Written Answers of 10 July 1997

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Elections (Communication Costs)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances communication costs for a blind, visually impaired or deaf person standing in(a) European, (b) parliamentary and (c) local authority elections may be exempted from the limits from the candidate's personal election expenses. [7087]

  Mr. George Howarth
  There is no statutory provision to exempt such costs at parliamentary or European parliamentary elections. The limit of £600 on a candidate's personal election expenses does not apply at local elections.

  Immigration
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is given to chief immigration officers on the handling of representations from hon. Members on deportation cases; and when this was last amended. [7767]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Guidelines for hon. Members making representations in immigration cases have been published by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and were most recently updated in April 1994. Officials who handle immigration cases raised by hon. Members are trained and have instructions about these guidelines. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I are currently considering issuing new guidance and will be holding a seminar for hon. Members who would like a more detailed explanation of immigration work.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 14 May, ref. 7870/97. [7456]

  Mr. Michael
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 7 July.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions were given to Leeds/Bradford Airport immigration officers following the telephone conversation with his private office by the hon. Member for Bradford, North on 4 July concerning Zaffer Iqbal, Home Office ref. J270919. [7768]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am given to understand that, following the hon. Member's telephone call to my private office on 4 July, it was agreed that he would discuss Mr. Iqbal's immigration status with Mr. Iqbal himself and members of his family on 5 July and make further contact with my private office if he wished to make representations about the case. No agreement was given 522
  to defer arrangements for Mr. Iqbal's removal to Pakistan as an illegal entrant, which had been arranged for 16.40 hours on Sunday, 6 July.

  My private office advised the Immigration Service at Leeds/Bradford airport of the hon. Member's interest in this case and that there might be further contact as a result.

  In the event, I understand that the hon. Member did not make further contact with my private office and that his office did not make contact with the Immigration Service at Leeds/Bradford Airport before Mr. Iqbal's departure.

  Police Act 1997
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he intends to give as to the meaning of the word "urgency" in section 97(3) of the Police Act 1997. [6924]

  Mr. Michael
  The urgency of any case will depend upon individual circumstances and commonsense. It will be a matter for the authorising officer to assess whether the authorisation needs to become effective immediately and the Commissioner notified subsequently. The Commissioner will consider the reasonableness of that decision and may quash any authorisation or renewal which he believes has not reasonably been given.

  Perjury
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July,Official Report, column 77, on what date Mr. Jonathan Aitken was interviewed by police officers in connection with his alleged perjury in his discontinued libel action against The Guardian. [7787]

  Mr. Michael
  The Commissioner informs me that the investigations into the alleged offences by Mr. Aitken are continuing. This investigation is an operational matter for the Commissioner. I am therefore unable to comment on the details.

  Theft Cases
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the savings there would be to the Exchequer if all theft cases including less than £500 were dealt with by summary trial. [7470]

  Mr. Michael
  Court proceedings data collected centrally do not record the amount or value of items stolen. Therefore it is not possible to estimate the savings that would accrue if all theft cases involving less than £500 were dealt with summarily.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many theft cases involving under £500 were disposed of in the Crown court in 1996; and how many of them resulted in a custodial sentence. [7487]

  Mr. Michael
  Court proceedings data collected centrally do not record the amount or value of items stolen.

  In 1995, there were 10,219 cases dealt with at the Crown Court for offences of theft. Of these, 4,430 resulted in a custodial sentence.

  1996 data will not be available until the autumn.

  Drinking (Public Places)
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when model byelaws will be in place to enable local authorities to control drinking in public places. [7440]

  Mr. George Howarth
  A model byelaw, prohibiting the consumption of intoxicating liquor in designated places within a local authority area after a request to stop by a police officer, has been available to local authorities since October 1990.

  Probation Officers
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers there are; how many are currently seconded to the Prison Service; and what are the projected figures over the next five years. [7216]

  Ms Joyce Quin
  The number of probation officers at 31 December 1996 (the latest date for which figures are as yet available) was 7,313, of which 543 were working in prisons. The previous Government's spending plans for the probation service, as set out in the Home Office Annual Report 1997, envisaged expenditure of £428 million in the present financial year, falling to £425 million next year and £417 million in 1999–2000. We shall maintain central government support at the planned level this financial year, and consider what level of funding the probation service needs in future years, in order to provide community sentences which are effective and which command public confidence, as part of the comprehensive review of spending on Home Office services. It is then for individual probation committees to determine the number of probation officers which they can employ within total available provision to carry out their responsibilities under the Probation Service Act 1993.

  The number of probation officers seconded to the Prison Service in future years will depend on the outcome of the comprehensive spending review and of discussions between governors and chief probation officers about the number of officers necessary to support effective throughcare in prisons, within governors' overall budgets.

  Hunting with Hounds
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the employment generated(a) directly and (b) indirectly by hunting with hounds. [7836]

  Mr. George Howarth
  A Private Member's Bill to ban hunting with hounds is currently before the House. This will provide the opportunity for Parliament to consider all the effects of a ban.

  Obscenity Working Group
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to continue the work of the interdepartmental working group on obscenity. [5654]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: The Government attaches great importance to the work of the Interdepartmental Group on Obscenity which was
  524
  established in 1995 and consists of officials from various Government Departments, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service with the task of monitoring developments in the area of obscenity, with particular reference to emerging trends in child and computer pornography; to identify any difficulties in enforcement or weaknesses in the relevant law; and to consider ways of overcoming them.

  Up to now, the main subjects the Group has discussed have been the availability of pornographic material on the Internet and self-regulation by Internet service providers; police enforcement of the law on obscenity and child pornography; the display of indecent publications in newsagents; guidance on the sexual content of teenage magazines; international treaties on obscenity; the workings of the Obscene Publications Act 1959; unlicensed sex establishments; satellite pornography; the Home Office research study "Testing obscenity; an international comparison of laws and controls relating to obscene material"; and Lord Halsbury's Bill on obscenity.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Opposition Benefits (Cost)
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list the benefits and the monetary value of benefits granted to the official Opposition, other than those funded from the Short allocation to Opposition parties, with special reference to(a) salaries of Opposition Leader and Whips, (b) salaries and costs of civil servants attached to the Opposition Whips' Office, (c) the provision of a car and driver to the Leader of the Opposition and (d) the supply of newspapers to the Opposition Whips' Office. [6930]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The information requested is as follows. All figures are per year.

  (a) Salaries:

  Leader of the Opposition: £55,000

  Opposition Chief Whip: £31,125

  Opposition Deputy Chief Whip: £20,029

  Assistant Opposition Whip: £20,029

  Total: 126,183

  (b) The total salary bill is: £88,657

  (c) £58,095

  (d) The House authorities supply the Office with three copies of each of 12 daily newspapers for each day the House is sitting. An exact figure for the total cost is not readily available.

  Workings of the House Review
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the President of the Council if she will give for the review of the workings of the House of Commons(a) the expected completion date and (b) the cost of conducting the review. [8244]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The House has ordered that the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the practices and procedures of the House should seek to make a first report to the House before the Summer Adjournment and I expect it to do so. It is not yet possible to estimate the timing of future reports or the costs of the Committee's work.

  Parental Leave
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the Commission's policy on parental leave for staff. [6663]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The Commission's policy on parental leave is set out in the Staff Handbook. Parental leave covers entitlements to maternity leave as well as a range of discretionary provisions covering such circumstances as short term domestic crises, marriage, paternity leave, and a career break scheme which includes provision for the care of young children.

PRIME MINISTER

  Armistice (80th Anniversary)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will constitute a committee to consult other interested bodies, including the ex-service men's organisations, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armistice on 11 November 1998; and if he will make a statement. [7273]

  The Prime Minister
  There are currently no plans to constitute a consultative committee for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Armistice on 11 November next year.

  The Government will continue to support the national Service of Remembrance held in London at the Cenotaph.

  Hairdressing Costs
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Prime Minister what budget exists for hairdressing for(a) the Prime Minister and (b) members of his family accompanying him on official visits overseas; and what payments were (i) initially authorised and (ii) paid for such expenses during the Prime Minister's recent visit to the United States for (1) the Prime Minister and (2) members of his family accompanying him. [7695]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government would in the normal way meet necessary expenses connected with official visits overseas. The costs of hairdressing during the Denver Summit were met privately.

  Budget Leaks
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers or their staff gave information to the media in advance of the Budget speech by the Chancellor. [7815]

  Mr. Bernard Jenkin
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is the Government's policy on disclosure of information about the Budget prior to a Budget statement;
  [7072]

  (2) what is his Government's policy on press briefing before the Budget statement. [7076]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the replies that I gave to the Right hon. Member, the Leader of the Opposition, on 2 July,Official Report, columns 288–89.

  China
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to visit the People's Republic of China. [7168]

  The Prime Minister
  When we met in Hong Kong, the Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, invited me to visit China. I have no immediate plans to take advantage of the invitation, which I have accepted, but I would like to do so soon.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his discussions in Hong Kong with the Chinese President Jiang Zemin. [7167]

  The Prime Minister
  My meeting in Hong Kong was the first with the Chinese President since taking office. This was an historic occasion and provided a unique opportunity to set the tune for future relations. I emphasised the importance of the Joint Declaration to Hong Kong's future. We both expressed a wish to improve and broaden bilateral relations.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Anglo-Chinese relations. [7169]

  The Prime Minister
  We aim to build a new, broad and forward-looking relationship with China. Britain and China have substantial common interests, including a special interest in Hong Kong. We look forward to dialogue and closer co-operation across a full range of bilateral and global issues.

  Indian Subcontinent (Visits)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit India in connection with the 50th anniversary of independence. [7170]

  The Prime Minister
  None at present, but I look forward to seeing the Indian Prime Minister at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh in October. Her Majesty the Queen will make a State Visit to India earlier that month.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit(a) Pakistan, (b) Bangladesh and (c) Sri Lanka. [7171]

  The Prime Minister
  None at present. I look forward to meeting the Heads of Government of all three countries at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh in October. Earlier that month Her Majesty the Queen will make a state visit to Pakistan to mark the 50th anniversary of independence.

  10 Downing Street (Energy Efficiency)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Prime Minister what measures have been taken during the past five years to improve the energy efficiency of 10 Downing Street; at what point on the National Home Energy Rating Scheme 10 Downing Street lies; and what future measures are planned to increase its energy efficiency. [7104]

  The Prime Minister
  Over the past five years, the Cabinet Office Estate, including 10 and 11 Downing Street, has had in place a programme to maximise energy efficiency and minimise waste. A reduction of 15 per cent. in energy consumption has been achieved over the period. The programme of work in support of increasing energy efficiency will continue.
  527
  The National Home Energy Rating Scheme is designed for use in assessing domestic energy efficiency and is not appropriate for application to buildings such as those in the Downing Street complex.

  Millennium Celebrations
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the division of responsibilities between the Secretary of State for National Heritage and the Minister without Portfolio in respect of the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich. [4432]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 23 June 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage has responsibility overall for arrangements to mark the Millennium nation-wide. The shares in Millennium Central Limited, the Millennium Exhibition operating company, are being transferred to my hon. Friend, the Minister without Portfolio. As sole shareholder, he will have detailed responsibility for preparation of the Exhibition.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if the decision to proceed with the Millennium Experience was taken by a vote within Cabinet. [6886]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: Details relating to proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees are not published.

  Ministerial Committee on the Environment
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister for what reason membership of the Ministerial Committee on the Environment does not include the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. [6889]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: The Ministerial Committee on the Environment considers environmental policy issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment is invited to attend or be represented for items in which he has a departmental interest.

DEFENCE

  Defence Medical Training Organisation
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Defence Medical Training Organisation. [8516]

  Dr. Reid
  The Defence Medical Training Organisation (DMTO), which formed initially on 1 April 1996 and brought together the provision of individual medical services training previously provided on a single Service basis, was established as a joint Service Agency on 1 April 1997 under the control of a Chief Executive. The Headquarters of the DMTO will be based initially in Portsmouth, moving to HMS DOLPHIN in late 1998. The DMTO consists of the following:(a) The Royal Defence Medical College, currently on two sites at Millbank, London and HMS DOLPHIN, Gosport. The London element will move to HMS DOLPHIN later this year.
  (b) The Defence Medical Services Training, Keogh Barracks, Aldershot.
  528
  The aim of the Agency is to deliver individual medical services training, to prescribed standards, to meet the operational requirement.

  The Chief Executive, Major General C. G. Callow OBE QHP L/RAMC, will be afforded greater responsibility and flexibility to build upon the reputation for excellence of medical services training. Thus the MOD will continue to have access to the training necessary to provide highly trained and motivated medical services personnel in support of military operations while ensuring best value for money is obtained.

  The Chief Executive has been set the following key targets for the first year of operation:

  1. To achieve the following success rates for the categories of training shown:

  Common Core Course: 90 per cent.

  Specialist Register: 95 per cent.

  Pre-Registration Nurses: 95 per cent.

  2. To achieve £0.332 million savings in Year 1 and thereafter set targets in terms of annual reduction in unit cost of output.

  3. To actively seek ways of improving the quality and relevance of medical services training by assisting customers to review their training objectives and to respond to customers within 3 months of each review.

  4. To develop measures of unit cost of output which will allow targets for reduction to be set for Year 2 and beyond.

  5. To develop an effective means of targeting timeliness.

  6. To establish mechanisms for assessing customer satisfaction and set targets for Year 2 and beyond.

  Copies of the Agency's Framework Document have been placed in the Library of both Houses.

  Medical Supplies Agency
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Medical Supplies Agency for 1997–98. [8517]

  Dr. Reid
  Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency for financial year 1997–98. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in March 1996 and are as follows:

  (a) By 31 October 1997, to agree quantifiable performance standards for building, holding, maintaining and supplying the agreed number of kits, outfits and associated items of equipment, as defined in endorsed Equipment Tables. To set challenging targets for the remainder of 1997–98 with a view to improving standards in 1998–99.

  (b) To meet 100 per cent. of the Services requirements for stocked medical material and blood products for operations, training and exercises as defined by the Service Level Agreements.

  (c) To ensure, in conjunction with HQ Land and the single Service manning branches, 100 per cent. provision of professional and militarily trained personnel for 84 FMED.

  (d) During financial year 1997–98, to meet 95 per cent. of the timeliness and quality targets using JSP 336 Pam (1996 Standard Priority System) as the minimum benchmark standard.

  (e) To deliver efficiency savings to a value of £4.6 million in 1997–98.

  (f) As an integral part of the Surgeon General's Information Strategy, to publish the Agency's Information Strategy by January 1998.

  Defence Dental Agency
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Dental Agency for 1997–98. [8562]

  Dr. Reid
  Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Dental Agency for financial year 1997–98. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in March 1996 and are as follows:

  (a) From within available personnel resources, to achieve 100 per cent. of required professionally and militarily trained personnel, at the specified readiness required for deployment in support of the National Contingency Force.

  (b) For each Service, to maintain the agreed dental fitness targets of 75 per cent. of all Service personnel and 90 per cent. in priority groups, to be fit for deployment.

  (c) By 28 February 1998 to have developed a performance indicator to measure the outstanding treatment need and have set a baseline of performance to enable challenging targets to be set for 1988–99 onwards.

  (d) By 28 February 1998 to have developed a performance indicator to measure the improvements in the failure to attend rate and have set a baseline of performance to enable challenging targets to be set for 1988–99 onwards.

  (e) By 28 February 1998 to have developed a performance indicator to measure the improvement in dental morbidity and have set a baseline of performance to enable challenging targets to be set for 1988–99 onwards.

  (f) To complete all Service Level Agreements with major customers and other Agencies by 31 December 1997, and develop a system of ongoing review to allow maintenance of SLAs in successive years.

  Defence Secondary Care Agency
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Secondary Care Agency for 1997–98. [8563]

  Dr. Reid
  Key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency for financial year 1997–98. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in April 1996 and are as follows:

  (a) From within available personnel resources, to meet 100 per cent. of the Services' requirements for secondary care skill mix in support operations.

  (b) To ensure that 50 per cent. of Service patients are offered a first outpatient appointment within 4 weeks of receipt of a referral, and 90 per cent. within 13 weeks.

  (c) To ensure that 75 per cent. of Service patients are offered a treatment date that is within three months of the decision to give inpatient treatment.

  (d) To reduce average DSCA Finished Consultant Episodes (FCE) costs by 3 per cent. over the course of the year.

  (e) By 31 March 1998, to develop and implement a co-ordinated quality strategy for patient care and a mechanism for assessing performance against the strategy.

  (f) To ensure that 80 per cent. of all DSCA Service personnel, whose medical category permits it, receive the annual military training which is mandatory within their Service.

  (g) To ensure that 80 per cent. of places on all exercises covered by relevant Service Legal Agreements with Commanders in Chief are filled by DSCA staff within the appropriate specialities.

  Regimental Museums
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) actual and (b) percentage change was in the Government funding of regimental museums between 1997–98 and 1998–99. [7113]

  Mr. Spellar
  We have advised museum trustees that there will be an overall reduction of 12.7 per cent. in the contribution the Ministry of Defence makes to the funding of regimental and corps museums from April 1998. At current prices, this will mean that the 65 regimental and corps museums in mainland Britain will be required to share a reduction of £138,466 per annum from that date.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the regimental museums currently maintained out of public funds. [7112]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence contributes some funding to 69 regimental and corps museums. They are listed below:

  Museum

  Location

  Queen's Dragoon Guards

  Cardiff

  Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

  Edinburgh

  Royal Dragoon Guards

  York

  Queen's Royal Hussars

  Eastboume

  Warwick

  9th/12th Royal Lancers

  Derby

  King's Royal Hussars

  Preston

  Light Dragoons

  Newcastle upon

  Tyne

  Queen's Royal Lancers

  Belvoir Castle

  Royal Armoured Corps and Royal Tank Regiment

  Bovington

  Royal Regiment of Artillery

  Woolwich

  Corps of Royal Engineers

  Chatham

  Royal Corps of Signals

  Blandford

  Foot Guards

  London

  Royal Scots

  Edinburgh

  Royal Highland Fusiliers

  Glasgow

  King's Own Scottish Borderers

  Berwick upon

  Tweed

  Black Watch

  Perth

  Highlanders

  Aberdeen

  Fort George

  Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

  Dover

  Winchester

  Guildford

  Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  Alnwick

  Warwick

  Royal Anglian Regiment

  Bury St. Edmunds

  Norwich

  King's Own Royal Border Regiment

  Carlisle

  Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire

  York

  Green Howards

  Richmond

  York and Lancaster Regiment

  Rotherham

  Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

  Dorchester

  Cheshire Regiment

  Chester

  Royal Welch Fusiliers

  Caernarfon

  Royal Regiment of Wales

  Cardiff

  Brecon

  Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment

  Gloucester

  Salisbury

  Worcester and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

  Worcester

  Nottingham

  Staffordshire Regiment

  Lichfield

  Light Infantry

  Winchester

  Bodmin

  Shrewsbury

  Royal Green Jackets

  Winchester

  531

  Museum

  Location

  Royal Irish Regiment

  Enniskillen

  Parachute Regiment

  Aldershot

  Gurkhas

  Winchester

  Royal Army Medical Corps

  Aldershot

  Royal Army Dental Corps

  Aldershot

  Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

  Aldershot

  Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  Arborfield

  Army Air Corps

  Middle Wallop

  Royal Army Chaplains' Department

  1Upavon

  Adjutant General's Corps (Royal Military Police)

  Chichester

  Army Physical Training Corps

  Aldershot

  Household Cavalry

  Windsor

  King's Royal Hussars

  Winchester

  Light Dragoons

  Barnsley

  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  Stirling

  Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  London

  Bury

  Royal Anglian Regiment

  Chelmsford

  Northampton

  Queen's Lancashire Regiment

  Preston

  Royal Irish Regiment

  Ballymena

  Armagh

  Royal Logistic Corps

  Camberley

  Royal Irish Regiment

  Belfast

  1 The Chaplains' Department Museum is currently in store at Upavon and closed to the public awaiting transfer to Netheravon.

  Strategic Defence Review
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given to his Department's procurement plans in the Strategic Defence Review. [8518]

  Dr. Reid
  One of the aims of the Strategic Defence Review is to ensure that the Armed Forces are properly equipped to undertake the tasks asked of them. Our procurement plans will therefore be considered as part of the Review, including projects already on contract.

  However, during the review there will be no moratorium and projects where contracts have already been placed will continue. Decisions on major equipment programmes not yet under contract will be considered on their individual circumstances in relation to progress with the Review.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the property and assets owned, leased or rented by his Department and its agencies at home and overseas, stating their current value and their current use. [7151]

  Dr. Reid
  The information requested is not yet available. As part of the Department's preparation for the introduction of Resource Accounting on 1 April 1998 an exercise to identify, register and value departmental assets is currently being undertaken. However, the scale of the exercise is considerable and the work will not be concluded until next year.

