Written Answers of 15 January 1997

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Departmental Nurseries
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Ministers of the Crown currently make use of the departmental nursery for their children. [10806]

  The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 November 1996, Official Report, column 333.

  Information on the parents who use departmental nurseries is not held centrally.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Research Institutes
  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 Roslin Institute; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10106]

  (2) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10138]

  (3) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Institute of Arable Crops Research; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10042]

  (4) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Silsoe Research Institute; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10130]

  (5) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Babraham Institute; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10110]

  (6) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Institute of Food Research; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10046]

  (7) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the Institute for Animal Health; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10102]

  (8) how much has been spent to date on the prior options review of the John Innes Centre; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10134]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: Work on these reviews has principally involved existing staff in the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council which is funded from the science budget. BBSRC estimates the total staff and other incidental costs as £240,000. It is not possible to quantify
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  the costs incurred by the several Government Departments involved in the prior options procedures without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Fairtrade Foundation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received from the Fairtrade Foundation; and if he will take steps to introduce products marketed by the foundation into the cafeterias in his Department. [10892]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have not received any representations recently from the Fairtrade Foundation. The foundation is free to compete with other suppliers to Halliday Catering Services, who hold the contract to run my Department's catering facilities.

  Science Budget
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the allocation of the science budget. [11469]

  Mr. Lang
  I have discussed the allocations with the director general of research councils and have decided that, subject to parliamentary approval of the supply estimates in due course, the science budget of £1,330.327 million should be allocated as follows:

  Science budget allocations and planning assumptions

  £ Million

  Allocation

  Planning figures

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  BBSRC

  183.300

  185.445

  184.193

  ESRC

  64.896

  66.021

  65.132

  EPSRC

  386.373

  381.098

  379.050

  MRC

  289.070

  288.949

  287.618

  NERC

  165.116

  169.131

  168.295

  PPARC

  191.850

  194.289

  194.094

  International Sub.Reserve

  8.800

  13.000

  13.000

  CCLRC

  1.450

  1.450

  1.000

  Pensions

  11.530

  9.547

  9.547

  Royal Society Royal

  22.271

  22.621

  22.871

  Academy

  3.370

  3.436

  3.486

  OST Initiatives

  2.302

  2.381

  2.381

  Foresight Challenge

  —

  1.000

  2.000

  Total

  1,330.327

  1,338.367

  1,332.667

  These allocations will enable the research councils and other funded bodies to maintain the momentum in the key areas identified for national research and to carry forward the policies set out in the 1993 White Paper, "Realising Our Potential". An additional £17 million over three years has been allocated for urgent additional research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

  Further details are available in the paper, "Allocation of the Science Budget 1997–98", which I have placed in the Library of the House.

  Telecommunications Council
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Telecommunications Council on 18 December 1996. [11408]
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  Mr. Page
  I represented the UK at the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 18 December, arranged at short notice to discuss the postal services directive.

  The Council reached political agreement on the further liberalisation of postal services. The UK supported the final compromise on the directive's further liberalisation proposals after successfully invoking the Ioannina agreement to secure improvements. Netherlands, Sweden and Finland voted against the agreement.

  Under the agreement direct mail and cross-border mail will stay in the reserved area for the time being. The Commission will come forward with a proposal for further liberalisation by end 1998. The Council and the European Parliament will decide by 1.1.2000 on further liberalisation measures, in particular with a view to liberalisation of cross-border and direct mail as well as a further review of the price and weight limits, with effect from 1 January 2003. The directive will end in 2004 if no decisions have been made.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Pupil Costs
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list(a) the actual unit cost per full-time equivalent student, (b) the equivalent figure at constant 1996–97 prices and (c) the consequent efficiency improvement for each of the years from 1989–90 to 1996–97 and the projected figures for the years 1997–98 to 1999–2000 assumed in the Budget for (i) higher education institutions, (ii) further education colleges, (iii) maintained secondary schools and (iv) assisted places in independent secondary schools. [8844]

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 19 December 1996]: The relevant information is set out in the following text and tables. Figures for each education sector are, however, not directly comparable.

  Participation in higher education has risen substantially. One in three young people now attend university full time, compared with only one in eight in 1979. The expansion in student numbers has been accompanied by substantial improvements in efficiency and continuing high quality as demonstrated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England's quality assessments. Participation is planned to continue at record levels in the future and planned expenditure on higher education will increase by £200 million over the next two years.

  Higher education institutions

  Financial year

  (a) public funding per full-time

  (b) public funding per full-time equivalent student at 1996–97 prices

  (c) efficiency improvement

  (£)

  (£)

  Per cent.

  1989–90

  5,350

  7,050

  —

  1990–91

  5,310

  6,480

  8.1

  1991–92

  5,350

  6,130

  5.4

  1992–93

  5,110

  5,620

  8.4

  1993–94

  5,010

  5,360

  4.5

  1994–95

  4,970

  5,230

  2.6

  1995–96

  4,970

  5,100

  2.4

  1996–97

  4,800

  4,800

  5.8

  1997–98

  4,860

  4,760

  0.8

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  Higher education institutions

  Financial year

  (a) public funding per full-time

  (b) public funding per full-time equivalent student at 1996–97 prices

  (c) efficiency improvement

  (£)

  (£)

  Per cent.

  1998–99

  4,840

  4,650

  2.4

  1999–00

  4.720

  4,450

  4.3

  Since the transfer of responsibility for the further education sector from local education authorities to the Further Education Funding Council on 1 April 1993, both expenditure on further education and the number of full-time equivalent student numbers have increased. Colleges have also made significant improvements in their efficiency. The Government will make available an extra £80 million over the next two years.

  Further education colleges

  Financial year

  (a) public funding per full-time

  (b) public funding per full-time equivalent student at 1996–97 prices

  (c) efficiency improvement

  (£)

  (£)

  Per cent.

  1993–94

  2,820

  3,020

  —

  1994–95

  2,810

  2,950

  2.4

  1995–96

  2,750

  2,810

  4.8

  1996–97

  2,650

  2,650

  6.2

  1997–98

  2,560

  2,510

  5.6

  1998–99

  2,490

  2,390

  4.9

  1999–00

  2,410

  2,270

  5.3

  Comparable figures before 1993–94 are not available because of the transfer of responsibility for funding the further education sector from local education authorities to the FEFC from 1 April 1993.

  LEAs are responsible for the allocation of resources to pre-primary, primary and secondary schools which they maintain. Since 1979 spending per pupil has increased in real terms by 48 per cent. For 1996–97 and 1997–98 total additional funds of £1.7 billion have been provided for maintained schools. Since spending depends upon decisions made by individual LEAs, the Government do not make projections for future years and does not set targets for efficiency gains.

  LEA-maintained schools

  Financial year

  (a) LEA-maintained NIE1 per pupil (£)

  (b) LEA-maintained NIE1 per pupil at 1996–97 prices (£)

  1989–90

  1,490

  1,960

  1990–91

  1,620

  1,980

  1991–92

  1,750

  2,010

  1992–93

  1,860

  2,040

  1993–94

  1,870

  1,990

  1994–95

  1,890

  1,990

  1 NIE—net institutional expenditure—represents the direct costs in schools of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services, and from 1990–91 includes unspent balances held by schools under local management schemes.

  LEA-maintained schools include pre-primary, primary and secondary schools. The figures have not been adjusted for any changes in the functions of LEAs, such as, for example, the transfer of sixth-form colleges to the new further education sector on 1 April 1993.

  Spending on the assisted places scheme has increased since 1989–90. The amount of spending per assisted pupil depends upon a number of factors, including changes in approved fees and in parental incomes and contributions. Net expenditure per place has risen in real terms as the

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  scheme has included an increasing proportion of lower income families whose contributions are smaller. Forecasting the relevant factors is subject to a range of uncertainty, and the Department does not publish projections of spending per pupil. Similarly, for these reasons it is not possible to calculate efficiency changes.

  Assisted places scheme

  Financial year

  (a) spending per pupil (£)

  (b) spending per pupil at 1996–97 (£)

  1989–90

  2,280

  3,000

  1990–91

  2,580

  3,140

  1991–92

  2,960

  3,390

  1992–93

  3,300

  3,630

  1993–94

  3,490

  3,740

  1994–95

  3,640

  3,820

  1995–96

  3,770

  3,860

  1996–97

  3,880

  3,880

  All table use GDP deflators published December 1996. All figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.

  Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she received the report by the inspector into the proposed compulsory purchase order in respect of the institute, London NW11, and when she expects to make a decision. [10807]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department received the inspector's report on 4 November 1996. A decision on the inspector's recommendations will be made as soon as possible.

  Assaults on Teachers
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what information she has collated concerning the number of assaults on teachers(a) by children and (b) by parents in the last five years. [10832]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will name those schools to which she has made official visits in 1996, and to date in 1997, in which standards of space, heating and sanitary provisions(a) were represented to her as inadequate and (b) did not meet statutory standards; and what action she has taken or intends to take in each case. [10899]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visits a large number of schools each year in the course of her official duties. Any matters of concern raised during such a visit, including standards of accommodation, are noted at the time and dealt with on an individual basis, usually through correspondence between officials in the Department and the school or local education authority involved.

  The responsibility for ensuring that school premises comply with the standards laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996 falls to the LEA for LEA-maintained schools, and the governing bodies of grant-maintained schools.

  Teachers (Wiltshire)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers in Wiltshire local education authority schools in the year 1995–96 were granted early retirement(a) with and (b) without enhancement; and under which budget head the financial consequences for each school are recorded. [10334]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The number of teachers granted premature retirement in Wiltshire LEA schools in 1995–96 was 26 without enhancement and 36 with enhancement. Payments in respect of premature retirement compensation cannot normally be treated by LEAs as a charge on the budgets of individual schools. Nor, where they are so charged, need they be separately identified in the LEAs' statutory local management of schools financial statements or in any other statement or return collected by the Department.

  Schools (Wiltshire)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for(a) Ridgeway school, Swindon, (b) Greendown school, Swindon, (c) Westwood St. Thomas school, Salisbury and (d) Malmesbury school, the (i) numbers on the roll, (ii) social needs budget, (iii) grants for education support and training, (iv) flat rate allowance, (v) age weighted pupil unit, (vi) devolved total 1 budget, (vii) amount retained by the local education authority from devolved 1 budget, (viii) devolved 2 budget total and (ix) total budget for each school for years April 1996 to March 1997. [10335]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information in the following table is taken from the local management of schools budget statement for 1996–97 published by Wiltshire local education authority under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988, now section 122 of the Education Act 1996. This statement does not contain, nor is it required to contain, the information requested at items (iii) and (vi) to (viii) of the question. The figures in the last line of the table represent the delegated budgets allocated to the schools and do not include GEST—grants for education, support and training—or other devolved funding.

  The Ridgeway School, Wroughton1

  Greendown Community School, Swindon

  Westwood St. Thomas' School, Salisbury

  Malmesbury School

  Number on Roll

  1,412

  847

  823

  931

  Amount allocated through social needs factor

  £0

  £13,856

  £2,965

  £0

  Flat rate allowance

  £170,950

  £146,500

  £170,950

  £170,950

  Amount allocated by age weighted pupil numbers

  £2,482,875

  £1,386,910

  £1,659,525

  £1,651,518

  Budget share

  £2,820,030

  £1,653,823

  £1,924,713

  £1,997,945

  1 Incorporated as a grant-maintained school on 1 September 1996.

  Office for Standards in Education Inspections
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools have been inspected by Ofsted; and how many teachers have been graded in each of categories one to seven since 1 April 1996. [10911]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

  Investors in People
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of organisations with 200 or more employees are(a) recognised as and (b) committed to investors in people in each English region and in Wales. [11249]

  Mr. Paice
  The latest available data for Government Office regions in England are provided in the following table. Responsibility for Investors in People in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  The percentages of organisations with 200 or more employees recognised as and committed to Investors in People, by Government Office region and nationally, are given against agreed baselines of organisations with 200 or more employees.

  Region

  Percentage of employers recognized

  Percentage of employers committed

  Total percentage of employers covered

  North-east

  18

  40

  58

  North-west

  14

  59

  73

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  13

  48

  61

  Merseyside

  24

  50

  74

  West Midlands

  18

  55

  73

  East Midlands

  15

  62

  77

  Eastern Counties

  12

  58

  70

  South-west

  23

  53

  76

  South-east

  18

  71

  89

  London

  9

  50

  59

  Total England

  15

  55

  70

  The agreed baselines are the numbers of organisations of the relevant size eligible for separate Investors in People recognition as counted by English training and enterprise councils in spring 1996.

TRANSPORT

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the road damage calculations quoted in the recent consultation document, "Lorry Weights", are based upon static conditions on a level surface; and what estimates have been made of road damage characteristics associated with typical dynamic conditions taking account of speed, uneven road surfaces and the variable quality of vehicle suspensions. [10906]

  Mr. Watts
  The dynamic effect of a given axle weight is dependent upon a number of factors including road surface, axle spacing, tyre and suspension type. The fourth 244
  power rule was derived from a series of dynamic tests in which different types of lorries were run repetitively over sections of road surface. The best approximation between road wear and lorry weight was found to be the fourth power of the static axle load.

  Further work has been carried out in Germany and at the Transport Research Laboratory to take greater account of vehicle suspension and road types. But these effects are relatively small and static axle load remains the dominant factor. The TRL is currently participating in a European programme to determine the road wear effects of different tyre types.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions there are to seek an extension of the derogation from EC directive 96/53 admitting 40-tonne lorries to Britain; and what plans he has to do so. [10904]

  Mr. Watts
  None. Under the terms of the original directive, 85/3/EEC now consolidated as 96/53/EEC, the United Kingdom would have been obliged to accept 40-tonne lorries on international journeys from July 1986. The Government negotiated a derogation from this requirement which expires on 1 January 1999.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has had made of how much greater damage will be caused by the drive axles of 40-tonne lorries to road pavements when fully laden than is caused by 38-tonne lorries. [10905]

  Mr. Watts
  The 11.5 tonne axle weight of 40-tonne lorries would cause about 45 per cent. more road wear than the 10.5 tonne drive axle weight of 38-tonne vehicles, assuming in both cases that the axles are fully laden.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the estimated overall capital cost of the Jubilee line extension(a) at the time of Royal Assent to the Bill, (b) updated following the indexation of prices adopted by his Department for (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998; and if he will list the estimated deficit against the original estimate at 1997 prices, indicating from what source he expects this sum to be defrayed. [10877]

  Mr. Bowis
  At the time of Royal Assent the estimated overall cost of the Jubilee line extension was £2.1 billion in cash terms. The 1996 estimated outturn cost of the project was £2.6 billion in cash. That remains the estimated outturn cost. The difference between the two figures will come from London Transport's total resources, which include substantial amounts of Government grant. Additional grant has been made available specifically in respect of cost overruns related to delays arising from the new Austrian tunnelling method collapse on the Heathrow express project.

ENVIRONMENT

  Noise Act 1996
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have
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  indicated that they (a) will and (b) will not implement the Noise Act 1996 on 1 April 1997; how much expenditure will be incurred or saved in each case; and if he will make a statement. [10347]

  Mr. Clappison
  This information is not available centrally. However, my Department is commissioning research to establish the level and type of noise complaints service provided by local authorities in October 1996 and to track development of these services, including take-up of the new night noise offence in the Noise Act 1996.

