Written Answers of 21 July 1997

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to introduce a fast-track approach to bringing young offenders to court. [7526]

  Mr. Michael
  The Government are committed to halving the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders and tackling delays throughout the youth justice system. We are taking immediate action to speed up proceedings against young offenders. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has already written to the chairman of every youth panel in magistrates courts throughout England and Wales encouraging them to deal swiftly and effectively with persistent young offenders and to minimise the granting of adjournments. We intend to follow this up with good practice guidance to all relevant agencies. The Crime and Disorder Bill will also include reforms to the youth justice system designed to ensure that young offenders are dealt with more speedily.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms he plans to establish for consultation on the incorporation of the European convention on human rights into(a) English and Welsh law, (b) Scots law and (c) Northern Irish law. [7527]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We published a consultation document on incorporation—"Bringing Rights Home"—in December 1996. We are now developing proposals for legislation in the light of the responses to that document and further discussions we have had since then. We will announce our conclusions in a White Paper later this year and are happy to consider any representations made in response to it.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he intends to have the European convention on human rights introduced into United Kingdom law. [7529]

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to incorporate the European convention on human rights into domestic law. [7537]

  Mr. O'Brien
  We will introduce a Bill for this purpose in this Session of Parliament.

  Coroners' Decisions
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the mechanisms for appeals against coroners' decisions; and if he will make a statement. [7535]
  386
  Mr. George Howarth
  Concerns have been expressed at the need to resort to the High Court for any review of a coroner's decision. This is one of a number of matters that we keep under review, but we have no present plans to change the legislation.

  Debt Payment
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9529]

  Mr. Straw
  All Departments are required to pay their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of goods or service or a valid invoice where no such terms exist, whichever is the later. Information on payment performance for the current financial year is not immediately available, but I shall write to the hon. Member with the information as soon as possible. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the autumn.

  Alcohol
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to restrict the advertising and promotion of alcohol; [9216]

  (2) what plans he has to prevent alcohol abuse among young people. [9217]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan) on 16 July,Official Report, column 173, and to the letter I sent to all hon. Members on 17 July.

  Firearms
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons section 7 of form A for use when surrendering items covered by the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 requires the person surrendering an item to agree to accept any payment rather than the sum specified in the compensation terms. [9670]

  Mr. Michael
  Payments will be made only in accordance with the terms of the compensation scheme as approved by Parliament. Valid claims under options A or B will result in the payments agreed in the scheme. The claim form asks claimants to declare that they will"accept any payment made in relation to any items claimed for under Options A or B as a settlement of"

  their
  "claim in relation to those items".

  With a claim under these options, the claimant knows exactly the payment on offer. Signature of the declaration enables the firearms compensation section to pay claims immediately—at the time of acknowledgement—rather than having to send a further letter before payment can be agreed.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be done with items surrendered under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 prior to the completion of the action being taken by owners in the European Court of Justice. [9668]
  387
  Mr. Michael
  With the exception of the items that are retained for police training purposes or acquired for public display in museums, all surrendered items will be destroyed. We are satisfied that the compensation scheme is in line with our obligations under European law and the disposal of surrendered items will proceed as described.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if late payment of compensation under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 will attract interest. [9669]

  Mr. Michael
  Payments will be made under the published terms of the scheme. There is no provision to include interest as part of these payments, but payments will be made as swiftly as possible.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what paperwork a handgun owner is required to complete when handing in to the police any item required to be surrendered under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [9671]

  Mr. Michael
  When making a claim for a handgun or accessories, applicants must complete and submit a claim form provided by their police force. Those submitting a claim under option C must attach documentary evidence as to the value of their items. Claimants must also produce their firearm certificate, temporary permit or certificate of registration as a firearms dealer and dealer's record of transactions, as appropriate. It will also be necessary to produce evidence of lawful ownership of the items as at 16 October 1996, as specified in the compensation scheme itself.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be the legal owner of handguns handed in to the police under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [9667]

  Mr. Michael
  Items surrendered under the terms of the compensation and ex gratia schemes will become the property of the Secretary of State.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be tabling the draft compensation order for .22 calibre pistols and equipment. [9100]

  Mr. Michael
  Under the terms of clause 2 of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill there is no requirement for details of the compensation arrangements for small-calibre pistols and ancillary equipment to be tabled. Small-calibre pistol owners have already received details of the ex gratia scheme. As I informed the House during the debates on 9 June, copies of the scheme had been placed in the Library a few days beforehand. The scheme sets out the terms of payment for pistols and equipment that are surrendered voluntarily. It is intended that this ex gratia scheme will become the formal compensation scheme following the passing of the Bill. This, too, was explained fully to the House on 9 June.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of employees, in each pay band, in the quangos for which his Department is responsible, are of(a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [8950]
  388
  Mr. Straw
  From the available information, the breakdown of employees of Asian and Afro-Caribbean origin employed in the Home Office non-departmental public bodies is as follows:

  Senior grades: 20 per cent.—Asian1;—15 per cent.—Afro-Caribbean2

  Executive grades: 29–11 per cent.—Asian; 46–18 per cent.— Afro-Caribbean

  Administration and Support grades: 34–12 per cent.—Asian; 58–21 per cent.—Afro-Caribbean

  1 Figure five or fewer.
  2 These figures refer only to the Commission for Racial Equality as this is the only NDPB that currently employs ethnic minorities in senior grades.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants there are on each pay band in his Department. [8951]

  Mr. Straw
  The Home Office has not yet adopted a pay band system. The number of serving civil servants1 managed by the Home Office by grade equivalents is set out in the table. Although there is not as yet an agreed equivalency structure for all Prison Service grades, the following table is based on the current understanding.

  Grade equivalency

  Home Office excluding Prison Service)

  Prison Service

  Total

  None

  228

  388

  116

  Administrative Assistants

  1,949

  6,085

  8,034

  Administrative Officers

  2,573

  24,511

  27,084

  Executive Officers

  3,783

  3,658

  7,441

  Higher Executive Officers

  1,522

  1,121

  2,643

  Senior Executive Officers

  608

  896

  1,504

  Grade 7s

  442

  381

  823

  Grade 6s

  85

  254

  339

  Non-Senior Civil Service Grades 2 to 5

  417

  556

  73

  Senior Civil Service

  86

  43

  129

  Total

  11,109

  37,093

  48,202

  1 For the Home Office (non-Prison-Service), "serving civil servants" refers to permanent non-industrial staff currently paid by the Home Office. It does not include staff on loan or secondment to other Government Departments or external bodies where those bodies pay. For the Prison Service, the figures include casuals. The Home Office (non-Prison Service) figures are those for 6 July 1997. The Prison Service figures are those for 30 June 1997.

  2 Students on attachment to the Home Office and some other grades have no agreed grade equivalency.

  3 Currently no grade has been provided.

  4 Grades which were held to be equivalent to the old grades 2 to 4 but which have not been included in the senior civil service. These grades include HM inspectors.

  5 Mainly comprising senior health care staff.

  Asylum Seekers
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 30 June,Official Report, column 11, how many in-country asylum applicants were detained under Immigration Act powers for one night or longer in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [8926]
  389
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I regret that reliable information on the number of in-country asylum applicants placed in detention for one night or longer could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Crime (Sentences) Act 1997
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to implement section 20 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. [9310]

  Mr. Michael
  We will make an announcement shortly about the implementation of provisions of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 as well as a wider package of measures reflecting our approach to sentencing.

  Fox Deaths
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of foxes killed per year(a) in total, (b) by shooting, (c) by hunting with hounds, (d) by road accidents and (e) other causes. [8577]

  Mr. George Howarth
  We have made no such estimate and the information requested could not be determined except at disproportionate cost. Various estimates have been provided by organisations that support or oppose fox hunting.

  It will be for Parliament to decide how any further detailed work—such as an estimate of this kind—should be taken forward.

  Stationery
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on stationery provision in respect of paper items in each of the last five years. [8867]

  Mr. Straw
  This information is not separately recorded in the Home Office accounting system, but details provided by our two main suppliers of general stationery indicate that approximately £600,000, excluding value added tax, was spent on paper items in the calendar year 1996.

  Additional, but smaller, orders would have been placed with various other suppliers, but details of these and information about previous years are not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Rape
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review(a) the law of consent regarding rape and (b) the use of the victim's sexual history in rape trials. [8801]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 16 July 1997]: We are very concerned to ensure that the law on rape is effective in punishing and deterring crime and fair to victims. We have in the past laid down amendments aimed at reforming the law in this area and this remains our commitment. We have a number of competing priorities in this parliamentary Session and will need to look carefully as to when we could deal with this issue.
  390
  The law on consent in respect of rape, or the use of the sexual history of victims, is provided for in the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976. Under that Act, no question may be asked about, or evidence adduced of, the complainant's previous sexual history with anybody except the defendant without the leave of the trial judge. A judge should grant leave only if he is satisfied that it would be unfair to the defendant to refuse to do so.

  We will continue to examine how the law is applied. A Home Office research study into the process of rape cases is seeking to identify what factors influence whether a recorded rape leads to a conviction. Among the factors under examination are the use of the victim's sexual history in court and the importance of corroborative evidence where consent is disputed.

  Hunting with Hounds
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 July,Official Report, column 523, for what reasons his Department is unable to calculate the employment generated by hunting with hounds. [8702]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 15 July 1997]: Such information is not currently held centrally and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Various estimates have been provided by organisations supporting or arguing against hunting with hounds. However, it will be for Parliament to determine how to take forward any further detailed work on the likely effects of a decision to ban hunting with hounds.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Devolution Referendums
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the role of civil servants in the referendum campaigns on devolution. [10247]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Government have today issued guidance to civil servants on their role and conduct during the devolution referendum campaigns. The guidance provides a generic set of principles which individual Departments can incorporate into guidance tailored to their particular needs and situations. It stresses that civil servants should conduct themselves in accordance with the civil service code, and is based on the need to maintain the political impartiality of the civil service and to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Libraries of the House, and are also available from the Vote Office.

  Civil Service Report
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the second annual "Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment" report. [10246]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The annual "Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment" report was placed in the Libraries of the House earlier today. It covers the year to 31 March 1997, reporting the results of fast stream competitions completed during that period and action undertaken for future competitions.
  391
  The report shows that the civil service continues to attract a strong field of applicants for both generalist and specialist schemes. The diversity of sources from which recruits are drawn continues to grow, with successful candidates from more than 60 different higher educational institutions. Good progress has also been made towards the goal of increasing the proportion of recruits to the generalist scheme who have scientific degree backgrounds.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of employees in the Government Car and Despatch Agency are (i) of Asian origin and (ii) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [8930]

  Dr. David Clark
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated July 1997:
  I have been asked by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the number and percentage of employees in the Government Car and Despatch Agency who are of Asian or Afro-Caribbean origin.
  Our records show that the Agency currently employs 2 people of Asian origin (0.78 per cent. of the work force) and 3 people of Afro-Caribbean origin (1.18 per cent. of the work force).

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of civil servants in each of grades one to five in his Department are of(a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [9569]

  Dr. Clark
  No employee in these grades in my Department has registered his or her origin as being Asian or Afro-Caribbean.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants there are on each pay band in his Department. [8942]

  Dr. David Clark
  This answer covers the Cabinet Office—Office of Public Service—and its executive agencies. Staff below the senior civil service are employed by grade and are shown as such. The figures at 1 July are as follows:

  Number

  Office of Public Service (OPS)

  SCS

  39

  Grades 6 and 7

  79

  Senior Executive Officer (SEO) and equivalent

  23

  Higher Executive Officer (HEO) and equivalent

  77

  Executive Officer (EO) and equivalent

  94

  Administrative Officer (AO) and equivalent

  88

  Administrative Assistant (AA) and equivalent

  34

  Executive Agencies (Total)

  SCS

  11

  Grades 6 and 7

  168

  SEO and equivalent

  135

  HEO and equivalent

  136

  392

  Number

  EO and equivalent

  212

  AO and equivalent

  251

  AA and equivalent

  82

  Industrial staff

  601

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines exist to ensure that civil servants cannot work on a party political basis. [9071]

  Dr. Clark
  Civil servants are under a duty, laid down in the civil service code, to conduct themselves with integrity, impartiality and honesty, and in such a way as to deserve and retain the confidence of Ministers and to be able to establish the same relationship with those whom they may be required to serve in some future Administration. Ministers are also under a duty not to use public resources for party political purposes, to uphold the political impartiality of the civil service, and not to ask civil servants to act in a way that would conflict with the civil service code. In their private lives, civil servants must comply with restrictions on their political activities as set out in the civil service code and the civil service management code.

CABINET OFFICE

  Millennium Exhibition
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what research has been carried out into the number of visitors likely to attend the millennium experience. [6466]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Consultants to the Millennium Commission and the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. have produced a broad range of estimates of visitor attendance. The limit on capacity is 17.7 million visits, a National Opinion Polls survey in December 1996 predicted 14 million visits by United Kingdom residents and the target in the current business plan is 12 million.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much money from private sector sponsorship has been raised for the millennium exhibition at Greenwich. [8028]

  Mr. Mandelson
  This information is currently commercially confidential. The New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. will publish a full account in due course.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what contingency plans exist for the millennium experience budget in the event that ticket sales fail to reach £135 million. [6906]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: As already announced, we are extending the life of the Millennium Commission to enable it to meet its existing commitments to the millennium experience. Should these commitments unavoidably increase in the future, we will take further steps to ensure—through the lottery—that the commission is able to meet them. But it is our firm resolve that such action should not prove necessary; the Millennium Commission shares this resolve.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Class Sizes
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of(a) the average class size in schools in Warrington, North and (b) the number of primary school children in Warrington, North being taught in classes of more than 30 pupils. [9211]

  Mr. Byers
  For maintained primary schools in the Warrington, North parliamentary constituency in January 1997, the provisional estimates of the average class size and the number of pupils in classes of 31 or more pupils taught by one teacher were 27.9 and 3,822 respectively.

  Jobcentres
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the Government's response to the second report of the Education and Employment Committee "Security of Staff in Jobcentres", HC 149, Session 1996–97. [10248]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  A Command Paper outlining the Government's response has been published today and copies have been placed in the Library.

  Welfare to Work
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to announce the pilot areas for welfare to work. [9877]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Secretary of State will announce the pathfinder areas for the new deal for 18 to 24-year-olds shortly.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if public sector bodies will be eligible for the wages subsidy element of his Department's welfare-to-work proposals. [9817]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The success of the new deal will depend on effective partnerships in which all sections of local communities, including the private, public and voluntary sectors, play a full and relevant part. The precise role of the public sector in the employment option of the new deal is one of a number of issues we are currently considering. We will announce the outcome shortly.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will examine the potential role of horticultural training within the welfare-to-work programme; and if he will make a statement. [8486]

  Mr. Howarth
  In our new deal for young and long-term unemployed people, we intend to offer the widest possible range of opportunities for people to gain skills and improve their employability. Education and training will be guaranteed for all those participating in any of our four options of help. We want organisations from all sectors to join in our crusade to get people off benefits and into jobs, and I hope that the horticultural sector, like all others, will respond to this challenge. It is also possible under current arrangements to train to national vocational qualification level 2 and above in horticulture, under training for work.
  394
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in the boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets will benefit from the welfare-to-work initiative. [9006]

  Mr. Smith
  It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the number who will benefit from the new deal over the period of its implementation. All young people who are eligible, or who become so, will be offered opportunities to participate in a job, training or useful work experience.

  School Exclusions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children with statements of special educational needs were permanently excluded from schools in England in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what each figure was as a proportion of the total number of children permanently excluded from schools. [8725]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Returns to the Department recorded a total of 1,287 pupils with statements of special educational needs as having been permanently excluded from mainstream schools during the 1994–95 school year; a further 477 pupils with statements were excluded from special schools. These figures represent 12.6 per cent. of the exclusions from mainstream schools and 96.8 per cent. of the exclusions from special schools.

  Information on how many pupils with a statement of special educational needs were permanently excluded in 1993-94 is not available.

  University for Industry
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the time scale for the establishment of the university for industry; what is the process for evaluation of bids; if it will be a single or multi-site operation; and which officials in his Department are charged with bringing it into effect. [9912]

  Dr. Howells
  I hope to make an announcement shortly about our plans for developing the university for industry. The process for taking forward the development work, including any possible bidding procedures, has yet to be determined. The university for industry is a virtual institution and will not have a headquarters in the conventional sense. It is likely to have a core administrative centre, but it is too early to say where this might be located. Responsibility for work on the university for industry rests with my individual learning division.

  Education Standard Spending Assessment
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each of the last five years the standard spending assessment per pupil for education for each local education authority. [7366]

  Mr. Byers
  The information requested is contained in a number of tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  University Entrants
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils were accepted into each university from(a) private schools and (b) state schools for each year since 1970. [8772]

  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is not compiled centrally. Available information at the sector level is published in the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service annual report, the latest of which shows the following:

  Previous educational establishment of home applicants accepted for 1996 entry in the UK

  HND/dipHE courses

  Degree courses

  Maintained (incl sixth form colleges)

  6,791

  112,440

  Independent

  742

  29,264

  Other1

  9,286

  69,658

  Not known

  4,967

  35,141

  Total

  21,786

  246,503

  1 Includes further education institutions, higher education institutions and other establishments.

  Table 1: Numbers of claimants, postal claimants and the percentage of total claimants using the postal facility

  1995

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Regions

  Total claimants

  Postal claimants

  Percentage of total signing by post

  Total claimants

  Postal claimants

  Percentage of total signing by post

  Total claimants

  Postal claimants

  Percentage of total signing by post

  London and South-east

  722,000

  32,230

  4.5

  732,000

  32,811

  4.5

  688,000

  29,663

  4.3

  South-west

  164,000

  17,669

  10.8

  164,000

  15,964

  9.7

  158,000

  15,478

  9.8

  West Midlands

  209,000

  4,462

  2.1

  215,000

  4,472

  2.1

  196,000

  4,116

  2.1

  East Midlands and Eastern

  214,000

  21,094

  9.9

  215,000

  17,353

  8.1

  200,000

  12,285

  6.1

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  206,000

  12,244

  5.9

  211,000

  12,154

  5.8

  198,000

  11,935

  6.0

  North-west

  253,000

  5,085

  2.0

  257,000

  4,804

  1.9

  238,000

  4,215

  1.8

  Northern

  147,000

  4,703

  3.2

  149,000

  4,539

  3.0

  143,000

  4,272

  3.0

  Office for Wales

  105,000

  9,869

  9.4

  110,000

  9,957

  9.1

  104,000

  9,825

  9.4

  Office for Scotland

  201,000

  27,570

  13.7

  211,000

  26,966

  12.8

  193,000

  26,926

  14.0

  1996

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  Regions

  Total claimants

  Postal claimants

  Percentage of total signing by post

  Total claimants

  Postal claimants

  Percentage of total signing by post

  London and South-east

  704,000

  28,298

  4.0

  660,000

  24,382

  3.7

  South-west

  167,000

  15,450

  9.3

  150,000

  11,506

  7.7

  West Midlands

  205,000

  4,067

  2.0

  193,000

  3,320

  1.7

  East Midlands and Eastern

  217,000

  9,882

  4.6

  200,000

  8,230

  4.1

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  211,000

  12,239

  5.8

  194,000

  10,726

  5.5

  North-west

  253,000

  4,427

  1.7

  238,000

  3,787

  1.6

  Northern

  148,000

  4,408

  3.0

  138,000

  4,034

  2.9

  Office for Wales

  111,000

  9,855

  8.9

  103,000

  9,026

  8.8

  Office for Scotland

  208,000

  29,855

  14.4

  197,000

  26,196

  13.3

  Source:

  Postal Claimants—Resources Monitoring System Database.

  Total claimants; Department of Social Security—rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Benefits (Postal Claimants)
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants were postal claimants and what percentage this was of the whole in each standard region in each quarter since April 1995. [7764]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 10 July 1997]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service 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 21 July 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about postal claimants. This is something that falls within the responsibility delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The figures that you have requested are only available up to the second quarter of 1996. This information is provided in table 1. Subsequently, a one off account was made on 24 February 1997 and these results are shown below in table 2.
  I hope this is helpful.
  397

  Table 2

  Postal claimants in each Region 24 February 1997

  Percentage of total claimants signing by post

  London and South-east

  6,393

  1.2

  South-west

  2,320

  1.9

  West Midlands

  1,045

  0.7

  East Midlands and Eastern

  958

  0.6

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  3,654

  2.2

  North-west

  255

  0.1

  Northern

  1,556

  1.3

  Office for Wales

  2,883

  3.2

  Office for Scotland

  11,853

  6.8

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics and Jobseeker's allowance operational support.

  Mandatory Maintenance Grants
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to end mandatory maintenance grants for students. [8648]

  Dr. Howells
  The national committee of inquiry into higher education has been considering possible future arrangements for student support and is due to report shortly. The Government will set out their detailed proposals in the light of the committee's recommendations.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turkey
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Turkey on their policy on human rights. [9189]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the new Turkish Foreign Minister at the NATO Madrid summit, on 8 July. They discussed a broad range of issues, including a long exchange on human rights. He was encouraged by Mr. Cem's recognition of the need for progress on this issue.

  Law of the Sea Convention
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom will accede to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the law of the sea; and if he will make a statement. [10101]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  We have decided to accede to the convention later this month. The convention has many advantages for the United Kingdom as a maritime nation with worldwide trading and other interests. The convention includes important environmental provisions. Accession will enable the United Kingdom to play a leading role in the institutions established under the convention.

  The United Kingdom's fishery limits will need to be redefined based on St. Kilda, since Rockall is not a valid base point for such limits under article 121(3) of the convention. An Order in Council will be made at the first opportunity. Thereafter we shall seek to agree a fisheries boundary with the Republic of Ireland.
  398
  Further legislation may be needed in due course if British industry wishes to mine the deep sea bed under the terms of the convention and the agreement on the implementation of part XI of the convention. We shall also ratify the latter agreement, which fully meets the objections to the original terms of part XI.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 16 July,Official Report, columns 387–88, for what reasons the letter from the Governments of the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America in reply to that from the Secretary-General of the Arab League, the Organisation of African Unity and the UN Security Council was not in the Library at 4 pm on 16 July; when he requested the letter be forwarded to the House; and when the letter was dispatched. [9797]

  The Prime Minister
  A copy of the letter is available in the Library. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), has written to my hon. Friend.

