Written Answers of 24 June 1997

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service (Sickness Absence)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the overall level of sickness absence in the Civil Service. [5469]

  Dr. David Clark
  The average number of working days sickness absence per staff-year in 1995 was 10.7.

  I have placed in the house Libraries copies of the report prepared for my department by OHSA Limited on Sickness Absence in the Civil Service during 1995, which contains a comprehensive analysis of the figures about the Civil Service. That report also contains corrections to some of the figures about sickness absence in the Civil Service for previous years.

  My Department regularly encourages Departments and agencies to review their approaches to sickness absence management.

  Cash Limits
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1997–98 cash limit or running cost limit for the Office of Public Service. [5470]

  Dr. David Clark
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for the Office of Public Service (Class XVII, Vote 1) will be increased by £74,000 from £140,987,000 to £141,061,000 and the gross running cost limit will be decreased by £411,000 from £80,886,000 to £80,475,000.

  The changes reflect the transfer of responsibility for the Hardcopy Publications function from the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class VIII, Vote 1); the transfer of Competitiveness Unit to the Department of Trade and Industry (Class IV, Vote; the creation of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA); provision for the introduction of trade between The Buying Agency (TBA) and the Republic of Ireland Civil Service; provision for TBA loan repayments; re-classification of CCTA marketing and research expenditure; and provision for the residual costs of the privatisation of executive agencies in 1996–97. The increase in the cash limit will be offset by a transfer in and will not, therefore, add to the total of planned expenditure. The GCDA will have a net running cost limit of zero.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Cash Limits
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes he proposes to make to his Department's cash limits for 1997–98. [5550]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class X, Vote 1 will be increased by £1,523,000 from £866,330,000 to £867,853,000. This is to increase provision for transfers from the Department for Education and Employment (Class IX, Vote 1) for awards to dance and drama students, and from the Ordnance Survey (Class VI, Vote 8) to the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England for rent on a property; and a machinery of government change transferring voluntary services to the Home Office. The increases will be offset by transfers and savings, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much(a) was expected and (b) has been realised to date (i) for good causes and (ii) in tax from the national lottery. [3778]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Camelot's original forecasts for turnover from the start of the licence to the end of March 1997 suggested that £2,228.8 million would be raised for good causes and that £955.2 million would be paid in lottery duty. In fact £3,212.6 million was raised for the good causes and £1,324.3 million was paid in lottery duty during that period.

  Camelot Directors
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the Government were first informed of arrangements for bonuses for Camelot directors. [3777]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The bonus arrangements for the directors of Camelot were set out in their 1995 and 1996 annual reports. The scale of the current bonuses was drawn to my attention after reports appeared in a magazine on 28 May.

  Accommodation Grading Schemes
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress he has made to rationalise accommodation grading schemes throughout the United Kingdom. [3092]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  [holding answer 23 June 1997]So far as England is concerned, the AA, RAC and ETB announced in February plans for a new harmonised scheme which for the first time would give a single rating for hotels according to both the quality of their service and the facilities they offer. They will be consulting the industry on the details of this and on a scheme covering non-hotel serviced accommodation, such as guest houses, B&Bs, farmhouses and inns.

  Responsibility for accommodation rating schemes in Scotland and Wales rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for those countries.

DEFENCE

  Royal Navy Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the review of the Royal Navy's Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation, Portsmouth and the Tidworth/Bulford and Salisbury Garrisons and on his Department's approach to efficiency in the Army Individual Training Organisation. [5475]

  Dr. Reid
  Against the yardstick of our approach to securing best value for money for the taxpayer explained in my hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 19 June,Official Report, column 264–65, we have now considered the results of two recently completed market tests, of the Royal Navy's Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation (FMRO) and of support services at the Tidworth/Bulford and Salisbury Garrisons.

  At the FMRO, I am pleased to announce that Fleet Support Limited (FSL) a joint venture company formed by Vosper Thorneycroft and VSEL (GEC Marine), is the preferred bidder for the operation of the facility and, subject to a satisfactory conclusion of detailed discussions on terms and conditions, we will shortly place a five year contract for the management of the FMRO, with a vesting day this autumn. We are confident that the FMRO under commercial management will continue to provide a first class service to the Fleet. Additionally, FSL has guaranteed to attract a minimum level of commercial work into the FMRO and will maintain the apprentice training scheme. Although there will initially be some redundancies, FSL's bid provides the most promising set of arrangements for the future of the FMRO and its workforce, and for the people of Portsmouth. It offers excellent value for money, with savings of over 30 per cent.

  At the Tidworth/Bulford and Salisbury Garrisons, I am pleased also to announce that the market test of support services has been won by the in-house team supported by a commercial partner, in competition with four commercial consortia. We expect shortly to put in place a service level agreement with the in-house team, providing savings of over 25 per cent. through rationalisation and reorganisation of the wide range of support services covered by the market test. Job losses will occur but redundancies will be kept to a minimum.

  In addition, we have reviewed previous plans to conduct market tests at establishments throughout the Army Individual Training Organisation (ALTO), a Defence Agency. A new approach has been developed based on the concept of wider partnering with the private sector. We expect to introduce this programme progressively in the majority of AITO establishments. Previously planned market tests at some establishments have been abandoned in favour of programmes to achieve efficiencies in-house, with the prospect that these establishments will join the partnering programme at a later stage.

  The establishments include the Army Training Regiments at Bassingbourn, Glencorse, Lichfield, Purbright and Winchester; the Infantry Training Centre at
  424
  Catterick; the Royal School of Artillery Larkhill; and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. We will complete the contractorisation project at the Royal Armoured Corps Centre, Bovington, and issue invitations to tender for a market test at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Bordon, and for the renewal with wider scope of the support contract at the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at Arborfield.

  These specific announcements underline our determination to adopt, in each area of our business, the approach best calculated to maximise the value we obtain from defence resources.

  Science and Technology Division
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Defence Review will include a reappraisal of the proposal to transfer the Science and Technology Division from Colchester to Bicester; [4476]

  (2) what the current estimated capital cost is of the proposed transfer of the Science and Technology Division from Colchester to Bicester; and if he will make a statement;[4475]

  (3) if he will postpone preparations for the transfer of the Science and Technology Division from Colchester to Bicester until the conclusion of the Defence Review. [4477]

  Dr. Reid
  Any outcome of the Defence Review will retain a requirement for the Armed Forces to be clothed. As a consequence, we assess that there will be an on-going need for the continuing activity of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) and the need to retain a research and development capability.

  A number of studies have examined the most cost effective way for this capability to be provided. These include the Prior Options Study that preceded the formation of the Agency, specific scrutiny in the Defence Cost Studies and most recently by consideration of private finance involvement in the Agency. Further studies have specifically addressed the collocation of the Agency, including the transfer of the Science and Technology Division from Colchester. These have identified considerable savings and business benefit from collocation. The Strategic Defence Review will not look specifically at the Science and Technology Division of the DCTA, and there are no plans to postpone its transfer from Colchester to Caversfield.

  The transfer of the Science and Technology Division from Colchester to Bicester is part of a single project for the collocation of laboratories and workshops of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency on a single site. Further laboratories and workshops will transfer from the Quality and Product Support Division currently at Didcot. A major benefit from the collocation plan is to merge the currently duplicated facilities at each site and the project is costed on the basis of providing dual use facilities. Because of this joint development I regret it is not possible to identify separately the capital costs of the transfer for the Colchester element alone.

  The cost of the total project has been revalidated recently by a firm of consultants employed by the Defence Estates Organisation. Their report dated 13 June 1997 indicated a cost of £5.9 million for the total project the figure remains very close to the last costing of

  425
  £5.1 million when savings were forecast at £17.7 million over the Investment Appraisal period of 20 years, in addition to the £6 million per year savings predicated on the new businesses practices that the DCTA can introduce by collocating.

  Polaris
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what were the capital and running costs of the Polaris fleet in each year from 1967; [4837]

  (2) what was the annual running and maintenance cost in each year when the four boat Polaris fleet was fully operational. [4838]

  Dr. Reid
  Full details of capital and running costs for the Polaris fleet over the 30-year period in question are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on Polaris running costs for the years 1980–81 to 1996–97 at historic prices are as follows:

  Financial year

  Spend at historic prices £ million

  1980–81

  162

  1981–82

  238

  1982–83

  256

  1983–84

  233

  1984–85

  219

  1985–86

  241

  1986–87

  281

  1987–88

  296

  1988–89

  271

  1989–90

  236

  1990–91

  210

  1991–92

  164

  1992–93

  151

  1993–94

  103

  1994–95

  65

  1995–96

  67

  1996–97

  (estimated) 53

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what remediation and post-operational monitoring has taken place at the British overseas chemical weapons test sites at(a) Rawalpindi, Wellesley barracks, Cannanore Porkal and Kumbla, India, (b) Sorbo Plain Near Sapele, Nigeria and (c) Pualo Tenggol, Dungun, Malaysia. [4301]

  Dr. Reid
  We are unable to find any records that document remediation work of post-operational monitoring at the sites listed other than for Obanokoro where it is stated that all efforts were made to retrieve any unexploded munitions. The information we do have suggests that usage of these sites was relatively small scale and would not have been expected to leave any traces.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the total cost of the four boat Trident fleet. [4839]
  426
  Dr. Reid
  The latest estimate of the total acquisition cost of the Trident programme is £12.57 billion at 1996–97 economic conditions. This is over £3.6 billion less in real terms than the original 1982 estimate. Operating costs are estimated to be some £200 million per annum over a 30-year in-service life.

  Dockyard Workers, Chatham
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department intends to reconstruct records of the ex-Chatham dockyard workers who may have been exposed to radiation. [4787]

  Mr. Spellar
  As required by legislation, dose records are kept for former Chatham dockyard radiation workers who were designated as classified persons because their work led to higher annual radiation exposures. Many, but not all, records relating to the radiation exposure of non-classified workers have also been retained.

  Where no dose record exists, my Department is examining methods of dose reconstruction based on employment history, radiation exposure information from surveys, and the exposure of comparable workers for whom there are dose records.

  Falklands Garrison
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has the cost of maintaining the Falklands garrison in each of the last three years. [4862]

  Dr. Reid
  The outturn cost to the Ministry of Defence of the Falkland Islands Garrison, in each of the past three years, is as follows:

  1994–95: £65.5 million

  1995–96: £70 million

  1996–97: £81 million.

  Nuclear Submarines, Chatham
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the accident records of nuclear submarines whilst they were undergoing maintenance at Chatham dockyard. [4786]

  Dr. Reid
  There have been no nuclear reactor accidents involving HM submarines. However, my Department does have records of a number of less serious incidents at Chatham dockyard involving the exposure of personnel to radiation and/or unauthorised discharges to the environment which warranted investigation at the time.

  The reports of these incidents contain reference to individuals who may have been involved and to others who may have contributed information, sometimes in confidence, to the investigation. This precludes the release of the reports as they stand. I am seeking information from my officials as to the practicability of providing summaries of those incidents, and will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  Family Quarters
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the empty service quarters for families which his Department(a) identified for disposal and (b) classed as empty and under review in March have been sold to private buyers
  427
  Mr. Spellar
  A total of 159 of the 1,755 family quarters identified for disposal in March, have been sold. The 3,740 empty properties are still under review.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Speeding Offences (Fines)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy with regard to on-the-spot fines for speeding offences administered by police officers; and if he will make a statement. [4622]

  Mr. Michael
  There is no system of on-the-spot fines for the enforcement of road traffic offences but drivers who are stopped by the police for alleged speeding may be issued with fixed penalty notices requiring payment of a set sum of £40 to a court within 28 days and have their licence endorsed with three penalty points. Police officers have no authority to demand or accept payment of a fixed penalty on the spot.

  Payment of the fixed penalty discharges the offender's liability to conviction by a court. It is open to a driver to decline to accept a fixed penalty and instead request a court hearing in respect of the alleged offence.

  Policy on the circumstances in which fixed penalty notices are used for enforcing road traffic law is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. Guidance has been issued to forces by the Association of Chief Police Officers, with the aim of promoting a uniformity of approach to enforcement.

  Tote
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the future of the Tote; [4771]

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 12 June, Official Report, column 512, if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to secure a successor to the chairman of the Tote; which parties he has consulted; and when he expects to make an announcement. [4772]

  Mr. Straw
  I hope to appoint the new chairman of the Tote shortly.

  The competition for the post is being conducted in accordance with the Nolan procedures for public appointments, including advertising the post and consideration by a Home Office advisory panel. I am considering a short list of candidates. It would be premature to make any further comment at this stage.

  There are no plans at present to change the statutory arrangements governing the Tote. The new chairman will be tasked with a wide-ranging review of the Tote's operations.

  Puppy Farms
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning animal welfare standards in puppy farms. [4768]
  428
  Mr. George Howarth
  Representations have been received from hon. Members, members of the public and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

  HM Prison, Weare
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the recent fire on HM prison, Weare. [4767]

  Ms Joyce Quin
  There was no fire on the Weare. On the morning of Thursday 12 June, staff on board the Weare saw smoke and immediately activated the fire alarms. Staff and contractors were quickly evacuated and the fire brigade called, no prisoners were on board the vessel. The fire brigade found no evidence of any fire and have classed this as a false alarm. Staff believe the smoke came from welding work flushed out when the air conditioning system was tested.

  The smoke alarms were also activated in the evening of Tuesday 17 June. The ship was again quickly evacuated and the fire brigade called. The fire brigade found no fire and confirmed that the alarm had been activated because of smoke from welding work.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the animal welfare implications of selling animals to children under the age of 16 years; and if he will make a statement. [4769]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Pet Animals Act 1951, as amended, prohibits the sale of animals as pets to persons under the age of 12 years. No assessment has been made as to whether the current age limit has implications for animal welfare.

  Cash Limits
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the 1997–98 cash limits within his responsibilities. [5474]

  Mr. Straw
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Class VII, Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) will be increased by £127,000 from £4,729,044,000 to £4,729,171,000. This increase is the net effect of a transfer of running costs from the Cabinet Office, and from non-voted fire credit approvals. This transfer from non-voted provision reduces the non-voted cash limit (HO/LACAP) by £60,000 from £89,606,000 to £89,546,000. The Supplementary Estimate will also cover the transfer of responsibility for voluntary services from the Department of National Heritage.

  In consequence of the above changes, the Home Office gross running cost limit will be increased by £67,000 from £1,887,613,000 to £1,887,680,000.

  The increases will be offset by transfers and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Police Grant
  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to re-examine the apportionment of police grant to shire and metropolitan authorities. [4998]

  Mr. Michael
  We will be looking carefully at the funding formula by which resources are allocated between police authorities, to consider what modifications might be made both for the short and the longer term.

  Internet
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use he plans to make of the Internet to make government more open. [5095]

  Mr. Straw
  My Department will continue to pursue its programme of publishing material on the Internet whenever suitable opportunities arise.

  The Home Office site www.homeoffice.gov.uk includes two pages of information about my Department's open government policies. The first, www.homeoffice.gov.uk/opengovl.htm, gives details of the system for making suggestions or complaints. The second, www.homeoffice.gov.uk/opengov2.htm, sets out the procedures for requesting information.

  A wide range of information is available on the site, which is updated continually, and at present contains 288 pages. It has already been used to make consultation papers available more widely. It was also the first Government site to include details of its new ministerial team, and has links to other Government and relevant public sector pages.

  UK Passport Agency
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the UK Passport Agency performed against its targets in 1996–97; and what performance targets he has set for the Agency in 1997–98. [5553]

  Mr. Straw
  I am pleased to say that the UK Passport Agency achieved all its targets in 1996–97. The targets for processing properly completed straightforward applications were met with demand for passport services at its highest recorded level. The average turnround time for the whole year was 6.3 working days. The Passport Agency's financial target was to reduce its unit cost by three per cent. in real terms. The latest indications are that the agency has achieved an 8.5 per cent. real terms reduction in its unit cost. Customer satisfaction levels remain very high.

  During 1997–98, I expect the Passport Agency to continue to improve its standard of service to the public and manage a predicted reduction in demand as efficiently as possible.

  I have set the agency the following key targets:-

  1. to process properly completed straightforward applications within a maximum of 10 working days.

  2. to secure real terms efficiency savings of 11.1 per cent. in the 3 year period 1995–96 to 1997–98.

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  The Chief Executive will remain directly accountable to me for the performance of the Passport Agency. An advisory board, including two private sector members with experience of delivering services to the public, will continue to provide me with an independent assessment of the agency's performance.

  Drugs
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means he ensures that each police authority follows a consistent policy on cautioning persons for possession of cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the practice of multiple cautioning. [4793]

  Mr. Michael
  It is for the police to decide whether to caution a person found in possession of a controlled drug, in light of the circumstances of the individual case and in accordance with the guidance on the cautioning of offenders in Home Office Circular 18/1994. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary examines forces' overall cautioning policy and determines whether the policy is being observed in practice.

  In 1995, the Association of Chief Police Officers issued further guidance on cautioning which encourages the use of gravity factors to ensure consistent identification of aggravating and mitigating circumstances in the decision-making process.

  The Government intend to tackle the lack of consistency in cautioning and to reduce repeat cautions in respect of all offences. This is why we have pledged to replace repeat cautions with a single final warning for young offenders.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total amount(a) spent and (b) allocated by his Department on tackling problems relating to drugs in respect of (i) improving international co-operation to reduce supplies from abroad, (ii) increasing the effectiveness of police and Customs enforcement, (iii) maintaining effective deterrents and tight domestic controls, (iv) developing prevention publicity, education and community action and (v) improving treatment and rehabilitation, for (1) 1994, (2) 1995, (3) 1996 and (4) 1997. [4784]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Information on total Government and individual Departments' expenditure on tackling drug misuse is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recently available estimates were published in the White Paper, "Tackling Drugs Together" in May 1996. They show that at least £526 million of expenditure in 1993–94 could be directly attributable to drug programmes and activities across the United Kingdom.

  The Government will be appointing a "drug czar" to co-ordinate action against drugs, working to the President of the Council as Chair of the Cabinet's co-ordinating committee on drug misuse. One of his or her first tasks will be to review urgently the existing drugs strategy, and put forward proposals for tackling the problem with renewed vigour. This review will include current Government expenditure
  431
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by type of drug the number of persons for each police authority in England and Wales(a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against in a magistrate's court and (c) tried at the Crown Court for possession of a proscribed drug in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) the last 12 month period for which figures are available. [4794]

  Number of persons cautioned for possession of drugs by police force area and type of drug, 19941

  Type of drug

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LS

  MDMA

  2Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Avon and Somerset

  673

  —

  —

  2

  1

  3

  —

  34

  595

  38

  Bedfordshire

  101

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  78

  22

  Cambridgeshire

  503

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  501

  —

  Cheshire

  937

  2

  —

  19

  61

  9

  —

  35

  784

  27

  Cleveland

  390

  —

  —

  —

  7

  1

  —

  63

  318

  4

  Cumbria

  353

  —

  —

  1

  3

  3

  —

  5

  341

  4

  Derbyshire

  412

  —

  —

  —

  4

  3

  —

  9

  264

  133

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,328

  4

  —

  8

  7

  14

  —

  107

  1,210

  45

  Dorset

  147

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  144

  —

  Durham

  161

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  154

  —

  Essex

  963

  —

  —

  3

  6

  5

  —

  60

  884

  17

  Gloucestershire

  471

  —

  —

  1

  2

  3

  —

  9

  464

  —

  Greater Manchester

  2,540

  12

  —

  135

  9

  1

  —

  108

  2,230

  45

  Hampshire

  1,476

  1

  —

  2

  2

  4

  —

  19

  1,458

  3

  Hertfordshire

  536

  2

  —

  2

  4

  9

  —

  34

  483

  2

  Humberside

  427

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  413

  12

  Kent

  782

  3

  —

  —

  6

  2

  —

  33

  738

  9

  Lancashire

  1,268

  —

  1

  14

  5

  1

  —

  53

  1,194

  6

  Leicestershire

  389

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  5

  382

  2

  Lincolnshire

  223

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  12

  204

  5

  Merseyside

  904

  1

  1

  6

  2

  2

  —

  12

  610

  278

  City of London

  372

  —

  —

  1

  —

  12

  —

  10

  350

  2

  Metropolitan Police

  14,010

  73

  18

  66

  25

  146

  —

  318

  13,446

  31

  Norfolk

  355

  1

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  15

  243

  101

  Northamptonshire

  469

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  10

  450

  10

  Northumbria

  1,012

  —

  —

  3

  12

  6

  —

  62

  865

  73

  North Yorkshire

  321

  —

  —

  —

  4

  2

  —

  4

  312

  3

  Nottinghamshire

  418

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  17

  370

  30

  South Yorkshire

  854

  3

  2

  9

  14

  2

  —

  51

  787

  5

  Staffordshire

  424

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  424

  —

  Suffolk

  649

  —

  —

  8

  7

  5

  —

  42

  585

  17

  Surrey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  991

  4

  —

  6

  12

  7

  —

  80

  911

  7

  Thames Valley

  909

  2

  —

  2

  9

  10

  —

  55

  834

  13

  Warwickshire

  414

  —

  —

  —

  13

  6

  —

  32

  356

  8

  West Mercia

  903

  1

  —

  5

  13

  2

  —

  43

  840

  24

  West Midlands

  1,852

  3

  5

  13

  17

  8

  —

  66

  1,633

  107

  West Yorkshire

  667

  1

  —

  14

  5

  3

  —

  43

  588

  18

  Wiltshire

  483

  1

  —

  5

  9

  18

  —

  65

  428

  14

  England

  40,087

  115

  29

  329

  264

  292

  —

  1,523

  36,871

  1,115

  Dyfed-Powys

  546

  —

  —

  2

  6

  3

  —

  33

  506

  20

  Gwent

  509

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  8

  502

  —

  North Wales

  948

  1

  —

  19

  5

  —

  —

  51

  862

  36

  South Wales

  512

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  9

  500

  2

  Wales

  2,515

  1

  —

  21

  13

  3

  —

  101

  2,370

  58

  England and Wales

  42,602

  116

  29

  350

  277

  295

  —

  1,624

  39,241

  1,173

  1Columns cannot be added together since a person may be dealt with for more than one type of drug.