  Open Government Review
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency about the Government's Review on Open Government. [7251]
  532
  Dr. Reid
  None. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, like all my Department's Agencies, is, of course, subject to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Britannia
  Mr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards the presentation of the Royal Yacht Britannia. [7579]

  Dr. Reid
  The Government is considering the future of Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia in the light of proposals for preservation submitted by several organisations.

  Regiment Manning Levels
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for each regiment, the number by which it was below complement on 30 April; and what plans he has to bring each up to its complement. [6817]

  Dr. Reid
  [pursuant to his answer, 8 July 1997, c. 422–24]: I regret that the information on the manning level against the complement within the Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) were omitted in error. The information is set out in the following table.

  Regiment

  Manning level

  Household Cavalry

  Household Cavalry Regiment

  -22

  Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

  -38

  Total

  -60

  Royal Armoured Corps

  Queens Dragoon Guards

  -23

  Scots Dragoon Guards

  -38

  Royal Dragoon Guards

  -4

  Queens Royal Hussars

  -51

  9/12 Lancers

  -45

  Kings Royal Hussars

  -42

  Light Dragoons

  -5

  Queens Royal Lancers

  -39

  1st Royal Tank Regiment

  -39

  2nd Royal Tank Regiment

  +28

  Total

  -258

  Prisoners of War (Pay)
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the report following the Review of Officer Prisoners of War Protected Personnel Pay Deductions will be published. [7556]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Morgan) on 11 June (Official Report), column 485.

  Defence Test and Research Organisation
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on the strategic review initiated by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in 1996 into the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [6429]
  533
  Mr. Spellar
  There has not been a "strategic review" of DTEO but in 1996 there was a review of the mixture of contracts that were in place to support the DTEO ranges. The outcome of this review was made public in December 1996.

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated costs for the next 10 years for the replacement maritime patrol aircraft. [6752]

  Mr. Spellar
  The total procurement cost of the Nimrod 2000 replacement maritime patrol aircraft is around £2 billion. The Department's internal plans represent projections and assumptions which inform advice to Ministers on the affordability of particular elements of the Defence programme. Accordingly, I am withholding the information requested under exemption two of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. In addition, disclosure of some elements of this information could prejudice the competitive position of the Department in future negotiations with contractors and reveal commercially confidential data. Accordingly, exemptions 7 and 13 of the Code also apply.

  Defence Sales
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings he has had with ministerial colleagues at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry on the defence sales policy review. [6650]

  Mr. Spellar
  My right hon. Friend Secretary of State for Defence has had a number of formal meetings with my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the President of the Board of Trade at which the criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms were discussed.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the year 2000 computer problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7132]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence programme for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem is led by the Director General Information and Communication Services (DGICS). The programme complies with guidelines issued by the Cabinet Office and CCTA Year 2000 Public Sector Group which call for costed programmes to modify or replace affected systems to be in place by October of this year with all work on critical systems completed by 31 December 1998. DGICS heads a coordination group of MOD Top Level Budget Holders to direct the programme. Projet managers have been appointed throughout the Department to oversee work on systems in their respective areas of responsibility. A Year 2000 awareness campaign has been mounted and private sector computing assistance is being provided to Year 2000 projects. It is too early to say what the final costs might be, but work to identify and cost the necessary remedial measures is on schedule to be completed by 534
  October, when the results will be reported to the Cabinet Office in accordance with the overall Government timetable.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the analysis by Professor Graham Rook and Dr. Alimuddin Zumla of University College, London, published in The Lancet, on the relationship between vaccines, exposure to insecticides and Gulf War illness. [6949]

  Dr. Reid
  Officials in my Department have held discussions with Professor Rook and Dr. Zumla concerning their hypothesis. Whenever my Department receives suggestions for additional research into subjects which could have a bearing on Gulf veterans' illnesses, our advice is always that the researcher(s) should submit a formal proposal to the Medical Research Council. I understand that Professor Rook and Dr. Zumla intend to submit a proposal for work to test their hypothesis in due course and we therefore await the MRC's advice.

  Equipment Exhibition (Farnborough)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 June,Official Report, columns 220–21, for what reasons (a) Algeria, (b) Belgium, (c) Russia and (d) Sri Lanka have not been invited to send delegations to the forthcoming Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition in Farnborough. [7324]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: Invitations to the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition are influenced by a number of factors including our perception of market opportunities for British defence companies as well as our political, strategic and security interests. Taking into account all of these factors, Algeria, Russia and Sri Lanka were not seen as priority candidates on this occasion; Belgium has now been invited.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of those employed by the Crown Prosecution Service are qualified(a) solicitors and (b) barristers. [7472]

  The Attorney-General
  As at 30 June 1997, the Crown Prosecution Service employed 2,106 qualified lawyers. Of those, 1,520 (72 per cent.) are employed as solicitors and 586 (28 per cent.) are employed as barristers.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he plans to cut the criminal legal aid bill. [7471]
  535
  Mr. Hoon
  Sir Peter Middleton has been appointed to undertake a review of civil justice and legal aid reforms. The review will cover criminal legal aid. Sir Peter is to produce a preliminary report by the end of September. No decisions about legal aid will be made in advance of the report.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost to the Exchequer in legal aid in the Crown Court of(a) barristers and (b) instructing solicitors, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [7466]

  Mr. Hoon
  The cost to legal aid in the Crown Court for 1996–97 was as follows:

  1996–97

  £ million

  Solicitors

  141.85

  Barrister1

  172.93

  Total

  314.78

  1 The expenditure on barristers includes £0.25 million in respect of graduated fees which may include a small proportion of costs for solicitor advocates.

  Consumer Protection
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when his Department will allow consumer protection bodies to seek injunctions to stop traders contravening consumer protection rights. [7781]

  Mr. Hoon
  On the 23 May the Lord Chancellor announced that he had decided that a change in the law was needed to open up the courts in England and Wales to allow representative actions. This would allow an organisation such as a consumer group to take action on behalf of an individual whose rights had been infringed. A working group is being set up to consider to whom the new rights and duties night extend and to work on the new procedures and rules.

  Gwent Magistrates' Courts
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the amount transferred from Mid Glamorgan to the Gwent magistrates' courts following the change in boundaries; and how much of that money has been spent to date and upon which projects. [6836]

  Mr. Hoon
  The South Wales and Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committees notified the Lord Chancellor's Department in February 1997 that the amount required to be transferred from the South Wales Magistrates' Courts Committee to the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee in respect of the transfer of the Upper and Lower Rhmney Valley Petty Sessional Division areas from the former Mid Glamorgan Magistrates' Courts Committee to the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee should be £456,805 for 1996–97 and £460,072 for 1997–98. No information is held nationally on how much of that transfer has been spent to date or how it has been spent.

  Gwent Justices
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the present annual 536
  cost of (a) the Gwent Justices' chief executive and his staff and (b) of the lease and accommodation of the chief executive and staff. [6835]

  Mr. Hoon
  (a) In its annual magistrates' courts revenue grant claim return to the Lord Chancellor's Department for 1995–96, the Gwent County Council reported that total expenditure by it on salaries, special or additional allowances and national insurance and superannuation contributions for the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee was £1,722,568 of which £66,250 was in respect of the Justices' Chief Executive. 1995–96 is the most recent financial year for which such expenditure information is currently available. No breakdown is available between expenditure on staff working directly and immediately to the Justices' Chief Executive and between other staff employed by the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee.

  (b) In a return submitted by the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee to the Lord Chancellor's Department in September 1996, it estimated that the 1997–98 rental cost of Gwent House, Cwmbran, where its Justices' Chief Executive's office is located, would be £58,200. It also estimated that the 1997–98 business rates liability would be £18,176. No other information is held nationally about the cost of the lease and accommodation of the Justices' Chief Executive.

  Crown Courts
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of the cases heard in the Crown Court in 1996 were heard there at the defendants' request. [7486]

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

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Humfrey Malins, dated 10 July 1997:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the percentage of cases heard in the Crown Court at the defendant's request.
  The information requested is not held centrally and can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of all Crown Court cases in 1996 resulted in a non-custodial disposal. [7468]

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

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Humfrey Malins, dated 10 July 1997:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the proportion of cases in 1996 that resulted in a non-custodial disposal.
  The information requested is not available as each case can involve several defendants and the sentences imposed on them may vary. However, 39 per cent. of defendants who pleaded, or were found guilty, in the Crown Court in 1996 received a non-custodial

  537
  sentence, a total of 29,160 defendants. In addition, 49 per cent. of the defendants who were referred to the Crown Court for sentencing only received a non-custodial sentence, a total of 6,917 defendants.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average cost per day to the Exchequer of each Crown Court. [7469]

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

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Humfrey Malins, dated 10 July 1997:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the average cost per day of each Crown Court.
  Information about the cost of each Crown Court Centre is not held centrally and can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. However, I can report that the average cost per day of a court room in use in the Crown Court is £7,800. This includes all costs to the Exchequer, such as the cost of the judiciary, juries, staff, accommodation, Legal Aid, the Prison Service, the Probation Service and prosecution and police costs.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Immigration (Computer Problems)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the computer problems at the United Kingdom post at Islamabad. [6589]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have recently been carrying out urgent work to improve the handling of very large volumes of data held on the computer system in the Visa Section of the British High Commission in Islamabad. Unfortunately, a number of technical difficulties have caused that system to crash several times during that period. This has prevented staff from gaining access to data bases to carry out the necessary checks on applications. We are making every effort to ensure that the system functions properly. In the meantime, the Section is running a restricted service, dealing with compassionate cases and applications for settlement from those joining family already in the UK. We also have in hand arrangements for the installation of a completely new system, which we intend will come into operation within a few weeks.

  Mr. Eamon Peter Helly
  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position has been reached by the Indian authorities in investigating the murder of Mr. Eamon Peter Helly in Goa on 8 November 1991; and if he will urge the Indian authorities to proceed with their inquiries and bring charges without delay. [6885]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I would like to express my sympathy to Mr. Helly's family over this tragic case. The Indian authorities are still investigating.

  DNA tests have been conducted. A suspect was arrested but subsequently released on bail.
  538
  On 4 July the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said they still awaited a report from the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation. Our High Commission will continue to press the Indian authorities for the report to be made available as quickly as possible.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent discussions between his Minister of State and the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. [7175]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I met the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Mr. Kadirgamar, on 5 June. We discussed bilateral relations and the current situation in Sri Lanka, including the Sri Lankan government's effort to find a resolution to the ethnic conflict.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have advanced regarding the possibility of playing a mediating role in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. [7176]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have said publicly that we stand ready to help in the resolution of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka if both sides ask us to play a role.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit Sri Lanka. [7177]

  Mr. Fatchett
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has no plans to visit at present, but I hope to do so before very long.

  Anglo-Chinese Relations
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Chinese relations. [7179]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave today.

  Mr. David Mathieson
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if members of the News Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are required to assist Mr. David Mathieson with his work. [7696]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  No.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Strategic Defence Review
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for international Development if she will list the dates and attendees, by department and grade, of meetings of officials which have taken place in her Department on the strategic defence review. [7152]
  539
  Clare Short
  Development issues of relevance to the Strategic Defence Review have been discussed on a number of occasions in my Department. My officials are also involved as appropriate in inter-departmental consultations on the Review.

  Montserrat
  Mr. Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further consideration she has given to the needs of the people of Montserrat following the recent volcanic eruptions. [8564]

  Clare Short
  Immediately following the volcanic activity two weeks ago, my department gave immediate approval for vital emergency work such as transport services, communications equipment and maintaining of fuel and food supplies and sanitation.

  We have also been looking urgently at the best way of providing temporary shelter and upgrading health care for those displaced on Montserrat. I have now approved a further £6.5 million to help build emergency shelter for those left homeless. I also approved £450,000 for emergency repair work on the hospital at St. Johns.

  At the same time we want to give the people of Montserrat real choices about their future; and will be undertaking a full consultation process within weeks.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Sporting Events (Televising)
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made in his review of the sporting events listed for live television broadcasting purposes; and if he will make a statement. [8410]

  Mr. Fisher
  We announced on 16 May that we would review the list of events which must be made available for general free to air broadcast under the 1996 Broadcasting Act, in line with our policy of ensuring that broadcasts of events of genuine national interest are available to the many not the few. As part of that review we are developing criteria to help decide which events fall into this category. We believe that an agreed set of criteria would make the listing process more consistent and more transparent; and would be helpful to broadcasters, sports bodies and viewers; and would assist my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in considering which events should be listed. My right hon. Friend wrote today to sports bodies, broadcasters and organisations representing viewers and listeners to seek their views on these listing criteria.

  BBC
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the extent of the control still exercised by Her Majesty's Government on the management of the BBC; if he was consulted over the pay rises for chief executives of the Corporation; and if he will make a statement. [7794]

  Mr. Fisher
  Under the terms of its Royal Charter, rates of remuneration and conditions of employment for BBC employees are a matter for the Corporation itself. The 540
  Government has no locus to intervene. It is for the BBC Governors to ensure that they are delivering good value for money and paying only what is necessary, in a competitive market, to attract and retain the staff needed to maintain high quality services.

  Tourism
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has to increase Britain's share of world tourism. [6576]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  We set out our main priorities for tourism in the "Breaking New Ground" document. These include: a positive approach from government to the industry; effective marketing of Britain overseas; reinvigorating domestic tourism; improving the quality of the product; jobs, training and investment in people; and sustainable development. We will work in partnership with the industry and others to pursue these priorities and ensure that Britain has a world class tourism industry.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Departmental Advisers
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each person advising or assisting his Department who has(a) membership of and (b) involvement in (i) the European Round Table of industrialists, (ii) the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies, (iii) the Competitiveness Advisory Group, (iv) Transatlantic Business Dialogue,
  (v) the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe,
  (vi) Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, (vii) Europa Bio and (viii) the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. [5309]

  Angela Eagle
  Membership of the European Round Table of Industrialists, the Competitiveness Advisory Group and the Transatlantic Business Dialogue is on a personal basis. No-one who presently advises or assists in this Department is a member of any of these groups.

  Membership of the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies, the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe, the Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, Europe Bio, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development is on a corporate basis. Representatives from companies and organisations involved with these groups may advise Departments from time to time.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will include in the legislation for the creation of regional development agencies proposals to allow those regions he considers have the necessary expertise and experience to become shadow agencies or pilot schemes in advance of 1 April 1999. [6641]

  Angela Eagle
  On 11 June the Government launched a wide-ranging consultation on our proposals for setting up regional development agencies in England. It is too early to say what transitional arrangements might he made in
  541
  advance of the agencies beginning operation, but we have invited views on this. Any such arrangements will build on the good work already being done at the regional level.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of national non-domestic rates. [7347]

  M. Raynsford
  We have said in our Manifesto that there are sound democratic reasons why business rates should be set locally. We are currently considering the options to achieve this. No changes will be made until we have fully consulted businesses, local authorities and other interested parties.

  Valuation Tribunals
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 20 May on valuation tribunals. [7457]

  Ms Armstrong
  A letter was sent to the hon. Member on 9 July 1997.

  Air Quality Management
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to lay regulations before Parliament under the Environment Act 1995 to introduce local authority powers for air quality management. [7583]

  Angela Eagle
  An announcement on the commencement of local authority duties under Part IV of the Environment Act will be made in due course.

  Council Tax (Mobile Homes)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the payment of council tax by residents who live in mobile homes. [7592]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The council tax is payable in respect of all chargeable dwellings include mobile homes and caravans which are a person's sole or main residence. All dwellings are placed into a valuation band determined by their open market value on 1 April 1991.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department defines a publicly funded body with a contract under a compulsory competitive tendering project as being in the public sector; and if he will make a statement. [7586]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A local authority may undertake a defined activity if it has satisfied the six competition conditions set out in the legislation governing compulsory competitive tendering. A joint venture company or other local authority company may also undertake a defined activity and, if the company is controlled or influenced by 542
  the authority, as defined in Part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, it is regarded as being in the public sector.

  Regional Development Offices, Cambridge
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what accommodation he proposes to locate the Regional Development Agency and the Regional Representative Body for East Anglia; and what assessment he has made of the potential of City House, Cambridge, in this respect. [7485]

  Angela Eagle
  On 11 June the Government launched a wide-ranging consultation on its proposals for setting up regional development agencies in England. It is too early to say where the head offices of the agencies will be located.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are classified by his Department as homeless in(a) Newham (b) Tower Hamlets, (c) Hackney, (d) Redbridge, (e) Waltham Forest and (f) Barking and Dagenham; what this figures is as a proportion of the population; and what are the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom. [6857]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: Local authorities in England report to my Department, on their quarterly P1E return, the number of households for which they accept responsibility to secure accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985. The latest report date for 1996 for the Boroughs listed are as follows:

  London borough

  Households accepted as homeless

  Annual acceptances per 1,000 households

  Barking and Dagenham

  170

  2.7

  Hackney

  1830

  213.5

  Newham

  3224

  210.5

  Redbridge

  324

  3.6

  Tower Hamlets

  1536

  210.5

  Waltham Forest

  771

  8.3

  1 Part-year information for 3 quarters only.

  2 Scaled up to an annual rate.

  3 Part-year information for 1 quarter only.

  The corresponding estimates for England are total acceptances in 1996 of some 116,870 households and 5.9 acceptances per 1,000 households. For information about other parts of the United Kingdom, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

  Power Boats
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what means his Department intends local authorities should control the use of(a) jet skis and (b) other powered boats in the vicinity of bathing beaches in the absence of a general registration system. [6951]
  543
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 27 June 1997 Official Report, column 672, local authorities already have powers to make byelaws to regulate seaside pleasure boats for the prevention of danger, obstruction or annoyance to persons bathing in the sea or using the seashore.

  The safe use of recreation craft is promoted by the Coastguard Agency and other bodies including the Sea Safety Liaison Group established by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The Coastguard Agency is analysing the response to the consultative document it issued on "Non-legislative measures for the improvement of safety of non-regulated pleasure vessels".

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Staff Relocation, Cambridge
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to relocate staff presently working in Government offices at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge, in order to free the site for suitable redevelopment. [7484]

  Mr. Rooker
  The buildings on the Brooklands Avenue site, Cambridge, are of temporary wartime construction and are now reaching the end of their lives. We are therefore looking to provide suitable accommodation for the staff who work on the site. Proposals are being prepared to redevelop the site, in accordance with the Cambridge City Local Plan.

  BSE (Organophosphates)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the relationship between the use of organophosphates in the treatment of cattle and the incidence of BSE. [7352]

  Mr. Rooker
  The original epidemiological investigation into BSE carried out in 1987 considered any possible association between the use of agricultural chemicals, including organophosphate insecticides, and the occurrence of BSE. None was found.

  More recently, SEAC invited Mr. Purdey, a leading proponent of the theory of a link between the use of organophosphates and the occurrence of BSE, to address their meeting of 15 April 1997. The meeting was also attended by experts from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Veterinary Products Committee. They did not form a view on the validity of the theory, but they did agree further avenues of enquiry into this issue. They will consider the matter again when additional data are available.

  Beef Imports
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the reliability of the documentation accompanying imported beef in respect of its description and its health status. [7351]

  Mr. Rooker
  All consignments of beef imported from third countries are subject to veterinary checks, including a documentary check in all cases, at the point of entry into the Community. Centrally held records of veterinary 544
  checks on all imports of fresh meat and meat products (beef is not separately identified), revealed documentary irregularities in only 0.6 per cent. of all consignments during 1996.

  Production of beef in Member States is governed by harmonised rules which places the onus on the Member State of origin to ensure that the beef has been produced in compliance with those rules. On arrival at a GB premises, Community beef is subject to document and health mark check, either by the Official Veterinary Surgeon or by the owner of the premises, to ensure that the goods have been produced in accordance with these rules. There is no centrally held record of this trade which is governed by Single Market principles.

  BSE (Compensation Payments)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much he plans to reduce BSE compensation payments; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this proposal on farmers who rear late developing store cattle. [7321]

  Mr. Rooker
  The European Commission, with the support of the Government, has decided with effect from 4 August to reduce Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) compensation payments for cull cows from 0.9 ECU (around 65p) per kilogram to 0.8 ECU (around 58p) per kilogram liveweight. Compensation payments for all other cattle, including clean cattle, remain at 0.9 ECU per kilogram. Compensation for all OTMS cattle will be subject to a limit of 560 kilograms per animal.

  Clean cattle (including the late developing store cattle to which the hon. Member refers) will be the principal animals affected by this limit as these tend to be slaughtered at weights above 560 kilograms. However, we believe that farmers should be looking to finish their clean cattle at under 30 months of age and thus to sell them onto the market rather than into the OTMS. The Beef Assurance Scheme nevertheless provides an outlet for clean cattle from low risk, late maturing herds to be finished and sold at up to 42 months of age.