  Horse Racing
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer overall governmental responsibility for issues connected with horse racing to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and if he will make a statement. [9842]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to reply to the question of 10 June from the hon. Member for Chichester on the appointment of political advisers not paid from public funds. [9601]

  The Prime Minister
  I will be in a position to reply to the hon. Member's previous question shortly.

DEFENCE

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants there are on each pay band in his Department. [8966]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Pay and Personnel Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from M. A. Rowe to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 21 July 1997:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding an analysis of the number of MOD civil servants by paybands. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Pay & Personnel Agency.
  The information requested is contained in the table attached to this letter which I hope you find helpful.
  399

  Pay band analysis of MOD industrial and non-industrial civil servants as at 1 April 19971

  Number of civil servants

  Annual basic pay and allowances2

  Full Time

  Part Time

  Total

  Pay bands

  £0 to £10,000

  27,541

  3,908

  31,449

  £10,001 to £20,000

  47,263

  527

  47,790

  £20,001 to £30,000

  16,449

  39

  16,488

  £30,001 to £40,000

  2,719

  4

  2,723

  £40,001 to £50,000

  650

  0

  650

  £50,001 to £60,000

  180

  0

  180

  £60,001 to £70,000

  33

  0

  33

  £70,001 to £80,000

  13

  0

  13

  £80,001 to £90,000

  9

  0

  9

  £90,001 to £100,000

  1

  0

  1

  £100,000 upwards

  1

  0

  1

  Totals

  94,859

  4,478

  99,337

  1 The figures exclude staff employed by the MOD trading fund organisations i.e. the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, the Meteorological Office and the Hydrographer.

  2 Pay has been banded on basic annual salaries and allowances (or their weekly equivalents) but excluding non-pensionable emoluments such as overtime earnings.

  Navy Surface Vessels
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those surface vessels of the Royal Navy which will need replacing in the next five years; and what the estimated replacement costs are. [8182]

  Mr. Spellar
  Over the next five years, we plan to bring into service three type 23 frigates to replace two type 22 frigates, HMS Boxer and HMS Beaver, and one type 42 destroyer, HMS Birmingham. The value of the contract for these vessels is estimated at around £450 million. We will also bring into service two auxiliary oilers at the turn of the century. These vessels, for which the contract is worth around £200 million, will replace the aging 0 class fuel replenishment ships, RFA Olna and RFA Olwen. The two amphibious ships, HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, will be replaced early next century by HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark; the value of the contract for these vessels is estimated at £450 million.

  We are considering how to replace the capabilities currently provided by the survey vessels HMS Herald, HMS Roebuck, HMS Bulldog and HMS Beagle and by two of our landing ships logistic, RFA Sir Geraint and RFA Sir Percivale.

  HMY Britannia will be decommissioned at the end of this year. The Government are currently considering the requirement for a replacement royal yacht and will announce their decision in due course.

  Defence Export Services Organisation
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Defence Export Services Organisation will be included in the strategic defence review. [6840]

  Mr. Spellar
  Consideration of the support to defence exports will form part of the strategic defence review.

  Rapid Reaction Corps
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the British contribution to NATO's Allied 400
  Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps is in cash terms in the current financial year; and what it is as a proportion of the defence budget. [8185]

  Dr. Reid
  The estimated cost of UK forces assigned to the ARRC, and the headquarters costs, is some £2 billion in the current financial year, or some one tenth of the defence budget. These forces include 1 and 3 Divisions, 24 Airmobile Brigade and support troops, which could contribute to a number of missions, under both NATO and non-NATO command, in support of the Government's security and defence policies.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the ethnic minorities have been appointed to the ranks of one, two, three or four-star officers in the(a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) Royal Air Force since 1967. [7829]

  Mr. Spellar
  There is currently one one-star officer from the ethnic minorities in the RAF and none in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Army, although a one-star officer recently retired from the Army. This reflects the under-representation of the ethnic minorities in the armed forces, a position we are seeking to redress. A new management-led, self-classification survey of the ethnic origin of serving personnel was introduced in July 1996. Prior to this date records cannot be relied on.

  Vacant Dwellings
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by the Ministry of Defence in the Rosyth and Pitreavie area are currently vacant; of these how many have been vacant for(a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) up to two years and (d) over two years; and what are his Department's plans for the disposal of these properties, and over what period. [8990]

  Mr. Spellar
  All but one of the 81 houses of the service families accommodation site at Pitreavie are empty, due to the closure in July 1996 of RAF Pitreavie Castle and RAF Turnhouse. Forty-three houses have been empty for 12 months and 37 for 18 months.

  The Ministry of Defence originally planned to market the houses with the RAF station as a package. More recently, and because no prospective purchaser has been found, it has been decided to market the houses individually and sales will proceed as quickly as possible.

  The Rosyth estate comprises 269 houses of which 147 are empty. One hundred and four have been empty for between one and two years and 43 have been empty for over two years. A total of 108 of the 147 are currently being advertised for sale in blocks or on an individual basis. These sales will take place as market demand permits.

  Reserve Forces
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many payments he has made to employers following call-out or recall of reserves in the last year for which figures are available. [9417]
  401
  Mr. Spellar
  Provisions for making payments to the employers of reservists were introduced under regulations which came into force on 1 April this year. Since then, 10 payments have been made to employers, and a further 12 are being processed. Up to 16 July, claims had been agreed for some £7,000. Further claims amounting to some £14,000 are being considered.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the reserve forces by type. [9418]

  Mr. Spellar
  The most recent complete figures are for 1 April 1997. These are as follows:

  Strength of reserve forces at 1 April 1997

  Number

  Royal Fleet Reserve

  8,900

  Royal Naval Reserve

  2,700

  Royal Marines Reserve

  900

  Army Reserve

  190,100

  Territorial Army

  57,600

  Air Force Reserve

  45,300

  Royal Auxiliary Air Force

  1,400

  Employment Advertisements
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often since 1992 his Department has been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions on those who could apply. [9507]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is my Department's policy that age limits must not appear in external recruitment advertisements for civilian personnel. Exceptions to this rule are references to retirement ages or where a minimum recruitment age can be fully justified in terms of allowing the Department time to benefit from the expected training investment. The Department does not hold a central database of employment advertisements for civilians and it is therefore not possible, except at disproportionate cost and effort, to check whether any of these may have contained an age restriction other than the permitted exceptions.

  As a general principle, the armed forces require recruits aged between 16 and 26 years, although in some trades older applicants are acceptable. Approximately 90 per cent. of advertising for recruiting individuals into the services make references to these age restrictions.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the location of each of the 12 British anti-personnel land mines known still to be in Iraq following the Gulf conflict; what is their type and specification; what steps he is taking to ensure they are cleared; and what estimate he has made of the total number unaccounted for in Iraq. [9665]

  Dr. Reid
  According to currently available information, 12 C3A1 anti-personnel land mines, commonly known as Elsies, were used in Iraq and not subsequently recovered. Consistent with the provisions of international law current at the time, details of their precise locations were not recorded in view of the nature of the operations. Given the current circumstances in Iraq, it would not be practical 402
  to attempt now to clear them. My Department is trying urgently to establish whether any further anti-personnel land mines used by British forces in the Gulf conflict remain unaccounted for.

  Bosnia (Road Traffic Accidents)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women have been(a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road traffic accidents while serving in Bosnia since the end of hostilities following the Dayton accord. [9315]

  Dr. Reid
  Since the deployment of the implementation force on 20 December 1995, three British soldiers have died and six have been listed as seriously ill or very seriously ill as a result of road traffic accidents in Bosnia. With treacherous weather and poor roads, conditions are very challenging, demanding a high degree of skill from drivers. Those military personnel required to drive vehicles in Bosnia undertake pre-deployment driving training to prepare them for the conditions there. The dangers are taken very seriously and an active information campaign ensures that all personnel are reminded of the need to drive with great care.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Court Delays
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he proposes to reduce delays in the criminal justice system; and if he will make a statement. [7530]

  Mr. Hoon
  The introduction of plea and directions hearings in the Crown court continues to reduce delays. In the magistrates courts, the Magistrates' Courts (Procedure) Bill introduced recently by the Lord Chancellor will speed up the progress of half a million minor motoring cases per year. Generally, the Government are considering the scope for reductions in delays in the criminal courts suggested by the review of delay in the criminal justice system, and there will be a further announcement in due course.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for the reorganisation of magistrates courts in West Sussex. [7536]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have no such plans.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on his Department's criteria relating to the merger of magistrates courts. [7540]

  Mr. Hoon
  Magistrates courts are locally managed by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Decisions concerning the future and number of magistrates courts in their area for the relevant MCCs to determine. A local authority that contributes financially may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Accordingly, as with any appellate authority, each case is dealt with on its merits.
  403
  In the absence of an appeal, however, the Lord Chancellor plays no part in the process.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the number of magistrates courts in the county of Essex. [7533]

  Mr. Hoon
  There are 13 court houses and 13 petty sessional divisions in Essex. Decisions concerning the future and number of magistrates courts in the area are for the relevant magistrates courts committees to determine. Essex MCC has issued a consultation document to magistrates and to the paying authority to review the arrangement of petty sessional divisions in the county.

  Private Finance Initiative (Magistrates Courts)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Essex magistrates courts committee will be permitted to specify when embarking on a PFI initiative the broad geographical location and number of court houses it requires from those providing the PFI initiative. [9876]

  Mr. Hoon
  It is an important principle of the PFI process that potential providers are given as much freedom as is possible to develop their ideas on how best to meet the operational requirements of the magistrates courts committee. The MCC will be able to indicate the broad geographical areas in which court houses should be located, but as far as is possible should refrain from specifying the number of court houses to be provided.

  Consumer Protection
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 July,Official Report, column 535, on consumer protection rights, if he will list the members of the working group on rights and duties in respect of representative actions. [9703]

  Mr. Hoon
  Invitations to join the working group have been sent out. Copies of the list of members of the working group will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as acceptances to invitations have been received and the membership of the group finalised.

  Civil Procedure Rules Committee
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the names, qualifications and relevant experience of the members of the Civil Procedure Rules Committee. [8579]

  Mr. Hoon
  The members of the Civil Procedure Rules Committee are:

  Lord Woolf, Master of the Rolls, chairman.

  Sir Richard Scott, Vice-Chancellor

  Mr. Justice Anthony May

  Judge Richard Holman

  District Judge Godfrey Gypps

  Master Harman John Leslie

  Henrietta Manners

  David Foskett QC

  Nicholas Chambers QC

  Peter Howarth

  404

  Peter Watson

  David Greene

  Harriet Kimbell

  Olivia Morrison-Lyons

  Their relevant experience and professional qualifications are as follows:

  Mr. Justice May
  Appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court, Queen's Bench Division in 1991. Presently judge in charge of the Queen's Bench list.

  Judge Holman
  Circuit judge. Appointed as an Assistant Recorder in 1998 and to the Circuit bench in 1994.

  District Judge Gypps
  Appointed as a District Judge in 1991.

  Master Leslie
  Master of the Supreme Court, Queen's Bench Division since 1996.

  Nicholas Chambers QC
  Barrister, called 1966. Mr. Chambers took silk in 1985. He sits as a Recorder and as a deputy High Court judge. He has a general common law practice with a commercial emphasis.

  David Foskett QC
  Barrister, called in 1972. Mr. Foskett took silk in 1991. His professional experience lies in the common law and commercial field, primarily in the Supreme Court. He sits as a Recorder.

  Henrietta Manners
  Barrister with particular experience of practice in county courts. Called in 1981. She has been a member of the County Court Rule Committee since 1991.

  David Greene
  Solicitor, admitted in 1980. Mr. Greene is the senior litigation partner at Messrs Edwin Coe, Solicitors, Lincoln's Inn.

  Peter Watson
  Solicitor, admitted in 1981. Mr. Watson is a partner with Messrs. Allen and Overy, specialising in High Court commercial and administrative law litigation.

  Peter Haworth
  Solicitor with particular experience of practice in county courts. Admitted 1975. Mr. Haworth is a litigation partner with Messrs Southern Cooper, Solicitors, of Burnley Lancashire. He was a part-time chairman of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal from 1986 to 1992. He sits as a deputy district judge.

  Olivia Morrison-Lyons
  Ms Morrison-Lyons was a manager of Camden CAB from 1982–93. She was a member of the Citizens Advice Bureaux Management Committee for 10 years.

  Harriet Kimbell MBE
  Mrs. Kimbell is a non-practising solicitor. She has been a member of the Council of the Consumers Association since 1988 and is now Deputy Chairman. She was a non-executive director of Which? Ltd. from 1990 to 1993 and in 1994–95. She is a principal lecturer at the College of Law where she teaches consumer law.

  Family Law Act 1996
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those organisations which are funded by his Department to(a) promote marriage, (b) carry out marriage counselling, (c) provide mediation services and (d) carry out research into the

  405
  causes of marital breakdown, giving the total funding in each case and indicating which projects are pilot projects under the Family Law Act 1996. [8786]

  Mr. Hoon
  The tables show my Department's provision of core funding, pilot funding and research funding by way of grant in aid in the current financial year to marriage support and research organisations.

  All projects for the provision of publicly funded mediation services under the Act are the responsibility of the Legal Aid Board. The overall funding commitment is not yet settled as schedules of payment are currently being negotiated with 37 mediation services and solicitors' practices.

  Funding for marriage support and research organisations—1997–98 financial year

  £

  1. RELATE

  1,898,620.00

  2. One Plus One

  167,000.00

  3. Tavistock Marital Studies Institute (TMSI)

  375,435.00

  4. Jewish Marriage Council

  16,912.60

  5. Marriage Care

  263,770.00

  6. Family Welfare Association

  23,458.25

  Funding for marriage support pilot and research projects 1997–98 financial year

  Name

  Project

  Grant £

  RELATE

  Helpline

  58,250.00

  One Plus One

  Marital support to couples with children

  55,570.00

  TMSI

  Psychotherapy at GPs' surgeries

  10,550.00

  Marriage Care

  Helpline, drop-in counselling, marriage preparation

  67,214.00

  Family Welfare Association

  Marriage support for Asian communities, helpline

  72,550.00

  Marriage Resource

  National Marriage Week 1998, media campaign

  126,900.00

  Marriage Resource (Glossop & District)

  Marriage preparation

  11,228.00

  African Caribbean Family Mediation Service (Brixton) and London Marriage Guidance

  Helpline, and drop-in counselling service

  89,190.00

  The Light House (Christian Care Ministry)

  Marriage support

  29,580.00

  One Plus One

  Research project—Review papers to provide resource base for policy development

  79,150.00

  All Souls College Oxford

  Research project—Models of marriage

  42,751.00

  Total

  642,933

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the proposed commencement dates of each section of the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [8787]

  Mr. Hoon
  Sections 65 and 67 came into force on the passing of the Act.
  406
  On 21 March 1997, the following provisions came into force:

  (a) part I (principles of Part II and III);

  (b) section 22 (marriage support services);

  (c) part III (legal aid for mediation in family matters);

  (d) section 66(1) (minor and consequential amendments) so far as it relates to part II of schedule 8; and

  (e) section 66(3) (repeals) so far as it relates to the entry in schedule 10 in respect of the Legal Aid Act 1988(b).

  With the exception of section 60, part IV will commence on 1 October 1997.

  There is not yet a proposed commencement date for the remainder of parts II, IV and V.

  Medical Negligence
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many medical negligence cases have been(a) commenced and (b) finalised under the Birmingham county court medical negligence cases pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement. [8586]

  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 M. D. Huebner to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 21 July 1997:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the medical negligence cases pilot scheme at Birmingham County Court.
  Since the scheme began on 1 October 1996 one case has commenced and none has been finalised.

  Divorce Settlements, Scotland
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Ancillary Relief has made of the applicability to England and Wales of the system of divorce settlements, which currently operates in Scotland. [8790]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Group on Ancillary Relief discussed the extension of the Scottish system of financial provision on divorce to England and Wales at a meeting at the end of May 1996. At that meeting, the group concluded that it was not in a position to undertake a more comprehensive review. The Lord Chancellor's Department is assessing how further consideration can now most effectively be given to this matter.

HEALTH

  Primary Care Legislation
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement setting out the timetable he will now be following to introduce the pilot schemes under primary care legislation. [6748]

  Mr. Milburn
  We propose to establish a range of pilots concerned with improving the direct provision of personal medical services from 1 April 1998. In order to give everyone equal opportunity to consider how local
  407
  initiatives can be best taken forward, we have extended the closing date by which formal applications have to be with health authorities by one month. We also propose to establish a number of personal dental services pilots in October 1998 to test new ways of delivering primary care dentistry and addressing local oral health priorities.

  The revised timetable for the implementation of the personal medical services pilots is given in the table.

  Closing date

  Formal applications for salaried service employment and practice based contracts, which have been consulted on, to be with health authorities by

  1 November 1997

  Notification of approval from the Secretary of State

  December 1997

  Negotiations of local contracts

  December—March 1998

  Pilots for salaried service employment and practice based contracts to begin

  1 April 1998

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collates on the sums of money held at the year end by each fundholding practice. [7725]

  Mr. Milburn
  Fundholding practices' saving balances are published in their fund accounts. The Department draws on this information as necessary, but does not routinely collate it at practice level.

  Benzodiazepines
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will carry out an inquiry into the number of people in England and Wales involuntarily addicted to benzodiazepines; and if he will make a statement. [8498]

  Mr. Milburn
  There are currently no plans to carry out such an inquiry. The principal focus of the Department's action in this area has been to try to prevent addiction occurring by warning general practitioners and other prescribers of the dangers of involuntary addiction to benzodiazepines. The Department funds a number of publications that are available to general practitioners, pharmacists and other health professionals—for instance, the British National Formulary and a Medicines Resource Centre monthly bulletin, which give information on the treatment of various conditions and the drugs involved in such treatment.

  In 1994, the Department agreed to fund a helpline run by the Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction, a voluntary organisation which aims to support those who wish to withdraw from tranquillisers and sleeping tablets. CITA was provided with funding of £10,000 in 1994–95, £10,000 in 1995–96 and £10,000 in 1996–97. In addition, the Department continues to fund the mental health charity MIND, which operates local self-help groups for people dependent on tranquillisers.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each health authority's expenditure 408
  plans in respect of family planning for the current financial year, indicating the percentage difference from expenditure in the previous financial year. [8848]

  Ms Jowell
  Information on the detail of health authority expenditure plans is not collected centrally. Information on expenditure by trusts and directly managed units is available and figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96, the latest years for which data are available, have been placed in the Library.

  Public Health Initiatives
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the public health initiatives planned by his Department(a) in Stoke-on-Trent, North and (b) nationally. [8877]

  Ms Jowell
  In Stoke-on-Trent, North, the health authority has established a locality approach to developing healthy communities through involving a wide range of statutory and local community organisations. The report of the director of public health this year will focus on "determinants of health". A wide range of public health initiatives is already under way in North Staffordshire, and many more have been identified as priorities by the health authority for 1997–98.

  Key priorities include:
  Implementation of the coronary heart disease strategy—a priority for 1997–98 as identified in the Health Authority's health strategy and investment plan;
  Continuation of the Aspirin project, to reduce stroke and heart attacks, in primary care—which has already achieved 60 per cent. coverage of eligible practice populations in 1996–97;
  Strategy for healthy eating—December 1997;
  Review of existing initiatives aimed at helping people to stop/not take up smoking, and identifying action to meet any "gaps";
  Development and implementation of a stroke action plan to be based on GRIP kits—getting research into practice—to provide cost-effective care and to maximise clinical effectiveness, planned for autumn 1997;
  Strategy for promotion of physical exercise;
  Action plan to develop drug and alcohol services—review and agree action to co-ordinate use of HIV and substance misuse funds;
  Multi-agency action plan to promote sexual health, especially for young people;
  Multi-agency accident prevention steering group which is developing a strategy—autumn 1997.

  Additional points include:
  The appointment of a healthy cities co-ordinator—a joint appointment between the health and local authority through their "healthy alliances" links—who will look at public health initiatives across the board;
  Single regeneration bid-funded initiatives—for instance, in 1997–98: community development worker for Biddulph, citizens advice bureau youth advice worker for Bentilee and Berryhill, urban villages community partnership based at Newcastle under Lyme.

  Nationally, the Government will be taking forward the public health agenda across a broad front. I outlined the scope of our new health strategy "Our Healthier Nation" on 7 July; copies of my speech are available in the Library. In the autumn, we shall publish a Green Paper setting out the strategy in detail. Many Government policies will contribute to improving public health, such as welfare to work, education policies and the integrated

  409
  transport strategy. The Department of Health is working closely with the other Departments involved, as it is in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on developing the food standards agency. In the autumn, we shall publish a White Paper on measures to reduce smoking and draft Bill to ban tobacco advertising. Healthy living centres and health action zones will also address public health issues.

  Microbiological Research
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the submissions made to him under the quinquennial review from the Microbiological Research Authority Board and the management of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research; and if he will make a statement. [9096]

  Ms Jowell
  The management of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research will send a copy of the final submission to the hon. Member when it is ready. This may take another week or so.

  My announcement of the review of the centre mentioned that the views of the key organisations and individuals would be sought. Letters of consultation have now been sent out. A scientific team including expert external members will visit the centre at the end of this month to assess the research work commissioned by the

  Table 1: Maternities in England by multiplicity 1990–96

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Twins

  7,533

  7,739

  7,888

  7,896

  8,014

  8,320

  8,166

  Triplets

  190

  201

  193

  225

  249

  266

  246

  Quadruplets

  9

  10

  8

  11

  8

  6

  8

  Quintuplets

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sextuplets

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Septuplets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics.