  2This drug was not separately identified until 1995.

  432
  Mr. Michael
  Details of the numbers of persons cautioned, proceeded against in a magistrates' court or tried at the Crown court for possession of a controlled drug in 1994 and 1995, by type of drug and police force area, are given in the tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Data for 1996 will not be available until the late autumn.
  433

  Number of persons proceeded against at Magistrates' Courts for possession of drugs by police force area and type of drug, 19941

  Type of drug

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  2Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Avon and Somerset

  897

  29

  23

  132

  47

  26

  —

  217

  585

  64

  Bedfordshire

  262

  4

  1

  3

  4

  4

  —

  49

  223

  14

  Cambridgeshire

  421

  11

  1

  4

  11

  11

  —

  119

  329

  26

  Cheshire

  1,052

  44

  —

  217

  33

  39

  —

  157

  721

  40

  Cleveland

  277

  2

  —

  3

  16

  12

  —

  125

  168

  11

  Cumbria

  696

  3

  —

  21

  21

  23

  —

  106

  597

  60

  Derbyshire

  432

  5

  3

  23

  23

  21

  —

  109

  330

  10

  Devon and Cornwall

  843

  11

  2

  32

  33

  59

  —

  229

  588

  110

  Dorset

  378

  12

  1

  36

  15

  7

  —

  67

  292

  27

  Durham

  374

  3

  2

  —

  22

  20

  —

  132

  236

  22

  Essex

  703

  30

  —

  15

  18

  38

  —

  147

  532

  64

  Gloucestershire

  266

  5

  —

  13

  11

  10

  —

  58

  227

  8

  Greater Manchester

  2,472

  54

  30

  420

  50

  43

  —

  489

  1,634

  102

  Hampshire

  1,048

  24

  —

  31

  34

  40

  —

  259

  831

  53

  Hertfordshire

  523

  13

  —

  12

  25

  25

  —

  100

  433

  3

  Humberside

  473

  10

  —

  77

  23

  13

  —

  105

  305

  69

  Kent

  715

  15

  3

  12

  17

  39

  —

  141

  568

  44

  Lancashire

  951

  17

  135

  42

  40

  —

  —

  227

  660

  29

  Leicestershire

  370

  8

  5

  10

  15

  8

  —

  75

  293

  46

  Lincolnshire

  430

  2

  —

  9

  21

  5

  —

  121

  335

  9

  Merseyside

  2,266

  77

  23

  260

  41

  42

  —

  227

  1,541

  294

  City of London

  78

  9

  3

  3

  5

  7

  —

  9

  57

  —

  Metropolitan Police

  9,846

  661

  243

  740

  202

  523

  —

  929

  7,576

  135

  Norfolk

  478

  3

  —

  22

  8

  12

  —

  111

  383

  34

  Northamptonshire

  236

  8

  —

  3

  16

  10

  —

  70

  172

  16

  Northumbria

  809

  17

  33

  48

  55

  —

  —

  260

  545

  66

  North Yorkshire

  583

  4

  16

  28

  22

  —

  —

  93

  453

  54

  Nottinghamshire

  913

  20

  —

  21

  55

  19

  —

  214

  655

  114

  South Yorkshire

  1,013

  17

  9

  98

  57

  59

  —

  305

  690

  37

  Staffordshire

  670

  28

  4

  47

  36

  36

  —

  159

  481

  55

  Suffolk

  350

  7

  1

  17

  8

  8

  —

  59

  251

  71

  Surrey

  355

  13

  1

  14

  17

  22

  —

  81

  295

  8

  Sussex

  918

  22

  —

  37

  32

  18

  —

  152

  776

  58

  Thames Valley

  1,424

  46

  8

  59

  47

  76

  —

  243

  1,181

  38

  Warwickshire

  190

  3

  —

  4

  6

  4

  —

  41

  153

  15

  West Mercia

  428

  5

  2

  15

  24

  11

  —

  83

  354

  26

  West Midlands

  1,682

  54

  58

  75

  61

  51

  —

  260

  1,390

  62

  West Yorkshire

  2,452

  61

  51

  308

  77

  83

  —

  463

  1,803

  75

  Wiltshire

  152

  2

  —

  6

  5

  5

  —

  40

  107

  14

  England

  38,426

  1,359

  474

  2,983

  1,254

  1,546

  —

  6,831

  28,750

  1,983

  Dyfed-Powys

  471

  39

  —

  11

  32

  12

  —

  97

  373

  47

  Gwent

  431

  143

  2

  9

  18

  2

  —

  83

  216

  17

  North Wales

  736

  1

  —

  39

  28

  9

  —

  123

  599

  58

  South Wales

  1,250

  2

  18

  45

  16

  —

  254

  1,072

  63

  Wales

  2,888

  185

  2

  77

  123

  39

  —

  557

  2,260

  185

  England and Wales

  41,314

  1,544

  476

  3,060

  1,377

  1,585

  —

  7,388

  31,010

  2,168

  1Columns cannot be added together since a person may be dealt with for more than one type of drug.

  2This drug was not separately identified until 1995.

  Number of persons tried at the Crown Court for possession of drugs by police force area and type of drug, 19941

  Type of drug

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  2Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Avon and Somerset

  185

  9

  —

  12

  25

  16

  —

  67

  129

  24

  Bedfordshire

  33

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  —

  10

  30

  2

  Cambridgeshire

  91

  2

  —

  5

  6

  9

  —

  35

  68

  6

  Cheshire

  154

  7

  —

  22

  3

  7

  —

  18

  52

  77

  Cleveland

  60

  1

  —

  —

  6

  9

  —

  24

  42

  3

  Cumbria

  89

  3

  —

  —

  7

  8

  8

  26

  61

  9

  Derbyshire

  87

  2

  —

  —

  3

  4

  7

  24

  64

  6

  434 435

  Number of persons tried at the Crown Court for possession of drugs by police force area and type of drug, 19941

  Type of drug

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  2Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Devon and Cornwall

  140

  3

  —

  7

  9

  13

  —

  46

  97

  19

  Dorset

  41

  2

  6

  3

  2

  —

  5

  30

  Durham

  47

  —

  —

  —

  6

  7

  —

  22

  31

  2

  Essex

  94

  9

  —

  9

  4

  11

  —

  15

  54

  21

  Gloucestershire

  28

  3

  —

  4

  2

  2

  —

  7

  23

  4

  Greater Manchester

  381

  20

  5

  86

  15

  16

  —

  102

  223

  12

  Hampshire

  153

  8

  —

  8

  10

  17

  —

  52

  118

  8

  Hertfordshire

  32

  1

  —

  2

  2

  5

  —

  4

  23

  —

  Humberside

  73

  1

  1

  14

  6

  3

  —

  21

  37

  17

  Kent

  109

  2

  —

  1

  13

  8

  —

  40

  77

  11

  Lancashire

  210

  5

  3

  42

  13

  11

  —

  76

  124

  3

  Leicestershire

  63

  3

  2

  1

  6

  5

  —

  24

  43

  6

  Lincolnshire

  66

  —

  —

  2

  5

  6

  —

  24

  50

  5

  Merseyside

  183

  18

  3

  34

  4

  6

  —

  35

  104

  28

  City of London

  8

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  Metropolitan Police

  1,109

  212

  31

  130

  43

  57

  —

  133

  652

  57

  Norfolk

  67

  2

  —

  3

  2

  5

  —

  28

  48

  7

  Northamptonshire

  52

  1

  —

  —

  3

  1

  —

  17

  39

  1

  Northumbria

  176

  7

  —

  6

  25

  17

  —

  69

  106

  22

  North Yorkshire

  88

  —

  —

  2

  8

  4

  —

  23

  76

  4

  Nottinghamshire

  154

  11

  —

  6

  23

  12

  —

  56

  116

  4

  South Yorkshire

  160

  6

  1

  17

  19

  16

  —

  72

  95

  2

  Staffordshire

  128

  16

  —

  7

  11

  11

  —

  39

  76

  16

  Suffolk

  67

  2

  —

  5

  8

  6

  —

  24

  49

  1

  Surrey

  54

  6

  —

  1

  6

  6

  —

  18

  40

  5

  Sussex

  107

  14

  1

  6

  6

  17

  —

  34

  78

  6

  Thames Valley

  111

  10

  —

  4

  10

  18

  —

  37

  84

  5

  Warwickshire

  18

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  3

  14

  1

  West Mercia

  53

  —

  I

  10

  2

  4

  —

  12

  35

  1

  West Midlands

  257

  22

  2

  16

  31

  15

  —

  54

  196

  6

  West Yorkshire

  396

  19

  8

  73

  35

  14

  —

  125

  250

  13

  Wiltshire

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  3

  6

  4

  England

  5,337

  429

  58

  553

  385

  375

  —

  1,424

  3,446

  418

  Dyfed-Powys

  35

  1

  —

  3

  2

  2

  —

  9

  27

  8

  Gwent

  47

  —

  —

  6

  1

  2

  —

  9

  35

  4

  North Wales

  62

  —

  —

  8

  4

  2

  —

  15

  47

  4

  South Wales

  186

  4

  —

  6

  21

  5

  —

  57

  143

  29

  Wales

  330

  5

  —

  23

  28

  11

  —

  90

  252

  45

  England and Wales

  5,667

  434

  58

  576

  413

  386

  —

  1,514

  3,698

  463

  Notes:

  1Columns cannot be added together since a person may be dealt with for more than one type of drug.

  2This drug was not separately identified until 1995.

  Number of persons tried at the Crown Court for possession of drugs by police force area and type of drug, 19941

  Type of drug

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Avon and Somerset

  313

  —

  10

  1

  1

  —

  18

  282

  1

  Hertfordshire

  105

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94

  8

  Cambridgeshire

  388

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4

  384

  —

  Cheshire

  665

  2

  —

  28

  1

  10

  1

  26

  590

  7

  Cleveland

  490

  —

  —

  3

  1

  6

  —

  38

  418

  29

  Cumbria

  352

  —

  —

  2

  2

  5

  —

  20

  327

  3

  Derbyshire

  587

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  —

  37

  478

  72

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,354

  1

  —

  20

  5

  25

  —

  152

  1,194

  22

  Dorset

  198

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  197

  —

  Durham

  239

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  23

  217

  —

  Essex

  991

  7

  —

  14

  4

  7

  —

  87

  903

  6

  Gloucestershire

  654

  4

  —

  1

  3

  3

  —

  49

  612

  3

  Greater Manchester

  2,604

  12

  5

  244

  10

  28

  1

  242

  2,032

  30

  436 437

  Number of persons cautioned for possession of drugs by police area and type of drug, 19951

  Type of drugs

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Hampshire

  1,218

  1

  —

  3

  2

  4

  —

  19

  1,195

  2

  Hertfordshire

  515

  2

  —

  —

  —

  19

  —

  40

  453

  2

  Humberside

  322

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  12

  304

  6

  Kent

  713

  16

  1

  1

  1

  3

  —

  20

  672

  6

  Lancashire

  1,530

  2

  —

  42

  12

  11

  —

  91

  1,365

  19

  Leicestershire

  348

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  341

  1

  Lincolnshire

  278

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  33

  238

  6

  Merseyside

  1,136

  9

  1

  15

  1

  8

  —

  49

  831

  237

  City of London

  636

  9

  —

  2

  1

  39

  1

  41

  545

  2

  Metropolitan Police

  15,483

  147

  40

  174

  36

  337

  —

  562

  14,298

  113

  Norfolk

  702

  —

  —

  4

  1

  21

  —

  89

  513

  118

  Northamptonshire

  554

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  6

  540

  10

  Northumbria

  1,691

  —

  —

  13

  3

  30

  —

  158

  1,236

  275

  North Yorkshire

  332

  —

  —

  6

  1

  —

  —

  14

  315

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  448

  —

  —

  1

  2

  2

  —

  19

  398

  27

  South Yorkshire

  862

  1

  —

  13

  1

  14

  —

  78

  763

  7

  Staffordshire

  520

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  33

  478

  6

  Suffolk

  630

  1

  —

  10

  3

  20

  —

  54

  544

  13

  Surrey

  264

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  251

  3

  Sussex

  1,142

  10

  —

  18

  6

  5

  —

  104

  1,034

  10

  Thames Valley

  816

  2

  —

  2

  —

  22

  —

  74

  740

  15

  Warwickshire

  569

  2

  —

  2

  6

  26

  —

  53

  471

  9

  West Mercia

  999

  1

  —

  13

  3

  15

  —

  84

  897

  22

  West Midlands

  1,702

  2

  4

  7

  8

  13

  —

  73

  1,530

  66

  West Yorkshire

  811

  3

  —

  15

  4

  17

  —

  57

  707

  13

  Wiltshire

  302

  1

  —

  3

  3

  2

  —

  18

  277

  1

  England

  43,463

  238

  51

  673

  124

  703

  3

  2,499

  38,664

  1,175

  Dyfed-Powys

  576

  —

  —

  —

  5

  13

  —

  45

  513

  28

  Gwent

  516

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  5

  510

  3

  North Wales

  975

  —

  —

  22

  3

  —

  —

  63

  879

  41

  South Wales

  648

  —

  —

  1

  12

  3

  —

  47

  589

  5

  Wales

  2,716

  —

  —

  23

  21

  16

  —

  160

  2,491

  77

  England and Wales

  46,178

  238

  51

  696

  145

  719

  8

  2,659

  41,155

  1,252

  1Columns cannot be added together since a person may be dealt with for more than one type of drug.

  Number of persons proceeded against at Magistrates' Courts for possession of drugs by police force area and type of drug, 19951

  Type of drug

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Avon and Somerset

  1,066

  152

  21

  188

  17

  48

  2

  189

  649

  80

  Bedfordshire

  393

  5

  —

  10

  6

  13

  —

  71

  345

  26

  Cambridgeshire

  397

  13

  1

  8

  7

  20

  —

  87

  229

  134

  Cheshire

  1,241

  35

  —

  294

  24

  55

  3

  176

  879

  40

  Cleveland

  293

  2

  —

  11

  12

  40

  —

  103

  176

  18

  Cumbria

  662

  5

  5

  34

  6

  59

  2

  126

  487

  60

  Derbyshire

  530

  3

  —

  17

  17

  39

  —

  164

  397

  20

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,084

  15

  2

  55

  28

  67

  —

  256

  706

  205

  Dorset

  527

  14

  2

  62

  19

  20

  —

  104

  377

  29

  Durham

  457

  1

  —

  1

  17

  40

  —

  143

  323

  21

  Essex

  753

  20

  1

  36

  18

  38

  —

  158

  561

  94

  Gloucestershire

  367

  5

  —

  30

  7

  25

  —

  84

  295

  10

  Greater Manchester

  2,833

  55

  28

  574

  46

  113

  7

  558

  1,825

  89

  Hampshire

  1,316

  17

  —

  48

  29

  63

  —

  292

  1,030

  96

  Hertfordshire

  599

  19

  —

  33

  15

  48

  —

  109

  505

  9

  Humberside

  643

  10

  1

  103

  14

  20

  —

  142

  399

  106

  Kent

  660

  9

  1

  24

  11

  11

  —

  131

  506

  49

  Lancashire

  1,409

  17

  7

  232

  33

  63

  1

  308

  945

  77

  Leicestershire

  505

  10

  7

  13

  22

  19

  —

  142

  391

  29

  Lincolnshire

  425

  —

  —

  4

  11

  24

  —

  116

  319

  28

  Merseyside

  2,354

  89

  29

  283

  21

  79

  3

  192

  1,627

  278

  City of London

  164

  15

  —

  4

  6

  23

  —

  27

  125

  2

  438 439

  Number of persons proceeded against at Magistrates' Courts for possession of drugs by police area and type of drug, 19951

  Type of drugs

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Metropolitan Police

  8,481

  652

  250

  834

  124

  554

  3

  779

  6,242

  139

  Norfolk

  560

  4

  9

  15

  5

  10

  —

  83

  500

  19

  Northamptonshire

  272

  7

  —

  13

  9

  9

  —

  72

  195

  27

  Northumbria

  825

  8

  —

  13

  14

  46

  —

  108

  370

  377

  North Yorkshire

  569

  3

  1

  31

  14

  20

  —

  108

  450

  33

  Nottinghamshire

  1,066

  27

  1

  29

  22

  41

  —

  246

  784

  122

  South Yorkshire

  1,386

  11

  26

  237

  25

  96

  8

  357

  885

  37

  Staffordshire

  818

  22

  7

  115

  18

  66

  2

  153

  536

  71

  Suffolk

  432

  13

  —

  34

  7

  26

  —

  92

  323

  40

  Surrey

  414

  15

  3

  23

  12

  29

  1

  65

  356

  9

  Sussex

  993

  43

  7

  78

  28

  26

  —

  224

  808

  60

  Thames Valley

  1,605

  50

  10

  99

  41

  150

  —

  280

  1,250

  36

  Warwickshire

  199

  1

  —

  —

  7

  3

  —

  45

  162

  22

  West Mercia

  617

  5

  1

  21

  27

  33

  —

  130

  507

  35

  West Midlands

  1,649

  41

  40

  97

  32

  85

  —

  288

  1,354

  55

  West Yorkshire

  2,720

  55

  17

  548

  30

  122

  —

  473

  1,807

  129

  Wiltshire

  171

  7

  —

  7

  5

  12

  —

  38

  120

  22

  England

  41,455

  1,475

  477

  4,258

  806

  2,255

  32

  7,219

  29,745

  2,733

  Dyfed-Powys

  648

  45

  —

  7

  19

  47

  —

  147

  512

  47

  Gwent

  478

  62

  3

  14

  13

  18

  —

  148

  295

  22

  North Wales

  777

  8

  2

  52

  20

  14

  —

  167

  607

  58

  South Wales

  1,484

  8

  —

  25

  52

  44

  1

  379

  1,234

  64

  Wales

  3,387

  123

  5

  98

  104

  123

  1

  841

  2,648

  191

  England and Wales

  44,842

  1,598

  482

  4,356

  910

  2,378

  33

  8,060

  32,393

  2,924

  1Columns cannot be added together since a person may be dealt with for more than one type of drug.