  Beef
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume of beef imported into the United Kingdom in 1996 was seized as being suspected of being unfit for human consumption; if he will list the countries of origin of such beef indicating the volume from each country; and if he will make a statement. [4652]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 20 June 1997]: All consignments of beef imported from third countries are, on entry to the Community, subject to veterinary checks at border Inspection Posts specifically approved for this purpose. GB's border inspection posts are operated by local authorities. Production of beef in Member States is governed by harmonised rules which place the onus on the Member State of origin to ensure that the beef has been produced in compliance with those rules. On arrival of the consignment, documentation and health marketing, to show the goods have been produced in accordance with these rules, are required to be checked by the Meat Hygiene Service or, if they are not responsible for the plant (such as a meat product plant), by the owner of the

  545
  premises. Any irregularity should be reported to MAFF. Additionally an officer of the Ministry or local Authority is empowered to inspect a consignment, imported from another Member States, either in transit or at its destination if it is suspected that the consignment presents a threat to public or animal health. I can confirm that beef imports are stopped where they are identified as not meeting import requirements, including being unfit for human consumption. However, no separate figures are held centrally regarding the volume or origin of such trade. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

  Supportive Flatmate Scheme
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider providing the resources to enable the supportive flatmate scheme in the Rock Trust's Bedrock Project to be developed as a model for supported accommodation. [6630]

  Mr. Chisholm
  Projects such as the Rock Trust's Bedrock Project provide accommodation and support for homeless young people who often have a range of problems. I understand that there are a number of such projects operating in Scotland, however, and it would therefore be inappropriate to single out any particular one for central Government support. Projects of this type necessarily work closely with their local authority, and it is from that source that they should seek funding.

  Hospital Building Programme
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the timetable for future capital investment for the hospital building programme for Scotland. [6759]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The following amounts will be available for spending on capital projects in Scotland over the next three years.

  1997–98: £140,930,000

  1998–99: £178,707,000

  1999–2000: £178,272,000.

  These figures are net of capital receipts. Included in this expenditure is spending on large capital schemes at the Western General Hospital NHS Trust in Edinburgh, Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary NHS Trust.

  In addition, a number of major capital schemes are being taken forward under the Private Finance Initiative.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7131]

  Mr. Dewar
  A Year 2000 compliance programme is underway within my Department with the objective of identifying and ensuring the correct operation of all critical systems by 31 December 1998. The review is on schedule.

  The Director of Telecommunications is in overall charge of the programme and has the full time support of a Project Manager. They provide the central operational contact for all Year 2000 compliance issues. The programme of work in hand covers all Scottish Office IT systems, and although my Department is in a relatively sound position, owing to the recent redevelopment of many of its IT systems, we are nonetheless devoting significant effort to ensuring Year 2000 compliance. A detailed, costed project plan is being developed, which we expect to have in place by October, in line with the guidance issued by CITU and CCTA. At this stage, therefore, it is not possible to say precisely how much the work involved will cost, but it is expected that the costs will be contained within my Department's existing IT budget.

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Bernad Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what change there has been in the financial terms, or repayment period, in respect of the Skye Bridge; and if he will make a statement; [7707]

  (2) what has been the cost to public funds of the decision to change the tolls on the Skye Bridge; and from which vote additional moneys will be provided. [7708]

  Mr. Chisholm
  The measures to alleviate the impact of the Skye Bridge tolls on regular users, set out in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West on 4 July, are intended to have a neutral effect on the financial terms and the repayment period. The cost of the measures to public funds remains a matter of negotiation with the bridge operator, Skye Bridge Limited. It is proposed that any costs in the current financial year will be met from within Class XIII, Vote 2, in common with all other expenditure on Scotland's trunk road network.

  A1
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision had been made by the previous administration in its capital budget for dualling the A1 road between Dunbar and Haddington; and if he will make a statement on his plans for the application of those funds. [7689]
  547
  Mr. Chisholm
  It is estimated that the A1 Dunbar-Haddington project would have cost £40 million over the 2 financial years beginning 1998–99. It would not be appropriate to anticipate the outcome of the review of the Scottish trunk roads programme, or my right hon. Friend's decisions on expenditure priorities within the Transport programme as a whole.

  Lockerbie
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons a spokesman for the Scottish Law Officers stated on Monday 7 July that the allegations in the Der Spiegel magazine about the Lockerbie bombing having been commissioned by the Ayatollah were the first occasion that the Office had been advised of such an allegation; and if he will make a statement. [7793]

  Mr. McLeish
  The statement issued by the Crown Office was to the effect that this was the first time that they had been made aware of these allegations, namely the allegations which were being made by a person named as Abolghasem Mesbabi which had been reported in Der Spiegel magazine.

  Traveller Sites
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to his Department of undertaking and publishing a research study on local authority traveller sites in Scotland. [7473]

  Mr. Chisholm
  The contract for the research study recently published about local authority sites for travellers was awarded by The Scottish Office Development Department to a private research consultancy on the basis of competitive tenders. The contract price was £9,999.25 and the additional cost to the Department of printing 140 copies of the research report and 160 copies of a summary was £443.38.

  Court Service
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets have been set for performance by the Scottish Court Service and Sheriff Courts for 1997–98. [8409]

  Criminal cases at Lerwick and Kirkwall sheriff courts

  1990

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Called

  Evidence led

  Called

  Evidence led

  Called

  Evidence led

  Called

  Evidence led

  Lerwick

  Summary

  151

  32

  81

  11

  112

  14

  139

  22

  Sheriff and Jury

  1

  1

  1

  0

  2

  1

  1

  0

  Kirkwall

  Summary

  141

  36

  46

  10

  49

  12

  53

  19

  Sheriff and Jury

  2

  2

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  548
  Mr. Dewar
  The targets I have set for performance by the Scottish Court Service in the Supreme Courts and Sheriff Courts for 1997–98 are set out below.

  Performance against these targets will be published in the Annual Report of the Scottish Court Service.

  Targets for performance 1997–98

  Per cent.

  Number of time limited cases falling as a result of SCS action/inaction

  0

  Percentage of Court of Session Diets allocated within waiting periods set by Lord President

  90

  Percentage of solemn and summary appeals allocated to rolls within waiting periods set by Lord Justice-General

  70

  Percentage of Sheriff Courts meeting summary criminal waiting periods agreed with Sheriffs Principal

  80

  Percentage of Sheriff Courts meeting ordinary civil waiting periods agreed with Sheriffs Principal

  95

  Percentage of Sheriff Courts with 5 per cent. or less lack of time adjournments

  80

  Percentage achievement of administrative standards set by Lord President/Lord Justice-General

  90

  Percentage of Sheriff Courts achieving administrative standards agreed with Sheriffs Principal

  95

  Percentage of courthouses meeting "Coming to Court" standards

  85

  Staff, accommodation and administrative costs per court sitting day

  £1,010

  Percentage cost recovery (including judicial costs) for civil business

  90

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many(a) summary trails and (b) sheriff and jury trials took place in Kirkwall Sheriff Court in (i) 1987, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year since 1994; [6046]

  (2) how many (a) summary trails and (b) sheriff and jury trials took place in Lerwick Sheriff Court in (i) 1987, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year since 1994. [6047]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 2 July 1997]: This is a matter for the Scottish Court Service. I have asked the Chief Executive, Michael Ewart, to reply.

  Letter from Michael Ewart to Mr. James Wallace, dated 10 July 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about trails at Lerwick and Kirkwall Sheriff Courts.
  I am sorry that we do not have figures for cases in 1987. However, figures for 1990 and for 1994 and subsequent years are given in the attached tables. For each court and for each year I have shown both the number of cases called in each category and the number of these cases in which evidence was led.
  I hope this information is helpful.

CABINET OFFICE

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what are his responsibilities in respect of the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich. [4433]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding 23 June 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

WALES

  Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates he has made of future teacher numbers in(a) primary and (b) infant schools; and if he will make a statement. [6674]

  Mr. Hain
  Local education authorities and schools are responsible for the employment and deployment of teaching staff to deliver the National Curriculum and we are making additional resources available to assist them in this role. The Government also has a role in ensuring that there is a sufficient number of suitably qualified teachers from whom they can recruit.

  Welfare to Work Taskforce
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the welfare to work taskforce to visit locations in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [6679]

  Mr. Hain
  The Director of the Employment Service in Wales is currently organising three consultation events to take place in locations throughout Wales at the end of July. I expect the taskforce members to play a prominent role in these events.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the welfare to work taskforce. [6678]

  Mr. Hain
  None, but my right hon. Friend hopes to announce the membership of the taskforce later this month.

  Unskilled Manual Workers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to assist unskilled manual workers. [6668]

  Mr. Hain
  The minimum wage, the social chapter, the working hours directive and statutory recognition of trade unions are all of immediate relevance. The fiscal measures we announced in the Budget will help with workers' household finances. The Education and Training Action Group, supporting our objective of lifelong learning, will help people acquire skills which will lead to more highly paid employment.

  Skilled Workers (Deeside)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of 550
  resources available to increase the number of skilled people in employment on Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [6670]

  Mr. Hain
  The North Wales Training and Enterprise Council and Deeside College have substantial resources to promote skills training for employment in Deeside. Extra resources to help unemployed people gain training and employment will be available through the welfare to work programme. Employers have the primary responsibility for training their employees.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to assist job creation for young unemployed people. [6672]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government's New Deal will offer all 18–24 year olds in Wales, who have been unemployed for six months or more, a quality opportunity to get back to work.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his targets in respect of the availability of full-time places in nursery schools for all children claiming a place. [6677]

  Mr. Hain
  We will be consulting shortly on our commitment to ensure that a free, good quality place is available to all four year olds whose parents want this, together with targets for extending provision for three year olds.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of(a) males and (b) females aged 24 years and under who are out of work. [6673]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Employment status of those aged 16–24, Wales, winter 1996–97

  Males

  Females

  Total population aged 16–24

  165,000

  154,000

  of which

  In employment

  97,000

  89,000

  Not in employment

  69,000

  65,000

  of which

  ILO unemployed1

  30,000

  13,000

  Students (not ILO unemployed)

  30,000

  32,000

  Looking after family home

  2—

  16,000

  Notes:

  2 ILO unemployed: people without a job who were available to start work in the two weeks following their Labour Force Survey interview and who either had looked for work in the four weeks prior to interview or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained.

  2 Sample size too small for reliable estimate to be given.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey.
  551
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to move long-term unemployed people in(a) Buckley and (b) Deeside into work. [6669]

  Mr. Hain
  My hon. Friend will be aware that we recently released details of the Government's Welfare to Work programme and how the New Deal will operate in Wales. This will make a significant contribution to getting long-term unemployed people in Buckley and Deeside into work.

  School Leavers (Literacy)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to help school leavers with difficulties in(a) reading and (b) writing; and if he will make a statement. [6675]

  Mr. Hain
  Help is available for these young people to improve their literacy skills either through Further Education or through TEC-supported training.

  Target 2000 will encourage a multi-agency approach to developing innovative means of helping young people with learning difficulties. Particular emphasis will be placed on ensuring that all young people are equipped with basic skills, including those of communication.

  The Further Education Funding Council for Wales have encouraged FE institutions to provide basic education courses for students with literacy and numeracy problems. The Council are inviting OHMCI to undertake a focused assessment of basic skills provision by the FE sector, to inform future funding decisions. The FEFCW will also take into account the findings of the Kennedy report on Widening Participation in Further Education.

  Training (Deeside)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new investment he proposes to make in training facilities for Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [6671]

  Mr. Hain
  The Further Education Funding Council for Wales and the North Wales Training and Enterprise Council (CELTEC) in collaboration with Further Education Colleges and other training partners have the responsibility for securing training facilities that will meet the needs of the area.

  Renovation Grants
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of outstanding renovation grant inquiries received by each county and county borough in Wales in the last 12 months. [6878]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Information on inquiries is available for April-December 1996. During that time local authorities received 12,758 inquiries, 5,900 applications and issued 6,015 approvals. The number of outstanding applications with local authorities at 31 March 1997 was 5,325.
  552
  The county/county borough breakdown is shown on the following table:

  Renovation grant activity by unitary authority1

  Number of inquiries made April-December 1996

  Number of applications received April-December 1996

  Number of applications approved April-December 1996

  2Number of applications outstanding at the end of March 19972

  Blaenau

  Gwent

  547

  398

  230

  *586

  Bridgend

  767

  223

  297

  142

  Caerphilly

  1,052

  405

  258

  1,172

  Cardiff

  1,112

  265

  701

  104

  Carmarthenshire

  691

  404

  377

  242

  Ceredigion

  575

  177

  208

  182

  Conwy

  231

  135

  179

  197

  Denbighshire

  336

  336

  208

  544

  Flintshire

  365

  207

  213

  284

  Gwynedd

  671

  359

  367

  427

  Isle of Anglesey

  222

  198

  166

  49

  Merthyr Tydfil

  223

  119

  112

  *12

  Monmouthshire

  311

  55

  56

  4

  Neath Port Talbot

  1,127

  290

  486

  *52

  Newport

  432

  280

  185

  105

  Pembrokeshire

  338

  104

  154

  450

  Powys

  363

  166

  229

  342

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  976

  881

  606

  50

  Swansea

  877

  313

  417

  108

  Torfaen

  135

  131

  121

  89

  Vale of Glamorgan

  612

  265

  245

  82

  Wrexham

  795

  189

  200

  102

  Wales

  12,758

  5,900

  6,015

  5,325

  1 Information on the number of inquiries, applications and approvals are for those grants dealt with under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  2 Includes those applications at the end of March that were outstanding under both the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. For those data marked with an "*", estimates have been provided.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those non-departmental public bodies appointed by Royal Charter. [6946]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Arts Council of Wales, the National Library of Wales, the National Museum and Galleries of Wales and the Sports Council for Wales were all established by Royal Charter. The Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales was established by Royal Warrant.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7137]
  553
  Mr. Ron Davies
  An assessment of the effect of the millennium date change has been undertaken. A central unit is co-ordinating this work; around 25 staff are spending some time working on the various systems throughout the Department.

  I do not expect there to be any major costs involved in ensuring that my Department's computer systems can cater for the Year 2000.

  The project is on schedule.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to Welsh health authorities in relation to the care of those present residents of institutions for those with learning difficulties assessed as incapable of care in the community; and in what circumstances the leading role in long-term care will be taken by(a) social services and (b) health authorities. [7791]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  In February 1995 guidance was issued covering NHS responsibilities for meeting continuing health care needs. Health and Local Authorities were asked to agree eligibility criteria and a multi disciplinary assessment determines whether the health or local authority takes the lead in an individual's care. This applies also to those patients with learning disability. Detailed guidance on the care of learning disability patients is contained in the Welsh Mental Handicap Strategy 1983. Guidance was reissued to both health and local authorities in May 1996 following the major reorganisations which took place in both structures.

  Cardiff Bay
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation concerning the implications for powers to use compulsory purchase relating to the contract awarded to the Terraquest company by the corporation and the authority given to the company to negotiate way-leaves with householders over the proposed new horizontal dewatering scheme in six areas of Cardiff. [7797]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  None. Terraquest have been contracted to determine land ownership and interests in land under the surface of public highways or open space which might be affected by plans for a dewatering scheme in Cardiff. Use of compulsory purchase order powers may not be necessary. This is an operational matter for the Corporation and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond more fully and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Bute Avenue PFI Scheme
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his statement to the Welsh Grand Committee of 30 June,Official Report, column 25, when he anticipates re-advertising the Bute Avenue PFI scheme, as extended to include the Barrage, in the Official Journal of the European Communities. [7814]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Bute Avenue PFI scheme and compliance with the Department's guidance on the European procurement procedure are operational matters 554
  for the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation. The Corporation is following the guideline procedures. I have asked the Chief Executive to provide details and I will place a copy of his letter in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Electors Lists
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the constituencies in which the lists of electors voting or not voting in(a) the 1992 general election and (b) the 1993 local elections were purchased, and by whom; and if she will make it her policy to end the availability and sale of such details. [5569]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no records held by the Clerk of the Crown's Office, or the 26 Local Councils in Northern Ireland, which show any requests being received for copies of the marked register of electors for constituencies in Northern Ireland for either the 1992 general election or the 1993 local elections.

  The purchasing of such information in respect of a general election is provided for in the Representation of the People Act 1983, and for local elections in Northern Ireland this provision is mirrored in the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. If the hon. Gentleman has information as to why this UK wide practice should be altered in the case of Northern Ireland I would be interested to hear it.

  Postal Voting Papers
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make it her policy to prohibit postal voting papers issued on grounds of holiday or study absence or for medical reasons being sent to an address other than that on the electoral register of the applicant. [5570]

  Mr. Ingram
  Under the terms of the Representation of the People Act 1985 and The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1986 a voter applying for an absent vote must, in addition to the address in respect of which they are or will be registered on the register, provide an address in the UK to which the ballot paper is to be sent.

  This applies throughout the United Kingdom and I have no plans at present to alter the position in Northern Ireland.

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Tony Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made towards the establishment of the Electricity Interconnector. [6390]

  Mr. Ingram
  Progress depends on the outcome of planning applications in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Northern Ireland Electricity plc submitted a second planning application for the Northern Ireland element of the project on 4 April 1997.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland hopes to announce his decision on the application for the Scotland element shortly.

  Water Cannon
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Royal Ulster Constabulary last possessed water cannon. [6365]

  Mr. Ingram
  Water cannons were withdrawn from operational use in or around 1970.

  Old Documents
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the date and title of the oldest document or archival unit retained by her Department which has not been passed on to the Public Record Office for release for public inspection. [7199]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding reply 8 July 1997]: The earliest Northern Ireland Office documents will be due for transfer to the Public Record Offices when they become 30 years old in the year 2002. The Department holds some files concerning Northern Ireland, transferred to it from the Home Office, which are retained under Section 3(4) of the Public Record Act 1958. The earliest retained file held in London is dated 1954 and is entitled "Irish Republican Army Activities—Raid on Gough Barracks Armagh on 12 June 1954". The oldest file held for administrative reasons by the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast is entitled "The Emergency Powers Act (NI) 1926—making of regulations".

  There separate administrative arrangements for documents held by the Northern Ireland departments which are subject to the provisions of the Public Records Act (NI) 1923 and the direction of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in the Warrington, North constituency are currently taking part in Government training schemes broken down to show the numbers of(a) women, (b) men and (c) those under 25 years of age. [6660]

  Dr. Howells
  Information on government-supported training programmes is not available for people living in individual constituencies. North and Mid Cheshire TEC is the nearest geographical breakdown to the Warrington. North parliamentary constituency. The TEC area covers North Warrington, Halton and Vale and mid-Cheshire local authority districts. The available figures are given in the following table.

  The DfEE is now making further improvements in training opportunities and developing Youth Credits under Target 2000 with the aim of eventually replacing Youth Training.