  Table 2: Pregnancies conceived from 1990 to 1994 through IVF or Donor Insemination

  Singleton

  Twin

  Triplet greater

  Quad or more

  IVF clinical pregnancies (includes frozen embryo transfer and ISCI)

  19901

  1,404

  411

  69

  1

  19912

  1,491

  503

  75

  1

  1992

  2,109

  709

  118

  0

  1993

  2,807

  847

  148

  1

  1994

  3,064

  1,009

  197

  3

  1995

  To be published in 1997 annual report

  Notes:

  1 Data collected by OPCS for the Interim Licensing Authority.

  2 Data for 1 January 1991 to 31 July 1991 collected by OPCS 1 August 1991 to 31 December 1991 collected by the HFEA.

  Figures provided for UK as a whole.

  Donor insemination clinical pregnancies (includes GIFT with donor sperm).

  Source:

  HFEA.
  410
  Department at the centre. The main research funding bodies have also been invited to comment. A number of management consultancy organisations have submitted tenders for the work of assessing options for the future of the centre. Those tenders are currently being evaluated and consultants will be commissioned to begin work by the end of this month.

  I will make a further statement when there are substantial findings to report, and will place copies of the summary of the review report in the Library in due course.

  Multiple Births
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sets of(a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and (e) sextuplets were born in England in each year since 1990; and how many multiple births in each category were conceived as a result of (i) in vitro fertilisation, (ii) gamete intra-fallopian transfer and (iii) other forms of assisted conception. [8175]

  Ms Jowell
  The information is not available in the form requested. The number of multiple maternities in England for the period 1990 to 1996 is shown in table 1.

  Details of pregnancies achieved and births in the UK for the same period as the result of in vitro fertilisation or donor insemination, including gamete intra-fallopian transfer, are shown in tables 2 to 5.

  Table 3: Pregnancies conceived from 1990 to 1994 through IVF or Donor Insemination

  Singleton

  Twin

  Triplet greater

  Quad or more

  IVF Live births events (includes frozen embryo transfer and ICSI)

  1990

  No figures available

  1991

  No figures available

  1992

  1,592

  627

  99

  0

  1993

  2,164

  790

  134

  1

  1994

  2,376

  929

  170

  2

  1995

  To be published in 1997 annual report (October 1997)

  Source:

  HFEA.

  Note:

  Figures provided for UK as a whole.

  Donor insemination live birth events (includes GIFT with donor sperm).

  Table 4

  Singleton

  Twin

  Triple greater

  Quad or more

  1990

  No data available

  19911

  545

  31

  3

  0

  1992

  1,527

  93

  10

  1

  411

  Table 4

  Singleton

  Twin

  Triplet greater

  Quad or more

  1993

  1,678

  123

  218

  1994

  1,838

  110

  17

  1

  1995

  To be published in 1997 annual report (October 1997)

  Notes:

  1 Data available from 1 August 1991 to 31 December 1991 only. Prior to 1 August 1991 data were collected by the OPCS and did not include Donor Insemination data.

  2 Includes three clinical pregnancies/live birth events which were reported as "triplet or greater".

  Figures provided for UK as a whole.

  Source:

  HFEA.

  Table 5

  Singleton

  Twin

  Triplet greater

  Quad or more

  1990

  No figures available

  1991

  No figures available

  1992

  1,212

  83

  10

  1

  1993

  1,387

  112

  118

  1994

  1,549

  105

  16

  1

  1995

  To be published in 1997 annual report (October 1997)

  Note:

  1 Includes three clinical pregnancies/live birth events which were reported as "triplet or greater".

  Source

  HFEA

  Figures provided for UK as a whole.

  Chief Medical Officer (Stockport)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people work for the chief medical officer in Stockport health authority; and what is the average figure for similar-sized health authorities. [8694]

  Mr. Milburn
  The director of public health in Stockport is supported by a team of three consultants in public health medicine, two trainees on rotation and three and a half—whole-time equivalent—secretarial-support staff. This team has developed an extensive network of links with, for example, NHS trusts, the local authority, other government agencies and voluntary organisations, which contributes to health promotion and activities and public health issues. There are no comparable figures available for other authorities.

  Eyesight Tests
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free domiciliary sight test visits there were in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95 and (d) 1995–96, broken down by health authority. [8828]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information is given in the table. It reveals marked variations between years for some authorities for which no explanation was provided. This suggests that some returns may not have been audited and some data for individual authorities may be subject to error.
  412

  Number of domiciliary sight tests paid for by FHSAs in England

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Cleveland

  2,050

  2,150

  2,380

  2,510

  Cumbria

  690

  870

  1,080

  1,080

  Durham

  2,950

  3,100

  3,330

  3,710

  Northumberland

  1,400

  1,560

  1,700

  1,550

  Gateshead

  460

  950

  940

  1,420

  Newcastle

  890

  920

  1,540

  2,100

  North Tyneside

  800

  1,030

  810

  820

  South Tyneside

  530

  530

  580

  800

  Sunderland

  1,100

  1,220

  1,610

  1,480

  Humberside

  2,340

  2,720

  3,210

  3,780

  North Yorkshire

  1,140

  1,210

  1,850

  2,280

  Bradford

  1,440

  2,060

  2,680

  3,110

  Calderdale

  460

  510

  270

  810

  Kirklees

  1,280

  1,400

  1,580

  1,560

  Leeds

  5,490

  4,760

  3,990

  3,440

  Wakefield

  1,050

  1,150

  1,350

  1,470

  Derbyshire

  3,330

  3,420

  4,180

  3,880

  Leicestershire

  1,580

  2,360

  3,210

  3,580

  Lincolnshire

  1,460

  2,200

  2,150

  2,420

  Nottinghamshire

  2,700

  2,960

  4,080

  5,060

  Barnsley

  960

  880

  690

  1,310

  Doncaster

  780

  790

  730

  1,140

  Rotherham

  750

  710

  1,100

  1,180

  Sheffield

  1,710

  1,840

  2,380

  3,130

  Cambridgeshire

  540

  1,350

  1,420

  670

  Norfolk

  2,860

  3,170

  3,780

  4,080

  Suffolk

  1,270

  1,480

  2,010

  2,580

  Bedfordshire

  900

  1,010

  1,330

  1,470

  Hertfordshire

  2,820

  3,050

  4,490

  5,030

  Barnet

  1,150

  1,260

  2,140

  2,090

  Brent and Harrow

  1,260

  1,530

  1,690

  2,790

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  1,350

  1,670

  2,490

  2,150

  Hillingdon

  420

  460

  950

  930

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  2,910

  1,350

  1,630

  830

  Essex

  6,560

  7,330

  8,210

  8,010

  Barking and Havering

  970

  970

  1,590

  2,230

  Camden and Islington

  1,390

  1,550

  2,420

  2,200

  City and East London

  3,390

  3,600

  4,970

  4,690

  Enfield and Haringey

  1,130

  1,490

  2,040

  2,990

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  1,810

  1,580

  2,320

  2,170

  East Sussex

  4,350

  4,190

  4,600

  4,590

  Kent

  2,850

  4,140

  5,310

  6,740

  Greenwich and Bexley

  630

  870

  1,350

  1,460

  Bromley

  610

  1,370

  1,990

  1,530

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  3,170

  3,640

  4,790

  6,740

  Surrey

  2,190

  1,970

  2,370

  3,230

  West Sussex

  1,440

  1,750

  1,810

  2,260

  Croydon

  630

  1,150

  20

  40

  Kingston and Richmond

  620

  580

  780

  1,130

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  1,290

  1,600

  2,590

  3,490

  Dorset

  6,250

  8,430

  7,020

  3,250

  Hampshire

  3,140

  4,310

  5,220

  4,820

  Wiltshire

  2,620

  1,330

  1,330

  1,560

  Isle of Wight

  210

  260

  280

  220

  Berkshire

  1,070

  1,010

  1,390

  1,780

  Buckinghamshire

  350

  400

  830

  1,030

  Northamptonshire

  1,260

  1,910

  1,830

  2,280

  Oxfordshire

  910

  650

  980

  1,110

  Avon

  2,430

  2,740

  3,270

  3,900

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  910

  730

  1,350

  1,770

  Devon

  2,900

  3,570

  5,200

  6,700

  Gloucestershire

  1,260

  1,600

  1,650

  1,990

  Somerset

  810

  820

  1,280

  1,840

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,170

  1,570

  2,260

  2,830

  Shropshire

  820

  990

  1,270

  1,340

  413

  Number of domiciliary sight tests paid for by FHSAs in England

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Staffordshire

  1,470

  2,300

  3,200

  3,510

  Warwickshire

  1,140

  1,600

  1,260

  1,930

  Birmingham

  4,610

  2,400

  5,150

  5,720

  Coventry

  2,040

  1,770

  2,510

  3,510

  Dudley

  940

  1,470

  1,600

  1,480

  Sandwell

  2,250

  1,740

  1,620

  1,590

  Solihull

  350

  330

  270

  410

  Walsall

  870

  1,180

  870

  1,020

  Wolverhampton

  880

  860

  990

  1,210

  Cheshire

  1,450

  2,590

  2,160

  3,260

  Liverpool

  2,050

  3,400

  3,200

  3,560

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  750

  1,220

  1,820

  2,030

  Sefton

  1,410

  2,000

  2,010

  2,330

  Wirral

  1,240

  1,110

  1,120

  1,240

  Lancashire

  3,510

  6,510

  7,740

  9,420

  Bolton

  710

  1,020

  1,110

  1,340

  Bury

  390

  950

  1,000

  1,120

  Manchester

  1,570

  2,490

  3,260

  3,420

  Oldham

  470

  610

  720

  980

  Rochdale

  220

  770

  920

  980

  Salford

  8,200

  1,260

  1,620

  1,700

  Stockport

  490

  730

  790

  730

  Tameside

  360

  870

  1,130

  1,120

  Trafford

  910

  1,570

  1,510

  1,630

  Wigan

  2,080

  940

  1,090

  1,130

  Total England

  152,260

  167,380

  200,310

  222,500

  Source:

  SBE515.

  Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 9 July,Official Report, column 504, what was the nature of the work carried out by Drivers Jonas in respect of Orsett hospital. [8979]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information about the exact nature of the work carried out by the chartered surveyors Drivers Jonas in respect of Orsett hospital is not held centrally. However, the recent executive letter EL(97)35 "Making Available Information about PFI Projects" gave notice and guidance to trust and health and authority chief executives on requests for information on their private finance initiative schemes.

  Provided the information is not commercially sensitive and its release is consistent with the EL, the information should be obtainable from the chief executive of the trust. Copies of the EL (97)35 have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 9 July,Official Report, column 505, from whom the remuneration committee of the Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS trust board receives advice as to the appropriate pay, conditions and bonuses to be paid to its directors. [8980]

  Mr. Milburn
  Guidance on the role of the remuneration committee was issued to trust chief executives in national health service executive letter EL(94)40 on the codes of conduct and accountability. The NHS executive has also issued guidance (TEL(94)2 and TEL(95)1) to all NHS trusts on the principles and procedures to apply when considering severance payments to general and senior managers on short-term rolling contracts. Copies of all the guidance have been 414
  placed in the Library. Subject to these provisions, it is a matter for the remuneration committee to decide who it should take advice from.

  Alcohol Abuse
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of alcohol abuse to the United Kingdom economy. [9218]

  Ms Jowell
  The most recent academic study of which we are aware estimated the cost of sickness absence to industry in England and Wales in 1992 as a result of alcohol misuse at £1,059.2 million.(Source: Godfrey, C. and Hardman, G. Changing the Social Costs of Alcohol. Final report to the Alcohol Education and Research Council. York: Centre for Health Economics, 1994.)

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of each of the PFI bids for NHS facilities as produced by each of the health care providers involved. [9873]

  Mr. Milburn
  The recent NHS executive letter EL(97)35 "Making Available Information about PFI Projects" gave notice and guidance to trust and health authority chief executives on requests for information on their PFI schemes. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.

  Provided the information is not commercially sensitive and its release is consistent with the EL, the information should be obtainable from the chief executives of the trusts.

  Insulin Pen Needles
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 12 June,Official Report, column 530, when he expects to have completed consideration of whether general practitioners should be allowed to prescribe insulin injection pen needles on the national health service. [9546]

  Mr. Milburn
  It is not possible to give an estimate at this stage in our consideration.

  HIV-AIDS
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new HIV infections there have been in England and Wales among(a) intravenous drug-users, (b) heterosexuals and (c) homosexuals in the age groups (1) 16 to 25, (2) 26 to 35, (3) 36 to 45, (4) 46 to 55 and (5) over 55s by health authority (i) each year since 1985 and (ii) in total; if he will list the year-on-year change in each group in percentage terms; and if he will make a statement about the Government's targeting of HIV-AIDS prevention materials. [9222]

  Ms Jowell
  Tables showing diagnosed HIV infections reported to the public health laboratory service communicable disease surveillance centre, based on data to the end of June 1997, have been placed in the Library. Individuals often do not seek testing unless they believe themselves to be at risk or develop symptoms; hence reported HIV infections underestimate the true number of cases. In addition, these figures are subject to under-reporting.
  415
  Data are given by region because presenting data by health authorities may enable deductive disclosure about individuals in low-prevalence areas and health authorities boundaries have changed over time. Tables showing year on year percentage changes by probable exposure category, age group and region have been prepared.

  National health promotion campaigns for HIV-AIDS are targeted in line with the UK Health Department's strategy, "HIV and AIDS Health Promotion: An Evolving Strategy", November 1995. This emphasised the need for better targeting of vulnerable groups as well as the need to inform the general population about the continuing potential risks from HIV. The strategy identified vulnerable groups as gay men—in particular, young gay men—bisexuals and other men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, men and women who travel to or have links with high prevalence countries, currently those in sub-Saharan Africa, and women partners of men in these groups.

  In line with the strategy, main Department of Health contracts for national HIV-AIDS health promotion work are with:

  (a) the Terrence Higgins Trust: to undertake through community-based groups, targeted HIV-AIDS health promotion work for gay and bisexual men in England.

  (b) the Health Education Authority: to undertake health promotion work for the general population.

  In addition, the Department is currently developing a national programme of HIV-AIDS health promotion work for sub-Saharan African communities living in England.

  Guidance issued by the Department to health authorities on the use of ring-fenced HIV prevention funds stresses the need for locally targeted HIV prevention and health promotion programmes aimed at the groups identified in the evolving strategy.

  The Government have encouraged the development of needle and syringe exchange schemes in order to reduce the harm caused by injecting drugs, in particular the risk of transmitting blood-born viruses. Guidance issued to health and local authorities in March 1997 asked commissioners to address the needs of injecting drug misusers as a priority, by ensuring that they have access to needle and syringe exchanges and appropriate treatment services.

  Hospital Trust Mergers (West Sussex)
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to merge hospital trusts in West Sussex. [9600]

  Mr. Milburn
  No proposals for merger have come forward from hospital trusts in West Sussex.

  Asthma
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have occurred in the incidence of asthma in children over the past 20 years; what regional variations apply; and what assessment his Department has made of the causes of increases in the incidence of asthma. [9875]
  416
  Ms Jowell
  The table shows the mean weekly incidence of new general practitioner episodes of asthma in children per 100,000 of the population in England for each year since 1977. The data are collected from individual practices, and are not collated on a regional basis. It is therefore not possible to provide a regional breakdown. The figures show a clear increase over three decades up to the early 1990s. Although increasing awareness of asthma may have contributed to part of this rise, it does appear likely that part is due to an actual growth in the prevalence of the disease. However, it is still not known what causes asthma or what accounts for this rise.

  Nevertheless, there has been a decline in general practitioner episodes of asthma since 1993, suggesting that the previously rising incidence of asthma has abated. This may reflect more effective treatment and higher-quality medical care. The Department of Health remains committed to tackling the burden of asthma on those who suffer from it, and continues to fund research into its causes.

  Age group

  0–4

  5–14

  19771

  13.7

  15.1

  19781

  26.6

  23.4

  1979

  33.0

  25.6

  1980

  31.6

  28.8

  1981

  31.3

  32.7

  1982

  32.2

  31.5

  1983

  35.4

  35.7

  1984

  52.4

  36.5

  1985

  57.1

  43.4

  1986

  52.4

  41.1

  1987

  74.4

  58.9

  1988

  102.4

  68.7

  1989

  92.9

  66.3

  1990

  108.4

  71.0

  1991

  145.9

  89.4

  1992

  147.8

  84.2

  1993

  152.6

  90.2

  1994

  137.4

  89.2

  1995

  108.9

  73.7

  1996

  104.7

  63.7

  Note:

  1 Data for 1977 and 1978 are not directly comparable with data for subsequent years as the International Classification of Disease (ICD codes) used to extract asthma data were changed in 1978.

  Source:

  Royal College of General Practitioners Weekly Returns Service.

  Male Fertility
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the estimated reduction in the male sperm count in the United Kingdom over the last 10 years; what research his Department has(a) evaluated and (b) commissioned into the factors causing change; and what international comparisons his Department has made. [9874]

  Ms Jowell
  Some of the recent research from the United Kingdom and other countries has suggested a decline in sperm count, but overall the results are inconsistent and there is no scientific consensus.
  417
  Data on semen quality are not collected routinely and arise principally from sources such as tests in infertility clinics or prospective research studies from disparate laboratories whose methods of analysis and reporting may be of doubtful consistency or comparability. This reflects a continuing problem of standardisation in semen analysis, which has not yet been resolved. The same difficulty applies to reports of substantial differences in quality and trends between countries and between areas within countries.

  The Department does not currently fund research in this area. The main agency through which the Government have supported research in this area is the Medical Research Council. Recently, two projects have been funded. These are:

  1. "Has male fertility been declining—a population survey of Time to Pregnancy" (Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary's). This was completed on 31 March 1997.

  2. "Environmental oestrogens and the central pulse generator controlling reproduction: a novel approach to critical issue" (King's College, London). This is due to be completed at the end of February 1999.

  The Department is planning a joint three or four-year programme of research, with the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The programme will look at trends in male reproductive health and the possible influences of occupational or environmental exposure to chemicals.

  Respite Care
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to vary levels of funding for respite care. [8910]

  Mr. Boateng
  No sums are specifically earmarked for respite care within the total community care funding that local authorities receive. Support for carers is an integral part of community care and authorities are expected to provide an appropriate range of respite and other support services. However, the precise level and type of services locally are a matter for individual authorities to determine in the light of local needs and priorities.

SCOTLAND

  Procurators Fiscal
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each sheriff court area in Scotland, the number of cases reported by the police to the procurator fiscal over the most recent 12-month period indicating the number of cases(a) where no action was taken, (b) where prosecution took place and (c) where a conviction was achieved. [9003]

  Mr. McLeish
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has provided the following table listing the number of cases reported, the number of cases marked 418
  "no proceedings", the number of cases marked for an alternative to prosecution and the number of cases proceeding to prosecution in respect of each procurator fiscal office for the 12-month period to 31 May 1997.

  Statistics about reports received by procurators fiscal are collected by reference to individual procurator fiscal office and not by reference to sheriff court area. The statistics on the cases reported to the procurator fiscal do not distinguish between those reported by the police and those reported by the many other agencies that report offences for consideration of proceedings. The procurator fiscal service does not collect statistics on the number of convictions achieved.

  Procurator Fiscal Service, 1 June 1996–31 May 1997

  Reports received

  Reports marked "no proceedings"

  Reports marked for alternative to prosecution

  Reports proceeding to prosecution

  Aberdeen

  13,732

  882

  1,225

  11,625

  Airdrie

  7,694

  891

  1,602

  5,201

  Alloa

  2,257

  464

  321

  1,472

  Arbroath

  2,606

  216

  424

  1,966

  Ayr

  8,505

  1,062

  1,654

  5,789

  Banff

  1,114

  158

  233

  723

  Campbeltown

  669

  80

  239

  350

  Cupar

  1,879

  318

  439

  1,122

  Dingwall

  1,791

  219

  236

  1,336

  Dornoch

  408

  77

  70

  261

  Dumbarton

  8,032

  1,199

  1,567

  5,266

  Dumfries

  6,296

  819

  960

  4,517

  Dundee

  10,118

  1,165

  1,086

  7,867

  Dunfermline

  5,564

  705

  835

  4,024

  Dunoon

  1,180

  163

  294

  723

  Duns

  818

  51

  72

  695

  Edinburgh

  26,980

  3,210

  2,905

  20,865

  Elgin

  3,364

  510

  489

  2,365

  Falkirk

  7,243

  1,137

  1,387

  4,719

  Forfar

  1,753

  154

  319

  1,280

  Fort William

  1,565

  96

  263

  1,206

  Glasgow

  65,328

  8,986

  15,056

  41,286

  Greenock

  6,268

  796

  1,404

  4,068

  Haddington

  2,795

  385

  394

  2,016

  Hamilton

  17,772

  2,315

  3,458

  11,999

  Inverness

  6,908

  1,205

  2,157

  3,546

  Jedburgh

  1,746

  94

  142

  1,510

  Kilmarnock

  10,146

  1,289

  1,758

  7,099

  Kirkcaldy

  6,473

  847

  1,033

  4,593

  Kirkcudbright

  1,636

  144

  286

  1,206

  Kirkwall

  767

  50

  199

  518

  Lanark

  3,973

  376

  672

  2,925

  Lerwick

  833

  94

  87

  652

  Linlithgow

  6,256

  900

  1,062

  4,294

  Lochmaddy

  227

  35

  37

  155

  Oban

  1,081

  127

  212

  742

  Paisley

  10,079

  1,474

  1,593

  7,012

  Peebles

  180

  34

  29

  117

  Perth

  6,756

  959

  942

  4,855

  Peterhead

  2,908

  277

  702

  1,929

  Portree

  495

  65

  135

  295

  Rothesay

  275

  18

  36

  221

  Selkirk

  1,972

  258

  355

  1,359

  Stirling

  4,576

  685

  848

  3,043

  Stonehaven

  2,521

  121

  384

  2,016

  Stornoway

  1,171

  142

  194

  835

  Stranraer

  2,272

  253

  173

  1,846

  Tain

  1,203

  245

  283

  675

  Wick

  1,195

  151

  190

  854

  Totals

  281,380

  35,901

  50,441

  195,038

  Homosexuals (Age of Consent)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Crown Office's policy on prosecution for consensual homosexual acts involving males between the ages of 16 and 18 years. [9219]

  Mr. McLeish
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland. He informs me that he considers that the public interest is not served by routinely prosecuting all persons who participate in private consensual homosexual acts, which are unlawful by reason of the fact that one or both are under 18 years.

