Written Answers of 4 June 1997

HEALTH

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means his Department makes available its publications in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1671]

  Mr. Boateng
  Publications for those with special needs, including people who are sensorily impaired, are generally distributed through agencies that have regular contact with such people. The Department sends mail shot samples and bulk orders on demand to these specialist agencies.

  This is backed up by distributions via public libraries, Citizen's Advice Bureaux and other advice centres, local authorities and patient waiting areas in family doctor surgeries and hospitals.

  Where an advertising campaign is associated with the topic concerned, the special versions of a publication may be offered through press advertisements. The publications are also available via the Department's literature response lines.

  The Department is in the process of building its own direct mail database which will allow precise targeting of agencies and individuals who will act as channels through which this kind of information can be passed to the end user.

  The Department's Internet site is being used increasingly to publicise the existence of its publications, including those for people 7with special needs, and additional publicity routes, such as public information kiosks, are currently being investigated.

  Examples of the types of publication available are given in the following list:

  TITLE/TYPE OF PUBLICATION

  Braille

  Patient's Charter (also available in audio cassette version)

  Practical Guide for Disabled People (HB6)

  NHS Reforms and You (also available in Moon and audio cassette versions)

  NHS Complaints—Listening, Asking, Improving

  Maternity Services—Patient Charter

  How to get the best from Maternity Services

  While You Are Pregnant—Safe Eating

  Audio cassette

  Health of the Nation

  How to get the best from Maternity Services

  While you Are Pregnant—Safe Eating

  Keep Well Keep Warm

  Practical Guide for Disabled People (HB6)

  NHS Complaints—Listening, Asking, Improving

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  Large print

  Keep Warm Keep Well (also available in audio cassette version)

  Practical Guide for Disabled People (HB6)

  Health and Well-Being: A Guide for Older People

  NHS Complaints—Listening, Asking, Improving

  While You Are Pregnant—Safe Eating

  General Osteopathic Council
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he took to comply with the consultation requirement of the Osteopaths Act 1993 in respect of the nomination of the General Osteopathic Council; [1836]

  (2) for what reason principals and vice-principals of osteopathic training institutions are excluded from membership of the General Osteopathic Council; and when the decision was made to exclude them; [1837]

  (3) if directors of companies engaged in the registration and training of osteopaths are excluded from membership of the General Osteopathic Council; and if he will make a statement. [1838]

  Ms Jowell
  The nominations exercise leading to the appointments of the Chairman and members of the first General Osteopathic Council was conducted by the previous administration.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Chairman of the General Osteopathic Council is a lay member; and if he will make a statement. [1776]

  Ms Jowell
  The Chairman of the General Osteopathic Council, Mr. Simon Fielding OBE, is one of the eight lay members of the Council. Under the transitional provisions of the Osteopaths Act 1993, a lay member of the initial Council is defined as 'a person not appearing to the Privy Council to be a practising osteopath'. Although originally qualified as an osteopath, Mr. Fielding has not been able to practise as an osteopath since September 1988, as a result of injuries sustained in a violent assault. Under the transitional provisions described above, he therefore qualified for appointment as lay member of the Council.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the composition of the General Osteopathic Council. [1834]

  Ms Jowell
  We have received several letters of support from osteopathic organisations for the Chairman and members of the new General Osteopathic Council, and expressing appreciation of their work towards full implementation of the Osteopaths Act.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make the General Osteopathic Council more representative of the profession. [1835]

  Ms Jowell
  The Osteopaths Act 1993 makes provision for 12 osteopathic members on the General Osteopathic Council. Arrangements to fill the current vacancy in the osteopathic membership of the Council will be commenced shortly.

  Neurological Damage
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the link between the E4 gene and increased risk of neurological damage; and if he will make a statement. [2116]
  173
  Mr. Boateng
  The APO E4 allelle is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, this risk is not absolute with only half of those with Alzheimer's disease having E4 and not everyone with E4 developing Alzheimer's. APO E4 is not the only risk factor associated with the disease. There is considerable medical research ongoing in this field including work sponsored by the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the key business targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 1997–98. [2255]

  Ms Jowell
  We have today placed a copy of the 1997–98 key business targets of the Medicines Control Agency in the Library. We shall, of course, be reviewing the Agency's plans and targets for the longer-term.

  Prisoners (HIV/AIDS)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what combination therapies are available for prisoners being treated for HIV/AIDS. [1155]

  Ms Jowell
  The issue of which therapies to prescribe in combination for individuals with HIV/AIDS is a matter for the treating clinician in consultation with the patient, and taking into account clinical circumstances. Clinical Guidelines outlining the circumstances in which combination therapies would be suitable have recently been published. They are "The British HIV Association Guidelines for Antiretroviral Treatment of HIV Seropositive Individuals", and "The PACT (National Association of Providers of AIDS Care and Treatment) Framework for Antiretroviral Therapy," copies of which are available in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those areas of the European convention on human rights which he proposes to incorporate into UK law; and if he will make a statement. [1580]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We propose to incorporate all the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the convention and the First Protocol to it. Some of the provisions in the Convention, such as those relating to the composition of the European Court of Human Rights, are purely procedural and therefore of no domestic relevance.

  Assisted Prison Visits
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was his Department's total expenditure on assisted prison visits for people in receipt of specified benefits for the latest year for which figures are available; how many individuals were assisted by such payments; and if he will make a statement. [1569]
  174
  Ms Joyce Quin
  The total cost of assisted visits to prisons in England and Wales for 1996–97 was £3,824,324.

  It is not possible to specify the actual number of individuals who received assistance. The Assisted Prisons Visits Unit computer system records only the number of claims forms received and paid (or rejected) but a person eligible for payment under the scheme is entitled to a maximum of 26 assisted prison visits each year.

  Huntingdon Life Sciences
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many visits were made between September and November 1996 by the Named Veterinary Surgeon appointed under section 6(5)(b) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to monitor the welfare of the beagle dogs kept in the Dog Toxicology Unit at Huntingdon Life Sciences; [1761]

  (2) on how many occasions between September and November 1996 the named day-to-day care person appointed under section 6(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to be responsible for the welfare of the protected animals being held in the Dog Toxicology Unit at Huntingdon Life Sciences, notified personal licence holders that they were concerned for the health or welfare of an animal, in accordance with the procedure laid down in section 6(6)(a) of the Act. [1762]

  Mr. George Howarth
  These figures are not recorded.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which are currently valid at Huntingdon Life Sciences cover procedures classified as being of(a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) substantial severity. [1765]

  Mr. Howarth
  Nineteen of the current licences are rated as mild, 27 as moderate and two as substantial. The classification of individual procedures is not recorded on the central database.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to carry out scientific procedures at Huntingdon Life Sciences were subject to the scrutiny of the Animal Procedures Committee. [1763]

  Mr. Howarth
  Two of the current licences were considered by the Animal Procedures Committee prior to granting.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the project licences authorising the carrying-out of scientific procedures at Huntingdon Life Sciences have been issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [1764]

  Mr. Howarth
  There are currently 48 project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 at that establishment.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions between September and November 1996 the Home Office Inspectorate visited Huntingdon Life Sciences, under section 18(2) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; how many of these visits were to monitor scientific procedures in the
  175
  Dog Toxicology Unit; what reports were made to him in accordance with section 18(2)(e); and how many animals were considered to be undergoing excessive suffering and dealt with in accordance with the procedure laid down in section 18(3) of the Act following these visits. [1760]

  Mr. Howarth
  Six inspectorate visits were made to the establishment in that period. Dog Toxicology Units were visited on three occasions; on two of these, the performance of regulated procedures was observed. One visit involved two Inspectors.

  Reports on each of these visits were produced and forwarded to the Chief Inspector.

  No excessive suffering, requiring animals to be put down, was observed.

  Dogs (Scientific Procedures)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds an exemption was granted under section 10(3) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to allow the use of non-purpose bred dogs in scientific procedures in 1995. [1740]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The grounds were that suitable dogs were not available from designated sources.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the source and breed of the 66 non-purpose bred dogs acquired from non-designated sources in the United Kingdom used in scientific procedures in 1995. [1741]

  Mr. Howarth
  The dogs were provided by their owners who gave informed consent. A range of crossbred and pedigree animals was used.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means his Department makes available its publications in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1683]

  Mr. Straw
  For all publications, consideration is given at an early stage to the needs of the blind and partially sighted.

  My Department has produced the fire safety publication `Fire Safety in the Home' in Braille, on audio tape and in large print. These are publicised in a catalogue made available to all fire brigades in England and Wales which can order supplies for free distribution to the public. Copies have also been supplied to the Royal National Institute for the Blind for distribution on request.

