and gas production from 1979–80 to 1996–97 expressed in 1996–97 prices. [7821]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 6 December 1996]: Using the Budget forecasts of North sea tax revenues and the GDP deflator in 1996–97, the cumulative total for Government revenues from oil and gas production from 1979–80 to 1996–97 expressed in 1996–97 prices is £125 billion. This represents about 1.75 per cent. of general Government receipts over the period.

  Monetary Union
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 3 December,Official Report, column 797, if article 3 of the convergence criteria of the treaty of European union is operating. [8119]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: Article 3 of protocol No. 6 on the convergence criteria still forms part of the EC treaty, although its interpretation is uncertain because the operation of the exchange rate mechanism has changed considerably since Maastricht. The interpretation of the criterion will be considered by Heads of Government when they meet to decide which member states satisfy the necessary conditions for the adoption of a single currency. These decisions will be taken in early 1998 at the earliest.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methods of abortion are included in the term "other surgical method" used in the abortion statistics published by his Department. [7925]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Alton, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your recent question on what methods of abortion are included in the term other surgical method used within the abortion statistics published by his Department.
  An examination of the forms of notification of termination of pregnancy in the most recent two years for which forms are available showed that the Other surgical method was in each case used by clinicians to provide specific information about a procedure which could otherwise have been indicated in another category. The information given fell into three groups:

  (a) the induction of labour by means of a surgical procedure, for example intra or extra amniotic prostaglandins administration. (Some practitioners record this procedure under the category Medical termination.);

  (b) where the initial procedure preceding the abortion involved procedures to stop the fetal heart, such as injection of intra-cardiac potassium chloride. (Some practitioners record this information under Other medical agents.);

  (c) where it was necessary to carry out surgical procedures post-termination, for example removal of the placenta, insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device or other gynecological procedures.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of abortions performed from 21 weeks' gestation by "other surgical methods" in the last year for which figures are available. [7926]
  25
  Mrs. Knight
  [holding answer 9 December 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Alton, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the number of abortions performed from 21 weeks gestation by other surgical methods in the last year for which figures are available.
  There are four cases at 21 weeks and over in 1995, the most recent year for which information is available.

  Revenue and Expenditure Balance (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his answer of 25 November,Official Report, column 68, if he will estimate the total relative surplus or deficit of Government expenditure and revenue in Scotland for each year from 1978–79, assuming a constant relationship between the Scottish deficit, as published in the "Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland 1994–95", and the United Kingdom general

  Estimates of Scotland's share of the UK General Government Borrowing Requirement (GGBR), assuming a GDP share of privatisation proceeds and 90 per cent. of North Sea oil revenues

  £ billion

  UK GGBR excluding privatisation proceeds (pps) and North Sea oil revenues

  Scotland's share of column 1 for 1994–951 (per cent.)

  Scotland's implied share of UK GGBR excluding North Sea oil revenues and pps

  90 per cent. of oil revenues, and GDP share of UK pps2

  Implied estimates of Scotland's GGBR

  Implied estimates of Scotland's GGBR, 1996–97 prices3

  1978–79

  9.4

  17.9

  1.7

  0.5

  1.2

  3.6

  1979–80

  13.2

  17.9

  2.4

  2.2

  0.2

  0.4

  1980–81

  17.5

  17.9

  3.1

  3.4

  -0.3

  -0.6

  1981–82

  13.5

  17.9

  2.4

  4.1

  -1.6

  -3.3

  1982–83

  15.9

  17.9

  2.8

  4.9

  -2.1

  -3.9

  1983–84

  19.8

  17.9

  3.6

  8.0

  -4.5

  -7.9

  1984–85

  23.3

  17.9

  4.2

  11.0

  -6.8

  -11.5

  1985–86

  20.9

  17.9

  3.7

  10.4

  -6.7

  -10.7

  1986–87

  14.1

  17.9

  2.5

  4.7

  -2.2

  -3.4

  1987–88

  7.8

  17.9

  1.4

  4.6

  -3.2

  -4.7

  1988–89

  -1.5

  17.9

  –0.3

  3.4

  -3.7

  -5.1

  1989–90

  -0.0

  17.9

  -0.0

  2.5

  -2.5

  -3.2

  1990–91

  7.1

  17.9

  1.3

  2.5

  -1.3

  -1.6

  1991–92

  22.8

  17.9

  4.1

  1.6

  2.5

  2.9

  1992–93

  47.3

  17.9

  8.5

  1.9

  6.6

  7.2

  1993–94

  53.5

  17.9

  9.6

  1.6

  8.0

  8.5

  1994–95

  45.8

  17.9

  8.2

  2.0

  6.2

  6.5

  Total

  -26.7

  UK GGBR. Source:

  Public Finance Trends, 1996. A negative figure indicates a budget surplus.

  1 Source: Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland 1994–95, and Public Finance Trends 1996.

  2 Scotland's GDP at factor cost (current prices) as a percentage of GDP in the UK less Continental Shelf, calendar years. Source: Regional Trends, 1996.

  3 Based on the Budget forecast of the GDP deflator in 1996–97.

  Prednisolone
  Mr. Flyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have(a) become crippled and (b) died from taking the steroid Prednisolone in each of the best five years; and if he will make a statement. [9645]
  26
  Government borrowing requirement, excluding privatisation proceeds and North sea revenues and included in Scotland's revenue total a 90 per cent. share of North sea revenue and a gross domestic product share of privatisation proceeds; [8877]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 25 November Official Report, column 68, if he will estimate the total relative surplus or deficit of Government expenditure and revenue in Scotland, excluding the gross domestic product share of the United Kingdom surplus or deficit of the general Government borrowing requirement, for each year from 1978–79, assuming a constant relationship between the Scottish deficit, as published in the "Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland 1994–95", and the United Kingdom general Government borrowing requirement, excluding privatisation proceeds and North sea revenues and including in Scotland's revenue total a 90 per cent. share of North sea revenue and a gross domestic product share of privatisation proceeds. [8876]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 12 December 1996]: The table shows the calculations requested. The assumptions made to produce these figures—particularly for the allocation of North Sea oil revenues to Scotland—are inevitably imprecise.

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 17 December 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  27
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on how many people have (a) become crippled and (b) died from taking the steroid Prednisolone in England in each of the last five years.
  Data are not held centrally by ONS or the Department of Health on the number of people crippled as a result of taking Prednisolone. Death records with the relevant ICD9* codes for 1993 to 1995 were searched for a mention of Prednisolone. One death in 1993 and one death in 1994 was recorded as having a mention of Prednisolone on the death certificate. To search the data for deaths occurring before 1993 would have incurred disproportionate cost.
  *International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, underlying cause codes E932.0 and 305.9 and secondary cause code 962.0.

  Information Technology (Euro)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what is the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9453]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 18 December 1996]: My Department and agencies will need to assess the impact which a single currency, at present assumed to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  "Tackling Drugs Together"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what new proposals he has in respect of the initiatives in "Tackling Drugs Together". [8750]

  Mr. Newton
  "Tackling Drugs Together", contains 19 new specific tasks for the current year, and 20 such tasks for the year 1997–98. I am also announcing today the second drugs challenge fund which provides £2 million additional Government money to be bid for by local drug action teams, in partnership with private business and voluntary groups, for innovative and effective projects.

  Sitting Hours
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions the House rose before 10.30 pm on Thursdays(a) in the last Session and (b) since the beginning of the present Session. [8749]

  Mr. Newton
  The House has risen at or before 10.30 every Thursday last session and so far this Session, apart from once, on 18 April 1996.

  Parliamentary Reforms
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what assessment he has made of the operation of the reforms implemented following the Jopling report. [8748]

  Mr. Newton
  I believe the reforms have been a great success.

  Recesses
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will review the distribution over the year of parliamentary(a) Sessions and (b) recesses. [8747]

  Mr. Newton
  This matter was reviewed in 1992 by the Select Committee on Sittings of the House—the Jopling Committee—whose principal recommendation was that the House should rise for the summer recess by mid-July.

  Parliamentary Business
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will increase the amount of parliamentary business taken in the morning. [8746]

  Mr. Newton
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to extend the period for which he routinely announces the future business of the House. [8745]

  Mr. Newton
  In addition to announcing the business of the House for the following week, I try to give as much information as I can, on a provisional basis, about the likely business for the following week. I also use my best endeavours to give early notification of some major debates. I see no reasonable prospect of being able to go beyond this.

  Defamation Act 1996
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what assessment he has made of the impact of the Defamation Act 1996 on the proceedings of the House. [8744]

  Mr. Newton
  I have not made any such assessment.

  Points of Order
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the procedure for raising points of order during a Division. [8743]

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to page 366 of the 21st edition of Erskine May and to the Second Report from the Sessional Committee on Procedure (HC 152 (1976–77)).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Royal Family (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 November,Official Report, column 555, how much of the sums paid for clothing to members of the royal family and those accompanying them went to (a) the Duke and Duchess of Kent and (b) the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; and what sum was devoted to hiring charges. [9950]

  Mr. Rifkind
  In 1995–96, the cost to my Department for clothing for official overseas visits by the Duke and Duchess of Kent and those accompanying them was £5,300; for the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and those accompanying them, it was £3,000.

  None of these sums was devoted to hiring charges.

  North Korea
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the situation in North Korea with the United States Government; and if he will make a statement. [9830]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed North Korea with the US Secretary of State on 10 December when he raised our concern over the increased tension on the Korean peninsula since the submarine incident in September. Since then, the North Korean Government have issued a statement of apology on 29 December.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the situation in North Korea with the Government of the Republic of South Korea; and if he will make a statement. [9831]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea on 3 December, and I held talks with the Vice-Minister on 17 December. At both we discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula in the aftermath of the submarine incident. The statement of apology issued by North Korea on 29 December undertaking to ensure no recurrence of such incidents has led to a welcome easing of tension on the peninsula.

  Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions when Cabinet Ministers on official visits to(a) Singapore, (b) Thailand, (c) Malaysia, (d) Japan and (e) South Korea have used (i) the official residence and (ii) a residence other than the official residence since 1994, indicating the cost involved. [9960]

  Mr. Hanley
  The official visits made by Cabinet Ministers to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea since 1994 are shown in the table.

  We are still awaiting information from other Departments which may add to this list. I shall write when it has been received.

  Official visits by Cabinet Ministers to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea 1994 to 1996

  Date

  Minister

  Destination

  Accommodation

  Cost £

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  1994

  11 to 20 September

  Secretary of State

  Thailand and Japan

  Residence, Bangkok x two nights; residence, Tokyo x two nights

  1996

  26 August to

  Secretary of

  Japan

  Residence,

  4 September

  State

  Tokyo x one night

  27 October to 2 November

  Secretary of State

  Thailand

  Residence, Bangkok x three nights

  There were no visits made by the Secretary of State in this period to Singapore, Malaysia or South Korea

  30

  Official visits by Cabinet Ministers to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea 1994 to 1996

  Date

  Minister

  Destination

  Accommodation

  Cost £

  Ministry of Defence

  1996

  January

  Secretary of State

  Singapore and Malaysia

  Residence, Singapore; residence, Kuala Lumpur

  January

  Secretary of State

  South Korea

  Hotel

  Guest of Government

  September

  Secretary of State

  Japan

  Residence, Tokyo

  Department of Health

  1995

  13 to 17 March

  Secretary of State

  Japan and South Korea

  Residence, Tokyo; Hotel, Seoul

  11 to 14 September

  Minister of Health

  Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia

  Hotel, Singapore; residence, Bangkok; residence, Kuala Lumpur

  859.93

  1996

  14 to 20 September

  Minister of Health

  Singapore, Thailand, Japan and South Korea

  Hotel, Singapore; Residence, Singapore; Hotel, Kuala Lumpur; Hotel, Tokyo; Residence, Tokyo; Residence, Seoul

  424.34

  385.42

  601.91

  Lord Chancellor's Office

  1994

  8 January 1994

  Lord Chancellor

  Singapore

  Residence, Singapore

  Department of National Heritage

  1996

  27 to 30 May

  Secretary of State

  Japan

  Residence, Tokyo

  Department of Transport

  1995

  18 to 24 April

  Secretary of State

  Japan and South Korea

  Residence, Tokyo x two nights

  Hotel, Nagoya x one night (20)

  £425.22

  Hotel, Kyoto x one night

  £232.91

  Hotel, Seoul x three nights

  £252.00

  1996

  10 to 11 April

  Secretary of State

  Singapore

  Residence, Singapore

  29 to 30 July

  Secretary of State

  Malaysia

  Hotel, Langkawi x one night Residence, Kuala Lumpur one night

  £155.00

  Welsh Office

  1994

  6 to 9 September

  Secretary of State

  Japan

  Hotel, Osaka x one night Residence, Tokyo three nights

  no cost available

  1995

  10 to 15 September

  Secretary of State

  Japan and South Korea

  Residence, Tokyo x two nights Hotel, Osaka x two nights Residence, Seoul x two nights

  no cost available

  31

  Official visits by Cabinet Ministers to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea 1994 to 1996

  Date

  Minister

  Destination

  Accommodation

  Cost x £

  1996

  9 to 14 September

  Secretary of State

  South Korea and Japan

  Residence, Seoul x one night

  Residence, Tokyo x two nights

  Hotel, Osaka, x one night

  no cost available

  Hotel, Heppu, x one night

  no cost available

  Hotel, Osaka x one night

  no cost available

  Scottish Office

  1996 May

  Secretary of

  Japan and

  Residence,

  State

  South Korea

  Tokyo

  Hotel, Osaka Residence, Seoul

  £893.00

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the official residences owned by his Department in south America; and if he will indicate the occasions when Cabinet Ministers on official visits to each country have used(a) the official residence and (b) a residence other than the official residence since 1994, indicating the cost involved. [9955]

  Mr. Hanley
  Official residences are owned in the following cities: Asuncion, Belmopan, Bogota, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Guatemala City, La Paz, Lima, Montevideo, Panama City, Quito, Rio de Janiero, San Jose, San Salvador, Santiago, Sao Paulo.

  Information currently at hand indicates the following visits by Cabinet Ministers to the area since 1994:

  Lord Chancellor

  Chile 25 to 28 May 1996 (accommodation at Santiago residence);

  Peru 29 to 31 May 1996 (Lima residence);

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Argentina 22 to 24 August (Buenos Aires residence);

  Bolivia 25 to 28 August 1994 (La Paz residence);

  Colombia 29 August to 2 September 1994 (Bogota residence);

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Brazil 4 to 11 April 1994 (Maksoud Plaza hotel);

  Sao Paulo Copacabana Palace hotel,

  No cost—guest of Government

  Rio de Janiero, Brasilia residence)

  Brazil and Bolivia 8 to 17 April 1996 (Brasilia residence);

  Copacabana Palace hotel, Rio de Janiero

  No cost—guest of Government

  Hotel Moferraj Sheraton, Sao Paulo

  Lord Presidence of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons:

  Ecuador, Paraguay, Uraquay and Brazil, 7 to 22 August 1996 (Quito residence, Asuncion residence, Montevideo residence, hotel International Brasilia (Cost not available));

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment:

  Chile and Colombia, 28 May to 4 June 1996 (Residences at Santiago and Bogota but for one night in hotel—cost £362);

  Secretary of State for Defence:

  Chile December 1996 to January 1997 (Santiago residence).
  32
  We are still awaiting information from other Departments which may add to this list. I shall write separately when it has been received.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment. [9799]

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9798]

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Former Prisoners of War
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the response to date from Japanese business men to the Minister of State's invitation to them to extend help to British prisoners of war held in Japan during the second world war; and if he will make a statement. [9882]

  Mr. Hanley
  As I made clear in the debate on 4 December,Official Report, columns 969–73 our policy is to encourage all initiatives which promote reconciliation and recognise the sacrifices made by former prisoners of war. The British Government have made extensive efforts to develop non-governmental approaches and some activities such as exchange visits are going ahead.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10163]

  Mr. Hanley
  Following the efficiency scrutiny on the Government's use of external consultants, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Administration produced action plans which were agreed with Ministers and submitted to the efficiency unit. Both Departments produced guidelines to cover all the points made in the report. The revised guidelines, in the form of office instructions, were brought to the attention of all staff to whom they were relevant.

  In addition to revising their guidelines, the FCO and ODA have also tightened up their procedures on the use of consultants. Last year, it was agreed that consultancies for internal purposes costing more than £50,000 should be authorised by Ministers.
  33
  The great majority of ODA expenditure on consultants is undertaken at the request of, and for the benefit of, overseas Governments and institutions; where relevant to this type of activity, the scrutiny recommendations have been implemented in full.

  International Agreements
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy with respect to the nomenclature for the United Kingdom and the country to the south and west, utilised on both copies of agreements that he signs with that country; and if he will make a statement. [10481]

  Mr. Rifkind
  The UK original of treaties and agreements between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland uses the nomenclature appropriate under UK law which is "the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" and "the Government of the Republic of Ireland". The Irish original of such treaties and agreements uses the nomenclature for the two countries which the Irish Government consider appropriate.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the article of(a) the treaty on European Union, and (b) its associated treaties, under which the Commission of the European Committees has a locus in respect of the June intergovernmental conference concerning amendments to the treaty; and what communications he has received from the Commission of the Community relating to this matter. [10874]

  Mr. David Davis
  The Commission of the European Community has a locus in respect of the intergovernmental conference—IGC—under article N of the treaty of European union. The Commission submitted its opinion on convening the IGC on 28 February 1996. This was submitted to Parliament for scrutiny. The Commission has submitted a number of other proposals to the IGC, which have been placed in the Library of the House. The outcome of the IGC will be decided by member states, by unanimity.

  Indonesia
  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the frequencies and the locations of the transmitters supplied under the contracts which followed on from the shortwave radio transmitters project in Indonesia; and who were the contracting parties. [10715]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  I understand from GEC Marconi Communications Ltd. that the shortwave radio transmitters project in Indonesia has helped in securing three follow-on items of business on commercial terms. The details are:

  (i) a turnkey project near Jakarta, including the provision of three 250kW high frequency transmitters and antennae system. The contracting parties were Marconi Communications International Ltd. and the directorate of radio television and film of the Department of
  34
  Information of the Government of Indonesia. The transmitters are to provide an external overseas broadcasting service and operate on frequencies in the internationally recognised broadcasting bands in the 4–26 MHz range.

  (ii) the supply and installation of transmitting equipment for 19 sites in Malaysia. The contracting parties were Eddystone Radio Ltd., GEC Malaysia and the Malaysian Ministry of Information. The transmitters operate in the 88–108MHz broadcasting band.

  (iii) the supply of medium frequency transmitters and a directional antennae system in Vietnam. The contacting parties were Marconi Communications International Ltd. and Radio Voice of Vietnam. The equipment operates on the fixed frequencies of 549kHz and 675kHz.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Cells
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of nights spent by prisoners in police cell accommodation in each month this year. [9105]

  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 13 January 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of nights spent by prisoners in police accommodation this year.
  No nights have been spent by prisoners in police accommodation this year as a result of overcrowding at establishments. This key objective has applied since June 1995 and continues to be achieved in spite of extreme population pressures.
  Under completely separate arrangements, prisoners have, from time to time, to be accommodated overnight in police accommodation following court appearances. This is usually because a late court sitting or the distance involved make it impossible for an escort contractor to get the prisoner back before reception at the establishment closes for the evening.
  This continues a practice developed when all prisoner escorts to and from court were undertaken by the Police or Prison Service and is of many years standing. Prison reception times were developed to meet local circumstances. If prisoners could not be delivered before the prison closed for the night the police held them overnight and delivered them the next morning. The number of prisoners lodged overnight by the police in these circumstances prior to contracting out is not available centrally.
  The general service to courts, prisons and police forces has improved significantly since the contracting out of escort services. Court contractors are required to get prisoners back to prison by a certain time. This is not always possible for reasons which may be outside their control. However, if they fail to meet this commitment as a result of an error or omission on their part they have to meet any subsequent costs that may arise as a result of the use of police cell accommodation. Well over 99 per cent. of prisoners are admitted to establishments each evening.

  35
  The table below gives the number of nights in which prisoners have been accommodated in police cells in these circumstances between January and October this year. Information for November is not yet available. The figures are affected by the fact that during the period in question more escort contracts have started. As a result, better management information on these cases within the contract areas is now available.

  Month

  Number

  January

  124

  February

  171

  March

  177

  April

  160

  May

  129

  June

  181

  July

  142

  August

  185

  September

  176

  October

  250

  As you will see this amounts to an average of about five prisoners per night.

  The number of prisoners held two in a cell designed for one by Prison

  1996

  Prison type code

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  Aylesbury

  IM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Bedford

  BM

  154

  134

  134

  134

  134

  134

  Birmingham

  CM, BM, EM

  630

  616

  630

  630

  618

  632

  Blakenhurst

  BM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  66

  Blundeston

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bristol

  BM, CM, EM

  152

  162

  162

  68

  68

  68

  Brixton

  BM

  328

  328

  328

  328

  328

  398

  Buckley Hall

  CM

  0

  0

  20

  20

  16

  16

  Canterbury

  BM

  210

  166

  154

  154

  204

  204

  Cardiff

  AM, BM, VM

  368

  286

  366

  376

  386

  332

  Channings Wood

  CM, VM

  200

  192

  186

  186

  182

  186

  Chelmsford

  BM

  332

  332

  324

  296

  296

  296

  Cookhamwood

  CF

  12

  12

  12

  12

  26

  26

  Doncaster

  BM, VM

  194

  194

  376

  376

  376

  376

  Dorchester

  AM, BM, VM

  144

  160

  122

  164

  164

  188

  Down View

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Durham

  BM, CF, VM, CM

  428

  474

  476

  472

  532

  704

  Everthorpe

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Exeter

  AM, BM

  302

  352

  352

  322

  384

  384

  Feltham

  AM, IM, LM, SM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  AM, HM, IM, SM

  Glen Parva

  VM

  138

  378

  204

  236

  212

  254

  Gloucester

  BM, AM

  91

  102

  118

  118

  122

  134

  Guys Marsh

  CM, IM, JM

  0

  0

  6

  0

  4

  8

  Highpoint

  CM, CF

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hindley

  AM, IM

  0

  0

  140

  0

  0

  0

  Hull

  BM, SM

  140

  236

  204

  178

  160

  156

  Lancaster Farms

  AM, IM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds

  BM

  548

  584

  754

  0

  0

  98

  Leicester

  BM, VM

  238

  244

  244

  268

  250

  250

  Lewes

  BM, VM

  22

  22

  22

  30

  24

  24

  Lincoln

  BM, VM

  418

  538

  490

  514

  514

  536

  Littlehey

  CM, HM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  BM, VM

  188

  208

  66

  230

  230

  260

  Low Newton

  AM, BF, VM

  180

  224

  224

  234

  236

  204

  Manchester

  BM, VM

  446

  456

  444

  444

  448

  446

  Moorland

  AM, CM, IM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mount

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northallerton

  AM

  114

  168

  170

  164

  162

  168

  Norwich

  AM, BM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nottingham

  CM, EM

  0

  4

  4

  4

  6

  8

  P'klechurch

  AF (SHUT)

  28

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Pentonville

  BM

  599

  610

  176

  596

  616

  604

  Prison Accommodation
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prisoners sharing two to a cell designed for one by prison type in each month this year. [9103]

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 13 January 1996.
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners sharing two to a cell designed for one by prison type in each month this year.
  Data concerning prisoners sharing cells designed for one is only collected for the prison as a whole. It is therefore not possible to provide information by prison type because many prisons have multiple roles. A list of all prisons which have two prisoners sharing cells designed for one and the various roles they undertake, is provided in the attached table.
  37

  The number of prisoners held two in a cell designed for one by Prison

  1996

  Prison type code

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  Portland Yoi

  AM, IM, LM

  16

  16

  16

  16

  0

  0

  Preston

  BM

  258

  258

  258

  258

  258

  394

  Reading

  AM, IM

  38

  60

  52

  82

  44

  44

  Risley

  BF, CM, SM, VM, AM, BM, CM, VM,

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rochester

  IM

  44

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Shepton Mallet

  CM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  76

  Shrewsbury

  BM

  272

  260

  268

  270

  254

  262

  Stafford1

  CM, VM

  396

  400

  374

  368

  394

  378

  Stocken

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Swaleside

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Swansea

  AM, BM

  144

  144

  132

  148

  164

  166

  Usk

  CM, DM, JM, VM

  74

  66

  88

  86

  80

  80

  Verne

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wakefield

  CM, EM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  BM, VM

  148

  148

  80

  80

  80

  96

  Wayland

  CM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wealstun

  CM, DM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Winchester

  BM, CM, CF

  194

  186

  194

  218

  208

  234

  Wolds

  BM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Woodhill

  AM, BM, SM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wormwood Scrubs

  BM, CM, EM, SM

  300

  530

  250

  238

  244

  304

  Total

  8,448

  9,256

  8,626

  8,324

  8,430

  9,202

  1996

  Prison type code

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  Aylesbury

  IM

  2

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Bedford

  BM

  142

  132

  142

  166

  168

  Birmingham

  CM, BM, EM

  616

  622

  622

  632

  626

  Blakenhurst

  BM, VM

  66

  122

  130

  138

  140

  Blundeston

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  18

  0

  Bristol

  BM, CM, EM

  68

  70

  80

  98

  92

  Brixton

  BM

  358

  358

  302

  354

  362

  Buckley Hall

  CM

  18

  18

  12

  22

  20

  Canterbury

  BM

  210

  210

  218

  248

  234

  Cardiff

  AM, BM, VM

  332

  256

  388

  458

  458

  Channings Wood

  CM, VM

  196

  194

  206

  224

  244

  Chelmsford

  BM

  322

  14

  0

  108

  72

  Cookhamwood

  CF

  48

  50

  72

  48

  46

  Doncaster

  BM, VM

  420

  414

  352

  389

  416

  Dorchester

  AM, BM, VM

  178

  172

  182

  180

  164

  Down View

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  Durham

  BM, CF, VM, CM

  676

  678

  700

  712

  742

  Everthorpe

  CM

  0

  0

  64

  32

  Exeter

  AM, BM

  356

  324

  358

  404

  408

  Feltham

  AM, IM, LM, SM

  0

  0

  0

  10

  12

  AM, HM, IM, SM,

  Glen Parva

  VM

  358

  222

  154

  236

  222

  Gloucester

  BM, AM

  128

  80

  116

  108

  142

  Guys Marsh

  CM, IM, JM

  8

  8

  6

  6

  26

  Highpoint

  CM, CF

  0

  0

  22

  22

  Hindley

  AM, IM

  0

  0

  0

  32

  0

  Hull

  BM, SM

  188

  194

  202

  206

  194

  Lancaster Farms

  AM, IM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  34

  Leeds

  BM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leicester

  BM, VM

  304

  266

  280

  298

  268

  Lewes

  BM, VM

  30

  30

  54

  26

  24

  Lincoln

  BM, VM

  532

  500

  496

  486

  482

  Littlehey

  CM, HM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  16

  32

  Liverpool

  BM, VM

  260

  260

  264

  264

  264

  Low Newton

  AM, BF, VM

  226

  198

  218

  236

  266

  Manchester

  BM, VM

  444

  480

  482

  480

  484

  Moorland

  AM, CM, IM

  60

  60

  60

  60

  60

  Mount

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  76

  76

  Northallerton

  AM

  156

  150

  158

  292

  286

  Norwich

  AM, BM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nottingham

  CM, EM

  8

  18

  4

  P'klechurch

  AF(SHUT)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  38 39

  1996

  Prison type code

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  Pentonville

  BM

  654

  658

  706

  696

  688

  Portland Yoi

  AM, IM, LM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  114

  Preston

  BM

  404

  404

  370

  358

  362

  Reading

  AM, IM

  78

  110

  110

  144

  122

  Risley

  BF, CM, SM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  18

  AM, BM, CM, VM,

  Rochester

  IM

  4

  6

  6

  12

  Shepton Mallet

  CM, VM

  98

  100

  120

  104

  112

  Shrewsbury

  BM

  278

  268

  282

  294

  290

  Stafford1

  CM, VM

  390

  390

  386

  404

  0

  Stocken

  CM

  48

  14

  42

  52

  52

  Swaleside

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  30

  Swansea

  AM, BM

  132

  138

  146

  161

  244

  Usk

  CM, DM, JM, VM

  88

  88

  84

  108

  96

  Verne

  CM

  0

  0

  0

  0

  16

  Wakefield

  CM, EM

  56

  94

  86

  82

  96

  Wandsforth

  BM, VM

  162

  166

  230

  134

  138

  Wayland

  CM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  56

  50

  Wealstun

  CM, DM

  0

  0

  0

  6

  6

  Winchester

  BM, CM, CF

  230

  208

  230

  230

  244

  Wolds

  BM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  60

  0

  Woodhill

  AM, BM, SM, VM

  0

  0

  0

  54

  94

  Wormwood Scrubs

  BM, CM, EM, SM

  320

  260

  300

  300

  292

  Total

  —

  9,652

  8,996

  9,360

  10,384

  10,210

  1 A new cell certificate issued in November has re-certified single cells as double cells.

  Description of codes

  M—Male

  F—Female

  A—Remand Centre

  B—Local prison

  C—Closed training prison D—Open training prison

  E—Hostel

  H—National resource hospital

  I—Closed young offender institution

  J—Open young offender institution

  K—Short sentencer institution

  L—Juvenile institution

  S—Special unit

  T—Additional special unit

  V—Vulnerable prisoner unit

  Adjustments to figures returned from Liverpool and Northallerton means that the total number of prisoners held two to a cell designed for one has been revised for the months between July and November.

  Adjustment table: Total number of prisoners held two to a cell designed for one

  1996

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  Previous total

  9,236

  8,726

  8,938

  10,120

  9,946

  Adjusted new total

  9,652

  8,996

  9,360

  10,384

  10,210

  Europol
  Mr. David Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what international obligations or guidelines apply in the United Kingdom in respect of harmonising practices regarding the interception of communications, with particular reference to the work of Europol. [10217]

  Mr. Howard
  None. Such practices are a matter for national law.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9793]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9792]

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.

  Interception of Communications
  Mr. David Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has evaluated into recent developments in the interception of communications; and what proposals he has to introduce legislation in this area. [10218]

  Mr. Howard
  The adequacy of legislation is kept under review in the light of developments in the interception field.

  Mr. Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff, and at what grades, are
  41
  deployed in undertaking the work required under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, separately identifying the work of (a) the commissioner and (b) the relevant division of his Department; and what other costs are involved in this work. [10216]

  Mr. Howard
  The commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 is assisted by a secretary (higher executive officer grade). Within the intelligence and security liaison unit of the Home Office, one grade 7, one higher executive officer, two executive officers, one administrative officer and one typist are engaged on casework under the 1985 Act. Members of the senior civil service are also involved in the consideration of applications. Other costs fall to the agencies requesting interception; it is not the Government's practice to give details of such costs.

  Mr. Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the safeguards adopted to deal with interception of communications procedures, including the clandestine listening to telephone calls, in the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe countries and the United States of America; and if he will place such assessment in the Library together with a listing of the principal procedures in each country and the source of that information. [10432]

  Mr. Howard
  I have made no such assessment. Procedures concerning interception in other countries are a matter for the Governments concerned.

  Mr. Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methods exist for establishing whether the police have been responsible for an unlawful interception of communications procedure. [10429]

  Mr. Howard
  A person who believes that his or her communications have been intercepted in the course of transmission by post or by means of a public telecommunications system may apply to the tribunal established under section 7 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 for an investigation of whether a relevant warrant has been issued and, if so, whether there has been any contravention of the Act. The investigation of an allegation that interception has taken place without the authority of a warrant is, like the investigation of other allegations of criminal offences, a matter for the police.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employers have been prosecuted for employing illegal immigrants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [9788]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Prior to the introduction of section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, which comes into force on 27 January 1997, it has not been an offence for an employer to employ an illegal entrant.

  Prisons (Sanitation)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many prisons in England and Wales inmates do not currently have access to sanitation at all times; and if he will make a statement. [9770]
  42
  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. Archy Kirkwood, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisons where inmates do not have access to sanitation at all times.
  An extensive programme of work in recent years resulted in the ending of the practice of slopping out in April 1996. There are now no prisons in England and Wales where prisoners housed in normal accommodation do not have access to sanitation at all times.
  Most of our establishments have retained a small amount of accommodation where integral sanitation would not be appropriate for example special cells or dirty protest cells. These do not form part of the certified normal accommodation of the establishment.
  There are also exceptional occasions when essential maintenance work requires the temporary suspension of access to sanitation.

  Hand Grenades and Balaclavas
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to control the sale of imitation hand grenades and SAS-style balaclavas. [9844]

  Mr. Maclean
  None.

  Police Scientific Development Branch
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the police scientific development branch; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10058]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the police scientific development branch; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10059]

  Mr. Maclean
  The costs of the prior options review of the police scientific development branch are estimated to be £64,000. This figure represents the costs of the review team and of consultancy advice obtained by PSDB. The sums were paid from the budget of the police policy directorate.

  The review was completed in March 1996 and, as such, no future costs are anticipated. The findings of the review remain under consideration.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the police scientific development branch as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10060]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the police scientific development branch. [10061]

  Mr. Maclean
  Employees of the police scientific development branch sit on 84 United Kingdom committees, five European committees and eight committees with a wider international membership. PSDB
  43
  staff take the lead for the United Kingdom on three of these European committees and six of the wider international committees.

  Nine United Kingdom committees and one European committee are chaired by employees of PSDB.

  Intoxicating Substances
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 December,Official Report, column 148, if he will identify the substances covered by the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 and the number of prosecutions that have taken place in each of the last five years providing a regional breakdown where available. [10224]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Act covers the supply of any substance which is likely to be inhaled for the purpose of causing intoxication; no particular substances are specified. But the compounds and products commonly associated with volatile substance abuse are listed in annexes D and E of the 1995 report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on volatile substance abuse, a copy of which is in the Library.

  The number of prosecutions for offences under the Act by region, in the last five years for which figures are available, were as follows:

  Region

  1995

  1994

  1993

  1992

  1991

  Totals

  North

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  4

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  East Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North West

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1

  5

  West Midlands

  —

  4

  —

  2

  1

  7

  East Anglia

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  South West

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  South East

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  2

  Wales

  1

  —

  2

  —

  3

  6

  England and Wales

  3

  7

  5

  5

  8

  28

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department is he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report "The Government's Use of External Consultants". [10195]

  Mr. Howard
  The Home office is either acting on or has already complied with each of the relevant recommendations of the scrutiny report. In particular, a policy statement has been issued, new arrangements for ministerial approval of external consultancies are being followed and reporting arrangements are in place. A new guidance manual, covering these areas and consolidating existing guidance, is about to issue.

  Pepper Sprays
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reviews his Department has carried out into the health effects of pepper sprays, oleoresin capsicum, since 1990; who carried out each of 44
  the reviews; what were the conclusions of each of the reviews; when each review (a) started and (b) ended; and what is the current security classification of the report arising out of each review. [10251]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office police scientific development branch started reviewing all available data relating to the health effects of oleoresin capsicum in early 1991, and continues to do so. The data have also been reviewed by the Department of Health and the Ministry of Defence. This has not resulted in any published report, although a summary of the police scientific development branch's findings were included in an article in "Police Science and Technology Review" last June. In addition, my right hon. and learned Friend commissioned research into the possible carcinogenic effects of oleoresin capsicum's main incapacitating ingredient, capsaicin. This was undertaken by Hazleton Europe between 14 July 1994 and 22 August 1994. This resulted in two reports, entitled "Capsaicin: Measurement of Unscheduled DNA Synthesis in Rat Liver Using an In Vivo/In Vitro Procedure" and "Capsaicin: Induction of Micronuclei in the Bone Marrow of Treated Mice", which are unclassified and available in the Library.

  Speaker's Conferences
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of(a) the typescript minutes of evidence of the Speakers' conferences on electoral law 1965 to 1968 and (b) the minutes of evidence he retains in respect of earlier Speakers' conferences. [10444]

  Mr. Sackville
  Successive Speakers have directed that the unpublished papers of Speakers' conferences should be publicly available only on the expiry of 50 years and the subject to the consent of the Speaker in office in respect of each application for access to them.

  Refugees
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of refugee applications in each of the past five years. [10491]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Applications1 for asylum received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1992–96 (January to November)

  Year

  Number of principal applications

  1992

  24,605

  1993

  22,370

  1994

  32,830

  1995

  43,965

  1996 (January to November

  25,590

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest five.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he funds(a) the Refugee Council and (b) the refugees arrival project. [10489]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We provide a core grant to the Refugee Council which contributes to a range of the council's activities as an umbrella organisation supporting the interests of refugees and refugee organisations.
  45
  The grant from the Home Office contributes about 80 per cent. of the total funding available to the refugee arrivals project to enable it to provide advice and support to asylum seekers arriving at airports in Greater London.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who advises him on the monitoring of the refugee situation and on the appropriate levels of financial support to those voluntary organisations who are providing services to refugees. [10493]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Statistics are maintained on the number of people seeking asylum each year and those given permission to remain either as refugees or exceptionally outside the immigration rules. The voluntary agencies funded by the Home Office are alive to the changing refugee situation which influences the aims and objectives which underlie the grant we pay.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money has been made available to refugee agencies in each of the past five years. [10490]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The total amount of grants given to refugee voluntary agencies in each of the past five financial years is set out in the table. The amounts vary from year to year due to the fluctuating level of funding needed to support the programme offering temporary protection to refugees from the former Yugoslavia.