  The Lord Advocter had directed procurators fiscal to report to the Crown Office for Crown counsel's consideration cases of consensual homosexual acts in private where both the participants are over 16 years but one or both are under 18 years.

  This is consistent with the approach taken by the Lord Advocate's predecessors in office since February 1994 when an identical direction was issued to procurators fiscal by the then Lord Advocate.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Vehicle Excise Duty (Disabled Drivers)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reasons underlie(a) the entitlement of recipients of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance to exemption from vehicle excise duty and (b) the non-entitlement of people with mobility difficulties in receipt of attendance allowance to such exemption. [8829]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The basis for entitlement to exemption from vehicle excise duty for those in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance is severe mobility need which may require some form of private transport. Provision is focused on those disabled before the age of 65. However, those in receipt of attendance allowance are entitled to VED exemption under transitional protection arrangements if their application for exemption was approved before 13 October 1993.

  Radioactive Materials (Transportation)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 July,Official Report, column 16, how many movements of radioactive material (a) have occurred through the channel tunnel since its opening and (b) have passed through each south coast port in each year since 1990. [9209]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department does not hold information of the kind requested.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 July,Official Report, column 15, on the transportation of radioactive materials, what estimate he
  420
  has made of the proportion of the flights on which the radioactive material carried was (a) high level and (b) intermediate level. [9210]

  Ms Jackson
  It is estimated that less than 5 per cent. of such flights carry packages of radioactive material containing in excess of the quantities previously referred to. For transport purposes, the terms high level and intermediate level radioactive material are undefined.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions how many crashes have occurred involving road vehicles carrying radioactive material in the United Kingdom in each year since 1985. [9205]

  Ms Jackson
  The number of such crashes notified to the Department are:

  Number

  1985

  4

  1986

  1

  1987

  2

  1988

  5

  1989

  2

  1990

  0

  1991

  2

  1992

  1

  1993

  1

  1994

  1

  1995

  3

  1996

  1

  19971

  0

  Total

  23

  1 To date

  In none of these crashes was there any loss of radioactive material from any package.

  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many flights carrying mixed oxide fuel will pass from Carlisle airport over the Lancaster and Wyre constituency(a) from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 1997, (b) in 1998 and (c) in 1999. [9654]

  Ms Jackson
  British Nuclear Fuels informs me that none will.

  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on safety in respect of the proposed increase in the number of mixed oxide fuel flights from Carlisle airport in 1998. [9656]

  Ms Jackson
  I am informed by British Nuclear Fuels that no increases are planned.

  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many flights carrying mixed oxide fuel from Carlisle airport passed over the Lancaster and Wyre constituency(a) in 1996 and (b) from 1 January to 30 June 1997. [9655]

  Ms Jackson
  British Nuclear Fuels informs me that there was none.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since 1985 the incidents where(a) chemicals and (b) radioactive material have been lost overboard (i) in UK waters and (ii) elsewhere from UK-registered

  421
  ships, giving for each instance the location, the chemicals or materials involved and the amounts subsequently recovered. [9207]

  Ms Jackson
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the table gives a summary of major incidents since 1985 involving the loss of packages

  Name of ship

  Date

  Nature or incident

  Area affected

  Filia Sea

  March 1987

  Packages lost from general cargo ship and washed ashore

  East Anglia

  Ardlough

  September 1988

  Containers lost from sunken general cargo ship and washed ashore

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  Wessertal

  October 1990

  Tank containers lost from deck of ro-ro ferry

  Southern North sea

  Perintis

  March 1989

  Package containing pesticide lost from sunken general cargo ship

  English channel

  Fathulkhair

  February 1990

  Canister of potassium cyanide lost from deck of freighter and washed ashore

  Kent and Sussex

  Nordic Pride

  May 1991

  Deck cargo lost from ro-ro ferry and washed ashore, resulting in the evacuation of the local population

  Norfolk

  Tokio Express

  February 1997

  Containers lost from container ship and washed ashore.

  Cornwall

  Channel Tunnel (Safety)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the classes of material banned from passage through the channel tunnel for reasons of public safety. [9206]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, on the advice of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, has approved a carriage list of dangerous goods allowed through the channel tunnel. Three classes of dangerous goods are excluded from the list: class 4.2—substances liable to spontaneous combustion; class 4.3—substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases; class 5.2—organic peroxides.

  Minister for Roads
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on which occasions the Minister for Roads has met(a) Mr. Des Wilson of BAA and (b) other representatives of BAA, since her appointment. [9208]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  None.

  Thames Gateway
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make an announcement on the Government's overall transport priorities for the Thames gateway area. [9946]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Our manifesto recognised the need for modern transport links to enhance accessibility and support regeneration within the Thames gateway. We are reviewing options and priorities and hope to report our conclusion later in the year.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the proposed high-tech bus link between Greenwich and Thamesmead. [9947]

  Ms Jackson
  None. I understand that London Transport has made a preliminary study of the Thamesmead-Greenwich area following a review of the 422
  containing dangerous or harmful goods from ships operating in UK waters. This information has been provided by the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea.

  potential for new forms of public transport in outer London. London Transport is working with local authorities to develop proposals.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will provide financial support for the proposed Thames gateway metro; [9911]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the proposed new tunnelled rail crossing linking the North London line in the royal docks with the North Kent line at Woolwich Arsenal; and if he will make a statement; [9910]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the regeneration potential of the proposed Thames gateway metro. [9945]

  Ms Jackson
  A study of the Woolwich rail tunnel, the potential for Thames gateway metro services and the regeneration benefits these may offer is being undertaken for my Department as part of a study of potential new east Thames river crossings. I expect this to be completed by the autumn. Consideration of these proposals will be made in the light of the study's findings and our fundamental review of transport policy. Regeneration benefits of the Thames gateway metro will be examined using the appraisal framework my Department is developing.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what environmental assessment he has made of the proposed east London river crossing. [9948]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Revocation orders for the east London river crossing were published on 26 March. At the same time, an alignment was safeguarded for a multi-modal crossing between Beckton and Thamesmead, which is being promoted by London Docklands development corporation and Thamesmead Town Ltd. They have undertaken an initial appraisal of the new crossing's environmental impacts; further assessment is planned using an appraisal framework that is being developed by my Department.

  Coach Safety
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he
  423
  is taking to ensure that children are not carried in the United Kingdom on coaches that do not have seat belts fitted. [9793]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Children who are taken on organised trips in newer coaches in Britain already have to be provided with a seat belt. From 10 February next year, seat belts will also have to be provided for children in older coaches first used before 1 October 1988. Similar arrangements will apply in Northern Ireland from 1 September this year. Enforcement of these regulations is a matter for the police.

  A564 Derby (Footbridge)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated cost to date of providing a footbridge, new vehicular access and associated works across and adjacent to the A564 Derby southern bypass to serve Tynefield court and mews, Etwell; and what is the budget for these works. [9147]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The estimated cost is £385,000—the same as the budget.

  Trains (Disabled Persons)
  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which railway operating companies do not permit disabled people's trikes to be carried on their trains; and when each introduced that prohibition. [9466]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This information is not held by the Department. We understand, however, that a ban on the carriage of scooters and larger powered wheelchairs is applied by the majority of train operating companies. A similar ban was operated pre-privatisation by British Rail.

  The Department's statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, has examined the ban on a number of occasions. It shares the industry's concerns about the stability and manoeuvrability of scooters and has supported the train operating companies' ban. The committee recognises that larger powered vehicles that are designed to give local outdoor mobility are simply too large to be accommodated on public transport.

  The regulations we will be making under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will ensure that wheelchairs constructed to international standard dimensions can be accommodated on new trains. In the meantime, we have been holding discussions with wheelchair manufacturers with the aim of establishing a marking protocol which would indicate to disabled people the suitability of manual and powered wheelchairs for use on public transport to help them make informed choices.

  Port of London Authority
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what piloting experience on the River Thames the Chief Harbour Master of the Port of London authority possesses. [9293]
  424
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Chief Harbour Master of the Port of London authority is appointed by the board and his qualifications and experience are a matter for them. The Port of London Act 1968 requires that one member of the board appointed by the Secretary of State"shall be a person with wide experience of navigation (including the command of sea-going ships, pilotage and navigational aids)".
  This position is currently filled by a former deputy master and chairman of Trinity House.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the safety implications of reductions in the number of pilots in service in the Port of London authority. [9292]

  Ms Jackson
  I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond), on 1 July,Official Report, column 102.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government plan to exercise the voting rights pertaining to their residual shareholding at the forthcoming annual general meeting of Railtrack. [8892]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 15 July 1997]: No. The Government hold only 0.8 per cent. of Railtrack's shares. Our most effective way of influencing the company is through improved regulation of the rail industry, on which we are currently reviewing the options.

  Urban Trees
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the regions what representations he has had concerning the provision of water access zones for urban trees; and if he will make a statement. [8490]

  Angela Eagle
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment has received a letter from the Permaculture Association (Britain), which is concerned about the impact on urban trees of action to reduce the amount of drinking water lost through leakage.

  Events over the past few summers have shown that water conservation is an issue that must be taken seriously. Against this background, average losses of nearly 30 per cent. through leakage from the mains system are intolerable. As part of the Government's 10-point plan for a better water industry, tough mandatory targets are to be put in place to secure a substantial reduction in leakage over the next five years.

  Existing leakages may artificially increase the availability of water to trees in the immediate vicinity. However, not all trees in towns will be situated near leaking pipes and so be serviced in this way. In addition, as the naturally dry condition of recent years have demonstrated, most trees are able to adapt to changing conditions above and below ground and to adjust their water demand accordingly. Action taken to reduce leakage is, therefore, unlikely on its own to result in major losses of trees from our towns.

  Construction Industry
  Mrs. Ann Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the members of staff seconded to the construction sponsorship directorate from the construction industry, indicating their employers; and if he will place in the Library a copy of their business plans for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [8459]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There are two inward secondments from the construction industry to the construction sponsorship directorate.

  Dr. Mark Mawhinney of Tarmac International Ltd. has been seconded to fill an administrative grade 7 post in the construction export promotion and materials sponsorshipCEPMS—division and heads a team of four people responsible for the promotion of export opportunities in Europe, the former Soviet Union and the Americas. The secondment began in June 1996 and will end in October this year. Activities include commissioning market information, organising seminars, arranging programmes for inward visitors, planning and briefing of ministerially led trade missions overseas and managing export-related research projects. Dr. Mawhinney's team also provides the secretariat for the export action group for building materials, which is an advisory non-departmental public body set up to boost export activity in the building materials sector.

  Work Plan:

  1. To plan and implement the branch's trade mission programme.

  Action

  Supervise the briefing for the 1997 trade missions and ensure that the accompanying companies receive maximum measurable benefit.

  2. To build up a knowledge of the work of other Government Departments, specifically those with construction interests and to encourage further co-operation across Departments.

  Action

  Participate in cross-Department briefings on export issues and, in addition to routine work, aim to work jointly with other Departments on a new project by September 1997.

  3. To assist exporters with awareness and generation of proposals for partners in technology—PIT—and sector challenge schemes and to manage robustly the assessment and implementation of nominated projects.

  Action

  Publicise the results of completed projects, actively manage projects, actively seek proposals for the programmes, co-ordinate assessment of proposals to ensure consistent, quality approval process, contribute to generation of proposals in 1997 PIT and sector challenge schemes.

  4. To work on presentation or press opportunities allowing greater publicity for the export support activities of CEPMS division.

  Action

  To make presentations on 10 occasions at export promotion events by October 1997. To develop better links with the press and to produce one article which is published in the trade press by October 1997. To continue to use "Construction Monitor" to publicise activities and outputs.

  5. To develop new ideas which will reflect changes in construction exports and allow greater effectiveness in export promotion and which will enhance the skills base of CEPMS staff.
  426
  Action

  Promote training of staff to develop their knowledge of the industry and of the requirements for career development, conduct open door policy to encourage communication on all issues, involve staff in the management of the consultancies.

  6. To understand and make full use of the Internet to tap information on markets and business opportunities.

  Action

  To produce a plan for a database by June 1997 and implement.

  Dr. Les Parrott is seconded from the British Cement Association to work with the Department on a two days per week basis. His secondment is for one year and is due to end in August 1997. Dr. Parrott's remit is to produce a cross-sectoral analysis of the environmental issues relevant to the use of materials in all aspects of the construction process and to assist the directorate in the application of this information to the development of the construction research programme.

  Work Plan:

  1. To identify and prioritise cross-sectoral—concrete, steel, timber, masonry and insulation, for example—environmental issues relevant to construction materials and to analyse these with respect to the Department's policy concerns: climate change, resource depletion, waste, air quality, water and soil pollution.

  2. To identify key current UK and international research initiatives relevant to environmental impacts of construction materials; to liaise with the environment business plan manager in the construction innovation and research management division to identify future departmental research needs.

  3. To liaise with industry to identify opportunities for specific material sectors to take initiatives to minimise adverse environmental effects.

  Environmental Task Force
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to what extent the costs for non-governmental organisations taking part in the environmental task force will be reimbursed. [8643]

  Angela Eagle
  Non-governmental organisations that provide placements for the environmental task force will receive appropriate funding to manage, supervise and provide project materials for their placements.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what qualifications will be awarded to those taking part in the environmental task force. [8644]

  Angela Eagle
  We expect a wide range of educational and vocational qualifications to be available to placements on the environmental task force, reflecting the nature of the projects being undertaken.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the criteria for projects undertaken by the environmental task force. [8675]

  Angela Eagle
  Suitable projects will be identified based on the quality of work offered, the opportunities for training and qualifications and environmental benefits.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Gas Levy)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the impact the abolition of the gas levy will have on carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [8651]

  Angela Eagle
  The abolition of the gas levy will have a minimal effect on carbon dioxide emissions. My Department has estimated that it will result in an annual increase in emissions of about 0.04 million tonnes of carbon in 2000, equivalent to 0.02 per cent. of emissions. We estimate a negligible effect by 2010 because the real value of the gas levy and the quantity of gas covered by it both decline over time.

  Stationery
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department spent on stationery provision in respect of paper items in each of the last five years. [8866]

  Angela Eagle
  The expenditure on stationery items over the last five years was as follows:

  1992–93: £1.5 million

  1993–94: £1.7 million

  1994–95: £1.7 million

  1995–96: £1.9 million

  1996–97: £1.6 million

  It is not possible to separate paper from non-paper stationery items in these figures, which do not include expenditure by the Government offices of the regions.

  Solar Energy
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will include the installations of simple solar energy projects in the activities of the environmental task force under the welfare-to-work initiative. [8770]

  Angela Eagle
  We want a wide range of high-quality projects to be carried out by the environmental task force, including projects that contribute to energy conservation.

  Environmental Impact Assessments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which Government policies have been subjected to an environmental impact assessment since 1 May. [8898]

  Angela Eagle
  Environmental impact assessment normally applies to projects rather than policies. None the less, we are committed to the integration of environmental concerns into all our policy making and are currently investigating the best means of achieving this.

  Green Ministers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To aks the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times green Ministers have met since 1 May. [8899]
  428
  Angela Eagle
  Green Ministers are currently being appointed and have not therefore met. They will play a key role in helping fulfil our manifesto commitment to put concern for the environment at the heart of government.

  Aggregates
  Mrs. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent of aggregate prospecting in the middle deep and outer Thames estuary and what consultation his Department has had with which companies on the commercial extraction of such aggregates. [8831]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 16 July 1997]: The Secretary of State has no involvement with offshore aggregate prospecting and, consequently, he has no information about its extent within the middle deep and outer Thames estuary.

  Prospecting for marine sand and gravel is licensed by the Crown Estate as a custodian of virtually all the territorial sea bed out to 12 nautical miles. Before the Crown Estate issues a prospecting licence, it seeks comments from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the appropriate countryside agencies and the royal commission on historical monuments of England. Prospecting has very little impact on the sea bed because the survey techniques are mainly non-intrusive and surveys are governed by a voluntary code of practice between the industry and MAFF. Bulk sampling—maximum 500 tonnes—requires the prior agreement of MAFF.

  Commercial extraction of marine aggregates requires a dredging licence granted by the Crown Estate which will not grant a licence until the Secretary of State issues a favourable "Government view" on the application for a licence. The "Government view procedure", co-ordinated by this Department, provides for a comprehensive environmental assessment to be made of the dredging proposals, including their possible effect on coastal defences, nature conservation and fishing interests. Unless the Secretary of State is fully satisfied that all these interests will be safeguarded, a favourable "Government view" will not be issued.

  The Secretary of State consults the British Marine Aggregates Producers Association on matters of dredging policy.

  Housing
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if new homes built by local authorities are compulsorily subject to secure tenancies; and if he will make a statement. [9095]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Section 79 of the Housing Act 1985 states that a tenancy is a secure tenancy at any time when the landlord and tenant conditions are satisfied. The landlord condition is that the interest of the landlord belongs to one of a number of bodies listed, such as a local authority, and the tenant condition is that the tenant is an individual and occupies the dwelling house as his only or principal home.
  429
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a local authority that has transferred its housing stock to a housing company is permitted to provide funds to the company in subsequent years; and if he will make a statement. [9094]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Yes. A local authority may give grants for housing to any registered social landlord.

  Climatic Conditions
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to adopt a sea level rise limit objective as part of his climate policy. [8923]

  Angela Eagle
  We have no plans currently to adopt a sea level rise limit objective. However, in developing our policy on climate change, we keep under continual review the implications of its impacts, including sea level rise.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what percentage of employees in his private office are(a) of Asian origin and (b) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [8958]

  Angela Eagle
  In the whole of the private office for all Ministers, the total number of employees, including support grades and typists, who have declared their ethnic origin through voluntary and confidential surveys as Asian are eight, or 7.4 per cent., and as Afro-Caribbean seven, or 6.5 per cent. The combined percentage is 14 per cent.

  Unmodernised Private Properties
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated number of privately owned properties in the Greater London area that are in need of modernisation; and if he will make a statement. [9087]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There is no agreed definition of properties "in need of modernisation". However, the 1991 English house condition survey—EHCS—identified dwellings in which the kitchen and bathroom fittings were at least 25 years old. This provides an indication of the rate of modernisation and the figures for privately owned properties in Greater London are shown in the table. More recent information, collected in the 1996 EHCS, will be available later this year.

  Privately owned properties in Greater London: 1991

  Number

  Percentage of stock

  Kitchen fittings more than 25 years old

  325,000

  14.1

  Bathroom fittings more than 25 years old

  486,000

  21.1

  Kitchen and bathroom fittings more than 25 years old

  224,000

  9.7

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the recent survey of local authorities relating to the financial impact and results of CCT. [9074]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Research recently published by the Department looked at both the financial and service quality impact of CCT on blue collar services covered by the Local Government Act 1988. It showed average annual savings on contract prices of 9 per cent. for the second round of tendering. This finding is, however, dependent on the way in which the social costs and benefits of CCT are treated. Other research, commissioned outside the Department, suggests a wide variation in estimates of savings when these factors are taken into account.

  The departmental study also indicates that these savings have been accompanied by only relatively minor improvements in service standards; more attention needs to be given to the development of local performance indicators. A majority of the authorities surveyed also thought that user involvement in the specifying and monitoring of services could be improved. These issues will be addressed by our best value proposals, currently being developed with the support of local government and the private sector.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about Government policy on large-scale housing developments in the green belt. [8985]

  Mr. Prescott
  The Government's policy on development in the green belt is set out in planning policy guidance—PPG—2. There is a presumption against inappropriate development in the green belt unless very special circumstances exist which outweigh the harm caused by the development.

  Proposals in draft plans that would result in releasing land from the green belt must be fully justified. The Government are committed to protecting the green belt and encourage the recycling of land urban areas wherever possible to meet development needs.

  Hostel Conversions
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many enforcement orders have been issued by local authorities against the unlicensed conversion of hotels, bed-and-breakfast establishments and guest houses to hostels since 1994. [9491]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not available. Although local authorities provide my Department with quarterly statistics showing the number of enforcement notices they have issued, the figures do not differentiate between different kinds of breaches of development control.

  Advance Corporation Tax Credits
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to meet representatives of the Local Government Association to discuss the effect of the abolition of the advance corporation tax credit on local authorities. [9400]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Secretary of State, with ministerial colleagues, last met the Local Government Association on Wednesday 16 July. The subjects discussed included the likely impact of the abolition of the advance corporation tax on local authority pension funds.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority the effect on their pension fund contributions of the withdrawal of ACT credits in the Budget. [9908]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The next valuation of local authority pension funds in England and Wales is due in March 1998. Only after that exercise has been completed will a true picture emerge of the effect of the Budget proposal on ACT credits and what effect this will have on future employer contributions to the separate funds.

  Dependent Relatives (Accommodation)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to issue guidance to local authorities in respect of families who seek planning permission to accommodate dependent relatives; and if he will make a statement. [8975]

  Mr. Raynsford
  holding answer 18 July 1997]: This issue was raised for discussion in last year's Green Paper on household growth. The Government are still considering the responses to the consultation, on which we will make a statement in due course. I have no plans currently to issue further advice.

  Rights to erect annex buildings in the gardens of dwelling houses similar to those that currently apply under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 have existed for many years. To benefit from permitted development rights, however, such new buildings in the gardens of dwelling houses must be "incidental to the enjoyment" of the house. The creation of a separate main residential unit would constitute development requiring planning permission.