  Numbers our government-supported training programmes at the end of April 1997

  Total on programme

  Female

  Male

  Under 25

  Youth Training

  2,000

  49

  51

  100

  Modern Apprenticeships

  900

  43

  57

  100

  Training for Work

  400

  27

  73

  29

  556
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many unemployed persons were referred to (i) jobplan workshops, (ii) restart courses, (iii) workwise and worklink, (iv) 1–2–1 and (v) project work in 1996–97; of these, how many(a) attended and (b) completed these courses; and what were the outcomes. [7765]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 10 July 1997:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Jobplan, Restart Courses, Workwise and Worklink, 1–2–1 and Project Work. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The information you have requested on Jobplan, Restart Courses and Workwise (known as Worklink in Scotland) is given in Table 1.
  Information about 1–2–1 and Project Work is given in Tables 2 and 3 respectively. However, we do not hold the information in the format in which you have requested it.
  It may help if I explain that during 1–2–1, jobseekers are offered concentrated help with an Employment Service adviser during a series of up to six caseload interviews. Figures for referrals to 1–2–1 are therefore shown as 'Cases Opened'. Information on the number of caseload interviews each jobseeker attends or completes is not collected. Whilst they can attend up to six, this is dependent on whether they achieve a positive outcome before the final interview.
  For Project Work, the reason that the information is not available in the form you have requested is that this pilot consists of two parts. The first part, which begins with a Restart interview with an adviser, is a period of intensive help during which participants are offered the full range of programmes available to long term unemployed people as well as a series of caseload interviews with an adviser. If the person is still unemployed at the end of the period of intensive help, they are required to attend a work experience programme with a provider. Separate information for the same cohort on the number of people referred to a Project Work provider is not available. The outcomes reported therefore relate to both parts of the pilot.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Table 1: Jobplan, restart courses and workwise worklink—1996–97

  Jobplan

  Restart courses

  Workwise/ worklink

  Referrals

  300,329

  139,733

  67,058

  Starts

  144,315

  76,911

  25,806

  Completers

  133,026

  66,238

  18,609

  Total outcomes

  57,882

  25,552

  12,735

  of which: jobs

  9,115

  3,706

  3,485

  ES/TEC/LEC programmes

  36,794

  17,067

  7,062

  other training or employment related opportunities1

  11,973

  4,779

  2,188

  Table 2: 1–2–1 1996–97

  Number

  The number of cases opened

  218,241

  Outcomes:

  Job placings

  14,796

  557

  Table 2: 1–2–1 1996–97

  Number

  TEC/LEC/ES programme starts1

  32,846

  Other sign offs2

  54,980

  Total positive outcomes

  102,622

  1 Business Start Up: Training for Work; Jobclub; JIG; Work Trial.

  2 Other sign offs as a result of adviser action: Family Credit starts.

  Table 3: Project work—1996–97

  Project work

  Entering the Pilot

  7,141

  Referrals to Project Work provider

  n/a

  Starts with Project Work Provider

  3,125

  Completers Project Work placement

  1,025

  Total outcomes of which:

  Jobs

  861

  ES/TEC/LEC programmes

  542

  Other

  1,767

  Restart Interviews
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many restart interviews were conducted in 1996–97; and, of these, how many claimants(a) were placed directly into a job, (b) claimed other benefits, (c) entered a Government programme and (d) signed off from claiming benefit. [7766]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 10 July 1997:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about restart interviews and their outcomes. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The figures that you have requested are shown in the following table:

  Outcomes of restart interviews (1996–97)

  Number

  Number of restart interviews

  3,270,278

  Placings

  147,021

  Claimed other benefits

  65,962

  Government programmes

  507,167

  Signed off from claiming

  316,574

  I hope this is helpful.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants had their jobseeker's allowance reduced during 1996–97 for(a) two weeks and (b) four weeks for not attending or failing to complete (i) jobplan workshops, (ii) restart courses, (iii) workwise and worklink, (iv) 1–2–1, (v) project work and (vi) non-prescribed Government programmes where referral was under a jobseeker's direction. [7733]
  558
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 10 July 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about how many claimants had their Jobseeker's Allowance reduced during 1996/97 for: (a) two weeks and (b) fours weeks, for not attending or failing to complete (i) jobplan workshops, (ii) restart courses. (iii) workwise and worklink, (iv) 1–2–1, (v) Project Work and (vi) non-prescribed Government programmes where referral was under a jobseeker's Direction. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Employment Service.
  Information on the number of Adjudication Officers' decisions and opinions, and disallowance rates, is contained in a published document entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions". This provides information on all of the labour market entitlement and sanction questions arising on claims. Copies of this document are held in the Library of the House.
  Unfortunately, information is not available in the form you request. However, it may be helpful if I explain that a total of 763 sanctions were imposed in 1996/97 for:
  refusal of a place on a training scheme or employment programme,
  failure to attend a place on a training scheme or employment programme,
  giving up a place on a training scheme or employment programme,
  losing a place on a training scheme or employment programme through misconduct, and
  neglect to avail of a place on a training scheme or employment programme.
  Schemes and programmes included in this definition are Jobplan Workshops, Restart Courses, Workwise, Worklink, and Project Work. Employment Service statistics do not identify the number of sanctions relating to each programme, nor do they differentiate between two week and four week sanctions.
  The total number of sanctions imposed in 1996/97 for refusal or failure to carry out a Jobseeker's Direction was 215. It is not possible to say whether any of these related to employment programmes.
  There is no specific sanction relating to failure to attend 1–2–1 interviews, hut entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance can be lost if a person fails to attend, without good cause, any Employment Service advisory interview. The total number of sanctions on these grounds during 1996/97 was 110.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the number of people aged 18 to 24 years who will face a benefit sanction of 100 per cent. of their jobseeker's allowance at any time during the first full year of operation of the welfare-to-work proposals. [7771]

  Mr. Howarth
  We have made no such estimates. We shall offer high quality options of work and training which we expect to be attractive to those eligible to participate in the New Deal.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reason there is an upper age limit for student loans; and if he will make a statement. [7095]
  559
  Dr. Howells
  Loans are made with the expectation that they will be repaid. Older students are less likely to repay loans, because of the shorter time they will work after graduation. But they are more likely to have access to other funds, such as savings or commercial loans.

  New Deal
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the funding methodology for young people on New Deal who are participating in the employment option. [7690]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Employers will be offered a subsidy equivalent to £60 a week for 26 weeks, if they recruit a young person who is eligible for the New Deal. They will be required to provide training, or to release the young person for training, for one day a week. Funding of £750 per person will be made available. The young people recruited in this way will be full employees, in regular work, and will be remunerated accordingly.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what targets he is setting for the outputs of the New Deal. [7686]

  Mr. Smith
  In due course, we will be setting and publishing targets through the Employment Service's 1998–99 Annual Performance Agreement.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action will be taken against young people who consistently refuse to participate in New Deal. [7687]

  Mr. Smith
  All four options under the New Deal will be designed to provide opportunities of genuine quality to help young people improve their employability and get into work. As rights and responsibilities go together, there will be no fifth option on full benefit. Benefit sanctions will be applied to those young people who are assessed by an Adjudication Officer to have unreasonably refused to take up a place on an option notified to them by an employment officer. Persistent refusal could result in a succession of sanctions.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the New Deal for young people will be linked to modern apprenticeships; and what is his policy towards the development of national traineeships. [7688]

  Mr. Smith
  Progression to a modern apprenticeship may be an appropriate next step for some of the young people aged 18–24 who achieve NVQ level 2 qualifications as part of their participation in the New Deal.

  Our view is that national traineeships, which focus chiefly on 16 and 17-year-olds and build on the design principles of the successful modern apprenticeships, will play an important part in achieving the objectives of Target 2000. It is vital that we improve substantially on current levels of participation and achievement to NVQ level 2 post 16 if we are to ensure that young people are qualified for the jobs of the next century. Target 2000 provides the broad policy framework for that, and the work based route has a vital role to play.

  Ministerial Visits (Schools)
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those schools visited by each Minister with responsibility for schools since their appointment, indicating the dates of each visit. [7667]

  Dr. Howells
  Details requested of ministerial visits to schools up to 9 July are as follows:

  School

  Secretary of State:

  11 June

  Saint Matthew's Church School, London

  13 June

  Abraham Moss School, Manchester

  24 June

  St. Vincent's de Paul School, London

  1 July

  BRIT School, Croydon

  7 July

  Avonmore Primary School, London

  Minister of State, Mr. Byers:

  3 June

  Charles Edward Brooke School, Vauxhall, London

  23 June

  Upbury Manor GM School, Gillingham, Kent Southfields GM School, Gravesend, Kent Kelsey Park GM School, Beckenham Kent

  30 June

  Our Lady of Fatima GM School, Liverpool

  3 July

  Lilian Baylis School, London SE11

  Mostyn Gardens Primary School, London SW9

  4 July

  Gosforth High School, Gosforth, Newcastle

  Egglescliffe School, Stockton on Tees

  9 July

  Handsworth Wood Boys' School, Birmingham

  Parliamentary Under Secretaries of State:

  Dr. Howells:

  20 May

  Kingsbury School, Brent, London

  9 July

  Colfox School, Bridport

  Ivybridge Community College, Plymouth

  Ms Estelle Morris

  6 June

  Stanville Primary School, Birmingham

  18 June

  Loxford School of Science and Technology, Ilford, London

  20 June

  Mapledene Infants School, Birmingham

  Cockshut Hill School, Birmingham

  4 July

  Whalley Range High School, Manchester

  Employment Service
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the annual performance targets for the Employment Service in 1997–98; and what were the targets and outcomes achieved in 1996–97. [7734]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Employment Service targets for 1997–98 were published by the previous administration on March 19, 1997. We are in the final stages of reviewing these and the revised Annual Performance Agreement for 1997–98 which will include targets will be published before the end of this month.

  The following table gives details of performance in 1996–97. During that year Employment Service performance was adversely affected by the unprecedented effort required to introduce and operate successfully the Labour Market System and the Jobseeker's Allowance.
  561

  Employment Service performance against targets in 1996–97

  Indicators

  Target

  Achieved

  Placings of Unemployed people1

  1.97 million at a unit cost of £212 assuming 2.66 million vacancies notified

  1.685 million unit cost £234 2.67 million vacancies notified

  Placings of JSA Claimants1 (October 1996 t0 March 1997)2

  561,450

  508,400

  Placings of Long-Term Claimants1

  29.5 per cent.

  24.3 per cent. (410,000)

  Placings of People with Disabilities1

  4.4 per cent

  5.1 per cent. (86,000)

  Positive outcomes from 12 month interventions

  4.3 per cent.

  38 per cent.

  Positive outcomes from 24 month interventions

  35 per cent.

  30 per cent.

  Referrals to and starts on Training for Work

  489,000 referrals 163,000 starts

  394,000 referrals 150,300 starts

  New claims not pursued

  10 per cent.

  11 per cent.

  Submissions to Adjudication

  215,000

  202,800

  Training for Work allowance payments

  97 per cent. by value to be accurate

  98 per cent.

  Percentage of JSA Claimants offered a Jobseeker's Agreement (October 1996–March 1997)2

  100 per cent.

  98.9 per cent.

  Accuracy of UB payment (April-September 1996)2

  97 per cent.

  96.8 per cent.

  Speed of UB first payments where UB is the first payment made (April-September 1996)3

  75 per cent. with 12 days

  74.7 per cent. within 12 days

  Efficiency savings

  £43 million

  £44.34 million

  1 The Employment Service has recently taken action to ensure that job placings are recorded strictly in accordance with ES procedures. This may impact on future levels of recorded performance. Past levels of recorded performance may have been overstated.

  2 Target from October 1996 following the introduction of the Jobseeker's Allowance.

  3 This work transferred to the Benefits Agency following the introduction of the Jobseeker's Allowance in October 1996.

  Training and Enterprise Councils (Special Needs)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what targets for special needs training are included in the contracts for each of the training and enterprise councils; when the contracts are due for review; and if he will make a statement. [6682]

  Dr. Howells
  All TECs have targets for the numbers of unemployed adults with disabilities joining Training for Work and young people endorsed as having special training needs in Youth Training. TECs are required to ensure that all trainees on their programmes have a training plan based on an assessment of their individual needs, including any special training needs, TEC contracts are reviewed regularly and renegotiated in March each year.

  University Research
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the quality of British university research relative to that of other comparable countries. [6939]

  Dr. Howells
  None. But the Research Assessment Exercise conducted periodically by the higher education funding bodies assesses the quality of higher education research in the UK against an international standard of

  Maintained schools in England1

  Local education authority

  Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C2

  Rank

  Secondary school pupil teacher ratio

  Rank

  Primary school pupil teacher ratio

  Rank

  Isles of Scilly

  73.1

  1

  8.1

  1

  15.0

  1

  Kingston upon Thames

  59.9

  2

  16.2

  38

  23.8

  78

  Sutton

  56.4

  3

  16.6

  62

  23.3

  61

  Harrow

  53.5

  4

  15.6

  15

  20.8

  11

  Barnet

  53.4

  5

  14.8

  6

  20.9

  14

  North Yorkshire

  53.0

  6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  562
  excellence. Further, the Higher Education Funding Council for England has commissioned a study on the international standing of research undertaken in English higher education institutions.

  In addition, earlier this year, the Office of Science and Technology published a paper on "The Quality of the UK Science Base", which measured the performance of the UK science base in comparison with that of other countries. This showed that with only 1 per cent. of the world's population the UK carried out 5.5 per cent. of the world's research effort and was a major force in research with an 8.0 per cent. share of world scientific publications and a 9.1 per cent. share of world citations.

  Pupil-teacher Ratios
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list in rank order the pupil-teacher ratio for(a) secondary and (b) primary schools of each local education authority and their ranking in respect of the number of GCSE grades A to C obtained. [7326]

  Dr. Howells
  The following table lists in rank order for each local education authority the percentage of pupils obtaining five or more GCSEs at grades A-C in 1995–96 together with the pupil-teacher ratio in(a) secondary schools and (b) primary schools. In each case the local education authority's rank order is given.
  563

  Maintained schools in England1

  Local education authority

  Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C2

  Rank

  Secondary school pupil teacher ratio

  Rank

  Primary school pupil teacher ratio

  Rank

  North Somerset

  52.5

  7

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Richmond upon Thames

  52.2

  8

  16.5

  48

  21.3

  16

  Redbridge

  50.8

  9

  16.2

  36

  22.7

  37

  West Sussex

  50.6

  10

  16.6

  58

  22.5

  33

  Buckinghamshire

  50.5

  11

  17.1

  86

  23.6

  69

  Surrey

  50.5

  11

  16.6

  60

  22.0

  22

  Bromley

  50.3

  13

  15.7

  19

  24.6

  98

  Gloucestershire

  50.2

  14

  17.6

  94

  23.4

  63

  Somerset

  50.0

  15

  18.0

  102

  23.2

  54

  Solihull

  49.6

  16

  16.6

  57

  24.1

  92

  Cheshire

  49.3

  17

  17.0

  79

  24.0

  90

  Dorset

  49.3

  17

  17.5

  91

  23.9

  84

  Hertfordshire

  49.3

  17

  15.7

  18

  22.3

  25

  Stockport

  49.0

  20

  16.6

  64

  23.8

  75

  Berkshire

  48.8

  21

  16.3

  42

  23.3

  59

  Bury

  48.6

  22

  17.2

  89

  24.0

  87

  Trafford

  48.6

  22

  16.6

  61

  24.7

  99

  Wiltshire

  48.3

  24

  16.8

  68

  23.4

  62

  Shropshire

  48.0

  25

  16.5

  54

  24.3

  93

  York

  47.7

  26

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bath and North East Somerset

  47.4

  27

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Suffolk

  47.0

  28

  16.5

  53

  22.3

  28

  Bexley

  46.8

  29

  16.6

  59

  24.8

  100

  Kensington and Chelsea

  46.7

  30

  13.3

  2

  17.8

  2

  Cambridgeshire

  46.7

  30

  17.2

  88

  23.9

  82

  Cornwall

  46.7

  30

  17.5

  93

  23.7

  71

  Hampshire

  46.5

  33

  16.6

  63

  22.8

  41

  Northumberland

  46.1

  34

  18.5

  104

  24.6

  97

  Oxfordshire

  45.8

  35

  17.9

  101

  23.3

  55

  Dudley

  44.9

  36

  16.5

  47

  22.4

  31

  South Gloucester

  44.7

  37

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Hereford and Worcester

  44.6

  38

  17.7

  96

  23.2

  49

  Isle of Wight

  44.5

  39

  18.1

  103

  23.2

  50

  Lincolnshire

  44.5

  39

  15.9

  24

  23.6

  70

  Wirral

  44.4

  41

  16.2

  37

  23.2

  48

  Cumbria

  44.2

  42

  16.9

  76

  23.2

  53

  Devon

  44.2

  42

  17.0

  82

  24.0

  89

  Havering

  44.1

  44

  16.2

  39

  23.7

  73

  Sefton

  44.0

  45

  16.4

  45

  23.2

  52

  Wigan

  43.9

  46

  16.0

  28

  22.9

  43

  Kent

  43.7

  47

  16.4

  46

  23.9

  80

  Warwickshire

  43.7

  47

  16.8

  69

  23.6

  68

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  43.6

  49

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Northamptonshire

  43.5

  50

  17.0

  78

  23.4

  64

  East Sussex

  43.3

  51

  16.0

  27

  22.7

  39

  Essex

  43.1

  52

  16.7

  67

  22.6

  34

  Camden

  43.0

  53

  14.9

  7

  20.3

  8

  Bedfordshire

  42.7

  54

  17.8

  98

  23.0

  47

  Lancashire

  42.6

  55

  17.0

  80

  24.1

  91

  Hounslow

  42.3

  56

  15.8

  20

  21.6

  19

  Derbyshire

  42.0

  57

  17.0

  83

  25.3

  104

  Bolton

  41.9

  58

  16.5

  52

  22.8

  42

  Norfolk

  41.9

  58

  15.6

  16

  22.3

  26

  North Tyneside

  41.1

  60

  17.1

  85

  23.9

  79

  Enfield

  41.0

  61

  16.3

  40

  22.6

  36

  Hillingdon

  40.9

  62

  16.4

  43

  22.3

  24

  St. Helens

  40.9

  62

  15.6

  13

  22.9

  44

  Staffordshire

  40.9

  62

  17.6

  95

  24.9

  101

  Calderdale

  39.7

  65

  16.9

  77

  24.0

  86

  Leicestershire

  39.7

  65

  17.1

  84

  23.3

  57

  Croydon

  38.8

  67

  16.3

  41

  22.2

  23

  Kirklees

  38.4

  68

  16.8

  73

  23.3

  58

  Merton

  38.3

  69

  17.2

  87

  21.5

  18

  Coventry

  38.0

  70

  16.1

  32

  23.3

  60

  Redcar and Cleveland

  37.6

  71

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North Lincolnshire

  37.6

  71

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Sheffield

  37.2

  73

  17.5

  92

  22.9

  45

  Stockton on Tees

  37.2

  73

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Leeds

  36.6

  75

  16.6

  56

  23.9

  81

  Gateshead

  36.6

  75

  15.9

  25

  22.3

  27

  564 565

  Maintained schools in England1

  Local education authority

  Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C2

  Rank

  Secondary school pupil teacher ratio

  Rank

  Primary school pupil teacher ratio

  Rank

  Nottinghamshire

  36.4

  77

  16.7

  66

  24.3

  95

  Rotherham

  36.2

  78

  17.0

  81

  23.2

  51

  Durham

  36.2

  78

  17.5

  90

  24.0

  85

  Rochdale

  35.4

  80

  16.9

  75

  24.4

  96

  Tameside

  35.4

  80

  17.8

  99

  25.1

  103

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  35.3

  82

  16.8

  71

  20.3

  9

  Wakefield

  35.3

  82

  16.4

  44

  24.0

  88

  South Tyneside

  35.2

  84

  16.8

  72

  23.3

  56

  Brent

  35.1

  85

  15.4

  11

  21.7

  21

  Ealing

  34.6

  86

  16.5

  51

  22.7

  40

  Doncaster

  33.5

  87

  16.8

  70

  24.3

  94

  Waltham Forest

  33.4

  88

  15.8

  21

  21.4

  17

  Oldham

  33.3

  89

  15.9

  26

  23.7

  74

  Westminster

  33.0

  90

  15.2

  10

  18.4

  3

  Birmingham

  32.9

  91

  15.9

  23

  22.7

  38

  Wandsworth

  32.8

  92

  15.9

  22

  20.5

  10

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  32.7

  93

  16.9

  74

  23.8

  77

  North-east Lincolnshire

  32.4

  94

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Walsall

  32.2

  95

  16.2

  35

  23.4

  65

  Hartlepool

  31.9

  96

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Sunderland

  31.7

  97

  16.1

  30

  22.6

  35

  City of Bristol

  30.9

  98

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Wolverhampton

  30.2

  99

  16.1

  29

  22.5

  32

  Salford

  30.1

  100

  16.5

  55

  23.8

  76

  Lewisham

  30.0

  101

  15.2

  8

  20.1

  7

  Greenwich

  29.1

  102

  15.6

  14

  20.9

  12

  Bradford

  28.9

  103

  17.7

  97

  22.3

  29

  Haringey

  28.5

  104

  14.6

  4

  21.0

  15

  Barnsley

  28.2

  105

  17.9

  100

  25.0

  102

  Newham

  27.9

  106

  16.5

  50

  23.9

  83

  Liverpool

  27.6

  107

  16.2

  34

  23.5

  66

  Barking and Dagenham

  27.1

  108

  16.1

  31

  22.4

  30

  Manchester

  27.0

  109

  15.5

  12

  23.0

  46

  Middlesbrough

  26.9

  110

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Sandwell

  26.5

  111

  16.5

  49

  23.7

  72

  Hackney

  25.7

  112

  14.7

  5

  19.7

  6

  Lambeth

  25.1

  113

  14.4

  3

  18.6

  4

  Southwark

  24.6

  114

  16.2

  33

  21.7

  20

  Tower Hamlets

  23.9

  115

  15.2

  9

  19.5

  5

  Knowsley

  23.6

  116

  16.6

  65

  23.5

  67

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  22.8

  117

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Islington

  22.4

  118

  15.7

  17

  20.9

  13

  1The figures for GCSE achievements and pupil teacher ratio are based on LEA maintained and grant maintained schools in England.

  2The percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving 5 or more GCSE grades A*-C is based on those pupils aged 15 on roll in maintained schools in January 1996.