  Year

  Total grant £million

  1996–97

  5.2

  1995–96

  6.1

  1994–95

  9.4

  1993–94

  7.4

  1992–93

  4.2

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult the(a) Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster and (b) other Church and faith leaders about services to refugees. [10494]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The provision of services to refugees is a matter for local authorities and those central Government Departments with policy responsibility in the relevant areas. We are always ready to listen to the views of Church and other faith leaders about issues affecting refugees.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific advice has been given by his Department to refugee aid and advice agencies about changes in the levels of funding in recent years. [10492]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Home Office officials have regular discussions with the refugee organisations to which we make grants. We have made it clear during these meetings that, due to the need to control public expenditure, no guarantees could be given that the level of grants would necessarily be maintained.

  Metropolitan Police (Accommodation) Clearance Costs
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the acquisition and clearance cost of the sites at(a) Grafton square and (b) Old Town SW4. [10487]
  46
  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the acquisition and clearance costs of both sites are as follows:

  Item

  Cost £

  Purchase of Grafton Square

  912,500

  Purchase of 63 Old Town

  1,260,000

  Legal fees, stamp duty and agents fees

  70,000

  Demolition costs

  126,000

  Total

  2,368,500

  Part of the land was surplus to the scheme and was subsequently sold for £50,000

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the strategic review of the provision of police accommodation in Lambeth started and finished; what external views were sought on this strategic review; and if the views of the Lambeth divisional commander were sought. [10486]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a review of the long-term police accommodation needs in Lambeth is ongoing as part of the process to update the Metropolitan police's operational building strategy by September 1997. The review will take a number of months to complete, during which time the Metropolitan police intend to seek the views of interested parties, both internally and externally.

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the architects' and surveyors' costs to 31 March 1996, in the preparation of the divisional police headquarters at Grafton square. [10488]

  Mr. Maclean
  The commissioner tells me that the proposals were developed mainly by architectural staff in the Metropolitan police property services department. All costs, up to March 1996, totalled the equivalent of £857,000, inclusive of external consultants' fees.

  Game Licences
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the future of game licences. [10404]

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. and learned Friend has announced the Government's intention to abolish the licence to kill game. Consultation on the proposal to abolish the licence, and to abolish and/or simplify other aspects of the game licensing system, will take place as soon as possible.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what request he has made, and what reports he has received, to or from the advisory committee for the Metropolitan police concerning the recent review of its support services. [10499]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received regular reports from the Metropolitan police committee on the recent review of support services. He received a copy of the final report published on 4 November 1996, and has asked to be kept informed of progress on the implementation of the recommendations.

  Airports (Passenger Handling)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on passenger handling arrangements at(a) Heathrow and (b) other United Kingdom airports. [10323]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Paragraph 27(1)(a) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 requires that carriers disembark passengers from ships and aircraft in accordance with arrangements approved by the immigration service. These arrangements invariably include a requirement that passengers who are not European Union—European Economic Area nationals be presented in an orderly manner to the immigration officer for interview. This requirement is met in a variety of ways at different locations, reflecting the different traffic patterns and accommodation configurations which exist. At Heathrow airport, carriers have engaged a private security firm to carry out this function on their behalf.

  Licensing (Special Hours Certificates)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representation he has received on problems arising from the granting of special hours certificates under section 77 of the Licensing Act 1964 as extensions to standard licences; what plans he has to alter the licensing arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [10517]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have received a number of representations from the licensed trade about a 1995 Crown court judgment, whose effect appears to be to restrict premises which hold a special hours certificate from operating as public houses during the day and as discotheques at night. I understand that a test case, sponsored by the trade, received judgment in the High Court on 16 December, and that the plaintiffs have been given leave to take the matter to the Court of Appeal. We shall continue to monitor developments closely, and will

  £ million (unless otherwise stated)

  Capped expenditure limit

  Police rule 2 grant

  Police rule 3 grant

  Aggregate for

  Aggregate for

  Increase over

  Increase over Per cent.

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1996–97

  Police Authorities

  Avon and Somerset

  154.1

  159.0

  0.5

  1.6

  0.0

  154.6

  160.6

  6.0

  3.9

  Bedfordshire

  57.3

  59.2

  0.2

  0.6

  0.0

  57.5

  59.8

  2.2

  3.9

  Cambridgeshire

  66.2

  68.3

  0.3

  0.8

  0.0

  66.5

  69.1

  2.6

  4.0

  Cheshire

  98.2

  101.3

  0.4

  1.1

  0.0

  98.6

  102.4

  3.9

  3.9

  Cleveland

  73.2

  75.6

  0.2

  0.6

  0.0

  73.4

  76.2

  2.8

  3.8

  Cumbria

  57.9

  59.7

  0.2

  0.6

  0.0

  58.1

  60.3

  2.2

  3.8

  Derbyshire

  92.1

  95.3

  0.3

  1.0

  0.0

  92.4

  96.3

  3.9

  4.2

  Devon and Cornwall

  152.9

  157.8

  0.6

  1.8

  0.0

  153.5

  159.6

  6.1

  4.0

  Dorset

  67.8

  70.0

  0.3

  0.8

  0.0

  68.1

  70.8

  2.7

  3.9

  Durham

  71.3

  73.6

  0.2

  0.7

  0.0

  71.5

  74.3

  2.7

  3.8

  Essex

  152.9

  157.8

  0.6

  1.7

  0.0

  153.5

  159.5

  6.0

  3.9

  Gloucestershire

  58.3

  60.2

  0.2

  0.6

  0.0

  58.5

  60.8

  2.3

  3.9

  Hampshire

  174.9

  180.5

  0.7

  2.0

  0.0

  175.6

  182.5

  6.9

  3.9

  Hertfordshire

  90.1

  93.0

  0.3

  1.0

  0.0

  90.4

  94.0

  3.6

  3.9

  Humberside

  102.8

  106.1

  0.3

  1.0

  0.0

  103.1

  107.1

  3.9

  3.8

  Kent

  163.6

  168.9

  0.6

  1.8

  0.0

  164.2

  170.7

  6.4

  3.9

  Lancashire

  163.0

  168.3

  0.5

  1.6

  0.0

  163.5

  169.9

  6.3

  3.8

  Leicestershire

  94.5

  97.5

  0.3

  1.0

  0.0

  94.8

  98.5

  3.7

  3.9

  Lincolnshire

  63.1

  64.2

  0.2

  0.7

  0.9

  63.3

  65.8

  2.5

  3.9

  Norfolk

  75.7

  78.2

  0.3

  0.9

  0.0

  76.0

  79.1

  3.0

  3.9

  Northamptonshire

  61.8

  63.8

  0.2

  0.7

  0.0

  62.0

  64.5

  2.4

  3.9

  48
  consider whether action is needed in the light of the decision of the courts.

  Remand Prisoners (Newspapers)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons remand prisoners are not entitled to receive(a) the Irish Times, (b) the Irish News, (c) the Irish Press and (d) the Belfast Newsletter. [10637]

  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 Hugh Taylor to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the supply of Irish papers to prisoners.
  Prisons provide, at public expense, one newspaper for every ten prisoners, taking into account the preference of prisoners and the need to provide as full a range of newspapers as possible. Additionally, prisoners can receive newspapers directly from publishers, newsagents or booksellers, either at the order of relatives or friends or by payment from prisoners' private cash or prison pay. For unconvicted prisoners the supply of newspapers at their own expense is specifically provided for in the Prison Rules and there are no particular restrictions on the four titles you mention.

  Police Expenditure
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the aggregate of (i) each police authority's capped expenditure limit or in the case of the Metropolitan police the estimated budget requirement, (ii) police rule 2 grant for additional police officers and (iii) police rule 3 grant for(a) each individual police authority, (b) each class of police authority and (c) all police authorities in 1996–97 and 1997–98 and the change in each in pounds and as a percentage. [10306]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  49

  £ million (unless otherwise stated)

  Capped expenditure limit

  Police rule 2 grant

  Police rule 3 grant

  Aggregate for

  Aggregate for

  Increase over

  Increase over Per cent.

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1996–97

  North Yorkshire

  69.4

  71.6

  0.3

  0.8

  0.0

  69.7

  72.4

  2.8

  4.0

  Nottinghamshire

  114.9

  118.5

  0.4

  1.1

  0.0

  115.3

  119.6

  4.4

  3.9

  Staffordshire

  109.5

  113.0

  0.4

  1.1

  0.0

  109.9

  114.1

  4.3

  3.9

  Suffolk

  61.5

  63.5

  0.2

  0.7

  0.0

  61.7

  64.2

  2.5

  4.0

  Surrey

  87.0

  88.5

  0.3

  0.9

  1.3

  87.3

  90.7

  3.4

  3.9

  Sussex

  150.9

  155.7

  0.6

  1.7

  0.0

  151.5

  157.4

  5.9

  3.9

  Thames Valley

  203.3

  209.8

  0.8

  2.4

  0.0

  204.1

  212.2

  8.1

  4.0

  Warwickshire

  49.3

  50.9

  0.1

  0.5

  0.0

  49.4

  51.4

  1.9

  3.9

  West Mercia

  103.21

  106.5

  0.4

  1.2

  0.0

  103.6

  107.7

  4.1

  4.0

  Wiltshire

  61.4

  63.3

  0.2

  0.6

  0.0

  61.6

  63.9

  2.4

  3.9

  Total English shire authorities

  3,102

  3,200

  11

  34

  0.0

  3,113

  3,233

  120

  3.9

  Greater Manchester

  341.8

  352.8

  1.0

  2.9

  0.0

  342.8

  355.7

  12.8

  3.7

  Merseyside

  226.2

  233.5

  0.5

  1.6

  0.0

  226.7

  235.1

  8.3

  3.7

  Northumbria

  187.7

  193.7

  0.5

  1.6

  0.0

  188.2

  195.3

  7.1

  3.8

  South Yorkshire

  154.3

  159.2

  0.5

  1.4

  0.0

  154.8

  160.6

  5.9

  3.8

  West Midlands

  343.2

  354.2

  1.0

  3.0

  0.0

  344.2

  357.2

  13.0

  3.8

  West Yorkshire

  260.0

  268.3

  0.8

  2.3

  0.0

  260.8

  270.6

  9.9

  3.8

  Total metropolitan authorities

  1,513

  1,562

  4

  13

  0.0

  1,518

  1,575

  57

  3.8

  Metropolitan Police1

  1,646.2

  1,694.9

  3.4

  10.1

  0.0

  1,649.6

  1,705.0

  55.4

  3.4

  City of London Police2

  0.1

  0.3

  0.0

  Dyfed Powys

  48.4

  50.0

  0.2

  0.5

  0.0

  48.6

  50.5

  1.9

  3.9

  Gwent

  62.6

  64.6

  0.2

  0.6

  0.0

  62.8

  65.2

  2.4

  3.8

  North Wales

  69.1

  71.3

  0.2

  0.7

  0.0

  69.3

  72.0

  2.7

  3.9

  South Wales

  150.6

  155.4

  0.5

  1.4

  0.0

  151.1

  156.8

  5.7

  3.8

  Total

  331

  341

  1

  3

  0.0

  332

  345

  13

  3.8

  Total (All authorities)

  6,592

  6,798

  20.0

  60.0

  2.2

  6,612

  6,860

  247

  3.7

  1 Estimated budget requirement.

  2 No separately identifiable figures exist for the City of London Police

  All figures have been rounded from the original calculations.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the aggregate of (i) each police authority's capped expenditure limit or in the case of the Metropolitan police the estimated budget requirement and (ii) police rule 3 grant for(a) each individual police authority, (b) each class of police

  £ million (unless otherwise stated)

  Capped expenditure

  Police rule 3 grant

  Aggregate for

  Aggregate for

  Increase over

  Increase over

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1996–97 (per cent.)

  Police Authorities:

  Avon and Somerset

  154.1

  159.0

  0.0

  154.1

  159.0

  4.9

  3.2

  Bedfordshire

  57.3

  59.2

  0.0

  57.3

  59.2

  1.9

  3.3

  Cambridgeshire

  66.2

  68.3

  0.0

  66.2

  68.3

  2.1

  3.2

  Cheshire

  98.2

  101.3

  0.0

  98.2

  101.3

  3.1

  3.2

  Cleveland

  73.2

  75.6

  0.0

  73.2

  75.6

  2.4

  3.3

  Cumbria

  57.9

  59.7

  0.0

  57.9

  59.7

  1.8

  3.1

  Derbyshire

  92.1

  95.3

  0.0

  92.1

  95.3

  3.2

  3.5

  Devon and Cornwall

  152.9

  157.8

  0.0

  152.9

  157.8

  4.9

  3.2

  Dorset

  67.8

  70.0

  0.0

  67.8

  70.0

  2.2

  3.2

  Durham

  71.3

  73.6

  0.0

  71.3

  73.6

  2.3

  3.2

  Essex

  152.9

  157.8

  0.0

  152.9

  157.8

  4.9

  3.2

  Gloucestershire

  58.3

  60.2

  0.0

  58.3

  60.2

  1.9

  3.3

  Hampshire

  174.9

  180.5

  0.0

  174.9

  180.5

  5.6

  3.2

  Hertfordshire

  90.1

  93.0

  0.0

  90.1

  93.0

  2.9

  3.2

  Humberside

  102.8

  106.1

  0.0

  102.8

  106.1

  3.3

  3.2

  Kent

  163.6

  168.9

  0.0

  163.6

  168.9

  5.3

  3.2

  Lancashire

  163.0

  168.3

  0.0

  163.0

  168.3

  5.3

  3.3

  Leicestershire

  94.5

  97.5

  0.0

  94.5

  97.5

  3.0

  3.2

  Lincolnshire

  63.1

  64.2

  0.9

  63.1

  65.1

  2.0

  3.2

  Norfolk

  75.7

  78.2

  0.0

  75.7

  78.2

  2.5

  3.3

  Northamptonshire

  61.8

  63.8

  0.0

  61.8

  63.8

  2.0

  3.2

  50
  authority and (c) all police authorities in 1996–97 and 1997–98 and the change in each in pounds and as a percentage. [10307]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  51

  £ million (unless otherwise stated)

  Capped expenditure

  Police rule 3 grant

  Aggregate for

  Aggregate for

  Increase over

  Increase over

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1996–97 (per cent.)

  North Yorkshire

  69.4

  71.6

  0.0

  69.4

  71.6

  2.2

  3.2

  Nottinghamshire

  114.9

  118.5

  0.0

  114.9

  118.5

  3.6

  3.1

  Staffordshire

  109.5

  113.0

  0.0

  109.5

  113.0

  3.5

  3.2

  Suffolk

  61.S

  63.5

  0.0

  61.5

  63.5

  2.0

  3.3

  Surrey

  87.0

  88.5

  1.3

  87.0

  89.8

  2.8

  3.2

  Sussex

  150.9

  155.7

  0.0

  150.9

  155.7

  4.8

  3.2

  Thames Valley

  203.3

  209.8

  0.0

  203.3

  209.8

  6.5

  3.2

  Warwickshire

  49.3

  50.9

  0.0

  49.3

  50.9

  1.6

  3.2

  West Mercia

  103.2

  106.5

  0.0

  103.2

  106.5

  3.3

  3.2

  Wiltshire

  61.4

  63.3

  0.0

  61.4

  63.3

  1.9

  3.1

  Total English shire authorities

  3,102

  3,200

  0.0

  3,102

  3,200

  98

  3.1

  Greater Manchester

  341.8

  352.8

  0.0

  341.8

  352.8

  11.0

  3.2

  Merseyside

  226.2

  233.5

  0.0

  226.2

  233.5

  7.3

  3.2

  Northumbria

  187.7

  193.7

  0.0

  187.7

  193.7

  6.0

  3.2

  South Yorkshire

  154.3

  159.2

  0.0

  154.3

  159.2

  4.9

  3.2

  West Midlands

  343.2

  354.2

  0.0

  343.2

  354.2

  11.0

  3.2

  West Yorkshire

  260.0

  268.3

  0.0

  260.0

  268.3

  8.3

  3.2

  Total Metropolitan authorities

  1,513

  1,562

  0.0

  1,513

  1,562

  49

  3.2

  Metropolitan Police1

  1,646.2

  1,694.9

  0.0

  1,646.2

  1,694.9

  48.7

  3.0

  City of London Police2

  —

  —

  0.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed Powys

  48.4

  50.0

  0.0

  48.4

  50.0

  1.6

  3.3

  Gwent

  62.6

  64.6

  0.0

  62.6

  64.6

  2.0

  3.2

  North Wales

  69.1

  71.3

  0.0

  69.1

  71.3

  2.2

  3.2

  South Wales

  150.6

  155.4

  0.0

  150.6

  155.4

  4.8

  3.2

  Total Welsh authorities

  331

  341

  0.0

  331

  341

  11

  3.2

  Total (All authorities)

  6,592

  6,798

  2.2

  6,592

  6,800

  208

  3.1

  1Estimated budget requirement.

  2No separately identifiable figures exist for the City of London Police. All figures have been rounded from the original calculations.

  Representation of the People Acts
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which the operation of the Representation of the People Acts has been found to be in breach of the European convention on human rights. [10768]

  Mr. Sackville
  The United Kingdom is currently challenging in the European Court of Human Rights a decision of the European Commission of Human Rights last year on an application brought by Mrs. Phyllis Bowman, executive director of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child, on the operation of section 75 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

  There are no other instances.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward amendments to the Representation of the People Acts in respect of material issued about a candidate without his or her permission following the recent ruling of the European Commission of human rights. [10769]

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no plans to do so at this time.

  Firearms
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office what plans he has to offer compensation to owners of handguns or other weapons who wish to surrender them to the authorities although not compelled by law to do so. [8159]
  52
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 18 December 1996]: We accept that the provisions in the Firearms (Amendment) Bill relating to gun clubs will make it difficult for some owners of .22 pistols to continue to shoot. We have therefore decided to make payments, on an ex gratia basis, to firearm certificate holders who choose to surrender such guns to the police. There are no such plans in relation to other weapons whose surrender will not be required.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in respect of how many and which public appointments a nominee has been specifically and separately sought from the Government of the Irish Republic at Maryfield since 1 January 1990; and if he will make a statement. [5115]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following list sets out the vacancies which were notified to the Irish Government separately from those notified in the six-monthly lists. The bodies covered by the six-monthly lists were set out in my reply to the hon. Gentleman of 6 November 1996,Official Report, columns 556–59. The following list represents the vacancies not foreseen when the six-monthly lists were drawn up, for example arising from the creation of new bodies and from resignations.
  53
  VACANCIES NOTIFIED TO THE IRISH GOVERNMENT SEPARATELY FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN THE SIx-MONTHLY LISTS (FROM 1 JANUARY 1990)

  1990

  NI Railways—1 vacancy

  Independent Commission for Police Complaints—2 vacancies

  Police Authority for NI—2 vacancies

  Local Government Boundaries Commission—1 vacancy

  Probation Board for NI—1 vacancy

  NI Electricity—1 vacancy

  1991

  Equal Opportunities Commission—1 vacancy

  Fair Employment Commission—1 vacancy

  NI Electricity—4 vacancies

  1992

  Local Enterprise Development Unit—9 vacancies

  Equal Opportunities Commission—1 vacancy

  NI Tourist Board—1 vacancy

  Industrial Research Technology Board—number of vacancies not stated

  Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside—6 vacancies

  Warrenpoint Harbour Authority—I vacancy\

  Certification Officer for NI—1 vacancy

  Planning Appeals Commission—1 vacancy

  Health and Social Services Trusts—50 vacancies

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools—Education Committees—16 vacancies

  Community Relations Council—3 vacancies

  Local Government Staff Commission—2 vacancies

  New Sports Council for NI—1 vacancy

  NI Higher Education Council—8 vacancies

  Planning Appeals Commission—1 vacancy

  1993

  Arts Council—2 vacancies

  Fire Authority—3 vacancies

  NI Economic Council—2 vacancies

  Enterprise Ulster—1 vacancy

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing NI—2 vacancies

  Mental Health Commission—2 vacancies

  NI Council for the Curriculum Examination and Assessment—1 vacancy

  General Consumer Council for NI—14 vacancies

  NI Regional Medical Physics—1 vacancy

  Industrial Development Board—1 vacancy

  Law Reform Advisory Committee—1 vacancy

  Local Enterprise Development Unit—1 vacancy

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board—1 vacancy

  Sports Council for NI—1 vacancy

  Warrenpoint Harbour Authority—1 vacancy

  NI Citizens' Charter Advisory Panel—1 vacancy

  Northern Health and Social Services Council—1 vacancy

  Fair Employment Commission—1 vacancy

  Board of Visitors: HM Prison Maghaberry—2 vacancies

  1994

  Southern Health and Social Services Council—2 vacancies

  Health and Social Services Trusts—24 vacancies

  Lay Observer—1 vacancy

  Western Health and Social Services Council—3 vacancies

  Laganside Corporation—I vacancy

  NI Economic Council—1 vacancy

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board—3 vacancies

  54

  Eastern Health and Social Services Council—2 vacancies

  The Senate of Queen's University, Belfast—1 vacancy

  NI Blood Transfusion Services Agency—1 vacancy

  Western Health and Social Services Board—1 vacancy

  NI Higher Education Council—2 vacancies

  Southern Health and Social Services Board—1 vacancy

  Southern Eastern Education and Library Board—1 vacancy

  Southern Education and Library Board—2 vacancies

  Planning Appeals Commission—2 vacancies

  1995

  Health and Social Services Trusts—39 vacancies

  Western Health and Social Services Board—1 vacancy

  Northern Health and Social Services Council—1 vacancy

  NI Housing Executive—3 vacancies

  Down and Connor Diocesan Education Committee—1 vacancy

  Southern Health and Social Services Board—1 vacancy

  Belfast Education and Library Board—1 vacancy

  Western Health and Social Services Council—3 vacancies

  Southern Health and Social Services Council—2 vacancies

  Northern Health and Social Services Council—2 vacancies

  Eastern Health and Social Services Council—5 vacancies

  South Eastern Education and Library Board—1 vacancy

  Arts Council of NI—1 vacancy

  Ulster Museum—1 vacancy

  NI Guardian Ad Litem Agency—3 vacancies

  NI Commission for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action—1 vacancy

  Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights—5 vacancies

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools—Armagh Diocesan

  Education Committee—2 vacancies

  Agricultural Wages Board—1 vacancy

  Lay Observer—1 vacancy

  NI Transport Holding Company—4 vacancies

  General Consumer Council for NI—1 vacancy

  Law Reform Advisory Committee—1 vacancy

  The Senate of Queens University, Belfast—5 vacancies

  NI Sports Council—15 vacancies

  1996

  Health and Social Services Trusts—4 vacancies

  Southern Health and Social Services Council—1 vacancy

  Western Health and Social Services Board—5 vacancies

  NI Disability Council—11–20 vacancies

  Local Government Staff Commission—1 vacancy

  Labour Relations Agency—1 vacancy

  Local Enterprise Development Unit—2 vacancies

  Eastern Health and Social Services Council—2 vacancies

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board—1 vacancy

  Police Authority for NI—2 vacancies

  Equal Opportunities Commission—1 vacancy

  Southern Health and Social Services Council—2 vacancies

  Central Services Agency—3 vacancies

  Arts Council for NI—13 vacancies

  Fair Employment Commission—2 vacancies

  Northern Health and Social Services Council—1 vacancy

  Planning Appeals Commission—2 vacancies

  Industrial Development Board—1 vacancy

  Punishment Shootings
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many so-called punishment shootings have taken place in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years and the current year to date; and how many were believed in each year to have been carried out by (1) the Provisional IRA,

  (2) other Republican terrorists,

  (3) the Ulster Defence Association,

  (4) the Ulster Volunteer Force and

  (5) other Loyalist organisations. [9220]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of casualties as a result of "punishment" shootings for the period 1 January 1991 to 11 December 1996 is as follows:

  Year

  By Loyalist groups

  By Republican groups

  Total

  1991

  40

  36

  76

  1992

  72

  61

  133

  1993

  60

  25

  85

  1994

  68

  54

  122

  1995

  3

  0

  3

  19961

  19

  3

  22

  1 To 11 December.

  It is not possible to specify which individual group carried out an offence.

  Council for Voluntary Action Report
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the report entitled, "Missing the Target: a critique of Government policy on Targeting Social Need in Northern Ireland", published by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action; and what plans he has to implement its recommendations. [9689]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Government have noted the report on targeting social need published by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action in December 1996. Though it contains some constructive comments, other criticisms of Government policies are not accepted, particularly when it is suggested that Northern Ireland should diverge from particular national or European Union policies. It would not be appropriate to come to a final view on the report's recommendations in advance of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights' report on employment equality which is scheduled to be published in the near future and which will also deal with targeting social need.

  Disability
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from Belfast, West (i) are currently in receipt of disability allowance, (ii) have had applications for disability living allowance turned down in 1996, (iii) are currently in receipt of incapacity benefit and (iv) have had applications for incapacity benefit turned down in 1996. [9751]
  56
  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Alec Wylie to Dr. Joe Hendron, dated 20 December 1996:
  I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance.
  I have attached a table showing the number of people in the Belfast West constituency who are in receipt of Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance. Unfortunately, figures are not available for either benefit for the number of applicants who have been turned down in 1996.
  I hope this explains the position for you but I would be happy to provide any further information you require.

  Number of people in the Belfast west constituency in receipt of incapacity benefit and disability living allowance

  Benefit

  Number of recipients August 1996

  DLA

  10,263

  IB

  6,350

  Based on 1991 population census.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9827]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9826]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10192]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Expenditure details are not immediately available for all bodies, especially in the first three years. However, from the information available to Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, the amount spent by their non-departmental public bodies on external consultants in each of the last five years was:

  Year

  Expenditure (£000)

  1991–92

  968

  1992–93

  1,746

  1993–94

  1,696

  1994–95

  1,861

  1995–96

  2,890

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the actions his Department
  57
  has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report, "The Government's Use of External Consultants". [10193]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The report did not extend to Northern Ireland because of the separate public expenditure accountability and administrative arrangements that exist there. However, guidance has been issued to the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office based on the report's recommendations.

  Language Teaching
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on the promotion and teaching of(a) the Irish language and (b) the Ulster-Scots language in 1996 in each of the last five years. [10645]

  Mr. Ancram
  The table shows the identifiable expenditure on projects with an Irish language or Ulster-Scots dimension for the financial years 1991–92 to 1995–96. It includes expenditure on education through the medium of the Irish language, but does not include expenditure on the teaching of the Irish language in English medium schools because this information is not collected separately. Applications for grant assistance are assessed on their merits and the disparity between the levels of funding reflects the number of Irish language and Ulster-Scots cultural groups in Northern Ireland, and the relative stage of development of the Irish language and Ulster-Scots cultural movements.

  £ million

  Year

  Irish

  Ulster-Scots

  1991–92

  1.222

  Nil

  1992–93

  1.347

  0.004

  1993–94

  1.554

  Nil

  1994–95

  1.942

  0.003

  1995–96

  2.521

  0.021

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the consulting engineers who have been involved in the M and E design work associated with the proposals for the fluoridation of the water supply in Northern Ireland. [10543]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Water Service under its chief executive, Mr. H. R. Plester. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from H. R. F. Plester to Mr. Peter Robinson, dated 7 January 1997:
  Mr Moss has asked me to reply to your parliamentary question asking if he will list the consulting engineers who have been involved in the M & E design work associated with the proposals for the fluoridation of the water supply in Northern Ireland.
  The Water Service has not commissioned any consulting engineers to carry out design work associated with the proposals for fluoridation of the water supply in Northern Ireland. All design work to date has been undertaken by the Water Service's own design staff.

  EU Financing
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received in each financial year from EC sources apart from payments under the structural funds. [10811]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following amounts have been identified as being received in Northern Ireland from European Community sources other than the structural funds since 1987–88, when meaningful figures first became available:

  Financial year

  Total £ million

  1987–88

  27.6

  1988–89

  27.8

  1989–90

  46.0

  1990–91

  48.0

  1991–92

  59.5

  1992–93

  56.1

  1993–94

  89.7

  1994–95

  114.7

  1995–96

  128.7

  These receipts are from the guarantee section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. However, it should be noted that the bulk of guarantee section receipts are disbursed centrally by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and details of payments are not generally maintained at regional level. Other small payments are made by the European Commission direct to recipients which are not passed through the United Kingdom Government.

  EU Social Fund
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money under the European social fund for Northern Ireland in each financial year to date accrued to(a) the private sector, (b) non-central Government public sector bodies and (c) central Government. [10814]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  (a) Private/voluntary sector

  (b) Non-central Government public bodies

  (c) Central Government

  1973–74

  —

  —

  —

  1974–75

  0.41

  0.31

  2.68

  1973–76

  —

  —

  —

  1976–77

  0.77

  0.58

  5.05

  1977–78

  0.90

  0.68

  5.92

  1978–79

  1.80

  1.35

  11.85

  1979–80

  1.80

  1.35

  11.85

  1980–81

  2.76

  2.07

  18.17

  1981–82

  3.00

  2.25

  19.75

  1982–83

  4.22

  3.17

  27.81

  1983–84

  4.56

  3.42

  30.02

  1984–85

  4.56

  3.42

  30.02

  1985–86

  3.00

  2.25

  19.75

  1986–87

  6.39

  4.80

  42.11

  1987–88

  6.77

  5.08

  44.55

  1988–89

  4.33

  3.25

  28.52

  1989–90

  4.17

  5.57

  36.66

  1990–91

  4.57

  6.08

  40.05

  1991–92

  4.75

  6.32

  41.63

  1992–93

  3.77

  5.03

  33.10

  59

  £ million

  Year

  (a) Private/voluntary sector

  (b) Non-central Government public bodies

  (c) Central Government

  1993–94

  3.16

  4.21

  27.73

  1994–95

  6.36

  8.47

  55.77

  1995–96

  3.41

  4.55

  29.94

  75.46

  74.21

  562.93

  The totals for European social fund receipts are taken from published Government and Northern Ireland public expenditure plans.

  As the information is not readily available in the format requested, the breakdown for each year is based on the percentage outturn for 1994.

  EU Regional Development Fund
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received in each year to date from the European regional development fund; how much has been devoted to(a) infrastructure projects undertaken by non-central Government bodies, (b) infrastructure projects undertaken by central Government and (c) industrial projects. [10813]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  Infrastructure projects

  £ million

  Financial Year

  Non-central Government

  Central Government

  Industrial projects

  Programmes1

  Total

  1975–76

  0.6

  —

  2.3

  —

  2.9

  1976–77

  0.6

  2.8

  3.8

  —

  7.2

  1977–78

  3.2

  0.7

  2.5

  —

  6.4

  1978–79

  2.4

  0.8

  0.8

  —

  4.0

  1979–80

  9.7

  3.3

  3.0

  —

  16.0

  1980–81

  9.7

  1.3

  10.0

  —

  21.0

  1981–82

  4.7

  4.0

  7.6

  0.1

  16.4

  1982–83

  3.8

  11.3

  2.5

  0.4

  18.0

  1983–84

  3.9

  7.5

  1.3

  0.8

  13.5

  1984–85

  5.1

  7.5

  3.0

  1.3

  16.9

  1985–86

  7.0

  9.0

  1.0

  1.4

  18.4

  1986–87

  10.3

  6.8

  3.8

  2.3

  23.2

  1987–88

  22.9

  6.4

  11.1

  5.5

  45.9

  1988–89

  18.9

  7.0

  15.2

  5.6

  46.7

  1989–90

  8.4

  4.9

  16.9

  10.2

  40.4

  1990–91

  6.9

  4.3

  4.9

  31.5

  47.6

  1991–92

  2.2

  1.7

  4.4

  29.81

  38.11

  1992–93

  3.8

  0.5

  5.7

  69.21

  79.21

  1994–95

  0.7

  —

  0.6

  33.6

  34.9

  1995–96

  0.0

  —

  0.2

  64.05

  64.25

  1996–972

  —

  —

  —

  150.50

  150.50

  Totals3

  125.8

  80.1

  101.5

  507.88

  815.28

  1 These programmes combine elements of both industry and infrastructure. Under the new structural funds arrangements from 1989 emphasis was placed on programmes rather than individual projects and some of these so combine the industrial and infrastructural elements that they cannot be validly separated. The table therefore shows an extra column in respect of this class of ERDF receipt.

  2 Includes estimated receipts to date for 1996–97 financial year.

  3 European regional funds receipts to community initiative programmes benefiting Northern Ireland are included in answer number 14 of 13 January 1997.

  European Community (UK Payments)
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's payments into the European Economic Community from 1 January 1973 to date; and what was Northern Ireland's share of receipts for the same period. [10812]

  Sir John Wheeler
  It is not possible to determine Northern Ireland's actual share of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Community because payments are made on a national and not a regional basis. Similarly it is not possible to identify the full extend of receipts from the Community. However, a Northern Ireland attributed share of the contribution to the EC is calculated as an accounting mechanism because of the operation of a separate Northern Ireland consolidated fund. This notional attributed share does not count as an item of expenditure within the Northern Ireland public expenditure programme and has therefore no bearing on the level of public expenditure in the Province.

  Figures for the notional attribution of part of the Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's payments and for those areas where the receipts from the European Community's structural funds can be separately identified are as follows:

  £ million

  Financial year

  Attributed share (part)

  1 Identified receipts

  1973–74

  1

  0

  1974–75

  6

  4

  1975–76

  8

  4

  1976–77

  13

  16

  1977–78

  16

  14

  1978–79

  24

  19

  1979–80

  28

  31

  1980–81

  28

  44

  1981–82

  50

  41

  1982–83

  66

  53

  1983–84

  66

  51

  1984–85

  68

  58

  1985–86

  74

  44

  1986–87

  62

  77

  1987–88

  91

  111

  1988–89

  85

  96

  1989–90

  104

  95

  1990–91

  107

  110

  1991–92

  78

  132

  1992–93

  121

  158

  1993–94

  2171

  186

  1994–95

  2173

  155

  1995–96

  2

  146

  Total

  1,647

  1,645

  1 This comprises total identified EC structural funds receipts and, from 1994–95, financial instrument for fisheries guidance receipts in Northern Ireland. Receipts under the guarantee section are disbursed centrally by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and are, therefore, not included in the above figures.

  2 Attributed share figures for the last three years are provisional estimates which will be revised when final details of NI's attributed share of tax revenues is determined.

  European Initiatives
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been received by Northern Ireland under each of the European Community initiatives in each financial year to date; and what

  £ million

  Initiative

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  INTERREG I (assistance to border areas)

  5.09

  5.70

  16.11

  —

  —

  —

  STRIDE (research and technological development)

  —

  5.28

  3.27

  —

  —

  —

  ENVIREG (environmental improvement)

  0.77

  1.66

  033

  8.89

  —

  1.11

  PRISMA (assistance to firms)

  —

  1.21

  2.19

  —

  —

  —

  TELEMATIQUE (promotion of telecommunications service)

  —

  3.35

  —

  —

  —

  —

  EUROFORM (qualifications, new skills, and employment opportunity)

  —

  0.05

  0.96

  0.62

  —

  0.16

  NOW (employment opportunity for women)

  —

  0.30

  0.54

  —

  0.15

  —

  HORIZON (handicapped and certain disadvantaged groups)

  —

  0.23

  0.75

  0.20

  0.21

  —

  —Support Structures

  0.03

  0.02

  0.13

  0.08

  0.09

  —

  RETEx I (diversification for textile regions)

  —

  —

  0.9

  0.55

  —

  —

  LEADER I (rural development)

  —

  1.09

  —

  1.17

  —

  —

  KONVER I (restructuring of defence-dependent areas)

  —

  —

  —

  0.25

  —

  —

  Under the 1994–99 structural funds allocation, Northern Ireland benefits under 10 Community initiative programmes including the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation. The amounts received to date under each initiative are:

  £ million

  Initiative

  1995–96

  1996–97

  INTERREG II (promoting cross border areas)

  5.94

  —

  SMEs (small firms)

  2.55

  —

  RETEx II (diversification for textile regions)

  1.54

  —

  EMPLOYMENT (addressing exclusion and marginalisation in the labour markets)

  0.51

  4.30

  ADAPT (industrial change)

  —

  0.70

  URBAN (developing selected urban areas

  5.65

  —

  PESCA (development of fishing areas)

  —

  0.08

  LEADER II (rural development)

  1.89

  0.68

  KONVER II (restructuring of defence-dependent areas)

  —

  0.06

  PEACE PROGRAMME

  8.83

  33.25

  (a) Receipts earned by the private sector and by non-central Government public sector bodies are paid to the claimant. The receipts represent cash additions to the recipients. Receipts earned by central Government are paid into the Northern ireland consolidated fund. All receipts are subject to EC audit arrangements and normal Government accounting requirements
  62
  proportion of funding each year (a) represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy and (b) was used to offset Government expenditure. [10810]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Under the 1989–93 structural funds allocation, Northern Ireland had 11 approved Community initiatives. The amounts received to date under each initiative are:

  (b) The overall level of receipts is taken into account in the Government's decisions on public expenditure allocations, and their availability enables expenditure to be maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be feasible.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that in each submission put to him for public appointments where an Irish Government nominee is on the list that any nominee of an hon. Member or a political party for that vacancy is also placed on the same list. [9580]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 18 December 1996]:

  I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 4 December 1996, Official Report, column 705.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Teachers' Pensions
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will estimate the cost to the teachers' superannuation scheme if all current contributors and deferred pensioners chose to transfer their accrued pension rights from the teachers' scheme into a personal pension arrangement. [8561]
  63
  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: The cost to the teachers' superannuation scheme—TSS—if all current contributors and deferred pensioners as at 31 March 1997 chose to transfer their accrued pension rights into a personal pension arrangement is estimated at £14 billion. This estimate assumes that current contributors opt out of the TSS and so transfer their benefits only in respect of service after 5 April 1988.