  Number of persons tried at the Crown Court for possession of drugs by police force area and type of drug, 19951

  Type of drug

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Avon and Somerset

  164

  14

  4

  19

  9

  12

  —

  31

  111

  27

  Bedfordshire

  58

  2

  1

  1

  5

  —

  9

  46

  5

  Cambridgeshire

  91

  3

  2

  1

  —

  5

  8

  37

  67

  11

  Cheshire

  255

  8

  1

  39

  7

  17

  —

  49

  127

  72

  Cleveland

  81

  2

  —

  4

  6

  9

  —

  32

  38

  14

  Cumbria

  62

  1

  —

  5

  2

  9

  —

  21

  40

  9

  Derbyshire

  126

  2

  —

  5

  8

  17

  —

  48

  79

  20

  Devon and Cornwall

  148

  7

  —

  7

  5

  16

  —

  44

  100

  15

  Dorset

  71

  5

  —

  6

  3

  6

  —

  14

  49

  4

  Durham

  56

  2

  —

  —

  4

  10

  —

  22

  31

  7

  Essex

  167

  11

  —

  5

  9

  25

  —

  51

  114

  20

  Gloucestershire

  48

  3

  —

  4

  —

  4

  —

  18

  36

  3

  Greater Manchester

  537

  38

  12

  126

  16

  30

  —

  128

  321

  25

  Hampshire

  189

  5

  —

  2

  5

  16

  —

  42

  147

  25

  Hertfordshire

  77

  8

  —

  4

  3

  10

  —

  14

  49

  13

  Humberside

  142

  5

  1

  27

  6

  8

  —

  40

  77

  28

  Kent

  146

  4

  2

  10

  5

  8

  —

  37

  96

  19

  Lancashire

  258

  11

  —

  37

  10

  22

  —

  78

  163

  15

  Leicestershire

  62

  —

  —

  —

  5

  5

  —

  18

  53

  6

  Lincolnshire

  72

  1

  —

  —

  3

  5

  —

  32

  54

  8

  Merseyside

  275

  35

  9

  40

  17

  23

  —

  58

  153

  18

  City of London

  13

  4

  —

  1

  1

  2

  —

  1

  10

  Metropolitan Police

  1,216

  179

  66

  154

  40

  120

  2

  133

  735

  113

  Norfolk

  91

  3

  —

  9

  8

  9

  —

  20

  63

  12

  Northamptonshire

  48

  —

  —

  2

  1

  2

  —

  15

  32

  5

  Nurthumbria

  178

  4

  —

  8

  10

  30

  —

  74

  105

  22

  North Yorkshire

  94

  1

  —

  6

  8

  11

  —

  21

  68

  11

  Nottinghamshire

  185

  7

  2

  9

  14

  11

  —

  57

  119

  17

  South Yorkshire

  209

  5

  2

  42

  11

  20

  —

  73

  121

  18

  440 441

  Number of persons tried at the Crown Court for possession of drugs by police force area and type of drug, 19951

  Type of drug

  Police force area

  All drugs

  Cocaine

  Crack

  Heroin

  LSD

  MDMA

  Methadone

  Amphetamines

  Cannabis

  Other drugs

  Staffordshire

  164

  10

  3

  29

  9

  22

  —

  44

  100

  32

  Suffolk

  98

  8

  —

  8

  2

  15

  —

  42

  72

  9

  Surrey

  101

  4

  1

  6

  3

  8

  —

  21

  81

  17

  Sussex

  148

  18

  —

  9

  4

  21

  —

  44

  114

  18

  Thames Valley

  194

  23

  9

  19

  16

  40

  —

  58

  119

  15

  Warwickshire

  31

  1

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  10

  23

  4

  West Mercia

  86

  6

  2

  3

  5

  10

  —

  17

  67

  14

  West Midlands

  308

  31

  6

  25

  18

  26

  —

  77

  215

  27

  West Yorkshire

  468

  30

  10

  70

  23

  37

  —

  114

  303

  45

  Wiltshire

  32

  1

  —

  —

  4

  7

  —

  10

  18

  9

  England

  6,749

  502

  133

  741

  308

  658

  2

  1,654

  4,316

  752

  Dyfed-Powys

  47

  —

  —

  —

  6

  5

  —

  12

  39

  8

  Gwent

  64

  —

  1

  4

  4

  4

  —

  19

  45

  11

  North Wales

  87

  —

  1

  10

  10

  9

  —

  32

  58

  7

  South Wales

  215

  4

  —

  5

  29

  9

  —

  79

  170

  26

  Wales

  413

  4

  2

  19

  49

  27

  —

  142

  312

  52

  England and Wales

  7.162

  506

  135

  760

  357

  685

  2

  1,796

  4,628

  804

  1Columns cannot be added together since a person may be dealt with for more than one type of drug.

  Deportations
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 June,Official Report, column 510, how many persons removed from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years under the deportation process made a voluntary departure. [4835]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the list:

  Voluntary departures from the United Kingdom after deportation action had been initiated, 1992–96.

  1992: 94

  1993: 208

  1994: 271

  1995: 365

  19961: 355.

  1Provisional.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many decisions to make a deportation order (form APP 104) have been issued in each month of 1997 to date; [4731]

  (2) how many deportation orders have been signed by Ministers in each month of 1997 to date. [4730]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested for Janaury to May 1997 is given in the table:
  Persons issued, under the deportation process, with a notice of intention to deport (form APP 104) and deportation orders signed by Ministers' January to May 1997

  APP 104 issued

  Deportation orders signed

  January

  480

  105

  February

  490

  92

  March

  539

  91

  April

  492

  122

  May

  270

  49

  1Provisional data.

  442
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 June,Official Report, column 510, how many decisions to make a deportation order (form APP 104) were issued in each of the last five years. [4834]

  Mr. O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the list:

  Persons issued, under the deportation process, with a notice of intention to deport (form APP 104), 1992–1996.

  1992: 3,594

  1993: 4,283

  1994: 5,421

  1995: 5,274

  19961: 6,518.

  1Provisional data.

  Polygraphs
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use his Department makes of polygraphs, and if he will make a statement. [4585]

  Mr. Straw
  None, so far as I and my official have been able to ascertain. The Home Office does not encourage the use of polygraph testing for decision making on employment screening or security vetting. The Home Office's views on the use of polygraphs are broadly in accordance with those of the Scientific Affairs Board of the British Psychological Society. We have concern with regard to polygraphs' use of non-standardised administration procedures; internal inconsistency; unreliable rescoring of charts; insufficient evidence of retest reliability provided for examinees; disproportionate numbers of false positive results produced; absence of data on the adverse impact on minority groups; seemingly non-voluntary participation of examinees; and its sensitivity to aspects of temperament.
  443
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advantages of admitting in evidence the results of polygraph tests; and if he will make a statement. [4583]

  Mr. Michael
  I have made no assessment of the admissibility of polygraph tests as evidence in criminal trials. The courts have held that, as a matter of principle, evidence produced by mechanical, chemical or hypnotic truth test on a witness is inadmissible to show the veracity or otherwise of that witness.

  Under the general rules of evidence, the previous statements of a witness are inadmissible as hearsay and also, where such statements are consistent with his oral testimony, they are inadmissible as evidence of consistency under the rule against previous self-serving statements.

  Electro-shock Devices
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the cost to central funds of the Hard Arrest programme; and what further research has been carried out on the operation, safety or use of el ectro-shock equipment; [3817]

  (2) what was the duration of the Hard Arrests trial programme; and what equipment, policy issues and training were involved. [3816]

  Mr. Michael
  I understand that these questions relate to the possible development of electric shock shields for use against people. Neither my Department nor the police service have any knowledge of the Hard Arrests trial programme, or of any other programme of development, testing or training in the use of such equipment in this country.

  Chief officers of police, with their police authorities, are responsible for deciding what equipment to obtain for their officers, either for testing or for introduction. A number of forces have electric-shock shields and cattle prods for use against ferocious dogs, but no force has such equipment for use against people.

  In 1990, the Forensic Science Service published a theoretical assessment of the effects of electric shock weapons.

  Departmental Advisers
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the special advisers in his Department, the minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in his Department in the year up to 1 May. [5362]

  Mr. Straw
  I have two special advisers, Mr. Ed Owen and Mr. Norman Warner. They are employed under terms and conditions based on the model contract for special advisers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Mr. Owen and Mr. Warner are advising me on all subjects relevant to the Department, save those of a confidential nature, in accordance with Schedule 1 (Part 1) of the Model Contract.

  In the year to 1 May 1997, there were two special advisers

  Protection from Harassment Act
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the definition of violence his Department uses in interpreting section 4(1) (4) (2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. [4846]

  Mr. Michael
  [holding answer 20 June 1997]Section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 makes it a criminal offence for a person to pursue a course of conduct which they know, or ought to know, causes another to fear that violence will be used against him or her. The offence is intended to catch the most serious cases of stalking, where the stalker's conduct is so threatening that the victim fears for his or her safety.

  The Act does not define "violence", nor is there any guidance on the meaning of the term in the circular issued by the Home Office to the courts and police for the implementation of the Act on 16 June. The courts already have long experience of interpreting the term and should continue to exercise that judgment in cases arising under section 4 of the 1997 Act. Violence does not need to be established to prove an offence under section 4: fear of violence will suffice.

  Under the 1997 Act there will be scope for early intervention, in the form of the offence of causing harassment and a restraining order on conviction to prevent further harm being caused, which is designed to prevent the harassment escalating any further.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on how his plans for(a) employment, (b) training and (c) education will incorporate the principles of sustainable development. [3581]

  Dr. Howells
  Although few of DfEE's policies have any significant impact on the environment, DfEE is committed to the principles of sustainable development.

  We are currently setting up the Environmental Task Force (ETF), as part of the New Deal which will provide valuable work experience and training for unemployed young people. The ETF will provide a range of placements to help the local community, such as tree planting, energy efficiency measures and landscaping.

  We have an environmental National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) framework and a Modern Apprenticeship NVQ Level 3 in Environmental Conservation.

  We issue guidance to schools to enable them to monitor their own energy use as well as provide opportunities for pupils to learn about the environment. We are also considering the establishment of a national panel to co-ordinate environmental education and will announce our intentions in due course.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much each training and enterprise council has spent on special needs training in each of the last three years.[4168]
  445
  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is not available. Separate accounts for TEC expenditure on those with special needs are not maintained. The Department's contract with TECs does however specify a number of targets which ensures that special needs are given prominence.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the comparative performance of individual TECs; and if he will make a statement. [4620]

  Dr. Howells
  The performance of individual TECs varies across the range of activities in which they are involved. The Department intends to work with the TEC National Council and the wider TEC network to improve the performance of all TECs through, for example, benchmarking and the sharing of best practice more effectively.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what external audits have been carried out since 1 January 1995 into the use of public money by Sussex Enterprise. [5195]

  Dr. Howells
  Sussex Enterprise, like other Training and Enterprise Councils, is subject to audit by the FAM (Financial Management) team of the relevant Government Office, at least annually.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what balances were held by Sussex Enterprise and its predecessor Sussex TEC at the end of each of the last five financial years; what this figure represents as a percentage of turnover for each year; and if he will make a statement. [5194]

  Dr. Howells
  These figures are available from the published annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what safeguards exist to ensure the proper and effective use of public money by Sussex Enterprise. [5193]

  Dr. Howells
  Sussex Enterprise, like all other TECs, is under a general/contractual obligation from the Secretary of State to have sound financial controls and to provide value for money on all expenditure on government programmes.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to require representation at member level for local authorities on the boards of TECs; and if he will make a statement. [5192]

  Dr. Howells
  The contract the Department has with TECs requires that at least two-thirds of the Directors hold the office of chairman, or chief executive, or top level operational manager at local level of a company, or senior partner of a professional partnership in the private sector. The remaining Directors must be senior figures within the local community, which includes members of local authorities. I will be reviewing the arrangements with the TEC National Council over the coming months to decide whether any changes are appropriate.

  University Degrees
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans his Department has to control the quality of university degrees delivered on-line(a) in part or (b) in full. [4734]

  Dr. Howells
  The quality of degrees is a matter for universities and other institutions with degree-awarding powers. The Secretary of State expects to ask the newly established Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education to address issues relating to the quality and standards of degrees, taking into account the forthcoming report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to increase awareness among students in higher education of the dangers of drug abuse. [5082]

  Mr. Howells
  Higher Education Institutions are independent autonomous bodies. They contribute to the effort to tackle drug misuse by individually adopting rules governing the prohibition of drugs from college premises and disciplinary sanctions. They also provide welfare and counselling services for their students. The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Conference of Principals were invited to encourage the higher education sector to provide appropriate prevention, counselling and support services for their students and to put in hand whatever further action they considered to be necessary.

  The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Conference of Principals published guidance on 20 June 1997 on information provision and education for students and staff, support infrastructure (internal and external), disciplinary procedures, staff awareness and training, liaison between institutions and local community expertise. The guidance was issued to all higher education institutions in the UK and to all members of the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education.

  The Government will be appointing a 'drug czar' to co-ordinate our action against drugs. One of his or her first tasks will be to revise urgently the existing drugs strategy, and put forward proposals for tackling the problem with renewed vigour.

  Education Action Zones
  Mrs. GilIan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria he will set for the establishment of education action zones. [4890]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 20 June 1997]: We shall set out our plans for education action zones in the Education White Paper, which will be published shortly.

  Key Stage 2
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he asked the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority to look into the national curriculum for key stage 2; whether SCAA has been advised to make key stage 2 less prescriptive to
  447
  allow for greater concentration on numeracy and literacy; and when he expects SCAA to report on this matter. [5353]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I wrote to SCAA's Chairman on 9 June asking for his interim report, due in August, to inform my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on how a sharper focus on literacy and numeracy can be achieved in key stages 1 and 2 through non-statutory means.

  My letter asked for a range of specific options to be considered, including the place for explicit guidance on the minimum that needs to be done to cover the National Curriculum in non-core subjects.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to improve the public accountability of colleges of further education. [4621]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Allan),Official Report, 16 June 1997, column 48.

  Racial Discrimination
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the level of racial discrimination in the labour market; and if he will make a statement. [4853]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Recent research and industrial tribunal cases show that racial discrimination in the labour market remains a matter of serious concern.

  I deplore racial discrimination and racial harassment. I will ensure that my actions and those of the Department play their part in combating unfair treatment. Current action to promote race equality includes: the work of the Race Relations Employment Advisory Service, DfEE booklets on equal opportunities, and conferences in partnership with the Commission for Racial Equality and other key players.

  I am pleased that the Department is setting an example to other employers by becoming a Champion of the Race for Opportunity campaign, promoting racial equality to employers.

  I will be meeting Sir Herman Ouseley in the near future to discuss further ways in which the Department can work with the CRE to combat discrimination.

  Young People
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who are currently not in full-time education, in work or on a training place; and if he will make a statement. [4855]

  Dr. Howells
  In winter 1996–97 there were 142,000 16 and 17-year-olds not in full-time education, in employment, or in Government Training in the UK, according to the Labour Force Survey.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the use of discretion by jobcentre staff in applying postal signing rules for the jobseeker's allowance for claimants with high travelling costs; and if he will issue guidance. [4872]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. 1 have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Lembit Öpik, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the postal signing rules. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Under our present rules a person claiming Jobseeker's Allowance whose normal journey to their Jobcentre would take more than one hour in either direction, or would entail an absence from home of four hours or more, is allowed to sign on by post. People whose mobility is affected by a disability may also be allowed to sign on by post.
  In addition Jobcentre Managers do have discretion to allow postal signing in other circumstances. The relevant guidance, which is contained within the Employment Service's Jobseeker's Allowance Interventions Guide, chapter 20, paragraph 3, states that:
  'Business Managers may also use some discretion in offering the postal facility to other jobseekers, even if their journey is possible within the time limits in paragraph 2, (i.e., their journey time is less than 1 hour in either direction or they would be absent from home for less than 4 hours.) For example, if the jobseeker would have to use a form of transport which they could not be expected to use on a fortnightly basis, for example, an InterCity train, a ferry or a plane'.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people are currently receiving the jobseeker's allowance, under the severe hardship provision or receiving a bridging allowance; and if he will make a statement. [4852]

  Mr. Howarth
  There were 16,000 young people aged 16 and 17 years old receiving jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in February 1997, the latest date for which figures are available. The vast majority of these young people would have been receiving JSA because they would otherwise have faced severe hardship.

  There were 5,150 young people receiving a Youth Training Bridging Allowance in May 1997.

  Vocational Courses
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the implications of recent changes to the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1995 for vocational courses involving work experience and a work placement; and if he will make a statement. [5110]

  Dr. Howells
  The changes made to the provisions governing sandwich courses in the Regulations will not take effect until 1 September 1997. They were made in order to clarify the provisions in the current Regulations, which were unsatisfactory and unclear. I am aware that certain courses which contain a period of full-time study at an institution that aggregates to less than 19 weeks per
  449
  academic year may be adversely affected by the changes. I am currently considering the effect of the changes on these courses.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will ensure that all nursery providers currently registered under the Nursery Voucher Scheme are eligible for funding under the new arrangements whether or not they are included in a local education authority interim development plan. [5198]

  Mr. Byers
  It is for education authorities to submit interim early years for development plans. All existing providers in the voucher scheme are eligible, and local authorities have been asked to give convincing reasons fornotincludingthem.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Social Chapter
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the implementation of the social chapter through European Union legislation. [4460]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Agreement was reached at the Amsterdam summit to incorporate the agreement on social policy into the treaty and to give the UK an immediate seat at the negotiating table, before the new treaty comes into force.

  The Government said at Amsterdam that they will implement the two directives already adopted under the social agreement. The details of how the directives, on European Works Councils and Parental Leave, are to apply to the UK will be agreed before the signature of the new treaty.

  "Britain: The Preferred Location in Europe"
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the document "Britain: The Preferred Location in Europe" was published. [4745]

  Mrs. Roche
  The document, "Britain: The Preferred Location in Europe" was published on 23 May 1997.

  National Physical Laboratory (Land Disposal)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the compliance of her policy in disposing of surplus land on the National Physical Laboratory site at Teddington with the unitary development plan of the local planning authority. [4588]

  Mr. Battle
  Final bids under the public private partnership for the redevelopment of the National Physical Laboratory site will not be available for assessment until the beginning of July. We have made tenderers aware of the need to take account of land planning policies in completing their bids.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many export licences were granted in each 450
  year since 1990 for the export of police or paramilitary training equipment to Indonesia; what public funds were involved in such transactions; and if she will make a statement. [1832]

  Mrs. Roche
  There is no category within the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 from which police or paramilitary training equipment can be readily identified. To search export licence records for this purpose would entail disproportionate cost.

  As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 22 May, Official Report, column 135, the Government have initiated an urgent review of the criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms. The new criteria will be made available to the House when the review is complete. In the meantime, officials will consult Ministers whenever there are export licence applications which may raise concerns about human rights or international stability.

  Chemical Weapons Convention
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of Britain's progress in implementing the chemical weapons convention 1996; and if she will make a statement regarding the identification and recording of manufacture, holdings and transfer of law enforcement and riot control agents and chemical irritants. [3583]

  Mrs. Roche
  The United Kingdom has made substantial progress in implementing the chemical weapons convention which entered into force on 29 April. The Chemical Weapons Act 1996 provides the legislative framework to implement the convention. All the necessary secondary legislation has been made to enable my Department to license the production, possession and use of the most toxic chemicals and to implement the convention's trade controls. The United Kingdom submitted its initial declaration to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 27 May and preparations are well advanced to receive the first inspection under the convention.

  The holding of riot control agents for law enforcement purposes is permitted under the convention and the United Kingdom has declared to the OPCW the chemicals which are held for this purpose. There is no requirement under the convention to declare information concerning the manufacture and transfer of such agents.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to advise small businesses of the problems likely to occur with their computer systems as a result of the year 2000 problem. [5317]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department is working closely with Taskforce 2000, a body set up by the CBI and the IT industry, with our financial support, to spread awareness of the century date change problem to all levels of industry and co-ordinate action. A senior DTI official is seconded to the Taskforce, working through Business Link and their counterparts in Scotland and Wales, specifically to focus on alerting SMEs.
  451
  In March 1997, DTI wrote to 120,000 UK Chief Executives drawing their attention to the issue and offering a DTI information pack containing advice and sources of help. To date, over 15,000 information packs have been distributed.

  Officials are also working with the accounting and auditing professions to ensure that, as far as possible, all business in the UK are aware of the implications.

  Fuel Poverty
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals she has to eliminate fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement. [4395]

  Mr. Battle
  We have made a commitment in our Manifesto to reduce poverty and welfare dependency: this commitment cuts across a number of policy areas, including energy. We are considering how to achieve that overall Manifesto commitment. In the energy field, competition is already bringing lower prices to many consumers; and we aim to ensure that these benefits are shared by all consumers, including those on low incomes. To inform our future policies, I have asked the gas and electricity regulators for a report on how competition will impact on people taking their supply via a prepayment meter.

  Auditors
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals for the reform of audit regulation will accompany her proposals for limited liability partnerships for auditing work. [4288]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will be considering the content of the draft legislation on limited liability partnership in the light of all the representations received.

  Atomic Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her Department's policy on the duration of contracts(a) British Nuclear Fuels and (b) the Atomic Energy Authority may sign with foreign companies for the storage of spent nuclear fuel at (i) Sellafield and (ii) Dounreay. [4304]

  Mr. Battle
  British Nuclear Fuel's contracts with foreign companies are only for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield. The fuel is stored awaiting reprocessing in Thorp. The duration of storage is a commercial matter for the company involved. Similarly, UKAEA imports spent nuclear fuel only for reprocessing and not for storage. It should be noted that there is only a limited capacity for the temporary storage of nuclear fuels prior to reprocessing so it is in the commercial interests of both organisations to make optimum use of this.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes will be made to cash and running cost limits within her responsibility for 1997–98. [5548]
  452
  Mrs. Beckett
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV, vote 1—programmes and administration—will be increased by a token amount of £1,000. This increase results from:(i) the transfer of responsibility for the Competitiveness Unit to the Department of Trade and Industry from the Cabinet Office: Office of Public Service (Class XVII, Vote 1) resulting in an increase of –1,694,000 to vote section C (Departmental capital and administration) offset by a payment of –1,693,000 from the Cabinet Office under a new vote section M of class IV, vote 1; and,
  (ii) an increase of –270,000 to the Iron and Steel Employees Readaptation Benefits Scheme offset by a corresponding increase in individual industry receipts under section B of the Vote.
  Within this total, the gross running cost limit for the Department of Trade and Industry is being increased by –1,692,000 from –365,001,000 to –366,693,000 as a result of the Competitiveness Unit transfer.