  Pupils (Staying-on Rates)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the staying-on rates at school at age 15 years for each local authority for the last five years. [7329]

  Percentage of 16 year olds in school by LEA, England, 1990–91 to 1994–95

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  London1

  Inner London

  37

  45

  41

  40

  39

  Barking

  28

  38

  42

  42

  40

  Barnet

  52

  61

  60

  59

  57

  Bexley

  43

  46

  46

  45

  42

  Brent

  34

  39

  42

  40

  40

  Bromley

  51

  57

  58

  60

  61

  Croydon

  22

  27

  31

  31

  29

  Ealing

  46

  50

  37

  34

  39

  Enfield

  43

  49

  56

  55

  51

  Haringey

  35

  42

  42

  41

  36

  566
  Mr. Byers
  The following table shows by LEA the percentage continuing in school at age 16, the first year after the end of compulsory education. The percentage will be comparatively lower in LEAs where 16 year olds can transfer to a sixth form college or a tertiary college. Others will continue their education and training in further education colleges or in the workplace.
  567

  Percentage of 16 year olds in school by LEA, England, 1990–91 to 1994–95

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Harrow

  18

  17

  19

  18

  18

  Havering

  34

  18

  18

  21

  18

  Hillingdon

  43

  51

  54

  52

  50

  Hounslow

  46

  52

  60

  53

  59

  Kingston upon Thames

  52

  59

  64

  66

  62

  Merton

  31

  32

  37

  36

  32

  Newham

  26

  24

  11

  10

  8

  Redbridge

  49

  59

  62

  64

  60

  Richmond upon Thames

  24

  31

  32

  31

  34

  Sutton

  51

  61

  58

  61

  61

  Waltham Forest

  11

  11

  11

  15

  15

  Metropolitan authorities

  Birmingham

  26

  29

  31

  32

  30

  Coventry

  39

  46

  48

  47

  41

  Dudley

  4

  5

  6

  5

  4

  Sandwell

  14

  15

  16

  18

  16

  Solihull

  19

  23

  22

  25

  29

  Walsall

  35

  41

  48

  47

  43

  Wolverhampton

  33

  41

  43

  47

  44

  Knowsley

  16

  16

  18

  12

  15

  Liverpool

  44

  47

  53

  53

  48

  St.Helens

  24

  24

  25

  27

  27

  Sefton

  35

  37

  38

  41

  39

  Wirral

  40

  44

  46

  46

  44

  Bolton

  22

  22

  26

  24

  24

  Bury

  11

  11

  11

  11

  13

  Manchester

  18

  20

  18

  20

  28

  Oldham

  31

  29

  19

  23

  21

  Rochdale

  14

  16

  17

  16

  15

  Salford

  1

  0

  1

  2

  1

  Stockport

  20

  16

  11

  9

  17

  Tameside

  1

  1

  2

  2

  2

  Trafford

  30

  24

  26

  27

  27

  Wigan

  8

  6

  7

  8

  6

  Barnsley

  3

  4

  4

  4

  5

  Doncaster

  37

  40

  44

  45

  42

  Rotherham

  26

  28

  27

  31

  30

  Sheffield

  16

  18

  18

  18

  19

  Bradford

  41

  46

  47

  46

  45

  Calderdale

  40

  44

  46

  49

  43

  Kirklees

  23

  23

  25

  23

  22

  Leeds

  36

  40

  40

  44

  40

  Wakefield

  23

  24

  26

  28

  28

  Gateshead

  29

  28

  33

  32

  32

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  48

  52

  52

  55

  51

  North Tyneside

  33

  34

  35

  36

  36

  South Tyneside

  5

  6

  7

  7

  7

  Sunderland

  11

  12

  13

  13

  12

  Counties

  Avon

  38

  43

  49

  47

  44

  Bedfordshire

  39

  42

  43

  44

  41

  Berkshire

  48

  54

  57

  57

  57

  Buckinghamshire

  45

  50

  54

  55

  53

  Cambridgeshire

  28

  33

  36

  35

  34

  Cheshire

  34

  36

  38

  38

  38

  Cleveland

  6

  7

  6

  7

  7

  Cornwall (including Isles of Scilly)

  29

  30

  33

  27

  27

  Cumbria

  33

  37

  37

  41

  40

  Derbyshire

  25

  28

  31

  29

  30

  Devon

  33

  38

  39

  41

  41

  Dorset

  38

  44

  47

  49

  48

  Durham

  22

  24

  25

  25

  24

  East Sussex

  28

  33

  35

  35

  33

  Essex

  26

  28

  29

  30

  28

  Gloucestershire

  45

  46

  48

  47

  46

  Hampshire

  10

  10

  11

  11

  10

  Hereford and Worcester

  35

  36

  39

  39

  40

  Hertfordshire

  53

  58

  62

  63

  60

  Humberside

  19

  20

  21

  23

  20

  Isle ot Wight

  48

  48

  51

  54

  51

  Kent

  42

  49

  51

  52

  52

  568 569

  Percentage of 16 year olds in school by LEA, England, 1990–91 to 1994–95

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Lancashire

  16

  16

  17

  18

  17

  Leicestershire

  36

  38

  39

  40

  38

  Lincolnshire

  30

  31

  34

  36

  36

  Norfolk

  29

  32

  34

  37

  37

  North Yorkshire

  35

  38

  39

  40

  40

  Northamptonshire

  39

  45

  50

  51

  48

  Northumberland

  40

  47

  47

  50

  48

  Nottinghamshire

  28

  31

  34

  34

  34

  Oxfordshire

  42

  50

  54

  55

  52

  Shropshire

  22

  23

  27

  28

  27

  Somerset

  28

  31

  31

  30

  31

  Staffordshire

  25

  28

  30

  30

  31

  Suffolk

  41

  46

  47

  52

  48

  Surrey

  38

  40

  42

  42

  42

  Warwickshire

  33

  36

  36

  38

  36

  West Sussex

  35

  39

  41

  39

  38

  Wiltshire

  30

  31

  36

  35

  34

  England

  31

  34

  35

  36

  35

  1 Data for individual boroughs are not reliable.

  Source:

  Schools' Census, population estimates.

  GCSE Scores
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list in rank order(a) the percentage of pupils obtaining five or more GCSEs at grades A to C in 1995–96 in each local education authority and (b) the expenditure per pupil; and if he will make a statement. [7325]

  Maintained schools in England1

  Local education authority

  Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C2

  Rank

  Secondary school unit cost (£)

  Rank

  Isles of Scilly

  73.1

  1

  4,347

  104

  Kingston upon Thames

  59.9

  2

  2,374

  66

  Sutton

  56.4

  3

  2,480

  78

  Harrow

  53.5

  4

  2,660

  89

  Barnet

  53.4

  5

  2,533

  81

  North Yorkshire

  53.0

  6

  n/a

  n/a

  North Somerset

  52.5

  7

  n/a

  n/a

  Richmond upon Thames

  52.2

  8

  2,431

  72

  Redbridge

  50.8

  9

  2,510

  80

  West Sussex

  50.6

  10

  2,239

  37

  Buckinghamshire

  50.5

  11

  2,288

  50

  Surrey

  50.5

  11

  2,260

  44

  Bromley

  50.3

  13

  1,851

  1

  Gloucestershire

  50.2

  14

  2,082

  12

  Somerset

  50.0

  15

  2,212

  30

  Solihull

  49.6

  16

  2,241

  38

  Cheshire

  49.3

  17

  2,147

  16

  Dorset

  49.3

  17

  2,067

  9

  Hertfordshire

  49.3

  17

  2,366

  64

  Stockport

  49.0

  20

  2,225

  31

  Berkshire

  48.8

  21

  2,211

  28

  Bury

  48.6

  22

  2,081

  11

  Trafford

  48.6

  22

  2,433

  73

  Wiltshire

  48.3

  24

  2,251

  40

  Shropshire

  48.0

  25

  2,384

  67

  York

  47.7

  26

  n/a

  n/a

  Bath and North east Somerset

  47.4

  27

  n/a

  n/a

  Suffolk

  47.0

  28

  2,165

  20

  Bexley

  46.8

  29

  2,291

  51

  Kensington and Chelsea

  46.7

  30

  3,602

  102

  Cambridgeshire

  46.7

  30

  2,172

  21

  Cornwall

  46.7

  30

  2,229

  35

  Hampshire

  46.5

  33

  2,210

  27

  Northumberland

  46.1

  34

  1,990

  2

  570
  Dr. Howells
  The following table lists in rank order for each local education authority the percentage of pupils obtaining five or more GCSEs at grade C or above in 1995–96 together with the expenditure per secondary pupil. In each case, the local education authority's rank order is indicated.
  571

  Maintained schools in England1

  Local education authority

  Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C2

  Rank

  Secondary school unit cost (£)

  Rank

  Oxfordshire

  45.8

  35

  2,199

  25

  Dudley

  44.9

  36

  2,175

  22

  South Gloucester

  44.7

  37

  n/a

  n/a

  Hereford and Worcester

  44.6

  38

  2,055

  6

  Isle of Wight

  44.5

  39

  2,085

  13

  Lincolnshire

  44.5

  39

  2,412

  70

  Wirral

  44.4

  41

  2,323

  58

  Cumbria

  44.2

  42

  2,287

  48

  Devon

  44.2

  42

  2,187

  24

  Havering

  44.1

  44

  2,622

  87

  Sefton

  44.0

  45

  2,304

  54

  Wigan

  43.9

  46

  2,307

  56

  Kent

  43.7

  47

  2,343

  61

  Warwickshire

  73.7

  47

  2,225

  32

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  43.6

  49

  n/a

  n/a

  Northamptonshire

  43.5

  50

  2,163

  18

  East Sussex

  43.3

  51

  2,395

  68

  Essex

  43.1

  52

  2,325

  59

  Camden

  43.0

  53

  2,888

  95

  Bedfordshire

  42.7

  54

  2,163

  19

  Lancashire

  42.6

  55

  2,268

  45

  Hounslow

  42.3

  56

  2,535

  82

  Derbyshire

  42.0

  57

  2,234

  36

  Bolton

  41.9

  58

  2,287

  49

  Norfolk

  41.9

  58

  2,319

  57

  North Tyneside

  41.1

  60

  2,201

  26

  Enfield

  41.0

  61

  2,367

  65

  Hillingdon

  40.9

  62

  2,624

  88

  St. Helens

  40.9

  62

  2,063

  8

  Staffordshire

  40.9

  62

  2,061

  7

  Calderdale

  39.7

  65

  2,485

  79

  Leicestershire

  39.7

  65

  2,269

  46

  Croydon

  38.8

  67

  2,543

  83

  Kirklees

  38.4

  68

  2,258

  41

  Merton

  38.3

  69

  2,593

  86

  Coventry

  38.0

  70

  2,477

  77

  Redcar and Cleveland

  37.6

  71

  n/a

  n/a

  North Lincolnshire

  37.6

  71

  n/a

  n/a

  Sheffield

  37.2

  73

  2,182

  23

  Stockton on Tees

  37.2

  73

  n/a

  n/a

  Leeds

  36.6

  75

  2,259

  43

  Gateshead

  36.6

  75

  2,250

  39

  Nottinghamshire

  36.4

  77

  2,333

  60

  Rotherham

  36.2

  78

  2,211

  29

  Durham

  36.2

  78

  2,072

  10

  Rochdale

  35.4

  80

  2,275

  47

  Tameside

  35.4

  80

  2,010

  3

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  35.3

  82

  3,328

  101

  Wakefield

  35.3

  82

  2,055

  5

  South Tyneside

  35.2

  84

  2,096

  15

  Brent

  35.1

  85

  2,418

  71

  Ealing

  34.6

  86

  2,477

  76

  Doncaster

  33.5

  87

  2,292

  52

  Waltham Forest

  33.4

  88

  2,736

  90

  Oldham

  33.3

  89

  2,294

  53

  Westminster

  33.0

  90

  2,863

  94

  Birmingham

  32.9

  91

  2,555

  85

  Wandsworth

  32.8

  92

  2,953

  97

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  32.7

  93

  2,346

  62

  North-east Lincolnshire

  32.4

  94

  n/a

  n/a

  Walsall

  32.2

  95

  2,158

  17

  Hartlepool

  31.9

  96

  n/a

  n/a

  Sunderland

  31.7

  97

  2,228

  34

  City of Bristol

  30.9

  98

  n/a

  n/a

  Wolverhampton

  30.2

  99

  2,460

  74

  Salford

  30.1

  100

  2,226

  33

  Lewisham

  30.0

  101

  2,765

  91

  Greenwich

  29.1

  102

  2,768

  92

  Bradford

  28.9

  103

  2,030

  4

  Haringey

  28.5

  104

  3,018

  99

  Barnsley

  28.2

  105

  2,089

  14

  572 573

  Maintained schools in England1

  Local education authority

  Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C2

  Rank

  Secondary school unit cost (£)

  Rank

  Newham

  27.9

  106

  2,546

  84

  Liverpool

  27.6

  107

  2,406

  69

  Barking and Dagenham

  27.1

  108

  2,473

  75

  Manchester

  27.0

  109

  2,305

  55

  Middlesbrough

  26.9

  110

  n/a

  n/a

  Sandwell

  26.5

  111

  2,362

  63

  Hackney

  25.7

  112

  2,963

  98

  Lambeth

  25.1

  113

  3,859

  103

  Southwark

  24.6

  114

  2,840

  93

  Tower Hamlets

  23.9

  115

  3,206

  100

  Knowsley

  23.6

  116

  2,259

  42

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  22.8

  117

  n/a

  n/a

  Islington

  22.4

  118

  2,941

  96

  1 The figures for GCSE achievements are based on LEA maintained and grant maintained schools in England. The unit cost figures are based on LEA maintained schools only and exclude grant maintained schools.

  2 The percentage of 15-year-olds pupils achieving five or more GCSE grands A*-C are based on those pupils aged 15 on roll in maintained schools in January 1996.

  Old Documents
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the date and title of the oldest document or archival unit retained by his Department which has not been passed on to the Public Record Office for release for public inspection. [7196]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: There is no material, appropriate for transfer to the Public Record Office, retained by the Department at this time.

  Lifelong Learning
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to widen participation in lifelong learning following the publication of the Kennedy report. [7127]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 9 July 1997]: The Further Education Funding Council is consulting widely about Helena Kennedy's report to it and we will consider carefully the views expressed and advice from others, including the Advisory Group on Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning chaired by Professor Bob Fryer. Our plans for widening participation will be set out in a White Paper on Lifelong Learning in the Autumn.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7145]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department is on schedule to achieve the milestones identified by the Central IT Unit, Cabinet Office in response to the Year 2000 problem. By October 1997, we expect to produce a "prioritised" and fully costed plan for undertaking the appropriate 574
  and cost justified work. System modification and testing should be completed by December 1998. Accurate figures of the likely cost of dealing with the Year 2000 problem will not be available until the completion of the prioritised plan. The cost of remedial and preventative action will be met from within existing departmental provision.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to extend the criteria for eligibility for attendance at job clubs to those who have had a series of brief periods of temporary unemployment but are otherwise long-term unemployed. [7109]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  There are no plans at present to change the eligibility criteria for this programme.

  Letter from Leigh Lewia to Mr. David Chaytor, dated July 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about extending the criteria for attendance at Jobclubs. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Normally, a jobseeker must be continually unemployed for a period of at least 26 weeks before they become eligible to join a Jobclub. However, breaks in this period (for example, for short term work or holidays) can be discounted provided that this does not exceed a total of 28 days.
  There are no plans at present to change the eligibility criteria for this programme.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Engineering
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many female engineering undergraduates entered universities in the United Kingdom in each year since 1986; [7052]

  (2) how many women graduated at first degree level in engineering in each year since 1988. [7053]
  575
  Dr. Howells
  The available information is given in the following table.

  Care should be taken in comparing the graduate and entrant numbers to derive "graduation rates" because graduates from a particular entrant cohort will not necessarily graduate together in the same year. Moreover, there are timing/coverage differences between the entrant and graduate figures throughout the time series as footnoted in the table.

  Female engineering students at first degree level in the UK (000s)

  Year1

  2Entrants

  3Graduates

  1986

  1.8

  —

  1987

  1.9

  —

  1988

  1.9

  1.3

  1989

  2.5

  1.3

  1990

  2.9

  1.6

  1991

  3.6

  1.8

  1992

  3.5

  2.2

  1993

  4.1

  2.5

  1994

  4.8

  2.9

  1995

  4.7

  3.2

  1996

  4.5

  3.5

  1 From 1994–95 data were collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  2 Data are for academic years. From 1988 figures include entrants to all higher education institutions including universities, polytechnics and other HE establishments. Prior to 1988, entrants to English establishments other than universities and polytechnics are excluded. Entrants to first degree study in further education establishments are excluded throughout.

  3 Data are for calendar years up to 1993–94 and academic years thereafter. Up to 1994, graduates from all institutions including further education institutions are included. Thereafter graduates from FEIs are excluded.

  Further Education Funding (Worcestershire)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the Further Education Funding Council over the level of funding for further education colleges in Worcestershire, with particular reference to Evesham College; and if he will make a statement. [6772]

  Dr. Howells
  None. It is for the Further Education Funding Council to make decisions concerning the funding allocations to colleges.

  Full Employment
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what commitments he has made in respect of achieving full employment. [7319]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government's central economic objective is to achieve high and stable levels of growth and employment. This will be pursued by running a successful low inflation economy, with macro-economic stability as a platform for sustainable growth, and by enhancing skills and improving the operation of the labour market to open up job opportunities to all groups in society.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his Department's definition of full employment. [7318]
  576
  Mr. Smith
  The Department has no such definition. The Government's objective is to achieve high and stable levels of growth and employment, and a fair society in which everyone can share in higher living standards and greater job opportunities.

  Primary Class Sizes
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many five, six and seven-year-olds in classes taught by one teacher are in classes of 31 pupils or more, in(a) Newham, (b) Tower Hamlets, (c) Hackney, (d) Redbridge, (e) Waltham Forest and (f) Barking and Dagenham, expressed in (i) absolute terms and (ii) as a proportion of all five, six and seven-year-olds; and what are the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom. [6856]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: The information is not available in the form requested.

  Provisional estimates of the numbers and percentages of pupils in key stage 1 classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools for each local education authority area as requested and England are shown in the table.

  Numbers and percentages of pupils in Key Stage 1 Classes1 taught by one teacher with 31 or more pupils in maintained primary schools

  January 1997 (provisional estimates)

  Number

  Percentage

  Newham

  1,262

  14

  Tower Hamlets

  475

  7

  Hackney

  540

  10

  Redbridge

  2,331

  32

  Waltham Forest

  916

  13

  Barking and Dagenham

  909

  14

  England

  476,934

  29

  1 Includes reception classes. Information on class sizes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for these countries.

  Nursery Education
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of(a) three-year-olds and (b) four-year-olds currently have nursery places in (i) Newham, (ii) Tower Hamlets, (iii) Hackney, (iv) Redbridge, (v) Waltham Forest and (vi) Barking and Dagenham; and what are the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom. [6815]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: Provisional figures for 1997 show that the percentages of three and four-year-olds in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in England were 33 and 24 per cent. respectively. Figures for percentages of three and four-year-olds for local education authority areas in England are not sufficiently reliable for publication.

  Provisional estimates of the percentages of pupils under five years of age in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools for each

  577
  local education authority area as requested and England are shown in the following table.

  Percentage1 of children under five years of age in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools

  January 1997 (provisional estimates)

  Number

  Newham

  53

  Tower Hamlets

  61

  Hackney

  32

  Redbridge

  25

  Waltham Forest

  39

  Barking and Dagenham

  48

  England

  29

  1 Number of pupils under five years of age in relation to number of children aged three and four at 31 December 1996.

  Information on nursery provision in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for these countries.

HEALTH

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) of 10 June,Official Report, columns 427–28, what is his definition of genuine health need for the purposes of determining priority for hospital projects seeking funding from public capital. [6822]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive National Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group has recently been tasked with evaluating all major capital projects in the NHS on the basis of service need.

  The criteria for measuring health service need is expected to be similar to that used to assess service need in the recent Private Finance Initiative prioritisation exercise, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what criteria will be employed to determine the priority for funding from public capital of projects deemed unsuitable as a PFI project; [6795]

  (2) if he will list the criteria which will be used to select hospitals for inclusion in his future list of projects to be pursued by the PFI. [6793]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive National Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group will review all major acute schemes on the basis of health service need, regardless whether they are to be funded from public or private capital.

  The criteria for measuring health service need is expected to be similar to that used to assess service need in the recent Private Finance Initiative prioritisation exercise, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the development of alternative models of structuring private finance schemes.
  [6796]
  578
  Mr. Milburn
  Alternative models for structuring capital investment projects under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) will be considered as part of the review of the PFI which I announced on 10 June,Official Report, columns 427–28. The results of the review will be announced towards the end of the year.

  Work Load Planning
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement listing by specialty his work load planning assumptions for (i) 1997–98. (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [6738]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department of Health does not make central work load planning assumptions. Resources are allocated to health authorities who plan activity according to local needs and priorities.

  Health authorities are required to report their planned activity levels to the Department. Plans submitted by health authorities show the following general and acute activity levels for 1997–98.

  Health Authority General and Acute Activity Plans, 1997–98 (000s)

  Elective activity

  Number

  Inpatients: FCEs

  5,028

  of which:

  ordinary admissions

  1,992

  day cases

  3,036

  Outpatient first attendances

  10.475

  Emergency Services

  Non-elective admissions

  4,375

  A and E first attendances

  12,721

  Source:

  Common Information Core.

  Plans for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 will be available in mid 1998 and mid 1999 respectively.

  Clinical Support Services
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's definition of a clinical support service; and if he will publish a list of those services currently used in the NHS. [6797]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department of Health does not have an established definition of clinical support services. As part of the review of Private Finance Initiative, officials will be considering what services may be included in PFI projects and are aiming to produce a list of these by the end of the year.