  Landfill
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission research into the biodegradation rates of domestic waste in landfill sites; and if he will make a statement. [10518]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Department's research programme into the management of solid wastes with particular emphasis on landfill disposal processes has now been largely transferred to the Environment Agency. The waste strategy policy on landfill set out in the White Paper, "Making Waste Work", is to promote landfill practices which will achieve stabilisation of landfill sites within one generation.

  Current research is directed towards a bio-chemical—bio-reactor—engineering approach to landfill to reduce the time taken for a site to become stable. Research results inform guidance set out in the revised series of waste management papers on landfill. WMP 26B, "Landfill Design, Construction and Operational Practice", published in 1995, describes the issues and indicates practices to achieve accelerated stabilisation.

  Building Research Establishment Conservation Support Unit
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 12 December,Official Report, column 304, for what reasons the recommendations and conclusions submitted by the consultant authors of the BRECSU reports 38 and 39 on ultra low energy homes were not published with the reports. [10659]

  Mr. Clappison
  Best practice publications, including reports 38 and 39 on low energy housing, take into account a range of inputs, including those from the participating consultants. They reflect generally accepted good practice taken from a number of sources and not just the recommendations and conclusions from individual consultant authors.

  New Housing
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the findings of his Department's consultation to extend part M of the Building Regulations to improve access to new housing. [10795]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: Given the very high response to the consultation, work on the analysis of the responses is just being completed. In the light of comments made further work is to be undertaken on the compliance cost assessment, and action on this is in hand. The findings will be considered by the
  246
  Building Regulations Advisory Committee, along with the analysis of the responses to the consultation, prior to officials making recommendations to Ministers. Given the uncertainty of the timing of the outstanding work, it is difficult to give a firm commitment, but I hope that it will be possible to make a statement in the early summer.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of his officials are currently working on his Department's consultation to extend part M of the Building Regulations to improve access to new housing. [10794]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: There is currently one official working directly on the analysis of the consultation.

  Rented Housing
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for improving(a) services to tenants and (b) quality of management of rented housing in 1997. [10767]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: In the private rented sector, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has approved two management codes for residential property to be published by the Royal Institution of Charted Surveyors. These cover service charge and rent only properties respectively and will come into force on 17 March. Copies are available in the Library.

  The Government will shortly also be implementing most of its package on houses in multiple occupation, which is contained in the Housing Act 1996. These will significantly strengthen the existing powers available to local housing authorities to control standards in houses in multiple occupation. Later in 1997 we intend to publish a code of practice for landlords and local authorities, to be followed by the introduction of a duty on landlords to ensure that their properties are safe.

  Later in the year the Housing Corporation will be producing a new social housing standard. This will require registered social landlords to meet certain key standards, including a number related to housing management and services to tenants. In addition, it is further developing the performance indicator system, under which information about RSLs' management and services is made available. It is also updating its tenants' guarantees to reflect these and other developments.

  We expect compulsory competitive tendering of local authority housing management and increased involvement of tenants to improve the quality of services by making them more responsive and efficient. Provisions in the Housing Act 1996 will enable landlords in the social rented and private sectors to respond more effectively to the problem of anti-social behaviour.

  Planning Application (Wallsend)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in the decision taken by North Tyneside council to grant approval to planning application 96/02804/REM for the construction of 103 dwellings at the Victor Products site, Wallsend. [10910]
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  Sir Paul Beresford
  No. Outline planning permission was granted by North Tyneside borough council for this development on 20 May 1996, and the current application—96/02804/REM—is for approval of reserved matters. The original application was advertised as a departure from the development plan, but the council considered that it should not be referred to the Secretary of State.

  I am aware that there are local concerns about the proposal, particularly the density and character of the proposed housing, its impact on traffic and the need for local play facilities. I understand that council officers met local residents in November 1996 and are confident that the residents' concerns can be satisfactorily resolved.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if planning permission will be granted for the proposed second runway at Manchester airport; and if he will make a statement. [11505]

  Mr. Gummer
  Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, I have decided to grant planning permission for a second runway at Manchester airport.

  It is important to build on Manchester airport's success. It is already the 18th busiest airport in the world in terms of international traffic, with more passengers than Chicago. The second runway will cater for long-term customer demand. It will also create thousands more jobs and bring benefits for the whole of the north-west. This decision will be a boost for Manchester and the whole of the north-west.

  A development of this scale will inevitably have impacts on the local environment, but the applicants have put together an impressive package of proposals to reduce these impacts and to seek the balance implicit in the concept of sustainable development.

  Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution Report
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government response to the 19th report of the royal commission on environmental pollution on the sustainable use of soil will be published. [11506]

  Mr. Gummer
  We have today published the Government response to the 19th report of the royal commission on environmental pollution, on the sustainable use of soil. Soil is a vital resource, and different activities can constrain its future use. It is necessary to seek to understand these effects more clearly in order to avoid causing unwitting damage. The commission's report provides a valuable contribution to this process.

  We have accepted their main recommendations that we should produce a more explicit strategy for soil protection. We intend to publish this for public consultation in the spring. This will allow us to build on the many policies and action which are already contributing to the effective stewardship of soil. The soil strategy will draw together existing work, clarify our goals and identify clear commitments for future action. It will also address the
  248
  overall monitoring framework for soils, including the issues of access to soil data and the better integration of existing data.

  Our detailed responses to the 90 other recommendations, made by the royal commission, which cover all aspects of soil use, are also set out in the Government response. Among the most important recommendations accepted by the Government are:

  implementing the new contaminated land regime as soon as is practicable—recommendation 2. The Department of the Environment is currently evaluation the responses to its consultation on statutory guidance.
  reviewing legislation relating to the Environment Agencies once they have had time to establish themselves—recommendation 4. A study of existing legislation is planned in order to identify the scope for rationalisation.
  considering further ways to encourage farmers to seek advice on erosion control—recommendation 18. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for example, is planning to issue an advisory booklet to complement the soil code in 1997.
  pursuing action to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions—recommendation 41.
  Among other measures, the Government are contributing to the European Union acidification strategy planned for mid-1997.

  Copies of the Government response are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Water Directives
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the costs in each of the next five years to the water companies of the proposed revision to European Union directives on(a) bathing water and (b) drinking water; and if he will take steps to ensure that these costs are not passed on to customers. [10202]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The capital cost of implementing the European Commission's proposals for a revision of the bathing water and drinking water directives in the UK has been estimated to be in the range of £1.6 billion to £4.2 billion and £2.2 billion to £3.5 billion respectively, with the majority of the expenditure in the case of the proposed drinking water directive being spread over 15 years from its adoption. Estimates for the next five years would depend on the precise terms of what is adopted and when.

  The effect of new quality obligations on customers' bills is a matter for the director general of Water Services in regulating charges. Under section 2 (2) (b) of the Water Industry Act 1991 the director general has a duty to ensure that companies can finance their functions. When new quality obligations are placed on companies, the director general will need to make sufficient allowance in price limits for companies to comply.

  Housing (Newcastle)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many houses were(a) started, (b) under construction and (c) completed in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the half-years commencing in April and October from 1993 to 1996; [10290]

  (2) how many houses were completed in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1 January 1988 to the latest available quarter. [10291]
  249
  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The table shows figures as reported to the Department by Newcastle upon Tyne borough council and the National House Building Council.

  Housebuilding: all dwellings: Newcastle on Tyne

  Started

  Number of dwellings Under construction at end of period

  Completed

  1988

  Q1

  165

  470

  98

  Q2

  241

  647

  64

  Q3

  80

  636

  91

  Q4

  208

  686

  158

  1989

  Q1

  115

  709

  92

  Q2

  142

  762

  89

  Q3

  224

  870

  116

  Q4

  85

  805

  150

  1990

  Q1

  90

  713

  182

  Q2

  103

  696

  120

  Q3

  95

  653

  138

  Q4

  119

  672

  100

  1991

  Q1

  51

  658

  65

  Q2

  70

  654

  74

  Q3

  80

  726

  8

  Q4

  100

  734

  92

  1992

  Q1

  33

  711

  56

  Q2

  152

  591

  272

  Q3

  155

  725

  21

  Q4

  122

  590

  257

  1993

  Q1

  138

  637

  91

  Q2

  165

  578

  224

  Q3

  85

  596

  67

  Q4

  138

  642

  92

  1994

  Q1

  136

  716

  62

  Q2

  185

  683

  218

  Q3

  166

  707

  142

  Q4

  91

  700

  98

  1995

  Q1

  102

  614

  188

  Q2

  78

  542

  150

  Q3

  41

  393

  190

  Q4

  36

  267

  162

  1996

  Q1

  65

  251

  81

  Q2

  68

  244

  75

  Q3

  35

  198

  81

  Anglian Water (Pollution)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (i) the location, (ii) the number of fish killed and (iii) the loss of amenity value for each category 1 and category 2 pollution incident caused by Anglian Water in 1995–96. [10199]
  250
  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: Details of category 1 and 2 water pollution incidents attributed by the Environment Agency to sewers, pumping stations, water treatment works or sewage treatment works operated by Anglian Water Services Ltd. in 1995 are available in the Libraries of the House. Pollution incident data for 1996 is still being compiled. Information on any loss of amenity value is not recorded.

  Water Company Returns
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the items in the water companies' July returns to Office of Water Services which are not being made publicly available. [10203]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: A list of the information excluded from the July returns public documentation is given in appendix B of Ofwat's "A guide to the 1996 July returns for the water industry in England and Wales", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Pollution Incident Categories
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the National River Authority's and the Environment Agency's definitions of pollution incident categories for categories 1, 2, 3 and 4. [10198]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The Environment Agency's definition of pollution incidents is as follows:

  Category 1
  A major incident involving one or more of the following:

  (a) potential or actual persistent effect on water quality or aquatic life;

  (b) closure of potable water; industrial or agricultural abstraction necessary;

  (c) extensive fish kill;

  (d) excessive breaches of consent conditions;

  (e) instigation of extensive remedial measures;

  (f) significant adverse effect on amenity value;

  (g) significant adverse effect on site of conservation importance.

  Category 2
  A significant incident which involves one or more of the following:

  (a) notification of abstractor necessary;

  (b) significant fish kill;

  (c) readily observable effect on invertebrate life;

  (d) water unfit for stock watering;

  (e) bed of watercourse contaminated;

  (f) amenity value to downstream users reduced by odour or appearance.

  Category 3
  A minor incident resulting in localised environmental impact only. Some of the following may apply:

  (a) notification of abstractors not necessary;

  (b) fish kill of fewer than 10 fish (species of no particular importance to the affected water);

  (c) no readily observable effect on invertebrate life;

  (d) water not unfit for stock watering;

  251

  (e) bed of watercourse only locally contaminated;

  (f) minimal environmental impact and amenity value only marginally affected.

  Category 4
  A reported pollution incident which on investigation proves to be unsubstantiated in that no evidence can be found of a pollution incident having occurred.

  Water Pressure
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many households the water pressure in the communication pipe fell below 7m static head for more than one hour on two occasions in any period of 28 days in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1994–95 and (e) 1995–96; and in how many households this occurred more than once in (i) 1991–92, (ii) 1992–93, (iii) 1993–94, (iv) 1994–95 and (v) 1995–96. [10201]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information requested is not available. Information on inadequate water pressure for the years 1991–92 to 1995–96, measured against the Director General of Water Services' service indicator, DG2, is available for each year for which information is requested in Ofwat's annual "Report on levels of service for the water industry in England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library. DG2 uses a reference level of 10m static head with a flow of 9 litres per minute to measure the adequacy of pressure. This should be sufficient to fill a one gallon—4.5 litre—container in 30 seconds from a ground floor kitchen tap.

  Minke Whales
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the Norwegian Government expressing the United Kingdom's opposition to Norway's draft proposal to downlist the north-east and central Atlantic minke whales at the next convention on international trade in endangered species meeting. [10465]

  Mr. Clappison
  The position of the UK and other EU member states in such matters requires a collective decision. Following a letter to Norway from the then Irish Presidency, my Department wrote to the Norwegian Government last month confirming that the UK would oppose the transfer of any species of cetaceans to appendix II of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora while the moratorium on commercial whaling agreed by the International Whaling Commission remains.

  Endangered Species (Import and Export Act 1976)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what special training and qualifications in the identification of threatened animals and plants are required for those persons responsible for policing the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976; [10412]

  (2) how many successful prosecutions have been brought under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976. [10411]
  252
  Mr. Clappison
  The Act originally implemented the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora in the UK. In 1984 it was largely superseded by EC legislation, which implemented the convention throughout the Community.

  There is no comprehensive record of convictions for CITES offences. However, we are aware that since 1990, 40 successful cases have been brought under the CITES enforcement regulations, 13 people have been successfully prosecuted under Customs legislation and a further six people have been prosecuted under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act.

  Training is primarily a matter for the enforcement authorities. HM Customs and Excise include CITES in their basic training and the police advise their forces that wildlife issues should be included in their initial training. Customs officers at ports and airports have access to comprehensive written guidance on CITES and the species it covers. Each of the 14 Customs zones has designated a CITES liaison and intelligence officer, and every police force now has at least one designated police wildlife liaison officer. These officers are a source of information and advice.

  Both Customs and the police can call upon experts for assistance in species identification and other specialist matters, including from my Department's wildlife inspectorate, non-governmental organisations and universities.

  Industrial Pollution
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate how many(a) sites and (b) hectares are currently contaminated by industrial pollution; and if he will make a statement. [10427]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The basis for an adequate estimate of the extent of land affected by industrial pollution does not exist. We are preparing to bring into force part HA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990—inserted into that Act by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995—which will give local authorities a specific duty to cause their areas to be inspected to identify land which meets the statutory definition of contaminated land.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many members of staff were taken on as(a) full-time, (b) short-contract, (c) part-time, (d) casual employees and (e) outside contractors by the CSA during the period 31 October 1995 to 31 October 1996. 19559]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for its chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
  253
  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 14 January 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about staff taken on by the Child Support Agency.
  During the period from 31 October 1995 to 31 October 1996, the Agency employed a total of 229 fixed term contract staff; of this number 198 were recruited as full time staff and 31 as part time staff. During the same period, 780 casual staff were recruited, of whom 735 were full time and 45 were part time.
  The Agency does not directly employ any outside contractors.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many members of the CSA's staff are(a) full-time, (b) short-contract, (c) part-time, (d) casual employees and (e) outside contractors; and how many ceased working for, or being contracted to, the CSA during the period 31 October 1995 to 31 October 1996. [9560]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 14 January 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency staffing.
  At the 31 October 1996, the Agency employed a total of 6986 full time staff, of whom 178 were fixed term contracts and 510 were casual employees. The number of part time staff was 1395, of whom 22 were fixed term contracts and 36 casual employees.
  The number of permanently employed staff who ceased working for the Agency for any reason in the 12 months to 31 October 1996 was 434. The number of fixed term contract staff and casual staff who's contract came to an end during this period was 834.
  The Agency does not directly employ any outside contractors.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many members of the staff of the CSA were dismissed or had their contracts terminated for disciplinary infringements during the period 31 October 1995 to 31 October 1996. [9558]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 14 January 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency staffing.
  The number of Child Support Agency staff dismissed for disciplinary infringements during the period 31 October 1995 to 31 October 1996 is 17.
  This does not include any staff dismissed within the Belfast Child Support Agency Centre, as staffing issues at this Centre are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many letters of inquiry or complaint from hon. Members were received by the Child Support Agency during each month between January and October. [9557]
  254
  Mr. Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for its chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 14 January 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about letters from honourable Members to the Child Support Agency.
  The number of letters received by the Chief Executive of the Agency and the Child Support Agency Centre managers for each month between January 1996 and October 1996 are shown in the attached table.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Total number of MPs letters received by the chief executive and by child support agency centre managers each month in the period January 1996 to October 1996

  Month

  Chief executive correspondence

  CSAC manager correspondence

  January

  715

  682

  February

  896

  754

  March

  801

  752

  April

  686

  736

  May

  899

  741

  June

  753

  587

  July

  738

  696

  August

  584

  564

  September

  780

  649

  October

  697

  704

  Partners' Working Hours Rule
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers gaining from the abolition of the hours rule for partners of income support and jobseeker's allowance claimants. [10213]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The cost of abolishing the hours rule for partners of income support and income-based jobseekers' allowance claimants is estimated to be in the range of £200 million to £300 million per annum, with between 70,000 and 90,000 gainers. This is at 1997–98 levels of benefits and incomes, assumes families claim the benefit which is of most reward to them, and takes no account of possible behavioural changes.