  Also, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV, vote 9—Office of Gas Supply—will be increased by –1,975,000 from –8,100,000 to –10,075,000 and the running cost limit by –1,975,000 from –9,437,000 to –11,412,000. The requirement for an increase results from an increase in running costs associated with the introduction of domestic competition.

  The DTI token increase will be offset by savings, and the OFGAS increase will be charged to the Reserve. Neither will therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Kenya
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current level of trade between Britain and Kenya; and what is the current balance of imports and exports between Britain and Kenya. [4910]

  Mrs. Roche
  In 1996, the value of UK exports of goods to Kenya was –241 million, a slight decrease on 1995. UK imports increased, by 18 per cent., to –191 million. The crude balance of trade in goods decreased, from a surplus of –82 million in 1995, to –50 million in 1996.

  Post Office
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to amend the legal immunities of the Post Office in respect of the services it provides. [4981]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Post Office's immunity from contractual liability for ordinary post was granted by Parliament in the Post Office Act 1969 because of the very high volumes of mail handled and essentially unrestricted access to posting at over 100,000 pillar boxes and over 19,000 post offices.

  In view of the fact that individual recording of each letter would be impracticable and would give rise both to substantial delays and large increases in costs, Parliament took the view that the acceptance of liability by the Post Office, without proof of posting or delivery, could give rise to an escalating level of fraudulent claims and to high costs which could be met only by a substantial increase in the standard letter tariffs. It is the Government's view

  453
  that the vast majority of mail users would not wish to see much higher tariffs or to obtain proof of posting for all items posted as the price for abolishing the Post Office's immunity. We therefore have no plans to introduce legislation to do so.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list for each operating nuclear power station in Britain (i) its year of construction, (ii) the year it began supplying electricity to the national grid, (iii) its anticipated decommissioning date at year of construction, (iv) its actual decommissioning date, if now decommissioned and (v) its expected decommissioning date at the present time. [4638]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 20 June 1997]: Dates for the start of construction, first commercial operation and date of shutdown, where applicable, for nuclear power stations operating in Britain are given in the 1997 World Nuclear Industry Handbook extracts of which are reproduced in the following table.

  Nuclear stations are subject to constant review by the regulatory authorities through a closely monitored licencing system, which ensures that the companies owning these power stations can only operate them for as long as it is safe to do so. Anticipated lifetimes when these stations were first built were based on the technological and economic estimates made at that time and typically ranged between 20 and 30 years.

  The decommissioning of nuclear power stations is undertaken by agreement with the regulatory authorities, the Nuclear Industries Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, to ensure that environmental, safety and economic concerns are fully taken into account.

  Station

  Construction began

  Commercial operation

  Shutdown

  Dungeness B1

  1966

  1985

  —

  Dungeness B2

  1966

  1988

  —

  Hartlepool 1

  1968

  1984

  —

  Hartlepool 2

  1968

  1985

  —

  Heysham 1–1

  1970

  1984

  —

  Heysham 1–2

  1970

  1985

  —

  Heysham 2–1

  1980

  1988

  —

  Heysham 2–2

  1980

  1989

  —

  Hinkley Point B3

  1967

  1978

  —

  Hinkley Point B4

  1967

  1976

  —

  Hunterston B1

  1967

  1976

  —

  Hunterston B2

  1967

  1977

  —

  Torness 1

  1980

  1988

  —

  Torness 2

  1980

  1989

  —

  Bradwell 1

  1957

  1962

  —

  Bradwell 2

  1957

  1962

  —

  Calder Hall 1

  1953

  1956

  —

  Calder Hall 2

  1953

  1957

  —

  Calder Hall 3

  1953

  1958

  —

  Calder Hall 4

  1953

  1959

  —

  Chalpelcross 1

  1956

  1959

  —

  Chalpelcross 2

  1956

  1959

  —

  Chalpelcross 3

  1956

  1960

  —

  Chalpelcross 4

  1956

  1960

  —

  Dungeness A1

  1960

  1965

  —

  Dungeness A2

  1960

  1965

  —

  Hinkley Point A1

  1957

  1965

  —

  454

  Station

  Construction began

  Commercial Operation

  Shutdown

  Hinkley Point A2

  1957

  1965

  —

  Oldbury 1

  1962

  1968

  —

  Oldbury 2

  1962

  1968

  —

  Sizewell A1

  1961

  1966

  —

  Sizewell A2

  1961

  1966

  —

  Wylfa A1

  1963

  1971

  —

  Wylfa A2

  1963

  1972

  —

  Sizewell B

  1988

  1995

  —

  Windscale

  AGR

  1958

  1983

  1981

  Dounreay DRF

  1966

  1962

  1977

  Dounreay PFR

  1967

  1976

  1994

  Winfrith

  Dragon

  n/a

  n/a

  1976

  Berkeley 1

  1957

  1962

  1989

  Berkeley 2

  1957

  1962

  1988

  Hunterston A1

  1957

  1964

  1990

  Hunterston A2

  1957

  1964

  1989

  Trawsfyndd 1

  1959

  1965

  1993

  Trawsfyndd 2

  1959

  1965

  1993

  Winfrith

  SGHWR

  1963

  1968

  1990

  Political Parties (Donations)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce legislation requiring companies to undertake a ballot of all(a) shareholders and (b) employees before making donations to political parties. [4816]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 23 June 1997]: The Government gave a commitment in the Queen's Speech that they would consider how the funding of political parties should be regulated and reformed.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to introduce legislation incorporating the social chapter into British law. [4926]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 23 June 1997]: Following signature of the new treaty, which incorporates the agreement on social policy, the Government expect to introduce in the autumn a Bill to amend as necessary the European Communities Act 1972.

  The Government have undertaken to implement the two directives which have been adopted under the agreement on social policy within two years of the signature of the new treaty or when it enters into force if that is later.

  Oil Exploration
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact of drilling for oil in the Atlantic. [4402]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 23 June 1997]: In deciding which blocks to offer for licence in the 17th round, the Department of Trade and Industry took account of advice from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, its principal adviser on environmental matters, relevant Government Departments and environmental groups. Blocks awarded for licence in the round are subject to

  455
  conditions which seek to mitigate any possible adverse environmental impact of petroleum activities. The conditions were agreed with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

  Defence-related Jobs
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the total number of people employed on defence-related jobs in British manufacturing industry. [4753]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 23 June 1997]: In 1994–95, 360,000 jobs in UK industry were estimated to be dependent on defence expenditure and equipment exports.

  Source: UK Defence Statistics 1996, MoD.

TREASURY

  Bank of England
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer the question tabled on 2 June by the right hon. Member for Llanelli relating to the proposed legislation transferring to the Bank of England operational responsibilities for the setting of interest rates. [5339]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I did so on 20 June.

  Gini Coefficient
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the current Gini coefficient for each member state of the European Union. [3442]

  Mrs. Liddell
  International comparisons of income distribution are difficult to make and there are no officially recognised current estimates of Gini coefficients for each member state of the European Union. Estimates of Gini coefficients for the early 1990's, using data from the Luxembourg Income Survey, have recently been published in an article "Poverty in the UK: A Comparison with Nineteen Other Countries" by Jonathan Bradshaw and Jun-Rong Chen. This can be found in the January 1997 issue of "Benefits", a journal published by Nottingham University, which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what stage in the annual public expenditure cycle it is appropriate for him to discuss openly the resources of households with children above income support levels. [3964]

  Mr. Darling
  There is not going to be a Public Expenditure Survey in 1997. If the hon. Member wants to make representations to my right hon. Friend then he is free to do so.

  Internet
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use he plans to make of the Internet to make Government more open. [5098]
  456
  Mrs. Liddell
  The Treasury's Internet site (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk) has received various commendations and awards, and has been warmly received by the public. The site offers a wide range of information and documentation, which we are committed to expanding the scope of further. Some of the information already published on the site includes all Treasury news releases, speeches, consultation documents, and Treasury occasional papers. Next week, shortly after the Chancellor finishes his statement, we shall be making the speech and the related Budget documentation available on the site. In the 1996 Budget week the site was accessed almost 400,000 times, up from 250,000 accesses in 1995. We expect even greater levels of interest next week.

  Personal Pensions (Misselling)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what responses the Treasury has received in reply to the initiative on misselling of personal pensions announced by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 14 May. [5472]

  Mrs. Liddell
  On 14 May I spoke to senior representatives of the 24 firms which are together responsible for nearly three-quarters of the cases requiring review under the terms of the guidance issued by the Securities and Investments Board (SIB). I told them of the Government's concern about the delays in completing these case reviews and challenged them to perform to better standards than those expected in the targets set by SIB and the Personal Investment Authority (PIA) for each firm. I also made clear that, in the public interest, I plan to publish regular information about each firm's progress.

  I am placing copies of my letters to these firms in the Library of the House. In them I asked for information about their strategies for case reviews and for monthly information about progress with cases. In the letters, I set out my intention to publish the information provided, firm by firm, in the spirit of open government, and in the interests of the investors and the investing public generally. I now have replies from all 24 firms. I am placing copies in the Library of the House and making them available to the press.

  Most of these replies suggest a willingness to deliver the targets for completion of case reviews set by the regulators. A number of companies claim to have adopted practices which will hasten the conclusion of case reviews. These include providing additional staff, placing responsibility with a director and outsourcing expertise where there are resource constraints. I regret that some firms place more emphasis on the impediments to progress such as information flows and the scarcity of appropriate expertise. It is important that case reviews are treated as a matter of priority so that investors can be reassured that their pensions are secure.

  There are also some indications that firms are adopting, or considering, accelerated case management techniques which will improve the speed of case handling without prejudicing investors' rights. Such methods include waiving consideration of whether sales procedures were strictly at fault; use of automatic formulae to top up certain smaller cases; and potentially guarantees which will ensure that investors will either get reinstatement into occupational schemes or equivalent treatment where that proves impossible. I shall be looking for evidence that

  457
  firms are showing their sincerity and commitment to customer service while moving quickly to adopt such streamlined procedures.

  While most of the policy statements sent to me showed a businesslike sense of purpose, I regret that there are two which appear to misunderstand the Government's determination that this matter must be resolved with dispatch. The Sedgwick Group is quite wrong to assert that the Government's initiative on 14 May was in any way under-researched. And I am not convinced by the objections of the board of Legal and General to well merited criticisms of the industry's performance so far.

  When I met these firms on 14 May I made clear that, in the public interest, I would review progress each month and publish information monthly about the progress being made by each firm toward delivery of the regulators' targets. Some firms have already demonstrated that the pace of their reviews is quickening. I trust that this trend will accelerate over the months to come. But progress must not be made through shortcuts achieved to the detriment of investors' rights. Any attempt of this nature will quickly be picked up by the quality control process which the regulators will carry out at my request.

  When I review the progress made by each of the 24 firms each month, I will consider what further action may be called for if I am not convinced of their good intentions. I wish the first reports to be available to me by 3 July, and each month thereafter. It is now urgent that the pensions industry honours its commitments and puts its house in order. Only in that way can it assure its customers, and indeed the general public, of its ability to look after their interests responsibly.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1970(a) the nominal and real rate of interest and (b) the change in the nominal and real rate of exchange based on relative unit values for manufactures based on the second half of 1973 equals 100. [2025]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question (2025) on the nominal and real rate of interest.
  The attached table shows nominal and real rates of interest for the dates requested. The real rate of interest is the nominal rate of interest deflated by a measure of price change over 12 months. There are many different interest rates and price indices and therefore many ways of calculating real interest rates. However, interest rates move in line and thus overall movements provide an accurate indication of general movements.
  The retail banks' base rate was used to represent the interest rate. This is the rate of interest retail banks lend to each other and can be considered the market interest rate for the UK economy. It moves in line with the Bank of England's Minimum Lending Rate (the minimum rate the Bank discounted bills to relieve money market shortages), which represents the cost of borrowing for retail banks from the Bank.
  458
  The nominal rate of interest was deflated by the average annual change in the retail prices index excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX), except between 1970–1976 where the headline retail price index (RPI) was used. RPIX was used in preference to RPI, since i) the nominal interest rate is a priori sensitive to changes in mortgage rates and ii) the real interest rate is compatible with the Government's chosen inflation target measure. Data for RPIX between 1970 and 1976 was not available.
  For the second part of the question, refer to Export unit value index for the United Kingdom published in table 2.16 of ONS monthly publication Economic Trends. This data is supplied to us from the Department of Trade and Industry. For methodology for the derivation of the export unit value index, refer to Competitiveness in Manufactures article on page 43 of June 1997 edition of ONS publication Economic Trends. The Department of the Environment can give more detail on international comparisons.

  Year

  Nominal rate of interest percentage per annum

  Real rate of interest percentage per annum

  1970

  7.25

  1.25

  1971

  5.50

  0.75

  1972

  6.00

  1.00

  1973

  9.25

  1.00

  1974

  12.25

  0.75

  1975

  10.50

  0.50

  1976

  11.00

  0.75

  1977

  9.50

  0.50

  1978

  9.50

  1.00

  1979

  13.75

  1.00

  1980

  15.50

  1.00

  1981

  14.25

  1.25

  1982

  11.25

  1.25

  1983

  10.00

  2.00

  1984

  10.00

  2.25

  1985

  12.50

  2.50

  1986

  11.00

  3.00

  1987

  9.50

  2.50

  1988

  9.00

  2.00

  1989

  14.50

  2.50

  1990

  14.00

  1.75

  1991

  12.00

  1.75

  1992

  9.25

  2.00

  1993

  5.75

  2.00

  1994

  5.75

  2.50

  1995

  6.50

  2.25

  1996

  6.00

  2.00

  The nominal rate of interest is an average over the year. The price index used is the rate of change in prices over the year.

  All figures were rounded to the nearest 0.25 percentage point.

  Dependent Children
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the mean average number of dependent children for each year since 1971 following the form of table 2.6 of "Living in Britain" for the family type whose head of household is(a) married, (b) cohabiting, (c) a lone mother and (d) a lone father. [4792]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Edward Leigh, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to your recent question about the average number of dependent children.

  459
  The analysis requested is not currently available from published or unpublished tables produced from the General Household Survey (GHS). Table 2.6 in Living in Britain (SO, 1997) is the only breakdown of mean (average) number of dependent children by family type available for each year since 1971. Unpublished information on the average number of dependent children for lone mother families and lone father families is available for the 1994 and 1995 surveys. The figures are:

  Families with dependent children: Mean average number of dependent children

  Family type

  1994

  1995

  Married/cohabiting couples

  1.9 (2,442)

  1.9 (2,358)

  Lone mothers

  1.7 (660)

  1.7 (607)

  Lone fathers

  1.3 (48)

  1.5 (51)

  All lone parents

  1.7 (708)

  1.7 (658)

  All families with dependent children

  1.8 (3,150)

  1.8 (3,016)

  Base numbers are in brackets, and correspond to the number of respondents in the survey within each group.
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the age of the youngest dependent child by family type following the form of table 2.9 of "Living in Britain", indicating the percentages of children living in a household headed by a person who is(a) married, (b) cohabiting, (c) a lone mother, (d) a lone father and (e) a lone parent. [4844]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Edward Leigh, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to your recent question about the age of youngest dependent children.
  The analysis requested is not currently available from published or unpublished tables produced from the General Household Survey (GHS). Table 2.9 in Living in Britain 1995 (SO, 1997) is the only breakdown of age of youngest dependent child by family type available. The unit of analysis (ie the base for calculating percentages) is 'all families with dependent children' rather than 'all children'.
  The forthcoming Office for National Statistics publication 'Social Focus on Families', to be published by the Stationery Office in August 1997, will include a table (based on 1995 data) showing the age of the youngest dependent child by family type using the categories a) married couples b) cohabiting couples c) all couples d) lone mothers e) lone fathers f) lone parents g) all families with dependent children. As with Table 2.9, the unit of analysis is 'all families with dependent children' rather than 'all children'.

  Average Earnings
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made(a) of the contribution of wage drift to the recent increase in average earnings and (b) of the current methods employed by the ONS in its seasonal adjustments. [4577]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  460
  Letter from Tim Holt to Ms Ruth Kelly, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the contributions of wage drift to the recent increase in average earnings and the current methods of seasonal adjustment employed by the ONS.
  It is difficult to decompose reliably whole economy average earnings into wage drift and pay settlements because we do not have adequate information on whole economy settlements. Consequently, ONS does not estimate the contribution wage drift makes to increases in average earnings. We monitor the general level of settlements in the economy, which have been relatively stable over the last year or so. This suggests that recent increases in average earnings have been, in part, due to wage drift and particularly larger bonus payments, especially in the financial services sector.
  The ONS currently publishes a seasonally adjusted series of average earnings growth and an underlying rate, which attempts to adjust for temporary influences such as arrears of pay and variations in the timing of bonus payments. A recent review of the monthly wages and salaries survey, from which earnings statistics are derived, recommended that ONS should consider moving to X-11 ARIMA seasonal adjustment software for earnings data; this is currently being evaluated. X-11 ARIMA is one ONS's standard method of seasonally adjusting time series.

  Unemployment
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the true level of unemployment at ward level in Rotherham will be reflected under the proposed new method of measuring employment. [5006]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Dennis MacShane, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the introduction of a monthly version of the Labour Force Survey.
  I am responsible for deciding the form, coverage and timing of release of statistics issued by ONS, taking into account the views of customers. ONS consulted on the future presentation of labour market statistics; the consultation exercise was launched through an article in the Labour Market Trends published on 8 May. Comments on the proposals should have been sent to ONS by 14 June.
  The proposals set out for consultation reflect the House of Commons Employment Select Committee recommendation that more prominence should be given to the measure of unemployment which is based on the internationally agreed ILO definition.
  ONS is committed to providing the statistics that users need and will maintain existing outputs wherever possible.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Colchester parliamentary constituency were paid at rates below(a) £4, (b) 3.50 and (c) £3 per hour, at the latest date for which figures are available. [5001]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  461
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Bob Russell, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on earnings in the Colchester parliamentary constituency.
  The latest information, from the New Earrings Survey (NES) April 1996, precedes the creation of Colchester parliamentary constituency. Data for the areas prior to the last General Election are given in the table below.

  Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence, NES April 1996

  £3.00

  £3.50

  £4.00

  North-Colchester

  Full-time

  0.8

  2.5

  8.1

  Part-time

  7.0

  18.6

  37.2

  All

  2.5

  6.8

  15.8

  South Colchester and Maldon

  Full-time

  3.9

  7.0

  13.3

  Part-time

  14.6

  33.3

  47.9

  All

  6.8

  14.2

  22.7

  Spending Review
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list categories of assets which will form part of the proposed Government inventory in the comprehensive spending review; what method of valuation is to be employed; if the national gold reserves will be included; and what method will be employed for their valuation. [4216]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 19 June 1997]: The Government has not yet finalised which categories of assets to include in the national asset registers or what basis of valuation will be employed. An announcement will be made in due course.

  However, information on the amount held in the national gold reserves is already available. It is published monthly in the Bank of England's "Monetary and Financial Statistics" and in the International monetary fund's publication "International Financial Statistics". A conservative basis is adopted for the valuation of the gold reserves: the reserves are revalued at the end of March each year on the basis of 75 per cent. of the average London fixing price for the three months up to the end of March or at 75 per cent. of its final fixing price on the last working day in March whichever gives the lower price.