  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will estimate the cost to the teachers' superannuation scheme if all current contributors aged(a) 50 or over and (b) 55 or over years, as at 31 March 1997 chose to transfer their accrued pension rights from the teachers' scheme into a personal pension arrangement. [8562]

  Mrs. Gillan
  [holding answer 10 December 1996]: The costs to the teachers' superannuation scheme—TSS—if all contributors aged (a) 50 or over and (b) 55 or over as at 31 March 1997 chose to transfer their accrued pension rights into a personal pension arrangement are estimated as £3½ billion and £1½ billion respectively. These estimates assume that contributors opt out of the TSS and so transfer their benefits only in respect of service after 5 April 1988.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the reduction in the teacher work force consequent upon the proposed changes in the superannuation scheme; and if she will make a statement. [9981]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend does not expect the proposed changes to lead to reductions in the teacher work force.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current teachers' superannuation regulations to deal with teachers aged 55 years and over in the local education authorities of Wales. [9979]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Under the current regulations, the costs of premature retirement are pooled among all employers of teachers, and are brought to account some years after the event. This system does not encourage employers to behave prudently. Under the proposed new arrangements, since employers will have to pay the extra cost of each premature retirement as and when they make it, they will make more considered, prudent, decisions. These considerations apply to local authorities in Wales and to all other teachers' employers.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the impact upon the morale of the teaching profession of her proposals to make changes in the superannuation scheme. [9980]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Budget settlement allows for the cost to employers of a continuing programme of premature retirement. There is therefore no reason why teachers' morale should be affected by the proposals.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the principal changes she proposes in the teachers' superannuation scheme; and if she will make a statement. [10220]
  64
  Mrs. Gillan
  The principal changes proposed by my right hon. Friend are as follows: a reduction in the employers' contribution rate from 8.05 per cent. to 7.2 per cent.; making teachers' employers pay the extra cost of premature retirements as and when they make them; including the cost of pensions increase in the finances of the scheme; increasing the death grant from one to two years' salary from 1 April 1998; making teachers who have been barred for misconduct ineligible for ill health retirement benefits; and re-introducing the requirement that teachers should be permanently incapacitated in order to qualify for ill health retirement benefits.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received concerning her proposals to make changes in the teachers' superannuation regulations for teachers aged 55 years and over. [10142]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations in respect of the proposed changes to the teachers' superannuation regulations.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if teachers who are members of the teachers' pension scheme currently have an entitlement to receive an unenhanced pension based on years of service up to the date of dismissal; if dismissed as redundant aged over 50 years; and what legal advice she has obtained on the lawfulness of changing that entitlement, as proposed on 22 October, by means of amending regulations. [10281]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Under the current regulations, a teacher over 50 receives an immediate pension only if their employer certifies to the Secretary of State that the teacher's employment has been terminated by reason of redundancy or in the efficient discharge of the employer's functions. Under the proposed regulations, teachers' employers would be allowed to make enhanced severance payments, up to 66 weeks' of salary, as an alternative to premature retirement, The Superannuation Act 1972 empowers the Secretary of State to make amending regulations after consultation.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will estimate the financial consequences of the proposed changes to funding early retirement for teachers in the maintained and in the independent sector. [10497]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The reductions in the employers' contribution rate from 8.05 per cent. to 7.2 per cent. will lead to estimated reductions of £87 million and £8 million in spending on superannuation contributions in maintained and independent schools respectively. The Budget settlement assumes that maintained schools will continue to make premature retirements at 75 per cent. of current levels in 1997–98. The estimated net extra cost in the first year of that level of premature retirement would be £15 million. If a similar rate of premature retirement takes place in independent schools the extra cost in the first year would be £1.8 million in 1997–98.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applicants by teachers for early retirement have been (i) accepted, (ii) rejected and (iii) not determined in each of the past three years; and what she estimates the numbers might be if her draft proposals are enacted. [10495]
  65
  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department collects data on the number of premature retirements granted by teachers' employers, but not on the number of applications made by teachers to their employers. Premature retirement is at the discretion of the employer.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the costs of early retirement for teachers is proposed to fall on the last school or on the education authority. [10498]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Under the current legislation, the cost of premature retirement for teachers in LEA-maintained schools falls on the LEA, unless it has good reason to charge the cost to the school's delegated budget. The Government have tabled an amendment to the Education Bill now before the House which would allow LEAs to charge the cost to a school's budget if the authority has not agreed to the premature retirement.

  Mr. Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if teachers and former teachers have accumulated customary rights to early retirement that will not be extinguished by the proposed changes to funding arrangements. [10496]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Teachers have no accumulated right to premature retirement, which is at the discretion of the employer.

  National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the total annual budget for the National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities; [9148]

  (2) what proportion of the total budget of the National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities is accounted for by administrative costs and the remuneration of members; [9151]

  (3) if he will list the members of the National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities and the terms of their appointments. [9152]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The members of the National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities—NACEPD—are: Mr. Alan Smith CBE, FIPD (Chairman), Professor Ian Bruce, Mrs. Guinette Davies, Mrs. Andrea Dean, Ms Rita Donaghy, Dr. Stephen Duckworth OBE, Mr. Richard Excell, Dr. Ann Fingret, Sir Peter Large CBE, Mr. Bert Massie OBE, Mr. Paul Newman, Mr. Tim Papé OBE, Ms Susan Scott-Parker, Mr. Richard Sermon, Mr. Ian Sneddon, Mr. John Spencer, Mr. Roger Spoor OBE, and Mrs. Dianah Worman. NACEPD was reconstituted on 1 July 1994 for three years until 30 June 1997, when the terms of members' appointments expire.

  The total estimated costs for NACEPD in 1996–97 are £70,200, of which 96 per cent. covers allowances for members' loss of earnings and travel and subsistence expenses, and the provision of the council's secretariat.

  Exam Results
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what have been the average 66
  exam results for state sector schools (a) in the Bolton local education authority area and (b) nationally in each of the last three years. [9665]

  Mrs Gillan
  The average exam results for state sector schools(a) in the Bolton local education authority area and (b) England in each of the last three years are:

  GCSE achievements

  Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving

  Five or more GCSE grades A* to C

  Five or more GCSE grades A* to G

  One or more GCSE grades A* to G

  Bolton

  '1993–94

  41.9

  85.3

  91.0

  1994–95

  41.4

  85.8

  91.0

  1995–96

  41.9

  84.8

  90.5

  England

  1993–94

  39.8

  85.3

  92.3

  1994–95

  40.4

  85.9

  92.2

  1995–96

  41.7

  86.3

  92.4

  GCE A/AS examination achievements of 16 to 18-year-old candidates

  Average GCE A/AS point score

  Per entry

  Per candidate entered for two or more GCE A/AS

  Bolton

  1993–94

  4.8

  17.5

  1994–95

  4.9

  17.7

  1995–96

  5.0

  18.1

  England

  1993–94

  4.8

  15.1

  1994–95

  4.9

  15.9

  1995–96

  5.1

  16.8

  Official Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each of the Ministers in her Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9389]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Since 1 January 1996 up to the present day, Ministers in this Department undertook the following visits:

  Minister

  Number of visits

  Of which were abroad

  Secretary of State, Mrs. Gillian Shephard

  100

  4

  Mr. Eric Forth

  93

  7

  Mrs. Cheryl Gillan

  88

  1

  Mr. James Paice

  107

  6

  Mr. Robin Squire

  88

  0

  Lord Henley

  69

  2

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment with whom she has consulted
  67
  regarding the suitability of open plan arrangements in jobcentres with respect to the safety of Employment Service staff. [10283]

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

  Letter from R. D. Horne to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question about who has been consulted regarding the suitability of open plan arrangements in Jobcentres.
  Jobcentres operated by the Employment Service and its predecessors have always been open plan since their inception in the early 1970s. From the mid-1980s a programme, with staff agreement, to convert to open plan layouts in Unemployment Benefit Offices was in progress.
  Our new integrated Jobcentres, combining the two services, retained an open plan layout because it provided a much more effective and pleasant environment for delivering our services. These require interviews with jobseekers that involve sensitive discussions about their personal circumstances and requirements. Space Planning experts and design consultants were employed to help plan the interior layouts, which have since been subject to thorough risk assessments designed to reduce the risk to the safety of our people to a minimum after the introducation of the Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). The assessments conducted by competent assessors were undertaken in all Jobcentres during 1996. A further round of assessments is planned for 1997 when we have sufficient experience of operating JSA.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors underlay the decision by Employment Service management on 1 October to appeal against the issue of a Crown notice of improvement to the Employment Service following an assault at the Camberwell jobcentre. [10282]

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

  Letter from R. D. Horne to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question about the Employment Service response to the issue of a Crown Notice following an assault at Camberwell Jobcentre.
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) informed us of their intention to issue a Crown Notice and invited our comments. Our officials met with theirs and provided further information and evidence to clarify the issues raised by HSE. Following this meeting and a further exchange of correspondence we were informed by HSE that they no longer intended to proceed with the issue of a Crown Notice.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Contract for Work Pilots
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date contract for work pilots will commence; in what areas they will be located; what will be the procedure for referring claimants to the programme; if benefit sanctions will apply for refusal to attend; and if these pilots will be linked to project work pilots. [10265]
  68
  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 12 December 1996,Official Report, columns 316–17, for a list of potential areas. There are no plans to introduce project work in any of these areas. The contract for work pilots will begin in the spring of 1997, once tender negotiations have been completed satisfactorily. The Government's intention is that clients will be referred to the programme by the Employment Service at the first restart interview that they receive after the start of the pilot, and that, subject to the approval of Parliament, those who fail to attend without good cause will be subject to benefit sanction under the provisions of section 19 of the Jobseekers Act 1995, and regulation 69, 73 and 75 of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996.

  Jobmatch Programme
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what ways the jobmatch programme for claimants aged 18 to 25 years will differ from the rules and provisions of the pilot programme. [10261]

  Mr. Forth
  The new jobmatch programme will be delivered through the Employment Service and will remain broadly similar to the pilot programme. It will offer 4,000 places in 1997–98 to help those aged under 25 who have been unemployed for two years or more to leave unemployment for a part-time job. The programme will differ from the pilots in that there will no longer be two payments of the weekly jobmatch allowance after the initial payment period of 26 weeks, and in that the procedures for issuing training vouchers will be simplified.

  Literacy and Numeracy
  Sir Roger Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if her proposed mandatory baseline assessments will incorporate screening for children at risk of literacy and numeracy difficulties. [10262]

  Mrs. Gillan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Sir J. Hannam) on 3 December 1996,Official Report, column 611.

  Education Standard Spending Assessment
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list in percentage terms the amount of the education standard spending assessment(a) distributed directly to schools and (b) retained by the local education authority indicating the sum of each amount transferred to the county for each of the county authorities. [9745]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Local education authorities are free to set education budgets higher or lower than their education standard spending assessments—SSAs. As education SSAs are not earmarked, there is no prescribed proportion for delegation to schools, or deployment by the authority for other purposes. The table sets out, for each shire county LEA unaffected by local government re-organisation,

  (a) its education SSA,

  69

  (b) its adjusted aggregated schools budget—ASB—representing the funding to be distributed directly to schools, and

  (c) the adjusted ASB as a percentage of the SSA.

  The figures are for 1996–97.

  Education SSA £ million

  Adjusted ASB £ million

  Adjusted ASB as percentage of SSA

  Bedfordshire

  220.156

  165.703

  75.3

  Berkshire

  282.308

  211.899

  75.1

  Buckinghamshire

  252.855

  182.777

  72.3

  Cambridgeshire

  237.278

  180.996

  76.3

  Cheshire

  348.970

  282.632

  81.0

  Cornwall

  164.930

  120.886

  73.3

  Cumbria

  170.602

  136.829

  80.2

  Derbyshire

  319.922

  243.069

  76.0

  Devon

  345.862

  260.300

  75.3

  Dorset

  207.427

  155.123

  74.8

  Durham

  216.644

  159.569

  73.7

  East Sussex

  219.761

  170.270

  77.5

  Essex

  566.981

  451.469

  79.6

  Gloucestershire

  183.797

  143.271

  78.0

  Hampshire

  525.153

  436.658

  83.1

  Hereford and

  Worcester

  229.005

  172.192

  75.2

  Hertfordshire

  387.245

  318.261

  82.2

  Kent

  581.733

  462.400

  79.5

  Lancashire

  510.448

  386.353

  75.7

  Leicestershire

  333.840

  257.073

  77.0

  Lincolnshire

  213.026

  175.552

  82.4

  Norfolk

  243.384

  199.426

  81.9

  Northamptonshire

  222.270

  179.817

  80.9

  Northumberland

  113.513

  88.719

  78.2

  Nottinghamshire

  365.135

  270.030

  74.0

  Oxfordshire

  192.571

  141.698

  73.6

  Shropshire

  145.332

  113.234

  77.9

  Somerset

  150.908

  120.837

  80.1

  Staffordshire

  366.019

  283.219

  77.4

  Suffolk

  217.470

  178.819

  82.2

  Surrey

  307.474

  243.503

  79.2

  Warwickshire

  164.025

  131.492

  80.2

  West Sussex

  235.410

  183.856

  78.1

  Wiltshire

  197.517

  156.683

  79.3

  Adjusted ASB includes both the aggregated schools budget for LEA schools, and the annual maintenance grant paid to grant-maintained schools.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the percentage of four-year-olds expected to take up a pre-school place in the first year of the national voucher scheme. [9765]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The percentage of four-year-olds expected to take up a pre-school place in the first year of the national nursery education voucher scheme will depend upon a number of factors, including the number of pre-school places that satisfy parents' choice, bearing in mind their needs and those of their children.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the number of four-year-olds whose parents do not speak English as a first language in each local education authority area; and how many leaflets she plans to make available for distribution to parents of 70
  four-year-olds in each local education authority, in languages other than English, to inform them about the nursery voucher scheme. [10148]

  Mr. Squire
  It is Departmental policy to make education leaflets for parents available in the nine most widely spoken languages other than English; 130,000 copies of the guide for parents on the nursery education voucher scheme have been printed in these nine languages. All parents have been given the opportunity to request this and future information on the scheme in one of the nine languages via a special multi-language order form sent with their initial mailing of the guide. The size of the print run was informed by the take-up of translated versions of leaflets in previous Departmental campaigns and it is expected that the supply will meet the demand over the first year of the scheme.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many days of leave she plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9819]

  (2) how many days leave she has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave she took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9818]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to you today.

  Claimants (Interviews)
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the format of the new intensive series of advisory interviews for claimants unemployed more than two years; what will be the procedure for referring claimants; if benefit sanctions will be imposed for non-attendance; and what will be the impact of the programme on the 1-2-1 interview programme. [10264]

  Mr. Forth
  The new jobfinder programme will comprise a series of intensive interviews which focus on helping people who have been unemployed for two or more years back into work. It will build on the success of the 1-2-1 programme, which will continue to help people who have been unemployed for 12 months. The Government's intention is that jobseekers reaching two years or more unemployment will be referred to the programme by the Employment Service at the relevant restart interview and that, subject to Parliament, those who fail to attend without good cause will be subject to benefit sanction under the provisions of section 19 of the Jobseekers Act 1995, and regulation 69, 73 and 75 of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 12 December,Official Report, column 313, on national vocational qualifications, if she will list those national vocational qualifications which were accredited before July 1994 which (a) had not attracted full awards and (b) had attracted fewer than 100 awards. [9776]
  71
  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is contained in a number of tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Pre-school Pupils
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 25 November,Official Report, columns 24–26, what was the (a) number and (b) percentage of three and four-year-olds in (i) reception classes in primary schools and (ii) nursery schools or nursery classes in primary schools, in each local education authority and nationally in January. [9778]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The available information is shown in the table:

  Pupils aged three and four in maintained nursery and primary schools in England—Position as at January 1996

  Nursery schools and nursery classes within primary schools

  Infant classes1

  Pupils

  Percentage of population

  Pupils

  Percentage of population

  Camden

  1,049

  25

  984

  23

  Greenwich

  3,344

  50

  1,103

  17

  Hackney

  2,242

  33

  1,597

  24

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,731

  44

  559

  14

  Islington

  1,908

  37

  1,475

  28

  Kensington and Chelsea

  851

  27

  368

  12

  Lambeth

  2,433

  31

  1,056

  13

  Lewisham

  2,753

  37

  1,123

  15

  Southwark

  3,065

  41

  2,060

  27

  Tower Hamlets

  3,545

  61

  1,547

  26

  Wandsworth

  2,387

  33

  1,668

  23

  Westminister

  1,246

  32

  544

  14

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,101

  46

  1,543

  34

  Barnet

  2,544

  31

  2,153

  26

  Bexley

  1,533

  25

  2,022

  33

  Brent

  2,600

  36

  2,066

  29

  Bromley

  183

  3

  2,395

  33

  Croydon

  2,148

  23

  2,888

  31

  Ealing

  3,821

  46

  2,458

  30

  Enfield

  1,682

  22

  2,417

  31

  Haringey

  2,769

  44

  1,905

  31

  Harrow

  1,029

  19

  1,605

  29

  Havering

  552

  10

  1,943

  36

  Hillingdon

  3,383

  50

  151

  2

  Hounslow

  2,396

  40

  1,693

  28

  Kingston upon

  Thames

  1,334

  39

  1,074

  31

  Merton

  2,711

  54

  1,007

  20

  Newham

  4,575

  52

  1,279

  15

  Redbridge

  1,430

  22

  1,507

  23

  Richmond upon Thames

  863

  21

  1,160

  29

  Sutton

  1,949

  40

  74

  2

  Waltham Forest

  2,817

  39

  1,051

  15

  Birmingham

  11,217

  35

  10,029

  31

  Coventry

  2,085

  24

  2,817

  33

  Dudley

  3,270

  39

  2,676

  32

  Sandwell

  4,556

  53

  2,912

  34

  Solihull

  1,872

  37

  1,990

  40

  72

  Pupils aged three and four in maintained nursery and primary schools in England—Position as at January 1996

  Nursery schools and nursery classes within primary schools

  Infant classes1

  Pupils

  Percentage of population

  Pupils

  Percentage of population

  Walsall

  4,388

  59

  2,396

  32

  Wolverhampton

  3,912

  54

  2,224

  31

  Knowsley

  2,957

  63

  1,673

  36

  Liverpool

  6,160

  46

  4,212

  32

  St. Helens

  1,620

  33

  1,600

  33

  Sefton

  2,882

  40

  2,532

  35

  Wirral

  2,251

  26

  2,936

  34

  Bolton

  3,172

  42

  2,503

  33

  Bury

  1,625

  32

  1,636

  32

  Manchester

  7,307

  53

  2,432

  18

  Oldham

  2,452

  37

  2,168

  32

  Tochdale

  2,243

  35

  2,048

  32

  Salford

  3,663

  55

  2,052

  31

  Stockport

  2,188

  29

  2,505

  33

  Tameside

  2,596

  40

  2,143

  33

  Trafford

  2,640

  45

  1,828

  31

  Wigan

  2,167

  25

  2,778

  32

  Barnsley

  2,957

  47

  1,124

  18

  Doncaster

  3,654

  44

  2,756

  33

  Rotherham

  3,347

  47

  1,200

  17

  Sheffield

  5,729

  42

  2,531

  19

  Bradford

  6,550

  44

  4,263

  29

  Calderdale

  1,945

  35

  1,780

  32

  Kirklees

  4,475

  41

  3,472

  32

  Leeds

  8,980

  46

  5,771

  30

  Wakefield

  4,813

  54

  1,818

  20

  Gateshead

  1,926

  37

  1,686

  33

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,799

  38

  2,250

  31

  North Tyneside

  2,671

  55

  1,671

  34

  South Tyneside

  2,226

  55

  1,373

  34

  Sunderland

  3,678

  44

  2,628

  32

  Avon

  5,267

  21

  7,782

  31

  Bedfordshire

  5,254

  32

  2,972

  18

  Berkshire

  6,987

  32

  922

  4

  Buckinghamshire

  3,342

  18

  3,022

  16

  Cambridge

  2,254

  12

  5,854

  31

  Cheshire

  5,569

  22

  8,551

  33

  Cleveland

  10,017

  63

  5,324

  34

  Cornwall

  1,689

  15

  3,584

  32

  Cumbria

  3,470

  28

  4,120

  33

  Derbyshire

  9,815

  39

  5,971

  24

  Devon

  3,153

  13

  4,066

  16

  Dorset

  800

  5

  4,875

  33

  Durham

  7,325

  47

  5,235

  33

  East Sussex

  1,963

  12

  5,247

  32

  Essex

  3,389

  8

  9,400

  23

  Gloucestershire

  22

  0

  4,388

  31

  Hampshire

  2,021

  5

  13,311

  32

  Hereford and worcester

  2,179

  12

  2,877

  16

  Hertfordshire

  9,900

  36

  5,481

  20

  Humberside

  9,369

  39

  5,769

  24

  Isle of Wight

  170

  6

  960

  36

  Kent

  2,467

  6

  13,260

  33

  Lancashire

  8,163

  21

  12,617

  33

  Leicestershire

  5,090

  20

  4,924

  20

  Lincolnshire

  2,349

  16

  4,880

  34

  Norfolk

  1,409

  8

  5,491

  30

  North Yorkshire

  3,928

  22

  5,198

  30

  Northamptonshire

  3,332

  20

  5,491

  32

  Northumberland

  3,112

  43

  2,496

  34

  73

  Pupils aged three and four in maintained nursery and primary schools in England—Position as at January 1996

  Nursery schools and nursery classes within primary schools

  Infant classes1

  Pupils

  Percentage of population

  Pupils

  Percentage of population

  Nottinghamshire

  14,125

  51

  2,152

  8

  Oxfordshire

  3,377

  20

  1,231

  7

  Shropshire

  2,325

  21

  2,083

  19

  Somerset

  607

  5

  3,873

  33

  Staffordshire

  7,336

  27

  9,075

  33

  Suffolk

  3,306

  19

  2,606

  15

  Surrey

  3,238

  12

  7,486

  29

  Warwickshire

  2,108

  17

  4,178

  34

  West Sussex

  1,281

  8

  2,941

  17

  Wiltshire

  792

  5

  3,630

  23

  England 2,3

  364,271

  28

  344,222

  26

  1 Includes reception and other classes.

  2 Includes Isles of Scilly.

  3 Includes Corporation of London.

  Connahs Quay High School
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will visit Connahs Quay high school to discuss her proposed superannuation scheme. [9982]

  Mrs. Gillan
  No.

  Failing Schools
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many primary schools(a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry were classified as failing in (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96; [9986]

  (2) how many secondary schools (a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry were classified as failing in (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96. [9987]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is given in the table:

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Number of failing primary schools

  Nationally

  46

  116

  West Midlands

  4

  11

  Coventry

  —

  1

  Number of failing secondary schools

  Nationally

  35

  65

  West Midlands

  2

  4

  Coventry

  —

  —

  1. The answer covers the academic years 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1995 and 1 September 1995 to 31 August 1996.

  2. The classification of failure applies from the date that the school received the Office for Standards in Education published report.

  3. The numbers include those schools which were subsequently restored to health or were closed. They do not include five failing special schools which have both primary and secondary provision, one of which is in the west midlands (Walsall).

  4. The west midlands region has been defined as comprising Coventry, Walsall, Staffordshire, Solihull, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley, Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester, and Sandwell.

  National Curriculum (Exempt Schools)
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which schools are exempt from the national curriculum; and if she will make a statement. [9970]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Independent schools, non-maintained special schools, maintained special schools established in hospitals, and pupil referral units are the only schools which do not have to follow the national curriculum.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimates she has made of the amount spent on external consultants by her Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10166]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the actions her Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10167]

  Mr. Squire
  On 23 February 1995, the Employment Department sent the efficiency unit an action plan for implementing all the recommendations of the original report which were relevant to the Department.

  The action plan is being implemented. The merger of the Department for Education and the Employment Department afforded an opportunity to review the guidance available on the use of external consultants. New guidance issued since the merger and procurement and contract management guidance, due to be issued by the end of this financial year, takes full account of the recommendations.

  Challenge Fund Grants
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the eligibility criteria for awarding grants under the challenge fund for science equipment announced in the Budget; and if she will make a statement. [9886]

  Mr. Forth
  It is for the Higher Education Funding Council for England to decide on the detailed criteria for its 1997–98 research equipment initiative. The council intends to finalise the criteria before the end of the current financial year, and details will be placed in the Library. The 1996 Budget letter to the council made clear, however, that the £20 million grant earmarked for research equipment would be expected to generate matching private funds from industry and other users of research.

  GCSE Scores
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of school leavers gained GCSE grades A* to C in(a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) science in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by grade. [9975]
  75
  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not available for school leavers. However, the percentage of l5-year-olds in England who gained GCSE grades A* to C in(a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) science in 1994–95 were as follows:

  Mathematics Per cent.

  English Per cent.

  Science Per cent.

  Grade A*

  2

  2

  3

  Grade A

  7

  8

  7

  Grade B

  13

  17

  15

  Grade C

  19

  23

  18

  Grades A* to C

  40

  50

  43

  On-the-job Training
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of employees of working age received on-the-job training in(a) the south-west and (b) the United Kingdom broken down by gender in the most recent year for which figures are available. [9977]

  Mr. Paice
  From the spring 1996 labour force survey, the percentage of employees of working age who received on-the-job training in the four weeks prior to the interview is:

  Total Per cent.

  Men Per cent.

  Women Per cent.

  South west

  6.6

  6.4

  6.9

  United Kingdom

  6.3

  6.2

  6.4

  Information on the number receiving training in a year is not available in the form requested.

  Schools (Parental Choice)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the recent Audit Commission report on the Government's policies in respect of parental choice over school places and provision. [10406]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Audit Commission's report "Trading Places" covers some important topics. I welcome the attention it gives to removing surplus

  Amounts per pupil and percentage of GSB—Section 122 1996–97

  Aggregated schools budget

  Discretionary exceptions within the PSB

  Discretionary exceptions outside the PSB

  Mandatory exceptions

  LEA

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  Barking/Dagenham

  2,031

  60.8

  2,244

  6.4

  144

  4.3

  952

  0.3

  Barnet

  1,994

  67.3

  2,230

  8.0

  171

  5.8

  561

  0.2

  Barnsley

  1,512

  70.9

  1,705

  9.1

  179

  8.4

  248

  0.1

  Bath and North-east Somerset

  1,926

  77.1

  2,147

  8.8

  161

  6.5

  190

  0.1

  Bedfordshire

  1,771

  73.6

  1,916

  6.0

  205

  8.5

  167

  0.1

  Berkshire

  1,825

  76.8

  1,953

  5.4

  109

  4.6

  314

  0.1

  Bexley

  1,718

  73.5

  1,870

  6.5

  144

  6.2

  323

  0.1

  Birmingham

  1,971

  77.1

  2,158

  7.3

  214

  8.4

  184

  0.1

  Bolton

  1,694

  74.6

  1,913

  9.7

  201

  8.8

  156

  0.1

  Bradford

  1,684

  64.8

  1,876

  7.4

  220

  8.5

  502

  0.2

  Brent

  2,042

  71.0

  2,157

  4.0

  183

  6.4

  534

  0.2

  Bristol

  2,113

  78.7

  2,328

  8.0

  157

  5.9

  199

  0.1

  Bromley

  1,689

  71.1

  1,945

  10.8

  99

  4.2

  332

  0.1

  Buckinghamshire

  1,704

  68.6

  1,914

  8.4

  136

  5.5

  437

  0.2

  76
  places, which we have been emphasising for some time. I also welcome its acknowledgement that Government policies have driven up standards.

  I am, however, disappointed with some of the simplistic conclusions the commission draws. There is no mismatch between LEAs' responsibilities and their powers. LEAs can determine their own priorities. They retain all the powers they need to manage the supply of school places and to respond, with other providers, to parental choice. It remains true that some LEAs have been rather slow in removing surplus places.

  School Expenditure
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is(a) the average sum per pupil and (b) the average percentage of the general schools budget, allotted by each local education authority in the current financial year for (i) mandatory exception from delegation, (ii) discretionary exceptions outside the potential schools budget, (iii) discretionary exceptions within the potential schools budget and (iv) the aggregate schools budget; [10401]

  (2) what is (a) the average sum per pupil and (b) the average percentage of the general schools budget allotted by each local education authority in the current financial year for discretionary exceptions outside the potential schools budget and which is (i) delegated and (ii) not delegated to schools; [10400]

  (3) what is (a) the average sum per pupil and (b) the average percentage of the general schools budget, allotted by each local education authority in the current financial year for (i) money allocated to schools via age-weighted pupil units, (ii) premature retirement compensation, (iii) school transport, (iv) statementing and support for statemented pupils and (v) school meals (net of income). [10402]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table sets out the information requested, except in respect of two items. In relation to funding allocated via age-weighted pupil units, I shall write to my hon. Friend when the requisite figures have been extracted and collated. Where a local education authority has chosen to delegate funding which it might have retained as a discretionary exception outside-or within-the potential schools budget, the amounts in question form part of the aggregated schools budget and cannot ordinarily be separately identified from the LEA's local management of schools' financial statements.
  77

  Amounts per pupil and percentage of GSB—Section 122 1996–97

  Aggregated schools budget

  Discretionary exceptions within the PSB

  Discretionary exceptions outside the PSA

  Mandatory exceptions

  LEA

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  Bury

  1,762

  78.2

  1,906

  6.4

  221

  9.8

  127

  0.1

  Calderdale

  1,636

  69.5

  1,837

  8.5

  166

  7.1

  353

  0.1

  Cambridgeshire

  1,670

  67.6

  1,866

  7.9

  180

  7.3

  423

  0.2

  Camden

  2,530

  63.6

  2,868

  8.5

  186

  4.7

  924

  0.2

  Cheshire

  1,784

  77.0

  1,955

  7.4

  158

  6.8

  203

  0.1

  Cornwall

  1,730

  69.8

  1,959

  9.3

  174

  7.0

  345

  0.1

  Corporation of London

  3,196

  66.9

  360

  7.5

  439

  9.2

  780

  0.2

  Coventry

  1,934

  76.4

  2,127

  7.6

  131

  5.2

  272

  0.1

  Croydon

  1,934

  72.3

  2,118

  6.9

  225

  8.4

  332

  0.1

  Cumbria

  1,780

  73.9

  1,949

  7.0

  198

  8.2

  263

  0.1

  Derbyshire

  1,551

  70.7

  1,738

  8.5

  228

  10.4

  226

  0.1

  Devon

  1,765

  75.6

  1,934

  7.3

  192

  8.2

  206

  0.1

  Doncaster

  1,795

  71.9

  2,042

  9.9

  182

  7.3

  273

  0.1

  Dorset

  1,610

  73.0

  1,794

  8.4

  132

  6.0

  278

  0.1

  Dudley

  1,752

  81.6

  1,823

  3.3

  152

  7.1

  171

  0.1

  Durham

  1,681

  74.1

  1,898

  9.6

  181

  8.0

  190

  0.1

  Ealing

  2,019

  76.5

  2,231

  8.1

  262

  9.9

  146

  0.1

  East Riding

  1,854

  77.4

  2,069

  9.0

  230

  9.6

  97

  0.0

  East Sussex

  1,840

  74.2

  2,043

  8.2

  187

  7.5

  250

  0.1

  Enfield

  1,916

  68.5

  2,124

  7.4

  158

  5.7

  514

  0.2

  Essex

  1,751

  75.5

  1,943

  8.3

  180

  7.8

  195

  0.1

  Gateshead

  1,806

  66.5

  2,081

  10.1

  149

  5.5

  488

  0.2

  Gloucestershire

  1,640

  73.3

  1,797

  7.0

  121

  5.4

  318

  0.1

  Greenwich

  2,357

  78.6

  2,530

  5.8

  220

  7.3

  250

  0.1

  Hackney

  2,355

  68.8

  2,635

  8.2

  405

  11.8

  382

  0.1

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  2,505

  73.5

  2,745

  7.1

  390

  11.4

  273

  0.1

  Hampshire

  1,872

  76.9

  2,054

  7.5

  144

  5.9

  235

  0.1

  Haringey

  2,134

  64.9

  2,471

  10.2

  243

  7.4

  573

  0.2

  Harrow

  2,096

  77.1

  2,327

  8.5

  75

  2.8

  316

  0.1

  Hartlepool

  1,685

  76.7

  1,892

  9.4

  158

  7.2

  146

  0.1

  Havering

  1,894

  83.6

  2,056

  7.1

  90

  4.0

  120

  0.1

  Hereford/Worcester

  1,724

  75.0

  1,910

  81

  120

  5.2

  268

  0.1

  Hertfordshire

  1,891

  79.1

  2.019

  5.4

  170

  7.1

  200

  0.1

  Hillingdon

  1,915

  72.5

  2,124

  7.9

  134

  5.1

  385

  0.1

  Hounslow

  2.061

  72.9

  2,290

  8.1

  138

  4.9

  400

  0.1

  Hull

  1,735

  77.4

  1,931

  8.8

  202

  9.0

  109

  0.0

  Isle of Wight

  1,757

  76.4

  1,955

  8.6

  148

  6.5

  195

  0.1

  Isles of Scilly

  3,289

  76.9

  3,523

  5.5

  281

  6.6

  473

  0.1

  Islington

  2,313

  681

  2,464

  4.4

  194

  5.7

  741

  0.2

  Kensington/Chelsea

  2,804

  72.6

  3,092

  7.5

  229

  5.9

  539

  0.1

  Kent

  1,753

  74.4

  1,971

  9.2

  119

  5.1

  267

  0.1

  Kingston

  1,926

  80.3

  2,121

  8.1

  83

  3.5

  195

  0.1

  Kirklees

  1,693

  73.5

  1,903

  9.1

  177

  7.7

  222

  0.1

  Knowsley

  1,885

  77.5

  2,025

  5.7

  204

  8.4

  203

  0.1

  Lambeth

  2,361

  66.1

  2,700

  9.5

  297

  8.3

  574

  0.2

  Lancashire

  1,736

  73.1

  1,953

  9.2

  201

  8.4

  221

  0.1

  Leeds

  1,840

  72.2

  1,964

  4.9

  167

  6.5

  419

  0.2

  Leicestershire

  1,750

  76.2

  1,988

  10.4

  176

  7.7

  131

  0.1

  Lewisham

  2,285

  78.6

  2,532

  8.5

  236

  8.1

  140

  0.0

  Lincolnshire

  1,815

  75,1

  2,033

  9.0

  128

  5.3

  254

  0.1

  Liverpool

  1,824

  76.3

  1,967

  6.0

  185

  7.7

  238

  0.1

  Manchester

  1,837

  71.2

  2,001

  6.4

  235

  9.1

  346

  0.1

  Merton

  1,933

  63.7

  2,155

  7.3

  77

  2.5

  802

  0.3

  Middlesbrough

  1,761

  66.8

  2,000

  9.1

  183

  6.9

  451

  0.2

  North-east/Lincolnshire

  1,801

  77.4

  2,005

  8.7

  218

  9.4

  105

  0.0

  Newcastle

  1,855

  74.6

  2,084

  9.2

  201

  8.1

  201

  0.1

  Newham

  1,855

  68.4

  2,179

  11.9

  190

  7.0

  344

  0.1

  Norfolk

  1,846

  72.0

  2,024

  6.9

  222

  8.7

  317

  0.1

  North Lincolnshire

  1,813

  75.2

  2,042

  9.5

  242

  10.0

  129

  0.1

  North Somerset

  1,891

  77.4

  2,111

  9.0

  158

  6.5

  173

  0.1

  North Tyneside

  1,769

  73.2

  1,923

  6.4

  183

  7.6

  312

  0.1

  North Yorkshire

  1.828

  79.2

  2,018

  8.3

  181

  7.8

  108

  0.0

  Northamptonshire

  1,770

  74.9

  1,905

  5.7

  124

  5.2

  334

  0.1

  Northumberland

  1,739

  75.3

  1,909

  7.4

  229

  9.9

  172

  0.1

  Nottinghamshire

  1,588

  73.9

  1,786

  9.2

  196

  9.1

  168

  0.1

  Oldham

  1,811

  77.9

  1,995

  7.9

  190

  8.2

  138

  0.1

  Oxfordshire

  1,798

  70.5

  1,954

  6.1

  151

  5.9

  446

  0.2

  Redbridge

  1,959

  75.2

  2,131

  6.6

  129

  4.9

  346

  0.1

  Redcar and Cleveland

  1,741

  76.5

  1,957

  9.5

  165

  7.3

  151

  0.1

  Richmond

  2,032

  81.3

  2,226

  7.8

  55

  2.2

  217

  Oil

  Rochdale

  1,701

  76.2

  1,822

  5.4

  201

  9.0

  210

  0.1

  Rotherham

  1,732

  78.0

  1,933

  9.1

  134

  6.0

  153

  0.1

  Salford

  1,775

  66.3

  1,959

  6.9

  191

  7.1

  528

  0.2

  Sandwell

  1,692

  75.2

  1,898

  9.1

  141

  6.3

  211

  0.1

  78 79

  Amounts per pupil and percentage of GSB—Section 122 1996–97

  Aggregated schools budget

  Discretionary exceptions within the PSB

  Discretionary exceptions outside the PSB

  Mandatory exceptions

  LEA

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  £percentage of GSB

  Sefton

  1,821

  74.7

  2,037

  8.9

  154

  6.3

  244

  0.1

  Sheffield

  1,690

  72.8

  1,934

  10.5

  189

  8.1

  198

  0.1

  Shropshire

  1,718

  71.2

  1,871

  6.3

  214

  8.9

  327

  0.1

  Solihull

  1,834

  81.8

  1,943

  4.9

  161

  7.2

  137

  0.1

  Somerset

  1,769

  77.9

  1,939

  7.5

  113

  5.0

  219

  0.1

  South Gloucestershire

  1,863

  74.0

  2,075

  8.4

  172

  6.8

  271

  0.1

  South Tyneside

  1,668

  74.8

  1,876

  9.3

  143

  6.4

  209

  0.1

  Southwark

  2,255

  71.9

  2,524

  8.6

  299

  9.5

  313

  0.1

  St. Helens

  1,821

  77.1

  2,025

  8.6

  201

  8.5

  136

  0.1

  Staffordshire

  1,675

  77.5

  1,801

  5.8

  171

  7.9

  189

  0.1

  Stockport

  1,801

  74.4

  1,975

  7.2

  150

  6.2

  294

  0.1

  Stockton on Tees

  1,790

  78.7

  1,980

  8.3

  205

  9.0

  88

  0.0

  Suffolk

  1,879

  79.4

  2,030

  6.4

  166

  7.0

  170

  0.1

  Sunderland

  1,819

  77.5

  1,938

  5.1

  148

  6.3

  261

  0.1

  Surrey

  1,860

  72.0

  2,055

  7.6

  226

  8.7

  302

  0.1

  Sutton

  1,896

  66.7

  2,075

  6.3

  174

  6.1

  592

  0.2

  Tameside

  1,556

  66.8

  1,731

  7.5

  165

  7.1

  433

  0.2

  Tower Hamlets

  2,241

  65.4

  2,503

  7.6

  252

  7.4

  672

  0.2

  Trafford

  1,556

  72.7

  1,757

  9.4

  147

  6.9

  236

  0.1

  Wakefield

  1,586

  62.0

  1,818

  9.1

  184

  7.2

  556

  0.2

  Walsall

  1,758

  78.9

  1,956

  8.9

  84

  3.7

  190

  0.1

  Waltham Forest

  2,160

  73.8

  2,299

  4.8

  255

  8.7

  374

  0.1

  Wandsworth

  2,313

  72.7

  2,585

  8.5

  243

  7.6

  355

  0.1

  Warwickshire

  1,713

  66.6

  1,907

  7.6

  185

  7.2

  480

  0.2

  West Sussex

  1,795

  77.4

  2,012

  9.4

  139

  6.0

  167

  0.1

  Westminster

  2,351

  71.7

  2,629

  8.5

  215

  6.5

  435

  0.1

  Wigan

  1,892

  77.7

  2,037

  6.0

  179

  7.4

  217

  0.1

  Wiltshire

  1,713

  73.5

  1,904

  8.2

  246

  10.6

  180

  0.;l

  Wirral

  1,780

  75.3

  1,962

  7.7

  184

  7.8

  219

  0.1

  Wolverhampton

  1,756

  74.9

  1,906

  6.4

  162

  6.9

  283

  0.1

  York

  1,718

  78.6

  1,931

  9.8

  119

  5.4

  136

  0.1

  The information in this table has been derived from financial statements produced under the section 122 of the Education Act 1996 (formerly section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988), incorporating LEAs' changes to their statements notified to the Department by 31 December 1996.