  Child Care Disregard
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of extending the child care disregard to those on maximum family credit and disability working allowance by allowing the amount which would have been disregarded subject to a(a) 70 per cent. taper and (b) 50 per cent. taper. [10214]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
  255

  Estimated cost of extending the child care disregard to those on maximum family credit subject to different tapers (1996 prices)

  Family credit cost (per annum) £ million

  70 per cent. taper

  10

  50 per cent. taper

  5

  1. Figures are based on the May 1996 family credit statistics, and use actual weekly child care expenditure reported at that time, subject to the appropriate limit. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  2. Figures do not include any offsetting savings in housing benefit or council tax benefit.

  3. A number of maximum family credit cases gain from the childcare disregard, but by less than the full amount as it is the help with child care that brings them to the maximum. Estimates include allowing these cases to gain by the full amount subject to a 70 per cent. taper or a 50 per cent. taper.

  4. Estimates do not include behavioural effects.

  5. Estimates do not include disability working allowance as the sample size would be too small to support a reliable estimate.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To as the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas Adjournment; [9813]

  (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. [9812]

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 13 January,Official Report, columns 12–13.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many asylum seekers have been refused benefits in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [9871]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows: from 20 November 1995 up to 17 December 1996 the number of income support claims terminated because a decision had been made on their asylum application was 7,564.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers gaining if a full disregard of spouse earnings were to be introduced into disability working allowance. [10211]

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

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many times the temperatures at(a) Loch Glascarnoch and (b) Aultbea monitoring stations have indicated levels entailing cold weather payments; and how many recipients have received such payments as a result. [10841]
  256
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of the social fund 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. Charles Kennedy, dated 14 January 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many times the temperatures at (a) Loch Glascamoch and (b) Aultbea monitoring stations have indicated levels entailing Cold Weather Payments; and how many recipients have received such payments as a result.
  The weather station at Loch Glascarnoch has identified five periods of cold weather. No periods of cold weather have been identified by Aultbea Weather Station.
  Figures are not kept on how many people actually receive payments per weather station.
  However data on the estimated number of people who would qualify (qualifiers) is available, for each time a weather station identifies a period of cold weather. For Aultbea weather station the estimated number of qualifiers is 238 and for Loch Glascamoch the estimated number of qualifiers is 1,880. Therefore, an estimated 9,400 payments have been issued to those customers covered by Loch Glascamoch Weather Station.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Benefits Agency (Doctors)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many doctors the Benefits Agency has trained in the operation of the all-work test; how many of those doctors(a) were found unsuitable and (b) left of their own accord after training; and how many have worked with the Benefits Agency medical services for a time but since left. [10219]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter for Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 14 January 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question about how many doctors the Benefits Agency have trained in the operation of the All Work Test; how many of those doctors (a) were found unsuitable and (b) left of their own accord after training; and how many have worked with the Benefits Agency Medical Services for a time but since left.
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the enclosed table.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Doctors trained to undertake medical examinations in connection with the incapacity benefit all work test1

  Fee-paid doctors2

  Employed doctors

  Trained

  1,627

  290

  Found unsuitable after training3

  76

  0

  Left4,5

  186

  54

  Figures are provisional and subject to change.

  Notes: 1 The table shows information from 1 February 1995 to 30 November 1996.

  2 Fee-paid doctors are not employees, but independent contractors.

  3 Doctors who have repeatedly failed to achieve a satisfactory standard at various stages of the approval process.

  4 Figures include those who left for personal reasons, retirement, etc., and fee-paid doctors whose contracts were terminated after approval, for failure to maintain a satisfactory quality standard.

  5 Separate figures are not available to show the number who left immediately after training of their own accord.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 December,Official Report, column 286, how many (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples there were in which three quarters or more of the total income was derived from national insurance retirement and similar pensions and other state benefits in each of the last five financial years. [10844]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is in the table.

  Year

  Number of single pensioners

  Number of pensioner couples

  1989 calendar

  2,750,000

  950,000

  1990 calendar

  2,550,000

  950,000

  1992 calendar

  2,550,000

  1,000,000

  1993 calendar

  2,600,000

  1,000,000

  1994–95 financial

  2,650,000

  1,000,000

  Notes:

  1. The pensioners' incomes series gives estimates for pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as being either a single person over state pension age (SPA) or a couple where the man is over SPA.

  2. Income from state benefits has been calculated as income form national insurance benefits and all other benefits that may be received above SPA, such as income related benefits and disability benefits.

  3. The figures given are for the last five years for which pensioners' incomes series data is available, and rounded to the nearest 50,000. Due to this rounding, the totals may not necessarily sum to the totals given in my answer of 11 December Official Report, column 286.

  Source:

  Pensioners' incomes series. This is based mainly on data from the family expenditure survey carried out over calendar years up to and including 1993, and carried out over financial years from 1994–95 onwards, covering the whole of the United Kingdom.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amount was budgeted for the national insurance contributions holiday in 1996–97; what level of contributions has been forgone to date; and what is the present estimate for the year. [10907]

  Mr. Heald
  The original estimate for 1996–97 was £28 million. However, this has now been revised and the current estimate is £1.5 million. Information about the level of contributions reclaimed by employers will not be available until their end of year returns have been received and processed.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for(a) each English region, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales the number of (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful applications made to date for a national insurance contributions holiday for the recruitment of an unemployed person. [10908]
  258
  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  Number of applications: 2,718

  Successful applications: 2,312

  Unsuccessful applications: 296

  Awaiting further information: 110

  Regional breakdown (successful applications)

  North

  247

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  332

  East Midlands

  232

  East Anglia

  77

  South East

  329

  South West

  207

  West Midlands

  246

  North West

  247

  Wales

  115

  Scotland

  197

  Greater London

  83

  1. The number of unsuccessful applications by region is not available.

  2. Statistics relate to the position on 6 January 1997.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Carrickmannon Lake
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Carrickmannon lake in Saintfield, Co. Down, is classed as a designated water; and who owns the fishing rights. [10801]

  Mr. Ancram
  Carrickmannon lake is designated as a rainbow trout water under the Fisheries Consolidated and Amendment Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 1989. The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland has no information on the ownership of fishing rights in this water, but it is operated a private sector put-and-take rainbow trout fishery by Dr. D. McVeigh.

  Veterinary Laboratory, Omagh
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which(a) agricultural, (b) farming and (c) veterinary organisations were consulted prior to the decision to close Omagh veterinary laboratory; and if he will make a statement. [10834]

  Mr. Ancram
  None. Consultation is not possible in relation to announcements on the public expenditure survey.

  Veterinary Post-mortems
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full post-mortem cases were carried out, and on which species, in each of the past five years at the veterinary laboratories at(a) Stormont and (b) Omagh. [10836]
  259
  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Cattle1

  Sheep

  Pigs

  Miscellaneous

  Omagh

  Stormont

  Omagh

  Stormont

  Omagh

  Stormont

  Omagh

  Stormont2

  1992

  1,399

  1,280

  796

  563

  726

  501

  23

  837

  1993

  1,507

  1,379

  903

  701

  778

  559

  47

  575

  1994

  1,674

  1,344

  1,006

  691

  757

  544

  58

  825

  1995

  1,749

  1,210

  996

  668

  780

  399

  65

  688

  1996

  1,560

  1,314

  1,047

  744

  892

  327

  182

  672

  1 Excluding BSE cattle.

  2 Miscellaneous submissions at Stormont include zoo animals, pigeons, exotic birds, badgers, marine mammals and material connected with the wildlife investigation scheme.

  Year

  Poultry

  Horses

  BSE/Cattle

  Omagh

  Stormont1

  Omagh

  Stormont

  Omagh

  Stormont

  Fish Stormont

  1992

  1,932

  16,533

  19

  with misc

  134

  293

  4,696

  1993

  2,792

  20,855

  15

  with misc

  263

  403

  2,789

  1994

  5,793

  24,750

  3

  with misc

  127

  443

  4,349

  1995

  3,261

  23,485

  3

  with misc

  70

  229

  2,790

  1996

  2,813

  19,753

  11

  39

  26

  125

  3,900

  1 Poultry submissions at Stormont include both diagnostic and statutory. In 1996 the split was 5,983 for diagnostic purposes, while 13,770 were received for statutory purposes. Statutory submissions do not generally have a detailed post-mortem examination carried out.

  Subway Security (Belfast)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the subway between Cairnshill close and Newton heights, Belfast, is regularly patrolled by the security forces. [10802]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The subway between Cairnshill close and Newton heights has consistently been the subject of police attention by both uniform and plain clothes patrols.

  The area continues to receive police attention.

DEFENCE

  Radioactivity (Greenham Common)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the findings of the study, "An Assessment of Radioactive Levels around the Former Air Base at Greenham Common, Berkshire, NRPB-M752, published on 19 December 1996; what was the cost to his Department of this study; and what follow-up studies are planned. [10893]

  Mr. Soames
  We are pleased to note the conclusions of this independent study by the NRPB which my Department has funded at a cost in the region of £50,000. The study has provided definitive reassurance that, on the basis of the measurement data, the doses received from artificial radionuclides by people living in the area around Newbury and Greenham Common are no different to those received in similar areas elsewhere in the country. The findings of the study are entirely consistent with my Department's assurances that there is no basis to the allegations made last year about a nuclear weapon accident at the base. There are no plans to commission any further such studies.

  Sandhurst
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the outsourcing of the operation of Sandhurst. [10875]
  260
  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. L. Elliott to Mr. John Spellar, dated 15 January 1997:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the outsourcing of the operation at Sandhurst as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation (AITO).
  A feasibility study was undertaken at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) to identify the scope for involving the Private Sector in delivering activities undertaken there. The study reported at the end of April 1996 and concluded that a range of activities could usefully be exposed to competitive tendering. There were:

  Domestic Services/Management

  Equipment Support/Management

  Estate Services/Management

  Personnel Services/Management

  Sports Facilities/Management

  Stores Services/Management

  Transport and Distribution/Management.

  The total annual net cash value of these services is £7.9M (which includes current contracts valued at £3.03M) with some 227 civilians and 92 military personnel affected.
  The study concluded that best value for money would be achieved by market testing the services within the scope of the competition; as such an in-house bid team has been formed to mount a bid for the services.
  A detailed Statement of User Requirement is currently being developed and the aim is to issue an invitation to tender in March 1997 and to award a Service Level Agreement (to a successful in-house bid) or a contract to a winning contractor, in March 1998.
  You may also be aware of activities concerned with the running of the Joint Services Command and Staff College which is also located at Sandhurst. The College is not part of the ALTO and I cannot therefore comment on this.

  Royal Marines
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals have left the Royal Marines in each of the last five years. [10868]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Naval Manning Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Year

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Officers

  50

  32

  29

  44

  51

  Other ranks

  621

  420

  358

  262

  557

  Total

  671

  452

  387

  306

  608

  I hope this is helpful
  262
  Letter from F. M. Mahon to Mr. John Spellar, dated 15 January 1997:
  I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of Royal Marines leaving Her Majesty's Service in each of the last five years, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Naval Manning Agency.
  The figures for RM discharges from the trained strength in financial years 1991–92—1995–96 are as shown below:

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete the sale of DERA's support services division; and if he will make a statement. [11471]

  Mr. Soames
  Following competition, we have assessed the bid put forward by the venture capital group, Apax Partners and Co., who propose working with the existing DSSD management team, as offering the best value for money. Consequently, Apax have been granted a period of exclusivity to allow them to carry out the due diligence process and to conclude a contract with DERA on the basis of their offer. Subject to the satisfactory completion of both of these processes, it is intended that a sale should be completed by mid-February.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the appointments of members to the Criminal Cases Review Commission are full time and which are part time; what is the period of appointment in each case; if each appointment is renewable; and how many of the appointments are of women. [10882]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Full-time or part-time

  Period of appointment (years)

  Sir Frederick Crawford

  Part-time

  5

  Miss Fiona King

  Part-time

  5

  Mr. Laurence Elks

  Part-time

  5

  Mr. David Kyle

  Full-time

  3

  Mr. John Leckey

  Part-time

  5

  Miss Jill Gort

  Part-time

  3

  Mr. Baden Skitt

  Full-time

  5

  Dr. James MacKeith

  Part-time

  3

  Mr. Karamjit Singh

  Full-time

  5

  Professor Leonard Leigh

  Full-time

  3

  Mr. Edward Weiss

  Part-time

  3

  Mr. Anthony Foster

  Part-time

  5

  Mr. Barry Capon

  Part-time

  3

  Under the terms of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 members of the commission are eligible for re-appointment on expiry of their term of appointment, subject to the proviso that no one may hold office as a member for a continuous period of more than 10 years. As the table shows, two of those appointed as members of the commission are women.

  Police Expenditure
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the spending limit for police authorities(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands in each year since 1992 (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage change over the previous year. [9746]
  264
  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is as follows:

  Total spending powers

  West Midlands £ million

  Percentage change

  England and Wales1 £ million

  Percentage change

  1992–93

  286.2

  —

  2—

  —

  1993–94

  302.7

  5.8

  2—

  —

  1994–95

  314.9

  4.0

  2—

  —

  1995–96

  329.3

  4.6

  6,366.5

  —

  1996–97

  344.2

  4.5

  6,612.8

  3.9

  1997–98

  357.2

  3.8

  6,859.3

  3.7

  1 Excludes City of London: no separately identifiable figures are available for the police service.

  2 Figures are not available as shire police services were funded from county council budgets.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds were made available from central Government for spending by police authorities(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands for each year since 1992 (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage change over the previous year. [9747]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is as follows:

  Total external support for police authorities including all grants and income from national non-domestic rates

  West Midlands £ million

  Percentage change

  England and Wales1 £ million

  Percentage change

  1992–93

  2—

  —

  3—

  —

  1993–94

  272.0

  —

  3—

  —

  1994–95

  282.4

  3.8

  3—

  —

  1995–96

  295.9

  4.8

  5,589.4

  —

  1996–97

  310.0

  4.8

  5,801.9

  3.8

  1997–98

  317.4

  2.4

  5,930.0

  2.2

  1 Excludes City of London: no separately identifiable figures are available for the police service.

  2 Full information is not available.

  3 Figures are not available as shire police services were funded from county council budgets.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from police authorities(a) nationally and (b) in the west midlands regarding their spending allowances for the coming year. [9748]

  Mr. Maclean
  To date 14 individual police authorities, plus the police authorities of Wales, have made representations about the level of proposed spending limits for 1997–98. In relation to the west midlands we have received representations from the chairman of the Police Authority, from the chief constable, the chairman of the West Midlands joint committee and the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Ainsworth).