  Privatisation
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on privatisation. [675]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 5 June 1997]: Privatisation will be considered, on its merits, where it is in the public interest to do so.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Amsterdam Treaty
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those articles and Protocols of the provisional treaty of Amsterdam for whose implementation primary legislation will be required; and when he expects to publish the necessary Bill. [5011]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The draft Treaty of Amsterdam is not yet in final form, and needs further technical work before it can be submitted for signature by all Member States. After signature of the Treaty, which is planned for October, primary legislation will be required before the United Kingdom ratifies it. We anticipate that such legislation would need to add to the list of Community Treaties in the European Communities Act 1972 all parts of the new Treaty, including Protocols, except those relating to the intergovernmental pillars. However, it is too soon to say when a Bill might be published or what its precise contents will be.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for parliamentary scrutiny of the Treaty of Amsterdam. [5094]

  Mr. Henderson
  A Bill will be required before the UK ratifies the Treaty of Amsterdam. In the meantime we have deposited for parliamentary scrutiny and placed in the libraries of the House a provisional version of the draft Treaty circulated by the Netherlands Presidency. As indicated in the conclusions of the Amsterdam European Council, the necessary final legal editing and harmonisation of the texts must now be completed, with a view to signature of the Treaty in October.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list under the treaty of Amsterdam the(a) areas in and (b) articles under which a group of member states of the European Union may proceed with any description of common arrangements or legislation, which currently would require unanimous assent; and what representations Her Majesty's Government made in respect of those articles at the conference. [5012]

  Mr. Henderson
  The conditions and limitations on the scope of flexibility are as set out in general clauses inserted into the Treaty of European Union; Article 5a of the European Community Treaty; and Article K12 of the Treaty on European Union. Article J13a of the Treaty on European Union establishes a constructive abstention mechanism in the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

  We made clear in the Intergovernmental Conference that we accepted the need for enhanced flexibility provisions but we believed the scope of such provisions in the Community pillar should be limited, and that any Member State should, in all pillars, where its key national interests were affected, be able to prevent flexible actions taking place. We achieved those objectives.

  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which areas currently resolved under unanimity are to be transferred to qualified majority voting under the final Amsterdam treaty text. [4997]
  463
  Mr. Henderson
  The following areas currently resolved under unanimity are to be transferred to Qualified Majority Voting under the Amsterdam treaty:Article 45 (3): Compensatory aid for imports of raw materials.
  Article 56 (2): Coordination of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action for special treatment for foreign nationals (right of establishment).
  Article 130i (1): Adoption of the research framework programme.
  Article 130i (2): Adapting or supplementing the research framework programme.
  Article 130o: Setting up of joint undertakings in R&T development.

  There will also be QMV for implementing decisions and decisions on the basis of the Common Foreign and Security Policy as provided for by Article J13. However, a Member State may prevent a vote from being taken for important and stated reasons of national interest, whereupon the decision may be referred to the European Council for decision by unanimity.

  The flexibility provisions in Articles 5a (Community Pillar) and K12 (Justice and Home Affairs) are also subject to qualified majority voting. However a similar national veto mechanism applies.

  The new Articles B (2) (b) (i) and (iii) (some visa questions) in the new chapter on free movement of persons, asylum and immigration shall also be subject to QMV. The UK will not be obliged to take part in co-operation under this chapter.

  European Commission (School Packs)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria determine the material included in school packs sent out by the European Commission Office in London; and in what circumstances external bodies may submit material for distribution via the European Commission Office. [4908]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  This is a matter for the European Commission.

  European Union (Public Image)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money was spent on programmes designed to improve the public image of(a) the European Union and (b) the Single Currency in 1996; and if he will list the projects involved. [4909]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  On the basis that the question is referring to expenditure from the EC budget, a total of 113 million ecu was committed in 1996 for information and communication activities under Title B3-3. Of this, 50 million ecu was spent on Budget line B3-306, which covers a number of specific information programmes, including to publicise the euro.

  The EC Budget sets out Commission spending on information activities by broad categories (or Budget lines) within Title B3-3. Details of the individual projects funded from these lines are not published in consolidated form by the Commission.

  Montevideo Convention
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cases at the International Court of Justice to which the United Kingdom has been a party since 1967, to which the Montevideo convention on the Rights and Duties of States applied. [5007]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  There have been no such cases.

  Former Prisoners of War (Japan)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which representatives he has met of former prisoners of war of the Japanese; and what discussions he has had with representatives of the Japanese Government in regard to compensation to such former prisoners of war; and if he will make a statement.[5078]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 June at column 86 to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs invited representatives of the former prisoners of war and civilian internees to a meeting which took place on 3 June.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the strong feelings held by many in this country about the former prisoners of war with the Japanese Foreign Minister when they met on 21 June. We will continue to maintain close contact with the Japanese Government on this issue.

  Indonesia (Arms Exports)
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the export of arms to Indonesia. [4996]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 22 May at column 135 an urgent review of the detailed criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms worldwide. Countries will be judged against the new criteria.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the government of Saudi Arabia concerning human rights; and if he will make a statement. [4765]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed human rights, among other matters, with the Saudi Ambassador on 21 May. We look forward to having a more thorough discussion with the Government of Saudi Arabia at the earliest opportunity on this and a wide range of other issues of interest to us.

  Diplomatic Immunity
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were committed in the United Kingdom in 1996
  465
  by persons entitled to immunity; and how many foreign diplomats or members of their families were withdrawn from their posts in the United Kingdom in the past year as a result of alleged offences. [5551]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  From a diplomatic community of over 17,000 persons, thirty four alleged serious offences by persons entitled to immunity were drawn to the attention of this Department in 1996. "Serious Offences" are defined in accordance with the Report to the Foreign Affairs Committee "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges (1985)" as offences which fall into the category which in certain circumstances attract a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment or more: the majority involved drinking and driving and shoplifting.

  Six diplomats or members of their families were withdrawn at this Department's request from posts in the United Kingdom as a result of alleged offences, compared with five the previous year.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he proposes to make in his Department's cash limits and running cost limits for 1997–98. [5552]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the following changes will be made.

  The cash limit for Class II, Vote 1 (Overseas Representation) will be increased by £225,000 from £619,601,00 to £619,826,000. The increase is required to take in a transfer of £225,000 (Other Current Expenditure) from the Cabinet Office for costs incurred on their behalf.

  The gross running costs limit on Class II, Vote 1 will be increased by £3,250,000 from £524,020,000 to £527,270,000.

  There is a requirement to provide for new costs and income associated with the Hong Kong Ethnic Minorities Citizens Unit and increased visa costs and income associated with new regimes in Colombia and Ecuador. All increases in provision will be fully offset by extra receipts, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Malawi
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects supported by Britain in Malawi in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement on aid to Malawi. [5016]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I am placing in the Library of the House a list of projects supported under the bilateral aid programme to Malawi between 1992–93 and 1996–97. A Country Aid Policy Statement for Malawi was produced in 1995. In 1995 Britain provided to Malawi about £30 million in bilateral aid and £8 million through the European Community. My right hon. Friend the Secretary 466
  of State for International Development has recently approved £15 million in programme aid to help Malawi pay teachers' salaries.

  Internation Development White Paper
  Mr. Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made with the White Paper on International Development. [5554]

  Ms Short
  It remains our intention to publish a White Paper on International Development in the Autumn. A process of widespread consultation is underway. I am delighted that there is to be a debate on International Development policies on Tuesday 1 July, during which hon. Members will have an opportunity to feed their thoughts and ideas into the Paper.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Church of England Pensions Board
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will take measures to ensure that the Church of England Pensions Board responds to the letter from the Parish Protection Board, dated 7 November 1996; if he will place a copy of the reply in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [4496]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  This is not a matter for the Church Commissioners; it is a matter for the Church of England Pensions Board. I understand, however, that a reply was sent to the Parishes Protection Group on 18 February 1997, after consideration at a meeting of the full Pensions Board (No. 4496 in the Order Paper dated 17 June).

SCOTLAND

  Cigarette Smokers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of adult(a) men and (b) women in Scotland are cigarette smokers in each 10 year age band; and if he will make a statement. [4761]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The estimated number and percentage of adult men and women cigarette smokers in Scotland in 1994 are provided below.

  Age group

  Percentage of cigarette smokers

  Estimated number of cigarette smokers

  Male smokers

  16–24

  31

  99,000

  25–34

  30

  125,000

  35–44

  32

  112,000

  45–54

  31

  96,000

  55–64

  39

  99,000

  65–74

  25

  50,000

  75+

  18

  19,000

  467

  Age group

  Percentage of cigarette smokers

  Estimated number of cigarette smokers

  Female smokers

  16–24

  25

  77,000

  25–34

  36

  148,000

  35–44

  32

  113,000

  45–54

  30

  96,000

  55–64

  30

  84,000

  65–74

  21

  54,000

  75+

  14

  30,000

  1. The percentage of cigarette smokers has been calculated from the 1994 General Household Survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics.

  2. The number of smokers has been estimated using Registrar General for Scotland mid-year population estimates as at 30 June 1994, and the percentage of smokers.

  3. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole figure. The estimates of the number of smokers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Pensions Agency
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the key performance targets he has set for the Scottish Office Pensions Agency for 1997–98. [5546]

  Mr. Dewar
  I have set the Scottish Office Pensions Agency the following key performance targets for 1997–98:To ensure that all awards and transfer payments are accurate to within 0.5 per cent. of their value.
  To pay on time 99.5 per cent. of all pensions and lump sums where the target date for receipt of claims is met.
  To make transfer payments within 16 working days of members' final instructions to transfer pensions rights.
  To ensure that 96 per cent. of contributions due from employers of teachers are received within 15 days of the end of the month to which they relate.
  To reduce total identified operating costs per member/beneficiary by 6 per cent.

  Prison Service
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets he has set for the Scottish Prison Service for 1997–98. [5547]

  £Million

  Authority

  Right to buy

  Land sales

  Total receipts2

  Target

  Near actual1

  Target

  Near actual1

  Target

  Near actual1

  Aberdeen City Council

  13.050

  11.381

  0.300

  0.164

  15.212

  12.018

  Aberdeenshire Council

  7.260

  7.005

  0.500

  0.626

  8.533

  7.954

  Angus Council

  3.600

  4.508

  0.050

  0.025

  4.070

  4.557

  Argyll and Bute Council

  3.060

  3.379

  0.260

  0.141

  3.622

  3.543

  Clackmannanshire Council

  2.706

  2.856

  0.219

  0.102

  3.166

  2.958

  Dumfries and Galloway Council

  6.274

  7.103

  0.400

  0.578

  7.210

  7.691

  Dundee City Council

  4.500

  4.103

  0.400

  0.044

  5.984

  4.305

  East Ayrshire Council

  5.154

  7.220

  0.125

  0.000

  6.016

  7.234

  East Dunbartonshire Council

  2.451

  2.674

  0.000

  0.000

  2.705

  2.695

  East Lothian Council

  3.730

  3.836

  0.200

  0.030

  4.386

  3.919

  East Renfrewshire Council

  1.409

  0.922

  0.020

  0.764

  1.609

  1.686

  City of Edinburgh Council

  9.410

  9.039

  2.000

  1.449

  12.650

  10.531

  Falkirk Council

  6.206

  6.400

  1.000

  0.813

  8.067

  7.213

  Fife Council

  15.066

  11.771

  1.500

  0.351

  18.051

  12.357

  468
  Mr. Dewar
  I have set the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service the following targets:

  Performance measures

  Key targets

  The number of prisoners

  No A Category prisoners should

  unlawfully at large.

  escape.

  The number of escapes by B Category

  prisoners should be no higher than 1.7

  per 1,000 prisoners.

  The number of escapes by C Category

  prisoners should be no higher than 2

  per 1,000 prisoners.

  The number of serious

  The number of serious assaults on staff

  assaults on staff and

  should be no higher than 3 per 1,000

  prisoners.

  staff.

  The number of serious assaults on

  other prisoners should be less than the

  1996–97 outturn.

  Basic quality of life for

  By end March 1998 70 per cent. of

  prisoners

  prisoners will have access to forms of

  night sanitation.

  The amount of available

  To ensure that 450 prisoners have

  opportunities for

  completed a cognitive skills

  prisoners' self

  programme and 70 prisoners have

  development.

  completed a sex offender programme

  during 1997–98.

  Average annual cost per

  To keep costs within £28,317 per place

  prisoner place.

  available for use.

  The level of absence

  To reduce the average number of days

  through staff sickness.

  lost per person per year through staff

  sickness to 15.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each local authority the actual annual capital receipts for 1996–97, indicating in each case receipts from(a) right to buy, (b) stock transfer and (c) land sales; and if he will indicate for each authority and for each category of receipts the annual targets set out in the estimates at the start of the year. [3308]

  Mr. Chisholm
  [holding answer 17 June 1997]Information on local authority housing capital receipts in 1996–97 is set out in the table. A target of £22 million was set for receipts from stock transfer, but no receipts were achieved.
  469

  £Million

  Authority

  Right to buy

  Land sales

  Total receipts2

  Target

  Near actual1

  Target

  Near actual1

  Target

  Near actual1

  City of Glasgow Council

  15.620

  20.489

  3.000

  2.098

  22.666

  22.814

  Highland Council

  8.600

  10.388

  0.500

  0.113

  9.908

  10.632

  Inverclyde Council

  3.750

  4.031

  0.182

  0.050

  4.438

  4.089

  Midlothian Council

  2.606

  3.168

  0.100

  0.222

  3.009

  3.426

  Moray Council

  3.950

  4.100

  0.231

  0.139

  4.484

  4.291

  North Ayrshire Council

  4.062

  4.332

  0.236

  0.036

  5.009

  4.378

  North Lanarkshire Council

  15.690

  19.868

  2.000

  0.546

  19.700

  20.548

  Orkney Islands Council

  0.800

  0.809

  0.010

  0.000

  0.849

  0.809

  Perth and Kinross Council

  3.919

  4.076

  0.100

  0.180

  4.515

  4.326

  Renfrewshire Council

  4.200

  5.529

  3.000

  0.417

  8.091

  5.959

  Scottish Borders Council

  2.900

  2.880

  0.300

  0.013

  3.559

  3.167

  Shetland Council

  1.435

  1.046

  0.005

  0.007

  1.577

  1.074

  South Ayrshire Council

  5.052

  4.750

  0.000

  0.300

  5.468

  5.050

  South Lanarkshire Council

  14.758

  16.935

  0.100

  0.208

  16.503

  17.225

  Stirling Council

  3.870

  4.020

  0.200

  0.062

  4.459

  4.162

  West Dunbartonshire Council

  3.710

  2.629

  0.000

  0.000

  4.296

  2.677

  West Lothian Council

  5.200

  6.958

  0.482

  0.250

  6.272

  7.245

  Western Isles Council

  0.665

  0.528

  0.000

  0.000

  0.769

  0.599

  Scotland

  184.663

  198.733

  17.420

  9.728

  226.853

  211.132

  1Near actual information is based on returns from local authorities.

  2The total receipts target and near actual figures include, as well as right to buy and land sales, target and near actual receipts for stock transfers, rent to mortgage, tenants' choice and loan repayments.

  Schools
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total value of balances held by state schools in Scotland. [5068]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 23 June 1997]The information sought is not held centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Low Pay
  Mr. Tom King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time employees at her Department and its agencies are paid (i) less than £4.00 an hour, (ii) less than £3.50 an hour and (iii) less than £3.00 an hour. [4195]

  Mr. Murphy
  The information requested from the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments is listed:

  Belfast education and library board

  Expenditure £000s

  Controlled or maintained

  Full time equivalent pupil places

  Primary school

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Existing provision

  Controlled

  25

  Seaview

  440

  522

  542

  548

  Controlled

  25

  Wheatfield

  387

  439

  447

  477

  Controlled

  25

  Mersey Street

  302

  382

  359

  371

  Controlled

  25

  Ballygolan

  199

  231

  261

  268

  Controlled

  25

  Blackmountain

  210

  257

  240

  238

  Controlled

  25

  Rosetta

  387

  434

  422

  438

  Controlled

  25

  Stranmillis

  385

  442

  470

  474

  Controlled

  25

  Botanic

  274

  321

  350

  338

  Controlled

  25

  Fane Street

  326

  395

  392

  429

  Controlled

  25

  Ballysillan

  259

  290

  321

  331

  Controlled

  25

  Orangefield

  422

  536

  549

  576

  Controlled

  25

  Cliftonville

  300

  398

  372

  391

  470

  Earnings

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Less than £4.00 an hour

  522

  181

  Less than £3.50 an hour

  1,765

  36

  Less than £3.00 an hour

  24

  2

  Nursery Education
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for each education and library board those schools which have nursery school provision, indicating which are in the(a) voluntary, (b) maintained and (c) controlled sectors, indicating the year in which provision was first available, the sums expended by each board in each of the last 10 years for each school and the proposals for the coming school year. [4066]

  Mr. Worthington
  The available information is as follows:
  471

  Belfast education and library board

  Expenditure £000s

  Controlled or maintained

  Full time equivalent pupil places

  Primary school

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Controlled

  50

  Fernhill

  361

  401

  404

  418

  Controlled

  50

  Dundela

  333

  382

  385

  417

  Controlled

  50

  Grove

  367

  423

  439

  449

  Controlled

  50

  Lowwood

  398

  478

  472

  503

  Controlled

  50

  Nettlefield

  419

  500

  523

  572

  Controlled

  50

  Suffolk

  278

  288

  283

  307

  Controlled

  50

  Taughmonagh

  357

  371

  378

  383

  Controlled

  50

  Blythefield

  337

  384

  385

  412

  Controlled

  50

  Avoneil

  414

  479

  488

  518

  Controlled

  50

  Euston Street

  387

  435

  469

  511

  Controlled

  25

  Knocknagoney

  285

  322

  353

  370

  Maintained

  50

  St. Bride's

  723

  865

  892

  963

  Maintained

  50

  St. Malachy's

  347

  401

  410

  460

  Maintained

  50

  St. Matthew's

  364

  428

  444

  463

  Proposed extra provision

  Nil

  North-eastern education and library board

  Expenditure £000s

  Controlled or maintained

  Full time equivalent pupil places

  Primary school

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Existing provision

  Controlled

  25

  Mossgrove

  265

  301

  310

  325

  Controlled

  25

  Victoria

  466

  525

  577

  610

  Controlled

  50

  Ballykeel

  490

  521

  586

  596

  Controlled

  50

  Whitehouse

  335

  370

  399

  414

  Controlled

  50

  Oakfield

  494

  569

  585

  602

  Controlled

  50

  Rathcoole

  398

  436

  441

  457

  Maintained

  50

  St. James'

  230

  271

  316

  318

  Controlled

  50

  Clough

  132

  168

  176

  189

  Controlled

  50

  Kilmoyle

  91

  98

  96

  92

  Proposed extra provision

  Earliest start date: 1 September 1997

  Controlled

  25

  Bushmills

  Approved under the EU Special Support

  Controlled

  25

  Harpurs Hill

  Programme for Peace and Reconciliation

  South-eastern education and library board

  Expenditure £000s

  Controlled or maintained

  Full time equivalent pupil places

  Primary school

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Existing provision

  Controlled

  50

  Braniel

  417

  481

  476

  460

  Controlled

  50

  Belvoir Park

  385

  457

  491

  530

  Controlled

  50

  Lisburn Central

  359

  402

  438

  480

  Controlled

  50

  Brooklands

  638

  720

  862

  793

  Maintained

  50

  St. Mark's

  648

  715

  819

  841

  Proposed extra provision

  Earliest start date: 1 September 1997

  Controlled

  25

  Westwinds (Newtownards)

  Approved under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation

  Controlled

  25

  Kilcooley (Bangor)

  Approved under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation

  Controlled

  25

  Old Warren (Lisburn)

  Approved under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation

  472 473

  Southern education and library board

  Expenditure £000s

  Controlled or maintained

  Full-time equivalent pupil places

  Primary school

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Existing provision

  Controlled

  25

  Dickson

  290

  326

  332

  331

  Controlled

  25

  Donacloney

  196

  217

  248

  287

  Controlled

  25

  Hart Memorial

  390

  468

  488

  513

  Controlled

  25

  Bessbrook

  143

  178

  181

  189

  Controlled

  25

  Lurgan Model

  140

  160

  183

  213

  Controlled

  25

  Craigavon

  163

  180

  176

  164

  Controlled

  25

  Hardy Memorial

  456

  511

  541

  559

  Controlled

  50

  Carrick Lurgan

  323

  358

  408

  419

  Controlled

  50

  King's Park

  580

  629

  671

  740

  Controlled

  50

  Ballyoran

  379

  445

  493

  560

  Controlled

  50

  Drumgor

  516

  568

  605

  601

  Controlled

  50

  Tullygally

  340

  397

  414

  411

  Maintained

  25

  St. Malachy's

  307

  345

  349

  356

  Carrickcroppan/

  Camlough

  Maintained

  25

  Seagoc

  206

  237

  248

  271

  Maintained

  50

  Cloughoge

  376

  423

  504

  495

  Maintained

  50

  St. Anthony's

  642

  746

  787

  796

  Maintained

  50

  St. Brendan's

  597

  688

  684

  697

  Maintained

  50

  St.Joseph's

  447

  500

  451

  569

  Infants, Lurgan

  Maintained

  50

  St. Joseph's

  421

  481

  533

  550

  Bessbrook

  Proposed extra provision

  Earliest start date: 1 September 1997

  Maintained

  50

  St. Patrick's (Newry)

  Approved under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation

  Maintained

  50

  St. Patrick's (Dungannon)

  Approved under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation

  Western education and library board

  Expenditure £000s

  Controlled or maintained

  Full-time equivalent pupil places

  Primary school

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Existing provision

  Controlled

  25

  Londonderry

  376

  486

  467

  523

  Model

  Controlled

  25

  Sion Mills

  320

  363

  374

  458

  Controlled

  50

  Ebrington

  650

  702

  745

  728

  Controlled

  50

  Greenhaw

  340

  375

  407

  411

  Controlled

  25

  Fountain

  Opened 12 June 1995

  Maintained

  25

  St. Columbkilles

  379

  404

  419

  424

  Maintained

  50

  Dungiven Road

  486

  550

  569

  562

  Maintained

  50

  Holy Child

  500

  543

  584

  584

  Proposed extra provision

  Earliest start date: 1 September 1997

  Maintained

  50

  Rosemount (Londonderry)

  Approved under the Londonderry Regeneration Initiative

  Maintained

  50

  Barrack Street (Strabane)

  Approved under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation

  Maintained

  50

  St. Ronan's (Lisnaskea)

  Maintained

  25

  St. Patrick's (Castlederg)

  Controlled

  25

  Ashlea PS Londonderry

  1. The year in which the provision became available is not available for all schools and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  2. The information is for nursery units only.