  However, extensions to create annexes for dependent relatives may be appropriate in certain circumstances, subject to conditions. This is to prevent the creation of independent living accommodation which could subsequently be let or sold off separately from the main house.

  The same is true for separate buildings—often conversions of outbuildings—intended for use for dependent relatives. In these cases, it is even more likely that a separate unit of accommodation will be created.

  The Government are aware of the need to give householders as many rights to develop their properties as possible, but consider that these freedoms should not be detrimental to the interests of neighbours or the quality of the area in general, and therefore have to draw a line beyond which a planning application is required.

  Planning Decisions
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what mechanisms are in place to ensure objectivity in planning decisions; what plans he has to change planning regulations; and if he will make a statement. [9133]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: The law requires that planning decisions are made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The principal mechanisms to secure objectivity are up-to-date development plans and a prompt, efficient appeals systems. The Department is carrying out a comprehensive review of the planning system.

  Planning Policy Guidance
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to revise PPG13; and if he will make a statement. [9474]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: We have no immediate plans to revise PPG13. However, better integration of transport and land use planning will be an important part of the wide-ranging review of policy leading to a White Paper on an integrated transport strategy to be published next spring.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a planning permission for residential and nursing home can, without a change of use, apply to a residential care home for people with challenging behaviour. [9592]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: Planning permission is not required for changes of use within each class of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. Use class C2 of the order covers use for the provision of residential accommodation and care to people in need of care, use as a hospital or nursing home, and use as a residential school, college or training centre. Use class C3 can cover use as a dwelling house where care is provided for not more than six residents living together as a single household.

  Area Cost Adjustment
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of the area cost adjustment. [9325]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: The work of the review of the area cost adjustment during 1996 provided an examination of the issues, although not one the local authority associations wanted implementation for 1997–98 standard spending assessments. The Department has commissioned research to examine some of the concerns of local government about the review's proposals. It is due to report this week. We shall discuss with local government both the research findings and the way forward on the area cost adjustment.

  Unauthorised Campers
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions if he will provide advice to local authorities on time scales for consultation with health and welfare authorities before proceeding to evict unauthorised campers. [9473]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: My Department has commissioned researchers from the university of Birmingham to examine the scope for disseminating good practice for local authorities to deal with unauthorised camping. The research is well under way and includes discussions with local authorities on how they liaise with the relevant statutory agencies when deciding whether to evict unauthorised campers. We want to encourage all relevant agencies to work together and to be clear about each other's responsibilities.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers exist for local authorities to evict unauthorised campers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 when health and welfare authorities do not respond to consultations on individual cases. [9330]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: Local authorities intending to use their powers in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to direct unauthorised campers to leave land should make reasonable attempts to ascertain the campers' health and welfare needs before deciding whether eviction is justified. They need to inquire first from the campers themselves if they are receiving assistance from health and welfare services. Even if they are not, this does not mean that they do not need assistance. If it appears that assistance is being received, or is needed, local authorities should liaise with the relevant statutory agencies; the local authority may well at this stage have sufficient information to assess whether it would be justified in evicting.

  It is important that local authorities maintain close relationships with the statutory agencies and that, if those agencies have relevant information, this is made known.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets his Department sets for responding to letters from hon. Members. [9854]

  Angela Eagle
  My Department's target for responding to letters from hon. Members is 15 working days.

  Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which animals he proposes to add to the list of those covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. [9538]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department has no plans to add any animals to the list covered by the Act.

  Local Authority Pension Funds
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the solvency and funding requirements for local authority pension funds. [9648]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1995, which control this statutory pension scheme in England and Wales, already require actuaries, as part of each triennial valuation, to set an employer contribution rate to ensure fund solvency, having regard to existing and prospective liabilities and the desirability to maintain as constant a rate as possible. There are no plans to change the current provisions.

  Navigation Safety
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions have taken place with Clydeport and other interested parties about the safe navigation of vessels and off-shore installations through the River Clyde and the firth of Clyde; and if he will make a statement. [9086]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the chief executive 0of the Marine Safety Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 July 1997:
  The Deputy Prime Minister has asked me to reply to your Question as to what recent discussions have taken place with Clydeport and other interested parties concerning safe navigation of vessels and off-shore installations on the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde. This question was referred from the Secretary of state for Scotland to the Deputy Prime Minister as the matter falls within the responsibilities of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
  The question of safe navigation on the Clyde was discussed at the meeting of the Strathclyde Sub-Committee of the West of Scotland District Marine Safety Committee at its meeting on 28 February this year. The Sub-Committee meeting was chaired by the Marine Safety Agency's Regional Chief Surveyor for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Sub-Committee includes representatives of a wide range of interested bodies, including Clydeport Ltd., the Competent Harbour Authority (CHA) for the Clyde, and the Scottish Guild of Pilots.
  At the meeting there was a very full discussion of the case, put by the representative of the Scottish Guild of Pilots, for compulsory pilotage of all tankers on the Clyde. There was some but not unanimous support for the views put forward on pilotage. However, it was made clear at the meeting that, under the Pilotage Act 1987, the statutory responsibility for this matter lies with Clydeport Ltd in its role as Competent Harbour Authority. The Sub-Committee is a consultative body only, providing a forum for discussion of marine safety issues amongst interested parties. It has no executive or statutory powers itself.
  We understand that, since the meeting in February, there have been further exchanges between the management of Clydeport Ltd and the Pilots and that an agreed view on the matter has been reached.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many civil servants there are on each pay band in his Department. [8960]
  435
  Angela Eagle
  The following information covers non-industrial staff in my Department and its agencies at 1 April 1997. The Health and Safety Executive has a pay band structure, but still with some non-banded grades. The senior civil service has nine pay bands, which are

  Summary of DETR staff numbers at 1 April 1997

  Grade equivalent

  DETR central

  DETR staff in Government offices

  Agencies

  Total

  Pay band

  HSE

  Senior civil service

  186

  25

  48

  259

  Senior CS including Band 0

  47

  Grade 6

  79

  11

  256

  346

  Band 1

  96

  Grade 7

  524

  100

  342

  966

  Band 2

  481

  SEO

  327

  108

  570

  1,005

  Band 3

  1,026

  HEO

  706

  157

  1,134

  1,997

  Band 4

  462

  EO

  796

  223

  2,758

  3,777

  Band 5

  409

  AO

  1,053

  229

  3,179

  4,461

  Band 6 higher

  809

  AA

  331

  132

  2,976

  3,439

  Band 6 lower

  671

  Non-banded grades

  217

  Total

  4,002

  985

  11,263

  16,250

  4,218

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  North Yorkshire and Humberside Arts Board
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet the chair and director of the North Yorkshire and Humberside regional arts board to discuss the development of the arts in their region. [7508]

  Mr. Fisher
  I met the chair and chief executive of North Yorkshire and Humberside regional arts board during my visit to Leeds on 17 July. I was able to see for myself the high quality of artistic activity in the region and was impressed by the commitment of North Yorkshire and Humberside arts board to the arts in the area. I wish them great success when they host the year of photography and the electronic image next year. We look forward to an innovative programme of events.

  Sports Facilities
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to assist sports other than Association Football to improve grounds and stadiums. [7509]

  Mr. Banks
  I am keen to see higher standards of crowd safety at all sports. The English Sports Council has announced that it will give greater priority to the provision of lottery funding for spectator facilities for the major spectator sports. I welcome that decision.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what national strategy guidance is used to ensure that lottery money is targeted strategically at sports facilities; and if he will make a statement. [7995]

  Mr. Banks
  The lottery sports fund has provided an excellent opportunity to make great improvements to the nation's sporting facilities. To date, capital funding of more than £570 million has been awarded to some 2,200 projects throughout England.

  The English Sports Council—the statutory distributor of lottery funds for good causes in sport in England—undertakes this responsibility within the framework set
  436
  combined as a single total for this reply, and the Department and its agencies are moving towards the introduction of pay bands for remaining grades.

  Except where stated, therefore, numbers are shown against standard grade equivalents for the civil service.

  out in directions issued to it by the Secretary of State. A copy of the directions is available in the Library of the House.

  In addition, the ESC has developed additional strategies to help schools and areas of social deprivation, both urban and rural. The schools community sports initiative and the priority areas initiative have been introduced which allow up to 90 per cent. funding for new projects.

  More needs to be done to help those regions that have been less successful in securing awards and we are looking into how the distribution of awards can be spread more evenly.

  National Lottery
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to reform the national lottery. [7511]

  Mr. Smith
  I will make a statement later this afternoon on my proposals for reforming the lottery. They will widen access to the benefits of the lottery, particularly in the areas of health, education and the environment.

  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to review the terms of the national lottery operator's licence. [7520]

  Mr. Smith
  My Department does not have the power to change the terms of operation for the current licence holder. I will make a statement later this afternoon on my proposals for reforming the lottery including improvements to the way it is operated.

  Tourism Grants
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to reintroduce section 4 grants in England. [7512]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The Government have no plans to reintroduce section 4 grants in England.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to promote the British film industry. [7513]
  437
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to stimulate the British film industry. [7522]

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to assist the United Kingdom film industry. [7524]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  The Government's commitment to film was demonstrated by the new tax relief announced in the Budget. The film policy review group, set up by my Department, aims to double the audience of the British films and to help the film industry to achieve its full creative and economic potential.

  Millennium Projects
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received in respect of the millennium dome. [7514]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Since my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 19 June that the new millennium experience would go ahead, I have received numerous representations from Members of the House and their constituents, companies and the public. I have been encouraged by the number of people who have been enthused by our plans for celebrating the year 2,000 and have forwarded the many excellent ideas proposed to the operating company, the New Millennium Experience Company.

  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for supporting millennium events in the regions. [7517]

  Mr. Smith
  The Millennium Commission and the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd., are working together on proposals for a regional programme of events in the years up to and during the year 2000. In addition, we would encourage communities and local authorities throughout the country to organise celebrations, and my Department is promoting co-ordination between organisers of major regional events.

  Ms Jenny Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been allocated by the Millennium Commission to projects to mark the millennium. [7518]

  Mr. Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

  BBC News
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he next intends to meet the chairman of the BBC governors to discuss the 24-hour news channel. [7515]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have no current plans to meet the BBC chairman to discuss the 24-hour news channel. However, as my hon. Friend will know, approval has already been given in principle, under the provisions of the charter and agreement, to the BBC's initial proposals for public service digital television, including 24-hour news.

  Sand Yachting
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his Department's support for sand yachting. [7516]

  Mr. Banks
  The Government give support for individual sports mainly through the English and UK Sports Councils. The British Federation of Sand and Land Yacht Clubs, the sport's governing body, has been awarded a grant of £19,000 by the UK and English Sports Councils. This runs to September 1997. From September, the funding and development of the sport will rest with the UK Sports Council. Sand yachting has so far been awarded £47,660 from the lottery sports fund.

  Architectural Heritage
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what further initiatives he intends to take to conserve and enhance the nation's architectural heritage. [7519]

  Mr. Banks
  We are committed to giving a high priority to protecting our heritage. Government funding to achieve this is channelled in the main through English Heritage. Increasingly, the lottery is also contributing substantial aid. English Heritage and the heritage lottery fund have had continuing discussions in recent months about possible funding initiatives in which they can collaborate to the greater benefit of historic buildings.

  Ballroom Dancing
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received in respect of ballroom dancing being given Olympic recognition. [7521]

  Mr. Banks
  I am not aware that we have received any representations about recognising ballroom dancing as an Olympic sport. It is a good idea; it already has provisional recognition, but a final decision is a matter for the International Olympic Committee.

  Football
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister for Sport of 27 June,Official Report, column 1127, what progress has been made on the creation of a task force for football; and what its remit will be. [7525]

  Mr. Banks
  I am currently looking into how the task force can be put into effect, its composition and its remit. I shall be making an announcement shortly.

  Arts Access
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to enable greater access to the arts. [7510]

  Mr. Fisher
  Access is a central theme of my Department's policies for the arts. The public has a right to the widest possible access in return for the public funding which the arts receive. The proposals we have made to increase access to the arts include plans to pilot open theatre nights and an artscard scheme for young
  439
  people as well as plans to review the case for admission charges to core collections in our national museums and galleries.

  House of Commons (Radio Broadcasts)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet the chairman and Director General of the BBC to discuss the future radio broadcasting of the House; and if he will make a statement. [9878]

  Mr. Fisher
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no such plans. Under the terms of its agreement with the Secretary of State, the BBC is required to transmit an impartial day-by-day account of the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament, but it is for the BBC to determine the best way in which to meet this obligation. The BBC is carrying out an extensive consultation exercise about the future direction of Radio 4 and I am sure that it will take into account in arriving at its decisions the strong feelings expressed by Madam Speaker and by hon. Members on both sides of the House about the broadcasting of our proceedings.

  Works of Art (Export Licences)
  Sir Patrick Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art during the half-year ended 30 June, specifying in each case the valuation and whether an item was exported or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the acquiring institutions; and if he will list any items for which licences have been withheld but the final disposal of which is not yet decided, specifying in each case(a) the valuation and (b) the relevant time limit. [8977]

  Mr. Fisher
  The information is as follows:

  Description of item

  Valuation £

  Outcome

  A painting Madonna and Child with Saints with a Distant Landscape by Annibale Carracci (1560–1609)

  197,325

  No offer made, so export licence was issued

  A mother-of-pearl casket by Pierre Mangot, c. 1532

  3,000,000

  No offer made, so export licence was issued

  An altar-piece by Giuliano da Rimini, c. 1307–23

  560,512.50

  No offer made, so export licence was issued

  A pair of late eighteenth-or early nineteenth-century Anglo—Indian ivory armchairs

  138,275

  Owner declined to accept matching offer, so export licence was refused

  A pair of French silver wine-coolers, c. 1766–67

  297,605.62

  Owner declined to accept matching offer, so export licence was refused

  A painting Descent into Limbo by Lelio Orsi (c. 1511–87)

  595,000

  Originally deferred, but subsequently discovered to have been imported within last 50 years, so export licence was issued

  440

  Description of item

  Valuation £

  Outcome

  A Venetian bronze andiron attributed to Niccolò Roccatagliata, c. 1600

  77,752.50

  Acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland

  A gold box by G. M. Moser, c. 1760

  314,171.15

  Acquired by the Royal Museum of Scotland

  A Neolithic stone ball

  8,000

  Acquired by Aberdeend Museum

  A painting Cup of Water and a Rose by Francisco de Zurbarán, c. 1627–30

  305,997.10

  Acquired by the National Gallery

  A painting Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Dorothea Tanning, 1943

  156,250

  Deferred until after 8 August 1997

  A painting After Rain by Alexander Cozens (c. 1717–86)

  437,587.50

  Deferred until after 8 August 1997

  A sword of honour presented to the Earl of Northesk (1758–1831)

  74,400

  Deferred until after 8 August 1997

  Medals presented to the Earl of Northesk (1758–1831)

  107,925

  Deferred until after 8 August1997

  A seventeenth-century gold signet ring

  21,172.50

  Deferred until after 11 September 1997

  A painting Landscape with a Calm by Nicolas Poussin, 1651

  16,000,000

  Deferred until after 18 October 1997

  A ewer and basin from St. Martin in the Fields, c. 1720

  850,000

  Deferred until after 13 November 1997

TREASURY

  Strip Searches
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place at ports of entry to inform people of their rights of appeal before being subjected to a strip search by Customs and Excise officers. [8523]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Before customs carries out a strip search travellers must be informed of their right of appeal orally by the officer and the traveller's attention is drawn to customs notice No. 11—available in the House of Commons Library—which is displayed in all search rooms. This notice advises travellers that before a strip search is undertaken they have a right of appeal to:—a senior officer of Customs and Excise, or
  —a justice of the peace

  who will decide whether or not the search is justified.

  MIRAS
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the administrative costs of retaining tax relief on mortgage interest. [7987]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Figures for the total expenditure on this task could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  VAT (Energy-efficient Materials)
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will incorporate within this review of the
  441
  effects of a reduced rate of VAT for energy efficiency materials all correspondence received by his Department over the past three years, pertaining to this matter. [9194]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor announced in the Budget an extension of the review on the revenue effect of a reduced rate of VAT on energy-saving materials. We want to be sure that we identify effective and efficient ways of helping those on low incomes keep warm. Customs and Excise is leading the review and is taking full account of representations previously received.

  Representations (Sir David Simon)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will(a) list and (b) publish those representations his Department received from Sir David Simon prior to his joining the Government; [7425]

  (2) if he will (a) list and (b) publish those representations his Department received from BP prior to the Budget statement. [7428]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The content and origination of representations from members of the public that the Treasury receive are treated as confidential. Their release is a matter for the individual concerned.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of employees in his private office are(a) of Asian origin and (b) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [8934]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Treasury collects data on the ethnic origin of its staff on a confidential, self-declaration basis. When it was collected, an assurance was given that the information would be used in aggregate form only and never in a way that might enable individuals to be identified. The analysis sought cannot be given because the total number of staff in the private office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer is sufficiently small to enable the individuals to be identified.

  Employment Advertisements
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often since 1992 his Department has been responsible for employment advertisements that contained age restrictions upon those who could apply. [9500]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Age is not a criteria used in recruitment advertisements except for those who join the Treasury through the European fast stream, where there is an age limit of 31. The European fast stream offers EU-related work in the British civil service which, together with specially structured training, is designed to help young British graduates in the competitions for entry into the EU institutions. The age limit of 31 for such entrants reflects a period of training in advance of an age limit of 35 imposed by the European Commission on recruitment to the European institutions. The reason for the age limit is explained in the recruitment literature.

  Construction Industry
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Inland Revenue has made of the degree of compliance of companies in the construction industry 442
  with changes in the application of the rules concerning the employed or self-employed status of workers in that industry. [9126]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Following requests from the construction industry for help in correctly determining the employment status of its workers, the Inland Revenue and Contributions Agency published new guidance in 1996. To provide uniformity of approach across the industry, construction companies were required to review the employment status of their workers and, by 5 April 1997, make necessary changes and start accounting for Pay-as-you-earn and national insurance contributions where appropriate.

  It is too soon to estimate with confidence the number of workers whose employment status has been changed, but it is clear that a substantial number of companies have made changes and started to account for PAYE and NICs where appropriate.

  Written Parliamentary Questions
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise the advisory cost limit of £450 for answering written parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement. [10265]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The advisory cost limit was last increased in 1993—Official Report, 18 February 1993, column 307—and is to be further increased to £500 from today.

  The purpose and application of the advisory cost limit remain unchanged. It is intended to act as a threshold for disproportionate cost parliamentary questions. Any written PQ where the marginal cost of preparing the answer is considered likely to exceed the threshold may be refused in whole or in part on the ground of disproportionate cost. Alternatively, the Minister may decide that the PQ is to be answered irrespective of cost. There is no advisory limit for oral PQs.

  The advisory limit continues to be based on eight times the average marginal cost for written PQs, which is now £62, rounded to the nearest £50 for convenience of application.

  Ivory
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all seizures of ivory made by Her Majesty's Customs between 1 January 1996 and 30 June 1997, giving date, quantity, type, whether whole or pieces of raw tusk, semi-worked or worked ivory, country of origin and intended country of destination for each seizure. [8166]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 July 1997]: The records maintained by HM Customs and Excise of finalised ivory seizures do not include all the details requested, but I am able to supply the following information for the period 1 January 1996 to 31 March 1997, which are the latest figures available. With one exception, an export to Japan, the seizures were made at the time of importation into the United Kingdom, the presumed country of destination.

  The description "carving" embraces a miscellany of worked ivory wares such as bracelets, statuettes, animal figurines and other ornaments.
  443

  Description

  Date of seizures

  Country of export (where recorded)

  3 carved tusks

  10 January 1996

  —

  12 carvings

  11 January 1996

  South Africa

  1 carving

  3 February 1996

  —

  2 necklaces, 1 bracelet

  6 February 1996

  South Africa

  1 carving

  6 February 1996

  —

  1 necklace, 1 pair of earnings

  7 February 1996

  —

  3 carvings

  8 February 1996

  South Africa

  1 carving

  8 February 1996

  Zimbabwe

  5 carvings

  8 February 1996

  Uganda

  1 carving

  12 February 1996

  —

  10 carvings

  14 February 1996

  Nigeria

  1 carving

  20 February 1996

  —

  6 carvings

  15 March 1996

  Thailand

  2 carvings

  19 March 1996

  Cameroon

  8 carvings

  28 April 1996

  South Africa

  4 carvings

  2 May 1996

  Zambia

  1 carving

  4 May 1996

  U.A.E.