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for(a) each individual police authority, (b) each class of police authority and (c) all police authorities the increase in pounds in (i) the

  265
  aggregate of each police authority's capped expenditure limit or in the case of the Metropolitan police the estimated budget requirement and police rule 2 and rule 3 grants in 1997–98 over 1996–97 and (ii) total external support including all police grants in 1997–98 over 1996–97 and the difference between (i) and (ii) in pounds and as a percentage of 1996–97 cash precepts; [10308]

  (2) if he will list for (a) each individual police authority, (b) each class of police authority and (c) all police authorities the increase in pounds in (i) the

  Increase in capped expenditure limit and rule 2 and 3 grants over 1996–97

  Increase in total external support1 including all grants over 1996–97

  Increase in capped expenditure limit including rule 3 grant over 1996–97

  Increase in total external support except rule 2 grant over 1996–97

  Difference between columns (1) and (2) and between columns (3) and (4)

  Difference between columns (1) and (2) and between columns (3) and (4) as a percentage of 1996– cash precept

  Police authorities:

  (£ million) (1)

  (£ million) (2)

  (£ million) (3)

  (£ million) (4)

  (£ million) (5)

  (£ million) (6)

  Avon and Somerset

  6.0

  2.7

  4.9

  1.6

  3.4

  15.0

  Bedfordshire

  2.2

  1.1

  1.8

  0.7

  1.2

  14.0

  Cambridgeshire

  2.6

  1.1

  2.1

  0.6

  1.5

  14.7

  Cheshire

  3.9

  1.7

  3.1

  0.9

  2.2

  14.6

  Cleveland

  2.8

  1.4

  2.3

  1.0

  1.3

  18.5

  Cumbria

  2.2

  1.0

  1.9

  0.7

  1.2

  14.5

  Derbyshire

  3.8

  1.9

  3.1

  1.2

  1.9

  14.5

  Devon and Cornwall

  6.1

  3.7

  4.9

  2.5

  2.4

  9.8

  Dorset

  2.7

  1.0

  2.2

  0.5

  1.7

  11.1

  Durham

  2.7

  1.3

  2.3

  0.9

  1.4

  17.7

  Essex

  6.0

  2.6

  4.8

  1.4

  3.4

  13.1

  Gloucestershire

  2.3

  1.0

  1.9

  0.6

  1.3

  14.7

  Hampshire

  6.9

  3.0

  5.6

  1.7

  3.9

  13.9

  Hertfordshire

  3.6

  1.5

  2.9

  0.8

  2.1

  13.4

  Humberside

  3.9

  2.0

  3.2

  1.3

  1.9

  16.2

  Kent

  6.4

  3.0

  5.2

  1.8

  3.4

  13.4

  Lancashire

  6.3

  3.0

  5.2

  1.9

  3.3

  16.8

  Leicestershire

  3.7

  1.7

  3.0

  1.0

  2

  15.7

  Lincolnshire

  2.5

  1.9

  2.0

  1.5

  0.5

  4.0

  Norfolk

  3.0

  1.3

  2.4

  0.7

  1.7

  14.3

  Northamptonshire

  2.4

  1.0

  2.0

  0.6

  1.4

  11.4

  North Yorkshire

  2.8

  1.5

  2.2

  0.9

  1.3

  11.0

  Nottinghamshire

  4.4

  3.3

  3.7

  2.5

  1.1

  8.2

  Staffordshire

  4.3

  2.0

  3.5

  1.2

  2.3

  14.6

  Suffolk

  2.5

  1.0

  2.0

  0.6

  1.4

  14.2

  Surrey

  3.4

  2.8

  2.8

  2.2

  0.5

  3.7

  Sussex

  5.9

  2.6

  4.8

  1.4

  3.4

  13.1

  Thames Valley

  8.1

  3.3

  6.5

  1.7

  4.8

  13.3

  Warwickshire

  1.9

  0.8

  1.6

  0.5

  1.1

  13.9

  West Mercia

  4.1

  1.6

  3.3

  0.8

  2.5

  14.5

  Wiltshire

  2.4

  1.0

  1.9

  0.5

  1.4

  13.8

  Total English shire authorities

  122

  59

  99

  36

  63

  13.1

  Greater Manchester

  12.8

  6.5

  10.9

  4.6

  6.4

  18.6

  Merseyside

  8.3

  4.3

  7.2

  3.3

  3.9

  16.9

  Northumbria

  7.1

  4.1

  6.0

  3.0

  3

  16.0

  South Yorkshire

  5.9

  3.0

  4.9

  2.1

  2.9

  17.4

  West Midlands

  13.0

  7.3

  11.0

  5.4

  5.6

  16.4

  West Yorkshire

  9.9

  4.9

  8.0

  3.4

  4.6

  16.9

  Total metropolitan authorities

  57

  30

  48

  22

  26

  17.1

  Metropolitan police 2

  55.4

  29.5

  48.7

  22.8

  25.9

  316.7

  City of London police4

  266
  aggregate of each police authority's capped expenditure limit or, in the case of the Metropolitan police, the estimated budget requirement and police rule 3 grant in 1997–98 over 1996–97 and (ii) total external support including all police grants other than police rule 2 grant in 1997–98 over 1996–97 and the difference between (i) and (ii) in pounds and as a percentage of 1996–97 cash precepts. [10309]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information requested is set out in the table.
  267

  Increase in expenditure limit and rule 2 and 3 grants over 1996–97

  Increase in total external support1 including all grants over 1996–97

  Increase in capped expenditure limit including rule 3 grant over 1996–97

  Increase in total external support except rule 2 grant over 1996–97

  Difference between columns (1) and (2) and between columns (3) and (4)

  Difference between columns (1) and (2) and between columns (3) and (4) as a percentage of 1996– cash precept

  Police authorities:

  (£ million) (1)

  (£ million) (2)

  (£ million) (3)

  (£ million) (4)

  (£ million) (5)

  (£ million) (6)

  Dyfed Powys

  1.9

  1.5

  1.6

  1.2

  0.4

  5.1

  Gwent

  2.4

  1.9

  2.0

  1.5

  0.5

  6.1

  North Wales

  2.7

  2.1

  2.2

  1.6

  0.6

  5.6

  South Wales

  5.7

  4.5

  4.8

  3.6

  1.2

  5.6

  Total Welsh authorities

  13

  10

  11

  8

  3

  6.0

  Total (all authorities)

  247

  129

  207

  89

  118

  14.0

  1 Includes principal police grant, additional rules 1, 2 and 3, police damping grant, revenue support grant and income from national non-domestic rates.

  2 Total external support includes provision for services other than police functions.

  3 Includes other service block element of 1996–97 cash precept.

  4No separately identifiable figures exist for the City of London police.

  All figures have been rounded from the original calculations. Figures for total external support were provided by the Department of the Environment.

  Paedophiles
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average weekly costs of accommodation and what are the subsequent recidivism rates for paedophile offenders(a) in prison and (b) in the Wolvercote clinic. [9601]

  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. Peter Thurnham, dated 15 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 average weekly cost of accommodation and the subsequent recidivist rates for paedophile offenders (a) in prison and (b) in the Wolvercote Clinic.
  Cost per place figures relating specifically to paedophile offenders are not available. The average cost per prisoner for the financial year 1995–96 was £466 per week. The weekly charge for the Wolvercote Clinic is £550.
  A 10 year follow-up study on reconviction rates for a sample of paedophiles released from prison in 1980 showed that 36 per cent of paedophiles committed further sexual offences. For serious offences, which included sex or violent offences, the rate of reoffending increased to 45 per cent. This information may appear to be dated but follow-up studies must be for a substantial period of time. Social and legal changes may also affect reconviction rates. A 10 year reconviction study is currently in progress on the Sex Offender Treatment Programme but it is too early for results.
  To date, only three offenders have completed the full programme at the Wolvercote Clinic which opened in August 1995. No information is available yet on recidivists.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Government Departments and other public bodies maintain lists of(a) convicted and (b) alleged paedophile offenders; what guidance has been issued to local authorities concerning that information on such offenders; what co-ordination there is between the different bodies concerned; and if he will make a statement. [10683]
  268
  Mr. Maclean
  Information about convicted and alleged paedophiles is held by the following Government Departments and public bodies.

  The police hold information about those convicted of sexual offences against children on the Phoenix database of the police national computer and on microfiche records held by the national identification service. They may also retain information locally about alleged paedophiles.

  The national criminal intelligence service—NCIS—maintains a database of known or suspected paedophiles.

  The Department for Education and Employment maintains a list of persons barred from working in education and in respect of whom the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has made a direction under the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1993, as amended—"List 99".

  The Department of Health consultancy index holds information on those notified to it by the police who are or were employed in child care work and who have been convicted of an offence, including sexual offences against children; the information on "List 99", and notifications from employers of the names of persons who formerly worked with children and who have been dismissed or who have resigned in circumstances where the welfare of a child has been put at risk through physical, sexual or emotional abuse or a child has suffered or was likely to suffer harm arising from the action of a member of staff or volunteer engaged to work with children.

  Guidance issued to local authorities includes the Department for Education and Employment circular 11/95, "Misconduct of Teachers and Workers with Children and Young Persons", and the joint circular from the Home Office (HOC 47/93), Department for Education (DfEE 9/93), Department of Health (LAC 93(17)), and the Welsh Office (WOC 54/93) on "Protection of Children: Disclosure of Criminal Record Background of those with

  269
  Access to Children". This includes an explanation of the information available to local authorities from police records, the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment.

  NCIS passes on information about paedophiles to the force in whose area the paedophile is working or living. In addition to this, the police notify the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment of convictions of those individuals working in child care posts or as teachers or workers with children or young persons.

  £ thousand

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Commission for Racial Equality

  not recorded separately

  89.8

  84

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

  115

  206

  1,600

  746

  225

  Gaming Board for Great Britain

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Office of the Data Protection Registrar

  5

  0

  0

  50

  47

  Police Complaints Authority

  0

  149

  74

  129

  84

  Total per year

  120

  355

  1,674

  1,014.8

  440

  Police Grants
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the total external support including all police grants to be received by(a) each individual police authority, (b) each class of police authority and (c) all police authorities in (i) 199697 and (ii) 1997–98 and the change in each in pounds and as a percentage; [10304]

  Total external support1 including all grants

  Increase over 1996–97

  Total external support excluding rule 2 grant

  Increase over 1996–97

  Police authorities

  1996–97 £ million

  1997–98 £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1996–97 £ million

  1996–98 £ million

  £ million

  Per cent

  Avon and Somerset

  132.2

  134.8

  2.7

  2.0

  131.6

  133.2

  1.6

  1.2

  Bedfordshire

  49.1

  50.2

  1.1

  2.2

  48.9

  49.6

  0.7

  1.3

  Cambridgeshire

  56.2

  57.3

  1.1

  1.9

  55.9

  56.5

  0.6

  1.0

  Cheshire

  83.5

  85.1

  1.7

  2.0

  83.1

  84.0

  0.9

  1.1

  Cleveland

  66.2

  67.6

  1.4

  2.1

  66.0

  67.0

  1.0

  1.5

  Cumbria

  49.9

  50.9

  1.0

  2.1

  49.7

  50.4

  0.7

  1.3

  Derbyshire

  79.2

  81.1

  1.9

  2.4

  78.8

  80.0

  1.2

  1.6

  Devon and Cornwall

  129.3

  133.0

  3.7

  2.9

  128.7

  131.2

  2.5

  2.0

  Dorset

  53.1

  54.1

  1.0

  1.9

  52.9

  53.4

  0.5

  1.0

  Durham

  63.8

  65.1

  1.3

  2.1

  63.5

  64.4

  0.9

  1.4

  Essex

  127.2

  129.8

  2.6

  -).0

  126.6

  128.1

  1.4

  1.1

  Gloucestershire

  49.7

  50.6

  1.0

  2.0

  49.5

  50.0

  0.6

  1.1

  Hampshire

  147.4

  150.5

  3.0

  2.0

  146.8

  148.5

  1.7

  1.1

  Hertfordshire

  74.6

  76.1

  1.5

  1.9

  74.3

  75.1

  0.8

  1.0

  Humberside

  91.5

  93.4

  2.0

  2.2

  91.1

  92.5

  1.3

  1.5

  Kent

  138.7

  141.7

  3.0

  2.2

  138.2

  140.0

  1.8

  1.3

  Lancashire

  143.9

  146.9

  3.0

  2.1

  143.4

  145.3

  1.9

  1.3

  Leicestershire

  82.2

  83.9

  1.7

  2.1

  81.8

  82.9

  1.0

  1.3

  Lincolnshire

  50.3

  52.3

  1.9

  3.9

  50.1

  51.6

  1.5

  3.0

  Norfolk

  64.3

  65.7

  1.3

  2.0

  64.1

  64.8

  0.7

  1.2

  Northamptonshire

  49.8

  50.8

  1.0

  2.0

  49.6

  50.1

  0.6

  1.2

  North Yorkshire

  57.8

  59.2

  1.5

  2.5

  57.5

  58.4

  0.9

  1.6

  Nottinghamshire

  101.5

  104.8

  3.3

  3.3

  101.1

  103.6

  2.5

  2.5

  Staffordshire

  94.2

  96.2

  2.0

  2.1

  93.8

  95.1

  1.2

  1.3

  Suffolk

  51.9

  52.9

  1.0

  2.0

  51.6

  52.2

  0.6

  1.1

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [10194]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information requested is set out for executive non-departmental public bodies funded by the Home Office.

  (2) if he will list the total external support including all police grants other than police rule 2 grant for additional police officers to be received by (a) each individual police authority, (b) each class of police authority and (c) all police authorities in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98 and the change in each in pounds and as a percentage. [10305]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information requested is set out in the table.
  271

  Total external support1 including all grants

  Increase over 1996–97

  Total external support excluding rule 2 grant

  Increase over 1996–97

  Police authorities

  1996–97 £ million

  1997–98 £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1996–97 £ million

  1997–98 £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  Surrey

  72.8

  75.6

  2.8

  3.9

  72.5

  74.7

  2.2

  3.1

  Sussex

  125.6

  128.1

  2.6

  2.0

  125.0

  126.5

  1.4

  1.2

  Thames

  Valley

  168.0

  171.3

  3.3

  2.0

  167.2

  168.9

  1.7

  1.0

  Warwickshire

  41.4

  42.2

  0.8

  2.0

  41.2

  41.7

  0.5

  1.1

  West Mercia

  86.2

  87.8

  1.6

  1.8

  85.8

  86.6

  0.8

  0.9

  Wiltshire

  51.1

  52.1

  1.0

  1.9

  50.9

  51.5

  0.5

  1.0

  Total English

  shire

  authorities

  2,633

  2,691

  59

  2.2

  2,621

  2,658

  36

  1.4

  Greater

  Manchester

  308.7

  315.2

  6.5

  2.1

  307.8

  312.3

  4.6

  1.5

  Merseyside

  203.4

  207.7

  4.3

  2.1

  202.9

  206.2

  3.3

  1.6

  Northumbria

  169.6

  173.7

  4.1

  2.4

  169.0

  172.1

  3.0

  1.8

  South

  Yorkshire

  138.4

  141.4

  3.0

  2.2

  137.9

  140.0

  2.1

  1.5

  West

  Midlands

  310.0

  317.4

  7.3

  2.4

  309.0

  314.4

  5.4

  1.7

  West

  Yorkshire

  233.3

  238.2

  4.9

  2.1

  232.5

  235.9

  3.4

  1.4

  Total

  metropolitan

  authorities

  1,363

  1,394

  30

  2.2

  1,359

  1,381

  22

  1.6

  Metropolitan

  police2

  1,518.8

  1,548.3

  29.5

  1.9

  1,515.5

  1,538.2

  22.8

  1.5

  City of

  London

  police3

  Dyfed Powys

  40.7

  42.2

  1.5

  3.7

  40.5

  41.7

  1.2

  2.9

  Gwent

  54.6

  56.5

  1.9

  3.5

  54.4

  55.9

  1.5

  2.8

  North Wales

  58.6

  60.7

  2.1

  3.6

  58.4

  60

  1.6

  2.8

  South Wales

  132.7

  137.2

  4.5

  3.4

  132.3

  135.9

  3.6

  2.7

  Total Welsh authorities

  287

  297

  10

  3.5

  286

  294

  8

  2.8

  Total (all authorities)

  5,801

  5,930

  129

  2.2

  5,781

  5,870

  89

  1.5

  1 Includes principal police grant, additional rules 1, 2 and 3, police damping grant, revenue support grant and income from national non-domestic rates.