  3. Expenditure details are only available from 1991–92 (when formula funding was introduced) to 1994–95. Expenditure statements for 1995–96 and 1996–97 are not yet available. The figures relate to the total expenditure at each school as it is not possible to disaggregate expenditure on a nursery unit from expenditure on the rest of the school.

  4. Not all of the new provision will be available in September: it will come onstream over the course of the year. There are likely to be further approvals under these programmes.

  Government Training Centres
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Government training centres have(a) achieved and (b) not been awarded the job skills quality management status. [4240]

  Mr. Worthington
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 19 June 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about the number of Training Centres which have reached the standards required under the Jobskills Quality Management System (JQMS).
  There are ten Training Centres in Northern Ireland and to date three, Dundonald, Lisburn and Omagh, have been awarded JQMS. The remaining Centres at Ballymena, Craigavon, Enniskillen, Felden, Maydown, Newry and Springtown are on line to achieve JQMS before 31 December 1997 in line with a staged implementation of this new standard.
  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Southern Area Health Board Headquarters
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are for the future use of the former headquarters of the Southern Area Health Board at Carn, Craigavon; and if she will make a statement. [4241]

  Mr. Worthington
  The former Southern Health and Social Services Board Headquarters at 20 Seagoe Industrial Estate, Portadown was vacated and became surplus to requirements at the end of 1996. In accordance with Government procedures for the disposal of surplus land and property, the site and the portable buildings were advertised for sale on the open market in January 1997. A sale was agreed and the legal formalities were concluded on 21 March 1997.

  Health Centres
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the names of health centres(a) owned by the Southern Area Health Board, (b) for which the Southern Area Health Board contributes a loan towards capital expenditure and (c) for which the Southern Area Health Board contributed a grant towards capital expenditure. [4245]

  Mr. Worthington
  Health Centres are either in the ownership of the Department of Health and Social Services or the relevant Health and Social Services Trust. Details are provided in the table. The Southern Health and Social Services Board does not contribute loans or grants towards the capital expenditure of any health centre. At present a board may only provide financial support in relation to Health Centre premises which have been sold to general medical practitioners.

  Table: Health centres in the Southern board area

  Location

  Ownership

  Portadown

  DHSS

  Warrenpoint

  DHSS

  476

  table: Health centres in the southern area

  Location

  Ownership

  Crossmaglen

  DHSS

  Rathfriland

  DHSS

  Armagh

  DHSS

  Richill

  DHSS

  Markethill

  DHSS

  Ballygawley

  DHSS

  Lurgan

  Craigavon/Banbridge

  Community Trust

  Banbridge

  Craigavon/Banbridge

  Community Trust

  Brownlow

  Craigavon/Banbridge

  Community Trust

  Gilford

  Craigavon/Banbridge

  Community Trust

  Newry

  Newry and Mourne Trust

  Kilkeel

  Newry and Mourne Trust

  Newtownhamilton

  Newry and Mourne Trust

  Arts Policy
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to review policy on the arts; and if she will make a statement. [4418]

  Mr. Worthington
  I have no plans at present for a review of arts policy in Northern Ireland. However, in conjunction with the Arts Council, I wish to promote the widest possible access to the arts, particularly for young people, and to increase the impact of the cultural sector on the economy.

  Council for Voluntary Action
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to meet representatives of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action; and if she will make a statement. [4419]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I met representatives of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action on Friday 20 June when I opened their annual conference in Belfast.

  Targeting Social Need Policy
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to review the Targeting Social Need policy; and if she will make a statement. [4422]

  Mr. Worthington
  It is anticipated that recommendations on Targeting Social Need will be included in the forthcoming report by the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on employment equality in Northern Ireland. The Government will give the fullest consideration to the Commission's recommendations, including its implications for the Targeting Social Need initiative.

  Unemployment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to issue a statement concerning the consultation on long-term unemployment; and if she will make a statement. [4423]
  477
  Mr. Worthington
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter form Ian Walters to Dr. Norman Godman, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about the current consultation on long-term unemployment in Northern Ireland.
  The initial stage of the consultation process has been completed with the publication of a consultative document and a series of public seminars across Northern Ireland. Those attending the seminars had the chance to discuss long-term unemployment with Agency officials and indeed with each other. In addition, we have received over 80 written submissions on the document and are currently in the process of reviewing each of them.
  As we continue the review we will take full account of the Government's Welfare to Work proposals and the priority attached to them.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Courts (Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the future of the county court in Chelmsford. [4897]

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

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 24 June 1997:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the future of Chelmsford County Court.
  I can confirm that there are no plans to move or close Chelmsford County Court.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on plans to reorganise the(a) county courts and (b) magistrates' courts in Essex, with special reference to the Chelmsford area. [4894]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Lord Chancellor is currently considering a proposal to close the Braintree and Bishop Stortford County Courts. If these courts are closed, some work previously dealt with at the Braintree court might be dealt with in Chelmsford.

  Responsibility for the civil and higher criminal courts network falls to the Court Service which must constantly monitor and review the viability of its resources in the light of changing business needs and workload trends. Decisions on any proposals for change will be made by the Lord Chancellor taking account of all the relevant factors.

  Turning to the question of magistrates' courts in Essex, there are no current plans for closures in the area. Essex Magistrates' Courts Committee has, however, issued a consultation paper setting out a number of options for the reorganisation of petty sessional divisions in the County. The consultation period closes on 30 June. One of these
  478
  options is that the current Chelmsford and Maldon and Witham PSDs should be amalgamated, together with some or all of the Braintree and Halstead and Brentwood PSDs, into a single PSD.

  The MCC has indicated that this new PSD could be served by one courthouse to be centred at Chelmsford or possibly at Witham.

  Decisions concerning the future and number of magistrates' courts in their area are for the relevant MCC to determine. A local authority that contributes financially may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. In the absence of an appeal, however, the Lord Chancellor plays no part in the process.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to move the(a) county court and (b) magistrates' court from Chelmsford to elsewhere in Essex, indicating the place; and if he will make a statement. [4895]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have no proposals to move either the county court or the magistrates' court from Chelmsford.

  Responsibility for the civil and higher criminal courts network falls to the Court Service which must constantly monitor and review the viability of its resources in the light of changing business needs and workload trends. Decisions on any proposals for change will be made by the Lord Chancellor taking account of all the relevant factors.

  Decisions concerning the future and number of magistrates' courts in its area are for the relevant MCC to determine. A local authority that contributes financially may appeal to the lord chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. In the absence of an appeal, however, the Lord Chancellor plays no part in the process.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the future of the magistrates' court in Chelmsford. [4896]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have no proposals to move either the county court or the magistrates' court from Chelmsford. Decisions concerning the future and number of magistrates' court in its area are for the relevant MCC to determine. A local authority that contributes financially may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. In the absence of an appeal, however, the Lord Chancellor plays no part in the process.

  Running Costs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make changes to the running costs limit for Class VIII Vote I for 1997–98. [5473]

  Mr. Hoon
  The running costs limit for Class VIII Vote 1 has been reduced by£73,000 from £427,754,000 to £427,681,000 to reflect a transfer to the Cabinet Office for editorial support for the hard copy publications functions of the Statutory Publications Office.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Town Centre Management Schemes
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage town centre management schemes. [4010]

  Mr. Raynsford
  PPG 6 (Town Centres and Retail Developments) actively encourages local authorities to prepare town centre management initiatives. To help facilitate this the Government provide core funding for the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM), which has a lead role in the promotion of town centre management. The Government have also provided financial support for the ATCM research reports on "Town Improvement Zones" (undertaken by KPMG), "Managing urban open spaces", undertaken by Chesterton's, and "Town Centre Partnerships: a survey of good practice", undertaken by Hillier Parker and URBED.

  Unfit Homes (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he proposes to publish targets for the reduction in the number of unfit homes in Portsmouth; [4294]

  (2) what representations he has received from Portsmouth City Council concerning the number of unfit homes in Portsmouth; [4295]

  (3) how many unfit homes there are in Portsmouth; and what plans he has to reduce their number. [4293]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department has received no representations from Portsmouth city council concerning the number of unfit homes in Portsmouth. Local authorities in England are asked to provide estimates of dwellings in their area which are unfit on the annual housing investment programme returns. Portsmouth's latest HIP return reported that, on 1 April 1996, 340 of its own dwellings and 5,300 private sector dwellings were unfit. Figures for other public sector bodies and housing associations were not provided. Local authorities are responsible for taking action to tackle unfit homes within their area, including the setting and publishing of any targets for reduction, within the context of their housing strategy and investment programmes.

  Environmental Taskforce
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultation he will undertake on his proposals for an environmental taskforce; and if he will consult with non-Governmental environmental organisations. [4480]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government are committed to delivering the New Deal programme in partnership with other organisations in the voluntary, private and public sectors, including non-governmental environmental organisations, and will consult those organisations shortly.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the time scale for the creation of regional development agencies. [4789]

  Angela Eagle
  We propose to bring forward legislation in the autumn with a view to the agencies beginning operation on 1 April 1999.

  Sex Offenders
  Ms Hewitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will issue guidelines to local authorities on how they should handle applications for local authority tenancies from individuals who have been convicted of sex offences against children; [4815]

  (2) if he will review the responsibilities and powers of local authorities where an individual who has been convicted of sex offences against children (a) moves into the authority's area and (b) applies for a local authority tenancy; and if he will make a statement. [4814]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We recognise that this is a matter of great concern. It is being actively considered by my Department in close co-operation with other relevant Government Departments and the representatives of local authorities and housing professionals. Local housing authorities already have the power to decide which classes of person qualify or do not qualify to be included in their housing registers and whether to allocate tenancies to such persons. The Home Office is consulting other Government Departments, the police and other practitioners about guidance to be issued to the police on the management of the information acquired under the Sex Offenders Act 1997. The guidance will cover the disclosure of information to third parties. The representatives of local authorities and the housing profession are considering whether to issue separate advice on this matter to local authorities and will discuss this with my Department.

  Housing Estates (Pavements)
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to lay down guidelines to ensure that housing estates are not built without pavements. [4611]

  Mr. Raynsford
  General guidance relating to the design of residential roads and footpaths is set out in my Department's "Design Bulletin 32", issued in revised form in 1992. This advises that, when designing the layouts for new housing development, appropriate provision should be made for pedestrians. It will be a matter for local judgment about how this might best be achieved, taking account of local circumstances. The bulletin recognises that in some cases surfaces shared by pedestrians, cyclists and motorists may be appropriate provided they allow for safe use by all users.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the estimated total staffing level for the Environment Agency in 1996; what are his estimates for(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and

  481
  (c) 1999; and what additional responsibilities the Environment Agency will be taking on during this period. [4729]

  Angela Eagle
  The staffing level of the Environment Agency is a matter for the Agency. The Agency's 1997–98 Corporate Plan shows the following total staffing figures: 1996–97 budget 9,450; 1997–98 plan 9,300; 1998–99 plan 9,100; and 1999–2000 plan 8,950. The 1998–99 Corporate Plan is in the course of preparation. The Government would discuss any changes in responsibilities with the Agency and would expect to announce any major additions.

  Composting Sites
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the results of research commissioned by the Environment Agency on bio-aerosol production of commercial composting sites will be available. [4598]

  Angela Eagle
  The results of the research on bio-aerosol production at commercial composting sites, originally commissioned by the Department and now managed by the Environment Agency, are expected to be available early in the autumn.

  Solar Homes
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide incentives to local authorities to examine the buildings of solar homes. [4597]

  Angela Eagle
  Local planning authorities are required by "Planning Policy Guidance Note 22" to have regard to renewable energy—including solar energy. Detailed technical guidance is freely available from the DTI and my own Department on how to make the most of this energy source.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide Government funding for solar homes. [4600]

  Angela Eagle
  In line with its manifesto commitment to undertake a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources, including solar energy, the Government have announced a review of policy in this area. The review includes considerations of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK's electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010 and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future greenhouse gas reduction commitments. In the meantime, the Government's new and renewable energy programme, currently under way, will continue.

  Oil Extraction (Atlantic Ocean)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedures are in place to ensure that proposals for future oil extraction in the Atlantic are compatible with the requirements of the European Habitats directive. [4727]

  Angela Eagle
  The DTI carries out a full consultation with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee before offering any licences for oil extraction. Indeed, as a result 482
  of advice received from JNCC on the 17th licensing round that the Flannan Isles could be affected by certain blocks of licences, DTI withdrew those blocks from the round. Offers of licences are usually conditional upon the acceptance of special conditions to protect environmental sensitivities and the interests of users of the sea. This process is analogous to the requirements of article 6(2) and 6(3) of the Habitats Directive.

  Zoo Licensing Act 1981
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to review the Zoo Licensing Act 1981; and what arrangements he will make for consultation on that review. [4606]

  Angela Eagle
  We are currently considering how best to take forward our commitment to aim for the highest standards of care for animals in zoos. We shall be looking shortly at the operation of the Zoo Licensing Act and considering what changes may be required. As part of this process, we will consult the relevant organisations representing zoo operators, veterinary and animal welfare interests.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list examples of best value arrangements that he is using as models to replace CCT. [4884]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Although a number of local authorities and others have put forward their ideas, we do not have preconceived models of best value arrangements. We intend to work with local government and other interested parties over the coming months to develop a practicable and effective best value framework which will apply the principles which we announced on 2 June. Pilot projects, which will include a variety of approaches, will play an important part in this. We will shortly be inviting local authorities to bid to undertake pilot work.

  Footpaths and Bridleways
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives he proposes to assist local authorities to maintain public footpaths and bridleways. [4999]

  Angela Eagle
  We attach great importance to the maintenance of footpaths and bridleways. We propose to look closely at the adequacy of existing measures to see whether further initiatives are needed.

  Highway authorities already have a statutory duty to maintain most footpaths, bridleways and byways. The Countryside Commission is assisting them through the Parish Paths Partnership scheme, which gives grants and advice to parishes to encourage them to participate in the better management of footpaths and bridleways in their areas. The Commission also provides authorities with grants of up to 75 per cent. of the maintenance costs of footpaths of bridleways which form part of National Trails.

  Energy Efficiency
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he plans to take to ensure that the majority of energy efficiency works are carried out in those homes which are most in need of improvement. [5151]

  Angela Eagle
  Local authorities have to draw up strategies for improving the energy efficiency of all the residential accommodation in their areas under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995. In assessing them my right hon. Friend will expect an approach which targets those properties where the need is greatest, and he will, where necessary, require authorities to modify their strategies. Energy efficiency will also be a factor taken into account when assessing authorities as part of the housing investment programme.

  Leghold Traps
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is his policy on the use of leghold traps(a) on land and (b) in water; [4527]

  (2) what representations he has received concerning the United Kingdom's position on leghold traps and fur imports; and if he will make a statement. [4528]

  Angela Eagle
  Leghold traps have been banned in the United Kingdom for more than 40 years. The Government fully support efforts to improve the welfare of trapped animals in general and believes that the phasing out of leghold traps is an essential element of this.

  The Government received representations from the European Commission and the Government of Canada on the United Kingdom's position on the Commission's proposed "framework agreement on humane trapping standards". Representations were also received from a number of animal welfare bodies—including the RSPCA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare—and from the British Fur Trade Association. We received more than 20,000 letters and postcards from the public urging the Government to reject the agreement.

  The Government made clear its intention before the Environment Council meeting that we would vote against the agreement since we believed that it did not go far enough in banning the use of leghold traps. Several other member states shared our reservations but no decision was taken on the Commission's proposal at the meeting.

  Council Tax (Carer's Discount)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of eligible people who are currently claiming the carer's discount for council tax bills. [4297]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department has not made such an estimate. Local authorities are under a duty to ensure that discounts are granted to the right households.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department has taken to ensure that eligible people on(a) disability living allowance and (b) the higher rate of
  484
  attendance allowance are aware of their entitlement to (i) the carer's discount for council tax bills and (ii) the facility to backdate claims to April 1993. [4307]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The council tax regulations require local authorities to include with council tax bills information on the circumstances when a bill may be subject to discount. Local authorities are also under a duty to make sure that discounts are being granted to the right households. If somebody is entitled to a discount but has not received one, local authorities must backdate the discount to the date when entitlement first arose. The Department has also produced a leaflet "Council Tax: A Guide to your Bill" which explains the council tax and the circumstances when a carer may be disregarded for the purposes of a discount. The leaflet is made available to the general public and has been distributed to local authorities and voluntary organisations.

  Police Wildlife Liaison Officers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many wildlife liaison officers are currently in post for each police force. [4623]

  Angela Eagle
  A definitive list of Police Wildlife Liaison Officers (PWLOs) is not held centrally, but I understand that most forces have at least one full or part-time PWLO, and that the total number of officers who deal with wildlife enquiries is about 350. These officers mainly carry out their wildlife responsibilities voluntarily and in addition to their day-to-day police duties.

  The allocation of responsibilities within forces is for each chief constable to decide, having regard to all their policing obligations, including the investigation of wildlife offences.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what training, guidance and expert advice is made available to police wildlife liaison officers. [4625]

  Angela Eagle
  Training and guidance is provided within forces, and is also available from Government Departments and agencies and non-Government sources.

  The annual Police Wildlife Liaison Officer' conference provides an important opportunity for training. Speakers cover a wide range of issues and subject areas and Police officers have an unparalleled opportunity to share experience and expertise.

  The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime supports the network of Police Wildlife Liaison Officers. It published a handbook "Wildlife Crime: A Guide to Wildlife Law Enforcement in the UK" at the end of last year, and will publish guidance on the use of DNA evidence in wildlife investigations shortly.

  Work on identifying training needs is being carried out by the Partnership, and many of its members, including my Department, contribute actively to investigations by providing advice and expertise. Separate work is also underway in the Police Service, under the direction of the Wildlife Advisor to the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Police)
  Mr. Hincliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to review the policing aspects of the operation of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [4626]

  Angela Eagle
  The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime submitted recommendations for changes to the enforcement provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 earlier this year. Eleven recommendations were made including giving the courts the option of imprisoning wildlife criminals, and facilitating the use of DNA evidence in wildlife investigations.

  The recommendations were circulated for consultation in March 1997. The Department is considering the comments received and the Government's response will be published shortly.

  Housing, London
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made for each London borough of(a) the current year's capital expenditure, (b) the capital requirement for urgent repair and refurbishment and (c) capital spending required on new building to house all homeless people for which the authority is responsible. [4411]

  Mr Raynsford
  [holding answer 23 June 1997]: Local authorities are allocated resources for capital investment in housing under the housing investment programme (HIP). A table showing allocations to London boroughs for 1997–98 is as follows. In addition local authorities received resources for capital expenditure on housing via the single regeneration budget and the capital challenge pilot and can also use their own resources, such as useable capital receipts.

  As part of the HIP round local authorities are asked to submit expenditure plans and information on need for capital works. The relevant HIP forms for each authority for 1997–98 are available in the Library.

  The Government are committed to increased investment through the capital receipts initiative, and has recently issued a consultation paper to all local authorities. Under this initiative local authorities will be expected to consider appropriate schemes to meet needs including the repair and refurbishment of existing stock and the provision of new homes to meet the needs of homeless households.