  Amounts per pupil and percentage of GSB—Section 122 1996–97

  Premature retirement compensation

  Home to school transport

  Cost of statements

  School meals (net of income)

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  Barking/Dagenham

  16

  0.5

  27

  0.8

  74

  0.1

  71

  2.1

  Barnet

  13

  0.4

  60

  2.0

  75

  0.1

  39

  1.3

  Barnsley

  19

  0.9

  16

  0.8

  88

  0.1

  78

  3.7

  Bath and North-east Somerset

  44

  1.8

  80

  3.2

  68

  0.1

  39

  1.6

  Bedfordshire

  22

  0.9

  65

  2.7

  19

  0.0

  65

  2.7

  Berkshire

  10

  0.4

  57

  2.4

  15

  0.0

  25

  1.1

  Bexley

  5

  0.2

  25

  1.1

  51

  0.1

  43

  1.9

  Birmingham

  23

  0.9

  49

  1.9

  41

  0.0

  94

  3.7

  Bolton

  20

  0.9

  35

  1.5

  83

  0.1

  59

  2.6

  Bradford

  38

  1.4

  39

  1.5

  81

  0.0

  101

  3.9

  Brent

  42

  1.5

  59

  2.0

  18

  0.0

  70

  2.4

  Bristol

  41

  1.5

  46

  1.7

  24

  0.0

  70

  2.6

  Bromley

  6

  0.3

  36

  1.5

  100

  0.2

  40

  1.7

  Buckinghamshire

  15

  0.6

  82

  3.3

  36

  0.0

  17

  0.7

  Bury

  38

  1.7

  23

  1.0

  18

  0.0

  93

  4.1

  Calderdale

  25

  1.1

  20

  0.9

  88

  0.2

  61

  2.6

  Cambridgeshire

  22

  0.9

  61

  2S

  90

  0.0

  45

  1.8

  Camden

  7

  0.2

  54

  1.3

  63

  0.1

  88

  2.2

  Cheshire

  22

  0.9

  57

  2.4

  40

  0.0

  17

  0.7

  Cornwall

  19

  0.8

  60

  2.4

  120

  0.1

  49

  2.0

  Corporation of London

  19

  0.4

  5

  0.1

  0

  0.0

  313

  6.6

  Coventry

  26

  1.0

  29

  1.1

  33

  0.0

  67

  2.6

  Croydon

  10

  0.4

  51

  1.9

  50

  0.1

  51

  1.9

  Cumbria

  46

  1.9.

  62

  2.6

  72

  0.1

  42

  1.7

  Derbyshire

  22

  1.0

  48

  2.2

  93

  0.0

  87

  4.0

  Devon

  28

  1.2

  89

  3.8

  61

  0.0

  40

  1.7

  Doncaster

  27

  1.1

  24

  0.9

  96

  0.1

  53

  2.1

  Dorset

  16

  0.7

  73

  3.3

  43

  0.0

  25

  1.2

  Dudley

  18

  0.8

  28

  1.3

  11

  0.0

  54

  2.5

  Durham

  23

  1.0

  61

  2.7

  83

  0.0

  51

  2.2

  80 81

  Amounts per pupil and percentage of GSB—Section 122 1996–97

  Premature retirement compensation

  Home to school tramsport

  Cost of statements

  School meals (net of income)

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  Ealing

  20

  0.8

  77

  2.9

  66

  0.1

  77

  2.9

  East Riding

  25

  1.1

  85

  3.6

  6

  0.0

  58

  2.4

  East Sussex

  9

  0.4

  51

  2.1

  36

  0.0

  58

  2.4

  Enfield

  19

  0.7

  29

  1.0

  70

  0.1

  65

  2.3

  Essex

  6

  0.3

  76

  3.3

  87

  0.0

  34

  1.5

  Gateshead

  35

  1.3

  27

  1.0

  32

  0.0

  76

  2.8

  Gloucestershire

  22

  1.0

  71

  3.2

  72

  0.1

  30

  1.3

  Greenwich

  4

  0.1

  52

  1.7

  9

  0.0

  98

  3.3

  Hackney

  17

  0.5

  93

  2.7

  55

  0.1

  133

  3.9

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  11

  0.3

  97

  2.8

  67

  0.1

  161

  4.7

  Hampshire

  13

  0.5

  47

  1.9

  24

  0.0

  39

  1.6

  Haringey

  19

  0.6

  34

  1.0

  15

  0.0

  106

  3.2

  Harrow

  12

  0.4

  32

  1.2

  74

  0.1

  26

  1.0

  Hartlepool

  23

  1.0

  28

  1.3

  16

  0.0

  70

  3.2

  Havering

  12

  0.5

  23

  1.0

  61

  0.1

  25

  1.1

  Hereford/Worcester

  9

  0.4

  73

  3.2

  76

  0.0

  16

  0.7

  Hertfordshire

  14

  0.6

  59

  2.5

  68

  0.0

  17

  0.7

  Hillingdon

  15

  0.6

  92

  3.5

  21

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Hounslow

  9

  0.3

  37

  1.3

  40

  0.0

  52

  1.9

  Hull

  30

  1.3

  44

  2.0

  7

  0.0

  83

  3.7

  Isle of Wight

  10

  0.4

  58

  2.5

  70

  0.2

  56

  2.4

  Isles of Scilly

  78

  1.8

  74

  1.7

  207

  18.9

  102

  2.4

  Islington

  0

  0.0

  51

  1.5

  42

  0.1

  74

  2.2

  Kensington/Chelsea

  16

  0.4

  7

  0.2

  0

  0.2

  146

  3.8

  Kent

  13

  0.5

  72

  3.1

  72

  0.0

  35

  1.5

  Kingston

  22

  0.9

  35

  1.5

  72

  0.2

  22

  0.9

  Kirkless

  21

  0.9

  35

  1.5

  64

  0.0

  56

  2.4

  Knowsley

  29

  1.2

  36

  1.5

  14

  0.0

  98

  4.0

  Lambeth

  4

  0.1

  71

  2.0

  168

  0.2

  131

  3.7

  Lancashire

  31

  1.3

  56

  2.3

  107

  0.0

  53

  2.3

  Leeds

  22

  0.9

  31

  1.2

  20

  0.0

  53

  2.1

  Leicestershire

  14

  0.6

  64

  2.8

  8.5

  0.0

  42

  1.8

  Lewisham

  5

  0.2

  35

  1.2

  65

  0.1

  104

  3.6

  Lincolnshire

  23

  1.0

  95

  3.9

  69

  0.0

  14

  0.6

  Liverpool

  34

  1.4

  34

  1.4

  36

  0.0

  88

  3.7

  Manchester

  50

  1.9

  40

  1.6

  8

  0.0

  119

  4.6

  Merton

  27

  0.9

  35

  1.1

  88

  0.1

  3

  0.1

  Middlesbrough

  11

  0.4

  22

  0.8

  17

  0.0

  71

  2.7

  North-east Lincolnshire

  41

  1.8

  32

  1.4

  12

  0.0

  78

  3.4

  Newcastle

  0

  0.0

  23

  0.9

  52

  0.1

  111

  4.5

  Newham

  26

  1.0

  33

  1.2

  105

  0.1

  88

  3.2

  Norfolk

  18

  0.7

  95

  3.7

  73

  0.0

  48

  1.9

  North Lincolnshire

  34

  1.4

  66

  2.7

  4

  0.0

  69

  2.8

  North Somerset

  40

  14

  81

  3.3

  72

  0.1

  40

  1.7

  North Tyneside

  35

  1.4

  23

  1.0

  63

  0.1

  78

  3.2

  North Yorkshire

  11

  0.5

  111

  4.8

  47

  0.0

  20

  0.9

  Northamptonshire

  11

  0.5

  53

  2.3

  19

  0.0

  28

  1.2

  Northumberland

  40

  1.7

  80

  3.5

  64

  0.1

  39

  1.7

  Nottinghamshire

  45

  2.1

  36

  1.7

  12

  0.0

  56

  2.6

  Oldham

  17

  0.7

  17

  0.7

  16

  0.0

  72

  3.1

  Oxfordshire

  42

  1.6

  79

  3.1

  63

  0.0

  37

  1.5

  Redbridge

  13

  0.5

  56

  2.2

  19

  0.0

  32

  1.2

  Redcar and Cleveland

  24

  1.0

  34

  1.5

  29

  0.0

  61

  2.7

  Richmond

  10

  0.4

  27

  1.1

  73

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  Rochdale

  25

  1.1

  26

  1.1

  36

  0.1

  102

  4.6

  Rotherham

  13

  0.6

  29

  1.3

  31

  0.0

  51

  2.3

  Salford

  34

  1.3

  46

  1.7

  42

  0.0

  85

  3.2

  Sandwell

  11

  0.5

  37

  1.6

  31

  0.0

  61

  2.7

  Sefton

  26

  1.1

  28

  1.1

  40

  0.0

  71

  2.9

  Sheffield

  40

  1.7

  35

  1.5

  78

  0.0

  75

  3.2

  Shropshire

  28

  1.2

  90

  3.7

  41

  0.0

  36

  1.5

  Solihull

  18

  0.8

  31

  1.4

  47

  0.1

  31

  1.4

  Somerset

  17

  0.7

  72

  3.2

  80

  0.1

  27

  1.2

  South Gloucestershire

  35

  1.4

  54

  2.1

  67

  0.1

  69

  2.8

  South Tyneside

  25

  1.1

  16

  0.7

  16

  0.0

  74

  3.3

  Southwark

  10

  0.3

  87

  2.8

  65

  0.1

  118

  3.8

  St. Helens

  44

  1.9

  54

  2.3

  71

  0.1

  60

  2.5

  Staffordshire

  27

  1.3

  47

  2.2

  48

  0.0

  40

  1.8

  Stockport

  14

  0.6

  24

  1.0

  66

  0.1

  56

  2.3

  82 83

  Amounts per pupil and percentage of GSB—Section 122 1996–97

  Premature retirement compensation

  Home to school transport

  Cost of statements

  School meals (net of income)

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  £ per pupil

  Percentage of GSB

  Stockton on Tees

  5

  0.2

  30

  1.3

  24

  0.0

  60

  2.6

  Suffolk

  13

  0.6

  78

  3.3

  45

  0.0

  21

  0.9

  Sunderland

  10

  0.4

  26

  1.1

  38

  0.0

  59

  2.5

  Surrey

  18

  0.7

  98

  3.8

  71

  0.0

  28

  1.1

  Sutton

  6

  0.2

  45

  1.6

  27

  0.1

  46

  1.6

  Tameside

  27

  1.2

  34

  1.5

  50

  0.1

  24

  1.0

  Tower Hamlets

  21

  0.6

  48

  1.4

  82

  0.1

  135

  3.9

  Trafford

  19

  0.9

  34

  1.6

  49

  0.1

  48

  2.2

  Wakefield

  20

  0.8

  31

  1.2

  61

  0.0

  79

  3.1

  Walsall

  30

  1.3

  20

  0.9

  34

  0.0

  55

  2.5

  Waltham Forest

  20

  0.7

  43

  1.5

  4

  0.0

  73

  2.5

  Wandsworth

  14

  0.4

  82

  2.6

  107

  0.2

  72

  2.3

  Warwickshire

  35

  1.4

  68

  2.6

  23

  0.0

  43

  1.7

  West Sussex

  3

  0.1

  53

  2.3

  40

  0.0

  30

  1.3

  Westminster

  15

  0.5

  27

  0.8

  77

  0.1

  113

  3.5

  Wigan

  46

  1.9

  32

  1.3

  24

  0.0

  53

  2.2

  Wiltshire

  21

  0.9

  113

  4.9

  52

  0.0

  48

  2.0

  Wirral

  45

  1.9

  53

  2.2

  40

  0.0

  67

  2.8

  Wolverhampton

  50

  2.2

  35

  1.5

  22

  0.0

  75

  3.2

  York

  10

  0.5

  45

  2.1

  55

  0.1

  33

  1.5

  The information in this table has been derived from financial statements produced under the section 122 of the Education Act 1996 (formerly section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988), incorporating LEAs' changes to their statements notified to the Department by 31 December 1996.

  Professors of General Practice
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many professors of general practice there were in each of the last five years. [10677]

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not available centrally. I understand that in the 1995–96 academic year there were 23 professors of general practice in post at universities in the UK.

  "Going GM" Conference, Warrington
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those organisations(a) invited to attend, (b) who attended the "Going GM" conference for head teachers and governors scheduled to be held in Warrington on 21 October; and what was the total cost to public funds of (i) organising and (ii) running the conference. [10629]

  Mr. Forth
  Invitations to the "Going GM" conference in Warrington on 21 October 1996 were sent to head teachers and chairmen of governors of all LEA-maintained primary and secondary schools in Cheshire, Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton, Wirral, Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan and Lancashire; 118 delegates attended the conference, 90 representing primary schools and 28 representing secondary schools.

  The conference cost around £3,500 to organise and £10,700 to run on the day.

  Education Standard Spending Assessment (Buckinghamshire)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors underlay the scale of the increase in the education standard spending 84
  assessment for Buckinghamshire county council between 1996–97 and 1997–98 relative to that of other local authorities in England. [10699]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The provisional education standard spending assessment for Buckinghamshire in 1997–98 represents an underlying increase of 2.6 per cent. compared with the national average increase of 3.4 per cent. The below average increase is mainly due to a marginal reduction in secondary pupil numbers, a reduction in the proportion of children entitled to free school meals, and a reduction in the area cost adjustment. Standard spending assessments will be finalised at the end of the month.

  Professors of Practice and Community Nursing
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many professors of(a) practice nursing and (b) community nursing there were in each of the last five years. [10678]

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Standing Committee of Employment Reports
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reports have been issued by the Standing Committee of Employment of the European Communities since the Essen European Council; to whom they have been distributed; when and where they were published; what participation United Kingdom personnel have had in their deliberations; and what actions Her Majesty's Government have taken in response to these reports. [10820]

  Mr. Paice
  The EC Standing Employment Committee does not issue reports.

SCOTLAND

  Mearnskirk Hospital
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Greater Glasgow health board concerning future NHS provision from the site of Mearnskirk hospital; and if he will make a statement. [6890]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Greater Glasgow health board has granted preferred provider status to the Victoria Infirmary NHS trust for the development of 60 care of the elderly beds at Mearnskirk hospital. It is expected that this facility will more than match expected future needs in that sector. Both the board and the trust are keen to seek best value for money and to ensure that the proposed development is of a high standard and provides an environment best suited to providing care.

  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reach a decision on the future development of Mearnskirk hospital, Newton Mearns. [6891]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Victoria Infirmary NHS trust remains on track to open new facilities at Mearnskirk hospital in 1998.

  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with East Renfrewshire council concerning a partnership for the provision of future services from Meanskirk hospital. [6900]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. Having been granted preferred provider status by Greater Glasgow health board for the development of 60 care of the elderly beds at Mearnskirk hospital, I understand the Victoria Infirmary NHS trust is currently considering how the private finance initiative might contribute to establishing the new unit. Its plans do not involve East Renfrewshire council, and I understand that neither Greater Glasgow health board nor the Victoria Infirmary NHS trust is aware of any discussions with East Renfrewshire council in relation to this development.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (i) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and Summer Adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year; [9794]

  (2) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas Adjournment. [9795]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Curriculum Projects
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the projects undertaken by the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum since 1989 from the Gordon Cook Foundation of Aberdeen grant of £250,000 and the value of expenditure on each. [9514]
  86
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 18 December 1996]: The Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum has undertaken the following projects since 1989 using resources from the Gordon Cook Foundation grant. A number of these have been jointly funded with other bodies, as indicated in the table.

  Publications and projects which address specific aspects of the values dimension

  1. Values in Education: A Paper for Discussion and Development, 1991.

  2. Values in Education: An Evaluation, 1992.

  3. The Heart of the Matter, 1995.

  4. A Review of Personal and Social Education, 1995.

  5. Climate for Learning, 1996.

  6. Parents and the Curriculum, 1996.

  7. Ethos and Education (Perspectives; 1).

  8. Values and Educating the Whole Person (Perspectives; 3).

  9. The Moral Role of the Teacher (Perspectives; 3).

  10. A Holistic Approach: Steiner Waldorf Education (Perspectives; 4).

  11. Guidelines for Values for the International and Humanistic Dimension of Education, UNESCO/CIDREE, 1994.

  12. Scottish delegation visit to Ontario schools, 1993.

  13. In collaboration with SCRE, a project on Values and Classroom Language.

  14. Association of Moral Education Conference, 1995.

  Collaborative projects addressing aspects of the values of dimension

  1. In association with CIDREE Values in Education in Europe Project (VEEP) A Select Annotated Bibliography for 27 Countries, 1985–92.

  2. In association with VEEP A Comparative Overview of a Survey of 26 Countries in 1993.

  3. Technology and Values Seminar, 1994.

  4. Curriculum Conference on School Climate and Ethos (and Report), 1993.

  5. Curriculum Conference on Special Educational Needs (which had a Values input).

  6. CCC Values input to Review and Developments Groups of 5–14 Programme.

  7. Higher Still Framework: a major contribution to the aims of the Government's Higher Still Development Programme.

  8. Values input to the Higher Still Personal and Social Education Specialists Group.

  9. In collaboration with SOEID:

  (i) Thinking European, 1994.

  (ii) Sharing Responsibility, 1995.

  (iii) Personal and Social Development 5–14 Exemplification.

  10. Collaboration with a number of international partners in the Values in Education Project (VEEP).

  11. The Dillingen International Symposia on the European Dimension, co-directed by Scottish CCC Directorate, 1991–96.

  Seminar, networks, forums and discussion groups

  1. Values, Environmental Education and the School Curriculum: Conference and Report, 1992.

  2. Values, Generic Issues and the School Curriculum: Seminar and Report.

  3. A Sense of Belonging (Seminar).

  4. A Sense of Belonging (Reflections in Curricular Issues, No. 4).

  5. OECD international Seminar on Environmental Education.

  6. Membership of Association of Moral Education.

  87

  7. Journal of Moral Education Conference, St. Martin's College, Lancaster: Workshop for Personal and Social Development.

  Ongoing projects

  1. Working with Peers.

  2. Learning and Being Together.

  3. 'Perspectives' 5 and 6.

  4. In collaboration with St. Andrew's College, Climate for Achievement: Alternative Paradigms for Assessment.

  5. In collaboration with the University of Ulster, Staff Development on Peer Mediation and Conflict Resolution.

  £

  Parents and the Curriculum

  5,000.00

  Values and Communication

  15,000.00

  Climate for Learning

  62,500.00

  Heart of the Matter

  18,125.00

  Values in Education

  7,500.00

  Perspectives Series

  15,000.00

  Ethos Conference

  16,800.00

  Seminars

  10,000.00

  Seminar Reports

  5,000.00

  Network (7 years)

  15,000.00

  European Collaboration

  4,000.00

  Conference Reports

  8,000.00

  Travel, Admin, Distribution and

  39,000.00

  Materials

  £5,500 per annum (x 7 years)

  Total

  221,000.00

  The initial investment from the Cook Foundation was £200,000, which has generated interest of £180,270 over the period since 1989. In addition, officer time to a value of £95,000 has been funded by the Scottish Office via core grant to the Scottish CCC.

  Biological Hazards
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) who authorised the closure of the category 4 containment laboratory at Ruchill hospital, Glasgow; when the closure took place; what were the criteria for closing the laboratory; what public consultation took place; and if he will make a statement; [10693]

  (2) what arrangements apply in Scotland for dealing with category 4 laboratory specimens; and what assessment he has made of the safety of (a) patients and (b) specimens. [10696]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Hazard group 4 covers the most pathogenic of the biological hazards which have required to be investigated in category 4 containment laboratories. The only organisms in the group that have been the subject of any laboratory investigations within the United Kingdom are those which cause viral haemorrhagic fever. During the time the category 4 containment laboratory at Ruchill hospital was open it was used very infrequently for the investigation of suspected category 4 organisms. Across the United Kingdom the vast majority of cases of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever have proved to be malaria. No case of viral haemorrhagic fever has ever been recorded in Scotland.
  88
  In 1992, and acting on advice received from the Health and Safety Executive, it was agreed that a number of specific improvements required to be made if the facilities were to continue to operate at Ruchill. A sub-committee of the advisory group on infection was tasked to consider whether the required improvements should be made and, if not, what alternative arrangements needed to be put in place. The sub-committee recommended the closure of the high security clinical facility. The subsequent retirement of two of the staff who were skilled in the use of the category 4 laboratory precipitated the closure of the laboratory, which ceased to be operational early in 1995.

  Interim guidance on the management of suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever was issued in May 1995 from medical advisers within the Scottish Office Department of Health to all consultants involved in communicable diseases in Scotland. The guidance covered the arrangements for initiating laboratory investigations, for obtaining clinical advice or care and for the transportation of patients. Also included were details about the new locus to be approached following the withdrawal of the service from Ruchill. The principles outlined in the guidance have been incorporated into an updated guide on the control of viral haemorrhagic fever which the United Kingdom Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens has recently finalised. The new document entitled "Management Control of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers" is scheduled for publication later this month. I shall arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  GP Fundholding Practices
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the amounts retained by general practitioner fundholding practices at the end of each financial year since the introduction of general practitioner fundholding for each health board area in Scotland. [10698]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information in the table sets out GP fundholder savings which are retained by the health board on the fundholder's behalf to be used for the benefit of patients.

  £000

  Health Board

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Argyll and Clyde

  56

  nil

  55

  214

  446

  Ayrshire and Arran

  —

  —

  330

  214

  253

  Borders

  —

  —

  65

  291

  144

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  —

  76

  278

  Fife

  —

  —

  96

  150

  242

  Forth Valley

  —

  —

  23

  101

  154

  Grampian

  103

  95

  551

  1,207

  739

  Greater Glasgow

  —

  13

  185

  888

  1,459

  Highland

  —

  —

  87

  —

  87

  Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  458

  1,360

  1,607

  Lothian

  29

  39

  354

  868

  1.207

  89

  £000

  Health Board

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  —

  12

  278

  363

  428

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland

  188

  159

  2,482

  5,732

  7,044

  Maternity Unit (Glasgow)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 25 November,Official Report, column 43, what is the proposed building start date for the new maternity unit at Glasgow royal infirmary. [10530]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The trust's current timetable provides for the building work to commence in summer 1998.

  Highlands and Islands Convention
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) by what means of transport and at what cost to public funds he returned to the House following the meeting of the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on 16 December; [10293]

  (2) if the transport facilities used by him to return to the House from the meeting of the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on 16 December were offered to other hon. Members attending the convention; and if he will make a statement; [10294]

  (3) when a request was made to the RAF to provide him and the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch), with transport facilities to return to the House from Inverness following the Highland and Islands convention on 16 December. [10509]

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total cost to the Scottish Office of the RAF flight which took him to and from the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on Monday 16 December; [10690]

  (2) where he boarded the RAF flight which took him to the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on 16 December; [10692]

  (3) if he will specify the type of aeroplane and the seating capacity of the aircraft which transported the Secretary of State for Scotland and his Minister of State to and from the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on 16 December; and what were the names and designations of all the passengers on the flights. [10684]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A request for transport was made by my office and approved by the RAF on Tuesday 10 December in order to enable me to carry out all my engagements on 16 December. Going north, I boarded the flight at RAF Northolt. The aircraft was a HS125 which seated seven people. On the return flight from Inverness I was accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside—the Parliamentary Under-90
  Secretary of State for Scotland—and three Scottish Office staff. A number of matters of ministerial business were dealt with during the flight.

  The cost of the flight was £682 per flying hour, plus £62 per hour of waiting time after the first three hours, which are not charged. The cost of a single ticket on a scheduled British Airways flight from Inverness to London would have been £145 per person.

  As the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) knows from his own experience, I am always willing to offer transport to hon. Members where possible.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total costs, including travel costs, of the Highlands and Islands convention on 16 December. [10691]

  Mr. Forsyth
  Costs incurred to date for the meeting of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands on 16 December amount to £1,058.

  This amount excludes travel and subsistence costs for which claims are still being received from convention members.

ENVIRONMENT

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many responses he has received to the consultation paper on the future of the home energy efficiency scheme; how many of the responses supported additional measures within the scheme; and how many indicated that additional measures should be dependent on an increase in the scheme's financial resources; [10232]

  (2) what will be the maximum grant under the home energy efficiency scheme once the revised scheme comes into effect; and from what date this will apply; [10231]

  (3) what changes will be made to the standard draught-proofing job available under the home energy efficiency scheme, once the revised scheme comes into effect; and from what date these changes will apply. [10244]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We received 59 responses, many of which were from bodies representing a number of organisations and companies. Sixty one per cent. of respondents supported the introduction of additional measures to the scheme, and 24 per cent. suggested that additional measures should be accompanied by the allocation of more money.

  Following the consultation exercise I have announced revisions to the scheme, increasing the range and choice of energy efficiency measures available, and I hope they will come into effect in April this year. I intend that the maximum grant will remain unchanged at £315. The measures to be included, and their specifications, have yet to be determined.

  These changes, together with the increase in the allocation for 1997–98 for this popular programme of 3 per cent. to £75 million, demonstrate our commitment to helping the most vulnerable people keep warmer and use energy more efficiently.
  91
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what were the total sums paid to over 60-year-olds under the HEES in the financial years(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and what is his estimate of the amount to be paid in (c) 1996–97 and (d) 1997–98; [10223]

  (2) how those householders not on low-income benefit but who are entitled to assistance under the HEES have their contributions calculated; [10221]

  (3) how many (a) applicants for and (b) recipients of full assistance under the HEES there were in the current year and the year preceding the changes announced on 28 November 1995. [10222]

  Mr. Jones
  A total of 624,000 grants were paid under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1995–96 and 470,221 in 1994–95. There is no distinction between applicants and recipients, since grant is applied for after the work has been done by a network installer. There is no central record of inquiries to installers which do not result in work being done under the scheme.

  The total amounts of grant paid to applicants giving age as their ground for qualification are set out in the table. It should be borne in mind that those applying on the grounds of age may also be entitled through receipt of a qualifying benefit.

  Year

  Total amount of grant £ million

  1994–95

  40.4

  1995–96

  65.9

  1996–97

  34 (estimate)

  It is not possible to estimate the number of grants to over-60s in 1997–98, since I have announced that the scheme will be extended to include a wider range of measures during 1997, and this may affect current patterns of demand.

  Householders aged 60 and over applying since April 1996 receive grant of 25 per cent. of the cost of the work, provided that the cost does not exceed the maximum grant level. Their contribution is therefore 75 per cent. of the cost. If the work costs more than the maximum grant, which happens in the case of a minority of houses which are either very large or of unusual design, the work may still go ahead with grant aid if the client wishes. The client is then required to pay the amount of the excess in the same way as all claimants.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much money from the 1996–97 home energy efficiency scheme budget has been used to fund work where the application was made on or before 31 March 1996; and how many grants have been made in relation to such applications to the latest available date; [10236]

  (2) how many grants have been made under the home energy efficiency scheme from 1 April 1996 to the latest available date; in how many cases these were maximum grants; and in how many cases the applicants were required to meet a proportion of the costs; [10237]
  92
  (3) what was the average grant made under the home energy efficiency scheme in each of the last three years; and what is the estimated amount for the average grant for 1997–98. [10238]

  Mr. Jones
  A total of 159,318 grants were paid to householders who had registered an interest before 31 March 1996, at a cost of around £27 million, between 1 April and 30 November 1996. This represents about half of the 319,747 grants paid in the period. Of these, 79,773 were for the maximum amount permitted, and 53,737 applications indicated that the cost of work exceeded this maximum. The number of cases where the applicant paid the excess is now known.

  This information about average grants is as follows:

  Year

  Mean grant value

  1996–971

  167

  1995–96

  165

  1994–95

  170

  1993–94

  171

  1To end of November.

  I cannot yet estimate the mean grant value for 1997–98, when the revised, more flexible scheme offering a wider range of energy efficiency measures will start operating, because the pricing bases have not yet been decided.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in respect of how many cases where application for home energy efficiency scheme grants have been approved the work has not yet been carried out at the latest available date; [10240]

  (2) what was the national average waiting time for (a) processing applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants and (b) carrying out the work under the home energy efficiency scheme once an application was approved in each month of 1996 to the latest available date; [10229]

  (3) what was the average waiting time in each region of England and in Scotland and Wales for processing applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants and carrying out work under the home energy efficiency scheme once an application was approved in each month of 1996 to the latest available date; [10230]

  (4) what is the waiting list of applicants for home energy efficiency scheme grants which have been received but have yet to be processed at the latest available date. [10239]

  Mr. Jones
  During the first three months of 1996, installers nationally had order books of between 14 and 18 weeks' work. Between April and November, the latest date for which information is available, the average installer had over 30 weeks' work. Information is not available by region. Latest indications are that this period is decreasing, while customer satisfaction research indicates that actual waiting times tend to be significantly shorter than installers' order books suggest.

  The increase was caused by the pre-registration of better-off householders aged 60 and over before the end of March in order to qualify for grants under the old rules. The scheme managers and installers have dealt with the demand efficiently and have ensured that the proportion

  93
  of the scheme budget going to benefit the least well-off has not diminished by comparison with previous years. The scheme managers will shortly be writing to about 210,000 people who registered an interest last year but have not yet claimed grant to remind them to contact an installer. I estimate that another 40,000 householders have more recently applied to installers for grants and are waiting for work to be done.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many representations he has received which criticised his decision to restrict assistance under the home energy efficiency scheme to low-income households in the three months following the announcement of his decision; [10253]

  (2) how many representations he has received which criticised the universal entitlement of householders aged 60 years or more for assistance under the home energy efficiency scheme from its inception until the announcement on 28 November 1995 of its restriction to low-income households. [10252]

  Mr. Jones
  In April 1994 the scheme was expanded to allow full grants to people aged 60 and over regardless of income. This drew comment from both energy action organisations and the press. For example, the report "HEES: The Impact of Change", published by National Energy Action in September 1995, concluded that other sectors of the HEES clientele were becoming marginalised, and that more affluent over-60s clients, particularly those in larger owner-occupied dwellings, were over-represented in numerical terms, and were claiming a disproportionate amount of HEES funding. Since April 1996 householders aged 60 and over who do not receive income-related benefits or disability allowances have been required to make a contribution to the cost of measures provided under the scheme. Around 200 representations were received following the announcement of the change, though most of these were primarily about the scheme's level of funding.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what revision he has made to his estimate of the total number of jobs to be carried out under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1996–97 since his answer of 7 March 1996,Official Report, columns 303–304; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the changes in the anticipated number of home energy efficiency scheme jobs to be carried out in 1996–97; [10233]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the impact on job numbers in (a) energy efficiency services and (b) suppliers of energy saving materials and related services of the reduction in the home energy efficiency scheme budget from 1 April 1996 to the latest available date. [10235]

  Mr. Jones
  I have not changed my expectation that more than 400,000 grants will be paid under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1996–97, and present indications are that this will be the outcome. Already more than 2 million grants have been paid under this scheme, improving almost 10 per cent. of the entire housing stock and helping people in the greatest need to keep warmer and use energy more efficiently. This is a substantial achievement. One of the criteria for choosing installers within the scheme is their portfolio of work, to ensue that 94
  they should not rely on the scheme as their only source of income. There are many opportunities at present for the domestic energy efficiency supply and installation industries. As well as the home energy efficiency scheme there are the regional electricity companies' standards of performance schemes and the Energy Saving Trust's cavity wall insulation scheme. The latter is supported by the Department and I expect at least 40,000 homes to be insulated by the end of the present financial year. In total, these energy efficiency grant, subsidy and cashback schemes should benefit about 500,000 homes, mostly occupied by the more vulnerable households, in the current financial year.

  Hot Water Tank Insulation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) total dwellings and (b) dwellings with a hot water tank have (i) hot water tank insulation and (ii) hot water tank insulation of 80 mm or more in (1) England, (2) Wales, (3) Scotland and (4) Northern Ireland. [10242]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Recent information is not available in this precise form. The following table provides estimates of the number of households in England, Wales and Scotland with hot water tank insulation in December 1995 and the number of dwellings in Northern Ireland with insulation in 1991.

  Thousands

  Total households/dwellings

  With hot water tank

  With hot water tank insulation

  With 80mm or more insulation

  England

  19,581

  16,667

  15,788

  10,699

  Wales

  1,151

  969

  877

  574

  Scotland

  2,108

  1,991

  1,871

  1,406

  Northern Ireland

  574

  not known

  492

  not known

  Health and Safety Laboratory
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent to date on the prior options review and conversation to agency status of the health and safety laboratory; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10074]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The conversion of the health and safety laboratory to an internal agency of the Health and Safety Executive on 1 April 1995 followed a review by the Health and Safety Executive's then director general, John Rimington. The estimated cost to the health and safety laboratory of preparing for agency status during 1994–95 was £507,000. It is not possible to quantify the related costs of the other staff of the Health and Safety Executive who were involved in the review of the laboratory and in its subsequent conversion to agency status.

  The estimated cost to the Health and Safety Executive of the prior options review was £61,000. All costs were met from within HSE's existing resources.

  The health and safety laboratory's status as an agency provides greater exposure to the market place and this is increasing both its efficiency and effectiveness.
  95
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the health and safety laboratory as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee. [10076]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Employees of the health and safety laboratory serve on(a) 73 United Kingdom, (b) 62 European and (c) 25 international committees. They lead the United Kingdom team on 21 European and 12 international committees.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the health and safety laboratory; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10075]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The review of the health and safety laboratory has been completed and its outcome was announced by my noble Friend Earl Ferrers on 24 July 1996. The Health and Safety Executive has established a team to prepare a detailed plan to implement to the Government's decisions. The estimated cost of preparing this plan is £50,000. It will not be possible to estimate the full costs of implementation until that plan has been finalised. All these costs will be met from within HSE's existing resources.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the health and safety laboratory. [10077]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Employees of the health and safety laboratory chair(a) six United Kingdom, (b) eight European and (c) seven international committees.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10164]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10165]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A large number of the report's recommendations addressed controls that are already part of the strong framework my Department has in place over the use of external consultants. However, that framework has been strengthened further, through:

  (a) issuing revised guidance. This re-emphasises in particular:

  —the requirement for a project brief or business case for each consultancy;

  —the role and responsibilities of the project manager for each consultancy contract; and

  —the procedures for establishing that the consultancy has delivered value for money.