  2 Includes provision for services other than police functions.

  3 No separately identifiable figures exist for the City of London police.

  All figures have been rounded from the original calculations. Figures for total external support were provided by the Department of the Environment.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those local authority areas which have applied for CCTV grants for the north west region, in the chronological order of application; and if he will indicate the dates on which successful applicants were awarded grants. [10779]

  Mr. Maclean
  Bids to the two completed closed circuit television challenge competitions were invited from partnerships, rather than local authorities. The following bids were received from north-west government region—Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Lancashire-and Merseyside. Winning bids are marked with an asterisk:

  1994–95 Challenge competition (submitted by 27 January 1995)

  Accrington, Hyndburn Sports Centre

  Altrincham town centre

  272

  Ashton under Lyne, Hattersley Community Centre

  Ashton under Lyne, Hattersley Schools

  Ashton under Lyne shopping centre

  Ashton under Lyne town centre

  Blackpool town centre*

  Bolton, Mancroft Avenue Estate

  Bolton, Westhoughton town centre

  Bolton town centre

  Bootle Hospital Maternity Unit

  Bootle Leisure Centre and North Park

  Burnley town centre

  Bury town centre*

  Carlisle city centre*

  Carlisle, Rosehill Industrial Estate

  Chester city centre*

  Chorley town centre

  273

  Clitheroe town centre*

  Congleton town centre

  Denton (Tameside) Business Development Centre*

  Denton, Tameside, town centre

  Droylsden town centre

  Egremont village centre

  Fylde mobile CCTV system

  Heaton Park, Wythenshawe Park and Miles Platting swimming pool

  Hyde town centre*

  Kendal town centre

  Kirkby railway station*

  Lancaster city centre*

  Liverpool city centre

  Liverpool, Huyton Sports Centre car park

  Liverpool, Park Road Sports Centre

  Liverpool, Picton sports centre

  Liverpool, Wheathills and Holt Lane Industrial Estates

  Macclesfield town centre

  Maryport and Cockermouth town centres

  Middleton, Rochdale town centre

  Morecambe seafront*

  Neston town centre*

  Northwich town centre

  Oldham town centre

  Old Trafford town centre

  Partington town centre

  Penrith town centre*

  Preston College

  Preston, Longridge

  Preston town centre

  Rochdale town centre*

  Sale town centre

  Sefton Schools Pilot Security Initiative

  Stalybridge town centre

  St. Helens town centre

  Stockport, Stepping Hill General Hospital

  Tameside, Richmond Park Estate

  Trafford General Hospital

  Trafford, Seymour Park Primary School

  Urmston town centre

  Whitehaven, Cleator Moor Square

  Whitehaven, West Cumberland Hospital

  Wigan, Howe Bridge

  Wigan, Marsh Green

  Wigan town centre*

  Wythenshawe Civic Centre and two schools

  Wythenshawe Hospital

  Wythenshawe Park

  1996–97 Challenge competition (submitted by 29 March 1996)

  Accrington, Borough of Hyndburn

  Accrington, Peel Park County Primary School*

  Aintree Railway Station

  Alston, Samuel Kings School

  Altrincham town centre

  Ashton, Broadoak School

  Ashton, Holden Clough, Hurst Methodist, St. Christopher's Roman Catholic, Hartshead High, St. Damian's Roman Catholic schools

  274

  Askam in Furness, Askam Village School

  Astley, St. Ambrose Barlow Primary School

  Astley, St. Mary's Roman Catholic High School

  Atherton, Howe Bridge Sports Centre

  Atherton, Parklee County Primary School, nursery and grounds

  Atherton town centre

  Bacup, Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School

  Barrow in Furness, Bram Longstaffe Nursery and Barrow Island Primary School

  Barrow in Furness, Furness General Hospital

  Barrow in Furness, Newbarns Primary School

  Barrow in Furness, Thorncliffe School and six primary schools

  Bebington Railway Station

  Birkenhead, Beechwood Drive and surrounding areas

  Birkenhead, Rock Ferry Railway Station

  Blackburn, Our Lady and St. John Roman Catholic High School*

  Blackburn, St. Mary's College

  Blackburn, St. Matthew's Church of England Primary School

  Blackburn, Witton Park County High School

  Blackpool, Collegiate High School

  Blackpool, Devonshire County Infant and Junior School

  Blackpool, Merseyside County Primary School

  Blackpool, St. George's High School

  Blackpool, St. Mary's Roman Catholic High School

  Bolton, Eight schools/leisure centres

  Bolton town centre and car parks*

  Bootle, North Park and Leisure Centre

  Bootle, Strand Shopping Centre

  Brampton, William Howard School

  Burnley, Habergham High School*

  Burnley town centre*

  Bury, Broad Oak High School

  Carlisle, North Cumbria Technology College

  Carlisle, Petteril Bank Primary School and Community Centre site

  Carlisle, Raffles Housing Estate

  Carlisle, Trinity School

  Chester, Queens Park County High School

  Chester, The Parade, Blacon

  Chester, Upton by Chester County High School

  Chorley, Albany High School

  Chorley, Southlands High School

  Chorley town centre*

  Cleator Moor, Cleator Moor Square

  Cleator Moor, Ehenside and Montreal Schools

  Dalston, Caldew School

  Dalton in Furness, George Romney Junior School

  Darwen, Moorland High School

  Darwen town centre

  Denton, Tameside, Three primary schools and one high school

  Earlestown Railway Station

  Egremont, Main Street

  Ellesmere Port, Poole Hall Industrial Estate

  Ellesmere Port, Little Sutton, Overpool, Capenhurst and Bache Hooton Railway Stations

  Fleetwood, Fleetwood High School

  Fleetwood, St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School

  Formby Railway Station

  Garstang, Garstang High School

  275

  Heywood, Siddal Moor High School*

  Hindley town centre

  Hooton Railway Station

  Hough Green, Hough Green Railway Station

  Huyton Railway Station

  Hyde, Bradley Green School, Oakfield School, St. Paul's Roman Catholic School

  Hyde, Flowery Field Primary School, Hyde High School

  Kendal town centre*

  Keswick and Wigton town centres*

  Keswick, St. Kentigerns Church of England Infant School

  Kirby multi-storey car park

  Lancaster, Skerton High School

  Lancaster, St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School

  Leigh, Bedford High School

  Leigh, Westleigh High School*

  Leyland, St. Mary's Roman Catholic School

  Leyland, Wellfield High School

  Liverpool, Duke Street*

  Liverpool, Fazakerley village centre

  Liverpool, Granby, Toxteth and Dingle

  Liverpool, King David High School

  Liverpool, Litherland Town Hall, Car Park and adjacent War Memorial

  Liverpool, Valley and Netherley

  Liverpool, Wavertree Technology Park

  Lytham St. Anne's, Lytham St. Anne's High School

  Macclesfield, Macclesfield District General Hospital

  Macclesfield, Tytherington County High School

  Manchester, Market Street, Manchester City Centre*

  Manchester, Miles Platting

  Manchester, Rack House School*

  Maryport, Netherhall School

  Middleton, Middleton Technology School

  Millom, Millom Square*

  Nelson, Walton High School

  Northwich town centre*

  Oldham town centre*

  Partington village centre

  Penrith, Beaconside Church of England Junior School

  Preston, Ashton High School

  Preston, St. Mary's and St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Primary School*

  Preston, Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School

  Preston, Tulketh High School

  Prestwich, Prestwich High School

  Rochdale, Freehold Housing Estate, Khubsuret House and Milkstone Road*

  Rochdale, Guider Hill School*

  Runcorn, Grange Comprehensive School

  Runcorn, Holy Spirit Primary School

  Runcorn, Murdishaw West County Primary School

  Runcorn, St. Chad's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School

  Sale town centre

  Salford, Lowry High School, Ascension Church of England Primary School and Broughton Recreation Centre*

  Salford, Salford Shopping City, Market and car parks

  Skelmersdale, Glenburn High School*

  276

  Speke/Garston, Liverpool, Speke Parade, St. Mary's Road, Northern Airfield site

  Stalybridge, Town Centre Shopping Area, Bus Station and Car Parks

  Standish, St. Marie's Roman Catholic Primary School

  Standish village centre

  St. Helens Central Railway Station

  Stockport, Stepping Hill Hospital

  Stretford, Euro 96 venue

  Trafford, Neighbourhood Parades

  Trafford, Old Trafford

  Trafford, park village*

  Trafford, Sheltered Accommodation

  Tarleton, Tarleton High School

  Ulverston, Victoria High School

  Upton by Chester, Upton by Chester County High School

  Urmston, Trafford General Hospital

  Warrington, Helsby High School*

  Westhoughton, Market Street

  Whitehaven, Whitehaven School and Hensingham Rugby Club

  Widnes and Runcorn town centres

  Wigan, Ashton-in-Makerfield town centre

  Wigan, Hawkley Hall High School

  Wigan Pier

  Wigan, Shevington High School and Community Centre

  Wigan, St. John Fisher Roman Catholic High School and Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School

  Wigan, Two School buildings and community areas

  Wirral, Bebington High School*

  Workington, Workington and District Primary Schools

  Wythenshawe, South Manchester University Hospital National Health Service Trust.

  The grant awards from the first competition were announced in March 1995 and those from the second in June 1996.

PRIME MINISTER

  Netherlands (Visit)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister which persons representing which bodies were present at the meetings he attended recently with the President of the European Council in the Netherlands. [10873]

  The Prime Minister
  I met the Prime Minister of the Netherlands in The Hague on 7 January. Mr. Kok was accompanied by his State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and three officials. I was accompanied Her Majesty's ambassador at The Hague and three officials.

  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Prime Minister who represented the British Government at the OECD conference on 16 December on economic flexibility and social cohesion in the 21st century. [10871]

  The Prime Minister
  Participants to this conference were invited as individuals and not representatives of Governments. Professor Snower of Birbeck college attended, and presented a paper concerning long-term implications of current economic and social policies.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister which department is responsible for matters relating to the illegal trade in CFCs. [10804]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The Department of the Environment has responsibility for the United Kingdom's domestic and international policy on the control of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal protocol, including trade controls. CFCs imported into the European Union require a licence from the European Commission. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is responsible within the UK for checking that such imports are properly licensed.

  Royal Travel
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects parliamentary approval to be sought for the estimate relating to official royal travel by rail and air. [9904]

  The Prime Minister
  The new grant-in-aid for royal travel will be payable from 1 April 1997 and will be administered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. Pending approval of the main estimates for 1997–98, authority for payment will rest on the vote on account for 1997–98 and the winter supplementary estimate for class V, vote 3, both of which have already been approved by Parliament. Specific provision for royal travel is planned to be made in the main estimates for the Department of Transport's votes. Main estimates are normally laid before Parliament shortly before the financial year to which they relate.

SCOTLAND

  Suckler Cow Premium
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to pay the 1996 suckler cow premiums. [9744]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Suckler cow premium advance payments commenced in December. The bulk of these should be with producers by the end of January.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much has been spent to date on converting the Forestry Commission Research Laboratories into a next steps agency; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10006]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of converting the Forestry Commission research laboratories into a next steps agency; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10007]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: Work on the prior options review of the Forestry Commission's research division and subsequent work, which is nearing completion, converting it to a next steps agency was undertaken mainly by commission staff. The cost to the
  278
  commission has been approximately £30,000. Only modest additional costs are likely to be incurred before the division becomes an agency on 1 April 1997.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much has been spent to date on converting the fisheries research services into a next steps agency; and from which budget these sums were paid; [10022]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the future costs of converting the fisheries research services into a next steps agency; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10023]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: Work on the prior options review of the fisheries research services and subsequent work, which is nearing completion, on converting it to a next steps agency was undertaken mainly by Scottish Office staff. The cost to my Department has been approximately £40,000. Only modest additional costs are likely to be incurred before FRS becomes an agency on 1 April 1997.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the Forestry Commission Research Laboratories as representatives of UK interests; and how many of these employees are leading the UK team on their committee. [10008]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information is as follows:

  United Kingdom

  European

  International

  Representative

  20

  14

  14

  Leader

  —

  2

  2

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the Forestry Commission research laboratories. [10009]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information is as follows:

  United Kingdom: 4

  European: 1

  International: 3.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each local authority in Scotland the actual capital receipts at the mid-point of 1996–97, indicating for each authority(a) receipts from right to buy, (b) receipts from stock transfer and (c) receipts from land sales; and if he will indicate for each authority and for each category of receipts the mid-year targets set out in the estimates at the start of the year. [10697]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The table which follows lists the actual capital receipts from the sale of housing stock and land reported by local authorities as having been achieved in the six months to 30 September 1996. The Scottish Office does not set mid-year targets for capital receipts.
  279

  Housing capital receipts achieved between 1 April and 30 September 1996

  £million

  Right to buy

  Stock transfers

  Land sales

  Aberdeen City

  1.750

  0

  0

  Aberdeenshire

  1.682

  0

  0.056

  Angus

  1.576

  0

  0.024

  Argyll and Bute

  1.315

  0

  0

  Clackmannanshire

  0.928

  0

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2.697

  0

  0

  Dundee City

  1.179

  0

  0.013

  East Ayrshire

  2.273

  0

  0

  East Dunbartonshire

  0.845

  0

  0

  East Lothian

  1.477

  0

  0

  East Renfrewshire

  0.350

  0

  0

  City of Edinburgh

  3.476

  0

  0.105

  Falkirk

  1.666

  0

  0

  Fife

  4.302

  0

  0.121

  City of Glasgow

  4.121

  0

  0.853

  Highland

  3.457

  0

  0.054

  Inverclyde

  1.231

  0

  0

  Midlothian

  0.970

  0

  0.151

  Moray

  1.664

  0

  0.104

  North Ayrshire

  1.108

  0

  0.320

  North Lanarkshire

  6.055

  0

  0.112

  Orkney

  0.452

  0

  0

  Perth and Kinross

  1.119

  0

  0

  Renfrewshire

  1.477

  0

  0.318

  Scottish Borders

  1.179

  0

  0.002

  Shetland

  0.494

  0

  0.004

  South Ayrshire

  1.155

  0

  0

  South Lanarkshire

  1.831

  0

  0.030

  Stirling

  2.096

  0

  0.030

  West Dunbartonshire

  0.983

  0

  0

  West Lothian

  1.413

  0

  0

  Western Isles

  0.246

  0

  0

  Farmers (Negative Equity)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of farmers with negative equity; and if he will make a statement. [10522]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  None. However, in each of the last three years for which results are available, around 1 per cent. of farm businesses in the farm accounts survey in Scotland had liabilities exceeding total business assets.