  Audio cassette versions of 'Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention' and 'Domestic Violence—Don't Stand For It' have been produced. These are publicised in a catalogue sent to all Crime Prevention Officers in England and Wales, through whom copies are made freely available to the public.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections were carried out by his Department's inspectors under the 176
  Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 at each of the Ministry of Defence establishments conducting animal experiments under the Act in each year since 1993. [1877]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Two Ministry of Defence establishments are designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In each respective year since 1993, the Inspectorate has carried out three, two, six and five visits to one establishment and seven, six, 13 and 13 to the other. In the first five months of 1997, one and four visits (respectively) have been carried out.

  Mr. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances reports arising from Home Office inspections under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are available to the public. [1878]

  Mr. Howarth
  The role of the Inspectorate is to advise the Secretary of State. Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prohibits the publication of any information which has been given in confidence. Reports from visits of inspection are not therefore made public.

PRIME MINISTER

  National Competitiveness
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he will be taking to improve national competitiveness. [557]

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, has set out today our plans for a competitive economy.

  1. We will ensure that our workforce is equipped with the skills necessary in a modern, competitive economy.

  2. We will reform Britain's competition laws because we know more competitive markets are a spur to firms to become more competitive.

  3. We will cut unnecessary "red tape" and simplify government to reduce burdens on business.

  4. We will legislate on late payment because we know late payment hurts small firms and thriving small firms will be the foundation of a more competitive Britain.

  5. We will set a deadline for the completion of Europe's Single Market, clearing away trade barriers and unfair state aids, to give Britain's business access to the world's largest market.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 706, if his words mean that no one on his behalf gave an indication that British Telecom would not be included in the windfall tax. [1707]

  The Prime Minister
  No undertakings have been given to any individual company.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  United Nations (Dues in Arrears)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which are currently in arrears with their dues to the United Nations; and if he will make a statement. [1883]
  177
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  On 30 April 1997, 79 Member States owed assessed contributions for prior years to the UN regular budget. These Member States are listed below. We urge all Member States to follow the UK example and pay their UN dues promptly and in full, in accordance with their legal obligation to do so.

  Member States with outstanding contributions for prior years to the UN regular budget at 30 April 1997

  Afghanistan

  Angola

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Argentina

  Armenia

  Azerbaijan

  Belarus

  Bolivia

  Bosnia and Herzegovina

  Brazil

  Bulgaria

  Burundi

  Cameroon

  Cape Verde

  Chad

  Central African Republic

  Comoros

  Congo

  Costa Rica

  Croatia

  Cuba

  Djibouti

  Dominica

  Ecuador

  Equatorial Guinea

  Estonia

  Gabon

  Gambia

  Georgia

  Grenada

  Guatemala

  Guinea

  Guinea Bissau

  Guyana

  Haiti

  Honduras

  Iran (Islamic Republic of)

  Iraq

  Israel

  Kazakstan

  Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)

  Kyrgyzstan

  Latvia

  Liberia

  Lithuania

  Macedonia (The Former Yugoslav Republic)

  Madagascar

  Malawi

  Mali

  178

  Mauritania

  Moldova (Republic of)

  Nicaragua

  Niger

  Peru

  Qatar

  Romania

  Rwanda

  Saint Kitts and Nevis

  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  Sao Tome and Principe

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  Solomon Islands

  Somalia

  Sudan

  Suriname

  Swaziland

  Tajikistan

  Togo

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Turkmenistan

  Ukraine

  United States of America

  Uruguay

  Uzbekistan

  Vanuatu

  Venezuela

  Yemen

  Yugoslavia

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her plans to promote competitiveness. [2121]

  Mrs. Beckett
  As a first step, I intend to publish an audit of the UK's competitiveness to provide an objective benchmark of how well the UK is performing in every factor of competitiveness.

  This will be followed by a period of extensive consultation with people who play a leading role in business, beginning with a Competitiveness Summit in July.

  I am also setting up an Advisory Group on competitiveness, which I will chair and which will comprise leading business figures, people from small firms and representatives of the workforce. This Group will be assisted by a number of working groups which will examine specific aspects of competitiveness. Its remit will be to report to me on all aspects of the competitiveness agenda, including giving advice on policy development for a White Paper on Competitiveness to be published early next year.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the representations she has received from the small business sector regarding the implications of a statutory national minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [846]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  A majority of members at the annual conference of the Federation of Small Businesses recently voted for a motion in support of the National Minimum Wage. The independent Low Pay Commission will undertake a wide ranging consultation exercise seeking the views of employers, including small businesses, on the National Minimum Wage and related issues.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will use the Treasury model to estimate the impact on employment of the introduction of a statutory national minimum wage at(a) £4.00 per hour, (b) £4.25 per hour and (c) £4.60 per hour; and if she will make a statement. [845]

  Mr. McCartney
  We will ask the independent Low Pay Commission, before it reaches a recommendation on the level at which the National Minimum Wage might be set, to take into account all the economic circumstances, including its likely impact. Any model will be sensitive to the assumptions put into it and I will not speculate about the possible effects of hypothetical levels before the Commission has had a chance to consider the issues.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to advise the Low Pay Commission to consider a regional element to the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [1278]

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 3 June 1997]: The Government has made clear its intention to introduce a National Minimum Wage.

  ECGD
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the amounts of ECGD exposure in each member country of the present Gulf Co-operation Council in each year since 1983. [1344]

  Mrs. Roche
  ECGD is currently in the process of migrating its business database to a new computer system and for this reason exposure figures can be provided immediately for the last two years only:

  Amounts at risk

  £ million

  31 March 1996

  31 March 1997

  Saudi Arabia

  976

  976

  UAE

  270

  148

  Bahrain

  179

  167

  Qatar

  362

  544

  Oman

  677

  603

  Kuwait

  509

  348

  I shall write to my hon. Friend with fuller details next month and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the total outstanding sum of ECGD(a) exposure and (b) amounts (i) recovered, (ii) not
  180
  recovered, (iii) written off and (iv) rescheduled in each year since 1987–88 for (A) Iraq, (B) Jordan and (C) Nigeria. [1343]

  Mrs. Roche
  ECGD is currently in the process of migrating its business database to a new computer system and for this reason I am not immediately in a position to provide the details my hon. Friend has requested.

  These details will be available next month and I will write to my hon. Friend with them as soon as possible thereafter and place a copy in the Library of the House.

TREASURY

  Retail Prices Index (Scotland)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will produce a retail prices index for Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [1581]

  Mrs. Liddell
  There are no plans to produce an RPI for Scotland.

  Windfall tax
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider imposing a windfall tax when Green Belt land is rezoned for development; and if he will make a statement about the removal of incentives for the owners of such land to seek such rezoning. [1888]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  It would not be appropriate to comment on any possible tax changes during the run up to the Budget.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the United States/United Kingdom Tax Treaty and Totalisator Agreement on the payment of a windfall tax by United States entities; with which other countries similar agreements exist; and if he will make a statement. [1736]

  Mr. Robinson
  The treatment under the United States/United Kingdom Tax Treaty and Totalisation Agreement of a windfall tax paid by United Kingdom companies can be determined only when the details of the tax are announced and can be considered by the United States authorities. The United Kingdom has similar tax treaties with around 100 other countries worldwide. I understand that the Totalisation Agreement concerns social security matters which do not appear relevant to a windfall tax.

  No. 11 Downing Street (Catering)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in respect of the contractual arrangements for catering for No. 11 Downing Street. [1468]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  There are no contractual arrangements for catering at No. 11, as the choice of caterers used is a matter of personal preference. Those used at official functions are security cleared and chosen by officials. Organisers of non-official functions are also strongly advised to use caterers with security clearance.

  Fuel (VAT)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimated average savings per week produced by the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. for(a) the average household, (b) those in the lowest decile of income distribution, (c) those in the highest decile of income distribution and (d) old age pensioners. [1880]

  Ms Primarolo
  A reduction in VAT on domestic fuel and power from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. would result in estimated savings in 1997–98 of about:

  35p per week for the average household; and

  35p and 40p per week for those in the lowest and highest deciles respectively. The deciles are based on net income adjusted for household size.

  30p per week for households with a pensioner head.

  Additional Voluntary Contributions
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to allow the holders of additional voluntary contributions to delay receiving their annuity from additional voluntary contributions beyond their retirement; and if he will make a statement. [1802]

  Ms Primarolo
  The payment of benefit from additional voluntary contributions is under review.

  Political and Personal Appointments
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many political and personal appointments he has made; and at what cost to public funds. [1116]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Treasury Ministers have appointed four Special Advisers to be paid from public funds. No salaries have yet been agreed. I will write to the right hon. and learned Member with information about the cost to public funds at a later date.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which lead indicators the Treasury evaluated in March 1997 in determining whether interest rates should be eased, tightened or remain the same. [1873]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 2 June 1997]: The minutes of the Monthly Monetary Meeting held on 5 March between the previous Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England were published on 23 April 1997.