  2 carvings

  8 May 1996

  —

  1 carving

  11 May 1996

  —

  8 carvings

  11 May 1996

  —

  7 carvings

  20 May 1996

  Ghana

  5 carvings

  22 May 1996

  Malta

  1 carving

  26 May 1996

  Argentina

  1 carving

  28 May 1996

  South Africa

  1 carving

  30 May 1996

  Ghana

  7 carvings

  9 July 1996

  Senegal

  1 carving

  12 July 1996

  USA

  2 carved tusks

  25 July 1996

  Thailand

  56 carvings

  26 July 1996

  Cyprus

  2 tusks

  29 July 1996

  —

  3 carvings

  30 July 1996

  —

  1 pair of earrings

  6 August 1996

  Zimbabwe

  1 carved tusk

  19 August 1996

  —

  7 carvings

  22 August 1996

  —

  16 chess pieces

  28 August 1996

  Zimbabwe

  8 carvings

  5 September 1996

  Kenya

  1 tusk

  6 September 1996

  —

  1 carving

  14 September 1996

  South Africa

  12 carvings

  15 September 1996

  —

  1 tusk

  21 September 1996

  —

  17 carvings

  22 September 1996

  Zambia

  Maternities in England and Wales by multiplicity 1990–96

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Singletons

  692,885

  685,477

  675,329

  659,962

  650,826

  633,366

  634,979

  Twins

  7,934

  8,160

  8,314

  8,302

  8,451

  8,749

  8,615

  Triplets

  201

  208

  202

  234

  260

  282

  259

  Quadruplets

  10

  10

  8

  12

  8

  7

  8

  Quintuplets

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sextuplets

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Septuplets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Total

  701,030

  693,857

  683,854

  668,511

  659,545

  642,404

  643,862

  Oil Revenue
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the expected revenues to the Exchequer for each of the next 10 years arising from development of the British oil fields west of the Shetland Islands. [8048]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 17 July 1997]: Reliable forecasts are not available.
  444

  Description

  Date of seizures

  Country of export (where recorded)

  2 carvings

  25 September 1996

  Ghana

  1 carving

  28 September 1996

  —

  1 carving

  28 September 1996

  —

  5 necklaces

  28 September 1996

  —

  3 carvings

  28 September 1996

  —

  8 carvings

  28 September 1996

  —

  1 tusk

  31 October 1996

  South Africa

  1 carving

  1 November 1996

  Netherlands

  1 carving

  4 November 1996

  —

  1 carving

  5 November 1996

  UK (to Japan)

  13 carvings

  8 November 1996

  Uganda

  1 tusk

  9 November 1996

  Zimbabwe

  1 tusk

  4 December 1996

  South Africa

  12 carvings

  19 December 1996

  Ghana

  1 carving

  28 December 1996

  —

  1 carving

  16 January 1997

  Nigeria

  1 carving

  25 January 1997

  —

  3 carving

  28 January 1997

  —

  3 carving

  28 January 1997

  —

  1 carving

  28 January 1997

  —

  1 carving

  19 March 1997

  —

  Multiple Births
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sets of(a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and (e) sextuplets were born in England and Wales in each year since 1990; and how many maternities there were in each year. [8174]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 21 July 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your recent parliamentary question on multiple births.
  The requested data are shown in the table below.

  Tax Measures
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what previous occasions the Treasury has announced by press release anti-avoidance tax measures to take effect from Budget day but not to be enacted until the Finance Bill in a subsequent year. [8139]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 11 July 1997]: None, as far as I am aware.

  Budget (Leaks)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) which of his advisers had meetings with Robert Peston of the Financial Times prior to the Budget statement; and if they gave Mr. Peston any information concerning the Budget proposals on advance corporation tax; [7691]

  (2) which of his advisers travelled back in the same aeroplane from the G7 summit as Robert Peston of the Financial Times; [7693]

  (3) which of his advisers gave information to Robert Peston at the Financial Times concerning his proposals on ACT in the Budget prior to the delivery of the Budget statement to the House. [7692]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 10 July 1997]: Neither I nor my advisers gave Robert Peston any information about the Budget proposals on ACT in advance of my Budget statement.

  Foreign Income Dividends
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about his proposed abolition of foreign income dividends. [8138]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 11 July 1997]: Several companies with major international interests have made representations concerning foreign income dividends. We wish to foster the United Kingdom's role as a centre for international business. As both the Chief Secretary and the Paymaster General have made clear, we are looking sympathetically at the position of UK groups with substantial foreign income.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's plans regarding foreign income dividends. [8703]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 July 1997]: Payment of foreign income dividends will cease from 6 April 1999. However, in order to maintain the United Kingdom's role as a centre for international business, provision will be made in the next Finance Bill to ensure that international headquarters companies can continue to pay dividends out of foreign income without having to pay advance corporation tax.

  In addition, as both the Chief Secretary and the Paymaster General have made clear, we are looking sympathetically at the position of UK groups with substantial foreign income.

  Medical Insurance (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the discrepancy between the figures on page 34 of the Red Book on the number of people receiving tax relief on private medical insurance premiums and that given in Inland Revenue press release No. 5 issued on the same day. [8698]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 July 1997]: There are two different sets of measurements: the number of contracts—or taxpayers getting relief—and the number of people covered by the contract. It is common for more than one person—usually spouses—to be covered by a contract. The lower figure of one third million quoted in the Red Book represents the number of eligible contracts
  446
  and the number of people who get tax relief by making their payments net of tax. The higher figure quoted in the press release—550,000—represents the total number of individuals covered by the contracts.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will investigate the total costs of the English liquidators of BCCI to date for dealing with staff loans of former employees. [9893]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  No. This is a matter for the liquidators and the liquidation committee of creditors. I met Tony Scott of the liquidation committee on 10 June.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the issue of writs by the English liquidators of BCCI against former employees of BCCI. [9891]

  Mr. Griffiths
  No. This is a matter for the liquidators. The bringing of any such proceedings requires the sanction of the liquidation committee.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much was set aside by the BCCI liquidators for the payment of the first dividend; how much has actually been paid; what is the balance amount remaining; and what plans the liquidators have to pay a second dividend. [9895]

  Mr. Griffiths
  Details of the first dividend payment are given in the report of the joint liquidators to the Secretary of State, pursuant to regulation 14 of the Insolvency Regulations 1994, for the period 16 January 1996 to 15 January 1997, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House and a copy of which I sent to my hon. Friend on 30 May 1997.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much extra money has been collected by the liquidators of BCCI since the payment of the first dividend for the payment of the second dividend; and what costs and fees have been incurred by the liquidators for this. [9896]

  Mr. Griffiths
  This information will be contained in the next annual report of the liquidators to the Secretary of State, pursuant to regulation 14 of the Insolvency Regulations 1994 which will cover the period 16 January 1997 to 15 January 1998.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will take steps to have the costs and legal fees of the liquidators of BCCI audited by an independent accountant. [9890]

  Mr. Griffiths
  No. These are matters for the liquidation committee of creditors or for the court.

  Newsagents
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she proposes to take to safeguard the future of independent retail newsagents; and if she will make a statement. [9909]
  447
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The Director General of Fair Trading continues to monitor the newspaper market following the Monopolies and Mergers Commission investigation into the supply of national newspapers in England and Wales in 1992–93. I understand that he is currently considering a submission from the National Federation of Retail Newsagents which calls for a further reference of the industry to the MMC.

  British Overseas Trade Board
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the key functions of the British Overseas Trade Board; when the board was established; by what authority; and if she will list the names of the chairman and the secretary. [9628]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The key function of the British Overseas Trade Board—BOTB—is to act as principal adviser to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on overseas trade and the official export promotion programme.

  Set up in 1972 by the then Minister of Trade, the board draws on the experience of senior British business people to help improve the export performance of UK industry and commerce, guide the Government's export promotion efforts, including the provision of export services, and provide advice on policy issues affecting international trade promotion.

  The current chairman is Sir Martin Laing CBE and the secretary is Dr. Denis Walker.

  Utilities Regulation
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to revise the regulatory set-up for the utilities; and if she will make a sttaement. [8645]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) on 30 June 1997,Official Report, columns 20–21.

  Members' Interests
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what occasions(a) Ministers and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8953]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The first report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life Cm 2850, made it clear that, when Members are meeting Ministers or others on topics in which they have an interest, the onus is on the Members to declare that interest, not the Minister to know—paragraph 63 of Cm 2850. It is not practicable for Ministers and officials, among their other duties, to vet requests for meetings against the Register of Members' Interests. Should evidence of non-declaration emerge, or contravention of the resolution of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, the matter would be brought to the attention of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
  448
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will ensure that(a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department refuse requests from hon. Members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8050]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The first report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life Cm 2850, recognised the value of enabling Members to retain interests outside the House, provided these were properly declared, both in the Register of Members' Interests and on other occasions. Subject to these requirements, and to the rules of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, Members are free to seek meetings with Ministers and officials who will consider such requests alongside the many other approaches from individuals and organisations concerned to press their own interests or those of others.

  Commercial Lobbyists
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) on what dates since 1 May(a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have met commercial lobbyists to discuss matters relating to the business of her Department; and if she will introduce a register of such meetings; [8051]

  (2) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and
  (b) officials in her Department have attended meetings with organisations representing (i) commercial and (ii) non-commercial interests organised by commercial lobbying firms; and if she will introduce a register of such meetings. [8052]

  Mrs. Beckett
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in response to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn),Official Report, column 99, Ministers and officials in the Department receive deputations from many groups who are concerned to press their own interests or those of their clients, which Ministers and officials take due care to consider within the wider public interest and Government policy. As it is not practicable to distinguish particular groups as lobbyists, the Department cannot keep a register of such meetings.

  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been issued for the export of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia since 1978; and in each case what was the date of the licence and the number of aircraft covered by it. [7222]

  Mrs. Roche
  A licence was formally issued on 2 January 1996 in respect of the approval given for Hawk aircraft and equipment and announced by the then Minister of Trade on 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1081. This licence was for eight 100 series Hawks and 16 200 series Hawks. Six other licences, on the same date, covered equipment including weapon systems, and spares.

  A licence was issued on 22 November 1996 for 16 200 series Hawks. Again, six other licences on the same date, covered equipment, including weapons systems, and spares.
  449
  To provide details of Hawk aircraft or any related spares licensed for earlier years would entail disproportionate cost.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the number and categories of export licences granted to Manroy Engineering Ltd. for the export of(a) general purpose machine guns and (b) other automatic weapons to Indonesia since 1988. [3436]

  Mrs. Roche
  Since 1991, when records became readily available, no export licences for such weapons for export to Indonesia have been issued to the company. Information for the earlier period could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The company has, however, told officials that it has not applied for licences for such weapons to Indonesia.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the(a) number and (b) categories of export licences granted to Broadcast and Surveillance Systems Ltd. for the export of surveillance systems to Indonesia since 1988. [3698]

  Mrs Roche
  Readily available records—from 1991—show that two export licences have been granted to Broadcast and Surveillance Systems Ltd., for the export of surveillance systems to Indonesia: one in September 1995 and the other in May 1996.

  Both licence were for the temporary export of goods categorised under the heading ML15 of the relevant Export of Goods (Control) Order. All the exported goods have now been returned to the UK.

  It is possible that goods covered by the question may have been supplied as part of a larger order, but not specifically recorded as such in the licensing database. A search of paper records to identify any of these would entail disproportionate cost, as would provision of information for the earlier period.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Broad of Trade if she will list the number of current export licence applications for command control, communication and information systems to Indonesia. [3526]

  Mrs. Roche
  There are no current export licence applications for command control, communication and information systems to Indonesia.

  The licences issued to Procurement Services International Ltd. for Glover Webb Tactica vehicles, which was announced in the House on 9 December 1996, Official Report, column 30, contained 12 Hornet command and communications vehicles, eight Tactica command and communications vehicles and two sets of communications base station equipment. This was announced in the House on 23 January 1997, Official Report, columns 708–709.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been granted since 1988 for the export of MP5 sub-machine guns to Indonesia; how many shipments there were; and what assurances the United Kingdom Government were given by the Indonesian authorities that the weapons would not be used for internal repression. [2772]

  Mrs. Roche
  Readily available records—since 1991—show no licences granted for export of these weapons to Indonesia have been issued. It is possible that goods 450
  covered by the question may have been supplied as part of a larger order, but not specifically recorded as such in the licensing database. A search of paper records to identify any of these would entail disproportionate cost, as would provision of information for the earlier period.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will provide details of the export licences granted to the Nitor group of companies for the export of firearms training systems to Indonesia since 1988. [2803]

  Mrs. Roche
  Firearms training systems, unless they are specialised equipment for military training or for simulating military scenarios, do not require an export licence.

  Readily available records—since 1991—show that no licences have been issued to the Nitor group of companies for the export of firearms training systems to Indonesia.

  To search paper export licence records for earlier years would entail disproportionate costs.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will provide details of the exports by Henckler and Koch of MP5 sub-machine guns to Indonesia. [2771]

  Mrs. Roche
  Details of deliveries of equipment exported are not held by my Department.

  Heckler and Koch MP5 sub-machine guns are manufactured in the UK by Royal Ordnance, a subsidiary of British Aerospace.

  Since 1991, when records became readily available, no licence is shown as having been issued to Royal Ordnance for export of these weapons to Indonesia.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will provide details of all licences granted for the export of(a) sub-machine guns, (b) machine guns, (c) assault rifles, (d) automatic rifles and (e) sniper rifles to Indonesia, in each of the last three years. [2773]

  Mrs. Roche
  In the three years to 15 July 1997, readily available records show that only one licence has been issued for the export of such weapons rated under heading ML1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order to Indonesia. The export licence was issued in 1995 and was for 10 sniper rifles for the Indonesian armed forces. It is possible that goods covered by the question may have been supplied as part of a larger order, but not specifically recorded as such in the licensing database. A search of paper records to identify any of these would entail disproportionate cost.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been granted for the export of close quarter battle facilities and firearms training systems to Indonesia since 1988; and if she will provide details of the Indonesian security and military training for which the equipment was intended. [2804]

  Mrs. Roche
  Readily available records—since 1991—show that three export licences have been issued for the export of close quarter battle facilities and fireanns training systems to Indonesia; in one case, the goods were destined for the Indonesian for the Indonesian army headquarters for army training. The other two were temporary licences, the goods destined for the Indonesian
  451
  Department of Defence and Security for demonstration to the Indonesian armed forces. These two temporary licences were subsequently returned to the DTI unused.

  It should be noted, in general, that firearms training systems, unless they are specialised equipment for military training or for simulating military scenarios, do not require an export licence.

  A search of records for earlier years would entail disproportionate cost.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the number of export licences granted in each year since 1990 for export to Indonesia of(a) machine guns, (b) automatic cannon and (c) 7.62 mm ammunition. [18467]

  Mrs. Roche
  From readily available records—dating from 1991—the numbers of licences issued specifically for these goods for export to Indonesia are as follows:

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Machine guns

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Automatic cannon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7.62 mm ammunition

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  In addition, one further licence was issued in 1995 for 30 in ammunition which is interchangeable with 7.62 mm ammunition.

  It is possible that goods covered by the question may also have been supplied as part of a larger order, but not specifically recorded as such on the licensing database. A search of paper records to identify any of these, and for any such items licensed in 1990, would entail disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will revoke the licences for Hawk jets to Indonesia granted in November 1996. [9146]

  Mrs. Roche
  Any decision to revoke an export licence issued before I May by my Department would be announced to the House.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licence applications are awaiting approval for the export of sub-machine guns and other automatic weapons to Indonesia. [2774]

  Mrs. Roche
  At 10 July, four individual export licence applications had been received which included such weapons for Indonesia. These will be considered in light of the Government's commitment not to license for export arms to regimes that might use them for internal repression or international aggression.

  Armoured Vehicle Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she will list(a) the export licences granted since 1988 to (i) GKN and (ii) GKN Defence or Glover Webb for the export of Saxon vehicles and (a) their destination; [3385]
  452
  (2) which export licences granted since 1988 to (a)
  GKN, (b) GKN Defence and (c) Glover Webb for the export of Saxon vehicles covered associated equipment to provide electrified deterrents. [3637]

  Mrs. Roche
  To search export licences issued for these companies for Saxon vehicles would entail disproportionate cost.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the export licences granted since 1988 to(a) GKN, (b) GKN Defence and (c) Glover Webb for the export of (i) armoured vehicles, (ii) armoured personnel carriers and (iii) internal security vehicles to Nigeria since 1988. [3638]

  Mrs. Roche
  From readily available records—since 1991—no export licences have been issued to the companies in question for such equipment for Nigeria. Information for the earlier period could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the export licences granted to(a) Procurement Services International and (b) Greys Defence Systems for the export of Tactica and Hornet vehicles to (i) Brunei, (ii) Malaysia and (iii) Turkey. [3695]

  Mrs. Roche
  Readily available records show that Procurement Services International was granted two temporary export licences for Tactica vehicles to Turkey. One was in May 1995 and the goods were returned to the UK approximately three months later. The other was in October 1996 and as yet has not been used. A temporary licence was also granted for Hornet vehicles to Malaysia in November 1996. There is no record of licences having been granted to PSI in respect of exports to Brunei. Nor is there any record of export licences having been granted to Greys Defence Systems for the export of Tactica or Hornet vehicles.

  Nitor Group of Companies
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been granted to the Nitor group of companies for the export of(a) training systems and (b) close quarter battle facilities in each of the last five years; which countries the licences related to; and how many of the training facilities were for (a) military forces, (b) security police, (c) paramilitary forces and (d) special forces units. [2802]

  Mrs. Barbara Roche
  Two licences have been issued to the Nitor group for training systems, both in 1992. One was for targets for shooting practice to the Singapore Ministry of Defence, and the other for firing range targetry equipment to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence and Aviation. No export licences are recorded as having been granted to this company for close quarter battle facilities training systems.

  Export Licences
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the(a) number and (b) categories of export licences granted to Manroy Engineering Ltd., for the export of the Manroy L80 Manpack CS mist backpack sprayer; and if she will indicate the destination (i) countries and (ii) agencies for this equipment. [3697]
  453
  Mrs. Roche
  Readily available records—since 1991—show no licences issued for this equipment. The company has informed my officials that this equipment did not go into production.

  Johore Jungle Warfare School
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the number and details of export licences granted for military training equipment within category ML14, to the Johore jungle warfare school, Malaysia, and the types of equipment covered by the licence. [18310]

  Mrs. Roche
  From readily available records—dating from 1991—there is no record of any export licence being issued for equipment rated under heading ML14 for Malaysia showing the Johore jungle warfare school as the end user.

  It is possible that goods covered by the question may have been supplied as part of a larger order, but not specifically recorded as ML14 in the licensing database. A search of paper records to identify any of these would entail disproportionate cost.

  Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe dispensed with the car and driver provided to him by BP. [8750]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Wednesday 7 May 1997.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 10 July,Official Report, column 601, on the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe, if she will list those energy issues which she defines as not bearing on British Petroleum. [9016]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 17 July 1997]: In order to ensure compliance with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers", the Minister does not see papers, or take part in discussions or decisions, that could rise to a conflict of interest with his past or his present private interests in BP. As QPM also makes clear, these are ultimately matters for his judgment.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will define those(a) papers the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe cannot see and (b) matters he cannot decide which (i) have a bearing on and (ii) affect BP. [9327]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: In order to ensure compliance with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers", the Minister does not see papers, or take part in discussions or decisions, which could rise to a conflict of interest with his past or his present private interests in BP. As QPM also makes clear, these are ultimately matters for his judgment.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the meetings the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has held since 7 May with(a) executives and (b) directors of BP. [9112]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 17 July 1997]: Since 7 May, the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has had no formal meetings with executives of BP. He has had three meetings with directors of BP to
  454
  deal with matters relating to the handover of his duties. He has also attended three farewell social engagements hosted by BP.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Minister of Trade and Competitiveness in Europe last visited a BP office or installation since becoming a Minister. [9113]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 17 July 1997]: The Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe has visited no BP installation since his appointment on 7 May 1997. He visited BP's offices at Finsbury circus on Friday 9 May to clear his desk and again on Wednesday 4 June for his farewell reception.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many and what percentage of employees, in each pay band, in the quangos for which her Department is responsible, are of(a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [9581]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  My Department is responsible for 22 executive non-departmental public bodies, 25 advisory bodies and seven tribunals, considering the 28 industrial tribunals as one body. I regret that the information requested by my hon. Friend is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many civil servants there are in total on each pay band in her Department. [9582]

  Mr. Griffiths
  There are 3,950 civil servants in the DTI, excluding agency and Government office staff, with the following numbers by grade:

  Current serving grade

  Number of staff

  Assistant Librarian

  18

  Assistant Statistician

  10

  Administrative Assistant

  216

  Assistant Information Officer

  2

  Administrative Officer

  676

  Administration Trainee

  12

  Administration Trainee (Europe)

  2

  Chief Investigation Officer

  1

  Communications Officer IV

  2

  Deputy Chief Investigation Officer

  7

  Economic Assistant

  13

  Executive Officer

  672

  Grade 6

  98

  Grade 7

  541

  Higher Executive Officer

  594

  Higher Executive Officer D

  33

  Higher Executive Officer D (Europe)

  3

  Higher Mapping and Charting Officer

  1

  Higher Professional and Technology Officer

  10

  Higher Scientific Officer

  12

  Higher Scientific Officer (Development)

  11

  Insolvency Grade A

  3

  Insolvency Grade B

  17

  Insolvency Grade C

  24

  Investigation Officer

  57

  Information Officer

  16

  Legal Officer

  5

  Legal Trainee

  2

  Librarian

  16

  Mapping and Charting Officer

  3

  Petroleum Specialist 3

  3

  Petroleum Specialist 4

  5

  455

  Current serving grade

  Number of staff

  Petroleum Specialist 5

  2

  Principal Research Officer

  1

  Personal Secretary

  146

  Professional and Technology Officer

  1

  Reservoir Evaluation Specialist 3

  8

  Reservoir Evaluation Specialist 4

  13

  Reservoir Evaluation Specialist 5

  1

  Research Officer

  1

  Senior Economic Assistant

  5

  Senior Examiner (Patents Office)

  1

  Senior Librarian

  9

  Senior Civil Service

  175

  Senior Engineering Inspector (Electricity)

  4

  Senior Executive Officer

  189

  Support Grade Band 1

  25

  Support Grade Band 2

  59

  Senior Information Officer

  16

  Science Management Trainee

  2

  Support Manager 3

  7

  Scientific Officer

  3

  Senior Personal Secretary

  41

  Senior Profession and Technology Officer

  30

  Senior Research Officer

  4

  Senior Scientific Officer

  27

  Sandwich Course Student

  24

  Translator Grade 1

  2

  Translator Grade II

  5

  Typing Manager

  4

  Typist

  60

  Total

  3,950

  Some grades have separate London and national pay scales.

  A new staffing and pay system for staff below the senior civil service, replacing grades by ranges grouped into three bands, will be introduced on 1 August.

  Acquired Rights Directive
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what infraction proceedings have been instigated by the European Commission against the United Kingdom with regard to the acquired rights directive—collective redundancy consultation—and if she will make a statement. [9204]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: We have had contact with the Commission on this subject and it is under review.