  Strathclyde Police Force
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers of ethnic minority origin there are in the Strathclyde force above the rank of constable; and what ranks they have reached. [10633]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In Strathclyde police there is one such officer, in the rank of sergeant.

TREASURY

  Petrol and Diesel Duties
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total income to the Treasury, measured against an indexed base, resulting from an increase in petrol and diesel duties of(a)3p per litre and (b)4.5p per litre. [10204]
  280
  Mr. Oppenheim
  Indexed base estimates strip out the effect of the pre-announced 5 per cent. real increase in road fuel duties. In the 1996 Budget, this accounts for £1.2 billion of the £1.4 billion total increase in revenue in 1997–98 referred to in my previous written answer to the hon. Member,Official Report, 11 December 1996, column 209. Accordingly, on an indexed base alone, a 3p per litre increase in petrol and diesel duties in the 1996 Budget would yield the remaining £0.2 billion in 1997–98. Similarly, on a purely indexed base, a 4.5p per litre increase in petrol and diesel duties would yield £0.9 billion, bringing the total yield to the £2.1 billion referred to in my previous answer.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [10178]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The amount spent on external consultants by the Chancellor's non-departmental public bodies for the period in question is shown in the table:

  Year

  £

  1991–92

  761,703

  1992–93

  1,378,560

  1993–94

  1,858,776

  1994–95

  1,328,711

  1995–96

  932,640

  281
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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". [10179]

  Mrs. Knight
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The Treasury has taken, or is taking, all the actions necessary to comply with the report both as a central Department and as a user of consultants.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of United Kingdom gross domestic product for each year since 1970 at(a) current prices and (b) 1996–97 prices; and what was the percentage annual change each year at constant 1996–97 prices. [10758]

  Gross national and domestic product1

  £ million

  At current prices

  At 1990 prices

  At market prices

  At factor cost

  Gross domestic product "Money GDP"

  Net property income from abroad

  Gross national product

  less Factor cost adjustment2

  Gross domestic product3

  Gross national product4

  Gross domestic product at market prices

  less factor cost adjustment5

  Gross domestic product at factor cost

  CAOB

  AIMD

  GIBF

  DIAA

  CAOM

  GIBD

  CA00

  DIAS

  CAOP

  1988

  471,430

  4,566

  475,996

  70,002

  401,428

  405,994

  537,215

  71,469

  465,746

  1989

  515,957

  3,502

  519,459

  74,198

  441,759

  445,261

  548,940

  72,712

  476,228

  1990

  551,118

  1,269

  552,387

  72,232

  478,886

  480,155

  551,118

  72,232

  478,886

  1991

  575,674

  150

  575,824

  79,421

  496,253

  496,403

  540,308

  71,395

  468,913

  1992

  598,916

  3,124

  602,040

  80,784

  518,132

  521,256

  537,448

  70,992

  466,456

  1993

  631,158

  2,197

  633,355

  83,133

  548,025

  550,222

  548,947

  71,822

  477,125

  1994

  668,255

  8,691

  676,946

  89,078

  579,177

  587,868

  570,290

  73,913

  496,377

  1995

  700,890

  9,572

  710,462

  96,631

  604,259

  613,831

  584,340

  75,533

  508,807

  Seasonally adjusted

  1993

  Q1

  154,499

  423

  154,922

  20,848

  133,651

  134,074

  136,067

  18,004

  118,063

  Q2

  156,353

  714

  157,067

  20,379

  135,974

  136,688

  136,421

  17,792

  118,629

  Q3

  159,746

  580

  160,326

  20,820

  138,926

  139,506

  137,783

  17,992

  119,791

  Q4

  160,560

  480

  161,040

  21,086

  139,474

  139,954

  138,676

  18,034

  120,642

  1994

  Q1

  163,441

  2,528

  165,969

  21,517

  141,924

  144,452

  140,301

  18,199

  122,102

  Q2

  165,760

  2,231

  167,991

  22,064

  143,696

  145,927

  142,029

  18,371

  123,658

  Q3

  168,773

  2,071

  170,844

  22,468

  146,305

  148,376

  143,425

  18,580

  124,845

  Q4

  170,281

  1,861

  172,142

  23,029

  147,252

  149,113

  144,535

  18,763

  125,772

  1995

  Q1

  172,513

  1,754

  174,267

  23,720

  148,793

  150,547

  145,079

  18,811

  126,268

  Q2

  174,659

  2,512

  177,171

  23,930

  150,729

  153,241

  145,693

  18,882

  126,811

  Q3

  175,933

  2,571

  178,504

  24,269

  151,664

  154,235

  146,503

  18,900

  127,603

  Q4

  177,785

  2,735

  180,520

  24,712

  153,073

  155,808

  147,065

  18,940

  128,125

  1996

  Q1

  179,559

  3,039

  182,598

  24,957

  154,602

  157,641

  147,668

  18,986

  128,682

  Q2

  181,808

  3,654

  185,462

  25,267

  156,541

  160,195

  148,472

  19,090

  129,382

  Q3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  282
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Michael Meacher, dated 15 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 the level of United Kingdom gross domestic product.
  The most recent estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) are published in table Al of the ONS publication United Kingdom Economic Accounts, which has annual data from 1988 to 1995. Alteratively the data are available for a longer time series on the ONS CSDB database. Both are available through the House of Commons Library.
  The ONS does not estimate at 1996–97 prices, however GDP data are available at 1990 constant prices. These are also available in the United Kingdom Economic Accounts publication or via the CSDB database.
  283

  Gross national and domestic product1

  £ million

  At current prices

  At 1990 prices

  At market prices

  At factor cost

  Gross domestic product "Money GDP"

  Net property income from abroad

  Gross national product

  less Factor cost adjustment2

  Gross domestic product3

  Gross national product4

  Gross domestic product at market prices

  less factor cost adjustment5

  Gross domestic product at factor cost

  Percentage change, latest year on previous year

  1995

  4.9

  5.0

  8.5

  4.3

  4.4

  2.5

  2.2

  2.5

  Percentage change, latest quarter on previous quarter

  1996

  Q2

  1.3

  1.6

  1.2

  1.3

  1.6

  0.5

  0.5

  0.5

  Percentage change, latest quarter on corresponding quarter of previous year

  1996

  Q2

  4.1

  4.7

  5.6

  3.9

  4.5

  1.9

  1.1

  2.0

  1 Estimates are given to the nearest £ million and in case of indices to one decimal place but cannot be regarded as accurate to this degree. Estimates at current market prices are affected by the abolition of domestic rates and the introduction of the community charge.

  2 Equals taxes on expenditure less subsidies.

  3 The factor cost estimate of GDP is obtained from the market price estimate by subtracting the factor cost adjustment.

  4 Gross national product equals Gross domestic product plus Net property income from abroad.

  5 Represents Taxes on expenditure less Subsidies both valued at 1990 prices.

  Data in this table update those contained in ONS Blue Book table 1.1.

  Some additional quarterly data are available on the ONS's Databank. These data can also be provided on paper—for details see notes on additional data.

  EU Contributions
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Union for 1995–96; and what factors underlie the discrepancies between this figure and the estimate of the European Union Court of Auditors. [10234]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The Treasury estimates the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community budget in the financial year 1995–96 to be £3,852 million. However, since this figure relates to a UK financial year while the European Court of Auditors' report provides calendar year data, the two are not directly comparable. The Treasury estimate of our net contribution to the European Community in the calendar year 1995 is £4,017 million. This compares with the figure of £3,866 million in the Court of Auditors report—assuming an exchange rate of £1=1.2211 ecu. One of the main reasons for the difference is that the Court of Auditors' figures include payments by the Community direct to the UK private sector which are not to be taken into account in the Treasury's estimate which relates to UK public sector transactions. There may also have been differences in the years to which particular public sector transactions near to year-end were scored. A fuller explanation of the differences between the two figures will be included in the Government's White Paper statement on the 1997 EC Budget.

  Duty Free Allowance
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to maintain the duty free allowance. [10327]
  284
  Mr. Oppenheim
  Duty free sales for intra-EU travel would have ceased on 1 January 1993 with the introduction of the single market. However, the decision to allow such sales to continue until 30 June 1999 was taken by the Council of Finance Ministers, including the then British Chancellor, towards the end of 1991. The UK supported this measure because additional time to remove an anomaly in the single market would permit the various trade interests time to make adjustments to their businesses. At this stage, there is no reason to change the underlying analysis.

  Duty free sales for travel outside the EU will continue after 30 June 1999.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums were received by the Exchequer from the pension funds of each Government asset prior to privatisation of that asset. [10630]

  Mr. Jack
  No sums have been received prior to the privatisation of any public sector industry, but in three cases a pension fund surplus, or part of it, has been, or is being, paid to the Exchequer after privatisation. In the case of the National Bus Company, a £120 million surplus on its pension schemes was paid to HM Treasury in 1990, two to four years after the privatisation of the various NBC subsidiaries. In the case of the British Coal Corporation pension fund, a first payment of £39.5 million was received in 1996—more than a year after privatisation; in the case of Harland and Wolff, which was privatised in 1989, it was agreed that Harland and Wolff Holdings plc would repay to the Department of Economic Development a £6.5 million pension fund surplus: £1.15 million has been repaid to date.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cattle Cull
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans there are for the future disposal of cattle slaughtered to comply with the EC instructions. [10341]

  Mr. Baldry
  It is not clear to which specific EC instructions the question refers. However, in the context of the Government's BSE eradication programme, all BSE suspect animals are slaughtered on farm and sent for direct incineration in incineration plants contracted to the Ministry. Cattle purchased under the over-30-months scheme are slaughtered in compliance with Commission regulation 716/96 which requires the carcases to be disposed of by incineration or rendering and destruction.

  The Government announced on 16 December 1996 that the selective cull would go ahead and the disposal of any animal slaughtered under this scheme will be in compliance with regulation 1484/96, which also requires incineration or rendering and destruction.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas Adjournment; [9811]

  (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. [9810]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 13 January 1997,Official Report, columns 12–13.

  BSE
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals in respect of the crates used for the storage and transportation of animal carcases in the BSE eradication programme. [9891]

  Mr. Baldry
  Crates are used only for the transportation and storage of over-30-months scheme carcases going into or out of cold storage.

  When carcases are removed from cold stores the operators have been instructed to store the crates safely pending destruction.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what methods of incineration are currently being(a) used and (b) experimented with in connection with the BSE eradication programme. [9892]

  Mrs. Browning
  Current incineration methods include burning carcases in dedicated incinerators and meat and bonemeal in a high-temperature waste incinerator. Other possibilities under consideration include the burning of MBM and tallow for energy recovery in power stations.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture,286
  Fisheries and Food what payments have been made to date to slaughterers in connection with the BSE eradication programme. [9895]

  Mr. Baldry
  As at 6 January, £57,753 million has been paid in slaughter fees to abattoirs participating in the over-30-months slaughter scheme.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the total consultancy costs to date associated with the BSE eradication programme; and what are the projected costs. [9896]

  Mr. Baldry
  Consultancy costs associated with the current BSE eradication programme and incurred by MAFF have amounted to £3,386,693 to date in the current financial year. This includes work in respect of the rendering industry, slaughterhouses, cutting plants and unsaleable stocks. IBEA has incurred costs of £150,000 in respect of the over 30-month scheme.

  At the present time, the projected future costs of MAFF and IBEA amount to £1,925,000. The above costs do not include the costs of implementing the cattle traceability system.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many grain stores have been converted for storage of animal by-products associated with the current BSE eradication programme; and what has been the cost to date. [9898]

  Mr. Baldry
  Three government-owned warehouses have been converted to cold stores at a cost of £3 million. When no longer required in connection with BSE-related schemes the stores will provide cost-effective storage for intervention beef and butter.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost to date of the storage of non-frozen beef as meat or bonemeal and tallow; and what quantities are currently in storage awaiting disposal under the BSE eradication programme. [9899]

  Mr. Baldry
  As at 5 January, storage payments amounting to £4,316 million had been made. As at 30 November 1996, the quantities of meat or bonemeal and tallow in store were 114,530 tonnes and 80,128 tonnes respectively.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total cost to date of long-term rental agreements for cold stores under the BSE eradication scheme; and how many cold stores are currently available to his Department. [9900]

  Mr. Baldry
  The total cost to date of long-term rental agreements for cold storage is £28.2 million. There are currently 41 cold stores available in the Department.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost to date of(a) thawing, (b) disposal of crates, (c) cleaning and sterilising of cold stores and (d) other on-costs not covered by storage charges in respect of carcase disposal under the BSE eradication scheme. [9901]

  Mr. Baldry
  There has been no expenditure to date on the items listed at (a), (b) and (c). Expenditure in respect of other on-costs not covered by storage charges was £75,700 as at 5 January.
  287
  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total cost to date of the refrigerated transportation to cold stores of animals culled as part of the current BSE eradication programme. [9902]

  Mr. Baldry
  As at 5 January, –1.991 million had been paid for refrigerated transportation of cull carcases to cold stores.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost to public funds of carcase transportation to renderers under the BSE eradication scheme; and how many carcases are currently awaiting transportation. [9903]

  Mr. Baldry
  The cost of transport from the abattoir to the rendering plant is included in the fee paid to the rendering plant and is not separately identifiable. Carcases are transported either to cold stores or direct for rendering on the day that the animals are slaughtered so none are awaiting transportation from abattoirs.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the disposal of the(a) blood, (b) run-off from thawed-out carcases and (c) water used for cleaning and sterilising stores and vehicles, associated with the current BSE eradication programme. [9894]

  Mr. Baldry
  Under the over 30-month scheme blood must be destroyed or be controlled in such a way that it does not enter the human or animal food chains and cannot be used in cosmetic for pharmaceutical products. The Intervention Board has introduced arrangements for the collection and disposal of blood from OTMS cattle slaughtered in Great Britain and is making similar arrangements for Northern Ireland.

  Limited trials have taken place on the rendering of frozen OTMS carcases. Most involved the crushing of material prior to immediate processing. The results of these trials are being evaluated.

  There are various controlled disposal routes for water used for cleaning and sterilising stores and vehicles including sewerage treatment works, soil injection and mains drainage following on-site treatment.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safety measures are currently available to those engaged in the handling and disposal of carcases associated with the BSE eradication process; and what safety monitoring is in place. [9897]

  Mrs. Browning
  General guidance for all occupational groups who may be exposed to the agent of BSE was published in August 1996 by the Health and Safety Commission, the Department of Health and the Ministry following a review of existing guidance material on BSE. This new guidance includes those involved in the handling and disposal of carcases under the Government's BSE eradication programme. the guidance, prepared by the independent Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, recommended the maintenance of high standards of hygiene when working with cattle and advised on new methods of working to avoid or minimize 288
  exposure to tissues of cattle that may carry the BSE agent. These precautions are considered prudent although there is no evidence of any risk to those in occupations in which exposure to the BSE agent may occur. To date approximately 2,500 copies of the guidance have been distributed and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and regulations made under it apply to abattoirs and rendering plants that are engaged in the handling and disposal of carcases. Health and Safety Executive inspectors visit such premises during normal preventative inspections; protection from exposure to BSE agent is considered along with other matters.