  Monetary Policy
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 20 May,Official Report, column 508, (1) what is his definition (a) descriptively and (b) numerically of price stability; [1861]

  (2) over what time scale the Bank of England will be expected to achieve new inflation targets when they are set. [1870]
  182
  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 2 June 1997]: The Chancellor will set out the Government's approach to monetary policy in his Mansion House speech on 12 June.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 20 May,Official Report, column 508, what factors could prejudice the Bank of England's ability to achieve price stability whilst supporting the Government's economic policy. [1862]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 2 June 1997]: The Government believe that low inflation is an essential precondition for high and stable levels of growth and employment. However, as we have seen over the past 18 years, excessively loose monetary policies have encouraged short but unsustainable booms, followed by higher inflation, recessions and unemployment. The Chancellor will set out the Government's approach to monetary policy in his Mansion House speech on 12 June.

  European Union Grants
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum provided in grants, loans and subsidies to the United Kingdom over the past five years from the European Union; and what part of the total was given to bodies within the borough of Southend on Sea. [1692]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 2 June 1997]: The United Kingdom's total public sector receipts from the European Community, together with details of grants from the European Coal and Steel Community, for the financial years 1992–93 to 1996–97 are set out in the following table:

  £ million

  Public sector receipts

  ECSC grants

  1992–93

  2,810

  47

  1993–94

  3,865

  13

  1994–95

  3,603

  42

  1995–96

  3,783

  51

  1996–97

  4,542

  28

  In addition to public sector receipts there are certain receipts, for research and development, which are mainly paid direct to the private sector and are not covered here.

  European Investment Bank loans to projects within the United Kingdom over the period 1992 to 1995 were as follows:

  1992: £1.80 million

  1993: £1.50 million

  1994: £1.92 million

  1995: £1.87 million

  Information on 1996 is not yet available.

  I regret that information is not available on how much of these receipts, grants and loans went to recipients in Southend on Sea.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the average percentage reduction in household income which would result from the withdrawal of mortgage interest relief for home-owning households with income in each of the ten deciles of household income. [1852]

  Ms Primarolo
  [holding answer 2 June 1997]: Information for 1997–98 is given in the table. The estimates are based on information projected from the 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey and are therefore provisional.

  Average percentage reduction in households income1 as a result of withdrawing mortgage interest relief

  Household income decile group

  Average percentage reduction for households with a mortgage

  Lowest ten per cent.

  2—

  Second

  1.3

  Third

  1.6

  Fourth

  1.9

  Fifth

  1.9

  Sixth

  1.6

  Seventh

  1.4

  Eighth

  1.2

  Ninth

  0.9

  Highest ten per cent.

  0.7

  1 Household income is defined as income from all sources less income tax payments and National Insurance Contributions.

  2 Insufficient data to provide a reliable estimate.

DEFENCE

  Armed Services (Redundancies)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women were made redundant in the armed services in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [1884]

  Dr. John Reid
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Departmental Computer Systems
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to ensure that his Department's computer systems will be millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [1252]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since early last year the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been embarked on a programme to tackle the Year 2000 problem across all aspects of Defence, from routine support systems through to front line operational equipment.

  My Department is managing its Year 2000 programme under the auspices of guidelines set by the Cabinet Office IT Unit (CITU) and is working closely with the Government Centre for Information Systems (CCTA) as a member of its Year 2000 Public Sector Group. Guidance which details the actions that need to be taken has been made widely available within the Department. All candidate systems are being surveyed and any necessary corrective action is being planned/undertaken. To ensure that suitable skilled resources are available without delay, "enabling" contracts have been placed with a number of companies.
  184
  An MOD Steering Committee has been established to oversee the programme with representation covering the breadth of the Department. In addition, a central help desk is operating successfully and an extensive awareness campaign is being mounted across my Department, with the aim of engaging the commitment of everyone in ensuring that all Defence systems are Year 2000 compliant before the 31 December, 1999.

  MOD Homes (Isle of Wight)
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the homes owned by his Department on the Isle of Wight are currently empty. [1773]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department has just one house on the Isle of Wight and this is underleased from Annington Homes Ltd. The house is presently occupied.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Unemployment (Young People)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his policy towards unemployed young people; and what will be the maximum period of being out of education and training yet seeking work which will not count as unemployment. [1646]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Our policy is to help young people gain the skills and experience they need to enable them to find and sustain employment.

  The precise way in which measures of unemployment and labour market activity should be treated as the subject of public consultation by the Office for National Statistics.

  Unemployment Benefit Disqualifications
  Mr. Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many unemployed claimants for the north London district of the Employment Service have(a) been issued with warning letters for not actively seeking work, (b) had their claim referred to an adjudicating officer for not actively seeking work, (c) had their claims allowed or disallowed for not actively seeking work and (d) had their claim referred to an adjudicating officer for refusing suitable employment; and how many of those in (d) have had their benefit (i) disqualified and (ii) not disqualified in each year since 1989; [828]

  (2) how many employers have participated in job interview guarantee work trials in respect of the north London district of the Employment Service in each year since 1991; how many claimants have participated in such work trials; how many claimants are currently participating in work trials; and how many participants have obtained full-time employment with their work trial employer; [829]

  (3) how many people have joined job clubs in each year since 1991 in respect of the north London district of the Employment Service; how many have left; how many leavers obtained jobs; what were the other outcomes of leavers broken down by (a) ethnic origin and (b) gender; and if he will make a statement; [830]
  185
  (4) how many unemployed people have been referred to (a) restart courses, (b) jobplan workshops, and (c) workwise courses, by Employment Service counsellors in the north London district of the Employment Service in each year since 1991; how many attended and completed the course; what were the outcomes of the participants; how many had benefit penalties imposed for (1) not attending and (2) failing to complete their attendance at the workshops or courses; and if he will make a statement; [831]

  (5) if he will list the (a) gender, (b) duration of unemployment and (c) ethnic origin of those who have entered Training for Work; and if he will indicate whether they have a disability (i) in respect of (1) the North London training and enterprise council and (2) the London region and (ii) in total; [832]

  (6) how many income support and unemployment benefit claimants for the north London district covering the London borough of Haringey have (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully claimed income support under the hardship rules in each year since 1989, showing those whose claim was in doubt due to (a) not actively seeking work, (b) refusing suitable employment, (c) availability for work and (d) not attending a restart course, a jobplan workshop or a workwise course; and if he will make a statement; [833]

  (7) how many people have attended a restart interview in each year since 1991 in respect of the north London district of the Employment Service; and what were the results of those interviews broken down in the same way as the answer of 18 December 1990, Official Report, column 148. [834]

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

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Bernie Grant, dated 4 June 1997:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions requesting various statistics about the North London District of the Employment Service. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  You asked a number of questions about our North London District and I thought it would be helpful if I answered them in turn in one reply.
  It may help if I first of all explain that North London District was created as part of the boundary review, which saw the introduction of the district structure to the Employment Service, in April 1994. This and the fact that we only keep information regionally for three years unfortunately means that we can only provide the material you require going back to 1994. However, I hope the data given below is helpful.
  I should explain that the information on number of warning letters issued to job seekers for not actively seeking employment is not recorded. It may, however, be helpful to explain that since August 1992 it has not been a requirement for warning letters to be issued in every case of inadequate job search. Since this date warning letters have only been issued if Jobcentre staff consider a job seeker genuinely not to have understood what was required of them. The number of referrals to Adjudication Officers for not Actively Seeking Employment and for Refusal of Employment have only been recorded since April this year. Prior to this only the number of decisions made were recorded.
  186
  The following table shows the information available in respect of Actively Seeking Employment and Refusal of Employment in our North London District since 1994.

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Actively seeking employment

  Decisions made

  244

  413

  462

  Allowances

  29

  56

  56

  Disallowances

  215

  357

  406

  Refusal of employment

  Decisions made

  47

  288

  247

  Allowances

  13

  61

  53

  Disallowances

  34

  227

  194

  In relation to your question about Job Interview Guarantee Work Trials, it may help if I explain that Work Trials were established as a separate programme from the Job Interview Guarantee scheme in April 1993. The table below shows the number of Work Trials and subsequent job placings in the North London District since 1994. I should explain that we do not record the number of employers that participate in Work Trials, only the actual number that takes place.

  Work trials

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Number of work trials

  226

  427

  420

  Number gaining employment

  125

  227

  189

  The following table shows the information on Jobclubs you requested for the North London District since April 1994. We do not record information on leavers broken down by gender and ethnic origin.