  96

  (b) Ministerial approval for the Department's annual expenditure plan for consultants.

  In addition, the Department's purchasing has been made more professional through the establishment of centres of procurement expertise at key points in the organisation, including those who buy consultancies.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (i) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review and privatisation of the Building Research Establishment; and from which budget these sums were paid: [10002]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the privatisation of the Building Research Establishment; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10003]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The costs of the prior options review, which is complete, and of the privatisation will fall to the Department's administration vote. Work on the review involved staff from this Department overseen by an advisory group drawn from Government and industry. Work on the privatisation involves staff the majority of whom are not working full time on this work. In both cases the staff and related costs could be determined only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on professional fees in connection with the prior options review were around £100,000. It is estimated that professional fees in connection with the privatisation will be in the region of £1.3 million.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Building Research Establishment as representatives of UK interests; and how many of these employees are leading the UK team on their committee. [10004]

  Mr. Jones
  The information is as follows:

  UK

  European

  International

  Number of Committees

  350

  143

  56

  UK team leader from BRE

  0

  6

  5

  Mr Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Building Research Establishment. [10005]

  Mr. Jones
  The information is as follows:

  Committees chaired by BRE employees

  UK

  34

  European

  23

  International

  6

  Loft Insulation
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) total dwellings and (b) dwellings with access to a loft have (i) loft insulation, (ii) loft insulation of 150 mm or more and (iii) loft insulation of 200 mm or more in (1) England, (2) Wales, (3) Scotland and (4) Northern Ireland. [10241]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Recent information is not available in this precise form. The following table provides estimates of the number of households in England, Wales and Scotland with loft insulation in December 1995 and the number of dwellings in Northern Ireland with insulation in 1991.

  Thousands

  Total households/dwellings

  With accessible loft

  With loft insulation

  With 150 mm or more insulation

  England

  19,581

  15,649

  14,306

  2,687

  Wales

  1,151

  959

  870

  97

  Scotland

  2,108

  1,352

  1,203

  93

  Northern Ireland

  574

  534

  465

  not known

  Draught-proofing
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings have(a) draught-proofing and (b) draught-proofing of 40 per cent. or more of the dwelling's rooms in (1) England, (2) Wales, (3) Scotland and (4) Northern Ireland. [10243]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Recent information is not available in this precise form. The following table provides estimates of the number of households in England, Wales and Scotland with draught proofing in December 1995 and the number of dwellings in Northern Ireland with draught proofing in 1991.

  Thousands

  Total household/dwellings

  With draught proofing

  With 40 per cent, or more rooms treated

  England

  19,581

  6,078

  2,357

  Wales

  1,151

  281

  96

  Scotland

  2,108

  895

  318

  Northern Ireland

  574

  269

  not known

  National Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the estimate he has made of national non-domestic rates available for distribution in 1996–97 and 1997–98 and (b) the percentage difference in both cash and real terms between the two years; and if he will list the differences between the two years. [10479]
  98
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is as follows:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Percentage difference

  Distributable Amount of non-domestic rates

  —cash prices

  12,736

  12,027

  -5.6

  —1996–97 prices

  12,736

  11,791

  -7.4

  For a list of the differences between the two years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 27 November, Official Report, columns 242–44.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment from what date the shadow unitary local authorities scheduled to come into effect in April 1998 are permitted to enter into PFI contracts. [10439]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Where an authority gaining unitary status is an existing county or district council, it will be a continuing authority and there is no need for a shadow council; the role of the authority acquiring new functions is expanded to encompass the shadow role. In these cases, whether the authority can enter a PFI contract before it assumes full unitary powers depends on whether the contract pertains to one of its existing or one of its new functions. If it concerns one of the new functions, the authority can enter into a contract only if it will facilitate the preparation for the discharge of its new functions.

  There are only two authorities which will be new authorities with a shadow council elected in 1997 and with assumption of full unitary status on 1 April 1998. A shadow authority may enter into contracts only pursuant to those functions which include powers to facilitate the preparation for the discharge of its new functions.

  South Yorkshire Supertram
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect of the South Yorkshire supertram project on the rates of council tax in Barnsley metropolitan borough council from April 1997. [10321]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Under the Secretary of State's provisional capping principles, the South Yorkshire supertram project would have no impact on council taxes in Barnsley. It is, of course for Barnsley to decide whether to spend up to its cap.

  Local Government Finance
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the(a) total standard spending assessment and police grant and (b) total external support including revenue support grant, non-domestic rates, standard spending assessment reduction grant and police grants to be received by (i) each individual local authority, (ii) education authorities and (iii) all authorities in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1996–97 and for

  99
  each the change over 1996–97 and (a) cash and (b) percentage terms, adjusting 1996–97 amounts for local government reorganisation and for changed local authority functions and responsibilities in 1997–98, and the transfer of responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997–98; and if he will supply this information in written and machine-readable forms; [10694]

  (2) what is the (a) total standard spending assessment and police grant and (b) total external support including revenue support grant, non-domestic rates, standard spending assessment reduction grant and police grants to be received by (i) each group of local authority classified by Department of Environment regions, (ii) each group of education authority classified by Department of the Environment region and (iii) all authorities classified by Department of the Environment region in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1996–97 and for each the change over 1996–97 in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms, adjusting 1996–97 amounts for local government reorganisation and for

  1997–98 provisional SSAs calculated using both the proposed Area Cost Adjustment (ACA) factors and the ACA factors in the Elliott report

  1997–98 provisional SSA using proposed ACA factors £ million

  Hypothetical 1997–98 SSA using ACA factors from Elliott report (rounded) £ million

  Difference (rounded) £ million

  Difference £ Per cent.

  Buckinghamshire CC

  282.824

  292.4

  +7.5

  +2.6

  Aylesbury Vale DC

  12.491

  13.2

  +0.8

  +6.1

  Chiltern DC

  6.939

  7.0

  +0.1

  +0.9

  Wycombe DC

  13.249

  14.0

  +0.7

  +5.4

  Thames Valley Police

  103.541

  106.3

  +2.8

  +2.7

  The hypothetical SSAs using ACA factors from the Elliott report are approximate. They are believed to be a reasonable guide to the extent of the difference in SSAs, but would require detailed refinements if they were to be used in determining revenue support grant.

  Coal Mines (Injuries)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many major injuries were reported under the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 for all United Kingdom coal mines for the year April 1995 to March 1996. [10685]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The number of major injuries reported to HM inspectorate of mines occurring in UK coal mines for 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 was 159.

WALES

  Adult Education (Learning Disabilities)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total funding in Wales, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, for adult education for people with learning disabilities; what is the projected spending for the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [10200]
  100
  changed local authority functions and responsibilities in 1997–98, and the transfer of responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997–98; and if he will supply this information in written and machine-readable forms. [10702]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are(a) the provisional standard spending assessment for 1997–98, (b) the standard spending assessment for 1997–98 as it would have been had the Elliott report on area cost adjustments been implemented and (c) the difference between those two figures expressed in (i) percentage and (ii) cash terms for (1) Buckinghamshire county council, (2) Aylesbury Vale district council, (3) Chiltern district council, (4) Wycombe district council and (5) the Thames Valley police authority; and if he will make a statement. [10682]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information is contained in the table.

  Mr. Hague
  Expenditure of this kind is determined by local authorities and other bodies; aggregate information is not collected centrally.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10184]

  Mr. Hague
  None. This is a matter for individual non-departmental public bodies to determine as part of the day-to-day management of their affairs.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report, "The Government's Use of External Consultants." [10185]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department has reviewed its procedures to take account of the scrutiny report recommendations. The revised arrangements have been applied to all consultancies undertaken in this financial year.

  Skilled Workers
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the number of skilled workers in Wales(a) in employment and (b) unemployed. [9890]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The spring 1996 labour force survey estimates of the skills of persons in Wales are shown in the following table:

  Skills of persons of working age in Wales, Spring 19961

  Thousands

  Skill type

  In employment

  ILO unemployed1

  Professional/intermediate

  380

  15

  Skilled (non manual)

  242

  16

  Skilled (manual)

  266

  21

  Partly skilled

  187

  24

  Unskilled

  66

  10

  1 Excludes persons in the armed forces and those who did not answer.

  2 Skill type defined by last job. Information on the skills of the ILO unemployed who have never worked (estimated to be 14,000 people in Wales) are not available from the Labour Force Survey.

  Employment (Students)
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of successful full-time higher education students from institutions in Wales other than the University of Wales gained first destination permanent employment in each of the years 1989–90 to 1993–94. [9974]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested may be found in table 6.10 of the recent Welsh Office publication "Further and Higher Education and Training Statistics in Wales 1996", published in May 1996. A copy of the publication is available in the Library of the House.

  Training
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of employees of working age received on-the-job training in Wales, broken down by gender in the most recent year for which figures are available. [9976]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The spring 1996 labour force survey estimated that, in Wales 8 per cent. of male, 5.5 per cent. of female and 6.8 per cent. of all employees of working age received on-the-job training in the four weeks before the interview. The information for numbers receiving training in a year is not available in the form requested.

  Academic year

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–1996

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Clwyd

  177

  179

  186

  191

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed

  52

  52

  55

  61

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent

  219

  208

  221

  214

  —

  —

  —

  Powys

  81

  87

  88

  91

  —

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  171

  165

  173

  169

  —

  —

  —

  Bridgend

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  28

  42

  Roads
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on planned expenditure on new construction and improvement of roads in Wales for the next year. [9972]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend announced our spending plans for 1997–98 on 12 December 1996,Official Report, columns 405–19. These include £113 million for the trunk road and motorway network and £76 million for local roads, including £54 million for transport grant schemes. Details of future improvements to the road network will be published in the Welsh Office's departmental report in the spring.

  GCSE Grades
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of school leavers gained GCSE grades A*-C in(a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) science in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by gender. [9978]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information is not collected centrally on grades achieved in individual GCSE subjects by school leavers. Information relating to pupils aged 15—age as at 31 August 1995—or the academic year 1995–96 is contained in the following table.

  Percentage of 15 year olds1 in Wales achieving GCSE grade A*-C by subject—1996

  Mathematics

  English

  Science

  Boys

  39

  40

  42

  Girls

  42

  58

  43

  Pupils

  40

  49

  42

  1Age as at 31 August 1995.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils in each county in Wales have been included in the assisted places scheme in the last five years; and how many are planned in the next two years. [9850]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The number of assisted place pupils in Wales in the last five years, in each of the counties within which participating schools are located, is shown in the following table, along with information the number of assisted places planned in the next two years. Information on individual pupils' place of residence is not held centrally.

  The table for 1996–97 and beyond reflects local government reorganisation and includes the additional places made available through the expansion of the scheme from September 1996, at a further seven schools across Wales. Planned places for Denbighshire are subject to redistribution should the proposed closure of Howells senior school, Denbigh proceed.
  103

  Academic year

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–1996

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Cardiff

  —

  —

  —

  —

  208

  233

  258

  Carmarthenshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  69

  77

  85

  Conwy

  —

  —

  —

  —

  142

  166

  190

  Denbighshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94

  108

  122

  Gwynedd

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9

  18

  27

  Monmouthshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  228

  238

  248

  Newport

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15

  30

  45

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  —

  101

  111

  121

  Swansea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  14

  21

  Totals

  700

  691

  720

  726

  887

  1,023

  1,159

  General National Vocational Qualifications
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the percentage of successful GNVQ candidates in Wales who(a) obtained full-time employment, (b) obtained part-time employment, (c) entered further training schemes, (d) continued with further or higher education and (e) became unemployed in (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95. [9967]

  Student staff ratios and average class sizes at further education institutions in Wales1

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Institution

  Student staff ratio

  Average class size

  Student staff ratio

  Average class size

  Student staff ratio

  Average class size

  Student staff ratio

  Average class size

  Student staff ratio

  Aberdare College

  14.1

  18.2

  20.5

  26.6

  19.6

  25.2

  20.0

  26.7

  16.7

  Afan College

  11.5

  14.5

  15.2

  15.5

  15.0

  23.0

  13.9

  16.9

  13.4

  Barry College

  11.4

  14.1

  12.8

  15.7

  13.3

  15.1

  12.3

  14.2

  14.9

  Bridgend College

  11.1

  15.1

  13.9

  18.4

  13.9

  18.4

  15.5

  20.2

  14.3

  Carmarthen College of Technology and Art

  12.8

  16.8

  13.8

  16.5

  14.5

  16.6

  16.2

  18.7

  18.9

  Coleg Ceredigion

  11.5

  13.0

  11.7

  14.0

  12.1

  13.6

  11.3

  12.5

  9.7

  Coleg Glan Hafren2

  12.1

  13.9

  16.4

  15.8

  17.1

  15.8

  —

  —

  21.3

  Coleg Glynllifon3

  6.0

  9.5

  6.9

  8.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coleg Harlech

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9.7

  7.9

  14.0

  4.1

  16.3

  Coleg Llysfasi College

  8.1

  11.1

  8.0

  10.5

  9.8

  11.0

  9.5

  9.8

  11.2

  Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9.3

  11.4

  8.8

  11.9

  10.6

  Coleg Meirionydd3

  9.2

  11.0

  10.2

  12.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coleg Menai4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17.0

  Coleg Pencraig4

  11.1

  12.9

  13.1

  14.8

  14.4

  15.5

  13.0

  13.2

  —

  Coleg Powys

  9.9

  12.8

  10.4

  13.8

  12.0

  15.3

  13.0

  16.1

  14.6

  Crosskeys College5

  10.0

  12.6

  14.0

  15.3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deeside College6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12.7

  17.0

  13.7

  17.5

  14.5

  Ebbw Vale College1

  7.6

  9.9

  10.2

  12.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gorseinon College

  12.0

  14.4

  12.7

  14.1

  14.2

  14.6

  13.4

  14.1

  14.8

  Gwent Tertiary College5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12.9

  14.4

  14.1

  14.2

  12.3

  Gwynedd Technical College4

  10.0

  13.2

  11.5

  13.7

  12.2

  14.2

  15.1

  18.1

  —

  Llandrillo College

  11.2

  15.9

  12.7

  15.2

  15.7

  17.3

  15.0

  17.3

  12.9

  Merthyr Tydfil College

  11.3

  14.8

  13.4

  16.0

  15.7

  17.5

  14.9

  16.8

  14.4

  Neath College

  13.0

  15.8

  14.1

  16.3

  15.8

  16.5

  16.9

  16.9

  14.7

  Newport College3

  10.7

  12.5

  12.9

  15.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North East Wales Institute6

  11.5

  14.5

  13.1

  19.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pembrokeshire College

  14.0

  16.8

  14.4

  16.4

  14.9

  16.9

  15.6

  17.0

  11.4

  Pencoed College

  6.3

  8.9

  8.1

  11.5

  9.2

  12.3

  14.2

  18.4

  12.1

  Pontypool College5

  10.8

  11.9

  12.6

  13.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pontypridd College

  12.2

  14.3

  12.9

  17.5

  13.7

  18.5

  13.5

  16.0

  15.4

  Rhondda College

  11.5

  14.9

  12.7

  16.3

  13.4

  14.9

  14.1

  16.5

  17.4

  St. Davids 6th Form College

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15.4

  16.8

  12.2

  Swansea College

  15.6

  17.0

  16.0

  17.2

  16.0

  17.0

  16.7

  17.7

  17.4

  104
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Further Education
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the student-staff ratio and (b) average class size for each of the institutes of further education in Wales in each of the years 1990–91 to 1995–96. [9969]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The available information is shown in the following table.
  105

  Student staff ratios and average class sizes at further education institutions in Wales1

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Institution

  Student staff ratio

  Average class size

  Student staff ratio

  Average class size

  Student staff ratio

  Average class size

  Student staff ratio

  Average class size

  Student staff ratio

  Usk Agricultural College5

  7.0

  9.2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Welsh Agricultural College7

  9.1

  19.9

  9.5

  18.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Welsh College of Horticulture

  8.9

  12.3

  10.9

  15.8

  13.3

  19.1

  12.1

  17.2

  11.8

  Yale College

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14.4

  14.9

  11.8

  Ystrad Mynach College

  12.0

  14.7

  13.2

  16.1

  13.6

  15.8

  13.9

  16.7

  14.0

  Wales average

  11.4

  14.3

  13.2

  13.5

  13.8

  16.1

  14.1

  16.0

  14.3

  Source:

  Welsh Office and Further Education Funding Council for Wales.

  Notes:

  1 Data from Welsh Office annual monitoring survey to 1993–94. Calculated from Welsh Office further education student record and FEFCW staff individualised record for 1994–95. Data for 1990–91 to 1993–94 relate only to further education courses of students, 1994–95 data relate to all courses of study at further education institutions. Excludes WEA north and south and YMCA which are not colleges.

  2 1993–94 data not given.

  3 In September 1992, Coleg Glynllifon and Coleg Merionydd amalgamated to form Coleg Merion-Dwyfor.

  4 In September 1994, Coleg Pencraig and Gwynedd Technical college amalgamated to form Coleg Menai.

  5 In September 1992, the colleges of Newport, Crosskeys, Pontypool (including Usk college, from 1991–92) and Ebbw Vale amalgamated to form Gwent tertiary college.

  6 In January 1993, North East Wales Institute divided to form Deeside college and North East Wales Institute of HE.

  7 In February 1993, Welsh Agricultural college became a higher education institution.

  Inward Investment
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of direct inward investment projects attracted to Wales in each of the years 1992–93 to 1995–96. [9971]

  Mr. Hague
  The number of overseas generated inward investment projects attracted to Wales in each of the years 1992–93 to 1995–96 are provided in the following table:

  Projects

  1992–93

  87

  1993–94

  77

  1994–95

  57

  1995–96

  69

  Figures based on financial year.

  Secondary Schools (Expenditure)
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount spent per secondary school pupil in each of the(a) grant-maintained and (b) LEA schools in Wales in the most recent year for which figures are available. [9997]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Comparable information on expenditure per pupil in LEA and grant-maintained schools is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member to provide him with the information and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average class size in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each of the past 10 years. [10654]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information requested is shown in the following table:
  106

  Average class size1

  Year

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  January 1996

  25.9

  20.2

  January 1995

  25.9

  20.2

  January 1994

  25.6

  20.1

  September 1992

  25.0

  21.4

  September 1991

  25.0

  21.5

  September 1990

  24.8

  21.0

  September 1989

  24.8

  20.5

  September 1988

  24.8

  20.7

  September 1987

  24.5

  21.3

  September 1986

  24.4

  21.6

  Notes:

  1 Average class size is calculated as the number of pupils divided by the number of classes. In the case of primary schools, the number of classes used is the number of registered classes (including ordinary, special and nursery classes) whereas for secondary schools it is the number of classes in which the pupils were taught in a specified period on the day of the schools' census.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average class size in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area in Wales. [10673]

  Mr. Evans
  The information requested is shown in the following table. Both LEA maintained and GM schools are included.

  Average class size

  Local education authority

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Blaenau Gwent

  27.8

  18.9

  Bridgend

  27.7

  20.2

  Caerphilly

  26.9

  20.7

  Cardiff

  27.4

  22.3

  Carmarthenshire

  22.9

  20.1

  Ceredigion

  21.2

  19.3

  Conwy

  25.6

  19.5

  Denbighshire

  25.8

  20.0

  Flintshire

  27.5

  19.6

  107

  Average class size

  Local education authority

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Gwynedd

  22.6

  18.0

  Isle of Anglesey

  22.6

  19.5

  Merthyr Tydfil

  26.9

  19.5

  Monmouthshire

  27.2

  19.8

  Neath Port Talbot

  25.0

  20.5

  Newport

  28.8

  22.3

  Pembrokeshire

  23.9

  20.1

  Powys

  22.1

  17.9

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  27.0

  19.6

  Swansea

  26.1

  20.8

  Torfaen

  27.6

  20.0

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  26.9

  20.4

  Wrexham

  26.9

  21.8

  Wales

  25.9

  20.2

  Source:

  January 1996 Schools' Census.

  Schools
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of schools in Wales(a) have no spare places and (b) are less than 75 per cent. full. [10655]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information is currently available centrally only for most schools outside the former county of Gwynedd. Of those schools, in 1995 approximately(a) 30 per cent. had no spare places and (b) 25 per cent. were less than 75 per cent. full.

TRANSPORT

  London Underground
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure safety on London Underground. [8771]

  Mr. Bowis
  Safety is the top priority for both the Government and for London Transport. The Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994 required London Underground to prepare a safety case setting out its approach to safety management, and this was accepted by HM railway inspectorate last January. London Underground intends to update its safety case on a regular basis and to publish an annual safety plan.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the existing infrastructure of the London Underground system. [8766]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government's plans for improving public transport in London, including services on the existing London Underground network, were set out in the transport strategy for London.

  London Transport
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of London Transport to discuss London's transport needs. [8769]

  Mr. Bowis
  I last met the chairman of London Transport on 9 January when we travelled on the first passenger-carrying run of the new Jubilee line extension 108
  trains. We were able to see and celebrate the remarkable progress in this expansion of London Underground services.

  River Transport
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last 12 months he has travelled on the River Thames in his official capacity to assess river transport. [8768]

  Sir George Young
  I have travelled on the River Thames once in the past year in my official capacity, when I visited the Port of London Authority in June last year.

  Heathrow-London Rail Link
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing an underground connection at Ealing on the Paddington to Heathrow express line; and if he will make a statement. [8767]

  Mr. Bowis
  None. The Heathrow express scheme to which my hon. Friend the hon. Member refers is being developed by BAA plc and it would be a matter for it to consider if it wished to introduce a stop at Ealing or on any other part of the route. However, a stopping service is proposed to run from St. Pancras to Heathrow. This is likely to include a stop at Ealing Broadway.

  Fenchurch Street Line
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the Fenchurch Street line. [8765]

  Mr. Watts
  None.

  Road Users (Medicinal Drugs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the dangers posed by road users who are under the influence of medicinal drugs. [8764]

  Mr. Bowis
  Some prescribed and over-the-counter medications may impair driving skills. However others, if taken as advised, will improve driving performance by removing the adverse effects of the medical condition. A 1989 study by the Transport Research Laboratory found that the incidence of medicinal drugs in fatal accidents was six times lower than that of alcohol. We recently began a further three-year survey of road fatalities to update our knowledge in this area.

  Motorway Noise
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce noise from increased traffic levels on existing motorways affecting domestic properties; and if he will make a statement. [8763]

  Mr. Watts
  Tighter noise emission standards for new vehicles were introduced on 1 October 1996. In addition, when renewing the surface of a road the Highways Agency considers the materials and technology available. Some of the surfacing products now available generate
  109
  significantly less tyre noise than older surfaces, and they can be used where they are no more expensive in whole-life cost terms than conventional surface treatment.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received concerning his Department's open skies policy at Manchester airport. [8762]

  Sir George Young
  I have received a number of letters recently, including one from my hon. Friend, as a result of Manchester airport's open skies campaign.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which airlines have a right of veto in respect of air services between Bangkok and Manchester airport; what assessment he has made of the conformity of such vetos with fair competition policy; how many such vetos exist; and what proposals he has to remove them from bilateral agreements. [9885]

  Infrastructure
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has taken in the last year to improve transport infrastructure in south-east England. [8761]

  Sir George Young
  The Government are committed to a wide range of measures to improve transport infrastructure in the south-east. In the last year. this has included signing the development agreement for CTRL, continuing work on the Jubilee line extension and funding for 27 local authority transport packages and including in our revised trunk road programme schemes in the south-east with a total value of about £2 billion.

  Rail Safety
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had recently with bodies responsible for rail safety. [8760]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met Frank Davies, the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, on 21 October 1996, to discuss various railway safety matters.

  We have also had reports both from the Anglo-French Intergovernmental Commission and from the independent Channel Tunnel Safety Authority on the recent fire in the channel tunnel.

  Passenger Rolling Stock
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total investment in cash terms in new passenger rolling stock serving north Kent and south London destinations over the last 10 years. [8758]

  Mr. Watts
  Expenditure on new passenger rolling stock serving north Kent and south London destinations, for the 10 years from 1986–87 to 1995–96 totalled £510 million at cash prices.

  Infrastructure Expenditure (London)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received
  110
  from (i) the Board of London Transport and (ii) London Underground Ltd. concerning their allocation of expenditure for renewal of their infrastructure. [8757]

  Mr. Bowis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I meet the chairman and other members of the board of London Transport on a regular basis and discuss a wide range of issues including finance.

  Shipping Safety
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to promote safety for shipping in United Kingdom waters; and if he will make a statement. [8756]

  Sir George Young
  We have successfully pursued a number of proposals, through the International Maritime Organisation and the European Community, leading to agreements on improving safety standards in shipping. These include the Stockholm agreement on ferry safety, which we shall be implementing shortly through new regulations. We shall continue to work towards the implementation of higher standards in construction and management of ships.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9797]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9796]

  Sir George Young
  I refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.

  Second Tamar Bridge
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the estimated costs to his Department of(a) consultancy work and (b) compulsory purchase in relation to the second Tamar bridge projects in each of the last three years; and what was the total cost to his Department. [10207]

  Mr. Watts
  The costs for consultancy work are as follows:

  1994: £44,000

  1995: £16,000

  1996: £45,000

  Compulsory powers have not been used to purchase properties in relation to this project.

  However, properties have been acquired in response to blight notices served on the Secretary of State under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or applications under discretionary powers in the Highways Act 1980. The approximate costs of these acquisitions are as follows:

  1994–95: £48,000

  1995–96: £1,880,000

  1996–97: £2,425,000

  111
  Following the abandonment of the project, the properties will be re-sold as soon as possible.

  InterCity West Coast
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the public subsidy for InterCity West Coast for services to(a) Watford and (b) Milton Keynes in each of the last five years. [9760]

  Mr. Watts
  It is not possible to provide subsidy figures for individual rail services. The grant claim for InterCity West Coast over the last three years is as follows:

  1996–97: £92.53 million

  1995–96: £84.69 million

  1994–95: £99.05 million

  Prior to 1 April 1994, grant was paid to British Railways Board as a whole, and not in respect of individual rail companies.

  Manchester Metro
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if departmental grants towards the costs of the Manchester metro Salford Quays-Eccles extension are conditional on the best and final lowest tender price being secured for this contract. [9842]

  Mr. Watts
  No. Bidding for the contract to build the Manchester metrolink extension to Salford Quays and Eccles has been conducted under rules prescribed by the

  £ thousands

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Trinity House

  42

  30

  34

  32

  88

  Northern Lighthouse Board

  271

  216

  43

  13

  59

  London Regional Passengers' Committee1

  —

  —

  —

  18

  2

  The Traffic Director for London

  40

  120

  2,050

  3,250

  3,700

  1The Department only assumed responsibility for the London Regional Passengers' Committee in April 1994.

  The Department's other non-departmental public bodies—the rail users' consultative committees and the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee—did not incur expenditure on external consultants in the last five years.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report, "The Government's Use of External Consultants". [10181]

  Mr. Bowis
  The actions taken by the Department of Transport in response to the multi-departmental scrutiny on the Government's use of external consultants are listed in the Department's implementation report, which was submitted to the Cabinet Office in April 1996. Copies of the implementation report have been placed in the House Library.

  Civil Aviation Authority
  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, columns 420–21, when his officials have discussed with the Civil Aviation Authority the issue of commissioning a balance of benefits study in
  112
  European procurement directive. Award criteria were set at the outset of the competition, and notified to the tenderers; bids were evaluated against these criteria.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he will take when considering funding for the Greater Manchester metrolink extension—Salford Quays to Eccles—of any subsidies paid to EU manufacturers successful in the competitive tendering; and if he will make it a condition of funding that no such subsidies have been or are being paid. [10653]

  Mr. Watts
  Funding of £17.3 million for the Manchester metrolink extension to Eccles via Salford Quays, through the capital challenge programme, was announced on 16 December. Greater Manchester passenger transport executive is responsible for the award of tenders to build and operate the system.

  State aids to manufacturers are regulated and policed by the European Commission. Her Majesty's Government would not knowingly provide support towards a contract to any firm which is in receipt of illegal state aid.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10180]

  Mr. Bowis
  The following amounts were spent on external consultants by the Department of Tranpsort's non-departmental public bodies in the last five years:

  relation to the renegotiation of the US-UK air service agreements (Bermuda II); and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the analysis in relation to the bilateral talks. [10292]

  Mr. Bowis
  Officials regularly discuss UK-US aviation matters with the Civil Aviation Authority, and such discussions have included the feasibility of an overarching "balance of benefits" study of liberalising UK-US air services. We decided not to instruct the CAA to undertake such an analysis: the number of variables which would need to be taken into account, and assumptions which would have to be made, would make it impossible to model results which could be treated with any confidence. I am however satisfied that UK negotiators are fully briefed for the current series of bilateral talks.

  Mr. Bowis
  The current UK-Thailand air services arrangements do not permit the operation of services between Bangkok and Manchester by Thai Airways International. The Department of Transport has been seeking talks with the Thai authorities for some time now with a view to liberalising these arrangements.

  London Transport Prestige Project
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if a tender for the London Transport prestige project which is not fully compliant with the specification set by London Transport will be eligible for consideration as a preferred bid; and if he will make a statement. [10430]

  Mr. Bowis
  This is a matter for London Transport. I understand that it is conducting the prestige competition in accordance with both its normal procurement practices and the relevant European procurement legislation.

  Rail Services (Financial Support)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what mechanisms he plans to deliver financial support for rail services in the English and Scottish passenger transport executive areas in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000; and what estimates he has made of the amounts to be provided. [10422]

  Mr. Watts
  We intend that, subject to the approval of the House of Commons, special grant should be paid in 1997–98 and beyond to all the English passenger transport authorities, for local railway services in their areas. Similarly, The Scottish Office intends, subject to the approval of the House of Commons, to pay special grant to Strathclyde PTA. The exact level of support for these rail services in future years will not be determined finally until the franchises have been signed, and the levels of services settled with the PTEs.

  Road Maintenance Costs
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the average cost per mile of maintaining(a) motorways and (b) A roads in (i) 1990 and (ii) 1995. [10346]

  Mr. Watts
  I regret that data for 1990 are not readily available. However, in financial year 1991–92, roads maintenance expenditure—capital and current—was approximately £152,000 for each mile of motorway and £25,000 for each mile of A road. The equivalent figures for financial year 1994–95 were £166,000 and £34,000 respectively.

  South Yorkshire Supertram Project
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will carry out a review of the basis on which his Department took its initial decision to award a section 56 grant to the South Yorkshire supertram project; [10316]

  (2) what assessment he has made of his Department's role in sanctioning the total funding package for the South Yorkshire supertram. [10315]

  Mr. Watts
  As with all such cases, the Department's decision to award section 56 grant, and to sanction other elements of the funding package, was based on an appraisal put forward by the promoter of the project, in this instance South Yorkshire passenger transport executive, and was in accordance with the procedures and criteria published in circular 3/89, "Section 56 Grant for Public Transport." I will consider whether experience of South Yorkshire supertram has wider implications.

  Mr Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will(a) publish and (b) place in the Library the
  114
  results of studies undertaken by his Department into the cost-effectiveness of his Department's support for the South Yorkshire supertram. [10317]

  Mr. Watts
  Work is still in progress on the supertram monitoring study, commissioned jointly by my Department and South Yorkshire PTE. The "before" surveys relating to this project have already been published. When the full study has been completed, my Department will be discussing arrangements for publication with South Yorkshire PTE.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the liabilities which will fall due to the South Yorkshire metropolitan borough councils after 31 March 1997, arising from the South Yorkshire supertram project; [10320]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the advantages of extending the period over which debts incurred by the South Yorkshire metropolitan borough councils arising out of the construction and operation of supertram may be repaid. [10319]

  Mr. Watts
  My Department and the South Yorkshire local authorities are currently discussing these issues.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the costs to public funds to date of the South Yorkshire supertram project, including all credit approvals, capitalised debts, revenue costs and other liabilities. [10318]

  Mr. Watts
  The funding authorised by my Department for the construction costs of South Yorkshire supertram is as follows:

  £ million

  Section 56 grant

  62.529

  Non-trading credit approvals

  62.529

  Trading credit approvals

  81.741

  Capitalised interest

  15.790

  ERDF grant

  6.526

  Pre-1991 spending

  12.759

  Total

  241.874

  The figure for pre-1991 spending includes some items that were funded by South Yorkshire PTE. The total does not include administrative costs incurred by my Department, which could be quantified only at disproportionate cost. These figures do not include operating losses and other post-construction costs, which are a matter for South Yorkshire PTE.

  Boeing 747 Fuel Tanks
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the safety of Boeing 747 aircraft fuel tanks. [10322]

  Mr. Bowis
  The United States National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident to TWA flight TW800. The cause of the accident has not yet been established although it is the view of the NTSB that the centre wing fuel tank exploded as part of the accident sequence. The source of ignition for the explosion has yet to be identified and the three theories—bomb, missile and aircraft malfunction—remain open.
  115
  Under International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, primary responsibility for promulgating information necessary to maintain the continued airworthiness of an aircraft type rests with the state of design. In the case of the Boeing 747 the US Federal Aviation Administration is the body responsible. As a result of its investigation the NTSB has made some interim safety recommendations to the FAA. If, following consideration of the NTSB safety recommendations, the FAA determines that mandatory corrective action is necessary, it will issue an airworthiness directive. It is the policy of the Civil Aviation Authority automatically to endorse all such directives and to ensure that the operators of relevant UK registered aircraft undertake the prescribed action.

  Motorway Service Stations
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the franchisees of motorway service stations the measures they can take to show when services on one side of the motorway, other than petrol filling stations, are closed. [10324]

  Mr. Watts
  All motorway service areas are required to offer a range of basic facilities, including toilets, free short-term parking and fuel, 24 hours a day every day of the year. Operators are entitled to close parts of their MSAs during quiet periods but the specified minimum facilities must remain available at all times to all motorway users, including the disabled. If my hon. Friend has a particular problem in mind, perhaps he will let me know and I will arrange for it to be taken up with the operator concerned.

  M1 (Lighting)
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in lighting the remaining parts of the M1; what is the future timetable; and if he will make a statement. [10330]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Irvine Patnick, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the M1 motorway and the possibilities for lighting provision along those remaining unlit sections.
  The M1 is lit from Junctions 1 to 19, 20 to 21A, 23 to 26, and 40 to 42. The section between Junctions 42 and 43 will be lit as part of the M1—A1 Link Road Scheme which is currently under construction. In addition, the M1 between Junctions 31 and 32 is programmed to be lit as part of the motorway widening scheme which remains in the programme. There are currently no further lighting schemes programmed for the M1.

  Greater Manchester Rail Services
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what schemes are being provided, by what mechanism, for rail services in the Greater Manchester area in 1996–97 which in previous years were supported by the section 20 "bolt on" arrangement and metropolitan railway grant; and what arrangements he plans to introduce for future years. [10420]

  Mr. Watts
  From 1 April 1996 the franchising director assumed responsibility for the financial support of local rail services in the Greater Manchester area previously 116
  supported by the Greater Manchester passenger transport executive. It is intended that from 1 April 1997 responsibility for those services will revert to GMPTE, supported by special grant. It is intended that the level of services to be so supported will broadly reflect that currently supported by the franchising director. Subject to approval by the House of Commons, the grant would be paid under section 88B of the Local Government Act 1988.

  A46–A47 Link Road Scheme
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which(a) bodies and (b) individuals have requested meetings with representatives of his Department in respect of the A46–A47 link road scheme; and who notified him of each request. [10314]

  Mr. Watts
  With the exception of the hon. Member himself, we have no record of any such requests.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if discussions to date involving his Department in respect of the A46–A47 link road constitute routine discussions about funding under the transport policies and programmes process. [10343]

  Mr. Watts
  Those with Leicestershire county council.

  Two-wheeled Motor Vehicles (Training)
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the Driving Standards Agency circular letter to all registered keepers of two-wheeled motor vehicles up to 125cc, dated November 1996, advising them that learners must obtain a compulsory basic training certificate by 1 January 1997; and what assessment he has made of whether the time provided allows a reasonable time for learners to complete the necessary training course. [10331]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have received about 350 letters and a number of telephone calls since the DSA letter to registered keepers of small motorcycles and mopeds was issued. The change to motorcycle training rules was first announced in August 1995, giving 11 months before the planned date of implementation on 1 July 1996. In March 1996 we deferred implementation until 1 January 1997 to give more time for publicity to reach those affected and for them to take training under the existing rules. The DSA has been publicising the change using leaflets and the media and the November letter to individuals was intended as a final reminder.

  The strong demand for training courses during the autumn indicates that the message about the need for training was reaching people. We appreciate that there has nevertheless been a rush to take training courses from those who missed the earlier publicity or had left matters until the last moment and we understand that motorcycle training bodies are endeavouring to meet the demand for courses.