  Quarantine Regulations
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has completed his review of the current quarantine regulations; and if he will make a statement. [9893]

  Mrs. Browning
  Our work is not yet complete.

  Arable Area Payments
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of arable area aid payments in 1996 were made within the 31 December deadline. [11580]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am pleased to say that arable area payments were sent out to 99 per cent. of claimants in England by 31 December, covering around 98 per cent. of payments by value. This successful result bears testimony both to the prompt and accurate return of claims by farmers and to the efforts made by the Ministry's staff to process payments as required by EU rules.

WALES

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will collate and publish the figures provided in the Office of Her Majesty's chief inspector's school inspection reports of maintained primary schools on class size in each year. [9589]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Office of Her Majesty's chief inspector does not collect information on class size in each year group. Statistics on the average size of registered classes within maintained primary schools are published in "Statistics of Education and Training in Wales: Schools No. 4 1996".

  Staff
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [9485]
  289
  Mr. Hague
  The information requested as at December 1996 is as follows:

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total staff

  Male

  1,146

  17

  1,163

  Female

  970

  273

  1,243

  Total

  2,116

  290

  2,406

  Figures shown include staff in the Executive Agency, Cadw.

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date the sections of the appropriation account for Wales concerning central Government expenditure on the NHS in Wales were published. [10280]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 December 1996,Official Report, column 446–47.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the principal areas to which the additional £30 million for the national health service provided for in the winter supplementary estimates will be applied. [9956]

  Mr. Hague
  Of the £30 million end-year flexibility entitlement take-up in the winter supplementary estimate, £18 million related to capital expenditure—£6 million for NHS trusts and £12 million for slippage on centrally funded schemes—mainly Wrexham Maelor phase 2, Ynys-y-Plwm, Princess of Wales phase 2 and Torfaen community hospital. The remaining £12 million was taken up for a number of revenue expenditure items including 2.5 million for GP fundholder carry-forward, £3 million for the dental initiative, £1 million for the clinical effectiveness initiative and £3 million for health authority liquidity.

  Ambulance Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what(a) sanctions and (b) incentives he has to encourage ambulance trusts to meet the targets of 60 per cent. of ambulance staff trained as paramedics and one paramedic on each emergency call-out ambulance within his timetable; and if he will make a statement. [10268]

  Mr. Hague
  No sanctions have been introduced. Training funds are provided centrally to encourage the ambulance trusts to meet the set targets.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Government response to the Third Report of the Welsh Affairs Committee, HC 91, Session 1996–97, what is his current estimate of the proportion of ambulance staff trained as paramedics in each ambulance trust; and what assessment he has made of the probability of their meeting the 60 per cent. target within his timetable. [10270]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 December 1996,Official Report, column 446.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Government response to the Third Report of the Welsh Affairs Committee on the Training of Ambulance Paramedics, HC 91, Session 1996–97, if he will make a statement on(a) the proposed new patients charter standard in relation to life-threatening call-outs,
  290
  (b)the pilot study on prioritisation of emergency calls and (c) the research project into the costs and benefits of calls prioritisation, with particular reference to sparsely populated areas. [10269]

  Mr. Hague
  Any new patients charter standard in Wales in relation to life-threatening calls will be announced after my Department has fully researched the benefits and costs of calls prioritisation. No pilot study will be introduced until I am satisfied with the results of the research which is likely to be completed by April 1997.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Government response to the Third Report of the Welsh Affairs Committee, HC 91, Session 1996–97, on the Training of Ambulance Paramedics what(a) interim arrangements for funding training and (b) top-sliced funds he has agreed with the Ambulance Trusts for (i) first time paramedic training and (ii) re-training for 1997–98. [10267]

  Mr. Hague
  Current funding arrangements, including the continuation of one-off funding for refresher training, will be kept in place in 1997–98. There will be no change in top-sliced funding in 1997–98 in respect of ambulance paramedics training.

  Ministerial Leave
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many days of leave he plans to take during the Christmas Adjournment. [9825]

  Mr. Hague
  Five.

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [9824]

  Mr. Hague
  The following is the information:

  Easter: three

  Whitsun: three

  Summer: nine

  Prorogued: none.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) trainee GPs and (b) GP training places there were in each Welsh GP training centre in (i) August 1995 and (ii) August 1994; and if he will make a statement on the vacancy rate for the 1994, 1995 and 1996 GP training schemes. [9958]

  Mr. Hague
  Information obtained from the University of Wales college of medicine, relating to August 1995, is given in the following table. The college is unable to provide information relating to August 1994.
  291

  GP training places

  Training centre

  Number of places Available

  Filled

  Aberystwyth

  10

  2

  Bridgend

  9

  9

  Carmarthen

  5

  3

  Clwyd North (Rhyl)

  Not known

  Clwyd South (Wrexham)

  6

  5

  East Glamorgan

  8

  3

  Gwynedd (Bangor)

  15

  7

  Haverfordwest

  4

  1

  Gwent North(Abergavenny)

  6

  1

  Gwent South(Newport)

  6

  2

  South Glamorgan(Cardiff)

  6

  5

  Swansea Bay

  8

  8

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what specific action he has taken to eliminate bed blocking in north-east Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9962]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This is a matter for local resolution by the health and local authorities concerned.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to enable general practitioners in north Wales to obtain hospital emergency medical beds for frail elderly patients; and if he will make a statement. [9964]

  Treatment centres-funding and number of cases 1995–96 activity

  Health authority

  Treatment Centre

  Bridgend ophthalmic

  Bridgend surgical

  Rhydlafar orthopaedic

  Hips

  Knees

  Joint revisions

  Procedures

  Funding

  Procedures

  Funding

  Procedures

  Funding

  Procedures

  Funding

  Procedures

  Funding

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Clwyd

  0

  0

  8

  3,893

  8

  23,656

  14

  51,016

  0

  0

  Dyfed

  156

  138,134

  65

  31,627

  35

  103,495

  14

  51,016

  2

  12,986

  Gwent

  235

  208,087

  158

  76,879

  29

  85,753

  23

  83,812

  8

  51,944

  Gwynedd

  0

  0

  2

  973

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mid

  Glamorgan

  445

  394,036

  541

  263,237

  31

  91,667

  21

  76,524

  7

  45,451

  Powys

  11

  9,740

  1

  487

  8

  23,656

  4

  14,576

  2

  12,986

  South

  Glamorgan

  60

  53,128

  172

  83,691

  26

  76,882

  19

  69,236

  7

  45,451

  West

  Glamorgan

  173

  153,187

  113

  54,983

  23

  68,011

  12

  43,728

  5

  32,465

  Total

  1,080

  956,312

  1,060

  515,770

  160

  473,120

  107

  389,908

  31

  201,283

  1996–97 current allocations

  Health authority

  Treatment centre

  Bridgend ophthalmic

  Bridgend surgical

  Rhydlafar orthopaedic1

  Hips

  Knees

  Joint Revisions

  Allocation

  Funding

  Allocation

  Funding

  Allocation

  Funding

  Allocation

  Funding

  Allocation

  Funding

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  North Wales

  0

  0

  2

  1,000

  10

  28,440

  30

  105,750

  0

  0

  Dyfed Powys

  200

  175,226

  93

  46,495

  31

  88,164

  19

  66,975

  12

  77,916

  Gwent

  340

  297,884

  190

  94,992

  25

  71,100

  20

  70,500

  15

  97,395

  292
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The North Wales health authority has confirmed that for all categories of patient, emergency care remains the authority's highest priority and will have first call on the additional resources available to it during 1996–97.

  The improved arrangements for forecasting and managing need in 1996–97 are working well.

  Treatment Centres
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 16 December,Official Report, column 448, if he will place in the Library a copy of the consultation letter and the responses on the future of the treatment centres. [10285]

  Mr. Hague
  I have placed copies of the Department's consultation letter of 28 June together with a summary of the responses on the future of the treatment centre initiative in the Library.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the funding arrangements and the numbers of cases to be dealt with in 1997–98 in each treatment centre indicating funding and numbers of cases in each health authority area; and what are the equivalent figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97. [10286]

  Mr. Hague
  For 1997–98 ring-fenced funding for the treatment centre initiative will be put into health authorities allocations. The allocation of places at each centre next year, and hence the funding to be made available, is currently being determined in discussion with the centres themselves. Activity at and funding for the treatment centres in 1995–96 and that currently planned for 1996–97 is shown in the following table:
  293

  1996–97 current allocations

  Health authority

  Treatment centre

  Bridgend ophthalmic

  Bridgend surgical

  Rhydlafar orthopaedic1

  Hips

  Knees

  Joint Revisions

  Allocation

  Funding

  Allocation

  Funding

  Allocation

  Funding

  Allocation

  Funding

  Allocation

  Funding

  Bro Taf

  245

  214,652

  374

  186,982

  24

  68,256

  17

  59,925

  18

  116,874

  Iechyd' Morgannwg

  295

  258,458

  401

  200,481

  17

  48,348

  12

  42,300

  15

  97,395

  Total

  1,080

  946,220

  1,060

  529,950

  107

  304,308

  98

  345,450

  60

  389,580

  1 Does not include mid-year reallocations for the Rhydlafar centre—discussions are currently on-going.

  Hospital Admission Units
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh acute hospitals have opened admission units; and what analysis he has made of the impact of admission units on(a) rapid admission and (b) treatment (i) generally and (ii) patients brought in on emergency ambulances. [10259]

  Mr. Hague
  I understand that the majority of Welsh hospitals have opened admission-assessment units; their individual operation is a matter for the respective trusts.

  Clwydian Community Trust
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the headings and amounts of his subventions to the Clwydian Community Trust indicating the amounts for the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [9963]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Clwydian community NHS trust has drawn down one long-term loan of £1,000,000 during the current financial year.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the annual operating costs of the Cardiff Bay barrage; and what proposals he has discussed with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation and the two riparian local authorities concerning the sharing of those costs after the winding up of the corporation. [9957]

  Mr. Hague
  None. The corporation has not yet provided a detailed estimate of the operating costs of the barrage beyond December 1999; but will do so later this year, following completion of the wind-up consultation exercise and consideration of a management company option.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost to public funds of(a) completing the construction of the Cardiff Bay barrage and (b) dismantling and removing the superstructure and foundations already in place and returning the site to the condition which obtained before construction commenced; and if he will make a statement. [10723]

  Mr. Hague
  The barrage contracts are operational matters for the corporation; I will ask the chief executive to write to the hon. Member and will arrange for a copy of his response to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what targets the Welsh Office has set for attracting inward investment and jobs to Cardiff by 2000; and what 294
  assessment he has made of the effect a failure to complete the construction of the Cardiff bay barrage would have on the ability of the region to meet those targets. [10722]

  Mr. Hague
  I have not set any specific inward investment or job creation targets for Cardiff or for Cardiff bay. I have noted that the targets set by the development corporation in its corporate plan are to provide by the year 2000 around £1 billion private sector investment and 15,000 new jobs. The barrage is a key component in the corporation's regeneration strategy and is expected to be completed in 1998.

  Rugby World Cup
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions his rugby world cup co-ordinating group has met; if he will list its members and organisations represented and the date of the next meeting. [10472]

  Mr. Hague
  The rugby world cup liaison group has met three times. The chief officers of the following bodies have been invited to attend or sent representatives:the Welsh Rugby Union, the Wales Tourist Board, the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales, the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, the Welsh Local Government Association, Cardiff Marketing, Cardiff county council, the Sports Council for Wales, the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Food Promotions, the Welsh Language Board, Carmarthen county council and CADW.

  Other organisations are invited to send representatives if the group is discussing items in which they might have an interest.

  The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 16 January.

  EU Regional Affairs Commissioner
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 December, if he will list the principal reasons for not meeting the European Commissioner responsible for regional affairs(a) on 6 December and (b) at another point during her visit to Wales. [10476]

  Mr. Hague
  Constraints on my diary and on the programme for the Commissioner's visit meant that we were unable to meet on this occasion.

  Housing
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) local authority and (b) housing association houses have been built in Wales in each of the last 10 years. [10484]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Information on the number of completions, by tenure for each of the last 10 years, has been published in table 2.3 of "Welsh Housing Statistics,
  295
  1996", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The numbers shown for housing association completions are based on local authority returns.

  Jobs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce details of the remaining 700 new jobs of the total new jobs package he announced in the Welsh Grand Committee on 30 November 1996,Official Report, column 10. [10501]

  Mr. Hague
  Further announcements are expected very soon.

  Sea Empress Oil Spill
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to continue funding research into the environmental impacts of the Sea Empress disaster after the publication of the Sea Empress environmental effects committee report in 1997. [10482]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  My right hon. Friend will consider this in the light of the report of the Sea Empress environmental evaluation committee.

  School Assessment
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors underlie the omission of the subject of Welsh in his projection of school assessment results; and if he will make a statement. [10403]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The results for Welsh are included alongside those for the other core subjects in the national curriculum results booklets. As part of the bright future programme to raise standards of literacy and numeracy, Welsh is included in the performance indicators developed for the end of each key stage.

  Farmers (Negative Equity)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of farmers with negative equity problems; and if he will make a statement. [10520]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each of the county and county borough councils in Wales and for Wales as a whole in constant prices(a) the estimated cost of the 1997 teachers' pay award, (b) the estimated cost of community care, (c) the estimated cost of provision for police authorities and (d) the remaining amount of total standard spending assessments announced on 12 December indicating, in each case, the actual and percentage increase or decrease relative to equivalent figures for 1996–97 set after consultation in January 1996; [10726]

  (2) if he will publish for each of the county and county borough councils and for Wales as a whole in constant prices (a) total standard spending assessments, including provision for community care and police authorities, set after consultation with local authorities in January 1996
  296
  for 1996–97, (b) the equivalent provisional standard spending assessments following his statement to the House on 12 December 1996 for 1997–98 and (c) the percentage change between (a) and (b) in each case. [10719]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Specific costs such as teachers' pay are not identified separately within local authorities' standard spending assessments. The 1997 teachers' pay award will be announced by the School Teachers' Review Body in the near future. It has been directed to have regard to affordability in the light of the 1997–98 local government revenue settlements for England and Wales.

  Provision in respect of care in the community is included within local authorities' standard spending assessments. Individual allocations for 1996–97 and 1997–98 at constant prices are shown in table 1. The remaining information requested for councils standard spending assessment at constant prices is given in tables 2 and 3.

  Provision for police authorities is assessed separately and comprises SSA and police grant. These figures at constant prices are shown in table 4. The figures provided in the tables have not been adjusted to take account of changes in local authority functions between 1996–97 and 1997–98.