  Space Programme
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to develop a strategy for ensuring that the purely scientific aspects of Earth observation from space are fully integrated into the research council system. [9423]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: Mechanisms are already in place, through the British National Space Centre partnership and the responsibilities of the Natural Environment Research Council, for ensuring that the scientific aspects of Earth observation are fully integrated into the research council system. NERC, as well as the Office of Science and Technology, is a partner in BNSC and NERC staff are fully involved in the definition and implementation of BNSC's EO activities. NERC's responsibilities include the promotion
  456
  and support of high-quality basic, strategic and applied research in EO and NERC expenditure on such EO research is currently about £6 million a year.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom investment in the European Space Agency Envisat Earth observation satellite yields the fullest returns to the United Kingdom in terms of its commercial, strategic and scientific potential. [9437]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: The United Kingdom has been more successful than any other ESA country in winning announcements of opportunity for scientific and strategic exploitation of data from ESA's European remote sensing satellites. We are also one of the leading countries in the development of commercial applications of Earth observations. The British National Space Centre is aiming to continue this success by working with ESA, the EU, Government Departments, industry and academia to ensure an effective infrastructure for processing, archiving, and distribution Envisat data combined with continuing promotional and applications development support.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what additional funding the United Kingdom space science mission will receive to compensate for PPARC's inability to fund the appropriate United Kingdom involvement in some of ESA's science missions. [9434]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council received an allocation from the science budget of £200.65 million—including provision for its international subscriptions—for 1997–98. Within that allocation, it is for PPARC to determine its priorities, including deciding whether and at what level it should participate in ESA missions.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the board of Trade what monitoring PPARC undertakes of the comparative industrial spin-off of its space science expenditure including the ESA subscription against that of its expenditure on ground-based astronomy and particle physics. [9433]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: As the only research council which exclusively supports basic research, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's mission requires it to "take account" of the potential for contributing to the UK's industrial competitiveness, as opposed to the requirement on the other research councils to place "special emphasis" on this issue. Nevertheless, PPARC seeks to ensure that UK industry benefits from contracts for the construction of major facilities, and that technologies developed for research are exploited in industry.

  PPARC is developing performance indicators to help to monitor the number of contracts won by UK companies, and the extent to which the academic community collaborates with companies. As contracts placed by ESA are linked to the level of the UK's subscription, and the high-technology contracts placed by the Gemini telescope project are linked to the level of the UK's participation in the project, there are already good opportunities for UK companies to win contracts. While UK companies already benefit substantially from contracts from ESA, they have not done so well at winning supply contracts

  457
  from CERN—although they have been more successful at winning service contracts. To address this, PPARC, jointly with the DTI has appointed an industrial co-ordinator to promote to UK industry the opportunities that the new large Hadron collider at CERN will provide.

  The PPARC industrial programme support scheme — PIPSS—was launched in 1994 to promote technology transfer from technology research groups to industry. Thirty-four projects totalling £1.6 million have been awarded over three years.

  Global Free Trade
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to achieve tariff-free trade across the globe by 2020; and if she will make a statement. [9424]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 18 July 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) on 14 July 1997, Official Report, column 71.

  Cot Mattresses
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will ban inclusion of(a) phosphorus, (b) arsenic and (c) antimony compounds in the composition of cot mattresses; and if she will make a statement. [5843]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 1 July 1997]: The use of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony in cot mattresses is currently being considered by the Expert Committee on Cot Death Theories set up by the chief medical officer in November 1994. This committee is due to report to the chief medical officer at the Department of Health.

  Coal Authority
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Coal Authority's report and accounts for 1996–97 will be laid before Parliament. [10086]

  Mr. Battle
  I have today laid a copy before each House of Parliament.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for the review of animal welfare controls on live exports(a) the expected completion date and (b) the cost of conducting the review. [8236]

  Mr. Morley
  The conclusions of this review will be announced as soon as practicable. Work such as this on the validation of procedures is part of the Department's planned activities and does not result in an addition to running costs.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) live sheep and (b) consignments of live sheep were exported from Dover on 5 July; what was (i) the place of departure and (ii) the final destination given on the route plan in respect of each consignment; what was (1) the time of departure and (2) the time of arrival at final destination
  458
  of each consignment; where each consignment received the 24-hour break stipulated by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 and if a full 24 hours was spent there; how many livestock vehicles were turned away from Dover by his officials on 5 July and for what reasons; and if he will make a statement. [8537]

  Mr. Morley
  Four vehicles containing 2,280 sheep were exported from Dover on 5 July. Two locations in Italy were declared as the destinations and the place of departure was in Essex. The ship departed from Dover at 01.00 and the animals were due to arrive at their destinations during the early morning of 7 July having received two 24-hour rest periods, one at the start of the journey and the other at premises in Belgium during the journey. In the port of Dover, two vehicles were served with an enforcement notice requiring the animals to be accommodated in premises close to Dover because the vehicles did not meet the additional criteria necessary for a journey of over more than eight hours, as required by schedule 7 to the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he takes to establish the journey times taken for each movement of non-human primates from entry into the crate in the country of export to arrival at point of destination in this country; if he sets a maximum journey time for such journeys; and if he will make a statement. [8216

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 July 1997]: There are no statutory limits on journey times for such animals. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997, implementing directive 91/628 as amended, sets transport conditions and specifies that animals which are subject to the convention on international trade in endangered species—CITES—shall be transported in compliance with CITES guidelines or the standards set by the International Air Transport Association. Enforcement of the order is a matter for local authorities.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will bring into operation compensation provisions for farmers to take into account the appreciation of the green pound; and if he will make a statement. [9547]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green) on 3 July,Official Report, column 261.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the security of Britain's tuberculosis-free status. [8893]

  Mr. Rooker
  The officially tuberculosis-free status of individual cattle herds in the United Kingdom is protected by routine tuberculin testing and by post mortem examination of cattle at the time of slaughter or killing.

  BSE Research (Primates)
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement of the use of primates in BSE research commissioned by his Department. [9127]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Department has commissioned no research on BSE which involves the use of primates.

  Basic rate in ecu/kg

  Sterling rate for cull cows and bulls liveweight £/kg

  Sterling rate for cull cows and bulls deadweight £/kg

  Sterling rate for clean cattle liveweight £/kg

  Sterling rate for clean cattle deadweight £/kg

  Date

  Cows

  Bulls

  Cows

  Bulls

  Cows

  Bulls

  29 April 1996

  1.0

  0.86

  1.71

  1.11

  2.22

  18 June 1996

  1.0

  0.86

  1.71

  1.01

  2.02

  1 July 1996

  1.0

  0.83

  1.66

  0.98

  1.96

  14 July 1996

  1.0

  0.83

  1.66

  0.93

  1.86

  5 August 1996

  1.0

  0.83

  1.66

  1.41

  0.93

  1.58

  1 September 1996

  1.0

  0.83

  1.66

  1.41

  0.88

  1.50

  21 October 1996

  0.9

  0.75

  1.50

  1.28

  0.80

  1.36

  1 November 1996

  0.9

  0.73

  1.46

  1.24

  0.78

  1.33

  2 November 1996

  0.9

  0.73

  1.46

  1.24

  0.73

  1.24

  1 February 1997

  0.9

  0.69

  1.38

  1.17

  0.69

  1.17

  1 April 1997

  0.9

  0.67

  1.34

  1.14

  0.67

  1.14

  1 July 1997

  0.9

  0.65

  1.30

  1.10

  0.65

  1.10

  4 August 1997

  0.8

  0.9

  0.58

  0.65

  1.15

  1.10

  0.65

  1.10

  1. The sterling rate of compensation has been reduced on six occasions as a result of green pound fluctuations.

  2. Compensation is fixed in terms of payments per kilogram live weight. Where cattle are not weighed live, a coefficient—of 2 for cows and 1.7 for all other cattle—is applied to the recorded dead weight.

  3. A depressive top-up payment for clean cattle—heifers and steers—originally set at 25p/kg was available for the first six months of the scheme. The original top-up payment is still available for clean cattle that were over 30 months of age on 17 June 1996.

  4. With effect from 25 November 1996, the minimum period during which an animal has to be present on a UK holding before becoming eligible for the scheme was increased from three months to six months.

  5. With effect from 4 August 1997, payment will be limited to a maximum weight of 560 kg per animal.

  6. All basic rates of payment in ecu or sterling apply to cows and bulls unless otherwise indicated.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to help beef farmers cope with recent changes in the compensation regime. [9539]

  Mr. Rooker
  The changes to the compensation arrangements for the over-30-months scheme, which will apply from 4 August, have been introduced to reduce scheme expenditure, which is considerable. Providing financial assistance to offset the impact of the changes would frustrate the objective of reducing scheme expenditure.

  Nevertheless, in the period leading up to 4 August, it is recognised that some farmers will accelerate their culling patterns to benefit from the current compensation rates. The Intervention Board has made provision for abattoirs to slaughter more animals than would otherwise have been accepted in this period, although it can not rule out the possibility that demand will exceed the capacity available.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the cost to farmers of the introduction of the weight limit on cull cattle compensation. [9542]

  Mr. Rooker
  The effect of the weight limit on farmers' incomes will depend on the weight of the animals being presented. For a typical suckler cow farmer culling five cows per year, each weighing 620 kg, the reduction in

  Cattle Cull
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the changes in the level of payment and terms for cattle entering the over-30-months scheme since its introduction. [8929]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information requested is as follows:

  income arising from the introduction of the weight limit and the lower compensation rate for cull cows will be about £395.

  The weight limit and the reduced compensation rate for cull cows are being introduced to reduce expenditure on the over-30-months scheme, which is expected to amount to well over £200 million this year in compensation alone.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect on farmers' incomes of the change in the base rate of compensation for over-30-months cattle to begin on 4 August. [9541]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the right hon. and learned Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Mr. Hogg) on 4 July,Official Report, columns 296–97.

  BSE
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the percentage of the total Government expenditure relating to the BSE crisis that reaches farmers. [9540]

  Mr. Morley
  Of the £1.54 billion expenditure on BSE in 1996–97, about 60 per cent. was paid to farmers primarily through the over-30-months scheme and top-ups to the suckler cow and beef special premium schemes.

  Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the intervention stocks which have been sold to third countries in each of the last five years for which figures are available, indicating for each year the price and overall volume and the relevant world market price at time of sale. [8996]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information requested is as follows:

  Intervention product

  Calendar year

  Quantity sold to third countries (tonnes)

  Sale price per tonne (£)

  World market price (£)

  Beef

  1992

  18,212

  11,200.70

  2—

  1993

  19,863

  11,401.83

  2—

  1994

  49,940

  11,061.1

  2—

  1995

  6,276

  11,582.46

  2—

  1996

  0

  Barley

  1992

  367,851

  368.34

  4—

  1993

  225,362

  359.64

  4—

  1994

  519,592

  364.07

  4—

  1995

  91,930

  368.01

  4—

  1996

  0

  Butter and skimmed milk powder

  1992

  0

  1993

  0

  1994

  0

  1995

  0

  1996

  0

  1 Intervention beef is sold by cut and different cuts have different sale prices. The sale prices shown are therefore average sales prices for all the cuts concerned. The work involved in establishing the individual sale prices for each of the cuts sold for each sale could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  2 The world beef market is fragmented and prices vary considerably according to the export zone and/or country concerned. Consequently, there is not a recognized and established world market price for beef.

  3 The sale prices shown are average sale prices. The work involved in establishing the individual price for each sale could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  4 The work involved in establishing the world market price at the time of sale could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Certified Herds Scheme
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage of beef herds in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland which would be eligible under the export certified herds scheme for re-entry into world beef markets; [9548]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of beef herds in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and d) Northern Ireland which would be eligible under a date-based certified herds scheme, using a cut-off date of 1 August 1996, for re-entry into world beef markets. [9549]

  Mr. Rooker
  Discussions on an export certified herds scheme and a date-based export scheme are still at an early stage in Brussels. Some 84 per cent. of beef suckler herds in Great Britain and 98 per cent. of such herds in Northern Ireland have never experienced a case of BSE,462
  but it is not possible to estimate the proportions of these or other herds that would have eligible animals for export under either scheme until the rules have been finalised.

  Cormorant Cull
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will order a cormorant cull. [9599]

  Mr. Morley
  Cormorants are protected by the 1979 EC birds directive, implemented in the UK by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This Act provides for them to be shot under licence in strictly limited numbers in cases where they are causing serious damage to a fishery and where there is no other satisfactory solution. There are no powers to undertake a general cull.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental consequences of the use of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips; and if he will make a statement. [9702]

  Mr. Rooker
  As with all veterinary medicines, no sheep dip is authorised for use unless it meets stringent statutory requirements for safety, quality and efficacy. Safety includes safety of the environment.

  Following its review in 1996 of the effectiveness of the certificate of competence scheme for the purchase of organophosphorus sheep dips, the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee—VPC—which advises Agriculture and Health Ministers on veterinary medicines, has begun a further review of the use of non-OP sheep dips, including synthetic pyrethroid dips. Ministers expect to receive the VPC's advice later this year.

  South-west Regional Service Centre
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the(a) target and (b) performance data percentage for each of the services provided by (i) the regional service centre in Exeter and (ii) the Truro office of the regional service centre in each year since 1992. [9658]

  Mr. Morley
  Performance targets were introduced for some schemes in 1993–94 in "Commitment to Service" as part of the citizens charter arrangements. Further schemes were covered subsequently. Information on the main common agricultural policy and other schemes in the south-west region is as follows:
  463

  Performance data for South-west RSC

  (all figures shown as percentage)

  Scheme

  Target

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Administered from Exeter

  Arable Area Payments Scheme

  Advanced oilseed payments made by end September

  —

  100

  n/a

  100

  Final oilseed payments made within 60 days of publication of rate by EU

  —

  100

  n/a

  100

  Main payments made between 16 October and 31 December

  —

  100

  73

  99

  Five-year Set-aside Scheme

  Claims received by 30 September paid by 15 December

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  Claims paid within three months of receipt

  96

  83

  74

  95

  Sheep Annual Premium Scheme

  Final payment made by the end of the April following scheme year (or if rate not fixed until after 1 April, within one month of public announcement of rate)

  86

  94

  99

  96

  Suckler Cow Premium Scheme

  Advanced payments to be made within three months of scheme closing date; balance to be paid by 30 June

  —

  99

  99

  99

  Beef Special Premium Scheme

  Advanced payments made by 15 December if retention period completed by 1 November, otherwise within six weeks of end of retention period

  —

  98

  97

  98

  Balance payments made by 30 June in year following claim

  —

  —

  99

  100

  Applications processed and CIDs issued within 10 working days of receipt

  —

  99

  98

  99

  Premium claimed CIDs returned before end of retention period

  —

  99

  99

  99

  Farm Woodland Premium Scheme

  Applications accepted or rejected within 1 month of receipt

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Claims received by 1 August paid between 17 October; those received after 1 August paid within three months of receipt

  100

  10

  100

  100

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas—Dartmoor and Blackdown Hills3

  Applications: in first year agreement or rejection of application six months after end of application period; for existing claims, within four months

  —

  99

  100

  100

  Claims: received by 1 October paid by 30 November except Stage IV claims (Blackdown Hills) received by 1 March paid by 30 April

  —

  54

  95

  100

  Conservation Plan applications: accepted or rejected within three months of receipt or completion of Management Agreement (whichever is later)

  —

  100

  100

  100

  Conservation Plan claims: paid within two months of receipt

  —

  100

  100

  100

  Administered from Truro4

  Agricultural Improvement Scheme

  Claims paid within three months of receipt

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Farm and Conservation Grants Scheme (Capital Grants)1991

  Applications accepted or rejected within four months of receipt

  295

  98

  100

  —

  Claims paid within three months of receipt

  298

  99

  100

  100

  Farm and Conservation Grants Scheme (Capital Grants) 1989

  Plan Claims paid within three months of receipt

  2—

  100

  69

  100

  Non-plan claims paid within three months of receipt

  2—

  99

  100

  43

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas—West Penwith

  Applications: in first year agreement or rejection of application 6 months after end of application period; for existing claims, within four months

  100

  100

  100

  66

  Claims: received by 1 October paid by 30 November except Stage IV claims (Blackdown Hills) received by 1 March paid by 30 April

  100

  100

  100

  99

  Conservation Plan applications: accepted or rejected within three months of receipt or completion of Management Agreement (whichever is later)

  —

  100

  100

  90

  Conservation Plan claims: paid within two months of receipt

  —

  100

  100

  66

  1 Due to a combination of changes in FEOGA reimbursement dates and the difficulties of linkage with charter targets and payment dates, a large proportion of payments were made after target date for 1994–95.

  2 Data for 1989 and 1991 schemes aggregated.

  3 Not designated until 1994.

  4 Performance in respect of countryside stewardship scheme and objective 5(b) is not covered by the citizens charter. n/a not available.

  464 465
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the estimated redundancy costs of closing the Truro office of the regional service centre. [9660]

  Mr. Morley
  It is too early to say what redundancy costs there might be. We are closing the office over a period of six months or so to find alternative employment for as many of the staff as possible and have appointed a resettlement officer to assist with that objective.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff were employed in the regional service centre in Exeter on(a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) temporary contracts in each year since 1992. [9662]

  Mr. Morley
  The table shows the number of staff in post at Exeter as at 1 April each year from 1992. This includes field inspectors out-stationed from Exeter, including at Truro, but who form part of the Exeter RSC. Data on part-time staff are compiled on a head count basis.

  Stuffing figures for the Exeter RSC, April 1992 to April 1997

  Permanent

  Temporary

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Figures as at:

  1 April 1992

  60

  8

  16

  0

  84

  1 April 1993

  105

  13

  24

  3

  145

  1 April 1994

  104

  10

  72

  2

  188

  1 April 1995

  137

  10

  44

  1

  192

  1 April 1996

  154

  17

  10

  0

  181

  1 April 1997

  204

  20

  5

  0

  229

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of representations received by his Department(a) supporting and (b) opposing his decision to close the Truro office of the regional service centre. [9657]

  Mr. Morely
  We have received a petition and a number of letters from organisations and individuals, all opposing the decision to close the Truro office.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff were employed on less than(a) £2.50 per hour, (b) £3 per hour, (c) £3.50 per hour, (d) £4 per hour and (e) £4.50 per hour in the regional service centre in Exeter in each year since 1992. [9659]

  Mr. Morley
  This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff were made redundant from the regional service centre in Exeter in each year since 1992. [9661]

  Mr. Morely
  None.

  Departmental Reorganisation
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on consultation with respect to departmental reorganisation. [9664]
  466
  Mr. Morley
  Departmental organisation is a matter for internal decision, bearing in mind the jobs to be done and the need for efficient and economic administration. It is not a subject for public consultation or negotiation, although we consider very carefully representations made by interested bodies and individuals. We do, of course, consult fully with the departmental trade union side on the effects of our decisions on our staff.

  Food Chemical Surveys
  Mr. Michael John Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that the public are properly informed of the results of food chemical surveys for which his Department has a responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [10072]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government believe that the public should be properly informed about all food safety matters. I have therefore decided to make some important changes to improve the reporting of results from our regular food chemical surveys. I plan to increase the amount of information available about surveys and ensure wider publication of the results. For all relevant surveys, the full results for individual samples, including brand names, will he given. Furthermore, I will open up the food chemical surveillance programme to greater public scrutiny by publishing information on surveys to be undertaken.

  I endorse fully the view that we must release the results fairly and provide the public with the best possible advice on their significance. These changes will benefit consumers by enabling them to make a more informed choice about the food that they buy. The only surveys which will be excluded from these arrangements are those for which brand names have no bearing on the interpretation of the results, such as dietary surveys involving individual people or exploratory surveys aimed at developing analytical methods.

  In addition, I propose to review the current arrangements for reporting surveys on pesticides, veterinary residues and microbiological safety of food, which are administratively different from food chemical surveys. I will report on proposed changes to the House as soon as possible.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Obesity
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what new initiatives her Department is planning in respect of obesity; and if she will make a statement. [8745]

  Mr. Worthington
  A multi-agency action plan aimed at increasing the levels of physical activity among the sedentary population is presently being developed and people who are obese will be one of the target groups. In addition, "Eating and Health—A food and nutrition strategy for Northern Ireland", which was published in November 1996, aims to improve nutrition including the reduction of obesity in Northern Ireland.

  Drumcree March
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the police action to enable the Drumcree march to take place. [8771]

  Mr. Ingram
  The cost of the police action to enable the Drumcree march to take place is not currently available. I will write to my hon. Friend when the costing has been finalised.

  Type

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  11996

  Sets of

  (a) twins

  267

  315

  258

  308

  303

  324

  311

  (b) triplets

  5

  6

  8

  9

  6

  7

  11

  (c) quadruplets

  2

  2

  (d) quintuplets

  1

  (e) sextuplets

  (I) IVF2

  (i) twins

  12

  11

  N/K

  N/K

  N/K

  N/K

  N/K

  (ii) triplets

  2

  1

  N/K

  N/K

  N/K

  N/K

  N/K

  Maternities

  26,338

  26,058

  25,425

  24,729

  24,119

  23,663

  24,398

  1 Provisional

  2 These figures are as result of IVF by year of conception.

  Gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT) was available in Northern Ireland only in 1986 and 1987.

WALES

  Members' Interests
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) on what occasions(a) Ministers and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests; [8061]

  (2) if he will ensure that (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department refuse requests from hon. Members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8058]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I do not intend to hold or attend any meetings solely for the purpose of discussing Members' registered interests.

  Welsh Language Teaching
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to ensure that Welsh will be a core subject under the national curriculum at key stage 4 from 1999. [8913]

  Mr. Hain
  The White Paper "Building Excellent Schools Together", Cm 3701, published on 8 July, re affirmed the manifesto commitment to the teaching of Welsh in schools in Wales. Welsh is compulsory at key stage 4 in Welsh-speaking schools, and will remain so. The regulations to make it a compulsory part of the curriculum for 14 to 16-year-olds in non-Welsh-speaking schools from September 1999 are already in place. I

  Multiple Births
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sets of(a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and (e) sextuplets were born in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990; how many maternities there were in each year; and how many multiple births in each category were conceived as a result of (i) in vitro fertilisation, (ii) gamete intra-fallopian transfer and (iii) other forms of assisted conception. [8178]

  Mr. Worthington
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  regard it as essential that all schools should now be actively preparing themselves for the full implementation of national curriculum requirements at key stage 4 from that date, and that their school development plans and prospectuses should set out what they are doing in that regard.