  1997–98 Housing investment programme allocations

  London

  Total housing investment allocations (£ thousand)

  Barking and Dagenham

  4,975

  Barnet

  4,790

  Bexley

  2,639

  Brent

  10,932

  Bromley

  2,614

  Camden

  10,270

  City of London

  343

  Croydon

  8,477

  Ealing

  7,799

  Enfield

  5,895

  Greenwich

  10,491

  Hackney

  13,884

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  9,376

  486

  1997–98 Housing investment programme allocations

  London

  Total housing investment allocations (£ thousand)

  Haringey

  10,405

  Harrow

  2,598

  Havering

  2,384

  Hillingdon

  5,999

  Hounslow

  5,134

  Islington

  9,996

  Kensington and Chelsea

  6,358

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,396

  Lambeth

  13,648

  Lewisham

  11,327

  Merton

  3,310

  Newham

  16,394

  Redbridge

  4,258

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,911

  Southwark

  13,661

  Sutton

  2,944

  Tower Hamlets

  9,777

  Waltham Forest

  6,432

  Wandsworth

  10,147

  Westminster

  10,274

  London

  242,837

  OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by which procedures the House will be able to scrutinise the OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [3972]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has primary responsibility for the OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). Two Explanatory Memoranda on the MAI have already been put before Select Committees by this Department—dated 31 March 1995 and 6 March 1997–copies of which are available in the Library. My Department will continue to follow the scrutiny procedures for international treaties that the UK and the EC are negotiating.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the dates, routes and nature of aircraft flights transporting nuclear waste which have taken place in United Kingdom air space to date. [4802]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since January 1990 there have been six flights carrying small amounts of nuclear waste into the United Kingdom. Five of these shipments were in 1993 and the other was in 1994, and involved UK waste arising from fabrication of fuel pins as part of the European Fast Reactor programme. The pins were fabricated in France and the associated waste was returned to the UK on these flights. Since 1994 there have been no flights involving the transport of nuclear waste in the UK. All shipments of nuclear material comply fully with national and international regulations with regard to safety and security and are in accordance with IAEA recommendations.

  Information on any such flights prior to 1990 is not easily available and would incur disproportionate costs.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department plans to take to reduce the number of road accidents; and if he will make a statement. [4532]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Department is committed to giving road safety a high priority and is currently reviewing its road safety strategy. We shall be announcing new measures from time to time. Road and other transport safety issues will be among the important subjects covered in our fundamental policy review leading to a White Paper on an integrated transport policy.

  Cones Hotline
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 315, if he will provide a breakdown of the cost of the Cones Hotline between April to September 1995. [4847]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The cost of operating the Cones Hotline in the period April to September 1995 is estimated at £20,000, broken down as follows:

  £

  Call-handling company's set-up costs

  7,000

  Call-handling company's operating costs

  8,000

  Highways Agency staff costs

  5,000

  Total

  20,000

  The figure for Highways Agency staff costs covers the transition from a contracted-out service to the in-house Highways Agency information line which began operation in September 1995.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place a copy of the Cones Hotline telephone log in the Library. [4848]

  Ms Jackson
  The records of calls to the Cones Hotline contain the names of callers and, in most cases, their addresses and telephone numbers. Personal information given in confidence is exempt from the commitment to provide information in the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 315, how many calls to the Cones Hotline resulted in action by the Department or others to (a) alter the layout of road traffic cones, (b) improve signposting at roadworks, (c) review diversion routes, (d) re-paint road markings and (e) investigate road lighting at roadworks. [4806]

  Ms Jackson
  The records are not sufficiently detailed to give an accurate answer to this question.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 315, (a) how many and (b) what percentage of telephone calls made to the Cones Hotline between June 1992 and September 1995 were specifically about traffic cones. [4849]
  488
  Ms Jackson
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In its first year of operation (September 1995 to August 1996) the Highways Agency information line, which replaced the Cones Hotline, received 319 calls specifically about road traffic cones about 4 per cent. of all calls.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 315, how many staff were employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time to run the Cones Hotline between March 1994 and September 1995. [4860]

  Ms Jackson
  From March 1994 to March 1995 one member of staff worked full-time on the Cones Hotline during normal office hours. Weekend and out of hours cover was provided by the Department of Transport's duty officer. From April 1995 to September 1995 the Cones Hotline was staffed by an external contractor. From July to September 1995 transitional arrangements were managed by three staff in the Highways Agency.

  Variable Speed Limiters
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will estimate the(a) number and (b) percentage of vehicles licensed in the United Kingdom currently equipped with variable speed limiters; and if he will make a statement; [4529]

  (2) if he will list the (a) dates, (b) locations, (c) duration and (d) results of trials undertaken by his Department into the use of variable speed limiters in vehicles; and if he will make a statement; [4530]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the relationship between variable speed limiters and the total number of (a) road accidents and (b) fatalities recorded; and if he will make a statement. [4531]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Several different makes of vehicle speed limiter are available. All are designed to limit a vehicle's maximum speed and are required by law to be fitted to large goods vehicles and coaches. Some makers of speed limiter allow the driver to set a lower limit than the maximum but it is not possible to give an estimate of the number or percentage of vehicles fitted with speed limiters which have this additional feature.

  Research has been commissioned by my Department to examine the feasibility of equipping vehicles with speed limiters which may be controlled by devices outside the vehicle, for example, by roadside transponders. It is too early to draw any conclusions from this work. In addition, we are monitoring trails taking place in other countries but at present no specific plans exist to trial externally controlled variable speed limiting equipment on public roads in the UK.

  We have made no assessment of the relationship between existing variable speed limiters and numbers of road accidents in the UK.

  Cycling (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total expenditure in the current year by each London borough on cycling measures; and what proportion of this is borne by central Government. [4762]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Central Government are providing £4 million to London authorities in the current financial year, to support their expenditure on the development of the London cycle network and the Thames cycle route. The following table of figures, copies of which are being placed in the Library of the House, gives the breakdown of this sum by authority. The London authorities are able to incur additional expenditure on such measures by drawing on their own resources, but they are not required to declare to what extent, if any, they will be doing so.

  Cycle measures in London financial support from central government (1997–98)

  Authority

  £000s

  Barking and Dagenham

  83

  Barnet

  95

  Bexley

  88

  Brent

  146

  Bromley

  73

  Camden

  93

  City of London

  66

  Croydon

  75

  Ealing

  125

  Enfield

  116

  Greenwich

  91

  Hackney

  77

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  80

  Haringey

  106

  Harrow

  126

  Havering

  81

  Hillingdon

  140

  Hounslow

  175

  Islington

  85

  Kensington and Chelsea

  90

  Kingston Upon Thames

  106

  Lambeth

  73

  Lewisham

  82

  Merton

  95

  Newham

  91

  Redbridge

  81

  Richmond

  77

  Southwark

  73

  Sutton

  102

  Tower Hamlets

  99

  Waltham Forest

  101

  Wandsworth

  85

  Westminster

  71

  Sub total

  3,148

  Thames Cycle Route

  752

  Contingency held by Lead Borough

  100

  Total

  4,000

  A27 Polegate Bypass
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of the construction of the A27 Polegate bypass; and if he will make a statement. [5196]
  490
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport announced last week that he would be taking forward our manifesto commitment to carry out a strategic review of the roads programme. The A27 Polegate bypass scheme is part of the Weald and Downland design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) project which is one of 12 cases in which there are urgent decisions pending. These will be considered in an accelerated review. Decisions will be announced in July.

  Air Services (London)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to(a) maintain and (b) improve access by air to London from regional United Kingdom airports. [4400]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  A wide range of services connect regional airports to London in a flourishing market. Ministers are considering what options might be available and appropriate to support and develop regional services.

  Cycling
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional financial support is available to assist local authorities to encourage cycling within local integrated transport strategies. [5384]

  Dr. Gavin Strang
  It is Government policy to encourage cycling. The sum of £79 million has been allocated to local authorities in 1997–98 for their integrated transport packages. Virtually all the packages include measures to promote cycling. The Department will continue to support these initiatives in future, as far as resources allow. It is not possible at this stage to predict the levels of funding that will be available in 1998–99 and later years.

  Integrated Transport Policy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the White Paper on the long-term strategy for an integrated transport policy to be published; and if he will make a statement. [5162]

  Dr. Strang
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 5 June 1997,Official Report, column 226.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the(a) desirability and (b) feasibility of internalising social and environmental externalities within each transport mode. [4882]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government welcome the principle of internalising the external costs of transport which encourages more environmentally friendly, fairer and more efficient use of transport. However, the Government also recognise the uncertainties and difficulties of implementation, and supports the need for further study and debate on the issues raised. For example, the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions is at the forefront of research trying to place monetary values on the environmental impact of transport and other activities.

  Warsaw Convention Compensation
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which airlines flying into and out of the United Kingdom have(a) fully waived, (b) partially waived and (c) not waived their right under the Warsaw convention to limit compensation payable in respect of passengers injured or killed whilst travelling with them. [5122]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have placed a copy of the information required in the Library.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Warsaw convention limits on compensation for death or personal injury. [5121]

  Ms Jackson
  The United Kingdom has long recognised that the limit of liability for death or personal injury to passengers contained in the 1929 Warsaw convention was inadequate, and has adopted for the purposes of national law the higher limits set out in the Hague and Montreal protocols. Consequently, airlines registered in the UK are currently required to accept a liability limit of not less than 100,000 special drawing rights—approximately £85,000.

  Earlier this year the UK supported the European Commission's proposals for a regulation on air carrier liability in case of accidents. This will require airlines to accept strict liability for passenger death or injury up to the ECU equivalent of 100,000 SDRs, with a fault-based regime for higher claims, subject to no upper limit. The new regulation, which also places obligations on both EU and non-EU carriers to make more prominent disclosure of their liability arrangements, is expected to come into force during 1998.

  An United Nations specialised agency, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which has responsibility for these matters, is currently preparing a new convention which will replace the 1929 Warsaw convention and introduce much more realistic limits of liability which will not be restricted to passenger death or injury. The UK participated fully in the recent meeting of the Legal Committee and a diplomatic conference is expected to take place next year during which ICAO members will vote to adopt the new convention.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Birmingham Northern Relief Road is subject to a penalty clause if the scheme is not approved. [4982]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The risk of the public inquiry outcome rests with the concessionaire.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he intends to review the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road in the context of the Government's integrated approach to transport environmental planning; [4983]

  (2) if the Birmingham Northern Relief Road will be included in the moratorium on road building. [4994]
  492
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We announced a comprehensive roads review on 19 June. The Birmingham Northern Relief Road is one of the 12 cases that will be the subject of an accelerated review.

  Traffic Control
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the impact on traffic control of(a) mini roundabouts and (b) road humps; and if he will make a statement. [5080]

  Ms Jackson
  The Transport Research Laboratory has recently completed for the Department a major study of the safety aspects of mini roundabouts in relation to traffic flow. The results will be published later this year.

  The Department has a programme of research into the effect of road humps and other traffic calming measures on traffic. Road humps have been found to be effective in reducing vehicle speeds and hence accidents in residential areas. The results of this research are published in the form of research reports and traffic advisory leaflets. A selection of leaflets relevant to road humps have been placed in the library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Mr. McCall
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will set aside the decision of the disability appeal tribunal held at Chester on 22 April concerning Mr. McCall of Broughton, near Chester, and if she will make a statement. [1115]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Neither I, nor any other Minister, has the power to intervene in the decision of independent adjudicating authorities. However, it is open to an appellant who is dissatisfied with the decision of a Disability Appeal Tribunal either to apply to have that decision set aside or to seek leave to appeal against it on a point of law to a Social Security Commissioner. Statutory provisions, including time limits, apply to either course.

  Absent Parents
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the maximum percentage of net income that an absent parent may be liable to pay; and if she will make a statement. [4628]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Child support assessments made under the maintenance formula are generally restricted to 30 per cent. of an absent parent's net income. Most absent parents pay significantly lower amounts, although higher percentages can apply, for example where an interim maintenance assessment has been imposed in an effort to secure the absent parent's co-operation or the absent parent is in arrears with his payments.

  We will be looking closely at all aspects of child support policy over the forthcoming months.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the total number of people removed from benefit as a result of a jobseeker's allowance interview for each month since its inception. [4766]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 18 June,Official Report, columns 213–14.

  Domestic Fuel (VAT)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the effect on(a) the average family on benefit, (b) a single pensioner and (c) a pensioner couple of the introduction of VAT on fuel at 8 per cent., taking into account (i) VAT fuel subsidy added to their benefits and (ii) the impact on the annual uprating of benefits of the inflationary effect of increasing domestic fuel prices by 8 per cent. [5200]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  As part of our commitment to reducing poverty we will cut VAT on fuel from 8 to 5 per cent. the lowest possible level.

  The net effect of the introduction of VAT on fuel at 8 per cent. is given in the following table:

  Family type

  Net effect of VAT on fuel at 8 per cent. (1997–98 prices and benefit levels)

  Average family on income

  15p per week worse off

  support (assumed to be a couple

  with two children aged under 11)

  Single retirement pensioner

  No net effect

  Couple retirement pensioner

  5p per week better off

  1. Expenditure estimates based on the 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey, uprated to 1997–98 levels using the fuel and light component of the Retail Prices Index.

  2. Effect of VAT on domestic fuel and power on the uprating indices estimated using the 1997 weight of the fuel and light component of the Retail Prices Index.

  Fraud
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she will commence provisions of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997; and if she will make a statement. [5452]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government aims to rebuild confidence in a Social Security system which will support work, savings and honesty. We are developing a range of measures in order to prevent fraud from occurring in the Social Security system. We will take effective action against fraudsters.

  Fraud within a system designed to help those in need is anti-social behaviour which has no place in a society where the right to benefit goes hand in hand with responsible citizenship.

  We have today made a commencement order for Sections 1 to 4, 5 to 10, 12, 13, 14, 17 and 18 and most of the Schedules 1 and 2 of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997, to come into effect on Tuesday 1 July.
  494
  This is an important step towards achieving a secure and fair system. These measures will strengthen action against Housing Benefit fraud, particularly fraud by landlords, which for too long has been allowed to go unchecked.

WALES

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many classes of five, six and seven-year-olds in each local education authority had more than 30 children on 1 January 1997 based on returns from the All Schools Census; and what this is as a percentage of the total number of classes of five, six, and seven-year-olds in each case. [3166]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is not collected centrally. The Schools' Census in Wales collects information on the number of classes by size of class but does not distinguish classes by age of pupils.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement about the future of nursery provision in the Ponthir area of Torfaen; [3570]

  (2) if he will make a statement about the future of nursery provision in Monmouthshire. [3569]

  Mr. Hain
  The provision of nursery education is at the discretion of local education authorities. Our aim is to ensure a free, at least part-time, place for every four-year-old whose parents want one, with targets for extending provision to three-year-olds. We shall be consulting shortly with the local authority sector and interested organisations about arrangements for early years education from April 1998.

  I understand that nursery age children from Ponthir are currently receiving education in the Newport county borough council area under an arrangement with Torfaen county borough council. Torfaen will be reviewing the position for the 1997–98 school year.

  Ponthir Primary School
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what applications she has received relating to Ponthir Primary School, Torfaen, under the Popular Schools Initiative. [3576]

  Mr. Hain
  The Department has received no applications.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about overcrowding at Ponthir Primary School. [3577]

  Mr. Hain
  The Department has received three representations. The responsibility for the matter rests with Torfaen county borough council.

  Monnow Bridge
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the need for an additional bridge over the Monnow River in Monmouth. [3572]
  495
  Mr. Hain
  The main access to the town is by the Monnow bridge on the local road network. Any proposals for an additional bridge are therefore a matter for Monmouthshire county council as local highway authority. As far as the trunk road network is concerned my present assessment is that there is no requirement for any additional crossing.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from CADW about the physical condition of Monnow Bridge, Monmouth. [3571]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  Monnow Bridge is a scheduled ancient monument under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 although it remains in use as a crossing of the River Monnow, Monmouth. Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments is a part of my Department, and monitors the bridge on my behalf. Incidents of damage such as that recently caused by a motor vehicle are reviewed by Cadw with the county council which owns the bridge.

  School Transport
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what guidance he plans to issue to local education authorities in Wales about their statutory obligations to provide transport to and from school; [3960]

  (2) how many local education authorities in Wales have curtailed spending on school transport in the present year to date; by how much they have done so; and if he will make a statement; [3936]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of spending by local education authorities in Wales on school transport; [3935]

  (4) what is the statutory duty on local education authorities in Wales concerning the provision of free school transport; and what representations he has received from them about their difficulties in carrying out that duty. [3934]

  Mr. Hain
  Although, home to school transport is the responsibility of individual local education authorities (LEAs) Welsh Office Circular 19/95, issued in May 1995, gives guidance on the statutory obligations of LEAs in their provision of home to school transport, and their discretionary powers. A copy is in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friend has not received any representations from LEAs in respect of their statutory duties. LEAs may operate more generous transport policies than statutorily required but this is at their discretion, in the light of their assessment of local priorities. Details of spending by LEAs in Wales on school transport are not held centrally.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names of schools in Wales with pupils on the assisted places scheme; and in each case what is the number of pupils and the income which the school recovers from the scheme. [4133]
  496
  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  School

  Number of APS pupils in scheme 1996–97

  Income from APS in financial year 1996–97

  Christ College

  101

  490,854

  Ffynone House1

  7

  15,075

  Howell's, Cardiff

  186

  504,516

  Howell's, Denbigh

  83

  399,684

  Kings Monkton1

  11

  26,805

  Llandovery College

  69

  366,701

  Monmouth Boys

  146

  518,626

  Monmouth Girls

  82

  259,417

  Rougemont School1

  15

  34,662

  Ruthin School1

  11

  33,952

  Rydal Penrhos

  142

  749,093

  St. Clare's School1

  14

  26,527

  St. Gerard's School1

  9

  16,869

  St. John's College1

  11

  19,539

  Total all Wales

  887

  3,462,320

  1Joined Scheme in September 1996.

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified speech therapists there are in each of the health authorities in Wales. [4458]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The information is given in the following table:

  Qualified speech and language therapists

  Health Authority area1

  Whole-time equivalent number of staff in post at 31 December 19962

  Bro Taf

  53

  Dyfed Powys

  36

  Gwent

  32

  Morgannwg

  42

  North Wales

  60

  1Staff are employed by NHS Trusts but are shown here under the Health Authority area in which the Trust is situated.

  2Provisional.

  Smoke Detectors
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which housing associations in Wales have not installed smoke detectors in their housing stock. [4779]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  As this is an operational matter for Tai Cymru, I have asked the Chief Executive to collect the data from the housing associations and to write to my hon. Friend direct. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.

  Hip Replacements
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reports he has received of the failure rates of operations involving replacement hips using biomet protheses and boneloc cement in(a) Rhydlafar hospital and (b) other hospitals in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [4491]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The failure rates of operations is a matter for NHS Trusts to address, in liaison with health authorities and GP fundholders. However, the NHS is
  497
  immediately informed of any particular product that gives rise for concern via various hazard notices issued by the Department on the advice of the Medical Devices Agency. One such notice on Boneloc was issued in 1995 and I understand that this product was subsequently withdrawn from use.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans in respect of the level of expenditure on the NHS. [4856]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Provision for the NHS in Wales in 1997–98 was £2,368 million. My right hon. Friend will announce provision for 1998–99 in due course.

  NHS Service Provision
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the areas of service provision in the NHS which are currently under review by the Welsh Office; and if he will make a statement. [4851]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  It is primarily for health authorities to plan for and review service provision in the light of local circumstances and strategic priorities. Currently, the Welsh Office is separately leading reviews of the configuration of NHS trusts, critical care and occupational health services for NHS staff in Wales.

  Exports and Imports
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the statement of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain), of 18 June,Official Report, column 245–48, what, for the latest available year, was the total value (a) of Welsh exports and (b) of Welsh imports. [5130]

  Mr. Hain
  Export and import statistics are only collected on a UK basis and I am afraid my statement on 18 June was based on a misinterpretation. I intend to write to the hon. Member with an explanation as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Teacher:Pupil Ratios
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average teacher:pupil ratio for(a) all schools, (b) primary and junior schools and (c) secondary schools in Wales for each of the last five years for which figures are available, based on planned expenditure; what is the expected teacher:pupil ratio for (i) all schools,

  Percentage and number of adults smoking at least occasionally

  Age in years

  18–24

  25–34

  35–44

  45–54

  55–64

  18–64

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Men

  38,000

  33.9

  66,000

  34.9

  68,000

  34.3

  67,000

  33.9

  50,000

  30.0

  288,000

  33.5

  Women

  36,000

  32.5

  63,000

  32.6

  57,000

  28.5

  56,000

  28.9

  40,000

  25.4

  251,000

  29.4

  Source:

  1996 Health in Wales Survey (sample size 9,003).
  498
  (ii) primary and junior schools and (iii) secondary schools in Wales, in each of the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [4871]

  Mr. Hain: The following table shows figures for the last five years derived from returns to the Schools' Census. Projections of pupil:teacher ratios are not prepared centrally.