  Rail Services (Government Financial Support)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what mechanisms Government financial support for rail services is delivered to the passenger
  117
  transport executives in England and Scotland; and what estimate he has made of the level of that support during the current financial year. [10421]

  Mr. Watts
  Metropolitan district councils in England receive recognition of the costs of PTE support for railway passenger services payments. In the current financial year this is included within the calculation of revenue support grant. The support given in this way, and through the Scottish local government finance settlement, amounts to £281.2 million for 1996–97. Railways passenger services in those areas also benefit from expenditure funded by payments under the terms of the deeds of assumption.

  National Roads Programme
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by parliamentary constituency each of the schemes in the national roads programme before the 1994 review and the changes to the status of each scheme in the 1994, 1995 and 1996 reviews, including any additional schemes. [10345]

  Mr. Watts
  I will write to the hon. Member with details and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  M66 (Contract 3)
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work is expected to commence on contract 3 for the construction of the M66; what is the length of the contract; and in what month of what year work is expected to be completed. [10502]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Chris Davies, dated 13 January 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about the timing of Contract 3 of the M66 Manchester Outer Ring Road.
  The present intention is to let this contract in 1998 subject to the availability of funds. We would expect it to be for a period of some two years.

  White Hart Roundabout, Northolt
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Sectetary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the cost and time expended by the traffic director and staff to achieve the repair of the phased traffic lights at the White Hart roundabout, Northolt, in December. [10636]

  Mr. Bowis
  The traffic director for London was not involved in the repair and consequently did not incur any costs. The fault was repaired by the traffic control systems unit under its maintenance contract.

  Air Cargo
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the economic consequences for Scotland of a liberalised international air cargo regime; and if he will make a statement. [10665]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Transport has not made any assessment of an overall liberal air cargo regime for Scotland, since air cargo matters are negotiated bilaterally 118
  with individual countries on behalf of the United Kingdom as a whole. In assessing the economic benefits of cargo liberalisation in specific bilateral arrangements, the Department takes account of the overall interests of the United Kingdom, including consumers, airports and airlines.

  Rail Privatisation (Pension Funds)
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names of the trustees of all the pension funds created out of the former British Rail pension fund following the privatisation of British Rail. [10631]

  Mr. Watts
  In common with other multi-employer pension schemes, the railways pension scheme has one central corporate trustee covering the whole scheme and, if the relevant employers so decide, a pensions committee for individual section funds. These pensions committees operate under arrangements delegated from the central trustee and have the relevant duties and obligations of trustees. The Secretary of State has a locus only in the appointment of members of the pensions committee of the 1994 pensioners section, for which he is the designated employer.

  Only the Railways Pension Trustee Company has the names of all current trustees. The current members of the pensions committee of the 1994 pensioners section of the railways pension scheme are:

  Employers' side

  Members' side

  F. Robertson

  C. A. Cullen

  D. Allen

  J. F. Craig

  M. Carpenter

  M. Gee

  C. Grimsey

  V. C. Hince

  D. F. Renn

  A. D. Hoadley

  E. M. Sandland

  J. H. Mayfield

  B. Westbrook

  D. Tyson

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for each franchise let since 31 October the details of payments to or from the franchise in the same format as his answer of 31 October, to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich, (Mrs. Dunwoody)Official Report, columns 241–42; [10418]

  (2) if he will list the amount of support paid to British Rail for franchises let since 31 October before franchising and the amounts of administered profit included within such support. [10419]

  Mr. Watts
  The information is set out in the table.
  119

  £ million

  Cost of advisors

  1995–96 Budgeted messenger revenue

  1996–97 Budgeted support to BR for whole year

  Including administered profit1

  Support paid at franchising Year 12

  Year 2

  Year 3

  Year 4

  Year 5

  Year 6

  Cross Country Trains

  1.68

  133.70

  127.20

  8.35

  130.19

  112.86

  95.50

  80.00

  71.98

  65.96

  West Anglia Great Northern

  1.08

  121.60

  71.07

  9.09

  60.30

  53.45

  33.83

  24.71

  12.73

  4.16

  Anglia

  1.09

  43.00

  40.87

  3.30

  37.25

  35.90

  26.02

  22.05

  15.98

  12.99

  Great Eastern

  0.91

  125.90

  40.59

  8.48

  24.52

  29.08

  14.04

  8.14

  2.79

  0.31

  Merseryrail Electrics

  1.27

  27.10

  84.13

  2.67

  81.10

  80.72

  72.80

  67.23

  64.90

  62.04

  Total

  5.98

  491.70

  363.86

  31.89

  333.36

  511.95

  242.17

  202.12

  168.57

  144.84

  Savings on BR Support

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30.50

  91.91

  121,89

  161.74

  195.09

  218.02

  Commutative savings

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30.50

  82.41

  204.10

  365.83

  561.33

  780.35

  £ million

  Year 7

  Year 8

  Year 9

  Year 10

  Year 11

  Year 12

  Year 13

  Year 14

  Year 15

  Year 16

  Cross Country Trains

  49.16

  38.43

  21.54

  13.44

  6.87

  2.97

  0.79

  0.00

  -4.99

  -10.01

  West Anglia Great Northern

  -14.21

  -24.81

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  Anglia

  8.58

  6.29

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  Great Eastern

  -5.12

  -9.54

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  Merseyrail Electrics

  61.65

  60.80

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  Total

  100.07

  72.17

  21.54

  13.44

  6.87

  2.97

  0.79

  0.00

  -4.99

  -10.01

  Savings on BR support

  263.79

  55.03

  105.86

  113.76

  120.33

  124.23

  126.41

  127.20

  132.19

  137.21

  Cumulative savings

  1,044.14

  1,055.17

  1,204.83

  1,318.59

  1,438.91

  1,583.15

  1,589.56

  1.876.76

  1,948.93

  2.086.16

  1 The Merseyrail BR support figures have been restated on a comparable basis to the franchise agreement and include budgeted payments from Merseyside PTE.

  2 Not covered by the franchise.

  3 The Year 1 franchise payment to the full year equivalent payment that appears in the franchise agreement to allow for accurate comparisons.

  All the franchises except Merseyrail commenced on 5 January 1997. Merseyrail will complete at a later date.

  Therefore there is an overlap between the amount paid to BR and the franchise payment year 1.

  Payments to the Franchising Director appear as negative amounts.

  All payments are real amounts.

  Advisor costs are correct to December 1996.

DEFENCE

  Range Facilities
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are available at the Shoeburyness range that are not available at any other range of his Department. [10153]

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

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. John Cunningham, dated 13 January 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your question about the facilities available at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) Shoeburyness range which are not available at any other range, since as Chief Executive of DERA this is a matter for which I am responsible.
  The Shoeburyness range has the only facilities within DERA which enable the following activities to be undertaken:

  (a) overwater recovery for shells to a range of 24 kilometres

  (b) long range ground to ground firing up to 17 kilometres

  (c) Environmental Test Centre for hazardous stores and weapons

  (d) ammunition disposal meeting Environmental Agency requirements

  (e) fragmentation trials routinely requiring a danger area above 1,800 metres radius.

  I hope this information is helpful.
  120
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy for the long-term provision of range facilities for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; and if he will make a statement. [10274]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  DERA's ranges are provided to meet the current and future needs of the Ministry of Defence and its prime contractors in a competitive and cost-effective manner. Because current requirements are declining, especially for ranges in support of the land programmes, DERA is at present undertaking a study to determine the most cost effective way to provide these essential capabilities. Major users of DERA's land ranges, both within the Ministry of Defence and UK industry, are being consulted. No final decisions have been taken, but if the study recommends significant changes to the way in which the land ranges are run, then staff, unions and other interested parties will be fully consulted in the normal way.

  Nerve Agents
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out by the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, to test the new treatment of a combination of the drugs physostigmine and hyoscine against nerve agents; when
  121
  these tests (a) began and (b) ended; what were their conclusions; and when the new treatment entered service with the armed forces. [10245]

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

  Letter from John Chisolm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 13 January 1997:
  I have been asked to reply to your question concerning studies carried out by Porton Down to test the new combination of physostigmine and hyoscine against the effects of nerve agents. The Chemical Biological Defence Section (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  Assessments of the physostigmine hyoscine combination as a possible pre-treatment against nerve agent poisoning were first reported by CBD in 1984. Further studies into its effect against a range of different nerve agents and its electrophysiological, biochemical and behavioural effects have continued since then and are still ongoing.
  No work to determine the efficacy of the pre-treatment against the effects of nerve agent poisoning has been conducted on humans. Studies to assess the military acceptability of the commercially licensed drugs which are combined in the proposed pre-treatment have recently commenced. This work will continue for some years before any recommendations can be made regarding the suitability of the proposed pre-treatment for general use with UK armed forces. The new physostigmine/hyoscine pre-treatment has not yet entered service with UK armed forces.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Franco-British Naval Agreement
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the text of the Franco-British naval agreement signed at the recent Franco-British summit at Bordeaux. [9768]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis), on 13 November,Official Report, columns 214–15, to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson). A copy of the UK-French naval letter of intent is in the Library of the House.

  Auxiliary Oilers
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to announce the award of an order for auxiliary oilers for the Royal Navy. [10544]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence hopes to be able to make this announcement within the near future.

  Organophosphate Pesticide Investigation Team
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the work of the organophosphate pesticide investigation team set up on 11 October; and what budget is allotted to support its future work. [9591]

  Mr. Soames
  The organophosphate pesticide investigation team has not been assigned a separate budget, and costs incurred by its activities currently form part of the budget of the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff 122
  (Programmes and Personnel). The estimated net staff cost associated with the production of the substantive report dated 6 December is £30,725.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to rectify the failings of his Department to keep files in accordance with standing procedures to which reference is made at paragraph 1.B.15 of the report D/OPPIT/3 of his departmental organophosphate pesticide investigation team, dated 6 December. [9594]

  Mr. Soames
  Steps have been taken to ensure that the administrative support necessary to keep files in accordance with standing procedures is available to those areas of the Department referred to in paragraph 1.B.15 of the organophosphate pesticide investigation team report.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will extend the remit of his organophosphate pesticide investigation team to examine the methodology of earlier studies into effects of organophosphates, to which reference is made in paragraph 1.A.9 in his departmental substantive report of the organophosphate investigation team, dated 6 December. [9672]

  Mr. Soames
  The earlier MOD documents referred to in paragraph 1.A.9 of the Departmental substantive report of the organophosphate investigation team are concerned with the use of, not the effects of exposure to, organophosphate pesticides. As it made clear in paragraph 3.H.12 of the report, the organophosphate investigation team is not qualified to assess the effects of exposure to pesticides.

  Chapelcross and Calder Hall Reactors
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to his Department of operating the (i) Chapelcross and (ii) Calder Hall reactors for each of the last five years. [9636]

  Mr. Soames
  The reactors at Chapelcross and Calder Hall are owned and operated by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. Details of the contracts between BNFL and the Ministry of Defence for services provided at these sites are commercially confidential and therefore under the code of practice on access to Government information are not given as such information could harm the effective management and operations of the public service.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment was made of the quality control applied to the production of the pertussis vaccine purchased from France, to which reference is made in his departmental memorandum issued in support of the statement made about Gulf war illness on 10 December Official Report, columns 119–23. [9633]

  Mr. Soames
  No assessment was made of the quality control applied to the production of the pertussis vaccine purchased from France for use during Operation Granby. The Department of Health acted as agents for the import of the vaccine, and arranged for it to be tested by the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control before it was released for use.
  123
  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the basis of the difference in assessment between his Department and that of the United States Government concerning the likely threat posed by plague in the Gulf war; and which is now assessed to be more accurate. [9568]

  Mr. Soames
  The factors influencing US Government assessments are not a matter for my Department. The UK assessment at the time of the Gulf war was that Iraq had probably developed plague as a biological weapon. We have had no cause to revise this assessment since then.

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9489]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information requested in respect of my Department and its agencies, as at 1 November 1996, is set out.

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Full/Part time

  115,683

  79,593

  36,090

  Full time

  110,649

  79,121

  31,528

  Part time

  5,034

  472

  4,562

  Both permanent and casual UK based staff are included. The information is in the form of a headcount, i.e. both full and part-time personnel count as one.

  Training Airspace
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes in air defence training airspace requirements will occur as a result of the introduction of the Eurofighter 2000; what factors underlie these changes; and what plans he has for changes in airspace structure to accommodate such changes. [9838]

  Mr. Soames
  Work is under way to identify the training airspace requirements for Eurofighter.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the briefed western boundary of the airspace in use over northern England and southern Scotland on 17 November 1995 for mutual air combat training by RAF Tornados and Dutch air force F16 aircraft operating from RAF Leeming. [9841]

  Mr. Soames
  The briefed western boundary of the airspace used by RAF Tornado and Royal Netherlands Air Force F16 aircraft for mutual air combat training on 17 November 1995 was a line from 55 degrees 59 minutes north, 2 degrees 50 minutes west to 55 degrees 3 minutes north, 2 degrees 12 minutes west.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to exclude advisory route airspace from military exercises. [9840]

  Mr. Soames
  There are no plans to exclude advisory route airspace from military exercises.

  Scheduled Exercises (Purple Series)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of scheduled exercises in the Purple series in the next 12 months. [9873]

  Mr. Soames
  The next exercise in the Purple series is programmed for October 1997 and has been designated Purple LINK. It will be a computer-assisted exercise based in the United Kingdom and will be undertaken with the Americans. This is the only Purple exercise planned for 1997.

  Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to acquire air combat manoeuvring instrumentation equipment for the Royal Air Force which can be used without ground relay facilities. [9834]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We are planning to issue an invitation to tender for the rangeless airborne instrumented debriefing system in the near future. If a limited trial programme proves successful, we plan to procure RAIDS for the entire fast jet fleet by around the turn of the century.

  AWACS Controllers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to permit airborne warning and communication system controllers to co-ordinate traffic under their control directly with(a) ground-based military air traffic controllers and (b) ground-based civil air traffic controllers. [9877]

  Mr. Soames
  There are currently no plans to permit AWACS controllers to co-ordinate traffic under their control directly with ground-based military or civil air traffic controllers.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances controllers in AWACS aircraft are permitted to provide a radar service to aircraft under their control using a radar picture generated by a ground-based radar; and what plans he has to change these rules. [9875]

  Mr. Soames
  Controllers in AWACS aircraft are not permitted to provide a radar service to aircraft under their control using a radar picture generated by a ground-based radar. There are currently no plans to change this.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those civil air traffic control radars which supply data directly to the UK air defence ground environment; and what plans he has for additional civil radars to be so linked. [9839]

  Mr. Soames
  The civil air traffic control radars which supply data to the UK air defence ground environment are Burrington, Pease Pottage, Debden, Claxby, Clee Hill and Great Dun Fell. Additional radars which can be linked as required are Perwinnes Hill, Tiree, Stornoway and Sumburgh.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances United Kingdom air
  125
  defence ground environment controllers are permitted to provide a radar service to aircraft under their control using a radar picture generated by an airborne warning and communications system aircraft; and what plans he has to change these rules. [9876]

  Mr. Soames
  UK air defence ground environment controllers are not permitted to provide a radar service to aircraft under their control using a radar picture by AWACS aircraft. There are currently no plans to change this.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances UK air defence ground environment controllers are permitted to provide a radar service to aircraft under their control using a radar picture generated by more than one ground-based radar; and what plans he has for changes to these rules. [9836]

  Mr. Soames
  UK air defence ground environment controllers provide a radar service to aircraft under their control with a single radar selected and are not permitted to provide such a service using more than one ground-based radar. There are currently no plans to change this.

  Radiation Experiments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what follow-up tests his Department has conducted on the long-term effects of radiation experiments on volunteers at(a) Harwell and (b) Porton Down; [10206]

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of the consent forms signed by volunteers taking part in human radiation experiments at (a) Harwell and (b) Porton Down. [10208]

  Mr. Soames
  It is important to draw a distinction between studies involving minimal amounts of radioactive material used as a tracer and so-called radiation experiments in which individuals are exposed to high doses of radiation in order to assess the damage produced. All studies carried out by my Department, including those carried out on volunteers attending Porton Down, were in the former category. Consequently, no follow-up action was deemed necessary by Porton Down. Consent forms were not in use in the 1950s/early 1960s when the studies involving radio-labelled tracers were conducted at Porton Down.

  Matters relating to Harwell are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the guidelines issued by his Department to(a) the Harwell medical ethics committee regarding radiation experiments on humans and (b) the Committee for the Safety of Human Experiments, the medical sub-committee of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council, and the independent ethics committee regarding radiation experiments on humans at Porton Down. [10209]

  Mr. Soames
  All studies involving volunteers at Porton Down are governed by the principles for ethical control of human experiments as stated in the Nuremburg code, the Helsinki declaration and the guidelines of the Royal College of Physicians. My Department does not issue guidelines to the independent ethics committee of experts who oversee the volunteer programme at Porton Down.126
  Porton Down has not carried out any radiation experiments on humans. Work carried out in the 1950s and early 1960s involved the use of radio-labelled tracer materials in decontamination and medical evaluations and was subject to the normal ethical controls.

  Matters relating to Harwell are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information is made available to civil operators concerning the activity status of low-level overland training areas. [9874]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 February 1996,Official Report, columns 356–57.

  Tornado F3
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the capability of the identification friend or foe system in the Tornado F3 aircraft to receive the secondary surveillance radar codes of civil aircraft. [9879]

  Mr. Soames
  The Tornado F3 is able to receive secondary surveillance codes of civil aircraft, provided it has been notified of the civil aircraft's code number. In common with other military aircraft and our allies, civil aircraft are located chiefly through use of the F3' s primary radar and visual identification. These techniques augment procedural separations enforced by air traffic authorities.

  Air Force Training (Former Warsaw Pact)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of scheduled training deployments to the United Kingdom by units from air forces of former Warsaw pact countries in the next 12 months. [9833]

  Mr. Soames
  No such deployments have been finalised for 1997, although discussions with a number of air forces are continuing.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year; [9800]

  (2) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment. [9801]

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Vosper Thorneycroft (Official Appointment)
  Mr. Derek Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what scrutiny procedures were undertaken in respect of the recent appointment of a senior MOD official to Vosper Thorneycroft; if any recommendation was made to delay the appointment; what(a) formal and

  127
  (b) informal contact the official had with Vosper Thorneycroft while at his Department; and if he will make a statement. [9881]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The official's application to take up the appointment with Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. was considered under the rules on the acceptance of outside appointments by Crown servants. Although he had frequent contact with his prospective employer, he was not in a position where he could influence the award of defence contracts. Ten competitors of Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. were consulted about the proposed appointment but none wished to raise objections. It would not have been appropriate, in the circumstances, to have placed any restriction on the proposed employment.

  Murdered Tour Guide (Cyprus)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the parents of the murdered tour guide in Cyprus have been informed by Her Majesty's Government that they have the right to claim compensation against the Ministry of Defence. [10326]

  Mr. Soames
  I understand that the family in question are aware that they have the same rights to make a claim for compensation against the Ministry of Defence as they would have against any other employer or organisation.

  Battle of Trafalgar
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to begin preparations for the commemoration of the bicentenary of the battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson. [10865]

  Mr. Soames
  It is too early for detailed arrangements or plans to have been considered by my Department for this important event in October 2005. However, we expect that there will be major coverage, and we are already looking at the possibility of Navy days being held at Portsmouth that year.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10169]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In response to the Cabinet Office's report my Department drew up an action plan, which was forwarded to the Cabinet Office in October 1994. This set out the action my Department would be taking on the recommendations contained in the report. As a follow-up exercise to the action plan, all Departments were required to submit, within two years, an implementation report setting out progress on their action plans. My Department's implementation report was forwarded to the Cabinet Office in March 1996 and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Expenditure
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each year since 1979 the adjustments made to the cash plans for defence spending in future years to take into account revised forecasts of the level of 128
  inflation indicating, in each case, whether the increase or decrease in the cash plan matched exactly the revised inflation forecast. [9468]

  Mr. Soames
  Like all Departments, the Ministry of Defence determines its spending plans in consultation with the Treasury during the public expenditure survey. Adjustments to the previous years' plans are made for a variety of reasons, of which forecast inflation is only one. Therefore it is not usually possible to identify a specific figure from any given set of spending plans that represents an adjustment solely attributable to changes in forecast levels of inflation. The spending plans announced in November 1996, however, maintained the real value of the money planned for spending in 1997–98 because of the Government's commitment to a period of stability for the armed forces. Lower inflation forecasts enabled this to be achieved at a lower cost than estimated at the time of the 1995 public expenditure survey. Money has also been added to the defence budget to cover special housing costs.

  Insecticides
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exemptions apply to his Department in respect of the(a) Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, (b) Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 and (c) Plant Protection Products Regulations 1995, in respect of the use of insecticides. [10635]

  Mr. Soames
  The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985—the 1985 Act—does not apply to land where there is no interest other than a Crown interest or to land which is exclusively in Crown occupation.

  The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986—the 1986 regulations—were made under the 1985 Act and the same exemptions apply.

  The Plant Protection Products Regulations 1995—the 1995 Regulations—were made under the European Communities Act 1972, which does not provide for Crown exemption. However, where the 1995 regulations refer to the 1986 regulations, the exemption provided in the 1985 Act would apply.

  Vaccinations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department decided to declassify details of vaccinations used by departmental medical personnel; and what factors underlay this decision. [10650]

  Mr. Soames
  I announced in my statement to the House on 10 December,Official Report, columns 119–23, our decision to declassify details of the vaccinations used during the Gulf conflict. The decision was taken in the light of a detailed review of the classification of the vaccination programme, given the developments in UK defensive capability against biological warfare agents since 1991.

  Polaris
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current operating costs of the Polaris fleet; what were the costs in each of the last 15 years at 1996
  129
  prices; and what sum the Government have allocated for (a) decommissioning and (b) scrapping the Polaris (i) submarines, (ii) missiles and (iii) warheads. [10746]

  Mr. Soames
  The operating costs of the Polaris fleet in each of the last 15 years at 1995–96 prices are as follows:

  Financial year

  Spend at constant prices £million1

  1981–82

  470

  1982–83

  472

  1983–84

  410

  1984–85

  367

  1985–86

  383

  1986–87

  434

  1987–88

  434

  1988–89

  373

  1989–90

  303

  1990–91

  250

  1991–92

  183

  1992–93

  162

  1993–94

  107

  1994–95

  67

  1995–96

  63

  1 All at 1995–96 prices using GDP deflators.

  Details of operating costs during the current financial year are in the course of preparation.

  The estimated cost for the defuelling, de-equipping and laying-up of the Polaris fleet of submarines is approximately £71 million at 1996–97 prices, over the next 10 years. No firm estimate is yet available of the likely cost of eventual disposal.

  The cost of decommissioning and scrapping Polaris missiles currently totals £8 million. These costs include sums already spent plus values of contracts let. The sum covers missile decommissioning/scrapping costs but excludes warhead disposal.

  It is not our practice to reveal costs associated with the warhead.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women and of what rank obtained vocational qualifications in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [10453]
  130
  Mr. Soames
  All three services are placing increasing emphasis on accreditation of service training and experience.

  It is Navy Board policy to negotiate from civilian awarding bodies the highest level of recognition for naval skills and training which meet operational performance statements. The Royal Navy is vigorously pursuing the issue of VQs, principally in the area of NVQs. Within the Royal Navy there are currently three approved assessment centres for NVQs and a further three are planned for designation during the next year. During the current financial year the Royal Navy expects that nearly 8,000 civilian qualifications will be awarded as a result of in-house training programmes and this figure is expected to increase year on year.

  Under the Army's VQ policy, all Army personnel are to be given the maximum opportunity throughout their careers to gain VQs and other forms of professional recognition for their workplace skills, knowledge and experience. The process of mapping Army trades and employments against the national vocational standards is progressing well. Over 1,700 VQs were gained by Army officers and soldiers during the period 1 April to 30 September 1996. It is anticipated that schemes offering appropriate qualifications will be available to most Army personnel within two years.

  It is RAF policy that everyone will have the opportunity to achieve an NVQ within 18 months of joining the service and most trades have either incorporated NVQs into their initial training courses or are on the verge of doing so. Many RAF personnel are also achieving further trade based or management VQs throughout their service. A range of schemes are being pursued with a view to increasing the availability of VQs including the NVQ accreditation of prior learning which, since its introduction in 1996, enrolled some 9,800 RAF engineering and supply personnel, of whom over 500 have already been awarded certificates.

  In addition to in-house initiatives, across the three services individuals are encouraged to pursue VQs in a private capacity to prepare themselves for outside employment when they leave the service.

  Detailed information on the vocational qualifications obtained by different ranks of service personnel during the last five years is not held centrally and could not be provided without disproportionate costs.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for his Department(a) how many people in total are employed, (b) how many of the total number of staff are (i) male and (ii) female and (c) how many (I) men and (II) women are employed on a (1) full-time and (2) part-time basis. [9484]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department employs 6,095 staff in the headquarters area, of whom 3,377 are male and 2,718 are female; 3,337 male staff are full-time and 40 are part-time; 2,314 female staff are full-time and 404 are part-time.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9815]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9814]

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Wednesday 18 December 1996,Official Report, column 699.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Babraham Institute as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10112]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Institute for Animal Health as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10104]

  (3) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Institute of Arable Crops Research as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10044]

  (4) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Institute of Food Research as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10048]

  (5) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research as representatives of UK interests; and how many of these employees are leading the UK team on their committee; [10140]
  132
  (6) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the John Innes Centre as representatives of UK interests; and how many of these employees are leading the UK team on their committee; [10136]

  (7) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Roslin Institute as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10108]

  (8) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Silsoe Research Institute as representatives of UK interests; and how many of these employees are leading the UK team on their committee; [10132]

  (9) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Institute of Arable Crops Research; [10045]

  (10) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees for the Institute for Animal Health; [10105]

  (11) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Institute of Food Research; [10049]

  (12) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research; [10141]

  (13) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the John Innes Centre; [10137]

  (14) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Roslin Institute; [10109]

  (15) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Silsoe Research Institute; [10133]

  (16) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Babraham Institute. [10113]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The staff at these institutes are employed by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council—BBSRC. The prior options process is designed to ensure that the interests of the United Kingdom are best served by these institutes. In most cases, membership of committees in fact reflects the professional or personal qualifications of the individual concerned. Although there are a number of questions of definition, the institutes have provided information on committee membership which is summarised in the table.

  Committee membership of staff at BBSRC institutes

  (a) UK

  (b) Europe

  (c) International

  Babraham

  2

  Institute of Food Research

  5

  1

  133

  Committee membership of staff at BBSRC institutes

  (a)UK

  (b)Europe

  (c)International

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER)

  1

  1

  1

  Silsoe Research Institute (SRI)

  15

  2

  9

  IGER has indicated that a UK and an international committee is chaired by staff. SRI has indicated that three international committees are chaired by staff.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the UK team on their committee. [10128]

  Mr. Taylor
  The prior options process is designed to ensure that the interests of the United Kingdom are best served by research establishments.

  Employees of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory are members of a very large and diverse range of UK, European and international bodies. The total number of such bodies is in excess of 400. This includes some 45 European bodies, and some 40 international bodies, on which members of the laboratories' staff represent UK interests. In about a quarter of these, the member of the laboratories' staff leads the UK team.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the British Geological Survey as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10100]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the British Geological Survey. [10101]

  Mr. Taylor
  The staff at the British Geological Survey are employed by the Natural Environment Research Council. The prior options process is designed to ensure that the interests of the United Kingdom are best served by these bodies. In most cases, membership in fact reflects the professional or personal qualifications of the individual. However, information on committee membership is set out in the attached table.

  Chair

  Member1

  United Kingdom

  7

  7

  European

  6

  2

  International

  10

  15

  1 Those holding senior positions.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the British Geological Survey; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10098]

  (2) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the institutes and laboratories making up the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10094]
  134
  Mr. Taylor
  Work on this and other similar reviews has principally involved staff in the Natural Environment Research Council. The NERC estimates the Council's expenditure on the reviews covering the three NERC establishments: the British Geological Survey, the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology as £0.4 million, borne by the NERC allocation from the science budget. It is not possible to quantify the costs related to the work by staff elsewhere, for example in Government Departments.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Toxicology Unit; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10027]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Radiobiology Unit; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10035]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Virology Unit; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10051]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Reproductive Biology Unit; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10031]

  (5) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Dunn Nutrition Unit; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10039]

  Mr. Taylor
  The reviews of these units have been completed. Any implementation costs would depend on decisions which have not yet been taken.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Roslin Institute; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10107]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10139]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Institute of Arable Crops Research; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10043]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Silsoe Research Institute; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10131]

  (5) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Babraham Institute; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10111]

  (6) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Institute of Food Research; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10047]

  (7) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Institute for Animal Health; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10103]

  (8) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the John Innes Centre; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10135]
  135
  Mr. Taylor
  The reviews of these institutes have been completed. Any implementation costs would depend on decisions which have not yet been taken.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Toxicology Unit; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10026]

  (2) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Radiobiology Unit; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10034]

  (3) how many has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Virology Unit; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10050]

  (4) how much money has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Reproductive Biology Unit; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10030]

  (5) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Dunn Nutrition Unit; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10038]

  Mr. Taylor
  Work on all these reviews has principally involved existing staff in the Medical Research Council and several Government Departments. It is not possible to quantify the costs relating to individual reviews. However, the MRC considers that overall expenditure on readily identifiable specific costs were £65,000 broken down as follows:

  MRC Head Office staff time: £38,000

  Consultants' fee: £23,000

  Travel: £4,000.

  The overall figure specifically excludes staff time at the MRC units concerned and clerical support at head office.

  These sums are paid from the MRC allocation from the science budget.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10126]

  Mr. Taylor
  The cost of two prior options reviews of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories was £36,000, excluding the cost of time spent by existing members of the laboratories' staff. The cost was met from the laboratories' running costs budget.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10127]

  Mr. Taylor
  The prior options reviews of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories have been completed and announced, and there are no future costs to be met.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European
  136
  and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories. [10129]

  Mr. Taylor
  The approximate numbers of committees chaired by employees of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories are as follows:

  (a) United Kingdom: 15

  (b) European: 10

  (c) International: 5.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory; and from which budget these sums were paid; [9998]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [9999]

  Mr. Taylor
  The prior options review of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory was announced on 29 September 1995. It formed part of an interdepartmental review of the options for the future of all of Government laboratories. NWML's review was carried out by DTI staff. Costs cannot specifically be disaggregated but are estimated to have been less than £10,000. The conclusions of the review were that NWML should remain an agency. There are no costs associated with the implementation of the review's findings.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10096]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences. [10097]

  Mr. Taylor
  The staff at the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences are employed by the Natural Environment Research Council. The prior options process is designed to ensure that the interests of the United Kingdom are best served by these bodies. In most cases, membership in fact reflects the professional or personal qualifications of the individual. However, information on committee membership is set out in the attached table.

  Chair

  Member

  United Kingdom

  3

  24

  European

  3

  14

  International

  10

  44

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the British Geological Survey; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10099]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the institutes and laboratories making up the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10095]
  137
  Mr. Taylor
  The reviews of the three NERC establishments the British Geological Survey, the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have been completed. Any implementation costs will depend on decisions which has not yet been taken.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10000]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory. [10001]

  Mr. Taylor
  I have asked the chief executive of the NWML executive agency to reply directly to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 13 January 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 employees as chairman of committees.
  The details are as follows:

  (a) 2 UK committees

  (b) 2 European committees

  (c) 1 international committee.

  Letter from Mr.Seton Bennett to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 13 January 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 employees as members of committees.
  The details for those appointed by the UK Government are:

  (a) 12 UK committees;

  (b) 8 European committees; and

  (c) 7 international committees.

  A total of 10 employees are leading the UK teams on their respective European or international committees.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Dunn Nutrition Unit as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10040]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Dunn Nutrition Unit; [10041]

  (3) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Toxicology Unit as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10028]

  (4) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Toxicology Unit; [10029]
  138
  (5) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Virology Unit as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10052]

  (6) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Virology Unit; [10053]

  (7) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Radiobiology Unit as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10036]

  (8) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Radiobiology Unit; [10037]

  (9) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Reproductive Biology Unit as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10032]

  (10) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Reproductive Biology Unit. [10033]

  Mr. Taylor
  The staff at these institutes are employed by the Medical Research Council. The prior options process is designed to ensure that the interests of the United Kingdom are best served by these institutes. In most cases, membership of committees in fact reflects the professional or personal qualifications of the individual concerned. Although there are a number of questions of definition, the institute has provided information on committee membership which is summarised in the table.

  Committee membership of staff at MRC units

  (a) UK

  (b) Europe

  (c) International

  Reproductive Biology Unit

  2

  1

  0

  Virology Unit

  0

  0

  0

  Dunn Nutrition Unit

  2

  1

  0

  Toxicology Unit

  9

  0

  0

  None of these committees are chaired by staff.

  1 The Radiation and Genome Stability Unit and the Mammalian Genetics Unit were formed in a reorganization of the former Radiobiology Unit.

  Oil Platforms
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the viability of zero-discharge oil platforms. [10483]

  Mr. Page
  My Department is supporting and co-operating in the research and development which is leading towards the reduction of emissions to the marine
  139
  environment and to the atmosphere. The concept of a zero discharge platform is very difficult to put into practice but my Department is working to encourage the adoption of such arrangements where these are possible and likely to bring a real benefit to the environment.

  Arms Contracts (British Companies)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the extent of British companies' involvement in arms contracts prohibited under UN sanctions. [10749]

  Mr. Nelson
  Enforcement of export controls and controls on the supply and delivery of goods to specific destinations, imposed in accordance with resolutions of the United Nations Security Council is a matter for the Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise. It is not, however, Customs' general practice to comment publicly about the existence or nature of any investigations of individuals or companies not yet accused of criminal offences, since to do so could risk prejudicing any ongoing inquiries or future criminal proceedings.

  Armoured Vehicles (Indonesia)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 December,Official Report, column 29, relating to the issue of licences to Avis for the export of armoured vehicles to Indonesia, what is the associated equipment to which he referred in his answer. [10744]

  Mr. Nelson
  The associated equipment to which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade referred in his answer of 9 December 1996 consists of ammunition, radio equipment, two gunnery desk top simulators, technical publications and a supply of spare parts and workshop tools. The latter equipment comprises basic components for such items as engine controls, steering, brakes, electric gearbox controls, and exhaust systems all for the support of the armoured vehicles. They would be too numerous to list.

  Iraq (Trade Restrictions)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent relaxations there have been in trade restrictions between British companies and Iraq. [10747]

  Mr. Nelson
  On 11 December, my Department issued an open general licence to communicate. This allows UK companies to comply with the procedures that will be employed by the United Nations Security Council Committee, established by resolution 661 (1990), to implement the arrangements set out in resolution 986 (1995). Under the licence, companies may discuss and sign contracts with a view to exporting to Iraq, medicine, health supplies, foodstuffs and materials, and supplies for essential civilian needs, as well as parts and equipment essential for the safe operation of the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline system in Iraq. However, companies will still require individual licences to export such goods.

  Energy Council
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress was made towards agreeing a European directive on gas liberalisation at the EU Energy Council of Ministers meeting on 3 December, and if he will make a statement. [10823]

  Mr. Page
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 9 December,Official Report, column 30 and the hon. Member for Blaneau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 11 December, Official Report, column 274.

  Crown Post Office, Newcastle under Lyme
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for how long the Crown post office has operated from the Iron Market in Newcastle under Lyme. [10503]

  Mr. Page
  I understand from the Post Office that a post office has operated in Iron Market, Newcastle under Lyme since 1969.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the turnover for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96 at the Crown post office in Newcastle under Lyme. [10504]

  Mr. Page
  Turnover figures for individual post offices are commercially confidential.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many customers used the Crown post office in Newcastle under Lyme in each year since 1988. [10505]

  Mr. Page
  I understand from the Post Office that the annual number of transactions since 1993-94 at the Crown post office in Iron Market Newcastle under Lyme has been:

  Year

  Number of transactions

  1993–94

  1,480,281

  1994–95

  1,646,161

  1995–96

  1,615,557

  1996–97

  1942,814

  Information for earlier years is not available.

  1To end November 1996.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate lie has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10182]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department is responsible for 22 executive non-departmental public bodies, 25 advisory bodies and seven tribunals, considering the 28 industrial tribunals as one body. I regret that the information requested by the hon. Member is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Toxic Chemicals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many United Kingdom companies
  141
  are licensed under the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 to manufacture toxic chemicals; and how many licence applications he has refused. [10414]

  Mr. Nelson
  Two applications have so far been received for individual licences to produce schedule 1 chemicals in excess of 5g in 1997; licences have been issued in both cases. Any companies or individuals wishing to produce up to 5g of schedule 1 chemicals under the open general licence issued pursuant to the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 are required to submit a notification by 15 January or 14 days after the date of first production; no such notifications have been received to date.

  Surveillance and Bugging Equipment
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what controls there are on the sale to the general public of surveillance and bugging equipment. [10416]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  None, but the use of such equipment is subject to relevant legislation, for example governing the integrity of communications.

  Newspapers
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he last met representatives from the Multiple Newsagents Association; and if he will make a statement on the matters which were discussed at that meeting; [10648]

  (2) if he will request the Director General of Fair Trading to refer newspaper distribution to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [10646]

  Mr. John. M. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 2 December 1996,Official Report, column 495.

  Subsidence Claims
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those constituencies in which there are outstanding claims under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991; and how many cases there are in each constituency. [10542]

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the Coal Authority or other "responsible person" as defined by the Coal Industry Act 1994.