  Medical Procedures
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each purchasing authority those medical procedures for which funding is not currently available. [6803]

  Mr. Milburn
  Purchasers are responsible for funding those services which are clinically effective and meet the needs of local people in light of the resources available.

  Primary Act Pilot Initiative
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when members of the Heywood Associations of Small Practices will hear if their application to be part of the primary act pilot initiative has been approved. [6844]

  Mr. Milburn
  There are two stages to the application process to enter the personal medical services pilot scheme under the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997. Firstly an expression of interest should have been made by 1 May followed by a formal application. Everyone who has submitted an expression of interest to pilot new contractual arrangements will receive individual feedback on their proposal from their local health authority and will be given the opportunity to re-visit their proposal in light of comments made. A formal application to enter into a personal medical services pilot will need to be submitted to health authorities before 1 November. Applicants will be notified as to whether their application has been approved before the end of December.

  NHS Services
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's definition of a clinical service; and if he will publish a list of those services currently used in the NHS. [6798]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department of Health does not have an established definition of a clinical service. As part of the review of Private Finance Initiative, officials will be considering what services may be included in PFI projects and are aiming to produce a list of these by the end of the year.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update Table 4.2 of his Department's 1997 annual report. [6804]

  Mr. Milburn
  Table 4.2 of the 1997 annual report ("Top-sliced Funding Over £10 million: 1996–97 and 1997–98") has been updated and is shown in the table:

  Budget

  1996–97 £ million1

  1997–98 £ million2

  Community Health Councils

  21

  22

  Dental Practice Board

  20

  20

  Prescription Pricing Authority

  42

  41

  Special Hospitals

  130

  131

  National Blood Authority

  8

  11

  All other budgets

  24

  22

  Total

  245

  247

  1 Initial allocation at 1996–97 prices.2 Initial allocation at 1997–98 prices.

  NHS Expenditure Review
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the remit that his fundamental expenditure review of the NHS will be following; and when he is planning to conclude this work and report back to the Chief Secretary. [6791]

  Mr. Milburn
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 7 July 1997, columns 308–309.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of CJD have been confirmed in each of the last 10 years. [7377]

  Ms Jowell
  The latest figures on the number of cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, including new variant CJD, in the United Kingdom were published in a Department of Health press release on 7 July 1997, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  The numbers of deaths recorded from sporadic CJD in England and Wales has increased from about 10 per year at the beginning of the 1970s to about 35 per year in the 1990s. No increase in the annual number of cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland is evident since 1985 (when figures became available). Most of the increase has been in the over 70 age group. The increase is thought to be most likely due to improved ascertainment rather than a real increase in the incidence of disease.

  NHS Efficiency Task Force
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the terms of reference of the NHS efficiency task force; [6942]

  (2) by what date he has requested that the NHS efficiency task force complete its work and report to him; [6944]

  (3) if he will publish the findings of the NHS efficiency task force; and if he will allow a period for public consultation on its findings. [6943]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service efficiency task force is working with me to explore more efficient ways of delivering high quality patient care. The group has no formal terms of reference but is generating ideas, particularly about areas which are likely to produce benefits over the next eighteen months. The task force will not produce a formal report. Ideas will be taken forward by Ministers and officials with appropriate consultation.

  Fertility Treatment
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the provision of NHS fertility treatment. [6928]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 20 May 1997, columns 57–58.

  Dental Services
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 June,Official Report, column 281, if the figures for dentists on health authority lists are dentists who accept NHS patients. [7384]

  Mr. Milburn
  All dentists on health authority lists are providing some National Health Service dental treatment.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for health when he intends to publish the conclusions of his discussions with the Local Government Association on
  581
  12 May concerning the improvement of provision on long-term care for the elderly; and if he will make a statement. [7223]

  Mr. Boateng
  The meeting covered a range of topics including long term care. The views of the Local Government Association are valued and will be taken into account as we decide what action to take on provision of long-term care for the elderly.

  Capital Investment
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Cann) of 6 June,Official Report, column 282, for what reasons the costs were higher in 1992–93 than in 1996–97. [7383]

  Mr. Milburn
  In 1992–93 the dental fee scale that was in place was delivering a higher target net income than the Doctor and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) had recommended. Since January 1994, the way in which dental remuneration is set has changed; the DDRB has recommended a percentage uplift in the fees. Despite the increase in fees from 1994, changes to the complexity and volume of work done under the General Dental Service have meant that treatment costs in 1996–97 have only returned close to 1992–93 levels.

  Prescription Fraud
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to reduce prescription fraud in the NHS in cases where the control over prescribing has been devolved by doctors to pharmacists. [7323]

  Mr. Milburn
  Doctors may not devolve their responsibilities for prescribing to pharmacists.

  Health Authority Membership
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the question from the right hon. Member for South-West Surrey of 3 July on the number of Labour and Liberal Democrat hon. Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords who served on NHS health authorities or trusts. [8017]

  Mr. Milburn
  The question was answered on 9 July, column 500.

  Postal and Proxy Forms (Charges)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances general practitioners are permitted to charge people for signing postal and proxy forms; and what guidance his Department has provided on this issue. [6658]

  Mr. Milburn
  General practitioners are not permitted to charge patients for signing a postal or proxy form to enable a person to be registered as an absent voter on grounds of physical incapacity. This is set out in Schedule 9 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992.

  Health Services (Warrington)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ascertain the views of people in the Warrington, North constituency on local national health service services. [7218]

  Mr. Milburn
  North Cheshire Health Authority has recently developed a system of relationships and networks in local communities, including Warrington, North, to enable residents to put their views and suggestions to the health authority. Participants include health authority and hospital staff, general practitioners, voluntary organisations, community health councils, education and local authority representatives.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide funding for the continuation of the Health Watch Project run by the Warrington Community Health Council. [7219]

  Mr. Milburn
  I have no plans to do so.

  Community Health Councils
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to increase the powers of community health councils. [7220]

  Mr. Milburn
  Community health councils have an important statutory role in representing the interests of the public in their districts in the National Health Service. We will be keeping this under review as we develop proposals for wider changes to the NHS which we will outline later this year in a White Paper on our plans to replace the internal market.

  Biotechnological Inventions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into the possible human health implications of the draft European Parliament and Council directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions; and if he will make a statement. [7343]

  Ms Jowell
  Primary responsibility for taking forward developments and negotiations on this directive rests not with the Department, but with the Department of Trade and Industry. The Department has not carried out research into the human health implications of the directive. The European Parliament is due to give its first Opinion on the draft proposal next week, and the draft is likely to be amended further by the Commission. When the terms of the proposals to be put to Council of Ministers are known, we understand that the DTI will be undertaking further studies.

  However, in relation to the human health implications of the draft proposal, we should add that whilst the patent system is designed to encourage research by providing a limited monopoly to allow companies to recoup their investment, a patent only gives its holder rights to prevent others from using an invention. The patent holder must comply with all other legislation and regulations if the invention is to be made.

  Community Care (Transitional Grant)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each of the last five years the amount
  583
  his Department paid to each local authority in respect of special transitional grant for community care and the percentage change from one year to the next. [7435]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested has been placed in the Library. There is no direct link between one year's allocation of special transitional grant and the next for the following reasons:the effect of Local Authorities reorganisation (the number of new unitary authorities that have been created and the subsequent effect on boundaries); and
  each year's STG is incorporated into the Personal Social Services Standard Spending Assessments for the following year, so that year's allocation is in addition to, and not a replacement for the previous allocation.

  A table showing a better overview of community care funding has also been placed in the Library as has an additional table which shows total resources provided for local authority community care responsibilities, together with the annual percentage change.

  Social Services (Charges)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue new guidance to local authorities on charging for social services. [7436]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government has no immediate plans to issue guidance. This is a complex matter where there are considerable concerns about how satisfactory the current framework is. We are actively reviewing this area.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) undertaken and (b) planned into the charging policies of local authority social services departments; and if he will publish the research. [7437]

  Mr. Boateng
  No specific research on social services charging policies has been commissioned by the Department of Health, nor is any planned, although some evaluative research on the community care reforms touches on charging issues. The Department is aware of recent research on social services charging policies such as that published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and has given this due consideration. The Department receives regular feedback on social services charging practices around the country, through local authority statistical returns and the Social Services Inspectorate.

  Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the final outcome of the prioritisation exercise to be carried out by the NHS Executive Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group will be subject to Treasury approval; [7790]

  (2) if he will publish the membership of the NHS Executive Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group; [7799]

  (3) what methodology and criteria will be used by the NHS Executive Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group in determining those projects which in Spring 1998 will be announced as (a) proceeding via the PFI or i(b) being funded from public sector capital; [7796]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the criteria that will apply in the national capital prioritisation exercise to be undertaken by the NHS Executive Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group; [7808]
  584
  (5) what plans he has to hold meetings of the NHS Executive Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group in public; [7798]

  (6) if he will list the criteria to be used by its NHS Executive Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group in coming to its decisions. [7795]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive National Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group will comprise of senior members of both NHS Executive headquarters and regional offices. It will consider the case for all future major capital schemes and make recommendations to Ministers on priorities for both major publicly funded and Private Finance Initiative schemes. Details of its membership and working arrangements are being considered by Ministers and have not yet been finalised.

  It is expected that the criteria for measuring health service need will be similar to that used to assess service need in the recent Private Finance Initiative prioritisation exercise, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  PFI Hospital Projects
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those approved PFI hospital projects which currently do not have 1:50 scale architects' drawings available. [7788]

  Mr. Milburn
  Of the 14 major acute sector schemes selected for prioritisation as part of the first stage of the review of the Private Finance Initiative in the National Health Service, only two schemes, Dartford and Gravesham and Norfolk and Norwich have been approved. The 1:50 drawings have been produced by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and signed off by the trust's clinical staff. Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust plans to develop the 1:50 scale drawings further with its private sector partner as the construction, building and engineering infrastructure of the PFI scheme progresses.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each of his approved PFI hospital scheme the amount of money given to the relevant hospital trust to bridge the affordability gap. [7775]

  Mr. Milburn
  The trusts with prioritised Private Finance Initiative schemes which have been offered funds from the support scheme are shown in the list. The trusts are still negotiating with their private sector partners to bring these projects to financial close. Therefore, the amount of support being offered to each trust is commercial in confidence. However the total cost of the support scheme is not expected to exceed £9 million a year, less than 1 per cent. of the total National Health Service capital budget.

  Bishop Auckland Hospitals NHS Trust

  Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust

  Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust

  Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust

  Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

  Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust

  North Durham Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust

  Wellhouse NHS Trust

  Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust.

  585
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how NHS trusts unsuccessful in achieving priority status for their PFI hospital project will be expected to deal with costs which have so far been incurred but which would have been capitalised had its project been successful. [7813]

  Mr. Milburn
  Those trusts unsuccessful in achieving priority status have been asked to cease any further action on their Private Finance Initiative projects and stand down their private sector partner if they have selected one. These schemes will be eligible for consideration by the National Health Service Executive's Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group. This Group will consider all major acute schemes on the basis of health service need and recommend schemes to go forward either as part of the next tranche of PFI schemes or for funding from available public sector capital.

  All PFI professional services are charged to trusts' revenue in accordance with United Kingdom GAAP (General Accepted Accounting Practice), in particular the fundamental accounting principal of prudence which means that, due to uncertainty about the outcome of projects, expenditure such as professional fees should be charged to revenue.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make available funds to bridge future affordability gaps which arise in the next round of announcements of PFI approved hospitals. [7774]

  Mr. Milburn
  There are no plans at present to extend the support scheme to further schemes.

  Donepezil
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with(a) health authorities, (b) clinicians and (c) voluntary organisations about the introduction of the drug donepezil. [7726]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have consulted health authorities, the Standing Medical Advisory Committee and the Alzheimers Society over the possible issuing of guidance on the introduction of this drug.

  Elderly Patients
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to the NHS of patients aged over 60 years. [7809]

  Mr. Boateng
  Figures on Hospital and Community Health (HCHS) services are set out in the Department of Health, Government Expenditure plans, copies of which are available in the Library. People aged 65 and over account for some 41 per cent. of total HCHS spending although they make up 16 per cent. of the population. In 1994–95 it was estimated that £9,191 million of the total £22,237 million HCHS spending was devoted to people aged 65 and over.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of patients aged over 60 years use the NHS each year. [7812]

  Mr. Boateng
  Figures for the estimated number of finished consultant episodes for people aged 60 and over are shown in the table. This does not include out-patient attendances, which are collected and published annually 586
  in "Outpatients and ward attenders for England", as these data are not broken down by age group. Information on the number of patients registered with General Practitioners on 1 April and 1 October of each year for people aged 65 and over is available in "General Medical Services Statistics for England and Wales". The latest version for 1 October 1996 is available in the Library.

  Estimated number of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs), ordinary admissions and day cases combined, NHS hospitals, England 1994–95

  Number

  Total number of FCEs

  10,550,213

  Number of FCEs aged 60 and over

  3,611,898

  Percentage of total FCEs

  34.2

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recommendations contained in the Alzheimer's Disease Society's report, "No Accounting for Health", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement. [7736]

  Mr. Boateng
  We welcome the Alzheimer's Disease Society report, "No Accounting for Health". The recommendations will help raise the profile of the issues concerning those suffering from dementia. It will complement the guidance recently issued in the Handbook Mental health and Older People.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Community Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to increase the community care grant budget. [7365]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The size and composition of the discretionary Social Fund budget is determined annually. The budget for 1998–99, including provision for community care grants will be announced in March next year.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in the third and fourth quarters of 1996–97, how many jobseeker's allowance claimants(a) applied for and (b) received hardship payments; and what percentage of all sanctioned claimants received a payment in the categories (i) voluntary unemployment or as a result of misconduct, (ii) availability for work, (iii) actively seeking work, (iv) refusing employment, (v) refusing or failing to attend a compulsory Government programme, (vi) jobseeker's agreement and (vii) jobseeker's direction. [7727]

  Mr. Bradley
  Our Welfare to Work objectives are to provide work incentives, to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to strike a new balance between rights and responsibilities. We will ensure that Jobseeker's Allowance supports this new balance.
  587
  The number of jobseekers who applied for hardship payments in the period October 1996 to November 1996 and December 1996 to February 1997 were 3,000 and 15,000 respectively. The numbers of hardship awards made for the same periods were 2,000 and 11,000. A breakdown of hardship awards made by reason for sanction is not presently available.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, in each quarter since 1995, what proportion of jobseeker's allowance claimants reported income from employment; what were the mean and median levels of earnings declared; and what was the breakdown of weekly earnings in £10 bands for (i) single jobseeker's allowance claimants, (ii) couples receiving income based jobseeker's allowance and (iii) lone parents in receipt of income support. [7731]

  Mr. Bradley
  Jobseeker's allowance replaced income support and unemployment benefit as the main benefit for the unemployed in October 1996. Information on the numbers of people receiving jobseeker's allowance who have income from employment is not yet available. In addition, data prior to November 1995 are not reliable. Such information as is available is contained in the tables.

  Proportion of unemployed claimants who have reported income from employment; mean and median declared earnings: November 1995 to August 1996

  Great Britain

  Quarter

  Proportion with earnings, Per cent.

  Mean earnings declared

  Median earnings declared

  November 1995

  4

  £53.37

  £30.00

  February 1996

  4

  £52.77

  £30.00

  May 1996

  4

  £50.28

  £30.00

  August 1996

  4

  £47.60

  £28.80

  Weekly earnings for single unemployed claimants: November 1995 to August 1996

  Great Britain

  Quarter

  November 1995

  February 1996

  May 1996

  August 1996

  All with earnings

  59,000

  54,000

  58,000

  51,000

  £0.01 to £10.00

  9,000

  8,000

  9,000

  8,000

  £10.01 to £20.00

  13,000

  12,000

  13,000

  11,000

  £20.01 to £30.00

  10,000

  10,000

  10,000

  9,000

  £30.01 to £40.00

  7,000

  6,000

  7,000

  7,000

  £40.01 to £50.00

  6,000

  5,000

  5,000

  4,000

  £50.01 to £60.00

  4,000

  3,000

  3,000

  3,000

  £60.01 to £70.00

  2,000

  1,000

  2,000

  1,000

  £70.01 to £80.00

  2,000

  1,000

  2,000

  1,000

  £80.01 to £90.00

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  £90.01 to £100.00

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  £100.01 and over

  6,000

  6,000

  6,000

  5,000

  Weekly earnings for couple unemployed claimants in receipt of income support; November 1995 to August 1996

  Great Britain

  Quarter

  November 1995

  February 1996

  May 1996

  August 1996

  All with earnings

  16,000

  14,000

  16,000

  13,000

  £0.01 to £10.00

  3,000

  2,000

  3,000

  3,000

  £10.01 to £20.00

  5,000

  4,000

  5,000

  4,000

  £20.01 to £30.00

  3,000

  3,000

  4,000

  3,000

  £30.01 to £40.00

  2,000

  1,000

  2,000

  1,000

  588

  Weekly earnings for couple unemployed claimants in receipt of income support: November 1995 to August 1996

  Great Britain

  Quarter

  November 1995

  February 1996

  May 1996

  August 1996

  £40.01 to £50.00

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  £50.01 to £60.00

  1,000

  12,000

  12,000

  11,000

  £60.01 and over

  2,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  1£50.01 and over.

  1. Unemployed claimant figures provide a lower bound on the numbers receiving payments from earnings. A number of recipients who receive earnings do not have the information recorded on the computer system.

  2. Unemployed claimant figures show computerised claims only.

  3. Income support lone parent recipients are those in receipt of the lone parent premium.

  4. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and as such totals may not tally.

  5. The upper earnings band have been combined for any categories which, when rounded, would be shown as zero.

  6. All figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  Sources:

  1. 5 per cent. sample of Unemployed claimants in Great Britain taken on the second Thursday of the months shown.

  2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry November 1995 to August 1996.

  Weekly earnings for lone parents receiving income support: November 1995 to August 1996

  Great Britain

  Quarter

  November 1995

  February 1996

  May 1996

  August 1996

  All with earnings

  66,000

  66,000

  70,000

  68,000

  £0.01 to £10.00

  4,000

  4,000

  5,000

  5,000

  £10.01 to £20.00

  31,000

  32,000

  34,000

  35,000

  £20.01 to £30.00

  14,000

  14,000

  14,000

  13,000

  £30.01 to £40.00

  6,000

  6,000

  6,000

  6,000

  £40.01 to £50.00

  5,000

  4,000

  5,000

  5,000

  £50.01 to £60.00

  3,000

  3,000

  3,000

  2,000

  £60.01 to £70.00

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  £70.01 and over

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  1,000

  Notes:

  1. Unemployed claimant figures provide a lower bound on the numbers receiving payments from earnings. A number of recipients who receive earnings do not have the information recorded on the computer system.

  2. Unemployed claimant figures show computerised claims only.

  3. Income Support lone parent recipients are those in receipt of the lone parent premium.

  4. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and as such totals may not tally.

  5. The upper earnings bands have been combined for any categories which, when rounded, would be shown as zero.

  6. All figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.

  Sources:

  1. Five per cent. sample of Unemployed claimants in Great Britain taken on the second Thursday of the months shown.

  2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry November 1995 to August 1996.

  Income Support
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in the first two quarters of 1996–97 how many
  589
  claimants of income support (a) applied for and (b) received hardship payments; and what percentage of all sanctioned claimants received a payment in the categories (i) voluntary unemployment or result of misconduct, (ii) availability for work, (iii) actively seeking work, (iv) refusing employment and (v) refusing or failing to attend project work. [7728]

  Quarter ending May 1996

  Quarter ending August 1996

  Reason

  Applications

  Awards

  Applications

  Awards

  Not available for work

  2,985

  1,432

  2,828

  1,238

  Not actively seeking work

  1,702

  469

  1,415

  412

  Prior to the introduction of jobseeker's allowance claimants who were refused income support because of voluntary unemployment or misconduct or who refused employment or training did not lose their entitlement to income support but had a voluntary unemployment deduction imposed instead. The information for these individual categories is not available, but the table gives the overall numbers who had a voluntary unemployment deduction imposed.

  May 1996: 25,000

  August 1996: 26,000.

  Back-to-work Bonus
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have established a back-to-work bonus and how many have qualified for a cash payment under the scheme in each quarter since 1996; and what is the average level of existing bonuses and cash payments awarded. [7732]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  We will be evaluating the effectiveness of the back-to-work bonus scheme in the context of our welfare-to-work objectives, which are to provide work incentives, and to reduce poverty, and to tackle welfare dependency.

  Back-to-work Bonus statistics1

  Number of claimants qualifying for and receiving a bonus payment in each quarter2

  7 October 1996–November 1996

  1,000

  December 1996–February 1997

  4,000

  March 1997–May 1997

  10,000

  These figures are subject to revision.

  Notes:

  1 Provisional data based on claims held on the Income Support Computer System (ISCS) and the Jobseeker's Allowance Payment Scheme (JSAPS). No clerically processed claims included. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2 Claims authorized for payment recorded on JSAPS and ISCS.