  Table 1: Allocations within total standard spending assessments in respect of care in the community

  Council

  1997–981 (£000)

  1996–97 (£000)

  Change (£000)

  Percentage change

  Blaenau Gwent

  4,157

  3,758

  399

  10.6

  Bridgend

  7,133

  6,401

  732

  11.4

  Caerphilly

  8,968

  8,085

  884

  10.9

  Cardiff

  15,677

  14,109

  1,568

  11.1

  Carmarthenshire

  10,924

  9,839

  1,085

  11.0

  Ceredigion

  4,174

  3,753

  421

  11.2

  Conwy

  7,182

  6,485

  697

  10.8

  Denbighshire

  5,678

  5,170

  508

  9.8

  Flintshire

  7,115

  6,393

  722

  11.3

  Gwynedd

  7,553

  6,804

  749

  11.0

  Isle of Anglesey

  3,909

  3,608

  301

  8.3

  Merthyr Tydfil

  3,746

  3,413

  333

  9.8

  Monmouthshire

  4,451

  3,941

  510

  12.9

  Neath Port Talbot

  8,734

  7,794

  940

  12.1

  Newport

  7,212

  6,553

  658

  10.0

  Pembrokeshire

  6,229

  5,597

  632

  11.3

  Powys

  7,400

  6,687

  713

  10.7

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  15,248

  13,748

  1,501

  10.9

  Swansea

  13,329

  12,092

  1,237

  10.2

  Torfaen

  4,536

  4,088

  448

  11.0

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  5,875

  5,363

  512

  9.5

  Wrexham

  6,660

  5,963

  697

  11.7

  All county and county borough councils

  165,891

  149,644

  16,247

  10.9

  1 Allocations in the provisional 1997–98 local government revenue settlement estimated at 1996–97 prices.

  297

  Table 2: Allocations within total standard spending assessments in respect of care in the community

  Council

  1997–981 (£000)

  1996–97 (£000)

  Change (£000)

  Percentage change

  Blaenau Gwent

  59,937

  60,738

  -801

  -1.3

  Bridgend

  100,649

  101.186

  -538

  -0.5

  Caerphilly

  135,717

  136,242

  -524

  -0.4

  Cardiff

  230,477

  230,924

  -448

  -0.2

  Carmarthenshire

  138,167

  138,519

  -352

  -0.3

  Ceredigion

  56,240

  56,162

  78

  0.1

  Conwy

  84,105

  83,563

  542

  0.6

  Denbighshire

  73,029

  73,384

  -356

  -0.5

  Flintshire

  106,235

  106,166

  70

  0.1

  Gwynedd

  99,975

  99,599

  376

  0.4

  Isle of Anglesey

  56,737

  57,194

  -457

  -0.8

  Methyr Tydfil

  51,807

  52,446

  -639

  -1.2

  Monmouthshire

  60,396

  60,104

  293

  0.5

  Neath Port Talbot

  111,319

  112,657

  -1,338

  -1.2

  Newport

  109,344

  110,963

  -1,618

  -1.5

  Pembrokeshire

  93,878

  94,833

  -955

  -1.0

  Powys

  108,848

  108,961

  -114

  -0.1

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  191,365

  193,338

  -1,973

  -1.0

  Swansea

  179,302

  181,451

  -2,149

  -1.2

  Torfaen

  72,492

  73,709

  -1,217

  -1.7

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  88,245

  89,270

  -1,025

  -1.1

  Wrexham

  92,158

  92,595

  -436

  -0.5

  All councils

  2,300,424

  2,314,005

  -13,581

  -0.6

  1Provisional 1997–98 local government revenue settlement estimated at 1996–97 prices.

  Table 3: Allocations within total standard spending assessments in respect of care in the community

  Council

  1997–981 (£000)

  1996–97 (£000)

  Change (£000)

  Percentage change

  Blaenau Gwent

  64,094

  64.496

  -402

  -0.6

  Bridgend

  107,782

  107,587

  194

  0.2

  Caerphilly

  144,686

  144,327

  359

  0.2

  Cardiff

  246,154

  245,034

  1,120

  0.5

  Carmarthenshire

  149,091

  148,358

  733

  0.5

  Ceredigion

  60,415

  59,915

  500

  0.8

  Conwy

  91,287

  90,048

  1,239

  1.4

  Denbighshire

  78,707

  78,555

  152

  0.2

  Flintshire

  113,350

  112,559

  792

  0.7

  Gwynedd

  107,528

  106,403

  1,125

  1.1

  Isle of Anglesey

  60,646

  60,802

  -156

  -0.3

  Merthyr Tydfil

  55,554

  55,859

  -306

  -0.5

  Monmouthshire

  64,847

  64,045

  803

  1.3

  Neath Port Talbot

  120,053

  120,451

  -398

  -0.3

  Newport

  116,556

  117,516

  -960

  -0.8

  Pembrokeshire

  110,106

  100,430

  -324

  -0.3

  Powys

  116,248

  115,649

  599

  0.5

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  206,614

  207,086

  -472

  -0.2

  298

  Table 3: Total standard spending assessments

  Council

  1997–981 (£000)

  1996–97 (£000)

  Change (£000)

  Percentage change

  Swansea

  192,631

  193,543

  -912

  -0.5

  Torfaen

  77,028

  77,796

  -769

  -1.0

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  94,121

  94,634

  -513

  -0.5

  Wrexham

  98,818

  98,558

  260

  0.3

  All councils

  2,466,315

  2,463,649

  2,666

  0.1

  1 Provisional 1997–98 local government revenue settlement estimated at 1996–97 prices.

  Table 4: Total standard spending assessments and allocations of police grant for police authorities

  Police authority

  1997–981(£000)

  1996–97 (£000)

  Change (£000)

  Percentage change

  Dyfed-Powys

  48,777

  48,579

  198

  0.4

  Gwent

  63,237

  62,752

  485

  0.8

  North Wales

  69,818

  69,340

  478

  0.7

  South Wales

  152,097

  151,074

  1,023

  0.7

  All police authorities

  333,929

  331,745

  2,184

  0.7

  1 Provisional 1997–98 local government revenue settlement estimated at 1996–97 prices.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress achieved in the intergovernmental conference. [9254]

  Mr. David Davis
  Negotiations in the intergovernmental conference will continue under the Dutch Presidency on the basis of the draft revision of the treaties submitted by the Irish Presidency. The Dublin European Council reaffirmed the target of completing the IGC at the Amsterdam European Council.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the principal agreements of the Dublin European Union summit of 13 and 14 December; and, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral statement on 16 December what public responses Her Majesty's Government have received on the summit conclusions on intergovernmental conference matters. [9784]

  Mr. Davis
  The principal agreements reached at the Dublin European Council were outlined by the Prime Minister in his statement to the House on 16 December,Official Report, columns 615–17, and are set out in full in the Presidency's conclusions, which have been placed in the Library of the House. There have been a number of public responses to the Dublin outcome, including the IGC conclusions.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals on social policy are being discussed at the intergovernmental conference; and if he will make a statement. [9259]
  299
  Mr. Davis
  A number of proposals relating to social policy are under discussion in the intergovernmental conference.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been put forward at the intergovernmental conference to extend qualified majority voting. [9235]

  Mr. Rifkind
  Several member states have put forward proposals which involve extending the use of qualified majority voting in particular areas.

  Poland
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of Poland's applications to join NATO and the EEC. [9255]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  NATO will decide at a summit in Madrid on 8 and 9 July which countries will be invited to open accession negotiations, and the European Commission's opinion on Poland's application to join the EU will happen later this year.

  China
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Sino-British relations. [9256]

  Mr. Hanley
  Relations with China have recently shown good progress in many areas. Both countries attach importance to a successful transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong later this year, and are continuing their efforts to achieve that end.

  Israel
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations between Britain and Israel. [9257]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our relations with Israel remain good.

  Serbia
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the situation in Serbia with his EU counterparts. [9258]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed the situation in Serbia with EU counterparts at the European Council in Dublin on 13 December last. We continue to monitor the situation and remain in constant contact with partners and allies.

  Burma
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Burma. [9260]

  Mr. Hanley
  The UK maintains diplomatic relations with Burma. Through our embassy in Rangoon and our contacts with the Burmese embassy in London, we continue our policy of critical dialogue with the ruling State Law and Order Council—SLORC—with the aim of encouraging democratic reform and full respect for human rights in Burma.
  300
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken by the Government to encourage an improvement in human rights and a respect for democracy in Burma. [9249]

  Mr. Hanley
  I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe).

  Brazil
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Brazil. [9261]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Our relations with Brazil are excellent.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in apprehending indicated war criminals in the former Yugoslavia. [9262]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Seven indictees are held in custody in The Hague. One more is awaiting extradition from Croatia. We strongly support the work of the International Criminal Tribunal and have committed significant resources to it.

  NATO, Western European Union and Partnership for Peace
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are Her Majesty's Government's strategic proposals relating to the expansion of NATO, the Western European Union and Partnership for Peace. [9263]

  Mr. David Davis
  A NATO summit will be held on 8 and 9 July in Madrid. It will take a number of landmark decisions, including:inviting one or more countries to begin accession negotiations;
  finalising the arrangements for the establishment of a European security and defence identity in NATO;
  strengthening partnership for peace and, we expect, launching the Atlantic Partnership Council as a new body for co-operation between NATO and other countries.

  The Government's proposals for development of the Western European Union were made public in spring 1995.

  Iraq
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken in the United Nations to address the situation of Iraqi citizens held hostage by the Government of President Saddam Hussein. [9264]

  Mr. Hanley
  We remain concerned about Iraqis detained in Iraq without trial. The UN Special Rapporteur, to whom Iraq denies access, has recorded the appalling human rights abuses of the Iraqi regime, including the absence of law. At the United Nations we regularly condemn Iraq's human rights record and will continue to do so.

  Cyprus (European Union Accession)
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to encourage Cyprus' accession to the EU. [9265]

  Mr. David Davis
  A comprehensive political settlement of the Cyprus problem in 1997 will help to ensure the success of negotiations on accession to the EU. We are working hard with our European partners, the United States and others in supporting UN-led efforts to that end.

  Embassies and Consulates
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new steps he is taking to improve the services and advice offered by United Kingdom embassies and consulates to United Kingdom businesses wishing to export. [9266]

  Mr. Hanley
  This Department and the Department of Trade and Industry will jointly launch measures later this month to simplify access to, and raise awareness of, our services to exporters. We have already established a unit to monitor and help improve the quality standards of the chargeable services carried out for exporters by overseas posts. We have also launched an initiative to enhance the professionalism of officials engaged in trade promotion through a programme of secondments and externally accredited qualifications.

  United Nations
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with other member states regarding the future of the United Nations. [9267]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  We are in regular contact with other UN member states and in particular with our partners on the Security Council. We are working closely with the EU and other member states to revitalise the United Nations system and to ensure that we move towards a more modern and effective UN.

  Indonesia and East Timor
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Portuguese Government regarding the future of East Timor. [9268]

  Mr. Hanley
  We regularly discuss East Timor with the Portuguese Government. It was discussed by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs during his meeting with the Portuguese Foreign Minister, Mr. Gama, in July last year. Her Majesty's Government continue to believe that dialogue between Portugal and Indonesia under the auspices of the UN Secretary General offers the best hope of finding a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable settlement.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria his Department uses to determine whether defence equipment is likely to be used for internal repression in Indonesia and East Timor before granting export licences. [10717]
  302
  Mr. Hanley
  In judging whether defence equipment is likely to be used for internal repression, we draw on all the information available to us, including as appropriate the nature of the equipment, the technical capability and legitimate requirements of the end user and the current situation in the recipient country. Ministers evaluate this information with the advice, where necessary, of technical experts in appropriate Government agencies and of our missions overseas.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence referred to in paragraph 40 of the National Audit Office report, "Aid to Indonesia", relating to aid proposals and defence sales. [10724]

  Mr. Hanley
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Centre for Racism and Xenophobia
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the establishment of the proposed centre for racism and xenophobia with Her Majesty's Government's policy on subsidiarity. [9269]

  Mr. David Davis
  We believe that the problems raised by racism are best dealt with by national Governments, but there is a role for Europe to play in the exchange and dissemination of information in this area.

  Zaire
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the current situation in Zaire. [9270]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We remain concerned by the uncertain situation in Zaire. Rebellion in eastern Zaire continues, with much of Kivu province under rebel control. We welcome President Mobutu's stated commitment to continuing the democratic process and will continue to support efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Zaire.

  Anglo-Spanish Relations
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current state of Anglo-Spanish relations. [9239]

  Mr. David Davis
  When my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met the Spanish Prime Minister, Mr. Aznar, in London on 27 November, they agreed that the overall relationship with Spain was extremely good. Spain is also an important partner in the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the United Nations.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [10162]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 13 January 1997]: The information is in the table.
  303

  Expenditure on external consultants

  Diplomatic wing NDPBs

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  1996 to date £

  Great Britain—China Centre

  nil

  nil

  nil

  2,523

  8,004

  Britain—Russia Centre (approximate costs)

  300

  300

  300

  300

  300

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  Foreign Compensation Commission

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  The Westminster Foundation for Democracy spent approximately £50,000 on external consultants between 1993 and 1996. No year by year breakdown was available.

  None of ODA's non-departmental public bodies has employed external consultants in the last five years.

  Figures for the British Council could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Gulf Co-operation Council
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent Gulf Co-operation Council meeting in Qatar. [10300]

  Mr. Hanley
  We closely followed reporting of the discussions and decisions of the 17th Gulf Co-operation Council heads of state summit, which was held in Doha from 7 to 9 December 1996.

  Ministers welcome the GCC's call upon Iraq to fulfil all its international obligations, particularly those relating to weapons of mass destruction and the release of detainees.

  We share the GCC's concerns about continuing disputes in the region; the UK remains firmly committed to the peaceful resolution of them all.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will make a statement on the recent election of the Hong Kong chief executive designate. [10301]

  Mr. Hanley
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have all sent messages of congratulation to Mr. Tung, for whom we have great respect. British Ministers have every confidence that he will be a worthy first chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He will of course be most welcome to visit Britain at a time of his choosing. Ministers and the Governor are full committed to offering every assistance to the chief executive designate and his team to help in their preparations for a successful handover, in line with the Joint Declaration.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Her Majesty's high commission, Lagos, to supply the Immigration Appeal Tribunal with the statement of appeal for the case of Mr. C. A. Ekeh, Ref. GV100/29129, referred to in the high commission's letter dated 15 January 1996, Ref. LAG/12567/95. [10470]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  It is policy on grounds of confidentiality for Ministers not to comment publicly on individual applications for entry clearance. I will therefore write separately to my hon. Friend.
  304
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Department's letter Ref. GV100 /32380 of 11 September 1996 when he proposes to take action on the case of Mrs. Gertrude Mannai, Ref. 301220, relating to her husband and the entry clearance officer at Tunis. [10325]

  Dr. Fox
  Our policy is not to reveal details of individual entry clearance applications. I will therefore write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Libya
  Sir Cyril Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes to take to assist the issuing of visas in Libya. [10521]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  We have decided in principle to expand the visa service at the British interests section in Tripoli, to include additionally a limited number of applications from business visitors. However, certain practical difficulties, such as remodelling the office accommodation, will have to be resolved before this can take place.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek to improve relations with Libya. [9232]

  Mr. Hanley
  Any improvement in relations with Libya is dependent on that country complying with UN sanctions.

  Bahamas and Antigua (Chemical Weapons Tests)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Governments of the Bahamas and Antigua about the implications of the chemical tests carried out in the Caribbean 50 years ago; and if he will make a statement. [10822]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  No formal representations have between received from either the Government of the Bahamas or the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. However, Foreign Commonwealth Office officials received two letters from the Antiguan High Commissioner to London on the subject of biological weapons testing in the Caribbean in 1948–49. The FCO replied having sought advice from the Ministry of Defence.

  Right of Individual Petition: Official Records
  Right of Individual Petition: Official Records
  Atrush Camp, Northern Iraq
  Atrush Camp, Northern Iraq
  High Security Prisons
  High Security Prisons