  Jobclub

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Number of starts in period

  6,502

  5,624

  3,421

  Number of leavers in period

  5,975

  6,081

  3,377

  Job entries

  2,746

  2,237

  1,069

  Referred to other programmes

  —

  —

  137

  Other outcomes

  787

  842

  139

  Total positive outcomes

  3,533

  3,079

  1,345

  Restart

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Number of referrals

  5,057

  4,189

  3,150

  Number of starts

  2,560

  1,935

  1,556

  Number of completers

  2,222

  1,665

  1,310

  Job entries

  —

  55

  45

  Referred to other programmes

  —

  531

  421

  Other outcomes

  —

  124

  143

  Total positive outcomes

  532

  710

  609

  Cases referred to BA

  —

  358

  149

  Workwise

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Number of referrals

  1,005

  802

  Number of starts

  384

  246

  Number of completers

  284

  163

  Job entries

  34

  14

  Referred to other programmes

  100

  90

  Other outcomes

  32

  18

  Total positive outcomes

  166

  122

  Cases referred to BA

  92

  17

  NB: The difference between "starts" and "completers" arises because some people leave Jobplan, Restart or Workwise courses prior to completion.
  187
  The statistical data you asked for in relation to the number of people attending Restart interviews and their results are detailed in the table below. You asked for the results to be broken down in the same way as the Answer of 18 December 1990, Official Report, column 148. It may help if I explain that the range of employment and training opportunities offered has altered and increased since 1991. Training for Work has replaced the Employment Training programme, and the Enterprise Allowance scheme, has been replaced by Business Start-up. The numbers shown for Business Start-up reflect the actual number of people who have opted for self-employment whereas, under the Enterprise Allowance scheme the number of people attending a seminar was measured.
  It may help if I explain how the figures above are made up. In the year 1994/95 for example, 6,502 people went into Jobclubs in North London and 5,975 left of which 2,746 went into jobs and 787 into "other outcomes": ie there were 3,533 positive outcomes in total. However, it does not follow that the other 2,442 simply left Jobclubs and returned to unemployment. The Employment Service is only allowed to score as results people who leave a programme and find a job within 13 weeks of their time on the programme ending. People who have been in Jobclubs may well find jobs shortly after that, because their experience in the Jobclub has helped them improve their employability, but in such cases these would not be included in our Jobclub figures.
  You asked for similar information about Jobplan, Restart and Workwise courses. It may help if I explain that although we keep records of the number of referrals made to the Benefits Agency where clients fail to attend or complete courses we do not keep records on the outcome of these referrals. I should also explain that we did not keep records of the number of referrals made to the Benefits Agency in 1994/95 and that in 1996/97 we only recorded the number of referrals made up to the end of September prior to the introduction of JSA. Subject to that, the tables below show the information that you requested for the North London District since 1994. You will want to note that the Workwise programme was not introduced until April 1995.

  Jobplan

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Number of referrals

  10,239

  6,998

  5,026

  Number of starts

  4,866

  3,124

  2,371

  Number of completers

  4,518

  2,836

  2,168

  Job entries

  —

  94

  146

  Referred to other programmes

  —

  1,023

  707

  April-September

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996

  IS (Gen) Reg 8(3) hardship decisions

  Awarded

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  Refused

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  IS (Gen) Reg 10A(2) hardship decisions

  Awarded

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Refused

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Jobplan

  40 per cent, reduction

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  387

  235

  37

  20 per cent, reduction

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  26

  5

  0

  No reduction

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  102

  161

  69

  Restart

  40 per cent, reduction

  1

  0

  95

  304

  126

  32

  20 per cent, reduction

  0

  0

  15

  24

  2

  4

  No reduction

  0

  0

  45

  65

  71

  29

  Workwise

  40 per cent, reduction

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2

  61

  15

  20 per cent, reduction

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  25

  1

  2

  No reduction

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  12

  9

  I hope this information is helpful.

  188

  Jobplan

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Other outcomes

  —

  219

  229

  Total positive outcomes

  1,406

  1,336

  1,082

  Cases referred to BA

  —

  694

  303

  Restart interviews

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Number of interviews

  68,201

  50,031

  48,090

  Outcomes

  (a) Job placings

  398

  788

  1,196

  (b) Training for work

  2,037

  1,810

  1,542

  (c) Jobclub

  6,150

  4,861

  2,246

  (d) Restart course

  2,7001

  1,618

  1,322

  (e) Business start-up

  142

  29

  46

  You asked for details about the numbers of clients applying for Income Support under the hardship rules. It may help if I explain that this is the responsibility of the Benefits Agency, who have provided the table overleaf which provides most of the information you asked for. I understand from the Benefits Agency that they do not keep records of the number of Income Support hardship claims for clients who refused suitable employment. This information may be included in the data relating to availability for work and those not actively seeking work.
  When studying the table you will need to take the following points into consideration:
  1. Income Support (General) Regulation 8(3) relates to a person who is not treated as available for employment and the Adjudication Officer is satisfied that, unless Income Support is paid, the claimant or member of his family (if any) will suffer hardship.
  2. Income Support (General) Regulation 10A(2) relates to a person who is not required to be actively seeking employment and is either pregnant, or one member of a couple is pregnant, is responsible for a child or young person or receives the disability premium and the Adjudication Officer is satisfied that, unless Income Support is paid, the claimant or a member of his family (if any) will suffer hardship.
  3. Prior to April 1994 data was collated jointly for Restart and Jobplan.
  4. Information has been provided by the BA's Central Data Unit and is subject to amendment.

  Class Sizes
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the way in which pupil:teacher ratios and class sizes are currently calculated by his Department. [1538]

  Mr. Byers
  The pupil:teacher ratios (PTRs) within schools are calculated by dividing the total number of pupils on school registers (counting each part-time pupil as 0.5) by the total number of qualified teachers (adjusted to reflect the part-time working of some teachers).

  Class sizes are calculated by dividing the numbers of pupils being taught together in classes at a particular point in the school timetable by the number of teachers, qualified or unqualified, deployed in such classes. Average class sizes are normally calculated for those classes involving only one teacher.

  Both measures are derived from information collected from the annual count of pupils and teachers in schools in January each year.

  Assisted Places
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places, at which schools and at what cost were provided under the assisted places scheme in Northamptonshire in(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [1808]

  Mr. Byers
  The number of assisted places taken up and the cost of those places for each participating school in Northamptonshire in academic years 1995–96 and 1996–97 are given in the following table:

  Assisted places schemes: Northamptonshire

  School name

  Academic year

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Laxton (Oundle) School

  Number of assisted pupils

  8

  8

  Cost of places £000s

  20

  20

  Northampton High School for Girls

  Number of assisted pupils

  168

  174

  Cost of places £000s

  564

  628

  Wellingborough School

  Number of assisted pupils

  65

  71

  Cost of places £000s

  277

  301

  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places, at what schools and at what cost were provided under the assisted places scheme in Derbyshire in 1995–96 and 1996–97. [1534]

  Mr. Byers
  The number of assisted places taken up and the cost of those places for each participating school in Derbyshire in academic years 1995–96 and 1996–97 are given in the following table:

  Assisted places scheme: Derbyshire

  Academic year

  School name

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Derby High School

  Number of assisted pupils

  30

  39

  Cost of places £000s

  98

  141

  190

  Assisted places scheme: Derbyshire

  Academic year

  School name

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Mount St. Mary's College

  Number of assisted pupils

  71

  68

  Cost of places £000s

  309

  294

  Repton School

  Number of assisted pupils

  64

  73

  Cost of places £000s

  429

  512

  Trent College

  Number of assisted pupils

  137

  136

  Cost of places £000s

  608

  636

  Disability
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if he will make a statement. [1682]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Our manifesto commits us to establishing "comprehensive, enforceable civil rights for disabled people against discrimination in society or at work, developed in partnership with all interested parties." We shall be consulting widely and developing our proposals in partnership with disability organisations, employers, employers organisations, trade unions and others. An essential issue will be the definition of disability. It is not appropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of that consultation.

  Nursery Places (Dorset)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure the provision of nursery places for children in Dorset who would have been eligible for nursery vouchers in the September term 1997. [1777]

  Mr. Byers
  All Local Education Authorities in England have been invited to submit an interim Early Years Development Plan to secure places for all eligible four year olds in their area for the period until April 1998. LEAs will be expected to consult and co-operate with the private and voluntary sectors in these arrangements.

  Where interim Early Years Development Plans are approved, recognised places in all sectors filled by eligible four year olds will be funded by grant provided by the Secretary of State. Where LEAs are unable to bring forward an acceptable interim plan, recognised places chosen by parents in the private and voluntary sectors will be funded by grant from the Secretary of State by reference to certificates of eligibility issued to those parents.

  Teaching Redundancies
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teaching redundancies are expected in each local education authority at the end of the present academic year; how many there were in each local education authority in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [1370]

  Mr. Byers
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Newly Qualified Teachers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many newly qualified teachers failed to gain employment on leaving college in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [1371]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows the number of students who successfully completed initial teacher training and their employment status at 31 March in the year after completion, for the most recent years available.