  Pupil:teacher ratios within schools1

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  All schools2

  18.2

  18.2

  18.4

  18.7

  18.7

  Primary3

  22.3

  22.1

  22.3

  22.5

  22.5

  Secondary

  15.6

  15.7

  15.9

  16.1

  16.0

  1At January each year. The pupil:teacher ratio shown is the ratio of the total number of full-time equivalent pupils within the sector concerned to the total number of full-time equivalent qualified teachers.

  2 Includes all maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, and independent schools.

  3Includes all infant, junior with infant, and junior without infant, schools.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ambulance service provision; and if he will make a statement. [4850]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Latest figures for the year to March 1997 show that on an all Wales basis ambulance trusts have met the patient's charter requirement for responding to emergency calls. The Department has written to the Dyfed Powys and Bro Taf health authorities, where the standard has not been achieved. In addition, a review by ambulance trusts in Wales, which is expected to include reconfiguration options with a view to improving patient services, will be submitted to me next month for consideration.

  Cigarette Smokers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of adult(a) men and (b) women in Wales are cigarette smokers in each 10 year age band; and if he will make a statement. [4770]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The estimated numbers and percentages of adults in Wales who smoke cigarettes at least occasionally are given in the following table. They are based on data from the 1996 Health in Wales Survey carried out by Health Promotion Wales. The survey results are provisional pending publication later in the year.

HEALTH

  Hospital Performance Ratings
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals achieved five-star performance ratings in the last year for which figures are available. [3468]

  Mr. Milburn
  The last year for which figures are available is the period ended 31 March 1996, when 397 out of a total of 400 trusts achieved five stars for at least one indicator in the Tables, 42 achieved five stars in all categories. I plan to publish the figures for the period to 31 March 1997 in the NHS Performance Tables on 9 July 1997.

  Surrogacy
  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to review the law relating to surrogacy. [3470]

  Ms Jowell
  As I announced on 11 June, at columns 478–79, following public concern, UK health ministers have invited a small team to carry out a review of the existing law on surrogacy. The terms of reference and membership of this review were set out in the Official Report, and are as follows:
  To consider whether payments, including expenses, to surrogate mothers should continue to be allowed, and if so, on what basis;
  to examine whether there is a case for the regulation of surrogacy arrangements through a recognised body or bodies; and if so to advise on the scope and operation of such arrangements;
  in the light of the above, to advise whether changes are needed to the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 and/or section 30 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

  The review team is lead by Margaret Brazier, Professor of Law at Manchester University. The other team members are Susan Golombok, Professor of Psychology at the City University, London and Alastair Campbell, Professor of Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol.

  Accident and Emergency Services
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the accident and emergency services in the Leigh and Greater Manchester area. [3474]

  Mr. Milburn
  The proposed change in opening hours of the minor injuries unit at Leigh Infirmary has now been referred to Ministers who will be considering this in the near future. The issue of accident and emergency services across Greater Manchester is a matter for individual health authorities.

  Social Service Funding
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the overall funding made by his Department for social services. [3483]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government's aim is to ensure that social services is fairly funded, and that those people who require services receive appropriate, good quality, cost-effective services.

  Children (Domestic Violence)
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to protect children from domestic violence. [3487]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that women and children are better protected against the impact of all forms of violence. We recognise that exposure to domestic violence can have a profoundly damaging impact on the health and development of children, as well as on women. Over the coming months, we shall be launching the Department's strategy for making domestic violence a higher priority for health and social services.

  Life Expectancy
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to increase life expectancy. [3488]

  Ms Jowell
  We will fulfil our manifesto commitments to tackle the root causes of ill-health and we shall set new goals for improving health which recognise the impact of poverty, unemployment, poor housing and a polluted environment.

  Locality Commissioning Projects
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to encourage general practitioners to work together in locality commissioning projects. [3490]

  Mr. Milburn
  We mean to work with all in the NHS to develop new arrangements which best meet our objectives of providing high quality care to all on the basis of need. We wish to develop local commissioning and have already begun to meet the GP representative groups to explore how best to build on good practice wherever we may find it.

  NHS Pharmacists Bill
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to introduce the NHS Pharmacists Bill.[3491]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have no immediate plans to introduce an NHS Pharmacists Bill.

  Bureaucracy
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce waste in the national health service. [3492]

  Mr. Milburn
  On 22 May we announced a programme of measures to remove the bureaucratic processes of the internal market and reduce management costs by £100 million this year. We will be looking for further reductions in 1998–99 and beyond.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of community dental services. [3493]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Community Dental Service has an important role in providing a range of services to help improve and maintain the oral health of the population.

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to visit Redbridge and Waltham Forest to discuss the financial deficits of local trusts and the health authority. [3494]

  Mr. Milburn
  My Ministerial colleagues and I will be visiting as many NHS organisations as we can over the coming months, and this may include Redbridge and Waltham Forest. We recognise the difficulties faced by health authorities and trusts, particularly the many who entered the financial year in deficit, and will be working with the service to rebuild the NHS.

  NHS Trusts (Deficits)
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to take to avoid(a) reductions in the level of service and (b) asset sales by health service trusts which are expecting a financial deficit in the current year. [3495]

  Mr. Milburn
  Health Authorities and Trusts must work together to return to financial stability. For their part, the Government are committed to raising spending on the NHS in real terms every year and to ensuring that more of every pound spent goes on patient care, not bureaucracy. Proceeds from the disposal of trust assets are available to finance capital investments to improve patient care.

  Consultation
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review NHS guidelines on consultation. [3496]

  Mr. Milburn
  We shall be considering the current arrangements for consultation on major service changes in due course.

  Hospital Ward Closures (North Thames Region)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in reversing ward closures in hospitals in the North Thames region of the NHS. [3497]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have inherited a difficult legacy in terms of pressure on the health service, in the North Thames region as elsewhere. The National Health Service Chief Executive has asked health authorities and NHS trusts to ensure that the current resources of the NHS are used to maximum effect.

  Breast Cancer Services
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve breast cancer services for women. [3499]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government have signalled their commitment to make cancer a priority and will direct savings achieved from cuts in the costs of the National Health Service internal market into patient care. As a first step, £10 million has been made available for breast cancer services to speed access to diagnosis, reduce waiting times for treatment and support networks of specialist teams.

  Silicone Breast Implants
  Mr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the safety of silicone breast implants. [3500]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 16 June at column 26–27.

  Elderly People (Care)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the eligibility criteria on continuing care for the elderly. [3501]

  Mr. Boateng
  The National Health Service Executive issued an Executive Letter (EL(96)89) in October 1996 which reported on an evaluation of the early impact of the continuing health care guidance and set out issues which health authorities and social services departments should address. We will be considering the implications of a more recent evaluation for the development of continuing health care services. Copies of EL(96)89 are available in the Library.

  GP Fundholders (Croydon)
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS patients are covered by GP fundholders in Croydon. [3502]

  Mr. Milburn
  37 per cent. of the registered population of Croydon Health Authority is served by a General Practitioner fundholding practice.

  NHS Funding (Northern England)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to review the funding allocations to the north of England with particular reference to the role of the market forces factor. [3503]

  Mr. Milburn
  We shall honour the health authority revenue allocations agreed in 1997–98 by the previous Government.

  We will look at how resources are distributed across both secondary and primary care, to ensure that these fully reflect local population needs and operate as fairly as possible.

  Public Health Minister
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the role and work of the Minister with responsibility for public health. [3504]

  Ms Jowell
  I will be working to take forward our manifesto commitments to improve the overall health of the nation, setting targets which recognise the impact on health of poverty, poor housing, unemployment and a polluted environment.

  I will be working closely with colleagues in other Government Departments on issues such as food safety and use of Lottery funds for health projects. Work has already been put in train to address some of the crucial issues on the public health agenda. For instance:
  a White Paper on tobacco and a draft Bill to ban tobacco advertising are both in preparation for the summer;

  503
  work is in hand to enable midweek Lottery funds to be used to create a network of Healthy Living Centres.
  the Ministerial Group on Food Safety, of which both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are members, have started work on developing the new Food Standards Agency.

  We plan to outline our new health strategy at a conference on 7 July.

  Hospital Closures (Mental and Psychiatric Care)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans Her Majesty's Government have to review the policy of the closure of the larger hospitals providing mental and psychiatric care; and if he will make a statement. [3505]

  Mr. Boateng
  We are concerned to ensure that a high standard of mental and psychiatric care is available to those who require it in an appropriate setting; planned closure of the larger hospitals will take place in that context as part of the development of a comprehensive mental health service offering a range of inpatient and community provision.

  Hepatitis C
  Mr. Marshall-Andrews
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for compensation for haemophiliacs infected with Hepatitis C as a result of treatment by the national health service. [1905]

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to pay compensation to people infected with Hepatitis C contracted through blood transfusions in NHS hospitals. [3633]

  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received since 2 May with regard to people with haemophilia who have been infected with Hepatitis C via contaminated blood products; and what plans he has to review their claim for financial recompense. [4180]

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his proposals to set up a hardship fund for the haemophiliacs who may have been infected with Hepatitis C through blood supplied by the national health service. [5125]

  Ms Jowell
  Since 2 May, in addition to these Parliamentary Questions, Ministers have received 19 letters on the subject of financial recompense for patients, both haemophiliacs and others, infected with hepatitis C through National Health Service treatment.

  We have agreed to give this matter our most careful consideration.

  Adoption
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the rule concerning the age of adopting parents as a criterion for approving overseas adoption; and how many and what proportion of applicants with a prospective parent over 60 years of age have been(a) approved and (b) rejected (i) in 1996–97 and (ii) in each of the last five years. [4234]

  Mr. Boateng
  The minimum age for prospective adopters in England and Wales is 21 years. There is no legal upper age limit. However, age is just one factor 504
  among many which must be taken into account when assessing the suitability of applicants. Figures on the acceptability of prospective adopters are not held centrally.

  Radiotherapy
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to compensate female patients who have suffered serious physical damage following post-operative radiotherapy to treat breast cancer; and if he will make a statement. [4836]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government have every sympathy with women who have suffered adverse side-effects as a consequence of radiotherapy treatment. However, it is a longstanding principle that compensation should be paid by the National Health Service only when there is evidence that negligence has been involved.

  The following action has been taken to help women with damage as a result of radiotherapy for breast cancer:
  In May 1994 the Department issued guidance entitled "Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy—A Quality Management System for Radiotherapy".
  The Royal College of Radiologists at the Department's request, convened a small group of professionals and lay people in autumn 1994 to consider guidelines for care of women who have suffered tissue damage following radiotherapy for breast cancer. This report was issued to the NHS by the Department in October 1995.
  The Royal College of Radiologists carried out a confidential clinical review of 126 women who had suffered injury following radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer at 15 centres in the period 1980–1993. The report makes recommendations on the management of breast cancer, particularly on radiotherapy, and for further research.

  With regard to those suffering adverse effects following pelvic radiotherapy for gynaecological cancers, in 1996, a Working Group, which includes representatives from a number of Royal Colleges, voluntary organisations and the Department, was set up to consider the preparation of patient information leaflets concerning possible adverse effects following pelvic radiotherapy and to raise awareness generally. A sub-group is also considering issuing guidelines for health professionals on the care of women suffering adverse effects as a result of pelvic radiotherapy.

  Hernias
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the use of homeopathy for the treatment of patients, before and after undergoing a surgical hernia operation; and if he will make a statement;[4781]

  (2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of (i) a hernia and (ii) patients before and after undergoing a surgical hernia operation; and if he will make a statement; [4780]

  (3) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on alternatives to surgery for the treatment of hernias; and if he will make a statement. [4725]
  505
  Ms Jowell
  We have not commissioned research, nor are we aware of any published studies, relating to alternative and complementary treatments in groin hernia surgery. The Department of Health does, however, support the Surgical Epidemiology and Audit Unit at the Royal College of Surgeons which is engaged in a systematic review of previous research literature on groin hernia surgery. Additionally, the Department of Health is supporting work by the Research Council for Complementary Medicine to develop clinical audit methodologies for use by practitioners of complementary medicine. This includes homeopathy, but is not related to the management of groin hernia.

  Year

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Finished Consultant episodes with primary diagnosis of hernia abdominal cavity

  128,732

  128,798

  135,031

  135,289

  145,430

  154,503

  Finished Consultant episodes with primary diagnosis of hernia of abdominal cavity, where a hernia repair operation was performed

  91,120

  90,975

  95,978

  92,950

  96,712

  101,704

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

  ICD 9 Diagnosis codes 550 to 553 and OPCS4R Operating codes T19 to T26.

  Alternative and Complementary Medicine
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practitioners of (i) alternative and (ii) complementary medicine(a) are registered in England currently, (b) were registered in 1992 and (c) were registered in 1987. [4596]

  Ms Jowell
  The information requested is not available. Some complementary and alternative medicine organisations maintain, on a voluntary basis, a register of their membership. It is not necessary for a practitioner to register with any organisation in order to practise.

  When the Osteopaths Act 1993 and Chiropractors Act 1994 are fully implemented, statutory registers will exist for these two professions.

  Drugs
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total amount(a) spent and (b) allocated by his Department on tackling the problems relating to drugs in respect of (i) developing prevention publicity, education and community action and (ii) improving treatment and rehabilitation, for (1) 1994, (2) 1995, (3) 1996 and (4) 1997. [4796]

  Ms Jowell
  Information on total Government and individual departments' expenditure on tackling drug misuse is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recently available estimates were published in the White Paper "Tackling Drugs Together" in May 1995. They show that at least £526 million of expenditure in 1993–94 could be directly attributable to drug programmes and activities across the United Kingdom.

  The Government will be appointing a "drug czar" to co-ordinate action against drugs, working to the President of the Council as Chair of the Cabinet's coordinating committee on drug misuse. One of his or her first tasks will be to review urgently the existing drugs strategy, and put forward proposals for tackling the problem with renewed vigour. This review will include current Government expenditure.
  506
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hernias have been diagnosed in each of the last 10 years, how many required surgery; and if he will make a statement.[4728]

  Ms Jowell
  We are unable to provide the information in the form requested. The information that is available is set out in the table. It shows those cases admitted to hospital where the primary diagnosis was hernia of the abdominal cavity and covers the years 1989–90 to 1994–95. We are unable to provide information about the number of patients who have their hernias diagnosed and/or treated outside National Health Service hospitals.

  Asthma
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children are recognised as suffering from asthma currently; and how many were registered(a) in 1992 and (b) in 1987. [4595]

  Ms Jowell
  There are no comprehensive data on the number of children with asthma. It is estimated to affect between 4 and 6 per cent. of children in England sufficiently severely to require regular medical supervision.

  According to data collected by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the mean weekly incidence of new general practitioner episodes of asthma in children per 100,000 population in England in selected years was as follows:

  Age group

  0–4

  5–14

  1987

  74.4

  58.9

  1992

  147.8

  84.2

  19961

  104.7

  63.7

  Source:

  Royal College of General Practitioners Weekly Returns Service.

  Note:

  1Most recent year available.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the conclusions of the review into cystic fibrosis screening commissioned by the NHS Executive Research and Development Health Technology Assessment Programme will be announced. [5000]

  Ms Jowell
  The findings of the research undertaken in the National Health Service Executive Research and Development Health Technology Assessment's project on screening for cystic fibrosis are expected to be available publicly by the end of 1997.

  Prescription Charges
  Ms Hewitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the system of prescription charges for hormone replacement therapy with special reference to the requirement to pay two prescription charges for certain courses of treatment. [5063]

  Mr. Milburn
  We will be examining the whole question of prescription charges, as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. The Government remains committed to the historic principle of the National Health Service that health services will be available to all and access will be based on need, not on ability to pay.

  Sight Testing Scheme
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of administering the NHS sight testing scheme in(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [5253]

  Mr. Milburn
  It would involve disproportionate cost to identify this information from within health authorities' overall expenditure on the administration of the family health services.

  Cash Limits
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes will be made to the cash limits of his Department in 1997–98. [5468]

  Mr. Dobson
  The cash limit for Class XI Vote 1 (Hospital, community health, family health and related services, England) will be reduced by £13,000,000 (from £29,362,456,000 to £29,349,456,000). This allows for a transfer to Class IX, Vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services) as part of the funding for the merger of the Imperial College and the West London Medical School.

  The decrease will be offset by an increase to another Vote and will not therefore change the planned total of Public expenditure.

  Radiotherapy Overdoses (Compensation)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for a compensation plan for those suffering as a result of receiving the wrong dosage of radiotherapy; and if he will make a statement. [4764]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government have every sympathy with women who have suffered adverse side-effects as a consequence of radiotherapy treatment. Where people have been harmed by clinical treatment and negligence can be shown to have caused this, compensation may be sought through the courts. However, it is a longstanding principle that compensation should only be paid by the NHS when there is evidence that negligence has been involved.

  The following action has been taken to help women with damage as a result of radiotherapy for breast cancer:
  In May 1994 the Department issued guidance entitled "Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy—A Quality Management System for Radiotherapy".
  508
  The Royal College of Radiologists at the Department's request, convened a small group of professionals and lay people in Autumn 1994 to consider guidelines for care of women who have suffered tissue damage following radiotherapy for breast cancer. This report was issued to the NHS by the Department in October 1995.
  The Royal College of Radiologists carried out a confidential clinical review of 126 women who had suffered injury following radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer at 15 centres in the period 1980–93. The report makes recommendations on the management of breast cancer, particularly on radiotherapy, and for further research.

  With regard to those suffering adverse effects following pelvic radiotherapy for gynaecological cancers, in 1996, a Working Group, which includes representatives from a number of Royal Colleges, voluntary organisations and the Department, was set up to consider the preparation of patient information leaflets concerning possible adverse effects following pelvic radiotherapy and to raise awareness generally. A sub-group is also considering issuing guidelines for health professionals on the care of women suffering adverse effects as a result of pelvic radiotherapy.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with representatives of those suffering as a result of radiotherapy overdoses; and if he will make a statement. [4763]

  Ms Jowell
  Representatives of those suffering as a result of radiotherapy treatment-both RAGE BREAST and RAGE NATIONAL have asked to meet Ministers to outline their aims and concerns. I am glad to report that my Noble Friend the Minister of State, Baroness Jay has agreed to see a joint representation from both these organisations.

  Occupational Health Services
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to review the guidelines for occupational health services for NHS staff. [3489]

  Mr. Milburn
  Following detailed consultation with professional bodies, Health Service Guidelines for Occupational Health (HSG(94)51) were issued in December 1994. This guidance took into account the recommendations of the "Clothier" report on former nurse Beverley Allitt. In the light of the publication of the "Bullock Report" (the inquiry into the events surrounding the conviction of Amanda Jenkinson) we are considering whether the existing guidance can be further improved.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of the reinstatement of regional health authorities. [3479]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have no plans to reinstate regional health authorities, and no estimates of the cost of doing so have been made.

  Speech Impediments
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS provision for those with stammers or other speech impediments. [3498]
  509
  Mr. Boateng
  We are well aware of the importance of providing speech and language therapy for people where there is evidence that they can benefit from the service. Decisions about the amount of funding available for these services are the responsibility of health commissioners, who have to take account of the resources needed for the other services to the local population for which they are responsible.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Landfill Sites (BSE Waste)
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when the Environment Agency investigations into landfill sites which have accommodated BSE waste will be(a) completed (b) published; [2828]
  510
  (2) when the Spongiform Encephalitis Advisory Committee will report on safe ways of disposing of BSE-infected material; and when that report will be published. [2829]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Environment Agency's assessment of landfill sites which took cattle affected, or suspected of being affected, with BSE before sufficient carcase incineration capacity came on stream in 1991 to process the number of cases that were coming forward is now completed.

  The Agency is considering how best to publish the assessment, and related work, and aims to do so shortly. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) has noted the methodology used by the Environment Agency in assessing the various disposal routes for cattle derived waste and is content with the conclusions of the reports.

  St. Helena: Aid Budget
  St. Helena: Aid Budget
  Baltic States: English Language Textbooks
  Baltic States: English Language Textbooks
  Religious Discrimination
  Religious Discrimination
  Firearms: Penalties for Illegal Possession
  Firearms: Penalties for Illegal Possession
  Passport Agency: Performance against Targets
  Passport Agency: Performance against Targets
  Child Benefit for Over-16s
  Child Benefit for Over-16s
  British Citizens from Sierra Leone: Habitual Residence Test
  British Citizens from Sierra Leone: Habitual Residence Test
  Chemical Manufacture and Export Information
  Chemical Manufacture and Export Information
  Legal Aid: R. v. Kevin Maxwell and Others
  Legal Aid: R. v. Kevin Maxwell and Others
  Dr. Jawad Hashim: Payments to Counsel
  Dr. Jawad Hashim: Payments to Counsel
  "Highway Code": Revision
  "Highway Code": Revision
  "Manifesto for Change"
  "Manifesto for Change"