  Source:

  Back-to-Work Bonus management information statistics.

  All claimants

  Number of claimants who had accrued a bonus at the end of May 19971

  152,000

  Estimated average level of existing bonuses accrued1

  £164.52

  590
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Unemployed people who were not able to demonstrate that they were available for and actively seeking work were not entitled to income support, but could apply for hardship payments if they would have otherwise suffered hardship. The number of hardship applications and awards for the period in question is in the table.

  All claimants

  Estimated average bonus payment made from October 1996 to May 19972

  £172.11

  These figures are subject to revision.

  Notes:

  1 Live claims on ISCS and JSAPS with a bonus accrual plus claims which have ended with a bonus accrual but no bonus payment has been made (claimants who return to benefit within 12 weeks and have not claimed a bonus retain the amount accrued during the previous claim).

  2 Based on total amount authorised for payment recorded on ISCS and JSAPS.

  Source:

  Back-to-Work Bonus management information statistics.

  Benefit Integrity Project
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is her Department's policy under the Benefit Integrity Project to(a) withdraw benefits from disabled people who do not return the postal questionnaire within the specified time and (b) allow extra time for completing the questionnaire following a telephone call to a disability benefit centre. [6784]

  Mr. Denham
  One of our key aims is to rebuild integrity in, and public support for, the Social Security system and the way in which public money is spent. We need to focus on those who are properly entitled to benefit.

  This is why we have set up the Benefit Integrity Project. We regard it as essential that disabled people are treated fairly and with respect, and in an unthreatening way. The administration of this programme is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with further details.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 9 July 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the Benefit Integrity Project.
  The Benefit Integrity Project was set up in response to the recent Benefit Review of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Over the next two years, specially trained staff will make enquiries by postal questionnaire or home visit in around 425,000 cases to establish whether DLA is being paid correctly.
  Disability Living Allowance will only be withheld from customers who, without good reason, persistently fail or refuse to complete and return the postal questionnaire issued by the Benefit Integrity Project. A reminder and a warning letter, both allowing extra time to comply or respond and offering help and advice, will be issued before benefit is withheld.

  591
  All staff, including those involved with the project, receive customer service training. If a customer makes a reasonable request, either by letter or telephone call, for extra time to complete the questionnaire, it will be allowed.
  I hope you find this reply useful.

  Benefits Fraud Hotline
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) malicious calls and (b) well intended but unfounded calls were made to the Benefits Fraud Hotline in the last year; what is each as a percentage of the total number of calls; and what was the average cost of investigating each such call. [6453]

  Mr. Denham
  Fraud within a system designed to help those in need is anti-social behaviour. We will be vigilant in tackling benefit fraud but we will ensure that those in need are not victimised and have nothing to fear.

  Questions on Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of the Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 9 July 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many malicious calls and well intended but unfounded calls were made to the Benefits Fraud Hotline in the last year; what is each as a percentage of the total number of calls; and what was the average cost of investigating each such call.
  Calls to the Hotline are not collated in the format you have requested. It may be helpful if I explain that since its introduction on 5 August 1996, the National Benefit Fraud Hotline received 243,556 calls up to the end of May 1997. Of this number 57,139 calls were from customers without information to report. These include callers requesting an update on a previous call and wrong numbers.
  The remaining calls undergo a sift process. Each case is scrutinised to establish whether a fraud investigation is appropriate. 186,417 calls have provided information which has been referred to Benefits Agency fraud staff for further scrutiny. So far, 148,071 referrals have been checked and of these 58,095 cases have been discarded with no further action undertaken. The remaining 89,976 cases have been referred for further investigation. The number of calls which so far have led to the detection of fraud is 11,597, which has generated weekly benefit savings of £35m. There are currently 53,356 calls on which results are outstanding.
  Discarded referrals include a proportion relating to malicious and well intended but unfounded calls as well as those reporting information already investigated and referrals not containing enough information to carry out an investigation. The number of discarded cases represent 24 per cent of the total number of calls received by the Hotline. Although we do not record the average cost of investigating these type of cases, it is possible, in broad terms, to estimate the average cost of an investigation based on the major components of fraud activity. It should be emphasized that investigations are diverse in nature, complexity and length. The average cost of an investigation is £43.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to simplify the initial claim form for disability living allowance. [6972]

  Mr. Denham
  One of our key aims is to improve the service provided to claimants and other customers. This is why the design and clarity of claim forms are subject to periodic review. The administration of Disability Living 592
  Allowance is the responsibility of Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 9 July 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what plans she has to simplify the initial claim form for Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
  In April 1997, following extensive consultation, a new claim pack designed specifically for claims made in respect of children was introduced. A revised DLA adult claim pack is currently being widely tested with a planned release date of October 1997. The same changes will be reflected in the Attendance Allowance claim pack.
  Whilst the claim pack gathers detailed information about the needs arising from disability and is necessarily lengthy, the main objective is to enable all customers to describe fully the effect of their disabilities. They are now also asked to provide details of who they feel is the best professional person for us to approach, should further evidence be required.
  The Benefits Agency has a commitment to produce forms which are of a high standard and all forms are subject to regular review.
  I hope you find this reply useful.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will take steps to make mandatory the use of continuous enrichment monitoring, for nuclear materials verification of enrichment facilities. [6398]

  Mrs. Roche
  Continuous enrichment monitoring is one of a number of techniques which can be used in the safeguarding of centrifuge enrichment facilities. Selection of the particular techniques to be used is made on a case-by-case basis taking into account facility specific considerations. Operation of the continuous enrichment monitor (CEMO) at Urenco's Capenhurst facility has shown the equipment to be cost-effective and reliable for confirming the non-production of highly enriched uranium (HEU). Technical discussions are currently taking place concerning the more widespread application of the technique.

  Nuclear Material
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 23 June,Official Report, column 390, on nuclear material, if she will list (i) the quantities of the nuclear fuel imported, (ii) the type of the nuclear fuel imported and (iii) the current locations of the nuclear fuel imported from France. [6987]

  Mr. Battle
  Nuclear fuel has been imported into the United Kingdom from France only by the UKAEA. One shipment of nuclear fuel was imported from France in 1996. Since details of such imports are operational matters for the UKAEA I have asked the Chairman of the UKAEA to reply directly to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much(a) her Department and (b) the research councils have spent on nuclear fusion research for each year from 1985 to date. [6901]
  593
  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: The Department of Trade and Industry and former Department of Energy have funded fusion research through the Government Fusion Programme managed by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). Total expenditure under the Fusion Programme, including contributions to the Joint European Torus project, for each year since the UKAEA's establishment as a trading fund in 1986 is shown below.

  Year

  £ million

  1986–87

  23.1

  1987–88

  22.0

  1988–89

  24.1

  1989–90

  24.1

  1990–91

  21.9

  1991–92

  20.1

  1992–93

  16.0

  1993–94

  16.3

  1994–95

  15.7

  1995–96

  15.9

  1996–97

  12.1

  Figures on a comparable basis are not readily available on a year by year basis for the UKAEA's pre-trading fund period. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible with figures for the research council and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 23 June,Official Report, columns 390–91, what quantities of (a) surplus and (b) current US fissile materials are present in the United Kingdom. [6781]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: There is no United States owned plutonium or highly enriched uranium held in the UK either by the civil nuclear sector or by the Ministry of Defence.

  Working Hours
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the consequences for(a) job creation and (b) re-skilling of measures to reduce working hours. [6936]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Measures to implement the Working Time Directive will be introduced in a sensible and flexible way. We are committed to establishing fair and decent minimum standards at work within a flexible labour market. To create secure jobs and upgrade our skills base, we should compete on quality not by forcing people to work excessively long hours or without holiday entitlement.

  Engineering (Women)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to support the Women into Science and Engineering Campaign of the Engineering Council in 1998–99; and if she will make a statement. [7057]

  Mr. Battle
  The Department's main involvement with the Engineering Council's Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) campaign is largely taken forward through the Development Unit on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. It has also supported the 594
  WISE campaign through its Action for Engineering Initiative. The Development Unit has strong links with WISE, including collaboration on a range of initiatives, and it plans to continue to support the campaign in this way during 1998–99.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to encourage women to enter the engineering profession; and if she will make a statement. [7047]

  Mr. Battle
  This Government is concerned about the under-representation of women in not only engineering, but science and technology, and is committed to encouraging women to qualify and enter employment in these fields. The Government's objectives are being carried forward through the Development Unit on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology within the Office of Science and Technology (OST) in the Department. We are currently considering how the Unit will be able to benefit from close liaison with the new Women's Unit at The Department of Social Security.

  Low Pay Commission
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will set out the current external remuneration, employment and business interests of the chairman of the Low Pay Commission. [7670]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The information requested is on matters personal to the Chairman of the Low Pay Commission.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what will be the maximum daily rate of expenses payable to members of the Low Pay Commission. [7675]

  Mr. McCartney
  The members of the Low Pay Commission will be eligible to receive travel and subsistence expenses incurred in their work for the Commission at standard Civil Service rates.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in which newspapers and on what dates her Department has advertised for members of the Low Pay Commission; and at what total cost. [7671]

  Mr. McCartney
  Advertisements for members of the Low Pay Commission appeared in the following newspapers:

  Date

  The Times

  26 June and 3 July

  The Sunday Times

  29 June

  The Guardian

  25 and 28 June

  The Western Mail

  26 June

  Wales on Sunday

  29 June

  The Scotsman

  27 June

  Scotland on Sunday

  29 June

  Belfast Telegraph

  27 June

  Sunday Life

  29 June

  The total cost of advertising, including production costs and VAT, was £32,260.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many members will be appointed to the Low Pay Commission from(a) employer and (b) employee backgrounds. [7674]
  595
  Mr. McCartney
  The Commission will be large enough to ensure that the interests of employers, employees and others are represented without becoming overly large and unwieldy.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date the Low Pay Commission will hold its initial meeting. [7672]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Low Pay Commission will begin its work as soon as possible.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will set out the terms and conditions on which she has appointed the chairman of the Low Pay Commission. [7669]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Chairman, and other members, of the Low Pay Commission will be unpaid but will be reimbursed their expenses according to standard civil service rates, in line with other appointments of this kind.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if legislation to establish a national minimum wage will be published before advice on its level is received from the Low Pay Commission. [7673]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Yes.

  Post Office
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will give for the Comprehensive Review of the Options for the Post Office(a) the expected completion date and (b) the cost of conducting the review. [8237]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  It is too early yet to say when the review of the Post Office will be completed. To date, no external costs have been incurred as the work has been undertaken using existing Departmental resources.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to announce the conclusion of her review of the Post Office; and if she will make a statement. [7434]

  Mr. McCartney
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 8 July,Official Report, columns 413–14.

  Consumer Issues (Questionnaire)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response has been received from the hon. Members' questionnaire on consumer issues; and if she will publish the responses. [7783]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  I have received a very encouraging response from hon. Members of all parties and I have held meetings with hon. Members, including the hon. Lady's hon. Friends, a number of whom have recorded their appreciation of this innovative exercise.

  The summary of the responses is as follows:

  Issue

  48

  Second hand cars

  22

  Electrical Goods (Radio/TV)

  72

  Home maintenance, repairs and improvements

  77

  Food and drink

  596

  Issue

  19

  Major appliances

  16

  Clothing and clothing fabrics

  28

  Upholstered furniture

  34

  Double glazing products and install

  50

  Car repair and maintenance

  7

  Furniture (not upholstered) pictures etc.

  38

  Carbon monoxide deaths

  81

  Labelling (animal testing)

  27

  Mock auctions

  64

  Product safety

  71

  Holiday protection

  75

  Advertising standards

  66

  Fireworks

  42

  Funerals

  48

  Direct selling

  74

  Consumer credit

  I note the hon. Member has not listed any issues which concern her constituents and I have therefore sent her another questionnaire.

  PPARC
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the level of funding given to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in each year since 1992, in real terms. [7581]

  Mr. Battle
  The actual allocations to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in each year since 1994–95 were:

  £ million

  Year

  Actual

  1997–98 prices

  1994–95

  204.629

  221.998

  1995–96

  201.756

  213.031

  1996–97

  208.393

  214.124

  1997–98

  200.650

  200.650

  1. The figures include the cost of PPARC's International Subscriptions.

  2. Real terms comparisons are based ont he latest GDP deflator.

  3. Prior to 1994–95, PPARC's areas of expertise formed part of the responsibilities of the Science and Engineering Research Council. Figures for previous years are therefore unavailable.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons the budget for the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council was determined prior to her Department's spending review. [7585]

  Mr. Battle
  In January this year, in accordance with standard practice, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council was given a financial allocation for 1997–98 and indicative planning figures for the following two years. These allocations will be subject to the same scrutiny as any other expenditure plans within the remit of my Department's spending review.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the impact of ending the process of the compulsory competitive tendering of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's purchase of telescope delivery and instrumentation. [7584]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government's decision to release the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
  (PPARC) from the obligation of competitive tendering
  597
  will allow PPARC to reorganise the Royal Observatories in the way which best meets their scientific requirements. PPARC is now beginning the process of securing the scientific and cost advantages in bringing elements of the Royal Observatories' work together in a single Astronomy Technology Centre.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the sum spent on administration by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in each year since 1992, in real terms. [7582]

  Mr. Battle
  The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council was established on 1 April 1994 and has expended the following sums on administration (in real terms, at 1997–98 prices):

  1994–95: £5.750 million

  1995–96: £5.279 million

  1996–97: £4.521 million.

  European Space Agency
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her Department's projected funding towards the European Space Agency for the next financial year.
  [7493]

  Mr. Battle
  £91 million (see:Trade and Industry: The Government's Expenditure Plans 1997–98 to 1999–2000). This is subject to the outcome of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, which the Chief Secretary announced to the House on 11 June, Official Report, columns 1143–57.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the sums given by her Department towards the European Space Agency for each year since 1992, in real terms. [7593]

  Mr. Battle
  The figures for DTI spend on European Space Agency programmes for each year since 1992 in real terms are:

  Year

  £ million

  1991–92

  86

  1992–93

  83

  1993–94

  87

  1994–95

  94

  1995–96

  96

  1996–97

  98

  1997–98

  77

  Cash expenditure has been revised in line with Treasury's GDP deflators table, which uses 1996–97 as the base year.

  Observatories
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how the closure of the Royal Greenwich Observatory will affect the contracts it has agreed for telescope supply and maintenance. [7490]

  Mr. Battle
  The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) will take all necessary steps to fulfil its current obligations, including those which relate to the construction and maintenance of telescopes.
  598
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to ensure that the full range of services offered by the Royal Greenwich Observatory to(a) astronomers and (b) industry, will remain available throughout the United Kingdom. [7491]

  Mr. Battle
  Those services which are required to support the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's astronomy programme will continue to be provided by the Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh. PPARC will be discussing with a range of interested parties the options for the future of other work currently carried out at the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the sum spent on administration at(a) the Royal Greenwich Observatory and (b) the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, in each year since 1992, in real terms. [7488]

  Mr. Battle
  The average salary costs to the programme of those staff undertaking finance and personnel duties at the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) and Royal Observatory Edinburgh (ROE) are as follows (in real terms, at 1997–98 prices):

  £ million

  Year

  RGO

  ROE

  1992–93

  0.271

  0.266

  1993–94

  0.253

  0.225

  1994–95

  0.219

  0.200

  1995–96

  0.249

  0.267

  1996–97

  0.265

  0.256

  Astronomy Technology Centre
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how she proposes to ensure that the United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre is accessible to all United Kingdom astronomers. [7489]

  Mr. Battle
  The development of the United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre and the programme of work it will undertake are matters for the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, advised by peer review and overseen by senior members of the astronomy community.

  CERN
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the funding given by her Department towards CERN in each year since 1992, in real terms. [7591]

  Mr. Battle
  The cost to the Science Budget of the CERN subscription in each calendar year from 1992 is as follows (in real terms, at 1997–98 prices):

  Year

  Sterling cost (£ million) of UK subscription

  1992

  63.26

  1993

  60.57

  1994

  63.44

  1995

  71.09

  1996

  76.74

  1997

  60.67

  599
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the projected funding for CERN in the next financial year. [7594]

  Mr. Battle
  The UK contribution to CERN for 1998 in Swiss Francs will not be known until December 1997 and the cost in sterling will depend on exchange rates at the time the currency is bought. However, PPARC has made provision of £58.27 million for CERN contributions within its allocation for the 1998–99 financial year.

  Nautical Almanac Office
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the future of the Nautical Almanac Office. [7590]

  Mr. Battle
  The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) will be discussing with a range of potentially interested parties the way in which the work of the Nautical Almanac Office should be managed in future.

  Trade Associations
  Mr. Page
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to be in a position to reply to the question from the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire of 9 June relating to trade associations; and what factors have led to the delay in responding to date. [7773]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I answered the hon. Member's question on 9 July 1997,Official Report, column 486.

  Nuclear Power Stations (Closure)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the dates recommended by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate for closure of each operational nuclear power station. [6782]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: No such recommendations have been given by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate. A decision to close a nuclear power station rests with the owners.

  Living Genetic Material (Patents)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her plans for the patenting of living genetic material. [7356]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: Apart from the exclusion from patentability of plant and animal varieties as such, and plants and animals produced by traditional breeding methods, current United Kingdom legislation (The Patents Act 1977) affords patent protection to inventions concerning genetic material, such as isolated genes, and living material, if they meet the three general conditions (i.e. new, inventive and capable of industrial applicability) which are applied to inventions in all fields of technology.

  Biotechnological Inventions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research her Department has undertaken into the possible impact of the introduction of the draft European 600
  Parliament and Council Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions; and if she will make a statement. [7355]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: My Department has undertaken a study as to the effects that the Commission's draft proposal may have on business. The study is available in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  This draft proposal is currently before the European Parliament and we are awaiting its first Opinion. If the Parliament seeks amendments to the proposal, it is likely that the Commission will amend its draft. Therefore, it is not possible at the moment to determine the precise contents of the text to be put before the Council of Ministers. When the terms of the proposal are known, the Department will undertake further study as to the effects any revised draft Directive may have.

  Radioactive Waste Storage
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Government will make a statement on(a) the future of Nirex and (b) its proposals for the long-term storage of low and intermediate level radioactive waste. [7156]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: Following the decision to dismiss UK Nirex's appeal against Cumbria County Councils's refusal of planning permission for a rock characterisation facility, the implications for radioactive waste management policy are currently under consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Conclusions on this issue could significantly affect the future of the long term storage of low and long intermediate level of radio nuclear waste and he will inform the House of these conclusions in due course.

  Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list which areas of competitiveness are(a) her responsibility and (b) the responsibility of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. [7433]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 9 July 1997]: I have overall responsibility for all competitiveness issues in the DTI. The Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has responsibility for European issues affecting competitiveness, in particular completion of the EU single market.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe had access to official papers concerning energy issues before he sold his shares in British Petroleum; and if he continues to have such access; [7424]

  (2) if the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe attended departmental or inter-departmental meetings on energy matters before he sold his shares in British Petroleum; and if he continues to attend such meetings. [7431]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 9 July 1997]: The Minister of State for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe does not routinely see papers or attend meetings concerning energy issues, since they do not form part of his responsibilities. But he is only barred from seeing

  601
  papers, including papers on energy issues, (or attending meetings) which have a bearing on BP. He has not sold his shares in BP, and there are no requirements on him to do so; the other arrangements in place ensure that there is no conflict of interest.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what meetings she has had with the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe to discuss Government policy on the single currency. [7664]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I discuss a range of issues regularly with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe as with all my Ministerial team.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she was first informed that the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe should not be involved in any matter affecting British Petroleum. [7549]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have been aware since the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe's appointment that he, like all Ministers, was making arrangements to ensure that he complied with Questions of Procedure for Ministers. Question of Procedure for Ministers requires that a Minister with a private interest should remain entirely detached from consideration of any public business affecting it. Lord Simon has fully complied with this provision.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) pursuant to her oral answer of 3 July.Official Report, column 409, in respect of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe, for what reasons she does not know the details of the issues; [7421]

  (2) if she will make a statement on the procedures applying to the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe in respect of the avoidance of conflicts of interest. [7427]

  Mrs. Beckett
  On 3 July the hon. Gentleman asked me without notice,Official Report, column 409, and on a question about Departmental policies to give details about the handling of the personal finances of my noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe including of all of his shareholdings and options.

  While I was aware that my noble Friend had taken action to preclude any potential conflict of interest I was unable on the spur of the moment to recall whether any detailed aspects of these steps remained to be completed. That is why I undertook to write to the right hon. Gentleman.