  Position of BEd and PGCE completers at 31 March following calendar year of completion2

  Calendar year of completion

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Total completers in England and Wales

  15,830

  17,300

  20,700

  23,340

  25,440

  In service3 at 31 March of year following completion in England and Wales:

  Maintained schools

  12,080

  13,240

  14,550

  16,240

  17,290

  Other service4

  520

  460

  750

  880

  980

  Never in service1 in England and Wales

  3,160

  3,520

  5,320

  6,150

  7,110

  Source:

  DfEE, Database of Teacher Records.

  Notes:

  1 The position at 31 March in the year after completion comes from service records collected for the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (TSS). Qualified students who obtain a teaching appointment in an institution that is not covered by the TSS are shown as "never in service". For example, those who take up appointments in the "old" university sector, in the independent sector without TSS membership, or outside England and Wales.

  2 A considerable number of newly qualified teachers take a year or more before starting teaching. Data from teachers qualifying in 1993 indicate that around 8 per cent. were not in service in March 1994, but were in service one year later.

  3 Including less than 100 teachers who entered service following completion of ITT who had already left by 31 March of the year following completion.

  4 Any other sector or institutions with TSS membership, eg some independent schools, further education.

  Office for Standards in Education Reports
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make available hard copies of Ofsted reports to(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [2139]

  Mr. Byers
  At present each inspected school is responsible for making its Ofsted inspection report available to parents and others. Each report is freely accessible on the internet. Hon. Members can obtain hard copies through the Library.

  Primary Class Sizes
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority in England and Wales how many classes for five to seven-year-olds had more than 30 children as at Easter 1997. [2219]

  Mr. Byers
  Information on class sizes for local education authorities in England is not available in the form requested.
  192
  Information on class sizes for local education authorities in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Open Government
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to increase openness in government. [527]

  Dr. David Clark
  In our manifesto, the Government were clear in their commitment to the regeneration of our democratic process. Central to that is the White Paper on New Government I announced yesterday.

  This will set out how we will deliver accountable, accessible, responsive and efficient Government.

  These proposals alongside our Freedom of Information Act will bring an agenda of openness to our system of Government at all levels.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to introduce a freedom of information Bill; and if he will make a statement. [533]

  Dr. Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend, the Member for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones).

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish his proposals relating to freedom of information. [535]

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to promote open government. [538]

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his proposals in respect of open government. [540]

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what initiatives he is taking to promote open government. [541]

  Dr. Clark
  I refer hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson).

  Quangos
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what timetable he proposes for(a) reducing the number of quangos and (b) making the remaining quangos more democratic. [531]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Government propose to undertake a review of quangos with a view to reducing their numbers. The issue of making the remainder more democratic will be addressed in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on Better Government, announced yesterday by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Freedom of Information (Commercial Confidentiality)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to ensure that issues of commercial confidentiality do not restrict the scope of freedom of information legislation. [536]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Provision to protect genuine commercial confidentiality is necessary in freedom of information legislation but this must be kept to the minimum consistent with the public interest in openness.

  Government Departments (Electronic Access)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to introduce greater electronic access by citizens to Government Departments. [539]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Government are determined to use the tremendous potential of IT to bring government closer to the people and provide them with a more direct and accessible service for the 21st century.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will meet representatives of civil service unions to discuss conditions of service. [542]

  Dr. David Clark
  I have already met civil service union representatives and morale and conditions of service were among the issues raised.

  Government Agencies
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to review the relationship of Government agencies with(a) Government Departments, (b) Ministers and (c) Parliament. [543]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  In the first instance, it is for the Minister responsible for each particular agency to keep these important relationships in good order but we are considering whether there are any matters of general application that need to be addressed. We will do this in the context of our commitment to modernising Government services and making them more responsive.

  Government Appointments
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what new procedures he proposes for the appointment to paid posts nominated by the Government. [544]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Government will continue to support the principle of selection based on merit. Ministerial appointments to executive non-departmental public bodies and NHS bodies have been subject to the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice since 1 July 1996. The Government will be considering with the Commissioner whether his remit should be extended to other public bodies.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his policy towards deregulation. [545]
  194
  Dr. David Clark
  Our aim is to create the economic conditions in which business can flourish. We want to modernise Government for business—particularly small firms—and citizens. That is why we have undertaken to cut unnecessary red tape and not to impose burdensome new regulations.

  Scottish Devolution
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what role he has in relation to Her Majesty's Government's proposals for Scottish devolution. [546]

  Dr. David Clark
  I will take part in collective discussion of the issues with my colleagues, especially in relation to those issues which fall within my departmental responsibilities.

  Internet
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he intends to continue to implement government.direct. [532]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Green Paper government.direct contained many good ideas. The Government will harness the power of IT to bring government closer to the people and provide better services for everybody. We will consult interested parties on a range of ideas for taking this forward, including those in government.direct and the paper responding to the initial comments on it.

  Civil Service (Staff Morale)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to meet representatives of the civil service unions to discuss staff morale. [537]

  Dr. David Clark
  I have already met civil service union representatives and morale and conditions of service were among the issues raised.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Civil Service (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals she has to increase the number of ethnic minority employees in her Department. [739]

  Mr. Field
  The Department supports the Cabinet Office Programme for Action on Race and is fully committed to developing a culturally diverse workforce. Its recruitment procedures are designed to encourage people from ethnic backgrounds to be successful in job applications. Recruitment is by fair and open competition and selection is based on merit. Advertisements are placed in the ethnic minority press and with Local Racial Equality Councils and we also undertake outreach projects. Recruitment exercises are monitored to ensure equal treatment for all applicants and to ensure that those involved in the monitoring process have all received equal opportunities awareness training.

  In addition the Department sponsors 20 Windsor fellows a year, which is an opportunity for ethnic minority undergraduates to undertake work placements within the DSS.

  Long-term Unemployment
  Mr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to review the working of current rules governing the consequences of long-term unemployed people obtaining temporary work and then returning to benefits; and if she will make a statement.[840]

  Mr. Field
  Our New Deal measures will offer new opportunities to the long-term unemployed of all ages. Employers who take on long-term unemployed people aged over 25 will receive a subsidy of £75 per week, and the employee will receive an opportunity to demonstrate both their existing skills and their potential for acquiring new ones.

  Over the next few months we shall be looking closely at all the features of the benefit system which might have an impact on work incentives.

  Appeals Tribunal
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the existing operation of appeals tribunals for applicants to(a) the jobseekers allowance and (b) incapacity benefit. [858]

  Mr. Bradley
  We intend to bring forward legislation to improve current decision making and appeals arrangements for all social security benefits. Further details will be announced in due course.

  Child Support
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the number and percentage of Child Support Agency cases in which the absent parent is in arrears(a) in total and (b) by regional office for each year since the establishment of the agency. [1359]

  Mr. Bradley
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 3 June 1997:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number and percentage of cases in which the absent parent is in arrears.
  The latest available data on the total number of live cases with a full or interim maintenance assessment (FMA or IMA) held on the child support computer system shows that on 30 April 1997 there were 599,600 live and assessed cases. A breakdown is not available by Child Support Agency Centre.
  The total number of Child Support Agency cases with arrears outstanding from the absent parent is 300,903, or 50% of all live and assessed cases. This figure comprises 61,992 category A IMA cases, (10% of all live and assessed cases) and 238,911 FMA and other IMA cases, (40% of all live and assessed cases). Arrears include, initial payment period maintenance, current maintenance, maintenance arrears, interest and rescheduled arrears. The table below shows a breakdown of these cases by Child Support Agency Centre.

  FMA and other

  IMA cat A

  IMAs

  Total

  Dudley

  11,025

  41,196

  52,221

  Hastings

  8,031

  31,565

  39,596

  Falkirk

  11,132

  40,474

  51,606

  Plymouth

  11,430

  43,235

  54,665

  196

  FMA and other

  IMA cat A

  IMAs

  Total

  Birkenhead

  8,530

  39,200

  47,730

  Belfast

  11,844

  43,241

  55,085

  Agency total

  61,992

  238,911

  300,903

  The Agency does not have historical data on the number of cases with arrears outstanding to give comparisons for previous years. The information above represents a 'snapshot' view of the number of arrears cases at 23 May 1997.
  An IMA is usually imposed where the absent parent, parent with care or their respective partners do not provide all the information required under Child Support legislation to make a FMA. They are intended to encourage compliance.
  One of four different categories of IMA can be imposed depending on the nature of the missing information, ie category A, B, C or D. The vast majority of IMAs issued are punitive Category As which are intended to encourage compliance. Category B and D IMAs may or may not be punitive depending on the circumstances of the case. Category C IMAs are non-punitive and are used to allow self-employed absent parents extra time to provide the required financial details.
  I hope this is helpful.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
  ENVIRONMENT AND THE REGIONS

    Competitive Tendering
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates his Department has made of the cumulative savings which have resulted from compulsory competitive tendering. [235]

    Mr. Raynsford
    Research commissioned by the Department identified savings alongside changes to the quality of local services. It shows average annual savings on contract prices of blue-collar services of 6 per cent. for the first round of tendering under the Local Government Act 1988, and 9 per cent. for the second round. The research also indicates that these savings have been accompanied by only minor improvements in service standards, and that more attention needs to be given to the development of local performance indicators.