  There are 10 secondary schools in Wales that do not currently come within the scope of the regulations to make Welsh compulsory from 1999. The Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales will be consulting on a proposal to bring them into line with all other non-Welsh-speaking schools from that date.

  Multiple Births
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sets of(a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and (e) sextuplets were born in Wales in each year since 1990; and how many multiple births in each category were conceived as a result of (i) in vitro fertilisation, (ii) gamete intra-fallopian transfer and (iii) other forms of assisted conception. [8176]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The available information on multiple maternities in Wales recorded by the Office for National Statistics is as follows:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Twins

  397

  416

  423

  399

  431

  417

  436

  Triplets

  11

  6

  8

  8

  11

  14

  12

  Quadruplets

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Quintuplets

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sextuplets

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  469
  Figures relating to multiple births following assisted conception are only available for the United Kingdom as a whole and are contained in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority annual report, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

  School Pupils (Exclusion)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children with statements of special educational needs were permanently excluded from schools in Wales in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what each figure was as a proportion of the total number of children permanently excluded from schools. [8723]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Quangos
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the contracts of Secretary of State appointees to quangos expire by April 1999. [9552]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Of the appointments to public bodies which I make, singly or jointly with other Ministers, 399 are due to expire before 1 April 1999. I announced on 13 June 1997 the new procedures for making public appointments in Wales, and I will write to my right hon. Friend with details of that announcement.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the management costs of all-Welsh quangos. [9556]

  Mr. Davies
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) on 4 June 1997,Official Report, column 204.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what action he proposes to reduce unnecessary quango administrative costs before April 1999; [9551]

  (2) what action he will take to abolish quangos before April 1999; [9555]

  (3) what action he proposes better to coordinate the Welsh Development Agency, the Land Authority for Wales and Development Board for Rural Wales before April 1999. [9557]

  Mr. Davies
  I will announce my proposals in the White Paper, which is to be published tomorrow.

  Mr. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies have been undertaken of unnecessary quango administrative costs; and if he will place them in the Library. [9553]

  Mr. Davies
  All non-departmental public bodies are subject to a comprehensive review at least every five years. The reviews test firstly whether an NDPB's function is required at all and, if so, the scope for contracting out, privatising or transferring any of the functions to another body. The second stage considers the whole system of financial management and control, including administration costs, within the body.

  Copies of the action plans of the financial management and policy reviews are available in the Library of the House.

  Lead Water Pipes
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with Dwr Cymru in relation to the rate at which lead piping in the water supply system will be replaced(a) between the main road tapping point up to the customer's premises and (b) in the public mains supply. [9914]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  On 8 July, the drinking water inspectorate, which advises me on drinking water quality matters, published a report on "Nitrates, Pesticides and Lead 1995 and 1996" which describes the actions being taken by the water companies to reduce levels of lead in water supplies. The measures taken include the replacement of lead communication pipes and table 5.8 in that report includes the numbers of such pipes replaced by Dwr Cymru in 1995 and 1996. In addition, Dwr Cymru's response to the Government's 10-point plan launched at the water summit describes the grants available from the company to its customers toward the cost of replacing lead supply pipes and plumbing. Copies of both reports are in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the eligibility criteria of the all work test, with particular reference to its application to people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome; and if she will make a statement. [3345]

  Mr. Denham
  We are aware of concerns about the way incapacity benefit all work tests are applied to sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome. As part of the general review of social security provision, we will look at a number of eligibility issues, including those surrounding the all work test, and seek to ensure that the test provides a fair assessment of incapacity for benefit purposes.

  Mr. Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the length of the transition period between a failed all work test and the subsequent withdrawal of incapacity benefit. [3346]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government are committed to looking across the range of current social security provision to ensure that it meets our objectives for a modern welfare system to take us into the next century. A key priority will be to provide more support to enable people to make the transition from benefit into employment. In this context, we will look at what changes are necessary to ensure that the particular needs of people who have disabilities, or who have lost contact with the labour market through long-term sickness, are provided for.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people in the United Kingdom have received letters confirming the award of reduced earnings allowance(a) for life and (b) until a specified date beyond the date on which the benefit was abolished; [5378]
  471
  (2) if she will issue a circular letter to hon. Members to assist them in giving advice to constituents who receive letters from her Department confirming the award of reduced earnings allowance for life, or until a specified date beyond the date on which the benefit was abolished. [5377]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Any of the 24,000 over pension age reduced earnings allowance recipients who transferred to retirement allowance after March 1996 may have had earlier letters advising that their award would continue for life or a specified period.

  We are currently reviewing the arrangements for the transfer of REA recipients to RA and will consider whether a circular letter to hon. Members would be appropriate when that review is completed.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the additional revenue resulting from the abolition of the upper earnings limit on the payment of national insurance contributions. [5458]

  Mr. Denham
  An estimated £4.05 billion would be raised in a full year if the upper earnings limit on employees' class 1 contributions and the upper profits limit on class 4 contributions paid by self-employed people were removed and about 3.75 million people would become liable to pay more contributions.

  The figures assume that the current 10 per cent. class 1 contribution rate would apply to earnings above the present upper earnings limit, the current 6 per cent. class 4 contribution rate would apply to profits above the present upper profits limit and that an upper earnings limit would remain in place for the calculation of employee and employer contracted-out rebates.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Asbestos-related Conditions
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications made to the War Pensions Agency in respect of asbestos-related conditions have not yet been determined. [6485]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social. Security (1) how many war pensioners are in receipt of(a) a pension and (b) a gratuity in respect of (i) pleural plaques, (ii) diffuse pleural thickening, (iii) asbestosis, (iv) mesothelioma, (v) lung cancer and (iv) other conditions attributable to asbestos exposure during their service in (1) the Royal Navy, (2) the Royal Air Force and (3) the Army; [6493]

  (2) if she will list the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average pension and gratuity paid for asbestos-related conditions over the last five years in
  472
  respect of (i) pleural plaques, (ii) diffuse pleural thickening, (iii) asbestosis, (iv) mesothelioma and (v) lung cancer. [6491]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Retirement Pensions
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment she has made of the impact on income of paying retirement pensions on the first Monday after a 65th birthday and not on the day on which a pensioner reaches pensionable age; [6850]

  (2) what representations she has received in respect of financial loss for the days before the pay day following retirement; and if she will make a statement; [6848]

  (3) what plans she has to review the payment of pensions on a weekly basis; and if she will make a statement; [6847]

  (4) what estimate she has made of the annual cost of paying the retirement pension on the day on which a pensioner reaches pensionable age. [6849]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government are committed to reviewing all the main areas of insecurity that affect pensioners. The key objectives of the review will be that pensioners should have an adequate income in retirement, that they should share fairly in rising national prosperity and that public finances should be both sustainable and affordable.

  I have received a number of representations from hon. Members on the issue of retirement pension pay days. Retirement pension is a weekly benefit paid in advance from the first pay day, usually a Monday, on or after the 65th birthday. In assessing the impact on income, account needs to be taken of the fact that, although retirement pension is paid in advance, income received immediately preceding retirement, such as earnings and most social security benefits, are generally paid in arrears. Most pensioners are therefore entitled to a week's pension within a week of receiving their last income.

  Account also needs to be taken of the fact that, as a consequence of the pension being paid in advance, any change of circumstances which would result in reduction of benefit, such as hospitalisation, is effective only from the next pay day. In addition, no benefit is recoverable in respect of the week in which the pensioner dies.

  The estimated gross annual cost of paying retirement pension for the days between state pension age and the first retirement pension pay day is £22 million.

  We will announce shortly our pensions review which will examine all aspects of the basic pension and its value. We will consider any representations that are submitted on this issue.

  We will retain the basic state pension as the foundation of pension provision, increasing it at least in line with prices.

  Notes

  1. Estimate provided by the Government Actuary's Department. This cost is in 1997–98 prices and is the gross cost to the national insurance fund. Some £l million of this cost would be offset by reduced payments of widow's benefit where cases transfer from widow's benefit to retirement pension.

  Cyclical Social Security
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list(a) the categories of people in receipt of cyclical social security, (b) the number of recipients in each category and (c) the total amount paid or forecast to be paid for each year between 1995 and 2002. [6809]

  Case Load (000s)

  Expenditure (£ million)

  Category

  1995–96

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Unemployed

  Unemployment benefit

  433

  1,102

  574

  0

  0

  0

  Income support

  1,656

  4,823

  2,212

  0

  0

  0

  Jobseeker's allowance—(contribution based)

  0

  0

  425

  619

  619

  626

  Jobseeker's allowance—(income based)

  0

  0

  2,414

  4,150

  3,848

  3,673

  Lone parents

  Income support

  1,060

  4,265

  4,205

  4,344

  4,363

  4,453

  Short-term sick

  Income support

  163

  364

  390

  446

  478

  509

  Long-term sick and disabled

  Income support

  808

  2,858

  2,984

  3,378

  3,723

  4,098

  Widows and others

  Income support

  251

  494

  531

  577

  608

  648

  Total cyclical social security

  4,236

  13,906

  13,736

  13,515

  13,638

  14,008

  1. Figures for expenditure have been taken from the 1997 social security departmental report, tables 1, 4 and 5, and are given in £ millions. Estimates of expenditure for the years 2000–01 and 2001–02 are not available.

  2. Figures for case load are based on data collected in February and are given in thousands. They are consistent with those given in tables 6 and 7 in the 1997 social security departmental report. Figures split by broad groups of recipients are not available for years after 1995–96 on the same basis. It is estimated that in 1995–96 135,000 people received both income support and unemployment benefit.

  3. Figures given may not sum due to rounding.

  4. Income support paid to a person aged 60 and above is treated as part of the social security control total—i.e. it is not cyclical social security—irrespective of whether that person would also fit one of the other categories listed in the table.

  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her Department's definition of cyclical social security. [6810]

  Mr. Bradley
  Cyclical social security is defined as the jobseeker's allowance and income support paid to people under the age of 60.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount paid out in housing benefit in(a) 1974, (b) 1979, (c) 1988, (d) 1992, (e) 1993, (f) 1994, (g) 1995 and (h) 1996. [6680]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Our objective is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives. We will develop a system that supports work, savings and honesty.

  The information is set out in the table:

  Housing Benefit expenditure

  £ million

  1974–75

  1237

  1979–80

  11,238

  1988–89

  3,763

  1992–93

  7,901

  1993–94

  9,213

  474
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Our objectives is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives. One of our first steps is to focus on helping people off welfare and into work.

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

  Housing Benefit expenditure

  £ million

  1994–95

  10,120

  1995–96

  10,885

  1996–97

  11,523

  1. The current housing benefit scheme was introduced in April 1988. The 1974–75 and 1979–80 figures are an approximation of the housing benefit expenditure component of supplementary benefit.

  2. Figures for 1988–89 to 1996–97 are taken from the 1997 DSS departmental report and show total expenditure paid by local authorities in the relevant years.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her 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 proected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7135]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The central information and technology unit, CITU, through its agent the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, CCTA, has set a model timetable and framework for Government Departments to follow to ensure that business-critical systems are year 2000 compliant and thoroughly tested well in advance of 2000. The Department is on course to meet this timetable.
  475
  The Department of Social Security has established a year 2000 project led by the Information Technology Services Agency, ITSA, to co-ordinate the extensive activity across DSS. An ITSA director, reporting to the chief executive, leads the work. There is a project manager and a core team of five staff to take the project forward within the CCTA-approved framework. In addition, each business unit has appointed co-ordinators and staff to work with the project which is working within the CCTA-approved framework for managing IT projects. The departmental board, chaired by the permanent secretary, is receiving regular reports on progress.

  The project is on schedule. The Department's main computer systems have now been fully analysed for year 2000 compliance and plans to complete the necessary changes are being implemented. All the major benefit and recording computer systems supporting the day-to-day delivery of social security will be amended by the end of 1998 to permit a full year's processing before 2000. Like any large organisation, the Department also makes full use of a wide range of personal computers and commercial software packages. We are working closely with external suppliers to assess the year 2000 compliance of these products and other non-IT areas.

  The total projected cost to the Department has been estimated at £30 million. A further review is to be carried out at the end of August 1997 to enable updated, costed plans to be produced in October.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to alter the assumption on income from capital in calculating council tax benefit from the current rate of £1 per week for each £250 held over £3,000. [7241]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 2 July,Official Report, columns 205–206.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households claimed family credit in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [7181]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. We will develop a system that supports work, savings and honesty. Our objective is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives.

  The information is in the table.

  Year

  Family credit case load

  November 1992

  458,800

  November 1993

  525,000

  November 1994

  584,300

  November 1995

  648,700

  November 1996

  725,300

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 cases.

  2. Figures relate to the family credit live case load at 30 November each year.
  476
  3. Case load represents the number of families receiving family credit. If a household contains more than one family receiving family credit—for example, lone parents in a shared household—that household would be counted more than once.

  4. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling error.

  Source:

  Analytical services division 5 per cent. sample of family credit awards.

  Members' Interests
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what occasions(a) Minister and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8057]

  Ms Harman
  The first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cm 2850, made it clear that, when Members are meeting Ministers or others on topics in which they have an interest, the onus is on the Member to declare that interest not the Minister to know—paragraph 63 of Cm 2850. It is not practicable for Ministers and officials, among their other duties, to vet requests for meetings against the Register of Members' Interests.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will ensure that(a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department refuse requests from hon. Members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8054]

  Ms Harman
  The first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cm 2850, recognised the value of enabling Members to retain interests outside the House, provided these were properly declared both in the Register of Members' Interests and on other occasions. Subject to these requirements, and to the rules of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, Members are free to seek meetings with Ministers and officials, who will consider such requests alongside the many other approaches from individuals and organisations concerned to press their own interests or those of others.

  Commercial Lobbyists
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates since 1 May(a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have met commercial lobbyists to discuss matters relating to the business of her Department; and if she will introduce a register of such meetings; [8055]

  (2) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have attended meetings with organisations representing (i) commercial and (ii) non-commercial interests organised by commercial lobbying firms; and if she will introduce a register of such meetings. [8056]

  Ms Harman
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 2 June,Official Report, column 99, Ministers and officials in the Department receive deputations from many groups who

  477
  are concerned to press their own interests or those of their clients, which Ministers and officials take due care to consider within the wider public interest and Government policy. As it is not practicable to distinguish particular groups as lobbyists, the Department cannot keep a register of such meetings.

  Uxbridge Benefits Agency
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will make a statement on the current proposals to move staff from the Uxbridge Benefits Agency office to the Harrow Benefits Agency office; [9332]

  (2) if she will extend the current consultation period for the proposed move of staff from the Uxbridge Benefits Agency office to the Harrow Benefits Agency office; and if she will make a statement; [9333]

  (3) what estimate she has made of the amount of money which will be saved by the transferral of Benefits Agency activities form the Uxbridge Benefits Agency office to the Harrow Benefits Agency office; and if she will make a statement. [9334]

  Mr. Field
  One of our key aims is that delivery of service should be simpler and more efficient. To maintain and improve the level of service while keeping within announced spending totals, managers are proposing to move the processing of benefits from the Benefits Agency office at Uxbridge to the Harrow office but, as the hon. Member will see, the Benefits Agency guarantees that the range of services offered to the public will be unaltered. Queries on operational mattes are for the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member directly and for his reply to be published with the answer.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mark Oaten, dated 18 July 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning the Benefits Agency (BA) offices at Harrow and Uxbridge.
  The BA is currently undertaking a reappraisal of its services and the way they are delivered, in order to maintain and improve the level of service whilst keeping within the spending targets that have been set for the next two years.
  The agency is committed to ensuring that people will get the help they need to claim the benefits they are entitled to. The Chilterns Area Directorate remains committed to providing a high level of service to its customers and equal access to the benefit system for all members of the public.
  It is proposed to move processing staff from Uxbridge to the Harrow site. The two offices are only 11 miles apart with excellent transport links. The range of services offered to the public will be unaltered. The BA would normally only consult with outside organisations in cases where there would be a significant change in services provided. In this case, in addition to consulting staff, outside organisations were consulted, as a matter of good practice. There are no plans therefore to extend the consultation period.
  Staff have been aware of the proposals since November 1996, they were disclosed to local customer organisations earlier this year and have also been reported in the local press. A letter was issued to local Members of Parliament and outside organisations on 9 July, asking for comments by 30 July, a copy of which is attached. All comments and representations will be taken in account before any decision is made.
  It is expected that by making better use of existing building space, this project will save £7.9 million of public money, based on a 20 year business case. In the first 5 years the savings will be on average £370k per year.
  478
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Text of consultation letter
  Dear
  I am writing to let you know about proposed changes to the way we process and maintain claims to benefit in the Harrow and Hillingdon offices.
  At this point I would like to reassure you that this would be an internal reorganisation and does not involve the closure of any public caller facilities.

  Current Position
  Until recently we have always had a full claims processing and claims maintenance operation at both Colham House, Uxbridge, and King's House, Harrow.
  However, when the new Job Seekers Allowance was introduced in October last year, we moved the processing and maintenance of claims for unemployed customers into the five local Job Centres. This is a more practical arrangement as it means that these customers can deal with both job search and benefits issues at the same time.
  With our staff now spread over seven sites (5 Job Centres and 2 Benefits Agency offices) the building space at Colham House and King's House is not being used efficiently, and I have to look at ways of rationalising our estate to make the best use of resources and to ensure value for money.

  Proposed Changes
  We propose to move all remaining processing and claims maintenance work from Colham House, Uxbridge to King's House, Harrow starting in November this year. There will be no change to the arrangements for personal callers who go to our Uxbridge office, and staff remaining at Colham House will be able to deal with all enquiries and make Crisis Loan payments as they do now.
  Advances in Information Technology allow us to process claims off-site, and staff are linked by computer terminals and a telephone network to allow them instant access to customer information to answer queries and give advice.
  As most of the contact we have with customers is by phone or correspondence, the changes would be largely invisible to your constituents. In fact we would expect to be able to raise the quality of the service we provide because of the increased viability gained from the merger of processing work into a larger unit.
  In the longer term I would also be looking to improve caller facilities at Uxbridge by vacating Colham House completely and moving to more suitable premises in the town centre.
  I am discussing these proposals with our staff and customer organisations. I welcome your views and would appreciate a response by 30 July 1997.
  I look forward to hearing from you.
  Yours sincerely
  Jane Manning (Mrs)

  Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her Department's review of the operation of the vaccine damage compensation scheme, with specific reference to(a) the 80 per cent. disability rule and (b) the six-year rule; and what groups and individuals her Department intends to consult in connection with the review. [8830]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Dawson) on 17 July,Official Report, column 242.

  Welfare to Work
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the number of single parents in Warrington, North who will benefit from the Government's welfare-to-work policy. [9212]
  479
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State today launched the historic new deal for lone parents, fulfilling the Government's manifesto commitment to help lone parents get off benefit and into work. In the first phase, up to 40,000 lone parents will be contacted over eight areas throughout the UK and offered help in finding work. Up to 4,300 lone parents will be contacted in north Cheshire, which includes Warrington, North. The programme will be rolled out nationally from October 1998.

  The new deal for lone parents marks a radical new approach to welfare and is central to our plans for long-term reform of the welfare state. A unique feature of the scheme is the use of new technology to help co-ordinate benefit, employment and career services. This will start in Cambridge and later roll out across the other areas. From today, lone parents will be given a helping hand up into work, not just a hand out of benefit. Lone parents on income support with school age children will get their own personal adviser who will help them develop
  480
  their own individual plan of action on job search, training and child care. The personal adviser will explain how the lone parent can be better off in work than on benefit and help them with family credit.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to re-examine the entitlement of persons receiving disability living allowance. [7148]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 7 July 1997]: Our aim is to restore confidence in the social security system by having systems which promote honesty and integrity and ensure that people are receiving their correct entitlement.

  Over the next two to three years, in addition to the normal maintenance of disability living allowance claims, the Benefits Agency will be making inquiries by post and through home visits of around 425,000 DLA recipients to establish whether the correct amount of benefit is being paid.

  Government Reviews
  Government Reviews
  Devolution Referendums: Guidance to Civil Servants
  Devolution Referendums: Guidance to Civil Servants
  Interest Rate Increase
  Interest Rate Increase
  Government Expenditure per Capita
  Government Expenditure per Capita
  Jobseeker's Allowance: Income-based Disentitlement
  Jobseeker's Allowance: Income-based Disentitlement
  State Pension: Reduced Rate Recipients
  State Pension: Reduced Rate Recipients
  Family Credit: Childcare Disregard
  Family Credit: Childcare Disregard
  Asylum Policy
  Asylum Policy
  Scarman Trust
  Scarman Trust
  Immigration, etc. Applications: Management
  Immigration, etc. Applications: Management
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: New Caseworking System
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: New Caseworking System
  Conventional Arms Export Licensing Criteria
  Conventional Arms Export Licensing Criteria
  Heathrow Express Check-in Facilities: Security
  Heathrow Express Check-in Facilities: Security
  London Bus Services
  London Bus Services
  Common Fisheries Policy: Consultation
  Common Fisheries Policy: Consultation
  Forestry Commission Land Sales
  Forestry Commission Land Sales
  Woodland Acreages: Increase
  Woodland Acreages: Increase
  Woodland Planting Grants
  Woodland Planting Grants
  Woodland Grant Scheme: Planting Density
  Woodland Grant Scheme: Planting Density
  Birch Varieties for Commercial Planting
  Birch Varieties for Commercial Planting
  Armed Forces: Overseas Service
  Armed Forces: Overseas Service
  Joint Services Command and Staff College
  Joint Services Command and Staff College
  Plutonium
  Plutonium
  Meat Product Imports from EU: Controls
  Meat Product Imports from EU: Controls
  Foodstuffs: Chemical Contamination
  Foodstuffs: Chemical Contamination
  Common Agricultural Policy
  Common Agricultural Policy