  In that letter of 4 July I said:
  As you will know, the guidance on these matters is set out in Questions of Procedure for Ministers. The key principle, to which all Ministers are committed from the time of their appointment, is that Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests.
  In order to meet this requirement, Lord Simon has of course resigned as Chairman and as a director of BP. (He has also resigned all his other directorships.) Furthermore, he is not involved in any of the DTI's business which covers BP activity, nor does he receive any papers which have a bearing on BP. This removes any possibility of conflict of interest between his former involvement with BP and his current responsibilities at the DTI. I understand that similar arrangements are in place in the Treasury to keep Lord
  602
  Simon apart from decisions in areas relating to his previous employment and that Lord Simon did not contribute to the pre-Budget decision making process.
  Separately, he has placed the generality of his investments in blind trusts. He holds no options. He has not however disposed of his shareholding in BP, but has undertaken not to trade these shares before January 1998, at which time the position will be reviewed. But no conflict can occur given Lord Simon's non-involvement with Government business concerning BP.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade by what date the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe(a) sold all his shares in BP, (b) cancelled his options on shares and (c) severed all his business links. [7422]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe severed all his business links with BP on 7 May 1997. He had no options on BP shares. He has retained his shares in BP, but the arrangements described in my letter to the right hon. Gentleman of 4 July, which I refer to in my earlier answer, ensure that no conflict of interest can rise.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what directorships are held by the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe; and what arrangements will govern(a) his relinquishment of them and (b) his dealings with matters relating to particular industries in which he was previously involved. [5995]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 30 June 1997]: Lord Simon of Highbury relinquished all his directorships on his unpaid appointment to public service as Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. He is not involved in any Government business concerning matters relating to his previous employment.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what record she keeps of correspondence about the Department's responsibilities received by her Ministers from recent business acquaintances; [5624]

  (2) what arrangements exist to prevent a Minister in her Department handling correspondence about its responsibilities from recent business acquaintances. [5617]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 27 June 1997]: All correspondence received by Ministers is recorded on receipt by their Private Officers. Such records are not categorised according to whether or not Ministers are acquainted with the correspondent. All Ministers are under a duty to ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests; where necessary, Ministers must delegate their responsibilities for particular decision to another Minister to avoid such conflicts. Guidance is provided in Questions of Procedure for Ministers, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Arms Sales (Saudi Arabia)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what additional measures she intends to put in place to ensure that arms sold to Saudi Arabia are not passed on to third countries with which Her Majesty's Government would not wish to trade. [5688]
  603
  Mr. Spellar
  Most defence exports to Saudi Arabia are the result of Government to Government arrangements. I am withholding specific details of these arrangements under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, it is normal practice to include a clause in memoranda of understanding which prohibits the transfer of material to third parties without the approval of the UK Government.

  For exports, to all countries, not covered by Government to Government arrangements, the risk of diversion to third countries is taken into account in considering export licence applications. Where appropriate, the Government asks for end-user undertakings to ensure that goods will not be re-exported. We are committed to strengthening the monitoring of the end-use of defence exports to prevent diversion to third countries and to ensure that exported equipment is use only on the conditions under which the export licence has been granted. Work is in hand to take forward this commitment.

TREASURY

  Windfall Tax
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the proposed windfall profits tax. [6182]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The windfall tax will fund the New Deal for the young and long-term unemployed, lone parents and schools announced by the Chancellor in his Budget speech. It is a one-off tax which puts right the bad deal which customers and taxpayers got from the privatisation of the utilities.

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he plans to allocate the revenue from the windfall levy. [6196]

  Mr. Darling
  The Windfall Tax on the excess profits of the privatised utilities will finance measures to equip Britain for our long-term future and to modernise the welfare state. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced a New Deal for the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, and lone parents. We provided extra help with childcare. We were able to finance capital investment in our schools, including investment in IT, and to kick-start our University for Industry. We are also able to fund the measures we will bring forward to help people on Incapacity Benefit into work.

  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the allocation of the revenue raised from the windfall levy. [6202]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Windfall Tax on the excess profits of the privatised utilities will finance measures to equip Britain for our long-term future and to modernise the welfare state. I announced a New Deal for the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, and lone parents. I provided extra help with childcare. I was able to finance capital investment in our schools, including investment in IT, and to start up our University for Industry. I am also able to fund the measures we will bring forward to help people on Incapacity Benefit into work.
  604
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the advice given to him by the regulators of the privatised companies affected by the windfall tax, relating to prices, investment, service standards and employment prospects; and if he will make a statement. [7576]

  Mr. Robinson
  The Government consulted the regulators fully on the design of the windfall tax. In accordance with normal practice, we shall not be publishing their advice because it was confidential and contained some observations that are commercially sensitive.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to introduce an annual review of the proposed PSBR by the National Audit Office. [6195]

  Mr. Darling
  As part of the opening up of economic decision making, the Chancellor intends that there should be a continuing role for the National Audit Office in subsequent Budgets. But future arrangements are not yet settled.

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his estimate of the level of the public sector borrowing requirement in the present and next financial year. [6201]

  Mr. Darling
  Excluding the temporary effects of the windfall tax and spending on Welfare to Work, the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement is forecast to be £13¼billion in 1997–98 and £5½ billion in 1998–99.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from exporters about the level of interest rates. [6197]

  Mr. Darling
  Interest rates are set to deliver the Government's inflation target. Low inflation and economic stability are in the interests of any successful business. I want a stable and competitive pound and the action my right hon. Friend the Chancellor and I have taken to tighten fiscal policy should help rebalance the economy.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he has received from the Governor of the Bank of England about the reasons for the recent increase in interest rates; and if he will make a statement. [6206]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Bank of England is responsible for setting interest rates to meet the Government's inflation target.

  In its press release of 6 June, the Bank of England stated that its decision to raise interest rates "… offers the best chance of achieving continued growth in output and employment at a sustainable pace."

  Full minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting, including a record of the voting, will be published on 16 July.

  Investment
  Mr. John Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from small business relating to levels of investment. [6198]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Chancellor received many representations about investment from small businesses and took action in this Budget to encourage more investment in small and medium sized enterprises.

  Inland Revenue Offices
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to close Inland Revenue offices. [6199]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue has now completed four years of its 10 year programme to restructure its network of local offices. As part of the planning process, the Department is reviewing those outline proposals which could result in the closure of the only office in a town.

  Welfare-to-work Strategy
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his welfare-to-work strategy. [6200]

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his welfare-to-work strategy. [6205]

  Mr. Brown
  My Budget set out detailed proposals to help the young and long-term unemployed, and the first serious national effort to help lone parents find jobs. I intend to extend this approach to other groups excluded from the labour market, including those on incapacity benefit. We will also streamline and modernise the tax and benefits so they promote work, reduce poverty and dependency, and strengthen community and family life.

  Pension Misselling
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards compensation for victims of pension misselling. [6203]

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further meetings he intends to have with representatives of the pensions industry to discuss the selling of pensions. [6211]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) on 9 July, column 477.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has evaluated into the impact of different levels of unemployment in Europe on the impact of the introduction of a single currency. [6204]
  606
  Mrs. Liddell
  If EMU goes ahead, it must on the basis of sustainable convergence as well as active measures to increase employability and social inclusion. It is essential that Europe tackles its unemployment problems with or without EMU.

  That is why the Chancellor launched the "Getting Europe to work" initiative which sets out ways to improve labour market flexibility and employability. These British ideas were reflected in the European Council Resolution on employment agreed at Amsterdam.

  Privatised Utilities (Investment)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely impact of his Budget on future levels of investment in the privatised utilities. [6207]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  After consulting the regulators, it is my judgment that the tax can be paid without any impact on investment.

  Jobs Summit, Luxembourg
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for the forthcoming jobs summit to be held in Luxembourg in the autumn. [6208]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  As I made clear in my "Getting Europe Back to Work" initiative before the Amsterdam European Council it is vital, if we are to create real and lasting jobs throughout Europe, that we combine measures to promote job creation and social cohesion in Europe. At the Luxembourg summit we will need to learn from each other on the most successful ways of tackling unemployment. My Budget last week, and in particular my announcements on Welfare to Work, are a key part of the UK's efforts.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new measures he is proposing to help small businesses. [6209]

  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to help small businesses. [6216]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The measures my right hon. Friend introduced in his Budget, including reduced small companies' rate of corporation tax, doubling of capital allowances and action on Venture Capital Trusts and the Enterprise Investment Scheme, will contribute towards a healthy environment in which small businesses can thrive.

  Mission Statement
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to issue a mission statement for Her Majesty's Treasury. [6210]

  Mrs. Liddell
  We are revising the Treasury's aim and objectives as the first stage of the Department's review of its structure and resources.

  Public Finances
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the assumptions he has made in his forecast for the public finances. [6212]
  607
  Mr. Darling
  The Chancellor has proposed making changes to five key assumptions to put the fiscal arithmetic on a more cautious and prudent footing. The NAO has audited these new assumptions and its report was issued as a Command Paper on 19 June.

  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the assumptions underlying his forecasts for public finances. [6214]

  Mr. Darling
  The Chancellor has proposed changes to five key assumptions to put the fiscal arithmetic on a more cautious and prudent footing. The NAO has audited these new assumptions and its report was issued as a Command Paper on 19 June.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the new PFI Taskforce will start its work. [6213]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  The Government is creating a new Treasury Private Finance Taskforce, combining project and policy expertise. The Private Finance Panel has been stood down and its Executive is to be disbanded by September. We are currently in the process of appointing a Chief Executive, along with six to eight supporting executives, on the project side of the Taskforce. The policy side has begun its work already.

  Bank Regulation
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his objective in transferring the regulation of banks to the new regulator to avoid regulatory issues compromising the bank's judgment in setting interest rates. [6215]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Responsibility for Banking supervision will be transferred from the Bank of England to the Securities and Investments Board to bring the regulatory structure more closely into line with today's increasingly integrated financial markets, and deliver more effective and efficient supervision.

  Student Loan Debt Sale
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement of the Government's policy on the student loan debt sale. [8407]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The overriding policy considerations that have determined the Government's approach to the student loan debt sale are as follows.

  The Government is committed to the development of a wide range of public-private partnerships which involve a transfer of risk to the private sector. This sale will shift much of the default risk to the private sector who have much more experience in dealing with credit risks. The sales will enable the markets to establish a clearer understanding of student loans and could in future encourage financial institutions to play a more direct role in the provision of student support.

  In addition, the Government was elected on the basis of a manifesto pledge to work within the spending plans already announced for the next two years. This, and our
  608
  other economic pledges on inflation and taxes, were designed to create the conditions for economic stability and a platform for sustained growth.

  Going ahead with the student loan debt sale has a critical role in enabling us to keep this pledge. The public spending plans we have inherited include substantial sales of student loan debt in 1997–98 and 1998–99. Given the tightness of our plans generally and in particular the priority we want to give to education programmes, the Government has decided to proceed with the sale.

  These overriding objectives were paramount in the decision to proceed with the debt sale. The Government accepts that this will result in the payment of subsidies to purchasers of the debt but intends to accept the most competitive bid following a competitive tendering process. The size of the continuing subsidies cannot be predicted in advance. We will ensure that we achieve the most competitive outcome consistent with these objectives.

  VAT (Domestic Fuel)
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his plans to reduce VAT on domestic fuel from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. [6189]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I received a number of representations calling for a reduction in the rate of VAT on fuel, prior to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's Budget announcement last week.

  HIPC Initiative
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost will be to the United Kingdom of implementing the proposal that the repayable debts of the world's poorest countries should be cancelled by 2000. [7811]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government does not share the view that debts of the world's poorest countries should be cancelled by 2000. We believe that debt relief is important, but must be accompanied by a clear commitment by debtors to balanced economic reform programmes to create the conditions for economic development and lasting poverty reduction. Decisions on which countries qualify for debt relief, and on the amount of relief necessary to reduce their debts to sustainable levels, should be taken on a case-by-case basis.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost will be to the United Kingdom of the implementation of the HIPC initiative. [7810]

  Mrs. Liddell
  It is impossible to say in advance how much UK debt will be written down under the HIPC initiative. Decisions on which countries qualify for debt relief, and on the amount of relief necessary to reduce their debts to sustainable levels, are taken on a case-by-case basis.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how
  609
  many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7146]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Treasury established a year 2000 project in July 1996 with the objective of ensuring that its IT systems are, or will be, year 2000 compliant. The project is managed by the Head of IT services supported by a project team of six. Work undertaken by staff on year 2000 is in addition to their other duties.

  The programme of work follows the recommended approach identified by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA). In line with CCTA's milestone dates, the Treasury has carried out an audit of its systems and will be providing, by October 1997, fully costed plans for undertaking the work needed.

  Any costs associated with this work will be met from within existing plans.

  Contractors' Commissions
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to enable the National Audit Office to investigate the use made of public funds after they have been paid to contractors where there is suspicion that commissions have been improperly paid; if he will authorise research into the powers available for this purpose in the United States; and if he will make a statement. [6683]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government has no plans to introduce legislation in this area, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has no plans to make a statement. Any question of illegality would be a matter for the responsible authorities. Officials in my Department will look at the situation in the United States in this respect as the hon. Member suggests.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the rules governing PEPs so that AIM stocks are eligible for inclusion. [7322]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We have no plans to do. Shares dealt in on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) may qualify for the tax reliefs available for investment in unlisted companies. These include inheritance tax relief, capital gains tax reinvestment relief and reliefs under the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust Schemes. It follows that AIM shares cannot be held directly in PEPs, which are intended for listed shares and securities: they can, however, be held indirectly in PEPs by collective investment through qualifying unit and investment trusts.

  Inflation
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, column 233, on the correlation between central bank independence and inflation, if he will list the studies which his Department has evaluated. [6872]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Treasury has evaluated a number of studies on the relationship between central bank independence and inflation. A recent study by Eiffinger and De Haan (1996), "The Political Economy of Central 610
  Bank Independence", Special Papers in International Economics, Princeton University, identified twenty separate studies, all but two of which concluded that central bank independence is associated with lower inflation.

  Savings
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how long a person on average earnings would have to work to accumulate £240,000 after deductions for tax and national insurance. [3775]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is extremely difficult to predict, but using the assumptions chosen by the hon. Member, approximately 15 years.

  Commemorative Coins
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to issue new commemorative coins.
  [8406]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve a recommendation that Britannia bullion coins in gold and silver should be issued later this year to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the introduction of the Britannia gold bullion coins in 1987 and the 300th anniversary of the adoption of the Britannia silver hallmarking standard in 1697.

  She has also been graciously pleased to approve a recommendation that a crown piece with a face value of five pounds should be issued in 1998 to celebrate the fiftieth birthday of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales; and she has further approved the issue in 1998 of a fifty pence piece featuring a special design to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on 1 January 1973 and Britain's Presidency of the European Union during the first six months of 1998.

  It is intended that the fifty pence piece will be available in 1998 for general circulation and that there will also be collector versions in base and precious metal. The other commemorative coins will be struck primarily for collectors, though the crown pieces celebrating the fiftieth birthday of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will also be made available from banks and post offices at face value during the course of 1998.

  Valuation Office, Warrington
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the projected increase in travelling expenses which would result from the transfer of caseworkers from the Warrington Valuation Office to Liverpool and Manchester; [6268]

  (2) what estimates he has made of the extra cost per annum of accommodation and parking in Liverpool and Manchester, arising from the transfer of the work of the Warrington Valuation Office to these locations; [6269]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the capital value of the building currently housing the Warrington Valuation Office; [6270]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the costs of necessary refurbishment works on the Warrington Valuation Office; [6271]
  611
  (5) what is the annual income generated by the Warrington Valuation Office. [6272]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 3 July 1997]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Acting Chief Executive of the Valuation Office Agency. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Peter Upton to Helen Jones, dated 10 July 1997:
  In your questions to the Chancellor (ref 6268–6272) you ask for information concerning the proposed closure of the Warrington Valuation Office and I have been asked to reply direct to you.

  Question

  Answer

  What is the projected increase in travelling expenses which would result from the transfer of caseworkers from the Warrington Valuation Office to Liverpool and Manchester?

  From the estimates that have been made covering the overall office closure programme, the average increase in travel costs per location has been calculated at circa £20,000 per annum. This may well be reduced in practice as many caseworkers undertake journeys to clients and customers direct from home.

  What estimates have been made of the extra cost per annum of accommodation and parking in Liverpool and Manchester when transferring the work of the Warrington Valuation Office to these locations?

  There will be no additional costs of accommodation at Liverpool and Manchester as the Agency has sufficient space at these locations to absorb the staff and files/records from Warrington. Car parking will be provided in Liverpool and Manchester for essential car users at a cost of around £825 per space per annum and £1100 respectively but the closure of the Warrington office reduces the Agency's overall running cost.

  What estimate has been made of the capital value of the building currently housing the Warrington Valuation Office?

  It is considered that the freehold building and site can be sold for a significant capital sum which will benefit the public purse. The final price will be determined just prior to any sale and may be subject to commercial confidentiality particularly if it is disposed of by auction or tender.

  What estimate has been made of the costs of necessary refurbishment works on the Warrington Valuation Office?

  To bring the Warrington accommodation up to modern standards it is estimated that the cost will be around £400,000 based on similar refurbishments recently undertaken by the Agency.

  What is the annual income generated by the Warrington Valuation Office?

  For 1996–97 the income from the Warrington Valuation Office was £1.92 million and it is anticipated that this income will be maintained or exceeded following the proposed restructuring proposals.

  I trust you will find the above information useful.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his Department's submissions relating to freedom of information legislation. [6029]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 2 July 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 4 July 1997, columns 293–94.

  Securities and Investments Board
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure that small investors are directly represented on the re-formed Securities and Investments Board. [7363]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 9 July 1997]: The Government has made clear its intention that the new financial regulator should be credible to investors and accountable to the public. Details of the composition of its board have yet to be determined.
  612
  Following the Review of the Valuation Office as a Next Steps Agency in 1995, we are committed to further enhance efficiency and effectiveness through, among other things, the streamlining of our network of local offices. These efficiencies which amount to some 30% over 5 years have already been reflected in our forward plans and expenditure projections.
  The new Valuation Office structure is designed to enable us to:
  improve quality and levels of service
  become more flexible and responsive to clients' needs and changing workloads
  concentrate our work processing functions within fewer locations via a new computer system
  reduce management layers and develop teams dedicated to specific clients or type of work.
  The information you requested is as follows:

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that small investors are consulted over proposals to extend the regulatory duties of the Securities and Investments Board. [7364]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 9 July 1997]: The Government's plans to reform financial regulation will include consultation with all who are interested.

  Advanced Corporation Tax
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the(a) loss of annual dividend income, (b) extra contributions required in the future to meet obligations to current or former employees and (c) extra contributions required in the future to meet the service costs of the funds in aggregate to the Local Government Pension Schemes of the abolition of Advance Corporation Tax Credit; and what percentage of payable costs will the extra service costs represent. [7375]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: The extent to which the abolition of payable tax credits will affect contributions to the Local Government Pension

  613
  Schemes will depend on the overall judgments made by the schemes' actuaries when the normal actuarial valuations are undertaken beginning next year.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs he estimates will be created in the construction industry as a result 1of the additional allocations in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 under the Government's Capital Receipts Initiative. [7267]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: The resources released under the Capital Receipts Initiative will help the construction sector to continue its recent growth and bring with it many new jobs.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate of the capacity of the construction industry in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 underlay his decision to allocate extra sums under the Government's Capital Receipts Initiative. [7269]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: The decision to release the amount of resources announced in the Budget under the Capital Receipts Initiative was taken alter taking account of capacity utilisation and output growth in the construction industry.

  Old Documents
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the date and title of the oldest document or 614
  archival unit retained by his Department which has not been passed on to the Public Record Office for release for public inspection. [7200]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: The oldest retained file in the Treasury is entitled "Air Ministry re-employment of Retired Officers". It ends in 1938 and is retained under the Security and intelligence "blanket".

  Retained files in the Treasury are in the process of being re-reviewed under the Open Government Initiative. It is expected that all those in the Treasury will have undergone this process by April 1998.

  Capital Receipts Initiative
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he intends to announce the respective shares which England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive from the additional allocations under the Capital Receipts Initiative in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [7268]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 8 July 1997]: The shares which have been allocated to England, Scotland and Wales were announced separately on 3 July by the Minister of State for Local Government and Housing, and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales. The allocations for these countries, and Northern Ireland, are:

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  England

  174.27

  609.94

  Scotland

  12.47

  43.66

  Wales

  9.54

  33.38

  Northern Ireland

  3.72

  13.02

  Total

  200.00

  700.00

  Peers: Desk Allocation
  Peers: Desk Allocation
  Anglers' Charter
  Anglers' Charter
  Employment Levels
  Employment Levels
  Windfall Tax: Impact
  Windfall Tax: Impact
  Industrial Assurance Acts Deregulation Order
  Industrial Assurance Acts Deregulation Order
  UK Forest Standard
  UK Forest Standard
  Poverty Eradication
  Poverty Eradication
  Department for International Development
  Department for International Development
  Scarman Trust and Charter 88
  Scarman Trust and Charter 88
  Scarman Trust: Charitable Status
  Scarman Trust: Charitable Status
  Colney Hospital Scheme
  Colney Hospital Scheme
  Prostate Cancer: Screening
  Prostate Cancer: Screening
  Health of the Nation: Targets
  Health of the Nation: Targets
  Regional Service Centres: Performance Data
  Regional Service Centres: Performance Data