    Other research, commissioned outside the Department, suggests a wide variation in estimates of savings depending upon the way in which social costs and benefits are treated.

    Whales and Dolphins
    Mr. Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he plans to take to increase protection for whales and dolphins within UK waters; and if he will make a statement. [1074]

    Ms Angela Eagle
    All cetaceans are subject to the highest level of statutory protection in UK waters.

    The UK is a signatory to the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBANS), and a member of the International Whaling Commission.
    197
    A biodiversity species action plan for the harbour porpoise is in place which has as its objective the maintenance of the current range and abundance, with a longer term aim of ensuring that no anthropogenic factors inhibit the return to waters that previously held the harbour porpoise.

    The Government will be considering the effectiveness of these measures.

    Plutonium Waste
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the predicted dose level attributed to plutonium wastes in the HMIP report TR-Z2–9 Tyrer et al. 1995; and how this compared to the target levels set out in the Radioactive Waste Management Policy White Paper (Cm 2919). [1778]

    Mr. Meacher
    The maximum dose calculated in the report was 9 sieverts per year as a very unlikely worst case. But as no estimate of probability was made for the scenario producing this dose, it cannot be compared with the target of a one in a million per year risk of developing a fatal cancer or serious hereditary defect, set out in the White Paper, "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy" (Cm 2919).

    In undertaking this work, HMIP rehearsed some of the procedures and methods which it might need to apply in detailed examination of modelling studies underlying a post-closure safety case for a radioactive waste repository. The studies were not designed to inform HMIP about the suitability of a particular site for the development of a repository.

    Mr. Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the level of plutonium contamination in the plutonium contaminated wastes which would be produced by the Sellafield MOX plant. [1798]

    Mr. Meacher
    My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has made no estimate of his own. I am informed that the operation of the Sellafield MOX plant would be likely to give rise to some 120 cubic metres of plutonium contaminated material (defined as solid waste containing more than 0.1 gigabecquerels per tonne of plutonium) per year.

    Magnox Power Stations
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what licensing and planning arrangements are planned to govern the transfer of Magnox power stations from operational to decommissioned status. [1783]

    Mr. Meacher
    Licensing of civil nuclear sites under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended) is a continuous process, from when a licence is granted until decommissioning is complete and the site presents no danger. There is no need, therefore, for any changes to the licensing regime as Magnox power stations transfer from operational to decommissioned status. Nuclear operators are required under the licence to agree detailed plans for decommissioning their plant with the Health and Safety Executive's HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.
    198
    Under Directive 97/11/EC, which amends Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, an environmental impact assessment will be required specially for the decommissioning of nuclear power stations. The new Directive is due to be implemented by March 1999.

    Radioactive Waste
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the research reports prepared by the Disposal Safety Assessment Team managed by AEA Technology on behalf of Nirex. [1789]

    Mr. Meacher
    My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has undertaken no assessment of these reports.

    Internal Migration
    Mr. Rendel
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the extent of internal migration between each region of the United Kingdom; if he will place this research in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [1366]

    Mr. Caborn
    My Department is planning to commission research to review existing data and evidence on the determinants of migration flows in England, to help assess the feasibility of formally modelling migration flows as part of the economic modelling of household formation and the demand and need for housing at regional and sub-regional level. The work should be completed towards the end of 1997, and the usual practice is then to publish a research report.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) analyse recent migration statistics to derive population estimates for England and constituent local authority areas. Assumptions about future migration flows between the four countries of the United Kingdom are developed by the Government Actuary's Department, as part of the process of producing national population projections—the latest projections are published by The Stationery Office in the volume "1994-based National population projections". Assumptions about future migration flows within England, based on recent trends and informed by consultation with local authorities, are prepared as part of the development of the ONS sub-national population projections for shire counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs. The latest projections are published under the title "1993-based Subnational population projections".

    Capital Receipts
    Mr. Rendel
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the capital receipts from the sale of council houses currently held by each local authority; and if he will make a statement. [1368]

    Ms Armstrong
    A table setting out the information requested has been placed in the Library of the House. We will be consulting the Local Government Association and local authorities on the Government's Capital Receipts Initiative in due course.

    Household Projections Survey
    Mr. Rendel
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will evaluate the findings of the Household Projections Survey; and if he will make a statement. [1369]

    Mr. Caborn
    My Department has not commissioned any survey as such into the household projections.

    The most recent (1992-based) household projections were published in March 1995 in "Projections of Households in England to 2016", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. These household projections have been subject to considerable public scrutiny, in particular by the Environment Select Committee in evidence for its report on Housing Need in 1996. Whilst generally endorsing the projections, the Committee recommended that the Department continue to examine the extent to which household formation is affected by economic and social factors. This is currently being addressed by the Department of Applied Economics, Cambridge University, as part of a wider research project for the Department on the modelling of the need for social housing. The project should be finalised by the Autumn.

    Last year, the Department also commissioned Heriot-Watt University to undertake a detailed literature review on household formation, with particular emphasis on evaluating the available evidence on the extent to which economic factors affect the propensity for new households to form. This work has recently been completed and I would expect the report to be published as soon as practicable.

    Local Authority Financial Support
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the changes proposed in the Elliott report on local authority financial support; what further studies he has initiated; and if he will make a statement. [1570]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The work of Professor Elliott and the Review of the Area Cost Adjustment provided a useful examination of the issues, though not one which the Local Authority Associations wanted implemented for 1997–98 SSAs. The Department has recently commissioned research to examine some of the concerns of local government about the Review's proposals. It will report in early July and we shall discuss with local government both the findings and the way forward on the Area Cost Adjustment.

    Regional Development Agencies
    Mr. Rendel
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each of the areas to be covered by regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement. [1367]
    200
    Mr. Caborn
    I will be making an announcement shortly about our intention to set up Regional Development Agencies.

  TRANSPORT

    Marine Safety Agency
    Mr. Andrew George
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how his Department will enforce the implementation of British Marine Safety Agency staffing requirements and the new EU VAT directives. [1429]

    Ms Glenda Jackson
    I have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Andrew George, dated 4 June 1997:
    The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your Question about the enforcement of UK qualification requirements for masters and officers of large privately-owned commercially-operated yachts.
    It may be helpful if I summarise the background. Until recently, masters and officers on vessels of this kind were required to comply with the deck officer qualification requirements in UK merchant shipping regulations. Many people working in the professional yachting industry, however, found it impossible to obtain the necessary certificates because they had come to professional yachting from leisure yachting and could not meet the requirement to have worked on merchant navy vessels for a minimum specified period. In consequence, the regulation were not being observed. This resulted in substantial variations in the standards of competence of officers working on these vessels.
    Therefore, in consultation with the industry, sail training organisations and the Warsash Maritime Operations Centre, the Agency has developed an alternative qualification. This is the Deck Officer Class 5 (or 4) with command endorsement and is limited to yachts and sail training vessels. It requires a base qualification of the Royal Yachting Association/Department of Transport certificate of competence Yachtmaster Offshore (or Ocean) with commercial endorsement. This is more readily obtainable by those who work in the professional yachting industry and, when allied with a number of additional mandatory training modules, provides the knowledge and experience which we and the industry consider necessary for the safe operation of these large yachts. It can be seen that the MSA has worked closely with industry and other interested parties to develop a qualification which will be relevant to the operation of these vessels. You should also be aware that this Code and the associated qualifications for the Masters and Officers will be adopted by the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Isle of Man and, in due course the British Virgin Islands.
    Our approach on enforcement will be to allow our recognised classification societies to carry out the survey and certification of vessels classed with them. The enforcement of these requirements will in general be through our usual practice of inspecting both ships and the service providers to ensure that the standards are being complied with. However we would envisage further discussions with the industry and all other interested parties on the details of the enforcement regime to be employed in view of the distribution of the vessels throughout the world.
    I am sorry I cannot comment on the new EU VAT Directive which falls outside my areas of responsibility. May I suggest that you direct this enquiry to HM Custom and Excise.