  Faraday Partnership Scheme
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the level of financial support given by his Department to the Faraday partnership scheme announced by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; and what is the projected expenditure. [9973]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The DTI welcomes the EPSRC Faraday partnerships scheme as a contribution to wider efforts to link academia and industry, and will monitor progress. It may be possible for potential partnerships to make bids into any further rounds of the sectoral challenge.
  142
  No allocation has been made from DTI central funds for 1997–98 because of financial constraints.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving invalidity benefit in the Rhondda benefit district; what percentage this is of the total population of working age; and what are the average percentages for(a) Wales and (b) England and Wales. [7969]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefit 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. Allan Rogers, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people are currently receiving Invalidity Benefit (IVB) in the Rhondda benefit district; what percentage this is of the total population of working age; and what are the average percentage for (a) Wales and (b) England and Wales.
  The information is not available in the format requested. Sickness Benefit and IVB were replaced by Incapacity Benefit (IB) on 13 April 1995. The Rhondda area is dealt with by Tonypandy Benefits office, this forms part of the Benefits Agency (BA) South Wales District.
  At 31 May 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, 9,820 customers were in receipt of IB from the Tonypandy Benefits Office.
  Data on the working population is not available for individual BA office therefore it is not possible to give the percentage of the working population in receipt of IB for Tonypandy Benefits office.
  The available information is shown in the attached table. I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Percentage of total population of working age in receipt of incapacity benefit

  Per cent.

  Tonypandy Benefits Office

  n/a

  Wales

  8.7

  England and Wales

  4.3

  The Incapacity Benefit figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the PSCS (INCAP) computer system at 31 May 1996, and exclude a small number of cases not held on this system.
  Percentage population figures are calculated from the latest figures available (mid 1994) from "Population Trends" published by the Office for National Statistics, Summer 96 edition.

  Benefits Agency (Telephone Calls)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of claimants of benefits other than the jobseeker's allowance make their first contact with the Benefits Agency by telephone(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Wales. [9353]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  143
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of claimants of benefits other than the Jobseeker's Allowance make their first contact with the Benefits Agency (BA) by telephone (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Wales.
  The information is not available in the format requested. This is because there has been no UK customer survey on first contact with the BA since 7 October 1996, when Jobseeker's Allowance came into operation.
  The statistics available from the most recent customer contact research, conducted in 1995, show percentage of first contact with BA for six benefits. The research makes no distinction between the UK as a whole and individual countries within. Consequently a breakdown of the information to show data for Wales is not available.
  The findings of the research concluded that the percentage of benefit recipients whose first contacts with the BA were through the telephone was, by benefit: Income Support 35 per cent.. Social Fund 40 per cent., Retirement Pension 56 per cent., Family Credit 58 per cent., Disability Living Allowance 56 per cent. and Child Benefit 57 per cent.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of family credit there have been in each year since 1990 in Darlington. [9732]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many recipients of Family Credit (FC) there have been in each year since 1990 in Darlington.
  The information is not available in the format requested. It may he helpful if I explain that FC is administered centrally by the Family Credit Unit. Statistics are produced on a national basis and provide the number of families in receipt of FC within a particular Benefits Agency (BA) office area at a given date. However, this only serves as a "snap-shot" of the position at that given date and does not provide details of the number of families in receipt of FC annually.
  Furthermore, details relating to FC claims are normally destroyed after 18 months. However, the information requested is currently available from 1993 onwards and these figures are as follows:

  Families in receipt of FC in the area of the BA Darlington Office

  Number

  April 1993

  1,605

  October 1993

  1,773

  April 1994

  1,748

  October 1994

  1,911

  April 1995

  2,016

  October 1995

  2,087

  April 1996

  2,119

  October 1996

  2,298

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.
  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Benefits Agency Appointments
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social 144
  Security (1) how many people were given financial assistance to travel to Benefits Agency appointments in each of the last five years; [9354]

  (2) what was the total amount paid out in financial assistance to people travelling to Benefits Agency appointments in each of the last five years. [9355]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 18 December 1996:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many people were given financial assistance to travel to Benefits Agency (BA) appointments in each of the last five years and; what was the total amount paid out in financial assistance to people travelling to BA appointments in each of the last five years.
  The information is not available for the number of people given financial assistance and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  Financial assistance is given to people travelling to BA offices when they have been invited to attend an office to discuss benefit entitlement. The BA provides reimbursement of the travelling expenses where these are in excess of £0.80p.
  The BA also meets the cost of travelling expenses and where appropriate loss of earnings and travelling expenses for a companion or interpreter, incurred in attending a medical examination at a medical examination centre. Most medical examination centres are situated within BA office accommodation although not necessarily on the same site. The amounts paid out are shown on the attached Annex.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Financial assistance for travel to the Benefits Agency for the last five financial years

  £

  Reimbursement of travel in excess of £0.80:

  1991–92

  84,966

  1992–93

  100,018

  1993–94

  98,234

  1994–95

  118,189

  1995–96

  123,528

  Reimbursement of travel costs for attending
  a medical examination

  1991–92

  2,450,945

  1992–93

  2,498,012

  1993–94

  13,202,965

  1994–95

  21,589,733

  1995–96

  32,271,155

  1 The increase here is as a result of additional activity for War Pension medical referrals.

  2 The decrease reflects a transfer of funding to War Pensions Agency for medical examinations.

  3 The increase here is as a result of increased activity in respect of Incapacity Benefit medical referrals.

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  Social Security Expenditure
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the revised estimates of(a) the number of claimants and (b) expenditure for each benefit for each year from 1995–96 to 1999–2000 which were the basis for the total expenditure figures contained in table 5.7 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report"; and if he will give equivalent information for cyclical social security expenditure in each of those years. [9284]
  145
  Mr. Burt
  Detailed breakdowns of total expenditure figures in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" are made available in the subsequent social security departmental report. This will be published in March 1997.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the successive estimates of the number of claimants in 1995–96 for each social security benefit(a) within the new control total and (b) included in cyclical social security expenditure, which were used as the basis for the figures published in each "Financial Statement and Budget Report" since the 1992 autumn statement. [9285]

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

  Caseload forecasts for 1995–96 from FSBR 1992 to FSBR 1995

  Forecasts underlying:

  FSBR

  FSBR

  FSBR

  FSBR

  19921

  19932

  19943

  19954

  New Control total

  Retirement Pension Basic

  10,060

  9,800

  10,033

  10,231

  Earnings related component

  —

  4,401

  4,299

  4,591

  Widows Benefits Basic

  320

  323

  306

  322

  Earnings related component

  —

  251

  239

  253

  Sickness Benefit

  135

  159

  n/a

  n/a

  Statutory Sick Pay

  330

  10

  10

  Invalidity Benefit

  10

  Basic

  1,775

  1,773

  n/a

  n/a

  Earnings related component

  —

  1,702

  n/a

  n/a

  Incapacity Benefit

  Short Term

  n/a

  n/a

  223

  214

  Long Term

  n/a

  n/a

  1,673

  1,670

  Earnings related component

  1,482

  1,467

  Maternity Allowance

  15

  19

  14

  12

  Statutory Maternity Pay

  90

  90

  90

  95

  Guardians' Allowance/Child's

  Special Allowance

  —

  5

  3

  3

  Non-contributory Retirement

  Pension

  30

  30

  32

  33

  War Pension

  305

  357

  346

  341

  Attendance Allowance

  1,050

  1,138

  1,044

  1,099

  New control total

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  1992 plans

  65,015

  67,150

  70,750

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1993 plans

  68,771

  72,900

  76,150

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1994 plans

  72.798

  75,950

  79,200

  1—

  1—

  1995 plans

  76,274

  79,050

  81,700

  1—

  1996 plans

  79,740

  82,950

  86.200

  1 Figures are not available as plans were not produced at the time for these years.

  1. Plans for 1992 to 1995 inclusive are those published in the relevant social security departmental reports (1993–96). Control total figures for 1996 are those published in the FSBR. Cyclical social security figures are those published in the FSBR excluding Northern Ireland.

  2. Figures are the total Department of Social Security expenditure on benefits and administration. They do not include other benefit expenditure administered by local authorities and other Government Departments.

  Cyclical social security

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1998–2000

  1992 plans

  14,744

  15,800

  16,250

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1993 plans

  14,223

  14,900

  15,600

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1994 plans

  13,459

  13,400

  13,800

  1—

  1—

  146

  Caseload forecasts for 1995–96 from FSBR 1992 to FSBR 1995

  Forecasts underlying:

  FSBR

  FSBR

  FSBR

  FSBR

  19921

  19932

  19942

  19952

  Invalid Care Allowance

  270

  306

  301

  323

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  360

  338

  350

  365

  Disability Living Allowance

  1,160

  1,430

  1,483

  1,609

  Disability Working Allowance

  25

  53

  9

  8

  Industrial Disablement Benefit

  285

  300

  335

  322

  Industrial Death Benefit

  20

  20

  19

  20

  Other Industrial Injuries Benefit

  —

  2

  1

  2

  Income Support - New Control

  Total

  1,848

  1,851

  1,757

  Income Support - Total

  6,215

  6,213

  5,831

  5,585

  Child Benefit:

  Number of children

  12,855

  12,885

  12,754

  12,900

  Number of families

  7,105

  7,064

  6,955

  7,065

  One Parent Benefit

  1,030

  1,036

  943

  1,005

  Family Credit

  490

  603

  640

  627

  Rent rebate

  3,545

  3,244

  2,906

  2,902

  Rent Allowance

  1,355

  1,479

  1,817

  1,805

  Community Charge/Council Tax

  Benefit

  7,185

  5,453

  5,637

  5,642

  Cyclical Social Security

  Unemployment Benefit

  725

  697

  474

  424

  Income Support—cyclical

  3

  4,365

  3,980

  3,828

  1 Table 6 of 1993 department report - (average annual caseload).

  2 Underlying caseload forecasts used as the basis for the expenditure forecasts in Table 1 of the 1994, 1995, 1996 departmental reports -(average annual caseload).

  3 Cyclical social security was defined in July 1992 and is only available for plans for 1993–4 and beyond.

  1. Figures cannot be totalled as individual claimants may be in receipt of more than one benefit.

  — data not available.

  n/a = not applicable.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the plans in each Budget since 1992 for Government spending for each year to 1999–2000 in respect of(a) social security expenditure within the new control total and (b) the level of cyclical social security expenditure. [9286]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the tables.
  147

  Cyclical social security

  £ million

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  1995 plans

  13,292

  13,550

  14,000

  1—

  1996 plans

  13,515

  13,638

  14,008

  1 Figures are not available as plans were not produced at the time for these years.

  1. Plans for 1992 to 1995 inclusive are those published in the relevant social security departmental reports (1993-96). Control total figures for 1996 are those published in the FSBR. Cyclical social security figures are those published in the FSBR excluding Northern Ireland.

  2. Figures are the total Department of Social Security expenditure on benefits and administration. They do not include other benefit expenditure administered by local authorities and other Government Departments.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the basis for the statement in paragraph 5.64 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" relating to the advantage of encouraging private provision in pensions as part of the reform of social security expenditure; and what savings resulted from that policy. [9287]

  Mr. Heald
  The Government are committed to funded occupational and personal pension provision, and have encouraged growth in this area by the introduction of greater choice and flexibility in pension options. As a result, this country is almost uniquely well placed to meet its pension promises in the new millennium. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Monetary Fund have acknowledged the strong position of the UK compared with other countries.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the forecasts of the growth of social security, given in figure 10 of the DSS departmental report (Cm 3213)(a) on the basis of the latest FSBR projections concerning the level of unemployment (b) on the assumption of a constant level of unemployment and (c) using the unemployment assumption as contained in Cm 3213. [9289]

  Mr. Burt
  Long-term projections of social security benefit expenditure will be made available in the social security departmental report, which will be published in March. I will write separately to the hon. Member about any information he has requested in his answer which is not answered in the departmental report when it is published.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out(a) in cash terms and (b) at constant prices (i) the actual outturn and (ii) Budget estimated outturn of cyclical social security expenditure in each year since 1992; and if he will show the principal factors which affected the difference for each year between the actual outturn and the estimated outturn. [9290]

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

  Cyclical social security

  £ million

  Expenditure

  CASH PRICES

  1993 plans

  1993–94 estimated outturn1

  13,470

  Outturn3

  13,822

  1994 plans

  148

  Cyclical social security

  £ million

  1994–95 estimated outturn2

  13,602

  Outturn3

  13,697

  1995 plans

  1995–96 estimated outturn3

  13,942

  1995–96 current estimated outturn4

  13,904

  REAL TERMS (1996–97 PRICES)

  1993 plans

  1993–94 estimated outturn1

  14,394

  Outturn3

  14,770

  1994 plans

  1994–95 estimated outturn2

  14,281

  Outturns3

  14,381

  1995 plans

  1995–96 estimated outturn3

  14,291

  1995–96 current estimated outturn4

  14,252

  1 March 1994 departmental report.

  2March 1994 departmental report.

  3March 1994 departmental report.

  4 1995–96—Cyclical social security includes benefits paid from the national insurance fund. The 1995–96 accounts for national insurance fund are not yet published so final outturn figures are not available.

  1. Data for 1992–93 have not been provided as cyclical social security spending was only defined for public expenditure purposes in July 1992. Estimated outturn figures for social security for 1992–93 were therefore not on the same basis and are not directly comparable with plans for 1993–94 and beyond.

  2. The principal factors giving rise to the differences in expenditure between estimated and actual outturn were: higher than anticipated increases in numbers of lone parents and sick and disabled receiving income support; higher than anticipated average amounts paid to income support recipients; and lower than anticipated numbers of unemployed claimants.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the private finance initiative expenditure by his Department listed in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" has already occurred; and what are the future commitments implicit in this private finance initiative expenditure. [9288]

  Mr. Burt
  Table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" gives the capital sums which the Department estimates will be spent by the private sector between 1997–98 and 1999–2000 as a consequence of any private finance initiative include any expenditure by the Department itself or any expenditure estimated already to have place.

  Revenue commitments resulting from the PFI deals concluded by this Department are still subject to negotiation and are currently commercial-in-confidence.
  149
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown by project of the estimated capital spending on his Department's private finance initiative projects for each year given in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report". [9291]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available as disaggregating the figures quoted in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" into individual, identifiable projects at this stage would harm the competitive position of a third party and prejudice the Department's position in on-going and future project negotiations.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the expected future private finance initiative expenditure by his Department listed in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" is contracted for; and what proportion is estimated. [9292]

  Mr. Burt
  Of the capital sum which this Department estimates will be spent by the private sector between 1997–98 and 1999–2000 as a consequence of any private finance initiative deals it may make, broadly half has been contracted for already. All figures are estimated as the total level of private sector capital expenditure is not specified contractually.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10196]

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

  Financial year

  Expenditure £

  1996–97(to end of November)

  34,766

  1995–96

  40,219

  The Department of Social Security's non-departmental public bodies—NDPBs—are funded directly from the Department's overall administration and miscellaneous services vote. The vote accounting arrangements prior to April 1995 preclude separate identification of NDPBs' expenditure on external consultants.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report, "The Government's Use of External Consultants". [10197]

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

  War Pensions
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many sets of guidelines and instructions have been issued by his Department to its officials since 1986 to help them decide whether to award war pensions to claimants who are claiming disablement as a result of experiments at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down. [10227]
  150
  Mr. Heald
  Under war pensions legislation, awards may be made in respect of any disablement which is attributable to, or has been and remains aggravated by, service in the armed forces. No distinction is made between those who participated in experiments at Porton Down and other members of the armed forces who did not.

  Guidance and instruction in determining entitlement to a war pension is contained in the war pensions manual available to all appropriate staff of the War Pensions Agency.

  The version of the manual current in 1986 did not include a section which related solely to Porton Down cases.

  That version was comprehensively rewritten in 1993, when a section about such claims was included. The manual was restructured in 1995 to coincide with the introduction of a new computer system and now consists of 12 separate guides, two of which mention Porton Down claims.

  Of these two guides, a total of 79 and 117 sets respectively are currently in issue.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the current members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions; in what form the advice of the committee is communicated to the Minister with special responsibility for war pensions; if this advice is publicly available; on what dates the committee has met since January 1993; and(a) if the minutes and (b) the committee's annual report are publicly available. [10228]

  Mr. Heald
  The current members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions are listed below. Advice from members comes through discussion at the meetings, which are chaired by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State, Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish, and through individual written representations. Copies of the minutes of committee meetings and supporting papers are distributed to members of the committee, the chairmen and vice chairmen of war pensions committees and to certain ex-service organisations which are not directly represented on the committee. Copies are not usually distributed more widely, but details of the main issues considered by the committee are published in the war pensioners' annual report1. The committee does not produce its own annual report.

  Since January 1993, the committee has met on the following dates: 24 June 1993; 2 December 1993; 23 June 1994; 7 December 1994; 29 June 1995; 7 December 1995; 13 June 1996; and 5 December 1996.

  Members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions

  Members

  Mrs. P. A. Ade OBE

  Chairman, North and West Wales War Pensions Committee (WPC)

  Major J. Aitkin TD CA

  Chairman, The Royal British Legion Scotland

  Major General C. G. Cornock CB MBE

  Chairman, The Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations

  Mr. T. S. Deeming MBE

  Chairman, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire WPC

  Brigadier A. K. Dixon

  Director, Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society

  Mr. P. H. Dixon OBE MA

  Vice Chairman, SSAFA Forces Help

  Mr. G. Downing

  Chairman, The Royal British Legion

  151

  members of the Central Advisory committee on War Pensions

  members

  Mr. I. Duncan Smith MP

  Conservative party

  Mr. W. R. Dunn MBE

  Chairman, Northumbria WPC

  Mr. I. Grainger

  Departmental Representative

  Major J. W. Henning MBE UD

  Chairman, Northern Ireland WPC

  Mr. D. B. Hilton

  The Royal British Legion Scotland

  Lt. Col. R. R. Holland OBE BEM

  General Secretary, British Limbless Ex-Servicemans' Association

  Mr. T. C. House

  The Royal British Legion

  Mr. W. G. MacDonald

  Chairman, North of Scotland WPC

  Lord Mackie of Benshie CBE DSO DFC

  Liberal Democrat party

  Mr. A. Meale MP

  Labour party

  Mrs. H. Murphy MBE

  Honorary Secretary, War Widows' Association of Great Britain

  Mr. W. S. Mutimer MBE JP MIPM

  Chairman, London South WPC

  Mrs. P. Newnes OBE

  Chairman, West Midlands,

  Northamptonshire and Warwickshire WPC

  Mr. F. E. Onyon MBE

  Chairman, Lancashire WPC

  Sir Roger Palin KCB OBE MA

  Controller, RAF Benevolent Fund

  Mr. A. G. Palmer MBE

  Chairman, East Anglia WPC

  Mr. H. L. Payne CBE

  President, National Federation of FEPOW Clubs and Associations

  Brigadier H. L. B. Salmon OBE

  Chairman, The Chilterns WPC

  Mr. F. E. Walker MBE

  Chairman, Sussex WPC

  Lt. Col. R. G. Woodhouse DL

  Chairman, South West England WPC

  The Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish and Mrs. Anne Bowtell, DSS permanent secretary, are ex officio members of the Committee.

  Captain D. J. Mooney, Chairman of the Republic of Ireland War Pensions Advisory Committee, is an official observer to the Committee.

  1Report to Parliament by the Secretaries of State for Social Security, Health. Scotland and Wales in accordance with the Transfer of Functions (Ministry of Pensions) Order 1953 (SI 1198).

  European Court of Justice Ruling
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the recent interim ruling by the European Court of Justice in respect of measures concerning poverty and the elderly. [9992]

  Mr. Heald
  The Government welcome the Court's interim ruling on 24 September 1996. The Court held that no payments of grants to projects should be made until the Court's final decision and that the Commission must make it clear that any commitments it enters into to make grants will be subject to the Court upholding the legality of payment in the main proceedings. The final ruling is not expected until later this year at the earliest.

  European Programmes
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has made to the German Government regarding their blocking of the older people's programme and the poverty programme in the Council of Ministers. [9991]

  Mr. Heald
  Officials are in regular contact with their German counterparts on a wide range of European Union and bilateral issues.

  Social Security Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social security appeal tribunal sessions were held in each month of 1996 for which information is available; and to what extent changes in the number of sessions were affected by the financial situation of the Independent Tribunal Service. [10428]
  152
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table:

  Month

  Number of sessions

  January

  2,200

  February

  2,294

  March

  2,437

  April

  2,781

  May

  3,125

  June

  3,100

  July

  3,779

  August

  3,594

  September

  3,589

  October

  3,649

  November

  3,349

  December

  1—

  1 Not yet available.

  The running of sessions is a matter for the president of the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS), Judge Bassingthwaighte. However, the ITS has informed me that sessional activity is determined, and regularly reviewed, in the light of a number of factors including caseload, expected and actual intake of new appeals, the readiness of cases to proceed to hearing, the need to clear appeals expeditiously and value for money considerations.

  Retirement Pensions (Payments Abroad)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the foreign countries in which the highest number of retirement pensions are paid by the Northern Ireland Office, the numbers of pensioners involved and the average ages of pensioners per country, specifying if pensions are or are not uprated. [10446]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table. The pensions of former Northern Ireland residents living outside the United Kingdom are paid by the pensions and overseas benefits directorate of the Benefits Agency. Figures are available only for the United Kingdom as a whole. It is not possible to identify the Northern Ireland cases separately.

  Country

  Total number of United Kingdom retirement and widow pensioners in July 1996

  Average age of Pensioners

  pensioners uprated?

  Australia

  189,520

  73

  No

  Canada

  129,512

  72

  No

  USA

  94,910

  71

  Yes

  Republic of Ireland

  78,128

  72

  Yes

  South Africa

  33,927

  73

  No

  New Zealand

  32,789

  74

  No

  Spain

  30,870

  71

  Yes

  Italy

  21,981

  70

  Yes

  Germany

  21,373

  70

  Yes

  Jamaica

  20,946

  72

  Yes

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will recalculate charts 1 to 7 in Government economic service working paper No. 129 using pensioner incomes for 1994 which are compatible with those given in table 5 of the pensioners' income series 1994–95. [10525]
  153
  Mr. Heald
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  PENSIM is based on data from the 1988 retirement survey, the 1987 social change and economic life initiative, which contain details of work histories essential to the way in which PENSIM forecasts pensioners' incomes, and the 1988 family expenditure survey. The results are not compatible with the pensioners' income series, which is based mainly on data from the family expenditure survey covering the financial year 1994–95.

  The rates of growth in pensioners' incomes, and their individual components, forecast by PENSIM are robust and present a best estimate of what is likely to happen under certain assumptions. It is planned to restructure PENSIM and incorporate more recent data in the future.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of net pensioner income by quintile in 2010 and 2025; and what assessment he has made of how these figures relate to the figures given in table 5 of the pensioners' income series 1994–95. [10524]

  Mean net before housing cost income by population quintile: single and couple pensioners 2010 and 2025 at 1996 prices, and forecast growth since 1994

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Q5

  Mean

  Single pensioners 2010

  £61

  £89 20 per cent

  £107 20 per cent

  £139 30 per cent

  £293 60 per cent

  £138 35 per cent

  Growth 2025 Growth

  £68 15 per cent

  £99 30 per cent

  £120 30 per cent

  £158 45 per cent

  £350 95 per cent

  £159 55 per cent

  Pensioner couples 2010

  £141 15 percent

  £193 30 percent

  £248 35 percent

  £335 45 percent

  £635 65 percent

  £310 45 percent

  Growth 2025 Growth

  £151 25 percent

  £205 35 percent

  £260 40 percent

  £338 45 percent

  £606 55 percent

  £312 45 percent

  1 Represents less than 5 per cent.

  1. Growth figures show growth from PENSIM estimates for 1994.

  2. Pensioners are defined as those single aged at state pension age or above, or couple in which the husband is aged at state pension age or above.

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £1 and 5 per cent.

  4. Quintiles for single pensioners and pensioners couples have been calculated i.e. the bottom quintile of single pensioners represents those pensioners in the bottom 20 per cent of the income distribution of single pensioners.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will recalculate the figures in table 6, paragraph 7.12 of "Options for Equality in State Pension Age" for a woman retiring aged between 55 and 65 years, with a pivotal age of 60 years, on the basis of current prices. [10526]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table:

  Basic pension available at different agaes 1996–97 prices

  Age 60 'piot' (£)

  55

  44

  56

  47

  57

  50

  58

  53

  59

  57

  154
  Mr. Heald
  Estimated mean incomes for quintiles of the single pensioner and pensioner couple populations are given in the table for 2010 and 2025, at 1996 prices. Also shown in the table are estimates of the growth in mean income in each quintile between 1994 and 2010 and 1994 and 2025. All estimates have been made using PENSIM, a dynamic simulation model that projects pensioners' incomes into the next century. PENSIM estimates are based on a number of economic and behavioural assumptions. Due to the reliance on assumptions and the time period covered, estimates should be treated with caution, and have been rounded.

  The percentage increases in 2025 for pensioner couples shown in this table correct the information I gave you in my written answer of 18 December, Official Report, columns 765–66.

  The net income quintile mean estimates contained in the table are not directly comparable with those contained in table 5 of the pensioners' income series 1994–95, as they are necessarily based on a different data source, are at 1996 prices, and have been calculated using a different methodology. However, PENSIM does provide a good indication of the likely future growth in pensioners' incomes levels.

  Basic pension available at different ages 1996–97 prices

  Age 60 'pivot' (£)

  60

  61

  61

  66

  62

  71

  76

  64

  82

  65

  89

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Note:

  Table 6, paragraph 7.12 of "Options for Equality in State Pension Age" applies to men and woman as it was assumed that, as now, men and women would receive the same adjustment to their pension for retiring at different ages. Thus the equivalent figures given above apply equally to men and to women.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  BSE
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the agreement entered into at Florence relating to BSE will be implemented in full by the United Kingdom. [9218]

  Mr. Baldry
  There are five preconditions for the lifting of the export on UK beef under the Florence agreement. We have made substantial progress on four of these. With regard to the fifth precondition, the selective cull, I refer the hon. Member to the statement that the Minister made in the House on 16 December,Official Report, columns 632–34.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total number of cases reported to his Ministry of BSE in cattle imported from the Netherlands since January 1996, by month. [9845]

  Mrs. Browning
  No cases of BSE have been reported in cattle imported into Great Britain from the Netherlands since January 1996.

  We are however investigating the possibility that one cow, confirmed positive in September 1996, may have been imported from the Netherlands in 1994, but was carrying a British ear tag at the time of report. The Dutch authorities will not be contacted until all details have been verified.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research into BSE has been conducted on behalf of his Department at the ADAS research establishment. [10642]

  Mr. Boswell
  ADAS conducts BSE research on behalf of MAFF on maternal transmission at three research centres and embryo transfer at one research centre.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a list of the contracted research undertaken on BSE for his Department. [10643]

  Mrs. Browning
  The contracted research undertaken on BSE for my Department has been placed in the Library, as requested by the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent reports his Department has received of strains of BSE in lambs. [10765]

  Mrs. Browning
  There have been no reports of BSE strains being found in lambs. Scrapie, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of sheep, became a notifiable disease on 1 January 1993.

  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about bovine spongiform encephalopathy. [10143]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [pursuant to his reply 17 December 1996, c. 5741: A further report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy was placed in the Library of the House today.
  156
  The report gives an update on new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease cases and explains the new measures taken on cattle identification and animal feed. Reference is made to the five point plan agreed in Florence for the resumption of exports and explains that all the preconditions, with the exception of the accelerated slaughter programme, have been complied with. It also details the sustained improvement in the handling of specified bovine material in slaughterhouses. The report also announces the occurrence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in a domestic cat after the extension of the specified bovine offal ban in September 1990.

  The number of clinically suspect cases of BSE reported in Great Britain has continued to fall, and at 31 October 1996 was 36.1 per cent. less than at the same time in 1995 and 63.3 per cent. less than the same time in 1994. A continued improvement is expected for the future.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the Ministers in his Department how many official ministerial visits they have undertaken since 1 January; and how many of these have been abroad. [9382]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I can confirm that I and my officials have undertaken a total of 288 official ministerial visits during 1996. Of these, 57 have been abroad.

  Anonymous Individuals (Financial Assistance)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the largest amount of public money paid by way of grants and other financial assistance by his Department to a private individual in each year since 1990; [9435]

  (2) if he will list the grants and other financial assistance which are paid to private individuals whose identity is kept confidential. [9436]

  Mr. Boswell
  MAFF's financial database does not record the legal status of payees. The information requested in respect of private individuals is therefore not readily available and could not be produced without disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to make public the names of private individuals in receipt of grants and other financial assistance from his Department above a given level. [9434]

  Mr. Boswell
  The registration of the system holding these data, under the Data Protection Act 1984, does not allow for the publication of information concerning individuals. I have no plans to change the position.

  Live Fish Imports
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations his Department has received about the enforcement of the provisions of the Import of Live Fish (England and Wales) Act 1980; and if he will make a statement. [9413]
  157
  Mr. Baldry
  I have received representations from the Environment Agency and other bodies about introductions of non-native fish, and I am concerned that existing controls have not been entirely successful in preventing the introduction and spread of such fish into inland waters in England and Wales. I intend, therefore, to consult interested organisations on the possibility of making an order under the Import of Live Fish (England and Wales) Act 1980 to provide greater safeguards against the introduction and spread of non-native fish.

  Cattle Cull
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received urging him to implement the selective cull. [9439]

  Mr. Baldry
  My colleagues and I have received many such representations, mainly from farmers and their representative organisations. The Government announced on 16 December that the selective cull would go ahead in the new year, and the necessary legislation was made and laid later that week.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many, and what percentage of the cattle slaughtered under the over-30-month scheme have been disposed of; where they are stored; and in how many sites. [10340]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested, as at 5 January, is as follows:

  Numbers

  Percentage

  Slaughtered

  1,139,799

  100.00

  Incinerated

  43,641

  3.83

  Rendered

  848,798

  74.47

  In cold storage

  247,361

  21.70

  The meat and bonemeal from animals slaughtered and rendered is stored in 11 dry warehouses in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the tallow is stored at two sites in England. The material in cold storage is stored in 41 depots throughout the United Kingdom.

  French Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Christopher Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what classes of French fishing vessel, are prohibited from fishing within the French 12 mile limit. [9573]

  Mr. Baldry
  It is for the French authorities to decide whether to conserve stocks and limit catches by restricting the classes of vessel permitted to fish within their 12 mile limits provided such restrictions apply solely to French fishermen, are compatible with Community law and are in conformity with the common fisheries policy.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10122]
  158
  Mr. Boswell
  The report of the review of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency was produced between March and June 1996 by officials from this Department, assisted by an independent member of the review team. The cost of the review amounted to about £20,000 and was met by the Department.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of Horticulture Research International; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10066]

  Mr. Boswell
  The report of the review on Horticulture Research International was produced between October 1995 and March 1996 by officials from this Department, assisted by an independent member of the review team. The cost of the review amounted to about £17,000 and was met by the Department.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent to date on converting the Directorate of Fisheries Research into a next steps agency; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10070]

  Mr. Boswell
  The costs of converting the Directorate of Fisheries Research to an Agency, which will be named CEFAS—the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science—have so far amounted to £373,000, all of which has been met by the Department. This total includes the costs of the prior options review conducted in 1995–96; additional temporary posts and consultancy work to provide for direct set-up costs within 1996–97; and the work of the agency steering group activities involved in overseeing preparations.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Central Science Laboratory; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10054]

  Mr. Boswell
  The report of the review on the Central Science Laboratory was produced between October 1995 and March 1996 by officials from this Department, assisted by an independent member of the review team and an external accountant. A further study linked to the review was conducted by external consultants between August and October 1996. The total cost including official costs was about £130,000. All these costs were met by the Ministry.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food how much has been spent to date on preparing for the privatisation of ADAS; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10062]

  Mr. Boswell
  The cost of preparing for the privatisation of ADAS, excluding internal costs in ADAS itself and in MAFF and the Welsh Office, has been £422,713, excluding VAT, to date. The sums are being paid out of a budget specifically established for this purpose.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10124]
  159
  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of Horticulture Research International as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10068]

  (3) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Directorate of Fisheries Research as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10072]

  (4) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Central Science Laboratory as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10055]

  (5) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of ADAS as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee. [10063]

  Mr. Boswell
  The numbers of employees from the relevant establishments who represent UK interests in each category of committee are as follows:

  Organisation

  United Kingdom committees

  European committees

  International committees

  ADAS

  81

  14

  17

  CSL

  65

  37(12)

  28(10)

  DFR

  42(6)

  6(2)

  95(55)

  HRI

  15

  10

  19(1)

  VLA

  14

  15(5)

  7(3)

  The figures in brackets indicate the numbers of staff leading UK teams, as appropriate.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of ADAS; [10064]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Central Science Laboratory; [10056]

  (3) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) internationial committees are chaired by employees of Veterinary Laboratories Agency; [10125]

  (4) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) internationial committees are chaired by employees of Horticulture Research International; [10069]

  (5) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of Directorate of Fisheries Research [10073]

  Mr. Boswell
  The numbers of employees from the relevant establishments who chair committees in each category are as follows:160

  Organisation

  United Kingdom committees

  European committees

  International committees

  ADAS

  4

  2

  1

  CSL

  5

  6

  5

  DFR

  6

  1

  14

  HRI

  2

  4

  7

  VLA

  0

  1

  2

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10123]

  Mr. Boswell
  The review itself has been completed. Any implementation costs will depend on decisions which have not yet been taken.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of Horticulture Research International; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10067]

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the future costs of converting the Directorate of Fisheries Research into a next steps agency; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10071]

  Mr. Boswell
  In my answer earlier today I gave the costs which will be incurred up to the launch of the CEFAS agency. Thereafter, any further costs will be contained within the ongoing running costs of the agency, as part of its day-to-day operation.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Central Science Laboratory; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10057]

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend announced the outcome of the prior options review of the Central Science Laboratory on 9 December. It is not possible at present to estimate future implementation costs.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the future costs of privatising ADAS; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10065]

  Mr. Boswell
  The future cost of privatisation of ADAS, excluding internal MAFF costs, is estimated to be £930,000 excluding VAT. The sums will be paid out of a budget specifically established for this purpose.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10172]
  161
  Mr. Boswell
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10173]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department produced and implemented an action plan in response to the multi-departmental scrutiny on the Government's use of external consultants and its recommendations. Accordingly, the Department issued new guidance on the employment of external consultants, and revised its procedures for authorising the use of external consultants and for improving information within the Department on consultancy expenditure. Analogous arrangements exist in departmental agencies.

  Gelatin
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the amount of gelatin used in(a) human food, (b) animal feed and (c) cosmetic, medical or pharmaceutical products since 20 March. [10413]

  Mrs. Browning
  We estimate that the quantity of gelatin manufactured in the UK from bovine raw materials which is suitable for food, feed, cosmetic, medical and pharmaceutical uses may amount to approximately 7,000 tonnes. Further details are not available.

  Southall Horse Market
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the recent visit to Southall horse market by his officials. [10652]

  Mrs. Browning
  The last visit was on 11 December and suitable welfare standards were observed.

  Beef Labelling
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with representatives of Muslim and Jewish butchers about the draft EC regulation on beef labelling, document 10495/96; and if he will make a statement. [10527]

  Mrs. Browning
  Representatives from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Union of Muslim Organisations of the UK and Eire together with other interested organisations were invited to, and attended, a consultation meeting held by the Ministry on 28 October 1996 to discuss the Commission's proposals for Council regulations on beef labelling.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in renegotiating the terms of the draft EC regulation on the labelling of beef and beef products since 13 November. [10529]

  Mrs. Browning
  Since 13 November 1996, the draft proposals have been considered twice at Council working group and by the Special Committee on Agriculture and the Council. Further discussions are not expected to take place until the end of this month at the earliest.
  162
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the EC regulation on the labelling of beef and beef products, document 10495/96, as currently drafted on the labelling of meat as kosher and halal; and if he will make a statement. [10528]

  Mrs. Browning
  The proposal as drafted provides for information on methods of slaughter to be included on beef labels providing that those using such labels can verify that information, to the satisfaction of the relevant competent authority.

  Farmers (Negative Equity)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of farmers with negative equity; and if he will make a statement. [10546]

  Mr. Boswell
  No information is available on the equity position of farmers, but the results of the farm business survey indicates that in 1995–96 less than 1 per cent. of full-time farm businesses in England were in a negative equity position.

  Departmental Prosecutions
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors underlay the delay in replying to the question from the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West relating to prosecutions by his Department. [10756]

  Mr. Boswell
  The delay in question was due entirely to an administrative oversight, which is regretted.

  Poultry Feed Antibiotics
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research into the effects of poultry feed antibiotics on human drug resistance he has evaluated in formulating voting intentions in the Council of Ministers. [10764]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government take very seriously the possibility of the development of antibiotic resistance in humans and animals as a result of the use of antibiotics in animal feed. This is carefully examined as part of the safety assessment of applications for authorisations for antimicrobial products, and is kept under review by the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee, which advises the Government on the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines. In considering the use of antibiotics, the committee has consistently followed the principles established in the report of the joint committee on the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine—the Swann report—of 1969. The VPC's policy has been that new antibiotics should not necessarily be precluded from therapeutic use in animals but that their prophylactic use should be discouraged. The committee considers each case on its merits against this background.