  SCOTLAND

    Special Needs Education
    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage of children recorded as having special needs in primary schools in each council area in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, and (c) 1997. [1364]

    Mr. Wilson
    The percentage of children with Records of Needs in publicly-funded schools for 1995 and 1996 is as follows:-

    Education authority

    1995

    1996

    Aberdeen City

    0.7

    0.7

    Aberdeenshire

    0.8

    0.7

    Angus

    1.6

    1.5

    Argyll and Bute

    0.6

    0.7

    Clackmannanshire

    0.5

    0.4

    Dumfries and Galloway

    1.5

    1.8

    Dundee City

    2.0

    1.9

    East Ayshire

    1.4

    1.2

    East Dunbartonshire

    0.3

    0.3

    East Lothian

    0.7

    0.7

    East Renfrewshire

    0.8

    0.9

    Edinburgh City

    0.6

    0.7

    Falkirk

    0.7

    0.8

    Fife

    0.3

    0.4

    Glasgow City

    0.7

    0.6

    Highland

    1.8

    1.6

    Inverclyde

    1.0

    1.2

    Midlothian

    0.4

    0.4

    Moray

    1.2

    1.2

    North Ayrshire

    0.9

    1.0

    North Lanarkshire

    0.7

    0.6

    Orkney Islands

    0.4

    0.5

    Perth and Kinross

    1.2

    1.3

    Renfrewshire

    1.0

    0.9

    Scottish Borders

    1.1

    1.2

    Shetland Islands

    1.8

    1.8

    South Ayrshire

    1.1

    1.1

    South Lanarkshire

    0.7

    0.7

    Stirling

    0.5

    0.4

    West Dunbartonshire

    0.3

    0.3

    West Lothian

    0.3

    0.5

    Western Isles

    2.3

    2.6

    All Scotland

    0.8

    0.8

    The information requested is collected each autumn as part of the Scotish Office Education and Industry Department's census of schools and information for 1997 is not yet available. The data for 1995 has been disaggregated from the returns compiled on the former regional council basis.

    Scottish Homes
    Mr. Welsh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to allow Scottish Homes tenants to have a local authority option in the event of a housing stock transfer. [1730]

    Mr. Chisholm
    We are reviewing the arrangements for the transfer of Scottish Homes houses in the light of the Government's commitment to give tenants choice in their landlord.

    Whisky Industry
    Mrs. Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in the Scotch whisky distilling industry for each year since 1990. [1362]

    Mr. Wilson
    [holding answer 3 June 1997]: The information requested, for September each year, is given in the table.

    Number of employees directly employed within the Scottish whisky industry

    Number

    1990

    16,376

    1991

    15,310

    1992

    15,035

    1993

    14,768

    1994

    13,804

    1995

    13,698

    1996

    13,345

    Source:

    Scotch Whisky Association.

  HOUSE OF COMMONS

    Departmental Publications
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the President of the Council by what means her Department makes available its publications in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1669]

    Mrs. Ann Taylor
    None of my Department's publications is currently made available in any of these formats, and there have to date been no requests for this to be done.

  PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

    Privy Council Office (Ethnic Minorities)
    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the President of the Council how many civil servants, of each grade, in the Privy Council Office were of Asian origin, on 5 May. [720]

    Mrs. Ann Taylor
    On 5 May 1997 there was one staff member of the Privy Council Office of Asian origin, at the grade of Personal Secretary, out of a total staff of 38.

    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has to increase the number of ethnic minority employees in the Privy Council Office. [721]

    Mrs. Taylor
    There are currently two staff at the Privy Council Office of ethnic minority origin, out of a total staff of 38. My Department's policy in recruiting and promoting staff is to provide equality of opportunity to suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of their racial origin or religion.

    Disability
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the President of the Council if she will make it her policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if she will make a statement. [1670]
    203
    Mrs. Ann Taylor
    The Privy Council Office does not sponsor legislation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has described in his answer to the hon. Member the steps which the Government will be taking in pursuit of our manifesto commitment to establishing comprehensive, enforceable civil rights for disabled people against discrimination in society or at work.

    Drugs Misuse
    Mr. Spring
    To ask the President of the Council how she proposes to tackle the rising incidence of drug misuse. [534]

    Mrs. Ann Taylor
    The Government will appoint an anti-drugs supremo to co-ordinate our action against drugs across all Government departments and key agencies. She or he will report directly to me as Chairman of the Cabinet's co-ordinating committee on drugs misuse. One of the "drugs czar's" first tasks will be to review urgently the existing drugs strategy and put forward proposals for tackling the problem with renewed vigour. This will build on action already underway at both national and local level, including legislative proposals to break the links between drugs and crime, and the work of Drug Action Teams across the country.

  WALES

    Devolution
    Mr. Öpik
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what(a) financial and (b) other support the Welsh Office intends to give the organisation Senedd i Gymru for its yes campaign on devolution; and if he will make a statement. [1280]

    Mr. Ron Davies
    I do not intend to provide financial and other support to the organisation Senedd i Gymru.

    Mr. Öpik
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to set up, fund and support an official all-party organisation to campaign in favour of a yes vote in the devolution referendum; and if he will make a statement. [1279]

    Mr. Davies
    I have no plans to set up or fund an official all party organisation to campaign in favour of a yes vote on the Government's proposals for a Welsh Assembly.

    Mr. Alan Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the current powers and duties of the Secretary of State he assesses will remain his responsibility in the event of devolution. [1089]

    Mr. Davies
    I will continue to represent Welsh interests in Cabinet contributing to the formulation of the Government's policy and proposals for legislation. Details of the Government's proposals, including my role will be set out in the White Paper to be published in the summer.

    Mr. Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what budget has been allocated by his Department to support the Government's campaign for devolution.[1088]
    204
    Mr. Davies
    The Welsh Office running cost and publicity budgets set for 1997–98 by the previous Government made no specific provision for expenditure related to devolution. Welsh Office budgets are being reviewed.

    Departmental Publications
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what means his Department makes available its publications in(a) braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1661]

    Mr. Ron Davies
    Details of Welsh Office publications produced in formats other than normal print have been publicised through information releases to the media and through direct contact with relevant organisations, e.g. RNIB.

    The Welsh Office has produced the following publications in braille; large print or audio cassettes. Some have been produced bi-lingually.

    Council Tax—A guide to the New Tax for Local Government in Wales (braille, large print and audio tape)

    Council Tax—Valuation and Banding (braille, large print and audio tape)

    Council Tax—How to Appeal (braille, large print and audio tape)

    Council Tax—Liability, Discounts and Exemptions (braille, large print and audio tape)

    An Inspection of Services for the Visually Impaired in Gwynedd (large print and audio tape)

    Published Information for Users and Carers and General Public—A Guide to Good Practice (large print)

    Keep Warm, Keep Well (audio tape)

    Code of Practice on Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs (audio tape)

    Charter for Higher Education for Wales (audio tape)

    Charter for Further Education for Wales (audio tape)

    Patients Charter for Wales (audio tape)

    Parents Charters for Wales (audio tape)

    Tenants Charter (audio tape)

    A Brief guide to the Disability Discrimination Act for People with learning disabilities (large print and audio tape)

    A consultation on Part M of the Building Regulations (audio tape)

    The Mental Handicap Strategy Guidance (audio tape).

    Public Bodies
    Mr. Rowlands
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the running costs of each non-departmental public body in Wales in 1992; and if he will compare these in percentage terms with the current running costs of each body. [1235]

    Mr. Ron Davies
    The following table sets out the running costs outturn for 1992–93 for each NDPB, together with plans for 1997–98 and the percentage change. In some cases the comparisons between the two years are not straightforward. The running cost definition of the Welsh Development Agency, Development Board for Rural Wales, Wales Tourist Board, Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and the Land Authority for
    205
    Wales were rebased in the intervening period; and the Further and Higher Education Funding councils did not assume their full responsibilities until April 1993:

    Advisory NDPBs and tribunals

    Outturn 1992–93 £

    Plans 1997–98 £

    Percentage change

    Environment Agency Advisory Committee for Wales

    1,581

    1,314

    -16.8

    Agriculture Dwelling House Advisory Committee

    1,000

    1,000

    —

    Hill Farming Advisory Sub-Committee

    4,000

    3,000

    -25

    Historical Buildings Council for Wales

    12,688

    15,000

    +18.2

    Ancient Monuments Board for Wales

    5,341

    8,000

    +49.8

    Local Government Boundary Committee

    62,000

    500,000

    +706.4

    Local Government Staff Commission

    Not in existence in 1992

    11,000

    n/a

    Welsh Council for Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education

    5,411

    5,500

    +1.6

    Welsh Scientific Advisory Committee

    17,224

    16,000

    -7.1

    Welsh Medical Committee

    20,103

    21,000

    +4.5

    Welsh Optical Committee

    1,106

    1,500

    +35

    Welsh Dental Committee

    3,371

    7,500

    +122.5

    Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee

    3,657

    8,000

    +118.8

    Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee

    10,723

    18,000

    +67.9

    Welsh Committee for Post Graduate Pharmaceutical Education

    2,895

    8,940

    +208.8

    Library and Information Services Council

    9,000

    13,000

    +44.4

    Place Names Advisory Committee

    600

    600

    —

    Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board

    57,342

    53,000

    -7.6

    Welsh Committee on Drug and Alcohol Misuse

    Not in existence in 1992

    10,000

    n/a

    Valuation Tribunals

    621,524

    860,000

    +38.3

    Registered Inspectors Appeals Tribunal

    Not in Existence in 1992

    10,000

    n/a

    Mental Health Review Tribunal

    95,000

    323,000

    +240

    Agricultural Lands Tribunal

    6,000

    5,000

    -16.7

    Rent Assessment Panel

    189,600

    163,500

    -13.76

    Agriculture Advisory Panel for Wales

    8,500

    4,500

    -47

    NDPB Running Costs

    Executive NDPBs

    Outturn 1992–93 £

    Plans 1997–98 £

    Percentage change per cent.

    Welsh Development Agency

    14,300,000

    120171000

    1+41

    Development Board for Rural Wales

    3,276,000

    13580000

    1+9

    Wales Tourist Board

    3,936,000

    13958000

    1+0.5

    Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

    3,320,000

    14497000

    1+35.4

    Land Authority for Wales

    1,796,000

    14497000

    1+5.23

    Countryside Council for Wales

    8,500,000

    8900000

    +4.7

    National Museums and Galleries of Wales

    9,129,000

    10452000

    +14.5

    National Library for Wales

    4,188,000

    4870000

    +1.63

    Sports Council for Wales

    1,023,000

    1995,000

    1-2.7

    Welsh Language Board

    Not in Existence in 1992

    1,109,000

    n/a

    Arts Council for Wales

    Not in existence in 1992

    2,004,000

    n/a

    Housing for Wales

    2,870,000

    2,770,000

    -3.5

    Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales

    Not in existence in 1992

    1,573,000

    n/a

    Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

    981,000

    975,000

    -0.6

    Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales

    919,000

    1,125,000

    +22.4

    206

    NDPB Running Costs

    Executive NDPBs

    Outturn 1992–93 £

    Plans 1997–98 £

    Percentage change per cent.

    Higher Education Funding Council

    500,000

    1,616,000

    +223

    Further Education Funding Council

    1,000,000

    2,425,000

    +142.5

    Wales Youth Agency2

    301,000

    310,000

    +3

    Residual Body for Wales

    Not in existence in 1992

    920,700

    n/a

    Agriculture Wages Committee

    2,000

    3,286

    +64.3

    1 Revised definition of Running Costs compared to 1992–93

    2 The Wales Youth Agency was an NDPB until 31 March 1997; since that date, it is a grant aided body.

    Beef Farms
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Pwll Farm, Trevddyn and Carreg y Llech Farm, Trevddyn, Alyn and Deeside, to meet beef farmers. [1306]

    Mr. Ron Davies
    I have no immediate plans to do so, but I have already had meetings with the NFU and the FUW and our discussions did include the problem currently facing the beef industry.

    Transport Minor Works
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review his funding policy for transport minor works schemes; and if he will make a statement. [1299]

    Mr. Hain
    Transport Grant is available for schemes costing over £5 million. Smaller projects are funded at individual local authorities' discretion from unhypothecated resources. I am currently reviewing these arrangements and anticipate that any changes will be introduced for the 1998–99 bidding round.

    Ministerial Visit (Broughton)
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a visit to(a) the Raytheon Jets Service Centre, Broughton, Flintshire and (b) British Aerospace, Broughton, Flintshire. [1266]

    Mr. Ron Davies
    My officials are in regular contact with both companies. I am delighted at their recent successes and congratulate my hon. Friend on his work in saving the Raytheon plant in his constituency. I hope to visit at a suitable opportunity.

    Departmental Computer Systems
    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that his Department's computer systems are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [1241]

    Mr. Ron Davies
    An assessment of the effect of the millennium date change has been undertaken. I do not expect there to be any major costs involved in ensuring that my Department's computer systems can cater for the year 2000.

  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Compensation Agency
    Mr. Desmond Browne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Compensation Agency's Corporate Plan for 1997–98 to 1999–2000 and the Business Plan for 1997–98 will be published. [2154]

    Mr. Ingram
    The Compensation Agency's Corporate and Business Plans will be published today. The plans explain the Agency's business and organisation and set out assumptions about workloads and resources which underpin the plans and targets.

  AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

    Chickens
    Mr. Etherington
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many chickens have been dead on arrival at United Kingdom poultry slaughter houses since 24 April. [1121]

    Mr. Morley
    On the basis that my hon. Friend is referring to 24 April 1996, the information requested is as follows:

    Total throughput

    Dead on arrival

    Percentage

    Great Britain

    695,243,052

    11,378,892

    0.2

    Northern Ireland

    58,091,168

    2154,657

    0.3

    1 To 27 April 1997.

    2 To 24 March 1997.

    Animal Exports
    Mr. Etherington
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pigs were included in the consignments exported on(a) 15 May and (b) 19 May; what factors led him on 16 May to issue a notice under the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994 preventing the export from Dover of a consignment of pigs; what steps he plans to take to ensure regular compliance in the future with the health and welfare laws governing the export of live animals; and if he will make a statement. [1273]

    Mr. Morley
    A total of 2,919 pigs were exported on the MV Caroline on 15 May and 1,583 on 19 May. Officials delayed the 16 May consignment by serving a notice because they were not satisfied with the information given as to the destination. This is part of the Government's overall policy of applying the highest possible standards to this trade and of pressing the other Member States to do likewise.

    The Government strongly prefer meat to be exported on the hook rather than on the hoof. Where animals are exported live, the public must have full confidence that the strictest possible welfare rules are being applied to this trade. We will not compromise on these standards.

    A consultation letter has gone out to interested parties seeking suggestions and comments by 18 June. I have commissioned an urgent review of the arrangements for ensuring that animals are rested, fed, watered, cleared as fit and certified prior to export in accordance with the law.

    BSE
    Mr. Baker
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report columns 95–6, (1) which of the typical selection of identified landfill sites, where checks in respect of ground water quality have been or will be carried out, have a chalk base; [1509]

    (2) if the part of Beddingham landfill site where carcases of cattle infected by BSE were disposed of was lined to prevent seepage into the chalk below; what other classes of waste have been permitted for disposal in that section of the site; and what monitoring of that section of site has been carried out subsequent to the disposal therein of the carcases referred to; [1510]

    (3) if Beddingham landfill site is one of the typical selection of identified landfill sites where checks in respect of ground water quality have been or will be carried out. [1511]

    Mr. Rooker
    [holding answer 2 June 1997]: The Environment Agency has responsibility for the safe regulation of landfill sites in England and Wales under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Agency has advised that the Beddingham landfill site is licensed to accept industrial, commercial and household waste; there was no sub-division of the site to keep these different waste streams apart; and that the carcases landfilled there (fewer than 10) were deposited in an unlined area of the site with a chalk base.

    The Environment Agency monitors ground water quality in the vicinity of licensed landfill sites to check for leachate contamination as part of their statutory duties. It is understood that there are ten boreholes at Beddingham where regular monitoring of groundwater is undertaken by the operators of the site.

    The Agency has carried out a qualitative assessment of all the sites concerned taking into account the number of carcases buried, the degree of containment and the proximity of water sources. It has carried out a further more detailed quantitative assessment of a selection of sites. This includes a chalk based site but not Beddingham itself.

    The Agency presented its quantitative assessment to the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee for comments. The Agency is preparing to publish the final results of the assessment very shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

    Disability
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if she will make a statement. [1660]

    Clare Short
    This Department currently has a policy of equal opportunity but is developing an action plan to achieve equality of opportunity specifically for disabled staff.

    Overseas Aid
    Mr. Menzies Campbell
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the amounts of money Britain has given in overseas aid(a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [1882]

    Clare Short
    International comparisons of figures for official development assistance (oda) are normally presented in relation to gross national product on a calendar year basis. UK assistance between 1991 and 1995 (the latest year for which figures are available) was as follows:210

    Real terms (million at 1995 prices)

    Oda/GNP (Percentage)

    1991

    2,044

    0.32

    1992

    1,988

    0.31

    1993

    2,029

    0.31

    1994

    2,138

    0.31

    1995

    2,000

    0.28

    The Government is firmly committed to working for a safer, more decent and environmentally stable world, and the eradication of poverty. As announced in The Queen's Speech, our development strategy will be set out in a White Paper to be published in the Autumn.

  Written Answers
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  RAF Bentwaters
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  Defence Expenditure Comparisons
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  Gulf War Illness: Research
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  Game Licences
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  Mr. and Mrs. Robert Oliver Hill
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  Scrapie
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  Saunders v United Kingdom: Execution of Judgment
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  Human Rights: Incorporation of European Convention
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