  In 1995 Germany and Denmark took unilateral action to ban the use of avoparcin in animal feed because of an alleged link between its use and the development of bacterial resistance to vancomycin in human medicine. The EU Commission's Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition—SCAN—evaluated data submitted by

  163
  Germany and Denmark, including research which suggested the possibility of transfer of resistance between animals and man. SCAN concluded that the evidence presented did not establish a risk to human or animal health or to the environment. The VPC examined SCAN' s report and supported its conclusions.

  Bone Meal
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the current permissible uses of bonemeal in the United Kingdom; and if he will indicate those areas where bonemeal has been banned in the last five years. [10770]

  Mrs. Browning
  The permitted uses for mammalian meat and bone meal are landfill, incineration and, provided the MBM is not derived from BSE suspects, specified bovine material, or animals slaughtered under the over-30-month scheme—non-agricultural fertilisers and pet food. Controls on the use of MBM have been progressively tightened in the light of experience and the latest available advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, the Government's independent advisor on BSE issues. The controls introduced in the last five years are:1994—prohibition of all mammalian protein, including MBM, in ruminant feed;
  March 1996—prohibition on the feeding of MBM to all farmed livestock;
  April 1996—prohibition on the use of MBM as agricultural fertiliser; and
  August 1996—the banning, except in very tightly defined and controlled circumstances, of MBM from premises where livestock feed is produced, stored, or used.

  Animal Feeds
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 18 December,Official Report, columns 648–49, concerning the actions of the Agriculture Council of the European Community, which members of the Commission proposed to ban the use of specified risk materials in the manufacture of animal feeds; if he will list the materials and animals concerned; and what was the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the proposal. [10819]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The proposal in question was by the Commission for a Council decision on the exclusion from human and animal feed of specified risk material as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

  For the substance of the proposal—reference number SEC(96) 2300 of 10 December 1996—I refer the hon. Member for Newham, South to the related explanatory memorandum submitted on 6 December 1996 which was deposited in the Library of the House. At the Agriculture Council discussions on 16 and 17 December the United Kingdom Government were one of five to support this proposal.

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  Sir Robert Hicks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the average length of time his 164
  Department takes to process and approve applications for the countryside stewardship scheme; and if he will make a statement. [8694]

  Mr. Boswell
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1996, c. 576]: The average length of time to process agreements in 1996 is likely to be about six months. This is longer than had been expected, owing in part to receipt of more applications than anticipated. It is the Ministry's intention to reduce the processing time for 1997.

HEALTH

  Dental Services (Sunderland)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the registration rate of children aged(a) under four years, (b) five to 10 years and (c) 11 to 19 years with general dental practitioners in the Sunderland health authority area. [4415]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is contained in the table.

  General dental service: Percentage of child patients registered with general dental practitioners at 31 October 1996 by age group of the population at 30 June 1995—Sunderland health authority

  Percentage

  4 years and under

  5 to 10

  11 to 17

  Registration rate

  37

  81

  75

  Excludes patients registered with salaried dentists. Patients aged 18 and over are treated as adults and registered into continuing care.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service dentists routinely use amalgam in fillings; and how many use materials developed since the introduction of amalgam. [5572]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is contained in the table.

  General dental service: estimated number of dentists1 receiving payment for at least one amalgam and non-amalgam filling in a quarter2

  England

  Number of dentists3

  At least one amalgam

  413,675

  At least one filling in a material other than amalgam

  413,016

  1 Figures include dentists who claimed in respect of adult and child treatments. However, the majority of child treatments are currently carried out under capitation arrangements. Fillings paid for under capitation arrangements are not reported and are not included in the analysis.

  2 This information is taken from the payment schedule data of one quarter (September-November 1996).

  3 The information presented relates to the number of dentists who made claims for fillings. Dentists claim payment at the end of a course of treatment. These figures thus show the number of dentists who finished courses of treatment in which they performed fillings.

  4 These figures rely on data from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore estimates.

  165
  A total of 15,249 dentists received a schedule of payment in the period September to November 1996.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 820–21, on the largest annual NHS payments to dentists, for how many hours work on NHS patients the dentist was paid in each of the years given. [9076]

  Mr. Malone
  Dentists are paid item of service fees and a fee for each patient registered with them. They are not paid by the hour.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 820–21, on the largest annual NHS payments to dentists, how many patients were treated by the dentist in each of the years given. [9074]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Year

  Gross fee earnings1

  Capitation per cent.

  Continuing care per cent.

  Weighted entry per cent.

  Adult item of service per cent.

  Child item of service per cent.

  1995–96

  604,000

  8.4

  6.0

  0.9

  79.2

  5.5

  1994–95

  617,000

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  2.9

  97.1

  1993–94

  661,000

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  3.5

  96.5

  1992–93

  486,000

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  4.0

  96.0

  1991–92

  395,000

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  3.3

  96.7

  1 These have been rounded to the nearest £1,000. Gross fee payments do not account for all NHS earnings.

  Other payments such as maternity, seniority and long-term sickness payments are payable in addition to gross fees.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 820–21, on the largest annual NHS payments to dentists, if he will list each category of payment which can contribute to NHS earnings. [9077]

  Mr. Malone
  The categories of payment are: item of service fees; continuing care and capitation payments; seniority payments; vocational training allowances; maternity payments; long-term sickness payments; postgraduate education allowances; and partial reimbursement of non-domestic rates. These are contained in the statement of dental remuneration. Copies of the latest statement of dental remuneration have been placed in the Library.

  Sterilisation Reversals
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the availability of sterilisation reversals within the NHS; and what estimate he has made of how many(a) health authorities and (b) GP fundholders will commission such services for their NHS patients. [10284]

  Mr. Horam
  The priority given to sterilisation reversal operations generally is a matter for local decision in the light of health authorities' first-hand knowledge of local priorities and competing claims on resources.
  166
  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 820–21, on the largest annual NHS payments to dentists, if he will list the categories of treatment and the percentage of the total NHS fee income for each category earned by the dentist in each of the years given. [9073]

  Mr. Malone
  Gross fee payments are made up of the following categories of treatment:Capitation payments: monthly fees received for each child under 18 registered to cover the cost of "routine" treatments;
  Continuing care payments: small monthly fees received for each adult aged 18 and over registered;
  Weighted entry payments: one-off payments made in respect of child patients with poor oral health to restore the child's teeth to a reasonable standard;
  Adult item of service: payments made in respect of adult treatments;
  Child item of service: payments made in respect of mainly advanced child treatment.

  Gross fee earnings and the percentage of the total national health service gross fee income attributable to each category for the highest earning dentist of each year is in the following table.

  No guidance has been issued specifically on the availability of sterilisation reversals on the NHS. However, information on family planning services generally is contained in "Guidelines for reviewing family planning services" (January 1992) copies of which are available in the Library.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community, GP or cottage hospitals delivering primary care were operating in each regional health authority area in (i) 1979 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9772]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas adjournment; [9791]

  (2) how many days leave he has taken in the Easter, Whitsun and summer adjournments; and how many days leave he took during the time in which Parliament was prorogued this year. [9790]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy gave him today.

  Dental Services (Children)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under 16 years of age were registered with a dentist, in each region, in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [9837]

  Mr. Malone
  The data held centrally are for children aged 17 and under and by health authority and, prior to 1 April 1996, family health services authority. Tables containing this information have been placed in the Library.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Sir Roger Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of expenditure in the year 1997–98 on research into ME, chronic fatigue syndrome, excluding psychiatric investigation; and if he will list the specific projects. [10263]

  Mr. Horam
  Information is not available centrally on expenditure in the national health service on research into chronic fatigue syndrome—myalgic encephalomyelitis. The Department is currently funding a research project through the national health service research and development programme called, "Should GPs manage chronic fatigue syndrome? A controlled trial" and expects to provide a further £6,032 during 1997–98. However, the main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. It always welcomes high-quality applications and these are judged in open competition with other demands for funding, and awarded according to their scientific quality.

  East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received regarding the performance of the East Anglian Ambulance NHS trust over the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [9766]

  Mr. Horam
  A small number of representations have been received in the Department. The Anglia and Oxford Regional Office of the national health service executive is monitoring the trust's performance.

  Doctors
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics he collates on the number of doctors leaving the profession within five years of qualification. [10447]

  Mr. Malone
  Evidence of doctors leaving the profession is available from studies published in 1991 by Professor James Parkhouse. This gives the results of surveys of doctors who qualified in 1974, 1977, 1980 and 1983.

  The Department has commissioned further cohort studies of doctors' careers by the medical careers research group at the Oxford unit of healthcare epidemiology. These will examine career patterns of doctors who qualified in 1988, 1993 and 1996. The studies, which collect data via questionnaires, will continue to look at wastage from the medical profession and the reasons why doctors leave the NHS.

  Foreign Doctors
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current number of non-British doctors employed by the NHS who are(a) citizens of EU countries and (b) citizens of non-EU countries. [10449]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department receives no information on citizenship of doctors.

  Community Care
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total amount of funding transferred from the health budget of each local health authority for community care purposes for 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [10313]

  Mr. Burns
  This information is not held centrally.

  Staff Shortfalls
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current shortfall in the NHS of the number of practising(a) orthopaedic surgeons, (b) anaesthetists, (c) urologists, (d) paediatricians and (e) psychiatrists. [10448]

  Mr. Malone
  The information available relates to the number of vacancies for these specialties. These are shown in the table. However, data on vacant posts are difficult to interpret. The census is a snap shot of 30 September each year. Some vacancies will be wholly or partly filled by locums. For others, national health service trusts may find alternative ways to provide the service rather than re-advertising. The numbers give no indication of how long the post has been empty; some of these will be in the process of being filled.

  Vacant posts in selected medical specialties England at 30 September 1995

  Whole time equivalent

  Number

  Traumatic and orthopaedic surgery

  90

  Anaesthetics

  160

  Urology

  30

  Paediatrics

  100

  Psychiatry group

  360

  All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  The available information relates to consultants, staff grade, senior registrar, registrar and senior house officers.

  Raw Fish (Worms)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom have contracted worms from eating(a) sushi and (b) other raw fish in the last year for which figures are available. [10417]

  Mr. Horam
  There have been no cases of human infection due to fish roundworms reported in the United Kingdom since 1991.

  NHS Budget
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average annual cash increase at 1996 prices in the NHS budget from 1991–92 to 1996–97; and what percentage of the additional spending has been on bureaucracy. [10405]
  169
  Mr. Horam
  Table 1 shows the average annual cash increase at 1996–97 prices in the national health service budget from 1991–92 to 1996–97; 1996–97 figures are forecasts.

  Table 1: NHS total gross expenditure (£ million)

  Cash

  Cash at 1996–97 prices

  1991–92

  26,788

  30,695

  1996–97

  34,798

  34,798

  Increase over period

  8,010

  4,103

  Average per year

  1,602

  821

  Information on additional spending bureaucracy is not available.

  Care Funding
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the bids for adult intensive and high dependency care funding for 1996–97. [10751]

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

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he or his departmental officials last met representatives of(a) the British Dental Association and (b) the British Fluoridation Society; and what matters were discussed. [10656]

  Mr. Malone
  Meetings between Department of Health officials and the British Dental Association are held during the course of the year to discuss different aspects of dentistry, and with the British Fluoridation Society to discuss water fluoridation. The last meeting with the BFS was in March last year.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received since 1992 regarding artificial fluoridation; and if he will make a statement. [10657]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 December 1996, at columns 547–48.

  Computers
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when reimbursement from public funds was first given for computers in general practice. [10675]

  Mr. Malone
  The computer reimbursement scheme came into effect on 1 April 1990 but was retrospective to 1 April 1989. The first payments were made during the 1990–91 financial year.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when national requirements for the accreditation of general practice computer systems first came into force. [10676]

  Mr. Horam
  The requirements for accreditation were released in April 1993 for implementation in general practice computer systems from April 1994. Copies of the latest version have been placed in the Library.
  170
  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount reimbursed to general practitioners from public funds for purchase of computer systems in each of the last six years. [10674]

  Mr. Malone
  The total amounts directly reimbursed to general practitioners from public funds for the purchase of computer systems in each of the last six years is as follows:

  £ million

  1990–91

  19

  1991–92

  34

  1992–93

  40

  1993–94

  39

  1994–95

  45

  1995–96

  64

  Source:

  The annual financial returns of the Family Health Services Authorities.

  Note:

  1 1995–96 data are provisional.

  Inter-country Adoption
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department disseminates about its procedures relating to the granting of health certificates for inter-country adoption home study reports. [10730]

  Mr. Burns
  Information on the provision of the Department's inter-country adoption certificate of approval has been disseminated to all statutory authorities and approved voluntary adoption agencies in the United Kingdom, to embassies, consulates and high commissions of appropriate countries appointed to the United Kingdom, to British posts abroad, to individual adopters and to individual social workers.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he is giving to providing section 64 grants for a help and advice service to people wishing to adopt children from other countries. [10732]

  Mr. Burns
  In the current financial year £50,000 has been set aside from the section 64 general grant scheme to fund the overseas adoption helpline which provides information on inter-country adoption requirements to those interested. Section 64 funding has also been awarded to other organisations which provide information on adoption matters.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the applications for section 64 grant to provide a help and advice service to people seeking to adopt children from other countries. [10731]

  Mr. Burns
  In the financial year 1996–97 funding was provided to the Bridge child care development service for the overseas adoption helpline which provided information on overseas adoption. No application was received for an exclusive overseas adoption information service for 1997–98.
  171
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which inter-country adoption home study reports his Departments' certificates have been(a) granted and (b) withheld. [10729]

  Mr. Burns
  The Department of Health introduced certificates in July 1992 confirming that the application to which it was attached met the statutory requirements of both the United Kingdom and the country to which the application was made. Certificates are provided for applications which have been approved by the statutory authorities in the United Kingdom. Certificates are not provided for privately commissioned home study reports.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms exist for the disposal of dissecting instruments used in autopsies conducted at the CJD surveillance unit in Edinburgh. [10628]

  Mr. Horam
  Autopsies on patients with suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease conducted in Edinburgh by surveillance unit staff are carried out in a dedicated high-risk autopsy suite in the Edinburgh royal infirmary. This autopsy suite has both disposable and non-disposable instruments which are not used for general autopsy purposes. After a CJD autopsy, the disposable instruments are handled according to guidelines published in 1994 by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens entitled, "Precautions for work with human and animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathies"—copies of which are available in the Library—and then incinerated. Non-disposable instruments are autoclaved in the high-risk autopsy suite at temperatures which are known to substantially inactivate the transmissible agents responsible for CJD. In the event of breakage, the non-disposable instruments would be disposed of according to the ACDP guidelines.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average time general practitioners spent on administration for each year for which figures are available since 1979. [10671]

  Mr. Malone
  The Health Departments and the General Medical Services Committee of the British Medical Association have jointly conducted surveys of general practitioners' workload in 1985–86, 1989–90 and 1992–93. Copies of the results are in the Library.

  Hepatitis B
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the estimated cost of treating hepatitis B in the NHS in the last year for which figures are available; and what is the estimated cost of universal hepatitis B immunisation per annum. [10679]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the cost to the national health service of treating hepatitis B is not collected centrally. At manufacturers' current listed prices, the cost of hepatitis B vaccine for those born in any one year would be approximately £20 million. In addition, there would be vaccine administration costs which could vary depending upon the immunisation programme chosen.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what form, for what purpose, and with what public consultation he plans to review the working of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. [10523]

  Mr. Horam
  In the light of expressed concerns about whether the specific provision in schedule 3 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 for consent to be in writing reflected current clinical and lay opinion, the Government announced on 5 December a review of that provision and the potential implications for the remainder of the 1990 Act. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health expects to announce shortly details of the review.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals there are currently; and how many there were in 1979. [10689]

  Mr. Horam
  The number of national health service hospitals in England, as defined by section 128 of the NHS Act 1977, is not available centrally, nor has it ever been.

  For the years 1979 to 1991, figures are available, based on a count of hospitals providing residential facilities. These were set out in the answer to a question from the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 16 May 1995, Official Report, columns 173–76.

  Challenge Funds
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the bids for 1996–97 challenge funds. [10733]

  Mr. Burns
  Details of the successful bids for the 1996–97 mental health challenge fund were given in the press release of 23 April 1996.

  In addition the emergency pressures fund for 1996–97 received bids as listed.

  Mental Health Services: Funding to meet pressures in 1996–97 Summary, of bids

  £000

  Health authority

  Amount of bid

  Amount awarded

  South and West

  Avon

  150

  120

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  150

  120

  Gloucestershire

  41

  40

  North and East Devon

  45.5

  45

  Portsmouth

  38.5

  38

  Southampton

  150

  120

  Wiltshire

  50

  50

  Total

  625

  533

  Trent

  Leicestershire

  150

  130

  Lincolnshire

  150

  130

  Nottingham

  100

  75

  Rotherham

  70

  70

  South Humber

  150

  130

  Total

  620

  535

  173

  Mental Health Services: Funding to meet pressures in 1996–97 Summary, of bids

  £000

  Health authority

  Amount of bid

  Amount awarded

  West Midlands

  Wolverhampton

  350

  200

  Birmingham

  1,047.65

  250

  Shropshire

  250

  100

  South Staffordshire

  338

  100

  Solihull

  50

  50

  Total

  3,010.212

  700

  Anglia and Oxford

  Northamptonshire

  207

  207

  Total

  207

  207

  North West

  Manchester

  1,000

  700

  Total

  1,000

  700

  Northern and Yorkshire

  Newcastle and N Tyneside

  239.2

  200

  Leeds

  305

  250

  Wakefield

  75

  75

  County Durham

  75

  75

  Total

  694.2

  600

  South Thames

  Merton Sutton and Wandsworth

  225.617

  200

  Croydon

  87.383

  75

  East Kent

  84

  75

  West Surrey

  116.15

  100

  West Sussex

  112

  100

  Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham

  175

  175

  Total

  800.15

  725

  North Thames

  Enfield and Haringey

  238

  225

  North Essex

  150

  130

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  250

  225

  Barking and Havering

  160

  150

  Brent and Harrow

  176

  150

  Kensington Chelsea and Westminster

  150

  120

  Total

  1,124

  1,000

  Grand total

  8,280.562

  5,000

  Social Services Spending
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his speech to the social services conference in Edinburgh on 18 October, if he will list the average annual compound growth rate of spending on social services, in real terms, for the period since 1970–71, indicating the basis of his calculation; if he will list the real terms annual percentage increase in funding for personal social services, for each year from 1992–93 to 1997–98—projected; and in which years since 1979 that increase has been lower than the projected 1997–98 increase in real terms. [10514]

  Mr. Burns
  Net expenditure by social services departments was £80.6 million in 1970–71 and is budgeted to be £7,903.1 million in 1996–97, an average 174
  real terms growth of 10 per cent. per annum. The figures used in the speech to the social services conference additionally included expenditure on Department of Social Security benefits paid to people in residential care and nursing homes.

  The real terms percentage increase in funding provided for personal social services for each year from 1992–93 to 1997–98 is set out as:

  Year

  Real terms annual percentage increase

  1993–94

  11.9

  1994–95

  12.6

  1995–96

  6.1

  1996–97

  5.2

  1997–98

  2.4

  Since 1979 the annual real terms increase in net expenditure on personal social services was less than 2.4 per cent. in 1981–82, 1984–85 and 1985–86.

  Aldehydes
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the carcinogenic effects of aldehydes on humans. [10649]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

  Staff Train Travel
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to health authorities and trusts on the subject of first class train travel by staff when on business. [10672]

  Mr. Malone
  Section 23 of the General Whitley Council handbook deals with the reimbursement of travelling expenses including first class travel. Copies of this have been placed in the Library.

  Contraception
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the average cost of a vasectomy and (b) the average yearly cost of providing contraceptive care to a patient. [10680]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the cost of a vasectomy is not collected centrally. Provision of contraceptive care by the national health service costs an average of just over £40 per year per user of family planning services.

  Health Authority Budgets
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the NHS budget by health authority for(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97. [10688]

  Mr. Horam
  Comparison between 1996–97 and previous years is not meaningful as the abolition of regional health authorities on 31 March 1996 and the reorganisation of health authorities on 1 April 1996 have resulted in changes to health authority responsibilities, boundaries and funding.
  175
  Details of district health authorities' final cash limits for 1994–95 and 1995–96 were set out in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dulwich (Ms Jowell) on 11 November 1996, Official Report, column 39.

  For details of health authorities' 1996–97 cash limits I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr O'Brien) on 3 December 1996, Official Report, column 638.

  General Allocations
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been returned to the general allocations for 1997–98 as a result of the death before 1 April 1996 of patients with(a) mental illness and (b) learning disabilities admitted before June 1970, in both hospital-based and community-based accommodation. [10735]

  Mr. Horam
  The 1997–98 general allocations to health authorities have been enhanced by £20 million as a result of the net reduction in the special allocation which funds the care of patients with mental illness admitted before 1 January 1971 and patients with learning disabilities admitted before 1 January 1970. Patient deaths is one of the factors in this net reduction but this element is not separately identified in the information held centrally.

  NHS Supplies Management
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response his Department has made to the Audit Commission's report, "Improving Supplies Management in National Health Service trusts"; and what decisions have been made by Her Majesty's Government in relation to potential savings outlined in the report. [10754]

  Mr Horam
  It will be for national health service trusts to respond to the specific recommendations made by their external auditors, who are appointed and regulated by the Audit Commission, following local audits based on the good practice recommendations in the report. The Department fully supports the report's emphasis on the importance of good supplies management and its relevance to quality patient care, and we particularly welcome the Audit Commission's call for senior trust management to take a more active interest in this area.

  The potential savings quoted in the report were derived from a small sample of trusts. The examples quoted were historic and the figures therefore do not take account of improvements since made in this area.

  Computer Records
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who owns the(a) written and (b) computer records that general practitioners hold on patients. [10686]

  Mr. Malone
  Ownership of records on patients maintained by general practitioners in accordance with their terms of service, is vested in the health authority.

  Continuing Care
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the bids for 1996–97 continuing care challenge funds. [10750]
  176
  Mr. Burns
  Health authorities' bids for additional continuing care funding for 1996–97 are listed in the table. Details of allocations to health authorities were announced in a press release on 27 December 1996.

  Health authority

  £ bid

  South Thames

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  290,000

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  876,000

  East Surrey

  217,721

  West Sussex

  216,000

  East Sussex

  75,000

  West Surrey

  267,783

  West Kent

  771,000

  East Kent

  310,000

  Bromley

  300,000

  Kingston and Richmond

  165,000

  Bexley and Greenwich

  116,000

  Croydon

  121,000

  Trent

  North Derbyshire

  275,975

  South Derbyshire

  466,000

  Doncaster

  40,000

  Leicestershire

  509,560

  Lincolnshire

  186,750

  North Nottinghamshire

  219,085

  Nottingham

  330,088

  Rotherham

  100,000

  Sheffield

  225,000

  South Humber

  185,000

  West Midlands

  Herefordshire

  50,605

  Worcestershire

  600,201

  North Staffordshire

  181,500

  South Staffordshire

  195,984

  Birmingham

  797,922

  Coventry

  100,100

  Dudley

  370,000

  Sandwell

  137,000

  Shropshire

  140,000

  Solihull

  100,000

  Walsall

  53,500

  Warwickshire

  175,000

  Anglia and Oxford

  Buckinghamshire

  120,000

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  778,000

  North West Anglia

  396,500

  Northamptonshire

  278,425

  Oxfordshire

  190,500

  Bedfordshire

  60,000

  South and West

  Avon

  500,000

  Cornwall

  300,000

  Dorset

  170,000

  Isle of Wight

  33.098

  North and East Devon

  341,832

  North and Mid-Hampshire

  200,000

  Portsmouth

  309,100

  Southampton

  282,400

  South and West Devon

  646,025

  Wiltshire

  299.188

  North West

  Liverpool

  385,000

  Sefton

  790,000

  Manchester

  530,000

  Wirral

  600,000

  Morecambe Bay

  108,000

  Bury and Rochdale

  531,500

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  100,000

  177

  Health authority

  £ bid

  North West Lancashire

  91,191

  North Cheshire

  309,688

  West Pennine

  85,595

  Salford and Trafford

  263,380

  South Cheshire

  137,280

  Stockport

  210,000

  Wigan and Bolton

  134,000

  East Lancashire

  133,595

  Northern and Yorkshire

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  162,350

  North Cumbria

  100,000

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  320,000

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  89,000

  Sunderland

  160,000

  Tees

  210,000

  North Yorkshire

  210,000

  Bradford

  100,000

  Leeds

  (min) 717,500

  (max) 1,185,500

  Wakefield

  649,500

  North Thames

  East London and the City

  647,100

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  541,150

  Barking and Havering

  508,000

  Hillingdon

  623,000

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  485,840

  East and North Hertfordshire

  53,500

  Enfield and Haringey

  347,100

  Brent and Harrow

  39,000

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  191,000

  North Essex

  36,800

  Camden and Islington

  123,500

  Cancer Treatments
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on cancer treatments in each year since 1992(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case. [10246]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available centrally. It is estimated that the care and treatment for cancer patients forms a substantial part of national health service work in primary and secondary care sectors of around 7 per cent. of NHS resources.

  Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his planned budget for the next three years to advertise the potential dangers of(a) aspirin, (b) coproxamol, (c) dothiepin and (d) paracetamol. [9846]

  Mr. Malone
  Aspirin, coproxamol, dothiepin and paracetamol are effective medicines, the indications and side-effects of which are documented in the authorised product information and publications such as the "British National Formulary". The main system for providing regular information to health professionals about important drug safety issues arising with medicines is a bulletin called "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance", which is produced by the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Medicines Control Agency. It is sent to all doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and coroners, by post approximately quarterly and is available on the Internet. The current annual budget for this bulletin is £260,240.
  178
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to assess the level of use of anti-psychotic drugs and drugs containing morphine in residential homes for the elderly. [9847]

  Mr. Burns
  None. The prescribing of any drug as part of the medical treatment received by a person living in residential care is the responsibility of that person's general practitioner. Medical and pharmaceutical advisers are available to help doctors prescribe most effectively for their patients.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the drugs that were available only on prescription in 1979 that are now available without prescription. [9848]

  Mr. Malone
  Since 1979 exemptions to prescription control have been made for the substances in the table, subject, in some cases, to conditions such as indication, maximum dose or route of administration.

  Certain medicinal products now available containing these substances may not have been authorised in 1979.

  Reclassification of medicines: POM to P switches

  Substance

  1983

  Loperamide

  Ibuprofen

  1987

  Hydrocortisone

  1988

  Astemizole

  1989

  Mebendazole

  1991

  Hyoscine butylbromide

  1992

  Carbenoxolone sodium

  Clotrimazole

  Econazole

  Econazole nitrate

  Isoconazole nitrate

  Miconazole

  Miconazole nitrate

  1993

  Acrivastine

  Cetirizine

  Ketoprofen

  Loratadine

  Terfenadine

  Aciclovir

  1994

  Beclomethasone dipropionate

  Cimetidine

  Famotidine

  Mebendazole

  Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride

  Sodium cromoglycate

  Tioconazole

  Diclofenac diethylammonium

  Felbinac

  Flunisolide

  Minoxidil

  Oxethazaine

  Piroxicam

  Ranitidine hydrochloride

  179

  Reclassification of medicines: POM to P switches

  Substance

  1995

  Fluconazole

  Hydroxyzine hydrochloride

  Ketoconazole

  Pyrantel embonate

  Budesonide

  1996

  Azelastine hydrochloride

  Nizatidine

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10090]

  (2) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Public Health Laboratory Service; from which budget these sums were paid. [10082]

  Mr. Horam
  Work on this and similar reviews has principally involved staff in the Department of Health and several other Government Departments, and it is not possible to quantify the related costs. Expenditure on consultancy costs was £7,000.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the National Radiological Protection Board; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10086]

  Mr. Horam
  Work on this and similar reviews has principally involved staff in the Department of Health and several other Government Departments, and it is not possible to quantify the related costs. Expenditure on consultancy costs was £26,614.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control as representative of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10092]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control. [10093]

  Mr. Horam
  Employees of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control serve as the chair or vice-chair of the United Kingdom committee, three European committees and three international committees; serve as United Kingdom representatives on four European committees and one international committee; and lead a United Kingdom team on one European and one international committee.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Public Health Laboratory Service as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10084]
  180
  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Public Health Laboratory Service. [10085]

  Mr. Horam
  No employees of the Public Health Laboratory service chair, or serve on United Kingdom, European or international committees as representatives of United Kingdom interests, or as leaders of a United Kingdom team.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the National Radiological Protection Board as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee; [10088]

  (2) how many (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the National Radiological Protection Board. [10089]

  Mr. Horam
  Employees of the National Radiological Protection Board serve as the chair of four United Kingdom committees, one European committee and six international committees; serve as United Kingdom representatives on one European committee and four international committees; and lead a United Kingdom team on one European committee.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10091]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the Public Health Laboratory Service; and from which budget these sums will be paid; [10083]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the National Radiological Protection Board; and from which budget these will be paid. [10087]

  Mr. Horam
  The reviews were completed on 31 December 1996. Any implementation costs will depend on decisions which have not yet been taken.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate how much will be spent on accident and emergency departments in the financial year 1997–98(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands; and what will be the percentage change from the previous year; [10248]

  (2) how much the Government plan to spend on intensive treatment units in the financial year 1997–98 (a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands; and what will be the percentage change from the previous year; [10249]

  (3) what estimate he has made of expenditure on (i) non-surgical and (ii) surgical departments in financial year 1997–98 (a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands (1) in cash terms and (2) as a percentage change on the previous year; [10311]
  181
  (4) what estimate he has made of expenditure on (i) geriatric care and (ii) cancer treatments in financial year 1997–98 (a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands; (1) in cash terms and (2) as a percentage change on the previous year. [10312]

  Mr. Horam
  It is not possible to provide precise estimates of expenditure on specific services for future years. Health authorities' general allocations are not hypothecated and it is for individual health authorities and general practitioner fundholders to use their funds to respond to the health needs of their local populations; spending on specific services can be determined accurately only in retrospect once health authority and trust accounts have been completed.

  Geriatric Care
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on geriatric care in each year since 1992(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case. [10247]

  Mr. Burns
  The figures given are for the money spent on the specialty of geriatric care within the national health service—the definition of which is care which is led by a consultant geriatrician. The figures reflect the shift in expenditure from acute-based care which is defined under the term geriatric care towards care provided in community-based settings.

  Total NHS expenditure on persons 65 and over is far higher than the expenditure on the narrow geriatric care definition and includes significant proportions of expenditure for the elderly mentally ill and other community services. In 1992–93 we estimate that spending on persons over 65 accounted for some £8,530 million rising to £9,190 million in 1994–95. This accounts for some 42 per cent. of hospital and community health services expenditure, even though people over 65 account for only 16 per cent. of the population.

  NHS trust expenditure on geriatric care in England and west midlands region in each year since 1992 is as follows:

  England

  West Midlands

  Financial year

  Spend £000

  Percentage change from previous year

  Spend £000

  Percentage change from previous year

  1992–93

  1,531,258

  3.8

  149,423

  13.8

  1993–94

  1,493,311

  -2.5

  150,537

  0.8

  1994–95

  1,422,867

  -4.7

  135,994

  -9.7

  1995–96

  1,365,688

  -4.0

  122,564

  -9.9

  Notes:

  1. 1995–96 information is provisional.

  2. Expenditure on geriatric care is for the consultant specialty of geriatrics (in and out patient) and geriatric day care only.

  Source:

  1. The annual financial returns of NHS trusts.

  2. The annual financial returns of the directly managed units of health authorities.

  3. The annual financial returns of the special health authorities of the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.

  "The House Party"
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been invested in the game 182
  "The House Party"; and what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of his Department funding such a project. [9883]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health has neither seen nor funded "The House Party", nor had any involvement in its production.

  Stroke
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department(a) collates centrally, (b) seeks from the regional offices, (c) seeks from health authorities and (d) seeks from each national health service trust in order to determine performance in relation to "The Health of the Nation" targets concerning (i) the incidence of stroke and (ii) acute treatment for those who have had strokes. [10250]

  Mr. Horam
  The relevant "Health of the Nation" targets concern mortality. This is monitored by death registration data from the Office for National Statistics at national, regional and health authority level and by the number of deaths from stroke in hospital at health authority level from the Department's common information core.

  There is no single measure of the incidence of stroke.

  Incidence of stroke can be estimated from the patient consultations with general practitioners for stroke, measured through the morbidity statistics from general practice and the weekly returns of the Royal College of General Practitioners. These estimates are collected from a sample of GPs in England and Wales and are present as total figures for England and Wales.

  Hospital episodes where stroke is diagnosed can be identified from the department's hospital episode statistics system. The information can be aggregated to trust, health authority, regional and national level. However not all patients with stroke will be admitted to hospital.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants. [10161]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department's response to the Cabinet Office report on the use of external consultants is set out in the detailed action plan sent to the Cabinet Office in 1994. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  All the actions stated in this plan have now been implemented.

  Electroconvulsive Therapy
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those hospitals in which ECT treatment has been given to patients aged over 18 years without their specific consent since 1 April 1994 and the number of patients so treated in each hospital listed. [10254]

  Mr. Burns
  Information on the number of electroconvulsive therapy treatments given without specific consent is not available centrally.

  Wheelchair Initiatives
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress towards the implementation of the wheelchair initiatives announced by his Department in February 1996. [9989]

  Mr. Burns
  Both initiatives are now under way. Wheelchair services are supplying, or are about to supply, a powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair to severely disabled people who meet their local eligibility criteria. We have recently issued guidance to the national health service on the detailed arrangements for the phased introduction of the voucher scheme.

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the effect of the projected reduction in the purchasing budget of the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham health authority on the number of(a) patient treatments and (b) operations in the current financial year; and if he will list them by category and hospital; [10433]

  (2) what resources he plans to transfer to Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham health authority in the current financial year. [10434]

  Mr. Horam
  The hospital and community health services general revenue allocation for Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham health authority in 1996–97 is £390 million which represents a real terms increase of £2.5 million, and a cash increase of £12.8 million.

  In addition, the health authority has received £4 million in short-term funding to support it during a period of major structural and strategic change and £1.4 million from the mental health challenge fund.

  There has been no reduction to the purchasing budget of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham health authority. The integrated hospital and community health services revenue allocation for 1997–98 is £441 million, which represents a real terms increase of £9.4 million, and a cash increase of £18 million. This includes a general revenue allocation of £420.6 million which represents a real terms increase of £7.6 million, and a cash increase of £15.9 million.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he received a letter from the forums of general practitioners of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham and their local medical committee dated 5 November concerning local health provision; when he(a) acknowledged and (b) replied to it; and if he will place copies of the correspondence in the Library. [10709]

  Mr. Malone
  An advance copy of the forums' letter was received by the Department of Health on 6 November 1996, and the text of the open letter as signed by local general practitioners was received on 15 November. A copy of the letter was received from the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore) on 26 November and acknowledged the same day. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health replied to the hon. Member on 23 December. Copies of the correspondence will be placed in the Library.

  Prostate Cancer
  Sir Julian Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work of his Department's standing group on health technology in respect of carcinoma of the prostate in relation to health technology assessment. [10760]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health's standing group on health technology commissioned research on the detection, management and screening for carcinoma of the prostate which was recently reported. The findings have been referred to the Department's national screening committee for advice. I will consider the findings following receipt of this advice.

  Hospital Staff
  Sir Julian Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the national health services's policy towards staffing levels in hospitals with casualty and emergency departments over the Christmas and new year holiday periods. [10762]

  Mr. Horam
  National health service trusts should ensure that appropriate staff cover is maintained over holiday periods.

  Primary Care
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the increase in NHS research and development spending related to primary care announced in his White Paper, "Primary Care: Delivering the Future" will be new funding. [10793]

  Mr. Malone
  Our aim is to double the existing proportion of national health service research and development directly related to primary care. The total level of NHS research and development spending is reviewed annually in the light of the needs and priorities of the NHS overall.

  Health for All Targets
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a paper listing in relation to each of the World Health Organisation's health for all targets(a) Government actions to attain the target, (b) the current deadline for meeting the target, (c) indicators used by his Department to monitor progress towards meeting the target and (d) current performance and target performance in terms of those indicators. [10797]

  Mr. Malone
  The World Health Organisation carries out regular evaluation exercises on progress towards the achievement of its health for all targets. I will place in the Library copies of the United Kingdom report sent to WHO as part of the second evaluation exercise carried out in 1994. We are currently taking part in the third evaluation exercise which is expected to be completed later this year.

  Nurse Prescribing
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the resources implications of nurse prescribing. [10792]
  185
  Mr. Malone
  Indications from the evaluation suggest that the net revenue costs of nurse prescribing will be broadly neutral and that there will be clear benefits for patients.

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the percentage of NHS beds in the acute sector used for private patients in each health authority area in(a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) 1996; and if he will make a statement. [9872]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available.

  NHS Executive
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS executive in each of the last three years on(a) conference registration fees,
  186
  (b) lease cars for senior management, (c) air travel, (d) hospitality and (e) business travel within the United Kingdom. [8485]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 12 December 1996]: Available information is given in the table. Information on conference registration fees is not collected separately. The 1995–96 figures take account of the transfer into the national health service executive of responsibilities, and 292 people, from other parts of the Department of Health during 1995–96.

  NHS Executive

  £000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Lease cars for senior management

  68

  34

  22

  Air travel (internal United Kingdom and overseas)

  68

  101

  114

  Hospitality (includes working lunches)

  89

  85

  144

  Business travel within the United Kingdom (excludes air travel)

  995

  1,430

  1,781

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